Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, May 18, 2006
Hello:
This is the 35th issue of "Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE," the Land Stewardship Project's e-mail newsletter. We send this out periodically to provide an update on activities and information related to LSP's work. We hope you enjoy this 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 lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org and write, "remove LIVE-WIRE" in the subject line.
IN THIS ISSUE
1) Contact the Capitol Now
2) Grazing Sensitive Areas May 22
3) Cure Event May 20-21
4) Community Garden Meeting May 24 in Willmar
5) Cooking Class May 27
6) Farm Beginnings Dairy Tour June 3
7) Sustainable Garden Tour June 3
8) LSP's Schultz to Speak at Journalism Workshop June 6
9) 'Barn Burial' June 10-11 in SW Minn.
10) CROP Walk June 14 in Western Minn.
11) Cedar Summit Open House June 17
12) Southeast Minnesota Forage Expo June 23
13) 'One River Mississippi' June 24
14) CSP Field Day July 14
15) LSP Policy Open House July 19
16) Farm Beginnings CSA Tour July 21-22
17) Grass-fed Label Comments Due Aug. 10
18) Check the Calendar
19) Buy Direct From Local Farmers
20) 2006 CSA Farm Directory Available
21) Community Garden Info
22) Organic Farm Vs. Big Oil
23) Worth Repeating
24) Join LSP
1) CONTACT THE CAPITOL NOW
The 2006 Minnesota Legislative session is down to its last hours -- literally. This is your chance to have a significant impact on legislation that would be good for family farming, sustainable agriculture and local food production. Urgent calls are needed to lawmakers and Gov. Tim Pawlenty to urge them to make into law a dairy investment tax credit that includes on-farm processing and pasture
development.
The dairy tax investment credit would allow dairy farmers to take a state tax credit equal to 10 percent of expenditures made to improve their farm. The tax credit is capped at $50,000 in the amendment that Rep. Greg Davids has initiated. LSP has worked with Rep. Davids to amend the dairy tax credit so that expenditures on pasture development, on-farm processing (for example bottling milk or
making cheese or yogurt on the farm), and refrigerated trucks needed to deliver products processed on-farm would be eligible for the tax credit. However, the tax bill (House File 785) that the House has appointed a conference committee for does not include Davids' language.
MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS: "The final tax bill must include the Dairy Investment Tax Credit and the credit should apply to pasture development, on-farm processing and refrigerated trucks to deliver milk processed on-farm. Rep. Greg Davids, Chair of the House Ag Committee, has crafted language that does this. His language was passed unanimously by the House Ag Committee
as part of House File 2879, and also adopted on a bi-partisan vote by the House Taxes Committee into House File 2457. It is important that this language be a part of the final tax bill so that all types of dairy operations get equal treatment."
CALL OR E-MAIL THESE KEY LEADERS:
- Governor Tim Pawlenty: 651-296-3391; 800-657-3717 or tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
- Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson: 651-296-3826 or sen.dean.johnson@senate.mn
- Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum: 651-296-2273 or rep.steve.sviggum@house.mn
- Rep. Phil Krinkie, Chair, House Taxes Committee: 651-296-2907 or rep.phil.krinkie@house.mn
- Sen. Larry Pogemiller, Chair, Senate Taxes Committee: 651-296-7809 or
sen.larry.pogemiller@senate.mn
For more information, call LSP's Bobby King at 612-722-6377, or Paul Sobocinski at 507-342-2323.
2) GRAZING SENSITIVE AREAS MAY 22
There will be a grazing workshop on managing sensitive areas in pastures on Monday, May 22, in Troy, Minn. Grazing workshops featuring an established system (June 5), pasture monitoring (June 12 and June 19) and a grazing operation in development (June 26) will be held in southeast Minnesota as well. For more information, call Caroline van Schaik in LSP's Lewiston office at 507-523-3366, or
e-mail her at caroline@landstewardshipproject.org.
3) CURE EVENT MAY 20-21
Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) will hold its River, Culture & History Weekend on May 20-21 in Granite Falls, Minn. For details, call 1-877-269-2873, or visit www.curemnriver.org/events.htm.
4) COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING MAY 24 IN WILLMAR
An orientation meeting will be held to sign people up for a community garden in the western Minnesota community of Willmar on Wednesday, May 24. The garden, which LSP is helping organize, is scheduled to open to gardeners on Memorial Day weekend. For more information, click here.
