No. 1, 2019, Land Stewardship Letter

• An on-line version of the Land Stewardship Letter is here.

• Archived Land Stewardship Letters are here.

• Paper copies are available by contacting Brian DeVore at 612-722-6377 or via e-mail.

A Remembrance…3
• Dean Harrington
• Chris Blanchard

Roots of Justice…4
• LSP Land Gifts & American Indian Sovereignty

Gender Equity & the Land…6
• A Guy Could Use a Gender-Neutral Pronoun

Myth Buster…7
• Marginal Acres & Nitrogen Fertilizer

LSP News…8
• LSP Staff News
• Field Day Examines Water Infiltration
• Dining for LSP
• LSP’s Ear to the Ground Podcast
• Family Farm Breakfast
• Feeling Stressed? Help is Available

Policy & Organizing…11
• Frac Sand Case Goes to Supreme Court
• Factory Farm Proposals Defeated
• 2019 Minnesota Legislative Session
• A Victory for Healthcare Funding

Renting It Out Right…14
• Rooting a Landowner Relationship in Soil
• Leases that Fit Your Stewardship Values

Soil Health…17
• Integrating Crops & Livestock: Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Dividends
• LSP Grazing Helpline
• Fact Sheet on Grazing & Financials
• Join the Soil Builders’ Network

Farm Transitions…21
• Seeking Farmers-Seeking Land Clearinghouse
• Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit
• From Crisis to Community
• Field Day Season Begins

Farm Beginnings…26
• 2019-2020 Course Accepting Applications
• Farm Beginnings in Other Regions
• Farm Dreams

Membership Update…27
• Tvedt Honored for Soil Health Work
• LSP Launches Social Media Initiative
• MOSES Award to Ford, Riddle
• Get Current with LIVE-WIRE
• Go Public With Your LSP Support
• Support LSP in Your Workplace
• In Memory & in Honor
• Membership Questions?
• Volunteer for LSP
• Family Farm Breakfast Volunteers

Reviews…30
• Storm Lake
• Building the Agricultural City
• Wildly Successful Farming Available

Stewardship Calendar…32

Upcoming Events

December 2025

Saturday December 20

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

ICE Out of Minnesota! March & Rally

Saturday December 20

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

ICE Out of Minnesota! March & Rally

3521 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA

As federal deportation tactics are escalating around Minnesota, folks from all walks of life are coming together to stand up for neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers who are under threat of being illegally, and sometimes violently, separated from their loved ones by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

The Land Stewardship Project is a member of the Immigrant Defense Network (IDN), a network of over 90 Minnesota organizations dedicated to protecting and advancing the constitutional rights of immigrant communities across Minnesota. At LSP, we know we all depend upon immigrants’ contributions to a robust food and agriculture economy in this country and we will not have a sustainable farm and food system until it is sustainable for everyone.

Which is why we are reaching out to share an opportunity to stand with our immigrant neighbors and show what a strong and united community looks like. We hope you can join LSP as part of IDN’s delegation at the ICE OUT OF MN! March and Rally on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 11:30 a.m., in South Minneapolis.

March Details (more details can be found on the registration form):

IDN is asking people to please register ahead of time.
Meet at 10 a.m. at COPAL Worker’s Center, located at 3521 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55406.
- Transportation will be provided to the march starting point as well as return transportation to Worker’s Center at the end of the march.
March begins at 11:30 a.m.
Route: Lake Street & Bloomington to Pillsbury Ave. & Lake Street
- Please be prepared to walk outdoors for approximately 30 minutes.

REGISTER HERE
- We’re asking LSP members who are interested in participating to register ahead of time and answer Yes to the question asking organization participation. You can indicate Land Stewardship Project on the registration form. This will let the organizers know how many organizations are being represented at this event.

Monday December 22

All Day

Beginning Famer Tax Credit Webinar

Monday December 22

Beginning Famer Tax Credit Webinar

Zoom online

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) will start accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on Jan. 1. This is an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

This webinar will provide basic information on the program and how to apply for it. To register, click here.

9:00 am – 11:30 am

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Monday December 22

9:00 am – 11:30 am

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Zoom online

In December and January, the Organic Fruit Growers Association is offering a series of climate resilience workshops. Workshop goals are to learn about the changing climate in our region and the expected impacts on fruit farmers and to select climate resilience practices which are suited to your farm’s goals and values. The outcome of the workshops will be a written climate resilience plan with actionable steps to make your farm more resilient to changing climate.

Workshops will be led by University of Minnesota extension educators Katie Black and Madeline Wimmer and include times for farmer-to-farmer discussion. This series includes the following four meetings. Expect to spend an additional 4-10 hours outside the meetings developing your farm’s climate resilience plan:

Wednesday Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Monday, Dec. 22, discussion (online via Zoom — optional but encouraged)
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (in-person workshop in La Crosse, Wis. Lunch provided, and you can be reimbursed for mileage traveling to and from the meeting.)

For details and to register, click here.

January 2026

Thursday January 1

All Day: Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Applications
Thursday January 1
Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Applications
Online
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) will start accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on Jan. 1. This is an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

On Dec. 22, a webinar will provide basic information on the program and how to apply for it. To register, click here.

Wednesday January 7

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Wednesday January 7

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

La Crosse, Wis.

n December and January, the Organic Fruit Growers Association is offering a series of climate resilience workshops. Workshop goals are to learn about the changing climate in our region and the expected impacts on fruit farmers and to select climate resilience practices which are suited to your farm’s goals and values. The outcome of the workshops will be a written climate resilience plan with actionable steps to make your farm more resilient to changing climate.

Workshops will be led by University of Minnesota extension educators Katie Black and Madeline Wimmer and include times for farmer-to-farmer discussion. This series includes the following four meetings. Expect to spend an additional 4-10 hours outside the meetings developing your farm’s climate resilience plan:

Wednesday Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Monday, Dec. 22, discussion (online via Zoom — optional but encouraged)
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (in-person workshop in La Crosse, Wis. Lunch provided, and you can be reimbursed for mileage traveling to and from the meeting.)

For details and to register, click here.

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