local democracy

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

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

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

LSP’s 2021 MN Legislative Priorities

For months, Land Stewardship Project members have been preparing to hit the ground running during the 2021 Minnesota legislative session to advance rural economic justice across the countryside. The 2021 session begins Tuesday, Jan. 5, and we need you with us. When we come together across zip codes, class, gender, and race, united in our…  Read More