News

Affirmative action should target poverty, not race

July 10, 2023

Reasonable, economically rigorous criteria can continue to support access to higher education for the disadvantaged.


Ask the Experts: Fourth of July Savings Tips (within 2023’s Best & Worst Places for 4th of July Celebrations)

June 27, 2023

As Americans, we value our freedom a lot, judging by the amount of money we spend on Fourth of July festivities. But there are ways to strut your patriotic stuff — and have a great time doing it — without breaking the bank. For money-saving advice, we asked a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

  1. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Fourth of July?
  2. Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?
  3. Will the current economic downturn change the way Americans celebrate 4th of July?
  4. When evaluating the best cities for Fourth of July celebrations, what are the top five indicators?

Farm Connections: Dr. Brian Buhr, Jim Nichols, Seth Naeve

June 7, 2023

We meet with Dr. Brian Buhr from the University of Minnesota to talk about the opportunities education provides the agricultural community. Jim Nichols returns to talk in depth about ethanol and other alternative energies and Seth Naeve with the University of Minnesota provides us with a Best Practice about how to harvest clean soybeans.

From plate to policy: A student's journey from chef to applied economist

May 25, 2023

For former chef Alex Chase, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) was a natural fit to leverage his experience in the food industry into a new career path focused on food security.


Why the price of eggs is down — and likely to keep falling

May 12, 2023

Prices for “food at home” fell for the second straight month – though they’re still well above where they were a year ago.

One item, in particular, may be helping: the price of eggs has tumbled.


Minnesota can be a global leader in feeding our growing population

May 2, 2023

Guest writer Brian Buhr writes how the need for agricultural research is at an all-time high, "yet funding for agricultural research and development continues to decline."


Careers with a calling survey shows interest in Ag

April 25, 2023

A new survey shows a large percentage of high school students are interested in careers that involve agriculture, food, natural resources, and the environment.


Off-farm landowners share their families' stories of transition

April 24, 2023

MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer talked with two farmland owners and William Lazarus, an extension economist and professor at the University of Minnesota, about farmland transitions and the roles of heirs and renters in Minnesota farm country.


Swine & U: Organic rye is finding a home with hogs

April 20, 2023

An experiment is underway to evaluate hybrid rye in a full cycle — from hybrid rye, to feed and bedding, to animals, to manure, and back to hybrid rye. U of M Researcher Joel Tallaksen and Professor Bill Lazarus will be evaluating the economics and impacts of the entire system.


Teens value working for companies with positive environmental impact: Survey

April 5, 2023

A survey of high schools on what’s important to them in their future careers found they prioritize purpose, specifically addressing sustainability, hunger, and environmental concerns.