Agriculture

Tackling the 'big brown spot': Keeping fields in living cover could be path to reducing nitrate
Commercial fertilizer and manure applied to crop farms is a major source of nitrate in Minnesota’s water. A new report finds planting crops that keep the soil covered year-round benefits both the environment and farmers.
Christmas tree growers anticipate healthy demand despite drought challenges
Minnesota’s Christmas tree farms are busier than ever getting ready to sell their harvest to the public. The demand for live trees remains strong despite much of the state suffering repeated droughts during the last several years.  
Ag industry testing driverless trucks to solve labor shortage
A sugar beet cooperative in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota is turning to autonomous trucks to solve a driver shortage. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative says the trucks can make the company more efficient.
Minnesota officials ready for potential feral pig invasion
With wild hogs in Canada approaching the U.S. border, Minnesota officials are reviewing state management of feral pigs to limit potential future damage from the destructive invasive species.
Emerging Farmers office pushes to expand diversity in farming
Lillian Otieno is the first director of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Office of Emerging Farmers. She was a coordinator with the office and its sole employee before state lawmakers voted to expand it in May 2023.
EPA says 'further actions' needed to protect human health from nitrate in southeast Minnesota
Environmental groups petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying nitrate in the groundwater in southeast Minnesota’s karst region — largely from fertilizer and manure applied to crop land — poses an imminent danger to human health.