‘It’s OKay Not to Be OKay’ – From the Cultivation Center Stage at the American Farm Bureau Federation trade show, AFBF President Zippy Duvall discussed numerous topics, including his organization’s Farm State of Mind campaign. This awareness effort is designed to reduce stigma and promote farmer and rancher mental health wellness. Duvall reflected on an interview he did a couple of months after the passing of his wife Bonnie. “He said something to me and I don’t even remember what it was, but it referenced the loss of my wife and I exploded like that pressure cooker. Everything inside of me that built up was boiling out on air; I cried and I said everything that was hurting inside of me. From that moment on, I started healing.” The podcast Duvall is referencing is the TransFARMation program RRFN produced a few years ago. Duvall has often said it is okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay not to talk about it. In these challenging economic times in agriculture, it is an important message for all of us.

A Big Lift, But Farm Labor Reform Needs to Happen – In the view of American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, farm labor reform is one of the biggest issues facing agriculture today. During Sunday’s general session, Duvall spoke about his White House visit with President Trump. Farm labor reform was part of that conversation. “Of all the things we talked about, he had the most knowledge about that one,” said Duvall. “I really think this president, unlike any other president in my lifetime other than maybe Reagan, really wants to fix that problem.” Duvall said the cows need to be milked, crops need to be harvested and the work of agriculture needs to be done. “I know it is a big, heavy lift for anyone politically, but this country needs a solution to this problem and everybody is a victim of a broken system.” In his briefing with ag journalists, Duvall also said agriculture needs a five-year farm bill; trade, not tariffs and more than the $1 billion allocated for specialty crops in the new Farmer Bridge Assistance.

Craig: DHS Enforcement Clouds Path to Ag Labor Reform – In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig was less than optimistic about the passage of meaningful farm labor reform this year.  “Mainly because the Department of Homeland Security is out there doing things right now; they were just sitting outside near a dairy farm in my district this week.” Craig said last week’s incident in Minneapolis complicates an already difficult issue. “No one wants undocumented individuals who have violent criminal records in our country, but I do think there is an awful lot of law-abiding undocumented immigrants working in the farm economy right now that, unfortunately, this administration is not distinguishing between one or the other.” Listen to the RRFN interview with Representative Craig. 

4 Corners Address Ag Labor Shortage – The American Farm Bureau Federation Convention included a rare joint appearance by the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is part of the so-called ‘four corners.’ Klobuchar said she is not giving up on farm labor reform. “We cannot equate border policy, which must be secure, with the economic needs of farmers and ranchers, so go out there and make that case.” Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman said the border is now closed and the complex issue of immigration reform needs attention. “H-2A is not working; perhaps we can get that done short-term,” said Boozman. “We need massive reform and the good news is on both sides of the aisle, I think we are getting that message because of all of your hard work.”

Skinny Farm Bill to be Marked Up in February – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson’s plan to introduce Farm Bill 2.0 has been sidelined by the death of one member of his caucus and the hospitalization of another. The Congressional Budget Office also needs to score the proposed legislation. “Which means a February markup for Farm Food and National Security Act of 2026; I’ve already spoken to the Speaker and the Majority Leader regarding floor time because we’ll want a fairly efficient pathway to the floor.” Due to tight margins in agriculture, there is also potential for additional relief from Congress. Thompson said it won’t be folded into his farm bill. In the meantime, Thompson is getting feedback from commodity groups about the Farmer Bridge Assistance program. “I can tell you for sure that we need more for specialty crops, which includes sugar.”

Put a Face on Farm Bill Issues – The 2018 farm bill has been extended three times. Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Carolyn Olson wants the certainty of a five-year farm bill. “There are policy updates that need to be made.” Like other major pieces of legislation, the farm bill has become the victim of partisanship. “Agriculture is nonpartisan and we need to get back to that,” said Olson. “It’s important for farmers and ranchers to tell our story and put a face on the issues they’re talking about; we need them to care and you don’t get them to care by tweeting or Facebook, it is the face-to-face meetings.” Listen to the full interview.

Wagner Takes On New Role at AFBF Convention – Monango, North Dakota farmer/rancher Val Wagner is experiencing her first American Farm Bureau Federation Convention as the NDFB president. “Having been part of the Young Farmer and Rancher Program and the Promotion Engagement Program and now seeing it from a state president’s perspective, it has completely changed how I look at things, but we’re still accomplishing a lot of great things and it is a different kind of busy.” Wagner was a member of the Young Farmer and Rancher program and Promotion Engagement program at the national level. On Tuesday, she’ll be representing NDFB on the delegate floor. “Again, we’ll be focusing on private property rights, easements,” said Wagner. “We’re really hoping to see positive movement there with an Administration that seems favorable to change.” Listen to Wagner’s interview. 

Private Property Rights Include the Emergence of Data Centers – Ahead of the delegate sessions at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Dan Glessing said his organization is focused on private property rights. Data centers were cited as an example. “How do we make sure zoning laws are appropriate,” said Glessing. “We need a policy that assesses the energy needs, the water needs, but most importantly protects the farmers and ranchers’ land and their rights.”

