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Agriculture

Lumber plant closes, housing market to blame

A plant that produces engineered strand lumber used for houses will close indefinitely, and officials are blaming a slow housing market for the move.

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Ethanol industry braces for tough times

Ethanol industry braces for tough times

After several years of unprecedented profits, the ethanol industry has taken a downturn. The main problem are low prices for the raw product.
by Mark Steil

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Whistleblower highlights concerns about atrazine

Whistleblower highlights concerns about atrazine

Science got tangled up in politics at the state Capitol Wednesday. It was a hearing on atrazine, a herbicide used on corn fields. One of the people who testified was a former state researcher who has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the state.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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Hungry for workers, harvest crews look to the other side of the globe

Hungry for workers, harvest crews look to the other side of the globe

Farm employers can't get enough people to show up for work. That's true for custom harvest crews, who do about one-fourth of the nation's grain harvesting work. Many crews are looking halfway across the globe for help.
by Annie Baxter

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Ethanol prices are falling while corn prices go up

Ethanol prices are falling while corn prices go up

The price of ethanol is falling, even while corn prices are hitting near record highs. Industry observers say that's putting some U.S. ethanol companies on the brink of bankruptcy.

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Prosperity sprouts in Minnesota farm fields

Prosperity sprouts in Minnesota farm fields

The best news this harvest may be strong grain prices. Corn has attracted most of attention, but other crops including soybeans are moving higher.
by Mark Steil

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Small towns turn to alternative power

Small towns turn to alternative power

Municipal utility companies are finding that in some cases renewable energy may have a price advantage. They're under state pressure to diversify their energy sources.
by Mark Steil

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Fall harvest looks stronger than expected

Fall harvest looks stronger than expected

The latest crop report contains a couple of surprises: The size of the corn crop will be even bigger than expected, and grain prices are moving higher despite that news.
by Mark Steil

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Drought recedes in southern Minnesota

Drought recedes in southern Minnesota

An updated map issued Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that abnormally dry conditions are over across roughly the southern fourth of the state.

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New markets for small meatpackers

New markets for small meatpackers

A proposal in the U.S. Farm Bill eases restrictions on small, state-inspected meatpackers. The change would mean new markets for small processors, but some consumer groups say it's a bad idea.
by Dan Gunderson

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