Short-Term Pain – Beginning tomorrow, the United States is implementing a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico and a ten percent tariff on Chinese imports. These countries are all planning to retaliate immediately. “We may have, short-term, a little pain and people understand that, but long-term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world,” said President Donald Trump. “We have deficits with almost every country, not every country, but almost and we’re gonna change it.”

Trudeau Announces Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods – Canada is hitting back after President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with its own 25 percent tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. products. The Canadian tariffs will roll out in phases, starting Tuesday, with $30 billion in duties on items like alcohol, produce, and household goods, followed by more tariffs in three weeks. Mexico has also announced retaliatory measures but hasn’t shared details yet. Meanwhile, the U.S. justifies its tariffs as a crackdown on illegal border activity. More details on affected products and additional trade actions are expected soon.

Canada, Mexico and China Are Major Customers – U.S. agricultural exports are a likely target for retaliation from Canada, Mexico and China. Canada is the #1 export destination for U.S. wheat products, vegetable oils, sugar and biofuels. Mexico is the United States’ top customer for corn, dairy products, soybean meal and turkey. China is the leading export market for U.S. soybeans.

Tariff Uncertainty Worries U.S. Fertilizer Industry – StoneX Vice President of Fertilizer Josh Linville is hearing concerns about tariffs and their impact on the fertilizer industry. Potash is the biggest hurdle. “It’s hard to understate just how important Canadian potash flows are to the U.S.” The timing isn’t all that great either. “There’s not a lot of time before we start pre-plant application. We are now merely days away from March when theoretically we could be in the field, buying and putting on anhydrous, that simply doesn’t give us enough time to say, ‘okay, if they’re going to force us to pay the 25 (percent tariff), let’s just go buy from somewhere else around the world.'”

USAID Programs in Jeopardy – The fate of the U.S. Agency for International Development is in question. President Trump imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance on his first day in office. Over the weekend, the USAID website was shut down. This independent agency typically works with USDA to provide food assistance to foreign countries. Food for Peace and Emergency Food Security Program are examples of that work. These programs use ag commodities, such as wheat, corn, soybeans and dry edible beans.

Craig on Tariffs, Ag Labor – House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig said no one wins in a trade war. At a time when farmers are struggling with high input costs, the Minnesota lawmaker said these tariffs will only make it more expensive for farmers to do their jobs. Craig also said President Trump’s action is “especially questionable” since his administration negotiated the free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico during his first term. In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, Craig said farmers and ag processors are concerned about Trump’s mass deportation policy. “I’ve always been somebody who believed that we can have both strong border security as well as a big old gate that allows farm workers to come across and work in America with those H2A and H2B visas,” said Craig. “At the end of the day, that’s what America needs to be successful from an economic perspective. That’s what the agriculture community needs to be successful.” Craig made a stop at the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council board meeting on Friday.

Ag Committee to Review Ag Economy – The Senate Agriculture Committee will focus on the farm economy in its first hearing for the 119th Congress. The witness list will include a regional presence. That includes American Soybean Association Chairman Josh Gackle of Kulm, North Dakota; American Sugarbeet Growers Association Vice President Tim Deal of Doran, Minnesota and National Barley Growers Association President Chris Engelstad. Witnesses will also include representatives of Farm Bureau, Farmers Union and commodity groups. This hearing will be Wednesday.

Rollins Up for a Vote Today – The Senate Agriculture Committee will meet this afternoon to consider Brooke Rollins’ nomination to lead USDA. While there has been controversy with a few of the cabinet picks, Rollins is expected to easily win approval from Congress.

Hoeven Says Rollins Will Lead Agriculture Effectively – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven is confident Brooke Rollins will be confirmed as the next agriculture secretary. Hoeven believes Rollins’ leadership will be key in addressing agricultural priorities. Hoeven also remains optimistic about passing a farm bill this year. “We’ve got all the components in place; we could never get Senator (Debbie) Stabenow to agree to an update in reference prices, “said Hoeven. “I think the challenge now shifts a little bit in the Republican Congress in that we’re going to have to find some ways to make sure that we’ve got a work requirement and more accountability on the food stamp piece.” Hoeven has been named chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety.

Sooner Rather Than Later – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson did not give a timeline for the farm bill, but said it would happen sooner rather than later. “The longer we wait into the fall, the more likely we’re going to have to come back next December and ask for more economic disaster relief,” said Thompson. “Producers don’t want that and we don’t want to do that; we won’t have to do that if we get this farm bill that has such a strong safety net component in it passed sooner than later.”

