DULUTH — Small farms in northeastern Minnesota are encouraged to apply for the Farmer Climate Action Fund, on-farm project funding that address climate change and resilience.
These projects could include planting wildlife corridors, replacing fossil fuels with clean energy alternatives, planting nitrogen cover crops and other projects that implement conservation practices.
David Abasz, executive director of the University of Minnesota Extension Northeast Regional Development Partnership, shared in a news release that he always has ideas that would improve his farm's climate resilience.
“The new funding will support Northeast farmers to be innovative while also reducing the risks that often come from incorporating climate change adaptations on their farms," Abazs said. "This is a real opportunity to get creative.”
The Northeast RDSP will accept applications through Feb. 14, with awards announced in early March. Priority will be given to projects that are shovel-ready and can be completed by the end of the year.
Farmers in Koochiching, Itasca, Aitkin, Pine, Carlton, St Louis, Lake and Cook counties, as well as farmers from the Grand Portage, Fond du Lac and Bois Forte reservations, are encouraged to apply.
More information is available at the U of M Extension website.
-
contributed/Julie CrabbGet to know the volunteers behind the mic on KAXE. This week, we find out more from the longtime "Green Cheese" and "The Dark Side of Love" host and volunteer Julie Crabb. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAbout a half-inch of rain fell across the area overnight into Tuesday, and crews are expected to return to work on securing and improving the fire lines again. -
And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEIn their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHere’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team on new music from Jobi Riccio, Genesis Owusu, Aldous Harding, Helado Tropical, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angine de Poitrine and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Our Pick from '76 is Dolly Parton's "All I Can Do." -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's OfficeFirefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEEvacuated homeowners will be able to return to their properties for the day, Monday, May 18, 2026. Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid. -
Contributed/Danielle SullivanReaching Rural Readers sends free books to rural Minnesota high school students. This summer's list includes books by Dawn Quigley, K. Woodman-Maynard, and Kenneth Cadow. -
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 18.