Taking a Stance on Environmental Regs – Lincoln County, South Dakota, farmer Dan Propst is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Environmental Regulations/Water Advisory Committee. “I’ll be going to DC on that, talking about water issues, endangered species issues, things with pesticides and what we need to do with that.” Regarding the Waters of the United States, Propst said the current Administration has taken a stance that is “fairer to the farmer and, hopefully, we can continue that.”

MFBF Earns New Horizon Award – The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is bringing home some hardware from the American Farm Bureau Convention. The state group won the State Award of Excellence New Horizon Award. “The Minnesota Farm Bureau teamed up with Zumbro Valley Medical Society and the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine where we take medical students out to integrate them into rural communities so they have a better understanding of what it might be like in rural communities and healthcare,” explained Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture Director Ruth Meirick.

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today – The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is well represented at this year’s American Farm Bureau Convention. “Minnesota Farm Bureau has close to 50 attendees at this American Farm Bureau Convention,” said MFBF Executive Director Karin Schaefer. The Minnesotans in Anaheim include its Young Farmer and Rancher program competitors. This program has been a training ground for future Farm Bureau leaders. “I look around the table of the state board of directors and many, many, many of them, the vast majority of them, have gone through our leadership programs and many through the Young Farmer and Rancher program.” Hannah Molitor from Minnesota’s Stearns County, advanced to the Top Ten of the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture competition.

Nutritional Standards Get a Reset – The updated federal dietary guidelines represent the most significant reset of nutritional standards in history. That was the message from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. at the White House announcement. Kennedy said whole, nutrient-dense foods is the best path to better health. “Protein and healthy fats are essential, and we’re wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines; we are ending the war on saturated fats,” said Kennedy. The report said whole grains outperform refined carbohydrates. The target was put on added sugars, “especially sugar-sweetened beverages, drive metabolic disease, and today our government declares war on added sugar.”

Rollins: Guidelines Emphasize Whole Foods Over Processed Options – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the revised dietary guidelines will change the food served at schools, Head Start programs, the military, and through the SNAP program. “For decades under both Republicans and Democrats, federal incentives have promoted low-quality, highly processed foods and pharmaceutical interventions instead of prevention as a result, nutrient-dense whole foods grown by America’s farmers and ranchers have been increasingly displaced,” said Rollins. “The Trump Administration is acutely aware of this danger, and this announcement is making a major step in doing something about it.” The dietary guidelines are updated every five years. The new recommendations flip the traditional food pyramid, putting meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables at the top and whole grains at the bottom.

New Nutrition Policy Seen as Win for Potatoes – New federal dietary guidelines released by the Trump Administration are being viewed as a positive development for the potato industry. Speaking at Potato Expo 2026, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles said the updated nutrition messaging signals a major shift in how potatoes are viewed by policymakers and consumers. “You take it back ten to 15 years ago, we were fighting this huge battle with the federal government, they were considering taking potatoes entirely out of the school meals programs. Now, you’ve got the federal government celebrating the nutritional importance of potatoes, we think that’s a real positive moving forward.” Quarles added that the industry will continue reviewing the full guidelines to ensure science-based decisions guide future policy. “When it comes to things like derivative products for potatoes, we want to make sure that sound science is used in evaluating those types of products as well.”

Canola Minute – In this week’s Canola Minute, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman highlights concerns from oilseed growers regarding the USDA’s new dietary guidelines. Click here to listen.

Dietary Guidelines Spark Concern in Sugar Sector – The new dietary guidelines could have implications for U.S. sugar producers, including sugarbeet growers in the Red River Valley. Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Executive Director Harrison Weber says the guidelines could paint an inaccurate picture of sugar’s place in a balanced diet. “We know that many of these real foods have been made with real sugar for hundreds of years, and the administration has pledged that these new guidelines for Americans are going to deliver fresh, simple, science-based guidelines,” Weber said. He added that sugar consumption has already been declining. “Added sugar intake has already plummeted 30 percent over the past two decades, while obesity has continued to rise by 40 percent. Healthy diets that prioritize real food clearly do have space for moderate amounts of real sugar, which can’t be removed without using chemical additives like artificial sweeteners that a large majority of Americans prefer to avoid.”

Beet Stock Values – After a slow start to the American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock trading season, Acres & Shares broker Jayson Menke reported there was more trading volume again last week. Menke said for the week, 503 shares were brokered for an average price of $3,938 with sales at $3,900 and $4,000 per share.

More Protein on the Plate – The new dietary guidelines prioritize protein, advising Americans to have protein on the plate at every meal. The news received quick praise from beef, pork, turkey and dairy groups. International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes described the new dietary guidelines as ‘a clear and powerful message to Americans.’  The new standards got mixed reviews from others. American Soybean Association President Scott Metzger said his industry appreciates the acknowledgement about the important role of soy in a balanced diet but is concerned about some of the rhetoric about soybean oil in the supporting materials.

PCRM Seeks the Withdrawal of Dietary Guidelines – The animal rights activist group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has filed a petition with the federal government seeking the withdrawal of the new dietary guidelines. This group claims that agriculture groups and food companies unfairly influenced the new nutritional standards. PCRM wants the guidelines to be rewritten.

