Farmer Bridge Assistance Announced – USDA’s new Farmer Bridge Assistance is making $12 billion available in response to trade market disruptions and high input costs. From the $12 billion total, $11 billion will go to eligible row crop farmers. The eligible crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, canola, sunflowers, oats and lentils. The remaining $1 billion is targeted for specialty crop producers. Acreage must be reported by the end of business this Friday. The payments are expected to be made by the end of February.

Rollins: Tariffs Are Not the Reason for Farm Bridge Assistance – The new Farmer Bridge Assistance program has been described as a way to support farmers hurt by high tariffs and the trade war with China. During an appearance on CBS, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the issue goes deeper than that. “What we found is that actually all of these tariff and trade renegotiations have not, in fact, compromised our farmers in this farm economy,” said Rollins. “What has really compromised them was the skyrocketing of inputs under the last administration, and the fact that there were no new trade deals. and we went from a trade surplus in 2020 to a $50 billion agriculture (trade) deficit after the four years of Biden.”

Speculation Seen Over FBA Payment Rates – USDA is expected to announce the Farmer Bridge Assistance payment rates before Christmas. A guessing game is now underway over the potential farm assistance rates. Paul Neiffer from the Farm CPA Report is out with his prediction. For soybeans, Neiffer estimates the payment will be $31.77 per acre. Corn is projected at $48.35 per acre and wheat is $37.38 per acre. The FBA rate is estimated at approximately $28 for barley, $33 for canola and $25 for sunflowers. If Neiffer’s speculation holds, Southern farmers will see significantly higher per-acre payouts with cotton projected at just under $100 per acre and rice at $108 per acre.

Fedorchak Backs New Federal Farm Aid – North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak says President Trump’s newly announced $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program will deliver needed relief to producers facing high input costs, low commodity prices, and ongoing trade uncertainty. The program covers a wide range of row crops, including soybeans, corn, wheat, canola, sunflowers, barley, and lentils, with payments expected to be released by February 28, 2026. Fedorchak has pressed the administration for additional support throughout the year, including a letter urging relief for North Dakota soybean growers. She says the new assistance will help farmers manage economic pressure while trade negotiations continue.

‘A Band-Aid on an Open Wound’ – American Soybean Association Chairman Caleb Ragland is thankful for the President’s new Farmer Bridge Assistance program, but said it doesn’t go far enough. In an appearance on CNN, Ragland called the program “a band-aid on an open wound.” The soybean leader said farmers really need market-based solutions.

Callan: Growers Were Hoping For More – At the Prairie Grains Conference in Grand Forks, James Callan Associates President Jim Callan updated growers on federal policy and potential assistance heading into 2026. Callan noted that while expectations for the bridge assistance payment were high, budget limitations are shaping the programs. “I think a lot of folks would have wanted to see more than $12 billion total, the expectation was something maybe closer to $20 billion.” Callan said there is also potential for additional support. “I know there have been discussions among congressional leaders about doing something more beyond what the administration has done.”

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance: ‘Disappointed’ – The Administration’s farm relief package targets row crops with $11 billion in assistance. In addition to corn, soybeans and wheat, that list includes sunflowers, barley, canola and lentils. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which represents fruit and vegetable growers, is disappointed it was not included in the first round of payments. A total of $1 billion has been reserved for non-row crop commodities, such as sugarbeets or potatoes. The details for those payments are still being determined.

Potato Industry Says $1 Billion Aid Falls Short – National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles says potato growers are still trying to determine how much support they may receive from the administration’s newly announced $1 billion allocation for specialty crops. Quarles said growers nationwide are dealing with steep financial strain from trade issues, rising labor costs, and weakening demand from major buyers. “When you look at just the potato industry and what we’re facing in this economic crisis, the estimates are roughly half a billion dollars in grower losses just in the Russet variety. That would consume half of that billion dollars with just one variety of potatoes and when you spread that out across all of the various specialty crops, there’s just a much greater need than the $1 billion provides.” Quarles said industry groups are working with USDA and Congress to secure additional aid.

