beginning farmers

Land Line: Small Grains, Manure, Soil Carbon, Rural Empowerment, Regenerative Generation

Feb. 3: An LSP Round-up of News Covering Land, People & Communities

By Brian DeVore

February 3, 2025

Growing Small Grains Market in Albert Lea Attracting Attention from Farmers (1/28/25) KAAL-TV reports on a Land Stewardship Project workshop where over 150 people gathered to talk about ways of bringing small grains back to Minnesota. Highlights: After being mostly replaced by corn and soybeans during the past several decades, small grains such as oats… Read More →

Category: Blog

A Sense of Where You Are: Red Dresses & Magic Management

Part 2 in a Series

By Brian DeVore

January 20, 2025

Note: This is the 2nd installment in the 12-part “A Sense of Where You Are” series. One of the ways Rachelle and Jordan Meyer keep things in context is to avoid being distracted by what they call “the woman in the red dress.” Is a new enterprise a good fit for the farm, or is… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: A Sense of Where You Are • beginning farmers • managed rotational grazing • pasture walks • pasture-based livestock • soil health

Youth Movement

From Tilling an Old Soccer Field to Helping Teens Kick-off Better Communities

By Brian DeVore

January 2, 2025

When it comes to youth programs centered around gardening and farming, a common mantra is, “We’re teaching kids about where their food comes from.” Sounds laudable, but to Marcos Giossi, such a feel-good goal is too limiting when it comes to exposing young people to the realities of the farm and food system that dominates.… Read More →

Category: Farm Beginnings Profiles

Tags: beginning farmers • Farm Beginnings • Marcos Giossi • urban agriculture • Urban Roots • youth enrichment

LSP Winter Farm Transition Planning Course Launches Jan. 28 Online

Sessions to be Led by Farmers & Financial Professionals

November 29, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — Are you a farmer or landowner thinking about the next steps for your farm and land? Or do you know someone who is? The Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Transition Planning Course provides a holistic opportunity to dig into important topics and learn from experienced farmers and professionals. The online course will be held… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • estate planning • farm transition • next generation

Oats & The 3-Legged Stool of Farm Resiliency

This Humble Grain Represents One Commonsense Approach to Diversifying the Landscape

By Shea-Lynn Ramthun

November 16, 2024

In case you haven’t noticed, the humble oat is having a bit of a moment. After decades of declines in oat plantings in Minnesota, acreage increased this year. Market demand for the small grain is up, a group of farmers are attempting to pull together funding for a major processing plant in southern Minnesota, and… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beginning farmers • crop diversity • integrating livestock • nitrates • oats • rural economic development • small grains • soil health • water quality

Ear to the Ground 355: Silver Buckshot

Father-son team Joe and Matthew Fitzgerald are quite willing to share their insights with other farmers on how to get started in organic crop production. First piece of advice: sell your fishing boat. More Information • Fitzgerald Organic Mad Agriculture Video • Organic Agronomy Training Service • LSP Soil Health Web Page You can find LSP… Read More →

Ear to the Ground 348: Urban Agrarian

Elyssa Eull’s tiny farm is tucked between railroad tracks and an empty lot in the heart of a major metropolitan area, but its city soil is producing food on a commercial scale. More Information • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course • California Street Farm • Twin Cities Metro Growers Network • USDA Urban Agriculture Programs at a Glance… Read More →

Networking Event for Farmers Invested in Soil Health & Sustainable Practices Aug. 22 in Austin Area

August 6, 2024

AUSTIN, Minn. — Farmers in the Austin area are invited to a special networking event Thursday, Aug. 22, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Lightly Farm (22238 880th Ave., Oakland, Minn.). This Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event is free and attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and a lawn chair. LSP… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • community • soil health • sustainable agriculture

Beginning Farmer Program for MN, WI & IA Accepting Applications for 2024-2025 Course

Early Bird Discount Deadline for Farm Beginnings Class Aug. 1

July 17, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — One of the most successful beginning farmer training programs in the country is now accepting applications for its 2024-2025 course session serving the Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa region. The Land Stewardship Project’s (LSP) Farm Beginnings initiative is a training program that focuses on the goal-setting, marketing and financial skills needed to establish… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmer course • beginning farmers • emerging farmers • Farm Beginnings

