Severe Storm Threat – Heavy rain, hail and a few claps of thunder were part of the Memorial Day experience across much of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. There’s a chance for more severe weather this afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service says the most favorable area for severe storms is in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, but all areas should be alert to changing weather patterns.

Weekend Weather is the Key – The weekend weather will likely set the tone for the markets in the days ahead. Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson made that point in the Agweek Market Wrap. “North Dakota is definitely the one being focused on and I think everything depends on what happens with this weekend’s weather.” For many farmers, the final planting date for corn has passed. For others, Tuesday is the deadline. “I think guys will push the envelope as much as they can. They may not go too far into the late planting period because once you start taking 15 percent away from your guarantee it becomes tough to continue to plant.”

Finishing Corn Planting Strong – In 2019, late season decisions were based on the final crop insurance planting dates. With higher commodity prices this year, Peterson Farms Seed Lead Agronomist Rick Swenson says farmers are pushing past those final dates. “If there’s a hybrid in the 80-day maturity, it has a 200 bushel per acre yield potential,” says Swenson. “I’m not saying you’re going to get that, but even if you get 130 to 150 bushels per acre it is better than prevent plant.” Swenson says fields are wet and it may take a few weeks for ground to get planted. Hear the story.

Making the Maturity Decision – A shorter-season maturity may be the answer for farmers still dealing with planting delays. “The end of May is when I start to think about moving my hybrid maturity for corn five-to-six days earlier or more,” said Jason Snell, agronomic service representative, Syngenta. “I’d consider moving soybean maturities earlier somewhere around the end of the first week in June if the seed and trait packages that you need are available.” Seed companies are moving seed around to work around the late planting dates. “Retailers have been very good about communicating their supplies, but your best guarantee is to have your hands on it and in your shed.”

Pioneer Agronomy Update – Sidewall compaction is more common when the crop is planted in wet soils. Pioneer Field Agronomist Jesse Moch says this soil smearing in and around the furrow can have long-lasting effects. If we dry out, that becomes really hard, and our roots won’t want to form laterally. They try to drive down and it can cause issues later in the year.” Planter adjustments can resolve this issue. “Most importantly, we want good seeding depth and soil to moisture contact. Every field is different. If we had a whole field like this with sidewalk compaction, you’re looking anywhere from 20-to-40 percent yield loss if we dry out.” In the latest Pioneer Agronomy Update on the Red River Farm Network YouTube channel, Moch also outlines maturity issues.

Hope Remains – The Arthur Companies grain merchandiser Jenna Knutson is hopeful farmers can make more planting progress before the rains. “The Harvey, North Dakota area is better off than most. We are about 50 percent done planting wheat and corn.” Farmers are switching some acres. “We’ve seen a switch from corn to wheat. Other than that, the commodity markets are at good levels and hopefully, farmers can get a crop in.”

Commodity Prices to Keep the Planters Rolling – Erik Younggren is finished with his sugarbeets and just starting his spring wheat seeding. There’s a lot of land still underwater that will need time to dry. Regardless, Younggren intends to keep planting. “With the prices where they are, I’d like to have the opportunity to participate in that,” explained the Hallock, Minnesota farmer. “It’s no fun to have summer fallow and there is a lot of work involved in that, too.” This spring is one for the history books. “In the past four years, we’ve seen it all. We’ve had spring floods, summer floods, fall floods and now late-spring floods.”

Uncertainty Surrounds Spring Wheat Acres – The wheat acreage mix is an unknown in the United States with prevented plant playing a role. Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting President Mike Zuzolo says traders are very unsure about acres. “I think the market is very nervous post holiday what USDA will show in the planting progress report. With Minnesota at 11 percent planted on spring wheat compared to 85 percent one year ago. North Dakota was at 27 percent planted versus 93 percent one year ago. There’s a lot of talk about prevent plant.”

Boots on Ground – North Dakota and northwest Minnesota are the epicenter for delayed planting. Advance Trading Risk Management Advisor Tommy Grisafi and the Red River Farm Network will gain a first-person perspective on planted acreage and crop conditions with its Boots on the Ground Tour. Reports can be found on-air and online Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Dry Bean Scene – The Dry Bean Scene is brought to you by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association. In this week’s Dry Bean Scene, Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley talks about planting progress for dry beans.

