FY2024 Spending Package Signed – In a race against time, President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion spending package Saturday morning, avoiding a government shutdown. The Senate missed its midnight deadline, but completed its work early Saturday morning with a vote of 74-to-24. The bill passed out of the House Friday with most Democrats supporting the legislation and more than half of the Republicans opposed it. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson, but has not asked for an immediate vote. Under the current rules, a single member can file a motion to vacate the speakership. That’s how former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed from office last fall.

Stabenow Pushes Back – After months of work on the farm bill, Democrats and Republicans remain stuck on key provisions of the bill. House Republicans are seeking cuts to nutrition and conservation spending. However, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow continues to say that is a non-starter. “I will not have my legacy cutting food assistance for Americans,” Stabenow emphasized. “If that’s the way you have to get a farm bill or by taking conservation money away from farmers then we’ll continue 2018 (farm bill) for another year or whatever.” Stabenow made her comments during the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. Stabenow’s legacy takes on greater significance since she is not running for reelection.

Vilsack Faces Ag Appropriations Subcommittee – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack faced the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday, highlighting President Biden’s 2025 budget request. Topics addressed included using Commodity Credit Corporation funds, workforce issues, and government nutrition programs.  Vilsack also said there are two ways for Congress to help farmers. “Pass immigration reform and secondly, work with us to continue to create new revenue streams; new ways in which agricultural waste can be converted to something more valuable; ways in which renewable energy can be generated on the farm and used to lower costs for everybody in the neighborhood; work with us to rebuild a resilient local and regional food system that creates multiple revenue sources that don’t exist or don’t exist enough of today.”

Emission Standards Tighten – The White House is out with new rules for tailpipe emissions for most cars and pickup trucks purchased between 2027 and 2032. To meet these standards, 30-to-40 percent of all light vehicles sold in 2030 will need to be electric. National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle said this rule ignores the role of biofuels and will hurt farmers and rural communities. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said ethanol is a proven, American-made solution, but the EPA may be “leaving biofuels on the sidelines.”

EPA Decision Questioned – With the EPA’s new standards for vehicle emissions, the agency expects electric vehicle sales to account for over 50 percent of total vehicle sales by 2032. Ag groups voiced concern over the impact on the infrastructure and Rural America. Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Dana Allen-Tully said a more immediate solution is already in place with ethanol. “If ethanol is good for sustainable aviation fuel then why isn’t ethanol good for the combustion engine?”

Certainty Sought for Sustainable Aviation Fuel – The Biden Administration did not meet its March 1 deadline to release an updated GREET model to calculate tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel. A coalition of farm and biofuel groups sent a letter to the administration, voicing its disappointment and urging the quick adoption of a modified GREET model. The letter was signed by the National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association and others. State corn grower and biofuel groups from North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota also signed this letter.

ASA President Highlights the Importance of Trade to China – American Soybean Association President Josh Gackle testified in the House Agriculture Committee hearing on China. As the United States considers action to protect its national security interests, Gackle said it is also important to protect its economic and trade interests. The Kulm, North Dakota farmer believes any effort to modify or repeal China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations status should be rejected. “ASA is very concerned that revoking PNTR for China would have severe consequences. In 2018, US Soybean exports to China were among the first agricultural commodities targeted for retaliatory tariffs and it is entirely possible that U.S. Soybeans would be impacted yet again.” Gackle also spoke in favor of a farm bill that meets the needs of American agriculture and the need for new trade agreements.

Noem Opposes Chinese Farmland Ownership – During a House Ag Committee hearing on the dangers to American agriculture by the Chinese, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem expressed concern over the risks to national security. “When we talk about food policy, please talk about it from a national security standpoint.” Noem pointed to recent attempts by the Chinese government to purchase land near key U.S. military installations as an example of the security risk. “China would never allow us to go to their country and buy land. They don’t even allow their own people to buy their land.”

Thune Upset With White House Trade Policies – South Dakota Senator John Thune went to the Senate floor Thursday to criticize the Biden Administration’s agricultural trade agenda. “Last year, the United States posted a $16.6 billion agricultural trade deficit and that trade deficit, believe it or not, is projected to be nearly twice as large this year in an area of our economy where typically we have run historically trade surpluses,” emphasized Thune. “This would be bad enough on its own but it’s particularly distressing at a time of economic uncertainty for a lot of farmers and ranchers.” Thune said the Biden Administration isn’t negotiating any new free trade agreements and putting the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage.