Farmers Need More Than Short-Term Relief – National Farmers Union President Rob Larew says farmers are entering the new year with hope, but also with significant uncertainty. “We’re hoping for a more stable 2026, but we have huge challenges that we need to overcome,” Larew said. “We’re finally getting the farm aid package out of the White House, but is that enough?” Larew pointed to early reactions following the announcement, noting that calls for additional assistance surfaced almost immediately. Speaking at the North Dakota Farmers Union Convention, Larew also emphasized the importance of completing a new farm bill in the coming year. “One of the things that could help farmers out even more heading into next year would be if we could finally get that farm bill completed,” Larew said. “The fact is, existing programs are not really meeting today’s needs.”

Agriculture May Seek Additional Relief in ’26 – The farm financial situation is so severe, National Association of Wheat Growers Association Treasurer Nathan Keane believes there will be an attempt to secure more relief for farmers when Congress returns in January. “It is gonna be helpful to have this $12 billion bridge payment coming, $11 billion will go towards row crops and $1 billion will go to our specialty crops,” said Kaene. “The hurt that we’re facing right now is a larger impact than that amount, so there’s a possibility of, yeah, going back and another ask.” Rather than ad hoc assistance, Keane wants more opportunities in the marketplace. Keane spent the early part of this past week at a NAWG strategic planning session in Minneapolis. On Wednesday and Thursday, Kaene was in Grand Forks for the Prairie Grains Conference.

Ag Assistance is Necessary, But Not a Long-Term Solution – North Dakota Farmers Union Past President Mark Watne says that the financial relief farmers will receive is necessary, but it’s not enough, and it’s not a long-term solution. “We’re selling grain for less than what we did in the 1970s, and luckily, we’ve seen a little bit of relief coming, but it’s probably not enough to make us whole,” said Watne. “In all honesty, if you want to keep farmers on the land, I think we do need more relief, but we’d be better served to get back into the marketplace.”

Trump Targets Environmental Rules on Farm Machinery – President Donald Trump says his administration will move immediately to roll back what he calls unnecessary environmental restrictions on farm machinery, arguing the changes will lower equipment costs and simplify operation for producers. Speaking about the burden on manufacturers and farmers, Trump criticized the added EPA requirements placed on engines and technology in recent years. “We’re going to take off a lot of the environmental restrictions that they have on machinery. It’s ridiculous, you buy it, it’s got so much equipment on it for the environment. It doesn’t do anything, except it makes the equipment much more expensive and much more complicated to work,” Trump said, adding that manufacturers will be expected to reduce prices as those regulations are removed. Trump said the effort will be implemented right away.

A Message of Affordability – In a campaign-style rally in Pennsylvania Tuesday night, President Donald Trump addressed the issue of affordability. Energy prices were among the areas highlighted. “Our oil prices are coming down very substantially, energy prices, and honestly, with that, everything comes down because there’s nothing nearly in the category of oil.”

Fielding Questions – In the current farm financial situation, farmers need customized solutions to provide flexibility and support when managing short-term agricultural operation expenses. In this edition of Fielding Questions, AgCountry Financial Officer Cindy Hanson highlights these lines of credit and the importance of having someone who understands, sitting at the table with you. Hanson is based at the Lisbon, North Dakota branch. Click here to listen to the podcast. 

Stable Economy Ahead – According to a new year-ahead report from CoBank, the U.S. economy will likely remain steady in 2026. Core inflation and inflation rates are expected to decline. For the grain and oilseed markets, CoBank says supplies will remain large. However, there is optimism over increased biofuel production and better export conditions. The animal protein sector is forecast to remain strong in 2026, but the report warns several headwinds could influence growth in the coming year.

