With roughly 500,000 acres of sugar beets planted across Minnesota and North Dakota, American Crystal Sugar cooperative is the nation's largest producer of refined sugar through beet farming. It is also one of the nation's most powerful lobbying groups, contributing money to lawmakers in 45 states in 2011. The Star Tribune took a deep look at the co-op's political strategy. As part of the package, the newspaper put together digital tools and maps on its political giving and the individuals that contribute to the effort. To review the story and use the interactive tools, go to startribune.com/sugarbeets.
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