agriculture

Winter oilseeds: Key to clean water and lower emissions

January 1, 2024

These clean-water crops, which stay in the soil through the winter, can benefit the river in numerous ways. Read more

Organic farmer Karen Torjesen holds a hand low to the ground, amidst a recently planted field of winter camelina in November, 2023.

EPA says state needs to clean up drinking water in SE Minnesota

November 15, 2023

In response to a petition we signed last spring, the federal agency is requiring Minnesota to address the public health crisis created by nitrate pollution. Read more

Video: How the 'big brown spot' pollutes the Mississippi River

October 16, 2023

When farm fields are bare, there’s nothing to stop soil, fertilizers and other farm chemicals from washing off into our rivers, lakes and streams. This "big brown spot" in the Midwest is by far the largest source of pollution to the Mississippi. Read more

Map of Midwest with brown over much of the area around the Mississippi River

Minnesota's drought contributes to drinking water crisis downriver

October 10, 2023

In this Q&A, Matt Rota at Healthy Gulf in Louisiana talks with FMR about the saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River threatening New Orleans' drinking water supply — and already impacting communities farther south. Read more

Army Corps boats construct a sill to prevent saltwater intrusion

Rave reviews for locally made Kernza goods, even amid market growing pains

September 14, 2023

It takes more than a tasty product to create a market. Learn about how growers, businesses and consumers can work together to support clean-water crops like Kernza. Read more

A recently baked cinnamon apple Kernza muffin is split apart on a plate. A mug can be seen on the table just behind it.

What the Mississippi River needs from the new Farm Bill

August 14, 2023

The Farm Bill accounts for hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of spending on programs that address nutrition, commodity crop production, farmland conservation, research and more. Read more