Interest Rates and Inflation Remain a Challenge – According to AgCountry Farm Credit Services Executive Vice President of Business Development Mark Vetter, interest rates will remain a challenge in the year ahead.  Inflation has also impacted nearly every line item on the expense side of a farm income statement. As an example, some farms have seen land rents increase 30 percent, and the cost to own land has gone up 34 percent over the past four years. Despite that, Vetter says AgCountry’s portfolio, as a whole, remains in a strong position. “Less than five percent of producers would be objectively experiencing financial stress today, and that’s attributed to great planning and strategies by these operations during the boom years. There was a lot of working capital, a lot of liquidity that was built up in 2021, 2022, 2023 that has propped up producers when you look at them objectively on a credit spectrum.”  Watch the Vetter interview.

No Decision Yet From High Court – The U.S. Supreme Court did not make a ruling on the legality of President Trump’s tariffs on Friday, as had been anticipated. The High Court only issued one ruling Friday and it was a criminal case. The court does not announce in advance the cases that will be decided. When the ruling is made, it could have major implications for the commodity markets.

Black Swans or Gray Rhinos – The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on the Trump tariffs at any time. This is one of many major issues facing agriculture today. We’ve all heard of black swan events, but the news cycle seems to be bringing them out in flocks. “There’s another term called gray rhinos where you know something may come, but you don’t know where it’s going to come from,” said Mike Zuzulo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting. “I think that’s a really good term to be using in 2026 because we know a lot of things could shake out, but we just don’t know how the trade is going to work it into the price action.”

Potato Expo 2026 Brings Growers Together in Texas – Potato growers from across the country gathered in Texas for Potato Expo 2026. “I tell you what makes this so great is that this Potato Expo gets all of us potato growers together, a chance for us to meet and greet, and see all the new technologies that are out there in the potato world,” said TJ Hall, NPC vice president of finance. The Hoople, North Dakota grower has attended Potato Expo for more than a decade.  Hall acknowledged ongoing price pressure but remains cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. “Even with the great crop that we had last year, things are a little bit tough in the ag sector right now with prices, but all we can hope is for the best for this upcoming year and hopefully some of our challenges get fixed and we keep moving forward.”

Potato Industry Faces Heavy Losses in 2026 – At Potato Expo 2026, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles said losses are widespread and are not limited to one region or crop type. “Everyone is struggling this year. On average, we are looking at grower losses in the Russet variety of upwards of half a billion dollars, just in that one single variety.” The losses underscore the need for meaningful economic relief from Congress and the administration. “Those type of numbers, that really compels Congress and the administration to weigh in and really provide that true bridge so that growers can survive until the market starts to turn around,” Quarles said the relief could help keep growers in business until longer-term tax and trade policies begin to have an impact.

Celebrating Rising Consumer Demand – Potato industry leaders say new federal dietary guidelines and shifting consumer habits are reinforcing the nutritional and economic importance of potatoes. Speaking at Potato Expo 2026, Northland Potato Growers Executive Director Gary Shields said national unity and research-backed messaging continue to support demand. “The potato industry, like all commodity groups, faces its challenges through all the different venues, but overall from a nutritional standpoint, the potato is still America’s favorite vegetable.” Shields said that consumer awareness has grown alongside research efforts highlighting potatoes’ role in a balanced diet. “There’s a reason why potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable from a nutrition standpoint. Vitamin C, B12, fiber, potassium, the skin is full of nutrients. You should eat a potato product every day.”

Tschirky: Optimism Strong Among Potato Growers – National Potato Council President Ted Tschirky says growers remain optimistic despite challenges in agriculture, noting that the Potato Expo provides a forum to discuss production, labor, and financial strategies. “Yeah, like potato growers or farmers in general are always optimistic about the years to come,” said Tshirky. “As I jokingly told a friend of mine, I had two good years: 1996 and next year. So that’s great to see the optimism of everybody.” Tschirky also highlighted the importance of advocacy at the federal level, especially for crop-specific funding. “It’s always changing, especially with this current administration, the millions of dollars that they give for the farm programs that sort of left out specialty crops or potatoes, we’re trying to navigate how we can get some of that funding into our growers’ pockets.”

Halverson: Potato Industry Focused on Resilience – Despite ongoing market pressure across the agricultural sector, optimism remains strong within the potato industry. Speaking during the Potato Expo 2026, Black Gold Farms CEO Eric Halverson said that growers and industry leaders are focused on adapting to tight margins while continuing to seek new opportunities. “You can feel a lot of energy in the room, despite some challenges we have in our way.” Halverson said many conversations at the conference center on how the industry can remain profitable without relying on short-term government assistance. “There are challenges, prices aren’t where we want them to be,” he said. “So there’s just a lot of people talking about how do we roll up our sleeves and get to work and make it successful.” North Dakota’s expanding role in potato processing is also drawing national attention, particularly with the development of a new French fry plant in the state. Halverson said that momentum is helping put the region in the spotlight as the industry looks ahead.

Potatoes Remain America’s Favorite Vegetable – Potato consumption in the United States is at an all-time high, and industry officials say global demand for American potatoes continues to grow. “A lot of the new consumption over the past decade has come from imported potato products, which is one of the things we’re trying to address, but the good news is that consumers in the United States and around the world love potatoes,” said Blair Richardson, CEO, Potatoes USA. Richardson says potatoes are still America’s favorite vegetable. “We have been since 2017, and I’m very happy to defend that position. They’re flexible, they’re versatile, they’re highly nutritious, and very dense.”

