Minn-Dak Harvest Yields Vary, Sugar Content on the Rise
Round one of sugar beet pre-pile is in the books for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. “To date we’ve got just shy of three tons per acre harvested,” says Vice President of Agriculture Mike Metzger. With such a wet growing season, Metzger…
Interest Rate Cut
The Federal Reserve cut the federal lending rate by a half-percent. This is the first interest rate reduction in four years. “The U.S. economy is in a good place and our decision is designed to keep it there,” reported Fed Chair…
Dealing With Wheat Quality Issues
The excessive rain at the end of the spring wheat harvest is causing quality concerns. Valley United Co-op General Manager Paul Coppin says it is critically important to know your wheat quality. “You know we have some issues with what you…
A Victory for AM Radio
Legislation to keep AM radio in the dashboard of your car or pickup is on its way to the House floor. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 45-to-two this morning. The availability of AM radio in vehicles was put…
Ad Hoc Disaster and Farm Bill Passage Needed
A farm crisis is on the horizon. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman made that point in a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday. The Arkansas Republican said market prices are far below the cost of production and many…
Major Merger Happening in Beet Seed Biz
The parent companies behind the SES VanderHave, Hilleshog and Maribo sugarbeet seed brands are merging. Groupe Florimond Desprez has the SES VanderHave brand; DLF Seeds is behind Hilleshog and Maribo. The two companies have signed an agreement to merge their…
Devils Lake Harvest Delayed by Weather
Devils Lake, North Dakota has felt harvest pressure from September rains. Rock and Roll Agronomy Owner Jason Hanson says the harvest has come to a grinding halt in much of the area. “Everything’s coming to a standstill. We still have…
Minn-Dak Harvest Yields Vary, Sugar Content on the Rise
Round one of sugar beet pre-pile is in the books for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. “To date we’ve got just shy of three tons per acre harvested,” says Vice President of Agriculture Mike Metzger. With such a wet growing season, Metzger…
Cattle Groups Partner for Freedom Rally
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and R-CALF USA plan to co-host a ‘Livestock Producers Freedom Rally’ in early October. The event will focus on their efforts to overturn the mandatory electronic identification ear tags for cattle moving interstate. State groups are…
IDC Scores Released
North Dakota State University has released its soybean iron deficiency chlorosis ratings from the past growing season. A total of 170 traited soybean varieties and 21 conventional varieties were evaluated. This information can be used as farmers make their seed…
Farm Bill Remains in Limbo
A farm bill extension was not included in the continuing resolution. The current farm bill also expires at the end of the month. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership remain optimistic the farm bill can be handled before the end…
CR Rejected
A bill to keep the government funded for another six months was voted down Wednesday night. There was language to tighten voter ID rules, which was rejected by House Democrats. Fourteen Republicans also voted against the continuing resolution. Without action,…
Canola Minute
Here’s the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association. This week, NCGA Executive Director Barry Coleman joins us to discuss the biofuels market. Listen to the report.
A National Solution to E15 Policy Sought
Renewable Fuels Association President Geoff Cooper is looking ahead to 2025. An emergency waiver was granted for E15 and summer driving, but Cooper said that is not a long-term solution. “We do have eight Midwest states that will now have…
Dealing With Wheat Quality Issues
The excessive rain at the end of the spring wheat harvest is causing quality concerns. Valley United Co-op General Manager Paul Coppin says it is critically important to know your wheat quality. “You know we have some issues with what you…
Columbia Increases Tariffs on U.S. Milk
Columbia is calling for an additional 4.86 percent tariff on U.S. milk powder exports after claiming U.S. milk powder was unduly subsidized. The U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation expressed their strong disappointment with the preliminary…
Low River Levels for Harvest Rush
North Dakota State University Crops Economist Frayne Olson expects river transportation could be a problem this year. Mississippi water levels are lower than normal in the lower part of the river. When harvest season ramps up, problems on the river…
USTR Promotes Hurst
Jon Hurst has been promoted within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to be a special advisor for agriculture. Most recently, Hurst was a special assistant to Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip. Previously, Hurst was a special assistant for…
Rail Over Roads
Rail transportation has been losing market share. The head of Oliver Wyman’s North American rail practice, Adriene Bailey, testified in the Surface Transportation Board hearing, saying increasing the market share for rail would keep transportation as energy efficient, sustainable, safe,…
Good Year for Sunflowers
Sunflowers are doing well this year despite being a little bit behind. National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken expects sunflower growers to have a decent year overall. “We kind of bottomed out in the market in March of this…
Tight Margins, Strong Land Market
Good quality farmland in a high-demand area is selling at levels comparable to 12 months ago. “Despite the higher interest rates and commodity prices, we’ve seen surprisingly strong farmland prices,” said Kyle Nelson, an agent for Farmers National Company. There…
Minn-Dak Harvest Yields Vary, Sugar Content on the Rise
Round one of sugar beet pre-pile is in the books for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. “To date we’ve got just shy of three tons per acre harvested,” says Vice President of Agriculture Mike Metzger. With such a wet growing season, Metzger…
Cattle Groups Partner for Freedom Rally
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and R-CALF USA plan to co-host a ‘Livestock Producers Freedom Rally’ in early October. The event will focus on their efforts to overturn the mandatory electronic identification ear tags for cattle moving interstate. State groups are…
A National Solution to E15 Policy Sought
Renewable Fuels Association President Geoff Cooper is looking ahead to 2025. An emergency waiver was granted for E15 and summer driving, but Cooper said that is not a long-term solution. “We do have eight Midwest states that will now have…
A Challenging Year in the Combine
Crops in the Langdon, North Dakota area look tough after recent heavy rains. Kevin Waslaski says harvest came to a screeching halt. Harvest conditions are also difficult. “I was just at John Deere and they said there were 12 combines with…
Milestone Seen With Deere’s Targeted Herbicide Application
John Deere introduced its See & Spray technology in 2021. This system uses artificial intelligence and machine-based learning for targeted herbicide applications. Cameras scan over 2,100 square feet of crop per second. When weeds are recognized, the nozzles deliver a…
Interest Rate Cut
The Federal Reserve cut the federal lending rate by a half-percent. This is the first interest rate reduction in four years. “The U.S. economy is in a good place and our decision is designed to keep it there,” reported Fed Chair…
Dealing With Wheat Quality Issues
The excessive rain at the end of the spring wheat harvest is causing quality concerns. Valley United Co-op General Manager Paul Coppin says it is critically important to know your wheat quality. “You know we have some issues with what you…
Minn-Dak Harvest Yields Vary, Sugar Content on the Rise
Round one of sugar beet pre-pile is in the books for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. “To date we’ve got just shy of three tons per acre harvested,” says Vice President of Agriculture Mike Metzger. With such a wet growing season, Metzger…
IDC Scores Released
North Dakota State University has released its soybean iron deficiency chlorosis ratings from the past growing season. A total of 170 traited soybean varieties and 21 conventional varieties were evaluated. This information can be used as farmers make their seed…
Canola Minute
Here’s the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association. This week, NCGA Executive Director Barry Coleman joins us to discuss the biofuels market. Listen to the report.
