 A week after federal money ran out for helping Minnesota farmers and ranchers who lose livestock to wolves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has come up with money to continue providing wolf control services through the end of the year. Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue earlier this week to ask for emergency funding, and they heard back late Wednesday that the USDA has agreed to fund wolf control activities through the end of the year, and they will fund them next year too. The lawmakers cited Minnesota's growing wolf population, which rose to an estimated 2900 last winter. It's illegal for farmers and ranchers to shoot wolves that prey on livestock, but federal government provides trapping services to livestock producers facing problem wolves. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.