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Alan Bedtka is pictured in a stand of sorghum-sudangrass, which he was paid to plant to boost soil health and reduce his fertilizer use. (Photo courtesy of Alan Bedtka)

Monday, April 22, 2024

Can taller cover crops help clean the water in farm country?

By Brian DeVore for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News…

The American Biogas Council says there are more than 2,300 sites producing biogas across all 50 states. Of these, 332 anaerobic digesters are on farms and process agricultural waste into forms of cleaner fuel. (Adobe Stock)

CA emission credits not well received by Midwest farm advocates

Community and conservation groups in the Midwest worry that a change in California's carbon emissions policy could hurt the quality of life in the nat…

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, the founder of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance and co-founder of Tree-Range Farms. These entities have created an

Midwest network of regenerative farmers is rethinking chicken

By Twilight Greenaway for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

According to the Clean Grid Alliance, Minnesota farmers, ranchers and landowners receive nearly $9 million annually from land lease payments related to solar projects on their property. (Adobe Stock)

MN landowners warming up to solar

Drive around rural Minnesota and you might spot a solar farm. Complexities are being sorted out for bigger projects and in the meantime, farmers are …

In a newly filed civil lawsuit, the Minnesota Attorney General not only accuses Evergreen Acres Dairy of stealing workers' wages, but also unlawfully deducting rent from the paychecks of those living onsite. (Adobe Stock)

MN takes action against dairy company in major wage-theft case

Minnesota officials have announced what they call one of the largest wage-theft lawsuits in state history. The case involves a dairy operator …

To date, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made available $1.25 billion dollars in new grant funding for farmers and rural small business owners to add clean energy technology to their properties. (Adobe Stock)

Feds beef up hiring to help rural America with clean energy grants

Federal grant money is flowing in to help farmers and smaller businesses in rural communities adapt to clean energy technology. Minnesota is among …

Beyond boosting land access, Minnesota's Route 1 organization is using a new grant to help emerging BIPOC farmers enhance their marketing operations. (Adobe Stock)

Farm innovations in MN seen as tool in ending racial hunger divide

Among Black Minnesotans, some 25% are food insecure. An emerging initiative aims to connect BIPOC communities with healthier and culturally …

Agriculture experts have long noted that only a handful of large companies control a large percentage of meat processing in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Quality vs. commodity in knowing where your food comes from

When was the last time you looked at a label when buying meat from the grocery store? Smaller farmers from Minnesota and elsewhere hope Congress takes…

Using federal incentives, the USDA is calling on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations to add anaerobic digesters that collect methane from manure to be used for electricity. But conservation groups countered it will do little to reduce harmful emissions from industrial ag operations. (Adobe Stock)

Family farm groups blast conservation incentives for industrial ag

Minnesota has been in the headlines over nitrate levels in drinking water and some conservation groups argued industrial farms are being given too man…

Federal officials say the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides funding opportunities for smaller communities to improve their water infrastructure. (Adobe Stock)

Biden pushes rural investment message with MN visit

President Joe Biden was in southern Minnesota yesterday to highlight federal investments for rural America. Biden visited a farm near Northfield to …

Los funcionarios federales dicen que la Ley de Infraestructura Bipartidista brinda oportunidades de financiamiento para que las comunidades m�s peque�as mejoren su infraestructura h�drica. (Adobe Stock)

Biden impulsa mensaje de inversión rural durante visita a Minnesota

El presidente Joe Biden estuvo ayer (miércoles) en el sur de Minnesota para destacar las inversiones federales para las zonas rurales de Estados …

Emerging farmers lack the economic opportunities of more established farmers, and face substantially greater barriers to success, according to the University of Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Scandia event addresses lack of land access for new farmers

Emerging farmers in search of land across Minnesota will be able to foster relationships with landowners at a free event in Scandia this coming Sunda…

Agrivoltaics is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the use of land for both agriculture and solar-energy generation. Above is an example of a Minnesota project, where farmers are growing crops at a solar site. (Photo courtesy of Connexus Energy)

Growing veggies with a side of solar cuts emissions, boosts land access

The arrival of fall has farmers transitioning to the harvest season, but what if some gathered their crops with rows of solar panels right alongside …

Connexus Energy operates a 'solar meadow' at its headquarters in Ramsey, Minn. (Photo courtesy of Fresh Energy)

Summer's In Bloom, Including 'Solar Meadows' in MN

By Elizabeth Hewitt for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

The Land Stewardship Project recently surveyed more than 700 farmers and food system workers from Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin about Farm Bill priorities. They want to see things such as crop insurance reform, as well as less consolidation in agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

MN Family Farms Make Their Case for Farm Bill Inclusion

Congress is gathering input as it looks to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Voices from Minnesota's agricultural sector hope independent family farms get a …

Electric vehicles, which can carry a battery pack with up to 50,000 volts of electricity, can be a danger, both to passengers and first responders, in accidents. (Adobe Stock)

EV Accident Response Training Emerges for First Responders

The auto industry and public agencies are looking ahead to a bigger transition to electric vehicles, and it's not just adding more charging stations…

