Lessons From The Land

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Minnesota Farm Bureau

13 episodes

1 month ago

Join us on Lessons From The Land as we sit down with Rachel Gray, the powerhouse behind Little Timber Farms in Blackduck, Minnesota, and 2023 Beltrami County Farm Family of the Year. In this inspiring episode, Rachel shares her incredible journey from kindergarten teacher to successful cattle rancher, managing over 500 F1 baldy heifers through innovative, sustainable farming practices. Discover how this fourth-generation farmer is revolutionizing beef cattle production with rotational grazing...

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Episodes (14/13)

Lessons From The Land

Regenerative Roots: Cultivating Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is more than just a trend—it’s a powerful solution for restoring soil health, improving biodiversity, and creating resilient farms. In this episode, we sit down with Dawn and Grant Breitkreutz, regenerative farmers from Redwood Falls, Minnesota, who have spent the last 20 years transforming their land using soil health principles, holistic grazing, and sustainable land management practices. Learn how regenerative ranching benefits livestock, restores degraded farmland...

1 month ago

21 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Minnesota Cattle Rancher Rachel Gray: How Sustainable Farming and 4th Generation Wisdom Built a 500-Head Beef Operation

2 months ago

31 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Sustainability On A National Scale: Where Minnesota Ranks with Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen

Join us for a forward-thinking conversation on the future of agriculture in Minnesota with Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. In this episode, we explore how sustainability is shaping the state’s farming industry, from regenerative practices to cutting-edge innovations that balance productivity and environmental stewardship. Whether you're a farmer, policymaker, or sustainability advocate, this discussion will give you valuable insights into how Minnesota is leading the way in sustainabl...

3 months ago

30 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Farmfluence: The young farmer utilizing social media and technology to create healthier crops.

On this episode of Lessons From The Land, James Pieper shares how he left a suburban life and a career in ag finance to revive his family's Minnesota farm. Hear how drone technology, social media, and community helped him grow as a part-time farmer. A must-listen for anyone passionate about modern farming, ag tech, and rural entrepreneurship. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bureau Click here to learn more about the Natural Resources Conversation Service authenci.com

4 months ago

29 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Pollinator Patch: Cultivating on the farms for a thriving environment

In this episode, we’re diving into the heart of conservation in Minnesota with special guest Bill Carter, a passionate advocate for pollinators and sustainable habitats. As the CEO of Prairie Moon in Winona, Minnesota, Bill builds thriving pollinator habitats that support bees, butterflies, and other native species essential to local ecosystems and flourishing agriculture around the state. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bureau Click here to learn more about the Natural Re...

5 months ago

31 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Superior Harvest: Cultivating Sustainability and Protecting Ag Lands Connected to Lake Superior

In this episode of Lessons From The Land, we dig into one of the most overlooked — yet absolutely critical — components of agriculture: soil. Often dismissed as a "hippie" cause, conservation is undergoing a powerful rebrand, driven by farmers, scientists, and landowners who know that healthy soil is the foundation of long-term productivity and resilience. Guest is Kyle Hildebrandt From the South St. Louis County Soil & Conservation District. Check out more stories at The Minnesota ...

6 months ago

35 minutes

Lessons From The Land

We're Back! New episodes of Lessons From The Land coming in 2025.

Our limited audio series is back with six new episodes and stories in 2025. Join us as we travel around the state of Minnesota, finding farm stories of sustainability Lessons From The Land is a limited audio series highlighting sustainability efforts by farmers throughout the state. Catch our previous six episodes from 2024 below! Lessons From The Land is produced for the Minnesota Farm Bureau in partnership with the Minnesota Chapter of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A division ...

7 months ago

1 minute

Lessons From The Land

A partnership for a sustainable journey in farming with Minnesota NRCS Director, Troy Daniell.

At the farm level, a sustainable journey from planting, production, and harvest begins with the right partners. To meet the demands of consumers, state and federal agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service help farmers move towards sustainable practices. In this episode, Minnesota State Director Troy Daniell joins host Whitney Pittman-Visser for the last episode of 2024. Look for more Lessons From The Land episodes for this limited series in 2025! Check out more stories ...

1 year ago

32 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Roots & Resilience: Ag lands and forestry practices for sustainability.

Forest management is tightly connected to agriculture and farming practices. It plays a major role in on-farm sustainability efforts and can be part of farmings sustainability story for consumers. In this episode, we bring on Minnesota State Forester Callie Bertsch. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bureau Click here to learn more about the Natural Resources Conversation Service authenci.com

1 year ago

27 minutes

Lessons From The Land

The farmer protecting one of Minnesota's premiere trout rivers.

The Root River in Southeastern Minnesota is an 80-mile tributary of the Mississippi River and, one of the state's premier trout and recreation rivers. In this episode meet Ron Pagel, a Minnesota farmer who has transformed his dairy and beef farm to ensure on-farm waste isn't transferred to the creek on his farm that runs into the Root River. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bureau Click here to learn more about the Natural Resources Conversation Service authenci.com

1 year ago

29 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Let the grass grow and the animals graze: Its impact on sustainable farming.

Animals need to eat, of course. Land grazing is an important part of sustainable farming. Finding the right mix of feeding farm animals and, just letting them eat the grasses on the land can have major implications for long-term soil and plant sustainability. Guest on this episode is Troy Salzer of the University of Minnesota extension office. Salzer is a 20-year expert on grazing, land management and soil issues. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bureau Click here to learn ...

1 year ago

30 minutes

Lessons From The Land

The environmentalist. The educator and the cattle comforter. Meet Peter Bakken

Manure is the unsavory reality on a farm. With animals comes waste. For decades farmers have been turning farm "waste" into renewable or reusable materials to keep their operation sustainable. In this episode, meet Pete Bakken a 5th generation farmer in Southwestern Minnesota taking care of his animals and, constantly evolving his environmentally friendly practices. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bureau Click here to learn more about the Natural Resources Conversation Ser...

1 year ago

29 minutes

Lessons From The Land

Measuring water quality on these Minnesota farms.

Water is the lifeblood of, well, life. It’s an incredibly important resource on a farm and can be heavily regulated in how it's used, and how farmers impact nearby waterways. Water is one of the most important resources when it comes to sustainability. Warren Formo is the Minnesota Ag Water Resource Center Director. He’s the guest in this episode to talk about all water issues, how it impacts farmers, and what consumers should be aware of. Check out more stories at The Minnesota Farm Bu...

1 year ago

36 minutes

Lessons From The Land

What is Lessons From The Land all about?

Interested in sustainability in farming and food? You've come to the right place. Lessons From The Land will be launching soon! Lessons From The Land is a limited audio series from the Minnesota Farm Bureau in partnership with the Minnesota office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. We feature stories of sustainability on the farm and, how consumers can be more connected to the land. Host Whitney Pittman Visser is joined by farmers and policymakers creating a more sustainable futu...

1 year ago

2 minutes