FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Two brothers who operated a North Dakota farm have pleaded not guilty to charges they intentionally spoiled potatoes after the 2006 harvest in order to collect disaster payments.
 
     Fifty-year-old Aaron Johnson and 47-year-old Derek Johnson, along with their company, Johnson Potato, are charged in federal court with conspiracy and making false statements. They were arraigned in Fargo on Wednesday.
 
     Authorities say the defendants applied chemicals and added spoiled and frozen potatoes to their harvested potatoes, and also turned up the heat in their warehouse near Cooperstown. 
 
     The brothers allegedly received more than $800,000 in disaster payments.
 
     Both men were released on a promise to appear. Prosecutors argued that Derek Johnson, who lives in British Columbia, should have been forced to stay in the U.S. until the matter is resolved