agriculture

Legislation could protect public wells with clean-water crops

by Trevor Russell

update

February 20, 2019

Legislation introduced this month would fund the Working Lands Drinking Water Program. The program will help farmers plant and sell alternative crops that protect drinking water while maintaining farm profitability. As a pilot initiative, it's limited to the state's most vulnerable wellhead areas — places where conservation crops can protect public health. >>

House and senate introduce full funding for Forever Green

by Trevor Russell

update

February 12, 2019

To get to our clean water goals in Minnesota, we need to plant more perennial and cover crops. But these crops need to be profitable before farm operations can effectively make the change. To address this challenge, two bills were introduced in mid-February in the house and senate that will fully fund the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative. >>

Join us for MN Water Action Day • April 10, 2019

update

January 28, 2019

Join us for Water Action Day 2019, a day of public action and advocacy to let lawmakers know we care about our water! #ProtectOurWater >>

Our 2019 legislative priorities

by Trevor Russell

update

January 3, 2019

Kicking off the return of our annual Legislative Blog, here's a summary of FMR's top three legislative priorities this session: Forever Green, Working Lands and fixing the Environmental Trust Fund raid. >>

A baby dies, a brewery town runs dry — 'Water Pressure' illustrates MN & WI water problems

by sue rich

update

January 2, 2019

While we're sad to see Josephine Marcotty leave her post as the Star Tribune's long-time environmental reporter, we're grateful for her parting "Water Pressure" series.

If you've been saving up your free, online-access Star Tribune stories, this trio is worth the clicks. >>

Climate change may supercharge farm pollution

by Trevor Russell

update

October 18, 2018

Climate change is predicted to increase nitrate pollution from cropland in the corn belt by as much as 24% over today’s levels. >>

FMR advocates call on MN to protect our drinking water!

by Trevor Russell

update

August 16, 2018

Hat’s off to FMR’s advocates! On August 15, FMR staff hand-delivered 226 comments from River Guardians and other advocates calling on the state to both implement and improve a new state rule to protect our groundwater. >>