Recharging Our Batteries – The future of agriculture is in good hands. That’s obvious if you have the opportunity to spend any time at a state or national FFA convention. The South Dakota convention wrapped up this past weekend and the Minnesota convention is underway. There’s a natural enthusiasm when you’re part of these events. Accomplishments are celebrated and leadership skills are learned. As a reporter, covering the FFA convention is a perfect way to recharge our batteries.  We’re looking forward to the North Dakota convention in June and the national convention in October.

CCC Seen as an Option to Fund Farm Bill Priorities – In Tuesday’s Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out his vision of using the Commodity Credit Corporation as a way to fund farm bill programs. “I think if we could be a bit more creative about the structure of the farm bill, that this is a vehicle, as we did with ARC and PLC, that essentially funds the resources for those programs.” Vilsack assured lawmakers the tool would be used in a fiscally responsible way. “We’ll never just for one thing, as has happened in the past, drain the account and force you to replenish it.”

Vilsack Warns About GOP Budget Cuts – In an address to the North American Agricultural Journalists, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned about the farm bill budget cuts that are being promoted by the Republican Study Committee. A report from this conservative House group said farmers with income of $500,000 or more should not be eligible for farm program payments; no farm should receive more than $40,000 in farm program benefits and cuts should be made to crop insurance. The RSC proposal would also eliminate USDA trade promotion programs and eventually end the Conservation Reserve Program. Vilsack said 21 of the 29 Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee have signed off on the Republican Study Committee report.

‘The Right Policy at the Right Time’ – Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson is again emphasizing a farm bill will be considered in the House Agriculture Committee before Memorial Day. Thompson released a statement about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Commonly known as food stamps, Thompson said the program has evaluated food prices and nutrition standards every five years and it has remained budget-neutral. However, the Biden Administration changed that in 2021 when it increased SNAP spending by $256 billion over a ten-year period. Thompson said that executive order violated the Congressional Review Act. In the column, Thompson said it is important to correct any misinformation about cuts to nutrition spending.

Last Chance for Bipartisanship – House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott has released an editorial, saying this is America’s last chance for a bipartisan farm bill. The Georgia lawmaker said a bipartisan approach would enhance the effectiveness of the farm safety net without significant cuts to nutrition programs. Scott asked his Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to find a common sense, compromise approach.

Keep IRA Funds in Climate-Smart Ag Programs – DAK Renewable Energy CEO David Kolsrud has been involved in the biofuels business from the beginning and has seen the economic boost ethanol delivered to rural communities. With low commodity prices, Kolsrud believes many farmers, “especially, the newer ones,” want to press the easy button in the current farm bill debate. “They’re telling politicians to take the (Inflation Reduction Act) money out of the conservation and move it over to reference prices and raise our crop insurance. I think that’s a mistake.” Kolsrud is seeing growing demand from airlines for sustainable aviation fuel. “We’ve never had market pull like this before and we have to be more vocal about that rather than just trying to increase the safety net. That’s short-sighted.” Listen to the interview.

Tai Promotes Biden Administration’s Trade Agenda – U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai faced the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday. Her testimony provided an update on trade issues. “Through the USMCA, we are actively championing the interests of our farmers and agricultural producers. We have pursued two cases now against Canada’s dairy tariff rate quota allocation measures and we are currently challenging Mexico’s restrictive measures on biotech corn before a panel.” Tai said the administration has secured over $21 billion in new agricultural market access in the last three years.

Calling for an Aggressive Trade Policy – A diverse mix of farm groups has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai, asking the administration to recommit to an aggressive trade agenda. The letter also calls for enforcement of existing trade agreements and the use of objective and risk-based regulations. The coalition signing off on the letter includes Farm Bureau, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and CropLife America. Commodity groups represent everything from beef and beans, pork and potatoes, wheat and milk.

China Steel Tariffs Facing a Big Bump – Trade between the United States and China may be taking a new turn. President Biden is calling for a significant increase in tariffs on imported Chinese steel and aluminum. This tariff would go from 7.5 percent to 25 percent. That’s in addition to a separate 25 percent tariff on steel and a ten percent tariff on aluminum that was imposed during the Trump Administration. If realized, China would likely respond similarly to U.S. exports, including U.S. agricultural products.

