News Releases

LSP Demands Answers Surrounding Recent Manure Spill in Kandiyohi County

Riverview's Meadow Star Dairy Suffers Manure Leak From Biogas Digester System

March 7, 2025

PENNOCK, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today called on one of the country’s largest dairy farming firms and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to release details on a recent manure spill that was reported in southwestern Minnesota’s Kandiyohi County. According to the West Central Tribune, Riverview, LLP officials reported to state officials that… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFOs • clean water • dairy farming • factory farm • manure digesters • Manure spills • MPCA • Riverview

Western MN Farmers Share Stories with Attorney General on How Consolidation is Devastating their Communities

LSP Meeting Highlights the Importance of Reporting Antitrust Activity in Agriculture

March 7, 2025

DONNELLY, Minn. — As winter winds howled outside, farmers gathered in a machine shed near Donnelly on March 4 to share stories with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on how consolidation in everything from livestock markets to ag implement repairs is negatively impacting their operations and communities. The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) meeting was held… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: antitrust • corporate consolidation • Keith Ellison • right to repair • rural economic development

POSTPONED: Small Grains Workshop for Western Minnesota Farmers March 15 in Benson

NOTE: This event has been postponed due to weather.

March 5, 2025

BENSON, Minn. — Farmers, agricultural professionals and community members in western Minnesota are invited to a Small Grain Markets Workshop on Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at McKinney’s on Southside (300 14th St. South) in Benson, Minn. This free Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event is an opportunity to learn from regional… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: crop diversity • crop rotations • diversifying agriculture • small grains • soil health

AG Ellison to Keynote LSP Family Farm Breakfast at the Capitol March 13 in St. Paul

‘Best Breakfast in Town’ Brings Citizens & Public Officials Together Over Locally Sourced Food

March 3, 2025

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will keynote the Land Stewardship Project’s Family Farm Breakfast at the Capitol on Thursday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill (105 University Avenue West). To reserve a spot, see bit.ly/familyfarmbreakfast2025 or call 612-722-6377. Since 2005, the “Best… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Family Farm Breakfast • local food • Minnesota Legislature • state policy

AG Ellison to hold LSP Town Hall on Agricultural Consolidation & ‘Right to Repair’ March 4 in Stevens County

February 17, 2025

DONNELLY, Minn. — Consolidation in agriculture and restrictions on farmers’ rights when it comes to repairing their own equipment will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) town hall meeting featuring Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Tuesday, March 4, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at 57002 180th Street in Donnelly. Farmers… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: ag consolidation • farmers' rights • Keith Ellison • right to repair • state policy

Farmers Gather in Albert Lea to Talk About ‘Bringing Small Grains Back to Minnesota’

Attendees from 3 States Heard National, Local Ag Leaders Discuss the Economic, Agronomic & Environmental Opportunities Crops Like Oats Can Provide

January 30, 2025

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — Corn and soybeans may dominate the agricultural landscape in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, but reintroducing small grains such as oats into the rotation could help make farming more economically, agronomically and environmentally sustainable, while serving a growing consumer demand for healthy food, said a panel of national and local experts during… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: community based food systems • crop diversity • food nutrition • regenerative agriculture • rural economic development • small grains • soil health • water pollution

LSP’s 5 Year Plan Focuses on New Farmers, Racial & Economic Justice, Ag Consolidation, Rural Economies, Soil Health, Climate Resilience

‘Roots of Resilience’ Will Guide the Organization’s Work for 2025-2030

January 16, 2025

LEWISTON, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today released a strategic plan that describes how, during the next five years, the Minnesota-based organization will work with its members and allies to support the next generation of farmers and drive rural economic revitalization via community-based food systems, as well as help farmers adopt soil health… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Land Stewardship Project • long range plan • organizational stewardship • Roots of Resilience

‘Bringing Small Grains Back to Minnesota’ Workshop Jan. 28 in Albert Lea

Local & National Farmer-Experts Featured

January 8, 2025

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — Farmers, agricultural professionals, and community members are invited to a “Bringing Small Grains Back to Minnesota” workshop Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Edgewater Bay Pavilion in Albert Lea. This free, all-day Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event is an opportunity to learn from industry leaders and… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: crop diversity • regenerative agriculture • small grains • soil health

LSP Applauds Appeals Court Ruling on Winona County CAFO

Ruling a Victory for Water Quality & Local Democracy

December 9, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) applauded today’s ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals upholding a county’s right to limit the size of large animal feedlots operating within its borders. The ruling confirms an earlier state District Court’s decision that there was “no actual evidence of bias” when Winona County denied Daley… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • groundwater • local democracy • nitrate pollution • Winona County

LSP Winter Farm Transition Planning Course Launches Jan. 28 Online

Sessions to be Led by Farmers & Financial Professionals

November 29, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — Are you a farmer or landowner thinking about the next steps for your farm and land? Or do you know someone who is? The Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Transition Planning Course provides a holistic opportunity to dig into important topics and learn from experienced farmers and professionals. The online course will be held… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • estate planning • farm transition • next generation

Upcoming Events

March 2025

Wednesday March 12

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Webinar on 0% EQIP Bridge Loan

Wednesday March 12

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Webinar on 0% EQIP Bridge Loan

Zoom Online

The SHOT (Soil Health Opportunities & Tools) Fund invites you to attend an informational webinar where you can learn more about its 0% interest Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Bridge Loan Program.

You may register for the webinar at: https://bit.ly/EQIPZeroWebinar.

