Celebrating 30 Years – This weekend, the Red River Farm Network family gathered to celebrate a huge milestone: 30 years of broadcasting trusted ag news, stories, and voices across the Northern Plains. A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has been part of this journey. In particular, our appreciation goes out to our founders, Mike Hergert, John Vasichek, and Jerry Fiskum. Their vision laid the foundation for everything the Red River Farm Network has become. From the first broadcast to today, our mission remains the same: to serve agriculture and the people who make it thrive. We’re grateful for every listener, affiliate, team member, and friend who has made these 30 years possible. Here’s to the next chapter, rooted in agriculture, powered by community, and reporting on agriculture’s business. Photos from Saturday’s celebration can be found at this link. 

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 put the cattle market, and soybean oil in the “hot category”, while Minneapolis wheat falls into the “not hot” category.  Click here to listen to the full report.

Farmland Inventory Remains Limited – Farmers National Company reports land listings are down 20-to-25 percent from the peak in 2020/2021. As land values stabilize, Farmers National continues to see investors in the market, swayed by strong annual returns and long-term appreciation. Farmers National Company marketed more than $450 million in land value in the first half of this year.

Fielding Questions – Farmland values held mostly steady in the first six months of 2025. AgCountry Farm Credit Services tracks values on the same 23 benchmark farms every January and July. Land prices have remained remarkably stable during a time of soft commodity prices. AgCountry Farm Credit Services Executive Vice President of Business Development Mark Vetter is featured in this edition of Fielding Questions to review the latest data. Vetter discusses the latest land market trends and outlook for the land buying season this fall. Fielding Questions is a collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Red River Farm Network. Listen to the podcast.

Farm Banks in Strong Position – In its Farm Bank Performance Report, the American Bankers Association said farm banks extended more than $115 billion in agricultural loans in 2024. That’s up more than six percent from 2024. Loan delinquency rates remain low. Looking ahead, ABA Senior Vice President of Agricultural and Rural Banking Policy Ed Elfmann said farmers will face headwinds from high input costs and interest rate volatility.

Budget Rescission Bill Passes – Congress has passed a budget rescission bill that cuts $9 billion from federal spending, roughly one-tenth of one percent of the $7 trillion federal budget. This action formalizes the Department of Government Efficiency cuts made to the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID was folded into the State Department earlier this year. The funding bill passed early Friday morning in the House 216-to-213 and was approved in the Senate on Thursday on a 51-48 vote.

Trump Delivers a Blow to Corn Farmers – President Donald Trump used social media to announce Coca-Cola will use cane sugar in its soda sold in the U.S. In Trump’s words, “this will be a very good move by them.” Coke completely made the switch to high fructose corn syrup in 1984. Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said this move doesn’t make sense. In a statement, Bode said this switch will “cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.”

Booker Introduces Pesticide Injury Accountability Act – New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has introduced a bill that would give people the federal right to sue crop protection companies. This proposal is in response to legislation passed in North Dakota and Georgia that protects companies from excessive litigation if they follow EPA guidelines. At least eight other states have considered similar legislation to protect farmers’ access to these crop protection tools.

Standing Up for Crop Protection Tools – A recent assessment by the Make America Healthy Again Commission targeted crop protection tools, including glyphosate and atrazine. The National Association of Corn Growers is asking its members to weigh in with the Trump Administration before the Commission’s follow-up report in August.

Dems Take Steps to Protect Prop 12 and Q3 – A group of 32 Democratic senators has signed off on a letter of ‘strong opposition’ to a farm bill that would overturn state laws, like California’s Prop 12 and Q3 in Massachusetts. If included in the ‘skinny farm bill,’ the lawmakers claim it would result in unnecessary lawsuits. The two Democratic senators in this region, Minnesota Senators Klobuchar and Smith, did not sign this letter.

Corn Matters – Ahead of Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., Minnesota Corn Growers Association board member Brian Biegler checked in with RRFN for Minnesota Corn Matters. Click here. 

Minnesota Soybean Farmers Take On DC – Strathcona farmer Jim Kukowski was part of a Minnesota Soybean Growers Association delegation in Washington, D.C., to advocate for action on the long-delayed farm bill. Kukowski, who serves on both the MSGA and the American Soybean Association boards, said the budget bill had some wins for agriculture, but the full farm bill is still needed to address issues like conservation and long-term program funding. Kukowski pointed to falling soybean prices and rising input costs as major concerns for farmers. “That’s one of the big things,” said Kukowski. “In previous years, the market would go down, the crop inputs would go down, and now it seems like they’re (crop input costs) going up and never coming down.”

Sunflower Association Backs New Farm Policy – The National Sunflower Association is praising the new budget reconciliation bill for including key provisions that benefit sunflower growers. “Overall, the big beautiful bill was a good package for sunflower. Our reference prices were addressed, loans were addressed, crop insurance, trade programs,” said NSA Executive Director John Sandbakken. He also acknowledged the efforts of North Dakota Senator John Hoeven. “We worked really hard here for at least the last two, three years trying to get a farm bill put together and I just really have to credit Senator Hoeven and his staff for getting it into the vehicle that they did to get things passed.”

First Premium Subsidy Hike in Decades – The One Big Beautiful BIll includes a premium subsidy increase for crop insurance. NDSU Senior Research Economist Dylan Turner says farmers have waited a long time to see a rate adjustment like this. “If you’re under an enterprise unit, you have to go back to 2008 and 2009 to see the last premium subsidy increase,” said Turner. “For those other unit structures, you have to go back all the way to 2000 for the last time those were adjusted so, for a lot of farmers, it will be the first time in 25 years that they’ve seen higher premium subsidy rates.” With basic and optional units, farmers typically take on more risk. The question remains whether these changes will impact farmers’ decisions to change their policies in the future.  “What will be interesting is to see if that prompts farmers to switch from the enterprise to the basic unit. In North Dakota in particular, there tends to be more acreage under those enterprise units than basic and optional compared to the rest of the U.S. You take on a little bit more risk, but the subsidy level is higher than it was in the past.”

Numerous Trade Deals Possible Before August 1 Deadline – During an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said ‘the next two weeks are going to be weeks for the record books.’ Lutnick believes the Trump Administration will cut numerous trade deals before higher tariffs kick in on August 1. Lutnick also emphasized August 1 is a hard deadline.

Brazilian Trade Practices Called into Question – The United States has initiated a Section 301 investigation into unfair trading practices by Brazil. The list of unfair trading practices focuses on digital trade, intellectual property and ethanol. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said the unfair tariff on American ethanol imports could be coming to an end. In Skor’s view, this action could lead to a more level playing field for U.S. farmers and biofuel producers.

‘Unacceptable Blackmail’ – In a television and radio address to his nation, Brazilian President Lula described the Trump Administration’s tariff plan as “unacceptable blackmail.” The speech follows Trump’s announcement of a 50 percent tariff on Brazil. Lula’s approval ratings began to rebound after the rhetoric cranked up between the two countries last week.

Trump Negotiates Trade Deal with Indonesia – The United States and Indonesia have a new trade deal. With this agreement, the U.S. is imposing a 19 percent tariff on Indonesian imports, down from the 32 percent previously announced. There will be no tariff on American imports into Indonesia. On Truth Social, President Trump said Indonesia has committed to purchasing $4.5 billion in agricultural products.

Trump Plans Blanket Tariff on 150+ Countries – President Trump says he plans to impose a blanket tariff of 10 to 15 percent on imports from over 150 countries. Speaking at the White House alongside Bahrain’s crown prince, Trump said notices will be sent out soon to smaller trading partners that “don’t do that much business.” The President clarified that the uniform tariff would not apply to major players, such as China and Japan, which already have separate agreements. Tariff letters have already been sent to countries, including the EU, Japan, and South Korea, with rates taking effect on August 1.

Ag Trade Negotiator Nominated – President Trump has nominated Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as the chief agricultural negotiator in the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office. Callahan is currently the assistant U.S. trade representative for agricultural affairs and commodity policy. Her previous experience includes time at USTR focusing on ag trade issues with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Eastern Europe. Prior to joining USTR, Callahan spent time at the Food and Drug Administration and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Earlier this month, 40 farm groups sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to fill this important position quickly.

