A Weekly Update from the Red River Farm Network
Monday, July 20, 2020
How’s the Weather? Weather is an all-consuming topic for those of us in agriculture. At this time of the year, it influences pollination and the advancement of all crops. The weather story may change throughout the year, but it is always significant for our farmers and ranchers. At the Red River Farm Network, we’re proud to feature World Weather Incorporated Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Drew Lerner. Drew is the best in the business and we’re proud to have him on our airwaves. You can hear Drew twice a day on your favorite Red River Farm Network radio affiliate or online with the RRFN daily podcasts.
Trump Talks Trade – At a White House press conference, President Donald Trump touted the recent Chinese purchases of U.S. corn and soybeans. Trump also voiced second thoughts about the phase one trade deal with China. “When I made the deal, I thought this was a great deal,” said Trump. “What happened to us and the world coming from China, I now view it much differently.” Trump said U.S. farmers were unfairly targeted by China and his administration responded with agricultural assistance. “We gave $28 billion to our farmers and now they’re doing very well. Our farmers are doing very well because we made really great trade deals.”Responding to a question, Trump said he has not spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping and has no plans to do so.
Trump Administration Officials Meet with AFBF Leaders – President Trump, Trade Representative Lighthizer and Agriculture Secretary Perdue addressed American Farm Bureau Federation Council of Presidents meeting on Wednesday. “President Trump talked about the successes they’ve had and the things the administration has done for agriculture including the Market Facilitation Program payments, the COVID-19 programs and he also talked about the Waters of the United States rule,” said Scott VanderWal, the AFBF vice president and South Dakota Farm Bureau president. The U.S. and China phase one trade deal was also part of the discussion. “It appears China is living up to their obligations under the phase one deal. President Trump mentioned a few times how he’s not too happy with China, but the trade of agriculture products is a bright spot.”
Censky Discusses COVID-19 Aid with MN Farmers – More coronavirus relief is on the horizon for farmers and ranchers. Minnesota Farm Bureau members got an update on aid from USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky during a webinar on Thursday. Censky told farmers there continues to be strong interest in the current Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. So far, the USDA has distributed under $6 billion to farmers and ranchers across the country. However, the funds aren’t enough to help everyone. “Certainly, we’ve been working and talking to Congress about providing more resources,” said Censky. “We hope more funding becomes available to help producer’s deal with the shocks to the markets.” In the first round of CFAP, the USDA is paying out 80 percent of what was calculated; holding 20 percent in reserve due to demand. “Right now, it is looking like we’ll have sufficient funds and be able to pay out the remaining 20 percent on the initial tranche of $16 billion. Probably that decision won’t be made for another few weeks, but at this point in time, it looks like we can pay out what we were holding in reserve.” When the Senate returns to Washington D.C., lawmakers will be working on the next round of COVID-19 relief. The details are still being worked out and Censky said the USDA will be working with them on the details.
Hoeven Roundtable Focuses on New COVID-19 Aid – Lawmakers are getting feedback on more coronavirus-related assistance. In a roundtable discussion with local farm groups on Wednesday, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven outlined the path forward. “The way we help agriculture this time will likely look similar to what was done in the CARES Act, where we put together assistance with broad parameters, giving the USDA flexibility on implementation. It’s finishing the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and adding to it. We’re working on this now and I anticipate by the first part of August we’ll have something, but that can always change,” said Hoeven. “In an ongoing basis, we’re working directly with the USDA not only on the $19 billion currently going out in CFAP, but also how we’ll deploy the additional $14 billion available and additional funding in the next coronavirus assistance package.” Agricultural organizations gave suggestions for improvements in CFAP 2.0, including better addressing the needs of local cattle producers. “Looking at those second tier payments, the differences between payment levels caused a lot of challenges,” said Julie Ellingson, executive vice president, North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. “Fortifying those so we can capture late sales and later born calves is certainly a priority.”
Thykeson Addresses WHIP+ Program Payment Delays – Work continues at local Farm Service Agency offices during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Coronavirus Food Assistance Program sign-up, acreage reporting and more. The WHIP+ program is on the back burner. Last week, North Dakota State Executive Director Brad Thykeson acknowledged the delays in getting WHIP+ funds to farmers. “We are number four in the nation as far as dollars sent out on the WHIP+ program and we’re also up there in applications, but that still doesn’t put us in a good spot, because we only have about 50 percent of applications processed. We have a lot of work left to do,” said Thykeson. “It’s a very clumsy program to administer, with some applications at 90 pages plus for producers to receive the benefits. The workload in our county offices is extremely high; When you get into a 90 page application, they have to study it like a book.” So far, $52 million in WHIP+ program funds have been distributed in North Dakota. Thykeson also said RMA data isn’t electronically transferring over so staff has to manually enter in the data. This makes the process longer. “Other states are struggling too, including Nebraska and Iowa. In North Dakota, we just finished corn harvest. Getting the RMA data complete was important to the WHIP+ program.” Thykeson was part of a webinar hosted by North Dakota Senator John Hoeven.
