No. 3, 2020, Land Stewardship Letter - Land Stewardship Project

• An online version of the Land Stewardship Letter is here.

• Archived versions of Land Stewardship Letters are here.

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

Stewardship Roots…3
• Sustainable Vs. Regenerative

In Remembrance…4
• Dennis Johnson’s Deep-Rooted Legacy

Myth Buster…5
• Fake Meat’s False Promise

LSP News…6
• Staff Changes
• Driessen Joins LSP Board

Policy & Organizing…8
• Giving Voice to the Needs of Rural Communities
• 2021 Organizing & Social Change Cohort
• Farm Crisis Resources
• Farmers Taking Action on Climate
• Members Speak Out on Soil & Climate

Justice on the Land…12
• Cultural Competency
• LSP’s Vision for the Future
• Rural Voices for Racial Justice Video Series

Soil Health…14
• Letting Livestock do the Work
• Join the Soil Builders’ Network
• LSP Releases Reports on Soil Health Initiatives
• Summer 2020 Grazing Photo Contest
• Songs of the Soil
• Reaching Out to the Risk-Adverse
• Soil Stats: Good News & Bad News

Farm Beginnings…24
• An Enigma in Farm Country
• Workshops: Conservation on Rented Land
• Is Farming in Your Future?
• 2021-2022 Farm Beginnings Course

Farm Transitions…27
• Seeking Farmers-Seeking Land Clearinghouse
• Winter Farm Transition Workshops

Reviews…28
• Perilous Bounty
• Erosion

Membership Update…30
• Help Reinforce LSP’s Roots of Resilience
• Ways to Support LSP
• Support LSP in Your Workplace
• Membership Questions?
• T-shirts! Bumper Stickers! Calendars!
• In Memory & in Honor

Stewardship Calendar…32
• Meetings & Workshops

2021 CSA Directory…32
• Farmers: Sign-up for the 2021 Directory

Upcoming Events

February 2023

Thursday February 2 – Saturday February 4

GrassWorks Grazing Conference

Thursday February 2 – Saturday February 4

See https://grassworks.org/events/grazing-conference for details.

Thursday February 2

1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Winona County Well Testing Screening

Thursday February 2

1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Supporting farmers who are using sustainable practices keeps our drinking water clean. On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Minnesota Well Owners Association and the Minnesota Ground Water Association will be holding a free well water testing screening clinic in western Winona County.

To participate, collect a cup (8 ounces) of water from
your well in a clean plastic or glass container and bring it to the Saint Charles Community Center. Results will be provided to you within 20 minutes.

For more information, check out this flier.

MNWOO StCharlesClinic.pdf

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

LSP Farm Transition Planning Course: Session 2

Thursday February 2

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

…Are you a farm family or landowner thinking about the future or next steps for your farm?

…Are you interested in planning for the next generation of farmers on your land?

…Do you have a spouse/partner helping to make these decisions? Are you both on the same page?

…Are you ready to begin the planning process but don’t know where to start?

THE WORKSHOPS WILL FOCUS ON:

Values and Vision;
Financial, tax, and legal considerations;
Options for farm transitions;
Resources to guide the planning process,
Communication tools.

YOU WILL COME AWAY WITH:

Tools to use that will help gain clarity around your future planning
Next steps toward creating a farm transition plan
Ideas and advice from other farmers and professionals
Networks and support to continue to share and learn
Individualized support

Session One: Thursday, Jan. 26: The focus will be on values and vision. In addition, we will be getting to know one another, discussing expectations for the course, and understanding where folks are in the transition planning process.

Session Two: Thursday, Feb. 2: The focus will be on financial planning. Presenter Joy Kirkpatrick, a Succession Outreach Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability, will share her 29 years of experience working with farm families as they assess their financial needs for retirement and how that impacts their farm transition.

Session Three: Thursday, Feb. 9: The focus will be on legal issues in planning a farm transition. Jason Wagner, an attorney with Wagner Oehler Ltd., will share his experience and knowledge regarding legal aspects that need to be considered when planning a farm transition.

Session Four: Thursday, Feb. 16: The focus will be on communications and intergenerational considerations which are critical to a successful farm transition and that are often overlooked.

Session Five: Thursday, Feb. 23: The focus will be on long -term care issues. Kate Graham, an attorney with an elder law focus, will share her knowledge and experience of what needs to be considered when planning long-term care and how a farm transition can be impacted.

Session Six: Thursday, March 2: The focus will be on integrating all that has been discussed and sharing resources (people, organizations, and materials) that are available to help continue the farm transition planning process. The goal is for each family to create individual next steps to continue the farm transition planning process once the course is over.

To register, click here.

Friday February 3

9:00 am – 10:30 am: 2023 Minnesota Legislative Priorities Overview

2023 Minnesota Legislative Priorities Overview

Friday February 3

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Join public officials, partners, and members of the Land Stewardship Project to hear about LSP and LSP partner organizations’ priorities for the 2023 Minnesota legislative session.

Presentation at noon and an optional Q + A portion at 1 p.m. You can register here.

Questions? Contact LSP Policy Manager Amanda Koehler at akoehler@landstewardshipproject.org or 612-400-6355.

Monday February 6

8:30 am – 1:30 pm: Crop, Livestock & Soil Innovation Conferences Workshop

Crop, Livestock & Soil Innovation Conferences Workshop

Monday February 6

8:30 am – 1:30 pm

The Land Stewardship Project is a co-sponsor of the 2023 I-90 & Highway 14 Tour CLASIC. Network, learn, and get inspired with area farmers and regional farming innovators as we discuss current trends for improving productivity and profitability in crop and livestock operations utilizing soil-healthy practices. The Crop, Livestock, and Soil Innovation Conferences (CLASIC) is made up of two tours in Minnesota, traveling along Interstate 90 and Highway 14, consisting of several stops.

Click this link for more details and a complete listing of workshops. Each venue’s program is unique and varied — be sure to check them all out and register for multiple events.

The speaker for the Feb. 6 event will be Dean Sponheim, a fourth-generation farmer from Mitchell County, Iowa. He began strip-tilling in 1999, aerial applying cover crops in the fall of 2012, and started a cover crop seed business in 2014 and no-tilling corn and soybeans in 2019.

To register for the Feb. 6 workshop, click here.

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