China May Block Panama Canal Deal – China is threatening to blow up a proposed sale of the Panama Canal and more than 40 other ports around the world. China wants the state-owned COSCO Shipping Corporation to be an equal partner in the deal. The Chinese involvement would likely upset the Trump Administration, which has threatened to take control of the Panama Canal.

Sugar Imports Blocked – USDA is blocking any additional imports of specialty sugars beyond what is required in international trade obligations. Sugar imports have more than doubled in the last 20 years and Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden said it is time “to right the ship.”

Climate Prediction Center Issues Fall Outlook – The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is out with its outlook for the fall season. There is a slightly increased likelihood for above-normal temperatures in North Dakota, Minnesota and the northern half of Minnesota. Uncertainty increases across the Northern Plains later into fall. Below-normal precipitation is favored in the Northern Plains for the row-crop harvest season.

Crop Scouts Out This Week to Evaluate HRSW Crop – The Wheat Quality Council Spring Wheat and Durum Tour will be held this week with scouts fanning out across North Dakota and parts of Minnesota. WQC Executive Vice President Dave Green says this tour provides a fresh look at crop conditions, avoiding outside influence. “We try not to get into too much of reading other reports or what other people think,” said Green. “We’d probably try to just let everybody see it and decide as we go on the fly.” Early expectations are strong for eastern North Dakota, but Green says there are concerns elsewhere. “The government, I think, has Minnesota and North Dakota as a record crop, but I do hear there’s some dryness to the north and some dryness to the west.”

Excellent Quality Found in South Dakota Wheat Harvest – Harvest in south-central South Dakota is progressing slowly but steadily as weather and field conditions vary. Custom harvester David Meissner, who is cutting wheat near Gregory and Winner, says the grain quality has been impressive so far. “What we’ve done so far, the test weights have been well into the 60s, we’re very, very pleased on the test weight side,” said Misener. “Protein on this winter wheat was 15.6 (percent).”  Despite dry conditions during planting last fall, yields are also exceeding expectations. “The first field that we did ended up doing a little over 40 bushels, and the farmer was pretty ecstatic with that yield. He thought he’d have to be happy with 20 to maybe 30 bushels (per acre), had another neighbor closer to 60.”

Below Expectations Near Pierre – The wheat harvest is underway near Pierre, South Dakota, but yields are coming in below expectations. Custom harvester Roger Benson, who is based in Sheyenne, North Dakota, says the quality of this year’s winter wheat crop is not what he usually sees. “Well, we’re about halfway through the winter wheat. The winter wheat is less than average,” said Benson. “The test weights are really pretty low, 54 to 58. Proteins are in the 14s on winter wheat, which is fairly high. Otherwise, they’ve been rejecting some of this low test weight wheat, so they’ve been putting it in the bins.” Compared to a typical year, Benson plans to continue north to Menoken, North Dakota, before wrapping up the season at home near Sheyenne and Glenfield, North Dakota.

Plenty of Wheat Left to Cut in Central SD – Custom harvester Jeremy Haven says the winter wheat crop has been better than expected in the Pierre area, despite concerns from earlier in the season. “Last spring, everybody was a little concerned about that cold weather that moved in. We could have done a little more damage than everybody anticipated,” said Haven. “Some low test weights, but then we’ve also been cutting some pretty good wheat with some 60-pound test weights. Proteins have been all over the board, low tens to high 13s.” The wheat harvest still has a long way to go. “You see some combines rolling, but there’s a lot of wheat to be cut yet.”

Kansas Wheat Harvest Recap – The wheat harvest is complete in northwest Kansas, with yields coming in better than recent years. Custom harvester Jay Ferris, who is based in Colby, said the crop was consistent overall. “We had some proteins that were up in the 12 to 14 range, our yields were probably 30 to 35,” said Ferris. “There were some bad fields that just came up late and didn’t make much at all in places, but yeah, I’d say we did somewhere between 30 and 40 bushels of wheat. It’s not bad by any means, but certainly better than it has been the last couple of years.” Ferris and his crew have since moved to northwest Nebraska, where drought conditions are more severe. “Iit’s going to need to be cut, but it’s not going to be big yields by any means. It’s dry. The stands are thin, and there’s not a lot of straw.”

Rain Slows Harvest, But Wheat Quality Remains Solid – Burlington, Colorado’s American Harvesting has been working on winter wheat harvest in their home state.  Ron Rudzek says the winter wheat coming off looks pretty good. “It wasn’t too bad. Some of it went anywhere from 40 to 60. We got a lot of heat earlier that took the test weight down a little bit. For the most part, it wasn’t too bad.” Rudzek’s crew plans to head to South Dakota next, if the weather holds. “We’ve got about a couple of days running here if it’s dry, and we’ve had quite a bit of rain here too. Then, we’re going to try to go to South Dakota.”

Eastern Colorado Wheat Yields Hold, Quality Disappoints – Kansas-based Bebermeyer Farms is finishing up the winter wheat harvest in eastern Colorado. Owner Tedd Bebermeyer says the harvest was successful despite some rainfall. “It went pretty quickly and had decent yields right in the 40 to 45 bushels per acre range.” Quality and protein were a different story. “Test weights were down in the 57 to 58-pound range, and I didn’t see anything over eight or nine percent for protein. It wasn’t that good.” The next stop for Bebermeyer’s crew is Nebraska.

Happy With the Crop in NW MN – Crop conditions across northwest Minnesota are shaping up well, according to CHS Ag Services Sales Manager Andrew Schultz. “There are little pockets that the crop went through some conditions that weren’t ideal, but overall, compared to last year, we’ve got to be pretty happy with the crop we’ve grown so far to date.” With the wheat harvest just weeks away, Schultz says growers are eager to get started. “Luckily, it looks like we have some bushels to work with for the year.”

Canola Bounces Back After Tough Spring – WinField United Canola Product Manager Mick Miller says extreme weather conditions created early challenges, but crop prospects have improved significantly. “We started the season drier, colder than average, but we still had stressful conditions,” said Miller. “That six-inch rain was a drought-killing rain. I would say it’s gonna be an above-average crop.” Miller also highlighted a growing interest in winter canola as an alternative crop. “I think we’ll see a record high acres of winter canola planted,” he said. “When you see canola at $11, $12 versus wheat at $4, it makes it look like a neat option or even an opportunity to try the crop.”

Warm Weather Boosts Crop Growth – Dakota Agronomy Partners Agronomy Sales Representative Grace Mogen says crop development is progressing well in the Mohall, North Dakota area. “Canola is currently flowering or starting to come out of flowering, and wheat is starting to turn a little bit,” said Mogen. “Soybeans, corn, and sunflowers are also looking awesome after the warm weather we’ve been having and a little bit of rain.” Mogen is encouraging farmers to begin scouting fields and prepping for harvest. “For some pre-harvest stuff, I would look for late-season insects like grasshoppers or some diamondback moths in your canola.”

The Sugarbeet Report – In the Sugarbeet Report, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association President Brent Baldwin offers an update on this year’s crop. NDSU Extension Sugarbeet Weed Specialist Tom Peters also offers information on events coming up later this season. Click here.

Long-Term Strategy Necessary for Kochia Control – The ability to control kochia continues to be a struggle. WinField United Regional Agronomist Ryan Peterson sees kochia as a problem that just keeps building on itself. “It’s not new; it’s something we’ve been battling for the last 25 or 30 years.” Group 2 resistance was seen first. That was followed by glyphosate resistance in the last ten-to-12 years. “Anytime that we’re talking kochia, we really have to talk about a long-term strategy, it’s not a single application anymore.” Crop rotation can be part of the kochia management plan.

Rains Boost Tonnage, But Lower Hay Quality – The alfalfa has experienced tremendous growth due to the persistent rains this summer. WinField United Alfalfa and Forage Specialist Jeff Jackson says there are dairy operations that are already on the third cutting of green chop or silage. “When we get into these guys trying to do dry hay and these rain events, in some cases, they want to get their first cutting off, and maybe the second crop is a little struggle; the good thing is the tonnage is going to be good, but then we start questioning quality.” At the Answer Plot Innovation Farm’s tour in the Washburn/Wilton, North Dakota area, Jackson said there are also forage opportunities with lesser-known crops in this region. “We have the ability to do warm-season crops like sorghum and we can roll right into a cool-season crop, like triticale, get that started in the fall like we do our winter barley and winter wheat. There’s a lot of opportunities to have a crop on that acre and not have to sit and look at bare dirt and watch wind blow.” This is the third year of crop research at the Answer Plot Innovation Farm in central North Dakota. The focus is on diverse crops, including wheat, sunflowers, canola, alfalfa, and field peas.  

