Jan–Mar, 2006

The phrase ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ is not necessarily true of agricultural products. Corn isn’t just corn. Soybeans aren’t just soybeans. Wheat isn’t just…

Corn stalks, distiller’s grains, oat hulls, bean straw, offal, manure, seed chaff … They are not waste products anymore. And don’t just call them byproducts. The new industry term is…

Minnesota is a “corny” state —growing about one billion bushels of the grains every year.Almost half of Minnesota’s corn crop is exported, andanother 20 percent feeds the state’s livestock. About…

Waseca, MN — Ethanol is a triumph for Minnesota agriculture. The state’s annual production — 500 million gallons last year — was only 11 million gallons 15 years ago. And…

Owatonna, MN — It takes energy to make energy. The electricity and fossil fuels needed to convert corn to ethanol can cost millions, depending on a plant’s size. That’s why…

Minnesota ranks among the top ten states in nearly every livestock production sector, including red meat production (4th), hogs (3rd), milk (6th), chickens (10th), and turkeys (1st). Animal agriculture contributes…