Minnesota Legislature

Fish Kill Bill Offers Comprehensive Protections for MN Water Quality

Local Citizen Organizing Prompted Passage of Legislation After SE MN Disasters

June 6, 2023

LEWISTON, Minn. — Winona County residents are hailing the passage of a comprehensive bill that makes significant changes to the investigation of fish kills in Minnesota. The legislation, which was passed during the recently concluded session of the state Legislature, was pushed by a group of local residents after a series of fish kills in their… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: DNR • fish kills • karst geology • Manure spills • Minnesota Legislature • MPCA • nitrates • water pollution • water quality

2023 Minnesota Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Historic Wins for Sustainable & Regenerative Ag, Small & Mid-sized Farmers & Rural Communities

By Laura Schreiber & Amanda Koehler

May 25, 2023

During the recently concluded session of the Minnesota Legislature, Land Stewardship Project members and partners worked to win record investments in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, small and mid-sized farmers, and rural communities after decades of underfunding. We won a MinnesotaCare Public Option, as well as historic investments in the Emerging Farmers Office at the Minnesota… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: affordable healthcare for all • DNR • fish kills • local food systems • local meat processors • Manure spills • Minnesota Legislature • MPCA • rural economic development • soil health • water quality

Tell Lawmakers that Farmworkers Deserve Paid Family & Medical Leave

All Minnesotans Should Have the Ability to Care for Loved Ones

May 3, 2023

After years of organizing, we are on the verge of creating a Paid Family & Medical Leave Program where all Minnesotans contribute and benefit. All Minnesotans should have the tools they need to have the freedom to care for their loved ones without putting their finances at risk. For an average of just $3 per-week… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: farmworkers • healthcare for all • Minnesota Legislature • Paid Family & Medical Leave Program

2023 Minnesota Legislative Session Update — 4 Weeks Left!

Many LSP Priorities Are Still in Play

By Amanda Koehler & Laura Schreiber

April 25, 2023

During this session of the Minnesota Legislature, Land Stewardship Project members have been making their voices heard loud and clear. Dozens of farmers and rural LSP members have testified in committee hearings, hundreds have come to the Capitol to meet with their elected officials, and thousands have taken action by signing a petition, contacting their… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beginning farmers • community based food systems • democracy • emerging farmers • fish kills • Minnesota Legislature • MPCA • MPCA Citizens' Board • right to repair • soil health

It’s a Wrap: The Largest Family Farm Breakfast & Lobby Day in LSP History

LSP Members Made their Voices Heard at the Capitol on April 13

By Amanda Koehler

April 24, 2023

On Thursday, April 13, over 300 Land Stewardship Project members, supporters, staff, and elected and appointed public officials gathered in Saint Paul for our 17th Family Farm Breakfast & Lobby Day – the largest Family Farm Breakfast in LSP history! This year, the event was co-hosted by: Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) ♦ Climate Land Leaders… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: Family Farm Breakfast • Minnesota Legislature

Tell Your MN House Member Today to Lower Prescription Drug Costs & Reject Poison Pill Amendments

MN Legislature is Considering the PDAF Proposal THIS WEEK

April 24, 2023

During this legislative session, Minnesota lawmakers are considering the passage of a bill to create a PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD (PDAB) and pharmaceutical corporations are doing everything they can to stop it. On Friday, April 14, an amendment was passed on the Senate Floor that would exclude rare disease drugs, as well as any drug that has been… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: affordable healthcare • healthcare for all • Minnesota Legislature • PFAB • pharmaceutical industry • Prescription Drug Affordability Board

Farmers Deserve the Right to Repair!

Legislation to do Just That is at Risk in the MN Legislature

April 18, 2023

It’s time to restore farmers’ right to fix the equipment they own as they choose — but legislation to do just that is at risk in the Minnesota Legislature. Right now, major farm equipment manufacturers refuse to make the software tools necessary to repair agricultural equipment fully available to farmers and independent mechanics, leaving farmers… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: farm equipment • Minnesota Legislature • right to repair • rural economy

Add Your Name to the Farmer & Producer Sign-On Letter

March 28, 2023

This week, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in the Minnesota Legislature are rolling out their budgets for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Both the House and Senate have included important items, such as funding for the Emerging Farmers Office and establishing a Meat and Poultry Liaison position in the Department of Agriculture, as well… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: 100% Soil Healthy Campaign • agriculture budget • Family Farm Breakfast • local food systems • local meat processing • Minnesota Legislature

Tell Your Legislators to Pass the MinnesotaCare Public Option

March 27, 2023

Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. Too many Minnesotans, including those who are self-employed, own a small business such as a farm, age off their parents’ insurance, or retire before they are eligible for Medicare, have no choice but to purchase insurance on an individual market plagued by high deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. And… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: healthcare • Minnesota Legislature • MinnesotaCare • Public Option

Tell the Legislature to Reinstate the MPCA Board

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

March 21, 2023

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 →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: EIS • environmental review • factory farms • local democracy • Minnesota Legislature • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency • MPCA Citizens' Board

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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