Potato Expo Marks 18 Years of Uniting the Industry – Attendance at Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, Texas, topped 2,100, making it a top-three show in the 18-year history. More than 30 countries were represented at this year’s expo. Justin Dagen, representing Minnesota Certified Seed Potato growers, has a long history with the show. “Nearly 20 years ago, we invented the Expo, but before then, the seed industry had a meeting, the chip industry had a meeting, the processors had a meeting,” said Dagen. “There were numerous meetings throughout the United States, and now we brought it together largely under one roof as the Potato Expo, and it’s been very, very successful.” Dagen’s farm in Karlstad, Minnesota has been in the family for nearly 150 years and has grown seed potatoes for more than a century. “We’re a diversified farm, we have long rotations in our seed operation, and we’re in an isolated location, which gives us advantages. We’re able to grow clean seed here, and that’s what we’re thankful for.”

Riverview & AZ Reach Water Access Agreement – Morris, Minnesota-based Riverview will pay $11 million over 20 years and reduce groundwater usage to improve water access for the residents of Arizona’s Sulphur Springs Valley. The region is in the midst of a mega-drought, putting more focus on water stewardship. “Through conversations with the (Arizona) AG’s office, we were able to enter into a voluntary agreement where we were able to formalize some of those structures and continue efforts that we had ongoing,” said Brady Janzen, partner, Riverview LLP. This is the first groundwater access agreement of its kind nationwide. Riverview has dairy and beef locations in Minnesota, Arizona, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Nebraska. Dairies are being built at Hillsboro and Wahpeton, North Dakota. “We moved quite a bit of dirt at the Abercrombie dairy project this last fall and and moved a little bit of dirt up at Herberg (Township)as well. Winter has those efforts on pause but our plan is to continue with both of those this spring.” Listen to the interview.

Class III Milk Prices Slide – Class III milk prices have declined significantly since their 2024 highs. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom says a lot of it has to do with oversupply of the solids market. “Although milk is milk, it’s the components that we sell and we’ve got all sorts of components on the market,” said Sjostrom. “When it comes to Class III, that’s our cheese market, and we need a better ratio to make cheese, and so there’s extra fat to sell and that fat just doesn’t have enough homes with our current butter market.” Sjostrom says there’s hope for the long-term outlook. “If the price goes low enough there’s going to be new markets created whether that’s exports or some other use for it.”

No Merit to Colombia Milk Powder Allegations – The Colombian government has dismissed a case into U.S. milk powder subsidies and their impact on Colombian farmers. The U.S. was able to demonstrate that there is no merit to the allegations. As a result, the U.S. continues to have tariff-free access to the Colombian market. National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud said this action sends a clear message that efforts to evade trade agreement commitments will not be tolerated.

MN Beef Update – In the Minnesota Beef Update, Minnesota Beef Council Communications Director Ashley Wolff offers some health-related goals around beef. Click here.

Another Case of NWS – According to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a new case of New World Screwworm has been found 215 miles from the Texas border. With every detection, the likelihood of reopening the border to Mexican feeder cattle is reduced.

An Update From the ND Gelbvieh Association – Bailey March of Gold Buckle Gelbvieh previews the North Dakota Golden Rule Sale set for Saturday, January 25, at Kist Livestock in Mandan. This update is made possible by the North Dakota Gelbieh Association. Click here to listen.

Cattle Country Conversations – Cattle Country Conversations has made its debut on the Red River Farm Network. This weekly update shares insight from cattle industry experts. In our first report, NDSU Extension Veterinarian Jake Galbreath talks about the up-and-down temperatures and the impact on the cattle herd. This program is sponsored by Four Hill Farms, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, North Dakota Gelbvieh Association, Minnesota Beef Council and Martinson Ag Risk Management.  Click here. 

WOTUS Public Comments Submitted – The public comment period for the Trump Administration’s proposed new definition of waters of the United States is complete. The change is in reaction to the Supreme Court decision in the Sackett versus EPA lawsuit. The American Soybean Association comments centered on the new WOTUS rule, bringing long-needed clarity for farmers. ASA said it shifts the burden of proof from landowners to the government. The American Farm Bureau Federation said the proposed rule reflects a ‘thoughtful and balanced approach.’ Farm Bureau recommended a clarification to when wetlands fall under the WOTUS rule. Farm Bureau also advocates for the continued expansion of previously converted cropland and the exclusion of ditches from WOTUS jurisdiction.

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, Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program administrator Megan Mullen talks about the program implementing conservation practices that protect water quality. Click here to listen.