Wheat Industry Asks Congress to Include All Wheat in New Aid – Not all classes of wheat qualified for the first round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments. The National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule says the association is working to change this. “We’ve encouraged the USDA to look at a broader window of the Chicago board wheat price and we’ve encouraged the USDA to look at local and cash prices. Very rarely are those above the futures price,” says Goule. “We’ve explained this would provide a more accurate view of how much economic harm the U.S. wheat grower has suffered through in this pandemic.” There will be a COVID-19 package introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. “Depending on what the Senate Republicans put together and send over to the House will determine the parameters of CFAP 2.0. We’ve already met with North Dakota Senator John Hoeven and House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson to discuss the importance of having all wheat included. They seemed supportive.”
COVID-19 Relief: What the Ethanol Industry Wants – The biofuels industry wants to be included in the next round of federal COVID-19 relief and they just may get it. The HEROES Act, passed in the House, offers at least one solution for the biofuels industry. “There’s a program called the Renewable Fuels Reimbursement program, which would provide a direct payment of 45 cents per gallon to renewable fuel producers based on their production from January 1 through the end of April,” explains Geoff Cooper, CEO, Renewable Fuels Association. “A program like that would help offset those losses and get the industry back on its feet.” This week, all eyes are on the Senate and what’s included in their fourth relief package. “Senators Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar introduced standalone legislation in late May to reimburse ethanol producers for feedstock purchases in the first quarter of the year. That would be helpful as well.” Despite the improvements in the weekly ethanol production reports, Cooper says the biofuels industry is still struggling in the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the RFA’s latest analysis.
SD Corn Comments – Ethanol and farmers are a combination that goes back a long ways. Hear more in the latest Corn Comments program, a production of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.
Ethanol Losses Mount – According to an economic analysis released by the Renewable Fuels Association, the U.S. ethanol industry has already lost $3.4 billion due to COVID-19. Projections call for damages in 2020 and 2021 to reach nearly $9 billion. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says this report shows the need for Congress to act quickly to deliver emergency assistance for the biofuels industry.
MN Corn Matters – Typically, farmers would be gathering for Corn Congress in Washington D.C. That event went virtual this year. Learn more from Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Les Anderson in Corn Matters.
China Buys U.S. Corn – China started this past week with a record U.S. corn purchase. The market sold off for two straight days before China came shopping. This sale of 1.76 million tons of corn is for the marketing year that begins in September. This was the largest sale of U.S. corn to any customer since 1991 when the former Soviet Union was the customer.
Soybean Harvest Basis Looks ‘Amazing’ – The markets have not offered much excitement for the farmer. Northland Farm Business Management Instructor Betsy Jensen says there may be opportunities this fall. “To me, our harvest basis looks pretty amazing. If they need cash flow and don’t have a lot of storage, I think soybeans have an opportunity to sell off the combine.” While the soybean basis level looks good this fall, that’s not the situation in the near term. “If you still have 2019 crop in the bin, we are probably going to see basis weaken for the short-term. They’re going to try and clean everything out and get ready for spring wheat harvest.”
What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – China has brought some positive news to the trade, but the weather market of the 2020 corn crop appears to be over. In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Advance Trading Risk Management Advisor Tommy Grisafi offers his thoughts on the grain markets.
Optimism Remains for Phase One Deal with China – Optimism remains for the U.S. and China phase one trade deal. “China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs recently updated their expectations for China’s soybean imports in the 2019 and 2020 marketing year by three million metric tons. I look at this as a sign for China doing what it can to make good on the phase one agreement,” said Mac Marshall, vice president for market intelligence, United Soybean Board. “Looking beyond soybeans, China is making large purchases of U.S. corn.” Marshall was part of the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s monthly webinar series.
Market Analyst Optimistic for Wheat Price Boost – At a marketing webinar hosted by the Northern Crops Institute, The Money Farm founder Mike Kruger said global wheat production issues in Australia and the European Union could imply tight world supplies and better wheat prices. “Australia’s significant crop problems in the last two years took them out of the export market and the USDA is projecting their production is going to rebound, along with their export forecast,” said Kruger. “The most critical time for Australian crop production is in September, October or November time frame. We’ll see what happens.” The European Union’s wheat crop also had some weather challenges. “Some of those scenarios create some opportunities for U.S. wheat exports to be larger than we think. That’s why I’m more optimistic about wheat prices increasing instead of corn.”
