Vilsack: Farmers Need New Revenue Streams – The last two years were the best farm income years in the history of the United States. Despite those records, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the Commodity Classic audience nearly 50 percent of farmers lost money. Another nearly 40 percent of these farmers made the majority of their income from off-farm income. Historically, the government has looked at ways to reduce farm input costs and increase trade. Vilsack said USDA needs to do more. “The way to do that is to focus on additional income streams or market opportunities for producers, taking that same farmstead and instead of just relying on commodity sales, livestock sales or government payments, creating three, four or five different profit centers on that farm.” The added-value of climate-smart commodities was cited as an example. USDA received over 1,000 applications for the $1 billion climate-smart commodities program. A total of 141 projects were funded impacting over 60,000 farmers and 25 million acres. Two of those agreements were signed at Commodity Classic.

USDA Budget Proposal Released – President Biden’s 2024 budget calls for just over $30 billion in discretionary budget authority for USDA. That’s nearly a $4 billion increase from what was enacted last year. The increase includes additional funding for child nutrition and climate programs. In a statement, Vilsack said the budget delivers “effective, innovative science-based public policy leadership at home and around the world.” Crop insurance was left unchanged with the exception of a cover crop incentive program that would pay farmers $5 per acre to use cover crops.

Farm Bill Baseline Cut by $1.3B – To be an effective safety net, the National Association of Wheat Growers is seeking additional budget authority for Farm Bill Title I commodity programs. NAWG CEO Chandler Goule said farm programs have not kept up with the cost of production. “The Congressional Budget Office has already come out with their farm baseline and basically cut Title I by about $1.3 billion and that is a significant hit, basically meaning we are not going to be able to increase the PLC or other safety net programs.” With the rising cost of production, NAWG is seeking higher reference prices in the new farm bill. Nearly half of the House and 20 percent of the Senate have never voted on a farm bill which only complicates the process. “What we’re doing now is educating them on why we need a farm bill. We’re not drilling down into ARC and PLC, CRP and EQIP, because they’re still trying to figure out what this big bill does. Educate, educate, educate; then we’ll go back and go down into the details.”

Wheat Growers Play Role in Climate Policy Debate – It is a unique time in agriculture with the changing dynamics surrounding climate change and farming. Ada, Minnesota farmer Tate Petry is a member of the National Association of Wheat Growers Environment Subcommittee and said the wheat industry is challenged because it is so varied. “We have growers in Washington, Idaho and Oklahoma with practices that are so much different than what works for us so that’s what we work on in NAWG, determining the implications of certain policy decisions growers and different classes of wheat.” Petry says the focus on climate-smart agriculture brings to the forefront the positive things already happening on the farm. Listen to the interview.

Additional $$ Needed to Develop International Markets – National Association of Wheat Growers President Nicole Berg describes the farm bill as ‘harvest season.’ Crop insurance is a top priority. Additional farm bill funding is also being sought for Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development export promotion. “Being from the Pacific Northwest, 90 percent of our wheat goes overseas. We’re looking to double MAP and FMD funding because it is such a successful program more people are taking a piece of the pie. That’s great for agriculture across the country, but we need more money so we can keep investing into those foreign markets.”

New Leadership for NAWG – Leadership of the National Association of Wheat Growers will turn over to Oregon farmer Brent Cheyne. Cheyne says one of his biggest priorities is working toward a 2023 Farm Bill that really benefits producers. “I’m looking forward to being a small piece in a big machine getting the American Farmer a successful farm bill. Failure’s not an option.” Listen to the full interview with NAWG President Brent Cheyne here.

Profitability is the Priority – Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers President Mike Gunderson serves on the National Associaiton of Wheat Growers Domestic and Trade Committee. “Our bottomline is how do we grow our wheat acres and make it profitable? We also look closely at how we work with the farm programs and once our policy is set, we’ll have a guide for lobbying.” Full news story available here.

A Record Commodity Classic – Commodity Classic enjoyed record attendance with over 10,000 people participating in the show in Orlando, Florida. In 2024, Commodity Classic moves to Houston, Texas. The Red River Farm Network coverage of Commodity Classic is sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

If It’s Not Broke, Don’t Fix It – Chris Hill is a national director for Minnesota on the American Soybean Association board. For the farm bill, Hill says one issue is taking precedence. “We want crop insurance to remain whole. That’s been very good system for farmers and if it’s not broke, please, don’t fix it.”

