Action Alerts

Welcome to the Land Stewardship Project Action Alerts page. The Land Stewardship Project periodically sends out Action Alerts that describe how citizens can make their voices heard on critical issues related to family farming, the environment and our rural communities.

Tell Congress Farmers are being Harmed by Federal Funding Freeze

Take Action to Save Programs that Support Regenerative Ag, Emerging Farmers, Food Banks & a Healthy Environment

February 19, 2025

As you know, farmers across the country are facing critical challenges as the federal funding freeze continues to impact essential agricultural programs. Although farmers were not supposed to be affected by the federal funding freeze, we know that is not the reality on the ground. Last week, Land Stewardship Project staff traveled to Washington, D.C.,… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: conservation funding • CSP • EQIP • Farm Bill • federal policy • funding freeze • USDA

Sign-On to Support New Farmers on the Land

Tell Lawmakers We Need Changes to the MN Down Payment Assistance Grant

February 18, 2025

Between 2012 and 2022, Minnesota lost 9,011 farms — on average 900 farms per year. During that same period, the average size of a Minnesota farm went from 349 acres to 388 acres. The average age of Minnesota farmers has reached an all-time high of 57.1 years. Ninety-nine percent of all farmland in Minnesota is… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: beginning farmers • Down Payment Assistance Grant Program • emerging farmers • farm transition • Minnesota Legislature • state policy

INPUT NEEDED: Submit MDA Legislative Ideas by Aug. 16

What Would You Like to See the MDA Support During the 2025 Legislative Session?

August 8, 2024

Minnesota’s state agencies are in the midst of gathering information and setting their priorities for the 2025 legislative session. They are deciding how they should spend their dollars, what programs to continue, what policy changes are needed, and more. What do you need? Could you take five minutes to share your ideas with the Minnesota Department… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: emerging farmers • farm-to-school • farmland access • MDA • Minnesota Department of Agriculture • Minnesota Legislature • public pressure • soil health • state policy

Comments Needed: New MPCA General Feedlot Permits

July 3, 2024

On Monday, June 24, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) opened a public comment period for Minnesotans to respond to proposed changes to two permits that regulate the state’s largest animal feedlots. The aim of these changes is to protect Minnesota water by reducing nitrate contamination from manure produced by feedlots that are 1,000 animal… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: CAFOs • factory farms • feedlot permits • feedlots • karst • manure • MPCA • water pollution • water quality

Tell Congress to Reject False Climate ‘Solutions’ & Factory Farm Funding in the Farm Bill

May 14, 2024

The USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are essential initiatives that give tens of thousands of farmers the tools they need to implement sustainable practices such as cover cropping and managed rotational grazing. Yet, a significant majority of farmers who apply to these programs are unable to access funding. In 2023, only… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: CAFO • climate change • CSP • EQIP • factory farm • Farm Bill • federal ag policy • manure digesters • REAP

Tell the Chair of the Senate Ag Committee to Include Land Access Act in the New Farm Bill

May 14, 2024

Our farm and food system is more resilient and just with more farmers stewarding the land and growing food for their communities, but so many people who want to farm are facing significant barriers to getting established and sustaining their businesses. The Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities (LASO) Act, championed by Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: beginning farmers • BIPOC farmers • emerging farmers • Farm Bill • federal ag policy • land access • LASO Act

Ask Your MN Representative to Co-Author LSP’s Manure Management Reform Legislation

April 24, 2024

Over the past few decades, the dominant push in agriculture has been for farms to grow larger and for the industry to consolidate into a few hands to maximize profits. One of the many ways the biggest have been able to get bigger at the expense of small and mid-sized farmers, rural communities, and our… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: CAFO • clean water • factory farm • livestock production • manure • Manure spills • Minnesota Legislature • nitrate pollution

Support Lowered Environmental Review Thresholds for Manure Digesters

April 19, 2024

Every three years, the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) publishes an updated Mandatory Category Report detailing project types that require environmental review in our state. Examples of Mandatory Categories included in this report include pipeline projects or feedlot expansions. Currently, the EQB is soliciting input from the public on the mandatory categories or their decision… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: CAFOs • clean water • Environmental Quality Board • factory farms • manure • methane digesters

Sign LSP’s Manure Management Reform Petition by the End of April

April 12, 2024

Currently, more than 175,000 Minnesotans live in communities with elevated nitrate levels (>3mg/L) in their drinking water. This problem is particularly bad in southeastern Minnesota. Consuming too much nitrate can affect how blood carries oxygen and studies suggest that nitrate exposure increases the risk of cancer, as well as increases heart rate, nausea, headaches, abdominal cramps, and more. Nitrate is… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: CAFOs • factory farms • livestock production • manure • Minnesota Legislature • water pollution • water quality

Stand with Emerging & BIPOC Farmers Today

Key Senate Hearing Monday, April 8

April 4, 2024

We wanted to reach out to fill you in on what is going on at the Minnesota Legislature when it comes to the prioritization of emerging farmers in Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Rural Finance Authority (RFA) programs. While we laid out the full context in this blog, here are the top five things… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: emerging farmers • farmland access • Minnesota Legislature • racial discrimination • racial justice

Upcoming Events

February 2025

Monday February 24

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

2025 LSP Western MN Food Forum

Monday February 24

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

2025 LSP Western MN Food Forum

Oyate Hall, Student Center, Morris, MN 56267, USA

Last March, over 40 producers, school food service directors, and food advocates gathered at the 2024 Food Forum to listen, learn, and coordinate around farm-to-institution opportunities in western Minnesota. The Land Stewardship Project is excited to gather again to build a vision for our region’s food system at the 2025 Food Forum on Monday, Feb. 24.