Understanding Needed for All Farm Bill Titles – House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig was part of a farm bill forum at the Farm Bureau convention with committee chair GT Thompson. Craig said it is important for her entire committee caucus to understand every title of the farm bill. “That’s our job on the committee, but that is also a role that each of you can play particularly with the Democratic members of Congress.” Most of the Democratic members on the House Agriculture Committee represent major metro areas and have focused on the nutrition title. However, Craig said she has new members who have a background in agriculture and farm policy.  In front of the Farm Bureau audience, Craig said she is not afraid to stand up to members of her own party on important ag issues. “I have a history of calling the balls and strikes on whatever administration I’m in Congress under,” said Craig. “It pisses off Democrats when I complain about the Democratic administration and annoys some of my Republican colleagues when I complain that certain policies aren’t good for the country.”

Callan: Trade, Tariffs, and Farm Bill Top Concerns for Farmers – In the early days of the Trump presidency, concerns remain in the agriculture sector, particularly regarding trade, tariffs and the farm bill. Jim Callan, president, James Callan Associates, said uncertainty remains with these issues. “Congress is still working through what it’s going to do with reconciliation, it wants to further address the border, energy, taxes, and there’s talk of combining into one bill,” said Callan. “The nominations are under review, they have to do the appropriations by spring, so there’s a lot still on the plate.” Click to listen to full interview with Jim Callan

Fielding Questions – AgCountry Farm Credit Services Marketing Education Specialist Cody Didier says the last USDA supply demand report was “the most bullish in a year and a half.” With the change in market direction, Didier sees the biggest opportunity moving forward is with Argentine weather conditions. How should farmers respond? Listen to the report for all the details. The Fielding Questions podcast is a collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Red River Farm Network.

Updated Farm Bill is a Must – According to Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing, agriculture must hold Congress’ feet to the fire and finish the farm bill. “You look at the farm bill and see how old and obsolete it is; the inflationary pressure, the input prices, all of that has increased so dramatically that realistically we need an updated farm bill so those numbers make an actual relevant point.” MFBF had a 50-person delegation in San Antonio for the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. In addition to voting delegates, MFBF was well represented in the Young Farmer and Rancher Committee competition.

Immigration and Ag Labor Are Part of the Same Conversation – The American Farm Bureau Federation has made ag labor one of its top priorities. AFBF Vice President Scott VanderWal, who is also president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, said ag labor and immigration are part of the same discussion. “As we all know there are criminal illegals that are being rounded up and deported, as they should be, but we are concerned about disrupting the food chain if we go very far with that,” said VanderWal. “We’re not going to criticize the President for what he’s doing, but we need to keep in mind that we need to keep our food chain steady and consistent until we fix our immigration problem and get the ag labor situation straightened out.”

Compromise Necessary for Policy Development – As Farm Bureau delegates hammer out farm policy, perspectives from all parts of the country are heard. NDFB Vice President Val Wagner appreciates that debate. “During that delegate session, we come to something where everyone may not be happy, but everybody gets a little and we end up in a better place because of it,” said Wagner. “That’s the process that makes policy development amazing.” Wagner said NDFB had one of its largest delegations at the American Farm Bureau Convention. “We know how hard it is to leave the farm; just taking this moment to recharge and being able to connect with people from throughout the country facing the same trials and tribulations that we are is important.”

Policy Done on a First-Name Basis – Farm organizations need to have a relationship with lawmakers to advance their policy priorities. South Dakota Farm Bureau Vice President Reid Jensen says that happens easily in his state. “For South Dakota, that’s pretty unique,” related Jensen. “We know John Thune, Mike Rounds and Dusty Johnson on a first-name basis so we can call them up anytime and let them know we have an issue. Some of the bigger states can’t do that, they need to cultivate that relationship more than we do.”

Diversity is Strength – As a general farm organization, Farm Bureau represents all commodities and all parts of the country. Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Executive Director Karin Schaefer says that is the strength of the organization. “When you talk to other farmers, it is amazing to hear the commonalities they have despite the different climates, the different kinds of crops that they grow,” said Schaefer. “It is really fun to hear them discussing the same challenges and also discussing the solutions that come with that; you see that happening throughout the whole conference.”

SDFB Bringing Large Delegation to DC – The South Dakota Farm Bureau is planning a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. in March. Executive Director Krystil Smit describes this fly-in as historic for the South Dakota Farm Bureau with over 50 members going to Washington. “Folks in D.C. need to hear from people putting into practice the regulatory things happening on the farm; seeing those faces and hearing from them directly is really important,” said Smit. “That will be happening the week of National Ag Week so there’s no better time for our folks to be in D.C. and talking about agriculture.” Smit says interest in the new administration helped drive the energy for this fly-in.

