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Agriculture

Drought takes toll on corn crops in southwest Minnesota
In some parts of Minnesota, crops continue to deteriorate because of hot, dry weather. The worst-hit areas of southwest Minnesota have corn fields that will yield half the crop that had been expected -- or less.July 24, 2012
Vilsack: House must pass drought help in farm bill
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pushed Monday for Congress to act on a farm bill that would reinstate expired disaster assistance programs for farmers experiencing the worst drought in nearly seven decades.July 24, 2012
Report show corn, soybean crops declining slowly
A report released this afternoon shows continued slow decline in Minnesota's corn and soybean crops because of dry weather.July 23, 2012
Vilsack: Drought aid needed in farm bill
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says Congress has no more important work now than to pass a farm bill that reinstates expired disaster assistance programs. Farmers are now experiencing the worst drought in decades.July 23, 2012
Nonprofit seeks help for apple harvest
A Twin Cities nonprofit has put out its first call of the season for volunteer apple pickers.July 23, 2012
Drought's bright side: flavorful produce
The heat and drought across the upper Midwest have taken a toll on corn and soybeans, but the weather has helped make other vegetables more flavorful.July 21, 2012
Report: Fewest cattle in 4 decades
A new report shows the U.S. with the fewest cattle in at least four decades as a widespread drought forces ranchers to sell off animals.July 20, 2012
Drought brings concern for crops and livestock
MPR's Mark Steil speaks with Tom Crann of All Things Considered regarding the drought that affects parts of northwest, southwest and southeast Minnesota.July 20, 2012
Minnesota crops starting to suffer from drought
Drought conditions in the Midwest are intensifying and starting to affect Minnesota crops, as both corn and soybeans took a step backwards over the last week.July 17, 2012
Sessions to assess ag workforce needs
Seven listening sessions will be held across Minnesota this month to assess employers' workforce needs in agriculture and agribusiness.July 15, 2012
Minn. kicking off 2012 agricultural pest surveys
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is conducting its annual surveys for new and emerging pests in some of the state's key crops.July 14, 2012
Southern Wisconsin's corn crop in danger
An agronomist says much of southern Wisconsin's corn crop could be lost unless the region gets a significant amount of rain in the next week.July 13, 2012
Food stamps, not subsidies, focus of House farm bill debate
The House Agriculture Committee met Wednesday for a contentious debate on the size of the food stamp program while generally signing off on the size and scope of commodity programs for farmers.July 11, 2012
Parents defend putting children to work on farms
Some farmers say the U.S. Labor Department was misguided in its attempts to protect children from farm accidents and are relieved the agency dropped its plans this spring and has promised not to take up the matter again.July 10, 2012
Congress debates the scope of this year's farm bill
This week, Congress will again turn its attention to the farm bill. The Senate passed its version of the bill last month. This time, it's the House Agriculture Committee that will begin considering a different draft of the bill that covers farm subsidies and nutrition programs for the poor. Reporter Brett Neely discussed the key issues in the debate with Morning Edition host Phil Picardi.July 9, 2012