Articles

North Dakota exports increase 33 percent in 2011

Oil, shovel-loaders, agricultural tractors and wheat led the way to a 33 percent jump in the value of North Dakota goods being sold to foreign countries in 2011, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

Ag Committee chairman: ‘Horrendous’ pressure in upcoming farm bill discussions

FARGO — House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., faces a tough task of justifying and delivering an adequate farm program — anything comparable to the expiring, popular 2008 farm bill — in the midst of a tightening budget. He discussed the next steps in the farm bill discussion in front of a full Fargo conference room on Thursday as business and agriculture leaders urged him to continue programs and prevent overreach from federal regulators.

Farm bill roundtable highlights budget woes

Agricultural leaders are worried the safety net for farm income will be trampled by federal budget warriors in what one official described a “sprint that’s turned into a marathon” in the political effort to replace the 2008 farm bill.

• John Hoeven

Ohio drainage tile plant expands to Buxton, N.D.

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc (ADS) of Hilliard, Ohio, reportedly is expanding its still-new drainage tile manufacturing plant near Buxton, N.D.

Best Value Inn fire accidental, Grand Forks Fire Department concludes

The fire Friday in Americas Best Value Inn, 1000 N. 42nd St., was accidental, caused by “the improper disposal of smoking materials,” the Grand Forks Fire Department reported today.

Leadership shake up in Crystal board

New chairman said it had nothing to do with labor dispute
Robert Green, 57, of St. Thomas, N.D., replaces Neil Widner of Stephen, Minn. Steve Williams, 60, of Fisher, Minn., was elected vice chairman, replacing Curt Haugen of Argyle, Minn.

• American Crystal Sugar Co. logo
• Locked-out American Crystal Sugar workers hold news conference at company's shareholder meeting
• American Crystal workers pray for end to lockout
• Locked-out workers surprised by security at Crystal Sugar annual meeting

Little time left to get farm bill on track

Area congressional leaders discuss challenge of getting bill past 'Super Committee'
Typically farm bill discussions run over two years. The committee, which is working to cut the nation's budget deficit, has two months to get its work done.

• Farm Bill

Court rules Grabanski didn't intentionally mislead CPS

Tom Grabanski, the embattled Grafton, N.D., farmer whose farming activities in Texas and Colorado have led to a series of bankruptcies and lawsuits, has gotten a piece of favorable news.

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR: Back to the table

Peterson: Crystal workers may be offering changes
American Crystal Sugar Co. and its labor union have agreed to come to the table today at the request of a federal mediator, three weeks into the company’s lock-out, in the wake of a union vote to reject the company’s contract proposal.

• American Crystal, union will resume talks Thursday
• American Crystal

Crystal to begin pre-pile lift Sept. 6

American Crystal Sugar Co. has announced to shareholders that they’ll start pre-pile harvest on Sept. 6 with beet slicing, or processing starting in all of its five factories. In the southern Red River Valley, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative at Wahpeton will start harvest Sept. 21-22, and will start slicing at its single factory on Sept. 23.

• Union leader sends letter to Crystal president
• Sugar beet pile

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.