ESA Mitigation Practices Outlined – In response to numerous lawsuits, the EPA adopted a comprehensive work plan to improve protection of endangered species and fulfill the obligations of the Endangered Species Act. CropLife America President and CEO Alexandra Dunn said there were concerns that work would have been put on the shelf with the transition to the Trump Administration due to politics. “Fortunately, there were so many stakeholders who put time and energy into those documents; there really was widespread support for them to remain in place,” said Dunn. “I would say the ESA program survived what could have been a very difficult political time and did very well.” EPA finalized strategies for herbicides and vulnerable species in 2023 and insecticides in 2024. The Fungicide Strategy is expected to be unveiled in April. During a forum at the Farm Bureau Convention, CropLife Director of Federal Government Relations Venus Welch-White said farmers will have a menu of practices to reduce the herbicide’s impact on endangered species. “Do you work with a certified crop consultant? Are you in a flat area that reduces the opportunity for runoff?” said Welch-White. “There are a lot of things that can be done based on the type of operation that you have.” Click here to listen to the joint interview. 

Approps Committee Drops Lawsuit Shield for Crop Protection Companies – The House Appropriations Committee stripped language from the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies 2026 appropriations bill that shielded crop protection companies from lawsuits. Representatives of the Make America Healthy Again movement are taking credit for this change. Elizabeth Kucinch, who is a former policy director for the Center for Food Safety, called this “a victory for Pro Life Agriculture.” While work remains, Kucinich said this legislative win demonstrates what can be done by the MAHA movement. She said the farm bill will be their next big test.

High Court Reviewing MN Deer Farming Case – A dispute between Minnesota deer farmers and the State of Minnesota is being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2023, laws were passed in the state banning deer farmers from selling healthy, disease-free breeding stock and preventing a deer farming business from being passed from one generation to the next. The Minnesota Deer Farmers Association contends Americans have a fundamental right to pursue agriculture as an occupation and the state shouldn’t take steps to eliminate an entire industry.

Ag Barometer Shows Slight Dip in Farmer Optimism – The latest issue of Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer showed a slight decrease in farmer sentiment. “The driver was people becoming a little less optimistic about the future, and I think some of that was representative of some angst about what’s going on with respect to exports, specifically soybeans,” said Jim Mintert, ag economics professor, Purdue University. The results also shows that many farms fared better than expected in 2025.

More Demand for Financing – Ahead of the 2026 growing season, securing financing seems to be the top priority for growers. Corteva Territory Manager Jordan Grundstrom says the demand is up over the recent past. “Last year there was a lot of guys dipping their toe into it and looking at finance options,” said Grundstrom. “I think this year will be really a large year where guys are looking for extra avenues to defer or source out inputs different then they have in the past.” Acreage decisions are still being made. “Other than long-term contract crops I think there’s going to be a lot of decision making done up until the planter gets loaded.”

MN Corn Matters – MN Corn Growers Association President Wes Beck talks about the recently announced Farmer Bridge Assistance in this week’s edition of Corn Matters. Click here. 

12 Million Metric Tons Target Lags Recent Years – China has reportedly purchased 80 percent of the 12 million metric ton soybean purchase obligation from the United States. “We hear the number 12 million metric tons, but typically, the last three years they’ve bought on average, 26 million metric tons, so the 12 million is a lot less,” said North Dakota Soybean Growers Association President Justin Sherlock. Sherlock believes China will remain a critical market for U.S. soybeans in the short and long term. “China has the capacity to crush around 120 million metric tons of soybeans a year. If you break that down,  they have the capacity to crush a unit train of soybeans every 45 to 50 minutes. When you look at it that way, all the rest of the world combined doesn’t add up to that capacity.”

NDSC Invests in Trade Missions – The North Dakota Soybean Council is leading a trade mission to Thailand and Vietnam in mid-January. Council Chair Jim Thompson says these two key markets prefer North Dakota soybeans. A year ago, the NDSC traveled north of the border to identify market opportunities in Canada. In theory, Canadian soybeans are being delivered to North Dakota crush plants, and those trucks are returning home with soybean meal. “There’s a lot of animal agriculture across the border and soymeal’s the preferred food ration for those animals,” said Thompson. “It’s an opportunity for these facilities to get the meal out, which is the challenge now with these crush plants. The oil is spoken for; it’s just getting the meal shipped off and getting it off their hands so they can continue to crush at the pace that they want to.”

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 says the precious metals market continues to be hot, while the wheat market remains cold. Listen to the full report here.

Noxious Weed Forum Update – North Dakota weed control officials met in Bismarck this past week for the Ag Commissioner’s Noxious Weed Forum. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said one of the most frequently asked questions is how to add a weed to the noxious weeds list. “The noxious weed list was identified for non-crop land acres, more so rangeland, pastureland, hay land, cultivated land,” said Goehring. “Cultivated land, we generally don’t take into consideration when we look at the noxious weed list.”

Managing Weeds – BASF Business Representative Scott Hammond was part of a panel discussion on weed management during the Lake Region Extension Roundup. Resistance management is critical. “The use of residuals is big part of managing this wheat resistance. and has to be a part of the equation,” said Hammond. “It can’t just be your soybean acres or your specialty crops. The guys that are doing it well are using residuals across a lot of acres, whether it’s corn or soybeans.” It’s also important to attack the weeds early.

Corn Diseases Drive Offseason Planning – Corn saw a sharp increase in diseases this year. “I’ve had a lot of conversations with farmers about what can be done with these corn diseases we’re seeing in the Northern Plains,” said Andrew Friskop, plant pathologist, NDSU Extension. “It’s something that we need to be monitoring frequently.” Friskop said variety selection in spring wheat has also been a hot topic. “We have some great new variety releases coming out of NDSU; the good news is we have very highly productive varieties that can withstand disease.”