Winter Wheat Harvest Rolls Along in Pierre, SD – Miles Harvesting owner Derek Miles is harvesting winter wheat south of Pierre, South Dakota. “The wheat is doing well, averaging 65 to 75 bushels an acre. It’s been a 63 to 64 pound test weight and protein is lower, in the 11 percent range.” Miles plans to harvest winter wheat in the area through the week of July 20, then spring wheat harvest begins. Miles says South Dakota’s wheat crop may be one of the best in the last few years. “The spring wheat looks good, but it had some heat damage. It won’t be as good as the winter wheat, but it will still be a pretty good crop.”
A Big Push for SD Wheat Harvest Anticipated this Week – Oahe Grain, Onida location manager Tim Luken, is receiving wheat at the elevator. “Last week, a few farmers got loads complete with moisture coming in at the 12 to 13 percent. This week will be a big push.” Winter wheat acres are down this year. “Our acres of wheat, as a whole, are dwindling,” says Luken. “However, there are more spring wheat acres than I thought there would be this year. When the corn board collapsed, people started planting spring wheat. In the next two weeks, we’ll start seeing some spring wheat and then, harvest will work its way north.”
WestBred Wheat Report – There are one or two management practices farmers can change to improve their yield. Learn more from WestBred technical product manager Grant Mehring in the latest WestBred Wheat Report.
Early SD Winter Wheat Yields “Not Bad” – Custom combiner Josh Beckley says his crew started harvesting winter wheat near Pierre, South Dakota this past week. Rains delayed some harvest progress, but the early reports for yield aren’t bad. “Yield-wise, we’re looking at 70 bushel wheat, but that’s pretty preliminary. For projections, there could be 80 to 90 bushel per acre winter wheat. I’m not sure where the spring wheat will fall.” In the next few weeks, Beckley will be in southwest North Dakota harvesting. So far this year, he’s harvested wheat in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
A Decent SD Winter Wheat Crop – Dakota Mill and Grain Grain Marketing Manager Jerry Cope says winter wheat harvest got started in southern South Dakota last week and the quality of the early crop is good. “Local farmers were nervous on the test weight and what the high heat may have done to the crop. So far, the test weight is at 61 pounds and the crop is dry. Farmers are real happy with the start and yields are about 55 bushels an acre, plus.”
ND Winter Wheat Harvest Begins – Hazen, North Dakota farmer John Weinand is harvesting winter wheat. Dry conditions for much of the spring made this a variable crop. “We had the driest six months on record from January until the end of June. The rain finally caught up to average for June on the last day: 3.75 inches in 24 hours,” says Weinand. “The winter wheat proteins are pretty high at 13 percent, but the wheat yield is about half of what it should be. We cut one field that was 70 bushels per acre, but others are only running about 35 bushels per acre.” Weinand is about half done with the winter wheat harvest. This Harvest Hotline update is made possible by the North Dakota Mill, AgCountry Farm Credit Services and U.S. Custom Harvesters, Incorporated.
Done with 2019 Corn Harvest – After months of delays, Litchville, North Dakota farmer Mark Formo is finally done with the 2019 corn harvest. “We didn’t get the 2019 corn harvested in the fall, because the fields were too wet. The corn was definitely too light. We were hoping to leave it stand and let Mother Nature dry things down,” says Formo. “The crop did dry down better than last fall, but it was a marginal decline. However, we weren’t planning on the late June rains, about six to seven inches. It made the fields horrible. I’ve heard some neighbors pulled some combines apart.” Formo didn’t get all of his corn harvested; 600 acres were plowed under last week. Formo says there’s still standing corn in other parts of North Dakota. “We drove some back roads west this past week and there’s a lot of corn fields standing, but many are getting destroyed. It’s not worth it. The corn is tipping over and the yield is lower. Farmers just want to get the 2019 corn harvest done.”
The Sugarbeet Report – In the latest update, NDSU Extension sugarbeet specialist Mohamed Khan talks about the current growth stage of this year’s sugarbeet crop in the Red River Valley. The Sugarbeet Report is made possible by Provysol from BASF, Premium Ag Solutions, Corteva Agriscience, SESVanderHave, Vive Crop Protection, H&S Manufacturing and Syngenta.
Corn is Advancing Rapidly – In the Northwood, North Dakota area, the corn is starting to tassel. Jared Hagert says the crop looks promising. “The warm nights have really helped move our growing degree units along.” Hagert says the early-planted soybeans have started to take off. Edibles were set back by the recent rain, but are moving to the bloom stage. Regarding spring wheat, Hagert is cautiously optimistic. “I don’t think there is a bin-buster out there; it really depends on grain fill and the impact we have with the heat that’s coming through.”
Feeding the Corn Crop During Rapid Growth Stage – Crop health and productivity go hand-in-hand. Sound Agriculture Agronomy Director Sam Wilson says that’s why it is important for the corn crop to get the nutrition it needs as it heads toward pollination. “In that rapid growth stage, you may be pulling in seven pounds of nitrogen per acre per day.” Sound Agriculture has a product that activates the soil microbiome. “We’re pulling nitrogen from the atmosphere and making it available to activate these microbes. That’s helping to fill a gap for the loss of fertilizer.”
