Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Ag chemicals in tap water – “that’s just the way it is”

When state officials said many rivers and streams around Edgerton in southwestern Minnesota were unsafe for swimming and fishing because of agricultural run-off, it wasn't news in the local paper.

Egg prices plateau, but how long to rebuild hen flocks?

Grade A Large eggs are selling for an average $1.46 a dozen at grocery stores, little changed from the $1.49 a dozen a week ago but below the $1.54 seen a year ago, says the USDA's weekly egg report.

Moran, overseer of USDA funds, has $1.4 mln for campaign

Kansas Republican Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, has $1.4 million in cash in his campaign fund, said Roll Call.

On America’s grocery list – more fresh food, less processed

Grocery shoppers are spending less time, and money, in the center aisles of the supermarket, where the processed foods dwell and more time in the dairy case, meat counter and produce bins, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Another Ag panelist joins Senate leadership

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, an Agriculture Committee, member will be part of Democratic leadership in the next session. She was elected to chair the Democratic Steering and Outreach committee.

The first – and last? – big U.S. cellulosic ethanol plants

With Abebgoa to open its $300 million celllulosic ethanol plant in Kansas on Friday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune says there is worry within the industry that debut of large-scale cellulosic plants in the United States may also be the closing act for big plants domestically.

Cargill to end use of sow crates by 2017

In response to customer pressure, Cargill "intends to phase out all individual stalls from its...hog production system by the end of 2017," says the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.