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 →
Pulling Together. Moving Forward. Stand with LSP on the Farm Crisis. The pain of this crisis is not being felt by agribusiness and corporate interests that continue to make profits at the expense of farmers and rural communities. The fact is that there is money in agriculture, but farmers are not getting a fair share… Read More →
A BioBlitz Highlights the Role Livestock Farmers Can Play in Habitat Improvement It’s the kind of overcast day in June that leaves one wondering if the sun decided to take an extended summer holiday. But as heavy thunderstorms threaten this part of Big Stone County in western Minnesota, some 130-people break up into teams and… Read More →
LEWISTON, Minn. — Composting and soil biology will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project field day on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Lewiston dairy farm of Dale and Carmene Pangrac and Kim and Andy Olson (19300 Trestle Drive). The field day will explore the soil microbial universe… Read More →
The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) believes that Tony Lourey’s departure as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) represents a serious loss for rural people, farmers, and all of Minnesota. As a farmer himself, former Commissioner Lourey brought an essential perspective and personal experience to his role in the administration of Governor Tim… Read More →
Climate change is happening. Farmers who work with higher elevations may be able to deny it. Those of us on more variable and wetter soils cannot. I have been aware of it in our farming for 20 years. The water cycle is impaired. This is the most obvious. Excessive rainfall spreads into a huge number… Read More →
HARMONY, Minn. — A special “Farming in Karst Country” field day will highlight the intersection of soil-building farming practices, water movement, and karst geology on Thursday, July 18, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Niagara Cave near Harmony (29842 Co. Hwy. 30). During this Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event, farmers and geologists will share… Read More →
AFTON, Minn. — A farm tour on “Season Extension and Farm Efficiency” will be held Saturday, April 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at 10th Street Farm and Market, in Afton (13197 10th St. South). This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP by April 24 here or by contacting Annelie… Read More →
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 →
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — As traditional local foods and direct-to-consumer markets have become increasingly saturated, a number of farmers and buyers in Minnesota are working together to re-shape the local foods economy. The Land Stewardship Project’s (LSP) Farm Viability Steering Committee is offering an “Innovative Markets Forum” on Thursday, March 7, from 4 p.m. to… Read More →