SD Corn Comments – In this edition of South Dakota Corn Comments, This Week in Agribusiness host Mike Pearson invites you to the 40th South Dakota Annual Corn Conference. Pearson is emceeing the big event on January 17.  Click here.

Fungicide Timing is Critical for White Mold – With the cool, wet conditions seen this past growing season, white mold pressure was evident in soybean and dry edible bean fields. NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center Plant Pathologist Michael Wunsch spoke at the Lake Region Extension Roundup and said fungicide application timing is critical. “If you spray after a significant infection has occurred, you’re not going to cure those existing effects even if you can’t see the disease because the disease is moving microscopically in the plant and you can’t cure it at that point,” said Wunsch. “You can’t spray too late and you can’t spray too early because if you spray before, there is a significant risk of infection. What you’re going to be doing is leaving a tremendous amount of the new growth unprotected; the new growth that occurs after you spray and before infection occurs.”

Dry Bean Scene – The Dry Bean Scene highlighted new dry bean varieties for the upcoming growing season. NDSU Extension broadleaf crop specialist Ana Carcedo introduced a new small red variety called Red Velvet, which offers strong resistance to white mold and common bacterial blight. A new light red kidney variety, ND Pink Slippers, is also available, featuring excellent quality, shape, and size while maintaining average yields. Click here to listen to this week’s report.

Long-Term Benefit of Seed Treatments – Soybean seed treatments help protect yields against seedling diseases. “They’re not just going to be protecting against the soybean diseases that we have, but they also protect that plant for the entire season,” said Wade Webster, soybean pathology specialist, NDSU Extension. “Seed treatments set those plants up so that they have a healthy root system that will allow them to be resilient, especially under low moisture conditions later in that season when we get into reproductive stages.” At the Lake Region Extension Roundup, Webster said seed treatments are just one of the many tools in the disease management toolbox.

Potential Savings From Lower Nitrogen Rates – To evaluate nitrogen efficiency, True Grit Ag split a 40-acre plot in half, and on each side, there were 24 plots. Adam Kuznia and his partner evaluated different rates, ranging from 110-to-230 units of N. The most economical rate in the study was 110 units of N. “The most phenomenal thing about it is we did this on a nitrogen use efficiency of .63 and .65, where most universities are calling for 1.2 units of N to get a bushel of corn,” said Kuznia. “I think we can do a better job of managing our inputs, both nitrogen and phosphorus; that’s a place where we can get lean and give ourselves a chance to make money moving forward because the markets are not looking any more forgiving in 2026 than they were in ’25.” True Grit Ag is based at Argyle, Minnesota.

Potato Experts Highlight Ongoing Disease Risks – At Potato Expo, NDSU Extension Potato Agronomist Andy Robinson told the Red River Farm Network that disease management remains a top priority for growers in North Dakota and Minnesota, even during a strong production year. “It kind of depends on if you’re growing a Russet, that’s a longer season crop, verticillium is a bigger deal,” said Robinson. “For a fresh potato, it’s more things that can cause the tuber to not look good, like black dot or silver scurf on the skin and then we’re always fighting leaf foliar diseases.” Some diseases can have more severe impacts on tuber quality and yield, highlighting the importance of monitoring and education. “Common scab is a big one that’s of concern. Potato mop top virus is a big deal. It has to be vectored through the powdery scab. We do have a lot of powdery scab in our area.” Robinson said these disease topics will be discussed at the International Crop Expo in Grand Forks in February.

Walz Will Not Seek Third Term – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he will not seek a third term, saying he wants to focus on addressing challenges facing the state rather than running a political campaign. “Every minute that I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences,” Walz said. “So I’ve decided to step out of this race and I’ll let others worry about the election while I focus on the work that’s in front of me for the next year.” Walz also criticized national political figures, including President Donald Trump, for contributing to a divisive climate in Minnesota.

Klobuchar Decision and the Impact on the Senate Ag Committee – With Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek reelection, there is speculation that Senator Amy Klobuchar may make a run for the governor’s seat. Klobuchar is the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The Hagstrom Report has put together an analysis of what would happen with the ag committee leadership post if Klobuchar runs and wins. Colorado Senator Michael Bennett is next in line in seniority, but he is leaving the Senate to run for governor. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin are next in line, but neither one is running for reelection. The job could fall to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker or New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Lujan.

Rep. Anderson Calls Walz Decision a ‘Major Turn of Events’ – Minnesota House Agriculture Committee Co-Chair Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, said he was not entirely surprised by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek a third term, but called it a “major turn of events.” “I noticed he blamed President Trump for a lot of the things happening in Minnesota, and he’s only been in office for a year, and some of the issues of fraud go back four, five, or six years.” Anderson also highlighted the governor’s record on biofuels and sustainable energy, noting the importance of continuity in state policy. “The governor was a strong supporter of sustainable aviation fuel. I’ve worked with him in that area for the last couple of years. He was a proponent of ethanol. And so I hope that whoever steps in his place will have those same feelings.”

