Agriculture

Dry conditions hit some crops hard
Minnesota crops suffered more damage last week as hot, mostly dry conditions dominated the weather. The weekly crop report says corn has been especially hard hit.
South Dakota fields look like winter in July
Farmers and ranchers from central and western part of state are angry about the fifth year in a row without a crop due to drought. They're selling off livestock because there's no grass to graze. Gov. Mike Rounds asked for disaster declaration for 20 counties and the federal government said farmers could cut hay and graze cattle on land set aside for conservation programs.
Drought called 'catastrophic' for region's farmers
Farmers and ranchers in the Dakotas and western Minnesota are facing their fourth and fifth year of abnormally dry weather. U.S. Sen. Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota calls the recent dry spell in the region "catastrophic."
Gypsy moths stalk the North Shore
The battle is beginning against a small brown moth on Lake Superior's north shore. Minnesota's largest infestation to date of gypsy moths was discovered last year in Lake and Cook counties.
Farm installs robotic milkers
Robotic milking machines could help reduce the often crushing workload of operating a dairy farm. At least one Minnesota family is experimenting with the new technology.
New study targets farm ditches
A new study finds hundreds of miles of farm drainage ditches don't comply with state law. That's a threat to Minnesota waterways.
A burning hot new market for corn farmers
Some corn farmers can't keep up with the demand to dry their corn for use in corn stoves. Such stoves won't ever replace ADM as a global corn market, but they are bringing money into farmers' pockets in a new way.