A Battery Recharge – This past week, the Red River Farm Network reported from the North Dakota FFA Convention. Each year, we cover the state conventions in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. If you don’t come away from these events without feeling enthusiastic about the future of agriculture, you aren’t paying attention. The young men and women wearing those blue jackets are nothing but impressive. They also have support from family, FFA advisors, and the community as a whole. The FFA foundation in each of the states served by the Red River Farm Network welcomes any support you can provide. Visit the North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota FFA Foundation websites for more information. The North Dakota Foundation has a video that demonstrates how those funds are used. Take 94 seconds and give a look. 

London Hosts U.S.-China Trade Talks – The relationship between the United States and China takes a new turn today. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with Chinese trade officials in London. The meeting follows a lengthy phone call between President Trump and Chinese President Xi on Thursday. A potential break in the trade war between the two superpowers would have dominated the headlines, but it was lost in Thursday’s feud between Trump and Elon Musk.

Truitt: Time for Transparency in Trade Policy – Policy Solutions President Jay Truitt expects the ongoing legal battle over Trump-era tariffs to reach the U.S. Supreme Court, potentially reshaping how future administrations handle trade policy. “If I had to guess, I think the Supreme Court’s going to make them go back, make the administration go back to the starting point as well,” Truitt says the outcome could lead to more transparency and caution in tariff decisions. “It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to have a tariff structure. It does mean probably that they’re going to have to be a lot more careful, a lot more deliberate moving forward.” While past presidents have used similar authority, Truitt believes this case may finally bring legal clarity: “The reality is that we’ve had presidents for a good number of years that have actually done exactly what Donald Trump and his administration have done. Their name just wasn’t Donald Trump.”

Usset: No Clear Path for Market Decisions – As trade tensions with China persist under President Trump, University of Minnesota Extension economist Ed Usset says uncertainty is the biggest challenge facing U.S. agriculture. “Agriculture is so dependent on trade here in the U.S. We export 40 to 45 percent of our soybeans and wheat and we’ve done this for decades and decades,” said Usset. “What is new is the amount of pork and beef and chicken [being exported], that’s all in the last one to three decades.” The lack of clarity in trade policy leaves farmers with no clear path for making marketing decisions. “Markets don’t like uncertainty,” Usset said. “If I tell you to sell now, and tomorrow we solve our problems and the market goes back up, I feel like an idiot, but if things get worse and corn, soybean, and wheat prices drop by a buck, you’ll ask why I didn’t tell you to sell.”

Smuggling Case Spotlights Fusarium Disease Risks – Two Chinese nationals were caught trying to smuggle a Fusarium pathogen into the U.S. One of the individuals, a University of Michigan researcher, is now in federal custody. The pathogen causes Fusarium head blight, a disease impacting wheat and barley. NDSU Plant Pathologist Andrew Friskop says the fungus is not new. “Fusarium Graminearum has been here since the early 1900s,” Friskop said. “It causes Fusarium head blight or scab, and we’ve spent decades developing management tools used across the U.S.” Friskop warned the disease’s impact goes beyond yield loss. “It produces a mycotoxin called deoxynivalenol, or vomitoxin, which affects wheat quality and food safety. The FDA limits it to one part per million or less in food for human consumption.”

An Agroterrorism Threat – The Fusarium graminearum pathogen, found with two Chinese researchers who are being charged with smuggling a biological pathogen into the U.S., has implications for crop production. “It’s a biological pathogen that can cause absolutely devastating crop diseases, particularly for wheat and barley and corn and rice,” said Washburn University School of Law Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation Roger McEowen. “What it does is it causes head blight and produces mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and animals. If that got released into the U.S. public on U.S. farmland, it would slash crop yields.” McEowen said it is a real agroterrorism threat.

Crops Emerge After Tough Start – Crops are finally starting to emerge in the Hillsboro, North Dakota area following high winds, extreme heat, and crusting issues that led to some replanting. Ihry Insurance agent Bethany Rentz said conditions are improving. “We had a little bit of crusting issues, and so that did result in some replants of some sugarbeets as well as some beans.” With crops now getting a better start, Rentz encourages farmers to make sure they’re protected. “If you do not have your hail insurance in place, now is the time to do so,” Rentz said.

Heat Boosts Crop Growth in Northwest Minnesota – During this week’s Crop Watch stop near Ada, Minnesota, American Sugarbeet Growers Association President Neil Rockstad said planting wrapped up in late April, and crop development is on track. “The sugarbeet stands on my farm are good,” said Rockstad. “I know there’s some variability. There was some damage from crusting and that wind and hot weather that we had. I was very fortunate right here for whatever reason.” Recent heat has helped crop emergence. “Soybeans are emerging, they’re looking nice. The corn is shooting up now with these last few days of hot weather, looking good.”

Spring Planting Full of Surprises – Crookston, Minnesota area farmer Kevin Capistran says this spring has brought every kind of weather imaginable. “We started off early and it was cold and dry, and then April kind of drug out,” said Capistran. “One day I was planting, I looked down at the thermometer in the cab and said it was 102 degrees and I was still planting wheat and thought, boy, that’s questionable.” Despite the extreme swings in temperature and persistent wind, Capistran said the crop is starting to come through.

Timely Planting Boosts Crop Development – CHS Ag Services agronomist Brian Oachs says crops are developing well in the Thief River Falls area. Corn is reaching key growth stages. “A lot of the corn started to get up to that two or three leaf stage, so guys are getting ready to rock if they’re finishing weed control. You want to get certain chemistries down by the five, six leaf stage.” Oachs highlighted the benefits of timely planting. “There’s definitely a big difference when you get in the first half of May versus the first half of June. Wheat looks really nice. Corn and beans look good, too.”

Weather Has Been a Mixed Bag – A lot of the corn went into the ground in beautiful condition, but with a cold snap to follow, emergence was a challenge. “Guys were replanting corn while planting soybeans due to crusting issues,” reports Shane Kyllo, district sales manager, Stine Seed. Kyllo said farmers in the Mayville, North Dakota area were wrapping up the seeding of edible beans this past week.

Thin Stands – Stand issues are common in the Devils Lake Basin. “Pick a crop,” said Jason Hanson, owner, Rock and Roll Agronomy. “Corn is struggling in the low areas; I’ve got wheat, barley, durum in the same way, canola; soybeans are having a tough time pushing through.” Wild swings in the spring weather conditions shoulder the blame.

Pioneer Agronomy Update – Evaluating the crop stand and emergence is an excellent way to assess the entire production system. In the latest Pioneer Agronomy Update, Pioneer Strategic Account Manager Brent Sorenson said the planter has a critical role in delivering early, even emergence, other factors are at play. “These components include different tillage options, soil management strategies that minimize soil losses and planter seed placement and spacing precision.” Click here to listen to Sorenson’s comments. 

Stuggling with Soybean Emergence – This spring’s combination of cold, wet conditions and summer-like heat left some farmers struggling with soybean emergence. NDSU Extension Broadleaf Crops Specialist Ana Carcedo sees no-till as an option for the future because it protects the topsoil from heavy rains. Another 2025 challenge has been frost damage. Some farmers also reported frost damage to their soybeans. “It was like three weeks ago,” said Carcedo. “If the growing point is not affected, the plant will grow. and iIt will be fine; if it’s just affecting the cotyledons, it will be fine. That’s something that you should consider, if that plant will survive or not.”

An Update from SW MN – Crops are progressing well in the Worthington, Minnesota area, despite some early-season emergence issues. “We got planted really early and then it cooled off and then it got warm and then cooled off again,” said Bill Gordon. “So you had a lot of soybeans that actually sat in kind of dry soil. Finally got some moisture, most of it’s really doing well, starting to grow with this heat. Now we got some moisture here this last week.” Moisture levels have varied across the region. “South of Worthington they picked up a couple inches here the other night. North of town we were closer to eigh-t tenths,” Gordon said.

The Sugarbeet Report – In the Sugarbeet Report, NDSU Extension Entomologist Mark Boetel outlines peak season for sugarbeet root maggot fly activity. Click here to listen to the Sugarbeet Report. 

Stands are Thinner Than We’d Like – The beet crop in the southern Red River Valley has struggled. “It’s been a stagnant month for growth it seems like,” said Mike Metzger, vice president of agriculture, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. “The beets aren’t quite as big as we’d like to see them.” Metzger says the spring weather has been tough on the crop, especially the 90 degree heat and 40-mile-per-hour winds in mid-May. “We don’t have many fields that are picket fence,” said Metzger. “On 22 inch rows, we’d normally like to see 180 plants per 100 feet of row and I’d say the average for this crop is 140-to-150; it’s very doable, but the crop is thinner than we’d like to see.”