China Returns the Favor – Days after President Biden imposed higher tariffs on Chinese steel, China responded with a 43.5 percent levy on a chemical made in the U.S. Propionic acid is used in animal feed to prevent mold. It is also used in herbicides, insecticides and drug development. This is seen as a small part in an ever-increasing trade dispute between the U.S. and China.

$1 Billion for Global Food Assistance – USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development will buy $1 billion of U.S.-grown commodities to provide emergency food assistance to people in need worldwide. This is a follow-up to last October’s statement about combatting global hunger. Commodities will include wheat, rice, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, vegetable oil, cornmeal and dry beans. U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers issued a joint statement praising the federal government for new funding to purchase wheat and other commodities for international food aid.

Global Sugar Market Supported by India’s Sugar Export Ban – India has a sugar export ban in place until further notice. American Sugar Alliance Director of Economics and Policy Analysis Dr. Rob Johansson says the Indian government’s decision is based on food security. “Typically, they will put out export bans on certain commodities to make sure that prices inside of India stay low,” said Johansson. “They’ve got 1.4 billion people and they want to make sure that food security is at the top of a lot of their political platform. Part of that is keeping domestic food prices low.” India has also expanded ethanol production from sugarcane.

NDSA in DC – North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Executive Vice President Julie Ellingson joined members of the organization in Washington D.C. this past week. “There are several overarching issues of importance for our organization and our producers,” said Ellingson. “Of course, livestock disaster programs and making sure that those are operating in the way that they need to should, heaven forbid, we have to use them.” Adjustments to the LIP Program and Livestock Forage Program are being sought to make sure valuations are appropriate.

Weather Resources Needed for Data Collection – South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Warren Symmens wants additional weather stations in the state. “South Dakota State University has been pretty key in helping in that process and that has to do with insuring grasslands, grazing lands and hay lands for disaster relief. That’s another win that we want to make sure we keep winning on.” Symmens was part of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Fly-in to Washington, D.C. this past week.

Dry Bean Scene – Chlorothalonil restrictions could impact dry bean yields over time. NDSU Extension Plant Pathologist Michael Wunsch says limiting applications can make disease management more difficult for dry bean producers. Listen to the Dry Bean Scene.

E-15 Waiver Granted – The Biden Administration approved a temporary waiver expanding the summer use of 15 percent ethanol blends,also known as Unleaded 88. The measure extends the period that E-15 is available for eight midwestern states from June 1 to September 15, 2024.

Good for the Environment, Good for the Pocketbook – National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle describes the E15 waiver as a temporary solution. The Madelia, Minnesota farmer would like to see nationwide approval for E15. Wolle appreciates the consumer demand for the 15 percent ethanol blended fuel. “It’s good for the environment. It works great in their cars and it’s usually 10 to 20 cents a gallon cheaper so it’s very important,” said Wolle. “The retailers are used to selling it now and so I’m so glad that they aren’t going to have to change their pumps or deny consumers the ability to buy Unleaded 88.”

Unleaded 88 Reaction – Corn and ethanol groups are responding favorably to the Biden Administration’s temporary waiver, allowing summer use of E-15 or Unleaded 88 for 2024. Minnesota Corn Growers Association Past President Richard Syverson said this will benefit consumers and retailers. “This assures the retailers that they don’t need to put special labels on their dispensers or monitor who or how people fill up their tanks. It means drivers can keep on saving the money that E-15 usually saves them.” North Dakota Corn Growers Association President Andrew Mauch is thankful for the waiver, but is still working towards a nationwide year-round E15 policy. “We think that is likely to eventually happen.”

Biofuels Vs EVs – NDSU Extension Bioenergy Economist Dr. David Ripplinger shared insights during a webinar this past week hosted by the North Dakota Ethanol Council and the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. Ripplinger said biofuel blending has become favorable for oil companies, who would prefer consumers use biofuels rather than driving EVs. “The prospects for the internal combustion engine are still quite strong. EIA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy, has their projections of sales as well as the size of the fleets and there might not be growth, but there’s certainly not this rapid decline or anything close to a complete replacement of the internal combustion engine.”