A Unified Approach – Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Bob Worth appreciates the grassroots policy development seen during Commodity Classic. “Here’s where we set our resolutions that we take to Washington, D.C. to make sure all farmers across the U.S. are on the same page and going in one direction.” Conservation, water quality and disaster programs were top of mind for MSGA members. “We’d like to get rid of the ad hoc disaster program and have a provision in the federal crop insurance program that farmers pay for.” The full interview with MSGA President Bob Worth is available here.

Pursuing Fresh Ideas for Crop Insurance – North Dakota Corn Growers Association President Andrew Mauch sees crop insurance as the priority.  “Anything we can do to strengthen that safety net and protect what we already have, that is a big goal for us.” Trendline yield enhancements have been on the wish list, but Mauch said that may be difficult to achieve. “Another specific idea we’d like to consider deals with enterprise units with corn silage and corn grain to do them separately so if you get a bad yield on one it doesn’t affect your yield on the other side.”

Beet Stock Values – According to Acres & Shares broker Jayson Menke, there were four American Crystal Sugar Company-brokered beet stock sales last week totaling 62 shares for an average price of $4,722.58 per share.

USTR Seeks Formal Talks With Mexico on GMO Corn – The United States is taking steps to resolve the trade dispute over biotech corn exports to Mexico. Leaders from both countries will participate in formal discussions. If that doesn’t resolve the standoff, the U.S. will file a dispute settlement under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. This action is in response to Mexico’s proposed ban on biotech corn for human food production. Mexico has also left the door open for a ban for feed usage.

Haag Praises USDA’s “Strong Voice” on GMO Corn – National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag sat down with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday during Commodity Classic. Haag, who farms at Eden Valley, Minnesota, thanked Vilsack for his leadership on the Mexico GMO corn issue. “It was his strong voice that helped get USTR (U.S. Trade Representative’s Office) pushing and we needed this push to get this done.” Mexico is responsible for 25 percent of U.S. corn exports. The U.S. is calling for formal negotiations with Mexico on the proposed ban. That kicked off a 30-day window for a response. “The Mexican government has to decide which way they want to go; are they going to start accepting our scientific data or do they want to go a lawsuit?”

Corn Matters – Corn Congress takes place during Commodity Classic. Hear more from Minnesota Corn Growers Association Past President Byran Biegler in the latest Corn Matters.

Slow Economic Growth for China – The Chinese Ministry of Finance expects its economy to grow by five percent this year. That is the lowest forecast for annual growth in more than 25 years. China projected growth at 5.5 percent one year ago, but it topped out at three percent.

A Trade Deal for Brazil and Australia – Brazil and Australia are working on an agricultural trade agreement. Brazil hopes to export pork to Australia, while the Aussies want to sell wheat and barley to the Brazilians. To move forward, the two sides must negotiate lower bilateral trade tariffs through the World Trade Organization.

Biotech Wheat OK’ed in Brazil – Brazil has approved the production of biotech wheat. Argentina is the only other country to give its approval to this technology. In both countries, this is a drought resistant trait.

MN Wheat Minute – Bacterial Leaf Streak is an issue for many wheat growers. Tune in to On-Farm Research Coordinator Melissa Carlson in the latest MN Wheat Minute to hear about the latest research.

More Interest Rate Hikes on the Horizon – Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell told lawmakers the central bank would consider raising interest rates by a half percentage point later this month. During his semiannual visit to Capitol Hill to discuss monetary policy, Powell also said the benchmark interest rate will need to rise to approximately 5.5 percent to bring inflation under control. The Fed increased interest rates by four-and-a-half percent in the past year.

MFU Minute – In this week’s Minnesota Farmers Union Minute, Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President Anne Schwagerl recaps the National Farmers Union Convention.

Farm Bill Needs Proper Funding – The goal is to get the farm bill across the finish line before the end of the year. North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne says the funding will be the biggest hurdle. “Everywhere I go people are talking about making sure the baseline dollars are enough so we can write a program that functions and works.” Watne said he expects the crop insurance program will remain status quo. “We think that there might be a dual option for ARC and PLC where you sign up for both or qualify for both and we’re hoping to get the reference prices more reflective of the cost of putting crop in.”

