Ear to the Ground 294: Rootless Regeneration

These beginning farmers are accessing land without owning it — one megawatt at a time.

More Information

• LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course
• Farm Beginnings in other Regions: the Farm Beginnings Collaborative
• Land Stewardship Letter article on Josie Trople & Arlo Hark
• Fresh Voices: the Ear to the Ground podcast series on beginning farmers

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

**Josie Trople and Arlo Hark’s sheep graze at a solar array owned by a company in southeastern Minnesota.**

Upcoming Events

February 2025

Wednesday February 26

9:00 am – 4:00 pm: MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
Wednesday February 26
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
AUNE HALL (4-H BUILDING), 1508 Aune Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904, USA

The Farm to School Roadshow is an opportunity to make newconnections and learn how to build successful Farm to Schoolrelationships. These in-person events will bring together Minnesotaschool nutrition professionals, early care providers, producers and farmers fornetworking and training opportunities. The Roadshow is a full day event with options to attend the full day or half day.

Growing for Wholesale — Vegetable Production and Planning (9 a.m.-noon): The morning session will take an in-depth look at vegetable crop planning and management for production targeted at the wholesale market, specifically schools. We will deep dive into topics such as crop planning, pest management, and safe harvest and storage with U of M Extension educators. Growers will leave the morning with customizable crop plans for common crops schools are buying and the most up-to-date research related to growing healthy, abundant crops.

Business of Farm to School and Farmer/ Buyer Networking (1 p.m.-4 p.m.: All Farmers/ Producers and Schools/ Early Care Providers Welcome:
The afternoon session is open to all local sellers (farmers, producers, makers) and buyers (schools, early care centers and providers) who are interested in expanding their local purchasing power and reach. This session will include a training titled “The Business of Farm to School — From Planning in the Fields to Serving on the Tray, and Everything in Between,” and a networking activity where buyers and sellers will have an opportunity to meet and explore potential business partnerships.

Bring your business cards!

Dates and Locations for in-person events:
February 26: Aune Hall at Graham Park (Rochester)
February 28: New Ulm Civic Center (New Ulm)

For details and to register, click here.

Friday February 28

9:00 am – 4:00 pm: MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
Friday February 28
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
MN Farm to School Roadshow: Making Regional Farm to School Connections
New Ulm Civic Center, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm, MN 56073, USA

The Farm to School Roadshow is an opportunity to make new connections and learn how to build successful Farm to School relationships. These in-person events will bring together Minnesota school nutrition professionals, early care providers, producers and farmers for networking and training opportunities. The Roadshow is a full day event with options to attend the full day or half day.

Growing for Wholesale — Vegetable Production and Planning (9 a.m.-noon): The morning session will take an in-depth look at vegetable crop planning and management for production targeted at the wholesale market, specifically schools. We will deep dive into topics such as crop planning, pest management, and safe harvest and storage with U of M Extension educators. Growers will leave the morning with customizable crop plans for common crops schools are buying and the most up-to-date research related to growing healthy, abundant crops.

Business of Farm to School and Farmer/ Buyer Networking (1 p.m.-4 p.m.: All Farmers/ Producers and Schools/ Early Care Providers Welcome:
The afternoon session is open to all local sellers (farmers, producers, makers) and buyers (schools, early care centers and providers) who are interested in expanding their local purchasing power and reach. This session will include a training titled “The Business of Farm to School — From Planning in the Fields to Serving on the Tray, and Everything in Between,” and a networking activity where buyers and sellers will have an opportunity to meet and explore potential business partnerships.

Bring your business cards!

Dates and Locations for in-person events:
February 26: Aune Hall at Graham Park (Rochester)
February 28: New Ulm Civic Center (New Ulm)

For details and to register, click here.

March 2025

Tuesday March 4

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

West Central MN Sustainable Ag Webinar

Tuesday March 4

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

West Central MN Sustainable Ag Webinar

Online

Join the West Central Food Council for a series of lightning talks from some of the most interesting initiatives and businesses in Minnesota’s food and farming ecosystem. This free, virtual event takes place every Tuesday throughout the month of March (March 4, 11, 18, and 25).

For more information and to register, click here.

This webinar series is sponsored by the West Central Food Council and made possible by funding provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Local Climate Action Grants.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Town Hall on Consolidation & Right to Repair With AG Keith Ellison

Tuesday March 4

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Town Hall on Consolidation & Right to Repair With AG Keith Ellison

Morris, MN

Join the Land Stewardship Project in Donnelly, Minn., on Tuesday, March 4, from, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., for a town hall discussion with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. This is your opportunity to talk about issues such as consolidation and right to repair in agriculture, as well as to learn what his office is doing in these areas and how people can help.

Ellison wants to hear directly from farmers affected by unfair practices and to learn about the direct negative impacts that have resulted in rural communities.

On Jan. 15, Ellison, alongside Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Federal Trade Commission, sued agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere over its use of unfair practices that have limited the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to fix equipment manufactured by the company. This restriction on the ability of farmers to work on their own equipment has forced them to rely on Deere’s network of authorized dealers for necessary repairs, a situation that can be time consuming and expensive.

LSP has a long history in support of right to repair and standing against corporate consolidation in agriculture. We believe our economy exists to support all of us, not just the few. An agricultural system that works in relationship with the land and supports a healthy, vibrant rural community structure is possible and we have shown how it can be built.

We hope you will join us on March 4 to lift up the voices of rural Minnesota and to take action for a future that benefits us all.

For more information and to reserve a spot, click here. More information is also available by contacting LSP organizer Matthew Sheets via e-mail.

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Tuesday March 4

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 by Jan. 12, click here. You can also contact LSP’s Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

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