Farming for the Future – 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. This week, Matt Tiffany talks about why his farm has experienced benefits from becoming water quality certified and implementing soil health practices. Hear more in this week’s Farming for the Future.

Canola Minute – Changes are coming for canola planting dates. Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman says starting in 2025, planting dates will allow for additional time to get the crop in the ground. Hear more details in this week’s Canola Minute.

Tillage and a Limited Start on Spring Wheat – The recent moisture was welcome after starting the season on the dry side. Kennedy, Minnesota farmer Rob Rynning was able to get into the field before the rain. “We did some wheat and we also have over 400 acres of winter wheat in that is coming around nicely.” Rynning said the moisture was able to seep into the freshly seeded ground with the cooler weather.

Knocking on Planting Season’s Door – For Jamestown area farmer Ryan Wanzek, the recent cold spell delayed an otherwise early start to the planting season. “I think the reason people haven’t been more aggressive is just the cold weather. They haven’t been pushing it and very few guys are putting much for wheat in with the economics of it.” Wanzek reports that soil conditions are good. “I would say as soon as the frost comes out, we’ll be able to go pretty much go end-to-end which we haven’t been able to do in five or six years.”

Hit and Miss – Wheat has started to go in the ground in North Dakota, but it is a ‘hit-and-miss’ situation. “I think all in all we’re still sitting pretty good and I think guys are optimistic that we’re still ahead of the curve as far as the planting season,” said Jim Peterson, policy and marketing director, North Dakota Wheat Commission. “Whatever little moisture they can get is going to be beneficial for getting the crop up and going.” Based on the lack of snow this winter, Peterson said timely rains will be necessary this summer.

Winter Wheat Heading – Winter wheat is starting to head in some areas, while parts of the country are beginning to see some impact from drought. “It could be very early progress on getting winter wheat out of the ground which would allow plenty of time for putting in another crop after this as many of them would want to do,” said Dennis Todey, director, Midwest Climate Hub. “In the northern areas, there’s still not much in the way of winter wheat heading. Overall, the conditions are pretty good.”

SD Corn Comments – This week’s South Dakota Corn Comments focuses on profitability. While fertilizer prices have decreased so has the price of corn. Total input costs for crop production remain elevated despite decreases in fertilizer. South Dakota Corn Growers Association Executive Director DaNita Murray provides details.

Farmer-Funded AFREC to End, Dollars Repurposed – Faced with a committee deadline, the Minnesota House Agriculture Committee passed its omnibus finance and policy bill Thursday. Nitrate contamination in southeastern Minnesota has dominated the committee’s work this session. The Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council is up for renewal this year. “I decided to look at how can we look at repurposing AFREC funds to make sure we can adjust the short-term immediate need for families who don’t have access to clean drinking water,” Chair Samantha Vang told RRFN before the committee vote. Vang also said she is open to further discussion on this language when the bill goes to the conference committee. ” I think there’s going to be another opportunity for us to look at how we can best utilize these AFREC funds to adjust the needs we have today.” Despite a smaller supplemental appropriation, Vang said she was able to fully fund the AGRI grant program.

Additional Taxes Not the Answer – There have been proposals for an additional tax on fertilizer to address nitrate issues in southeast Minnesota. Minnesota Corn Growers Association Senior Public Policy Director Amanda Bilek hopes a different approach will prevail. “We went into session really amplifying that instead of adding new taxes to farmers at this time, use either general funds or dedicated resources like through the Clean Water Fund.”

Grain Indemnity Fund Remains Intact – There was a draft of the Minnesota House omnibus agriculture bill that would take the interest from the $10 million Grain Indemnity Fund and use the money for reducing debt for the farmers involved with farmers’ markets. House Ag Committee Chair Samantha Vang admits this was controversial language and amended the bill Thursday to remove this proposal. The agriculture budget bill now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Environment Bill Passes – The environment policy bill includes technical provisions tweaking Minnesota’s 2015 buffer law. That includes language giving the Board of Water and Soil Resources regulatory authority over buffer zones. “There may be a local entity that is not doing the implementation,” explained Representative Rick Hansen. “This actually provides a procedure for the Board of Water and Soil Resources to make sure that there’s a process if they are revoking that authority.” Representative Jeff Backer of Browns Valley spoke in opposition, saying this is a ‘top-down’ approach. “This could be interpreted as if BWSR does not like what the local soil water conservation district is doing, they will be forced to become the bad cop even though they have worked over the last ten years to help get the landowners into compliance.” The amendment to maintain local control was rejected.

