No. 3, 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.

Stewardship Roots…3
• National Sustainable Ag Oral History Project

Myth Buster Box…4
• Mega-Dairies & Local Communities

LSP’s Vision for the Future…5
• Core Values: Stewardship, Justice, Democracy, Health, Community

LSP News…6
• New LSP Board Members
• New Organizer Joins Staff
• CSA Farmers: Time to sign-up for the Directory
• Sign-up for the LIVE-WIRE
• Pasture Walks
• Farmland Access Resource
• Financial Skills Resource

Community Based Foods…8
• Partners on the Marketing Front

Policy & Organizing…10
• LSP’s Farm Crisis Statement
• The Power of a Positive Narrative
• The False Basis of ‘Get Big’
• Court Orders Factory Farm Review
• Standing Up to a Factory Farm
• Members Talk Trade, Crisis in DC

Renting It Out Right…16
• The Power of No
• Tips for Conservation Conversations
• Conservation Leases Toolkit

Farm Beginnings…18
• 2020-2021 FB Course Accepting Applications
• Farm Beginnings in Other Regions
• Farm Dreams

Farm Transitions…19
• Seeking Farmers-Seeking Land Clearinghouse
• A High-Value Apprenticeship
• Transition Tips from Both Sides
• Farm Transition Planning Workshops this Winter

Soil Health…24
• The Science of Resiliency
• Report from the Soil Health Underground
• A Caver-Farmer’s Point of View
• Join the Soil Builders’ Network

Reviews…28
• Fruitful Labor
• Farming for the Long Haul
• Wildly Successful Farming Coming Out in Paperback

Membership Update…30
• The True Meaning of Stewardship
• Volunteer for LSP
• In Memory & in Honor
• Support LSP in Your Workplace

Stewardship Calendar…32

LSP Merchandise…32

Upcoming Events

June 2025

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.

Friday June 27

9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Agrivoltaics Field Day
Friday June 27
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Agrivoltaics Field Day
West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 MN-329, Morris, MN 56267, USA
Join University of Minnesota Extension for presentations and solar site tours at the West Central Research and Outreach Center. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the benefits, considerations and opportunities of farming using solar energy. Session topics include cattle and sheep solar grazing, solar site forages, grain crops under solar panels, and solar developer perspectives. Register here. Can’t attend the field day? Check out the July 22 agrivoltaics webinar on growing forages and grains.

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

Wednesday July 9

8:00 am – 10:00 am

Risk to Resilience Climate Cohort

Wednesday July 9

8:00 am – 10:00 am

Risk to Resilience Climate Cohort

Online

Farming has always required adaptability, and today’s changing weather patterns are creating new challenges and opportunities. The Land Stewardship Project, in collaboration with University of Minnesota Extension, has created a resilience-focused program that gives commodity and small grain growers the opportunity to join a cohort with other like-minded farmers and learn how to prepare their operations for the future. At this Risk to Resilience cohort, you will learn:

How changing weather patterns in the Upper Midwest are likely to affect your farm.
How you can prepare a plan that protects your farm from a changing climate.
How to improve your planning skills and meet with experts for opportunities to grow climate resilience on your farm.
How to build community with fellow farmers interested in creating operations that are sustainable and resilient in the long term.

Program Details:

Online format — join from your home or farm.
Four sessions, 10-15 hours total investment — built for busy schedules, beginning July 2025. We’ll pause workshops for small grains harvest and resume in August 2025.
A $250 stipend will be provided to participants who attend the sessions and provide feedback on experience and content.

Dates of the Risk to Resilience Sessions:

Wednesday, July 9, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Wednesday, July 16, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Harvest Break
Wednesday, August 20, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 27, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.

To register, click here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

LSP Lewiston Office Summer Potluck Lunch

Wednesday July 9

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

LSP Lewiston Office Summer Potluck Lunch

Land Stewardship Project, 180 E Main St, Lewiston, MN 55952, USA

Spring planting is behind us and midsummer is upon us! Take a quick break from all the action by celebrating summer with the Land Stewardship Project by joining us for lunch at our Lewiston office.

Our Summer Potluck will be held on Wednesday, July 9, from noon to 2 p.m., at our office in downtown Lewiston, Minn. (180 E. Main Street). This will be an opportunity to build community, hear from other farmers, socialize, and enjoy a great meal together. We also invite everyone to take a self-guided tour of the newly renovated spaces in our office that we have been working on over the winter. As a member-driven organization, this is your space too.

LSP will be providing the main dish (meat and vegetarian options) and we invite you to bring a dish to pass. This event is open to all, so please bring a friend or two as well. Let’s celebrate the joy of summer through good food and good company!

RSVP’s are encouraged, but not required. Hope to see you there — you can RSVP by e-mailing LSP’s Alex Romano direct.

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

See & Discuss

Program Details:

Dates of the Risk to Resilience Sessions: