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Alan Bedtka is pictured in a stand of sorghum-sudangrass, which he was paid to plant to boost soil health and reduce his fertilizer use. (Photo courtesy of Alan Bedtka)

Monday, April 22, 2024

Can taller cover crops help clean the water in farm country?

By Brian DeVore for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News…

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, the founder of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance and co-founder of Tree-Range Farms. These entities have created an

Midwest network of regenerative farmers is rethinking chicken

By Twilight Greenaway for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

According to the Clean Grid Alliance, Minnesota farmers, ranchers and landowners receive nearly $9 million annually from land lease payments related to solar projects on their property. (Adobe Stock)

MN landowners warming up to solar

Drive around rural Minnesota and you might spot a solar farm. Complexities are being sorted out for bigger projects and in the meantime, farmers are …

To date, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made available $1.25 billion dollars in new grant funding for farmers and rural small business owners to add clean energy technology to their properties. (Adobe Stock)

Feds beef up hiring to help rural America with clean energy grants

Federal grant money is flowing in to help farmers and smaller businesses in rural communities adapt to clean energy technology. Minnesota is among …

Beyond boosting land access, Minnesota's Route 1 organization is using a new grant to help emerging BIPOC farmers enhance their marketing operations. (Adobe Stock)

Farm innovations in MN seen as tool in ending racial hunger divide

Among Black Minnesotans, some 25% are food insecure. An emerging initiative aims to connect BIPOC communities with healthier and culturally …

Using federal incentives, the USDA is calling on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations to add anaerobic digesters that collect methane from manure to be used for electricity. But conservation groups countered it will do little to reduce harmful emissions from industrial ag operations. (Adobe Stock)

Family farm groups blast conservation incentives for industrial ag

Minnesota has been in the headlines over nitrate levels in drinking water and some conservation groups argued industrial farms are being given too man…

Agrivoltaics is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the use of land for both agriculture and solar-energy generation. Above is an example of a Minnesota project, where farmers are growing crops at a solar site. (Photo courtesy of Connexus Energy)

Growing veggies with a side of solar cuts emissions, boosts land access

The arrival of fall has farmers transitioning to the harvest season, but what if some gathered their crops with rows of solar panels right alongside …

Federal conservation programs are designed to help farmers implement practices that make their land more resilient to climate change, including improving soil health. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Still Room for Growth Under Ag Conservation Programs

There are longstanding federal programs that help farmers adopt climate-friendly practices in working their land. But a new report says despite some …

A researcher examines Kernza grains. (The Land Institute)

Perennial Grains: For Beer, Bread and the Fight Against Climate Change

By Jake Christie for Great Lakes Echo. Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection, reporting for Great Lakes Echo/Solutions …

According to recent USDA 'Farm to School' Census data, Minnesota schools that responded reported spending 13% of their budgets on local products. (Adobe Stock)

Disadvantaged MN Farmers to See New Business with School Meals

Farmers of color in Minnesota are expected to see new opportunities to get their products into school lunch programs. Their advocates said a major …

Rotational grazing, a popular form of regenerative agriculture, involves moving animals through pasture to improve soil health. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmer to Congress: Protect Small Producers, Food Security

A U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday highlighting the threat climate change poses to the world's food supply, and how farmers can be …

Minnesota officials say conservation practices, through its Water Quality Certification Program, have reduced nitrogen loss on farmland up to 49%. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmers Given Bigger Opportunity to Be 'Climate Smart'

From extreme drought to wet springs, Minnesota farmers are seeing firsthand the impact of climate change. To help address the growing threat…

While popular in summer, nearly $20,000 in Market Bucks were spent during the winter season at Minnesota farmers markets, according to the last annual report for the program. (Adobe Stock)

MN Lawmakers Urged to Spare 'Market Bucks' Funding

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. - A popular program that gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients better access to healthier foods at Minnesota …

MN-based Cargill Faces Federal Complaint Over Turkey Labels

MINNEAPOLIS -- Many Americans are scaling back their Thanksgiving plans because of the pandemic. But turkey is still on the menu, and one Minnesota-…

The EPA says agriculture accounts for nearly 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That's one reason conservation groups and government agencies have been pushing for more conservation on farms. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot Project Aims to Boost Conservation on MN Farms

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- In Minnesota, a new project aims to accelerate the number of farmers who use environmentally friendly methods. A number of …

Minnesota's Regional Conservation Partnership Program gives farmers a financial incentive to prevent polluted runoff into rivers, streams and lakes. (kconnors)

Efforts to Protect MN Water from Ag Pollution Get Funding Boost

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Thanks to renewed funding, Minnesota farmers will continue to see rewards for steps they take to control pollution and …

