New cases of deer with Chronic Wasting Disease in southeast Minnesota, and the discovery of an infected deer in Crow Wing County in January has renewed the sense of urgency in containing the spread of the disease. The Minnesota DNR and Board of Animal health have identified a relatively small numer of infected deer so far, compared to the more than 5,200 infected deer found in Wisconsin since 2002. The Executive Director of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association , Craig Engwall, talks with us

Last February, the MN Board of Animal Health and the MN DNR confirmed that Chronic Wasting Disease was the cause of the death of a deer that was recovered near a 112 acre deer farm near Merrifield in Crow Wing County. There are about 390 captive deer and elk farms in MN. In April, the deer in the farm near Merrifield was closed, all the deer were killed and are being tested for CWD. In addition, about 80 deer were killed within a two mile radius of the farm and are also being tested. Prior to

“…It’s the arts that separates us from the animals. We as artists are very uniquely positioned to be able to express things that many people can’t…” Lucas Richman , Composer Lucas Richman’s newest symphony titled This Will Be Our Reply was performed for the second time ever by the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra Sunday, April 28 th . The composition was inspired by a Leonard Bernstein quote made in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Bernstein expressed the need to make music in

Just yesterday, Beth Dooley and Mette Nielsen launched their new book, Sweet Nature: A Cook’s Guide to Using Honey and Maple Syrup , published by the University of MN Press. Sweet Nature is a cookbook based largely on local foods and incorporating two of Minnesota’s natural sweeteners, maple syrup and honey. In our interview with Beth Dooley (below), she talks about her longtime interest in local and indigenous foods, the history of these sweets, some of their flavors, pairings, and things to

“For me, when I’m playing or when I’m performing, it’s kind of like my own church… it’s home base for me… It fills me up when I play. It gives me a lot of energy and just that incentive to always improve and always get better.” – Eric Sundeen, Percussionist Eric Sundeen directs the Bemidji State University Percussion Ensemble . The ensemble is made up of a variety of people with one thing in common – they play percussion. Music majors, nursing majors, math majors, English majors and Bemidji

Program 54 Frustrated Partners: Charles Blandin and Lawrence Rossman Try to Save the Newsprint Industry in the 1930s A radio series produced by historian Don Boese. Don is the author of eight books dealing with local history in Itasca County, including "John C. Greenway and the Opening of the Western Mesabi", and the main source for this series, "Papermakers: the Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota". The series begins with the arrival of the first Euro-Americans to the forested

Phenology is the biological nature of events as they relate to climate. Every Tuesday morning, our resident Phenologist John Latimer gathers his phenological data and reports his findings in the weekly Phenology Report. As always, we love to hear what our listeners are noticing out in nature. Give us a call at 218.999.9876 and let us know what is happening around your place. You can also send an email directly to John . Either way, we want to hear from you! If you love this stuff, please

“In diligently recording our sightings, I realize that I often forget to pause and reflect on the beauty of this peculiar hobby. The natural world is vastly more wild and strange and wonderful than my best phenological notes will ever capture. And there is some irony that in observing the natural biological rhythms of nature, my own secret destiny is staring right back at me. How fortunate we are to share in the ancient conversation together, thru your phenology report. Bring on the warblers.” –

Sarah Strommen is the new DNR Commissioner for the state of Minnesota. We had a chance to talk about the hot-button issues like Chronic Wasting Disease , Aquatic Invasive Species, Enbridge Energy Line 3 Pipeline Project that the agency works with and the MN Legislature and the DNR's budget, slot limits for fishing and Minnesota's state park system. DNR commissioner announces School’s Out-Campout Challenge March 28, 2019 Goal is to fill all state park campsites June 8 to celebrate National Get

Maybe you've heard that song - "What's time to a hog?" If you want a more thorough perspective on that perspective thing, ask NCR Staff Physicist Aaron Wenger. Here's his poem called "Speed"