A Farm Bill in ’25 –  The farm bill is on the back burner until Congress can finalize the appropriations process. After that, election season politics may get in the way. “I do think it will be difficult to get done before the election and after the election, if you can tell me who is in charge of the Senate or who is president and I’ll tell you if I think the farm bill can get done right away,” said Joe Outlaw, economist, Texas A&M University. During stops at the Northern Pulse Growers Association Convention and the NDSU Crop Insurance Conference, Outlaw predicted farm bill passage won’t happen until 2025. Outlaw is also the co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center and works closely with Congress on farm policy.

The First Trillion Dollar Farm Bill – Senate Agriculture Committee Chief Economist John Newton is confident Congress will be able to find a good balance for policy in the new farm bill. “With $1.5 trillion, we can prioritize those resources appropriately to meet the needs of agriculture and Rural America,” said Newton. “We can do it in a way that doesn’t reduce benefits to SNAP recipients.” Newton says updating reference prices within the farm bill is important to avoid ad hoc disaster spending. Hear the full interview with Dr. John Newton here.

Farm Bill Needs to be Bipartisan – Congress is operating under open rules again, which opens the amendment process. Torrey Advisory Group Executive Vice President Tara Smith says that could complicate the farm bill process. “If the House moves forward with the farm bill under an open rule, it’s going to be really tough,” said Smith. “It’s going to mean a lot of amendments and I think we can expect a lot of those amendments to come after crop insurance.” House Republicans have one of the smallest majorities in history, making it even more difficult for passage of the farm bill. “In the last couple of farm bills, we’ve had fewer than 20 Republicans who have bailed and voted against a farm bill. We don’t have 20 Republicans to lose on this farm bill which means you’re going to have to pull some Democrat votes to get this across the finish line.” Smith was featured at the NDSU Crop Insurance Conference in Fargo.

DC Stalemate – After hearing from Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Bozeman, South Dakota Wheat Growers Association Executive Director Karen Assman said it may be difficult to pass a farm bill early this year. “There are all kinds of ideas floating around,” said Assman. “It just sounds like it’s at a stalemate at this point.”  SDWGA was in Washington D.C. for the National Association of Wheat Growers Winter Meeting.

Pessimistic Farm Bill Outlook – International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes is predicting Congress will not pass a farm bill or immigration reform this year. At the group’s annual forum, Dykes said the administration and Congress are too busy fighting and the public doesn’t win when that happens.

Vilsack Makes REAP Announcement at AFBF Convention – The Biden Administration is investing in 675 projects across 42 states under the Rural Energy for America Program or REAP. Vilsack said this investment will help farmers become more sustainable. “There are a number of examples throughout the country of how farmers are significantly reducing the cost of power and electricity in their operations and I believe it also creates the opportunity for synergy with the work that we’re doing under the PACE and New Era Programs which are being funded through the Inflation Reduction Act.”  These are programs designed to assist the transition from fossil fuel-based generation to more renewable energy sources. “I think there’s an opportunity there for farmers to collaborate and utilize the excess energy that can be produced on the farm or the ranch.”

Another Term for Duvall, VanderWal – American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal were elected to another term. The pair was first elected in 2016. Duvall farms in Georgia. VanderWal raises crops and cattle at Volga, South Dakota.

Dealing With the Labor Shortage – Agriculture is not immune to the workforce challenges nationwide. Labor was part of the discussion during the American Farm Bureau Federation voting delegate session. While seasonal workers are hard to find, year-round immigrant labor is also needed. “Whether that’s on dairy farms or agricultural processing,” said Daryl Lies, president, NDFB. “Right now, there’s a cap and the cap is zero. We need to open that door and I think we have the tools now in our policy to do that.” NDFB also supported policy on free markets and property rights. Hear the full conversation with Daryl Lies here.

Minnesota Brings Rural Vitality Resolutions to AFBF – A resolution advanced by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation passed during the AFBF delegate session. MFBF Vice President Carolyn Olson said the resolution would reclassify an ambulance from transportation to a medical emergency vehicle. “That would allow Medicare and Medicaid to reimburse families for an emergency ambulance ride,” said Olson. Minnesota also brought forth and passed a resolution to increase training and funding for rural emergency medical services. Rural vitality continues to be a focus for its membership. “We do need to have a strong agriculture system to help keep our communities strong.”

