Winona County

LSP Applauds State Supreme Court’s Rejection of Daley Appeal

Ruling Comes After Yearslong Attempt to Circumvent Winona County’s Local Rules Related to CAFOs

March 19, 2025

LEWISTON, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) applauded the Minnesota Supreme Court’s recent decision to deny a Winona County factory farm owner’s attempt to circumvent Winona County’s rules governing the size of livestock operations. On March 18, Chief Justice Natalie Hudson announced that the Court would not hear an appeal filed by Daley Farm… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Big Ag • CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • local control • local democracy • nitrate pollution • Winona County

LSP Applauds Appeals Court Ruling on Winona County CAFO

Ruling a Victory for Water Quality & Local Democracy

December 9, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) applauded today’s ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals upholding a county’s right to limit the size of large animal feedlots operating within its borders. The ruling confirms an earlier state District Court’s decision that there was “no actual evidence of bias” when Winona County denied Daley… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • groundwater • local democracy • nitrate pollution • Winona County

LSP Media Statement on Amicus Filing by ‘Ag Groups’ in Daley Farm Court Case

January 10, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — On Jan. 4, five “agricultural groups” filed an amici curiae (friend of the court) motion with the Minnesota Court of Appeals in support of Daley Farm’s request that a recent District Court ruling be overturned, thus allowing the Lewiston dairy operation to circumvent Winona County’s zoning rules related to livestock operation size.… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • clean water • dairy crisis • Daley Farm • factory farm • local control • local democracy • SLAPP • Winona County

LSP Applauds Court’s Support of Winona County Decision on Factory Farm

LSP Launches ‘Story Center Powerline’ Initiative for Rural Residents Fighting Big Ag

November 21, 2023

LEWISTON, Minn. — Land Stewardship Project (LSP) members applauded today’s decision by the Minnesota District Court to deny Daley Farm’s latest attempt to circumvent Winona County’s rules related to the size of large livestock operations. (The Court’s decision is available here.) For the past four years, Daley Farm has sought a variance from the county’s… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • local democracy • Winona County

One Year after Major Winona County Fish Kill, Citizen Action Has Made an Impact

July 26, 2023

LEWISTON, Minn. — A lot of proverbial water has passed under the bridge in the 12 months since a major fish kill was discovered south of Lewiston: local residents banded together to learn more about the area’s vulnerable water resources; several groups teamed up to raise awareness of threats to streams, rivers and wells; and finally,… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: CAFO • drinking water • factory farm • fish kill • groundwater • maure • Minnesota Legislature • nitrates • Rush Creek • water quality • Winona County

LSP Statement on Daley Dismissal of District Court Case

March 20, 2023

LEWISTON, Minn. — Daley Farm’s recent withdrawal of its lawsuit against the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), elected officials, and other community members is yet another example of why this limited liability partnership’s efforts to impose an unprecedented expansion in Winona County is unwarranted. Daley Farm filed this lawsuit right before the November 2022 election in an… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Daley Farm • factory farms • local control • local democracy • Winona County

LSP Statement on Latest Daley Farm Lawsuit

November 1, 2022

LEWISTON, Minn. — Daley Farm’s filing of a lawsuit in Minnesota District Court on Oct. 27 naming the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) and individual citizens as defendants is the latest effort by this limited liability partnership to suppress the public’s right to discuss and debate the future of our community here in Winona County. This litigation appears… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Daley Farm • factory farm • lawsuit • Winona County

LSP Members Deliver Letter to Governor’s Office Demanding Action on Fish Kills

‘We want this troubling pattern of aquatic destruction to stop.’

