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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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June 2022

Tuesday June 28

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
'Farms, Not Factories' Webinar
'Farms, Not Factories' Webinar
Tuesday June 28
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

How we build a system that stops factory farms and supports small and mid-sized farmers will be the focus of a webinar the Land Stewardship Project will be participating in on Tuesday, June 28, from 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. CT. The webinar is being hosted by the HEAL Food Alliance, an LSP partner.

We hope you can join us for a conversation about how corporate power influences our current farm system, how LSP and others have taken on these battles and won, and what our vision for a farm system without mega-factory farms looks like.  

To register, click here.

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
LSP Monthly Virtual Policy Organizing Meeting
LSP Monthly Virtual Policy Organizing Meeting
Tuesday June 28
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Join LSP as we launch our first of many Monthly Virtual Policy Organizing Meetings! On the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. we will gather to learn about what is happening at the state, local, and federal level; take collective action together; dive into an issue campaign of your choice; and break out into regional groups to build relationships with other LSPers in your area. For more information, see https://secure.everyaction.com/yguSa_Wy8EukCc13XRjVmQ2.

Wednesday June 29

10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Volunteer Johnson-Su Bioreactor Construction Event
Volunteer Johnson-Su Bioreactor Construction Event
Wednesday June 29
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

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This is the second year of a two-year research project through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture looking into creating on-farm compost recipes using the Johnson-Su Bioreactor design. Land Stewardship Project staff are working with five farms to build a total of 10 bioreactors in the month of June. We are looking for 3 to 5 member-volunteers for the days of June 7, 9, 15, 17, and 29. Details are here.

E-mail Shona Snater at ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org for more information and to sign-up as a volunteer.

July 2022

Wednesday July 6

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Farming in Karst Country
Farming in Karst Country
Wednesday July 6
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

A special LSP workshop called “Farming in Karst Country” will highlight the intersection of soil-building farming practices, water movement, and karst geology. Local farmer presenters and karst geologists will share how practices like no-till, cover crops and intensive, rotational grazing can improve the health of the soil and underground streams. The Bishop family will host the event at Niagara Cave. The cost to attend is $20 for adults, $10 fo runder 16, and includes a cave tour and dinner. Space is limited to 75 participants. For details and to register, click here.

Tuesday July 12

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP Deep Canvassing Training
LSP Deep Canvassing Training
Tuesday July 12
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Deep canvassing is a candid, non-judgmental, two-way conversation where canvassers ask voters to share their relevant, emotionally significant experiences and reflect on them aloud. It is one of the most durable and proven forms of persuasion when talking to people who might hold differing beliefs than you and is going to be critical in creating the world we want and need.

Join the Land Stewardship Action Fund to learn about deep canvassing, what it is and why it’s important, and get trained on how to deep canvass so you’re able to powerfully participate in LSAF’s upcoming deep canvasses and put these important skills to use in your community. Register at https://secure.everyaction.com/f4vV9QoSbUWMe4UVzQFrVg2.

View Full Calendar

Recent Posts

  • Small Grains, Cover Cropping, Organic Weed Control Featured at 2 Freeborn County Soil Health Field Days June 23, 2022
  • Land Line: Tillage’s Toll, Conservation & Leases, Soil Health & Nutrient Density, Emerging Farmer Help June 22, 2022
  •  ‘Farming in Karst Country’ Workshop July 6 at Niagara Cave in Harmony June 16, 2022
  • LSP Grazing Group Pasture Walk to Feature Grazing of Summer Annuals July 19 Near Zumbrota  June 16, 2022
  • Beginning Farmer Program for MN, WI & IA Accepting Applications for 2022-2023 Course June 10, 2022

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