The Root River Current Team

Members of the Root River Current editorial/production staff.

Author's Archive

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Inside Root River Current | Three Years Strong – And Counting!

Root River Current celebrates three years of stories, poems, photography and more, taking aim at its fourth year of publishing!

composite of Root River Current board of directors

Join a Visionary, Creative and Committed Board of Directors

Get involved — help advance Root River Current’s mission to publish stories that ‘build community’ in Southeast Minnesota!

Inside Root River Current | Expanded Publishing and Social Media Support

Root River Current is growing its production team, one member at a time…

80+ people posing for group photo at Press Forward MN event

Inside Root River Current | Steps Forward

Behind the scenes, Root River Current advances Press Forward Minnesota collaboration and makes website changes to enhance your experience with its content.

Inside Root River Current | Community Leadership

Root River Current’s Board of Directors expands by one in 2025; meet the newly elected and re-elected directors.

Your Leadership Can Make a Difference in Root River Current’s Third Year

Root River Current seeks Board of Directors candidates to support 2025 growth—can you help?

Community Leaders, “In the News…”

Tim Penny, Colleen Foehrenbacher, and Joe Grodahl are “In the news”—insights and updates on community people, businesses, organizations and happenings.

Inside Root River Current, January 2025

Behind the scenes news from Root River Current — announcing a major grant award and expanding the board for growth and success!

Welcome to Root River Current!

We’re HERE FOR YOU! Learn more about Root River Current, an online magazine committed to sound journalism and engaging storytelling—content that builds community in southeast Minnesota’s greater Root River valley.

Season’s Greetings from Root River Current

A reader-requested ‘favorite’ seasonal video bound to bring smiles.

Happy Holidays to you and yours from everyone at Root River Current!

Holiday gifts, tasty treats, and SMILES can all be found at area craft fairs and bake sales. (Photo by John Weiss)

Seasonal Crafts, Sweets Just Around the Corner

Get excited for another year of holiday craft fairs and bake sales by revisiting John Weiss’ visit to a 2023 gathering in Preston.

This equipment top-dresses nitrogen on the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council plots; its technology adjusts application rates on the go, to make these trials possible. Improving yields and using nutrients efficiently is the goal for landowner Jon East working closely with <a href="https://nutrienagsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutrien Ag Solutions</a> agronomist Scott Barnes, Harmony, Minn. Barnes has been a catalyst for bringing southeast Minnesota growers into on-farm plot research funded by the <a href="https://www.mda.state.mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/agricultural-fertilizer-research-education-council-afrec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council</a> (AFREC). A 40 cent per ton fee paid by Minnesota farmers on all fertilizer sold in the state funds AFREC. The lion's share of the $1.2 million disbursed each year goes to the University of Minnesota, however a small portion is dedicated to on-farm plot research. "We use data from all these plots with growers," says Barnes. "They like these trials because the data is local."

Nitrate and Water Issue Proposals Addressed by 2024 Minnesota Legislature

Root River Current updates 2024 legislative issues regarding southeast Minnesota water issues, including a story by Minnesota Reformer reporter Madison McVan on a proposal that would levy a tax on fertilizer to offset farm pollution.