Shapiro: Global Agriculture Entering a Structural Shift, Not a Cycle – There is a cyclical nature to production agriculture and the commodities markets, but Bespoke Group Director of Research Jacob Shapiro says this current market landscape is different. “This is not a normal cycle; I think we’re undergoing a fundamental structural change in how the global ag economy is working.” Shapiro was the featured speaker at the North Dakota Farmers Union Annual Convention this past week in Bismarck. His talk focused on the changing times for trade, agriculture and economics. “We’re moving away from globalization and who can produce the best product for the lowest cost to countries thinking about food self-sufficiency and food as a part of their national security,” said Shapiro. “That means that all of the logic that had us exporting all over the place for the past 30, 40 years, that goes away.”

Brazil Called Out for Dumping Sugar on U.S. Market – During a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven underscored the challenges seen in today’s sugar industry. “Brazil is dumping sugar, over quota, into our market. They have forced sugar prices for our producers down 42 percent, but if you go in the store, it’s flat.” said Hoeven.”This is an example of where we need to enforce our agreement for our sugar producers.” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he would look closely at this issue with Brazil.

Harrison: ‘The Math is Not Mathing’ – Sugarbeet growers were on Capitol Hill this past week, highlighting the current challenges within the industry. “We have seen a decrease in demand and an increase in supply from foreign actors like Brazil dumping sugar on our market,” said Harrison Weber, executive director, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association. “We are making sure they are all aware of it.” Weber emphasized the financial strain on local growers, noting a 42 percent drop in sugar prices over the past year. “With our increased on-farm costs and decrease in income on the revenue side, the math is not mathing. We have to figure out something to keep our guys going. Otherwise, if we do not, the answer is that we become more reliant on foreign countries to provide that sugar.”

Beet Stock Values – American Crystal Sugar Company sugar beet stock trading continues to be slow, says Acres & Shares broker, Jayson Menke. Last week 15 shares were brokered at $4,200 per share. Menke said there have only been 60 shares brokered and this was the third brokered sale of the season.

No Major Shifts in USDA’s December WASDE – Total Farm Marketing Senior Market Analyst Naomi Blohm says Tuesday’s WASDE report offered few surprises, with USDA holding steady on most supply and demand categories. “No change at all on the supply or demand categories for soybeans or wheat compared to last month,” Blohm said, noting USDA typically waits until the January report to make bigger adjustments. The exception was corn, where export demand was raised. “Corn for export last month was at 3.075 billion bushels, and now we’re at 3.2 billion bushels, a record amount,” she said. The shift lowered ending stocks from 2.154 billion bushels to 2.02 billion.

Zuzolo: Market Got It Right Ahead of WASDE – Global Commodity Analytics President Mike Zuzolo says Tuesday’s WASDE report largely confirmed what traders had already priced in. “The market got it right; they had been buying corn and selling beans,” Zuzolo said, noting USDA’s decision to raise corn exports but leave soybean exports unchanged reinforced that trend. South American weather is also shaping trade sentiment. Zuzolo said conditions in Argentina remain hot and dry, which he associates more with corn and soymeal concerns, while improving weather in southern Brazil ties more closely to soybeans.

What’s Hot What’s Not in the Markets – In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson said that the cattle market has moved back into the hot category, along with the stock market and gold heading into the holiday season. On the other side, the wheat leads the ‘not hot’ category, along with the soybean market that is still waiting for more purchases from China. Click here to listen to the full report.

China Has Until Feb/March to Fulfill 12 MMT Soybean Obligation – Initially, China’s timeline to purchase 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans was thought to be the end of this month. Earlier in the week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted the deadline was sometime in February. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer further confused the issue while on Capitol Hill Tuesday when he was asked about the target date for those purchases. “It is for this growing season, so thank you for highlighting that,” replied Greer. “We’ve heard from a couple of farmers; they wanted to know about that discrepancy. It’s through the growing season, which is, again, when we usually expect soybeans to be sold.” The end of the soybean growing season would have ended this past fall. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven pressed Greer on the timeline again. The U.S. trade ambassador repeated the 12 million ton total would be fulfilled by the end of the growing season, “which tends to end in February or March.”

