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Minnesota Agribusiness Overview

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Please refer to pages 30-39.

Waste, Recyling facility open for business!

Monday, January 18, 2016

By Joshua Dixon Redwood Gazette Posted Jan. 18, 2016 at 12:01 AM   After years of planning by two counties, the Redwood / Renville Regional Solid Waste Authority (RRRSWA) began processing the household waste and recycling on Jan. 5.  That was the first day residents of both counties could set out their new plastic bins with the yellow lids for their recycling.  Recycling no longer needs to be sorted by type in Redwood and Renville Counties. Plastics, cardboard, paper, steel, tin, and glass can all be placed in the same bins for collection.  The recycling is...

MVRRA, MPL continue the push west to rehab rail

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Posted Dec. 30, 2015 at 12:01 AM   Since 2001, more than 30 miles of the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority (MVRRA) rail line have been rehabilitated. The line, which runs 94.5 miles from east to west starting at Norwood Young America and ending near Hanley Falls, has seen speeds increase to 25 miles per hour along that portion of upgrade line, with increased numbers of rail cars heading to market over the 14 years it has been operating.  The work continued in 2015, said Julie Rath of the Redwood Area Development Corporation, who serves as the administrator...

Senator Klobuchar visited Redwood Falls to talk Rural Broadband

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Reported by Dustin Hoffman - KLGR Radio REDWOOD FALLS, MN -- 8-19-15 Senator Amy Klobuchar met with Redwood County commissioners and staff, Redwood Falls city officials, school representatives, and business leaders to discuss the need for reliable broadband Internet service in rural areas.  The stop was part of a two day trip in outstate Minnesota, in which the Senator wanted to hear about the need for the service and to communicate what plans are being made, in Washington, to help.  The visit was orchestrated by the efforts of Julie Rath, with the Redwood Area Development Corporation.   Klobuchar...

2015 Redwood County Farm Family of the Year: Goblirsch Dairy LLC

Monday, August 17, 2015

Goblirsch Dairy is a family operation run primarily by Nels, Matt, Bernard and Mary Clare Goblirsch. The robotic dairy that is now located on the original homestead of Joseph Goblirsch, Bernard’s father, was built in 2005. Bernard and Mary Clare had nine children, two of whom help run the farm. Nels and his wife Shannon returned to the farm after he completed his training in precision tool and robotics. The barn that now stands on the farm is composed of a 140 by 290 foot building with slatted floors and a manure pit below it. It was built to...

Thinking globally: Don and Cathy Schwarz visit Washington, D.C.

Thursday, August 06, 2015

By Troy Krause, Editor Posted Aug. 4, 2015 at 10:04 AM   Don and Cathy Schwarz received an e-mail June 30 from their son Nick asking what they were doing the following Thursday.  The owners of Jonti-Craft in Wabasso had been invited to an event in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the recent progress of President Barack Obama’s trade agenda. Two days later Don and Cathy Schwarz were in the nation’s capital rubbing shoulders with dignitaries and making connections that may just help their business internationally.  The story of their arrival in Washington, D.C. actually begins...

Broadband shifts from perk to need in rural areas

Monday, July 27, 2015

July 28, 2015 11:45 am  •  Janelle Atyeo, Tri-State Neighbor Reporter   When Kevin Wald wants to share information with his clients, he needs to think big and far. Wald is CEO of Specialty Systems – or SpecSys – a business that designs equipment and manufactures it on contract for major companies such as AGCO sprayers and Roto-Mix manure spreaders. His offices are spread out in small southwestern Minnesota towns – Montevideo, Redwood Falls, Cloquet, Granite Falls, Benson and New Ulm, as well as Watertown, S.D. But his projects go worldwide...

Manufacturing Jobs Returning To Redwood County

Monday, July 27, 2015

Raphael Garcia 7/27/2015 12:52:36 PM As the economy continues to improve, employers are finding it more difficult to hire qualified workers to fill available jobs, especially in manufacturing and construction which are two of the primary industries in this area. Redwood Area Development Corporation was made aware of the hiring challenges from Northstar Systembuilt and Schult Homes in Redwood Falls on their recent business visits. Both companies have seen an increased demand for skilled workers but are having difficulty finding applicants to meet those requirements. This...

