agriculture

NexYst 360 brings ‘smart’ shipping for ag products to Willmar Rail Park

WILLMAR — NexYst 360 is the newest addition to the Willmar Industrial Park and the first tenant for the Willmar Rail Park. Its equipment and technology offer a farm-to-processing supply chain system for agricultural products. The Willmar Rail Park is a 144-acre rail park being developed by Midwest and Bluegrass Rail. It will have a rail loop that comes off the Willmar Wye, […]

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Ag and Renewable Energy Committee acts as promoter for agriculture in Kandiyohi County

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WILLMAR — Since the county’s earliest days, agriculture has played an outsized role in the economic health and vitality of Kandiyohi County. The county often ranks in the top 10 in the state for various agricultural productions including turkeys, poultry, sheep, sugar beets and aquaculture. In the 2017 USDA Farm Census, Kandiyohi County ranked 10th in

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“Going green” New London lettuce farm branches into hemp industry

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NEW LONDON—Despite being one of the oldest cultivated crops in history, the hemp industry—at least in the U.S.—is only just beginning to re-establish its roots, dogged for decades by legal issues and social stigma. However, in the wake of the 2018 Farm Bill, which federally recognizes hemp as an agricultural crop, and with research confirming

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Understanding the future of farming after COVID is theme of Partners in Ag Innovation conference July 29 in Willmar

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WILLMAR—Understanding the ag market after COVID-19 will be a topic for discussion during the third annual Partners in Ag Innovation seminar July 29 in Willmar. The theme for the event, which is scheduled from 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday July 29, is “From Survive to Thrive.” The half-day seminar will be offered in a

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Ziegler CAT opens new facility in Willmar

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WILLMAR—Ziegler CAT opened its new facility in Willmar on July 20, according to a Ziegler CAT news release. Located at 4600 Highway 71 S., the two-story facility features a retail showroom, a 25,000-square-foot shop, warehouses, offices, and a 7,800-square-foot cold-storage building. The shops include two bridge cranes, lube systems, a hose bench, and a wash

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Ridgewater College and agriculture education partners receive $584,000 grant to train ag technicians

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WILLMAR—Ridgewater College and agriculture partners received a $584,000 National Science Foundation grant to address a need for more agriculture technicians. The grant will fund the program Technical Applications in Agriculture which will educate and qualify high school students as agriculture technicians. “We have the second longest running precision agriculture program in the country, along with

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Local interest in growing and processing hemp: EDC committee will conduct feasibility study for market options

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WILLMAR— With the potential for high per-acre profits there’s increasing interest in growing industrial hemp on west central Minnesota farms. But with limited processing options available, an untested market chain and federal law that still classifies industrial hemp as a controlled substance, there are a few roadblocks yet to overcome. That’s why a feasibility study

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Workshop explores industrial hemp value chain

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WILLMAR—In an effort to diversify their farming operation, the Hultgren family planted 40 acres of organic industrial hemp this year on their land in northern Kandiyohi County. After making adjustments on the combine to prevent the rope-like stems from wrapping around the equipment, the hemp seeds were harvested and cleaned in September. “I thought it

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Workshop: Talent & Technology for the Progressive Farm Manager

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This two-part workshop brought to you by the EDC’s Ag and Renewable Energy Development Committee to help our progressive farm managers grow smarter and stronger. This workshop features two dynamic sessions on talent and technology. SCHEDULE: 7:30 – 9:30AM | Attracting, retaining and managing your ag labor workforce. Plus, the latest changes to the employment

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Cattlemen at heart: Creativity gives next generation of farmers a boost

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WILLMAR—When he looks at the herd of 100 Angus cows and their frisky spring calves grazing in a pasture of belly-high grass, Cullen Fischer still can’t believe his lifelong dream of raising cattle is coming true. “It’s kind of a pinch-me thing,” said the 31-year-old from Lake Lillian about his good fortune of taking over

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Home on the Minnesota prairie: Yaks thrive on the pastures of the Hot Disch Farm

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RAYMOND—If you’re craving a fresh yak steak and can’t make the trip to the Everest Steak House Restaurant in Kathmandu, Nepal, take a short ride over to Raymond. That’s where you’ll find the Hot Disch Farm, home to Shawn and Craig Dischinger and their assistants, sons Jack, age 5, and Peter, age 3. They’ll happily

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Lettuce Abounds New London MN Erica Dischino

Lettuce Abound Farms harvest first aeroponics crop

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NEW LONDON — With plates heaped high with at least five varieties of lettuce picked that morning at an aeroponics farm a couple miles away, restaurant owners and volunteers working to bring a food cooperative to New London were clearly enjoying their salads. They were also talking with the farm’s owners about getting the fresh

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