RRFN on the Road – Farm broadcasting is meant to happen beyond the studio. This week, the RRFN microphone will be on the move, sharing agriculture’s story. Join the Red River Farm Network for coverage of the MN Ag Expo in Mankato, the International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo in Grand Forks, the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association Convention and Wild World of Weeds Workshop, the AgCountry Farm Credit Service AgFocus event in Fargo, an AgPhD Agronomy Workshop in Hillsboro and an Ag Summit in Fergus Falls. Over the weekend, RRFN will also travel to Palm Springs for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association Annual Meeting.

Targeted Relief Proposed – Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee Chair John Hoeven are calling for expanded farm assistance in the upcoming continuing resolution. This targeted relief is meant to build on USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance, covering more producer losses and expanded support for specialty crops. It would also increase farm ownership and operating loan limits to improve access to credit. Boozman said there is a need for additional assistance. “After visiting with many, many producers from all over the country, we’re just in a very difficult situation,” said Boozman. “If you’re growing something in the ground, it really doesn’t matter what you’re growing; you’re losing money. And so because of that, we’re going to need additional help.”

House Dems Introduce Farm and Family Relief Act – House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig has unveiled a legislative framework for farm relief. Craig said the proposal would make farmers 65 percent whole. “We can’t cover the full losses of this administration; they have been too tremendous,” said Craig. “Unlike our Republican colleagues, who in that first tranche of family farm relief, picked winners and losers among the commodities groups. Specialty crops were a big loser, (including) sugarbeet growers in our country. We refused to pick winners and losers among farmers and families.” The Farm and Family Relief Act would assist farmers and help states address the funding shortfall for food assistance. In addition, this bill will reassert congressional control over tariffs. Craig expects the bill to be introduced next week.

MFU Minute – In the MFU Minute, Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish offers insight into the loss of USDA funding at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Click here. 

A Crowded Pool for Specialty Crop Bridge Payments – The Farmer Bridge Assistance program allocated $1 billion for specialty crops, including sugarbeets. “Nobody is giving any indication about how that pot is going to be divided, but I can tell you that’s a very crowded pool of deserving candidates,” said Neil Rockstad, president, American Sugarbeet Growers Association. “There’s a lot of crops in that the speciality crops’ $1 billion pool, frankly, how they divvy it is yet to be seen.” The demand is there with sugar markets down 42 percent in the past two years. Rockstad the sugar market will dominate the discussion at the upcoming ASGA Annual Meeting. Listen to the full interview.

Quarles: Specialty Crops Need More Relief – National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles says current bridge payments are not enough to offset the financial pressure specialty crop growers are facing from high input costs and weaker market prices. “I think USDA is doing as much as they possibly can with the resources they have available to them,” Quarles said. “The problem is those resources just flat out aren’t enough. They’ve said that perhaps specialty crops might get about $1 billion of a much larger package, but the specialty crop subsector is looking at requiring about $5 billion to get through this crisis here.” Quarles says industry groups are working closely with Congress and the administration to push for additional assistance, potentially tied to must-pass legislation later this month. “We partnered with American Farm Bureau Federation and a number of the other major ag groups to make the case that American agriculture in the short term really needs this economic relief package,” Quarles said. “If your farm shuts down, if you go bankrupt before you can get to what may be very beneficial new policies, it just doesn’t really matter, and that’s why this economic relief plan is so important to carry folks to those better days.”

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Signed into Law – Whole milk and reduced-fat milk options will now be available in schools. President Donald Trump signed the bill on Wednesday, surrounded by dairy-state lawmakers and dairy farm families. “I’m delighted to sign the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, which is a very important thing for our farmers and, I think, maybe more important for our people who drink milk,” said Trump. “This is the first bill signing of the new year, and I want to ensure that millions of school-aged children have access to high-quality milk as we make America healthy again.” House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson said he has been working on this legislation for 15 years. “The benefits go to those precious children, it goes to our dairy farm families who work so hard seven days a week, there’s no day off for dairy farmers, and quite frankly, our rural communities.” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the whole milk option should be available in schools within a matter of weeks.

