This is a special Minnesota legislative wrap-up edition of the "Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE," the Land Stewardship Project's e-mail newsletter. 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) Local Democracy Stays Strong
2) Dairy Tax Credit Fails to Pass
3) Beginning Farmer Legislation Fails to Pass
4) Thanks!
5) LSP on 950 AM Friday
6) Farm Beginnings Dairy Tour June 3
7) Sustainable Garden Tour June 3
8) 'Barn Burial' June 10-11 in SW Minn.
9) CROP Walk June 14 in Western Minn.
10) Cedar Summit Open House June 17
11) Southeast Minn. Forage Expo June 23
12) 'One River Mississippi' June 24
13) Check the Calendar
14) Join LSP
1) LOCAL DEMOCRACY STAYS STRONG
The 2006 session of the Minnesota Legislature ended in May with local democracy still strong in Minnesota.
Once again a strong coalition that included the Land Stewardship Project, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, the League of Women Voters, Clean Water Action and others worked together to head off legislation that would weaken the powers of local governments to have a strong say in what type of development is allowed in the community. Several bills were proposed that would have weakened
community and
township rights.
One proposal would have dramatically weakened the powers of townships and counties to enact an interim ordinance. Interim ordinances allow local governments to put a temporary moratorium on major development. This is critical when a community is faced with
unanticipated large-scale development such as a factory farm. The interim ordinance can provide a time-out on all major development while the community considers their options. Because of quick action by LSP and others, this legislation did not pass.
2) DAIRY TAX CREDIT FAILS TO PASS
LSP and other farm groups pressed up until the end of the 2006 legislative session for
passage of the Dairy Investment Tax Credit. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), would have allowed dairy farmers to take a 10 percent state tax credit on up to $500,000 of improvements made to their farm. LSP worked with Rep. Greg Davids (R- Preston) to ensure that the tax credit could apply to improvements related to pasture development and on-farm processing. Despite
agreement among a diverse group of farm organizations and Governor Tim Pawlenty, as well as House and Senate leadership, the legislation failed to pass.
3) BEGINNING FARMER LEGISLATION FAILS TO PASS
LSP worked with Rep. Lyle Koenen (DFL-Clara City), Rep. Greg Davids (R- Preston) and Sen. Gary Kubly (DFL-Granite Falls) on legislation during the 2006 session that would provide a state tax credit for renting land to a beginning farmer. The proposed legislation was based on a successful Nebraska program and addresses one of the biggest barriers to beginning farmers -- access to land. Rep. Davids
and Rep. Koenen worked together to get the legislation included in the House Omnibus Tax bill, but ultimately it failed to make it into
the final tax bill. LSP plans to pick the issue up next session.
4) THANKS!
Thanks to all the LSP members who contacted their legislators, testified at hearings and in general supported pro-family farm proposals during the 2006 session of the Minnesota Legislature. Your involvement is critical to getting positive laws passed in Saint Paul. During the next several months, it is important to let lawmakers know how important such initiatives are to the future of Minnesota's
food and farming system. For more information on LSP's state policy work, contact Bobby King at bking@landstewardshipproject.org (612-722-6377), or Paul Sobocinski at sobopaul@rconnect.com (507-342-2323).
5) LSP ON 950 AM FRIDAY
Mark Schultz, LSP's Policy Program Director, will be a guest on the Air America show, "Minnesota Matters," Friday, June 2, from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Also on the program will be Frances Moore Lappe. The radio frequency for Air America is 950 AM. Tune in and learn what people can do locally and nationally to support a fair, sustainable food and farming system.
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) '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. Please RSVP the Walter family by June 3 at 507-692-2223 or waltej@redred.com.
9) 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 http://www.cropwalk.org.
10) 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 operation which processes milk, yogurt, cream and ice cream right on the farm. For details, including a map you can download, see http://www.cedarsummit.com, or
call 952-758-6886.
11) 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 http://www.landstewardshipproject.org.
12) '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 http://www.onerivermississippi.org.
13) CHECK THE CALENDAR
For the latest event listings, see our calendar. Details on events can also be found on our Press Releases page.
14) 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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