AFBF Supports AM Radio Bill – Farm Bureau delegates adopted policy to support the continued availability of AM radios in cars and trucks. “That gives us firm footing in supporting legislation that would make sure that AM radio stays in automobiles as they are manufactured,” said Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy, American Farm Bureau Federation.

MN Couple Earn AFBF Achievement Award – A Blue Earth County, Minnesota farm couple won the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award. Dan and Megan Roberts are the first participants from Minnesota to win this national competition. The Roberts family raise corn, soybeans and hogs on their farm. Megan is also the director of the agribusiness program at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Discussion Meet Provides Opportunities to Share Ideas – The American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet is part of the Young Farmers and Ranchers program. Contestants are evaluated on participation and discussion of pre-determined topics. NDFB member Warren Swenson said by learning to work within a group, participants develop the skills needed to understand important agricultural issues. “It starts at the local level,” said Swenson. “Our grassroots model here at Farm Bureau for these types of issues can have a really positive effect and eventually these conversations can be held at the national level.”

NDFB Vice President Eager to Represent ND Farmers – Val Wagner is in her first term at NDFB vice president. Wagner was pleased to be part of the American Farm Bureau Federation delegate process. Wagner said it was an opportunity to “ensure that policies that are passed are things that are favorable for North Dakota and represent the values that we have as well.”

ERP Losses Concentrated in ND, TX – According to data released by the USDA’s Economic Research Service, payments under the Emergency Relief Program for farmers suffering losses in 2020 and 2021 were concentrated in two states. Those two states are North Dakota and Texas. The disbursements made in early 2023 were not available for this report.

Resources Available for ARC or PLC Decision – March 15 is the deadline to declare the decision between Agricultural Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs. NDSU Extension Farm Management Specialist Ron Haugen says a change in reference prices means there is more to consider than last year. “Commodity prices have fallen some,” said Haugen. “Also, the ARC benchmarks have increased because of the good yields and prices we’ve had in recent years.” NDSU Extension has online tools available to help producers calculate possible outcomes before making their elections. Listen to the full interview with Ron Haugen here.

Foreign Ownership of Farmland Bill Introduced – A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate calling for more transparency when foreign entities purchase U.S. farmland. A companion bill will likely be coming out of the House in the next couple of weeks. A recent Government Accountability Office report called for similar changes.

A Mixed Bag – Northland Community and Technical College Farm Business Management instructor Ron Dvergsten is seeing a mixed bag when preparing 2024 cash flows. “Commodity prices have kind of dragged the bottomline down for the majority of farmers so for the vast majority of the farmers there is a reduction in working capital,” said Dvergsten. “However, most people are still in a strong position going into 2024.”

Land Values Hold Strong – There’s been a steady pace of farmland sales across the region. “The sales activity has been relatively strong,” said Chris Griffin, president, Red River Land Company. “There’s a fair amount of land that came on the market in the fall and we’re probably seeing average to slightly above average activity for the spring.” Farmland values are holding up extremely well, but a lot depends on the location. “We haven’t really seen it yet, but I wonder if there’ll be a situation where the land in the Red River Valley with the beets remains stronger than the land outside of the beet area.”

ND Farmers Eligible for Climate Smart Practices Compensation – The North Dakota Farmers Union is the state lead for a national pilot program that will compensate farmers for their conservation practices. Government Relations Director Matt Perdue said this is part of the Alliance to Advance Climate Smart Agriculture. “We will be delivering about $13 million to $14 million for adopting or maintaining voluntary conservation practices,” said Perdue. “Producers will be eligible for $100 per acre or animal unit for up to 160 acres or animal units on their operation.” This program is funded through a grant from USDA and is available in eight North Dakota counties. That list includes Billings, Cass, Foster, McKenzie, Mercer, Rolette, Stark and Ward counties. Perdue emphasized farmers who already utilize conservation practices are eligible. The North Dakota Conservation District Employees Association and North Dakota Grain Growers Association are assisting NDFU with this project. This program is available for 2024 and 2025. In addition to North Dakota, the pilot program is available in Minnesota, Arkansas, and Virginia.