The United States lost nearly 3,000 dairy farms in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (MGBJAY/Flickr)

MN Farmers in DC to Discuss Farm Crisis, New Trade Deal

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Midwestern family farmers are in Washington, D.C., today to discuss the farm crisis and what they see as potential harm from …

The global food system could be the cause of more than a third of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. (Steve/Adobe Stock)

Natural Farming Solutions Could Reduce Food Sectors' Climate Impact

ST. PAUL, Minn. – As climate change takes center stage, a Minnesota-based think tank, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, says we …

The Minnesota Department of Education and USDA are partnering to offer local meals this week. (Courtesy of Sarah Brouwer)

Farm to Summer Week: MN Kids Enjoy Locally Grown Food

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It's Farm to Summer Week, and children throughout Minnesota are eating locally grown foods to celebrate. The U.S. …

Research finds that kids retain retain lifelong healthy eating habits if they start eating nutritious food when they're young. (Lance Cheung/U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

MN Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Support Farm-to-School Programs

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers will introduce a measure today to bring schools and local farmers closer together…

Minnesota is one of the top recipients of Conservation Stewardship Program funds. (Tony Webster/Flickr)

Does 2018 Farm Bill Do Enough to Address Climate Change?

ST. PAUL, Minn. — After months of negotiations, Congress has passed the 2018 Farm Bill and it now awaits President Donald Trump's signature…

Countries gathered in Poland for the UN's 24th annual meeting on climate change. (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy)

Global Climate Conference Reinforces Need for Grassroots Movement

MINNEAPOLIS – The 24th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland draws to a close today. Shefali Sharma, European office director …

The Minneapolis Public Schools procured 130,000 pounds of produce from 15 farms in 2017. (wbaa.org)

Farm-to-School Back on Menu at MN State Capitol

ST. PAUL, Minn. — When the 2019 session convenes next month, Minnesota legislators will hear about the success of farm-to-school programs and …

Cover-cropping has made inroads with farmers but government funding has lapsed without passage of a new farm bill. (lwvumrr.org)

Conservation Programs Hamstrung by Farm Bill Uncertainty

ST. PAUL, Minn. - While midterm elections dominate the news, Midwest farmers are left guessing when Congress will pass a new farm bill - or at least …

Americans' consumption of carbon-intensive food is estimated to be on average, more than double the global per-capita average. (pixabay)

Study Links Climate Pollution and Your Hamburger

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Researchers say they've tapped the most comprehensive estimate of greenhouse-gas emissions created by U.S. consumer food …

Together, the world's five largest meat and dairy companies emit more greenhouse gases than BP, ExxonMobil or Shell, says a new report. (Oikeutta el�imille/Flickr)

Report: Meat, Dairy Industries Roadblocks to Fighting Climate Change

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The world's growing meat and dairy industries are undermining global efforts to combat climate change, according to a new …

The Conservation Stewardship Program is the largest federal conservation program by acreage administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (landstewarshipproject.org)

MN Farmers Speak Out on Farm Bill Conservation Funding

ST. PAUL, Minn. — With debate over the farm bill expected to resume soon, more than 150 Minnesota farmers and ranchers have asked Rep. Collin …

Public comments are being solicited through May 31 on a draft conservation plan to reverse the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population. (Pixabay)

Saving the Monarch Butterfly for Future Generations

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Wildlife officials say the king of butterflies could go the way of the passenger pigeon unless people step in and plant more …

Farmers in Minnesota count on the Conservation Stewardship Program to help them with conservation projects on almost 13 percent of the state's farmland. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/Flickr)

GOP-Backed Farm Bill Would Gut Program Vital to MN Agriculture

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some Minnesota farmers are voicing concerns that one version of the Farm Bill now in Congress would gut a program they say is …

The Good Food Access Program helps Minnesota grocery stores, coops and mobile food purveyors get healthy foods to communities that need more of them. (American Heart Association)

Better Food Gets Closer in Minnesota

STAPLES, Minn. — The name says it all: the Good Food Access Program helps small food retailers reach people in parts of the state with limited …

Critics of the Trump budget proposal warn it could reverse efforts to get healthy, local foods to low-income Minnesota families. (Marco Verch/FlickR)

Trump Budget Signals Trouble for Hungry Minnesotans

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Trump budget proposal would cut almost $20 billion next year from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)…

Eric Sannerud (right) and his partner Ben Boo are among the first and biggest hops farmers in Minnesota. (Mighty Axe Farms)

