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NGFA Voices Concerns to Congress
on Futures Market Performance, Trading Transparency (07-22-08) -- The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has reiterated to Congress major concerns over agricultural futures market performance and the need to enhance transparency in the public reporting of trading activity.
Grain Elevators Reap Bumper Crop of Debt (07-21-08) -- Scott Dubbelde has told himself, time and again, that there is no use fretting about things over which he has no control. Even so, the general manager of a grain elevator cooperative in Hanley Falls, Minn., lies awake at night, worrying about the ballooning debt his elevator has incurred to finance its inventory.
Railroads Struggle to Regain Footing (07-15-08) -- Shipments of coal and other freight in the Midwest are still being delayed almost a month after record-breaking floods decimated the landscape from Cedar Rapids, IA to Hannibal, MO.
Fire Doesn’t Stop Work at Kenyon Grain Elevator (07-11-08) -- KENYON -- Charred grain still crackled from the heat Thursday in a pile of smoldering rubble the day after a fire at Bombay Elevator Inc.
Southeastern MN fire destroys grain elevator (07-10-08) -- KENYON, Minn. -- Another Minnesota grain elevator has gone up in flames.
State sued over cutoff of ethanol payments (07-09-08) -- A company with ties to one of Minnesota's wealthiest and most notable business families has sued Minnesota over ethanol subsidies it claims the state reneged on.
USDA June 30 Acreage Report: Corn Down 7%; Soybeans Up 17%; Wheat Up 5% (06-30-08) -- Extensive rains and flooding during June caused producers in several Midwestern States to change their harvesting intentions for crops already planted, modify planting decisions for the small percentage of acres not yet planted, and consider replanting options.
Rural Bank Comes to Big City to Lend Riches (06-27-08) -- Having too much money is an enviable problem to face in this economy, but it's a problem nonetheless.
Ethanol Mixes Finding Way Into Traditional Tanks (06-26-08) -- To save money and support neighboring farms, Scott Dubbelde began mixing gasoline and cheaper, ethanol-based fuel in his cars years ago, driving first to the gasoline pump, and then to the ethanol pump.
Heavier Loads? Minnesota Bumps Up Ag Truck Permit Levels (06-25-08) -- PELICAN RAPIDS, MN -- On Aug. 1, Minnesota farmers will become a step closer to equal footing with their neighbors on truck weights, but it may take equipment changes for some farms to capitalize.
Fire Destroys Elevator – Multiple Departments Battle Blaze in Rushmore (06-20-08) -- RUSHMORE — Nine area fire departments spent the better part of Thursday afternoon battling a blaze that consumed the United Farmers Cooperative grain elevator in Rushmore and required residents from two neighboring houses to be evacuated.
Court to decide grain payment dispute (06-17-08) -- BISMARCK – North Dakota’s Supreme Court will decide whether grain elevator bonding laws cover farmers who haul their crops outside the state, in a case industry officials say may put producers’ financial safeguards in jeopardy.
Most Minnesota corn farmers escape flooding, see green (06-17-08) -- The heavy rains and storms that have devastated much of the Midwest may have one unlikely beneficiary: Minnesota corn farmers.
Corn Prices Felt Throughout Economy (06-12-08) -- America's corn crop is in trouble. And U.S. consumers are going along on the bumpy ride.
NGFA Urges Bush Administration to Announce Penalty-Free Early Outs of CRP Land Now
(06-12-08) -- WASHINGTON – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today once again urged the Bush administration to immediately utilize its authority to grant penalty-free early outs for the least environmentally sensitive land locked up in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to give producers the flexibility to help relieve the precariously tight supply situation confronting grain and oilseed markets.
How can we lower food prices? (06-11-08) -- FARGO, N.D. — A frequent question following recent speeches on the future of biofuels concerns the impact of increasing ethanol production on food prices.
Tending the crop markets (06-09-08) -- Al Kluis drives a Lexus, wears cufflinks and kicks around in tasseled loafers. And all day long, this Minneapolis businessman talks to farmers.
Flooding to force closing of Mississippi River (06-09-08) -- DES MOINES, Iowa - A 250-mile stretch of the Mississippi River is expected to close later this week because of flooding, bringing barge traffic to a halt, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Monday.
The Food Chain – Billions Invested in Farming (06-08-08) -- Huge investment funds have already poured hundreds of billions of dollars into booming financial markets for commodities like wheat, corn and soybeans.
