Ear to the Ground 275: Blurring the Bobolink Boundaries

How the Specht family is using rotational grazing, citizen science, and community collaboration to tear down the fence between the agricultural and avian worlds.

More Information:

• The Spechts have been featured in two books: Wildly Successful Farming and The Farm as Natural Habitat
• LSP’s Soil Health & Grazing Web Page
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation article on the Specht farm
• Ear to the Ground 200: Bovines, Biodiversity & Bobolinks

You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast episodes on Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes, and other podcast platforms.

Phil Specht checking for birds on his farm in northeastern Iowa. (Photo Courtesy of Larry Stone)

Upcoming Events

August 2022

Tuesday August 16

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: LSP Farm Bill Platform Launch

LSP Farm Bill Platform Launch

Tuesday August 16

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

We are confronting many challenges on our farms and in our rural communities: from extreme weather to land access challenges for beginning farmers, as well as corporate interests influencing so much of our food and farming system. But we have an enormous opportunity to address these challenges through the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill!

Join us for the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Bill Platform Launch Aug. 16, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., at the Legvold Farm in Northfield, Minn.

For details and to register, click here.

Wednesday August 17

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

LSP Regenerative Farming & Grazing Field Day with Allen Williams (Dakota, MN)

Wednesday August 17

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

TOPICS: No-till, 60-inch corn interseeded with highly diverse cover crop mix, diversifying crop rotations, converting marginal ground to pasture, cutting applied nitrogen rates, profitability
DIRECTIONS: From I-90, take exit 258 onto MN-76. Turn North, head towards County Road 12. Take a right and drive about 3 miles.
LUNCH: Prepared by Steak Shop Catering feat. Bergler’s farm-raised meat with a menu of burgers, baked beans, sweet corn, garden salad, and chips.
MORE INFORMATION: Check out this flier.

To register, click here.

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

LSP Food Systems Listening Session

Wednesday August 17

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

With the rising cost of food and continued supply chain issues, our communities are facing ever increasing uncertainty. Many are left asking: Where will our food come from? A more secure and sustainable food system is within our reach. If we increased direct sales of food in Minnesota to 1% of all agricultural sales, we’d have an additional $76.25 million going directly to farmers.

We need you with us to make sure we can make this a reality! Join Land Stewardship Project members and supporters on Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., in Appleton, Minn.

Come and share your ideas about how we can connect farmers, consumers, and food businesses to coordinate markets and support economic development through local foods. We’ll also talk about how the next Farm Bill can help direct federal resources toward community food security, health, and economic vitality.

To register, click here.

Thursday August 18

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

LSP Regenerative Farming & Grazing Field Day with Allen Williams (Caledonia)

Thursday August 18

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

TOPICS: Mob grazing demo, hands-on soil health & grazing tools, cattle handling techniques, financial benefits of grazing, direct marketing & multiple enterprises
DIRECTIONS: From Highway 44, turn onto County Rd. 249/W Main Street. Drive for 2 miles. Continue onto County Road 3. Drive for 5 ½ miles. Turn right onto Crazy Corners Road. Drive for 2 ½ miles to farm. Park on shoulder of Crazy Corners Road.
LUNCH: Prepared by Fat Pat’s BBQ featuring Wholesome Family Farms grass-fed meat with a menu of smoked brisket sandwiches, pinto beans, slaw, dinner roll and fruit.
MORE INFORMATION: Check out this flier.

To register, click here.

Tuesday August 23

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: LSP Deep Canvassing Training

LSP Deep Canvassing Training

Tuesday August 23

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Deep canvassing is a candid, non-judgmental, two-way conversation where canvassers ask voters to share their relevant, emotionally significant experiences and reflect on them aloud. It is one of the most durable and proven forms of persuasion when talking to people who might hold differing beliefs than you and is going to be critical in creating the world we want and need.

Join the Land Stewardship Action Fund to learn about deep canvassing, what it is and why it’s important, and get trained on how to deep canvass so you’re able to powerfully participate in LSAF’s upcoming deep canvasses and put these important skills to use in your community. Register at https://secure.everyaction.com/E1P8BQcq0EizUZLDvtQwUw2.

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