Land
Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, July 15, 2003 Hello:
This is the
inaugural issue of “Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE,” the Land
Stewardship Project's new e-mail update. We will be sending this out periodically
to provide an update on activities and information related to LSP’s
work. We hope you enjoy this new service, and are looking for feedback.
Please send your comments to Brian DeVore at bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org.
If you prefer not to receive this newsletter, please e-mail cathye@landstewardshipproject.org
and write “remove LIVE-WIRE” in the subject line.
IN THIS ISSUE
* Minnesota Legislative Round-up
* Factory farm court decision
* Country of Origin Labeling
* Farmers’ Markets
* Local Foods Banquet Aug. 4
* Chunk of Change for Farm Beginnings™
* Sustainable Ag Credit Survey
* Antibiotics, Agriculture & Resistance
* Farewell to Audrey Arner
* Caroline van Schaik moves
* Summer Events
* See you at the State Fair
* The Real Dirt on LSP
* Worth Repeating
* Picture the Pleased Pigs
2003 MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE ROUND-UP
How did stewardship and family farm issues fare during the 2003 Minnesota
Legislative session? Find out more by checking recent press releases on:
* A citizen's right to initiate environmental
review of feedlots
* Foreign
ownership of farmland
* Funding
for alternative swine research
FACTORY FARM COURT DECISION
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that a precedent-setting nuisance
lawsuit against a Nicollet County factory farm can move forward. Read
about the ruling and its implications here.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING
Land Stewardship Project staff member Paul Sobocinski recently testified
before USDA officials on the need for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL),
a family farmer-friendly initiative that the packing industry is trying
to hamstring. Learn more here.
FARMERS’ MARKETS
It's that time of year again--time to cruise the farmers' markets and
get the freshest and most local food available. In the Twin Cities area
alone, these markets are sprouting like crabgrass. LSP is developing a
list of farmers' markets. Check it out,
and if you know of a market that should be listed, drop us a line.
LOCAL FOODS BANQUET AUG. 4
Foods produced by local farmers using sustainable methods will be featured
at a special Minnesota harvest banquet and celebration on Monday, Aug.
4, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of Gethsemane, 905
Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis. This meal is open to the public. For more
information, go to http://EENOnline.org/educate/gc/meal-03.htm
or call 763-441-5482.
CHUNK OF CHANGE FOR FARM BEGINNINGS™
What happens when a group of citizens concerned about where our future farmers will come from start throwing quarters into baby food jars? Click here to find out.
SUSTAINABLE AG CREDIT SURVEY
A recent survey conducted by the Land Stewardship Project sheds some light
on the information gap that separates farmers, lenders and agricultural
educators. Download a pdf version of the survey's
questions and results, or check out the April/May/June
issue of the Land Stewardship Letter for a feature on the Farmer-Lender-Educator
Project.
ANTIBIOTICS, AGRICULTURE & RESISTANCE
Mighty McDonald’s recently announced restrictions on the amount
of antibiotics its meat suppliers can use. Does this new announcement
mean anything substantial in the struggle to reduce the development of
superbugs, or is it just a public relations ploy? Get some background
on the issue by reading the special report, “Antibiotics,
Agriculture & Resistance".
FAREWELL TO AUDREY ARNER
Audrey Arner has ended 15 years of service as a staff member of the Land
Stewardship Project. Arner, who farms near the Minnesota community of
Montevideo, had most recently served as the Director of our western Minnesota
office. However, it would be easier to name what initiative she was NOT
involved in over the years. As LSP Executive Director George Boody recently
wrote to Arner: “The creativity and energy to form webs of relationships
and ideas, like those embodied in a prairie abuzz with the work of life,
is among the gifts you have shared with us.” Arner says this transition
just means she will have more time to volunteer for her favorite nonprofit
organization.
CAROLINE VAN SCHAIK MOVES
Land Stewardship Project staff member Caroline van Schaik has moved her
family to southeast Minnesota. She will continue to work on the Multiple
Benefits of Agriculture initiative and the Farmer-Lender-Educator Project
out of our office in Lewiston. Contact van Schaik at 507-523-3366 or caroline@landstewardshipproject.org.
SUMMER EVENTS
The summer of 2003 is shaping up to be a busy one in terms of field days,
meetings, conferences and events in general:
* LSP's Farm Beginnings™ program has been holding on-farm educational field days and will be topping off the summer with an Aug. 9 potluck picnic at the Roger and Michelle Benrud farm.
* A working educational farm that utilizes sustainable production techniques
will have its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 9, 25 miles west of Minnesota’s
Twin Cities. Land Stewardship Project member Tim Reese is the supervisor
of the farm. For more information, call 952-472-9203, or log onto http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org.
* Land Stewardship Project members John and Jane Fisher-Merritt are hosting
a field day Aug. 16 on organic vegetable pest control and storage
in northeast Minnesota
* The University
of Minnesota's College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science
is hosting a series of listening sessions throughout the state this summer.
Learn more here.
SEE YOU AT THE STATE FAIR
Midwest Food Alliance is partnering
with the Minnesota Farmers Union and Minnesota chefs to present an exciting
new event this year at the Minnesota State Fair: “Taste of Tuesday.”
This event will highlight and raise awareness about all the local, sustainably
grown foods in Minnesota, and is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26, in front
of the Grandstand. In addition, the Midwest Food Alliance will have a
display at the Minnesota Farmers Union building, just inside the Snelling
Avenue entrance of the fairgrounds. We’re looking for volunteers
to staff the display during the State Fair’s run (Aug. 21 to Sept.
1). Volunteers will have their entry into the fair paid for. For more
information, contact Jean Andreasen at 651-265-3682 or jean@foodalliance.org.
THE REAL DIRT ON LSP
When you are an effective organization that takes a stand on important
issues, you are bound to be criticized by those who want to maintain the
status quo. In recent months, supporters of factory farms have taken public
shots at the Land Stewardship Project, accusing the organization of peddling
misinformation and being “un-American,” among other things.
Read LSP Executive Director George Boody’s
response.
WORTH REPEATING
“I get so excited when Greg brings in his beautiful food.”
-- Lucia Watson, owner of Lucia’s Restaurant in Minneapolis, describing
the relationship she has with Delano, Minn., organic vegetable farmer
Greg Reynolds. Watson spoke at the Pride of the Prairie’s “From
Soil to Table” event June 23 in Morris, Minn.
PICTURE THE PLEASED PIGS
Ever wonder what a sustainable swine production system looks like? Check
out our photo of the new Swedish deep-straw farrowing facilities at
the West Central Research and Outreach Center.
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