Successful Ballot Question in MN Seen as Way for More Climate-Friendly Farming

Nov 12, 2024

By Mike Moen

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers see more room for making farmland climate resilient.

Nearly 78% of Minnesota voters said yes to Amendment 1, a 25-year extension of a constitutional amendment dedicating 40% of lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund.

Theresa Keaveny, Minnesota state policy lead for the group Climate Land Leaders, said the program has already helped spur adoption of practices such as managed grazing of farm animals to help restore the health of some landscapes. She argued smaller family farms need more support to embrace conservation.

"In this time of low corn and soybean prices, money that is available to help incentivize these kinds of practices is absolutely critical if we are to ensure that we have good-quality drinking water and don't pollute our rivers, lakes and streams," Keaveny contended.

Keaveny noted the latest extension creates a specialized grant program for rural and other underrepresented communities to pursue environmental projects. She stressed sustainable agriculture could be part of a more localized mix. Despite Minnesota's efforts, the state's southeast region has drawn the focus of the federal Environmental Protection Agency over nitrate pollution in water resources.

Keaveny noted the fund, first established in 1988, has also aided research in the area of cover crops, another climate-friendly farming practice. She emphasized pushing ahead with efforts to make the products more profitable can hopefully build a stronger movement within farming circles.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.