Racing the Rain – Farmers are racing the rain to plant many crops, including canola. Near New England, North Dakota, Jon Wert says it has been slow going. “We’re up against a planting deadline at the end of May. We would finish in time, except for the fact there’s more rain in the forecast. This will shut us down short of our goal. I guess we’ll have to switch acres to wheat,” says Wert. Near Carpio, Pat Murphy started planting canola the last full week of May. Murphy plans to get all of it into the ground. “We’re picking and choosing fields, plugging away where we can,” says Murphy. “We want to seed our own farm and it’s no fun when you don’t.” Photo credit: Pat Murphy

Fresh Potatoes Get Planted in Northern Red River Valley – Fresh potato planting is underway in the northern Red River Valley. Near Saint Thomas, North Dakota, farmer Allen Tucker and his family have more than 70 percent of their fresh red and yellow potatoes planted. “We got a good run in the last few days. There are two fields left that are experiencing excess moisture.” Tucker is part of Associated Potato Growers Incorporated, a potato cooperative with locations in Drayton, Grafton and Grand Forks, North Dakota. According to their CEO Mike Torgerson, only ten to 15 percent of fresh potatoes are planted for the co-op. The majority of planting is happening in the Drayton and Grafton areas. It is not getting too late for the potato crop this season but if the rains continue, there is expected to be a decline in potato acreage.

Sunflower Acres May Get a Boost – Due to the demand for sunflower oil globally, National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken expected an increase in sunflower acres coming into the planting season. The delayed planting season may boost sunflower acres even more. “A few areas of the Dakotas and Minnesota are up against the final planting date for the earlier planted crops. Sunflowers are a good option. Our first final planting date is June 10 in northern North Dakota, June 15 in the southern part of the state. Minnesota’s final planting date for sunflowers is June 15.” Sandbakken says farmers in northeastern and northwestern North Dakota may switch acres from corn or spring wheat to raise sunflowers. “Based on seed sales and if everything gets planted, we’re looking at a 20 percent increase. It’s not a bad situation for the sunflower market. Our crop was smaller in 2021 due to the drought, but with the added demand from Ukraine, we’ll take every single acre we get.”

Don’t Skimp on Pre-Emergence Weed Control – As temperatures warm, BASF Technical Service Representative Ken Deibert expects to see a lot of weed pressure. “I’m already seeing lambsquarters, kochia, and waterhemp. Even when we’ve had these relatively cool temps, we’re seeing a lot of water hemp emerging early.” With the rush to plant a crop, there may be a tendency to skip pre-emergence weed control. “I would certainly encourage pre-emergence herbicides wherever possible.” Layering residuals is recommended to carry weed control through the rest of the growing season. Hear the story.

Crop Watch – In the Barnesville area, Jake Thompson told RRFN the field conditions are spotty. “We don’t have sugarbeets planted, because that ground is too wet. We’re planting corn and if we can continue to plant for the next two days, we could get it all done. We haven’t even thought about planting soybeans yet.” As of Tuesday, Wolverton, farmer Jay Nord only had ten percent of the crop planted. During a normal planting season, most of the crop would be in the ground already. “Basically, all we’ve been able to farm this spring is tiled ground and old sugarbeet ground.” In Fergus Falls, AgCountry Farm Credit Services Vice President of Insurance Rob Fronning said a few farmers are starting to shift from planting corn to soybeans. “We’re hoping farmers can keep making progress on any crop. There are patches of wet in fields and farmers may have to take prevent plant on certain areas.” Hear the story.

Lawmakers Ask Ag Secretary’s Help for Wet Planting Season – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, along with other lawmakers from Minnesota and North Dakota, sent a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to provide support and certainty to farmers dealing with excessive moisture. The lawmakers want Vilsack to offset any loss in the crop insurance guarantee to producers unable to get into the field until the final planting date. In the letter, the lawmakers emphasize wanting USDA to incentivize crop planting.