A national report says only 48% of prime-age workers in rural communities are protected through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act because rural businesses are more likely to be small and fall outside the FMLA's coverage. (Adobe Stock)

Measuring Paid Leave Access in Rural MN

Researchers have said rural communities face a host of unique challenges, and access to paid leave is one of them. Advocates hope the needs of rural …

Environmental and family farm advocates say there's been a proliferation of large confined-animal feeding operations in states such as Minnesota, with most of them deigned for hogs. (Adobe Stock)

Rural MN Communities Fight Influence of Factory Farms

This week, a northern Minnesota county advanced a large-scale hog feedlot project. Opponents argued such operations are not what rural communities …

Last year, Congress approved a massive infrastructure bill. But rural community advocates say it's sometime hard to compete with bigger cities for that kind of funding. New development grants in the CHIPS Act are meant to create more fairness. (Adobe Stock)

Rural MN Could See Economic Jolt from CHIPS Act

A program approved by Congress aims to give rural communities in Minnesota and elsewhere a boost when applying for federal dollars. The CHIPS Act…

According to recent USDA 'Farm to School' Census data, Minnesota schools that responded reported spending 13% of their budgets on local products. (Adobe Stock)

Disadvantaged MN Farmers to See New Business with School Meals

Farmers of color in Minnesota are expected to see new opportunities to get their products into school lunch programs. Their advocates said a major …

Rotational grazing, a popular form of regenerative agriculture, involves moving animals through pasture to improve soil health. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmer to Congress: Protect Small Producers, Food Security

A U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday highlighting the threat climate change poses to the world's food supply, and how farmers can be …

Minnesota officials say conservation practices, through its Water Quality Certification Program, have reduced nitrogen loss on farmland up to 49%. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmers Given Bigger Opportunity to Be 'Climate Smart'

From extreme drought to wet springs, Minnesota farmers are seeing firsthand the impact of climate change. To help address the growing threat…

With access to land ownership and other barriers in place for America's small farms, cooperatives are seen as a way to give them back some of the market power they've lost over the decades. (Adobe Stock)

Fairness in Farming: Seed Money Sought for Starting Co-ops

Farmer cooperatives allow producers to pool resources together to get a better bang for their buck. While they have been around for generations…

In addition to a state-level public option, a plan to expand MinnesotaCare would offer transitional tax credits for small businesses that provide health coverage. (Adobe Stock)

To Help Small Businesses, MN Explores 'Buy-In' Option for Health Coverage

The Minnesota Senate has voted to extend the state's reinsurance initiative, designed to keep health premium costs lower, but backers of a separate …

In recent months, the Biden administration has pledged to spend one-billion dollars in American Rescue Plan funding to create more fairness in the meat supply chain. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmers: High Meat Prices Due to More Than Just Inflation

As Minnesotans keep paying more for groceries, including meats, inflation gets most of the blame. But that doesn't tell the whole story, according to …

According to Hunger Solutions, SNAP customers spent a record $410,000 in SNAP/EBT and $208,000 in Market Bucks this past summer at Minnesota farmers markets. (Adobe Stock)

Record Year for MN's Market Bucks Program

MINNEAPOLIS - A program that gives low-income Minnesotans better opportunities to shop at farmers markets reports record use for 2021. The managers …

Nearly 80% of farmers do not have the option to change service providers if their connections are slow, according to a 2019 report from the United Soybean Board. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

MN Farmers Say Better Broadband Infrastructure Needed

GLENWOOD, Minn. -- A new report showed farmers in the U.S. need better broadband and in more places, including their home offices, in their fields …

The headwaters of the Mississippi River play a key role in providing drinking water to 2.5 million Minnesotans. (Adobe Stock)

Key MN Resource Swept Up in Climate-Change Threat

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Despite recent rain, the effects of Minnesota's dry summer remain visible, including shrinking levels in waterways. Those monitoring …

Several agriculture commodities, including poultry, are controlled by four or five large corporations within each market. (Adobe Stock)

Down on the Farm: More Competition and Market Fairness

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Farmers all over the U.S. contribute to the nation's food supply. But the meat and chicken you buy at the market typically is …

While popular in summer, nearly $20,000 in Market Bucks were spent during the winter season at Minnesota farmers markets, according to the last annual report for the program. (Adobe Stock)

MN Lawmakers Urged to Spare 'Market Bucks' Funding

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. - A popular program that gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients better access to healthier foods at Minnesota …

MN-based Cargill Faces Federal Complaint Over Turkey Labels

MINNEAPOLIS -- Many Americans are scaling back their Thanksgiving plans because of the pandemic. But turkey is still on the menu, and one Minnesota-…

A Minnesota research group says rural and urban parts of the state may be different, but they are growing and changing in many similar ways. (Adobe Stock)

What Urban/Rural Divide? MN Research Group Finds Similarities

MINNEAPOLIS -- Political debates in Minnesota have included a common component in recent years: noted differences between geographic areas. But new …

