Agriculture has been an integral part of Minnesota’s land and water for a thousand years. While crops have changed, the spirit of farming has remained constant. MPR Archive presents a selection of stories that reflect the diversity of what has been harvested, such as corn, soybeans, wild rice, and even tree fiber. This collection is also about the many hands that toil in, and care for, the soil and water…from the migrant farm worker in Red River Valley’s sugar beet fields, the Hmong immigrant planting near Homer, the Chanarambie Township farmer amidst the 1980s farm crisis, and Ojibwe members following ancient harvesting traditions.
May 15, 1989 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe interviews Milton Raske, a resident of Pillager, Minnesota, on his astrological gardening system. He has been planting vegetables for decades based on astrological signs. Agricultural officials do not support moon planting as it is not supported by science, but that doesn’t stop Raske.
June 3, 1989 - MPR’s Mark Heistad reports on Hmong farmers in the Twin Cities area. Farming is a natural transition for Hmong immigrants settling in Minnesota. It is also an important factor towards independance and bonding of family.
December 27, 1989 - A Mainstreet Radio special from southwestern Minnesota town of Madison. MPR’s John Biewen presents a documentary entitled, "We're Not Dying," which highlights how the town survived the 1980’s farm crisis.
May 9, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe profiles Steve and Deb Heuer, whose work as bovine sitters. The Minnesota couple are for hire to assist dairy farmers who are away from their farms for a period of time and need someone to watch, feed, and milk the cows.
May 20, 1991 - Mainstreet Radio’s John Biewen visits La Paysanne, a sheep milk production company outside of Hinkley, Minnesota. The cheeses made from sheep milk include feta and ricotta. The sheep dairy industry in the U.S. is a small market and a tough business to succeed at.
September 9, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten speaks with a central Minnesotan farmer who recounts his experience of 9-inch rainfall and being humbled by the wrath of nature.
October 16, 1991 - MPR’s Liz Hannon talks with David Bedford, member of University of Minnesota’s Horticultural Research Center, about creating new crosses of apples, which can take 30 years to develop. Bedford highlights Haralson, Regent, and the newest variety from the Minnesota Arboretum, the Honeycrisp.
June 9, 1992 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports on influx of Hispanic migrant farm workers looking for work and housing in Crookston area of Minnesota. Segment includes interviews with migrant workers and local officials on the issues and struggles migrants and area face.
February 5, 1993 - On this segment of First Friday, MPR’s Maja Beckstrom profiles barn poetry. An inspiration of New York poet Mark Mendel back in 1982, the poetry resides on the side of Goodhue County Road 6, outside of Red Wing, Minnesota.
April 7, 1993 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil looks at the Granger Creamery, which is one of the only ones left for local farmers to utilize for business in southern Minnesota. The creamery is one of only two in state that still excepts milk in cans. This is important to Amish farmers, who will not use bulk tanks.