Anyone who lives in rural Minnesota knows that agriculture is central to our way of life. We’re surrounded by fields and livestock, passing a tractor on the way into town is a regular experience, and virtually all of us either work in agriculture-related jobs ourselves or have family and friends employed in the industry.

Much has been written and broadcast recently about the diminishing role of agriculture in Minnesota and other traditional agricultural states. While it’s true that not nearly as many of us live on farms as people in our state once did, agriculture is still — without a doubt — a dominant Minnesota industry, especially in rural Minnesota. Consider these facts:

http://www.agweek.com/articles/?id=7109&article_id=100013080&property_id=3