agroecology

Land Line: Ag Bailout, Trade War, Manure Digesters, Bird Flu, Local Food Kitchen, Eco-Ag Labor, Ultra-Processed Foods

By Brian DeVore (editor)

November 26, 2025

As Struggling Farmers Take On Debt, a Bailout From D.C. May Come Too Late (11/17/25) The Trump administration is receptive to the idea of using government aid to soften the blow of trade wars and an unprofitable harvest, but it’s doubtful aid would arrive in time to rescue the next planting season, according to The… Read More →

Category: Blog

Ear to the Ground 364: Savanna Symbiosis

Stephen Thomforde sees integrating trees, grass, and grazing animals as a way to support one of the most productive ecosystems in existence, and history backs up his argument. More Information • Stephen Thomforde Website • Land Stewardship Letter: Silvopasturing’s Silver Lining • Land Stewardship Letter: 2017 Feature on Mastodon Valley Farm • Sustainable Farming Association… Read More →

Upcoming Events

December 2025

Monday December 1

All Day: Marbleseed Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program Deadline
Monday December 1
Marbleseed Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program Deadline
Marbleseed
Marbleseed’s Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program empowers farmers through one-on-one guidance as they grow their business, seek organic certification, add farm enterprises, hone production skills, balance farm and family and more.

Both mentor and mentee receive complimentary registration for two years of the Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference. You’ll meet your mentor Feb. 26-28 in La Crosse, Wis. and wrap up your formal relationship at the following conference.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 1. Learn more and apply here .

Eligibility:

→ Applicants must have been operating their farm business for at least one year.

→ Mentorships are available in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Tuesday December 2

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation
Tuesday December 2
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation
Online

This 10-lesson Wild Farm Alliance virtual course teaches agricultural professionals and farmers how to support beneficial birds and manage pest birds on farms. By learning how to assess the farm’s avian needs and opportunities, farms can be designed to provide for a diversity of beneficial birds.

If pest birds are a problem, they can be discouraged with specific practices during the shorter periods when they cause damage. The sessions cover the latest research, tools and resources, and are given by experts in avian pest control, entomology, ornithology and conservation. While many topics and species are specific to the Midwest, most of the principles discussed are applicable across regions.

Continuing Education Credits have been requested and are expected to be approved from American Society of Agronomy.

For details and to register, click here.

The Course Schedule:

LESSON 1

Why Birds Belong on the Farm: Biodiversity, Pest Control & A Thriving Landscape

Tuesday, September 23, 2 p.m. CT

LESSON 2

Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm

Tuesday, October 14, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 3

Birds in the Balance: Pest Control Services Across Crop Types

Tuesday, November 4, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 4

Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation

Tuesday, December 2, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 5

Birds on the Farm: Balancing Biodiversity and Food Safety

Tuesday, January 13, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 6

Beyond the Crop: Birds, Biodiversity, and the Power of Edge Habitat

Tuesday, February 3, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 7

Bridging Forestry, Farming, and Habitat

Tuesday, February 24, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 8

Perennial Pathways: Agroforestry for Birds and Biodiversity on Farms

Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 9

Birds on the Range: How Grazing Practices Shape Habitat for Grassland Species

Tuesday, April 7, 11 a.m. CT

LESSON 10

Birds at Risk: How Pesticides Shape Safety on Agricultural Lands

Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. CT

Wednesday December 3

9:00 am – 11:30 am

Organic Fruit Growers Cimate Resilience Workshop

Wednesday December 3

9:00 am – 11:30 am

Organic Fruit Growers Cimate Resilience Workshop

Zoom online

In December and January, the Organic Fruit Growers Association is offering a series of climate resilience workshops. Workshop goals are to learn about the changing climate in our region and the expected impacts on fruit farmers and to select climate resilience practices which are suited to your farm’s goals and values. The outcome of the workshops will be a written climate resilience plan with actionable steps to make your farm more resilient to changing climate.

Workshops will be led by University of Minnesota extension educators Katie Black and Madeline Wimmer and include times for farmer-to-farmer discussion. This series includes the following four meetings. Expect to spend an additional 4-10 hours outside the meetings developing your farm’s climate resilience plan:

Wednesday Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Monday, Dec. 22, discussion (online via Zoom — optional but encouraged)
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (in-person workshop in La Crosse, Wis. Lunch provided, and you can be reimbursed for mileage traveling to and from the meeting.)

For details and to register, click here.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

LSP Montevideo Office Open House-Member Orientation

Wednesday December 3

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

LSP Montevideo Office Open House-Member Orientation

North 1st Street West, N 1st St W, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

On the first Wednesday of each month, the Land Stewardship Project hosts coffee and conversation at our downtown Montevideo office (111 North First Street), and we hope you will have time to join us at the next one on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon.

This month, we have the exciting opportunity to combine the first 45 minutes of the Monte coffee-and-conversation with the launch of LSP’s quarterly Member Orientations. Designed for both new and long-time members alike, the Member Orientation will ground participants in an overview of LSP’s approach and help each person identify what being an LSP member looks like for them right now.

We will still have plenty of time to enjoy our coffee and build community the old-fashioned way, by talking face-to-face.

Additionally, if drinking coffee makes you chatty — or even if it doesn’t — please consider staying an extra hour for a quick membership phone bank. We will call LSP members in western Minnesota and ask them to renew their membership and share what’s on their minds. Training and script provided.

Normally we wouldn’t ask for an RSVP for an open house, but in this case it will help us know how many materials to prep. So if you can, please let us know if you plan to come for the Member Orientation section and/or stay for the phoning hour.

Come when you can and stay as long as you like! Don’t hesitate to bring along a friend or two — we always enjoy meeting someone new.

Thursday December 4

9:30 am – 1:30 pm: Using the Haney Test to Cut Fertilizer Use Without Sacrificing Yield
Thursday December 4
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Using the Haney Test to Cut Fertilizer Use Without Sacrificing Yield
118 Bissen St, Caledonia, MN 55921, USA
This workshop will focus on how soil testing can help reduce fertility costs and increase a farmer’s return on investment. Presenters include Grant Wells, Conner Shaw, Tucker Garrigan, and Emily Jopp. For more information, contact Myron Sylling at 507-459-7792.

View Full Calendar

LESSON 1

Why Birds Belong on the Farm: Biodiversity, Pest Control & A Thriving Landscape

LESSON 2

Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm

LESSON 3

Birds in the Balance: Pest Control Services Across Crop Types

LESSON 4

Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation

LESSON 5

Birds on the Farm: Balancing Biodiversity and Food Safety

LESSON 6

Beyond the Crop: Birds, Biodiversity, and the Power of Edge Habitat

LESSON 7

Bridging Forestry, Farming, and Habitat

LESSON 8

Perennial Pathways: Agroforestry for Birds and Biodiversity on Farms

LESSON 9

Birds on the Range: How Grazing Practices Shape Habitat for Grassland Species

LESSON 10

Birds at Risk: How Pesticides Shape Safety on Agricultural Lands