Answer Plot Innovation Day Concetrates on Diverse Crops – WinField United Product Manager Ryan Moeller sees a lot of potential with this year’s sunflower crop. “A good chunk of that crop was put into pretty good moisture and we’ve had timely rains,” said Moeller. “We’re not seeing a lot of disease yet and for the most part, that sunflower crop looks like it is going to be a good one.” There are sunflower fields that look like they have a poor stand, but it is cutworm damage. Spring wheat is also doing well across the Northern Plains. “It was a great start to the year with that cool weather and the wheat crop looks really, really good.” Moeller was featured in the WinField Solutions Answer Plot Innovation Tour near Wilton, North Dakota on Wednesday. This is the third growing season on this site with research focused exclusively on diverse crops, like spring wheat, canola, field peas and alfalfa. Listen to the full interview with Moeller. 

Dry Bean Scene – Dry bean growers across the region are cautiously optimistic as the crop enters a key growth stage. Crookston, Minnesota, area farmer Eric Samuelson reports healthy plants and low insect pressure, while Wyndmere, North Dakota, farmer Rudy Dotzenrod says heat and sunshine would help beans hit their stride. Weed control remains the top challenge, with Dotzenrod making major changes to his program this season to stay ahead. Listen to the full Dry Bean Scene, brought to you by SRS Commodities, Gowan Company, Northarvest Bean Growers Association, Johnstown Bean Company, and Heads Up Crop Protectants.

Cordonnier Expects a Record Corn Yield – Record corn yields are being forecast in the United States. Soybean and Corn Advisor President Michael Cordonnier said weather conditions in the first half of July have been nearly ideal for corn. Cordonnier raised his corn yield estimate two bushels to 182 bushels per acre. His corn production estimate is just shy of 15.8 billion bushels. The soybean estimate is up one bushel to 52.5 bushels per acre. The U.S. soybean production estimate increased to 4.3 billion bushels.

Pioneer Agronomy Update – IDC is rearing its ugly head this year. “It is a good time to evaluate fields and make plans for the future,” said Cole Ehrlin, strategic account manager, Pioneer. “The best way to manage IDC is to use varieties that are more tolerant.” Listen to the Pioneer Agronomy Update for more information about IDC in soybeans. Listen to the report. 

Ice Cream Makers to Phase Out Use of Artificial Food Dyes – The International Dairy Foods Association has announced the dairy industry’s commitment to eliminate artificial food dyes from ice cream by 2028. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. praised the voluntary pledge and support for the Make America Healthy Again initiative.

Screwworm Risk Rises with Animal Travel – The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is warning residents to stay alert for the New World Screwworm, a dangerous fly that can harm livestock, pets, wildlife, and even humans. While the risk of the pest becoming established in Minnesota is lower than in southern states, animal movement from affected regions could introduce it there. Outbreaks are currently active in Central America with detections in Mexico. State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs says Minnesota’s warm seasons are enough for the parasite to survive and spread. Livestock and pet owners are urged to watch for signs like maggot-filled wounds, foul odors, and unusual animal behavior. Anyone traveling with animals should follow import rules and monitor pets closely after returning home.

ASF Advances in Vietnam – African Swine Fever is spreading throughout Vietnam. The government said the threat of the disease is rising, hurting farmers, food supplies and the environment. African Swine Fever made big news six years ago when half of China’s swine population was lost. At this point, the virus has not been found in the United States.

Food Safety Plan Released – At the opening of the new Midwestern Food Safety Lab in Missouri, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins launched a plan to strengthen food safety. The five-part plan includes enhancements to USDA’s testing for foodborne pathogens, updated training and tools for food safety inspectors and more support for state meat and poultry inspection programs.

