MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) — Clay County is the 39th county in Minnesota with a confirmed case of Emerald Ash Borer after a Moorhead city forester found evidence of the disease while pruning trees. It is the first in northwestern Minnesota. Emerald Ash Borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree…
FARGO, N.D. — Around 100 North Dakotans have contacted the state’s Department of Agriculture saying they received mysterious seed packets in the mail. Officials are urging anyone who receives unsolicited seeds from China to not open them. You are asked to send the package, including the mailing label, to the Department of Agriculture for inspection. There is also an online…
BISMARCK, N.D.–A North Dakota agency has confirmed the presence of a Palmer amaranth plant in a seventh county in the state. The state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday they found the plant in Emmons County, in the south of the state, just weeks after they found it in nearby Grant County. Palmer amaranth can grow up to 7 feet and…
EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — Taking innovative ideas from rural communities in Minnesota and incorporating them at the federal level. Senator Tina Smith says that’s what can really help some change places across the country need. She announced she is starting a bipartisan Senate “Rural Economic Working Group.” And she’s doing it alongside Republican South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds. “Our…
WASHINGTON – The Department of Agriculture announces a plan to provide $16 billion to help farmers impacted by the trade war with China. It gives $14.5 billion in direct payments to producers covering commodities like soybeans, wheat, corn and canola. Nearly $1.5 billion will go toward buying surplus goods like beef, pork and poultry. The plan also gives $100 million toward…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Agriculture is putting off reducing the amount of sodium in school lunches. The Obama Administration set the reduced sodium targets to take place in 2018, but the White House now says they don’t have to change through 2019. The food and nutrition service of the Ag Department says allowing the targets to remain…
NORTH DAKOTA — FEMA has denied North Dakota’s request for a presidential major disaster declaration for drought. Governor Burgum concedes the request was a long shot with the enormous demands placed on federal resources by the recent hurricanes and wildfires. He said he is grateful for the emergency assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Burgum requested the…