Agricult-HER: Erika Kenner – Leeds, North Dakota rancher Erica Kenner shares her story in the next edition of Agricult-HER. Kenner worked for the American Simmental Association for four years before returning to the ranch and an expansion of the cow herd. What’s her advice to women in agriculture? “Don’t ever say no to opportunities that are there for you. Take advantage of them. Surround yourself with great people and you can do anything.” By the way, Kenner said that’s her advice for men too. Watch the interview. https://youtu.be/IhIqYNXpCLE

Agricult-HER: Vanessa Kummer – RRFN’s Agricult-HER series continues with Vanessa Kummer of Colfax, North Dakota. Kummer was the first woman to chair the United Soybean Board. “I’m also proud to say I was the first one from North Dakota to chair the board so that was also exciting.” Before taking a leadership role with USB, Kummer served as president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association. Watch the interview with Vanessa Kummer online.

Agricult-HER: Sherry Koch – The Agricult-HER series continues with Sherry Koch, senior technical sales manager, Mosaic. Koch said the opportunities in agriculture are endless. “I think agriculture will look completely different in the next 20 years and that’s exciting, right? As we move forward, the ag industry is going to continue to grow in the sense of all the different options the farmers will have and they’ll need folks to help navigate through that.” Watch the entire interview online. 

Agricult-HER: An Interview with Betsy Jensen – Betsy Jensen and her husband, Brian, farm near the Canadian border at Stephen, Minnesota. “If you had told 16-year-old Betsy this was her life, she would have laughed at you pretty hard. That’s probably what makes it the most hilarious this was not the plan at all and it just turned out to be an amazing lifestyle.” Jensen has been a farm business management instructor for 24 years and when she started she was the only woman in the room. Today, more than half of the FBM faculty are female. In the RRFN interview, Jensen said she would like to see more women involved in the farm financial situation. Watch the interview. 

Agricult-HER: Marsha Van Laere – Marsha Van Laere is the Northern Plains sales representative for Gowan. When Marsha started in ag retail, there weren’t many women in those roles. “There were many times I was one of just a handful of females at the meetings, there’s many times I was just the only female at the meetings,” said Van Laere. “The interesting thing is being one of the few females, you tend to learn everybody in the industry quickly.” Van Laere is now pleased to see more women represented in the ag field. Watch the interview. 

Agricult-HER: Val Aarsvold – Val Aarsvold was a state FFA officer. She was an FFA advisor and for the past 23 years has led the Minnesota FFA Foundation. “I have dedicated my personal and professional life to FFA and ag education because I think it’s important and in Minnesota, especially, I think we’re going to see tremendous growth because there’s so much passion for students to achieve. We’re graduating kids at about a ten percent higher rate than if they were not involved in our program. That’s something to celebrate. It’s a good time to be involved.” Hear Aarsvold’s story from her start on a farm at Altura, Minnesota to raising a family at Plainview, Minnesota. Watch the entire video.

Agricult-HER: Sarah Lovas – Sarah Lovas grew up on a sugarbeet, wheat and potato farm at Hoople, North Dakota, working in the wash plant. She started school at NDSU as a music education major. After volunteering in an elementary classroom, Sarah switched to an ag systems major and a plant science minor. An internship at Reynolds United Co-op launched a career in agronomy. Today, Sarah works for GK Technology and chairs the State Board of Agriculture Research and Education. Advocacy is important. “Love it or hate it, no amount of science is going to change a belief system,” said Sarah. “It’s important to approach those conversations from a very approachable standpoint and try to understand where they are coming from. Once you open yourself up to understanding that person, they’ll probably be a little more open to understanding where you come from. Don’t stand on a soap box and ram home your ideas, just tell your story.” Watch the interview.

SD Corn Comments – South Dakota Corn celebrated National Ag Day by highlighting the diversity of agriculture. South Dakota Corn Growers Association Vice President Taylor Sumption joins South Dakota Corn Comments to talk about his operation and how agriculture contributes to the global economy and national security.

Geopolitical Chaos Impacting Energy Costs – Russia launched a massive bombing on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over the weekend, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. That followed Ukraine’s attack on Russian oil refineries earlier this month. Meanwhile, the United Nations National Security Council will meet today to seek an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. These political tensions around the world have pushed crude oil prices higher to start the week.

Interest Rates Holds Steady – The Federal Reserve left its federal funds interest rate unchanged at 5.25-to-5.5 percent. Fed officials also said two or three interest rate cuts will likely happen this year.

Monitor Interest Rates – Crop production expenses have more than doubled over the past 30 years, even outpacing inflation’s rate of 2.3 percent. NDSU Assistant Professor Bryon Parman says that this rate of increase is fairly consistent and aligns with production numbers over that time. Parman points to rising interest rates as an area to monitor. “We haven’t had that happen in a long time with higher interest rates so it will be something to watch if these interest rates stay high enough for long enough if there’s going to be a shuffling of these production costs.”