Vilsack to Hoeven: Happy to Provide Assistance Where It Makes Sense – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven followed up with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on a request for support for Northern Plains farmers during Thursday’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. “Our proposal to you is through the Commodity Credit Corporation or one of our programs to actually offer to cover some of that discount so farmers actually go and try to get crops in the ground, even though they’re moving past the crop insurance end date.” Hoeven said this plan would save money by not making more prevent plant payments. More crops in the ground would also help with food inflation. Vilsack has not had a chance to review the letter. “Part of the challenge we face in this particular area is making sure we don’t compromise the relationship between the insurers and producers in terms of the overall crop insurance program, creating a circumstance where the risk is difficult for the crop insurance folks to be able to calculate, but I’m happy to take a look at what you all have written.”

A Few Reminders as Final Planting Dates Come and Go – Countryside Insurance Agency agent Jennifer Otteson says farmers can still plant corn after the final planting date, but crop insurance coverage will be reduced one percent per day. “Farmers will eventually get to a point where they run out of time and they may switch over to a later crop.” Across much of the Northern Plains, the final planting dates for soybeans and dry beans is June 10. The final planting date for spring wheat varies. Even if farmers decide to go past the final planting date, Otteson says they should stay in touch with their local crop insurance agent. “Agents can put in notices of loss for each of these crops as famers get to the final planting dates. There must be a notice of loss reported within 72 hours of the final planting date or within the late planting period that it’s no longer feasible to plant.” Graphic: University of Illinois

CRP Flexibility – USDA has announced additional flexibility for landowners who are in the final year of their Conservation Reserve Program contract. Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says the request must be made in writing through the local FSA office. “We’re going to allow producers to voluntarily terminate their CRP contract and handle field preparation with no penalty after the primary nesting season. “The primary nesting season ends August 1 in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Four million CRP acres are scheduled to expire this year. North Dakota and South Dakota are ranked fifth and sixth respectively for enrollment in CRP. “We are trying to help our producers understand that there are some flexibilities there and we want to continue to put them in a position to take advantage of some of the crop prices that we’ve got right now, and to try to realize some of the benefits while helping out with the global food supply.” In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, Ducheneaux said the agency has started to mail applications for the new Emergency Relief Program. With the streamlined process, the FSA administrator expects payments to go out next month.

Ag Groups Taking a Closer Look at CRP Option – Agricultural groups are digesting the news from USDA on the Conservation Reserve Program. North Dakota Grain Growers Association Executive Director Dan Wogsland acknowledges there are concerns about global food shortages. “I’m sure that was USDA’s mindset when they announced this. We need to take a closer look at the details,” says Wogsland. “If the land becomes available past the primary nesting season, I’m not sure a crop can be grown in the state of North Dakota at that point in time so we really need to take a hard look at this.”

Planting Decisions Are All About the Economics – Minn-Star Bank Farm Management Analyst Kent Thiesse says corn farmers have a decision to make. They can plant the crop with a late planting provision, switch up acreage or take prevent plant. The prevent plant payment is 55 percent of a farmer’s crop insurance guarantee. “We had very good guarantees, because there was a $5.90 spring price. Its yield multiplied by the spring price multiplied by the coverage level. If you don’t have fertilizer applied, the option may look attractive to some.” Ultimately, the decision comes down to economics. “Farmers want to get the crop planted, but do they want to plant the crop if yield odds aren’t good? When is the normal first frost date? They’ll probably be dealing with wetter corn in the fall, which means higher drying costs.”

Dry Bean Scene – The Dry Bean Scene is brought to you by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association. In this week’s Dry Bean Scene, Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley talks about planting progress for dry beans.

Cutting Red Tape – Minnesota Representative Michelle Fischbach is part of a small bipartisan group seeking to address global food shortages by speeding up the delivery of food assistance. This bill would temporarily waive the requirement that half all food aid shipments be carried by U.S. flagged ships. This proposal would suspend the rule until February of 2025.

Canola Minute – It’s been a wet and delayed planting season in the north. In the latest Canola Minute, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman talks about a letter sent to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting the USDA cover losses and indemnity coverage for growers not able to complete planting.

WTO Members Asked to Address Food Security – The World Trade Organization will meet for a ministerial conference in mid-June. Ahead of the event, the WTO’s director general said agriculture needs to address the potential food crisis, but gaps remain between key trading partners.