Squeezed by Regulations – Dan Durheim was raised on a farm in central Minnesota and spent most of the last three decades with Farm Bureau at the state and national level. Just over six months ago, Durheim took over as the chief operating officer for the California Farm Bureau. Durheim said the farmers in California have the same passion for agriculture seen in the Midwest, but there is greater intensity. That’s due in large part to the regulatory environment. “A new study from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo that was funded by the Monterey County Farm Bureau showed that in the last 18 years, the farmer has had a 1,368 percent increase in the regulatory costs in their operation,” said Durheim. “That’s a really daunting number when you consider what needs to be done to have that social license to operate.” Durheim was one of 1,100 candidates for the job when he was hired last summer.

Praise for MFBF’s Shared Leadership Model – Hugo, Minnesota dairy farmer Fran Miron is in his 15th and final year on the state Farm Bureau board. Miron said today’s board is more diverse and represents different aspects of Minnesota agriculture. “The dedication and enthusiasm about Farm Bureau is still there and we’ve got great leadership in Dan Glessing as president of Minnesota Farm Bureau and Carolyn Olson as vice president,” said Miron. “That shared leadership is a model I think many organizations would envy.”

Ask a Farmer – The Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee promotes awareness and understanding of agriculture. Nate Schlief, who is from Grand Forks, said one of the most recent projects was called ‘Ask a Farmer.’ “We’ve done it in a grocery store and a culinary institute,” explained Schlief. “In the grocery store, ten of us all take a position; some by the egg aisle, somebody was by the bread aisle, someone was at the flour aisle. We put a banner up that says ‘I’m a farmer, let’s talk.’ As people came into the grocery store, we’d have conversations.” This was seen as an opportunity for consumers to have a personal connection to a farmer who produced the food in their supermarket.

Stay in Your Lane – During Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary-nominee Robert Kennedy Jr., Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley offered a stern warning to the Health and Human Services Secretary-nominee. “I expect you to leave agricultural practice regulations to the proper agencies and for the most part that’s USDA and EPA.” Grassley also called for more transparency before finalizing federal dietary guidelines.

Cramer Defends RFK Jr. Despite Ag Concerns – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services has stirred controversy, particularly within the agriculture industry. Kennedy’s past remarks, including calling glyphosate a ‘poison’ and large-scale hog farmers a greater threat to democracy than Osama bin Laden. A Farm Journal survey showed that 90 percent of respondents believed his leadership would negatively impact agriculture. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer disagrees, arguing that despite Kennedy’s controversial past statements, he is likely to take a practical approach that considers the needs of farmers. “He has concerns about the food processing, he has concerns about transparency,” said Cramer. “He, and more importantly, President Trump and the people around him certainly understand that you cannot feed a growing, hungry population in the world on the same number of acres in the world without understanding that you have to have big agriculture.”

New EPA Administrator on the Job – The Senate has confirmed Lee Zeldin as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin previously served as a congressman from New York. He won confirmation with a 56-42 vote.

Rubio Focuses on Panama Canal During His First International Trip – Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a quick weekend trip to Panama, telling the Panamanian president to reduce China’s presence at the Panama Canal or face the U.S. takeover of the waterway. Panama’s president said the ownership of the Panama Canal is not up for negotiation. However, there was an agreement to begin technical talks to clarify China’s role with the canal and the infrastructure agreement between China and Panama will not be renewed.

Concerns Grow Over China’s Influence on Panama Canal Operations – Concerns over the Panama Canal have risen, particularly China’s influence on its operations. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek said the discussions revolve around the Carter-Torrijos Treaty. “One of the major elements of the treaty is that the Panama Canal shall be operated in a neutral fashion, so it’s not favoring one country or the next and if that neutrality is ever jeopardized, the U.S. military would be authorized to take action to ensure its neutrality.” A Hong Kong-based company that operates two ports in the canal is currently under investigation. “The Panama Canal Authority and the government of Panama are doing an audit of the concession for a Hong Kong-based company, Hutchinson Port Holdings, which operates ports on the Atlantic side and on the Pacific side.” Steenhoek said the leaders in Washington, D.C. are waiting for the results of this audit.

Beet Stock Values – American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock has trended up again due to low volume. Jayson Menke, Acres & Shares owner, reported there were eight brokered sales totaling 78 shares from a range of $5,500 to $5,600 with an average price of $5,548.72.

Beet Growers in San Diego for Annual Meeting – The American Sugarbeet Growers Association is in San Diego for its annual meeting. Topics highlighted at the meeting include trade policy, regulatory pressures and emerging technologies for the sugarbeet industry. RRFN’s exclusive coverage from the ASGA meeting is sponsored by Betaseed, Amity Technology, Vive Crop Protection, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and AgCountry Farm Credit Services. Listen for special reports with RRFN Farm Broadcaster Randy Koenen throughout this week.

