Monthly Archives: May 2011

Promoting pasta

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Jonathan Knutson

Americans have had a long love affair with pasta. The same is true of North Dakota farmers: the state leads the nation in production of durum, from which pasta is made. Pasta thrives in cool summer nights, which are common … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Beer, barley and higher prices

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Jonathan Knutson

Some beer drinkers are complaining that the price of the beverage has risen. They’re right. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which keeps tabs on lot of things besides labor, says the price of bottled beer and ale rose an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Spuds, schools and USDA

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Jonathan Knutson

U.S. potato growers have been campaigning against a proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to limit the amount of potatoes that can be included in school menus. USDA would allow no more than one cup of starchy vegetables, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

More help available for ag exporters

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jonathan Knutson

The U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo, N.D., reports that ag exporters have a new source of help. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its Foreign Agricultural Service, has created a Trade Facilitation Desk to provide information on foreign import requirements … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Guarding against a common enemy

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Jonathan Knutson

Farmers and backyard gardeners have much in common. They both invest physically, financially and emotionally in their crop. They both battle weeds, bugs, bad weather and crop disease. Late blight, a disease that’s particularly hard on tomatoes and potatoes, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Still too early to worry, but …

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Jonathan Knutson

I just talked with a North Dakota ag producer who’s been delivering bulls across much of the state over the past week or so. In his travels, he saw only one field that’s been planted, a sandy field on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment