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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

 

Upcoming Events

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August 2025

Friday August 8

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
Friday August 8
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
10470 190th St, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

Roots and Rotation is a summer field day series happening across Minnesota. These field days will discuss the use of livestock for soil health goals in different agricultural systems. 
 
Learn about the benefits of integrating livestock onto cropland and how to make it work on your operation. Hear from experienced farmers and Extension educators specializing in crops, livestock, and soil health. These events are for producers looking to elevate their cropland soil health and increase their forage resources. 

For more information and to register, see the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association website.

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
Friday August 8
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
22955 570th Ave, Austin, MN 55912, USA

Members of the Land Stewardship Project’s Austin Area Soil Health Hub are hosting a sunflower social on Tom and Kim Finnegan’s farm Friday, Aug. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will be open to all area farmers. Meet members of this peer-to-peer farmer group, see the beautiful sunflower fields, and learn about diversification.  

Farming should include a trusted network that ensures we are all successful. How could having a network of farmers that provide support, resources, and comradery impact your farm? 

On Aug. 8, gather with area farmers who are invested in soil health and sustainable practices, and are committed to learning from each other. Join us for an evening on the Finnegan farm for a hay ride around the sunflower fields and to learn more about their diversified farm. There will be a supper and lots of time to connect with farmers in the area.

RSVP here. 

Thursday August 14

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSA-COPAL Ice Cream Social/Reunión de Helados!
Thursday August 14
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSA-COPAL Ice Cream Social/Reunión de Helados!
Sauk River Park, 206 5th Ave NE, Melrose, MN 56352, USA

Land Stewardship Action (the Land Stewardship Project’s partner organization) and COPAL (Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action) invite you to an ice cream social at Sauk River Park in Melrose on Thursday, August 14. There will be sweet treats and opportunities to connect with those in your community, many of whom you might not know yet. This is a time to come together over our shared vision for a better future rooted in community, diversity, fairness, health, and democracy.

If you’re able, please register ahead of time through the link below so we can get an idea of numbers. Feel free to pass the invite on to others in the community as well — the more the merrier!

You can register here. 
 
For more information, contact Land Stewardship Action’s Emily Minge at eminge@landstewardshipproject.org.

Friday August 15

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Managed Grazing & Soil Health Field Day: Rush City
Friday August 15
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Managed Grazing & Soil Health Field Day: Rush City
10815 555th St, Rush City, MN 55069, USA

Join the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition at Jon Steven’s Maple Grove Farm for a field day focused on managed grazing and other methods to build the health of soils. Connect with other farmers and learn from the leaders in Minnesota on soil health. Featured speakers: Tom Cotter, Brady Wulf, Myron Sylling, and Joe Ailts. Free lunch by Maxwell’s Southern BBQ. Details are here.

Saturday August 16

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Master Class: Morris
Saturday August 16
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Master Class: Morris
Old No 1 Bar & Grill, 412 Atlantic Ave, Morris, MN 56267, USA

Details are here.

View Full Calendar

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