A Moving Target – China’s timeline for fulfilling its 12 million metric ton soybean commitments has been a moving target. Originally, the thought was that those sales had to be wrapped up by the end of this month. “It was never realistic that they were going to import 12 million metric tons by the end of December, not realistic,” said Al Kluis, president Kluis Commodity Advisors. Kluis said the information coming from the Trump Administration has not been consistent, but he is confident China will honor the agreement. “This year’s USA bean crop is very good quality and very dry,” said Kluis. “They like to buy those dry U.S. soybeans, put ’em in their strategic reserve, and if they need to, they can leave them there for three to five years before they rotate them out. They’ll get to them, but probably at a pace that’s slower than what you or I would like.” Kluis was one of the featured speakers at the Prairie Grains Conference.

MN Corn Matters – In this edition of Minnesota Corn Matters, Minnesota Corn Growers Association Past President Richard Syverson highlights a recent trade mission to Switzerland and Germany. Click here to listen. 

US-Indonesia Trade Deal in Jeopardy – The trade deal between the U.S. and Indonesia is on shaky ground. In the deal that was negotiated in October, Indonesia was supposed to eliminate 99 percent of the tariffs on U.S. exports. Trump Administration officials indicate Jakarta has been slow to implement this deal. Indonesia has also refused to terms on key parts of the agreement.

Agriculture Remains a Hurdle in U.S.-India Trade – As part of a trade deal with the United States, India is prepared to purchase more oil, military equipment and aircraft, but agricultural products are a no-go. According to the Informist news agency, the Indian government believes U.S. ag imports would put its farmers at a competitive disadvantage and reduce their income. Negotiations continue, but agricultural trade remains the biggest hurdle.

Trade Flows Can Return to Normal – Trade policy has been a bouncing ball in recent months. Ben Pratt is the vice president of public affairs for the Mosaic Company and says the changing tariff policy has impacted the fertilizer business. Hope remains. “I think the trade flows can go back to their normal routes if these tariffs stay away, and I think that will make the U.S. market more competitive.”

Dry Bean Scene – In the Dry Bean Scene, Minnesota Dry Bean Research and Promotion Council Director Jon Krause discusses a recent trade mission to Germany and Switzerland. Click here and learn about the export opportunities. 

Cramer, Armstrong Praise New WOTUS Direction – North Dakota political leaders described the Trump administration’s revised Waters of the United States rule as a major shift toward regulatory clarity for agriculture and energy. During the first federal listening session for WOTUS, North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer said the proposal reflects years of pushback from landowners and state officials. “We worked for nearly a decade to stop rules that would have given Washington control over private land and everyday farm work,” Cramer said during the listening session. “The Trump administration is finally putting forward a rule that respects property rights and gives producers the certainty they deserve to operate without fear of federal overreach.” Governor Kelly Armstrong emphasized how deeply past WOTUS interpretations would have reached into rural North Dakota. “The Biden-era WOTUS rule was an existential crisis in North Dakota because it would have put more than 80 percent of the state under federal control,” Armstrong said. “On our ranch north of Medora there is a dry creek that has not had water in more than 150 years, yet it would have been regulated as a waterway. This new rule recognizes the difference between real waterways and dry ground and finally listens to North Dakota producers.”

Hoeven, Goehring Emphasize Property Rights In WOTUS Debate – Senator John Hoeven and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring say North Dakota needs a durable Waters of the United States rule that respects private property and maintains agricultural productivity. Hoeven underscored the importance of rebuilding a workable policy, saying, “we want to thank President Trump and the Trump administration and (EPA Administrator) Lee Zeldin for taking out that rule and now we are going to go back and we are going to do it right.” Goehring said the proposed rule is a significant improvement. “Past WOTUS rules harmed law-abiding farmers and ranchers who own and manage about 90 percent of the land in North Dakota,” Goehring said. “This new proposal cuts red tape and reduces permitting costs, but it must be made even clearer so producers do not need lawyers or engineers just to plow, plant, or build fences on dry ground.”

