Agriculture

How biochar — the ‘Swiss Army knife of climate tools’ — is growing in Minnesota
Minnesota is emerging as a leader in the research and manufacturing of biochar, a substance that can combat climate change by locking away carbon for centuries. It can also provide other environmental benefits such as filtering water and improving soil.
U.S. to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico
Threats and violence against inspectors have caused the U.S. to suspend inspections in the past. California growers question if Mexico's inspectors would be better equipped to withstand the pressure.
To grow Minnesota’s future forests, an effort to collect seeds takes root
There’s a surge of interest to plant millions more trees in Minnesota, but there’s a problem — there aren’t nearly enough seeds to plant those trees. Work is underway to change that.
Rural Voice: How to sustainably grow regenerative agriculture in rural Minnesota
Rural Voice was in Detroit Lakes on Monday, Sept. 9, for a town hall about farming. They discussed everything from how to cultivate a mindset shift in farmers to how to incentivize regenerative practices.
Regenerative agriculture is sold as a climate solution. Can it do all it says?
Governments and industries are pouring billions of dollars into so-called “regenerative agriculture.” But while scientists say some of these farming practices do reduce planet heating pollution, for others the science is less clear.
The man who put the ‘snap’ in Honeycrisp is stepping aside
Jim Luby, who has led the fruit breeding program at the University of Minnesota since 1982, is retiring. His is one of the researchers credited with developing such apples as the Zestar!, the SweeTango and, the giant among them, the Honeycrisp. He’s also developed many other fruits too. It’s involved a lot of hard work, experimentation and tasting thousands of apples.
Bringing back ‘bio supermarkets’: Program helps landowners restore vanished wetlands
Wetlands help prevent flooding, filter nutrient pollution, store carbon and provide wildlife habitat. But many have disappeared due to draining and filling. A partnership between the federal government and a nonprofit is helping willing private landowners restore wetlands in the Upper Mississippi headwaters.