Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

Agriculture

Second mad cow disease case raises temperature of ag interests

Canadian officials have announced a second case of confirmed mad cow disease. It's the second case of the disease this year in a Canadian animal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will send a technical team to Canada to asses the situation and could modify its decision to resume trade with Canada.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Biodiesel production begins in Minnesota

Minnesota is the first state in the U.S. to require the use of biodiesel fuels. A plant near Redwood Falls is the first in the state to produce the new fuel.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Tax break boosts farmland prices

Buying farmland is all about numbers these days and one of the most popular is 1031. It's a tax break that's bringing the effects of urban sprawl to all parts of the state.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Changing market prices worry ranchers

The beef industry is cyclical. Just a year ago, the market was robust, and ranchers in all phases of the business were making money. Now, for some people the market has cooled.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

An up and down year for Minnesota farmers

Try to get a farmer to stop and talk this time of year and you're likely to get a friendly, but firm, brushoff. It's harvest time. Between combining fields and storing crops, farmers don't have a second to spare. But things don't always go as planned. Take western Minnesota farmer Bernie Zinda, who got stuck in line at his local grain elevator. He had plenty of time to talk with about a chaotic year on the farm.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Record corn harvest in southern Minnesota

For some Minnesota farmers, the 2004 corn harvest is a once in a lifetime event. Many are finding yields they only dreamed of in the past.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

U of M has another winner of an apple

September is peak time for apples in Minnesota, and the news for apple lovers this year can be summed up in one word -- Zestar! It's the latest variety developed by the apple breeders at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Horticultural Research Center in Chanhassen. Apple breeders have been creating, testing and eating apples at the center for almost 100 years. The U of M's chief apple research scientist took us on a tour of the orchards.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Changing rural economies

A recent government report says that farm land prices are on the rise. Encroaching outer suburbs and hobby farms are creating more demand for land. With fewer small farms, is the rural economy changing to the point that farm subsidies may not be needed in the future?

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Daschle proposes more help for small farmers

South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle says he wants to help save small farmers and ranchers. The Senate Minority Leader announced an initiative to create a Small Farm Administration, which would be modeled after the Small Business Administration.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Organic partners

People are choosing organic food in a big way. Sales of organic food have been increasing steadily. For organic farmers, it's a mixed blessing. When you can't supply as much as the customer wants, it can be difficult. Some farmers are trying creative ways to fill the demand.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!