factory farm

LSP Says State Work Plan Falls Short in Addressing Nitrate Pollution in SE MN

Focus Should be on Promoting Water-Friendly Farming Systems, Not the Status Quo

February 5, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — A work plan submitted by Minnesota state agencies to address nitrate pollution in southeastern Minnesota does not address the root cause of the problem and instead relies on pre-existing programs that have shown little evidence of success thus far, said members of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP). “We know that we can… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: EPA • factory farm • fertilizer • MDA • MDH • MPCA • nitrates • nitrogen pollution • soil health • state policy • water quality

LSP Media Statement on Amicus Filing by ‘Ag Groups’ in Daley Farm Court Case

January 10, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — On Jan. 4, five “agricultural groups” filed an amici curiae (friend of the court) motion with the Minnesota Court of Appeals in support of Daley Farm’s request that a recent District Court ruling be overturned, thus allowing the Lewiston dairy operation to circumvent Winona County’s zoning rules related to livestock operation size.… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • clean water • dairy crisis • Daley Farm • factory farm • local control • local democracy • SLAPP • Winona County

LSP Applauds Court’s Support of Winona County Decision on Factory Farm

LSP Launches ‘Story Center Powerline’ Initiative for Rural Residents Fighting Big Ag

November 21, 2023

LEWISTON, Minn. — Land Stewardship Project (LSP) members applauded today’s decision by the Minnesota District Court to deny Daley Farm’s latest attempt to circumvent Winona County’s rules related to the size of large livestock operations. (The Court’s decision is available here.) For the past four years, Daley Farm has sought a variance from the county’s… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • local democracy • Winona County

One Year after Major Winona County Fish Kill, Citizen Action Has Made an Impact

July 26, 2023

LEWISTON, Minn. — A lot of proverbial water has passed under the bridge in the 12 months since a major fish kill was discovered south of Lewiston: local residents banded together to learn more about the area’s vulnerable water resources; several groups teamed up to raise awareness of threats to streams, rivers and wells; and finally,… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • drinking water • factory farm • fish kill • groundwater • maure • Minnesota Legislature • nitrates • Rush Creek • water quality • Winona County

Legislation to Reinstate MPCA Community Board gets 1st Hearing in MN Senate March 9

Citizens’ Board Was Eliminated after Ordering an EIS on a Factory Farm

March 8, 2023

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — A bill to reinstate a key body for allowing Minnesota residents to have a say in the future of their communities’ environmental health will be considered during a legislative hearing on Thursday, March 9. The Senate State and Local Government and Elections Committee will consider the reinstatement of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: citizen democracy • factory farm • local control • Minnesota Legislature • MPCA Citizens' Board

LSP Statement on Latest Daley Farm Lawsuit

November 1, 2022

LEWISTON, Minn. — Daley Farm’s filing of a lawsuit in Minnesota District Court on Oct. 27 naming the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) and individual citizens as defendants is the latest effort by this limited liability partnership to suppress the public’s right to discuss and debate the future of our community here in Winona County. This litigation appears… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Daley Farm • factory farm • lawsuit • Winona County

LSP Statement on Daley Farm Appeal of Winona County BOA Decision

January 5, 2022

LEWISTON, Minn. — On Jan. 3, Daley Farm of Lewiston, L.L.P, filed an appeal in Minnesota District Court challenging the Winona County Board of Adjustment’s decision in December denying the operation’s proposed expansion. This expansion would exceed the county’s animal unit cap by almost four times the current limit. Over the years, Daley Farm has repeatedly shown it has little respect… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Board of Adjustment • CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • karst geology • local democracy • Winona County

Court’s Decision a Win for Land, Communities & Farms

By Matthew Sheets

November 3, 2021

In a win for the people and the land of southeastern Minnesota’s Winona County, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has declined to take up an appeal case that was brought forward by a large dairy attempting to expand well beyond an existing animal unit cap. This comes after years of neighbor-to-neighbor action and public engagement… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: Daley Farm • factory farm • karst • local control • local democracy • Winona County

