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Minnesota Legislative Leadership Squanders Opportunity to Fully Support Farmers, Food Systems & the Land in Ag Budget 

With 24 Hours Left in the Regular Session, Rural Support Could Still Pass 

May 21, 2022

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SAINT PAUL, Minn. — As the agriculture budget emerged from a House-Senate conference committee Friday evening, it appeared legislative leaders had squandered a major opportunity to invest in an economically and ecologically sustainable rural Minnesota, according to the Land Stewardship Project (LSP).

“This was the state’s chance to help farmers build the kind of agricultural systems that are good for Main Street economies while helping fight climate change and protecting our water,” said LSP policy manager Amanda Koehler. “Unfortunately, we’ve missed a huge opportunity to use the $9.25 billion budget surplus as an investment in a resilient Minnesota. This ridiculously low budget doesn’t meet the full needs of farmers, the farm and food system or rural communities.”

The total agriculture budget amounts to $15 million, a fraction of the $70 million and $60 million Governor Tim Walz and the House had proposed, respectively. The original budget proposals included substantial support for key LSP-backed proposals related to soil health, local meat processing, regional food systems, emerging farmers, and other initiatives that support small and medium-sized farmers.

Some initiatives were completely zeroed out: the budget provides no money for small meat processing training grants, the farm-to-school program, farm business management tuition assistance, farmers’ markets, and other initiatives.

“Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how vulnerable our food system is, it is particularly shocking that legislative leaders chose to ignore ways to fortify it at this key time,” said LSP policy organizer Laura Schreiber.

There was some good news in the agriculture budget that will be passed on to the Governor. There is $500,000 for soil health financial assistance grants and $650,000 for the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative and continuous living cover supply chain development. The House proposal had included $6.725 million and $15.5 million for these initiatives, respectively. The Legislature is also directing the state to develop a soil health action plan and set acreage goals for the adoption of soil health practices.

Furthermore, an additional $650,000 was included for the AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg and Dairy Processing grants, as well as $827,000 for emerging farmers and the Good Acre’s Local Emergency Assistance Farm Fund (LEAFF) program. The House proposal had included $3 million and $5.6 million for these programs, respectively. LSP organizers said they were disappointed that funding does not match the scale of the challenges facing the state, but are looking forward to working with the organization’s members across Minnesota in coming months to build upon this budget during the next legislative session.

“We’d like to recognize, in particular, the work Representative Samantha Vang did to get support for emerging and small and mid-sized farmers through her down payment assistance program proposal,” said Schreiber. “Additionally, Representative Todd Lippert was a major player in pushing through soil health initiatives.”

LSP also applauded the fact that, after nine months of deliberation, lawmakers were finally able to agree on much-needed $18.4 million in drought relief for the state’s farmers.

As the 2022 session of the Minnesota Legislature races toward its adjournment on Sunday at midnight, there are still opportunities for lawmakers to support farmers, rural communities and land stewardship via other bills that are being hammered out in conference committees. For example, the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Bill included $5 million for soil health, the House Taxes Bill included $44 million for Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and there is the possibility of $10 million for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in a bonding bill.

“It remains to be seen whether the Legislature can take some last-minute opportunities to build a food and farm system that benefits our economy, our water and the climate,” said Koehler. “If it doesn’t, we will be paying the price for years to come.”

-30- 

Category: News Releases
Tags: 100% Soil Healthy Campaign • emerging farmers • local meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • regional food systems • soil health

Contact

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

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September 2025

Wednesday September 3

10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Coffee & Conversation
Wednesday September 3
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Coffee & Conversation
111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

On the first Wednesday of each month, the Land Stewardship Project hosts coffee and conversation at our downtown Montevideo office (111 North First Street), and we hope you will have time to join us at the next one on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The open house-style mornings feature a quick update on recent LSP work and then plenty of time to enjoy your coffee and build community the old-fashioned way, by talking face-to-face. This month we will give an update on our work to combat consolidation in animal agriculture and provide an overview of our recent town hall in Paynesville with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.  

 Come when you can and stay as long as you like! Don’t hesitate to bring along a friend or two — we always enjoy meeting someone new.

For more information, contact LSP’s Matthew Sheets at msheets@landstewardshipproject.org.

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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