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NW Minnesota's wet cycle persists, putting crops again in peril

NW Minnesota's wet cycle persists, putting crops again in peril

Minnesota’s northwest corner can’t catch a break from excessive rain. After a soggy last fall and spring flooding, heavy rains are damaging crops and roads.
by Dan Gunderson

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Minnesota farmers anticipate strong harvest

Minnesota farmers anticipate strong harvest

The latest crop report shows more than 80 percent of corn and soybeans in the state are in good to excellent condition — a big jump from this time last year. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer checks in with a farmer in southwestern Minnesota about her crop and financial outlook.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Did you get mystery seeds in the mail? Don't plant them

Did you get mystery seeds in the mail? Don't plant them

Officials are warning recipients not to plant the seeds and introduce potentially invasive plants to the state. The Agriculture Department isn’t sure what plants the seeds are from, but warn they could pose a risk to farm crops or natural landscapes.
by Tim Nelson

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Waiting for justice for Floyd, north siders work the land as an act of healing

Waiting for justice for Floyd, north siders work the land as an act of healing

An urban garden in the Hawthorne neighborhood in north Minneapolis has been in the works for months. But after the police killed George Floyd, it has become a healing space — particularly for Black residents who often feel targeted and criminalized. 
by Melissa Townsend

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DNR: Irrigation wells in Pineland Sands don’t need in-depth study

DNR: Irrigation wells in Pineland Sands don’t need in-depth study

Tim Nolte wants to irrigate about 300 acres to grow hay and other crops, and graze his cattle. But the request got caught up in a larger debate over the conversion of forests to potato fields in north-central Minnesota’s Pineland Sands region.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Swarms of locusts continue to plague large swaths of Africa, Asia

Swarms of locusts continue to plague large swaths of Africa, Asia

Titanic swarms of desert locusts resembling dark storm clouds are descending ravenously on the Horn of Africa. They're roving through croplands and flattening farms in a devastating salvo experts are calling an unprecedented threat to food security.
by Pranav Baskar

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Pressure eases on farmers to destroy hogs as meatpacking operations restart

Pressure eases on farmers to destroy hogs as meatpacking operations restart

When COVID-19 infections forced pork companies to close processing plants, some farmers predicted that it would force them to euthanize millions of hogs. The actual number has been much lower.
by Dan Charles

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Pandemic disruptions taking a toll on farmers' mental health

Pandemic disruptions taking a toll on farmers' mental health

Plant backlogs caused by the pandemic are forcing farmers to destroy their products instead of shipping them to market. The situation is heaping more stress on farmers.
by Alisa Roth

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Is it a farm or a sculpture park? Both

Is it a farm or a sculpture park? Both

Fresh produce meets the arts in a planned north Minneapolis installation.
by Euan Kerr

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USDA secretary says despite plant closures, he does not anticipate food shortages

USDA secretary says despite plant closures, he does not anticipate food shortages

Sonny Perdue says he expects "85-90 percent production in probably a very few days or weeks." He also says the government is stepping up efforts to buy food from farmers and distribute it to families.
by Steve Inskeep

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