Agriculture

Dangerous dance: Farm equipment, power line accidents up in rural MN
Collisions between farm machinery and power poles seem to be on the rise in rural Minnesota. Some worry it's just a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt.
Video: Why do we celebrate spuds and berries?
From Hopkins' Raspberry Festival to Barnesville's Potato Days, countless community events revolve around produce. But what's the appeal?
The secret to preparing a sheep for a show
Becky Tonne of Grenada, Minn., raises Suffolk sheep. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked with her at the Minnesota State Fair about how she prepares her sheep to show.
Activist deploys drones to expose factory farm operations
An independent journalist says he's found a way around the so-called "ag-gag" laws by flying drones over large livestock operations to document animal welfare problems and pollution.
Raw milk producers aim to regulate themselves
A patchwork of permissions and workarounds means that, as a nation, we don't have any national standards when it comes to raw milk testing and safety.
State officials promise tougher approach on nitrates contaminating groundwater
Minnesotans are spending millions of dollars to deal with nitrate contamination in their water, and the state agriculture department says it's time to insist that farmers do more to prevent the problem.
Feds will pay farmers to create thousands of acres of bee habitats
Under the program, landowners and the federal government will split the cost of seeding plants that provide food for bees. Landowners will be paid a bonus for signing on to the program.
Farmers embrace drones, yet regulations remain unclear
Hundreds of farmers in the Upper Midwest are collecting data about their fields with drones this year, hoping the information will make their farm operations more productive.
Amber waves of green? If industrial hemp takes off, yes
The most recent farm bill is allowing a handful of farmers across the country to put hemp, the non-psychoactive cousin of marijuana, in the ground. Hemp fibers are used to make rope, clothing and car interiors. But despite the new law, many farmers say they're getting mixed messages from the federal government.
Sodden spring spells uncertainty for Minnesota crop prices
Minnesota farmers may be looking at a financial squeeze this year. The wet spring has eliminated drought in much of the corn belt, suggesting a big crop could be on the way. That's helping drive down prices below the break even level for a lot of producers.