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Agriculture

Gov. Pawlenty to seek federal drought relief

Gov. Pawlenty says he'll seek federal aid for Minnesota farmers coping with a late-summer drought. Pawlenty made the announcement Friday on his weekly radio show. Pawlenty says it appears that at least 50 of the state's 87 counties are suffering drought conditions. He says the paperwork will be finalized and submitted in the next couple of days.

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Elk Farmer finds new way to make money

Elk farmers in Minnesota are facing tough times. The fear of chronic wasting disease has cut into the market for elk meat. For some farmers new regulations to limit the spread of the disease prevents them from selling their animals at all. One central Minnesota elk farmer says he's found a way to make money in the struggling industry. But state officials say the farmer's approach is illegal and inhumane.

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Tiny insects cause big trouble

The pest-of-the-summer for Minnesota farmers is the soybean aphid. They're not big, but one acre of soybeans may contain more than 100 million aphids.

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The politics of farming

Farmers from across Minnesota are in Redwood County for Farmfest. Four members of Minnesota's congressional delegation held a forum to discuss provisions of last year's Farm Bill. One of the issues that popped up was mandatory meat labeling.

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The Enthusiasts: The sheep shearer

Doug Rathke turned his enthusiasm into a living. Doug Rathke shears sheep for a living and competes in sheering competitions around the country and abroad. In the latest edition of our series, The Enthusiasts, Minnesota Public Radio's Steve Nelson pays a visit to Doug Rathke's farm near Hutchinson and meets Rathke, his sheep, and his electric clippers in a big white sheering barn.

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Albert Lea loses out on pork plant

Albert Lea has lost its bid for a $130-million pork processing plant. Instead, the facility, and as many as 2,000 new jobs, will go to St. Joseph, Missouri.

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Farmers sue executives over sale of corn plant to ADM

A group of Midwest farmers has filed a class action lawsuit over the sale of their corn-processing plant to the agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland. The lawsuit claims ADM paid the corn plant's CEO and other executives millions of dollars in return for a deal that shortchanged farmers.

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Ranchers seek grassroots support for mandatory labeling law

A coalition of grassroots organizations have launched a campaign to gain support for country-of-origin labeling laws. The groups have targeted county commissions in seven states to sign a resolution supporting country of origin labeling.

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Healthier eggs a new niche for farmers

When the American Heart Association told consumers eggs were high in cholesterol, consumption plummeted. But now, there's a new egg on the market. An egg enhanced with Omega Three fatty acid can actually help reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol. Minnesota has nearly 11 million hens. It's the 8th highest egg-producing state in the country. Farmers who got out of the egg business now may see a reason to get back in.

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