Broadleaf Weeds Off to Early Start in the Region – NDSU Extension Weed Specialist Joe Ikley says many weeds have gotten an early start to the year. “Mainly broadleaf weeds like wild buckwheat and common ragweed are up in abundance this year,” said Ikley. “They also thrive in cooler conditions, so we had a little bit of heat there back in May, but it’s overall been a cooler weather pattern.” It’s looking like another year of early-season kochia and waterhemp issues. “A good year for kochia is a bad year for us.”

Canola Minute – In the weekly Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association, we hear from Langdon Research Extension Center Plant Pathologist Vankata Chapara for an update on canola planting. Listen to the report. 

Budget Cuts Sought at USDA – The Trump Administration’s budget request for the 2026 fiscal year seeks $23 billion for Agriculture Department spending. That’s a $7 billion hit from this year’s budget. The biggest headlines have been related to food stamps, with projected spending down nearly $300 million less than last year. However, traditional agriculture spending also takes a hit. The budget plan would cut the Farm Service Agency spending by $372 million. For the NRCS, spending would be down more than $800 million.

Ag Approps Subcommittee Approves Budget Bill – The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget bill, sending it to the full committee. Spending levels are down more than $1 billion from this year. Outside of the Republican leadership of the committee, It was approved on a party-line 9-7 vote.

More Federal Job Cuts in FY ’26 – According to the Trump Administration’s 2026 fiscal year budget, USDA will cut 22 percent of its workforce. That’s on top of the workforce reduction that has already taken place at the Agriculture Department. A publication for federal workers called Government Executive reports the NRCS will lose 4,000 employees. Most of those cuts will be for those workers providing technical assistance for conservation planning.

Congress Asked to Codify DOGE Cuts – The White House is seeking congressional support for the cuts already implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency. This proposal would cancel $9.4 billion in funds that Congress previously appropriated. Over $8 billion of the spending cuts are from foreign aid, primarily money that was approved for the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID was one of the first programs shut down by DOGE. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer is a member of the Senate DOGE Caucus and said DOGE “has taken a scapel to the federal government, slashing misspending and eliminating fraudulent and improper payments.”

Whole Milk Bill Passes Ag Committee, Criticism Remains for Budget Reconciliation – The Senate Agriculture Committee has passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Since 2012, only skim and low-fat milk have been available in schools. This bill would allow schools to include whole milk, two percent, and flavored milks in school breakfast and lunch menus. It also includes the option of non-dairy alternatives. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar praised this bill, but criticized the proposed ‘big, beautiful bill.’ “While I’m glad we’re moving forward on this bill (Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act) in front of us, I hope that we’re not going to rush headlong into ill-conceived and poorly planned policies when we have the ability to work together on a farm bill moving forward,” said Klobuchar. The Minnesota senator went on to criticize the budget reconciliation bill and its $300 billion cut in SNAP funding. The legislation “affect kids, our farmers, and our local grocery stores in a big way, as well as the states we represent who can’t take this cost shift; it will forever change the way if we can ever do a farm bill again.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – In today’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson says the cattle markets continue to be red hot.

Dry Bean Scene – In the Dry Bean Scene, Wyndmere, North Dakota, grower Rudy Dotzenrod provides an update on the dry bean crop. Dotzenrod is a member of the North Dakota Dry Bean Council. Click here to listen to the dry bean scene.

More Optimism Seen on the Farm – Farmer sentiment is at its highest level in four years. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Barometer found farmers are more optimistic about trade. More than half of those surveyed said they expect agricultural exports to increase over the next five years. That’s up from 33 percent in April. According to the survey, ag labor remains one of the trouble spots for American agriculture.

MN Corn Matters – In Corn Matters, Pauline Van Nurden, Extension economist at the Center for Farm Financial Management, offers her perspective on the farm financial situation. Corn Matters is a presentation of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. Click here. 

SD Corn Comments – Trent Kubik, farmer from Hamill, SD, wishes the fathers a very Happy Father’s Day. Click here to listen to SD Corn Comments.

Beige Book Released – The Federal Reserve Board has released its Beige Book, which showed weakness in the farm economy. According to the report, farm income in the Minneapolis district declined in the first quarter. The Chicago district reported that large crop and swine operations are scaling back or leaving the business.

Fielding Questions with Bill Roiger – In the Fielding Questions podcast, AgCountry Farm Credit Services Insurance Officer Bill Roiger highlights the benefits of Livestock Risk Protection. The conversation includes coverage levels and who is eligible for this tool. LRP is a relatively new option to help mitigate the financial impact of unexpected events in the livestock industry. Fielding Questions is produced in collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Red River Farm Network. Click here to listen to the podcast. 

