Agriculture

This ruling is the second setback for users of herbicide resistant sugar beets. Earlier this year the same federal judge ruled the U.S. Agriculture Department approved use of the Roundup Ready beets without proper environmental review.
Video: Local produce, grown year round
Carol Ford, above, and Chuck Waibel operate a greenhouse in tiny Milan, Minn., and sell fresh produce to 20 families all winter. They want to expand to reach the growing local food market.
MPR News' Ground Level project looks at how questions and conversations around locally sourced food are playing out in Minnesota.
Many Republicans are now confronting the reality of a promise to reduce spending: Should it cover the farm subsidies that have brought money and jobs to their districts - and directly benefited some GOP lawmakers or their families?
Grain farmers expect good year with corn, soybeans
With poorer harvests reported in the certain areas of the Corn Belt, the surge in grain prices has Minnesota farmers preparing for a lucrative year.
In Minn. and N.D., sugarbeet growers in limbo
Uncertain rules for using genetically modified sugar beet seeds mean farmers in North Dakota and Minnesota will have to make a difficult decision over which type of seed to buy for next year's crop.
Several farm and food groups have sued to block a federal decision allowing the sale of 15 percent ethanol blends for late model cars and trucks.
Minn. area loses hundreds of dairy cows to economy
Steve Schell struggled at first with the idea of dumping his 350-cow dairy herd. The 56-year-old farmer grew up milking. Morning chores and work-filled weekends were a part of his childhood. But his costs rose last year as his income dropped.
Little change to ag policy, even as Peterson loses chair
While Minnesota Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson is out as chair of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, observers doubt the new face means significant change for federal farm policy. History shows it's almost immune to major new direction, no matter which party is in power.