Agriculture

39th Annual Big Iron Farm Show Displays New Ag Tech

The show is open tomorrow from 9 to 5 and Thursday from 9 to 4

WEST FARGO, N.D. — Technology is making its way into most people’s lives these days, and farmers are no exception. “Man, has agriculture changed. And for the better. I mean, the equipment, the size of the equipment, and the technology,” said Big Iron Committee Chairman Dave Gehrtz. This year’s Big Iron Farm Show is giving people a glimpse at the…

‘The margins are so thin’ Clay County Farmers Union Holds Annual Convention

Minnesota farmers are dealing with limited markets and low commodity prices as a result of the trade war with China

MOORHEAD, MINN. — Larry Jacobson has been farming his whole life. “It’s something I’ve done since I was a little kid. When I was big enough to sit in the seat and turn the steering wheel, I was doing it,” he said. And he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon, but it’s getting more and more difficult. “The margins are…

North Dakota Ranks High for Blackbird Crop Damage

North Dakota ranked first in bird damage to confectionery and oilseed sunflowers.

BISMARCK, N.D.–North Dakota agricultural officials say there’s help available for the millions of dollars in crop damage caused by blackbirds each year. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services program loans nonlethal management equipment to farmers to help disperse blackbirds that attack sunflower and grain crops. The USDA says of eight states with significant…

NDSU Helps Farmers Create Succession Plan

There are two million farms in America, according to the USDA

  FARGO, N.D. — It wasn’t until after his father and grandfather passed in 2012 that Jon Bertsch decided to take over the family farm in Hillsboro. With it came the many challenges farmers face daily. “A lot of things are out of our control, mother nature,  the trade war, different things in regards to the ethanol industry. It’s harder to…

LIVE: Barnesville’s Potato Days on National Potato Day

Lefse us tell you about all the great things happening this week for Potato Days.

It’s National Potato Day this Monday, and we couldn’t be more chipper about the whole event, because potatoes are something most people in this region get pretty steamed up about. That’s especially true in Barnesville, Minn., where residents have been serving the Red River Valley its Potato Days festival every year in late August. A smash hit for young and…

Sen. Hoeven’s State of Technology Conference Stresses Agriculture and Technology Intersection

The 9th annual conference highlighted the work of more than 70 entrepreneurs

FARGO, N.D. — Tech companies from agriculture, cyber security, elderly care backgrounds and more are sharing their work at Sen. John Hoeven’s 2019 State of Technology Conference. The event stresses the importance of converging agriculture and technology. Some say that integration should start with young people. “Working together with our universities, with our community colleges, even with our high schools,…

Sen. Tina Smith Creates Rural Economic Working Group

the goal of the group is to take innovative ideas from small communities and incorporate them to ones who need more help throughout the U.S.

EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — Taking innovative ideas from rural communities in Minnesota and incorporating them at the federal level. Senator Tina Smith says that’s what can really help some change places across the country need. She announced she is starting a bipartisan Senate “Rural Economic Working Group.” And she’s doing it alongside Republican South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds. “Our…

Growing Together Gardens Begin Selling Produce Through October

There are six locations

FARGO, N.D. — Now you can get all the produce you want while also getting to know the people around you at six different community gardens. “Growing Together” Community Gardens will sell all their goodies from three to six every Tuesday through October. Founders say they started the community garden 13 years ago but it has quickly spread to several…

Sen. Hoeven Hosts Roundtable Discussion Around Market Facilitation Program Payments

The USDA is Providing Assistance to Eligible Farmers Impacted by Tariffs

FARGO, N.D. — With tariffs, trade negotiations and low commodity prices, farmers are still struggling. The USDA is providing eligible farmers nationwide with $14.5 billion in Market Facilitation Program payments. But North Dakota producers have a unique set of challenges. “Certainly some crop diversity that we don’t see everywhere across the country. Weather challenges, obviously, too that compound the situation that…

Austrian Boy Granted Wish to See South Dakota Farm

BALTIC, S.D – A boy from Austria had one wish. He wanted to see what life was like on a farm. The Make-A-Wish International foundation gave him some options and his choice brought him all the way to Baltic. Matthias Hasibar is a 14-year-old who is passionate about farms. So much so, that he often spends his days learning about them….