Developing the Ag Workforce – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced a new $2.4 million initiative for agriculture-focused workforce training. The Growing Careers Program will award grants up to $500,000 for partners to develop training programs. The application deadline is July 17.

FFA Sees Rising Demand in Schools – The 96th North Dakota FFA State Convention wrapped up in Fargo with a full house and a new slate of state officers. Nearly 1,000 members from 85 chapters attended, along with more than 1,600 family members and supporters. North Dakota State FFA Advisor Nikki Fideldy-Doll said interest in agricultural education is growing quickly. “We continue to get phone calls from schools wanting agricultural education or programs, wanting to increase the number of teachers that they have so they can offer more course offerings,” said Fideldy-Doll. “We need more ag teachers in order to fill those positions and create new positions, that’s heavy on our hearts as we continue to want to grow.”

Your New ND State FFA President is Cole Anderson – Cole Anderson is the new North Dakota State FFA president. Anderson, who is a member of the Rugby FFA Chapter, said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead. Anderson has trouble imagining his life without FFA. “FFA, to me, is just a family,” said Anderson. “I’ve met so many people here that mean a great deal to me, FFA is such a big part of my life and just how much I’ve learned from it.”

New FFA VP Credits the Organization for Her High School Career – The newly elected North Dakota FFA  State Vice President, Mikayla Kraft, says FFA has had a big impact on her life.”I’ve learned so many skills that range from public speaking to leadership,” said Kraft. “You really do grow and you get to meet so many people. It’s a wonderful organization to be a part of: I would 100 percent recommend anyone to try it.” Kraft is a member of the Minot FFA Chapter.

Stars Shine at FFA Convention – The Stars were named Thursday night at the North Dakota FFA Convention. Zander Swenson of the Kindred FFA Chapter was named the State Star Farmer. The Star in Agriscience is Karady Evans of the Scanton chapter. Cora Hermunslie of the Richland 44 FFA Chapter is North Dakota’s Star in Ag Placement and Kristyn Bauer of Buelah chapter is the Star in Agribusiness.

An Exciting Time for ND FFA – A is excited about the growth of FFA in the state. “This convention, we’re seeing the largest attendance with regards to FFA members and we’re also seeing a tremendous growth in sponsorship.” For the first time in nearly 50 years, the North Dakota FFA Convention moved out of Bentson Bunker Field House and into the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. “It’s a great new venue, the staff, the officer team, and the kids have been able to do some fantastic new things to bring new energy and excitement to the convention so it’s an exciting time to be in FFA.”

Erbele Reflects on FFA Journey – For North Dakota FFA State Secretary Teagan Erbele, joining FFA in seventh grade was the start of a life-changing journey. “I was a shy kid who loved agriculture but not public speaking,” Erbele praised the FFA for helping her build confidence, leadership skills, and lasting connections. “It’s been an honor to serve the organization that changed my life.” Now a student at NDSU, Erbele is studying agricultural education with minors in animal science and ag communications.

From Generation to Generation – For state FFA officers, the state convention is typically the end of their FFA careers. North Dakota FFA Parliamentarian Grant Anderson, who is from the Harvey chapter, appreciates the family connection he has through the FFA. “After I was into it, it’s really been interesting to see how it goes through the generation; the things that my grandpa was doing, and the different things that I’m doing now. That’s been cool to see.”  Anderson says agriculture has always been an important part of his life and will continue to be. ” I plan to pursue something in agriculture, I’m not sure what, but I know my experiences in FFA have shown me that there are lots of ways that I can use my talents out in the workforce; I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Practice, Practice and Practice Again – Fessenden-Bowden FFA Chapter Advisor Lane Moellenkamp helped prepare his students for the competition at the state convention with the District 3 Workshop in early May. “There were eight different CDEs (Career Development Events) that the advisors in the district put on,and kids participated in that,” said Moellenkamp. “This last week we had a workshop in Carrington and we do our own practices in Fessenden, probably four or five of them, during the week for the different events.”

MacDonald Seeks National Office – North Dakota FFA Past President Ty MacDonald is proud of his FFA  experience. “It has provided me with so many different learning opportunities and experiences,” said MacDonald. “As a state FFA officer, I got to travel all across the state and even across the country, you get to meet with so many different students, see so many different ag programs and be exposed to so many different things.” MacDonald is North Dakota’s candidate for national office. “That’s an experience I’ll look forward to and have begun preparing for as well.”

