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Agribusiness

Sweet return: German farmer gets both solar power and apples

GELSDORF, Germany (AP) — It's picking season at Christian Nachtwey's organic orchard in western Germany and laborers are loading their carts with ripe red Elstar apples, ready to be shipped to European supermarkets. But Nachtwey's farm is also reaping a second harvest: Many of the apple trees grow beneath solar panels that have been producing bountiful electricity during this year's unusually sun-rich summer, while providing the fruit below with much-needed shade. "The idea is simple," said Nachtwey, whose farm lies in Gelsdorf, an hour's drive south of Cologne. "To protect the ...

USDA conducting agriculture census

Conducted every five years, the census gathers the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The census will be mailed in phases, starting with an invitation to respond online in November, followed by paper questionnaires in December. The Census of Agriculture highlights the value of U.S. agriculture, land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other topics. Census data helps shape programs and initiatives that benefit farmers and ranchers, expand access to resources ...

Agri-Energy ethanol plant fined for air quality violations

Ethanol producer Agri-Energy exceeded air pollutant emissions and failed to keep required equipment testing and maintenance records, at the company’s ethanol production facility in Luverne, Minnesota, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency investigation. The bulk of the violations stem from failed emission stack tests in July 2019. In addition to paying a $34,000 civil penalty to the MPCA, Agri-Energy has completed a series of corrective actions. MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and ...

Survey gathering data on state’s food supply chain

ST. PAUL — Businesses sourcing, distributing or serving food are being surveyed this fall by the Statewide Cooperative Partnership for Local and Regional Markets led by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota. A supply chain survey designed and implemented by the partnership of more than 40 organizations asks supply chain participants to share their food sourcing and distribution practices. Baseline data about the local food supply chain around the state is a need identified by members of the partnership, including the Minnesota Grocers Association, ...

Soybean group launches social media campaign

Soil is taking center stage as harvest time approaches in ASA’s upcoming social media campaign #SoilSeptember, which has been launched on Twitter and Facebook and runs through Sept. 16. Much like the #SoyOnWater mini-campaign this past spring, this initiative highlights the sustainable practices growers implement to protect soil health, along with facts, figures, and links to learn more. The goal of #SoilSeptember is to further educate the public on soil’s essential role in agriculture and how U.S. farmers are implementing sustainable practices on their farms. Joining ASA to ...

Local ag industry players learn more about agricultural drainage

Ellingson, a Minnesota-based provider of farm water management solutions and installations, hosted a field day on Aug. 26 at Sletta Farms in Lake Hanska, bringing local farmers, businesses, and vendors together to observe a live demonstration of an agricultural drainage installation. While ...