Seeking Endangered Species Protection for Iowa Skipper
The Center for Food Safety has filed a formal petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeking protection for the Iowa skipper butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. The government now has 90 days to make an initial determination.…
Three Emerging Issues for Ag Retailers
In a new report from CoBank, agricultural retailers face three key issues over the next five years. The changing needs of farm customers are at the top of the list. CoBank said a growing number of farmers want to manage…
Vilsack to Testify, Testify, Testify
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will make three trips to Capitol Hill this week. Vilsack is scheduled to testify before the House Agriculture Committee tomorrow. The USDA leader will face the Senate Ag Appropriations Committee on Wednesday and the House Ag…
ND Judge Rules on WOTUS Case
A federal judge in North Dakota is allowing farm groups to intervene in the ongoing legal battle over the Waters of the United States rule. North Dakota Judge Alice Senechal will consider a motion from 24 states for a preliminary…
Interest Rates Increase 25 Basis Points
Interest rates are now at the highest level since September of 2007. The benchmark rate was increased another quarter-percentage point and is now in a range of 4.5-to-five percent. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell said the economy was doing…
Disappointment
The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is upset with budget agreement announced by Governor Tim Walz and DFL legislative leaders. The $48 million target for agriculture is far below expectations, especially with the budget surplus of $17.5 billion. In a statement,…
RRFN Interview: Governor Tim Walz
In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, Governor Tim Walz said the budget reflects the needs of Minnesota agriculture. “We’ve got AGRI (Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation program) dollars in there; we’re making sure that the infrastructure to expand…
A Snapshot of Last Week’s Beet Stocks
According to Acres & Shares broker, Jayson Menke, last week there were three American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock sales totaling 40 shares, brokered at $4,800 per share.
NCI’s Market Update Features Weather Edition
The Northern Crops Institute is hosting another Market Update: Weather Edition webinar on April 5 at 8:00 am. The webinar will feature North Dakota Agricultural Network Director, Daryl Ritchison who will offer important upcoming weather insights to course participants. Webinar…
Cold Calving Warnings
There’s been lots of sleepless nights for livestock producers who are calving in below normal temperatures. NDSU Extension Livestock Specialist Lisa Pederson says with the cold weather coming in during a critical time in calving season, making sure calves are…
Smith Introduces Livestock Disease Legislation
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith introduced a bipartisan bill aimed to protect meat and poultry export markets in the case of disease outbreaks. Smith says with Avian Influenza, Hoof and Mouth Disease, and African Swine Fever concerns on the horizon, ensuring…
House Ag Budget Takes Spotlight
Minnesota House Ag Committee Chair Samantha Vang says the ag budget bill was the center of attention in committee this week. The target budge in the ag committee is $148 million in one-time money, and $40 million in ongoing money.…
Dicamba Application Window Moved for South Dakota
The Environmental Protection Agency moved up the cutoff date for over-the-top application of dicamba label products for soybeans to June 20, for South Dakota. South Dakota State University Extension Weed Science Coordinator Paul Johnson says the South Dakota Department of…
Canola Minute
In this week’s Canola Minute, Executive Director Barry Coleman talks about USDA’s Crop Values Summary. This update is sponsored by the Northern Canola Growers Association.
Cattle Market Optimism
While cattle numbers remain low in the country, MRW Cattle Resources’ Matt Woolfolk says he’s seen a lot of optimism going into this spring as producers look to rebuild herds with strong genetics. “It’s been kind of a season of…
Brokerage Firm Announces Acreage Projections
AgMarket.Net is forecasting corn acreage at 91.3 million, “The company feels as if we might pick up swing acres due to the amount of money that’s been made, strong soybean acres during the 2022 growing season and fertilizer prices dropping…
What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets
In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson said canola is leading the charge to start the week. With strong demand, the market may be trying to buy some…
Lula Trip to China Postponed
After being diagnosed with the flu, Brazilian President Lula has canceled this week’s trip to China. Brazil’s agriculture minister arrived in Beijing last week, but the signing of any trade agreements between the two countries has been postponed.
Hog Markets Continues to Struggle
Steiner Consulting Economist Altin Kalo says the belly market has been burdened by too much supply. “We always talk about bacon and how important it is to this market and the big spike in belly and bacon prices last summer…
Farm Futures Forecasts More Beans, Less Corn
According to a survey conducted by Farm Futures magazine, U.S. corn acreage will total 87.6 million acres. That’s down from 88.5 million one year ago. Soybean acreage is forecast at 89.6 million acres, up from 87.5 million in 2022. Spring…
A Successful Trade Mission
USDA Undersecretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor led a trade delegation to Panama this past week. “We’re going to see really great new trading relationships that are bore out of our time here this week.” Thirty ag companies and…
UPL ‘Ask the Expert’
In the latest UPL ‘Ask the Expert,’ Technical Services Lead Lynn Justensen discusses the possibility of a wet spring and the impact it will have on potato growers. For more details, listen to the entire interview with Justensen.
