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Minnesota Farm Groups Applaud Governor’s Proposed Ag, Board of Water & Soil Resources Budgets 

Proposal Would Invest Tens of Millions of Dollars into Building Resiliency in Farm & Food System, Climate, Economy

January 27, 2022

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SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Three Minnesota farm groups are applauding Governor Tim Walz’s budget proposals for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Board of Water and Soil Resources, which were released this week. The proposals strongly align with the vision for a thriving, abundant, and resilient countryside shared by the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), and the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA), said leaders of these three groups.

The proposal includes:

• $12 million for a Minnesota Department of Agriculture healthy soils program to provide grants and technical assistance to landowners, local governments and other organizations.

• $26 million for a Board of Water and Soil Resources healthy soils program to provide grants and technical assistance to landowners, local governments and other organizations to plant cover crops, enroll conservation tillage, purchase equipment, purchase seed and amendments, or implement other field-scale conservation practices.

• $22 million for Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

• $3 million for the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative to create four pilot programs to establish supply chains for year-round crops, which will include risk management, post-production, processing, distribution and marketing.

• $2 million for services for Black, brown, and Indigenous producers and businesses.

• $1 million for Food and Agriculture Systems Planning Grants to local governments, regional planning organizations, and tribes to implement agriculture economic development plans, such as amendments to zoning ordinances, adding co-packing and community kitchens, and providing land to disadvantaged farmers.

• $500,000 for providing scholarships to agriculture workers involved in mediation and urban and specialty crops.

• $3 million for grants to livestock processors to purchase equipment and expand facilities.

• $1.5 million for meat processing employee recruitment and retention incentives.

•  $5 million for drought relief to livestock and specialty crop farmers.

• $5 million for Rural Finance Authority loans for drought, including for small and beginning farmers.

“Small scale immigrant and emerging farmers are vital to our local food system and we are proud to have the Governor’s agricultural budget support and recognize their effort,” said Hmong American Farmers Association executive director Janssen Hang. “This proposal provides equitable access and  opportunities for emerging farmers to be innovative in their approach, while enhancing and building a stronger, vibrant food and farming economy.

In the face of extreme weather, degrading topsoil, and economic challenges, major public investments in farming that provides public benefits will pay off now and well into the future, according to Hannah Bernhardt, a Pine County livestock farmer and member of the Land Stewardship Project’s Soil Health & Climate Steering Committee.

“Farmers deserve to have all the resources and support they need to build the health of their soil,” she said. “The Governor’s proposal is an investment in the resiliency of the land, the economic viability of our farmers and rural communities, and the health of our climate and water.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also pulled back the curtain to reveal how fragile our food system currently is. Expanding local and regional processing and markets is more important than ever, according to Kathy Zeman, executive director of the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association.

“We are super appreciative that Governor Walz’s administration and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture asked for input and listened to the concerns and needs of Minnesota’s food farmers and food makers,” she said. “This budget proposal includes solid support across our foodshed that will help make Minnesota much more resilient in growing food and feeding our people. We look forward to the conversations to secure this funding.”

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Category: News Releases
Tags: BWSR • Gov. Tim Walz • Hmong American Farmers Association • local meat processing • Minnesota Department of Agriculture • Minnesota Farmers' Market Association • Minnesota Legislature • regional food systems • soil health • SWCD

Contact

Amanda Koehler, LSP policy manager, e-mail, 612-400-6355

 

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September 2025

Monday September 1

All Day
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Course
Monday September 1
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Course

Beginning and prospective farmers are invited to apply to the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings course, a year-long training program that focuses on the goal setting, marketing, and financial skills needed to establish a successful farm business. The Farm Beginnings course creates a space for folks to name their vision, acquire the tools and skills needed to make it happen, and become part of a community of support to help them succeed.  

The course will run from November 2025 through March 2026, with some additional educational opportunities to take place later in 2026. 

The deadline for applications is Sept. 1. Early bird applications submitted by Aug. 1 will receive a $100 discount if you are accepted into the class. Partial scholarships are available.

More details are at http://www.farmbeginnings.org or Annelie Livingston-Anderson at annelie@landstewardshipproject.org.

You can apply to the course here.

Friday September 5

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Field Day on the Cotter Farm: Austin
Friday September 5
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Field Day on the Cotter Farm: Austin
50203 205th St, Austin, MN 55912, USA

 Sign up today for a get-together down on Tom Cotter’s Farm. This field day brings together food companies, local farmers and other professionals in agriculture — a perfect opportunity for networking and discussion.
Hear from soil health experts, then board the Topless Bus to take a tour of Tom’s farm. A FREE TACO BAR LUNCH will featureTom’s own grass-fed beef, along with authentic, homemade tortillas and rice. Featured speakers include soil scientist Kris Nichols and agronomist Joe Ailts.
 
You can check out the field day flier here. For more details and to register, click here.

Saturday September 6

9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soil & Food Health Field Day: Austin
Saturday September 6
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soil & Food Health Field Day: Austin
50203 205th St, Austin, MN 55912, USA

Details are here.

Monday September 8

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne Biklé in conversation with Ross Evelsizer: What Your Food Ate
Monday September 8
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne Biklé in conversation with Ross Evelsizer: What Your Food Ate
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, 207 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101, USA

Join Anne Biklé (co-author, What Your Food Ate: How to Restore Our Land and Reclaim Our Health) and NEIA RC & D Natural Resource Projects Director, Ross Evelsizer, for a conversation and Q & A session followed by a book signing. Everyone is invited to this free event sponsored by the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, with support from Pulpit Rock Brewing and Dragonfly Books.
 
Details on the Sept. 8 event are here.

Tuesday September 9

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
'Growing Resilience' Field Day at Churchill Reserve Grass-Fed Beef
Tuesday September 9
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
'Growing Resilience' Field Day at Churchill Reserve Grass-Fed Beef
36001 63rd Avenue Way Cannon Falls, MN, 55009

Spend a day with Clean River Partners and farmers discussing their experiences with different conservation management practices as they navigate the challenges of making a livelihood, accessing land and markets, and dealing with unpredictable weather conditions.

Join farmers Bryan Lips (BT Farms), Wendy Johnson (Jóia Food & Fiber Farm), Todd Churchill (Churchill Reserve), Helen Forsythe (Feed the People Farm Cooperative), and more, to discuss topics like wide-row corn and cover crops, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, agroforestry, growing small grains, and prescribed grazing. 

For more information and to register, click here. 

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