Fire Destroys Morgan Feed Mill (06-06-08) -- Fire has destroyed a feed and pellet mill at a grain elevator in the southwestern Minnesota town of Morgan.
Watonwan Farm Service, Crop Production Services honored (06-03-08) -- Twenty farm suppliers throughout the country were named state winners earlier this month of the Environmental Respect Award.
Is corn boom expanding Gulf of Mexico's 'dead zone'? (06-02-08) -- WASHINGTON - Last fall, the farm fields of the Midwest yielded record profits and the greatest corn crop in recent history. But there may have been an unintended consequence hundreds of miles to the south: As the corn grew, so did the size of the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
As food prices spiral, farmers others profit (05-28-08) -- The steepest run-ups in food prices since 1990 are hurting grocery shoppers, restaurants and school cafeterias but they're making others rich.
What Happens When the Trucks Stop Rolling? (05-27-08) -- Not that every semi-truck driver is an expert on the nation's economy or the impact shifting commodity and fuel prices has on it, but when a guy who has been doing it for 20 years tells you he is thinking about parking his income, you listen.
Minnesota Astronaut Will Soon Be In Space (05-27-08) -- MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — If the tiny town of Vining, population 69, is known for anything, it’s probably the odd collection of giant sculptures, which includes a levitating coffee cup, a severed foot with a sore toe, a giant pliers squishing a bug and an elephant made out of lawn mower blades.
Grain elevator fire reported in eastern North Dakota (05-26-08) -- REYNOLDS, N.D. — Firefighters are working to control a fire at a grain elevator in Reynolds near the North Dakota-Minnesota border.
Dent Fire Burns 37 Acres (05-23-08) -- Saturday morning drivers on Highway 108 by Dent were met with a roaring sight—fire on the horizon.
Legislative Update – Truck Weights to Increase (05-21-08) -- The 2007-2008 Minnesota Legislative session came to a close on Monday.
State Licensed Warehouse – Licensing and Bonding Notices Out This Week (05-21-08) -- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is sending out its grain warehouse and grain buyer license and bonding information this week.
Dent’s elevator falls after 105 years (05-19-08) -- The 105-year-old Dent elevator came down in a blaze of glory Saturday morning when a controlled burn was used as a training session for county firefighters and first responders.
How Much Wood Can Woodchuck Salvage? (05-19-08) -- The Globe grain elevator stands 15 stories over St. Louis Bay in Superior. Decommissioned in 1989, it still carries the pungent scent of its forgotten cargo.
Jeff Fetters Named President of Federated Insurance Companies (05-16-08) -- Bourbon, Indiana native, Jeff Fetters, has been named President of the Federated Insurance Companies, one of the nation’s largest and most financially secure mutual property and casualty insurance companies.
Senate Passes Farm Bill (05-15-08) -- The U.S. Senate just passed the Farm Bill Conference Report by an 81 to 15 margin, which easily exceeds the 2/3 majority needed to override the expected veto by the President.
U.S. exporters face cargo container shortage at ports (05-12-08) -- The weak dollar has increased demand for American goods overseas, but a decline in imports means fewer ships are coming from Asia.
ND Grain Dealers Assn.: Railroads Obligated to Serve (05-08-08) -- “Railroads must be obligated to serve.”
"They should not be able to pick and choose for only their own bottom line interests.”
"They owe their customers and the public more than that.”
That was part of the message delivered by the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association to a hearing before the federal Surface Transportation Board in Washington, DC on April 24.
Community comes to aid of fallen Sanborn man (05-07-08) -- When the 911 call came in the afternoon of April 29 for Sanborn farmer Stuart Steffen, who was trapped under a collapsed silo, it took a lot more then firefighters and EMT’s to attempt a rescue - it took community effort from friends, family and area businesses working together to try and locate Steffen.
CoBank dodges the slump affecting U.S. retail banks (05-05-08) -- Two years ago, Jerry Rowe needed a seasonal operating credit line of about $9 million to run an Illinois grain elevator. This year, with soaring grain prices and a bumper corn crop to store, he needs about $35 million.
Lean times for Minnesota's pork producers (05-01-08) -- In this year of rising food prices and skyrocketing commodity costs, the profits raining on farms across the country have not fallen evenly.
Ethanol isn't the food villain, its producers say (04-30-08) -- WASHINGTON – Farmers and ethanol producers defended their good fortune Wednesday in the nation’s capital, where more lawmakers are blaming a corn-for-fuel policy for soaring food prices.
