Area Farm & Ag Headlines

Forest Pest First Detector Volunteers Needed

Monday, February 11, 2013 - 11:26am
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ST. PAUL, Minn. (MDA) – Minnesota is looking for volunteers to join the “first detector” early warning system to help keep an eye out for new infestations of invasive pests. These volunteer “first detectors” make it more likely that infestations of emerald ash borer and other invasive tree pests will be found in early stages when they are easier to control.

Registration is now open for Forest Pest First Detector workshops to be held in February and March. The six one-day workshops will be conducted by experts with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), University of...

CHS Sentenced for Failure to Report Hazardous Substance

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 2:14pm
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In a press release via the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana, it was announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on January 22, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, Cenex Harvest States, Inc., (CHS Inc.) was fined $500,000 for failure to report a release of a hazardous substance. In addition, CHS will make a $50,000 payment to the Phillips County Rural

Fire Department as community service and pay a $400 special assessment.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kris A. McLean, the government stated it would...

Congrats to Nobles County Livestock Judging Team!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 12:12pm
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Congratulations to those individuals that participated on the Nobles County 4-H Livestock Judging Team at the Sioux Empire Farm Show on Saturday, January 26 th in Sioux Falls, SD. The team placed 9th overall!

The contest hosted 38 teams consisting of 4-H or FFA members located in counties and schools across IA, MN, and SD.

Great job Nobles County! Stay tuned as Radio Works ag broadcaster Sonja Langseth catches up with the participants on AM 730 KWOA!

2013 Farm Resource Guide Available

Monday, January 28, 2013 - 10:27am
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The annual Farm Resource Guide for 2013 is now available via the University of Minnesota Extension.

This comprehensive guide includes a variety of very useful farm business management information.The front of the Guide has the most frequently requested information on Custom Rates, Rental Rates for various ag commodity, forages, bins and buildings, Farmland Sales and Rents and Pasture rental rates. Marketing information included lists the cash price probabilities for cash corn and soybeans for Worthington, Minnesota, since 1974.

Information from the Southwest Farm Business...

Nobles County Farmer Shares his REAL Story

Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 9:18am
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You may be familiar with "The REAL story" as brought to you by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. This is a site which spreads the story of your local farmers, telling the R.E.A.L. story (mission to practice Responsible, Ethical Agriculture for Life). Nobles County farmer Bill has decided to share his, in an article from therealstorymn.com. His story is as follows:

Farming is one of the oldest occupations in the world, and it’s been in Bill’s family for four generations. His great grandfather started farming in Nobles County in the early 1900s, and his family has...

Walz Named Ranking Member on Conservation, Energy and Forestry Committee

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 1:50pm
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In a press release, Congressman Tim Walz released the following statement after being chosen by his colleagues to lead the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.

“I am truly honored to serve as a leader of the Conservation, Energy, and Forestry Subcommittee,” said Walz. “Our producers and farmers are good stewards of the land and we must allow them to do what they do best; feed and clothe the world. To accomplish this, we must renew our commitment to passing a long-term, five-year Farm Bill that will give rural America certainty.

Walz continued, “I...

Farmers Offered Penalty Relief From IRS

Monday, January 21, 2013 - 11:08am
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In a press release on Friday, January 18th, the IRS announce it will issue guidance to provide relief from the estimated tax penalty for farmers unable to file and pay their 2012 taxes by the March 1 deadline due to the delayed start for filing tax returns.

The delay stems from this month’s enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA). The ATRA affected several tax forms that are often filed by farmers and fishermen, including the Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization (Including Information on Listed Property). These forms will require extensive programming and testing...

Chef Beran Wins Taste of Excellence via MPB

Monday, January 21, 2013 - 10:11am
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Tony Beran, the executive chef at Lake Avenue Restaurant in Duluth, received first place, chef par excellence honors at the 25th annual Taste of Elegance pork culinary competition on January 15th via the Minnesota Pork Board and the Pork Check Off.

A panel of judges awarded Beran for his recipe, Judges awarded Beran first place for his recipe, Lipstick on a Pig. Beran received $1,500 in prize money and will represent the MPB at the 2013 National Pork Summit, an educational event at the Culinary Institute of America in Graystone, St. Helena, Calif. Want to try and...

Texas Cargill Beef Plant Closes

Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:45am
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The drought of 2012 has affected not only grain farmers, but also livestock producers and companies. On Thursday, January 17th, Cargill announced that it will idle its Plainview, Texas, beef processing facility effective at the close of business, Friday, Feb.1, 2013, resulting primarily from the tight cattle supply brought about by years of drought in Texas and Southern Plains states.

In a press release, Cargill revealed that approximately 2,000 people work at the Plainview facility, and that they will receive company support. Federal, state, county and city government...

MDA Seeks Farmers for Minnesota Grown Directory

Thursday, January 17, 2013 - 9:01am
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Minnesota farmers and farmers markets that sell products directly to consumers are invited to purchase a listing in the new Minnesota Grown Directory. The cost for a listing in the 2013 directory is $40 and interested farmers and markets must sign up by February 15. Over 940 farms and farmers markets were included in last year’s edition of the directory.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will print and distribute approximately 190,000 copies of the Directory statewide through tourist centers, libraries, chambers of commerce, farms and retailers. By purchasing a listing...