Walsh Honored – Nearly 150 North Dakota FFA members walked across the stage Wednesday night to receive their State FFA Degree. During the North Dakota FFA Foundation Celebration banquet, Dennis Walsh of Harvey, North Dakota, was named the Friend of the Foundation Award.

Giving Back – North Dakota State FFA Treasurer Rose Schiele plans on giving back to the community that has given so much to her. “I joined the FFA because my brother told me not to, actually, and I’ve learned and grown so much in this organization,” said Schiele. “I’ve learned leadership, public speaking, and confidence in myself is a really big thing for me.” The Velva FFA member will attend Valley City State University this fall and pursue a degree in elementary education.”

Ellingson: Green Pastures and Good Markets Fuel Positivity – The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) Spring Roundup series is touring the state this week. “Everywhere we have been, we’ve seen green, and that really has been a refreshing change,” says NDSA Executive Vice President Julie Ellingson. “So, we know that we have had a significant drought in many parts of the state, and so we made a lot of progress, and it’s been fun to see the countryside green up.” The weather isn’t the only thing ranchers can get excited about. “That and some outstanding markets.” The series will conclude with events in Leonard, ND, on June 9 and Stanley, ND, on June 10.

NDSA Spring Roundup Connects Ranchers and Leadership – The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) annual Spring Roundup is in full swing, offering ranchers across the state the opportunity to speak with leadership and stay up to date on the latest information. “We hit each district with a spring roundup,” says NDSA President Randy Schmitt. “It gives the producer in that district a perfect opportunity to address leadership and ask any questions they might have. It gives the association a chance to connect with the producer about the latest what’s going on or what might be coming down the pipe, if there’s anything new that they need to be informed about.” Schmitt, who ranches out of Rugby, says there haven’t been too many big questions or issues on ranchers’ minds, so far. “The funny thing is, when the markets are what they are, the rooms stay pretty quiet when you ask for questions.”

Pork’s Opportunity to Reconnect with Consumers – In conjunction with World Pork Expo, the CoBank Knowledge Exchange released a report on pork demand. Lead Economist Brian Earnest said domestic pork demand has been stagnant with the annual per-person consumption rate of 50 pounds per year. To boost consumer demand, Earnest recommends a reimagining of the pork product. “Think about what beef has done in terms of bringing a really high-quality item to the U.S. consumer; I attribute that beef demand to the product that they’re bringing to the table now,” said Earnest. “I wonder if some of that can be brought over into pork with maybe a change in the genetic makeup of the swine.”

MPCA Hosts Feedlot Rulemaking Meetings Across Minnesota – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is hosting community meetings this month to discuss the current feedlot rulemaking process. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association President Jake Thompson says the nitrate levels in groundwater in southeast Minnesota were the catalyst for the meetings. “MPCA has had some outside pressures on surface water and groundwater nitrate levels, the best I could tell from the meeting I attended was probably because of the nitrates and surface water issues happening in the Karst Region in southeast Minnesota.” The goal of the comment period is to ensure the feasibility of any rule changes. “It’s something we’re going to be working towards here, not only providing comments for members, but also encouraging members to go on, because I think that’s really what the MPCA is looking for, input from someone who has experience in some of these areas.” More information can be found on MPCA’s calendar website.

Another Impressive Week – The cattle markets continue to move at unimaginable levels. Cash cattle are at record highs, up $10 to $12 from the previous week. From week-to-week, June live cattle futures increased $10.83 and August feeder cattle gained more than $11. “The inventory of cattle was extremely tight and than we stopped bringing cattle in from Mexico (due to New World Screwworm), that didn’t help,” said Tommy Grisafi, Nesvick Trading Company. “Not to mention, demand is good. Stores are buying beef and pork today to get ready for the 4th of July, they have to place those orders to get that meat in the store; it is a wild ride.” This entire interview includes RRFN’s Don Wick and can be found on the Ag Bull Media YouTube channel.

MN Beef Update – Ella DeFrang is the new summer intern for the Minnesota Beef Council. In Minnesota Beef Update, we hear from DeFrang. Listen here.

Cattle Prices Hit Record Highs – Cattle prices continue to climb to record highs, fueled by tight supplies and resilient consumer demand. Livestock Marketing Information Center Director Dr. Tyler Cozzens said this price surge, while partially expected due to the cattle cycle, has surpassed industry expectations. “Some of this is not totally unexpected, but I think just the strength, that’s what’s unprecedented here to see these prices push quickly higher,” said Cozzens. “Especially in some of the Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota prices, they’re over $230. And even looking in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, still above $220, some strong prices here.” Despite higher prices, demand remains strong, even as retail beef reaches the $8-per-pound mark. “The demand side of things is definitely holding very strong.”