Farm report takes a tough look at the toll on our health (04-30-08) -- WASHINGTON - Factory farming takes a big, hidden toll on human health and the environment, is undermining rural America's economic stability and fails to provide the humane treatment of livestock increasingly demanded by U.S. consumers, concludes an independent 2 1/2-year analysis that calls for major changes in the way corporate agriculture produces meat, milk and eggs.
Archer Daniels Midland 3rd-quarter profit rises 42 percent, beats Wall Street's estimates (04-29-08) -- CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Archer Daniels Midland says its fiscal third-quarter profits rose 42 percent as the agricultural processor took advantage of a volatile commodities market.
Tyson loses $5 million in 2nd quarter, hit by higher feed costs; consumer prices to rise (04-29-08) -- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Tyson Foods Inc. served notice Monday that its customers will be paying more for their food products because the world's largest meat producer foresees spending as much as $1 billion more than last year due to skyrocketing grain costs.
Snow plagues farmers as corn prices climb (04-28-08) -- Late-season snows sent corn prices higher on Monday as grain traders bid up prices in the wake of a government report showing that farmers haven't been able to get into their fields to plant.
Alfred "Al" Vigen, Partner in Vigen Construction Inc., Dies at 61 (04-25-08) -- Alfred "Al" Vigen, partner in Vigen Construction Inc., East Grand Forks, MN, died April 20 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, after a very brief battle with cancer. He was 61.
NGFA Recommends Actions to Enhance Performance of Grain, Oilseed Futures Markets (04-25-08) -- WASHINGTON – In the aftermath of the April 22 public meeting conducted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today issued a series of recommendations that it urged be implemented in an effort to enhance the performance of grain and oilseed futures contracts important to commercial hedgers.
Regulators Back Away From Changes to Commodity Hedging (04-23-08) -- WASHINGTON — Faced with widespread complaints from the agricultural industry, federal regulators are backing away from two proposals that would have allowed institutional investors to expand their stake in the turbulent commodity futures markets.
A Deal is a Deal (04-21-08) -- FARGO, N.D. — For years, North Dakota grain producers and grain elevators have enjoyed and prospered from a relationship based on trust and each fulfilling his or her obligations.
Abandoned Elevator Will Get a Second Chance (04-18-08) -- The old Fort Dodge Grain Terminal Elevator, located near Hawkeye Avenue and Loomis Park Road, has been an eyesore for years.
Trade delegation eyes bigger share of Cuban ag trade pie (04-16-08) -- ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson led a trade delegation to Cuba March 29-April 2 to develop trade relations and promote Minnesota's agriculture exports.
An Era Ends at South St. Paul (04-16-08) -- SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN -- It was business as usual on the last day of sales at South St. Paul.
At $471,611 an hour, Cargill posts fine quarter (04-15-08) -- Has it ever been better for Cargill? Not likely.
Cargill says 3rd-quarter profit rose 86 percent (04-14-08) -- Agriculture conglomerate Cargill said on Monday that its third-quarter profit rose 86 percent to $1.03 billion on strong growth in its commodity sourcing and finance business.
Explosion rocks elevator in Sanborn, IA (04-10-08) -- SANBORN, Iowa -- Officials are trying to determine what led to the grain elevator explosion that rocked the northern Iowa city of Sanborn Thursday afternoon.
CHS Inc. Reports Record Six Month Earnings of $468 Million (04-09-08) -- CHS Inc., a leading energy, grains and foods company, reported on April 9 record earnings for the first half of its 2008 fiscal year of $468.9 million.
Alvo shutdown a source of anxiety for grain handlers (04-08-08) -- A financial crunch created by high volatility in grain prices appears to have claimed its first casualty in the ranks of Nebraska grain elevators.
Ripe market yields strong third quarter for Mosaic (04-07-08) -- Mosaic Co., one of the best-performing stocks in the country over the past couple of years, proved again Friday that there's gold in the fertilizer business.
Baldwin grain elevator goes up in flames (04-05-08) -- BALDWIN, WI - Fire that broke out in the Baldwin Feed and Seed grain elevator Thursday fully engulfed the structure by the time firefighters got to the scene.
Commission closes Alvo warehouses (04-04-08) -- In an emergency meeting Friday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission voted 5-0 to immediately close and take possession of the Alvo Grain and Feed company warehouses in Alvo and Ashland.
Martin to lead bovine TB fight (04-04-08) -- As Minnesota's cattle industry braces for a big economic hit, officials responded Thursday to a serious outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in northwestern Minnesota by appointing a point person for the fight, and by launching a website with TB information for farmers and others.