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, Dan Coffman joins Farming for the Future to highlight how his farm has utilized a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Soil Health Program.

Legislative Push for Sustainable Aviation Fuel – Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst have introduced legislation to fast-track the development of sustainable aviation fuel. The bill would use existing USDA programs for the aviation industry to create new markets for farmers. Eight House members, including Brad Finstad and Angie Craig from Minnesota, introduced the companion bill in November.

SAF Facility Launch is ‘A Celebration for the Globe’ – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke at the grand opening of the world’s first sustainable aviation fuel facility in Georgia. Vilsack praised the facility as a significant first step toward achieving net zero, sustainable fuels. “This isn’t just about celebrating an advancement for the U.S., it’s a celebration for the globe because at the end of the day if we’re going to mitigate the consequences of a changing climate the transportation sector clearly has to get to a net zero future.”

U.S. Farmers Missing SAF Opportunity – The world’s first ethanol-to-jet fuel facility is sourcing its fuel from Brazil. Why? The carbon intensity score for U.S.-produced ethanol for sustainable aviation fuel is insufficient. Only one U.S. plant is producing SAF-friendly ethanol, while Brazil is expected to produce over 7 billion gallons of ethanol that meet carbon intensity score requirements. The growth of the homegrown low-carbon ethanol market is being blocked by the opposition to the carbon capture pipelines. North Dakota Corn Growers Association President Andrew Mauch hopes the pipeline issue will be resolved soon. “Things like this are exactly what we at the (North Dakota) Corn Growers Association are fighting for,” said Mauch. “It’s not very often that you come across a new market that really works well with what we’re trying to do, this is a solution moving forward and we’d like to be a part of it.”

Building Demand for Soy Oil and Soymeal – Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel are driving demand for soybean oil. United Soybean Board Demand Action Team Chair April Hemmes said the soybean checkoff is also finding a home for the soybean meal. “With all the new processing going in the crushing plants I get asked what are you going to do with all the meal?” Hemmes explained to RRFN. “We set a record on meal exports last year which is important. I would much rather see it being a value added export, meaning poultry, pork and things like that.”

Early Spring Planting Season Possible – It has been a warmer-than-normal winter and North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network Director Daryl Ritchison says that has implications for the spring planting season. “Statistically at least, it increases our odds of an early spring,” said Ritchison. “If we can avoid that one storm, like a snow storm on April 10, it might finally be a year where a high percentage of folks can actually get out into the fields in April this spring.” It may seem like it has been a drier-than-normal winter, but Ritchison said that’s not the case. “We had a whole winter’s worth of rain in December so even if we don’t see another snowflake in the next six weeks, this winter is guaranteed to be a wetter-than-average winter.” Ritchison spoke at the NDSU Crop Insurance Conference.

Busy Fall Fertilizer Season – Ag retailers were able to take advantage of good field conditions and a lot of fertilizer was applied this past fall. “Out of Minot here, we did probably just about 20,000 acres this fall,” said Hunter Schriner, agronomy sales rep, Dakota Agronomy Partners. “It started pretty slow and then we caught 14 inches of snow in October, but we had a really mild November and we ended up getting a lot more done in November into December.”

Beet Stock Values – American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock continued trading at $5,400 per share last week. “Last week there were 236 shares were brokered at that price,” said Jayson Menke, owner, Acres & Shares. “Nearly all of the January sales to date have been at $5,400. With more than 1,000 shares brokered at that price, it’s about a fourth of the volume to date.”

U.S. Seeks China’s Help in the Middle East – National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with the Chinese foreign minister over the weekend, asking Beijing to use its relationship with Iran to intervene in the Red Sea shipping crisis. The Houthi rebels are from Yemen but receive weapons, training and intelligence from Iran.