Farm Bill=Food Bill – Competition and antitrust laws have been an ongoing concern for Farmers Union. Bottineau, North Dakota farmer Philip Neubauer was a delegate at the National Farmers Union Convention and said progress is being made on this issue. “We are getting traction. Everybody has to eat and I think more people are starting to realize (we need to know) where’s our food come from and how can we make it more affordable to everybody?” Neubauer said the farm bill is being promoted as a food security bill.

Who’s Going to Fill Those Shoes? – Rural America is dependent on a strong farm economy. Shelly Ziesch is a member of the North Dakota Farmers Union board of directors and said the farm bill must address these ‘big picture’ issues. “We’re losing a lot of farmers and ranchers either to lack of income or to retirement and who’s gonna fill those shoes?” asked Ziesch. “We have an aging population in our farming and ranching communities; we need to help get the young people started so we don’t lose that generation of farmers and ranchers.”

House Votes to Reverse WOTUS Rule – The House has passed a resolution, voicing its disapproval for the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States rule. The resolution now moves to the Senate. North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong highlighted the bipartisan vote, calling WOTUS a violation of private property rights.

WOTUS Regulatatory Uncertainty – James Callan Associates CEO Jim Callan says the issue of prior-converted wetlands is a concern. “That is a big issue for folks in the Prairie Pothole Region,” said Callan. “I’ve been on a call with them (the Environmental Protection Agency) where they were asked questions about prior-converted wetlands and I didn’t think their answers were as solid as they could have been so I’m worried about that going forward.” Callan’s clients include the North Dakota Grain Growers Association and the North Dakota Corn Growers Association.

Canola Minute – In this week’s Canola Minute, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman discusses the upcoming “Getting it Right in Canola Production” online meeting.

NMPF Board Endorses Federal Order Reform – After two years of debate and more than 130 meetings, the National Milk Producers Federation board of directors is giving its support to a proposal to modernize federal milk marketing orders. This proposal will be submitted to USDA for a federal hearing and a possible producer referendum. Federal orders have not had a significant change in nearly 25 years.

SHIP IT Act Endorsed – The Agricultural Transportation Working Group has given its support for the Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act. This legislation, which is known as by acronym SHIP IT, focuses on increasing the number of truck drivers and increases the productivity for haulers.

Made in the USA – USDA is seeking changes in the ‘Made in the USA’ label. Meat packers will only be able to use that label if the product comes from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. USDA said this change to prevent consumer confusion at the meatcase.

Label Proposal May Raise Consumer Prices – The North American Meat Institute describes the USDA’s proposed “Product of the USA” labeling rules as problematic. The NAMI said the rule will likely result in trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico, which could cost American consumers billions of dollars. The proposal may also conflict with federal law under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Tariff Act.

MN Beef Update – Join us in the latest Minnesota Beef Update to hear from the Minnesota Beef Council Director of Industry Relations Jon Dilworth.

Advice from Hall of Fame Inductees – Nancy Jo Bateman and Jerry Doan have been inducted into the North Dakota Agriculture Hall of Fame at the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City. Bateman served as the executive director of the North Dakota Beef Commission until retiring at the end of 2022. Bateman said the agriculture community needs to tell its story. “We have the highest quality and safest food product in the world, so we need to be proud of that and share that story.” Jerry Doan operates Blackleg Ranch near McKenzie, North Dakota. Doan believes spreading positive information about agriculture will help future generations. “I believe you need to create some excitement for the next generation and then get out of the way so that they can spread their wings and try new ideas.”

HPAI Threat Remains – With spring around the corner, mass bird migration will begin soon. South Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson says the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza will rear its head again. “Viruses tend to go away in the winter, but this virus has not, so our environment may be contaminated to the point where we’ll keep seeing infections, or wild waterfowl could be contributing to the issue.”

ASF Makes Headlines at Pork Industry Forum – The National Pork Industry Forum was held in Orlando. National Pork Producers Council President Terry Wolters, who farms near Pipestone, Minnesota, said African Swine Fever preparedness was discussed. If ASF would be confirmed in the United States, Wolters said it could decimate the swine industry. “We have stop measures in place so producers can get their feet under them and prevent ASF from spreading further.”

Noem to Sign Bill to Preserve Agriculture – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem plans to sign legislation Wednesday to protect farms from a nuisance claim through additional liability protection. The signing will take place in Mitchell.