RRFN Will Report From NDSU Pioneer Tailgate Tour on Tuesday – During this past week’s Pioneer Agronomy Report, Pioneer Strategic Account Manager Jeremy Baumgarten cited the recent development of the corn crop. “If you look at GDUs, we’re about 200 ahead of normal; it is great to have these heat units to push this corn crop along.” There are some insect issues this season, particularly with grasshoppers and army worms. Pioneer is hosting the NDSU Tailgate Tour this week beginning Tuesday in Amenia. The tour moves to Page and Devils Lake on Wednesday and Oakes and Colfax on Thursday. NDSU coaches will be on hand to discuss the upcoming season.
Indiana Crop is a Mixed Bag – The northwest corner of Indiana, which is the biggest production area, was planted late and has had too much rain. Brad Downing, who operates Cross Creek Ag Solutions, is pleased with his crop. “The central and north-central part of the state outside of the sand ground is in really good shape,” said Downing. “Personally, I’m 56 miles north of Indianapolis and I’m sitting on the largest crop I think I ever raised, but you get 20 miles outside of our area and the worse it gets.” In Downing’s view, Indiana has a good crop, but not an excellent crop.
Kentucky Bluegrass Harvest Happening in Northern MN – Roseau, Minnesota farmer Tony Brateng harvested Kentucky Bluegrass seed last week. “The crop seems to be average,” says Brateng. “Decent weather is helping and the grasses like the moisture.” Brateng is a little concerned with seed quality. “I think the hot weather may have damaged some of the quality, but overall, things look pretty good.” Photo taken by Tony Brateng.
Canola Minute – Conditions have been favorable for scleorotinia in canola. Get the details from North Dakota State University plant pathologist Dr. Luis del Rio in the latest Canola Minute, made possible by the Northern Canola Growers Association.
High Densities of Army Worm Discovered in ND Fields – High densities of army worm are being found in wheat and barley fields in North Dakota. “It started out two weeks ago in the southeast area of North Dakota in a rye cover crop field. Since then, we’ve had southerly winds, pushing the pests north,” said Jan Knodel, entomologist, NDSU Extension. Many of these army worms are already large, 1.5 to two inches long, which makes them difficult to kill. It could be a little to late to kill the big army worms. “The question is whether or not to spray. They are probably getting ready to pupate, a stage where they quit feeding and prepare to transform into adult,” said Knodel. “If we do spray insecticide now, farmers may only get partial or reduced control.”
More Palmer Amaranth Found in MN – The Minnesota Agriculture Department has identified Palmer amaranth in the state. This time, the sighting was in Winona County, near the Wisconsin border. Twenty Palmer amaranth plants were discovered in a soybean field and confirmed by genetic testing. The MDA says no new plants were discovered in a follow up. The source of the noxious weeds are unknown at this time.
Dry Bean Scene – The U.S. Dry Bean Council has joined forces with the Culinary Institute of America in a new innovative to promote dry beans during the coronavirus pandemic. Get the details from USDBC Executive Director Rebecca in the Dry Bean Scene, made possible by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association, Johnstown Bean Company and SRS Commodities.
Rural Bankers Weigh in on the Economy – The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index improved from last month, but it remains below pre-COVID-19 levels. This monthly survey of bank CEO’s in the ten-state region found the rural economy got a boost from the USDA coronavirus assistance. The bankers said farm loan defaults will increase five percent over the next year. Farmland values increased in Minnesota and South Dakota, but declined in North Dakota.
Ag Land Values Keep Steady – Agricultural land values remain stable during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Farmers National Company Senior Vice-President of Real Estate Randy Dickhut, the short-term drops in commodity prices haven’t impacted land values. “The land values transcend shorter-term issues and look longer-term. Land is a long-term investment,” says Dickhut. “Good crop land is relatively steady.” Land values respond differently to outside influences than other markets. “It’s counter-cyclical to a lot of the economy and there wasn’t as much land on the market for sale. That’s definitely slower and it helps support the value. When a good farm comes up for sale, local farmers and investors are still showing interest.”
New Navigable Waters Rule in Court – The federal court in South Carolina is being asked to reject the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The plaintiff is the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, which claims the new rule is “arbitrary, capricious and unlawful.’ A large cross section of agriculture and business groups have intervened in the case, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Environmental Assessments Now Have Firm Deadlines – The Trump Administration has released a final rule that is designed to streamline regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act. It establishes a one-year limit for environmental assessments and a two-year limit for the completion of an environmental impact statement. These deadlines are designed to speed up the approval of infrastructure projects. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said this decision brings common sense back to these regulations.