Biogasoline: A pile of potential (04-04-08) -- It looks like gasoline, smells like gasoline and runs in regular gasoline engines, but it isn't made from crude oil; it comes from crops.
Farmers planting less corn, and that could mean higher grocery bills for consumers (04-02-08) -- WASHINGTON - From chicken nuggets to corn flakes, food prices at grocery stores and dinner tables could be headed even higher as farmers cut back on the land they're planting in corn this spring.
Soybean groups, U mend fences (04-02-08) -- Soybean farmer groups have patched up their differences with the University of Minnesota and are expected to resume funding several research projects today, according to officials at the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.
Corn Acreage to Plunge, Soybean Acreage to Soar, USDA Forecasts (04-01-08) -- Corn producers intend to plant fewer acres than expected in 2008, and soybean producers will increase their acreage by an equal amount over expectations.
A horn of plenty for Minnesota farmers (03-31-08) -- Fortune smiled on rural Minnesota in 2007, as median farm income soared 73 percent in a year, to $105,000, on runaway demand for corn, milk, wheat and soybeans.
Archer Daniels goes after railroads (03-27-08) -- Agricultural giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in Minneapolis, accusing the five largest U.S. railroads of a price-fixing conspiracy.
Congress hearing new calls for more railway regulation (03-27-08) -- WASHINGTON - A coalition of farm and rural business interests from across Minnesota has banded together with a national group challenging what they call the monopoly power of the nation's railroads.
Soybean Cost Halting Ethanol Production (03-25-08) -- The rising cost of soybean oil, a main ingredient in biodiesel, has led a New Jersey company to shut down, delayed construction of a plant in Nebraska, and now forced a Minnesota producer to temporarily suspend operations and lay off dozens of employees.
Battle over? Some individual farmers will get $250,000 in suit (03-20-08) -- Unless something new goes down, farmers should get the bulk of their payments in the $62 million Poast herbicide marketing fraud case by this summer.
Preserving the Past (03-20-08) -- Bruce Selyem sees a big part of rural America’s heritage being lost. The Bozeman, Mont., photographer launched the Country Grain Elevator Historical Society to help change that.
Grain bonanza helps boost General Mills profit 61% (03-20-08) -- It wasn't just canny hedge fund managers who profited from the recent run-up in grain prices. General Mills, one of Minneapolis' original players in the grain trade, made handsome profits as wheat and oat costs soared.
Port of New Orleans, LA to Invest $1 Billion in Improvement Projects to Triple Port's Container Cargo Capacity (03-14-08) -- The Port of New Orleans recently revealed its plan to invest $1 billion in improvement projects.
Beef Industry Reels From Rising Feed Costs (03-14-08) -- With 11,000 hungry mouths to feed, breakfast at the Weschenfelder Feedlot in Shepherd is measured in tons.
Record Grain Prices Boost Rural Economy (03-14-08) -- Record-high grain prices are fueling a rural economic boom in farm states such as Kansas.
Pawlenty wants feds to take a look at E20 (03-05-08) -- WASHINGTON - America's drivers could be pumping more ethanol into their cars by 2013, if Gov. Tim Pawlenty has anything to say about it.
Safeguards sought before rail merger (03-05-08) -- In an effort to make a controversial railroad project more palatable and safer as it winds through Rochester, Minn., officials at the Mayo Clinic want conditions imposed on the Canadian Pacific Railway's acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad.
Rogue Republicans still feeling heat from overriding governor's veto (03-04-08) -- In Glenwood, Minn., worshipers held a prayer service last week for Rep. Bud Heidgerken, R-Freeport. As such groups often do, they prayed for his salvation. But this time it was salvation from the fire turned on Heidgerken by his own party after he voted to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a $6.6 billion tax-raising transportation bill.
Hail the humble potato, which fueled global trade (03-04-08) -- It is the world's fourth-most-important food crop, after corn, wheat and rice. It provides more calories, more quickly, using less land and in a wider range of climates than any other plant. It is, of course, the potato.
Bakers need dough (03-02-08) -- It's now to the point that Lynn Schurman posts in her bakery the latest price for wheat, just so her customers understand.
No free ride in quest for better roads (02-27-08) -- Just how much Minnesotans will pay in higher taxes and fees under the new transportation funding package depends on where they live, how much they spend, how far they drive and what kind of vehicles they own.