Scott Dingels earns top FFA awards, offering product at local market

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

By Troy Krause Editor, Redwood Falls Gazette Posted Jul. 7, 2015 at 1:22 PM   When Scott Dingels was still in elementary school, his family began a new venture through their involvement in the 4-H?program – sheep.  By the time Dingels was a sophomore at RVHS he had taken what became his favorite project into a business, and recently he was recognized for his business acumen during the Minnesota state FFA convention. Dingels was named a state finalist for the Star in Agribusiness award making him one of the top young entrepreneurs in the state.  He was also presented...

Business Profile - Keepsakes from Kathy

Monday, July 06, 2015

By Joshua Dixon, Staff Writer Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM   For years, Kathy Gag operated Falls Fitness in downtown Redwood Falls. As a hobby, she repurposed old furniture in her garage and resold it. “I’ve been painting old furniture as a pastime for the past for years, and really enjoyed it,” she said last week. In fact, she enjoyed it so much, earlier this year she closed the fitness center to focus entirely on the furniture, and much more. “I didn’t feel my own painted furniture would be enough,” she...

2015 Farmfest Marks Minnesota’s First Rural Broadband Day

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

EAGAN, Minnesota, June 15, 2015 IDEAg Minnesota Farmfest will launch and celebrate Minnesota’s first ever Rural Broadband Day on Aug. 4. The farm show’s opening day in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, will highlight the importance of broadband access across rural America. High-speed broadband access is essential for farmers and ranchers to run successful businesses in rural America. With the rise of precision technology in agriculture, farmers and ranchers can increase their efficiency, communicate with their customers and reach new markets around the world. “Minnesota Farmfest is the perfect platform for discussion about rural broadband,” said Ray Bianchi,...

Redwood Industries plans new housing subdivision near RVHS

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Joshua Dixon Staff Writer   Posted Jun. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM   Several years ago, a private company proposed building a 72-unit apartment complex in the wooded lot directly across from Redwood Valley High School.  That plan’s financing fell apart for various reasons, and the original developers abandoned the effort.  However, Redwood Industries has stepped forward with an entirely new plan to develop housing on the lot.   The plan, as presented at the Redwood Falls City Council meeting Tuesday, is for turning the wooded area into a 23-lot planned housing development, consisting of two...

Lower Sioux Community adds housing to meet population demands

Friday, May 29, 2015

By Troy Krause Editor Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM The population of the Lower Sioux Community is growing, and, according to Dennis Prescott, Lower Sioux tribal council chair, there are others living in the area surrounding the community who would like to move.The problem, however, is finding adequate housing to make that possible for them.  The community took a big step toward addressing its housing needs this past Friday when it officially opened a new housing unit that was erected utilizing funds from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency through the Economic Development and Hous-ing...

MSFA and Vikings Preparing To Sail With Daktronics LED Technology In New Stadium

Friday, March 27, 2015

18 LED video displays slated for installation in Minnesota BROOKINGS, S.D. – Mar. 27, 2015 The Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) selected Daktronics (NASDAQ-DAKT) of Brookings, South Dakota, to design, manufacture and install 18 LED video displays featuring 13HD technology for the new stadium currently under construction in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A total of more than 25,000 square feet of video displays will work together to brand the Vikings home-game atmosphere and build a fan experience unique to the state. The selection of Daktronics directly supports the employment of more than 200 local employees in...

Energy freedom: Weltsch Equipment, Inc. installs solar arrays

Monday, March 16, 2015

By Joshua Dixon Staff Writer  -- Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM “It was kind of a pipe dream of mine years ago, but the industry wasn’t quite ready yet,”?said Dick Weltsch of the two 200+ solar panel arrays now behind his implement dealership in Redwood Falls.  “We looked at the costs of electricity — fixed costs — and they get to be very expensive. That number keeps going up, and it can be a weight on a business,” said Dick Weltsch, co-owner of Weltsch Equipment, Inc., this week.     Weltsch was discussing...

Highs and lows of unemployment in Redwood County

Friday, January 30, 2015

By Troy Krause Editor Posted Jan. 30, 2015 at 12:01 AM   Having a low unemployment rate is a good thing, because it means people are working. A working populous is healthy for the economy and is a signal business is doing well. However, there comes a time when a low unemployment rate might get too low. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Devel-opment, the unemployment rate for December 2014 in Redwood County was 3 percent. That number is lower than the state unemployment rate of 3.6 percent and the 5.6 rate...

Match.com for business Redwood County supports a diverse community of manufacturers!