USDA Workforce Reduction Analysis Released – An analysis from Prospect Partners found the size of the USDA’s workforce declined 21 percent from January to November of 2025. In the state breakdowns, the North Dakota Farm Service Agency lost 27 percent of its staff. Half of the employees in the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service and 44 percent in Rural Development have left their respective agencies. In Minnesota, the Risk Management Agency suffered staff cuts of 50 percent. Sixty-seven percent of Minnesota employees of the USDA Economic Research Service are out of a job. In South Dakota, 45 percent of the Agricultural Marketing Service and nearly 30 percent of the Agricultural Research Service were removed from the payroll.

A Call-to-Action Over Loss of PP Buy-Up Option – The Risk Management Agency is taking public comments on its proposal to eliminate the five percent Prevented Plant buy-up option through January 27. The National Corn Growers Association and North Dakota Corn Growers Association have put out a call-to-action. With increasing uncertainty, the corn groups said farmers cannot afford to lose access to this risk management tool. They’re asking grassroots members to weigh in on this issue during the public comment period.

Rollins: Agriculture Central to America’s Future – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins used her address at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention to frame agriculture as central to the nation’s economy, security, and identity. Rollins told delegates that farmers and ranchers are more than commodity producers, saying they are “the bearers of a way of life and custodians of the great American experiment.” Rollins blamed rising input costs and trade deficits on policies of the previous administration, noting fuel and oil costs rose 32 percent, labor costs climbed 47 percent, and interest rates increased 73 percent over four years. Rollins highlighted actions taken under President Donald Trump to strengthen farm income and markets, pointing to expanded trade access, tax relief, and safety net improvements. Rollins also announced new investments in the farm safety net, including enhanced Dairy Margin Coverage and the addition of up to 30 million base acres to ARC and PLC programs, the first expansion since 2002.

Farm Economy is at a Critical Stage – According to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, something needs to be done to turn the farm economy around. “We’re talking about the security of our nation being able to feed ourselves,” said Duvall. “I think we’re at a critical stage where people have to understand that whatever we do, whether it’s really good trade treaties, whether it’s more domestic use, whatever that might be, we got to find a way to secure agriculture for the future.” Assistance is being sought, but Duvall said that’s not a long-term solution. “Farmers don’t want a check in the mail from the federal government; we want markets.”

Losing Equity Fast – The farm economy was an overarching theme at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. “Most of agriculture has experienced at least two years of lost equity now, the cow/calf guys are doing great, but, overall, we’re losing equity pretty fast,” said AFBF Vice President Scott VanderWal, who also serves as the South Dakota Farm Bureau president. The bridge payments are welcome, but “it is also kind of a drop in a bucket compared to the huge losses we’ve experienced.” VanderWal sees the solution in expanded markets, both overseas and domestically. These downturns in the farm economy always bring up the specter of the 1980s farm crisis. “I lived through that, too. I came out of college in 1985 when the interest rates on our operating loan went to 21 percent the year after I graduated.” The scenario is different today, but VanderWal said the issue of profitability remains.

A Multifaceted Approach Needed to Address Farm Economy – The farm financial situation overshadowed many of the discussions at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing doesn’t see an easy fix. “From an organizational standpoint, we’re looking at a multifaceted approach, whether that’s more trade or increased domestic uses, like an E15 situation, or whole milk in schools, which we just saw signed into law.” In addition, the focus is on lowering our farm input costs. “It’s not going to be one thing that gets us back to being profitable; it’s going to take a foundation of several things.”

Duvall, VanderWal Reelected – During the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, delegates reelected Zippy Duvall as president and Scott VanderWal as vice president. VanderWal also serves as the South Dakota Farm Bureau president.

AFBF Delegates Address FSA Beginning Farmer Loans – South Dakota Farm Bureau was behind a resolution concerning FSA Beginning Farmer Loans during the American Farm Bureau Federation delegate session. With the current policy, farmers have ten years to apply for these loans based on their Schedule F tax form. “One of the things that hurts young farmers and ranchers is if they had an FFA project in high school or another project where they had to use a Schedule F, that’s counted against them on their ten-year window,” said Reid Jensen, vice president, SDFB. “The ten-year window should start after we actually start farming. not based on some project where you needed a Schedule F.” The South Dakota resolution is now part of the American Farm Bureau policy book.

