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Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, August 23, 2006 Hello: This is the 38th issue of "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) COALITION TV SPOTS DON’T PASS ‘REALITY’ TEST If you watch Minneapolis-based WCCO-TV you may have seen a series of advertisements from the Minnesota Farm and Food Coalition that promote large-scale livestock operations as “economic development.” One of the ads attempts to blame financial troubles in the livestock industry on “activists” who talk about “local control.” Documents obtained by LSP through the Freedom of Information Act confirm that these ads were paid for with soybean checkoff funds. Checkoff funds are mandatory fees paid by soybean farmers on every bushel they sell. These funds are for soybean research and promotion and they cannot be used for “influencing legislation or governmental action or policy,” according to federal law. However, the WCCO ads bear the checkoff logo and are clearly part of a campaign to advance policies favorable to large-scale livestock operations. The Minnesota Farm and Food Coalition is a coalition of the state’s most powerful agribusiness interests, including the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, the Minnesota Pork Producers Association and the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association—all groups that have worked to weaken local government control or environmental review in favor of factory farms. On June 14, Farmers’ Legal Action Group, on behalf of LSP and the other members of the Campaign for Family Farms, sent a letter to USDA outlining the violations and demanding that the ads be taken off the air. The letter also calls for the checkoff dollars used in the development of the ads to be refunded. USDA has yet to respond. In the meantime, two journalists have taken a hard look at the controversial ads and found them lacking in accuracy. On his popular “Reality Check” segment, veteran political WCCO reporter Pat Kessler concludes that the ads “include misstatements and exaggerations about animal feedlot operations and the controversy in small towns around them.” Kessler’s report is at: http://wcco.com/realitycheck/local_story_234150807.html. Nationally syndicated columnist Alan Guebertrecently pointed out the inappropriate use of checkoff dollars to pay for the ads. He also shows how the claim made by the ads that livestock numbers in Minnesota are decreasing is false. Guebert’s column is at http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/294650573711604.bsp. Stay tuned… 2) WHEN A FACTORY FARM COMES TO TOWN Speaking of local democracy, LSP has recently published an updated version of its popular township manual, When a Factory Farm Comes to Town: Protecting Your Township From Unwanted Development. First published in 1997, this resource has proven to be an invaluable guide for Minnesota townships that want to use planning and zoning to protect their communities. Produced by LSP's policy program, this booklet provides guidance on using the Minnesota Interim Ordinance and other tools in the state's Municipal Planning law. It also contains an extensive list of resources. A pdf version of the 52-page manual can be downloaded from http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pdf/township_manual06.pdf (this file is 5.3 MB, so it may take awhile to download). Paper copies are available from LSP's Policy Program office by calling 612-722-6377, or e-mailing bking@landstewardshipproject.org. 3) MINNESOTA COOKS AUG. 29 AT STATE FAIR The fourth annual Minnesota Cooks program will take place at the Minnesota State Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 29, in Carousel Park—just west of the Grandstand Ramp—from 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Minnesota Cooks will bring together 14 of the region’s best chefs to demonstrate how they use locally-grown fruit, vegetables, herbs, meat and dairy products to create award-winning, mouth-watering fare. The event is co-sponsored by Minnesota Farmers Union, Food Alliance Midwest (a joint project of Cooperative Development Services and LSP) and Renewing the Countryside. Details are at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/06/newsr_060815.htm. 4) SUSTAINABLE FOOD & FARMING AT STATE FAIR SEPT. 1 Sustainable food and farming issues will be featured at the new Minnesota State Fair Eco Experience on Friday, Sept. 1, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. LSP and Food Alliance Midwest will be providing information on environmentally friendly farming and how to support such practices through your food purchases. This is the first year of the Eco Experience (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/ecoexperience/index.html), and it will be held in the Fairground’s Progress Center Building, which is at the corner of Cosgrove St. and Randall Ave. It promises to be one of the most comprehensive exhibits of green products and services in the state of Minnesota, and is presented by the State Fair and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, with the support of green businesses and organizations from across the state. 