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Central Minnesota news and notes Wednesday, May 26, 2004
USDA offers second round of producer grants
MORRIS, Minn. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of a second round of ag producer and small business renewable energy and energy efficiency grants.
The West Central Research and Outreach Center will host an informational meeting on the details of this grant program from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. June 7 at the WCROC Administration Building in Morris.
In 2003, $21 million was available for ag producers to develop renewable energy projects and Minnesota led the nation in grant awards totaling more than $4.6 million. This year $22.8 million is available.
"For those ag producers and small businesses in the process of developing renewable energy projects or improving energy efficiency, this is a great opportunity to receive financial assistance,'' said Greg Cuomo, head of the WCROC.
AgStar Fund awards $10,000 in scholarships
MANKATO, Minn. -- The AgStar Fund for Rural America, a corporate-giving program of AgStar Financial Services, has awarded $10,000 in scholarships to high school seniors who plan to enroll in colleges, universities and technical schools to pursue careers in agriculture or a related field.
Scholarships were earned by Andrew Peterson, Osceola, Wis.; Peter Beck, Princeton; Jessica Liebenstein, Dundas; Paul Miron, Hugo; Nicholas Hodnefield, Lakefield; Kyle Chirpich, Wells; Lucas Hanson, Racine; Scott Balzer, Owatonna; Jessica Trcka, Montgomery; and Thomas Lattimore Jr., Good Thunder.
Symposium on Small Towns is June 8-9
MORRIS, Minn. -- The 2nd annual Symposium on Small Towns is planned June 8-9 on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Morris.
The symposium will focus on the uniqueness of small towns and rural areas. It will feature people taking responsibility for creating positive change in communities.
Participants will learn and discuss how rural communities are adapting to current challenges and how politics and issues can be changed to better support small towns.
A $50 registration fee covers all sessions, lunch on Tuesday and a concert. Checks should be made out to UMM and sent to Center for Small Towns, University of Minnesota-Morris, 110 Community Services Building, 600 East 4th St., Morris, MN 56267.
Ness takse over rural education group
The Minnesota Rural Education Association has appointed Jerry Ness as its new executive director. His duties will begin July 1.
"Jerry Ness understands rural education and will be an excellent leader and advocate for our rural schools,'' said Lloyd Styrwoll, MREA president.
Ness will succeed Dennis Rettke, who is leaving the position to become a full-time school superintendent in Wisconsin.
Ness was the first principal to be elected president of MREA in 1997 and was also Minnesota's first Middle School Principal of the Year. He has been West Central school's superintendent since 2000.
MDA allocates funds for low-interest loans
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has allocated $7.7 million for low-interest loans to rural landowners, farmers and farm supply businesses to finance projects that prevent or stop water pollution.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts and county environmental offices administer the program locally. The MDA oversees the use of the funds that have been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Waters Act and by the Legislature.
The 9-year-old Agricultural Best Management Practices Loan Program has a total of $51 million in the revolving loan fund, which has provided loans to assist 5,800 Minnesotans solve pollution and erosion problems.
Almost $70 million in loans have been issued since the start of the program.
Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation office for more information.
Organic short courses will be taught
LAMBERTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and local partners are continuing a series of one-day "Organic Short Courses for Ag Professionals'' this summer.
The courses are open to Extension educators, agency staff, conservationists, crop consultants, lenders, implement dealers and other agricultural advisors.
The Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton will host a session June 16. Similar courses will be in Cloquet on July 19 and Red Lake Falls on Aug. 3.
Enrollment is limited to 50 people and pre-registration is required. Cost for the June 16 session is $10 if postmarked by June 9.
For more information or to register, call the SWROC at (507) 752-7372.
MPCA will hold public meeting June 15
EAST BETHEL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will hold a public meeting on June 15 at 7 p.m. in East Bethel Community Center located adjacent to East Bethel City Hall.
The meeting will update people on the installation of an active-gas extraction system at the East Bethel landfill. The system will be installed to control landfill gas emissions from the site.
Construction is expected to begin this falls and should be completed by fall 2005.
Tornado cause damage to farmstead
LEROY, N.D. -- Pembina County Sheriff Wayne Samdahl says a tornado that went through this small town May 19 night damaged three mobile homes and tore the roof off a local repair shop.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, he said. About 20 people live in the community in the northwestern part of the county.
A farmstead south of Humboldt, in Minnesota's northwestern corner, was hit by a tornado, but Samdahl said he had little information. "We're not sure if it was an occupied farmstead," he said.
A tornado also touched down near Adams in Walsh County, Samdahl said. The Walsh County sheriff's office had no immediate reports of damage.
Children's Days planned at Kelley Farm
ELK RIVER, Minn. -- Children's Days on the Oliver Kelley Farm near Elk River are planned June 17 and July 17. On those days farm visitors can participate in the work and play of children.
Music, dance and 19th century games, such as the hare and the hound and hoops and sticks will be part of the festivities.
Participants can try chores such as drawing water for animals and washing clothing by hand or following oxen and horses to the fields and helping with hay harvest or cultivating corn.
The events run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. |
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