Minnesota Sets Export Record – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that the state’s exports reached a record high of $27 billion in 2022, a 16 percent increase from 2021. North American markets drove Minnesota’s export growth to nearly $12 billion. Minnesota conducted $70 billion in total trade in goods with 215 countries last year with nearly $43 billion in imports. Walz stated “Over 200 countries look to the state’s workforce to put food on the table, and this is another data point that demonstrates Minnesota’s diversity of economy, strength of the workforce, and influence in the global economy.”

Net Zero Carbon Target by 2050 – A month ago, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed climate legislation pledging the state’s electricity comes from exclusively carbon-free sources by 2040. House Climate and Energy Committee Chair Patty Acomb now wants to amend the cut in greenhouse gas emissions to 50 percent by 2030 and a net zero target by 2050. “It doesn’t have penalties,” said Acomb. “I’d much prefer carrots than sticks so I think we have opportunities to incentivize the behavior that we want to see.” The bill was sent back to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee on a split-party vote.

Right to Repair Concerns – A bill to secure the right to repair equipment was heard in the Minnesota House Agriculture Committee. Ranking Member Paul Anderson is concerned about some aspects of the bill. “It lumps fixing your cell phone in with fixing a $500,000 combine.” The bill would also require dealers to sell parts at a reasonable cost or at cost. “I just don’t think it’s up to government to be telling anyone what they have to set a price for when they sell their products.”

Changes Coming for Animal ID – The North Dakota Board of Animal Health held a subcommittee meeting regarding electronic ID for breeding cattle and buffalo. The proposed USDA rule is open for public comment. The primary change mandates all official identification would be electronically readable. This rule only applies to breeding animals 18 months of age or older going across state lines.

Sales Tax Exemption for On-Farm Storage Advances – A bill to create a sales tax exemption for the sale of grain bins was heard in the North Dakota Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. North Dakota Farmers Union Director of Government Relations Matt Perdue spoke in favor of the bill saying it would help expand and promote on-farm storage as new demand, especially for soybeans, increases.   North Dakota Grain Growers Executive Director Dan Wogsland also spoke in favor of the legislation. The bill passed the Finance and Taxation Committee with a 5-1 vote. This language resembles an exemption in Iowa.

North Dakota Legislative Report – In this week’s North Dakota Legislative Report, North Dakota Corn Growers Association Legislative Liaison Samantha Vangsness talks about the push for animal agriculture, NDSU research and extension budget, and grain storage funding. Listen to this week’s North Dakota Legislative Report to hear more.

A Favorable Spring Outlook – World Weather Incorporated Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Drew Lerner offered an optimistic view for the 2023 Midwest crop. “Most likely, the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will have a fairly good growing season.” Lerner sees the potential for a ridge of high pressure to build in the central part of the country, which could dry out a portion of the Cornbelt and High Plains. Lerner was featured at the Premium Ag Solutions Ag Day at Hitterdal, Minnesota.

Dry Bean Scene – Minnesota Department of Agriculture Regional Marketing Specialist Kate Seybold joins us to talk about their Harvest of the Month Program, which featured Dry Beans during February. The Dry Bean Scene is sponsored by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association.

Fielding Questions – Fielding Questions is a podcast collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Red River Farm Network. AgCountry Farm Credit Services Market Education Specialist Cody Didier recaps the recent supply/demand report and South American crop conditions. Listen to the podcast.

USDA Dances Around Soybean Numbers – The USDA supply/demand report put the corn carryout at 1.34 billion bushels. Corn exports were lowered, but Van Ahn and Company market analyst Kristi Van Ahn anticipates further cuts. “That is a very justified movement and I wouldn’t be surprised if corn exports are cut again if we don’t start to see some private sales.” The report dropped the soybean crush 10 million bushels. “We have seen crush margins deteriorate and it almost seems like USDA is doing a do-si-do between demand structures in soybeans.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson says the gold market has rallied. With recent bank failures, gold is seen as a safe haven. The fundamentals are friendly, but bearishness is evident throughout the rest of the marketplace.

