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Thursday, November 21, 2024

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Federal inquiry traces payments from Gaetz to women; a new Florida-Puerto Rico partnership poised to transform higher-ed landscape; MT joins Tribes to target Canadian mining pollution; Heart health plummets in rural SD and nationwide; CO working families would pay more under Trump tax proposals.

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Transgender rights in Congress, a historic win for Utah's youngest elected official, scrutiny of Democratic Party leadership, and the economic impact of Trump's tax proposals highlight America's shifting political and social landscape.

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The CDC has a new plan to improve the health of rural Americans, updated data could better prepare folks for flash floods like those that devastated Appalachia, and Native American Tribes could play a key role in the nation's energy future.

Successful ballot question in MN seen as way for more climate-friendly farming

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Thursday, November 7, 2024   

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers see more room for making farmland climate resilient.

Nearly 78% of Minnesota voters said yes to Amendment 1, a 25-year extension of a constitutional amendment dedicating 40% of lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund.

Theresa Keaveny, Minnesota state policy lead for the group Climate Land Leaders, said the program has already helped spur adoption of practices such as managed grazing of farm animals to help restore the health of some landscapes. She argued smaller family farms need more support to embrace conservation.

"In this time of low corn and soybean prices, money that is available to help incentivize these kinds of practices is absolutely critical if we are to ensure that we have good-quality drinking water and don't pollute our rivers, lakes and streams," Keaveny contended.

Keaveny noted the latest extension creates a specialized grant program for rural and other underrepresented communities to pursue environmental projects. She stressed sustainable agriculture could be part of a more localized mix. Despite Minnesota's efforts, the state's southeast region has drawn the focus of the federal Environmental Protection Agency over nitrate pollution in water resources.

Keaveny noted the fund, first established in 1988, has also aided research in the area of cover crops, another climate-friendly farming practice. She emphasized pushing ahead with efforts to make the products more profitable can hopefully build a stronger movement within farming circles.

"There's an openness once farmers are given information," Keaveny observed. "But the financial risks have to be minimized so that farmers can make the transition. "

According to state data from earlier this year, farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program have higher profits than noncertified operations.


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