Agriculture

To grow Minnesota’s future forests, an effort to collect seeds takes root
There’s a surge of interest to plant millions more trees in Minnesota, but there’s a problem — there aren’t nearly enough seeds to plant those trees. Work is underway to change that.
The fall harvest: What to do with what you grew
MPR News guest host Emily Bright talks with two guests that are experts at growing, harvesting, storing and cooking your own produce.
Rural Voice: How to sustainably grow regenerative agriculture in rural Minnesota
Rural Voice was in Detroit Lakes on Monday, Sept. 9, for a town hall about farming. They discussed everything from how to cultivate a mindset shift in farmers to how to incentivize regenerative practices.
Regenerative agriculture is sold as a climate solution. Can it do all it says?
Governments and industries are pouring billions of dollars into so-called “regenerative agriculture.” But while scientists say some of these farming practices do reduce planet heating pollution, for others the science is less clear.
The man who put the ‘snap’ in Honeycrisp is stepping aside
Jim Luby, who has led the fruit breeding program at the University of Minnesota since 1982, is retiring. His is one of the researchers credited with developing such apples as the Zestar!, the SweeTango and, the giant among them, the Honeycrisp. He’s also developed many other fruits too. It’s involved a lot of hard work, experimentation and tasting thousands of apples.
Bringing back ‘bio supermarkets’: Program helps landowners restore vanished wetlands
Wetlands help prevent flooding, filter nutrient pollution, store carbon and provide wildlife habitat. But many have disappeared due to draining and filling. A partnership between the federal government and a nonprofit is helping willing private landowners restore wetlands in the Upper Mississippi headwaters.
The cost of senior care: Why aging farmers fear the nursing home
Small family farmers are often “land rich, cash poor,” and nursing homes and other types of long-term care are expensive. Many worry about sacrificing their land to pay for care at the end of life.
Grants will help create pollinator pathways in Minnesota
More than $1 million in grants to 10 local organizations will help expand pollinator habitat in Minnesota. The Pollinator Pathways grants are part of the popular Lawns to Legumes program.
Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging deer farm regulations
A federal judge rejected deer farmers legal challenge of new state regulations on the industry. On Wednesday the judge dismissed the lawsuit challenging new laws passed by the Legislature in 2023.