soil health

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: ag consolidation • antitrust • CAFOs • clean water • dairy consolidation • farm crisis • farm debt • federal farm policy • Haney Test • meatpackers • nitrates • Riverview Dairy • rural economic development • soil health

Vision Quest

An LSP Soil Health Hub Gathering Illustrates the Power of Dreams Anchored in Reality

By Brian DeVore

March 20, 2026

On a recent morning in late February, a couple dozen farmers stood in front of a wall of words and pictures, imagining what the future might look like. Just a few minutes before, the farmers had sat at tables in a sunny room of the Chatfield Center for the Arts in southeastern Minnesota, using felt-tipped… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: community engagement • diverse rotations • diversity • grass-based livestock • integrating livestock • rural economic development • soil health • Soil Health Hub • visioning

Ear to the Ground 397: Black Energy

In 1986, Joe Paddock co-authored a book called Soil and Survival. Its message: the relationship between farming and the land is in serious need of repair. Four decades later, that message is more relevant than ever. More Information • Soil and Survival • Planting in the Dust Script • Joe Paddock • Joe Paddock’s Books… Read More →

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

Tags: agriculture policy • clean water • cover crops • crop diversity • Des Moines • diversifying agriculture • farm crisis • groundwater • ICE • immigrants • nitrates • rural economic development • rural economy • small grains • soil conservation • soil health • tariffs • trade war • water pollution

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; this is part of a series on nitrates, farming, and water) More Information • Ear to the Ground 395:… 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; this is part… 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 →