Neighbors Plan to Push Forward in Fight to Stop Proposed Factory Farm SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Farmers and other rural residents of Goodhue County’s Zumbrota Township gathered today at the headquarters of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in Saint Paul to express their frustration with an inaccurate and incomplete environmental review on a proposed… Read More →
Good afternoon. Thank you for allowing me to testify. Some of you may recognize me as I have been here to testify before. Each time as I request my time before your committee, and I am discouraged by staffers from testifying or my time allotted is minimalized, I am reinvigorated in my opposition to the… Read More →
Calls Needed by Monday, Dec. 8 The Minnesota Senate Rural Task Force met on Nov. 12 to discuss rural Minnesota initiatives that could be brought up during the state legislative session that begins Jan. 6. On a short list of three agenda items was “Rural Permitting Discussion.” This “discussion” focused on corporate ag advocates attacking… Read More →
Historical Move Puts Mega-Operation Under the Microscope The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Citizens’ Board ruled this week that Riverview LLP’s proposed 8,850-cow dairy operation in Stevens County must undergo an in-depth Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). To my knowledge, this is the first time that the MPCA has ordered an EIS of a factory farm. The… 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 →
As farmers from across the region haul corn past Allen and Kathleen Deutz’s farm to the local ethanol plant, they can’t help but notice fences, livestock, and a diversity of plants. What’s not as immediately evident is how this counter- intuitive way of farming is building long-term soil health and resilience. More Information • LSP’s Soil Health Web Page… Read More →
Axdahl’s Garden Farm and Greenhouse, a family owned and operated farm, is situated along the St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minn. Our farm market is located at 7452 Manning Avenue North in Stillwater. We practice sustainable farming, are long-time members of the Land Stewardship Project, highly involved with the NRCS’s Conservation Stewardship Program, and our… Read More →
Two years ago, the Land Stewardship Project released the Cropping Systems Calculator (CSC), a “what-if” tool to examine the costs and returns of two crop rotations. This tool includes scenarios that involve row crops and grazing, and provides important information for farmers as they consider integrating soil building practices into their rotations. The original Calculator… Read More →
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for defeating the 2018 Farm Bill (H.R. 2) by a 212-198 vote. LSP members have been clear from the beginning that we need a Farm Bill that supports family farmers, the land and communities. This proposal failed on all counts.… Read More →
I am not seeing any solid program that addresses access to land for new farmers. I do see networking and apprentice efforts (such as the one we have at our Earth Wisdom Farm) but I am not seen a comprehensive program that actually provides a viable path to ownership, or resident stewardship. With so much… Read More →