A Fresh Perspective – Hatton, North Dakota farmer John Jacobson was in a different role at this year’s Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim. Jacobson is the new vice president of North Dakota Farm Bureau. “I have a different perspective,” said Jacobson. “I was a field rep for Farm Bureau back in 2005 and did that for 13 or 14 years and had the opportunity to farm full time. I have been involved at the county level, the state board and now as vice president.”

Addressing the Gray Wolf Population – Minnesota’s wolf population continues to grow and it continues to be a problem for Sebeka, Minnesota rancher Miles Kuschel. “In Minnesota, we’ve seen an increase in the number of gray wolves and through that, we see livestock depredation,” said Kuschel. “With a managed population, we’d be able to bring that into check.” Kuschel, who is a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau board, is seeing momentum happening to address the issue with the Trump Administration. He believes Minnesota is ready to take over management of the gray wolf population, as it did from 2012-to-2014. “I give the DNR credit; they did a good job managing it.”

Gray Wolf Language Removed From Approps Bill – The Interior Department appropriations bill that is on the way to the President’s desk does not include language that would have taken gray wolves off the endangered species list. A policy rider that would return management of the gray wolf to the states was removed from the final bill.

SD Corn Comments – In South Dakota Corn Comments, DaNita Murray, Executive Director at South Dakota Corn, discusses high fructose corn syrup and obesity. Listen to the audio update. 

Tariff Case Awaiting Supreme Court Ruling – The Supreme Court has another chance to rule on the legality of President Trump’s tariff strategy this week. Tomorrow is the next scheduled date for the court to issue opinions. However, the court does not disclose what decisions will be published ahead of time.

Tariff Threat Tied to Greenland Takeover – President Donald Trump is ramping up his push for American control of Greenland. Over the weekend, Trump said he would start charging a ten percent tariff on eight European countries on February 1 due to their opposition to this goal. The import tax moves to 25 percent in June if a deal isn’t secured. The European countries targeted are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. Trump will face many of those European leaders this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Lindberg: Trade Deals Deliver New Market Access – Following a trade mission to Malaysia, USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says recent trade agreements are opening new doors for U.S. farmers and ranchers. “These rapid response missions are taking advantage of new market access for our farmers in light of the president’s new agreements around the world,”  Lindberg added that global demand for American products remains strong. “When you buy American, you’re buying quality,” he said. “People want American food because they truly do believe it is safely produced and it is nutritious for their families.”

Iran Tariff Could Renew Trade Tensions with China – President Trump has imposed a new 25 percent tariff on countries that do business with Iran. China would be on that list. That would move the current 20 percent tariff on goods from China to 45 percent. This action comes at a time when China is close to fulfilling its 12 million metric ton soybean purchase obligations with the United States. Sales have been announced, but few actual shipments have happened yet.

China Posts Record Trade Surplus – Despite the U.S. tariff strategy, China posted a record trade surplus in 2025. Imports remained flat, while exports rose 5.5 percent for the full year. That brought China’s trade surplus to $1.2 trillion.

China Returns to Canadian Canola Market After Tariff Fight – Canola markets are getting a big boost from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s successful trade trip to China. China has agreed to lower tariffs on canola from 84 percent to 15 percent by March 1. In return, Canada will dramatically reduce the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Canola Minute – In the Canola Minute, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman discusses new USDA dietary guidelines. Click here.

High Yields Fail to Offset Low Prices – Good yields in 2025 were overshadowed by weak commodity prices. “It has been a crazy year and part of my concern is we had good yields this year, but we just didn’t have the price,” said Betsy Jensen, farm business management instructor, Northland Community and Technical College. “If you were unfortunate enough to get stuck delivering at harvest, you really had an unfortunate situation with soybeans.” Speaking at the Small Grain Update meeting at the University of Minnesota in Crookston, Jensen encouraged growers to look beyond nearby cash bids and consider longer-term opportunities when there is a carry in the market. “We look at the prices today at the elevator, but we forget about what we can get for our deliveries in December or even next winter. If they have a price in mind, it might be out there, but it might be for March of ’27.”