Republicans who broke ranks taste retaliation (02-27-08) -- Less than 24 hours after six rogue Republican House members voted to override a veto of a $6.6 billion tax-raising transportation bill, they were stripped of their leadership positions, a swift and unusual recrimination explained as an effort to "stitch together" a fractious House GOP caucus.
House, Senate override a Pawlenty veto for the first time (02-26-08) -- Minnesotans will see their first state gas tax increase in 20 years as part of an ambitious $6.6 billion transportation plan that promised better roads and bridges and was nudged into law after the historic override of a governor's veto.
Wheat Prices Ripple Through Economy (02-26-08) -- Sometime this spring, a farmer needing wheat to plant will knock on the door of Wild Horse Seed where, regretfully, Nick Lowen will turn him away.
Dairy exports rise to the top, giving farmers reason to smile (02-24-08) -- Add another boom to the rapidly improving lot of the Minnesota farmer: a surge of dairy exports.
Mosaic has perfect formula for growth (02-24-08) -- Even a novice investor noticed something unusual about Mosaic Inc. last year: For a big company, it grew -- by a lot.
Elevators Moving Cautiously (02-21-08) -- A volatile grain futures market that has seen record-high wheat prices at the nation’s major commodity exchanges is making many grain elevators leery of forward contracting with farmers on their 2008 winter wheat crop, Kansas Agricultural Secretary, Adrian Polansky, says.
Group Forms New Soybean Crushing Co-op (02-21-08) -- A new cooperative has been formed in Kindred, N.D., to build a $130 million to $200 million soybean crushing plant in southeastern North Dakota.
Minto Grain Elevator Wins Lawsuit (02-20-08) -- A jury in Walsh County, ND, has awarded a net $455,000 in damages to a grain elevator in Minto, ND because the court determined the neighbors improperly reached across property lines to block its expansion.
Early battle looms over transportation bill (02-12-08) -- A transportation bill that includes tax and fee increases of about $1.4 billion will be released Tuesday and could prompt the first real battle of the legislative session.
A new session, a familiar divide (02-12-08) -- The DFL majority plans to charge boldly into the 2008 legislative session today with proposals for gasoline tax increases, universal health care and more that appear destined for a collision with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Ulen elevator worker buried up to neck in corn seed (01-31-08) -- ULEN, MN - An employee of a western Minnesota grain elevator was shaken up but otherwise OK after being buried up to his neck in corn seed.
Hog Producers Losing Money (01-31-08) -- After several good years, times are tough in the hog industry, and some pork producers in Minnesota wonder how long they can hang on. Since last October, they've been losing money on every animal they sell. That's a significant development in Minnesota, where hog sales total about $2 billion a year. High costs for feed, mainly corn, play a major role in the downturn.
Modern Day Grain Grabbers (01-31-08) -- With wheat prices pushing $13 a bushel, the idea of making off with a few thousand bushels from an elevator and re-selling them down the road has caught some operators in western Kansas by surprise.
Warehouse Burns in Subzero Weather (01-21-08) -- Firefighters on Saturday battled a blaze at one of the main warehouses at the SunOpta sunflower processing plant just east of Breckenridge.
Ag giants persuade MPCA to alter rule (01-21-08) -- Industry scientists gave state regulators research they said called for looser regulation of a pesticide. The state agreed.
High Grain Prices Spur Thefts From Kansas Elevators (01-16-08) -- A recent rash of thefts from grain elevators in western Kansas is being attributed to the high cost of corn, wheat and soybeans.
Steep rise in crop prices: Could it be a bubble? (01-15-08) -- Biofuels, global demand and a new class of exchange-traded funds all played a part. And some worry a boom could turn to bust.
Scott Nagel Named President of ADM-Benson Quinn (01-14-08) -- ADM Grain Group is announcing Scott Nagel named President of ADM-Benson Quinn.
CHS Posts Record $300.9 Million in First Quarter 2008 Earnings (01-11-08) -- CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP), a leading energy and grain-based foods company, announced Jan. 11 record earnings of $300.9 million for the first quarter of its 2008 fiscal year.
Heavy fertilizer demand drives Mosaic's rapid profit growth (01-11-08) -- Earnings per share are up nearly 500 percent because of global sales and high oil prices pushing renewable fuel development.
Brian Threet, Son of Bing and Tammy Threet, Structural Restoration Co. Owners, Dies (01-10-08) -- Brian W. Threet, 20, the son of Bing and Tammy Threet, owners of Structural Restoration Co., Minneapolis, MN, died Saturday, January 5 at his home in St. Cloud, MN.
