A Dakota County leader joined U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who recognized advances in the biofuel market Friday, Aug. 16 at an Inver Grove Heights business.
The event, held at The Corner Store gas station, highlighted federal grants that can help increase the availability of domestic biofuels, such as corn-based ethanol. The grants help fund costly fuel-pump upgrades at businesses like The Corner Store and expand the market for agricultural products.
“Farms and farmers are a key part of Dakota County's economy," said Dakota County Board Chair Joe Atkins, who attended the event. "Commissioners Mike Slavik and Bill Droste remind our board of this all the time — just how important agriculture is to Dakota County's economic success."
“Support for our agricultural community is support for our county, state and country," Dakota County Board Commissioner Bill Droste said. “Farmers are the backbone of rural Dakota County."
Channing Smith owns The Corner Store, a business his family has owned and operated for five decades.
Dakota County agriculture facts:
- Farmland comprises more than half of Dakota County's land area or about 200,000 acres.
- Dakota County is Minnesota's only county with permanently protected farmland — 71 easements totaling 7,800 acres. About 2,800 of those acres are in Greenvale Township, where President Biden visited Wednesday.
- Corn is Dakota County's top crop.
- Farms with sweet corn, peas, snap beans and organic produce have increased in Dakota County, which is home to the second-most irrigated acres in Minnesota.
- Agricultural firm CHS, the nation's largest agricultural co-op, is headquartered in Dakota County.
- Dakota County boasts the largest 4-H program in Minnesota.