A version of the 2007 Farm Bill is on its way to both the U.S. House and Senate, where Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., is confident it will pass.

If everything goes smoothly, he said, the $300 billion, five-year bill could be on President Bush’s desk by the end of next week. Whether Bush will sign the bill is the biggest unknown that remains.

About 1,200 people lined up in Spring Valley, Wis., on Tuesday for 30,000 pounds of surplus food and cleaning supplies distributed by the Hunger Prevention Council of Pierce County. The long line mirrored a deepening trend across the region: People are having trouble keeping food on the table.

Pioneer Press

As the home heating season comes to an end, one Minnesota non-profit group is starting to install dozens of solar powered heating systems free of charge in low income households.

The group says it makes sense to provide renewable and pollution free solar heaters to homeowners who rely on government heating assistance. The State of Minnesota is offering funding to help with the effort.

“I’ve had a Realtor who made $60,000 in 2006. The last three months he made only $4,000 total — in three months. We all know why. There’s no money there anymore, nobody’s buying homes,” Fair said.

MPR

The economy presents the potential for a triple whammy for food shelves.

— High food prices make it more expensive to fill the standard packages of provisions the food shelves provide for the needy.

Soaring food prices have developed into a “global crisis”, according to the U.N.‘s Secretary-General. The World Bank estimates that food prices have increased by 83 percent in the last three years.

MPR

The food versus fuel debate is being waged worldwide. Public Policy institutes, the United Nations and the European Union have all issued reports connecting an increase in biofuels production to rising food prices. The debate hit home on the House floor.

MPR

Families struggling to make ends meet can stretch their economic stimulus checks or tax refunds a bit further if they use them to buy gift cards at Cub Foods or other outlets operated by the grocery store’s parent company, Super Valu.

In its first month of operation, June 1983, North Country Food Bank Inc. took in 33,944 pounds of food (along with a few non-food products) and distributed 10,835 pounds. With new distribution programs recently implemented or soon to kick off, the organization is on target to deliver more than 2.2 million pounds – valued at approximately $1.10 per pound – this year.

Minnesota officials have ordered food shelves to destroy venison that was donated by hunters after lead was found in some of the meat.

St. Paul, Minn. — State officials tested 299 samples of venison donated to food shelves across Minnesota. Seventy-six samples contained lead of varying amounts.