Improved Nitrogen Efficiency Boosts Potato ROI – Potato growers facing tight margins may find opportunity in improved nutrient efficiency. At Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, Yara North American Agronomy Solutions Manager Erika Wagner shared results from the company’s potato incubator farm in Idaho, where targeted nitrogen management delivered higher yields while reducing input use. “We were able to improve our nitrogen use efficiency by 12 percent. We put out ten percent less nitrogen on the acre, and I had a four percent yield increase,” Wagner added that more precise nitrogen timing also improved quality. “We were actually able to significantly reduce those reducing sugars and improve fry color at harvest,” Wagner said, noting the results were consistent across two growing seasons despite differing weather conditions. Yara plans to continue tracking potato quality through storage and measure final grower returns later this year.

Gowan Reinvents Proven Products for Potatoes – Gowan Company continues to build on its long-standing relationship with potato growers while expanding its global footprint. Speaking during Potato Expo, Gowan Company Northwest Sales Representative Kayley Jacobson said the family-owned company has grown significantly since its founding in 1962. “They’re not the tiny little Gowan that most potato farmers know back from 30 years ago,” said Jacobson. “We have spread nationwide now, we’re adding more people, we have spread overseas, opening new branches, and it feels like a small company that’s doing big things.” Jacobson said Gowan’s strength in the potato industry comes from refining proven products while developing new tools to address region-specific challenges. “Products like Eptam and Sonalan have been around for over 30 years, and we’re still finding new ways to reinvent them and keep them fresh, helping growers with the problems they’re facing.”

Preserve Yield Potential – Nexta is the exclusive biological offering sold through Pioneer sales reps. Nexta District Lead Ryan Schnoes says this tool helps the plant deal with weather stress. In today’s economic environment, the focus has to be on the return on investment. “The headline coming out of 2025, as we look across all of our data from east to west, is that three out of four customers who chose to use Nexta are money ahead this year,” said Schnoes. “Another thing that I would say is, talking to a lot of farmers, they’re looking for new creative ideas to essentially add more value to their bottom line next year. The beauty of our lineup is that we’ve got something that could potentially appeal to everybody. It’s not a one-size-fits-all.”

Syngenta Introduces the First Three Bt Stack for CRW Control – It is estimated that corn rootworm is costing farmers nearly $1 billion per year in control measures and lost yield potential. The pest causes severe root feed, lodging and standability issues. Syngenta Corn Product Manager Matt Dolch says CRW is a major management challenge. “The adult beetles lay eggs in the soil, making a pest below ground threat that’s hard to detect until you start to see that damage happen out in the field or it becomes visible.” Syngenta is introducing the first three Bt protein stacks for corn rootworm control. “Not all traits are created equal; we’ve got an opportunity here from a Syngenta trait perspective with the launch of DuraStak hybrids to bring forward farmers an opportunity to change it up,” said Dolch. “We can’t keep doing the same thing year after year after year and expect different results.” Durastak will be available for the 2027 growing season. Watch the interview. 

A Biofuels Joint Venture Created – Corteva and BP have launched a 50-50 joint venture called Etlas. The plan is to produce biofuels, like sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, from crops including canola, sunflower and mustard. Etlas plans to produce one million metric tons of feedstock per year by the mid-2030s.

AgCountry to Issue Patronage – For the seventh straight year, AgCountry is issuing 100 basis points in patronage to its members. That equates to roughly $125 million for the three states served by AgCountry.

CHS Releases Q1 Financials – CHS is reporting first-quarter net income of just over $250 million. That’s up from $245 million one year ago. Record premium diesel fuel sales help push performance in its refined fuels division. The grains business was hurt by weak soybean crush and spring wheat margins, a downturn in soybean exports and timing impacts. With this report, CHS changed its financial reporting to align itself with its new end-to-end product-line operating model.

A New Release from Bushel Plus – Bushel Plus has launched its new X9 Split Frame MAD Concaves, purpose-built for John Deere X9 Series combines. The modular design replaces traditional concaves that require full removal during crop changes and reduces dockage.

Advancing Water Management Technology – Loveland Products has launched AQUA FORCE, a new kind of water use efficiency product designed mainly for center pivot systems. It improves water distribution, retention and infiltration in the soil.

HydraPrime to Support Uniform, Early Season Seed Establishment – Midwestern BioAg has launched a next-generation seed treatment technology called HydraPrime. It helps seeds manage moisture more efficiently at planting using MBA’s proprietary Bio-Gel technology.

Two Co-ops in SW MN to Merge – Farmward Cooperative and Ag Plus Cooperative will merge on March 1. The new business will operate under the Farmward Cooperative name and maintain its Morgan, Minnesota headquarters. Farmward has locations in Clements, Comfrey, Danube, Morton, Olivia, Renville, Sacred Heart, Springfield, Wabasso and Wood Lake. Ag Plus brings Marshall, Canby, Ghent, Ivanhoe, Hendricks, Minneota and Slayton to the unification.

The Last Dakota Farm Show in the DakotaDome – The Dakota Farm Show was held this past week in Vermillion. It apparently will be the last show in the DakotaDome. The University of South Dakota has hosted the major farm show at the dome for more than 40 years. However, with the growth of its Division 1 sports program, it was determined it would transition away from hosting the Dakota Farm Show and focus on the needs of its athletic program.

