(MGN Online) As commodity prices remain low and rural economies struggle, farmers and rural citizens need a strong safety net to stay afloat until conditions improve. However, the budget proposals from the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives do not address that need. The House Budget Committee recently released its 2018 budget proposal, which called for a $10 … [Read more...]

  There is nothing better than slicing up a ripe garden tomato fresh off the vine. However, some may not have the means to grow fresh vegetables in their backyards. At the Center for Rural Affairs, we work with rural communities to build healthy, sustainable, local food systems. That includes supporting farmers markets. Farmers markets expand access to fresh, … [Read more...]

In the small town of Vergas, Minnesota, behind Hanson’s Plumbing and Heating is a pile of discarded cardboard boxes awaiting the trash hauler. Cardboard, a common byproduct of doing business, can be recycled. However, in many rural areas like Vergas, this commodity is seldom recycled due to lack of access to commercial recycling. Otter Tail County found a way to change … [Read more...]

Yard waste — such as grass clippings, leaves and branches — is a valuable resource that can add nutrients into your yard or be recycled into compost. It is illegal to put this kind of waste in your household garbage. Options for managing yard waste: Leave grass clippings on your lawn — this practice will add valuable nutrients and can reduce the need for fertilizers. … [Read more...]

Now that the rain has slowed down, remember that trees — especially young trees — need watering any time it doesn’t rain an inch in a week. Yard and boulevard trees need water Minneapolis yard and boulevard trees need an inch of water every week all through the summer-fall season. Lack of water can make trees vulnerable to insects and disease and cause permanent damage to … [Read more...]