No. 4, 2018, 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 612-816-9342 or via e-mail.

Report from the Field…3
• Respect Our Mother

Myth Buster…5
• Land Sharing vs. Land Sparing

LSP News…6
• Staff Changes
• LSP Youth Summit
• Fighting for the Land & Community
• Farm Financial Stress Workshop
• Financial Stress? Here are Some Resources

Policy & Organizing…8
• LSP Sets Priorities for 2019 MN Session
• MPCA Denies Permit for Factory Farm
• 2018 Farm Bill Signed into Law
• Healthcare Crisis at Our Doorstep
• Legislative Healthcare Priorities

Soil Health…12
• The Hidden Figures of Soil Health
• A Pocket Guide to the Power of Soil
• When the Neighbors Take Notice
• Cropping Systems Calculator
• The Tale of the Trench
• Join the Soil Builders’ Network
• Holistic Management Class in March
• Talking Smart Soil
• Study Finds Cover Crop Grazing Pays
• ‘Soil Health & Profits’ Winter Workshops
• Forage-Powered Financials
• New Grazing Fact Sheet
• LSP Grazing Helpline

Farm Beginnings…20
• A Land-Based Launching Pad
• Workshops for Landowners & Renters
• Conservation Lease Resources
• 2019-2020 FB Class
• Farm Beginnings in Other Regions
• Farm Dreams
• LSP Launches New Farmer Network
• Beginning Farmer Podcasts

Seeking Farmers-Seeking Land Clearinghouse…26

Reviews…28
• Dirt to Soil
• Great American Outpost
• Wildly Successful Farming Available

Membership Update…30
• Show Your LSP Support with Pride
• Support LSP in Your Workplace
• Art of the Possible
• Get Current with LIVE-WIRE
• Support LSP this Tax Season
• Volunteer for LSP
• Membership Questions?
• LSP’s Ear to the Ground Podcast

Stewardship Calendar…32

Upcoming Events

January 2025

Friday January 10 – Saturday January 11

Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference

Friday January 10 – Saturday January 11

Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference

833 5th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

For more information, click here.

Tuesday January 21 – Thursday January 23

MN Young & Emerging Farmers Workshop

Tuesday January 21 – Thursday January 23

MN Young & Emerging Farmers Workshop

Mankato

A short application process will be required to be accepted into the Minnesota Young and Emerging Farmer Workshop. Requirements include being 21-45 years of age and actively crop farming in Minnesota. Applications, which close Nov. 15, will be reviewed and selected by Dec. 1, and maxed at 40 participants, after which a wait list will become available. Participation is free with lodging expenses also covered.

The application link can be found here.

Thursday January 23

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Lakes and Prairies Solar 101 - Moorhead
Thursday January 23
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Lakes and Prairies Solar 101 - Moorhead
Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th St S, Moorhead, MN 56560, USA
Learn about solar energy and its benefits for your home, or small business. This meeting will take you through the technology, economics, financing and more. You’ll also learn about the Solar Co-op in your area. The program is free to join, and members are not obligated to buy solar panels. For details and to register, click here. Information on the Lakes and Prairie Solar Co-op is here.

Tuesday January 28

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

LSP Small Grains Workshop: Economic Opportunity in a New Market Environment

Tuesday January 28

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

LSP Small Grains Workshop: Economic Opportunity in a New Market Environment

Edgewater Bay Pavilion, 1940 Edgewater Drive, Albert Lea MN 56007

Based on the visionary work of a fourth-generation farmer and scientist, Bob Quinn (Kamut International), and practical, farmer-innovators like Roy Pfaltzgraff (Pfz Farms) and Landon and Anne Plagge (Green Acres Milling), the Land Stewardship Project is hosting a workshop for producers who are seeking confidence and practical know-how related to raising and selling small grains. Join us at the Edgewater Bay Pavilion in Albert Lea, Minn., on Tuesday, January 28, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Learn about how farmers are:

Increasing the value of what they produce and demonstrating the value of those products to human and environmental health.
Diversifying crop production while maintaining quality and profitability.
Organizing around cooperatively processing and marketing grains.

Click here to register. The workshop flyer is available here. For more information, contact LSP’s Shea-Lynn Ramthun at 651-301-1897 or at slramthun@landstewardshipproject.org.

Bob Quinn
Bob Quinn’s roots run deep into the rich soil of Big Sandy, Montana, where he returned after earning a PhD in plant biochemistry from UC Davis to apply his scientific knowledge to the family farm. Bob Quinn’s vision extends beyond agriculture, embodying a holistic approach where local minimal processing, community, health, and education intertwine to redefine success in farming. By championing the idea that every grain and every harvest should enhance health, Bob has positioned the Quinn Institute as a leader in transforming agriculture into a health-giving enterprise.

Roy Pfaltzgraff
Roy Pfaltzgraff is the current head of PFZ Farms in Colorado. PFZ Farms’ mission is to help educate fellow producers and consumers about how food is grown and to provide high-quality products for their community. The third-generation family farm produces quality agricultural products with sustainable methods for a healthier world. While they produce a number of dry-land crops, they also have a number of smaller production focuses that support their overall vision of a regenerative farm.

Landon Plagge
Landon Plagge holds nearly 30 years of hands-on farming experience growing corn, soybeans, livestock, and oats, as well as managing a grain handling facility, stewarding one million bushels of grain annually. Landon studied Investment Banking at Bentley College and holds a degree in business administration from the University of Northern Iowa. Landon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in sustainable farming practices and crop rotation, and frequently shares his experiences to help others improve their own practices. He is also one of the founders of Green Acres Milling, a farmer-owned oat processing facility under construction in Albert Lea, Minn.

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Tuesday January 28

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Online

Are you a farmland owner or retiring farmer looking to transition ownership or rent your farmland in ways that reflect your values? The Land Stewardship Project is hosting an online holistic Farm Transition Planning Course designed to help you act on your conservation and social values. Seven 2 ½ hour sessions will bring professionals, farmers, and LSP staff together to dig into values, goals, and communication, as well as generational, financial, legal and long-term care considerations.

The dates and times for the course are:

Jan 28: Goal Setting for Life & Land, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 4: Values and Why Farm Transition Planning is Needed, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 11: Financial Considerations, 5:30- 8 p.m.
Feb. 18: Legal Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 25: Working with Next Generation Farmers, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 4: Long Term Care Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 18: Resources and Planning Next Steps, Presentations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Workshop Fee: $250 per farm family

For more information and to register, click here. You can also contact LSP’s Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

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