beginning farmers

LSP Platform Calls for Farm Bill that Supports Farmers, Rural Communities & the Land

Platform & Survey Results Released on Northfield Area Farm Today

August 16, 2022

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The new federal Farm Bill must benefit farmers, rural communities and the land, rather than corporate interests, said farmer-leaders of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today during the release of the organization’s priorities for the nation’s most comprehensive agricultural policy initiative. LSP’s 2023 Farm Bill Platform, which was launched during an event… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: 2023 Farm Bill • ag consolidation • agriculture policy • beginning farmers • BIPOC farmers • climate change • crop insurance • Farm Bill Survey • local meat processing • LSP Farm Bill Platform • Midwest Farmers of Color Collective • National Young Farmers Coalition • regional food systems

Ear to the Ground 280: Maximum vs. Optimal

Adhering to the tenets of Ag Econ 101, a pair of beginning farmers are avoiding commodity row crops and embracing grazing, silvopasturing, and “bale grazed veggies.” More Information: • LSP’s Soil Health & Grazing web page • Ear to the Ground Episode 246: Letting Livestock do the Work You can find LSP Ear to the… Read More →

Beginning Farmer Program for MN, WI & IA Accepting Applications for 2022-2023 Course

Farm Beginnings Marks a Quarter Century of Training Ag’s Next Generation

June 10, 2022

LEWISTON, Minn. — One of the most successful beginning farmer training programs in the country is now accepting applications for its 2022-2023 course session serving the Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa region. The Land Stewardship Project’s (LSP) Farm Beginnings initiative is a year-long training program that focuses on the goal-setting, marketing and financial skills needed to… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • Farm Beginnings

Ear to the Ground 273: Incubating Immigrants

Dawn 2 Dusk’s dedication to helping Africans get established on Minnesota soil. More information: • Dawn 2 Dusk Farm • Kilimo Minnesota • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Class • Land Transition Resources • The Food Group/Big River Farms Incubator You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast episodes on Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes, and other podcast… Read More →

Legislative Session Heads into its Final Days

Wide Gap Between House & Senate Budget Proposals for Soil Health, Processing Support, Drought Relief

By Laura Schreiber

May 4, 2022

There are less than 20 days left in the 2022 session of the Minnesota Legislature, and with a $9.3 billion surplus, legislators have an historic opportunity to invest in our communities. Throughout the session, Land Stewardship Project members have been advocating for funding to increase access to local meat processing facilities and for helping farmers implement… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: 100% Soil Healthy Campaign • beginning farmers • climate • drought relief • environmental review • Forever Green • local food systems • local meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • soil health

Ear to the Ground 272: Micro Milk Mentorship

Government regulators may be befuddled by Cella Langer and Emmet Fisher’s tiny dairy, but these Farm Beginnings/Journeyperson grads know exactly where it fits into their business. More information: • Land Stewardship Letter Oxheart Farm profile • Oxheart Farm • LSP’s Farm Beginnings • LSP’s Journeyperson • MOSES Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program You can find LSP Ear to the… Read More →

Midwestern Farmers Invited to Answer this Question: What Do YOU Want in the New Farm Bill?

Farmers in Minnesota, Iowa & Wisconsin Asked to Participate in New Survey

February 24, 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As discussions around the 2023 Farm Bill get off the ground, a key group of people are being asked to share their views on the future of agricultural policy: farmers. During the next several weeks, the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is circulating the National Young Farmer Survey in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin in… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: 2023 Farm Bill • agriculture policy • beginning farmers • Farm Beginnings • Farm Bill • farmers of color • land access • Midwest Farmers of Color Collective • National Young Farmers Coalition • USDA

Making Room for Relationships

How Journeyperson is Helping Racing Heart Pace Itself

By Brian DeVore

January 10, 2022

Pack-shed or people? That’s the question Les Macare and Els Dobrick are grappling with on a dank day in mid-March as they brave a biting wind to inspect the garden plots, cover crops, and outbuildings on Racing Heart Farm in western Wisconsin. With the exception of some onions sprouting in one of the hoop houses,… Read More →

Category: Farm Beginnings Profiles

Tags: beginning farmers • Community Supported Agriculture • CSA • Els Dobrick • Farm Beginnings • Farmland Clearinghouse • journeyperson • land access • Les Macare • Racing Heart Farm • vegetable farming • vegetables

The Non-Tragedy of the Commons

Cooperative Ownership of Farmland Offers Alternative Access to Acres

By Robin Moore

January 6, 2022

Meet Sasa Organic Farms, a collective of Kenyan farmers. Sasa is five family farms: Dawn2Dusk Organic Farms, Lisaviole Farms, Lisaviole Organic Farms, Green Joy Farm, Gedef Organic Farm, and Laurens Organic Farm. They provide Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, produce, and seedlings to customers in and around Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Like many beginning farmers, their goal… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: Agrarian Commons • Agrarian Trust • beginning farmers • Dawn2Dusk • Elinor Ostrom • land access • land commons • Minnesota Agrarian Commons • Sara Organic Farms

