LSP's Ear to the Ground

Myron Sylling approaches farming from a no-nonsense, cause-and-effect point of view. So, he asks, if a reliance on heavy dosages of fertilizer is costing producers money while polluting our water, what’s keeping us from building a less nitrate-tainted farming system? ( last in a series on nitrates, farming, and water ) More Information: • LSP’s Rethink Nitrogen Campaign • Other Episodes in LSP’s R...

Lance Petersen feels strongly that as agriculture’s regulatory future related to nitrate pollution is being debated, one thing is certain: farmers like himself need to be in the room, at the table, and taking part in the discussion. ( 5th in a series on nitrates, farming, and water ) More Information: • LSP’s Rethink Nitrogen Campaign • Other Episodes in LSP’s Rethink Nitrogen Podcast Series • Low...

What do you do when your county has the highest cancer rate in the state and the local river experiences a catastrophic fish kill? Denise O’Brien, Larry Harris, and their neighbors responded by asking an important question: “What’s in the water?” ( 4th in a series on nitrates, farming, and water ) More Information: • Nishnabotna Water Defenders • LSP’s Rethinking Nitrogen Campaign • 1st in the “Ni...

Making sure 600,000 people are consistently consuming water that meets health standards for nitrates is Amy Kahler’s job. That’s a big challenge when the land upstream is some of the most productive crop ground in the country. ( 3rd in a series on nitrates, farming, and water ) More Information: • 1st in the “Nitrates, Farming, and Water” LSP podcast series: “Run Silent, Run Deep” • 2nd in the “Ni...

Nutrient management expert Matthew Helmers has researched how certain land use practices can have a “disproportionate impact” when it comes to nitrate pollution reduction. He says it all starts with focusing on a simple mantra: “always be growing.” ( 2nd in a series on nitrates, farming, and water ) More Information: • 1st in the “Nitrates, Farming, and Water” LSP podcast series: “Run Silent, Run...

The MPCA’s Justin Watkins sees nitrates leaking out of farm fields as an “invisible” problem that’s all too easily ignored. The solution is to shine a spotlight on widespread systems changes in agriculture. ( 1st in a series on farming, nitrates, and water ) More Information: • LSP’s Rethinking Nitrogen Campaign • Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy • Southeast Minnesota Nitrate Strategies Colla...

Paul and Trudi Schaefer always assumed they would live out their lives on the farm they built up over several decades. When they realized they needed to move on, their first step was to take LSP’s Farm Transition Planning Course. More Information: • LSP 2027 Farm Transition Course • LSP Land Transition Tools • LSP Land Transition Profiles

Connecting directly with eaters is a priority for pastured-based livestock farmers Ellen and Jim Gardner. So how do they balance growing their market with keeping face-to-face relationships intact? More Information: • Gardner Family Farm • LSP’s Community-Based Food Systems Page • LSP’s Soil Health Page • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Page

When a federal immigration crackdown came to rural Minnesota, farmer Bridget Lux knew she had to do something. When she walked into a community meeting, she realized she wasn’t the only one looking to take action. More Information: • Contact Information for LSP Organizer Nick Olson • Immigrant Defense Network • LSP’s Justice & Stewardship Web Page • LSP’s Long Range Plan

Jordan and Rachelle Meyer had burning questions about how to pursue a new milk production path without upsetting their “three-legged stool.” So they invited members of an LSP Soil Health Hub onto their farm to debate the options. More Information: • Wholesome Family Farms • Meyer Podcast — Ear to the Ground 255: Embracing the Weed • Meyer Podcast — Ear to the Ground 291: Shovel Doesn’t Lie • Meyer...

“How do I make this pasture pay?” beginning farmer Heidi Eger asked a group of fellow graziers during an LSP Soil Health Hub gathering. They answered by measuring out an ideal paddock and putting pen to paper. More Information: • Radicle Heart Farm • Ear to the Ground 265: Diving into Safer Waters • Ear to the Ground 405: High Voltage • Ear to the Ground 404: Closing the Loop • Farm Beginnings • L...

Chad and Melissa Crowley are using managed rotational grazing, soil health, and solar arrays to create a good energy flow on the dairy farm they’re transitioning into. They are also utilizing LSP’s Soil Health Hub to field a few burning questions and recharge their batteries. More Information: • LSP’s Soil Builders’ Network • Blog: Soil Health Hub Gathering Illustrates the Power of Dreams Anchored...