American Soybean Association Outlines 2023 Farm Bill Priorities – Farm bill priorities for the American Soybean Association range from the farm safety net and conservation to trade, energy and research. ASA director and Valley City, North Dakota farmer Monte Peterson says soybean growers want the Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs to improve. “There should be strong consideration given to increasing the soy reference price, combined with an option for farmers to update base acres. At the same time, planting flexibility needs to be maintained,” says Peterson. “We also have marketing assistance loans and consideration should also be given to increase those loan rates.” Read the full list.

Next Farm Bill Hearing Scheduled – The Senate Agriculture Committee continues their review of the current farm bill in preparation for 2023. The next farm bill listening session will be on Friday, June 17 at Arkansas State University. The event will start at 9 a.m. and will be livestreamed on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s website.

Minnesotans on Witness List for Wednesday Hearing – The House Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee will host a hearing on careers in conservation this Wednesday. Central Lakes College Dean of Agricultural Studies Keith Olander and Pheasants Forever Education and Outreach Program Manager Marissa Jensen are on the witness list.

Signup Now for Container Assistance Program – USDA is taking applications for its new Commodity Container Assistance Program. This program provides funding for exporters to reduce the cost of sourcing containers at ports in Oakland and Seattle. The Farm Service Agency will make monthly direct payments to agricultural businesses and cooperatives based on the number of containers utilized between March 1 and December 31 of this year.

Corn Matters – In this week’s Corn Matters, hear more about the U.S. Grains Council and how this benefits Minnesota’s corn growers. Corn Matters is presented by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

Chinese Veg Oil Consumption Declines – The two-month shutdown of Shanghai due to the pandemic is having a significant impact on the vegetable oil market. The National Grains and Oils Information Center says China’s demand for all edible oils is down 8.5 percent from one year ago. That’s the first downturn in more than 20 years.

China-Brazil Negotiating a Trade Deal – China and Brazil are working on a bilateral trade agreement. During the early negotiations, China is taking steps to accept Brazilian corn. China still needs to approve the biotech corn traits produced in Brazil and its not known how long that process will take. At the same time, China temporarily suspended beef imports from four Brazilian meat packing plants. The reason for the suspension was not announced.

Last Chance to Register for NCI Duluth Port Tour – Registration for The Northern Crops Institute Duluth Port tour is drawing to a close. The two-day export tour will take place June 20-21 as participants will travel from Fargo to Duluth. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the Duluth Superior Port Authority, container and rail yards, grain terminal and other sites in the Duluth area. The tour will also include presentations from industry professionals, including NDSU Extension Crops Economist Frayne Olson, and North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network Director  Daryl Ritchison. Registration ends on June 10. To register for this tour, visit northern-crops.com/tours. For questions, contact Krista Jansen, Program Coordinator at krista.j.jansen@ndsu.edu.

Conflicting Opinions on Section 301 Trade Tariffs – The Biden Administration is getting different opinions about the Section 301 tariffs imposed on China. A bipartisan group of senators, including North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, is urging the White House to keep these tariffs in place and enforce the phase one trade agreement. Meanwhile, a coalition of 40 ag groups wants the administration to suspend, reduce or eliminate these tariffs. Farmers for Free Trade says this change would open market access for U.S. agriculture and reduce costs for farm equipment, fertilizer and crop inputs.

Walz Signs Ag Omnibus Bill   – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the agriculture omnibus bill into law. This law provides $18.4 million in drought relief to Minnesota’s farmers and ranchers, along with investments in broadband and ag programs like the Agricultural Emergency Account and the Emerging Farmers Working Group.

Interest Rate Hikes on the Way – Minutes from this month’s Federal Reserve Board meeting underscores the sense of urgency to deal with inflation. Fed officials seemed to call for half-point interest rate increases during their June and July meetings.

