Land Stewardship Project

FARMERS GROWING FARMERS: NEXT GENERATION LEARNING IN FOUR STAGES

SUMMARYTHE COLLABORATIVE PROJECT ENTITLED REGIONAL FARMER-LED EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUBS FOR BUILDING RESILIENCY AND VIABLE FARMS IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSINWILL BE LED BY LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT (LSP), A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING FARMER-INFORMED AND FARMER-LED PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT BEGINNING FARMERS. LSP'S GRASSROOTS MODEL MAKES THE FARMER'S VOICE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED, AND HAS RESULTED IN A SET OF UNIQUE AND SUCCESSFUL FARMER TRAINING PROGRAMS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REPLICATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SUCH AS THE FARM BEGINNINGS (FB) PROGRAM. LSP'S FARMER-LED AND COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH LEADS TO ONGOING INNOVATION IN HOW WE ENGAGE AND SUPPORT BEGINNING FARMERS, AS THE CHANGING NEEDS OF FARMERS DICTATE THE CURRICULA AND DELIVERY MODELS OF OUR PROGRAMS. THIS PROJECT WAS CREATED TO RESPOND TO THE EMERGING NEEDS OF FARMERS IN FOUR DISTINCT GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE REGIONS OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, AND USES PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE RELEVANT EDUCATION, MENTORING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BEGINNING FARMERS WITH DIVERSE NEEDS. THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: 1) OFFER PROVEN BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR VARYING LEVELS OF FARMING EXPERIENCE, WITH ENHANCED, FARMER-INFORMED CURRICULA; 2) DEVELOP TWO NEW FARMER-LED REGIONAL TRAINING HUBS TO INCREASE RESILIENCY OF BEGINNING FARMERS WITH 5-10 YEARS' EXPERIENCE; AND 3) COLLABORATE WITH RED LAKE NATION TO DEVELOP A NEW CURRICULUM AND BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO SUPPORT SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED BEGINNING FARMERS. THE KEY COLLABORATING PARTNERS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE: MIDWEST ORGANIC & SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION SERVICE (MOSES); ANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER(AOLC); SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS (SWCD) IN THREE RURAL MINNESOTA COUNTIES; CULTIVATING RESILIENCE, LLC; ESTABLISHED FARMER-LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION; THE 4 DIRECTIONS DEVELOPMENT (4DD) CORPORATION AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OF THE RED LAKE NATION.

MAKING NEEDED ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES PAY IN AN AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED

COLLABORATIVE ALLIANCE OF FARM BEGINNINGS(R) PROGRAMS: PLANNING AND SUPPORTING FARMER-TO-FARMER EDUCATION IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

FARM BEGINNINGS FROM REGIONAL TO NATIONAL: BEGINNING FARMERS AND VIABLE FARMS INITIATIVE

FARM BEGINNINGS COLLABORATIVE: EXPANDING AND STRENGTHENING FARMER-TO-FARMER TRAINING IN A MULTI-STATE PROJECT

THE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT WILL BOLSTER THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOCUSING ON INCREASING WHOLESALE READINESS AND FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES FOR 45 FARMERS ULTIMATELY AIMING TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND MARKET ACCESS FOR THESE STAKEHOLDERS. THIS PROJECT WILL FACILITATE INCREASED REVENUE STREAMS FOR FARMERS THROUGH SALES TO REGIONAL MARKETS AND ENHANCED ACCESS FOR OVER 1900 CONSUMERS VIA CONNECTIONS TO SCHOOLS AND DIRECTTOCONSUMER OUTLETS. THE PROJECTS CORE ACTIVITIES INVOLVE STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN FARMERS REGIONAL FOOD HUBS AND DISTRIBUTORS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING SCHOOLS AND FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS. THE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT ANTICIPATES THAT THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WILL LEAD TO INCREASED SALES VOLUMES AND IMPROVED FOOD AVAILABILITY WITHIN THE REGION. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROBUST WHOLESALE RELATIONSHIPS AND IMPROVE THE FLOW OF LOCALLY PRODUCED GOODS TO VARIOUS DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A STRENGTHENED LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO FRESH REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCTS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE THE FARMERS THEMSELVES WHO WILL EXPERIENCE ENHANCED MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CONSUMERS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM GREATER ACCESS TO LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD PRODUCTS. THIS INITIATIVE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS A MORE RESILIENT AND PROSPEROUS LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM WITHIN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

STRONG, EQUITABLE SYSTEMS FOR HEALTHY FOOD AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY

UNDER THE PROJECT, BUILDING COMMUNITY FOR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCY, LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT WILL BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSE SET OF STAKEHOLDERS TO COORDINATE THE EXPANSION OF THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM. THE PROJECT WILL ANALYZE EXISTING COMMERCIAL NETWORKS OPERATING IN THE REGION, IDENTIFY GAPS, AND EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION. THE PROJECT WILL CONVENE SPECIALIZED WORKING GROUPS AROUND INCREASING SALES OF LOCAL FOOD AND BUILD NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO FACILITATE STRONGER REGIONAL FOOD CHAIN COORDINATION. A DIVERSE TEAM OF STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING FARMERS, CONSUMERS, FOOD BUSINESSES, FOOD BANKS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY STAFF, AND FOOD SYSTEM RESEARCHERS ARE COMMITTED TO COLLABORATING TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT GOALS. THE PROJECT WILL GENERATE DATA THAT STAKEHOLDERS CAN USE TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD VALUE CHAINS AND INCREASE SALES OF LOCAL FOODS.

