James Callan Associates President Jim Callan represents the North Dakota Grain Growers Association and other ag groups on Capitol Hill. An all-out effort is on the farm bill extension. “It’s called an extension-plus-plus,” said Callan. “It could include disaster assistance,…

The National Farmers Union continues to focus on its Fairness to Farmers campaign. North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne said the goal is to “actually use antitrust laws to break up some of these large conglomerates that are holding…

Summit Carbon Solutions has gained approval in Minnesota and North Dakota for its carbon pipeline. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously for the pipeline extending from the Fergus Falls ethanol plant and connecting with the full Summit pipeline network.…

The constitution requires the state to have one speaker, an issue complicated by the 67-67 tie in the Minnesota House. Representative Melissa Hortman is the speaker-designate for the DFL and Representative Lisa Demuth has the same role for the Republicans.…

The University of Minnesota soybean variety trials faced weather-related losses. UM Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Aaron Lorenz was still able to get data from the surviving plots. “Yields were down overall this year because of the very wet…

At NDSU Extension’s Getting it Right in Soybean Production webinar, North Dakota Soybean Council Research Programs Coordinator Miki Miheguli spoke about the increase in soybean production in North Dakota. “From the 1980s to 2020, soybean acres and yields have steadily…

The North Dakota Grain Growers Association passed eight resolutions and re-elected four district directors at its annual meeting. The directors are Ed Kessel, Jeff Mertz, Troy Bratcher, and Dean Knell. “We’ve got a full board, which is always a good…

The farm bill extension is on a bumpy ride in Congress. South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke has been talking with the state congressional delegation. “It doesn’t sound real positive but I do hope they are at least going to…

The DFL has a razor-thin one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate while the House is evening divided between Democrats and Republicans. Agricultural lobbyist Cory Bennett said everyone is trying to understand how this scenario working. “This is my 34th legislative…

Several special orders of business were passed during the South Dakota Farmers Convention. “One of them was with packing plants, packers, anti-competition and transparency in price,” Dave Reis, District 4 representative. “We need to get something done with the way things…

The University of Minnesota wheat variety trials had good results, bad results and ugly results. “Across both North Dakota and Minnesota, we broke records for yield,” said Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist. “We also had more disease, especially fusarium head…

Minnesota Corn Growers Association board member John Swanson joins Corn Matters this week with information about the Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program. Click here to listen.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Red River Farm Network and the Linder Farm Network to provide information on soil health events and topics. Scott Hayes, a water quality-certified producer, talks about the climate-smart practices used on…

Another one-year farm bill extension is widely anticipated. CHS President and CEO Jay Debertin, who also chairs the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, is concerned about the precedent. “We hope that doesn’t become habitual where that just becomes the plan because…

South American weather received attention at the South Dakota Farmers Union Convention in Huron. Conduit Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass said the forecast isn’t good news for the markets. “We all want drought in Brazil; I’m sorry Brazil is firing on…

USDA’s December supply and demand report was deemed friendly for soybeans with ending stocks unchanged at 470 million bushels. Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting President Mike Zuzolo says USDA didn’t do anything to hurt the market. “They actually came in on…

The Agriculture Department reposted its supply and demand estimates to fix an inaccuracy in sugar. U.S. sugar beginning stocks for 2024/2025 were revised downward after new information came out about sugarbeet production. Beet sugar production was cut by 50,000 short…

In Tuesday’s supply/demand report, USDA increased corn export demand by 150 million bushels and ethanol demand by 50 million bushels. USDA lowered wheat ending stocks by 20 million bushels and left soybeans unchanged. Analysts expected an increase in South American…

Low commodity prices eventually stimulate demand. However, there is uncertainty about policies. “We don’t know what may happen in terms of biofuel mandate for both corn and soybeans,” said Tanner Ehmke, lead economist for grains and oilseeds, CoBank. “There’s a…

A large supply of corn and soybeans combined with an increased demand for biofuels is raising the expectations of many heading into 2025. With raised expectations, there is also uncertainty. “We had a really successful year,” said Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association…

China is loosening its monetary policy to deal with deflation and a weak economy. The policy shifts are expected to include fewer restrictions on homebuying and increase government spending to boost domestic demand. At the Chinese Communist Party’s annual economic…

Minnesota Corn Growers Association board member John Swanson joins Corn Matters this week with information about the Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program. Click here to listen.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Red River Farm Network and the Linder Farm Network to provide information on soil health events and topics. Scott Hayes, a water quality-certified producer, talks about the climate-smart practices used on…

Another one-year farm bill extension is widely anticipated. CHS President and CEO Jay Debertin, who also chairs the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, is concerned about the precedent. “We hope that doesn’t become habitual where that just becomes the plan because…

In the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association, NCGA Executive Director Barry Coleman highlights the recent Canola Research Conference. Click here to listen. 

