soil health

Land Line: Beyond Exports, Nitrate Lawsuit, Soil Health $$, Local Food, Ag Collapse?, Ag Econ Downer, ICE & Rural Economies

By Brian DeVore (editor)

February 13, 2026

Farmers Focus on Local Markets (1/31/26) The Tri-State Neighbor reports on a meeting in Rochester, Minn., where farmers and others gathered to discuss practical ways of diversifying the corn-soybean duo-culture that dominates Midwestern agriculture. Highlights: The “Beyond Exports” meeting, which was hosted by LSP, featured farmer-presenters who are in various stages of utilizing small grains,… Read More →

Category: Blog

Ear to the Ground 396: Accountable Ag

These three crop producers see no reason why productive farming and clean water can’t co-exist. But first, we need to stop the greenwashing and get our hands dirty. (2 of 2 parts; part 1 is here) More Information • Ear to the Ground 395: The Lobe Rangers • LSP Soil Health Web Page • LSP… Read More →

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

By Brian DeVore (editor)

January 31, 2026

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 →

Category: Blog

Tags: antitrust • biostimulants • composting • corporate consolidation • corporate control • crop diversity • diverse rotations • diversifying agriculture • fertilizer • glyphosate • Johnson-Su bioreactor • karst geology • land grant research • Monsanto • nitrate pollution • oats • pesticides • public research • Roundup • small grains • soil health

Farmers Gather in Rochester to Discuss Strategies for Diversifying Cropping Systems

Importance of Partnerships Focus of LSP’s ‘Beyond Exports’ Meeting

January 28, 2026

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Diversifying the region’s cropping systems beyond raw, export-driven commodities like corn and soybeans will require a team effort, said the farmer-presenters at the “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” meeting held at the Rochester International Event Center Jan. 27. More than 125 farmers from Minnesota and Iowa gathered for the Land Stewardship Project… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: crop diversity • diversifying agriculture • Green Acres Milling • James Hepp • John Strohfus • Landon Plagge • LSP Soil Health Hubs • Martin Larsen • regenerative farming • small grains • soil health • Tom Finnegan

Ear to the Ground 394: Canceling Commodities

As a farmer and entrepreneur, John Strohfus sees the production of food-grade crops as a key opportunity for regenerative farmers to forge links in a value chain based on building healthy soil. More Information • Jan. 27, 2026, LSP Workshop — “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” • Field Theory Foods • LSP Small Grains Web… 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 →

‘Beyond Exports’ Focus of Jan. 27 Crop Diversification Meeting in Rochester

Local Farmers to Lead Discussions on Practical Strategies for Growing & Marketing Alternatives

January 11, 2026

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Farmers will discuss alternatives to growing corn and soybeans for export markets during a special Land Stewardship Project (LSP) winter workshop Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Rochester International Event Center (7333 Airport View Dr. SW, Rochester, MN 55902). The “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” event is free;… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: crop diversity • diversifying agriculture • Green Acres Milling • Oat Mafia • rural economic development • small grains • soil health • trade

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

By Brian DeVore (editor)

December 31, 2025

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 →

Category: Blog

Tags: antitrust • birds • clean water • corporate consolidation • crop diversity • farm crisis • farm stress • Fields of Sinsinawa • grassland birds • international trade • monopolies • nitrate pollution • public research • Rick Bieber • soil health • soil science • tariffs • trade war