Ear to the Ground 308: Is Your Farm a Business?

**Dave Pratt of Ranch Management Consultants.**

Dave Pratt says most farms and ranches are just a collection of expensive assets and low-paying jobs. But such a dysfunctional business model is not inevitable.

More Information

• Ranch Management Consultants
• LSP’s Soil Health & Grazing Page
• LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course
• LSP’s Journeyperson Course
• LSP’s Land Transitions Tools Page

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

Upcoming Events

February 2025

Saturday February 22

9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Twin Cities Urban Ag Conference

Saturday February 22

9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Twin Cities Urban Ag Conference

Saint Paul College, 235 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN 55102, USA

Engage with local and state leaders and fellow urban farmers about issues facing urban agriculture and food systems in Minnesota. The event will be held in a new location this year and will again feature knowledge share and networking sessions with new panel topics including:

How to be an advocate
Long-term land tenure
Making your urban farm financially viable

Registration is required and no-cost to participants. Visit the conference website to learn more: https://fbmn.org/Participate/Urban-Ag-Conference.

Monday February 24

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

2025 LSP Western MN Food Forum

Monday February 24

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

2025 LSP Western MN Food Forum

Oyate Hall, Student Center, Morris, MN 56267, USA

Last March, over 40 producers, school food service directors, and food advocates gathered at the 2024 Food Forum to listen, learn, and coordinate around farm-to-institution opportunities in western Minnesota. The Land Stewardship Project is excited to gather again to build a vision for our region’s food system at the 2025 Food Forum on Monday, Feb. 24.

Last year’s meeting included producer-buyer matchmaking and input on policies to shape and fund farm-to-school and regional food coordinators. We plan to create similar opportunities (and more!) at this year’s event. Save the date on your calendar and get registered here.

Community meal to follow.

Register for the 2025 Regional Food Forum here.

Tuesday February 25

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Tuesday February 25

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.

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.

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