soil health

2023 Minnesota Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Historic Wins for Sustainable & Regenerative Ag, Small & Mid-sized Farmers & Rural Communities

By Laura Schreiber & Amanda Koehler

May 25, 2023

During the recently concluded session of the Minnesota Legislature, Land Stewardship Project members and partners worked to win record investments in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, small and mid-sized farmers, and rural communities after decades of underfunding. We won a MinnesotaCare Public Option, as well as historic investments in the Emerging Farmers Office at the Minnesota… Read More →

Category: Blog

2023 Minnesota Legislative Session Update — 4 Weeks Left!

Many LSP Priorities Are Still in Play

By Amanda Koehler & Laura Schreiber

April 25, 2023

During this session of the Minnesota Legislature, Land Stewardship Project members have been making their voices heard loud and clear. Dozens of farmers and rural LSP members have testified in committee hearings, hundreds have come to the Capitol to meet with their elected officials, and thousands have taken action by signing a petition, contacting their… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beginning farmers • community based food systems • democracy • emerging farmers • fish kills • Minnesota Legislature • MPCA • MPCA Citizens' Board • right to repair • soil health

Ear to the Ground 302: Thinking Like a Tree

Beginning farmers Abbie Baldwin and Mitch Hawes are playing the long game when it comes to launching their permaculture operation. More Information • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course • Ear to the Ground 262: A Silvo Secondary Enterprise • Midwest Permaculture You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast episodes on Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes, and other podcast… Read More →

Ear to the Ground 301: Pipe Dreams

When a tiling company suggested burying more pipe to deal with drainage issues, Tom Finnegan opted instead to go to the root of the problem. More Information • LSP’s Cover Crops page • LSP’s Grazing page • LSP’s No-till page • Sign-up for the Soil Builders’ Network You can find LSP Ear to the Ground… Read More →

MN Farmers Head to DC March 6-8 to Demand Action on Climate Crisis

‘Rally for Resilience’ Mass Mobilization to Target 2023 Farm Bill

February 28, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Over a dozen farmer-members of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) and the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective (MFCC) will head to Washington, D.C., March 6-8 to call on policymakers to make climate change a priority of the 2023 Farm Bill. They will be joined by hundreds of farmers, farmworkers and farmer allies… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: 2023 Farm Bill • climate change • Farmers for Climate Action • farmers of color • federal ag policy • Midwest Farmers of Color Collective • regenerative agriculture • soil health

The Next Farm Bill Must be a Climate Bill

Sign the Letter Supporting the American Resilience Act

February 21, 2023

There are less than eight months before the current Farm Bill expires. Now is the time to demand BOLD solutions, especially BOLD climate solutions in the next Farm Bill. Take Action TODAY! The 2023 Farm Bill is being written now, and it needs to center farmer solutions when it comes to the climate crisis. Farmers… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: 2023 Farm Bill • American Resilience Act • climate change • climate-friendly • Farm Bill • regenerative agriculture • soil health

PETITION: Aim High for Farmers & Our Future at the MN Legislature

With a $17.6 Billion Surplus, MN has Unique Opportunity to Deliver for People & the Land

February 17, 2023

With a historic $17.6 billion surplus, our Minnesota Legislature has a unique opportunity and responsibility to deliver for people and the land. In March, the Speaker of the Minnesota House and the Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate will assign each legislative committee in their respective legislative body an amount to spend on their budget.… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: climate change • community based food systems • Minnesota Legislature • rural economic development • soil health • state policy

Legislative Update: Fair Farm Economy, Resilient Climate, Soil Health, Land Access & Regional Food on the Table

LSP is Championing 15 Bills (So Far)

By Amanda Koehler & Laura Schreiber

February 10, 2023

This past fall, hundreds of Land Stewardship Project members from across Minnesota came together to build a holistic, state policy campaign — the “Minnesota Food and Farm Campaign.” Now, as the 2023 session of the Minnesota Legislature hits its stride, we’re translating our agenda into legislation. LSP is championing 15 bills (so far) to build… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: 100% Soil Healthy Campaign • COOL • factory farms • Family Farm Breakfast • farm-to-school • fish kills • healthcare • local food systems • local meat processing • Minnesota Legislature • MPCA Citizens' Board • soil health • water

Ear to the Ground 299: Road to Resilience

Laura Lengnick believes that if farms are to survive (and thrive) in the age of climate change, we need to remember it’s not just about soil and water — it’s also about people. More Information • Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate, by Laura Lengnick • SARE Publication: Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms… Read More →