Ear to the Ground 340: Entrepreneurial Equity

Beginning farmer Alondra Cano’s conversations with other Spanish-speaking agrarians have unearthed insights into the role emerging farmers can play in a regenerative food system, and what needs to be done to help them succeed. More Information • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course • LSP’s Farmland Access Web Page • LSP Farmland Clearinghouse • Latino Economic Development Center • MDA… Read More →

Upcoming Events

February 2025

Tuesday February 4

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Transition Planning Course

Tuesday February 4

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Transition Planning Course

Online

Are you a farmland owner or retiring farmer looking to transition ownership or rent your farmland in ways that reflect your values? The Land Stewardship Project is hosting an online holistic Farm Transition Planning Course designed to help you act on your conservation and social values. Seven 2 ½ hour sessions will bring professionals, farmers, and LSP staff together to dig into values, goals, and communication, as well as generational, financial, legal and long-term care considerations.

The dates and times for the course are:

Jan 28: Goal Setting for Life & Land, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 4: Values and Why Farm Transition Planning is Needed, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 11: Financial Considerations, 5:30- 8 p.m.
Feb. 18: Legal Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 25: Working with Next Generation Farmers, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 4: Long Term Care Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 18: Resources and Planning Next Steps, Presentations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Workshop Fee: $250 per farm family.

For more information and to register by Jan. 12, click here. You can also contact LSP’s Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Minnesota Women in Conservation Meeting

Tuesday February 4

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Minnesota Women in Conservation Meeting

Madison Mercantile, 601 1st St, Madison, MN 56256, USA

Join the Minnesota Women in Conservation’s West Central Network at the Merc for a come-as-you-are potluck with like-minded local women and conservation professionals who are in your community and available to help you access knowledge, funding, and support to achieve your conservation dreams. If you are a farmer, an avid gardener, a beginning grower, a prairie steward, or someone with land dreams and plans to plant in the future, this event is for you. Come for conversation, share your dreams for spring, and get advice from like-minded women professionals and neighbors. Bring whatever you feel like sharing for the potluck dinner.

The goal of this event is to leave knowing more women with similar interests, and to learn about the many programs, organizations, federal and state agencies, and individuals who can connect you with technical and financial assistance.

MNWiC West Central Region Coordinator Alex Kiminski, who is a soil health and land access organizer with the Land Stewardship Project, will host the event. The topic of this meeting will be Saving and Sowing Native Seeds for Habitat Restoration and Soil Health. Shantel Lozinski, district conservationist for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will talk about conservation planning and services available through federal farm programs.

Women from Chippewa, Swift, and Lac qui Parle Counties will find the information particularly useful, but all are welcome.

For details and to register, click here.

Thursday February 6

11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Good Idea Shop Talk
Thursday February 6
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Good Idea Shop Talk
Zoom Online

This free meet-up series is for row crop and livestock producers who want to exchange ideas and advice for troubleshooting on-farm challenges related to improving soil and water resources. It helps producers connect with and learn from each other about how to be good stewards while protecting their profitability. These weekly, virtual meet-ups will take place on Thursdays, January 23, Jan. 30,^,and Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. Producers from across the Midwest and Mid-South are invited to join, so it’s also a great way to learn from producers across the region.

Learn more and register here: https://goodideafarm.org/shop-talks.

Saturday February 8

All Day: Sustainable Farming Association Annual Conference
Saturday February 8
Sustainable Farming Association Annual Conference
College of Saint Benedict, 37 South College Ave S, St Joseph, MN 56374, USA
For details, click here.

Tuesday February 11

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Tuesday February 11

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP Holistic Farm Transition Planning Course

Online

The dates and times for the course are:

Jan 28: Goal Setting for Life & Land, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 4: Values and Why Farm Transition Planning is Needed, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 11: Financial Considerations, 5:30- 8 p.m.
Feb. 18: Legal Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Feb. 25: Working with Next Generation Farmers, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 4: Long Term Care Considerations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
March 18: Resources and Planning Next Steps, Presentations, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Workshop Fee: $250 per farm family

For more information and to register by Jan. 12, click here. You can also contact LSP’s Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

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