Section: Farm & Ranch

Bison spread as Native American tribes reclaim stewardship

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

There are few symbols more representative of the great plains than the buffalo. Their story is just as evocative. Prior to European expansion west, their numbers were thought to exceed 30 million. A short generation later, the consequences of manifest destiny brought the animals to near extinction. Today, their survival is no longer in doubt,

Read & Share   sourced from: Associated Press

Farm Group Asks FTC to Investigate Egg Price Collusion

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

If you’ve been to the grocery store in the past few months, you’ve likely noticed the price of eggs. In a short period of time, the price of a dozen ‘Grade A’s has skyrocketed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture blames the avian flu, but a national farmers’ advocacy group wants an FTC investigation into possible

Read & Share   sourced from: Public News Service

Montana beef processing ramps up, but more butchers are needed (Is there an Opportunity for Minot Here?)

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Since the start of the pandemic, the amount of meat processed in Montana has grown by 75%. The number of cows processed annually is still a drop in the bucket compared to the national numbers, but it’s a small pushback against the large meat-packing consortium. And the demand for butchers is still growing. Get the

Read & Share   sourced from: Billings Gazette

Regenerative farming links soil health to human health

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

They say we are what we eat. And if we’re eating food off the average modern farm, it’s far less diverse, and maybe less healthy than it used to be. But an alternative is emerging, and while the initial investment in regenerative farming practices is higher, some operators are finding the long-term economic returns to

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

Can a Seaweed additive in Cow Feed Reduce the Amount of Methane They Fart? (And Why It Matters in North Dakota)

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Did you know that as cows digest the grass and other feed they eat they create a lot of methane gas? It’s true. Did you also know that methane is a big contributor to climate change? It’s also true. It’s a situation that puts the cattle industry in the crosshairs of environmental regulation, and in

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

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What is milk? The legislature is attempting to answer the question

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

If you go to the grocery store these days, you’ll quickly notice the milk section is a lot bigger than it used to be. But it’s not the cows that made it so. There are whole shelves of new products made from soy, almonds, oats, coconuts, and more. And it invites the question, what is

Read & Share   sourced from: Dickinson Press

Yep, Fresh Local Produce Is Possible In Climates Like Ours

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

North Dakota’s growing season doesn’t usually include winter, but with south-facing wall and a little solar engineering, greenhouses can grow just about anything. Want proof? Check out the quick feature from Ag Week TV below. The story comes from Lake City, Minnesota, and if they can do it, surely it can be done here too.

Read & Share   sourced from: AGWEEK

What is the Farm Bill and why does it matter? Here’s what to know.

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The Farm Bill is a big, sweeping piece of national legislation that takes place every five years. In 2018, it was funded to the amount of $428 billion. But what’s in it, and what does it do? If you’re a little bit curious, this article from The Gazette is a good primer.

Read & Share   sourced from: Cedar Rapids Gazette

Farmers, ranchers could capture almost a third of North Daktoa’s carbon emissions

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Did you know North Dakota’s ranch-sustaining grasslands also serve as carbon sponges? It’s a byproduct benefit of sustainable, regenerative practices many ranchers are already embracing. Patrick Springer has the full story at the Dickinson Press on an idea that may help North Dakota meet Governor Burgum’s 2030 carbon emission goals.

Read & Share   sourced from: Dickinson Press

Following Fufeng uproar, bill would bar foreign governments from buying ag land in North Dakota

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

A Bismarck legislator introduced a bill to prevent foreign governments from purchasing and holding agricultural land in North Dakota. It’s the latest in the Fufeng saga. Fufeng announced its intentions to build a corn milling plan in Grand Forks in late 2021, and opposition quickly arrose out of national security concerns related to a Chinese-owned

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Manitoba Sisters intertwine fashion, farming

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Farming and food production are vital to the local economy, but how do we get people to care about them?  For a pair of sisters in Brandon, Manitoba, the answer is fashion. Cassandra and Stefanie Lepp have more than 35,000 social media followers, and they’re using their influence educate and inform women about farming. Get

Read & Share   sourced from: Brandon Sun

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Grant program to help young Minnesota farmers proves popular

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Farming is the biggest business in this part of the Northern plains, and it’s a very difficult business to break into due to high land costs. And last year in Minnesota the legislature set aside money to address the issue by making grant dollars available for qualifying new farmer land purchases. The program opened recently,

Read & Share   sourced from: MPR

The Food Chain Should Be a Food Circle

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

From the farmers and food producers to the consumers pulling from the shelves and the multinational corporations in between, there’s a trend in the food supply toward resilience and regenerative traits. Check out this quick piece from Ellen MacArthur at WIRED on the meta-changes in attitude and culture that will likely steer the macroeconomics of

Read & Share   sourced from: WIRED

Red Pine Distillery rolls out the barrel for North Dakota Corn Growers Association members

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Grand Forks-based Red Pine Distillery is rolling out special batches of bourbon for members of North Dakota Corn Growers Association. The corn from each barrel will be sourced exclusively from the grower’s farm, aged in oak, and given a special label with details of the harvest. It’s a unique, value-added partnership that’s only possible when

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

ND’s Anti-Corporate Farming Law Faces New Fight Over Ownership Rules

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

North Dakota’s legislative session starts in less than a week, and that means we’ll be hearing about topics that are regular fixtures of North Dakota debate. One example is North Dakota’s ban on corporate-owned farms. Opponents of the law saw it’s causing North Dakota to fall behind. Supporters say it’s protecting us from outcomes less

Read & Share   sourced from: Public News Service

For some northern climate greens growers, winter doesn’t halt their harvests

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Fresh produce from Minnesota in December? No, it’s not a joke. From passive-solar powered greenhouses to hydroponic container farms, demand for local produce is inspiring small farmers to innovate. And in a place like Minot that has no shortage of cold and an economy built on agriculture, this is a trend we need to watch.

Read & Share   sourced from: Dickinson Press