Potential Benefits for Shipments Out of the PNW – The transportation disruptions on the Red Sea continue to make headlines. NDSU Extension Crops Economist Frayne Olson sees an impact on the grain markets. “It’s not going to impact us directly because we don’t ship a lot of grain through those channels, but it is starting to increase freight rates in general.” This action on the other side of the world could enhance exports out of the Pacific Northwest. “As freight rates go up, because it is a shorter haul and faster shipping time the product out of the PNW has a shipping advantage.” U.S. commodities are typically priced higher than its competitors, but Olson said the U.S. has a reputation as a very reliable supplier.

Additional Soybean Crush to Impact Rail Sector – The railroad business will change due to the push toward renewable diesel fuel. According to the USDA Grain Transportation Report, an expansion of the soybean crush will likely result in more soybean meal exports and less focus on whole soybean export sales. Fifty-eight percent of whole soybean shipments are moved in cars owned by the railroad while more than 90 percent of soybean meal is shipped on privately-owned cars. Since meal is more difficult to move, the report said railroads may be less likely to invest in railcars in the future. Lease rates for privately owned rail cars were approximately $600 per car per month this past fall. That’s 50 percent higher than the rates seen in early 2020.

Suez Canal Revenues Plummet – The shipping crisis on the Red Sea is impacting the traffic moving through the Suez Canal. An official with the waterway authority reports revenues this past month were down 44 percent from January of last year. Daily container shipments through the Suez Canal are half of what they were a year ago. Commercial shippers are avoiding the Red Sea due to the ongoing attacks by Houthi militant rebels

Supply Chain Threat Remains – Geopolitical specialist Jacob Shapiro doesn’t believe the inflation story is behind us. The threat of supply chain issues is also present. “When you put the Red Sea disruption on top of the Russia-Ukraine war and the South China Sea, I think you could see a little spike in prices that people are not necessarily expecting,” said Shapiro. “Keep in mind, energy prices have been the big reprieve of the past 12-to-14 months and they’ve really come off the boil.” Shapiro is part of Cognitive Investments and was featured in the Northern Pulse Growers Association annual meeting in Minot.

Dry Bean Scene – In this week’s Dry Bean Scene, Northarvest Bean Growers Association consultant Chelsea Didinger talks about the health benefits of legumes. Didinger is responsible for the Legume a Day education platform and participated in Bean Day held in Fargo, North Dakota.

A Win-Win for Pulse Crops – Every farmer wants demand for their crops and U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Association CEO Tim McGreevy says that is happening in the pulse business. “These pulse crops are not only terrific for your health, but they’re also really terrific for soil health so it’s a win-win,” said McGreevy. “We faced super high tariffs from 2017-to-20 20 which was devastating for our industry, but we’ve climbed back out of that and I think we’ll probably see increased acreage and increased demand.”

High Expectations for Wheat Acreage – A large percentage of the wheat seed business still needs to be locked in. AgriPro Key Account Lead Corey Dathe says a boost in the commodity markets would help seed sales. “Our business comes a little bit later so we’ll learn more as to what we get a little closer to spring what this thing looks like,” said Dathe. “At the end of the day, especially in North Dakota, they’re going to plant wheat so I think it will hold strong.”

Expecting Even More Canola Acres in ’24 – North Dakota farmers finished this past year with record canola production. Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman expects that to continue. “We’re expecting even more canola this year; we certainly see plenty of demand for canola going into the future.” There is more demand for canola oil. “If the sustainable aviation fuel takes off the way that a lot of people in agriculture want, it could be as important as the Renewable Fuel Standard was back in 2005. It could be a watershed movement for agriculture.”

600+ Bushel Corn: No Silver Bullets – The world corn yield record holder spent time in Fargo and Minot Wednesday. David Hula, who farms in Virginia, yielded nearly 624 bushels per acre this past year. Hula said everything starts with the planter. “To have a 300 bushel crop you’ve got to have a 300 bushel stand. To have a 600 bushel crop you have to have a 600 bushel stand, that’s where it starts. Number 2 is the genetics and after that, we don’t let it have a bad day.”  Hula said there are no silver bullets, but little things make a difference. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again. Not only are we trying new hybrids, but we’re trying new crop protection products. We’re in the biological and PGR arena. There are the types of things that are helping the overall farm average go up.” The North Dakota Hula events were sponsored by Pioneer.