Workshop on ‘3 Secrets for Increasing Farm Profit’ March 23 in Red Wing

February 2, 2023

RED WING, Minn. — Improving your farm business takes rolling up your sleeves and getting to work — not just IN your business, but ON it too. A “3 Secrets for Increasing Farm Profit” workshop featuring Ranch Management Consultants expert Dave Pratt will be held Thursday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: adaptive managed grazing • business planning • Dave Pratt • financial • grazing • livestock • pasture-based livestock • Ranch Management Consultants • regenerative agriculture • soil health

Upcoming Events

June 2023

Saturday June 3

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

Land Access & Leasing Options

Saturday June 3

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

Land Access & Leasing Options

On Saturday, June 3, Wisconsin Farmers Unions will be holding a farm visit at Baldur Farm (N7659 950^th St., River Falls,WI 54022) for landowners and renters looking to lease to the next generation of farmers.

Joyce Monari, a native of Kenya, has been growing two types of chinsaga, a type of green familiar to her people, for several years on Baldur Farm. She will show participants her garden, talk about her crops, and discuss the difficulty of finding land.

Juliet Tomkins and Prescott Bergh have rented land to a variety of farmers over the years, from beginning CSA growers to livestock operators. They will talk about their experiences, which have led to the contract they now use to ensure understanding between themselves and their renters before problems arise.

Light snacks and refreshments provided after the talks. Maureen and Rich, the farmers at Baldur Farm, will be on-hand to answer questions about their draft horses. Attendees are welcome to walk the farm trails.

For more information, contact the Farmers Union’s Maureen Ash at maureen7ash@gmail.com.

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Screening of Stewards of the Land / Serán las dueñas de la tierra in Northfield

Saturday June 3

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Screening of Stewards of the Land / Serán las dueñas de la tierra in Northfield

Stewards of the Land/Serán las dueñas de la tierrais a feature documentary about Stephanie, Ian, and Alfredo, three young landless ecological farmers in Puerto Rico striving to produce healthy food for local consumption.

In this economically depressed U.S. territory, producing food locally is urgent. The archipelago sits on the path of powerful hurricanes, an increasing threat as the climate crisis worsens. Puerto Rico is highly dependent on food imports and a third of its population lives food insecurity.

The story begins when the protagonists arrive for the first time on the public lands they rent. The farms have been abandoned for decades and lack the most basic infrastructure to get started. The story follows the protagonists as they struggle to get the farms running before and after powerful hurricanes devastate the archipelago. The documentary shows the protagonists’ grit as they attempt to carve a living without land ownership or capital.

There are two opportunities to participate:

Clickhereto RSVP to the Northfield event on Saturday, June 3.
Clickhereto RSVP to the Minneapolis event on Sunday, June 4; co-hosted with partner organization, Copal.Haz clic aquí para español.

Sunday June 4

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Screening of Stewards of the Land / Serán las dueñas de la tierra in Minneapolis

Sunday June 4

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Screening of Stewards of the Land / Serán las dueñas de la tierra in Minneapolis

There are two opportunities to participate:

Clickhereto RSVP to the Northfield event on Saturday, June 3.
Clickhereto RSVP to the Minneapolis event on Sunday, June 4; co-hosted with partner organization, Copal.Haz clic aquí para español.

Tuesday June 6

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Forever Green Winter Barley Webinar
Tuesday June 6
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Winter Barley Webinar
The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. The webinar on June 6 will be on winter barley and will feature Jochum Wiersma (UMN Extension small grains agronomist) and Kurt Kimber (farmer, Hampton, Minn.).

To sign-up for the June 6 webinar on winter barley, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

Wednesday June 7

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Forever Green Webinar on Winter Camelina
Wednesday June 7
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forever Green Webinar on Winter Camelina
The Environmental & Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) grant provides an ecosystem services payment as well as risk management payments to growers enrolled in the program for winter barley, hybrid winter rye, winter camelina, and Kernza. Join us for an introductory webinar series on these four crops where we pair University researchers and Extension professionals with farmers who have trialed these crops on-farm. On June 7, there will be a webinar on winter camelina. Presenters include Matthew Ott (UMN post doc researcher, camelina genetics) and Anne Schwagerl (farmer, Browns Valley, Minn.).

To sign-up for the June 7 webinar on winter camelina, click here. These presentations will be recorded for future viewing if you’re not able to make it.

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