MN Beef Update – In the Minnesota Beef Update, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Kaitlyn Root recaps the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting. Animal health, taxes and trade were all on the agenda. Listen here. 

Petersen: Cattle Market Brings Relief – Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says the cattle market is providing much-needed relief for the ag sector. “You just think about the prices that farmers are seeing, really good to see right now because farmers went through the hard times in that drought in ’21 and ’23 so it is good to see farmers can catch up and pay some bills.” Petersen spoke to RRFN at the MSCA Summer Beef Tour in Little Falls.

Minnesota Beef Tour Highlights Industry Momentum – The Minnesota Beef Tour attracted a strong turnout and enthusiasm, reflecting the positive momentum within the beef industry. Minnesota Beef Council CEO Kelly Schmidt says there’s a noticeable sense of optimism among producers. “There are always things we can work on, but the general mood in agriculture has got some optimism to it,” said Schmidt. “These events are about coming together and seeing people that have a lot of things in common and can share in a lot of the successes and talk about some of those challenges.” Schmidt also emphasized the importance of connecting with consumers through transparency and storytelling. “Consumers are very curious about where that food comes from and how their animals are raised. That’s very much part of our marketing plan,our strategic plan for the year, is just to show how responsibly and safely and well-raised those animals are.”

Thompson: Cattle Work Finally Paying Off – Minnesota’s cattle industry is seeing renewed optimism thanks to strong markets and momentum on key policy issues. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association President Jake Thompson says producers are finally being rewarded for years of hard work. “The work is the same, no matter if you’re losing money or if you’re making money,” said Thompson. “So it’s a great opportunity here to make some dollars for the work that you’ve done.” Thompson says that includes both cow-calf and feedlot operators, with broad profit opportunities across the sector. He also highlighted recent wins on the policy front, especially federal support for ag tax relief and emergency animal health resources.

Policy and Innovation Driving Cattle Industry Forward – Minnesota cattle producers are seeing the benefits of both technological advancements and recent policy wins. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association President-Elect Rachel Gray says innovations like drone spraying and seeding are streamlining operations on her farm.  “Being able to use that innovation and technology is just making my life easier and allowing me to have more time to do some things that I enjoy.” Gray also highlighted state and federal policy changes that will support the long-term success of cattle operations.

Beef Tour Highlights Innovation in Little Falls – The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association held its annual summer beef tour in Little Falls, showcasing a variety of innovative operations across the region. MSCA Executive Director Kaitlyn Root says this event is a highlight for producers from across the state. “It’s a super fun day. You can learn a lot to bring back to your operation. That’s what a lot of folks like about this. You usually learn at least one thing each year, but not only just the learning opportunities, but getting to know other farmers and ranchers in this state is super valuable for everyone.” The tour featured stops at cow-calf operations, feedlots, and a sunflower farm that feeds cattle with processing byproducts. Next year’s tour location is still undecided, and Root says suggestions are welcome.

Herbicide Impact on Sugarbeets Under Study in Minnesota – University of Minnesota Extension held its Crops and Soils Day in Crookston this week, where they covered a variety of topics about small grains diseases, soil health and management, and research into how herbicides are impacting the sugarbeet crop. Extension Sugarbeet Agronomist Tom Peters was on hand to give an update on a series of experiments that will allow researchers to understand not just the benefits of herbicides, but also their shortcomings. “In the experiments, there’s necrosis injury, there’s growth reduction injury, and there’s malformation injury. So, I think it’s a wonderful picture for the growers as to what we can potentially see from these treatment combinations. The question is, are we going to lose yield, and I don’t know. I think in many cases they’ll all yield the same, but that will be something that we’ll work out in September and October.”

FSA Accepts Grassland CRP Enrollments – USDA is now taking enrollment in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program. This program allows farmers and landowners to conserve grasslands while continuing most grazing and haying practices. The sign-up continues through August 8.

