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SE MN Farmer Calls for Crop Insurance Reform During Capitol Hill Fly-in 

Advocates from 6 States Call for Federal Policy that Bolsters Sustainable Agriculture & Addresses Climate Change 

June 26, 2023

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ORONOCO, Minn. —  Southeastern Minnesota farmer Angela Smith had an important message for lawmakers when she traveled to the nation’s capital earlier this month: small and diversified farmers, as well as beginning farmers, need much better access to crop insurance in order to survive and thrive at a time of extreme climate change. Smith, who is a member of the Minnesota-based Land Stewardship Project (LSP), joined farmers and other sustainable agriculture advocates from across the country in pushing for a 2023 Farm Bill that supports crop insurance reform, conservation, climate-smart agriculture, small meat processing, and publicly-funded sustainable agriculture research. The policy fly-in was hosted by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and included more than seven meetings with Congressional leaders and USDA officials. Delegations from Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan and Pennsylvania were involved in the fly-in.

“I went to D.C. because I wanted a chance to talk to legislators about why having access to crop insurance that supports diversified, small farms like ours is essential,” said Smith, who owns Middle Fork Farm, a fruit, vegetable and herb operation located near Oronoco along the middle fork of the Zumbro River. “Our farm has experienced weather extremes from flooding to drought over the past several years and recently signed up for the USDA’s Micro Farm crop insurance program so that we could keep on farming during these unpredictable times. I hope that the next Farm Bill will improve this program so that more small farms feeding their local communities can survive and thrive.”

Smith and the other fly-in participants voiced their support for specific pieces of legislation, such as the Agriculture Resilience Act and the Strengthening Local Processing Act. The Farm Bill, which is renewed every five years, controls everything from what is grown in states like Minnesota to how much access to food low income families have. The current ag law is set to expire Sept. 30, and lawmakers are currently drafting its possible replacement. Minnesota has the potential to have an outsized impact on the shape of the 2023 Farm Bill, given that four members of the Congressional delegation serve on legislative agriculture committees.

Sarah Goldman, an LSP organizer who also participated in the fly-in earlier this month, said it’s become clear in recent years that farmers in all regions of the country are increasingly confronted with climate-related challenges such as extreme weather events, pests, and hotter and drier conditions. These challenges affect productivity and livelihoods and take a toll on natural resources, and farmers urgently need greater support and access to federal programs in order to implement effective solutions, she said.

“Lawmakers need to hear the voices and stories of farmers and advocates like Angela so they can craft a Farm Bill that leverages the power of our nation’s food and agricultural system to seek solutions that ensure that America is resilient and healthy for generations to come,” said Goldman. “LSP farmer-members like her are resilient, innovative entrepreneurs, but they deserve additional support to allow them to adapt to the growing climate and market disruptions that have become widespread over the past five years.”

-30-

Category: News Releases
Tags: 2023 Farm Bill • climate change • crop insurance reform • federal ag policy

Contact

Sarah Goldman, LSP, e-mail, 612-400-6341

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August 2025

Tuesday August 5 – Thursday August 7

Farmfest 2025
Tuesday August 5 – Thursday August 7
Farmfest 2025
28366 County Hwy 13, Morgan, MN 56266, USA

Details are here.

Thursday August 7

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Thursday August 7
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Red Rock Center for the Arts, 222 E Blue Earth Ave, Fairmont, MN 56031, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
CFFE Tariffs & Ag Webinar
Thursday August 7
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
CFFE Tariffs & Ag Webinar
Online Webinar

Join the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment online on Thursday, August 7, for an update on where things stand with tariffs and what that means for food and farm policy and the factory farm system. We’ll cover the basics of how trade policy impacts agriculture, what recent changes mean for the U.S. food system, and ways to get involved in the fight for fair trade and fair markets. 

The Land Stewardship Project is a longtime coalition member of the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment. I hope you can join this informative session!

Speakers for this webinar include Patty Lovera from the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environnment and Ben Lilliston from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

When: Thursday, Aug 7, 2 p.m. Central/3 p.m. Eastern
Register in advance at this link

After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar. For more information, contact LSP policy director Sean Carroll at scarroll@landstewardshipproject.org.
 
 

Friday August 8

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
Friday August 8
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
10470 190th St, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

Roots and Rotation is a summer field day series happening across Minnesota. These field days will discuss the use of livestock for soil health goals in different agricultural systems. 
 
Learn about the benefits of integrating livestock onto cropland and how to make it work on your operation. Hear from experienced farmers and Extension educators specializing in crops, livestock, and soil health. These events are for producers looking to elevate their cropland soil health and increase their forage resources. 

For more information and to register, see the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association website.

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
Friday August 8
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
22955 570th Ave, Austin, MN 55912, USA

Members of the Land Stewardship Project’s Austin Area Soil Health Hub are hosting a sunflower social on Tom and Kim Finnegan’s farm Friday, Aug. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will be open to all area farmers. Meet members of this peer-to-peer farmer group, see the beautiful sunflower fields, and learn about diversification.  

Farming should include a trusted network that ensures we are all successful. How could having a network of farmers that provide support, resources, and comradery impact your farm? 

On Aug. 8, gather with area farmers who are invested in soil health and sustainable practices, and are committed to learning from each other. Join us for an evening on the Finnegan farm for a hay ride around the sunflower fields and to learn more about their diversified farm. There will be a supper and lots of time to connect with farmers in the area.

RSVP here. 

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