Agriculture

Profits for Wayzata-based Cargill plunged 59 percent in the three months ending in November.
The U.S. Agriculture Department Tuesday estimated the 2009 Minnesota corn crop at more than 1.2 billion bushels and both the state and national harvests are projected at record levels.
Minnesota 2009 corn crop largest crop on record
Minnesota's corn farmers produced their largest crop ever in 2009.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is asking U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for an agricultural disaster declaration for 18 Minnesota counties
High tunnels stretch season for Fergus Falls pair
Some growers have one or two high tunnels, but Mark and Diane Boen are using seven in their 136-acre direct market produce farm near Fergus Falls.
Not a stampede, but some find profit in goats
Farmers in Minnesota began taking a real interest in raising goats about five years ago. Some raise the animals for their meat, and others use them as dairy animals.
Ginseng farmers hope 'grown in Wisconsin' sells in China
U.S. ginseng growers rely extensively on sales to China, and after years of declining profits due to new competition from Canadian and Chinese farmers, those in Wisconsin are defending their brand and hoping to tap a growing Chinese middle-class market.
An economist for the state of Minnesota says agriculture is a solid industry in the state despite the financial crisis that shook the economy.
The problem of wasted food and how to solve it
A recent study estimated that Americans waste 50 percent more food than they did 30 years ago. Meanwhile, visits to food banks keep increasing suggesting that more can't afford to buy groceries. But some are trying to control the food waste problem.
Minnesota farmers who still have corn in their fields made limited progress toward harvesting it last week.