Agriculture

Curt Ellis meets King Corn
When Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney left college they both felt they weren't ready for desk jobs. Since they like to eat, they wanted to learn more about where our food comes from. They planted an acre of corn in Iowa and filmed what they learned. The resulting documentary is called "King Corn."
Mayo Clinic doctors examine sick pork handlers
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say they suspect direct contact with pig brains may have caused to the neurological illnesses of workers at Quality Pork Processing in Austin, Minn. Last week the Minnesota Department of Health revealed 11 workers are exhibiting symptoms.
Farmland is now the hot real estate deal
Farmland prices are rising rapidly. The trend reminds some of the bubble that burst back in the 1980s, setting up many farm foreclosures. Others see nothing but dollar signs on the horizon.
Biodiesel industry sputtering
These are tough times for farm-based renewable fuels. Biodiesel producers are being squeezed by high soybean prices. Some plants have closed.
MPR's Tom Crann talks to futurist Cecily Sommers about how tomorrow's food is being engineered today. Sommers says a banana a day could soon keep both the doctor and diseases away.
Do we buy ethanol (in Minnesota) because we have to?
Imagine you are driving through the Midwest and you need gasoline. Chances are that gas will have some level of ethanol in it. Many states have required ethanol without asking if consumers want it, or if it's environmentally sound.
Senate blocks $286B farm bill, likely stalling it until next year
Though politically popular, the bill stalled in a dispute between the parties over unrelated amendments that Republicans wanted to add. Democrats failed to get the 60 votes they needed to cut off debate on the measure.
Senate farm bill stalls
The Senate hopes to pass a new farm bill before leaving for their Thanksgiving break. Democrats will try to break an impasse over the measure today by limiting debate on the legislation.