The EPA says agriculture accounts for nearly 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That's one reason conservation groups and government agencies have been pushing for more conservation on farms. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot Project Aims to Boost Conservation on MN Farms

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- In Minnesota, a new project aims to accelerate the number of farmers who use environmentally friendly methods. A number of …

As technology demands pick up during the COVID-19 crisis, broadband advocates say government agencies still need to provide more infrastructure funding to eliminate gaps. (Adobe Stock)

MN Broadband Test Could Pave Way for Access Solutions

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- From distance learning to telemedicine, the pandemic crisis continues to expose gaps in broadband internet access. An effort in …

Pollinator-friendly plants, like these growing under a Minnesota solar array owned by Enel Green Power, are increasingly being used to restore bee habitats. (Fresh Energy)

Solar Panels Shine a Light on Bee Habitats in MN

MINNEAPOLIS -- September is National Honey Month, and while there's still concern over struggling bee populations, a Minnesota project has helped …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates between 25 million and 30 million Americans live in

Edible Forests: A Healthy Alternative to MN Food Deserts

LUVERNE, Minn. - A nonprofit group is working to create "edible forests" to provide lower-income communities, including in southwestern Minnesota…

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota has warmed 1 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit in the last century. Scientists and clean water advocates say that's having a ripple effect on lakes and rivers, in part through more intense rainstorms. (Adobe Stock)

As Rising Temps Hurt MN Lakes, Pilot Project Seen as a Solution

WALKER, Minn. -- Minnesota is coming off a streak of extremely hot weather. But year-round, the state is warmer than it used to be, and concerns …

Minnesota's government has a goal that by 2022, all businesses and homes will have access to high-speed broadband providing minimum download speeds of 25 megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of at least 3 mbps.(Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Spotlights MN Rural Broadband Woes

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Starting Wednesday, Minnesota public schools will be closed for several days, and more people will work remotely because of …

In addition to Minnesota officials, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has voiced concerns over safety issues in grain bins. (Adobe Stock)

Grain Bin Deaths Prompt Safety Warning for MN Farmers

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota officials are calling attention to a recent wave of fatal farm incidents -- and they're urging farmers to take safety …

In Minnesota, state authorities say more than 1,700 pounds of meth was seized by police last year, a nearly 50% increase over 2018. (Adobe Stock).

Mental Health Treatment Seen as Solution to Meth Spike in MN

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota is seeing an increase in methamphetamine activity, a drug that was viewed as a major problem 20 years ago. A research …

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and his department have faced several lawsuits over a rollback of regulations for pork processing plants. (USDA.gov)

Another Legal Challenge Filed Over New Pork Processing Rules

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A federal lawsuit was filed this week over recent changes to how safety inspections are handled at pork processing plants…

Last year, Wisconsin-based Shopko announced plans to close its remaining 120 stores, which left many small towns with a bleak shopping scene.(jade/Morguefile)

Small Towns in MN Losing Retail Options

ROSEAU, Minn. -- Small towns in Minnesota are scrambling to fill the void left by national chain stores pulling out of rural areas. Unlike in urban …

Minnesota officials say more flood damage is occurring beyond the typical mapped high-risk areas, resulting in more property damage. (ci.austin.mn.gov)

Report: Local Governments Should Buy More Flood-Prone Land

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A new report says local governments in Minnesota and elsewhere should be more proactive in buying up undeveloped flood-prone land…

A new report calls it 'imperative' that the federal government help farmers improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gases and maximize energy conservation. (Earl53/Morguefile)

Report: Feds Could Do More to Help Protect Farms from Climate Change

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Extreme rain events and wide swings in temperatures are just some of the climate-change threats facing Minnesota farmers…

Minnesota's Regional Conservation Partnership Program gives farmers a financial incentive to prevent polluted runoff into rivers, streams and lakes. (kconnors)

Efforts to Protect MN Water from Ag Pollution Get Funding Boost

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Thanks to renewed funding, Minnesota farmers will continue to see rewards for steps they take to control pollution and …

A rural climate dialogue took place in Redwood County, Minn., where wind energy development could soon be coming. (Annie Pottorff/Jefferson Center)

Energy Dialogue Gets Rural MN Involved in Decision-Making

REDWOOD COUNTY, Minn. – Minnesota's Redwood County hosted a dialogue on the effects of potential wind energy development in the community…

The United States lost nearly 3,000 dairy farms in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (MGBJAY/Flickr)

MN Farmers in DC to Discuss Farm Crisis, New Trade Deal

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Midwestern family farmers are in Washington, D.C., today to discuss the farm crisis and what they see as potential harm from …

Pork processing is big business in Minnesota, which ranks second in the United States for the number of pigs raised in the state, according to the Minnesota Pork Producers Association. (Matthias Zomer/Stocksnap)

New Pork Processing Rules Raise Food, Worker Safety Concerns

MINNEAPOLIS – Several labor unions filed a federal lawsuit in Minneapolis this week over controversial U.S. Department of Agriculture rule …

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MN: Rural/Farming