EQIP provides a cost share reimbursement to farmers, ranchers, and landowners who install eligible conservation practices that promote soil health, water quality, and biological diversity. One of the major challenges of the program, however, is the requirement that participants pay for the entire cost of practice installation upfront and out-of-pocket.

The SHOT Fund’s EQIP Bridge Loan program provides landowners and farmers with flexible funding to cover the upfront costs of installing EQIP practices. Designed specifically for recipients of NRCS EQIP awards, the bridge loans have no fees, no penalties, and no interest. This 1-hour webinar will feature members of the SHOT Fund team and experts from Food Systems 6 who will cover:

What is the SHOT Fund?
What is the current status of EQIP funding?
What is the SHOT Fund’s EQIP Bridge Loan Program?
What can I expect during the application process?
Q & A

More information is in the attached flyer. Register for this webinar by clicking here.

Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/wus-pgaf-mjk

Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720

Thursday March 13

8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Nitrogen in Southeastern Minnesota

Thursday March 13

8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Nitrogen in Southeastern Minnesota

AUNE HALL (4-H BUILDING), 1508 Aune Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904, USA

University of Minnesota Extension will conduct a day long meeting in Rochester for farmers and those involved in agriculture to discuss the current situation related to nitrogen management.

Topics covered include:

An update on the current regulatory and policy situation
How nitrogen behaves in the environment and how it gets into water
The dynamics of groundwater recharge in southeast Minnesota.
Best management practices for both commercial fertilizer and manure, based on local research
On-farm nitrogen management research results in southeast Minnesota

The day will conclude with a panel discussion of local farmers talking about how they manage nitrogen inputs on their farm. In addition to the presentations, several resource booths will be set up for one-on-one discussion regarding various programs, services, and information.

To register, click here.

9:00 am – 10:30 am

LSP Family Farm Breakfast & Day at the Capitol

Thursday March 13

9:00 am – 10:30 am

LSP Family Farm Breakfast & Day at the Capitol

Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA), 105 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103, USA

We are excited to announce that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will be joining us as our keynote speaker for the Family Farm Breakfast. AG Ellison has a long history of standing up against consolidation in the food and farming system and showing up for rural communities, including this past month filing a lawsuit to give all farmers the right to repair the farm equipment they own as they chose.

RSVP to join the Land Stewardship Project for the 2025 Family Farm Breakfast & Lobby Day on Thursday, March 13, in Saint Paul at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill.

Join us for breakfast as we ground ourselves in good food and community and bring our voices to our legislators.

Gather with hundreds of members and supporters, partners, and public officials over a delicious meal featuring locally-sourced products from LSP members’ farms.
Hear directly from LSP members about the issues LSP is working on and how we’re organizing for change.
Stay for our Lobby Day to meet with your Minnesota Senator, Minnesota Representative, and other public officials.

Tickets

The breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 10:30 am. Choose to stay for our Lobby Day programming and legislator meetings that will follow throughout the day. Please choose the ticket level that works best for you.

We do not want logistics or cost to limit participation. Please reach out to request support not offered in this registration form: tschulte@landstewardshipproject.org.

Breakfast Mugs

Every year we love to commemorate our lobby day with a new LSP Family Farm Breakfast mug! Our mugs are sourced from American-made companies, union-printed, and are handsomely designed with new art each year. Consider ordering a mug to enjoy with your freshly brewed coffee at the breakfast, and then take it home to fill your cup for years to come.

RSVP today to join us at the breakfast!

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

SFA Homestead Gardening & Seed Starting for Beginners Webinar

Thursday March 13

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

SFA Homestead Gardening & Seed Starting for Beginners Webinar

Zoom Online

You’ve seen the YouTube videos and listened to podcasts about living a simpler life and growing some, or more, of your own food. Perhaps you’re a loyal customer at the farmers’ market or a parent looking to show your kids where their food comes from.

Growing your own food is a lovely and beautiful thing, but ABILITY, TIME and SPACE make you worry how you could ever do it yourself.

Caroline Hegstrom of The Boreal Farm owns and operates a successful, diversified farming operation that features certified organic CSA shares, flowers, and a farmstand near Lake Superior. Caroline is passionate about the homesteading movement and uses her knowledge and experience to help people to grow their own food, as well as build community. Recently, she started a business called Taiga Farm & Seed where she pairs gardeners with appropriate seed collections.

This SFA webinar will feature:

Starting from scratch: easing into Homestead Gardening
Seed Starting and Troubleshooting 101
What can I grow in a Northern climate?

Registration: It is free to participate. Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link. To register, click here.

Saturday March 15

9:00 am – 1:00 pm: POSTPONED: LSP Western MN Small Grains Workshop
Saturday March 15
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
POSTPONED: LSP Western MN Small Grains Workshop
Mckinney's on Southside, 300 14th St S, Benson, MN 56215, USA
NOTE: This event has been postponed due to weather.

Building on the momentum of LSP’s small grain marketing workshop in Albert Lea, Minn., last month, the Land Stewardship Project is offering a workshop in western Minnesota on March 15 in Benson, Minn. All those curious about small grains are welcome!

This FREE event will offer attendees the opportunity to learn from local leaders and innovators about the benefits of small grains in farming operations, conversations about markets, and the infrastructure needs to support them.

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at McKinney’s on Southside in Benson, Minnesota.

To register and to secure a spot, click here.

For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Kiminski at 925-207-3721 or at akiminski@landstewardshipproject.org.

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