‘Added Sugars’ Reduced in Dietary Recommendations – The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has released its final report, which will be used for federal nutrition standards over the next five years. The report advises the consumption of less added sugar. The current guidelines say people should not get more than ten percent of their calories from added sugars. That is cut to six percent in the new proposal. The recommendations also favor low-fat and fat-free dairy products, lean meat, whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
MFBF Update – Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Paap recently participated in the American Farm Bureau Council of Presidents meeting this past week. Hear more in the latest edition of the MFBF Update.
Soybean Outlook Forum Goes Virtual – The North Dakota Soybean Council’s Mid-season Soybean Market Outlook will be a virtual event this year. North Dakota State University economists Dr. Bill Wilson and Dr. Frayne Olson will be featured. NDSCl market development director Jena Bjertness is optimistic about the demand for the current soybean crop. “We’re seeing some activity from China and we hope those sales translate into North Dakota exports.” This market outlook will be online July 29 and 30 from 8 AM-to-10 AM each day. The webinar is free, but registration must take place before the end of the day on Friday.
Virtual ND Wheat Tour Begins Next Week – An in-person North Dakota Spring Wheat tour is cancelled this year, but a virtual event will take its place next week. The North Dakota Grain Growers Association and the North Dakota Wheat Commission are hosting a virtual crop update on Tuesday, July 28 starting at 9 a.m. Wheat Commission Market Development and Research Manager Erica Olson says the update will give potential wheat buyers a taste for the crop grown in region. The event will feature agronomists, growers and wheat leaders from the Northern Plains. “All of us would like to take the tour in person, but this will be the next best thing,” says Dan Wogsland, executive director, North Dakota Grain Growers Association. “I think this will be a great opportunity to showcase our wheat crop and what will be seen as the 2020 harvest unfolds.” Register for next week’s event.
MN Lawmakers Push for a Bonding Bill in Special Session – A bonding bill is still in the works for the second special session of the Minnesota Legislature. House Agriculture and Food Finance Committee Chair Jeanne Poppe says a super majority vote is needed to pass the bill, but lawmakers aren’t there yet. “The minority leader has indicated he wants peace time emergency declaration to go away and/or to have the governor’s powers to be changed. I know negotiations are taking place on how that could be and what this entails,” says Poppe. “We hope the conversations move along so on Monday we can have a bill and pass it in the House.” Section 179 conformity is part of the bargain in the pending legislation. “It’s part of what’s already been negotiated between the House Democrats and Senate Republicans. We just need to get enough House Republicans to vote on this bill to send it on to the Senate. There’s a lot of effort going into the negotiations in order to get it done.”
Federal Government OKs MN Hemp Plan – USDA has approved Minnesota’s hemp production plan. This approval allows the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to continue to operate the state’s pilot program. Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson thanked USDA for this decision, but voiced concern on some of the regulations, such as testing regulations. Minnesota’s pilot hemp program began in 2016 with six growers. More than 500 growers are now licensed to grow or process hemp in the state.
Making Health Coverage Available to MN Farmers – Major insurance companies got out of the individual health insurance business in 2017. The following year, the Minnesota Legislature authorized the creation of independent health care cooperatives and Land O’Lakes and 40 Square Cooperative Solutions came into the market. Land O’Lakes is dropping its farmer health plan in 2021, but 40 Square will continue to be an option for Minnesota farmers. 40 Square Cooperative Solutions Executive Director Char Vrieze said there is immense need for this coverage. Risk is a daily part of farming. One way to offset risk is with health insurance. “It is also a component if you want to turn your business over to the next generation; it’s very difficult for young farmers to get into the industry. One of the barriers is health coverage.”
Potato News – In this week’s update, Karlstad, Minnesota farmer Justin Dagen talks about the growing season for seed potatoes. Potato News is made possible by Corteva Agriscience, Bayer, Sipcam Agro and BASF’s Provysol fungicide, the new standard for early blight.
NDFU Seeks Livestock Industry Reform – Cattle producers continue to face market challenges. That’s why an ad hoc North Dakota Farmers Union livestock committee is proposing livestock industry reform measures. In a statement, NDFU President Mark Watne said, “When more than 80 percent of the beef packing industry is controlled by just four companies, producers are guaranteed a lower price for their cattle due to the lack of competition in the marketplace.” Specifically, Farmers Union is calling for fair markets, truth in labeling and increase local and regional slaughter capacity. Watne also stressed that with the immense challenges, “change needs to happen now.” Hear more in this Red River Farm Network interview with Watne.
Working Through the Hog Backlog – The Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls is operating at 95 percent of capacity. South Dakota Pork Producers Council Executive Director Glen Muller says the plant is adding Saturdays to the slaughter schedule to work through the backlog in hogs. “The weights are starting to come down on our market hogs which is another indicator that we’re getting more current.” Attempts are being made to secure indemnity payments for those producers who had to euthanize pigs or sell them at a significant loss. “We’re definitely concerned particularly should there be a second wave of COVD-19 which would slow down or shutdown our plants.”