Policy Up for Discussion at ASGA Event – The American Sugarbeet Growers Association annual meeting is underway in San Diego. “Mid-processing season, it’s a good time to get together with all of the growers from across the country and learn how their processing campaign is going and it’s an opportunity to talk politics,” said Harrison Weber, executive director, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association. The farm bill is a priority, but the tariff discussion and the impact on sugar is also getting attention. “We’re also monitoring Dietary Guidelines and how the new administration wants to shake those things out.”

DFL Takes Control of MN Senate – The DFL now controls the Minnesota Senate. Democratic candidate Doron Clark won a special election in northeastern Minneapolis. This election fills the vacancy left by former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic who died in December. The DFL now has a 34-33 majority after working with Republicans under a power-sharing agreement for the first part of the session.

Power Struggle Clouds MN Legislative Session – Minnesota Farmer’s Union Director of Government Relations Stu Lourey says this year’s legislative session has been anything but normal. The Senate was split 50-50 and the two parties worked under a power-sharing agreement. After this past week’s special election, the DFL has a one-vote majority. The House is still waiting for a quorum. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled on what constitutes a quorum, but Lourey says legislators are still fighting over an agreement “that would lead to the Democrats returning to the State Capitol and granting that quorum that would allow them to start their business.”

MN Corn Matters – Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Jim Kanten joins this week’s Corn Matters with an update on the buffer tax exemption. Click here to listen.

MMPA Calls for Flexibility in Paid Leave Requirements – Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time law requires employers to provide paid leave to employees. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom testified before the state legislature on behalf of S.F. 310, which would amend the 2024 ESST law to exempt agricultural businesses with five or fewer employees. “Over the past twelve months as farmers are dealing with this law farmers have talked about the cumbersome process and how this doesn’t work well for agriculture with seasonality and only hiring some workers for a season.” An exemption to the ESST law already exists and Sjostrom hopes it can be expanded to include broader operations. “There is already an exemption for sugarbeet farmers if they hire someone for, I believe less than about 21 days, and I think the same thing should happen for dairy farmers.”

ND Legislative Report – In Bismarck, State Senator Terry Wanzek has introduced legislation to replace North Dakota’s current ethanol production incentive with a state fund to help ethanol companies produce low-carbon fuel. North Dakota Corn Growers Association lobbyist Lesley Icenogle testified in favor of the bill. “The world’s first ethanol SAF production facility opened in Georgia last year and even though we have domestic ethanol made from American corn, they began with importing Brazillian ethanol because our ethanol currently doesn’t have a low enough carbon intensity score,” said Icenogle. “This bill supports ethanol production facilities to make capital improvements that will help them lower this carbon intensity.” The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee did not take action on the bill. Click here to listen to the North Dakota Legislative Report. This update was made possible by the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, NDFB, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Northern Pulse Growers Association and the North Dakota Farmers Union.

Standing Up for Agriculture in the Property Tax Debate – The North Dakota Legislature is considering property taxes this week. “We’ve been following that and making sure ag is represented with how the home exemptions will work,” said North Dakota Grain Growers Association Past President Ed Kessel. “We want to make sure all of the tax burden isn’t placed back on the landowner.” At the KMOT Ag Expo, Kessel stressed the importance of membership. “It is a great organization that does a lot in the wheat and barley industry.”

Investing in Soil Health: A Game-Changer – While water is necessary for what farmers do, it can also be a burden. Hefty Seed Company co-owner Darren Hefty believes that tile drainage can be a game-changer for farmers when dealing with saturated fields. “It’s really good for the environment, it’s really good for the community, and of course, it’s good for us on the farm,” said Hefty. “We’re just trying to set the record straight about how soil is a great natural filter to take out fertilizer, ag chemicals, and any kind of pollutants, and the water coming out of drain tiles is generally very pure.” Investing in a soil health test can have a lasting impact on a farmer’s bottom line. “For farmers, this is a $50, $100, $200 an acre investment that they’re making each year. It’s literally millions of dollars over your farming career to get the plant food right, so you can have a healthy crop.”

Talking Conservation: Grant and Dawn Breitkreutz – Grant and Dawn raise cattle and crops in Redwood and Renville Counties. They are the inaugural recipients of the Sand County Foundation Leopold Conservation Award in Minnesota. “If someone is considering doing this and you’re serious about it, you can make it work and you can be successful,” said Dawn Breitkreutz. “Never, never, ever doubt that you can reach out to those of us who have been on this path to help you out.” Lance Irving from the Sand County Foundation also joins us and outlines how the Breitkreutz’s embody the spirit of this award.Talking Conservation is a presentation of Farmers for Soil Health, the Conservation Technology Information Center, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and the Red River Farm Network. Watch the interview on RRFN’s YouTube channel.