Cramer, Daines Urge Trade Fix for Pulse Crops – Two U.S. senators are urging President Donald Trump to secure favorable trade provisions for American pulse crops in ongoing negotiations with India. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer and Montana Senator Steve Daines highlighted that their states lead U.S. production of pulse crops like peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans. At the same time, India is the world’s largest consumer, accounting for roughly 27 percent of global demand. The letter comes as the U.S. and India work to finalize a bilateral trade agreement. U.S. trade officials note that India applies an average 39 percent tariff on agricultural products, compared with just five percent for U.S. goods, and that technical and regulatory barriers have limited U.S. exports.

Suspended USDA Funding Impacts MDA – When Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suspended $129 million in USDA grants to Minnesota. SNAP was a target. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said farmers are seeing the impact, including early indications that funding for avian influenza testing was affected. After working through the congressional delegation, those funds have been restored. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture receives tens of millions of dollars in federal funds each year. “It’s more than ten percent of our annual budget,” said Petersen. “One of the things the letter said to get the federal dollars, there had to be justification and documentation, that’s something the Department already does. Our Department has a sterling record, whether it is regarding fraud or anything else.” Petersen hopes calmer heads will soon prevail in this dispute between the state and federal government. Listen to the interview. 

HPAI Testing Continues – There were reports that Minnesota’s avian testing was impacted by USDA’s suspension of grants in the state, but the federal government has provided assurances that no high path programs will be affected. “There have been a few nuanced issues that we have since corrected in regards to some of that funding,” explained Ashley Kohls, executive director, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. “As of right now, the programs needed for high path avian influenza are not impacted.” This issue surfaced with an avian influenza case in Minnesota’s Meeker County. “Because of that case, we were able to identify that early issue where in that budget it was accidentally included in the places where things were paused, but now going forward, that issue has been fixed.” Kohls credits Minnesota Representatives Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad for their intervention in this funding issue.

Cattle Markets Plunge With Latest NWS News – The threat of New World Screwworm was renewed at the end of the week with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller saying the pest will inevitably reach the United States. Combined with a three-day weekend, the news sent cattle futures south on Friday. March feeder cattle dropped more than $8 and April live cattle futures lost $4.45 per hundredweight. Since December 30^th, 11 cases have been confirmed in a Mexican state that is on the U.S. border.

Cattle Country Conversations – The schedule is filled with bull and bred female sales at this time of the year. In RRFN’s Cattle Country Conversations, American Angus Association Field Rep Andrew Swanson offers insight into the maternal and carcass traits that are in high demand. Cattle Country Conversations is sponsored by Four Hill Farms, the Minnesota Beef Council, North Dakota Gelbvieh Association, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association and Martinson Ag Risk Management. Listen to the report. 

MN Beef Update – In the Minnesota Beef Update, Minnesota Beef Council Business Manager Heather Delong offers information on the Minnesota certified producer list. It is an essential part of the beef checkoff referendum process. Click here. 

USMEF Responds to Mexico Pork Investigation – U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror says Mexico’s anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into U.S. pork hams and shoulders targets a market that is critical to both countries. “Mexico is our top export destination for U.S. pork,” Borror said. “They are our dominant customer for hams in particular, of which this case is focused, again, specifically on hams and shoulders.” Borror says exports to Mexico continue to grow because of strong demand, not unfair trade practices. “If we look at our total U.S. pork and variety meat exports to Mexico in 2025, they will have exceeded about 1.2 million metric tons and valued around $2.8 billion,” Borror said. “Mexico will have accounted for about 42 percent of our export volume last year, so absolutely a critical market.”

Improvements Made to DMC – Sign-up is underway for the Dairy Margin Coverage program and will continue through February 26. Enhancements have been made to DMC, including an opportunity for dairy farmers to establish new production history. It also clarifies how new dairy operations will be able to establish production history and there’s an opportunity to make a one-time election of coverage level that is locked in for a six-year time period.