Proposed Canadian Pacific Railways Merger with Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Could Benefit Grain Shippers (01-10-08) -- The proposed acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) by Canadian Pacific Railways (CP) could benefit grain shippers by preserving rail competition, which would maintain lower rail grain rates.
Cargill sells Duluth elevator to hedge fund (01-07-08) -- Cargill Inc. has agreed to sell its Duluth elevator to a Minneapolis-based family of hedge funds called Whitebox Advisors LLC.
Coalition wants to strengthen state's livestock sector (12-21-07) -- BLOOMINGTON, MN -- Minnesota's Farm and Food Coalition wants to strengthen the state's livestock sector.
Association “Officially” Celebrates its Centennial on December 17th (12-17-07) -- The following excerpt was taken from the MGFA Special Centennial Magazine, which details the growth of the grain elevator and feed industry in Minnesota and the development and growth of the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association.
OSHA Fines Minnesota Elevator for Bin Death (12-17-07) -- The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Glenville Grain with $26,500 in penalties for violations found in connection with the death of a 20-year-old Albert Lea man last August.
DHS Publishes Final Rule on List of Chemicals Subject to Anti-Terrorism Regs (12-13-07) -- If you find your firm being affected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) new anti-terrorism regulations or wish to learn more about it, the DHS has set up a help desk, which can be contacted by calling toll-free at 866-323-2957.
Senate to debate farm subsidy cut (12-03-07) -- While Minnesota's senators take opposing sides on limiting subsidies for the wealthiest, farmers watch with concern.
Grain Elevator Collapses on Home (11-25-07) -- A huge grain bin in the tiny Henry County town of Hillsboro collapsed without warning Monday night.
MGFA Board Member, Kim Turner, Dies of Injuries From Crash (11-13-07) -- It is with great sadness that I report the tragic death of Kim Turner, MGFA Board Member, General Manager of the Hallock Co-op Elevator Company, former fire chief and current mayor of Hallock, MN.
Congress Overrides Presidential Veto of Waterways Bill (11-12-07) -- Congress took swift and decisive action last week to override President Bush’s Nov. 2 veto of the major waterways legislation that, among other things, authorizes $3.6 billion to construct new locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterway.
101st MGFA Convention Returns to St. Cloud (11-12-07) -- The 101st Annual Convention and Trade show of the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association will be held on February 3-5 (Sunday-Tuesday), 2008 at the St. Cloud Civic Center.
Grain Elevator and Feed Mill Fire Fighting and Bin Rescue Workshop (11-12-07) -- Each year grain storage and milling facilities are damaged or destroyed by fire or experience other safety and health related situations.
DHS Finalizes List of Chemicals Subject to Anti-terrorism Regs (11-12-07) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Nov. 2 issued a final list of “chemicals of interest” – known as “Appendix A” – that will be used to determine whether facilities potentially will be subject to regulation under its chemical facility antiterrorism regulations.
Even 100 million bushels lighter, corn crop a record (11-12-07) -- The largest U.S. corn crop in history got a little less large Friday, when a government report said that farmers will produce 13.2 billion bushels this year, 100 million fewer than earlier estimates.
Mycotoxins a Concern for Distiller’s Grains (11-06-07) -- If you pick up any feeding guide on distiller's grains somewhere in the text, you will find a warning about the potential for mycotoxin contamination.
Governor Signs Executive Order Extending Hours of Service for Diesel & Ammonia Transportation (11-01-07) -- Acting to prevent a critical situation from getting worse, this afternoon the Governor signed an Executive Order extending the hours of service for diesel and ammonia transportation in agricultural circumstances.
Former N.D. governor is Bush pick for ag secretary (10-31-07) -- WASHINGTON — President Bush today will nominate Edward Schafer, a former two-term Republican governor from North Dakota, to be his next secretary of agriculture, a senior administration official said.
Senate Ag Committee Completes Action on 2007 Farm Bill (10-26-07) -- The Senate Agriculture Committee today (October 25) approved its version of the 2007 farm bill, setting up possible consideration on the Senate floor as early as the week of October 29.
Herculex® RW, Herculex I/RR2 Approved for Import into EU (10-25-07) -- INDIANAPOLIS and DES MOINES, Iowa — October 24, 2007 — The European Commission today announced it has granted full food, feed, processing and import approval of grain corn and derived products containing the Herculex® RW Rootworm Protection trait, as well as the stack of Herculex® I Insect Protection and Roundup Ready® Corn 2 (RR2), into the European Union (EU).