Half-RIN Proposal Has Benefits for Domestic Biofuel Industry – A new study funded by the United Soybean Board found EPA’s proposal to assign 50 percent of the Renewable Identification Number credits to imported biofuels and biofuels made from imported feedstocks would be positive. The option would allow biofuel producers to use imports, while making domestic feedstocks, such as soybean oil, more competitive.

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, Megan Mullen, Ag Water Quality Certification Program administrator, offers an update on the program.  Click here. 

Trump Administration Launches $700 Million Regenerative Pilot Program – The Trump Administration is launching a $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program to help U.S. farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, protect water quality, and boost long-term productivity. The initiative, announced by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is part of the Make America Healthy Again strategy and focuses on strengthening the nation’s food and fiber supply. “The Regenerative Pilot Program also puts Farmers First and reduces barriers to entry for conservation programs,” said Rollins. Kennedy added, “If we intend to make America healthy again, we must begin by restoring the health of our soil.” The program will streamline conservation efforts, allowing producers to bundle multiple regenerative practices into a single application. USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program for the first year.

Negative Feedback for USDA Reorganization Plan – According to Government Executive, USDA has received mostly negative feedback about its reorganization plan. Public comment was taken in August and September. There were nearly 47,000 comments, but most were form letters. Of the 14,000 remaining messages, more than 80 percent oppose the reorganization. The USDA plans to relocate 2,600 employees to five regional hubs, located in Kansas City, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City. The plan is expected to be implemented by the end of 2026.

Farm Bureau Leadership to Work on Resolution Process This Week – State Farm Bureau presidents will be in Washington, D.C. this week to go through the resolutions process ahead of next month’s American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting. “The economics of agriculture and where we’re at right now will be the overarching theme, anything that can be done, whether it is taxes or on the input side,” said Dan Glessing, president, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. “Those inputs have become a big number and we have to address that.” Glessing participated in this past week’s Prairie Grains Conference in Grand Forks and was a live guest during RRFN’s Country Morning broadcast. The conversation included the issue of mental health in agriculture. “When you come out of harvest, it’s time to wind down and reflect and that can be when some of these challenges kick in; remember, it’s okay not to be okay, but make sure you say something, whether that’s talking to a friend, a neighbor or a professional.”

Sterile Fly Program Helps, but Surveillance Remains Critical Against Screwworm – With New World Screwworm inching closer to the U.S. border, numerous preventative measures are being taken to prevent it from entering the United States. “One of our biggest concerns is obviously the movement of these flies and the larvae that ensue, because that’s where we lead to further cases,” said Sonja Swiger, Texas A&M Extension entomologist. “A big issue is that these eggs are really small and sometimes that wound could be very small as well and they can hitch a ride on animals around to different locations.” Engineered sterile flies are one of the methods used as a countermeasure, but Swiger says surveillance and reporting are still key to the prevention process. “The key part is to check animals as frequently as possible, as well as to treat those animals and then utilize the sterile insect technique.”

Lawmakers Ask White House for Bird Flu Vaccine Plan – Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds led a bipartisan group of senators asking the Trump Administration to finalize a bird flu vaccine strategy. In March, USDA pledged $100 million to research vaccines and therapeutics as part of a broader strategy to address avian influenza. USDA received over 400 proposals in June, but has not taken any action.

Sue and Settle Strategy=’Forced Manipulation’ – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Past President Todd Wilkinson testified before a House Natural Resources subcommittee seeking reform of the Equal Access to Justice Act. EAJA was created to allow Americans to challenge government action without massive legal costs. Wilkinson, who is a rancher and attorney at DeSmet, South Dakota, said the program may have been well-intentioned, but it has been abused. “Too often, these lawsuits are filed with the sole purpose of coercing federal agencies into settlements that drive policy changes,” said Wilkinson. “That’s not responsible governance, that’s forced manipulation.” The ‘sue and settle’ strategy has been used, especially in environmental law with advocacy groups suing federal agencies, negotiating private settlements that bypass public input and normal rulemaking.