Fresh Momentum for ND’s Dairy Infrastructure – North Dakota will see a dramatic increase in its state dairy herd with the large-scale dairies coming to Abercrombie and the Hillsboro areas. “It will be exciting to see the new herds entering North Dakota,” said Amber Wood, executive director, North Dakota Livestock Alliance. “These will be the first new dairy herds in North Dakota since 2008 so it is growth that is absolutely needed to keep the North Dakota dairy industry going and rebuild that infrastructure.” The Milk Producers Association of North Dakota met this past week in Bismarck for its annual meeting.

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 outside markets continue to be the hottest, while we saw the cattle market drop into the not hot category last week. Click here to listen to this week’s report.

La Niña Weakening, El Niño Timing Uncertain – La Niña remains in place across the tropical Pacific but is expected to weaken in the coming weeks. While some forecast models suggest El Niño could develop by late spring or early summer, World Weather, Incorporated Meteorologist Drew Lerner believes that timeline is too aggressive. A more likely scenario is a gradual move toward El Niño later in the year, most likely in the fourth quarter. Subsurface ocean temperatures have been warming and are expected to surface in the eastern Pacific later this winter, which should further diminish La Niña’s influence.

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, Pam Dubele, Minnesota Farm Bureau, talks about the upcoming LEAP Conference. Click here.

Strong 2025 Sunflower Crop Sets Up Growth Heading Into 2026 – NDSU Extension recently hosted their Getting It Right: Sunflowers webinar, and National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken kicked things off with a review of the 2025 year in sunflowers. “Overall, think sunflower crop here in the US and Canada was excellent in 2025. When you look at the USDA report that came out, we were rebounded from that record low production we had in 2024. And it just really set up the industry to be in a good position for this year in 2026 and looking to add some more acres.”

Wiersma: Do Not Cut Nitrogen Despite Tight Margins – University of Minnesota Extension Small Grains Specialist Jochum Wiersma encouraged growers not to cut back on nitrogen despite tight margins. Speaking at the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Small Grains Update meetings, Wiersma said maintaining yield and protein is critical to staying profitable, even as input costs remain high. “To stay in the game, we need bushels, and so you’re leaning towards higher-yielding varieties. To get those higher-yielding varieties, to get those close to that 14 percent and avoid discounts, you cannot skim on nitrogen.”

Grassley Slams RFS Delay – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is urging the Trump administration to quickly finalize renewable fuel standard volume obligations, saying the delay is hurting biofuel markets and adding financial pressure for farmers. The rule was supposed to take effect on January 1, but remains unfinished more than a year after it should have been finalized. “Biofuel producers, soybean crush facilities, commodity traders, and also the farmers are still waiting.”

MN Corn Matters – In Minnesota Corn Matters, Minnesota Corn Growers Association Past President Richard Syverson outlines efforts to advance year-round E15. Click here. 

A Record Week for Ethanol Production – Ethanol production for the week ending January 9 was a record-breaker. According to the Energy Information Administration, an average of 1.19 million barrels of ethanol were produced per day. That shatters the previous record by 65,000 barrels per day.

Small Changes Surface in Farm Real Estate Sales – The farmland market is resilient despite low commodity prices and higher interest rates. Farmers National Company Area Sales Manager Troy Swee sees one major change. “If you go back to the high of 2022 and 2023, the number of buyers we’re getting online and/or in person is about half of what it was 18-24 months ago.” Swee attributes that to farmers being more conservative with their spending. The way farmland is being sold is changing in this economy. “In markets like this with a reduced number of buyers, we’re starting to see an uptick in conventional listings and bid sales.”

Tractor, Combine Sales Take a Hit – With a tight farm economy, sales of tractors and combines have plummeted. According to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, overall tractor sales were down ten percent in 2025. Four-wheel drive tractors took the biggest hit, down nearly 42 percent. Combine sales declined 26 percent in the past year.

Lobbyist Predicts Low-Key Ag Legislature – Agricultural lobbyist Bruce Kleven expects a relatively quiet Minnesota legislative session for agriculture. Speaking at the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Small Grains Update meetings, Kleven said the state’s fiscal outlook is likely to limit major policy changes. “We start on February 17, and we’ll have about a three-month session that ends in May,” said Kleven. “There’s a budget surplus forecast and then a budget deficit two years after that, so because of that fiscal environment, I just don’t see a lot of action going on.” Kleven said one ag-related issue that could surface involves licensing requirements for mixer handler loader operators. “Right now, under current law, folks driving the water truck have to get a full-blown applicator license, even though they’re not touching the sprayer so we might try to ratchet that back.” Kleven also noted uncertainty in Minnesota politics following Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek re-election, adding that potential shifts in leadership could have longer-term implications for agriculture at both the state and federal levels.

