rural economic development

Stevens County Approved a Mega-Dairy — Now Minnesotans Must Speak Up

Public Has Until Oct. 1 to Comment on Impacts of Mega-Dairies

September 2, 2026

On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Stevens County officials approved Riverview’s conditional use permit for the proposed West River Dairy expansion near Morris, Minn. This decision largely clears the way for what will become the largest concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in Minnesota history. Once completed, this 18,855-cow facility will be more than 60 times the size…  Read More →

Category: Action Alerts
Tags: • • • • •

LSP Applauds MDA’s Plan to Seek Input on Socioeconomic Impact of Large-scale Dairies

Online Public Meetings July 28; Written Input Due Oct. 1

July 22, 2026

MORRIS, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is applauding the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) recent announcement that it will be seeking public input on the socioeconomic impact of large-scale dairies in the state. Information will be gathered through two virtual meetings (noon to 1 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, July 28, as…  Read More →

Category: News Releases
Tags: • • •

When Industrial Dairy Comes to Town, Rural Communities are Fighting Back

Tri-state coalition webinar shows how industrial dairy expansion is not a “done deal” when rural communities get organized. 

By Heather Benson
June 10, 2026

Across South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota, rural residents are facing a growing wave of industrial dairy proposals that could reshape their communities for decades. On June 3, a coalition of organizations hosted “Community Responses to Industrial Dairy Proposals in SD, ND, and MN,” a webinar where community members and advocates shared what they are seeing on…  Read More →

Category: Blog
Tags: • • • • • • • • • • •

Land Line: Corporate Greenwashing, Beginning Farmer Help, Forever Green, Rural Grocery, Imported Fertility, Grain Market Consolidation, Grazing Pays Off

By Brian DeVore (editor)
June 8, 2026

Sign Up for E-mail Delivery of The Land Line Report Accuses Corporate Dairy of ‘Greenwashing’ (6/1/26) The Wisconsin Examiner reports on a study showing that claims by the largest meat and dairy companies that their practices are sustainable are mostly “greenwashing” and are based on unsubstantiated claims. Highlights: The report, published in the journal PLOS…  Read More →

Category: Blog
Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ear to the Ground 400: Small Farms, Big Markets

Ear to the Ground 399: Asking Why

A decade ago, veggie and livestock farmers Josh Bryceson and Rama Hoffpauir realized sweat equity would only take them so far in their ag journey, so they looked up from the grindstone long enough to take in the big picture (1 of 2 parts). More Information • Turnip Rock Farm & Cosmic Wheel Creamery • LSP’s Farm…  Read More →

Land Line: Nitrates, High Tech Mismatch, Dairy Soil Health, USDA Cuts, A Dairy’s Demise, New Farm Bill, Whole Grain Baking

By Brian DeVore (editor)
May 12, 2026

Sign Up for E-mail Delivery of The Land Line Nearly One-Fifth of Americans Are Consuming Water With High Levels of Nitrates (4/27/26) Close to 20% of Americans are exposed to water polluted with high levels of potentially cancer-causing nitrates, known to come mostly from agricultural runoff, according to a study reported on in Inside Climate…  Read More →

Category: Blog
Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Wading into Hostile Waters

This Week's MPCA Meeting on Riverview Highlights the Importance of Being Allowed to Ask Authentic Questions

By Brian DeVore
May 1, 2026

When debating a controversial topic in public, a well-proven trick is to never ask a question you don’t already have the answer to. That technique was on full display Tuesday evening in a packed-to-the-gills meeting held at Old No. 1 Bar & Grill in Morris, Minn. The topic at hand was a proposal by Riverview…  Read More →

Category: Blog
Tags: • • • • • •

LSP White Paper Highlights Dairy Consolidation’s Negative Impacts in Minnesota & Calls for Direct Policy Action

Riverview Proposal Could be a ‘Game Changer’ for State’s Farmers & Rural Communities

April 23, 2026

MORRIS, Minn. — As state regulators consider an unprecedented proposal for creating the largest livestock operation in Minnesota, it’s clear a convergence of rapid consolidation, economic distress and large-scale expansion raises urgent questions about whether existing policies are adequately protecting fair competition, rural communities and public resources, argues a new white paper released by the Land…  Read More →

Category: News Releases
Tags: • • • • •

Land Line: Riverview, Nitrogen Cuts, H20 Poll, Bridge Payments, Meatpackers & Antitrust, Gutting Emerging Farmer Support, Rural Population

By Brian DeVore (editor)
April 7, 2026

Sign Up for Email Delivery of The Land Line Plan for Largest Dairy in Minnesota History Raises Water and Pollution Concerns (4/1/26) Sentient reports on Riverview’s expansion proposal that would crate the largest dairy CAFO in Minnesota. Highlights: The expansion would more than double the capacity of an existing Riverview LLP dairy facility near Morris,…  Read More →

Category: Blog
Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • • •