NRCS

Soil Health: From ‘Light Bulb’ Moment to Daily Practice

How Todd Duncan Learned to be Comfortable with being Uncomfortable

By Alex Romano

March 9, 2022

Nearly seven years ago, northeastern Iowa farmer and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) district conversationist, Todd Duncan, along with a group of local producers, started looking for tangible solutions to the erosion problems they were seeing on their farms. These farmers had already been implementing NRCS’s best management practices when it came to conversation, but… Read More →

Category: Blog

Renting It Out Right: A Hilltop View of the Land’s Potential

Mark Erickson’s Relationship with Landowners is Rooted in Healthy Soil

By Brian DeVore

June 20, 2019

When considering significant changes to the way one farms, there’s nothing like a couple acres of convincer, a template for the potential offered up by tapping into the land’s ability to build soil health in an economically viable manner utilizing livestock and perennial plants. Mark Erickson points out just such a personal proving ground on… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beef production • EQIP • farmland transition • grass • land access • landlords • NRCS • renting • retiring farmers • rotational grazing • soil health

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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