Agriculture

PED virus threatens piglets, farm finances
Minnesota hog farmers have a new disease to worry about, a virulent form of diarrhea that is deadly to young pigs.
USDA rule on potatoes incites industry ire
Americans love to pile on the potatoes - we consumed a whopping 112 pounds per capita last year. But according to the National Potato Council, the U.S. Department of Agriculture "discriminates" against fresh, white potatoes.
Dayton requests federal aid for livestock farmers
Aid for Minnesota livestock farmers who have lost nearly a million acres of alfalfa this year is being requested from the federal government by Gov. Mark Dayton.
Members become lenders at Wrenshall produce farm
After a financial crisis, a farm owned by Rick and Karola Dalens is back on solid ground. With more than 100 member-customers, Northern Harvest Farm is one of 15 Community Supported Agriculture produce farms that have sprouted in the Northland. CSA farms are different than traditional market farms because farmers earn an established income from members buying shares at the beginning of each growing year.
A cow in northwest Minnesota has died from anthrax, the first case in Minnesota in five years. Anthrax spores occur naturally in the ground, and recent heavy rains may have brought the anthrax to the surface.
Millions of acres of alfalfa lost to drought, winterkill
It's been a difficult spring for thousands of dairy farmers across the Midwest who rely on protein-rich alfalfa to feed their cows.
Photos: Farmers scramble to buy feed for cattle
Farmers in the upper Midwest are scrambling to buy feed from Colorado, South Dakota and other states. They're also stretching what they have now while they plant more seed. But even that's proving to be a challenge.
Grain markets watch spring planting delays
Minnesota farmers are near finishing spring planting, but it's been a struggle. Rain has delayed work in many parts of the state. Farmers in other states face the same problem and grain traders are starting to worry that the harvest may be affected.
Another week of cold, wet weather has bogged down field work in parts of Minnesota.
A stretch of wet weather has slowed planting of crops in Minnesota.