Ag Included in State of the State Address – Property tax relief is expected to be a top issue in the South Dakota legislative session. In his State of the State Address, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden said he will host property tax town halls across the state to take input on this topic. Rhoden also spoke about agriculture, saying the state lost 3,600 family farms in the last ten years. “Farms keep getting larger, but we can help families pass their farms onto the next generation,” said Rhoden. “I recently announced that we’re extending the state support for the Keep Farmers Farming, an initiative.” This program helps family farms and ranches with estate and transition planning. “It’s about transferring more than just money and assets. It’s about passing down experience, work ethic, values, and history. Ag is king in South Dakota, so let’s keep strong for the future.” Rhoden also prioritized value-added agriculture in his speech.

Property Taxes Dominate Early Conversations as South Dakota Legislature Convenes – The South Dakota Legislative sessions are underway. South Dakota Farm Bureau Executive Director Krystil Smit says property taxes have been the big talking point in the weeks leading up to the sessions. “The big talk in South Dakota is definitely property taxes. There was a summer group that really took up a lot of those topics, and I think we’ll see a number of proposals that come forward.” Smit says state ag groups often communicate with each other when preparing for the legislative session. “There’s been a lot of dialogue already. We’ve met as groups and I think we try to align and talk to each other about what we think is best for our members, of course.”

Farmer-Driven Research – Estelline, South Dakota, farmer Jerry Runia is a member of the state’s Nutrient Education and Research Council. Runia represents the South Dakota Farm Bureau on that board. “That program researches nutrients by taking the 50-cent tax that’s on fertilizer so, we are the one that authorizes the research on,” said Runia. “For example, may be a nitrogen program out there that we’d like to try, maybe we want to try a strip-till on nitrogen or something like that.” Runia sees value in providing a boots-on-the-ground perspective on this board.

Fall Fertilizer Application Restrictions Map Updated – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has updated its Fall Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Restrictions Map. This is part of the state’s groundwater protection rule. Much of the state has restrictions. The exceptions are northwest Minnesota, which has a climate exemption, and far northeastern Minnesota due to the limited number of farms. In the affected areas, fall fertilizer application restrictions take effect September 1.

Celebrating 40 Years – The South Dakota Corn Conference celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend in Sioux Falls. South Dakota Corn Growers Association board member Kelsey Geraets reflected on the 2025 crop. “I would say this year corn was kind of great for us with great yields, great field conditions, but we’re looking at similar prices so many producers will be keeping that corn in the bin.” Geraets said property tax reform will be a critical issue during the South Dakota legislative session.

High Court to Review Roundup Case – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that could impact thousands of lawsuits involving the use of Roundup herbicide. A Missouri jury awarded $1.25 million to John Durnell over his exposure to glyphosate and his cancer diagnosis. Bayer claims it should not be liable because the EPA approved its label without a cancer warning. “The Supreme Court decision to take the case is good news for U.S. farmers, who need regulatory clarity,” said Bayer CEO Bill Anderson. “It’s also an important step in our multi-pronged strategy to significantly contain this litigation.”

Corteva Wants Hearing Delay – Corteva is asking the federal courts to push back an October court date for an antitrust lawsuit. The case alleges Corteva and Syngenta used a crop loyalty program for distributors to limit the sale of generic crop protection products. The lawsuit contends this strategy is anticompetitive and inflates prices for the farmer.

BASF to Acquire Biological Insect Control Solutions Group – BASF is acquiring AgBiTech, a company that specializes in biological insect control solutions. A deal was made with the private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners and the purchase is expected to close in the first half of this year. AgBiTech is headquartered in Fort Worth and has pioneered the use of technology that develops insect control solutions based on naturally occurring viruses. The company has operations in the U.S., Brazil and Australia.