Farmers Trade Grain for Scholarships (10-24-07) -- Under a new program, farmers can donate proceeds from grain hauled to elevators in southwestern Minnesota toward scholarships for students for students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
Area Co-op Checks Corn for Mold (10-23-07) -- Remsen, Iowa -- Don Konz points to a blender in the office at Remsen Co-op Company and reveals the unit's age.
State's Ag chief going to Cuba to scout possibilities for trade (10-18-07) -- Politics and high prices have hurt Minnesota farm exports, while leaders are wondering what business might look like after Castro.
State's Ag chief going to Cuba to scout possibilities for trade (10-18-07) -- Politics and high prices have hurt Minnesota farm exports, while leaders are wondering what business might look like after Castro.
Cargill profit surges on higher demand (10-15-07) -- Growth in worldwide demand for corn and soybeans more than made up for higher costs.
Boom fades as ethanol floods the marketplace (10-10-07) -- The growing pains of a young industry sting some ethanol producers; with plant capacity outstripping immediate demand, many expect profits to be depressed through next year.
2007 Harvest a Win-Win (10-04-07) -- Big demand is driving up prices of Minnesota's bountiful crops
Railroad rate protest enthusiasm cools (09-27-07) -- North Dakota regulators' enthusiasm for pursuing a federal complaint against the Burlington Northern Santa Fe's wheat-shipping charges has cooled, even though the Legislature has set aside almost $1 million for the job, the Associated Press reports.
U.S. Class 1’s turned fuel cost recovery fees into ‘profit centers,’ rail shipper organizations claim (09-27-07) -- The U.S. Class 1’s “overcharged” shippers by more than $6.4 billion the past four years through fuel surcharges that “transformed fuel cost recovery mechanisms into profit centers,” according to a study released last week by rail shipper organizations Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
Commodity prices heading skyward (09-26-07) -- While some call the price rise a bubble, others see sound reasons for the run-up in a variety of U.S. commodities.
Freedom to Breathe Act Begins October 1 (09-24-07) -- Beginning October 1, 2007, Minnesota's Freedom to Breathe law prohibits smoking in virtually all indoor workplaces.
Terror war at the henhouse door? Farmers scratching their heads (09-10-07) -- Homeland Security rules would apply to any facilities that store a lot of chemicals.
Final List of Chemicals Subject to DHS Anti-Terrorism Security Regulations Expected to be Issued in September (09-10-07) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to issue sometime in September the final version of its list of “chemicals of interest” and threshold quantity trigger levels that will be used to determine which facilities potentially will be regulated under the agency’s chemical facility antiterrorism regulations.
DM&E Announces Merger With Canadian Pacific Railway (09-04-07) -- Sioux Falls, SD – The Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) today announced it has entered into an agreement that will result in a merger of its operations with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP).
Rushford elevator suffers significant flood loss (08-30-07) -- RUSHFORD, MN -- Mark Schwanbeck, general manager of Rushford's Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, said their grain bins have two feet of water damage caused by the flood that ravaged the town.
Rain ignored some, helped some -- and brought misery to others (08-24-07) -- Extreme drought continues to plague much of Minnesota despite ravaging floods in southeastern counties. In some areas, meanwhile, farmers are cheering.
Japan Completes Approval of Syngenta Agrisure® RW Corn Biotech Trait; Syngenta Urges U.S. Growers to Continue Adherence to Non-Export Stewardship Agreements (08-24-07) -- Syngenta on Aug. 23 announced that Japan has granted full food, feed and environmental regulatory approval to its Agrisure® RW MIR604 biotech corn trait.
Cargill CEO posts big gain in earnings as he departs (08-22-07) -- Even volatility in global commodities markets helped the Minnetonka company.
Man trapped in grain bin dies (08-15-07) -- GLENVILLE, MINN. -- A 20-year-old Albert Lea man died Tuesday after becoming trapped in a steel grain bin at the Glenville grain elevator, the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office said.
Railroad keeping pace with bumper crop (08-14-07) -- Leadership at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has taken a proactive approach to the 2007 harvest, and North Dakota elevators and producers are expected to benefit from the planning, at least during the early stages of harvest.
As political winds shift, ethanol may take a hit (08-10-07) -- “A low-carbon fuel standard is not a direct ethanol mandate," an energy policy expert told a meeting of ethanol producers.
