ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Farmers in Minnesota are working to balance heightened expectations for environmental stewardship and the day-to-day challenges of operating a farm.

Three-quarters of the state's cropland grows corn and soybeans, Minnesota Public Radio reported. Those crops come with greenhouse gas emissions, water quality degradation and soil erosion.

Farmers want to build healthy soils that can withstand heat, drought and heavy rain but struggle to justify the extra cost.

Scott Haase, who farms in Blue Earth, planted cover crops this year that cost an extra $30 an acre. He said his fie...