Firefighters from more than a half-dozen western Minnesota communities battled a grain elevator fire Sunday in Clinton, Minn. Several dozen people were evacuated.
Cargo ships are unloading containers in the U.S. and immediately shipping them out, empty, to meet demand in Asia. That's frustrating American farmers and exporters who are struggling to get products overseas.
The drought in Minnesota is getting worse. Gov. Tim Walz told farmers Thursday he’s working with state and federal agencies to help meet their most pressing needs.
The hot, mostly dry conditions forecast through the end of July provide no relief to the dire situation. Water levels are low in many lakes and rivers throughout Minnesota, including at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis.
Heat and drought conditions are forecast to continue this week in Minnesota, with temperatures climbing into the 90s across much of the state and little rain — putting additional stress on crops and expanding the threat of wildfires.
Minnesota officials have stepped up their drought response as the state grows drier. The drought is threatening water supplies and agriculture, and raising the risk for more wildfires.
For years, Des Moines Water Works has tried without success to get farmers upstream to reduce fertilizer runoff that leaves rivers with sky-high nitrate levels. Now, it’s considering a drastic measure that, as a rule, large cities just don’t do — resorting to wells to find clean water.
Conditions are dry all across Minnesota. Severe drought is spreading into the northwest and south. Crops are showing signs of stress, and without widespread rains over the next few weeks, crops will continue to deteriorate.
The idea behind carbon banking is that, by changing farming practices, farmers can store carbon in the soil, helping to reduce carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere and slow global warming. But it’s complicated, and understanding the science is important.
When it comes to staying informed in Minnesota, our newsletters overdeliver. Sign-up now for headlines, breaking news, hometown stories, weather and much more. Delivered weekday mornings.