Minnesota farmers help USDA conservation program
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- Published on Saturday, 19 January 2013 14:31
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NRCS celebrates success of 4-year-sld conservation stewardship program
In just four years, America’s top conservationists have enrolled
50 million acres in USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), a program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners take conservation to the next level.
Agriculturalists taking the heat - Fiscal Cliff becoming the Dairy Cliff
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- Published on Saturday, 12 January 2013 15:16
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Commissioner’s December Column
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- Published on Thursday, 20 December 2012 13:10
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By Dave Frederickson
Minn. Agriculture Commissioner
When I became the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in 2011, I resolved to continue the good work this agency had been doing with regard to international trade. Like other commissioners who came before me, I understood that Minnesota’s farm and food sector needed to expand its visibility and market share in the fast-growing international markets of Asia and Latin America.
November was drier than normal
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- Published on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 14:26
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Weather column: Some light rain fell across Minnesota on Monday to start off the work and school week. If temperatures had been cooler, some of that had the potential to fall in the form of snow. For many of you, you are happy to have the rain as opposed to the snow. Any moisture, however, right now is welcome to help with the drought across Minnesota.
During the month of November, the state of Minnesota continued to be drier than normal. St. Cloud, for example, received just 1.05” of precipitation for the month. That was.33” below average.
The most precipitation fell Saturday, Nov. 10, when .57” fell in
St. Cloud. In addition, 2.9” of snow fell during the month. Most of that snow has since melted. The majority of that snow fell on Thanksgiving Day.
As far as temperatures for the month of November, the average temperature at. Cloud was 32.9 degrees. That was 2.5 degrees above average. The warmest day was on Nov. 19, when it hit
59 degrees in St. Cloud. The coldest day was Nov. 24, when it fell to 0 degrees.
It looks like temperatures will stay above average through the weekend with a chance of some light rain and snow along the way. The best chance for accumulation of snow at this stage will be Saturday night into Sunday. Do stay alert for changing weather conditions.
Have a great upcoming weekend!
Weather history: On this date in 1955 a cold front pushed across Minnesota as temperatures fell to near 20 below zero across much of the state!
Weather fact: Winter storms in the Midwest “tend to develop over southeast Colorado.” These storms move east or northeast and use both the “southward plunge of cold air from Canada and the northward flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to produce heavy snow and sometimes blizzard conditions.”
MN AT A GLANCE:
Moorhead Low 13 High 32
Duluth Low 14 High 32
Central Minn. Low 16 High 35
Twin Cities Low 20 High 38
Rochester Low 18 High 38
Marshall Low 18 High 37
Monday, Dec. 3: Partly cloudy, 20-percent chance of light snow late. High 35 Low 30 Winds: SE 15-20 mph Prec. Trace-.10”
Monday’s sunrise: 7:47 a.m.
Monday’s sunset: 4:35 p.m.
Normal High: 26
Normal Low: 8
A series of weak cold fronts will slide through the area and could bring some light snow to parts of Minnesota.
Thursday: Cloudy early, then becoming partly cloudy. High 36 Low 23 Winds: W/NW 10-20 mph Prec. None
Friday: Cloudy, 30-percent chance of light rain and light snow. High 36 Low 16 Winds: NE 5-15 mph Prec. Trace-.10”
Saturday: Partly to mostly cloudy, 20-percent chance of light snow. High 36 Low 16 Winds: SE 5-15mph. Prec. Trace-.10”
Sunday: Cloudy, 70-percent chance of snow. High 32 Low 7 Wind: ESE 10-15 mph Prec.
Trace-.30”
Citizen Forums in several locations, dates
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- Published on Saturday, 01 December 2012 15:32
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Speak up about the environment next week at Citizen Forums in Rochester, Bloomington
On Nov. 27, the regional Citizen Forums on the Environment will begin with forums in Rochester and Bloomington.
The forums are an opportunity for Minnesotans to interact with state agency commissioners and staff, and learn more about Minnesota’s Environment & Energy Report Card. Those attending the forums will be asked to answer key questions and submit more in-depth ideas for consideration.
The State of Minnesota wants to hear what Minnesotans’ priorities and visions are for the environment. The input gathered at the forums will be compiled and presented to the Dayton Administration at a statewide Environmental Congress next March.
The locations and dates of the regional Citizen Forums are:
• Rochester: Wood Lake Meeting Center, Nov. 27, 9:30 a.m. –
12 noon
• Bloomington: Normandale Community College, Nov. 27,
6:30 – 9 p.m.
• Duluth: Lake Superior College, Nov. 28, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
• Worthington: Worthington High School, Dec 10, 3:30 - 6 p.m.
• St. Cloud: Stearns County Service Center, Dec 12, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
• Moorhead: Minnesota State University, Dec 14, 3 - 5:30 p.m.
The Minnesota Environmental Congress and the Citizens Forums leading up to it are the result of Governor Dayton’s Executive Order 11-32. To assess Minnesota’s progress toward clean air, water and energy, the Environmental Quality Board is convening Citizen Forums around the state to engage citizens in constructive dialogue, identify environmental challenges, and define a vision for Minnesota’s environmental future.
For more information or to register for a Citizen Forum, visit http://mn.gov/EnvironmentalCongress/. If you have questions, contact Anna Sherman at (651)
201-6607, or send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
This project is a collaboration of Governor Dayton, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Minnesota Department of Administration, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Energy and Economic Development, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Board of Soil and Water Resources.