Farmland Markets Leveling Out – Rising interest rates and sideways commodity markets have some thinking that farmland markets are beginning to plateau. “Even with all of the headwinds we have, we’re still seeing some pretty strong land values,” said Farmers National Company Vice President of Real Estate Operations Paul Shadegg. “With all of that said we’re definitely not seeing the increases that we’ve seen over the past couple of years.” Shadegg expects competition over prime farmland to continue. “Overall, I think we’re cresting that plateau and my anticipation is we’re not going to see things drop dramatically. I think we’re going to reset that new normal.”

Farm Bank Lending Increased in ’23 – Agricultural loan demand increased in 2023 and ag lending by U.S. farm banks grew nearly seven percent reaching $110 billion. According to the American Bankers Association Annual Farm Bank Performance Report, over 98 percent of farm banks were profitable last year with 53.5 percent reporting an increase in earnings. Credit quality also remains strong. In the Cornbelt Region, which includes Minnesota, ag production loans increased nearly nine percent from 2022 and farmland loans increased nearly six percent. The Plains Region, including the Dakotas, saw ag production loan volume rise 14.5 percent and farmland loans increase more than five percent.

Beet Shares – Based on thin supply, American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock set a new high last week. According to Acres & Shares broker Jayson Menke, there were three sales brokered at $6,000 per share (two blocks of five and one for 12 shares) and 81 shares at $5,975 per share. “In the last month or so, there has been a very limited number of shares on the market and the price has trended up,” Menke said. “It’s also important to note that less than one percent of the outstanding shares have been brokered season to date.”

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 points to Wall Street with the Dow and S&P 500 reaching new highs at the end of last week. “The crude because of the concerns happening in the Red Sea region has the potential to bounce to the top side,” said Martinson. Soybeans have a bearish trend with two major crop reports and a short market week.

Most of the Drought Pressure Expected in the South – La Nina is on the way as El Nino conditions fade in the equatorial Pacific. Nutrien Ag Solutions meteorologist Eric Snodgrass expects the impact of La Nina to slowly work its way north. “I think it’s going to happen at a relatively quick pace but the impact could be not felt probably until late summer so there’s pretty good indication of decent spring moisture returning to the area. The weather forecast models suggest that drought starts in Mexico, creeps into Texas and the four corner states, and then late in the summer spreads up into the Northern Plains.” Snodgrass says ridge-riding storms should keep ample moisture in the Northern Plains through the summer.

Winter Wasn’t as Dry as Many Thought – El Nino is fading as expected. Whether it completes a transition into La Nina won’t be known for certain until September. “Technically, whatever is happening in the Pacific Ocean is based off of three-month averages so what’s happening on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis doesn’t necessarily get things changing, but things are changing,” said NDAWN Director Daryl Ritchison. Concerns about an open winter may be overstated. “We actually had the second wettest winter on record in the southern Red River Valley.”

When El Nino Fades – The Climate Prediction Center summer forecast favors a tendency for a warmer-than-normal summer for much of the crop production area. Farmers Business Network Regional Agronomist Mitchel Roth warns that warm, dry conditions don’t always mean crops will be disease or pest-free. “It really depends on the diseases that are in your area.” Roth said preparing for shifting weather patterns won’t help if farmers don’t consider their field conditions. “Nobody knows your fields quite like you do. You know your disease pressure, you know your low spots. It’s going to depend on timing and your budget.”

Farming for the Future – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Red River Farm Network and the Linder Farm Network to provide information on soil health events and topics. This week, Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Brad Jordahl Redlin joins Farming for the Future to discuss a new program available to farmers in the state. ‘Money for Metal’ provides grant funding for specialized soil health equipment.

Brazil Capturing More Market Share – The U.S. and Brazil are the two biggest exporters of soybeans in the world. For many years, both countries exported a comparable amount of beans to China. That gap has now widened in Brazil’s favor. According to NDSU Crop Economist Frayne Olson, the issue extends beyond policy or trade relations. “Brazil has had really good weather and with that increase in acreage, their yields have been relatively good. The supply of soybean volume coming out of Brazil is increasing and so the Brazilian farmer is more dependent upon the global market to get rid of a very large crop.” Chinese soybean demand has plateaued, which amplifies the loss of exports. Olson said it is too early to determine how this trade competition will play out, but Brazil has the advantage right now.