Weigh All Options When Evaluating Crop Inputs – When making adjustments for the next growing season, Hefty Brand Manager Matt Thompson says it’s best to start small and ask many questions. The soil type and makeup should be strongly considered when evaluating new products. “We feel like we have options that make a lot of sense and we’ve got a lot of research that shows that, but ultimately it falls back to the grower on what their soil type is, what their pHs are, and what makes sense for them from a cost of spend on a per acre basis.”

Dry Bean Scene – In this week’s Dry Bean Scene, NDSU Extension Broadleaf Specialist Anna Carcedo highlights the upcoming Getting It Right it Right in Dry Bean Production Webinar. The webinar will be held February 10 and is sponsored by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association. Click here to listen to the report.

Positive News for Pulse Crop Demand – U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council CEO Tim McGreevy sees the recent changes in the federal dietary guidelines as a win for pulse crops. “The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee determined in their report that they produced at the end of December that pulses need to be increased from a cup-and-a-half to two-and- a-half cups per week,” said McGreevy. “The reason they made this recommendation is no big secret. pulses have a real impact on lowering the rate of heart disease, lowering diabetes, lowering the effects of obesity, and some cancers as well. We’re just not consuming enough of these pulses in our diet.”

Pulses Grown for the Pet Food Market – Gary Steiner, who farms near Hettinger, North Dakota, grows small grains, corn, sunflowers, and pulse crops. For the pulses, Steiner focuses on garbanzo beans for the pet food market. “If you get a few more splits it doesn’t make any difference because they grind ’em all up and put em into pet food,” Steiner told RRFN. “Our last harvest season was really dry so it was tough not getting these beans to split but that works in the pet food market.” Steiner is a member of the Northern Pulse Growers Association board of directors.

Monitoring Flood Potential in Upper Missouri River Basin – Speaking at the Northern Pulse Growers Association annual meeting, Assistant North Dakota State Climatologist Cassidy Holth (Holt) highlighted details of the UMRB project. The Upper Missouri River Basin Project is a multistate federal grant project with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to be able to monitor our winter precipitation better and precipitation, in general, to be able to better monitor flooding of the Upper Missouri Basin.” Holth said new technology is available to provide better data.

Disease Pressure in Canola – According to Pioneer Field Agronomist Kristie Sundeen, a relatively new disease threat is being seen in the traditional canola areas. “Verticillium stripe is relatively new; it was identified in Manitoba in the early 2000s,” said Sundeen. “The negative part is it lasts in the soil for up to 14 years. In our traditional zone where we’ve got tight rotation canola, we’re starting to see a lot more of that disease and the industry does not have a handle on how to combat that disease at this point.”

Canola Minute – In the latest Canola Minute, Northern Canola Growers Executive Director Barry Coleman discusses canola oil’s eligibility for a healthy product label. Details can be found at this link.

A Crop Insurance Change in Canola – Northern Canola Growers Executive Director Barry Coleman expects canola acres to be down slightly in 2025. The reduction in acres in northeastern North Dakota will likely be offset somewhat by a slight increase in the southwestern corner of the state due to a crop insurance change. “We’re very pleased that RMA granted an extension of the final plant dates so in the southwest part of the state growers will have until May 25 to get the crop in the ground which is an extra ten days from last year,” said Coleman. “Forty counties in the state were changed with the dates so there’s an extra week in some areas, an extra five days in others, so it’s going to help growers with their planting this year and getting the crop in the ground.”

A Busy Spring Fertilizer Season Expected – There wasn’t much fertilizer put down this past fall in northwest North Dakota. “We didn’t get on nearly as much as we would have liked,” said Zach Mehl, Glenburn location manager, Dakota Agronomy Partners. “If we would have caught just one more rain, I think we would have seen a lot more acres applied. It will put a little extra pressure on the spring.” Mehl said most farmers are sticking to their normal crop rotation for now. Dakota Agronomy Partners was an exhibitor at the KMOT Ag Expo.

Goehring Heading to Thailand – USDA is leading a trade trip to Thailand this week. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring will be among the participants. “It’s a good market, it’s about 70 million people,” said Goehring. “They’re very keen buyers and they look at what the U.S. has for consumables and they desire the same thing.” The trade mission continues through Thursday.

Watch the Basis – The corn futures market has been active, but AgMarket.net hedging strategist Tyler Schau said the local basis is one of the worst nationwide. “The lesson is to be really attentive,” said Schau. “Last fall and early winter, I used Red Trail Energy when they were a minus 35 basis; that’s a good basis in western North Dakota. When you see that, take advantage of it. Don’t get too greedy.”