Last year’s meeting included producer-buyer matchmaking and input on policies to shape and fund farm-to-school and regional food coordinators. We plan to create similar opportunities (and more!) at this year’s event. Save the date on your calendar and get registered here.

Community meal to follow.

Register for the 2025 Regional Food Forum here.

Tuesday February 25

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Tuesday February 25

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Online

Are you a farmland owner or retiring farmer looking to transition ownership or rent your farmland in ways that reflect your values? The Land Stewardship Project is hosting an online holistic Farm Transition Planning Course designed to help you act on your conservation and social values. Seven 2 ½ hour sessions will bring professionals, farmers, and LSP staff together to dig into values, goals, and communication, as well as generational, financial, legal and long-term care considerations.

The dates and times for the course are:

Jan 28: Goal Setting for Life & Land, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 4: Values and Why Farm Transition Planning is Needed, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 11: Financial Considerations, 5:30- 8 p.m.
Feb. 18: Legal Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 25: Working with Next Generation Farmers, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 4: Long Term Care Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 18: Resources and Planning Next Steps, Presentations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Workshop Fee: $250 per farm family.

For more information and to register by Jan. 12, click here. You can also contact LSP’s Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

Wednesday February 26

9:00 am – 4:00 pm: MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
Wednesday February 26
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
AUNE HALL (4-H BUILDING), 1508 Aune Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904, USA

The Farm to School Roadshow is an opportunity to make newconnections and learn how to build successful Farm to Schoolrelationships. These in-person events will bring together Minnesotaschool nutrition professionals, early care providers, producers and farmers fornetworking and training opportunities. The Roadshow is a full day event with options to attend the full day or half day.

Growing for Wholesale — Vegetable Production and Planning (9 a.m.-noon): The morning session will take an in-depth look at vegetable crop planning and management for production targeted at the wholesale market, specifically schools. We will deep dive into topics such as crop planning, pest management, and safe harvest and storage with U of M Extension educators. Growers will leave the morning with customizable crop plans for common crops schools are buying and the most up-to-date research related to growing healthy, abundant crops.

Business of Farm to School and Farmer/ Buyer Networking (1 p.m.-4 p.m.: All Farmers/ Producers and Schools/ Early Care Providers Welcome:
The afternoon session is open to all local sellers (farmers, producers, makers) and buyers (schools, early care centers and providers) who are interested in expanding their local purchasing power and reach. This session will include a training titled “The Business of Farm to School — From Planning in the Fields to Serving on the Tray, and Everything in Between,” and a networking activity where buyers and sellers will have an opportunity to meet and explore potential business partnerships.

Bring your business cards!

Dates and Locations for in-person events:
February 26: Aune Hall at Graham Park (Rochester)
February 28: New Ulm Civic Center (New Ulm)

For details and to register, click here.

Friday February 28

9:00 am – 4:00 pm: MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
Friday February 28
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
New Ulm Civic Center, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm, MN 56073, USA

The Farm to School Roadshow is an opportunity to make new connections and learn how to build successful Farm to School relationships. These in-person events will bring together Minnesota school nutrition professionals, early care providers, producers and farmers for networking and training opportunities. The Roadshow is a full day event with options to attend the full day or half day.

Growing for Wholesale — Vegetable Production and Planning (9 a.m.-noon): The morning session will take an in-depth look at vegetable crop planning and management for production targeted at the wholesale market, specifically schools. We will deep dive into topics such as crop planning, pest management, and safe harvest and storage with U of M Extension educators. Growers will leave the morning with customizable crop plans for common crops schools are buying and the most up-to-date research related to growing healthy, abundant crops.

Business of Farm to School and Farmer/ Buyer Networking (1 p.m.-4 p.m.: All Farmers/ Producers and Schools/ Early Care Providers Welcome:
The afternoon session is open to all local sellers (farmers, producers, makers) and buyers (schools, early care centers and providers) who are interested in expanding their local purchasing power and reach. This session will include a training titled “The Business of Farm to School — From Planning in the Fields to Serving on the Tray, and Everything in Between,” and a networking activity where buyers and sellers will have an opportunity to meet and explore potential business partnerships.

Bring your business cards!

Dates and Locations for in-person events:
February 26: Aune Hall at Graham Park (Rochester)
February 28: New Ulm Civic Center (New Ulm)

For details and to register, click here.

March 2025

Tuesday March 4

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: West Central MN Sustainable Ag Webinar
Tuesday March 4
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
West Central MN Sustainable Ag Webinar
Online
Join the West Central Food Council for a series of lightning talks from some of the most interesting initiatives and businesses in Minnesota’s food and farming ecosystem. This free, virtual event takes place every Tuesday throughout the month of March (March 4, 11, 18, and 25).

For more information and to register, click here.

This webinar series is sponsored by the West Central Food Council and made possible by funding provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Local Climate Action Grants.

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