201 Trade Case Investigation Sought – The American Sheep Industry Association is seeking a 201 trade case investigation to level the playing field for U.S.-produced lamb. ASI claims imported lamb is threatening the future of domestic producers.

SHIC Funds 12 New Research Projects – The Swine Health Information Center has funded a dozen new projects to address its research priorities. SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton said the U.S. is not dealing with any foreign animal diseases at this time so much of the focus is on endemic diseases, like PRRS and PEDV. Research priorities include the preparedness and response to emerging diseases and mitigating risks to swine health. “One of those projects is really looking at harvest plant dock; how can we reduce the amount of disease present and contamination that happens when pigs get unloaded at a packing plant, and when trailers go back to the farm to pick up another load. We’ve got a group working on that out of Minnesota to assess what interventions could be done to help reduce that cross-contamination.”

La Nina Persists – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center expects this year’s La Nina to continue for most of the winter. With La Nina, our region is expected to experience colder-than-normal weather. There is also a likelihood of above-average snowfall.

Region Well Represented Among Wheat Contest Winners – The 28 winners of the National Wheat Yield Contest have submitted their wheat for quality testing. Quality winners will be announced during a wheat quality webinar on January 21, and awards will be presented at the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio. National Wheat Foundation Executive Director Anne Osborne says this year’s contest had strong representation from the Northern Plains. “Out of the 28 winners, we had seven from North Dakota and one from Minnesota. So, it was a really good turnout in this area, as usual in spring wheat.”  Registration for next year’s contest will begin March 1.

Competing for Acres – While growers would like to see an uptick in wheat prices, the crop remains an important part of the crop rotation. “Yeah, it’s a big crop for a lot of growers when they think about managing weeds, especially dealing with a lot of resistant weeds these days.” WestBred Technical Product Manager Justin Berg expects corn to be battling for more acres. “Corn acres are probably gonna be up a little bit going into next year,” said Berg. “It’s gonna be pocketed though, there’s gonna be areas of the Northern Plains where wheat will maintain the share of the acres.”

Canola Growers Expect Acreage Increase – The Northern Canola Growers Association hosted its annual Canola Research Meeting online, allowing growers to see the results of their checkoff dollars at work. Executive Director Barry Coleman said canola growers had a good year, but it’s time to focus on next year. “Quite a few growers seemed to have a good year with canola, so we expect an increase in acres next year, because the crop did reasonably well for growers across the state this year,” said Coleman. “Levels of disease were down in the northeast part of the state, probably owing to less moisture than before. So, we’re finding that the longer rotations certainly seem to work well for canola growers, and we’re seeing that with one-in-three or one-in-four rotations.”

ND Barley Acres Hold Up Despite Drop in Beer Consumption – At the Prairie Grains Conference, North Dakota Barley Council board member Frank Laufer said growers are benefiting from crop rotation and increasing demand for pet food, “Acres are up about 22 percent for the year and that’s pretty good for our industry because beer’s actual consumption is actually kind of down, and most of the barley raised in North Dakota is for the brewing industry. There is a lot for pet food too, but most of it’s for the brewing industry.” Laufer also stressed the importance of keeping barley competitive in federal policy. “We still want to be one of the main small grains and not lose our face. And so the big thing is keeping the reference price of barley as its own, keeping barley on acres so that you don’t lose that.”