Drainage Disclosure Concern – The policies included in the Minnesota House Environment bill touch all parts of the economy, including agriculture. There’s language that deals with the availability of treated seed and a proposal to increase the maximum penalty for violating the state buffer law from $500-to-$10,000. Minnesota Farm Bureau Public Policy Director Pierce Bennett said his members are also opposed to a proposal requiring the disclosure of drainage tile. “We believe there is a strong regulatory framework already in existence for drainage and drainage tile projects. We do not believe we need additional regulatory frameworks and additional disclosure requirements.”

MFU Minute – Minnesota Farmers Union Government Relations Director Stu Lourey joins this week’s MFU Minute. Minnesota Farmers Union has been following and providing input on the agriculture omnibus bills in the House and Senate. Lourey says there has been a focus on nitrate issues and the Agriculture, Growth, Research, and Innovation Program.

Hansen Seeks Corn Ban on DNR/State Land – One provision in the Minnesota House Environmental and Natural Resources budget bill would prohibit the growing of corn on public lands. During Tuesday’s hearing, State Representative Steven Jacob said there is overwhelming opposition to this language and asked Chairman Rick Hansen where this proposal originated. “That came from me,” was the response. “It did not come from a lobbyist; it did not come from a group; it came from me and looking over 20 years of testimony and discussion on this. Corn requires fertilizer, this is public property owned by all of us and can be planted to something other than corn.” Representative Jacob argued against this language. “It’s beneficial to wildlife, beneficial to the DNR, beneficial to the farmers; seems like a win-win-win. If this goes through it’s going to be very detrimental to the farms in the area for crop depredation from deer.”

Proposal Impacts Animal Agriculture Expansion – Minnesota Representative John Burkel of Badger serves on both the agriculture and environment committees, is disappointed in the efforts to increase the regulatory pressure on farmers. That includes a proposal to require an Environmental Impact Study for any farm with more than 10,000 animal units.  “It would probably eliminate anybody’s ability to expand and once again opens the door to the conversation about dropping that threshold to 5,000 or 1,000 animal units in the future. It puts the brakes on any expansion of animal agriculture in Minnesota.” Burkel hopes this language won’t survive the conference committee process.

The Wrong Approach – State Representative Josh Heintzeman of Nisswa spoke out against several provisions in the environment budget and policy bill, including the time it takes for permitting in the state, new rules for ATV use and the management of the elk herd in northwest Minnesota. “This ‘St. Paul down’ approach is just the wrong way to address these kinds of issues in outstate.”

Asking for a Clear Definition of Public Waters – Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Joe Smentek testified before the House  Environment and Natural Resources Committee regarding the definition of public waters in the state. “There was a Supreme Court case where if something is not on the public waters inventory it could still be a public water.”  According to Smentek, clarifying the definition would clear up any ambiguity for farmers and help prevent potential litigation over public water access.

Update Made to Draft Herbicide Strategy – The Environmental Protection Agency has published an update to its upcoming Herbicide Strategy. This is a requirement under the Endangered Species Act. The latest information is not as severe as the draft strategy released last summer. It calls for improved flexibility and feasibility for farmers to implement mitigation while still protecting endangered species. A final version of the Herbicide Strategy is scheduled to be released by the end of August.

California Rule Threatens Supply Chain – A bipartisan group of senators, including North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a rule from the California Air Resources Board. CARB’s goal is to convert the national railroad fleet to zero-emission locomotives. This concept is unavailable and untested and the lawmakers contend it threatens the supply chain and the U.S. economy.