Minnesotans Head Back to the Future for Food

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Community food systems are a growing trend in Minnesota - farmers markets are just one example. Erin McKee with the …

Cover crops such as winter rye are a good way to reduce runoff from fertilizer. (LSDSL/Wikipedia)

MN Out Front on Addressing Nitrogen Problems

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota is the first state in the nation to try telling farmers how to apply fertilizer to their crops. The state’s …

Eighteen neighbors compared notes and brainstormed policy suggestions during a citizen's jury meeting last March in Winona. (The Jefferson Center)

MN Rural Counties Lead the Way in Climate Talks

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In three Minnesota counties, neighbors are using citizens' juries to compare notes and reach consensus on issues that have …

Despite growing demand, only about 5 percent of milk sold in the United States comes from organic farms. (Oregon State University/FlickR)

Big Food's Big Climate Cost

MINNEAPOLIS — The five biggest meat and dairy companies emit more greenhouse gases than do Exxon, Shell or British Petroleum, according to a …

Farmers markets will have fresh produce through October, according to the Minnesota Farmers Market Association. (Patric Kuhl/FlickR)

Hey, Minnesota, it's Harvest Season

ST. PAUL, Minn. – After a cold, wet summer and a September that was all over the place, Minnesota farmers are bringing plenty of produce to …

More schools are using locally grown food. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Farm-to-School Month in MN; Not Just for Apples Any More

MINNEAPOLIS – October is national Farm-to-School Month. Policymakers in Minnesota have been building the relationship between farmers and K-12 …

Jeff Savage harvests rice on Perch Lake, part of the Fond du Lac band of Ojibwe reservation. (Laurie Stern)

Recipe for Wild Rice Harvest: Just Add Clean Water

CLOQUET, Minn. - The wild-rice harvest in Minnesota is wrapping up an exceptionally good year despite threats to its future. Comments from Jeff …

Goats were used to thin buckthorn and other invasive plants in both Minneapolis and St. Paul this year. (Sam Greenhalgh/Flickr)

Goats: MN's Friendly New Form of Weed Control

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Goats are catching on as an effective and sustainable alternative to chemicals for controlling buckthorn and other fast-growing …

Researchers say NAFTA has led to the loss of many U.S. family farms. (Don Graham/Flickr)

What's at Stake for MN in This Week's NAFTA Talks?

MINNEAPOLIS – The Trump administration reopens talks Wednesday on the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA supporters say it has …

For the first time, the soybean crop in Minnesota this year is as big as the corn crop. (United Soybean Board)

New Survey Asks MN Farmers about Controversial Herbicide

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A new weed killer could be damaging the crop it's supposed to protect. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says it's …

In the upper Midwest, prices have been down the last few years, but yields have been good. (FranksWorldPics)

Congressional Leaders Come to Rural Minnesota – to Listen

MORGAN, Minn. - Only three listening sessions have been scheduled in advance of the new farm bill in Congress, and one of those is Thursday in Morgan…

The science community says Sam Clovis doesn't have sufficient qualifications to be the undersecretary who oversees the USDA's scientific research. (Alex Hanson/Flickr)

Trump's Pick for Agriculture Post Not Sitting Well with Scientists

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A leading scientific organization says President Donald Trump's nominee to be chief scientist at the U.S. Department of …

More of Minnesota's children have access to fresh produce as a result of the Market Bucks program. (Jesse Davis)

Farmers' Program Helps Lower-Income Minnesotans Eat Better

ST. PAUL, Minn. - It's the time of year when local farmers are busy selling fresh fruits and vegetables they've worked hard to grow, and hunger-…

Minnesota had a record corn crop last year, but corn is just one crop under threat from climate change. (USDA)

Robots Help Fight Hunger by Watching Corn Grow

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Severe weather brought on by climate change is threatening crops in Minnesota and across the U.S., and a study is underway at the …

Minnesota ranks fourth in ethanol production in the U.S. (mn.us)

Study: Ethanol Production Destroying Habitat

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Wildlife habitat near corn-ethanol refineries has been destroyed at a fast pace since a federal law was passed to produce …

A letter has been sent to new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and members of Congress opposing large agribusiness mergers. (mn.us)

Letter Sent to Sessions about Ag Mega-Mergers

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Nearly 325 organizations have signed a letter pressing new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make sure the Justice …

Farmers say the price of fruits and veggies will go up if Donald Trump's plan to deport undocumented workers is carried out. (usda.gov)

Op Ed: Deportations Could Disrupt Ag Industry

MINNEAPOLIS – A big part of President-elect Donald Trump's campaign platform was immigration with a promise to deport 11 million people who are …

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MN: Sustainable Agriculture and Farming