EXCERPT: “Our neighbors to the west, the Dakotas, are known for their colorful sunflower crops. But the flowers have been popping up in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, too. For a farmer in Pierz, in rural northwestern Minnesota, the plants started as a good protein source for livestock before turning into a popcorn source for consumers. Tom Smude, the owner of Smude Enterprises, never thought he’d become a sunflower farmer. He initially planted the flowers to save money on feed costs for his cows, but he was impressed by the flowers’ root structure and how it helped his soil. ‘They’ll go down seven feet and actually break up some sub soil,’ he said. The flowers helped feed his cows, made his steaks taste better, and as they popped up, Smude learned their oil was good for popcorn.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/3fMfRgv