Corn Matters – Minnesota Corn Growers Association First Vice President Jim Kanten reflects on a successful MN Ag Expo in this week’s Corn Matters.

More Northern Corn Rootworm Seen in the Region – Northern Corn Rootworm is a growing problem in new locations in North Dakota and northern Minnesota. Southwest Research and Outreach Center Integrated Pest Management Specialist Brue Potter credits the expansion of extended diapause. Extended diapause allows the eggs to remain dormant for one or two seasons, reducing the effectiveness of crop rotation. “Which is a new wrinkle; we’ve always had a little bit in continuous corn,” said Potter. “The problem with extended diapause is it ebbs and flows; it is not a constant problem like weeds.”

Cover Crop Progress – In the latest edition of the University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota CropCast, Extension spring wheat breeder Jim Anderson highlights the improvements seen in cover crops over the past decade. “The gains are coming really fast in terms of domestication traits,” said Anderson. Cover crops have seen improvement in shattering and threshability. “It’s relatively simple things that took decades, if not hundreds of years, for our other crops.” Part of that progress was finding ways for farmers to utilize cover crops for multiple purposes.

Canola Minute – Here’s the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association. This week, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman says the recent USDA canola productions estimates for 2023 set a new record.

UK-Canada Trade Talks Suspended – Trade negotiations between Canada and the United Kingdom have stalled. Agriculture seems to be the stumbling block with both sides arguing over market access. These trade talks have been underway since March of 2022.

French Government Responds to Farmer Protests – In response to two weeks of farmer protests, the French government has announced plans to ease regulations and maintain government support. France will also remain opposed to a free trade agreement between the European Union and a handful of South American countries. The protests include a blockade of major highways out of Paris; burning tires and hay bales and spreading manure on a public building. Similar protests have been held in Germany, Poland and other parts of Europe.

EU Glyphosate Registration Challenged – Environmental activist groups and European Union lawmakers have filed separate lawsuits challenging the European Commission’s decision to renew the registration for glyphosate for another ten years. These groups claim the government’s safety assessment was not scientifically sound and didn’t properly consider the long-term effects of the weedkiller.

CattleCon ’24 Begins Wednesday – The Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show is bringing together thousands of cattle producers this week in Orlando. CattleCon is a unique event that brings together education, networking, business opportunities and advocacy. The Red River Farm Network will report from CattleCon this week with this coverage sponsored by the North Dakota Beef Commission, Minnesota Beef Council, AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

A Bright Future for Cow-Calf Markets – Feeder cattle markets have followed the upswing in the futures market. Bagley Livestock Exchange owner Billy Bushelle says more feeder calves are coming in pre-conditioned. “Everything- is kind of falling back into place, we’re getting back to the way it was in early fall and late summer,” said Bushelle. The long-term outlook is generally positive for cattle markets. “I think there’s a lot of opportunity out there for people to generate more income than any cow-calf herd has been able to in history.” Hear the full conversation with Billy Bushelle here.

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 is pleased with the recovery seen in the livestock markets. USDA’s Cattle Inventory Report is also coming out this week. On the other side of the ledger, Martinson is seeing bearish news for the grain market.

Veterinarian Shortage Continues to Climb – The demand for veterinary services within agriculture has long outpaced the supply. “It makes it harder for people to hire veterinarians and it makes it harder for practice owners in certain areas to retire or sell their practices,” said Dr. Laura Molgaard, dean, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Molgaard is working hard to increase the number of veterinarians within the state. “We start with recruitment; we reach out to young people and try to get them excited about veterinary medicine. We have to be pretty selective because there are so many applicants; this year we have over 1,500 candidates for 125 seats.” UM has a partnership with South Dakota State University where students can begin their collegiate education before coming to veterinary school in St. Paul.

