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Pates

Mikkel Pates

Mikkel Pates is a reporter for Agweek and writes a column.
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Articles

Red River Valley farm flooding becomes nonevent

Farm field flooding from rising rivers and lakes in the northern Red River Valley and region have dissipated as quickly as National Weather Service projections declined in early May.

Spiritwood, N.D., ethanol plant gets EPA’s RFS2 approval

The planned 65 million-gallon-per-year Dakota Spirit AgEnergy LLC ethanol biorefinery near Jamestown, N.D., has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Renewable Fuel Standard 2 certification.

Anderson Seed insolvency case hits one-year mark

The Anderson Seed Co. insolvency this week hit its one-year mark, with a total of more than $5 million still owed to farmers in the Dakotas, and perhaps more in Minnesota. Regulators continue to study the case and legislatures are looking for ways to protect farmers from similar cases.

Survey shows significant jump in land prices

A North Dakota farm managers and rural appraiser group published its 2012 report recently, indicating an average 46 percent annual jump in North Dakota farm values in 2012, and a 28 percent increase in values in nearby Minnesota counties.

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Grape and wine group eyes direct market law

It’s now called the North Dakota Grape and Wine Association, and the state’s growers and vintners are again working toward a direct-to-retail marketing agenda in the North Dakota State Legislature.

CHS addresses plans for fertilizer plant at annual meeting

CHS Inc. is moving forward on the $1.4 billion nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing plant in Spiritwood, N.D., officials said at the company’s annual meeting Dec. 6 and 7 in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota Farm Bureau pushes for estate tax exemption

Numerous ag-related organizations in the region are asking the lame-duck Congress to retain a $5 million exemption for people paying estate taxes, and the 35 percent top rate for those taxes, as well as a 15 percent top rate for capital gains taxes.

Stockmen, others prepare for welfare follow-through after ND measure fails

The long-time chairman of the North Dakota Senate Agriculture Committee says he expects to be a prime sponsor of legislation that follows up on the failed Measure 5 vote that would have made some forms of animal cruelty a felony in North Dakota.

Farm Bureau gathers signatures for right-to-farm measure

The North Dakota Farm Bureau has gathered more than 30,000 signatures to put a right-to-farm constitutional amendment up for a statewide vote in November. The group needs 26,904 valid signatures.

Roundup Ready sugar beets move closer to deregulation

A U.S. Department of Agriculture statement issued Friday marked another step that could fully deregulate Roundup Ready sugar beets, potentially allowing farmers to plant the genetically modified seeds without restriction.

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Columns

Yokel foods

FARGO, N.D. — While attending the recent “Local Foods” conference with Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., in Marshall, Minn, someone made a statement about how today’s people need remedial training in value and craft of gardening.