Ag Business Briefs
Bacon and Spam top foods trends for Minnesota State Fair
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — Bacon and Spam top the lists of the top food trends for the 2016 Minnesota State Fair.
The Great Minnesota Get-together will offer 32 new foods, according to the list released on June 21, but only one new food vendor. RC BBQ will take over the former Famous Dave’s space.
But existing purveyors have come up with new treats such as Spam Sushi, and batter-fried cheese-flavored Spam cubes with a side of ranch dressing.
Also on offer will be candied bacon doughnut sliders with a chocolate-red wine ganache, and a candied bacon/green tomato BLT.
New hot dogs include the Sheep Dog made from lamb and served on a bun with garlic-sauteed kale, raw sauerkraut and quinoa with honey mustard.
The Minnesota State Fair opens Aug. 25 and runs through Labor Day.
— Associated Press
Minnesota ethanol plant fined again for pollution violations
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A south-central Minnesota ethanol plant has been fined again for environmental violations.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said the Corn Plus plant in Winnebago has agreed to take a series of corrective actions and pay a $39,450 penalty after regulators found several violations of the plant’s stormwater permit.
The permit sets conditions to ensure that the facility’s runoff doesn’t pollute lakes, streams or groundwater. The MPA said in a statement Tuesday that some of the violations involve management of water in the plant’s stormwater ponds.
Since 2009, state and federal regulators have fined Corn Plus more than $1.1 million for air and water quality violations. As part of a 2010 case, the company agreed to spend nearly $700,000 on environmental upgrades at the plant.
— Associated Press
Fire destroys grain elevator in Sheyenne; no one hurt
SHEYENNE, N.D. — Fire has destroyed a grain elevator in Sheyenne.
WDAZ-TV reported the blaze at the Equity Co-op Elevator was reported about 9 p.m. June 21. Spokesman Fritz Wetzel said dust and grain fueled the fire.
About 50 firefighters from Sheyenne, Carrington and New Rockford battled the blaze but couldn’t save the structure.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately determined.
The fire prompted the temporary closure of a portion of state Highway 281 to truck traffic. Local traffic was detoured on city streets.
— Associated Press
Western Nebraska fertilizer plant to pay $100,000 penalty
CULBERTSON, Neb. — The owner of a southwestern Nebraska agricultural fertilizer plant has agreed to pay more than $100,000 as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to storage and use of anhydrous ammonia.
The North Platte Telegraph reported that a consent agreement shows Kugler Oil Co. of McCook also agreed to comply with federal risk management program requirements as part of the settlement.
The order shows Kugler will pay a $101,808 in civil penalties.
The agreement settles alleged violations at Kugler’s Culbertson Dealer Fertilizer and Retail Plant.
The EPA said it found that the plant was using or storing about 620,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia without a proper risk management program in place.
Accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia can be deadly.
— Associated Press