Agriculture Community Reacts to New Burger King Campaign – Burger King has released a new campaign titled ‘Cows Menu.’ The YouTube video focuses on the environmental impacts of beef and suggests adding lemongrass to cattle diets will reduce their methane emissions by 33 percent. BEEF Magazine blogger and Mitchell, South Dakota rancher Amanda Radke says there are red flags within the campaign. “In a press release, we are told that Burger King is teaming up with Cargill and the World Wildlife Fund for a project in the northern Great Plains to restore grasslands. They want to take marginal farmland and plant lemongrass in Montana and South Dakota.” Radke explains that the cattle industry already has one of the lowest greenhouse gas emission intensities, contributing just two percent to total U.S. emissions. “In fact, it is ten to 50 times lower than other parts of the world.” Listen to the full Red River Farm Network interview with Radke.
Parade of Champions: Caleb Hauck – Caleb Hauck of Forbes, North Dakota currently serves as the North Dakota FFA State Secretary and is also involved in 4-H. “I show both sheep and cattle and luckily our county was able to do a modified achievement days so I could exhibit those projects. Of course, it wasn’t the same, but I’m glad they put something together so we could show off our hard work.” Caleb’s advice for younger 4-H and FFA members is to “get involved and make the most of it.” Hear more from Caleb, including his future career plans, in this Parade of Champions story. This Red River Farm Network effort is sponsored by AgCountry Farm Credit Services, NDFB, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, North Dakota Grain Growers Association and Association Milk Producers, Incorporated.
Animal Ag Alliance Launches a New Advocate Program – The Animal Agriculture Alliance has launched a new Animal Ag Allies program. The program focuses on farmers, ranchers and veterinarians who want to be outspoken advocates for agriculture online and within their communities. Program participants will receive training and will be on the front lines of responding to emerging issues and sharing positive content about animal agriculture. The Alliance is currently seeking participants to enroll by August 7. Learn more.
Ag Innovation Campus Project Continues to “Make Progress” – The air permitting process and engineering plans for the Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston, Minnesota are underway. According to Beltrami, Minnesota farmer and Ag Innovation Campus Board Chairman Mike Skaug, the project is making progress, but the COVID-19 pandemic complicated things. “It would maybe go faster if we could build relationships with individuals more drastically,” explains Skaug. “On the other hand, we don’t think we’ve misstepped. We are going on a clear path to getting things working.” A groundbreaking for the Ag Innovation Campus is expected in late October. “If you’re around the site, you’ll probably see us work on roadway approaches, but we won’t be working in the field until the sugarbeets that are on it are harvested. That’s all included in our agreement.” The State of Minnesota granted $5 million for the project last year. The funds are anticipated to be in-hands sometime this month, but no funds have been received at this time. Discussions continue on the soy crush facility as well. Epitome Energy President Dennis Egan will be in the Crookston area this week for meetings.
B20 Buses on the Road in Grand Forks – The Grand Forks city buses have switched to B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. Cities Area Transit, the North Dakota Soybean Council and the National Biodiesel board have funded biodiesel messaging that can be seen on four bus routes throughout the city.
TransFARMation: Avoiding “Burnout” on the Farm – It is easy to burnt out, especially in this COVID-19 world. Family farm coach Elaine Froese encourages farmers and ranchers to consider the roles they have in life. “How are you practicing self care,” asks Froese. “How well are you taking care of your marriage? How are you nurturing your family? For examples, there has certainly been great stress on families have children home from school.” To avoid burnout, Elaine has a simple strategy. “On our farm in Manitoba, Canada, we actually don’t work on Sundays. People think that is weird, but for us it works because it gives us much needed downtime and family time. At the end of the day, our work still gets done during the week.” Find out more from Froese in the latest TransFARMation podcast, found here.
Lawsuit Filed Against ADM – Archer Daniels Midland is being accused of manipulating the ethanol market. Green Plains, which is one of the largest U.S. ethanol producers, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Nebraska. ADM is accused of timing large sales of ethanol in the cash market 30 minutes before the end of the trading day. That weakened the price at this terminal just outside of Chicago, depressing the markets for corn farmers and farm cooperatives.
A Small Increase in Cargill’s FY20 Income – Cargill wrapped up its fiscal year with revenues of $115 billion, up one percent from last year. Cargill, which is a privately held company, quit releasing most of its quarterly and annual financial information.
A Boost for BASF’s Hybrid Wheat Program – BASF and PowerPollen are working together to improve cross pollination and enhance BASF’s proprietary wheat program. PowerPollen’s technology has the potential to significantly increase pollination efficiency for BASF’s new hybrid wheat seed production.