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Enterprise Minnesota - December 2014 Issue -- Tom Mason, writer When Enterprise Minnesota’s president and CEO Bob Kill traveled recently to Redwood Falls he got to experience first hand how a diverse community of manufacturers can give their community a solid economic base.  Kill was invited by the Redwood Area Development Corporation (RADC) to keynote their annual Manufacturing Week luncheon. Redwood Falls is a prosperous community of about 5,000 people located a couple hours southwest of the Twin Cities. RADC is considered a well-run and forward-thinking organization thatserves 16 area communities. The day’s chief organizer was Julie Rath, one...

Schueller, Kokesch reflect on their county board roles

Monday, December 29, 2014

By Troy Krause Editor Posted Dec. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am   At the end of 2014, 20 years of experience on the Redwood County Board of Commissioners is going to be walking out the door, when John Schueller, who has served the second district since 2003, and Al Kokesch, who has served the third district since 2007, step down from their roles on the county board. “It’s been a good run,” said Kokesch, adding he believes a lot has been accomplished during his time on the board. Schueller reiterated that thought.  “I’ve had fun,”?Schueller said...

Highwater Ethanol is first biobutanol facility in the nation

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

By Troy Krause Editor Posted Aug. 27, 2014 @ 12:01 am     Since its inception, High-water Ethanol in rural Lamberton has continued to look for new and innovative ways to improve what it offers to the region in terms of economic development and to improve the return for its investors. “That is why we are here today,”?said David Moldan, Highwater Ethanol board chair Wednesday afternoon during a ceremony to celebrate the latest project that has been accomplished at the facility. Through a partnership with Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, which is a joint venture of DuPont and...

Ground broken for Redwood/Renville regional recycling facility

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

By Troy Krause Editor Posted Aug. 12, 2014 @ 12:01 am The earth moved Aug. 1. That was the sign Brian Sams, Redwood County Recycling coordinator, has been patiently waiting for as it relates to the Redwood/ Renville regional material recovery facility which is being built on land just west of Redwood Falls. Sams said he’d believe the project was a reality when the first dirt moved. “It’s a reality today,” he said, adding it has been a long process. That process, said John Mitchell, Redwood County environmental office director, has been in the works for...

Groundbreaking for recycling center facility to be held Friday afternoon, August 1, 2014

Friday, August 01, 2014

  The Redwood/Renville Regional Solid Waste Authority, along with residents of Redwood and Renville counties, are going to come together and break ground at the site of the new recycling center facility. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for this Friday, with a brief program starting at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. The new building is going to be erected on ground west of Redwood Falls next to the Redwood County museum. Redwood and Ren-ville counties first provided recycling through contracted services back in 1989. Renville County currently owns and operates the Renville County sanitary landfill, where...

Ehlers Scholarship program has established an education legacy

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

By Troy Krause Editor Posted Jul. 16, 2014 @ 12:01 am   The cost of a college education continues to rise, and, for some, those costs can hinder their goal of earning a degree. Those who do pursue post-secondary education quickly discover the costs associated with furthering their education result in taking out loans at a high rate of interest. That can have them entering the working world with big debt they are going to be dealing with for years to come. In an effort to help address those financial realities a program was established in Redwood...

Redwood cattlemen to host annual state tour The Redwood Area Cattlemen’s Association has been selected to host the 2014 Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Summer Beef Tour and Trade Show July 7-8, 2014.

Friday, February 28, 2014

The summer beef tour and trade show is an annual event for the Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association. Each year, a chapter showcases experienced cattlemen, innovative techniques and quality beef set-ups by hosting approximately 1,000 participants and vendors from around the state and country to tour area farms. Registrants have access to more than 200 agriculture-related businesses featuring new products and services available to cattlemen through the trade show. The Redwood Area Cattlemen’s Association currently has 210 producers from Redwood, Brown, and Renville Counties. The tour is going to showcase Redwood Area producers and the diversity of production. The Redwood Area...

Writing a Business Plan: The Art of the Executive Summary

Monday, December 02, 2013

There’s a literary legend in which Ernest Hemingway places a brash wager on the power of brevity.  Insisting that just a few well-chosen words are enough to tell a compelling story, Hemingway bets several other writers $10 each that he can compose a complete story – one with a beginning, middle and end – in just six words. Once his buddies ante up, he pens this on a napkin: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Short. Engaging. Powerful. Whether it's true or not is a matter for literary scholars to debate. But when it comes...