Upcoming Events

April 2024

Monday April 22

2:30 pm – 5:00 pm: USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Info Session
Monday April 22
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Info Session
Minnesota Farmers Union, 305 Roselawn Ave E #200, St Paul, MN 55117, USA
Understanding the many resources available to beginning farmers can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. The USDA’s Farm Service agency (FSA) in Minnesota is holding a public meeting on April 22 at the Minnesota Farmers Union in Saint Paul. Through an open house style forum, participants will hear from Minnesota FSA, the Risk Management Agency (RMA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), University of Minnesota Extension, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) on the programs and services available to beginning farmers. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of each agency and the resources they provide. Participants will also have time to ask one-on-one questions with staff from each organization. Come for an hour or stay for the whole event to learn and connect with USDA agencies.

Registration is appreciated but not required. Register for the event here. If you have any questions, contact kajsa.beatty@usda.gov or call the FSA Urban Ag Service Center at 651-602-7750.

Tuesday April 23

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: LSP Animal Ag Campaign Action Meeting
Tuesday April 23
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP Animal Ag Campaign Action Meeting
Zoom Online
Join LSP to get updates on, strategize on, and take action on LSP’s Animal Ag Policy Campaign.Held via Zoom. To register, click here.

Questions? Contact LSP organizer Matthew Sheets at msheets@landstewardshipproject.org.

Saturday April 27

10:00 am – 3:00 pm: LSP Land Access Workshop in Spanish
Saturday April 27
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Land Access Workshop in Spanish
Northfield, Minn.

LSP is hosting land access workshops in Spanish! Two workshops will be held via Zoom and will serve as an introduction to the topic of land access for Spanish-speaking farmers and aspiring farmers. The third workshop will take place in-person, providing a deeper dive into the topic of renting, owning, and maintaining farmland. Interested participants are encouraged to attend any or all of the workshops. Please be sure to register by e-mailing Alondra at latierra@landstewardshipproject.org.

Zoom Workshop #1 – Introduction to farmland access. Sunday, April 14, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Zoom Workshop #2 – Introduction to farmland access. Thursday, April 18, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In-Person Workshop #3 – Deep dive into renting or owning farmland. Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Northfield, Minn.

¡LSP está organizando talleres de acceso a la tierra en español! Dos talleres serán por Zoom y servirán como introducción al tema de Acceso a la Tierra para agricultores que hablan español. El tercer taller se llevará a cabo en persona y será una inmersión más profunda sobre el tema de como adquirir, alquilar, y mantener tierras agrícolas. Las personas que estén interesados en asistir pueden participar en todos los talleres. Asegúrese de registrarse enviando un correo electrónico a Alondra a latierra@landstewardshipproject.org.

Taller #1 por Zoom – Introducción al acceso a tierras agrícolas. Domingo 14 de abril, de 6 p.m. a 7 p.m.

Taller #2 por Zoom – Introducción al acceso a tierras agrícolas. Jueves 18 de abril, de 6 p.m. a 7 p.m.

Taller #3 Presencial – Profundización sobre como comprar, alquilar, o mantener una propiedad de tierras agrícolas. Sábado 27 de abril de 10 a.m. a 3 p.m. en Northfield, Minn.
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: LSP Policy Leadership Assembly
Saturday April 27
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
LSP Policy Leadership Assembly
Twin Cities area
Do you serve on an LSP Steering Committee, Working Group, or Board? Join folks across LSP’s Policy Steering Committees and Working Groups for an overnight retreat where we will build relationships, strategize together, and be joined by a couple of key legislative leaders to push our priorities forward. LSP is covering all costs – hotel rooms, meals, mileage, etc.

To register, click here.

Questions? Contact your LSP policy organizer or LSP Policy Director, Sean Carroll at scarroll@landstewardshipproject.org.

Monday April 29

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm: Thriving Through Drought: Regenerative Grazing Strategies for Sheep & Goats
Monday April 29
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Thriving Through Drought: Regenerative Grazing Strategies for Sheep & Goats
Webinar
Jonathan Kilpatrick, farmer education director for the Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association, will discuss pasture management strategies in drought conditions and related topics in regards to grazing and drought.

To register, click here.

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