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agriculture

Introducing the Forever Green Partnership

Silphium and bee

Farming is the backbone of Minnesota's economy, but agricultural pollution has posed an unsolvable puzzle for decades. Now, with viable alternative crops on the horizon — like cultivars of the silphium flower pictured here — a new coalition aims to flip the script and make it more profitable to be green. (Photo: JanetAndPhil)

Farming is the backbone of Minnesota's economy, but agricultural pollution has posed an unsolvable puzzle for decades. Now, with viable alternative crops on the horizon, a new coalition aims to flip the script and make it more profitable to be green.  >>

Research roundup: Is cropland ag carbon sequestration as effective as we want it to be?

Storing greenhouse gases in cropland soils is all the rage these days, as Fortune 500 companies, conservation initiatives and even the Biden administration seek to reward farmers for sequestering carbon beneath our feet. But how sound is this approach? We pulled together some of the latest news about no-till farming, cover crops and how effectively these practices sequester carbon.  >>

by Trevor Russell
February 9

Minnesota gets a bad report card for nitrate reduction (part two)

How do we get a better grade for nitrate pollution reduction? We have to change the mix of what we grow. In this follow-up, we explain why it isn't feasible to rely on incentive payments to farmers alone to move the needle on our water quality problems. And we offer an exciting solution that could improve water quality by AND sustain farmers' livelihoods.  >>

by Trevor Russell
January 13

Support Soil & Water Conservation Districts

Tom Cotter of Cotter Farms

Farmers like Tom Cotter promote clean-water and soil-healthy practices hand in hand with their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. (Photo by Dodd Demas)

County-based Soil and Water Conservation Districts are Minnesota’s frontline conservation organizations, working hand in hand with local landowners to implement a variety of conservation projects that conserve soil, water and related natural resources on private land. But they're increasingly underfunded by our Legislature. We want a better funding strategy to sustain these vital organizations.  >>

Which words work?

Take the survey!

FMR has long worked for solutions to the Mississippi's agricultural pollution problem. But a common lexicon is yet to develop in this emerging arena. As an FMR member, we'd love to know what words work for you. >>

December 6

Climate change means crops won't grow like they used to

A new study projects 30% reduction in profits for farmers in 50 years due to flooding, drought, rising temps and other impacts of climate change. Fortunately, cover crops, perennial grains and other innovations can weather climate change *and* reduce agricultural runoff for our river.  >>

by Peter LaFontaine
November 1

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