Addressing CRW with Durastak – Syngenta expects to bring its Durastak seed trait to market in 2027. Syngenta Head of Technical Data Bruce Battles is excited about this new corn rootworm control. “I’ve had a chance to touch and play with this trait in our field agronomy research program and it’s just been exciting to watch it come to life over the last couple of years,” said Battles. “We dig thousands of roots each year, compare different back genetic backgrounds, as well as competitive traits that are on the market–the yield potential gain that our customers are getting on top of what they’ve been using today is just unbelievable. We’re extremely excited to be able to pass that along to our customers.” Watch the interview.

A Rebranding for Bushel Plus – Manitoba-based Bushel Plus Ltd is transitioning to a new company, Branvalt. The new name is being introduced on select products, packaging, communications and industry events now and the official change will take effect in July.

Dry Bean Scene – In the Dry Bean Scene, Bush Brothers and Company Director of External Affairs Robert Loggins discusses being a presenting sponsor at this week’s International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo in Grand Forks. Click here to listen. 

International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo This Week – The inaugural International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo will be held on Wednesday and Thursday in Grand Forks. It brings together the Bean Day and the International Sugarbeet Institute events into a one-stop conference for beet and bean growers. In addition to the trade show, the expo has a full agenda. Wednesday morning kicks off with a conversation between North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. There will also be sessions on weather, farmland values, weed and disease control and a market outlook. RRFN’s coverage is sponsored by Gowan Company, Amity Technology and Betaseed.

Beet Stock Values – Last week, 373 American Crystal Sugar Company beet shares were brokered for an average price of $4,017 per share. Acres & Shares broker, Jayson Menke, said since the shares started actively trading three weeks ago, 1,372 shares have been brokered for an average price of $3,929.52 per share and a trading price range of $3,800 to $4,100 per share. “Most buyers and potential buyers would ideally be buying in the $3ks,” Menke said. “Limited supply has made the broker market stronger than some would have expected earlier in the season.”

Johansson: Sugar Market Facing Record Production, Flat Demand – American Sugar Alliance Director of Economics and Policy Analysis Rob Johansson says sugar producers are facing the same financial pressure hitting most crop farmers this year. Johansson points to weak commodity prices paired with rising input costs, squeezing both sugarbeet and sugar cane growers. “It’s been a story of high cost of production and pretty weak prices all around,” Johansson said. “Beet and cane prices are down, and the cost of production is up, it’s squeezing everybody.”  Looking at the latest USDA WASDE report, Johansson said sugar supply numbers were largely expected, with domestic production near record levels and limited changes to demand estimates. “We’ve got a pretty good crop this year, almost record, so good domestic production both in cane and beet,” Johansson said. “Demand is pretty flat right now, and that’s another reason why we’re having a difficult time with having high levels of production as well as high levels of imports.” Johansson added that sugar growers are urging policymakers to provide additional assistance, noting the sugar loan program does not cover the cost of production, and bridge payment rates for specialty crops have yet to be announced.

MN State Fair Investments Approved – The Minnesota State Agricultural Society board, which is the governing body for the Minnesota State Fair, has approved more than $23 million in capital investments and maintenance work to improve the state fairgrounds. For 2026, that includes the completion of the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum renovation.

MN State Agricultural Society Elects Officers – Gordy Toenges of Alden is the new president of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society board. Sara Donaldson of Minneapolis was elected vice president. Carol Schumann of Zumbrota will fill Toenges’s district position. Gail Johnson, Anoka, and Kirk Peysar, Aitkin, were reelected to their district positions in the Society. Retired board president, Wally Wichmann of Balaton was given honorary life membership.

DiPaola Named CCO for American Vanguard – American Vanguard Corporation has announced Mike DiPaola has been appointed chief commercial officer. In this role, he will focus on North American commercial strategy and execution. DiPaola joined American Vanguard nearly a year ago and previously served as senior vice president of strategy, marketing, & R&D. AMVAC is the primary subsidiary and brand of American Vanguard.

A Promotion for Zipperlen – Kristin Zipperlen has been promoted to senior manager of stakeholder media for the National Pork Board. Zipperlen has been on the Pork Checkoff staff for nearly five years.