5) FARM BEGINNINGS DEADLINE SEPT. 1 The application deadline for the 2006-2007 edition of LSP’s Farm Beginnings program is Friday, Sept. 1. Classes will begin in Winona Oct. 14 and in Hutchinson Oct. 28. For information on enrolling in Farm Beginnings or serving as a mentor, contact LSP’s southeast Minnesota office at 507-523-3366. In western Minnesota, call 320-269-2105. More information is at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/06/newsr_060810.htm. 6) WINTER CSA FIELD DAY SEPT. 9 To get a firsthand look at what one innovative Farm Beginnings graduate is up to, check out Carol Ford’s Green Goddess Produce on Saturday, Sept. 9, beginning at 2 p.m. Ford has built a customized passive solar greenhouse that allows her Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation in the western Minnesota community of Milan to produce vegetables in the winter. During this public Farm Beginnings field day, Ford will describe how she built the greenhouse and how she is using it to produce fresh food when the mercury plummets. To reserve a spot for the field day and to get directions, contact Amy Bacigalupo in LSP’s western Minnesota office at 320-269-2105 or amyb@landstewardshipproject.org. 7) LSP WEST MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT POSTPONED The LSP membership appreciation night/hog roast scheduled for Sept. 7 has been postponed. Watch future issues of the LIVE-WIRE and our website calendar at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-calendar.html for the new date. 8) LSP FUNDRAISER IN BLOOMING PRAIRIE SEPT. 16 LSP member Brad Trom is organizing a fundraising rummage sale for LSP in Blooming Prairie, Minn., on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale will be at 117 1st Ave. NE in Blooming Prairie, and craft items and baked goods are accepted. For details, call Trom at 507-583-7718. 9) SEE A MAZE OF MAIZE SEPT. 30 Gilbertson Farms in Scandia, Minn., will be hosting a “Salute to Our Troops” fundraiser and corn maze grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. until dusk. The Gilbertsons are LSP members and their produce operation is certified by Food Alliance Midwest (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_mwfa.html). Besides the premiere of their corn maze, the Gilbertsons will feature roasted corn-on-the cob, a craft sale, pedal go-cart track, pedal tractor play area, duck races, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and fresh produce. A portion of the proceeds from admissions will go to support the local Family Support Group for U.S. troops. For details, visit http://www.gilbertsonfarms.com, or call 651-433-2227. For more on the Gilbertsons, see page 17 of the Oct/Nov/Dec Land Stewardship Letter (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/news-lsl.html. 10) CHECK THE CALENDAR See http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-calendar.html for the latest events. Details on events can also be found on our "Press Releases" page at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/news-pr.html. 11) HEADED TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU: LSP ON-LINE AUCTION The silent auctions we've had at our membership events over the years have been so successful and fun that we've decided to offer an on-line auction at the end of October so that all you, regardless of where you live, can have the opportunity to support LSP while bidding on high quality handcrafted items, excellent local food gift baskets and other unique products and services from LSP members and local vendors. To make this first time event a success, we'll need your help. Here's how you can get involved: 1) Identify auction items -- donate an item or service yourself or let us know of individuals or businesses that might be willing to donate. 2) Put your organizing and computer skills to work -- help with posting item descriptions on-line, following up with potential vendors, picking up items or sending them out. 3) Get an early start on your holiday shopping while supporting LSP – watch future issues of the LIVE-WIRE for details about how you can log in and participate in the auction. Contact Cathy Eberhart at 651-653-0618 or cathye@landstewardshipproject.org to donate an item, volunteer your services, or for more information. 12) LSP MEMBERS NEED HELP Earlier this month, an F3 tornado hit the southern Minnesota farm of LSP members Dan and Terese Hall. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, their home and almost all of the buildings on their farmstead--including their fencing business--were destroyed. If you would like to help the Halls get their feet under them and begin rebuilding, you can send donations to: Hall Family Tornado Fund, First National Bank of St. James, 202 First Ave. South, St. James, MN 56081. 13) PODCAST FEATURES CALL FOR FEDERAL POLICY REFORM AT HEARING The 2007 Farm Bill should emphasize a bigger and better Conservation Security Program (CSP), support beginning farmers as well as farmers growing for local communities and regional markets, and include commodity reform. That was the message Paul Sobocinski had for members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during a field hearing in July. Sobocinski, a southwest Minnesota farmer and an LSP Policy Program organizer, testified before the lawmakers in Marshall, Minn. To hear his testimony, check out Ear to the Ground podcast number 23 at http://www.thepodlounge.com/listfeed.php?feed=34810. 14) BUY DIRECT FROM LOCAL FARMERS Looking for a way to get fresh, local food from LSP farmer-members? The 2006 Stewardship Food Network lists farmers who are direct-marketing fruit, 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 at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/foodfarm-main.html#SFN. For a paper copy, contact your local LSP office. 15) WORTH REPEATING “We need reforms now. Farmers continue to struggle, taxpayers are fed up with huge subsidies going to mega-farms and big ag corporations, and important conservation programs that are meant to protect our nation’s soil and natural resources are under-funded.” -- Paul Sobocinski, farmer & LSP Policy organizer, testifying before a field hearing of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/06/newsr_060721.htm) 16) 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, see http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-joinus.html. If you have questions about membership, contact cathye@landstewardshipproject.org. LSP_LIVE-WIRE is the Land Stewardship Project's e-mail newsletter. To change your options or password, visit www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/lsp_live-wire.
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