December 22, 1998 - In the next couple of months farmers around the region will be asking bankers for money to plant next years crop. Nationally, the Farm Credit System reports more than one billion dollars in bad farm loans this year. In Northwestern Minnesota, some experts say 60 percent of farmers may not qualify for financing next year. That's causing sleepless nights for farmers and lenders. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson talked to one lender on the front line.
December 22, 1998 - The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis is taking steps to broaden its mission beyond its longtime role as purveyor of the classics. The Guthrie has appointed a well known figure in the New York theater world as "artistic advisor", to help it focus on living writers and contemporary work. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has more.
December 22, 1998 - Productions of "A Christmas Carol" are a holiday staple, most notably in Minnesota at the Guthrie Theater. For the last two years, visitors to the St. Paul Hotel have been going directly to the source to get their annual dose of Charles Dickens' classic tale, or at least to the great great grandson of the source. Gerald Charles Dickens is winding up a 43-day American tour, performing his great great grandfather's work while his audience sips an afternoon tea, or digs into an evening feast. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts met up with the present-day Dickens this afternoon....
December 22, 1998 - For the past two days, a Worthington grocery store has sold pork for 30 cents a pound to protest the low prices paid to pork farmers. That's about a dollar cheaper per pound than usual. Hog producers are weathering the lowest prices in decades because there is a huge oversupply of pork on the market. Manager of the County Market in Worthington, Scott Anderson, says consumer demand for pork HAS remained high ... but even he was surprised at how many people were willing to brave the cold temperatures to buy drastically reduced pork. Scott Anderson is Manager of the County Market in Worthington. He says the grocery store basically broke even on the pork sale.
December 23, 1998 - In these days of plastic, tinsel and even aluminum christmas trees, many people prefer the smell of a REAL tree. An increasing number of Americans are returning to the tradition of cutting their own Christmas tree... But as Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports this surge in sales comes as many Christmas tree growers are getting out of the business... Driving down the lane through Sherman Mandt's 60-acre tree farm near Perham, Minnesota...Durk and Bobbie Currier and their three children are trying to pick the perfect Christmas tree. Bobbi Currier explains the difficulty:
December 23, 1998 - Elk once roamed much of Minnesota, but unregulated hunting in the 1800s so reduced the elk population it's now limited to a handful in the northwestern part of the state. A herd of about 30 animals lives near the town of Grygla, a product of an elk reintroduction program in 1935. Since then, the herd has been the subject of controversy because of damage it has caused to local crops. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji, the Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on a draft management plan for how best to deal with Minnesota's elk.
December 23, 1998 - Greg Lemond retired from the world of cycling four years ago, but his bike hasn't had a chance to get rusty. He spent two weeks last January riding from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min city on "The Vietnam Challege" organized by World Team Sports. The 12-hundred-mile ride was the first officially sanctioned event between the United States and Vietnam. It brought together veterans, many who were disabled, from both countries. Participants hoped to heal some of the wounds caused by the Vietnam war. Lemond went along to lend encouragement, help change flat tires and offer support. A new film, which will air on NBC Saturday afternoon, brings the 16-day adventure to life. Lemond says it was the most amazing ride of his life:
December 23, 1998 - Some of the region's top economists say the economy is showing several signs of a slow down moving into next year. And some economists say there is a possibility of a recession in the second half of 1999. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports... --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM:5884 | TIME: 404s | OUTCUE: soc --------------------------------------------------------- Wells Fargo Bank Chief Economist Sung Won Sohn says weak international markets from Asia to Latin American coupled with softening consumer demand in the United States will slow the US and Minnesota economies next year. Sohn is predicting fewer jobs will be created in Minnesot
December 23, 1998 - The U.S. was once a nation of farmers. But now, we're a country full of people who's families once farmed...so the story of foreclosure, bankruptcy and the letting go of a lifestyle is not uncommon. One South Dakota family experienced all of that a decade ago. Their story is still an open wound filled with anger, defeat, revenge and hope. Mainstreet Radios Cara Hetland reports: Bill was born and raised on a farm in southeastern South Dakota. For 19 years, his live was measured by the weather and the sky as he worked the soil raising corn, soybeans and lifestock. Today it doesn't matter how much rain falls or how dry the land is as Bill goes to work in Sioux Falls..
December 23, 1998 - Low prices for this year's crops have left many farmers struggling... and now, they're making decisions for the next planting season. With both crop and livestock prices the lowest they've been in decades, farmers may have to diversify in order to make it as agriculture changes. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Pioneer seed salesman Brian Jergans finishes up a sale for next spring. Most farmers buy their seeds early, to get in on price breaks and to ensure they'll get the seed they want. This year, farmer Jim Lammers will buy ten different varieties of corn. Salesman Brian Jergans encourages customers to test varities and check data over three years before ordering large quantities.