Agriculture

Trump administration says plan would restore ethanol demand
The Trump administration announced Friday it plans to implement new rules that will increase demand for ethanol, reversing a decline caused by exemptions given to oil refineries.
Trump farm secretary: No guarantee small farms will survive
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters following an appearance at the World Dairy Expo in Madison that it's getting harder for farmers to get by on milking smaller herds.
Invasive Palmer amaranth discovered in Houston County
First discovered in Lyon and Yellow Medicine counties in 2016, the invasive weed has now been found in eight counties statewide.
Weather woes continue as harvest nears for Minnesota farmers
After weeks of heavy rain and flooding, crops were planted late this spring — increasing the risk that corn will be killed by an early frost before it matures. And now muddy fields are delaying the soybean harvest.
Manure spill on Stearns County dairy farm contained
The above-ground storage tank contained about 350,000 gallons of liquid manure. Stearns County officials estimate about 20,000 gallons leaked into a lowland area.
Tariffs leave Minn.’s nation-leading kidney bean crop in limbo
Minnesota farmers lead the nation in the production of red kidney beans. Dry beans are a profitable crop, but international trade disputes are cutting into the profits.
As financial worries grow, farmers grapple with mental health
The stress of farming can lead to anxiety or depression. It can also trigger or worsen other mental health conditions. Angela Davis talks with state leaders and a representative from the Minnesota Farmers Union about how famers cope and how they can find the care they need.
USDA offers pork companies a new inspection plan, despite opposition
Under new federal rules, pork companies can hire workers to do some tasks currently reserved for federal inspectors in hog slaughterhouses. Critics say it's a move toward privatization.