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Land Line: Tillage’s Toll, Conservation & Leases, Soil Health & Nutrient Density, Emerging Farmer Help

June 22: An LSP Round-up of News Covering Land, People & Communities

By Brian DeVore
June 22, 2022

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The Midwest has Lost 57.6 Billion Metric Tons of Soil Due to Agricultural Practices

(3/16/22) The Midwest has lost approximately 57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil since farmers began tilling the soil, 160 years ago. And this is despite conservation practices put in place in the wake of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, according to Phys.org. Much of the erosion is due to tillage, say the authors of an extensive study that combined on-the-ground measurements at 20 sites in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska with historical data to recreate erosion rates throughout the Midwest. Because the USDA does not explicitly include such “tillage erosion” in its own analysis, it has “drastically underestimated the rate of erosion” currently at work in the heartland, said  researcher Evan Thaler.

A recent LSP Myth Buster explains why it’s so critical to protect and build that top few inches of soil.

Long-Term Lease Agreements Encourage Investment in Soil-Saving Practices

(Summer 2022) Long-term lease agreements are more likely to lead to the adoption of conservation practices, according to Progressive Farmer magazine. “Farmland rental agreements where tenants may not reap the benefits of conservation investments are a commonly cited barrier to conservation practice adoption in agriculture,” concluded an Iowa State University study. About half of Midwestern farmland is rented via short-term leases  — defined as one to two years in length.

For resources on how to create farmland leases that fit your stewardship goals, check out LSP’s Conservation Leases web page.

Just a Few Years of Cover Crops Not Enough to Recover from Continuous Corn

(6/7/22) Researchers have found short-term use of cover crops can’t undo decades of damage to soil microbes, according to studies published in the journals Agronomy and Frontiers in Microbiology. In the studies, two years of cover cropping appeared to not be enough to make up for 36 years of damage caused by continuous corn and heavy nitrogen fertilizer use. Scientists involved with the study say that more research is needed to determine the role long-term cover cropping and other soil health practices can play in rebuilding microbial life. “Reverting these changes may take tremendous effort and time, and cover cropping should be one of many strategies we deploy to increase the spatial and temporal diversity of our agricultural systems to protect our soils and our future on this planet,” said María Villamil, a co-author of the papers, in a University of Illinois press release.

Interested in building soil health for the long term? Check out LSP’s Soil Health web page.

Study: Regenerative Ag Can Produce More Nutrient Dense Foods

(1/27/22) Regenerative agricultural practices employing no-till, cover crops, and diverse crop rotations enhance soil health and the nutrient density of various crops, according to a preliminary study published in the journal PeerJ-Life and Environment. The study included paired results from vegetable, grain, and livestock farms in various states, including Iowa, California, New York, Kansas, and North Dakota. “…soil health is an under appreciated influence on nutrient density, particularly for phytochemicals not conventionally considered nutrients but nonetheless relevant to chronic disease prevention,” concluded the researchers.

Interested in how we can create a food and farm system that rewards regenerative practices? Check out LSP’s Regional Food Systems web page.

Emerging Minnesota Farmers get a Boost in the Form of Down Payment Assistance

(6/17/22) Minnesota beginning farmers looking to buy land now have access to $500,000 in state money to help with down payments, according to MinnPost. The down payment assistance, which was passed by the Minnesota Legislature this spring, could especially help small-scale and minority farmers overcome a range of hurdles that make it hard to buy land. The state will give grants up to $15,000 per eligible farmer, which the farmer has to match. The farmer also has to commit to owning and farming the land purchased for at least five years . 

Resources for beginning farmers seeking to access land are available on LSP’s Land Transition Tools web page. For a summary of how LSP proposals fared during the 2022 session of the Minnesota Legislature, check out this recent LSP blog.

 

Category: Blog
Tags: conservation leases • cover crops • farmland leases • regional food systems • soil erosion • soil health

LSP Land Line

LSP Land Line is a regular round-up of local, regional, and national news that touches on the work of the Land Stewardship Project. We can’t include everything, but if you have a news item to submit, e-mail Brian DeVore.