Ear to the Ground 265: Diving into Safer Waters

Nettle Valley Farm’s “informed sink or swim” model of incubating the next generation of farmers. LSP’s Ear to the Ground episode 261 describes Nettle Valley Farm’s silvopasturing system and the work it’s doing to improve pollinator habitat. More information: • LSP’s “Accessing Farmland” Web Page • LSP Farmland Clearinghouse • LSP Farm Beginnings Course •… Read More →

Upcoming Events

September 2022

Tuesday September 27

All Day: LSP Monthly Virtual Policy Organzing Meeting

LSP Monthly Virtual Policy Organzing Meeting

Tuesday September 27

Join LSP as we launch our first of many Monthly Virtual Policy Organizing Meetings! On the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. we will gather to learn about what is happening at the state, local, and federal level; take collective action together; dive into an issue campaign of your choice; and break out into regional groups to build relationships with other LSPers in your area. For more information or to register, see https://secure.everyaction.com/Kcxzxu1pB0mYNb5LFrXvbA2.

Friday September 30 – Sunday October 2

Upper Minnesota River Valley Arts Crawl

Friday September 30 – Sunday October 2

Planning on joining the Meander Art Crawl in the Upper Minnesota River Valley Sept. 30-Oct. 2? While checking out the art, munch on local foods produced by LSP member-farmers and others that will be featured at various Meander stops. For a complete list, click here.

Friday September 30

9:00 am – 2:00 pm: Field Day on Test Plots, Cover Crop Interseeding, Pollinators & Grazing

Field Day on Test Plots, Cover Crop Interseeding, Pollinators & Grazing

Friday September 30

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Test plots, interseeding and grazing cover crops, fencing around crop fields, pollinator plantings and transitioning to organic will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project field day Friday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lawler farm near Eyota (930 70th Ave. NE). Although much of the Lawlers’ home farm is organic, the test plots are managed conventionally, and the field day is open to all producers. The event is free and lunch will be provided. To reserve a spot, contact LSP’s Maura Curry at 651-249-6308 or mcurry@landstewardshipproject.org, or visit bit.ly/LawlerFieldDay.

Directions: From Highway 14, turn north onto 55th Avenue NE, then take a right on Collegeview Road E., and a left on 70th Ave. to arrive at the home farm. The field day will take place at University of Minnesota test plots down the road from the farm.

Steve, Tim and Joe Lawler operate a seventh generation row crop and beef cattle farm. The Lawlers believe that in order to be true stewards of the land, soil health and regeneration must be the foundation of their enterprises. Steve is a registered soil scientist and has worked in the private sector, along with various state and federal agencies, promoting, researching and implementing soil health and conservation best practices. Tim has a degree in agronomy and spent his early years in Brazil educating and working directly with farmers and ranchers. He recently retired from a career in agribusiness. Joe has a degree in accounting and works in the energy sector.

Besides providing a look at their use of soil health practices to raise crops, the Lawlers will present information on their livestock production enterprise. Nutrient management, grazing and watering considerations will be discussed. Along with cover crop and livestock integration, the Lawlers would like to share other practices they have implemented, including no/minimum-till, shelterbelts, rotational grazing and stream bank fencing.

October 2022

Saturday October 1

8:30 am – 1:30 pm: Agroecology in Plants & Soil Health Workshop Series: Life in Soil

Agroecology in Plants & Soil Health Workshop Series: Life in Soil

Saturday October 1

8:30 am – 1:30 pm

Minnesota State College Southeast is putting on a new series in agroecology, with an emphasis on plants and soil health. This series is designed to encourage and support the planning, development, and production efforts of local urban gardeners and farmers. All different types of adult learners interested in applying ecological principles in the management of plants and soil are invited to attend. The series will be taught by Bruno Borsari. For details on the entire series, check out this flier.

To register, click here.

Sunday October 2

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Soil Health Deep Canvass — MN Senate District 24

Soil Health Deep Canvass — MN Senate District 24

Sunday October 2

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Join us in calling voters in Senate District 24 (Olmsted and Dodge Counties) to have in-depth and values-based conversations about why we need to elect state legislators who will champion public investments in our soil and climate. Before we dive into the calling, we will be reviewing the script and who we’ll be calling, and answering any questions you have. Attend via Zoom or in-person at the Land Stewardship Minneapolis office.

This is critical organizing work that will make a difference in this fall’s election and beyond, so we hope you can be a part of this work with us!

To register, click here.

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