Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

Agriculture

Amid uncertain year, Facebook group connects farmers directly to consumers

Last year, some of the largest slaughterhouses in the region temporarily closed after COVID-19 outbreaks. Those closures meant local farmers faced the prospect of having nowhere to send their livestock for processing, and no way to get their food to market. An East Bethel, Minn., woman decided to do something to help.
by Cathy Wurzer

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!
Combating the ag industry's history of discriminatory practices

Combating the ag industry's history of discriminatory practices

A lawsuit filed by a group of white farmers from the Midwest asks a federal court to declare a program that erases USDA loans for farmers from “socially disadvantaged groups” discriminatory and unconstitutional. But there's a long history of discrimination against women and people of color in agriculture — and the effects continue to impact the industry today.
by Dan Gunderson

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!
White farmers sue seeking government loan forgiveness

White farmers sue seeking government loan forgiveness

A group of Midwestern farmers sued the federal government Thursday alleging they can't participate in a COVID-19 loan forgiveness program because they're white.
by The Associated Press

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!
Black farmers have long faced discrimination. New aid aims to right past wrongs

Black farmers have long faced discrimination. New aid aims to right past wrongs

Generations of systemic discrimination have decimated the number of Black farmers in the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talked with NPR about provisions in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill that are meant to help Black farmers.
by Michel Martin and James Doubek

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!
New evidence shows fertile soil gone from Midwestern farms

New evidence shows fertile soil gone from Midwestern farms

One-third of the cropland in the upper Midwest has entirely lost its fertile topsoil, according to a new study. Other scientists doubt that figure, but agree that soil loss is a big problem.
by Dan Charles

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!
Minnesota hemp industry still trying to catch fire

Minnesota hemp industry still trying to catch fire

It's been a bumpy ride for the nascent hemp industry in Minnesota, with changing regulations and falling prices. But industry leaders still expect a bright future as an alternative crop for Minnesota farmers.
by Dan Gunderson

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!
A 'carbon bank' could mean extra cash for Midwest farmers

A 'carbon bank' could mean extra cash for Midwest farmers

Minnesota-based Land O’Lakes is launching a program to pay farmers for storing carbon in the soil to offset climate change effects.
by Dan Gunderson

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!
Suppliers field growing demand for seeds from pandemic gardeners

Suppliers field growing demand for seeds from pandemic gardeners

Many people stuck at home during the pandemic turned to gardening for the first time. The unexpected spike in demand has seed suppliers struggling to keep up.
by Dana Cronin

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!