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 continues to point to cattle as the ‘hot’ commodity. The cattle market was cautious at the end of last week due to the threat of tariffs and the reopening of the U.S. border to Mexican cattle. The cattle inventory report was friendly. Martinson said there is uncertainty in the markets, especially outside markets, due to the tariff decision. Listen to the report.

Pembina County Farmland Price Remains Red Hot – Despite a stagnant farm economy, good quality farmland values remain strong. Pifer’s Auction and Real Estate cite two quarter-sections west of Drayton, North Dakota in Pembina County. One parcel brought $11,550 per deeded acre or $1.8 million total. The second parcel of 160 acres sold for $10,350 per acre or a total of over $1.6 million.

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act Reintroduced – Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey have reintroduced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. This proposed legislation was first introduced in the last congressional session. The bill directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to maintain over-the-air AM radio in their new vehicles. Senate co-sponsors include Minnesota senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and North Dakota senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer.

Concerns Grow Over China’s Influence on Panama Canal Operations – Concerns over the Panama Canal have risen, particularly China’s influence on its operations. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek said the discussions revolve around the Carter-Torrijos Treaty. “One of the major elements of the treaty is that the Panama Canal shall be operated in a neutral fashion, so it’s not favoring one country or the next and if that neutrality is ever jeopardized, the U.S. military would be authorized to take action to ensure its neutrality.” A Hong Kong-based company that operates two ports in the canal is currently under investigation. “The Panama Canal Authority and the government of Panama are doing an audit of the concession for a Hong Kong-based company, Hutchinson Port Holdings, which operates ports on the Atlantic side and on the Pacific side.” Steenhoek said the leaders in Washington, D.C. are waiting for the results of this audit.

News From the North Dakota Gelbvieh Association – In this week’s update from the North Dakota Gelbvieh Association, Dennis Gustin of Diamond D Gelbvieh highlights the longevity of the Gelbveih cow. “If you can get an extra calf out of the same female, you don’t have to be turning your herd over as often. Listen to the report by clicking here.  

Mexican Feeder Cattle Imports to Resume – USDA is lifting its three-month ban on Mexican cattle imports. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shut down the border in November after New World screwworm was confirmed in southern Mexico. The U.S. and Mexico have agreed to new protocols with veterinarians inspecting cattle before entering the pre-export inspection pens. The animals will go through another inspection by Mexican officials before moving on to a final APHIS inspection.

Cattle Herd Continues to Shrink – The U.S cattle supply is at its lowest point in 64 years. According to USDA’s annual cattle inventory report, the total number of cattle and calves is 86.7 million head. That’s down zero-point-six percent from a year ago. Beef cow numbers are down a half-percentage point from the same time in 2024. Beef heifer replacements declined one percent. The dairy cow inventory is nearly unchanged from a year ago, while the number of dairy replacements dropped nearly one percent.

Beef Industry Gathers in San Antonio – Cowboy hats will be the standard on San Antonio’s Riverwalk this week. Thousands of cattle producers will be in Texas for CattleCon 2025. The U.S. cattle supply is at historic lows and prices have moved into record territory. This meeting will celebrate industry successes, work on policy and feature a massive cattle-specific trade show. RRFN Farm Broadcaster Jamie Dickerman will report from CattleCon throughout the week. RRFN’s coverage is sponsored by the North Dakota Beef Commission, Minnesota Beef Council, AgCountry Farm Credit Services and North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

MN Beef Update – In the Minnesota Beef Update, Minnesota Beef Council Quality Assurance Coordinator Kaitlyn Root offers information on the BQA program. Here’s the report.

Enviros Sue MPCA and MDA – Three environmental groups are suing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Minnesota Well Owners Organization, and Minnesota Trout Unlimited claim that state regulations do not protect public health and natural resources from nitrate pollution. The Karst region in southeastern Minnesota and the Central Sands region in central Minnesota were cited as particularly vulnerable to groundwater issues. The lawsuit contends the state rules governing feedlots and commercial fertilizer are inadequate.

Funding Approved for ND Ag Disaster Assistance – The North Dakota Industrial Commission has approved the Bank of North Dakota’s Ag Disaster Relief program. This effort is designed to help farmers and ranchers who faced extreme weather, wildfires, high input costs and price volatility in 2023 and 2024. Five-year loans with a fixed interest rate of 5.2 percent can be used with an approved operating line of credit.