Quotes of the Day

“A few years back, my wife and I were at a wedding at a pioneer Norwegian church in Minnesota. After the ceremony, I walked over to the edge of the churchyard, which was surrounded by cornfields, and was shocked to see that the surface of the field was a few feet lower than the surface of the never-tilled churchyard. I began to wonder why.” — Isaac Larsen, co-author of a paper on historical erosion in the Midwest

♦

“We know that 99 percent of farmers are white and historically Black farmers have been forced to sell their land or have their land taken away. Having down payment assistance for farmland can be a critical part of bridging that gap.” —  Minnesota Rep. Samantha Vang, who sponsored a bill to help provide down payment assistance to emerging farmers seeking to buy land

Upcoming Events

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October 2025

Thursday October 23

8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Farm to School & Early Care Grants Deadline
Thursday October 23
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Farm to School & Early Care Grants Deadline
Online

School is back in session and this week’s cool temps definitely remind us all that fall is just around the corner. This time of the year also means that the application period is open for Minnesota’s Farm to School and Early Care grants.

Earlier this year, the Land Stewardship Project and our partners were successful in expanding funding for the AGRI Farm to School and Early Care program. The application window for the next round of funding is now open and will close at 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 23.

APPLY FOR FUNDING HERE

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is serving up two funding opportunities to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) centers buy Minnesota-grown and -raised foods. 

1.    First Bite Grants: Up to $5,000 (no match required) to kickstart local food purchasing through intentional, high-impact activities. 
2.    Full Tray Grants: Up to $35,000 (1:1 match required) to help experienced schools and ECE centers increase or expand their local food purchases. 

Equipment funding: First Bite and Full Tray applicants can also request up to $25,000 (1:1 match required) to support the purchase of kitchen equipment that will enhance their capacity to buy, prepare, and serve local foods.  

 These grants are open to: 
•    Public or private K-12 schools or school districts in Minnesota that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
•    Early childhood education (ECE) centers that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in Minnesota

MDA encourages schools, districts, and ECE centers serving sovereign tribal nations to apply. 

 Local Tots Cost-Share Program
There are also funds available to reimburse family child care providers for buying Minnesota-grown and -raised foods used for meals and snacks as part of the the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP):

Interested providers must submit a Local Tots Cost-Share program Letter of Intent to participate. Award amounts will be up to $1,000 and there is a 1:1 cash match required for providers who received a Local Tots Cost-Share award in 2025. There is no cash match required if you are new to the program. 

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 23, 2025. 

 Program details and online applications are available at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-school-early-care-programs or by contacting the Grants Team at MDA.AGRIgrants@state.mn.us. 

 Want to learn more about eligibility, allowable expenses, and how to apply?

 Join the MDA for a virtual info session: 
First Bite and Full Tray Grant Info Session 
September 15, 2025, 2-3 p.m.
Register here

 Local Tots Cost-Share Info Session – for family child care providers
September 18, 2025, 1-2 p.m.
Register here

Farmers: Are you Interested in selling to a school near you? 
Send this opportunity along to the food service director at schools near you or connect with a Regional Local Food Coordinator to help you make connections with schools, childcare settings, and other opportunities to sell locally. These positions are supported by the Department of Education and Renewing the Countryside.

Saturday October 25

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Saturday October 25
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Madison Public Library - Central, 201 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

During the Wisconsin Book Festival, Curt Meine will talk about the book in a discussion with author Sonja Trom Eayrs (Dodge County, Incorporated), in a session on “The Fight for Rural America.” 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

Tuesday October 28

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
MDA Grants Webinar
Tuesday October 28
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
MDA Grants Webinar
Zoom online

Are you interested in applying for a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)? On Tuesday, Oct. 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Land Stewardship Project will be holding an online webinar on four grants that will be available this fall. MDA staffers will go over the details of these grants and how to apply for them.

 To sign-up, click here.  

 This webinar will feature information on four grants:

– AGRI Livestock Investment Grant

– AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant 

– Preparing for Extreme Weather (Prepare) Grant

– AGRI Protecting Livestock from Avian Influenza (Protect) Grant 

For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Kiminski at akiminski@landstewardshipproject.org.

Wednesday October 29

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Wednesday October 29
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement, 2800 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

Thursday October 30

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Thursday October 30
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

View Full Calendar

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