Ear to the Ground Podcast

Here you will find LSP’s 20-year collection of podcasts featuring farmers, scientists, and others telling stories from the land. You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast episodes on Pandora, iTunes, and other podcast platforms.

Ear to the Ground 18

An introduction to innovative direct marketing for beginning farmers.

Ear to the Ground 17

A Farm Beginnings discussion about planning for profit.

Ear to the Ground 16

How Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) brings farmers and consumers together.

Ear to the Ground 15

Farmer Audrey Arner talks about her experiences with globalization.

Ear to the Ground 14

Economist Richard Levins describes how farmers can use market power to get paid a fair price for their production.

Ear to the Ground 13

Second of a two-part series on Fred Kirschenmann and his views on the future of agriculture.

Ear to the Ground 12

Fred Kirschenmann talks about the future of agriculture in the first of a two-part series.

Ear to the Ground 11

A dairy farmer talks about how he has used rotational grazing to improve water quality on his land.

Ear to the Ground 10

A scientist working on the Multiple Benefits of Agriculture project talks about how working farms can help reduce fish-killing water pollution.

Ear to the Ground 09

A research initiative examines how farming can produce multiple benefits for society beyond food and fiber production.

Upcoming Events

March 2025

Monday March 10

8:30 am – 6:00 pm: Farm Transition & Estate Planning Workshop
Monday March 10
8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Farm Transition & Estate Planning Workshop
Hormel Historic Home, 208 4th Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912, USA
This is a comprehensive workshop on multi-generational farm transition and estate planning. This full-day event will empower farm families with essential tools for a smooth and successful transition. Secure your farm’s legacy and plan for a seamless transition. Register today and take the first step toward future-proofing your family business.

Topics covered include:

• Farm Business Succession
• Goal Planning & Family Communication
• Estate, Retirement & Healthcare Planning

• Transfer of Assets

There is no cost to attend (includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a social hour.) Registration required by clicking here.

Tuesday March 11

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: West Central MN Sustainable Ag Webinar
Tuesday March 11
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
West Central MN Sustainable Ag Webinar
Online
Join the West Central Food Council for a series of lightning talks from some of the most interesting initiatives and businesses in Minnesota’s food and farming ecosystem. This free, virtual event takes place every Tuesday throughout the month of March (March 4, 11, 18, and 25).

For more information and to register, click here.

This webinar series is sponsored by the West Central Food Council and made possible by funding provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Local Climate Action Grants.

Wednesday March 12

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Webinar on 0% EQIP Bridge Loan

Wednesday March 12

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Webinar on 0% EQIP Bridge Loan

Zoom Online

The SHOT (Soil Health Opportunities & Tools) Fund invites you to attend an informational webinar where you can learn more about its 0% interest Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Bridge Loan Program.

You may register for the webinar at: https://bit.ly/EQIPZeroWebinar.

EQIP provides a cost share reimbursement to farmers, ranchers, and landowners who install eligible conservation practices that promote soil health, water quality, and biological diversity. One of the major challenges of the program, however, is the requirement that participants pay for the entire cost of practice installation upfront and out-of-pocket.

The SHOT Fund’s EQIP Bridge Loan program provides landowners and farmers with flexible funding to cover the upfront costs of installing EQIP practices. Designed specifically for recipients of NRCS EQIP awards, the bridge loans have no fees, no penalties, and no interest. This 1-hour webinar will feature members of the SHOT Fund team and experts from Food Systems 6 who will cover:

What is the SHOT Fund?
What is the current status of EQIP funding?
What is the SHOT Fund’s EQIP Bridge Loan Program?
What can I expect during the application process?
Q & A

More information is in the attached flyer. Register for this webinar by clicking here.

Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/wus-pgaf-mjk

Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720

Thursday March 13

8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Nitrogen in Southeastern Minnesota

Thursday March 13

8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Nitrogen in Southeastern Minnesota

AUNE HALL (4-H BUILDING), 1508 Aune Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904, USA

University of Minnesota Extension will conduct a day long meeting in Rochester for farmers and those involved in agriculture to discuss the current situation related to nitrogen management.

Topics covered include:

An update on the current regulatory and policy situation
How nitrogen behaves in the environment and how it gets into water
The dynamics of groundwater recharge in southeast Minnesota.
Best management practices for both commercial fertilizer and manure, based on local research
On-farm nitrogen management research results in southeast Minnesota

The day will conclude with a panel discussion of local farmers talking about how they manage nitrogen inputs on their farm. In addition to the presentations, several resource booths will be set up for one-on-one discussion regarding various programs, services, and information.

To register, click here.

9:00 am – 10:30 am

LSP Family Farm Breakfast & Day at the Capitol

Thursday March 13

9:00 am – 10:30 am

LSP Family Farm Breakfast & Day at the Capitol

Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA), 105 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103, USA

We are excited to announce that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will be joining us as our keynote speaker for the Family Farm Breakfast. AG Ellison has a long history of standing up against consolidation in the food and farming system and showing up for rural communities, including this past month filing a lawsuit to give all farmers the right to repair the farm equipment they own as they chose.

RSVP to join the Land Stewardship Project for the 2025 Family Farm Breakfast & Lobby Day on Thursday, March 13, in Saint Paul at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill.

Join us for breakfast as we ground ourselves in good food and community and bring our voices to our legislators.

Gather with hundreds of members and supporters, partners, and public officials over a delicious meal featuring locally-sourced products from LSP members’ farms.
Hear directly from LSP members about the issues LSP is working on and how we’re organizing for change.
Stay for our Lobby Day to meet with your Minnesota Senator, Minnesota Representative, and other public officials.

Tickets

The breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 10:30 am. Choose to stay for our Lobby Day programming and legislator meetings that will follow throughout the day. Please choose the ticket level that works best for you.

We do not want logistics or cost to limit participation. Please reach out to request support not offered in this registration form: tschulte@landstewardshipproject.org.

Breakfast Mugs

Every year we love to commemorate our lobby day with a new LSP Family Farm Breakfast mug! Our mugs are sourced from American-made companies, union-printed, and are handsomely designed with new art each year. Consider ordering a mug to enjoy with your freshly brewed coffee at the breakfast, and then take it home to fill your cup for years to come.

RSVP today to join us at the breakfast!

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