Food and Fuel Influenced by Outside Forces – The grain markets remain choppy. Outside markets are a factor. “The currency markets continue to suggest that we are more deflationary than we are inflationary even though the gold is sitting near its record high,” said Mike Zuzulo, president, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting. “There’s still a big disconnect in these commodity markets when it comes to inflation versus deflation but it boils down to one subject, the trade frictions between the United States and China, which is especially negative to the food and fuel commodities.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in Markets – It’s Monday. That means the weekly episode of What’s Hot, What’s Not in Markets is on the air. Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson cites the financial markets, including Wall Street and the value of the U.S. dollar. “I also have to throw the cattle markets into that category because of Friday’s Cattle-on-Feed Report.  The rest of the commodities are feeling the bearish tone. Planting pressure is part of that story.

Commodity Groups Oppose Trade Duties on 2,4-D – Six major commodity groups are asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to reject a petition from Corteva Agriscience to impose antidumping and countervailing duties on 2,4-D  imports from China and India. A letter signed by the trade groups representing corn, soybean, wheat, barley, durum and sorghum farmers said this petition could impact imports and result in herbicide shortages.

Limits on Important Dry Bean Fungicide – At this past week’s meeting of the North Dakota Crop Protection Product Harmonization and Registration Board, the discussion centered on EPA’s decision to limit the use of chlorothalonil fungicide for use on chickpeas and dry edible beans. NDSU Research Plant Pathologist Michal Wunsch said this is an important tool for dry bean farmers. “It looks like we dodged a bullet in the sense that they have allowed it to stay registered. It’s just a limit on the amount that can go out every season, but hopefully, enough applications for them to be able to get through a wet year.”

MN Corn Matters – This week, Corn Matters has reminders for farmers this growing season. Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council board member Brandon Fast says it is important to handle treated seed and chemicals with care and follow best practices to ensure the health of surrounding waterways, soil, and species.

Devils Lake Outlets to Run at Full Capacity – The Devils Lake Outlets Management Advisory Committee has voted to allow the lake outlets to run at full capacity. As a result, the North Dakota Department of Water Resources expects to start running the outlets May 1. Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Board Manager Jeff Firth says the longer pumping season will provide a better opportunity to make progress towards lowering the lake. The lake’s elevation as of April 18 was 1,449 feet.

A Few Surprises in COF Report – The placements number in Friday’s USDA Cattle-on-Feed report were 12 percent below one year ago, well below trade expectations.  The total on-feed supplies are up one percent from a year ago. Heifers and heifer calves on feed were also up one percent, which indicates herd rebuilding is not happening. Marketings are down 14 percent, down from the average trade guess of an 11 percent decline. There’s a fluctuation in the cattle inventories, up 14 percent in South Dakota and up 11 in Minnesota.

MN Beef Update – Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Executive Director Kaitlyn Root joins the Minnesota Beef Update this week. Nominations are open for the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Minnesota has one vacant position. This body oversees the beef checkoff and the position is open to anyone in the U.S. who own cattle or importers of cattle are elligible to serve in the position and must be nominated by a certified producer organization. Contact kaitlyn@mnsca.org with questions or nominations by Wedesday, April 24th.

Breaking Down Bull Sale Trends – It has been a historic season for seedstock cattle sales. “We’ve seen a ton of demand with averages higher than we’ve ever seen them before,” said Karoline Rose Bohannan, co-owner, K Rose Cattle Company. Despite a strong bull market, prices have moderated somewhat this month. “We have seen a few different trends this year. I have seen a much lower demand in heifer bulls; I think primarily because a lot of people sold heifers.” Bohannan believes ranchers are taking advantage of cull prices to bring in new genetics.

Early Turnout – After a mild winter, NDSU Extension Rangeland Specialist Kevin Sedivec says pasture conditions look good for a normal-to-early turnout on grass. “Bromegrass or crested wheatgrass will reach that stage probably this week. The native range will probably reach it more around mid-May or late May so I would say we’re about ten weeks ahead of schedule because of the warmer climate we’ve had.”