Canola Minute – Here’s the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association. This week, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman provided the latest canola oil production numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Canola seed imports from Canada are expected to be lower in 2024.

Protect Cattle From Snow, Cold – With this last blast of winter, NDSU Extension Livestock and Beef Quality Specialist Lisa Peterson reminds producers to take special precautions. “Remember that bedding is so important and it can really decrease that cold weather and those cold weather effects especially on calves,” said Peterson. It also takes more feed when animals are cold than when they are lactating.”

Muddying Things Up – Extreme mud conditions can come with the spring melt. NDSU Extension Livestock Systems Specialist Karl Hoppe advises farmers to take a proactive approach where they can. “If you can afford it having concrete would work wonderfully for a cowherd, but that’s usually too expensive,” said Hoppe. “Another option is to move cattle to a new location, a different pen. Turn them out to a pasture, especially a sod pasture.” Ultimately, Hoppe encourages farmers and ranchers to work around the mud until sunshine and wind can dry things out. “So that means we need to scrape our lots, create mounds on the lots, having ways for the water to drain away.”

Placement Number is a Surprise – In Friday’s USDA report, cattle placements were up a surprising ten percent. USDA livestock economist Mike McConnell said there is some logic to these numbers. “In January, we actually had a relatively low placement number,” said McConnell. “That was due to the winter storms that we had across the Midwest that came in early January which delayed some of those placements. Some of the increase that we saw in placements during February was the fact that we were making up for some of the weather incidents that occurred in early January.” The total cattle inventory was up one percent from a year ago. Marketings rose three percent. In this region, the cattle inventory on March 1 was 11 percent higher in Minnesota and up 14 percent in South Dakota. Placements were unchanged in Minnesota, but up 14 percent in South Dakota.

MN Beef Update – This week, Minnesota Beef Director of Industry Relations Jon Dilworth recaps the Minnesota Meat Processors Convention for the Minnesota Beef Update. A Crookston, Minnesota meat processor, was awarded the Minnesota Beef Retail Backer Award. B&E Meats was recognized for its role in promoting the beef industry and innovative products.

A Long Road Ahead for Ranchers Impacted by TX Wildfires – The Texas wildfires that burned over a million acres and killed over 7,000 cattle are finally contained, but the impact on producers will persist. “That’s where our focus needs to be,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “When fires like this are contained they tend to leave the news and the front of everybody’s mind; this is when it’s most important for folks to lean into disaster relief programs.” For more information on how to help go to https://texasfarmbureau.org/

Senate Rejects Paraguay Beef Decision – To block USDA’s decision to lift the ban on fresh beef imports from Paraguay, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a resolution of disapproval. The lawmakers are concerned about the threat of foot and mouth disease. The resolution was introduced by South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds and Montana Senator Jon Tester and has the support of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, R-CALF USA, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Union and the American Farm Bureau Federation

HSUS Will Mobilize to Protect Prop 12 – The Humane Society of the United States is challenging the comments made by House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson this past week. Thompson said he is determined to “fix” California’s Proposition 12 through the farm bill. The activist group said this is one of the biggest fights in its history and it will mobilize its supporters to defeat any attempts to change this policy. Proposition 12 demands specific housing requirements for pregnant sows, egg-laying hens and veal calves.

A Possible Labeling Change for Animal Health Products – The Food and Drug Administration is proposing new regulations to provide more predictable labeling for the medications used for animals. This also includes the medication used in feed products.

Requirements for ND Cattle/Bison Imports Updated – The North Dakota Board of Animal Health has officially recognized states that are recognized as free of bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Dough Goehring said this status will allow North Dakota beef cattle and bison producers to have reciprocity with other free-status states. Michigan remains the only state not recognized to be free of tuberculosis due to infections in some deer populations in the northern part of the state.

The Power of Meat – Americans remain big meat eaters. The new Power of Meat report from the Meat Institute and the Food Industry Association found 80 percent of Americans describe themselves as meat eaters and 98 percent of U.S. households purchase meat. That is steady with last year. The Boomer generation buys meat 53 times per year, the most of any age group. Gen X accounts for the greatest proportion of sales at 32 percent and Millennials spend the most money per meat purchase.

Minnesota Goat Tests Positive for HPAI – A goat in Stevens County, Minnesota tested positive for avian flu. According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, this is the first case of avian flu infecting a domestic ruminant. “We don’t suspect that this is a harbinger of worse things to come,” said State Veterinarian Brian Hoefs. “We typically consider mammals to be a dead-end host for this virus.” Hoefs stressed the importance of biosecurity, such as separating flocks and livestock. No new transmissions have been reported since the farm was cleaned and disinfected.

