regional food systems

Soil Health & Racial Justice — What?!

Farmers Seeking to Create a Just, De-centralized, Diverse Food & Farming System Talk Economic & Racial Justice

By Barbara Sogn-Frank

April 5, 2022

The Questions… What does soil health have to do with racial justice? Why does the Land Stewardship Project write articles and posts about racial justice for mostly homogenous, white audiences in rural, farming communities? From time to time, LSP soil health organizers are asked these questions by farmers at our field days and workshops. Some… Read More →

Category: Blog

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

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

Legislators Need to Bolster Local Processing in 2022

By Sarah Goldman

January 6, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of global, concentrated supply chains. In addition, farmers adopting regenerative practices and growing food that nourishes people in Minnesota need markets to sell their production to. That’s why the Land Stewardship Project will be working during the 2022 session of the Minnesota Legislature to pass policies that help… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: COVID • food safety • HACCP • local meat processing • meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • regional food systems

Ear to the Ground 263: Public Investment in Public Goods

Anna Racer and Pete Skold have used state and federal “spark plugs” to build a farm enterprise infrastructure that’s good not just for them, but the community as well. Back in 2012, we interviewed Racer and Skold soon after they graduated from Farm Beginnings and launched Waxwing Farm. Check out that conversation on Ear to… Read More →

LSP: Executive Order on Promoting Economic Competition Important Step for Addressing Corporate Control of Ag

August 2, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) applauded the White House’s recent signing of an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, and sees it is an important step toward addressing a legacy of corporate control in our food and farm system. The executive order, which was issued July 9, directs the… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: competition • corporate control • Federal Trade Commission • market concentration • meatpacking • mega-dairies • Packers and Stockyards Act • regional food systems • USDA

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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