Land Stewardship Project

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2012 to Jun 30, 2013

Signed

Feb 7, 2014

Return Version

2012v2.1

Gross Receipts

$3,049,458

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

See schedule othe policy and organizing program organizes people, resources and ideas to build the power seek useful public policies and standup to injustice. We work at the local, state and national levels to change corporate, governmental and institutional policies and practices. At the federal level lsp: increased use of conservation stewardship program (csp) by minnesota farmers with a new fact sheet and mailing to 1400 farmers about the sign-up period; with allies sought funding for the conservation stewardship program and beginning farmer and rancher development program as part of the 'protect our prairies' & 'family & economic protection act' introduced in the senate and house; participated in one fly-in to washington, d.c with 17 lsp members; hosted visits by two members of congress on two lsp member farms; and successfully sought passage of conservation requirements and set income limits for federal crop insurance in the senate farm bill. Lsp's state platform called for affordable health care for all and we successfully worked in coalition with takeaction mn and others to seek passage of minnesotacare and to keep corporate representatives off mn health care exchange board. Lsp: gathered 2000 signatures on the corporate power has gone too far petition to be used in organizing campaigns; conducted three organizing meetings on the role of corporate power at the public expense in health care and frac sand mining; and organized against specific frac sand mine proposals and successfully sought requirements for environmental impact statements for specific mine proposals in southeastern mn. At the minnesota legislature and agencies, with allies lsp also: sought increased funding for sustainable agriculture; successfully opposed attempts to streamline frac sand mining regulations; and successfully organized to strengthen the 1977 'buy the farm' law mandating that farmers receive compensation for moving and lost business when powerlines are placed on the farm.additionally, lsp: served on the natural resources conservation service's state technical committee; co-convened the watershed subcommittee and served on other advisory panels; organized the family farm breakfast attended by over 260 lawmakers, lsp members and friends; educated township officials worried about harmful frac sand mining; recruited members to participate in several actions focused on labor contracts for people of color; and participated in the minnesota environmental partnership. Lsp worked with allies of color to form the mn farmworker justice campaign to uncover and address abuse of farmworkers on factory farms and held public meetings (50 people) and met with policy makers and researchers.

Activity 3

See schedule ofarm beginnings provides participants a wide range of opportunities to learn firsthand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming and is a farmer-led, community based training and support program for people with no experience to those making a transition. 622 people have taken the lsp-led farm beginnings course since 1997. Farm beginnings graduates are involved in a wide-range of agricultural enterprises, including grass-based livestock and organic vegetable production. This past year, lsp: held two farm beginnings courses for 40 families at morris, mn and river falls, wi and seven field days/ skills sessions; distributed scholarships to qualified applicants; expanded the advanced training program and network; held two 'farm dreams' introductory courses; expanded the famer network to 150 participants; organized four workshops and field days; engaged interested course graduates in core lsp programs and supported them in community leadership. To strengthen beginning farmer training across the country, a multi-state farm beginnings collaborative was expanded to include northeastern mn, nebraska, south dakota, maine, north dakota, new york, and two programs in illinois. Lsp: hosted 135 project directors from the usda's beginning farmer and rancher development program; enrolled 17 in the new journeyperson course; piloted a matched savings account program; convened two farm transition coaches to work with four transitions; held two performances followed by community conversations of the lsp's play 'look who's knock'in at our door' about land transition between generations; conducted 70 individual meetings and four organizing meetings to learn about farm succession issues. Lsp also published the 'seeking farmers-seeking land clearinghouse' with 155 postings to identify options for farmers and land.

Filer

EIN

41-1466054