In the Minnesota Farmers Union Minute, MFU Government Antimonopoly Director Justin Stofferahn reports 2025 is the Year of the Cooperative. Stofferahn continues to have an important role in the business sector. Here is the report. 

At the North Dakota Farmers Union annual convention, Futures founder Peter Leyden spoke about a world influenced by artificial intelligence. In Leyden’s view, the agricultural community is already leading the way. “You’re going to absolutely have autonomous driving tractors out…

Minnesota’s Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council is a farmer-led effort to promote research and education regarding agricultural fertility. Dr. Lindsay Pease is an Extension research specialist at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center in Crookston. Unique trial results regarding…

The University of Minnesota wheat variety trials had good results, bad results and ugly results. “Across both North Dakota and Minnesota, we broke records for yield,” said Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist. “We also had more disease, especially fusarium head…

In the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association, NCGA Executive Director Barry Coleman highlights the recent Canola Research Conference. Click here to listen. 

The main ballroom at the Prairie Grains Conference was at capacity for the annual presentation by State Climatologist and NDAWN Director Daryl Ritchison. What’s the outlook for the upcoming growing season? “There are a lot of reasons to believe 2025,…

The University of Minnesota soybean variety trials faced weather-related losses. UM Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Aaron Lorenz was still able to get data from the surviving plots. “Yields were down overall this year because of the very wet…

At NDSU Extension’s Getting it Right in Soybean Production webinar, North Dakota Soybean Council Research Programs Coordinator Miki Miheguli spoke about the increase in soybean production in North Dakota. “From the 1980s to 2020, soybean acres and yields have steadily…

The North Dakota Grain Growers Association passed eight resolutions and re-elected four district directors at its annual meeting. The directors are Ed Kessel, Jeff Mertz, Troy Bratcher, and Dean Knell. “We’ve got a full board, which is always a good…

Corn rootworm has a significant impact on Midwest corn yields. It is often called the ‘billion dollar pest.’ “Corn rootworm has been a huge challenge for many farmers across the Cornbelt and it is extending into farther northern geographies,” said Brandon…

Another one-year farm bill extension is widely anticipated. CHS President and CEO Jay Debertin, who also chairs the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, is concerned about the precedent. “We hope that doesn’t become habitual where that just becomes the plan because…

The Swine Health Information Center and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research funded six new projects to address a potential disease risk in pigs. Swine Health Information Center Executive Director Megan Niederwerder said the United States is currently negative…

South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds is asking Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to avoid the premature reopening of the U.S.-Mexico feeder cattle trade. In late November, imports were shut down after the confirmation of the New World Screwworm in southern Mexico.…

USDA has reappointed four members to serve on the American Lamb Board. Stephen Schreier of Tracy, Minnesota will serve another three years representing the feeder lamb business on the checkoff board.

The 2025 South Dakota legislative session begins on January 14. State policy issues were part of the discussion at the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association convention. “Taxation is an issue when it comes to sales tax laws and property tax laws…

For the first time in three years, bovine tuberculous has been confirmed in South Dakota. A steer from a Hamlin County feedlot was confirmed to have TB. The discovery came from a routine inspection at a Wisconsin packing plant.

USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy will monitor and prevent the spread of H5N1 in dairy cattle. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Executive Director for Field Operations Julie Gauthier said there is a simple goal. “Ultimately, at the end of this…

The farm bill extension is on a bumpy ride in Congress. South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke has been talking with the state congressional delegation. “It doesn’t sound real positive but I do hope they are at least going to…

The DFL has a razor-thin one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate while the House is evening divided between Democrats and Republicans. Agricultural lobbyist Cory Bennett said everyone is trying to understand how this scenario working. “This is my 34th legislative…

Several special orders of business were passed during the South Dakota Farmers Convention. “One of them was with packing plants, packers, anti-competition and transparency in price,” Dave Reis, District 4 representative. “We need to get something done with the way things…

State lawmakers shared the stage during the North Dakota Farmers Union Convention to discuss property tax reform. “This is a huge priority for our members,” reports Matt Perdue, government relations director, NDFU. “Heading into the next legislation session, we are…

James Callan Associates President Jim Callan represents the North Dakota Grain Growers Association and other ag groups on Capitol Hill. An all-out effort is on the farm bill extension. “It’s called an extension-plus-plus,” said Callan. “It could include disaster assistance,…

The National Farmers Union continues to focus on its Fairness to Farmers campaign. North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne said the goal is to “actually use antitrust laws to break up some of these large conglomerates that are holding…

The United States and China each learned a lot from the trade war that happened during President-Elect Donald Trump’s first term. NDSU Extension Crops Economist Frayne Olson said both global economies are in a different place than it was in…