Pioneer Agronomy Update
With the heat seen in the past couple of weeks, the corn advancing quickly to the finish line. Grain moisture levels are in the range of 30-to-35 percent and will need time to dry down to harvestable moisture levels. Pioneer…
Major Merger Happening in Beet Seed Biz
The parent companies behind the SES VanderHave, Hilleshog and Maribo sugarbeet seed brands are merging. Groupe Florimond Desprez has the SES VanderHave brand; DLF Seeds is behind Hilleshog and Maribo. The two companies have signed an agreement to merge their…
Navigating Crop Challenges in Southern MN
The wet start to the season was detrimental to the beet crop in southern Minnesota. “Yields are variable, a little bit on the lighter side as you go south and east across our growing area,” says Mark Bloomquist, research director,…
September Heat Welcomed
After an excessively wet start to the season, Jesse Olson with J and O Seed in Murdock, Minnesota says the crop adapted to the wet season and doesn’t look terrible. “The last two weeks here have been pretty dry and…
Cattle Groups Partner for Freedom Rally
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and R-CALF USA plan to co-host a ‘Livestock Producers Freedom Rally’ in early October. The event will focus on their efforts to overturn the mandatory electronic identification ear tags for cattle moving interstate. State groups are…
Growing Opportunities in Solar Farming
Farmers no longer have to take agricultural land out of production to utilize solar panels. “Most of the land has some aspect of agrivoltaics, which means that you are able to farm under the panel,” says Scott Aranson, renewable energy…
MN Beef Update
Minnesota Beef Council CEO Kelly Schmidt is featured in this week’s Minnesota Beef Update. At events, like the Minnesota State Fair, consumers often ask where they can source beef locally. Schmidt says the Minnesota Beef Checkoff has a new local…
Columbia Increases Tariffs on U.S. Milk
Columbia is calling for an additional 4.86 percent tariff on U.S. milk powder exports after claiming U.S. milk powder was unduly subsidized. The U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation expressed their strong disappointment with the preliminary…
Stockmen to Meet in Bismarck
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association is hosting its annual convention and trade show in Bismarck Wednesday through Friday. “There are a lot of things that are good in our industry right now and I think we need to make a…
Addressing Prop 12 in the Farm Bill
Farm groups were in Washington, D.C. this past week, stressing the importance of getting a farm bill done this year. “It’s vitally important for us as pork producers,” said Lori Stevermer, president, National Pork Producers Council. “It addresses Prop 12…
Steps Taken for Delisting the Gray Wolf
The Biden Administration has asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the rule delisting wolves from the Endangered Species Act. If approved, this would return control to the states on this issue. Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber said the…
Farm Bill Remains in Limbo
A farm bill extension was not included in the continuing resolution. The current farm bill also expires at the end of the month. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership remain optimistic the farm bill can be handled before the end…
CR Rejected
A bill to keep the government funded for another six months was voted down Wednesday night. There was language to tighten voter ID rules, which was rejected by House Democrats. Fourteen Republicans also voted against the continuing resolution. Without action,…
A National Solution to E15 Policy Sought
Renewable Fuels Association President Geoff Cooper is looking ahead to 2025. An emergency waiver was granted for E15 and summer driving, but Cooper said that is not a long-term solution. “We do have eight Midwest states that will now have…
A Victory for AM Radio
Legislation to keep AM radio in the dashboard of your car or pickup is on its way to the House floor. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 45-to-two this morning. The availability of AM radio in vehicles was put…
Ad Hoc Disaster and Farm Bill Passage Needed
A farm crisis is on the horizon. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman made that point in a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday. The Arkansas Republican said market prices are far below the cost of production and many…
Mixed Messages
Surface Transportation Board Vice Chair Karen Hedlund voiced frustration with the wide disparity in the testimony at this past week’s hearing. “From our economists and consultants, we heard a pretty grim story; from our Class I railroads, it’s hey, look at…
Ag Groups Testify at STB Hearing
Agriculture was well represented in the two-day Surface Transportation Board hearing in Washington, D.C. Growth Energy Senior Vice President Chris Bliley testified that the biofuels business depends on reliable rail service. “There’s a lot of growth opportunity out there for us,…