Agriculture

Minnesota's maple syrup production runneth over
Many Minnesota maple syrup producers are reporting record harvests. This season's big sap days result from the same weather that draws howls of protest from mostly elsewhere.
Despite the sudden warm weather, Minnesota farmers are still waiting for the chance to get into their fields.
It's almost the end of April, which is prime time to plant corn. But farmers need the snow to thaw or a break in the rain so they can get this year's crops in the ground and try to lock in good yields at harvest.
Minnesota's farmers got little fieldwork accomplished this past week as winter continues to resist surrendering to spring.
State's ammonia plants are regularly inspected
State officials say Minnesota's anhydrous ammonia plants are regularly inspected for their handling of the popular farm fertilizer, one of the suspected causes of Wednesday's deadly explosion in West, Texas.
Drought eases in farm belt but not over yet
With the farm belt's soil recharged by melted snow and spring rains, farmers are anxious to start working the fields and planting seed for the 2013 crop season.
A survey of more than 1,300 crop farms in Minnesota shows they earned record income in 2012.