Dates for LSP’s Farm Dreams & Farm Beginnings Set MENOMONIE, Wis. — In coming weeks, beginning farmers have two exciting Land Stewardship Project (LSP) educational opportunities available to them in Menomonie. A four-hour “Farm Dreams” workshop will be held Sunday, August 25, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Menomonie Market Food Co-op (814… Read More →
It’s field day time on this western Minnesota farm, and it’s made clear from the outset that there will no main presenter, no expert from on-high telling it like it is or isn’t, no PowerPoints produced by consultants. This is a field day where farmers learn from other farmers. “You are all consultants,” Richard Ness… Read More →
Note: This commentary originally ran in the Minnesota Star Tribune on Oct. 17. When Minnesota’s growing season draws to a close, so does another kind of season: that period between spring and fall when farmers invite other farmers onto their land for “field days,” so they can share ideas about what’s working and what isn’t.… Read More →
For soil health practices to be truly sustainable, they must be economically viable, environmentally beneficial, and socially supported. As the first blog in this series illustrates, the Land Stewardship Project’s Soil Health Hubs sit at the intersection of these three “legs of the stool.” “Economic” and “environmental” viability may seem like no-brainers, but why is… Read More →
One farmer says he benefits from grazing publicly-managed wildlife habitat. But what does a natural resource professional think about bringing bovines into a natural biome? More Information • Hoosier Ridge Ranch • LSP’s Grazing & Soil Health Web page • MN DNR Whitewater Wildlife Management Area You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast… Read More →
LEWISTON, Minn. — Innovative grazing techniques, custom grazing and marketing of grass-fed livestock products will be the focus of two Land Stewardship Project (LSP) pasture walks in the southeastern Minnesota communities of Altura and Zumbrota in mid-October. These events are free and open to the public. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 4 p.m. to 6:30… Read More →
LEWISTON, Minn. — Are you looking to improve profitability from rotationally grazing livestock by marketing your grass-fed and pastured-based meats directly to the consumer? A workshop featuring local farmers sharing their experiences with direct marketing grass-fed meats will be held Thursday, Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Church of the Brethren… Read More →
A Shared Threat Prompts a Shared Vision for a New Farm As the land auction progressed, it looked like the parcel was on its way to exchanging hands at a decent price. But the landowner grew increasingly anxious about the guy who was likely to get the highest bid—he was a well-known owner of large-scale… Read More →
With spring fully and finally here, things are busy on my farm, but I wanted to take a moment to write to you about an issue moving forward at the Minnesota Capitol that goes against some of the most important principles and values I have. And I want to ask you to take action with… Read More →
Minnesotans value a vibrant democratic process and we won’t let it be undermined to serve corporate interests. We know that this process includes respect for free speech and dissent, which has been critical to achieving progress towards justice in our state. Critical farm policy reforms such as the 1986 statewide legislation that included mandatory mediation… Read More →