More Corn Acres Expected in ND – Corn acreage in the Northern Plains is expected to be up this spring. Channel Technical Agronomist Derek Crompton says the weather delays influenced the acreage mix last year. “There were a lot of great intentions last year and that big snowfall in March kind of put the kibosh to a lot of those acres so I think there’s a big plan for a lot of acres this year. Essentially, we’re sold out of most of our early-day corn products in North Dakota.” Weed control is part of the planning process. In our footprint, I think really, probably the two big animals are obviously waterhemp in the (Red River) Valley and as you move west, its kochia.”

Building Fertilizer Capacity – USDA has announced the first $29 million in grants to build domestic fertilizer production capacity. The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is part of the Biden Administration’s effort to promote competition in agricultural markets.

Soil Fertility Minute – On this week’s Soil Fertility Minute, University of Minnesota Extension Soil Scientist Dan Kaiser joins us to talk about soil testing and fertilizer rates. The Soil Fertility Minute is sponsored by the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council.

Grain Storage Cost-Share Funding Available – Farmers from nine states impacted by crop disasters last year are eligible for cost-share funding for emergency grain storage. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota are authorized to receive this assistance. The Farm Service Agency will accept applications through December 29.

Improving Competition Within the Seed Industry – USDA is making recommedations to promote competition in the seed industry. USDA, the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Patent and Trademark Office will launch a working group to evaluate intellectual property and competition.

Wheat Yield Contest Includes Quality Characteristics – Elbow Lake Minnesota farmer Scott Swenson has wrapped up six years on the National Wheat Foundation board. The National Wheat Yield Contest was in its infancy when Swenson joined the board. This competition evolved from strictly a yield contest to include quality characteristics. “We evaluate them for all the different parameters we see as farmers, but also ones that the millers and bakers are interested in like water absorption.” said Swenson. “We didn’t want to be promoting what I would call it ‘junk wheat’ by having a yield contest.”

Award Winning Wheat – East Grand Forks farmer Matthew Krueger received second place in the dryland spring wheat division of the National Wheat Yield Contest. The WestBred 9590 variety was seeded May 20. Despite a late planting date, it yielded 113 bushels per acre. “It was one of the earlier fields that we got in, it caught one of the earlier rains and it was a bit cooler.” Heading into the 2023 growing season, Krueger is faced with dry conditions. “I’d be okay with a slight delay to spring if that involves precipitation of some sort. We had a digging issue the other day and the frost is only two inches down so what is out there will hopefully soak in.”

AURI Update – The 2023 New Uses Forum is coming up on April 11. Hear more in the latest AURI Update.

UM Invests in New Research Complex – The University of Minnesota is buying land in Mower County for its new Future of Advanced Agricultural Research Minnesota center. The FAARM complex will allow the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences to evaluate technological farming advances. Construction for the site in southern Minnesota will begin in 2026.

Storen Herbicide Expected for the ’24 Growing Season – Syngenta is developing a new corn herbicide called Storen. The herbicide can be used for pre-and-post-emergence grass and broadleaf weed control. Pending EPA approval, Storen should be available for the 2024 growing season.

BASF Launches Surtain Herbicide – BASF has launched Surtain herbicide. This new innovation combines two unique chemistries, Group 14 and 15 herbicides. “What really makes Surtain unique is the encapsulation technology,” explained BASF Technical Marketing Manager Dan Waldstein. “The liquid encapsulation process that is common for other herbicides on the market didn’t give us success in getting weed control and crop safety in corn so we went to a solid encapsulation.” This is a new patented propriety technology that allows the farmer to use Surtain as a pre and as an early post. “We’re looking at application through V3. We’ve seen particular success with Surtain on waterhemp, Palmer amaranth and Giant Ragweed, but we have control or suppression of 79 grass and broadleaf weeds.” This project has been under development for over ten years. Surtain is expected to be on the market in 2024. Field trials will be seen this summer. Listen to the full interview.

Vorceed Enlist Corn Products Available to Manage CRW – Corteva Agriscience has announced plans for the commercial launch of Vorceed Enlist corn products. The technology will be available in areas with high corn rootworm pressure through Pioneer Seed, Dairyland Seed and Brevant Seed. Early access for select farmers is planned for the 2023 growing season. By mid-decade, more maturities will be available through a broader set of genetic backgrounds.

Corteva Ramps Up Biologicals Presence – Corteva has closed on its acquisitions of Symborg and Stoller. Symborg is a Spain-based microbiological company. Stoller is a U.S.-based firm that is one of the largest companies in the biologicals industry. These deals were first announced in late 2022.

