Minnesota Legislature

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

Take Action to Stop Efforts to Weaken Environmental Review!

April 14, 2022

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 →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: EAW • factory farms • frac sand mining • local control • local democracy • local government • Minnesota Legislature

Urge the MN Senate to Pass a Robust Agriculture & Rural Development Budget!

April 7, 2022

Minnesota House and Minnesota Senate committees are finalizing their separate budget proposals this week — and the differences are stark. The House Majority proposed investing over $97 million into building a resilient, multi-generational, multi-racial farm and food system, which is just about 1% of the state’s historic surplus. The Senate Majority, however, proposed investing just… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: Minnesota Legislature

Urge the MN Senate to Pass a Robust Agriculture & Rural Development Budget Today

March 30, 2022

Today (March 30), the Minnesota Senate Agriculture & Rural Development Committee is finalizing its proposed budget — and its proposal falls short. While the Governor and the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus have put out exciting proposals to build a resilient, regenerative farm and food system, the Senate is failing to include meaningful investments in… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: climate change • continuous living cover • direct maketing • Forever Green • meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • regional food systems • soil health

Gov. Walz Declares March 11 Land Stewardship Project Day

LSP Marks 40th Year of ‘Keeping the Land & People Together’ in 2022

March 11, 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As a Minnesota-based family farm and regenerative agriculture organization marks its 40th year of “keeping the land and people together,” Governor Tim Walz has declared March 11, 2022, “Land Stewardship Project Day.” Walz made the declaration today while participating in a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) virtual town hall with over 200 members of the… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: 40th anniversary • Gov. Tim Walz • Land Stewardship Project • meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • soil health

Support Small Meat Processor Training Grants in MN

Contact Your Legislators Today

March 7, 2022

Over the past two years, we have witnessed firsthand just how fragile our meat processing sector is. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of global, concentrated supply chains, and we have seen farmers euthanize animals while others are forced to book processing dates even before animals are born. What has become clear is that we… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: local meat processing • meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • state policy

Pass Drought Relief NOW

Minnesota House Ag Committee Passes Package; Senate Ag Committee Next

February 14, 2022

As you know, this past summer’s drought created one of the most difficult growing seasons that Minnesota has seen in decades. Farmers had to make incredibly hard decisions: ending CSA deliveries early or entirely, selling or processing livestock early to save costs, paying to dig deeper wells or new ones entirely, and investing in new… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: climate change • drought • drought relief • extreme weather • Minnesota Legislature

Invest in a Resilient, Regenerative Farm & Food System this Legislative Session

Jan. 31 is the First Day of the 2022 Minnesota Legislative Session

January 28, 2022

Monday, Jan. 31, is the first day of the 2022 Minnesota legislative session — and we have an incredible opportunity to win millions of dollars for soil health, local processing, local markets, emerging farmers, and more. In the past two weeks, Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota House Climate Climate Action Caucus have put together exciting… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: Forever Green • House Climate Caucus • local meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • regional food systems • soil health • state policy • SWCD

Minnesota Farm Groups Applaud Governor’s Proposed Ag, Board of Water & Soil Resources Budgets

Proposal Would Invest Tens of Millions of Dollars into Building Resiliency in Farm & Food System, Climate, Economy

January 27, 2022

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Three Minnesota farm groups are applauding Governor Tim Walz’s budget proposals for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Board of Water and Soil Resources, which were released this week. The proposals strongly align with the vision for a thriving, abundant, and resilient countryside shared by the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), Hmong… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: BWSR • Gov. Tim Walz • Hmong American Farmers Association • local meat processing • Minnesota Department of Agriculture • Minnesota Farmers' Market Association • Minnesota Legislature • regional food systems • soil health • SWCD

Upcoming Events

November 2024

Thursday November 21

All Day: Give to the Max Day
Thursday November 21
Give to the Max Day
Online
Support the Land Stewardship Project during the 2024 Give to the Max day.

This Give to the Max Day season, we are excited to explore the deep storytelling tradition at Land Stewardship Project. Stay tuned for highlights of LSP’s communications legacy and our plans for continuing that kind of powerful narrative organizing into the future.

Don’t forget that you don’t have to wait for November 21 to give to the max! You can schedule your gift today, and it will still count toward our goal. Plus, a generous donor is matching every donation dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000!

Thank you for being part of LSP’s story. We are grateful for you. Please join, renew, or make a special gift to LSP as part of Give to the Max Day this year.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Screening & Discussion: Greener Pastures Film
Thursday November 21
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Screening & Discussion: Greener Pastures Film
Virtual
Running a family farm is hard enough. Add in climate change, a worldwide pandemic, and the increasing economic uncertainty brought on by mega farms, and it’s easy to see that being an independent farmer in America is a profession of survival. Following four Midwest family farms over several years, the documentary Greener Pastures is a story of perseverance within the farming industry in the heartland.

Join us live to watch the 90-minute documentary, hosted by the Midwest Vegetable Growers Network, and then stick around for conversation with two of the farmers featured in the documentary: Chris Petersen, from Iowa, and Jeff Ditzenberger, from Wisconsin. We’ll have lightly facilitated discussion with an opportunity for open Q&A. View educational resources related to the film here.

This event is brought to you by FairShare CSA Coalition and the MVEG Network’s working group on Farmer Resiliency & Mental Health. Find support resources here.

To reserve a spot for the film and discussion, click here.

December 2024

Tuesday December 3 – Wednesday December 4

2024 Premier Soil Health Event: For Farmers, by Farmers

Tuesday December 3 – Wednesday December 4

2024 Premier Soil Health Event: For Farmers, by Farmers

Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, MN 56001, USA

This is a Minnesota Soil Health Coalition event. For details and to register, click here.

Tuesday December 3

2:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Iowa Organic Association Annual Meeting
Tuesday December 3
2:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Iowa Organic Association Annual Meeting
Story City Community Center 501 Elm Ave Story City, IA 50248
Each year, Iowa’s organic community gathers to celebrate the growing organic movement in Iowa with presentations that highlight new and emerging issues within the organic industry. The annual meeting also features a uniquely-curated dinner and networking with presenters, exhibitors, and other Iowa Organic Association members.

Tickets are available here.

Wednesday December 4

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Lakes and Prairies Solar 101 - Fergus Falls
Wednesday December 4
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Lakes and Prairies Solar 101 - Fergus Falls
Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 E Hampden Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, USA
Learn about solar energy and its benefits for your home, or small business. This meeting will take you through the technology, economics, financing and more. You’ll also learn about the Solar Co-op in your area. The program is free to join, and members are not obligated to buy solar panels. For details and to register, click here.

Information on the Lakes and Prairie Solar Co-op is here.

View Full Calendar