Community Solutions for Rural Vet Shortage – The Veterinary Workforce Solutions program aims to help solve the rural veterinary shortage. Farm Journal Foundation Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Tod Greenwood says solving this issue begins by developing students from a young age and making them aware of the requirements for veterinary school and practicing in rural areas. This program provides an online resource for academics, financial acumen and more. “Look at the students coming in. Make sure they’re academically prepared,” said Greenwood. “Giving them the right exposure and career guidance is big, that’s community-based.” Access to capital and understanding the debt many veterinary students undertake is important. Hear the full conversation with Tod Greenwood here.

MN Beef Update – This week’s Minnesota Beef Update catches up with Minnesota Beef Council Director of Industry Relations Jon Dilworth.  Nominations for the Minnesota Beef Council Board are open. Those interested in running for any open positions must turn in their materials by January 26. If you are interested in running for an open position, email jon@mnbeef.org.

Milk Production Report Released – In the 24 major dairy states, December milk production totaled 18.1 billion pounds. That’s down 0.1 percent from one year ago. South Dakota once again had the largest increase, up by more than 11 percent. During that time, South Dakota added 21,000 cows to the herd. Minnesota milk output declined 1.4 percent with a loss of 5,000 head in the past year.

Burgum Promotes Regulatory Changes for Animal Agriculture – North Dakota feeds the world and that story needs to be told. Governor Doug Burgum made that point during his final State of the State Address. Before the recent change in the law, Burgum said North Dakota had the most outdated corporate farming law in the country and it killed the animal agriculture business. “We’re still doing sheep research at NDSU and we were down to almost no sheep herds in the state; we were doing dairy research at NDSU and we have less than 12,000 dairy cattle in our state.” Changes were made to the corporate farming law during the last legislative session. As a result, several large dairies are looking at land in the Wahpeton area. Burgum said North Dakota still has the strongest protection for family farmers in the nation. “Corporations can’t own land here, foreign corporations can’t own land here and if you and I wanted to start a farm here and you’re not related to me, second cousin or closer, we couldn’t start a farm together.” Burgum also touted the development of the soybean crush business in the state and launched the new Office of Community Development and Rural Prosperity.

Lawsuit Filed Over Emerging Farmer Program – A Beltrami County farmer is suing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. Lance Nistler claims the state’s grant program for emerging farmers violated his civil rights. The MDA website says the grant program is for farmers who are “American Indian or Alaskan Natives, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Pacific Islander, members of a community of color, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ or any other emerging farmers as determined by the commissioner of agriculture.” The lawsuit contends the program discriminates against white farmers.

Complex Issues, Complex Solutions – A legislative listening session was held in Faribault, Minnesota last week to discuss issues facing farmers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Aric Putnam heard about water quality issues. More than half of the wells experiencing issues with nitrates are not up to code. “We have to appreciate the complexity of the situation,” said Putnam. “There are fixes that MDA is working on and there will be some legislative conversation about that too.” Rural emergency medical services and rural healthcare were among the topics also discussed during the listening session. The session begins mid-February.

USCHI Convention Draws Record Numbers – The U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc. Convention in Oklahoma City enjoyed a large crowd. USCHI President David Misener credits the trade show and the program content. “John Deere even brought a cotton picker to our trade show this year, so we’re pleased about that.” Much of the discussion at the meeting centered around H2A. “We all need labor, that is one of the reasons why a farmer hires us as harvesters because of the labor situation.”

Nitrogen College Scheduled in Mahnomen, Morton – The University of Minnesota will host Nitrogen College in two locations in the next few weeks. The first will be held January 30 and 31 in Mahnomen with the second taking place February 5 and 6 at Morton. University of Minnesota Extension Water Quality Educator Brad Carlson says the first day of classes will cover different types of fertilizer and applications and adapting nitrogen to climate. “A lot of the needs of the crop are based on soil temperature and soil moisture,” said Carlson. “We examine those factors as far as making adjustments in management from one year or one site to the next.” Registration is free and supported by the Minnesota Corn Checkoff.

New Location for Northern Corn and Soybean Expo – The Northern Corn and Soybean Expo will be held at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds Butler Machinery Arena on February 6. “The content is really unbeatable this year,” said Brenda Elmer, executive director, North Dakota Corn Growers Association. Geopolitical specialist Peter Zeihan will provide an update on world events impacting agriculture. Breakout sessions will take place throughout the day with both the North Dakota Corn Growers Association and North Dakota Soybean Growers Association annual meetings over lunch. Registration is open and the full agenda is available at northerncornsoyexpo.com.

