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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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May 2025

Saturday May 31

10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Multi-species Pasture Walk
Saturday May 31
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Multi-species Pasture Walk
872 320th Ave, Frederic, WI 54837, USA

The NW Wisconsin Graziers Network, River Country RC&Dand UW-Madison Extension invite you to a multi-species pasture walk hosted by JohnsonFamily Pastures LLC. The farm is located five miles east of Frederic in PolkCounty. This educational event willemphasize direct marketing, multi-species grazing, part-time family agricultureand silvopasture development. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

TheJohnson Family Pastures farm is home to Chris and Tamara Johnson and their twochildren. They raise grass-fed beef, silvopastured goats, and recently raised anumber of other species. The farm consists of about 160 acres of gently rollingpastures, silvopasture, and forest. Use of both temporary polybraid fencing andhigh tensile permanent fences allow for rotational grazing of small ruminants andout-wintering of beef cattle. Use of long-term farm transition strategies, cost-shareprograms, silvopasture development with goats, regenerative grazing, cattlehandling facility and bale grazing will be discussed along with answering anyand all questions from pasture walk participants.

An extensive and diversified direct marketing programhas been developed by Tamara and Chris that has included farmer markets, e-maillists, newsletters, website ordering, on-farm freezer storage, and other strategiesand tools to support direct sales and services for their customers.  Come and learn all about their successfulapproach.

For more information,contact Chris Johnson at 920-960-4475 or Lynn Johnson 715-225-9882 at NW Graziers.

June 2025

Saturday June 21

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Farm-Scale Deep Winter Greenhouse Tour
Saturday June 21
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Farm-Scale Deep Winter Greenhouse Tour
Owl Bluff Farm, 12314 County Road 4 Houston, MN 55943

The University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) and Owl Bluff Farm will co-host an open house to celebrate the completion of the state’s first farm-scale deep winter greenhouse. The event, held on the farm about 45 minutes east of Rochester, is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required at z.umn.edu/OwlBluffOpenHouse.

Wednesday June 25

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LSP-PFI Grazing Field Day at Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Wednesday June 25
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LSP-PFI Grazing Field Day at Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Hoosier Ridge Ranch, 15998 Wabasha County Rd 26, Altura, MN 55910, USA

Over the last 50 years, livestock have left many farms. Eric Heins is doing the reverse: bringing cattle – and their poop, pee and hooves – back to his land. Come see how Eric is using his Normande-shorthorn crosses in a variety of grazing situations. During this Land Stewardship Project-Practical Farmers of Iowa field day, you can view permanent pasture, where Eric (like everyone) is battling the cool-season grass takeover. You’ll also learn how Eric is using his cattle in cover crop mixes, prairie and woodlands.

Since purchasing the farm in 2020, Eric has converted the cropland to pasture. He also custom-farms a diverse rotation of crops, covers and small grains on neighboring farms, including an established prairie on Iowa Department of Natural Resources land. A possible bonus: Eric is hoping to have virtual fence collars by the time of the field day, but no guarantees!

A meal featuring Hoosier Ridge Ranch burgers will follow the field day.

See & Discuss

  • Cash-flowing the conversion to pasture on owned versus rented cropland
  • Stockpiling pasture for winter grazing
  • Mechanical buckthorn clearing for silvopasture
  • Grazing agreements on DNR prairie and neighboring cropland
  • A sudangrass mix after a canning pea crop
  • An extended rotation with oats, barley and Kernza

For details and to register, click here.

Saturday June 28

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Saturday June 28
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Dream Acres, Co Hwy 8, Spring Valley, MN 55975, USA

Join Land Stewardship Project members and supporters to kick-start the Driftless summer with an evening of good food, good music, and good times. We’ll have activities for all ages that will get you out in nature, exploring the connection between our region’s farms and your community’s food, land, and water. Bring a side or dessert to share for dinner, and the Dream Acres wood-fired oven will provide locally-sourced pizzas and flat breads. Dinner will be followed by live music and contra dancing by the Crater City String Band.  

To reserve a spot, click here.

Camping sites are available at nearby Masonic Park and Forestville Mystery Cave and Lake Louise State Parks. Camping at Masonic is rustic,first-come-first-serve, free, and does not require a reservation. Fillmore County, who manages the park, only asks that you call the dispatchers at507-765-3874 when you arrive with your vehicle information and phone number in case of emergency. State Park reservations cost $25 a night and can be made online.

July 2025

Tuesday July 15

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Organic Fruit & Vegetable Field Day
Tuesday July 15
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Organic Fruit & Vegetable Field Day
1805 Dudley Ave, Falcon Heights, MN 55113, USA

Join U of M researchers and Extension for updates on organic fruit and vegetable research and tour the Student Organic Farm and the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in Saint Paul. Topics include: organic insect management, integrating livestock into vegetable farms, new crops for Minnesota, irrigation strategies, and more. Free to the public.
 
For details and to register, click here.

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