Ag Innovation Update

AURI has developed a one-of-a-kind tool to help Minnesota counties and regions to estimate their renewable energy potential and demand. The AURI Renewable Energy Template is a tool devised to help answer questions that have been repeatedly asked of AURI during the last few years: How can various regions throughout Minnesota foster renewable energy development? Is there a way to determine regions’ and counties’ best resources for renewable energy? What… Continue Reading Template for Estimating County Level Energy Use and Renewable Energy Potential

AURI organizes a food drive to mark its 20-year anniversary Farmfest 2009 visitors will be able to do something to help those in need this summer. AURI and a number of other Minnesota agriculture organizations are teaming up to collect nonperishable food items, personal care products and cash for the Second Harvest Heartland food bank. The AURI tent will be the drop-off site for donations during the outdoor farm show.… Continue Reading Feed the Need

Facebook friends will now be able to keep track of AURI’s activities. AURI has joined the world of social networking by establishing a Facebook page. "A lot of people rely on Facebook as a means of communication," says Mary Steidler, AURI communications assistant. "Having a presence on this social media gives AURI another means of sharing information and reaching out to people." The site will be updated regularly to keep… Continue Reading AURI on Facebook

Minnesota’s biodiesel consumption will be getting a boost in the coming weeks as the next phase of the state’s biodiesel program kicks in. Beginning May 1, each gallon of diesel sold in Minnesota will bump to a five percent biodiesel blend, up from the two percent inclusion that had been in place since 2005. The biodiesel legislation first passed in 2002 made Minnesota the first state to require use of… Continue Reading Boosting Biodiesel

2009 marks the 20th year of AURI’s operation as a nonprofit corporation created to improve the economy of rural Minnesota through the development of value-added uses for the state’s agricultural commodities. During the farm crisis of the 1980’s, Minnesota leaders recognized something innovative needed to be done to strengthen rural Minnesota’s economy and to use growing grain supplies. Discussions with commodity groups, farm organizations and legislative leaders resulted in 1987… Continue Reading AURI at 20