A Leadership Change at APHIS – USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator Dr.Michael Watson will retire at the end of the month. Chief Veterinary Officer and deputy administrator for veterinary services, Dr. Rosemary Sifford, is another recent retiree. Kelly Moore will serve as acting administrator while APHIS Veterinary Services Deputy Administrator Dr. Adis Dijab will provide operational oversight during the transition.

MN FSA Committee Appointed – Five individuals have been appointed to the Minnesota Farm Service Agency State Committee. Randolph farmer Charles Radman will chair the committee. The members of the committee also include Jim Kukowski of Strathcona, Jason May of Rush City, Pamela Kay Uhlenkamp of Green Isle and Scott Winslow of Fountain.

NAWG Promotes Pena – The National Association of Wheat Growers promoted Anthony Pena to vice president of policy and communications. Pena joined the NAWG staff in March of last year as the policy manager. Before joining MAWG, Pena was the government relations manager at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

IDFA Brings Keys to its Team – Chelsie Keys is the new senior vice president of government relations for the International Dairy Foods Association. For the past ten years, the Minnesota native was on the Republican staff for the Senate Agriculture Committee. Most recently, as the committee’s policy director

A New Role for SD Soybean Leader – Kevin Scott has been named the new assistant executive director for the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the South Dakota Soybean Association. Scott will transition into the executive director role in July when Jerry Schmitz retires. Scott farms at Valley Springs, South Dakota and is a past president of the South Dakota Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association.

100 Years of Growing Together – Did you know Henry A. Wallace’s interest in agriculture and science began as a teenager. He took seed from an Iowa corn show in 1903 and conducted a side-by-side comparison. That experiment sparked an interest in corn breeding and the eventual development of the Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Company. This is Pioneer’s 100th anniversary year. When you plant your seed corn in 2026, check to see if yours is treated GOLD. You may win an immersive seed journey experience, including stops at Pioneer’s R&D facility in Johnston, Iowa, and seed operations in Hawaii in January 2027. Follow RRFN on Facebook and X for a 100-day countdown for Pioneer’s 100 year anniversary.

Schmitz Named Agribusiness Citizen of the Year – The Agribusiness Division of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has selected Jerry Schmitz as its 2026 Agribusiness Citizen of the Year. Schmitz has been the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association and South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council for the past seven years. He plans to retire from that role this summer.

Dahlman on the Job for MCIA – Duane Dahlman is the new executive director of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association. Most recently, Dahlman was an ag production supervisor with Seneca Foods. Before that, he was a co-owner of Dahlman Farms/Dahlco Seeds. Dahlman had been serving as the MCIA board secretary.

Three Individuals Reelected to Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative Board – Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative has reelected three dairy farmers to its board of directors. They are Michael Crinion of Ash Grove Dairy in Lake Benton, Minnesota; Heidi Fischer of Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm in Hatley, Wisconsin and Josh Meissner of Norm-E-Lane in Chili, Wisconsin. Fischer will serve another term as president; Crinion is vice president and Meissner is board secretary.

Veterinary Medicine Board Appointments Announced – Two appointments have been made to the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine. Steven Shadwick, Stillwater, and Raye Taylor, Centerville, are both veterinarians. Their terms expire in 2030.

Dairy Awards Presented at Bismarck Meeting – The Milk Producers Association of North Dakota has presented its Milky Way Award to Sue Kleingartner, RSK Dairy, at Gackle. Nathan Kroh, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, was recognized with the association’s Merit Award.

Minnesotan to Serve as Secretary of AFBF YF&R Committee – Minnesota Farm Bureau member Katie Wiese has been elected secretary of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. The Cass County farmer chaired the state YF&R committee in 2023. This program provides leadership development opportunities for young agriculturalists aged 18-to-35.

NAFB Welcomes Cindy Cunningham – The National Association of Farm Broadcasting has named Cindy Cunningham as its industry engagement director. Cunningham is a 35-year member of NAFB. Most recently, Cunningham was managing supervisor at Woodruff. She spent 19 years as assistant vice president of communications for the National Pork Board and nine years in a similar role for the National Pork Producers Council. Cunningham began her career as the farm director at KICD Radio, Spencer, Iowa.