White Mold Could Threaten Crops for Years to Come – After significant white mold pressure this past year, the inoculum is in the soil and could be an issue in 2026, 2027, and beyond. “Those sclerotia had been produced, that are in the stem basically within that plant, of soybean, dry bean, canola, for example, and now they are a part of that (soil) residue,” said Ken Deibert, technical service representative, BASF. “That sclerotia, it’s just waiting on moisture now for subsequent seasons and those things can remain in the soil for a number of years as well.” BASF has a new fungicide available in 2026 to control white mold called Zorina. Learn more in the interview. 

Farm Mediation Cases Up Over Last Year – During the summer, the number of mediation cases in Minnesota was four or five times higher than one year earlier. Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says mediation notices are twice as high as they were in 2024. “Which is still twice as much, but it wasn’t four times as much, so I’m hoping it’s quieting down a little bit,” said Petersen. “For a lot of farmers, it’s difficult right now, to put pen to paper as they’re meeting with those bankers. I think people can go through another year for some of those folks, but we just can’t have this go on too much longer.”

$4M Available for Beginning Farmer Program – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance Authority will begin accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on January 1. The annual program provides financial incentives for asset owners who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, or other agricultural assets to beginning farmers. The state has $4 million available for the year, and funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Beginning farmers may also qualify for tuition reimbursement for Farm Business Management programs, up to $1,500 per year for three years. The MDA will host an informational webinar December 22.

MN Enviros Adopt Litigation Strategy – In the State of Minnesota, environmental activist groups have put farmers in the crosshairs with litigation. Lobbyist Bruce Kleven said these groups are asking the courts to compel state agencies to act. “We’ve seen it in three areas; we’ve seen it on nitrates in the water; we’ve seen it on treated seed, and we’re likely to see it on drainage,” said Kleven. “It’s under the Environmental Rights Act, and the guts of the claim are that the state isn’t doing enough, so these environmental groups are asking courts to force them to do what they want.” Kleven said agriculture groups have intervened in these cases, so they will be at the table as these cases move forward.

Gateway Ag Divisions Rebrand Under CAS – Gateway Building Systems has officially joined Custom Agri Systems, Inc. CAS is a family-owned agricultural solutions company operating since 1982 and recognized as Brock’s number-1 dealer nationwide. Under the new structure, Gateway’s agricultural divisions now operate under the Custom Agri Systems name, while Gateway will continue its construction and building services under the Gateway brand. CAS leadership says the transition strengthens their footprint in North Dakota and South Dakota without altering daily operations for customers.

SD Corn Comments – In South Dakota Corn Comments, Danita Murray, executive director, South Dakota Corn, discusses the proposed Norfolk Southern-United Pacific rail merger. Click here to listen. 

New Faces on ASA Executive Committee – Ohio farmer Scott Metzger has succeeded Caleb Ragland of Kentucky as president of the American Soybean Association. In addition, Valley Springs, South Dakota farmer Jordan Scott has been elected ASA secretary. Jamie Beyer of Wheaton, Minnesota will serve as an at-large member of the executive committee and former ASA Chairman Josh Gackle of Kulm, North Dakota rotates off the nine-member committee. ASA also welcomed 13 new directors, including Darin Johnson of Wells, Minnesota; Brent Kohls of Mayville, North Dakota and Drew Peterson of Salem, South Dakota. The list of ASA board members retiring this year include Paul Casper of Lake Preston, South Dakota; George Goblish of Vesta, Minnesota and Brad Thykeson of Portland, North Dakota.

Gast, Frisch on USB Executive Committee – Two of the four members of the new United Soybean Board executive committee are from the region. Mike Gast of Valley City, North Dakota is the new vice-chair and Tom Frisch of Dumont, Minnesota is the secretary.

Gast Outlines Priorities as New USB Vice Chair – United Soybean Board Vice Chair Matt Gast, Valley City, says return on investment will remain the board’s top priority. Gast, who has served on the board since 2019 and on its executive committee since 2021, says the role comes at a critical time for U.S. soybean producers. Gast pointed to market expansion, new uses, and reduced reliance on a single buyer as ongoing priorities. China remains the top customer, but USB is working with global partners to diversify markets. He also highlighted the continued payoff of the soybean checkoff. “For every dollar that a farmer invests in the checkoff, they get $12.30 back in return. That’s a really huge number, and everything we can find for soybeans to go into moves the needle that much more every time.”

