Minnesota’s Worst Drought In Decade To Likely Impact Produce, Gas Prices
CBS Minnesota 5 hrs ago Syndicated Local – WCCO | CBS Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) It’s been nine years since drought conditions in Minnesota were this bad.
More than half the state is under severe or extreme drought conditions, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ drought monitor. That’s up from about 40% earlier this month.
Pete Boulay, assistant state climatologist with the DNR, says the drought of 2012 lasted for more than a year, while our current drought is only in its fourth month.
“We’ve a lot of the water in the soil in the top 2 feet, so that comparison about 2012 is when we lost a lot of water in the soil,” Boulay said.
In Minnesota, a growing interest in reviving the local butcher shop
A surging demand has put a spotlight on a problem that s been developing for years in Minnesota: a shortage of the small meat processing operations that provide a key link between farmers and consumers. Now, as there’s growing interest in reviving the local butcher shop, years of scaling back have left the industry in Minnesota at a moment of rebuilding.
Written By:
Dan Gunderson / MPR News | 4:00 pm, Jan. 27, 2021 ×
Brian Schatz stands inside Schmidt s Meat Market in Nicollet, Minn. Temporary food supply disruptions prompted by the pandemic have led more consumers to look for direct connections with farmers. It’s put a spotlight on a problem that s been developing for years: a shortage the of small meat processing operations that are a key link between farmers and consumers. There’s growing interest in reviving the local butcher shop. (Courtesy of Brian Schatz)