Less Stress for This Calving Season – Fieldwork and calving season are underway at Four Hills Farms at Barnesville, Minnesota. The season has been a little less stressful due to favorable weather conditions. “The winter’s been very mild so with calving, we’ve been able to catch a few more hours of sleep than normal at night,” reports Jake Thompson. After this past weekend’s bull sale, the cycle begins again. “We’ll soon turn around and be looking at doing some breeding.”

Dairy Margin Coverage Deadline Approaches – Minnesota FSA Director Whitney Place is reminding dairy producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage program before the April 29 deadline. “With the extension of the 2018 farm bill, we also have extended the Dairy Margin Coverage Program and we had to rewrite some rules to accommodate for the new language. We already have really good uptake in Minnesota with a lot of folks signed up, but we want to make sure that every single dairy producer who is interested in the program gets signed up by that deadline.

Cow-to-Cow Transmission of H5N1 – The spread of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle is being influenced by cow-to-cow transmission. Wild migratory birds remain the primary means of spreading the virus, but it can also happen through contact with unpasteurized milk or spilled milk. For dairy cattle, recovery typically happens within a couple of weeks. The virus has been confirmed in eight states, including South Dakota.

HPAI Remains ‘a Struggle’ – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is endemic in a handful of countries and the U.S. seems to be going down that same path. “This one has been a struggle,” said Loren Brey, president, Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council. “In my mind, biosecurity alone isn’t going to fix this problem. It’s going to take a combination of biosecurity, bird deterrents and we just can’t rule out the possibility of vaccines.”

Preparing for the Future – Minnesota FFA Executive Director Lavyne Rada describes the state convention as an opportunity for students to showcase their hard work and celebrate. “These students have been preparing and getting those career skills to prepare them for their futures, whether those are careers in agriculture, food and outdoor resources or outside of that.” The contests offer problem-solving skills and let the FFA members explore different careers.

MN FFA Hall of Fame Adds Six Inductees – Six individuals were inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame during the first general session of the Minnesota State FFA Convention. Inductees include Corynn Flood of Cokato, a past president of the Minnesota FFA Alumni Association; Jean Johnson of York, North Dakota, a former chair of the Minnesota FFA Foundation; University of Minnestoa Professor Emeritus Dr. Sally Noll of St. Paul; former ag educator Russ Runck of Watertown;  University of Minnesota-Crookston Teacher Education Lead Nathan Purrington of Ada and retired ag teacher/FFA advisor Keith Place of Okabena. “It is a huge honor,” said Purrington. “It makes you think back to all the experiences you’ve had as an ag educator, all the students you’ve had, and the appreciation you have for what a great career it’s been.”

NXT Gen Ag and MN FFA – University of Minnesota-Crookston is offering a new certificate program aimed at educating those working in agriculture, food, and natural resource companies without two or four-year degrees who are interested in advancing within the industry. Steve Olson Consulting CEO Steve Olson says NXT Gen Ag teaches skills essential to business leadership. “It covers things like reading financial statements and other business management functions.” Olson is sharing this program at the Minnesota State FFA Convention which he considers an energizing experience. “This helps youth find what they’re good at and figure out a path forward.”

Moorhead Charters New FFA Chapter – Moorhead High School hasn’t had an agriculture education program since the early 1980s. That has changed with the addition of the Moorhead High School Career Academy and the chartering of a new FFA chapter. “We have immense support from our community members and, honestly, we wouldn’t be here without their help,” said John Schmidt, ag teacher. The Career Academy is in its third year and features a close relationship with industry, nurturing a career pathway for students. Five other new charter chapters were recognized Sunday, including Lake Park-Audubon, Henning, Anoka-Hennepin, North Branch and Northfield.

Blue Jackets, Bright Futures – The Minnesota FFA Foundation and its supporters provide students the opportunity to put on the corduroy jacket. “The jacket gives you the chance to go forward and represent who you are on that path for agriculture,” said Laney Swiers. “I think it is one of the coolest programs that the Foundation does.” Swiers spoke on behalf of the Minnesota FFA Foundation at the FFA Convention. Swiers is now an agriculture teacher is Missouri. She is a graduate of Mahnomen High School, the University of Minnesota-Crookston and is a former state officer.