Food vs. fuel still subject of hot debate (08-09-07) -- Ethanol consumes a lot of corn. People consume a lot of corn. But is ethanol behind rising food prices?
Politicking aplenty at 2007 Farmfest in Redwood County (08-08-07) -- The U.S. agriculture secretary, Minnesota's members of Congress and candidates had lots to say about the farm bill. Ag secretary and congressional ag committee members sparred over the new farm bill at Minnesota's top farm gathering.
Land O'Lakes profit triples (08-01-07) -- A strong dairy market and cash from the sale of a manufacturing facility helped Land O'Lakes triple its second-quarter profit compared with a year ago.
APHIS Announces Policy Changes on Issuing Phytosanitary Certificates for Grain-Based Processed Products (07-31-07) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on June 25 issued a policy change, effective immediately, that expands significantly the plant-based products eligible for phytosanitary certificates, as well as which commodities the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) is authorized to perform phytosanitary inspections.
Bush threatens farm-bill veto (07-26-07) -- The White House criticized the income cap for subsidies as too high. Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the measure a "critical first step for reform."
Clarks Grove Elevator Hit by Lightning, Bursts (07-24-07) -- CLARKS GROVE — Lightning struck Watonwan Farm Service’s primary grain elevator Monday evening in Clarks Grove, causing a short-lived fire and busting a hole in the east side.
Clarks Grove assesses damage to elevator (07-24-07) -- CLARKS GROVE — The 12 families who were evacuated after the Watonwan Farm Service grain elevator was hit by lightning Monday evening returned to their homes Tuesday as authorities continued to assess the damage to the elevator.
Minneapolis Grain Exchange seats are a hot commodity (07-24-07) -- Prices for Minneapolis Grain Exchange memberships are soaring, in part because of consolidation speculation.
Minimum wage goes up; effect in Minnesota is minimal so far (07-24-07) -- Up to 1.7 million Americans could get a raise today, thanks to the first bump in the federal minimum wage in 10 years -- from $5.15 to $5.85 an hour -- according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Truck crash led to discovery of bogus inspection stickers (07-20-07) -- The semi had an official-looking decal, but officials say it had been issued by a inspector from Winsted who was an impostor.
Number of country elevators declining (07-17-07) -- DAYTON, Ohio - Grain elevators - one of the most visible icons of rural and small-town life - are disappearing or are being forced to adapt to survive because of falling demand and increased competition.
New Vision in merger talks with Watonwan Farm Service (07-13-07) -- WORTHINGTON — A potential merger between New Vision Co-op and Watonwan Farm Service (WFS) will be decided by members of both cooperatives in the coming weeks.
$11.9 billion CBOT sale to Merc OK'd (07-10-07) -- The deal approved by shareholders could make Chicago's new CME Group the world's largest exchange.
Biofuel for a big controversy (07-10-07) -- As Sparta, Wis., gets closer to an ethanol plant, a dairy processor owned by Hormel is threatening to leave.
Changes in agriculture have stressed infrastructure (07-09-07) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Changes in agriculture have stressed infrastructure and future economic development hinges upon investments in roads, rail and bridges, a study finds.
Grain production increase adds to transportation stress (07-09-07) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Corn and soybean production increases have been invisible to the world outside agriculture, said David A. Christianson, who just completed a freight study of District 7.
DM&E railroad plans to add tracks (06-22-07) -- SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Private investors are stepping forward and the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad expects to begin construction next year on about 200 miles of new rail line, chief executive officer Kevin Schieffer said.
Ulen man dies after being trapped in grain elevator (06-20-07) -- ULEN, MN — An Ulen man has died of injuries suffered after he became trapped in a grain elevator, authorities said.
NCGA’s CEO Tolman: Moving From E10 to E20 Blends Faces Obstacles (06-19-07) -- Moving the gasoline blend from E10 to E20 won’t be easy. So says Rick Tolman, chief executive officer for the National Corn Growers Association.
Rutgers Unveils New GM Crop Containment Strategy (06-13-07) -- New Brunswick, N.J. – Plant geneticists at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, may have solved one of the fundamental problems in genetically engineered or modified (GM or GMO) crop agriculture: genes leaking into the environment.
OSHA Cites North Dakota Feed Operation in Grain Bin Entry Incident that Injured Three (06-07-07) -- Bismarck, ND -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hubbard Feeds Inc. of Bismarck for unsafe working conditions following a Dec. 5, 2006, accident that injured three employees.
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