For a recovering dairy farmer such as myself, going to a dairy farm festival is like a cat attending a hairball convention. Ho-hum. Not much new to see here. Or so I thought. Our neighbors Frido and Sonja Verpaalen opened their dairy farm to a throng of visitors for Dairy Fest, an event that ...

Question: Can you talk about drug use and impaired driving. It seems like I am seeing more and more of this. Answer: Drug-impaired driving is as dangerous as alcohol-impaired driving. Minnesota law prohibits driving while impaired by controlled or intoxicating substances. These substances ...

I’ve always been fascinated by the hatching of insects throughout the summer season, and it amazes me how varied it is in different locations. Under the humming lights of Brothers Three in my hometown of Valley City, N.D., some 25 years ago, when I witnessed my first mayfly hatch as big, ...

In the past, I’ve mentioned to people that wine is like poetry. The responses I’ve received are, well, varied to say the least. One of my favorite poems is entitled “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. It’s short, packed with visual images and reminds me of who I am in the final verse: ...

As the 2024 legislative session drew to a close on May 20, the lack of transparency and bipartisanship troubled me. In my 12 years as your state senator, I have never seen such a disappointing conclusion to a session. Quite frankly, it has got to be one of the most disgraceful endings to a ...

Issues surrounding nitrogen fertilizer pose a significant challenge for Minnesota farmers and our natural resources, prompting increased attention toward nitrogen regulations. While these concerns rightly demand attention, Minnesota farmers are doing what they do best — taking proactive and ...