Developing the Ag Workforce – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced a new $2.4 million initiative for agriculture-focused workforce training. The Growing Careers Program will award grants up to $500,000 for partners to develop training programs. The application deadline is July 17.

Innovation Highlighted at Ag Tech Week – Agriculture and technology professionals from across the country will be in Fargo this week for Ag Tech Week. Grand Farm Regional Ecosystem Coordinator Stetson Urlacher said this is an important event for the region. “Ag Tech Week is a partnership between Grand Farm, Bushel, the Fargo-Moorhead, and each year, we try to bring around 5,000 attendees from across the nation, across the globe to Fargo, to showcase the ag-tech ecosystem and the agriculture culture that we have here in the valley and what we’ve been able to build and all about bringing together this ecosystem around ag technology.” This week brings together all parts of the ag and tech sectors. “Ag Tech Week truly is for the entire ecosystem of ag technology, everyone from farmers and users all the way through to corporate innovation teams, startups, researchers, and investors.”

ND APUC Grants – Three ag-related projects have received funding from North Dakota’s Agricultural Products Utilization Commission. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring approved over $340,000 in grants at the group’s quarterly meeting in Minot. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative received funding for sugar beet harvest automation, Picketa Systems will continue work on real-time plant tissue analysis, and Carbotech Technologies will study the feasibility of a lignite-based fertilizer plant. The next round of grant hearings will be held July 23 and 24 in Medora.

Ag Development Fund Awards $1 Million to ND Projects – Five businesses have been awarded funding through North Dakota’s Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring approved more than one million dollars during the fund’s quarterly meeting in Minot. Recipients include GMG Ranch, American Crystal Sugar Company, Qual Dairy, Pride Dairy, and Frontier Meats. Projects range from cattle finishing and dairy improvements to expanded ice cream and meat processing.

FMC and Corteva Ink Strategic Agreement for Fungicide – FMC and Corteva Agriscience have signed off on a strategic agreement to expand the fluindapyr fungicide market for U.S. corn and soybeans. This FMC technology manages foliar diseases, like tar spot and southern rust. FMC will continue to offer Adastrio fungicide and develop new products containing fluindapyr. Corteva plans to launch a fluindapyr-based product in early 2026.

Public Comment Sought on Bayer Trait – USDA is seeking public comments for a Bayer CropScience trait that delivers resistance to fall armyworm and similar pests in corn. Feedback will be taken until July 3 for a draft pest risk assessment and environmental assessment.

New Forage Harvesters on the Market – John Deere has launched its new F8 and F9 Series self-propelled forage harvesters. These machines offer increased horsepower options and improved automation. They have a new inoculant dosing system and an automated cleaning system that reduces end-of-day maintenance.

Beck, Brandt Added to CTIC Hall of Fame – The Conservation Technology Information Center has inducted two individuals into its Hall of Fame. The honorees are Dwayne Beck and the late David Brandt. Beck is known for his work on no-till farming issues at South Dakota State University. Brandt began practicing no-till farming in 1971 and is seen as a nationally recognized advocate for soil health. The Ohio farmer passed away two years ago in a car accident.

AFIA Promotions Announced – The American Feed Industry Association has promoted Leah Wilkinson and Victoria Broehm. Wilkinson has been with AFIA since 2010 and is now the chief policy officer. Broehm has been promoted to vice president of member experience.

From NAWG to USA Rice – Jake Westlin is the new vice president of government affairs for USA Rice. Westlin has been the vice president of policy and communications for the National Association of Wheat Growers. The Minnesota native previously was on the staff of North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp.

Corn Refiners Welcomes New Staffer – The Corn Refiners Association named Ameya Khanapurkar as its new project and policy coordinator. Khanapurkar is a recent CRA intern.

Monson Accepts VP Role at Forward Minded Media – After 12 years with Ag Management Solutions, Doug Monson has moved on to Forward Minded Media in Mankato. Monson is the firm’s new vice president of agriculture sales. At AMS, Monson oversaw communications and marketing. Clients included Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and others.

Allen to Retire – Beth Allen will retire from the North Dakota FFA Foundation at the end of the month. Allen is the fiscal manager and former executive director for the foundation.