There are numerous ways of communicating the value society places on having more family farmers on the land, not fewer. This morning, the USDA announced it was awarding $18 million in grants to groups that are helping beginning farmers nationwide. That sends an important message that the federal government, thanks to initiatives put in the… Read More →
What’s up with all the backlash against urban food production? Google the phrase “urban farming illegal” and you’ll see what I mean. Communities in Minnesota and across North America are struggling with what to do when some energetic entrepreneurs begin raising produce in their yards on a scale that goes beyond planting a few tomatoes… Read More →
While leading a group of natural resource professionals through one of his dairy pastures one early fall day, Martin Jaus made it crystal clear he farms the land for more than a milk check. “Every day we see something that just amazes us,” he said with a smile. “One day I was making hay and… Read More →
Ready for the Next Step (part 1) Jon Kaiser is less than a year away from paying off his Farm Beginnings livestock loan. He smiles when he says this, because it means he’s just a little bit closer to making farming more than just a fantasy. “I’m surprised I’ve come this far,” says the 35-year-old… Read More →
On a January evening in western Minnesota, Carol Ford braves 20-degree temperatures and a wind that’s packing snow as she walks the few yards from her house to the garage. Once inside, she approaches a door with a colorful, hand-painted sign above it that reads: “The Door into Summer.” She opens the door and, sure… Read More →
Thaum lub ib hlis yav tsaus ntuj nyob rau to yav hnub poob, Menixuta. Lub sijhawm ntawv nws txias txog 20 des nqes thaib cua mas ntsawj nrog te xwb los Carol Ford tseem muaj peev xwm taug ob peb kauj ruam ntawm nws tsev mus rau tom nws lub nkab las. Thaum nyob hauv… Read More →
En una tarde de Enero en Minnesota occidental, Carol Ford afronta 20- grados de temperatura y vientos que empacan nieve cuando ella camina las pocas yardas de su casa al garaje. Una vez que adentro, ella se acerca a una puerta con un pintado de una mano pintada y que encima dice. “La Puerta en… Read More →
Dairy farmers know better than anyone what it takes to keep a farm going through low prices, tight margins, long days, and decisions made far from the barn. Right now, Minnesota has a chance to speak up about what mega-dairies mean for family farms, rural communities, and the future of dairying in this state —… Read More →
Farming in the midst of tight land access, growth decisions, long-term transition planning, and a changing climate can bring up big questions about where your operation is headed. If you are looking for a grounded way to sort through those questions, the Land Stewardship Project is here to walk alongside you. LSP is opening applications… Read More →
MORRIS, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) has joined Food & Water Watch in suing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) over the state’s recent failure to order an environmental impact statement (EIS) for Riverview’s proposed West River Dairy expansion near Morris. If built, the 18,855-cow facility would be the largest factory farm in… Read More →
