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Agriculture

The ethanol debate

The House is set to take up a budget-balancing plan Monday that preserves most of the state's ethanol payments. Gov. Tim Pawlenty's suggestion that the subsidies should be eliminated to balance the current budget deficit met with cries of protest from farmers and producers of the corn-based fuel. Critics of the program say ethanol producers would survive without state assistance, but supporters say profits vary from year to year and plant to plant.

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Sviggum downplays conflict of interest talk on ethanol

House Speaker Steve Sviggum is trying to quell talk that he has a conflict of interest by voting on bills containing ethanol subsidies. Sviggum farms with his brothers near Kenyon in southeastern Minnesota. The brothers are partners in an ethanol plant, which receives state money and helps boost the price of the family's corn.

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Rural vs. Metro split on display in budget-cutting dispute

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's short-term budget fix is moving quickly through the Legislature, but not without some adjustments. House Republicans oppose Pawlenty's proposed ethanol cuts, while Senate Democrats want to restore several proposed cuts, including ethanol and an Iron Range fund. Pawlenty says he worries some lawmakers may not grasp the magnitude of the deficit Minnesota is facing.

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Lawmakers resist Pawlenty's proposal to cut ethanol subsidies

In a sign of trying times to come, key lawmakers on Thursday resisted the first major attempt to solve the state's budget problems, denouncing Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal to eliminate $26.8 million in ethanol subsidies this year.

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Budget cut reaction: It's only a warm-up

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to bridge the state's current $356 million deficit has touched off a chorus of protest from some corners of the Capitol. One of the larger items on the chopping block is the state's subsidy to ethanol producers, which is slated for complete elimination for the remainder of the biennium. Higher education, state agencies, and a business tax break would also suffer.

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Pawlenty names heads for agriculture, commerce

Two more cabinet positions were filled Friday, when Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty named Gene Hugoson the commissioner of agriculture and Glenn Wilson the commissioner of commerce. The two appointments bring Pawlenty's cabinet to eight. He earlier named commissioners of finance, human services, pollution control, administration, revenue and labor and industry.

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Settlement announced in ValAdCo dispute

An agreement today appears to settle a long running battle over the largest hog feedlot manure lagoon in Minnesota. The settlement between the state attorney general and the owners of the ValAdCo hog company grew out of a nearly decade-long fight over the health impacts of fumes from the facility. Under the agreement Valadco will stop using open air lagoons.

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Cold MacDonald had a farm...

This time of year in Minnesota, everyone watches the weather. But just like every other time of year, farmers watch the skies a little more seriously than most people. Next year's income depends on the thermometer and the snow cover. It also depends on the countless chores that just won't wait for spring, no matter how cold it gets in the meantime.

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A better year for grain farmers

Minnesota farmers are getting a better price for their grain. That may be good news for taxpayers as well.

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Sen.-elect Norm Coleman outlines agriculture policy

Sen.-elect Norm Coleman gave his first policy speech since the election on Tuesday night. The topic was agriculture. Coleman offered few specifics but received a standing ovation from members of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council.

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