Farming is an inherently stressful lifestyle. Current economic and global conditions are adding to anxiety for many producers. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and nearly a dozen farm groups are partnering on a suicide prevention campaign. Meg Moynihan with MDA is our guest on this Field Talk podcast to highlight some the ways the group is reaching out. 

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to return to session on September 14 with plenty on the agenda before mid term elections. Ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee Sen. Amy Klobuchar talked with the Linder Farm Network about priorities including tariffs, farm bill, E15 and more.

The Minnesota State Fair's iconic Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum got some substantial upgrades before this year's Great Minnesota Get Together. Deputy General Manager Jill Nathe joined Linda Brekke to highlight the updates. 

President Trump's announcement that he would allow supplies of imported beef into the U.S. to lower consumer prices was met with resounding disapproval from cattle producers. Ethan Lane from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association joined Linda Brekke to give industry reaction. 

Congressmen Brad Finstad and House Ag Committee chair GT Thompson were featured speakers at the Steele County Agribusiness luncheon recently. Following the Senate's inability to pass a farm bill, the congressmen talked with the Linder Farm Network's Lynn Ketelsen about next steps. 

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins held roundtable meetings and met with farmers during a stop at Farmfest near Redwood Falls this week. Rollins also addressed attendees, speaking about the administration's priorities and accomplishments. 

Summer heat has been the rule for much of the month of July in Minnesota. DNR Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay joins this podcast to dive deeper into our current hot, humid conditions. 

The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Summer Beef Tour is a must-see for many farmers and ag industry leaders. This year's event in Marshall was no exception. We caught up with several state leaders to get an update on what's happening in the industry. 

USDA is undertaking a pilot project to make acreage reporting easier for farmers and staff. Lac Qui Parle County was selected as a test county for this efforts. USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce joined the LFN to highlight the pilot program designed to move the acreage process into the digital age. 

California's Proposition 12 remains a thorn in the side of many of the nation's pork producers. The National Pork Producers Council and others have opposed the measure saying it gives one state power to dictate farming practices in other states. However, finding a fix has been challenging. Minnesota farmer and NPPC director John Anderson joins the Linder Farm Network to discuss options moving forward after a remedy was not included in the recently released Senate farm bill language.