A Record Crowd – The South Dakota FFA State Convention is a culmination of a year’s work. South Dakota FFA Foundation Executive Director Gerri Eide said the convention is all about rewarding that effort. “It’s a great experience for South Dakota’s youth to connect with industry; network with each other and be recognized for their outstanding successes throughout the year by receiving their state FFA degree.”

Be Your Best Self – For South Dakota FFA State Treasurer Gretta Larson, the past year helped her to build genuine connections with other members while preparing herself for the future. “If you don’t know what you want to do, just recognize that by trying things and being your best genuine self, you can do that here at FFA and be who you want to be and make lifelong friends.” Larson is currently studying at SDSU where she is majoring in animal science, with plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian.

A Membership First – South Dakota set a membership record this year as the organization continues to grow in the state. “South Dakota FFA has reached over 6,000 members which is the first time we’ve done that and so the organization as a whole is continuing to grow,” said Mercedes Sneddeker, state advisor.

Passing on the Torch – As new officers prepare to take over for retiring leadership, South Dakota FFA State Vice President Dustin Kolb reflects on his FFA career. “To me, FFA is so focused on the future leaders of agriculture and beyond,” said Kolb. “When I first joined I was not an outgoing kid. I was withdrawn and didn’t talk much, but FFA helped build my confidence so much.” Kolb is a freshman at South Dakota State University where he is studying for a double major in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Science.

Convention Gives Students a Chance to Compete and Learn – Over 2,200 students from across the state attended this year’s South Dakota FFA Convention, competing in up to 14 events. “I think the convention has changed so much over the last few years,” said Clayton Sorum, advisor, Tea Area High School FFA Chapter. “It flowed real smooth which is a credit to our leadership.” Sorum thought this year’s convention felt special. “Agriculture is so broad and employs more people than any other industry in the world. That’s why we have so many contests; we’re able to try to give kids a taste of the career path before they go off to college.”

Blagg Named State Star Farmer – McCook Central’s Ryan Blagg is this year’s South Dakota FFA State Star Farmer. Blagg, who is from Salem, South Dakota, took home the Star thanks to Supervised Agricultural Experience where he raised cattle, show goats and has a custom bean rolling business. “I market my cattle on an annual production sale, I sell yearling bulls to producers all over the country and I raise and sell show goats. It’s my way of giving back to 4-H and FFA.” Blagg will attend Kansas State University in the fall and plans to major in Agricultural Economics.

SDFU and SD FFA Working Together – The South Dakota Farmer’s Union takes an active role in the South Dakota FFA Convention. According to SDFU Education Program Specialist Samantha Olson, the FFA members have unlimited potential. “There are endless opportunities for the students in agriculture. You don’t just have to be a farmer. Through our organization and FFA, students get leadership skills, and they can attend camps just to better themselves.”

A Lesson in Leadership – South Dakota FFA President Alyssa Feathers said her time in leadership has been an exciting experience. “I’ve learned so much more about leadership and how it can evolve and look differently for each person,” said Feathers. “I joined FFA when I was in 8th grade and that is where my love for it all started. I had a leadership role my freshman year and from there I just continued going further and I just loved all the opportunities it’s given me.”

Building Relationships – One of the industry groups participating in the South Dakota FFA State Convention in Brookings was South Dakota Corn. Director of Marketing Amanda Bechen appreciates the chance to network with students and other industry professionals. “It’s been great communicating with students and advisors. We’re really happy with the quality of kids that are going to be taking over these agricultural positions in the future.”

Collaboration Agreement Takes Effect For Three Farm Credit Associations – The collaboration agreement between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and two other Farm Credit associations is now in place. The other organizations are Frontier Farm Credit, which is based in Manhatten, Kansas and Farm Credit Services of America with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. With the agreement, the three associations will share leadership, strategic planning and technology while retaining local, independent boards, offices and cash patronage programs.

CHS to Acquire Eight Grain Assets from Cargill – CHS has signed an intent-to-purchase agreement with Cargill to acquire eight grain elevators in five states. The assets included in the sale include facilities in Pipestone and Maynard, Minnesota; Parker, South Dakota and locations in Illinois, Nebraska and Colorado. CHS Executive Vice President of Ag Retail, Distribution and Transportation Rick Dusek said this deal is part of a larger strategy to invest in its supply chain and increase market access.