2015 EDUCATION AWARD

RME OUTREACH

2016 RMEPP AWARD

RME AWARD

RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR BEGINNING FARMERS: MEETING THE LOCAL FOOD CHALLENGE

2018RRMEPP

THIS AWARD PROVIDES FUNDS FOR RISK REDUCTION FROM THE USE OF PESTICIDES IN AGRICULTURAL SETTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES.

FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION O PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATES, LOCALGOVERNMENTS, NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES, NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, CITIZEN GROUPS, ANDLANDOWNERS ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES, INCLUDINGMINIMIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT, SPREAD, AND IMPACT OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PURPOSE OF AWARD SUMMARY OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT THE GOAL OF LSP S BRIDGE TO SOIL HEALTH PROGRAM IS TO BUILD BACK THE HEALTH OF AGRICULTURAL SOILS, IMPROVEWATER QUALITY OF STREAMS AND UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS, SEQUESTER CARBON, INCREASE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TO CREATE HOPE AND PROSPERITY FOR FAMILY FARMS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PROMPT A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION OF MIDWESTERN AGRICULTURE, SCALING UP THE NUMBER OF LOCAL CROP AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS BUILDING SOIL AND TALKING PUBLICLY ABOUT THE RESULTING FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS IS CRUCIAL SUMMARY OF PROJECT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES TO GOVERNMENTS, NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES, NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, CITIZEN GROUPS, ANDBUILD A CRITICAL MASS OF FARMERS USING SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES, LSP WILL 1 HOST LARGE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS 2 ADVERTISE EVENTS THROUGH LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, MAILING FLYERS, AND RADIO 3 HOLD 1 1 MEETINGS WITH FARMERS 4 SHAREFARMERS STORIES, AND 5 BUILD TIES BETWEEN FARMERS IN THE SOIL BUILDERS NETWORK AND IN LEARNING GROUPS CALLEDSOIL HUBS, GRAZING GROUPS AND FARMER TO FARMER CONSULTANTS PERFORMANCE GOALS INCLUDING MILESTONES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES IN 2022 2024 1 ORGANIZE 10 EDUCATIONAL, SOIL HEALTH WORKSHOPS 2 TRACK ACREAGE OF SOIL HUBS, GRAZING CIRCLES AND FARMER TO FARMER CONSULTANTS 3 EXPAND LSP S SOIL BUILDERS NETWORK, A FARMER NETWORK, FROM 686 TO AT LEAST 800 IN TWO YEARS 4 CREATE AND PUBLICLY SHARE RESOURCES FEATURING FARMERS USING SOIL BUILDING PRACTICES 5 CONDUCT 50 1 1 PERSONAL VISITS WITH FARMERS INTERESTED IN SOIL HEALTH BENEFICIARIES THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF OUR EFFORTS ARE THE FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA THAT MANAGE LAND IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION WE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO AFFECT WATER QUALITY AND THE HEALTH OF LOCAL TROUT STREAMS IN THE KARST REGION BY EMPLOYING BETTER LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE MAKING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES AND THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS FARMERS CAN EXPECT FROM THEIR EFFORTS IS KEY WE WILL ALSO BE INVITING LOCAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO FIELD DAYS THAT WILLEDUCATE ON OUR REGION S UNIQUE TOPOGRAPHY AND HOW RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE A HUGEDIFFERENCE IN WATER QUALITY FOR EVERYONE DOWNSTREAM THE OTHER BENEFICIARIES OF THIS WORK, IF WE CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, ARE THE LOCAL WILDLIFE ESPECIALLY FRESHWATER STREAM HABITATS AND SPECIES RURAL WELL WATER OWNERS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM OUR EFFORTS

PLANNING FOR HEALTHY FOOD, STRONG COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

FARM BEGINNINGS COLLABORATIVE: EXPANDING AND STRENGTHENING FARMER-TO-FARMER TRAINING IN A MULTI-STATE PROJECT

PLANNING FOR HEALTHY FOOD, STRONG COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

MAKING NEEDED ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES PAY IN AN AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED

COLLABORATIVE ALLIANCE OF FARM BEGINNINGS(R) PROGRAMS: PLANNING AND SUPPORTING FARMER-TO-FARMER EDUCATION IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

STRONG, EQUITABLE SYSTEMS FOR HEALTHY FOOD AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY

FARMERS GROWING FARMERS: NEXT GENERATION LEARNING IN FOUR STAGES