Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he hopes to boost the state's farm exports when he goes on a couple of trade missions this fall. Dayton spoke at the annual Farmfest show in southwestern Minnesota. He says Minnesota's agricultural economy generates about $16 billion a year and that exports are a big part of that.

The governor says that's why he's leading a trade delegation to the Republic of Korea in September. He hopes to lead another one to China later in the fall.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports (http://bit.ly/qSQDTS) Dayton also told farmers his administration is working to streamline the state's regulatory review of agricultural operations. He says his goal is to accelerate the permitting and environmental review process. PD

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—AP newswire report; information from Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mpr.org