SD Corn Comments – In this week’s addition of South Dakota Corn Comments Feeding South Dakota CEO Lauri Dykstra announces a donation from the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council of $100,000 to help fund the school pantry program. This program combats child hunger by proving free food to children and their families in an easily accessible and discreate location at schools.

Support Youth Through Giving Hearts Day – Giving Hearts Day is an opportunity for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to raise money. More than 600 charitable organizations are participating in Giving Hearts Day, including numerous agriculture-related causes. North Dakota 4-H Relationship Specialist Chloe Drummond explains matching funds can provide additional support. “Right now, we have $15,000 in pledges from our match donors so if we’re able to raise that amount on that day we’ll meet the total of $30,000 which will help get us on our way to our goal of raising $50,000 for North Dakota 4-H this year,” said Drummond. “It is a special and unique opportunity to maximize the giving of our donors and help ensure that their gift is going as far as possible to make a difference in the lives of 4-Hers.” The North Dakota FFA Foundation is also part of Giving Hearts Day, Thursday, February 8. “You have the option to make your donation ahead of time which is perfect for those concerned about forgetting on that day,” reports Ireland Watterud, who is a state FFA officer. “North Dakota boasts 95 chapters and 8,000 members; the funds collected are allocated for scholarships, grants, events and other valuable programs.” More information about all of the participating charities can be found online.

New Fertilizer Hub Coming to Hallock, MN – CHS is building a 25,000-ton fertilizer hub in Hallock, Minnesota. This plant is expected to be open in the spring of 2025 and will be located on the same property as the CHS canola plant. CHS Executive Director Vice President of Ag Retail Rick Dusek said this new facility will provide crop nutrients when farmers want it and when they need it.

ADM Accounting Practices Scrutinized – ADM has suspended its chief financial officer and launched an investigation into its nutrition business unit. This division is responsible for less than ten percent of ADM’s revenue, but its senior management received unusually large bonuses.

Industrial Commission Approves Loans for 2 Fertilizer Projects – North Dakota’s Industrial Commission has approved a $75 million forgivable loan to Prairie Horizon and $50 million forgivable loan to NextEra Energy. These funds are designed to support fertilizer production in the state. Prairie Horizon is part of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub and is based near Dickinson. NetEra Energy is based at Spiritwood. The companies have a month to determine if they will accept the loan.

Mattracks Introduces New Product – Mattracks is introducing the narrowest tracks in the industry, starting at just 9.6 inches and ranging up to 12 inches wide. The new tracks are designed for row crop production and can reduce compaction by up to 40 percent when compared to tires. Mattracks is based in Karlstad, Minnesota.

MFU Minute – Minnesota Farmers Union Government Relations Director Stu Lourey joins us for this week’s MFU Minute. Lourey looks forward to this year’s Lobby Day that will take place February 20^th at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Members will have the chance to talk with lawmakers about issues they want to see addressed during this year’s legislative session.

AgriGrowth Executive Director Announces Retirement Plans – Minnesota AgriGrowth Council Executive Director Tamara Nelsen has announced her plans to retire this year. “On behalf of the AgriGrowth Board, I want to thank Tamara for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of our members,” said Sheryl Meshke, chair. “She helped strengthen the foundation of our trusted organization.” Nelsen has been in this role for the past five years and will continue to serve as the AgriGrowth board of directors seek her replacement.

AgriGrowth Welcomes New Board Members – The Minnesota AgriGrowth Council has welcomed five new board members. The new board members are Chuck Tryon, president, Bushel Boy Farms; Geraint Powell, division general counsel, Rosen’s Diversified; Jaime Goehner, general manager, ADM; Jim Roberge, chief diversified markets officer, Compeer Financial; and Tom Rabaey, senior manager, General Mills.

George Rehm Passes – University of Minnesota Extension Soil Scientist George Rehm, 82, has died. Rehm was a UM professor from 1983 to 2007. After retiring, Rehm spent time with the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Center.