Additional Label for Dry Lot Cattle Production – Zoetis has received an expanded label approval from FDA for its Synovex Choice product. Synovex Choice is designed to increase the rate of gain in growing beef steers and heifers in dry lot production. A new implant, Synovex Primer, will be available for the dry lot market later this year.

The Sugarbeet Report – Pest control is the focus of this week’s Sugarbeet Report. NDSU Extension Entomologist Mark Boetel highlights some common insect issues and mitigation tactics for producers to consider when putting plans together for the 2024 growing season.

Ag Innovator of the Year Named – The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute named Eiynck Farms of Mahnomen County as its Ag Innovator of the Year. Eiynck Farms developed a process to produce oat groats, which are used primarily for the pet food market.

Midwest Dairy CEO Takes the Job at a Unique Time for the Industry – Corey Scott is in her early days as the new executive director of Midwest Dairy. Scott is a University of Minnesota-Crookston graduate and spent the last 15 years of her career with Land O’Lakes and its sustainability division, Truterra. “It’s a unique time to be coming into a checkoff role given what the economics look like,” said Scott. “With my background in risk management, it forces me to take a very critical business look at how we’re deploying checkoff dollars. We don’t have the luxury to be using checkoff dollars in such a way that we can’t quantify the impact.” Listen to the Red River Farm Network interview with Scott.

NPPC Announces Personnel Moves – Andy Curliss has joined the National Pork Producers Council as its vice president of strategic engagement. Previously, Curliss worked for SAS, Smithfield Foods and the North Carolina Pork Council. Maria Zieba was appointed vice president of government affairs. Most recently, Zieba was vice president of international affairs and served as interim vice president of domestic policy. Chase Adams was promoted to assistant vice president of domestic policy. Previously, Adams was the senior director of congressional relations.

NASS Appoints Honig as ASB Chair – Lance Honig has been appointed as chair of USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Board and director of the methodology division. Honig has served in an acting capacity in both roles since last fall. As chair, Honig will lead the preparation and dissemination of market sensitive agricultural forecasts and estimates. Honig has been the crops branch chief for the National Agricultural Statistics Service since 2008.

Ford Named to TIME 100 – TIME magazine has named Land O’Lakes President and CEO Beth Ford to its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Ford has been in her current role since 2018. Ford is also part of the President’s Export Council.

McCoy Joins Torrey Group – The Torrey Advisory Group has added Nona McCoy to its policy team. Most recently, McCoy was on the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee staff. Previously, she had senior staff positions with both the House and Senate agriculture committees. The Torrey Advisory Group lobbies on behalf of food and farm interests.

Grand Farm Welcomes Two New Board Members – Grand Farm has added Jon Erickson and Dr. Steven Kappes to its board of directors. Erickson operates Diamond T Ranch southwest of Minot and is a member of the CHS board of directors. Kappes previously served as the associate administrator for the Office of National Programs at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

Swanson, Capistran Reelected – John Swanson of Mentor and Kevin Capistran of Crookston have been reelected to the Minnesota Sunflower Council. They will serve another three-year term.

Endres to Retire – North Dakota State University Extension Cropping Systems Specialist Greg Endres will retire on May 1. Endres began his Extension career as an assistant ag agent in Ramsey County in 1983. After time in Rolette County, Endres has been in his current role at the Carrington Research Extension Center since 1990. A retirement celebration will be held April 29 at CREC.

Untimely Passing of MGEX CEO Mark Bagen Announced – Minneapolis Grain Exchange CEO Mark Bagen has died. Bagen began his career with MGEX in 1987 and was appointed president/CEO in 2005. In 2020, Bagen oversaw the acquisition of MGEX by Miami International Holdings and continued to lead MGEX until his passing.

Former Legislator, FmHA State Director Passes – Charles Mertens, who served as the North Dakota State Director for the Farmers Home Administration from 1993-to-2000, has passed away. Mertens, 91, represented Devils Lake in the State Legislature for ten terms.