Minnesota Farmers – May Lee is a veteran farmer with four decades of experience who moved from Laos during this difficult planting season. Lee cultivates a range of crops at Big River Farms in Washington County, a crucial training site for immigrant farming families, as one of the country’s first Hmong certified-organic farmers.
She also trains others in farming, which has complicated her position due to the ongoing dry period. During this hot and dry summer, dry adaptation and precise irrigation level determination have proven to be major challenges for immigrant farmers.
Lee shared the tragic story of a family that lost their contracted maize owing to insufficient germination brought on by water scarcity as he described the challenges of other farmers. She said, “We don’t have enough water.”
As growers come together and share resources, including water, an atmosphere of brotherhood infects the neighborhood around Big River Farms. Because up to 15 farms rely on the same irrigation system, careful planning and resource rationing are required.
An organic farmer, Emilio Vaca, spoke about the region’s growing need for rain and better irrigation techniques. According to Vaca, recent years have been difficult since we haven’t had enough irrigation.
