Ag lobbyists help forge farm bill in private
By Jon Collins |
10.25.11 | 6:00 am
The attempt to head off deeper cuts is drawing concern from farm bill critics, who say the process could benefit from more voices.
Agriculture - Latest Stories
Collin Peterson: Agriculture may be low priority of debt supercommittee
By Lynda Waddington |
08.05.11 | 11:15 am
Rep. Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat who serves as ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, said that he is “pretty well resigned that we’re not going to get anybody in the House that’s going to have much of a connection to agriculture on the [super] committee.”
Bipartisan bill aims to aid economy with hemp production
By Andy Birkey |
03.02.11 | 9:03 am
A bipartisan slate of 30 legislators — from liberal Minneapolis Rep. Phyllis Kahn to conservative Rep. Mark Buesgens of Jordan — are proposing legislation to allow Minnesota farmers to grow industrial hemp. The Industrial Hemp Development Act would legalize hemp plants while maintaining strong restrictions on marijuana possession. The bill even includes the collection of fees from farmers as revenue to run the program; during time of budget deficits, it won’t cost the state anything.
Legislators want medical marijuana farming in Minnesota
By Andy Birkey |
02.24.11 | 3:04 pm
A bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature on Thursday would make it legal for farmers to grow medical marijuana and sell it to dispensaries in states where marijuana can be legally used for medicinal purposes. The Medical Marijuana Production and Export Act would direct the state government to develop a strict licensing plan for the potential grower and cites a positive economic benefit for the state’s agricultural sector.
Minneapolis Fed: Employment to grow, unemployment flat in 2011
By Andy Birkey |
12.17.10 | 8:00 am
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve officials said Thursday that the region can expect an increase in employment and little change in unemployment rates in 2011. Businesses in the region are optimistic about an economic recovery, they added, and the Fed’s model…
Bachmann suggests Obama is buying votes with funds from discrimination settlement
By Andy Birkey |
10.06.10 | 8:46 am
Rep. Michele Bachmann “sincerely” wants to know: Is President Obama trying to buy votes in minority communities using funds from a class-action settlement against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over discrimination against African American farmers?
Few farmers, little public comment time at Iowa ag antitrust workshop
By Paul Schmelzer |
03.04.10 | 11:46 am
Next week, the federal departments of justice and agriculture will hold the first in a series of public workshops about antitrust laws, competition and agriculture. The Mar. 12 event in Ankeny, Iowa, will focus on crop-based farming…
Minnesotans can’t smoke medical marijuana, but could they grow it?
By Andy Birkey |
02.18.10 | 9:00 am
A bipartisan bill introduced in the Minnesota House on Monday could give the state’s agricultural sector a boost in the form of a new cash crop: medical marijuana. Gov. Tim Pawlenty last year vetoed an effort to legalize medical cannibis,…
Capitol Catchall: Minnesota Dems rally for dairy farmers
By Andy Birkey |
07.31.09 | 3:50 pm
The plight of Minnesota’s dairy farmers occupied the time of Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Reps. Tim Walz, Collin Peterson and James Oberstar, who worked this week to find relief for farmers hard hit by economic and natural disaster. That and other highlights from Minnesota’s congressional delegation inside.
Obama to name Iowa Gov. Vilsack as ag secretary
By Paul Schmelzer |
12.16.08 | 6:38 pm
So much for dreams of a Secretary of Agriculture Mark Ritchie. Today, the AP confirms that Barack Obama will be naming Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to the top USDA post. Ritchie, currently Minnesota Secretary of…
