Ear to the Ground No. 238: Big Box Ag & Musical Chairs
An ag economist talks about the negative impacts the “get big or get out” attitude has had on farming and rural communities.
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The Power of Pasture Walks
I began attending Land Stewardship Project soil health events because I was looking to improve the soil health of my hay field and pasture, which sustain some beef cattle and equine southwest of Winona, Minn. I attended several of the grazing group pasture walks. The pasture walks provided an opportunity to share knowledge and to… Read More →
In the Mirror
Note: Land Stewardship Project member Jim VanDerPol raises crops and livestock on Pastures a Plenty Farm near Kerkhoven in western Minnesota. He recently wrote this commentary expressing his opinions on the farm financial crisis for his own blog, and has given permission to re-post it here. Farmer suicide is on an uptrend. Some would call… Read More →
Standing up to a Factory Farm & Asking Tough Questions
CROW LAKE TOWNSHIP, Minn. — It’s early November, and Grass Lake in Stearns County’s Crow Lake Township is peaceful, lined with cattails bending in the breeze and a few ducks and geese watching for winter’s arrival. But if things had gone differently a few months ago, neighbors could have been seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling… Read More →
Legislation to Reinstate MPCA Citizens’ Board gets 2nd Hearing in MN House March 7
Legislation to Reinstate MPCA Citizens’ Board gets 2nd Hearing in MN House March 7 SAINT PAUL, Minn. — A bill to reinstate a key body for allowing Minnesota citizens to have a say in the future of their communities’ environmental health will be considered during a legislative hearing on Thursday, March 7. The House Government… Read More →
MN Farmers to Lead Farm Finances & Soil Health Workshop in Preston Feb. 15
PRESTON, Minn. — A Land Stewardship Project (LSP) workshop called, “Cover Crops, No-Till & Grazing: Evaluating the Economics and First Steps to Improving Soil” will be held Friday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the St. Columban Church in Preston (408 Preston St. NW). It will feature presentations by southwestern Minnesota farmers… Read More →
In Rare Decision, MPCA Commissioner Denies Feedlot Permit to Fillmore County Factory Farm
Public Outcry for Environmental Impact Statement Results in Permit Denial ST. PAUL, Minn. — After months of public pressure and in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Commissioner John Linc Stine announced on Dec. 18 that a controversial factory hog farm proposed by Catalpa Ag in Newburg Township in Fillmore… Read More →
LSP’s Local Foods Listening Campaign Begins
“We need to change this idea that food is a product or commodity,” said Land Stewardship Project member, farmer and leader, Josh Reinitz. “Food is not a product—it is our energy, our medicine, and is made by and for real people. Not consumers.” On Oct. 7, LSP members like Josh came together from across the… Read More →
Cover Crops, Companion Crops & the Roller-Crimper Focus of Sept. 3 Field Day in SE MN
CALEDONIA, Minn.—Cover crops, companion crops and the use of the roller-crimper will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project soil health field day on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Registration starts at 9:45 a.m. on Mark Klinski’s farm (9379 Sanden Rd.) with a car caravan departing at 11… Read More →
MPCA Needs to Hear from Us (Again!) on Full Environmental Review for Massive Factory Hog Farm
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is avoiding ordering an in-depth Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Catalpa, LLC factory farm. The agency needs to hear from us (again)! State law requires that if a project has “the potential for significant environmental impacts,” then an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be completed. An EIS fully… Read More →