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Iowa corn lobby calls for passage of trade deal

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A group that lobbies for Iowa corn farmers is calling on Congress to quickly approve trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama.

Sterns County Barn Fire
SPRING HILL, Minn. - Stearns County authorities say about 50 cows have been killed in a barn fire in Spring Hill Township.

Turkey Barn Fire
PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) - A barn fire near Pelican Rapids has
killed about 9,000 turkeys that were due to go to market next week.

Crop Fires
FAIRMONT, Minn. (AP) - Fire departments in southern Minnesota
had their hands full as gusty winds whipped up fires through dried
corn and soybean fields.
At least a half-dozen field fires were reported early Thursday
afternoon in Martin County.
Acting Fairmont Fire Chief Doug Borchardt tells the Sentinel
that the dry conditions, the windy day and the farmers out in the
field "made for

Lagging Harvest
Minnesota farmers have started harvesting corn and soybeans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly crop weather report for Minnesota says as of Sunday, 2 percent of corn was harvested. That's the same level as last year but slightly behind the five-year average of 3 percent.

Billboard Bashes Cheese
A nonprofit group with a history of provocative takes on food is preparing a billboard in the heart of dairy country about the dangers of eating cheese.

Milk Output Increases
MADISON, Wis. - Positive signs are beginning to emerge in the dairy industries in Wisconsin and Minnesota.


MN Crops Progress
The development of Minnesota's major crops has advanced significantly thanks to last week's high heat and humidity.

Heat Kills Farm Animals
Minnesota officials estimate more than 105,000 turkeys and up to 1,500 cattle died in the recent heat wave.

Dairy and beef cattle can be worth up to $2,000 each. Even farmers who lost no animals saw decreased production in the high temperatures.

USDA Seeks ways to Boost Farm-to-School Programs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Programs aimed at getting school children to eat locally grown food have exploded in popularity.

U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan says the programs have spread so quickly her agency doesn't have up-to-date figures on how many schools are serving students local vegetables, fruits and meat.

CBB Chairman's Resignation Affirms Need For Federal Intervention
USCA (July 13, 2011) - The U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) said today that the resignation this week of Cattlemen's Beef Board chairman Tom Jones is strong evidence that the Secretary of Agriculture and Congress must intervene in the national mandatory beef checkoff before the program suffers irreparable harm.

"Got Milk?" In Hot Water
SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — The dairy group that created the "Got Milk?" campaign is back with a new marketing strategy that already is generating plenty of buzz.

The California Milk Processor Board is encouraging men to buy more milk for their wives and girlfriends, which the campaign says will help them fend off the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

North Dakota State Fair Cancelled
MINOT, N.D. - The manager of the North Dakota State Fair says canceling the event for the first time in its nearly half century of official existence is "tough on the heart and tough on the checkbook."

MN Ag Exports
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture reports that Minnesota exported $900 million more in agricultural products in 2010 than the year before.

The department reports Friday that the exports totaled $5 billion in 2010, up from $4.1 billion in 2009.

Weather Helps Crops
ST. PAUL — Hot, dry weather has helped Minnesota crops develop and farmers catch up on fieldwork, after a cold, rainy spring delayed planting.

BOOMING AGRICULTURAL LAND VALUES
ST. LOUIS (July 6, 2011) — Agriculture land prices in the U.S. have increased steadily over the last decade, leading experts and landowners to question whether the high values are sustainable.

New Holland Announces Boomer™ 555 Contest
What would you do with a New Holland compact Boomer™ 30 tractor and loader? Dig a pond? Plant a food plot to attract the biggest buck? Till a prize-winning garden to feed the hungry? Make your neighbors jealous?

MN Milk Production Lags
Milk production has slowed down in Wisconsin and Minnesota, in part because dairy cows there haven't been as productive.

Wisconsin dairy farmers harvested 2.28 billion pounds of milk in May. That's a two percent decrease from May of last year.

Missouri FFA chapter donates winnings
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, June 28, 2011/National FFA Foundation) – A Missouri high school FFA chapter that received a first-place prize in a recent regional competition has donated its winnings to help students in tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo., rebuild their FFA chapter and operations.

Weather Slows Fieldwork
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Heavy rains and cool temperatures are conspiring to delay crop development and slow fieldwork across Minnesota.

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that soils are saturated in many areas, and many fields have standing water. Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 50 percent adequate and 50 percent surplus.

Farmers, ethanol makers likely OK with no subsidy
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — If a $5 billion-a-year federal subsidy that helped build the ethanol industry comes to an end, it will likely mean two things, experts who have followed its development say.

First, it doesn’t guarantee an end to the high prices that corn farmers have enjoyed and livestock producers and other food manufacturers have endured.

Corn prices rise as multiple floods cut into crop
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The nation's corn farmers are having a
hard start this year. First, cold, wet weather delayed planting.

Hearing set for former slaughterhouse manager
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A hearing seeking a new trial for a
former Iowa kosher slaughterhouse executive convicted of financial
fraud is set for Wednesday before the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of
Appeals in St. Louis.

Dry Weather Helps Farmers
ST. PAUL, Minn.—The mostly dry weather of the past week has allowed Minnesota farmers to come close to finally finishing planting several key crops.

New farmers seek to strengthen federal programs
New farmers from across the country will be in Washington this week to lobby for more investments to foster the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

MN Crops Behind Average
This could be a critical week for Minnesota farmers, who are running late with spring planting due to soggy fields but have a chance to catch up thanks to good weather forecast for the next few days.

Miron Wins State FFA Discussion Meet


The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation worked with the Minnesota FFA to sponsor the ninth FFA/Farm Bureau Discussion Meet competition.

ADM Income is Up
DECATUR, Ill. — Archer Daniels Midland's net income rose 37 percent, the company said Tuesday, thanks to a healthy third quarter for oilseed and corn processing and agricultural services.

MN Crop Report
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Planting progress remains minimal as Minnesota farmers struggle with a soggy spring.

Minnesota FFA announces 4 stars for 2011
ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Minnesota FFA Association has named Jason Schaefer of Hancock as its 2011 Minnesota FFA Star Farmer.

Milk Production Lags In WI

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Milk production is picking up across the
country, but not so much in Wisconsin and Minnesota.The
nation's dairy farmers produced 15.8 billion pounds of milk
last month.

Vilsack In MN To Talk Renewable Energy
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack is visiting Minnesota to discuss renewable energy.
Vilsack will attend a roundtable at CHS Inc. in Inver Grove
Heights on Wednesday, joined by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Gov. Mark
Dayton.

MN Grown Directory Is Out
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The 30th anniversary edition of the
Minnesota Grown Directory is now in season.
The director lists hundreds of places to find locally grown
foods. It makes it convenient to locate orchards, farmers' markets,
berry farms and garden centers where consumers can purchase
products directly from the grower.

Iowa Corn
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A cool and wet spring has prevented many
Iowa farmers from planting their corn, and this week's forecast
could further delay the planting season.

AGP co-op expanding its soybean storage
OMAHA, Neb.—Ag Processing Inc. plans to improve soybean storage and handling capacity at several of its facilities in Iowa, Minnesota and Washington.
The Omaha-based agricultural co-op's CEO Marty Reagan says the projects will help AGP become more efficient.



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