Minnesota Agriculture and Food Economy Tour 2025

September 29 - 30, 2025

Twenty-five (25) state lawmakers and state agency leaders. Two days. Nine stops. More than 260 miles.

Planning has already begun for the next Minnesota Agriculture and Food Economy Tour, scheduled for fall 2027

Recognizing the Twin Cities Metro’s Impact on Food and Agriculture

There are nearly 90,000 food and agriculture jobs in the seven-county metro area, including food and grain processing, research, and logistics. Leaders from Bay State Milling, Sanimax, CHS, and Pivot Bio shared their commitment to supporting and growing Minnesota’s economy.

Map showing locations related to agriculture and food processing jobs, with icons representing categories such as financial, grain, fertilizer, food, research, dairy, and livestock.

Growing Minnesota Potatoes with Sustainable, Science-Driven Solutions and Smart Water Use

Minnesota raises more than 45,000 acres of potatoes each year, with 50,000 pounds of potatoes harvested per acre. R.D. Offutt Farms, Michael Foods, and McDonald’s Corp. shared how Minnesota potatoes move from the field to processing to plates in the most sustainable way.

People working with a large pile of potatoes, using a conveyor and other machinery in what appears to be a storage or processing facility.

Repositioning Minnesota as a Dairy Processing Leader

Global and domestic demand for milk and cheese has increased significantly over the past 20 years. Minnesota is the home of Top the Tater and the second-largest cottage cheese plant in North America. Thanks to Kemps, Land O’Lakes, and Riverview for reminding lawmakers of the importance of dairy processing to Minnesota.

People walking through an industrial warehouse or storage facility with tall shelves filled with palletized goods and boxes. The group appears to be on a tour or inspection, some smiling and engaged.

Growing and Protecting Minnesota Food with Research and Innovation

Minnesota is home to the largest seed care research facility in North America. Syngenta’s Seedcare Institute conducts groundbreaking research on seed treatments for hundreds of crops, including tomatoes, winter camelina, and wheat.

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Unleashing Precision Agriculture to Improve Crops and Reduce Pollution

Minnesota farmers are excellent stewards of the land and do everything possible to protect water quality while ensuring our food supply is healthy. AgPartners highlighted how agronomy and precision agriculture are essential for agriculture, and how technology like drones can help implement cover crops in the future.

A large green agricultural sprayer tractor with red wheels parked on a paved area during the day. Two people, a man and a woman, walking past the tractor, with trees and a blue sky in the background.

Celebrating Rochester’s Long-Standing Leadership in Food and Agriculture

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton reminded more than 90 lawmakers, local officials, and ag and food leaders that Rochester has approximately 7,500 ag and food jobs, including Kemps, Seneca Foods, Kerry Ingredients, and Pace Dairy.

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Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation of Farmers

Only five percent of farms reach the fourth generation. Tony and Michelle Rossman shared their efforts to pass on their farm to their children. One challenge is urban encroachment, which has increased land values to $40,000 per acre in Olmsted County.

A group of people, including women and a man wearing an 'Elected Official' badge, standing outdoors and engaging in a conversation with a woman in a colorful dress, with a bus and a white building with a red roof in the background.

Strengthening Minnesota’s Position as a Pork Leader

Minnesota ranks second in the country for pork production. Despite our success, the number of pork processing facilities in Minnesota is decreasing. Additionally, government regulations on manure could pose a threat to family farmers. Thanks to Minnesota Pork Producers, Schwartz Farms, and Herbst Family Farm for highlighting future opportunities for pig farmers and processing.

People are standing in a line and talking outside next to a wire fence. A woman in a red jacket is pointing and holding a water bottle, while others are engaged in conversation during an outdoor event on a cloudy day.

Unleashing Technology to Make Minnesota Dairy Farms More Sustainable

Dairy farms are becoming more high-tech with robots feeding and milking cows, and collars and tags tracking each cow’s health and production. Each robot, which milks approximately 60 cows per day, can cost $200,000. Thanks to Minnesota Milk Producers, Midwest Dairy, and the Balzer Family Farm for showcasing this technology and discussing the potential unintended consequences that may arise from it.

Group of people inside a barn or dairy farm, observing cows in a feeding area with hay and corn stalks on the ground.

Bringing Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Beverages to the Global Market

Minnesota is home to the world’s second-largest malting facility. Rahr Corporation, a family-owned business located in downtown Shakopee, supplies malt to more than 1,700 breweries worldwide. Rahr processes 1 billion pounds of barley annually. More than 4,500 rail cars and 2,600 semis move barley, oats and malt in and out of Shakopee every year.

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