As the drought lingers in much of the state, there is growing concern about mental health challenges faced by farmers and other people in rural Minnesota.
Agency officials issued a final ruling on Wednesday saying chlorpyrifos can no longer be used on the food that makes its way onto American dinner plates. The move overturns a Trump-era decision.
For farmers, the summer of 2021 is the best of times and the worst of times. Big farms that plant corn and soybeans are coping with the drought. But it’s a different story for small growers.
Some farmers who work just a few acres of land without crop insurance or other programs designed to help much larger operations are facing the dual challenges of adverse weather and the ongoing pandemic.
The drought is drying up wells in some parts of the state, but that’s just one of the factors that have well-drilling contractors scrambling to keep up with demand, and some customers waiting months for a new well.
Sanderson Farms, the nation's third-largest poultry producer, is being acquired by Cargill and privately held Continental Grain for $4.53 billion as the price of chicken soars.
Much of Minnesota saw rain this weekend — heavy in some places — but weather experts say it’s not enough to break through the drought that much of the state is experiencing.
The worsening drought is affecting farmers and ranchers across much of the state. Many ranchers are watching pastures wither and turn brown. They’re trying to find enough feed to last through the winter. Some are already selling cattle they know they won’t be able to feed.
Parts of Minnesota saw much-needed rain over the weekend, but it wasn't enough to break the ongoing drought. And the abnormally dry conditions are threatening some private water wells that rely on rain to recharge. In severe cases, shallow wells are out of water.
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