Minn-Dak Adopts New Strategy to Address Driver Shortages – To address the truck driver shortage, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative is adding a new self-driving truck to haul sugarbeets from the piling station to the factory. Vice President of Agriculture Mike Metzger says this will be a leader-follower type system. “There is a manned leader truck in control of a truck and the autonomous follower. We’ll have two trucks retrofitted for it, one leader and one follower on the road. If it goes as well as we hope, we’ll look to expand it next year.” Metzger says Minn-Dak Famers Cooperative is the first sugarbeet co-op in the Red River Valley to use this technology. “The technology has been out for awhile, used successfully by the Department of Transportation in North Dakota and Minnesota. Most people probably haven’t noticed, but if you see that impact vehicle driving slowly behind the unit ahead painting, that’s the autonomous truck. We’re just taking this one step further, going a little faster and using it for an agricultural purpose.” The truck is expected to arrive in August.

The Sugarbeet Report – Farmers are getting the sugarbeet crop planted in the north. NDSU Extension Sugarbeet Agronomist Tom Peters has more in the Sugarbeet Report, presented by Amity Technology, H&S Manufacturing, SESVanderHave and REGEV from SummitAgro.

NGFA Welcomes STB Proposal – The National Grain and Feed Association is praising the Surface Transportation Board for its proposal to address rail service issues. The STB is seeking a faster process to handle service emergencies. The issue came to light this year when railroads were unable to deliver feed to livestock areas or grain to milling operations.

Farm Co-ops Seen as an Option for Broadband – A new report from CoBank argues agricultural cooperatives are in an ideal position to deliver high-speed broadband to farmers. This move could create a new revenue source for farm supply co-ops and help offset the volatile crop input business. CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange infers the expansion of broadband in Rural America will increase adoption of precision agriculture technology.

MN Beef Update – Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Allison VanDerWal has an update for livestock haulers or those transporting livestock feed. Hear more in the latest MN Beef Update.

The U.S. Initiates Another Dispute Panel Against Canada – Canada is not meeting their dairy trade obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. On Wednesday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative initiated a second dispute panel to address the challenge. The U.S. issued the first dispute panel earlier this year. Canada published a revised approach to handing USMCA dairy tariff rate quotas in mid-May, but that did not fix the violations. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said all options are being considered to get U.S. dairy market access.

USDA Taps Commodity Credit Corporation for Additional Avian Influenza Aid – The USDA is transferring $400 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to help address new cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack previously approved $130 million in emergency funding for the disease in March and an additional $263 million in late-April. Since last month’s CCC funding transfer, the USDA says there are detections in 151 new flocks affecting 10.8 million commercial and backyard birds.

USDA Proposes Rule to Protect Poultry Growers – USDA is taking action under the Packers and Stockyards Act to stop deceptive and anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industry. This rulemaking is designed to increase transparency, especially in marketing contracts for poultry farmers. USDA is also making $200 million available to expand meat processing capacity.

Fewer New Cases of Avian Influenza in Northern Plains – As temperatures warm, there are fewer new cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Minnesota State Board of Animal Health Assistant Director Dale Lauer says there has not been a new detection of HPAI in the state since May 19. “In the long run, when we’re looking at detections of the virus, any day we do not have an additional case is a good day. We’re very busy with releasing control areas and getting farmers back into business.” In Minnesota, there are 80 confirmed site locations with HPAI. In South Dakota, there are 40 cases. North Dakota has 15 cases.

More Resources to Help with Avian Influenza – Minnesota’s poultry industry has been hit the hardest this year with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. That’s due the cold, wet weather and migratory bird fly patterns.  Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen says some of the newly approved USDA funds may come to Minnesota. “We’ll aggressively seek those dollars to help Minnesota farms and companies.” Minnesota’s omnibus ag finance bill, signed into law this past week, replenished emergency funds to help the poultry industry deal with HPAI as well. We are concerned though hearing some veterinarians say HPAI could hang around through the fall this year. It’s acting differently.”

Amicus Brief Filed in Glyphosate Case – A coalition of 54 agricultural groups is calling on President Biden to withdraw a recent friend-of-the-court brief submitted to Supreme Court. The U.S. Solicitor General advised the court against taking up a case dealing with pesticide labels. The high court is being asked to review a California rule requiring a cancer warning label for glyphosate. The requirement is in place despite the scientific community and the EPA agreeing the weed killer is not a carcinogen. The groups signing off on this letter include Farm Bureau and commodity organizations representing corn, soybeans, wheat and sugarbeets.

