Latest News Articles
Commodity Purchases Designed to Move Farm Products
Published April 24, 2020
The USDA’s coronavirus assistance program includes $3 billion in commodity purchases for emergency food aid programs. A total of $100 million per month will be invested each for meat products, dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables. Pre-approved food boxes…Poppe: 200,000+ Pigs May Need to be Euthanized
Published April 24, 2020
Worker safety takes precedence as the meatpacking industry deals with the COVID-19 crisis. Minnesota House Agriculture Committee Chair Jeanne Poppe says the food supply chain also needs to operate. With the closure of major packing facilities, Poppe says hog farmers…Feeding the Crop is the Key to Yield
Published April 24, 2020
Crop nutrition is a priority as growers prepare for the 2020 growing season. "Fertility makes up about 60 percent of what the farmer is going to get out of that field," said Sherry Koch, technical product manager, Mosaic. "With that…Checkoff Program Rides the Price Roller Coaster
Published April 24, 2020
USDA oversees 21 research and promotion programs nationwide. The funding mechanism vary for each checkoff program. The mandatory beef checkoff is $1 per head, collected each time cattle are sold. Dairy farmers contribute a 15 cent per hundredweight assessment for…The Sugarbeet Report
Published April 23, 2020
Sugarbeet growers in the southern Red River Valley are starting to plant this year's crop, while the northern RRV is still a few days away. Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative Vice President of Agriculture Todd Geselius says this is a…MFU Minute
Published April 23, 2020
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Minnesota Farmers Union is gathering feedback from its members. MFU President has more in this edition of the MFU Minute.New Coronavirus Package Replenishes Paycheck Protection Program
Published April 23, 2020
President Trump signed a $484 billion coronavirus aid package. The legislation replenishes $310 billion for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. The package also allows farmers to be eligible for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and…Peterson Asks White House to Help U.S. Pork Industry
Published April 23, 2020
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson sent a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force on Thursday. In the letter, Peterson asked the task force to address challenges facing the U.S. pork industry. Peterson also asked Vice President Mike…ND Farmers Begin Planting Small Grains
Published April 23, 2020
Bismarck, North Dakota farmer Clark Coleman wrapped up barley planting this week. "We've been planting pretty hard for the last few days and the conditions are good." Coleman said he’ll plant spring wheat soon. "We'll probably jump into the wheat…