September 21, 2022

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Members of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today delivered a letter to Gov. Tim Walz’s office calling on state officials to take action to address a rash of fish kills in southeastern Minnesota streams in recent years. “As people who drink, cook and wash with this water when it comes out of our… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: DNR • fish kill • Governor Tim Walz • MDA • MPCA • water quality • Winona County

LSP Statement on Daley Farm Appeal of Winona County BOA Decision

January 5, 2022

LEWISTON, Minn. — On Jan. 3, Daley Farm of Lewiston, L.L.P, filed an appeal in Minnesota District Court challenging the Winona County Board of Adjustment’s decision in December denying the operation’s proposed expansion. This expansion would exceed the county’s animal unit cap by almost four times the current limit. Over the years, Daley Farm has repeatedly shown it has little respect… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: Board of Adjustment • CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • karst geology • local democracy • Winona County

Winona County BOA Denial of CAFO Variance a Win for Farms, People & the Land

It's Time to Start Investing in a Sustainable Ag Economy

By Tim Ahrens, Sam Streukens & Matthew Sheets

December 2, 2021

Today, the voice of the people in Winona county prevailed against an attempt by a factory dairy farm to blow by local, sensible limitations on the number of animals (and thus the amount of manure) that can be housed in one location. After thoroughly considering the evidence, the Winona County Board of Adjustment once again… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • local control • local democracy • Winona County

Upcoming Events

March 2025

Monday March 31

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: MFU People's Town Hall
Monday March 31
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
MFU People's Town Hall
People's Energy Cooperative, 1775 Lake Shady Ave S, Oronoco, MN 55960, USA
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is hosting a series of People’s TownHall events.

MFU wants to hear directly from family farmers and rural residents on howthe state and federal government can help meet their needs and build robustfarms and rural communities.

These events are open to the public; feel free to invite yourneighbor.

To reserve a spot, click here.Contact Claudine Arndt at 612-202-7872 or e-mail her at claudine@mfu.org with any questions.

April 2025

Wednesday April 2

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: MFU People's Town Hall
Wednesday April 2
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
MFU People's Town Hall
Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560, USA
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is hosting a series of People’s TownHall events.

MFU wants to hear directly from family farmers and rural residents on howthe state and federal government can help meet their needs and build robustfarms and rural communities.

These events are open to the public; feel free to invite yourneighbor.

To reserve a spot, click here.Contact Claudine Arndt at 612-202-7872 or e-mail her at claudine@mfu.orgwith any questions.

Thursday April 3

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: MFU People's Town Hall
Thursday April 3
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
MFU People's Town Hall
Far North Spirits, 2045 220th Avenue, Hallock, MN 56728, USA
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is hosting a series of People’s TownHall events.

MFU wants to hear directly from family farmers and rural residents on howthe state and federal government can help meet their needs and build robustfarms and rural communities.

These events are open to the public; feel free to invite yourneighbor.

To reserve a spot, click here.Contact Claudine Arndt at 612-202-7872 or e-mail her at claudine@mfu.orgwith any questions.
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: LSP Montevideo Office Open House
Thursday April 3
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Open House
111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA
We will be holding an open house for members and community at the Land Stewardship Project’s new Montevideo location at 111 N. First Street. Snacks and beverages provided. We invite the public to join us in touring the new space and meeting the LSP staff members who are working in the western Minnesota region. For more information, call 320-269-2105.

Saturday April 5

9:30 am – 5:00 pm: EcoFaith Summit 2025: Earth's Cries, Earth's Call
Saturday April 5
9:30 am – 5:00 pm
EcoFaith Summit 2025: Earth's Cries, Earth's Call
First Lutheran Church, 1100 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802, USA
The EcoFaith Summit will feature compelling speakers, enlivening worship, informative exhibits, opportunities for networking, and an array of engagement sessions for giving birth to strong, creative action in our congregations, camps, campuses, and communities. Morning refreshments, fresh local lunch and celebratory final reception are included in the day.

Keynote speaker Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, author, organizer, and theological ethicist, will lead participants in naming the powers that are destroying the Earth and introducing them to midwives of hope today.

Special presenter: Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy, member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, dynamic storyteller, poet, scholar, and the the first Native woman to earn a PhD in theology within the ELCA, will offer a groundbreaking blend of Indigenous spirituality and Christian teachings.

This event is presented by: The Northeastern Minnesota Synod EcoFaith Network, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, and Saint Paul Area Synod, along with partner organizations, synods, camps, colleges, and seminaries.

For details and to register, click here.

View Full Calendar

This event is presented by: The Northeastern Minnesota Synod EcoFaith Network, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, and Saint Paul Area Synod, along with partner organizations, synods, camps, colleges, and seminaries.