Cost-Share Programs Available for Soil Conservation Efforts – The Northern Plains is home to some of the richest soil in the U.S. University of Minnesota Extension Educator Angie Peltier says the harsh weather environment puts those soils at risk. “We are windier than other areas of the country; we can’t control that. We can’t control the fact that we are on flat land or have high levels of calcium carbonate in our soils. That makes it much harder for our soil to form the necessary structure needed to make resilient soil.” However, Peltier says there are options for reducing soil loss. “We’re suggesting that folks really consider windbreaks. If you pulled out a windbreak, put another one back in. There are cost-share programs for putting in windbreaks. Talk to your local soil and water conservation district. Other options are cover crops and reducing tillage.”

Red River Watershed Board Stays Focused on Mitigation – Flood mitigation continues to be a top priority for the Red River Watershed Management Board. Executive Director Rob Sip says while $9 million was secured in this year’s bonding bill, the need for state support remains strong. “We are thankful for the money, but next year it sounds like there’s going to be a potential for a larger bonding bill,” said Sip. “Typically, we can do some of the smaller projects together with our member watersheds at the local level, but once you get into the really large projects, that’s when we need other sources of funding, primarily through the state of Minnesota.” Sip credited northwest Minnesota lawmakers for championing the cause. “Hats off to Senator Jordan Rasmussen and Senator Mark Johnson for really pushing for our projects and making sure there was some money through this bonding bill,” said Sip. “We were initially thinking there’d be zero dollars for flood mitigation, but we’re very thankful and happy about the $9 million.”

Craig Reviews California Ag Issues – House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig hosted two agricultural roundtable events over the weekend in California. One session focused on farm labor and specialty crops, while the second event concentrated on the California wildfires.

Regional Food Business Program Canceled – A Covid-era program to provide USDA funding and technical support to small and mid-sized food and agricultural businesses has been terminated. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said existing commitments made for the Regional Food Business Centers will continue, but any remaining funds will be repurposed.

FMI Report: Supply Chain Disruptions Possible – The Food Industry Association has released its annual report on the food retail business. Eighty percent of food retailers and suppliers expect tariffs and trade policies to disrupt supply chains and lead to higher costs. Despite concerns about higher food prices, the report said consumers are willing to spend more on products that focus on health and wellness.

2Q Grain Carload Activity Up in ND, SD, Down in MN – In the second quarter of this year, the number of rail grain carloads was up 13 percent from the same period last year. In data from the Surface Transportation Board, grain carload numbers were up more than 30 percent in North Dakota, up 23 percent in South Dakota and down nine percent in Minnesota. Most Class I railroads performed well in the second quarter. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad was the exception. In early May, the CP operational system took over the entire network and there were localized service problems in the legacy Kansas City Southern system.

Lawsuit Challenges ND Beef Checkoff – A group of independent cattle ranchers has filed a lawsuit against the State of North Dakota, Governor Kelly Armstrong, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and the North Dakota Beef Commission. The lawsuit seeks to find the Beef Commission Act unconstitutional. As another option, the plaintiffs are seeking a different way for commission members to be nominated.

Federal Court Rejects Request for Deere Financial Info – A federal judge has denied access to John Deere’s dealer financial database in an antitrust lawsuit dealing with right-to-repair. The Federal Trade Commission, five states and farmer plaintiffs sought these detailed financial metrics, but the judge said Deere has already provided enough data in this litigation.

MFU Minute – Minnesota Farmers Union Anti-Monopoly Director Justin Stofferahn is featured in the MFU Minute, highlighting the upcoming Co-op Summit. Listen to the update. 

Frontier Seed Ready for Commercial Sales in ’27 – Arthur Companies launched a wheat breeding program two years ago with veteran wheat breeder Morrie Rugg. “It’s unique to have the vertical integration of a breeding program from an elevator chain,” said Rugg. “We’ve got some really good products from my previous program that we acquired from BASF for wheat growers. Foundation wheat seed is being grown now under the Frontier Seed brand. “It’d be hitting the market in 2027 for commercial seed availability.” Arthur Companies hosted field days in Arthur, Hoople, Steele and Harvey.

Midwest Dairy Accelerator Promotes Entrepreneurs – Four companies have been selected for the first-ever intensive eight-week virtual initiative to fast-track new dairy-forward food and beverage entrepreneurs. Midwest Dairy and VentureFuel are partnering on this project. The dairy products coming from these startup companies include a yogurt-based probiotic supplement and a gourmet frozen pudding. This program will culminate with a live pitch event in September. The winner will receive a $20,000 prize and the runner-up receives $10,000.