5) COOKING CLASS MAY 27
LSP members Lynn and Randy Anderson will be hosting a meat cooking class Saturday, May 27, at their livestock farm near Durand, Wis. The fee is $25 per person, which covers lunch and materials. The class will feature preparation of five meals using fresh local ingredients. The focus is on preparing healthy meals on a busy schedule. If you can't attend the class on May 27 but would be interested
in participating in another class, let the Andersons know, since they will be organizing more in the future. For details, call 888-700-3276, e-mail andersonfarm@nelson-tel.net, or visit www.andersonfarm.us.
6) FARM BEGINNINGS DAIRY TOUR JUNE 3
A Farm Beginnings public tour of a dairy grazing operation that's utilizing a low cost milking parlor will be held near Canton, Minn., on Saturday, June 3. This tour will also include tours of three southwest Wisconsin operations that are using low-cost parlors. Details here.
7) SUSTAINABLE GARDEN TOUR JUNE 3
The annual Southeast Minnesota Sustainable Garden Tour and Supper is set for Saturday, June 3, in the gardens of Barb and Martin Nelson of rural Winona. For details, click here.
8) LSP'S SCHULTZ TO SPEAK AT JOURNALISM WORKSHOP JUNE 6
LSP Policy Program Director Mark Schultz will keynote a talk Tuesday, June 6, on prospects for reform to U.S. farm policy in the 2007 Farm Bill during "Feeding Ourselves in the Future: A Journalist's Workshop on the Science and Policy of Food." The workshop, which is sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Initiative, is being held June 4-6 at
the U of M. The workshop will also feature a tour of Cedar Summit, a dairy farm/creamery owned and operated by LSP members Dave and Florence Minar (see item 10). For more information, visit www.cnr.umn.edu/sustainability, or call Kris Johnson at 612-624-9430.
9) 'BARN BURIAL' JUNE 10-11 in SW MINN.
Farm Beginnings graduates Ed and Jody Walter ran into some bad luck right before Christmas when their barn burned down. On the weekend of June 10-11, they will be hosting a "Walter Walter Organic Farm Work Camp" at their farm in the southwest Minnesota community of Clements. The weekend will feature clean up of the burned barn, as well as general maintenance of the farmstead as Ed
and Jody prepare to make their operation into a "destination farm." Food and beverages will be provided. You can contact the Walter family at 507-692-2223 or waltej@redred.com.
10) CROP WALK JUNE 14 IN WESTERN MINN.
The 2006 CROP Walk for Chippewa County, Minn., will begin in Montevideo on Wednesday, June 14. Of every dollar raised by the CROP Walk, 75 cents goes to Church World Service, which supports relief and self-development projects. LSP's western Minnesota office gets 8 cents of every dollar raised by this event. For details, call LSP's Montevideo office at 320-269-2105. You can "participate"
in the CROP Walk via the Internet at www.cropwalk.org.
11) CEDAR SUMMIT OPEN HOUSE JUNE 17
LSP members Dave and Florence Minar will host an open house at their Cedar Summit farm near New Prague, Minn., on Saturday, June 17. Cedar Summit is a grass-based organic dairy farm which processes milk, yogurt, cream and ice cream right on the farm. For details, including a map you can download, see www.cedarsummit.com, or call 952-758-6886.
12) SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA FORAGE EXPO JUNE 23
LSP members Dan and Cara Miller of Spring Valley, Minn., will host the Southeast Minnesota Forage Exposition on Friday, June 23. During the past few years, this event has evolved into one of the most popular and informative field days on rotational grazing and forage production around. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Millers' picturesque farm. For more information, call
507-259-6270 or e-mail dmiller@myclearwave.net. Watch for details in coming weeks at www.landstewardshipproject.org.
13) 'ONE RIVER MISSISSIPPI' JUNE 24
LSP member Julie Andrus is helping organize a special "One River Mississippi" dance performance at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 24, beginning at 7 p.m. This event honors the river and focuses community attention on water quality. This family event is being billed as the world's largest simultaneous dance performance, and includes events in Itasca, Minneapolis,
the Quad Cities, St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans and the Plaquemines Parish. Andrus is looking for volunteers at the Stone Arch Bridge to perform in the dance, as well as to help with the logistics during the performance. Contact her at 612-623-4988, or visit www.onerivermississippi.org.