ACSC Announces Board Reorganization – Mark Nelson of Oslo, Minnesota, was elected as chairman of the American Crystal Sugar Company board of directors. Erik Bakke of Ulen, Minnesota, is vice chair. Brend Baldwin of St. Thomas, North Dakota; Greg Cotton of Hillsboro, North Dakota and Jared Sands of Alvarado, Minnesota were elected to the ACSC board.

Northey to Posthumously Recieve AFBF Award – During next month’s American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, Bill Northey will be honored posthumously with the organization’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.  Northey served as the USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation during the first Trump Administration. Northey is also a former Iowa secretary of agriculture and a past president of the National Corn Growers Association. a former Iowa secretary of agriculture and a past president of the National Corn Growers Association.

CHS Officer Team Installed – CHS board members elected C.J. Blew of Castleton, Kansas, as the new board chair. Blew succeeds Dan Schurr of LeClaire, Iowa, who had been in the role since 2017. Jon Erickson of Minot, North Dakota, is vice chair. Scott Cordes of Wanamingo, Minnesota, was reelected second vice chair. Russ Kehl of Quincy, Washington, is secretary-treasurer and Alan Holm of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, is assistant secretary-treasurer.

Top Lobbyists – The Washington, D.C. publication, The Hill, is out with its annual list of top lobbyists. The extensive list includes familiar names in the world of agriculture. The Hill’s Top Lobbyists include Alexa Combelic of the American Soybean Association, Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association, Kip Eideberg of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Emily Skor of Growth Energy, Jame Callan of James Callan Associates and Ashlee Johnson of The Russell Group.

Matt Perdue Elected NDFU President – The North Dakota Farmers Union has elected Matt Perdue as its new president. Perdue is just the tenth individual to lead the organization and the youngest at 33 years of age. Perdue farms with his family near Ray in northwest North Dakota. He previously worked for NDFU and the National Farmers Union. Heading into the election, Perdue heard from members from across the state. “The farm economy is a big challenge; obviously, it has been an uncertain marketing season with tariffs.” said Perdue. “The other thing I hear a lot about is healthcare; people are seeing increased health insurance premiums and we need to have a real conversation about long-term, meaningful healthcare reform in this country.” Perdue succeeds Mark Watne, who did not seek reelection after serving 12 years. Perdue said that he’s inheriting a great situation at NDFU thanks to Watne. “Watne was a great boss, a great mentor, a great friend to me, and we’re very appreciative of his leadership. Looking internally, North Dakota Farmers Union is an incredibly strong organization, with strong financial resources, a strong membership base, and I view it as my responsibility to ensure it continues to grow stronger.”

MSCA Honors – The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association recognized Amy Mastin with its Industry Service Award. Mastin is a teacher at Kelliher Public School District and founder of Kelliher Cattle Company. The MSCA Cattleman of the Year is Richard Pesek of Taunton.

Kernel Awards Presented to Bernhardt and Bodine – The North Dakota Grain Growers Association presented its Kernel Award for outstanding service to two individuals last night. The farmer award went to Past President Tom Bernhardt of Linton and the industry award belongs to Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Tom Bodine.

Recognized for Service to Rural Youth – The South Dakota Farmers Union presented Audrey Keieleber with the Minnie Lovinger Award for Dedication to Rural Youth. Keierleber is a long-time teacher and youth volunteer.

Longtime DFA Executive Passes – Funeral services will be held on December 27 for Gary Hanman. Hanman, 91, helped establish Dairy Farmers of America in 1998, bringing together four dairy cooperatives into a single entity and growing it into the nation’s largest dairy co-op. Hanman served as DFA’s first president and chief executive officer and served until his retirement in 2005.