local democracy

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

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

community holding signs against factory farms

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

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

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

Don’t Let Congress Gut Local Control

Oppose the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act

At the Land Stewardship Project, we value local control — the ability for smaller units of government to build upon laws set by larger units of government. While states like Iowa and Wisconsin have gutted or significantly weakened local control, Minnesota has stayed strong on this issue (because of organizing by LSP members and others)…  Read More

Make Our Democracy for the People

Automatic Voter Registration, Other Election Reforms Focus of Legislation

In November, Minnesotans showed up at the polls to participate in our democracy and to protect it — protect it from corporate interests and from those looking to silence certain voices. Since then, we’ve seen a number of major victories for our communities, including passage of the 100% Clean Energy Bill and establishing driver’s licenses…  Read More

Tell the Legislature to Reinstate the MPCA Board

It's Time to Give Minnesotans a Bigger Voice in Environmental Decisions

The bill to reinstate public oversight of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been moving through the Minnesota Legislature. In the Minnesota Senate, it passed out of the State and Local Government Committee and needs to be heard in the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee before becoming part of the larger Senate bill that…  Read More

community holding signs against factory farms

LSP Statement on Daley Dismissal of District Court Case

LEWISTON, Minn. — Daley Farm’s recent withdrawal of its lawsuit against the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), elected officials, and other community members is yet another example of why this limited liability partnership’s efforts to impose an unprecedented expansion in Winona County is unwarranted. Daley Farm filed this lawsuit right before the November 2022 election in an…  Read More

Rural Voices Hold More Power Than You Think

Like many people, I watched with hope as the protests in Minneapolis and across the country made possible the idea of significant police reform. I also watched with horror in 2021 as those reform efforts stalled in the Minnesota Senate. Being a white farmer living in rural Minnesota, I felt removed and powerless as all…  Read More

Take Action to Stop Efforts to Weaken Environmental Review!

Corporate interests and their buddies in the Minnesota Senate are pushing to weaken public participation in the environmental review process of industrial projects — and we need to stop them. When the law does not require the environmental review of a proposed industrial project, the public has the right to petition for it. However, if…  Read More

LSP Statement on Daley Farm Appeal of Winona County BOA Decision

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

Winona County BOA Denial of CAFO Variance a Win for Farms, People & the Land

It's Time to Start Investing in a Sustainable Ag Economy

Today, the voice of the people in Winona county prevailed against an attempt by a factory dairy farm to blow by local, sensible limitations on the number of animals (and thus the amount of manure) that can be housed in one location. After thoroughly considering the evidence, the Winona County Board of Adjustment once again…  Read More