Agriculture

Good gourd! These Midwesterners are raising giant pumpkins that weigh as much as a car
Giant pumpkins can top the scales at more than 2,000 pounds — and caring for these behemoths is often a full-time job. But for some growers in the central U.S., the dream of raising a world record-setting pumpkin is a tantalizing prospect.
Americans are drinking less. What does that mean for winemakers in the Heartland?
The American Heartland has experienced a boom in wineries over the last three decades. But with U.S. wine sales trending down since 2019, some producers are feeling the effects more than others.
Tunnel farming helps South Dakota farmers extend growing season by up to 4 months
Some farmers in South Dakota are using farm tunnels to extend their growing season. The tunnels are similar to greenhouses in that they capture heat from the sun, but plants are grown in the ground rather than in raised boxes or beds.
Truce fizzles as U.S.-China trade tensions return to full boil
Months of relative calm in the long-simmering trade war between the U.S. and China may be coming to an end. A spate of moves between the two nations this week has thrust trade hostilities back in the global spotlight, roiled stock markets and raised alarms of what might come next.
MPR News' regional reporters on the importance of living where they report
MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with some of our regional reporters about what it means to report on the communities they live in and why that connection matters. 
Expert: Soybean bailout doesn't make up for loss of demand for Minnesota farmers
The soybean harvest is underway in Minnesota. The bean’s biggest buyer, China, isn’t buying them. The Trump administration is expected to announce a significant bailout package to help make up the loss.