Paul and Delores Moechnig are working to prove to the next generation that the road to farming’s future doesn’t have to pass through corn and soybean fields. It turns out the bluebirds and swallows appreciate the offramp they’ve taken into rotational grazing as well. More Information: • LSP’s Soil Builders’ Network • Blog: Soil Health Hub Gathering Illustrates the Power of Dreams Anchored in Reali...

Emily and Ryan Kjesbo-Johnson vowed their lifelong commitment to community would not stop when they moved out of their urban neighborhood and onto a farm. Farm Beginnings is helping them keep that promise. More Information: • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course (2026-2027 Early Bird Discount Deadline Aug. 1, 2026; Final Deadline Sept. 1, 2026) • Crowded Table Farm • LSP’s “Fresh Voices” Beginning Farmer...

Jane Marynik’s pursuit of perfection ran into a brick wall called vegetable farming. LSP’s Farm Beginnings has helped her strike a more sustainable balance between work and life. More Information: • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course (2026-2027 Early Bird Discount Deadline Aug. 1, 2026; Final Deadline Sept. 1, 2026) • Four Beans Farm • Food Farm • LSP’s “Fresh Voices” Beginning Farmer Podcast Series

Livestock producer Frances Kelliher admits to being a bit cynical and burnt-out on her first day in LSP’s Farm Beginnings course. But the program helped revitalize her belief that regenerative grazing can renew one’s relationship with the land and community. More Information: • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course (2026-2027 Early Bird Discount Deadline Aug. 1, 2026; Final Deadline Sept. 1, 2026) • Riverb...

Josh Bryceson sees The Good Acre food hub as a way to not only build markets for local vegetable producers, but to germinate the next generation of farmers ( 2 of 2 parts) . More Information: • The Good Acre Food Hub • LSP’s Community-Based Food Systems Program • Ear to the Ground 399: Asking Why

A decade ago, veggie and livestock farmers Josh Bryceson and Rama Hoffpauir realized sweat equity would only take them so far in their ag journey, so they looked up from the grindstone long enough to take in the big picture ( 1 of 2 parts ). More Information: • Turnip Rock Farm & Cosmic Wheel Creamery • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course • Farmland Access Holistic Financial Decision-Making Tool

Over the past three decades, the rotating Endowed Chair in Agricultural Systems has provided farmers and others a chance to build a more sustainable farm and food system in Minnesota. Farmer and community leader Marvin Johnson says now is not the time to close that public door into the University. More Information: • Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture • Endowed Chair in Agricultural S...

In 1986, Joe Paddock co-authored a book called Soil and Survival . Its message: the relationship between farming and the land is in serious need of repair. Four decades later, that message is more relevant than ever. More Information: • Soil and Survival • Planting in the Dust Script • Joe Paddock • Joe Paddock’s Books • Nancy Paddock • Carol Bly • Making Change from the Ground Up: 40 Stories for...

These three crop producers see no reason why productive farming and clean water can’t co-exist. But first, we need to stop the greenwashing and get our hands dirty. ( 2 of 2 parts; part 1 is here ) More Information: • Ear to the Ground 395: The Lobe Rangers • LSP Soil Health Web Page • LSP Myth Buster No. 68: “When Nitrogen is Gone, it Can be Forgotten” • SARE Fact Sheet: “Cover Crops at Work: Kee...

In the Corn Belt, water quality is not improving at a rate that is leading to meaningful landscape level change, and these poster boys for conservation farming say it’s time for the ag industry, commodity groups, and government to step up and take responsibility. (1 of 2 parts; part 2 here ) More Information: • Ear to the Ground 396: Accountable Ag • LSP Soil Health Web Page • LSP Myth Buster No....

As a farmer and entrepreneur, John Strohfus sees the production of food-grade crops as a key opportunity for regenerative farmers to forge links in a value chain based on building healthy soil. More Information: • Jan. 27, 2026, LSP Workshop — “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” • Field Theory Foods • LSP Small Grains Web Page • Ear to the Ground podcast 393: Risk Reducers • Ear to the Grou...

Alan Jostock uses the kind of diversity that builds soil health as a kind of insurance policy for his farm. That means meshing his crop and livestock enterprises in a way that they prop each other up through thick and thin. More Information: • Jan. 27, 2026, LSP Workshop — “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” • LSP Small Grains Web Page • Ear to the Ground podcast 392: Diversity’s Diet • Rol...

Farmer and small grains marketer Matt Kruger sees a rotation based on raising food grade crops as a way for farmers to get rewarded for building soil health. It’s also a way to fight the only thing he truly hates. More Information: • Jan. 27, 2026, LSP Workshop — “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets” • LSP Small Grains Web Page • Green Acres Milling • Ear to the Ground podcast 363: Small Grai...