Flooding in the Farmyard
NDSU Extension Ag Engineer Ken Hellevang says flooding is expected in rural area this spring. “When we look at what they call the snow water equivalent, we’re looking at a lot of areas of 3 to 6 inches of water…
“A Matter of Life and Death”
Arthur, North Dakota farmer Kevin Skunes testified at the public hearing in Gwinner, North Dakota on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. Skunes, who’s served on the board of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association says this pipeline would support ethanol…
Carbon Pipeline Concerns Heard in Gwinner
Summit Carbon Solutions have secured easement agreements with more than 375 North Dakota landowners, accounting for 70% of the proposed pipeline route in the state. Summit Carbon Solutions Chief Operating Officer James Powell says more than additional 5 percent of…
Farmers Top Buyers of Land
Farmers National Company released its biannual “Regional Land Value Report” that showed 2022 brought record sales and overall increases in land values across the country. The report also looked at who was making land purchases in 2022 and found 75…
Cargill Takes a Step Back from Russian Market
Cargill Inc. stated it would take a further step back from the Russian market by no longer handling the country’s grain at its export terminal, although its shipping unit will continue to carry grain from the country’s ports. Cargill says…
ND Sunflower Growers Elected
Scott Tranby of Cooperstown and Matt Swenson of Walcott have been elected to the North Dakota Oilseed Council and National Sunflower Association board of directors.
A Snapshot of Last Week’s Beet Stocks
According to Acres & Shares broker, Jayson Menke, last week there were three American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock sales totaling 40 shares, brokered at $4,800 per share.
Dicamba Application Window Moved for South Dakota
The Environmental Protection Agency moved up the cutoff date for over-the-top application of dicamba label products for soybeans to June 20, for South Dakota. South Dakota State University Extension Weed Science Coordinator Paul Johnson says the South Dakota Department of…
Canola Minute
In this week’s Canola Minute, Executive Director Barry Coleman talks about USDA’s Crop Values Summary. This update is sponsored by the Northern Canola Growers Association.
A Million More Acres
USDA says farmers intend to plant 92 million acres of corn this spring, about one million more than the February Ag Outlook Forum estimate and the average trade estimate. Soybean acreage is slightly less than the average trade estimate but…
USDA Releases Quarterly Grain Stocks Report
USDA says there were 7.4 billion bushels of corn in the U.S. as of March 1. That is about 70 million bushels below the average trade guess. Soybean stocks are reported at 1.68 billion bushels, about 57 million bushels less…
ND Corn Council Elects Executive Team
The North Dakota Corn Utilization Council board has elected their Executive Officer Team at the spring quarterly board meeting. Tysen Rosenau of Carrington will serve as Chairman, Carson Klosterman of Wyndmere has been elected as Vice Chairman and Justin Quandt…
UPL ‘Ask the Expert’
In the latest UPL ‘Ask the Expert,’ Technical Services Lead Lynn Justensen discusses the possibility of a wet spring and the impact it will have on potato growers. For more details, listen to the entire interview with Justensen.
Cold Calving Warnings
There’s been lots of sleepless nights for livestock producers who are calving in below normal temperatures. NDSU Extension Livestock Specialist Lisa Pederson says with the cold weather coming in during a critical time in calving season, making sure calves are…
Smith Introduces Livestock Disease Legislation
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith introduced a bipartisan bill aimed to protect meat and poultry export markets in the case of disease outbreaks. Smith says with Avian Influenza, Hoof and Mouth Disease, and African Swine Fever concerns on the horizon, ensuring…
USDA Releases Hogs & Pigs Report
USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report shows the inventory of all hogs and pigs as of March 1 at 73 million head. Slightly more than a year ago but two percent less than the December quarterly report. Breeding inventory is…
MN Beef Council Names 2023 Retailer Beef Backer
The Minnesota Beef Council announced Blondies Butcher Shop of Wanamingo, Minnesota as the 2023 Minnesota Retail Beef Backer award winner. This award is given to retailers who go above to market and merchandise beef to consumers. Blondies Butcher Shop has…
It’s About Quality, Not Quantity
It’s been a long, snow-covered winter. The harsh start to this winter meant many livestock producers dug into their hay stocks sooner than expected. SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson says the quality of hay been fed right now…
MN Beef Update
Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Kaitlyn Root discusses the “Steak on a Stick” event in the latest Minnesota Beef Update.
HPAI Will Piggyback on Spring Migration
This time in 2022, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was making headlines with spring migration picking up. Minnesota Turkey Growers Association President Pete Klaphake says last year’s outbreak changed the whole industry. “There was a large number of birds that were…
Smith Introduces Livestock Disease Legislation
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith introduced a bipartisan bill aimed to protect meat and poultry export markets in the case of disease outbreaks. Smith says with Avian Influenza, Hoof and Mouth Disease, and African Swine Fever concerns on the horizon, ensuring…
House Ag Budget Takes Spotlight
Minnesota House Ag Committee Chair Samantha Vang says the ag budget bill was the center of attention in committee this week. The target budge in the ag committee is $148 million in one-time money, and $40 million in ongoing money.…
WOTUS Stomps on Landowners Rights
The Senate passed a resolution to rescind the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States rule Wednesday. The Senate passed the Congressional Review Act resolution on a 53 to 43 vote. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven says the EPA’s rule…
Are CRP Rates Creating Competition?
Members of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation are in Washington DC this week for their annual spring fly-in. Members are meeting with the Minnesota congressional delegation to push priorities in agriculture. While the top priority is the farm bill, Glessing…
North Dakota Legislative Report
Senate Bill 2183 would help costs associated with snow removal in rural townships. North Dakota Senator Terry Wanzek says he’s gotten calls about townships paying four to five times their budget on snow removal this year. Hear more in this…
Goehring Clarifies CBD Bill
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring issued a statement clarifying a CBD bill moving through the North Dakota legislature. Goehring says the bill closes loopholes that currently allow synthetically created drugs made from CBD to be sold as CBD. CBD…
ND Corn Checkoff
House Bill 1153 was heard in the North Dakota Senate Agriculture Committee that would designate half of all corn checkoff dollars to the Corn Growers Association instead of the funding being totally managed by the North Dakota Corn Council. This…