Farm Transition Strategies – Nearly 90 percent of North Dakota farmers polled would like to transition their farm to a younger generation. but only 30 percent of them can make that transition. “The average age of farmers and ranchers in North Dakota is about 57 years old,” said Foster County Extension Agent Jeff Gale. “Many are approaching or have already gotten past the normal retirement age so succession planning is about how these farm or ranch operations be passed on to a younger generation.” It’s never too early to start the succession planning process. “Get an early start on this, I think everyone will be glad they did.”

Premium Savings Found With NDFB Health Plan – The new NDFB Health Plan took effect at the beginning of the year. “A family saved, believe it or not, over $30,000 a year in premium savings by coming on one of our NDFB health plans,” said Jeff Missling, executive vice president/CEO, NDFB. This program was created to provide quality healthcare coverage at an affordable rate. “That’s such a huge issue for any farmer or rancher. When times get tough, you look at the bottom line and try to save a few dollars here and there. We’re just tickled to see that happen for any farm and ranch family across the state knowing what significant cost that is to them.”

Automation Advances Drone Technology – Drones have become commonplace in agriculture. “We’ve been at it for about ten years,” says Helio CEO and co-founder Arthur Erickson. “In that time, they’ve gotten bigger, they’re going to keep getting bigger.” Erickson’s goal is to turn drones into do-it-all workers that require as little human input as possible. Currently, the operator still needs to be present to change batteries and swap out the payload. “We are working on an automated tender station that’s going to charge the drone; it’s going to solve the battery, it’s going to refill the payload, fix the payload and do all that just from one automated station,” said Erickson. “Then the human doesn’t even physically have to be there, the human could be remotely monitoring.”

Northern Corn & Soybean Expo is Tomorrow – The Northern Corn and Soybean Expo will be held tomorrow at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo. “We have a lot of great speakers including Jacob Shapiro discussing geopolitics, we have someone from Delta Airlines talking about SAF and someone from Clean Fuels Alliance America talking about biodiesel and renewable diesel and how they work in the western part of the United States,” said Craig Kleven, director of industry relations, North Dakota Soybean Council. The trade show will feature more than 60 companies.

Partial Approval Given for Transmission Line – The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has approved a facility permit for the South Dakota portion of the transmission line between Big Stone South and Alexandria. This covers the 3.5-mile South Dakota portion of the 100-mile transmission line. Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency expect a decision from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in mid-2026.

JBS Offers AntiTrust Settlement – The National Farmers Union, R-CALF USA and four cattle producers are asking the court to approve its $83.5 million class action settlement with JBS. NFU President Rob Larew said the antitrust action against Tyson, Cargill and National Beef will continue.

AMPI Recognized for Export Excellence – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz presented Associated Milk Producers Inc. with the Governor’s International Trade Award. This award recognizes businesses that have show exceptional progress and results in foreign markets. AMPI began a targeted export program in 2020. Today, more than 20 percent of the co-op’s packaged cheese production is sold overseas. Sliced American cheese, loaves and shreds of natural cheese are now distributed to 14 countries, primarily in Asia, the Middle East-North Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean.

New Mode of Action for Cereals Market – After three years of trials, Corteva AgriScience’s new broadleaf product, Tolvera, is ready for prime time this year. “It’s a Group 6 and a Group 27 so we’ve got bromoxynl and tolpyralate in there,” said Seth Larson, territory manager. “This is the first time we’ve introduced this Group 27 into the cereals market.” During the KMOT Ag Expo, Larson said Tolvera will do the “heavy lifting on kochia, lambsquarter, pigweed and buckwheat and it’ll pick up green and yellow foxtail and barnyard grass, too.” Listen to the full interview.

New Products From BASF – BASF highlighted the new Liberty Ultra formulation at the KMOT Ag Expo. BASF territory rep Jordan Dilse said Liberty Ultra provides better weed control with less product. “It has better control on kochia, helping everyone growing canola, and deal with resistance.” BASF also has a new corn “pre” herbicide. “We brought Surtain to the market this year, which is encapsulated Sharpen; it’ll take away the burn and play more on the residual side.”

Regina Ag Projects Suspended – Federated Cooperatives has suspended its plans for a renewable diesel plant and a joint venture canola crushing project at its proposed Integrated Agriculture Complex in Regina, Saskatchewan. Regulatory and political uncertainty were given as the reason for the decision.

CHS Foundation Invests in NDSU and ND 4-H – The NDSU Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development received a $250,000 grant from the CHS Foundation for the Next Chapter at NDSU initiative. This is a career readiness curriculum for young people as young as eighth grade. The 4-H program covers goal-setting, time management, resume writing and financial management.