DOJ Did Not Consult with USDA on Glyphosate Case – The Justice Department did not seek input from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack before filing a friend of the court brief urging the Supreme Court not to consider a case about the labeling of glyphosate. Vilsack made that point in response to a question during the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. Vilsack said he has talked with the Environmental Protection Agency about crop protection and the need to “follow the science.”

New Beef Processing Plant Proposed – A $1.1 billion beef processing plant is coming to western South Dakota. The debt/equity capital firm, Kingsbury & Associates, is behind this project. The plant will be located south of Rapid City and will have a daily processing capacity of 8,000 head.

SD Corn Comments – Hear more about the winner in the annual SD Corn Showdown Series in this week’s South Dakota Corn Comments, presented by the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.

Profits Up Slightly for Bank of North Dakota – The state-owned Bank of North Dakota reported 2021 profits of $144.2 million. That’s up from $141.2 million in 2020. The ag loan portfolio declined by $61 million to $702 million, but increased from the years before the pandemic.

Titan Machinery Releases 1Q Financials – West Fargo-based Titan Machinery reports first quarter net income of $17.5 million. That’s up from $10.5 million in the first quarter of last year. Titan Machinery’s agriculture business benefited from “robust demand.”

No End in Sight for CNH Industrial Strike – Union workers at two CNH Industrial plants remain on strike. The work stoppage began May 1.  CNH offered a three-year contract and an 8.5 percent raise in the first year, but labor leaders rejected the offer. The CNH plant at Burlington, Iowa manufacturers headers for Case IH and New Holland. The Case IH Magnum tractor is made at the Racine, Wisconsin plant.

Minn-Dak Adopts New Strategy to Address Driver Shortages – To address the truck driver shortage, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative is adding a new self-driving truck to haul sugarbeets from the piling station to the factory. Vice President of Agriculture Mike Metzger says this will be a leader-follower type system. “There is a manned leader truck in control of a truck and the autonomous follower. We’ll have two trucks retrofitted for it, one leader and one follower on the road. If it goes as well as we hope, we’ll look to expand it next year.” Metzger says Minn-Dak Famers Cooperative is the first sugarbeet co-op in the Red River Valley to use this technology. “The technology has been out for awhile, used successfully by the Department of Transportation in North Dakota and Minnesota. Most people probably haven’t noticed, but if you see that impact vehicle driving slowly behind the unit ahead painting, that’s the autonomous truck. We’re just taking this one step further, going a little faster and using it for an agricultural purpose.” The truck is expected to arrive in August.

Bean Shipment Moves Out of Duluth Port – The Duluth Port shipped out 200 containers full of kidney beans this weekend. This is the first containerized shipment out of the Twin Ports. Chippewa Valley Bean is exporting these beans to Europe. This type of product would typically move through coastal ports, but logistical issues caused significant delays the past two years. Chippewa Valley Bean President Cindy Brown cited a shipment that sat at an Eastern port from February until it was loaded in June. Photo credit: Chippewa Valley Bean

MN Wheat Minute – Minnesota Wheat On-Farm Research Project Lead Chris Matter is starting a nitrogen variety trial this summer. Hear more about it in this week’s MN Wheat Minute.

FMC Appoints New Crop Marketing Director – Julio Negreli is FMC’s new U.S. crop marketing director. Most recently, Negreli was the U.S. crop production marketing head for Bayer. Previously, Negreli worked in sales, business development, marketing, strategy and emerging markets for Monsanto and Syngenta.

Daubenberger to Lead MnDOT – Governor Tim Walz appointed Nancy Daubenberger to serve as the commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Daubenberger has worked for MnDOT for 22 years, including stepping in since the departure of former Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

Finstad, Ettinger Win First District Primary Races – Brad Finstad and Jeff Ettinger will be on the ballot in the August 9^th special election in Minnesota’s First District. Finstad is the former state director of USDA’s Rural Development program and won the Republican primary by less than 400 votes. Former Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger had an easier time in the DFL primary, winning with 64 percent of the vote.

Sommerfeld Promoted – Allen Sommerfeld is the new communications director for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. For the past nine years, Sommerfeld has been MDA’s senior communications officer.