Land O’Lakes and Microsoft Team Up on Ag Technology Effort – Land O’Lakes and Microsoft have put together a strategic alliance. Initially, the companies will focus on a technology forum that brings together Microsoft’s cloud computing system, Azure, with the Land O’Lakes technology portfolio. That includes the WinField United R7 Suit, Data Silo and Truterra Insights. A dairy specific initiative is also in the works. Land O’Lakes and Microsoft will also initiate pilot projects to expand broadband access.
A Bayer-WinField United Collaboration Announced – Climate FieldView has been added to the WinField United Answer Tech Data Silo. The collaboration on this cloud-based data management system will allow farmers to use data across multiple platforms for a seamless flow of information. It also reduces duplication for the retailer.
HELM Agro Unveils Reviton Herbicide – HELM Agro US has announced Reviton as the name of its new herbicide. This is a PPO-inhibitor herbicide with a novel active ingredient for use as a preplant burndown and for desiccation. This product is currently under review by the EPA. Once state and federal registrations are in place, Reviton will initially be used in corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton.
New Fertilizer Product Goes to Market – Nutrien has launched Smart Nutrition MAP+MST fertilizer Powered by MST. This product combines micronized sulfur with phosphate to deliver consistent nutrition throughout the growing season.
MFU Minute – The Minnesota Farmers Union Youth Camps are going virtual this year. Find out more from Education Director Glen Schmidt in the MFU Minute.
Animal Health Companies Receive Regulatory Approval – Elanco Animal Health’s acquisition of Bayer Animal Health has received approval from the Federal Trade Commission. Elanco had to divest of some products to gain this approval. The deal with worth $7.6 billion and should be finalized in August.
Kemin Acquires U.S. Patent for Antimicrobial ASF Control – Kemin Industries has acquired a U.S. patent application for a liquid antimicrobial to manage African swine fever. New data from Kansas State University says the solution controls transmission of ASF pathogens and mold in livestock feed for up to 21 days. While feed is not the only transmission route for the virus, the high number of animal exposures from it increases the likelihood of infection. Further data on African swine fever control will be generated in support of the patent application. Learn more.
Pioneer Leader Tom Urban Passes – Retired Pioneer executive Tom Urban, 86, passed away on July 10. Urban was named Pioneer Hi-Bred International’s president in 1979. He became CEO in 1981 and chairman in 1984. Urban became the youngest mayor in Des Moines history in 1968 when he was 33 years old.
UPL Announces Key Leadership Changes – UPL has promoted Craig Brekkas as the head of North American operations. Brekkas replaces Vicente Gongora, who takes on the new role as global head of differentiated and sustainable solutions. Brekkas is now serving as the head of UPL’s Canadian business and will be succeeded by Tom McCrea, who had been UPL’s portfolio manager. The changes take effect August 1.
engAGe: Prioritizing What Matters – This episode of engAGe is a throwback to one of the first episodes in the series. During the discussion, Corteva Agriscience Market Development Specialist Bridgette Readel talks about work-life balance, prioritizing and good time management. Listen here.
Appointments Made for USDA Advisory Committees – USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has named members to two key advisory committees. The Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee includes James Mulhern of the National Milk Producers Federation, Michael Dykes of the International Dairy Foods Association, Randy Spronk of the National Pork Producers Council, Rob Larew from National Farmers Union and more. There are approximately 30 individuals appointed to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products. The lineup includes Chase Adams of the American Sheep Industry Association, Kent Bacus of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, South Dakota State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven and John Newton of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
NGFA’s Randy Gordon Announces Retirement Plan – National Grain and Feed Association President and CEO Randy Gordon plans to retire following the organization’s annual meeting in March of next year. Gordon has been the chief executive officer since 2012, but has been with the NGFA for 43 years. Gordon began with the group in 1978 as the director of information services.
Retirement on the Horizon for Former MN Ag Commissioner – Christopher Gerlach is the new director of industry analytics for the U.S. Apple Association. Gerlach succeeds Mark Seetin who is now working on a part-time basis and transitioning into retirement. Seetin was Minnesota’s agriculture commissioner from 1978-to-1982.
Laudeman Takes Job in Corteva’s DC Office – Corteva Agriscience has named Peter Laudeman as its political affairs manager. Laudeman will work on policy issues, state and federal advocacy programs and manager the political action committee. Most recently, Laudeman was the manager of public policy for risk management and renewable fuels for the National Corn Growers Association.
Marshall Joins the Angus Association – Troy Marshall has been named as Director of Commercial Industry Relations for the American Angus Association. In this role, Marshall will help build relationship with commercial producers. Marshall comes to the Angus Association with over 25 years of experience in the cattle industry.