Hybrid Wheat Remains in the Plan for Bayer – There have been some recent changes in the landscape for hybrid wheat production in the United States. WestBred Cereals Account Management Lead Jeff Koscelny stresses Bayer is moving forward. “We know it’s going to be a very long commitment, a very laborious process to make sure that we deliver the products that can take it to that next level.” Koscelny says a lot of dynamics are at play, but Bayer’s move to hybrid wheat is being planned. “We’re looking at the latter part of this decade to deliver our first products to market and we’re taking a slow, methodical approach, comparing it to our elite genetics to make sure we bring that advantage to the farmer.”

NCI Hosting Everything Ethanol Webinar – The Northern Crops Institute is hosting another Everything Ethanol webinar Wednesday at 10 AM. Robert McCormick, senior research fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will be presenting on a global ethanol blended fuel compatibility study. This interactive webinar series focuses on advancing global ethanol market development. Topics throughout the series include ethanol marketing factors, policies around the world, human health and ethanol. Register online.

AFBF Signs Right to Repair with Case IH & New Holland – The American Farm Bureau Federation and CNH Industrial brands, Case IH and New Holland, have signed a memorandum of understanding that provides farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows a similar agreement between AFBF and John Deere that happened earlier this year.

Job Opportunities in Agriulture – Check out the Job Opportunities in Agriculture tab on the Red River Farm Network website.  The North Dakota Soybean Council is seeking a finance and compliance administrator. True North Equipment has an job available for a corporate service manager. AURI, R.D. Offutt Farms and Dakota Ingredients also have listings.

SD Corn Comments – In this week’s edition of South Dakota Corn Comments, South Dakota Corn Board Member Kelsey Geraets talks about National Women’s History Month.

Hays Succeeds Wolters – Missouri farmer Scott Hays is the new president of the National Pork Producers Council. Hays succeeds Terry Wolters of Pipestone, Minnesota. Lori Stevermer of Easton, Minnesota is the new NPPC president-elect. Todd Morotz of Minnesota was also elected to the board of directors.

Hall of Fame Honors for Hog Slat Founder – Hog Slat owner and founder Billy Herring was inducted into the National Pork Industry Hall of Fame. Hog Slat is the largest contractor and manufacturer of swine equipment in the United States. Outgoing National Pork Producers Council President Terry Wolters said Herring “has made countless contributions to the U.S. pork industry and has led with values that he has instilled in the next generation of pork producers.”

MN Farm Recognized by The Fertilizer Institute – The Fertilizer Institute honored Johnstad Farms of Beltrami, Minnesota as a 4R Advocate of the Year. The award highlights the right source, rate, time, and placement of fertilizer. Andrew Johnstad says the farm switched to strip tillage three years ago. “We were sick of the wind blowing and losing beets to blowing dirt,” said Andrew. “We thought there’s got to be a better way and we moved our farm to 100 percent strip-till on our sugar beet acres and we’ve had great success with it.” The farm uses nominated by Environmental Tillage Systems for the award. TDS Fertilizer of Fertile was also recognized. David Johnstad was proud to receive this award at Commodity Classic. “I’m proud of the boys; it’s their idea. We’re trying to build a culture on our farm and everybody’s included.” Listen to the full interview.

Martin Moves to USDA – USDA has appointed Prescott Martin III as the senior counsel in the Office of the General Counsel. Martin previously worked as chief counsel for the House Agriculture Committee under former Chairman Collin Peterson.

Shores Moves to Limagrain Cereal Seeds – Limagrain Cereal Seeds has hired Nick Shores as the regional commercial manager for the Northern Plains. Shores’ previous experience includes time with North Dakota State University, Syngenta and American Crystal Sugar Company.

Behnke Returns to World Dairy Expo – Lisa Behnke is the new communications manager for World Dairy Expo. This is a familiar role for Behnke who had the same job 12 years ago. Most recently, Behnke was the marketing director for Indiana-based Egg Innovations. Behnke also has experience with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, The Cattle Connection and Ag Source Cooperative Services.

Murphy Added to J.L. Farmakis Team – J.L. Farmakis has added Brenda Murphy as a regional director of sales and marketing. Murphy previously worked for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Agri-View/Lee Agri-Media.