A week after federal money ran out for helping Minnesota farmers and ranchers who lose livestock to wolves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has come up with money to continue providing wolf control services through the end of the year.
Minnesota farmers have sown some oats and spring wheat, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture says cool temperatures and precipitation have limited any planting in earnest so far.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 18 more Minnesota counties as primary natural disaster areas due to heavy rain, flooding and cold temperatures from May 1 through July 1.
The federal program that controls wolves that attack or threaten farm animals or pets in Minnesota is in peril because of budget cuts by Congress. Friday's budget agreement in the U.S. Congress effectively eliminates money for the USDA's Wildlife Services program.
Minnesota set record highs for corn and soybean production in 2010. New figures released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday say Minnesota farmers grew an estimated 1.29 billion bushels of corn, up 4 percent from last year's record.