Minnesota is investing nearly 6.7 million dollars to improve water quality across the state. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources approved 18 competitive Clean Water Fund grants that will support projects aimed at reducing pollution in lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater. Funded efforts include stormwater treatment systems, lake restoration projects, streambank stabilization, agricultural conservation practices, septic system upgrades and groundwater protection measures. 

State officials say the projects will help reduce phosphorus, sediment, bacteria and other contaminants while improving drinking water quality and aquatic habitats. The grants are funded through Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund, created by the voter-approved Legacy Amendment. For more information on the grants and funded projects, visit the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources website.

Construction continues on the Highway 11 Roseau-to-Warroad improvement project, with paving on the east end of the corridor set to begin next week and continue through mid-July. MnDOT says crews are completing grading, ditch work and culvert installation, while highway realignment work is underway near the Roseau airport. 

Drivers should note that all construction activity will pause for the Independence Day holiday, with no work scheduled from July 3rd through July 5th. Crews will return to the project on July 6th. Highway 11 remains open to local traffic only, with through traffic detoured on Highway 313 and County Road 13. For project updates and more information, visit the MnDOT Highway 11 Roseau-to-Warroad project page.

For sugarbeet growers across the Red River Valley, Cercospora Leaf Spot season is fast approaching, organizations like Minnesota and NDSU Extension are encouraging producers to get ahead of leaf spot before it’s too late. Dr Eric Branch of Minnesota Extension says it’s important to be getting in the field for application soon.

When it comes to leaf spot application prevention, Branch says most of the industry is in universal agreement on an application plan.

For more agricultural news and programming, go to the Farm News webpage at rjbroadcasting.com.

Minnesota exports fell 8% in the first quarter of 2026, dropping to 5.8 billion dollars, according to new data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. State officials say the decline was largely driven by a steep drop in mineral fuel and oil exports to Canada, which were down more than 600 million dollars. Excluding those fuel exports, Minnesota’s other exports actually grew 2%. 

Strong gains were reported in electrical equipment, agricultural products and fertilizers, while exports to Europe, Africa and Latin America increased. DEED says global trade uncertainty continues to impact markets. Find the full report in the Export and Trade Statistics section of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development website.