CHS Ag Services Hosts Grower Appreciation Events – CHS Ag Services is showing its appreciation for growers this summer with a series of customer events across the region, including one held Wednesday in Warren, Minnesota. Senior Director of Operations Ryan Anderson says it’s a meaningful opportunity to thank the people who make their business possible.”We are nothing without our growers and our customers. That’s what makes this business successful. We don’t get to tell them thank you enough.”

New Ag Graduate Degree Program at SDSU – The South Dakota Board of Regents has approved a new graduate degree program at South Dakota State University to prepare emerging leaders in agriculture. The graduate degree in Global Agricultural Leadership will be launched this fall.

Welch-White Added to CropLife America Team – CropLife America has named Dr. Venus Welch-White as its new director of government relations. Welch-White joins CLA from the Environmental Protection Agency where she was the acting director and senior policy advisor in the Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Previously, Welch-White worked at USDA and the White House Office of Management and Budget.

MN Pork Adds Zimmerman to Staff – The Minnesota Pork Producers Association and Minnesota Pork Board welcome Jordan Zimmerman as its director of finance and human resources. Zimmerman’s background includes finance, organizational leadership and agriculture.

USW Leadership Changes – Mike Spier is the new president of U.S. Wheat Associates, succeeding Vince Peterson, who retired. Brian Liedl joined USW as its vice president of overseas operations. Previously, Liedl worked for United Grain Corporation and CHS Hedging. Julia Debes has rejoined USW as the director of communications and stakeholder outreach. Debes worked in a communications role at USW from 2010 to 2014. Most recently, Debes was director of communications for an NRCS initiative called Working Lands for Wildlife.Debes was hired as part of a reorganization of USW communications in the wake of the retirement of Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer. USW Communications Director Ralph Loos will assume the new role of director of communications-multimedia and global outreach. Vice President of Policy Dalton Henry will lead the department, which will combine the talents and resources of the USW policy and communications staff.

Pellman Named U.S. Wheat Associates Chair – North Dakota wheat farmer Jim Pellman is the new chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors. Pellman, who farms near McClusky, took the gavel during the group’s summer meeting on July 17 in Boise, Idaho. Pellman has served on the North Dakota Wheat Commission and previously worked as an ag lender and banker. As chairman, he says he plans to meet more global customers and highlight the value U.S. farmers place on producing high-quality wheat.

Adkison and Cunningham to be Inducted into NAFB Hall of Fame – The National Association of Farm Broadcasting has announced its 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. Janet Adkison and Gale Cunningham will be recognized at the NAFB Night of Honors November 20 in Kansas City. Adkison is now the director of public affairs and advocacy for the Missouri Farm Bureau, but spent many years in farm broadcasting including stops at RFD-TV, KMZU Radio and Arkansas Radio Network. Cunningham is the farm director at WYXY Classic 99.1 FM Radio in Champaign, Illinois. Adkison and Cunningham are both NAFB past presidents. Eighty-one individuals have been inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame since 1984, including RRFN co-founder Mike Hergert and RRFN President Don Wick.

NAFB Hall of Farmer Passes – Veteran farm broadcaster and broadcast sales professional Mike Perrine passed away this past week. Perrine, 83, spent time at several Illinois radio stations and AgriTalk. Perrine operated his own company, MP Ag Radio, in recent years and was still hosting on-air programs earlier this month. Perrine has been a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting since 1978. He volunteered his time for the organization, including serving as the long-time chair of the awards committee. Perrine was inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 2023. Here’s a link to the video commemorating his Hall of Fame career.  The Red River Farm Network extends its sympathies to family and friends. Mike, you will be missed.

ND, MN Represented Among FFA Star Finalists – The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for the American Star Awards. Benjamin Scheresky from the Max, North Dakota FFA chapter, is one of four finalists for the American Star Farmer recognition. Caldyn Huper of the United South Central FFA Chapter in Minnesota is an American Star in Agricultural Placement finalist.