14) CSP FIELD DAY JULY 14
The Koether family will host a field day on the Conservation Security Program (CSP) Friday, July 14, near the northeast Iowa community of McGregor. This field day, which is being co-sponsored by LSP and Practical Farmers of Iowa, will highlight the Koethers' use of CSP farming practices on their certified organic grass-based livestock farm. The Koethers are LSP members and Greg Koether is on
LSP's Federal Farm Policy Committee. Watch www.landstewardshipproject.org in future weeks for details. More information is also available by contacting LSP's Adam Warthesen at 612-722-6377 or adamw@landstewardshipproject.org.
15) LSP POLICY OPEN HOUSE JULY 19
The LSP Policy Program's 5th Annual Open House will be held on Wednesday, July 19, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. LSP will provide grilled brats, burgers and veggie burgers, and refreshments. Bring a dish to share and a chair to relax in. There will be a brief presentation on LSP's recent work and a silent auction. This is great way to introduce someone to LSP and its work. If you have an item that you
could donate to the silent auction or have any questions, contact LSP's Mike McMahon at mcmahon@landstewardshipproject.org or 612-722-6377.
16) FARM BEGINNINGS CSA TOUR JULY 21-22
Farm Beginnings will hold a public tour of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce operation July 21-22 near the southeast Minnesota community of Rushford. For details, contact LSP's Karen Stettler at 507-523-3366 or stettler@landstewardshipproject.org
17) GRASS-FED LABEL COMMENTS DUE AUG. 10
For the past few years, LSP staff and members have been working to get the USDA to develop a national standard for labeling grass-fed meat. All of the work has paid off -- the government recently released a proposed standard. The public has until Aug. 10 to send comments to the USDA on the proposal. After all the comments are considered, a final labeling standard will be issued. It's important
that the USDA hear from farmers, consumers and others who want to have a solid grass-fed labeling standard. For details on how to make your voice heard and what LSP and its allies would like to see in the final labeling standard, contact LSP's Terry VanDerPol at 320-269-2105 or tlvdp@landstewardshipproject.org.
18) CHECK THE CALENDAR
For the latest event listings, click here. Details on events can also be found on our Press Releases page.
19) BUY DIRECT FROM LOCAL FARMERS
Looking for a way to get fresh, local food from LSP farmers-members? The 2006 Stewardship Food Network is the perfect resource. It lists farmers from the Upper Midwest who are direct-marketing vegetables, meat, dairy products, eggs and other items. It also lists restaurants and other businesses that utilize locally produced foods whenever possible. It's available on LSP's website by clicking
here. For a paper copy, contact your local LSP office.
20) 2006 CSA FARM DIRECTORY AVAILABLE
Speaking of local food, LSP's 2006 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm directory is still available. If you'd like a free paper copy, call our White Bear Lake office at 651-653-0618.
21) COMMUNITY GARDEN INFO
Looking for a community garden in your area, or just want general information on community gardening? In the Twin Cities, there's a new source of information: "GardenWorks" at 612-278-7123 or info@gardenworksMN.org.
22) ORGANIC FARM VS. BIG OIL
During the early 1990s, LSP used a video essay called "Turn Here Sweet Corn" to highlight the loss of Twin Cities area farmland to sprawling development. More than two decades later, the organic farm featured in that film, Gardens of Eagan, is being threatened by a different kind of development. Minnesota
Pipeline Company has applied for a permit from the Public Utilities Commission to pump crude oil through the center of Gardens of Eagan. The proposed pipeline would require a 100-foot construction right-of-way, and a permanent right-of-way of 50 feet. It would threaten decades of work to build up soil quality though the use of organic methods, and expose the farm to the risk of an oil spill.
Fortunately, safe, alternative routes for this pipeline are available in the area. Minnesota's Office of Administrative Hearings will take evidence from the public until August about alternative routes for the pipeline. For details on how to get the pipeline route moved, see www.frontiernet.net/~atinagoe.
23) WORTH REPEATING
"All I'm asking is that we figure out ways to work together so that the voice of farmers all around the world can be heard." — West African farmer Seydou Ouerdraogo (www.landstewardshipproject.org/rss/podcast.php or www.landstewardshipproject.org/itn/06/060422.htm)
24) JOIN LSP
The work of LSP, including the LIVE-WIRE, is supported by the donations of people like you. To become a member, give a gift membership, or donate an extra gift above your membership, click here. If you have questions about membership, contact cathye@landstewardshipproject.org.
LSP_LIVE-WIRE is Land Stewardship Project's e-mail newsletter. To unsubscribe or to change your options or password visit www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/lsp_live-wire.
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