nitrate pollution

Ear to the Ground 396: Accountable Ag

Ear to the Ground 395: The Lobe Rangers

In the Corn Belt, water quality is not improving at a rate that is leading to meaningful landscape level change, and these poster boys for conservation farming say it’s time for the ag industry, commodity groups, and government to step up and take responsibility. (1 of 2 parts; part 2 is here) More Information •…  Read More

Land Line: Oats, Nitrates & Karst, Fraudulent Science, ICE & Ag, Soil Health, Biostimulants, Fertilizer Price Collusion

Opportunity Knocks for Oats in Minnesota (1/28/26) Morning Ag Clips reports that interest in returning oats to Minnesota crop rotations is increasing as a result of a new processing facility being built and research related to the soil health benefits of planting the small grain. Highlights: A new, $68 million food-grade oat mill is expected…  Read More

Land Line: Bridge Payments, Food Pyramid, Farmland Prices, Riverview Dairy, CAFO Funding, Restoring Habitat, ICEing Ag, Nitrates in Winter

Bridge Payment Rates Are Here — But Are They Enough to Help Your Bottom Line? (1/7/26) Writing for Farm Progress, Joshua Baethge describes concerns that the aid package being issued to farmers in February to help them deal with damage caused by the trade war will not make up for years of mounting losses in…  Read More

Ear to the Ground 393: Risk Reducers

Alan Jostock uses the kind of diversity that builds soil health as a kind of insurance policy for his farm. That means meshing his crop and livestock enterprises in a way that they prop each other up through thick and thin.  More Information • Jan. 27, 2026, LSP Workshop — “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets”…  Read More

Ear to the Ground 392: Diversity’s Diet

Farmer and small grains marketer Matt Kruger sees a rotation based on raising food grade crops as a way for farmers to get rewarded for building soil health. It’s also a way to fight the only thing he truly hates. More Information • Jan. 27, 2026, LSP Workshop — “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” •…  Read More

Land Line: Food Monopolies, Soil Sisters, Bird Benefits, Soil Research Cuts, Farm Divorce, Agro-Environmentalist, China’s Soybean Supplier, Nebraska Nitrates

Unsealed Antitrust Complaint Reveals Key Factor in High Food Prices: Corporate Behemoths (12/18/25) Writing in the Minnesota Reformer, the Minnesota Farmers Union’s Justin Stofferahn describes how monopolization of the food industry and failure to enforce antitrust laws has harmed consumers. Highlights: A newly unsealed antitrust complaint provides a unique look at price discrimination in practice,…  Read More

Land Line: Govt. Shutdown, Avian Flu, Nitrate Pollution, Nitrogen-Fixing Grains, Monopolies, Kernza, Farm to School

Government Shutdown Ends, Farm Bill Programs Extended (11/13/25) On Nov. 12, President Donald Trump signed into law a measure to end the longest-ever government shutdown after 43 days, providing full funding for the USDA for fiscal 2026, and ending a legal battle over November’s SNAP benefits, reports several news sources. Highlights: By getting full-year funding…  Read More

Land Line: Argentine Beef, Farm Bankruptcies, Monopolies, Rural Hunger, School Lunch, Nitrate Fertilizer, Avian Flu

Trump Suggests U.S. Will Buy Argentine Beef to Lower Prices (10/20/25) Farmdoc reports that President Donald Trump is proposing importing more Argentinian beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers. Trump has been working to help Argentina bolster its collapsing economy with a $20 billion credit swap line and additional financing from…  Read More

MN Ag Bill Supports Market Access, Land Access & Soil Health 

LSP Members & Allies Make Their Voices Heard at the Capitol 

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Although the Minnesota Legislature wrapped up its 2025 session on May 19 with some unfinished business, the Agriculture Bill passed before adjournment, which means Land Stewardship Project (LSP) priorities related to market access, land access and soil health will make it to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk. “While this was a difficult…  Read More