Schulz Takes GM Role in Las Cruces – The former general manager of the Big Iron Farm Show and Red River Valley Fair, Bryan Schulz, has accepted a similar role with the Las Cruces Convention Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Schulz managed the Big Iron Farm Show and the fair from 2008-to-2019.
Thalmann Elected During Corn Congress – Former Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Brian Thalmann has been elected to the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board. Thalmann farms at Plato in south-central Minnesota. Thalmann’s two-year term on the Corn Board begins October 1.
Anderson Appointed to Food Safety Task Force – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has appointed members to the state’s food safety and defense task force. That includes Minnesota Turkey Growers Association Executive Director Sarah Anderson. The other appointees represent General Mills, Cargill and Rossman Farms.
MN Ethanol Industry Leader Passes – A driving force in the development of Minnesota’s ethanol industry passed away over the weekend. Larry Johnson operated an ethanol consulting business since 1985 and was known as the ‘Ethanol Answer Man.’ Johnson was president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association in 1985 and spent six years on the National Corn Growers Association board. Johnson, who lived near Cologne, Minnesota, was one of the founders of what has become known as the Minnesota Ethanol Model.
Last Week’s Trivia- In the sport of rodeo, sheep are part of the mutton bustin’ event. Ramsey County farmer Paul Becker wins our weekly trivia challenge. Badger farmer Shane Isane, Phyllis Nystrom of CHS Hedging, Troy Presser of Presser Red Angus and Jim Altringer of CHS Dakota Plains Ag earn runner-up honors. The ‘first 20’ rounds out with Brian Brandt of AgriFinancial, Erin Nash of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, retired Hanley Falls farmer Roger Dale, Kevin Schulz of National Hog Farmer, Twyla Wulf of Clear Springs Cattle Company, Jon Farris of BankWest, Nick Revier of SES VanderHave, Ron Dvergsten of Northland Farm Business Management, Karlstad farmer Justin Dagen, Carver County feedlot officer Alan Langseth, Bob Lebacken of RML Trading, Harvey farmer Bill Ongstad, Mickey Peterson of Peterson Partners, Curtis Noll of Noll’s Dairy Farm and Keith Bjorneby of Lone Wolf Farms.
This Week’s Trivia- National Farriers Week is celebrated in July. What does a farrier do? Send your answer to don@rrfn.com.
RRFN Upcoming Events | |||
July 21, 2020 | COVID-19 Testing for Minnesota Agri-Food - Online Webinar | ||
July 23, 2020 | Financial Decision Making & Resiliency In A Crisis - Online Webinar | ||
July 23, 2020 | SDSU Extension Virtual Feedlot Shortcourse: Facility Management, Open Yards and Confinement - Online Webinar | ||
July 25, 2020 | SD Sheep Growers Premium Yearling Ewe Sale - Huron, SD | ||
July 27, 2020 | AURI Bold Open Reverse Pitch - Online Webinar | ||
July 28, 2020 | NDSU Central Grasslands Research Extension Center Field Day - Online Webinar | ||
July 29, 2020 - July 30, 2020 | Midseason Market Outlook for Soybeans - Online Webinar | ||
July 30, 2020 | SDSU Extension Virtual Feedlot Shortcourse: Backgrounding Systems to Add Value to Cattle and Crops - Online Webinar | ||
July 31, 2020 | ND Grazing Lands Coalition Summer Tour - Turtle Lake, ND | ||
August 4, 2020 - August 6, 2020 | Virtual Farmfest Forums - Online Webinar | ||
August 11, 2020 | NDSU Extension Online Composting Workshop - Online Webinar |
Contact RRFN | Don Wick (701) 795-1315 |
Randy Koenen (701) 795-1315 |
Whitney Pittman (701) 795-1315 |
Tyler Donaldson 701-795-1315 |
RRFN Affiliate Stations | |||
Aberdeen, SD – 105.5 FM | Ada, MN – 106.5 FM | Bagley, MN – 96.7 FM | Bemidji, MN – 1300 AM |
Benson, MN – 1290 AM | Bismarck, ND – 1270 AM | Bismarck, ND – 1270 AM | Casselton, ND – 103.9 FM |
Crookston, MN – 1260 AM | Devils Lake, ND – 103.5 FM | Fergus Falls, MN – 1250 AM | Fosston, MN – 1480 AM |
Glenwood, MN – 107.1 FM | Grafton, ND – 1340 AM | Jamestown, ND – 600 AM | Langdon, ND – 1080 AM |
Mahnomen, MN – 101.5 FM | Mayville, ND – 105.5 FM | Roseau, MN – 102.1 FM | Rugby, ND – 1450 AM |
Thief River Falls, MN – 1460 AM | Wadena, MN – 920 AM | Worthington, MN – 730 AM |
FarmNetNews is a production of the Red River Farm Network. RRFN is based in Grand Forks, North Dakota and provides news to farmers and ranchers across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.