Peterson Farm Brothers Share Story at Lake Region Extension Roundup – Kansas-based Peterson Farm Brothers went viral 13 years ago with their first parody video called ‘I’m Farming, and I Grow It.’ “We filmed this YouTube video, kinda for our friends just to show how much fun we had on the farm as kids, and we posted it,” Nathan Peterson shared during the Lake Region Extension Roundup. “Immediately, our friends started sharing it and we ended up with five million views in one week. ” The three brothers have been riding that wave, building a social media platform that shares the farmer’s story. Greg Peterson said these videos are fun, but they also have a message. “That’s one of the main reasons we make our videos is to hopefully inspire that next generation, but of course, we also make them to educate people about agriculture and hopefully correct some misconceptions people have.”

AFBF Honors Bill Northey’s Service to Agriculture – The late Bill Northey was honored with the American Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. The Iowa farmer was the first individual to serve as the USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation. Northey also served as the Iowa secretary of agriculture from 2007 to 2018. Here’s a portion of the video tribute. 

Ag Committee Member Passes – A member of the House Agriculture Committee has passed away. Representative Doug LaMalfa represented a district in northern California. LaMalfa owned and operated a rice farm. The Republican has been in office since 2012. He passed away during surgery for an aneurysm at the age of 65.

USDA Appointments Announced – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced her latest political appointments. Doug Hoelscher is the new minister-counselor at the U.S. mission to food agencies in Rome. Hoelscher previously served as COO and chair of the America First Transition Project at the America First Policy Institute. Tate Bennett was named the principal deputy chief of staff. In Trump’s first term, Bennett was a special assistant to the President for agriculture, trade and food assistance. The new deputy chief of staff for operations is Hailey Ghee. Ghee worked at USDA during Trump’s first term. Mireya Brogen has taken over as the chief of staff for the Risk Management Agency. For the past seven years, Brogen has managed research and development supply chain risk at the Department of Defense.

Benavidez Replaces Meyer as USDA Chief Economist – USDA has a new chief economist on board. Justin Benavidez previously served as the chief economist for the Republican majority staff on the House Agriculture Committee. He succeeds Seth Meyer, who now leads the University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute.

CFI Names New Executive Director – Kelly Leighton is the new executive director of The Center for Food Integrity. Most recently, Leighton served as CFI’s vice president of Growth and Engagement. Before joining CFI, she developed brand, engagement and issues management strategies for Coca-Cola, Cargill, Ecolab and others.

NPPC Hires O’Connor – Molly O’Connor is the new director of federal affairs for the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, D.C. O’Connor began her career with NPPC as an international trade intern in 2011. Most recently, she was the director of federal government relations for CropLife America. Previously, she was a senior policy advisor for OFW Law.

MN FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Named – The Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 has been announced. The honorees are Richard Finger, who was an ag instructor at Lewiston-Altura; Tim Larson, who teaches in Medford; Dr. Mary Olson, who leads the CHS Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair; Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen; Upsala FFA advisor Gretchen Schleper; former Montgomery-Lonsdale and Tri-City United ag instructor Barry Schmidt; longtime member of the Minnesota FFA Foundation Board Gary Sloan and the founder of the Alexandria FFA Alumni Chapter Bernie Van Zomeren. These eight inductees will join 252 other members of the Hall of Fame. RRFN’s Don Wick was one of the 75 inaugural members inducted in 2004.

North Dakotan Leads Onion Trade Group – Barry Vculek was elected president of the National Onion Association. Vculek owns Four Star Ag in Oakes, North Dakota and has been a member of NOA for 13 years.

Kammerer Returns to SD – Amanda Kammerer is the new director of communications and marketing for the South Dakota Beef Industry Council. Most recently, Kammerer worked on the pro rodeo circuit in Texas. Before that, she worked for Tri-State Livestock News and the Black Hills Stock Show/Central Fairs States Fair. Kammerer was raised on a ranch north of Rapid City.

Orem, Drewicke, Spinelli Join Ten Acre Marketing – Ten Acre Marketing has added three new team members to support client service and creative operations. Joelle Orem has a direct-to-consumer beef operation in Indiana and has 12-plus years of experience in brand strategy and agricultural marketing. James Drewicke grew up on a Minnesota farm and has agri-marketing agency experience supporting clients in crop protection, seed and biologicials. Marcus Spinelli has more than 20 years in branding, retail and digital marketing and will serve as a creative studio manager for Ten Acre Marketing.

Veteran MN FSA Leader Passes – Stuart Shelstad, who had a distinguished career as the chief of the Minnesota Farm Service Agency farm loan program, has died. Shelstad, 64, spent 30 years with the agency, retiring in 2018.

A Lifetime of Service to Agriculture – Funeral services will be held on Thursday for Dr. Edward Frederick. Frederick, 95, took over as the superintendent of the University of Minnesota Southern Experiment Station in 1964. In 1971, he became the provost and later chancellor at the University of Minnesota-Waseca. The Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters recognize individuals for a lifetime of service to FFA with the Day-Frederick Award. The award is named for two icons in agricultural education, former State FFA Advisor Paul Day and Frederick. Frederick was inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame. He was also a guiding force for Farmamerica in Waseca and the Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable.