Agriculture

Minnesota apple lovers have a reason to celebrate this fall harvest season: The famous Honeycrisp and Zestar varieties have had an apple baby named Kudos.

What began as a movement of farmers opposed to environmental rules is now one of the country's dominant political parties. The nation's agricultural exports are second only to the United States.

A growing number of farmers are using nitrogen producing bacteria as an alternative to the polluting synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, but some soil health experts are skeptical of the new products.

Four west-central Minnesota counties have created what they say is the first multi-county regional food plan in the state. Primary goals include increasing local food production, expanding access to healthy food, and improving education about local food.

Amid deepening drought conditions across much of region, Minnesota’s Drought Task Force met Thursday to coordinate and plan the state’s response.

With the growing popularity of tequila and mezcal in the U.S., a new generation of growers and distillers in the Southwest is trying to create a uniquely American agave liquor.

State agriculture officials announced Wednesday that they’ve confirmed two new invasive insects in Minnesota: elm seed bugs and Asiatic garden beetles.

Danish company Nature Energy planned to build several large-scale anaerobic digesters in Minnesota and Wisconsin that would harvest methane from livestock waste to produce biogas. Those plans are now on hold. But experts say there’s plenty of potential to turn methane from manure from a liability into a commodity.

To help us understand the state of groundwater in Minnesota, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Department of Natural Resources Hydrologist Ellen Considine, as well as Bob Shimek, an extension educator with White Earth Tribal and Community College who is active with water issues.

Don’t miss this special North Star Journey Live conversation recorded at the Minnesota State Fair about emerging farmers. What’s being done in our state to encourage more diversity in agriculture?