Farming on the frontlines of the climate crisis

Minnesota farmers have identified climate resiliency as their most pressing issue right now, according to the Minnesota Farmers Union. 

That’s why the union is launching its first of a series of agriculture and climate conversations on Tuesday.

MPR News host Angela Davis finds out how our state’s agriculture industry is adapting to extreme weather, such as droughts, floods and abundant snowfalls. 

Guests: 

• Heidi Roop is the director of the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership. She’s also an assistant professor of climate science and an extension specialist for climate science and adaptation at the U of M. She’s the author of the recently released book, “The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions for Everyone.”

• Ariel Kagan is the Climate and Working Lands Program Director with the Minnesota Farmers Union. She has worked across sectors to support farmers, climate resilience and policy development. 

• Hannah Bernhardt and her family own Medicine Creek Farm, a 160-acre sustainable and regenerative grass-fed pork, beef and lamb farm in Finlayson, Minn. She’s also on the National Farmers Union’s Climate Change Policy Advisory Panel and she’s part of Minnesota’s Climate Land Leaders, an initiative among landowners that aims to address the climate crisis. 

  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. 

  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.