Limousin Association Cites Wulf Cattle/Riverview Farms – The North American Limousin Foundation has named Wulf Cattle and Riverview Farms as its commercial marketing booster of the year. The Morris, Minnesota farms have partnered since 2012, integrating Limousin genetics into its dairy operations.

Vilsack Returns to Iowa – Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will take over as the chief executive officer of the World Food Prize Foundation. Vilsack succeeds another former Iowa governor, Terry Branstad, in the role. Vilsack’s official start date is March 1.

NOPA Names New President/CEO – Devin Mogler is the new president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association. Most recently, Mogler was senior vice president of investor relations with Green Plains Inc. Previously, he advised Iowa Senator Joni Ernst on agriculture and biofuels policy. Mogler succeeds Kailee Tkacz Buller who will take over as chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary-designate Brooke Rollins.

Tunheim Adds Jordan as Senior Counsel – Lani Jordan has joined Tunheim as Senior Counsel. For the past six years, Jordan has been a contractor for the Twin Cities-based strategic communications firm. Previously, Jordan was in a corporate communications role with CHS, Cenex, Cenex/Land O’Lakes and a journalist with UPI.

Ellingson Announces CEO Transition – Ellingson has announced the retirement of Roger Ellingson and the appointment of Jeremy Ellingson as the new CEO. The construction firm specializes in agricultural drainage and underground trenchless services. The family-owned business was founded in 1970.

Blomgren, Ladd Recommended for State USDA Posts – Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation has recommended Watonwan County farmer Kurt Blomgren to serve as the new Farm Service Agency state director. Blomgren raises crops and livestock and is a past member of the state FSA committee. The lawmakers also endorsed Dave Ladd to serve as the Rural Development state director. Ladd owns his own public policy consulting firm. Previously, Ladd managed government affairs for AgriBank and was a policy advisor for Minnesota Senators Rod Grams and Dave Durenberger. The White House has the final say on these positions

MGFA Executive Committee Elected – The Minnesota Grain and Feed Association has elected its 2025 officer team. Cheryl Simpson with AgVantage Software is president. Dale Stensrud of Central Farm Service is vice president. The secretary is Mark Herberg of AgPartners and the treasurer is Bob Heim of Heim Milling. AnnDee Erickson, Red River Grain Company, was appointed to fill a board vacancy.

ACE Officer Team Returns – The American Coalition for Ethanol has reelected its officer team. Dave Sovereign of Golden Grain Energy is president. The vice president remains Troy Knecht of Redfield Energy. The secretary is Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol and the treasurer is John Christianson of Christianson PLLP. The ACE executive committee rounds out with Chris Studer of East River Electric Power Cooperative and Bill Dartt of Cardinal Ethanol.

Advocating for Minnesota’s Food and Farm Sector – The Minnesota AgriGrowth Council has elected its executive committee. AMPI President and CEO Sheryl Meshke was reelected as the AgriGrowth chair. The vice-chair is CHS director of state government affairs Jake Hamlin. The treasurer is Beth Sparboe Schnell, CEO, Sparboe Companies, is AgriGrowth’s treasurer. The newly-elected secretary is Matt Wohlman. Wohlman, who is the vice president of government and industry relations for Land O’Lakes, succeeds Red River Farm Network President Don Wick.

An Advisory Role for Tweten at NPGA – Steve Tweten has joined the Northland Potato Growers Association in an advisory role. Tweten was one of the four founders of NoKota Packers, Buxton, North Dakota. Tweten retired from NoKota Packers as its CEO in 2019 after 40 years with the company.

Bau to Retire – University of Minnesota Extension Ag Business Management Educator David Bau is retiring at the end of this month. Bau has spent the last 26 years with UM Extension and was based in Worthington for the last two decades.

Parker to Oversee 4-H Ambassadors – Kelly Parker is the new state 4-H Youth Development Specialist for NDSU Extension. Parker will oversee the North Dakota 4-H Ambassador program. Parker earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee-Martin and is pursuing her doctorate at NDSU. Parker operates a hobby farm with her husband.

Awards Presented During MCIA Annual Meeting – The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association presented its highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, to Mac and Tom Erhardt of Albert Lea Seed. The Premier Seed Grower Award went to four farmers; Brad Barth of Thief River Falls, Brian and Betsy Jensen of Stephen and Maynard Peterson of Stephen. The Honorary Premier Seed Grower Award was given to retired Minnesota Crop Improvement Association field inspector Lonnie Perrine and South Dakota State University Professor Emeritus Brent Turnipseed.

MN Couple Earn Runner-up Honors in AFBF Contest – In the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Committee competition, a Pequot Lakes, Minnesota couple was recognized as the Achievement Award runner-up. Dustin and Katie Wiese received a $25,000 credit for Case IH equipment.