FSIS Reviews NDSU Meat Lab Protocols – USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is investigating the NDSU Meat Lab for an alleged violation of humane handling practices. This case involves an incident that happened at the end of February when an animal wasn’t stunned adequately before slaughter. The NDSU Meat Lab has taken corrective action and implemented preventative measures. USDA is reviewing that effort.

Milk Output Increases – Milk production in the 24 major dairy states totaled 17.4 billion pounds in February. That’s up 2..4 percent from one year ago. In Minnesota, milk cow numbers dropped 7,000 head in the past year but milk production rose 1.5 percent. South Dakota had the biggest increase in milk production, up 14.8 percent. That was helped by the addition of 19,000 cows to the state’s dairy herd.

Heifer Shortage Tightens Dairy Market – Daily Dairy Report Market Economist Sarina Sharp delivered a market outlook at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls. “The dairy heifer shortage is going to have a big impact on dairy producers’ revenue, raising livestock values and limiting the pace of growth in the industry,” said Sharp. “We are tightening milk production and dairy product supplies. but unfortunately, demand is mediocre. We need better exports if we want to see higher milk prices.”

Climate Smart Program Pays Eco-Friendly Farmers – USDA is rewarding farmers for adopting climate-smart agricultural practices. At the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, Minnesota Milk CEO Lucas Sjostrom said Midwest dairy farms are eligible for these funds. “We have $50 million available for farmers in the Upper Midwest.” Details for eligibility are still being negotiated. Those interested in participating in the climate-smart programs can find more information at https://www.voiceofmilk.com/page/climate-smart.

Alfalfa Variety Selection Should Not be Ignored – Insects and diseases continue to evolve. According to Land O’Lakes Alfalfa & Forage Specialist Jeff Jackson, seed treatments and new chemistries can help, but variety selection also has a role. “If you’re not paying attention to variety selection and finding the varieties that will work best in your soil type, it can be a pitfall to getting a stand established.”

A Disparity Between State and National Honey Production Data – North Dakota honey production saw a 23 percent increase between 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, a USDA report had the number of honey-producing colonies down 2 percent in that time. “I think there is a big difference between what these USDA reports are showing for colonies in the state versus what our licensing and registration is saying we have for colonies in the state,” said Samantha Brunner, State Bee Inspector, “I think it’s just a difference of who reported.” Individual bee colony losses are still happening but thanks to efforts by beekeepers, Brunner said the numbers of bee colonies are increasing.

Check the Bins – Above-average winter temperatures can mean a greater likelihood of grain damage. “When we have all of this temperature variation that means some parts of the bin will indeed go up and down in temperature, and you may have to turn the fans on in the bins and pay more attention than you would normally,” said Charles Hurburgh, grain management specialist, Iowa State University. By the time you smell it, it’s too late. To prevent this farmers will want to keep the corn cold. “Cold is your friend.”

Too Cold for Corn? Plant Soybeans First – Studies have shown that planting soybeans early can be beneficial. Agrigold agronomist Ron Roling says planting soybeans up to a week before corn can help maximize yields. “When growers are thinking that the temperatures are slightly too cold for corn, I would go ahead and plant soybeans.” Seed treatments are a must. In addition, . “make sure you’re planting your fuller season varieties first to maximize the growing season.”

Managing Continuous Corn – The decision to grow continuous corn can help a farmer’s bottom line, but is not without risk. Pioneer field agronomist Eric Rice stresses variety selection can reduce the risk. “There’s a multitude of stresses, including nutrient availability, disease, insects, moisture needs.” Growing corn on corn requires proper management. “Knowing your soils is a big deal and managing it all is the key. You can lose as little as zero percent year over year on yield, and in some extreme cases you can lose 30 or more percent.”

Back-to-Basics – Tank mixes can be complicated, but the use of adjuvants doesn’t have to be. “Make sure you’ve got your water quality in line so your herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide are the most active and available,” said Austin Anderson, brand manager, Helena Agri-Enterprises. “Think about drift control, absorption and penetration and things like deposition, being able to get that product to stay on that leaf so the plant can absorb it. It’s a back-to-basics approach.”

Dry Bean Scene – Seed decisions are important when considering disease mitigation for the coming season. NDSU Plant Pathologist Sam Markell joins The Dry Bean Scene this week to talk about making seed decisions ahead of planting. Looking at past data and disease pressure can help producers make the right choices.

New Technology for Timely Fungicide Applications – During Wednesday’s NDSU Soybean Symposium, NDSU Extension Soybean Pathologist Wade Webster will share a new tool to help farmers narrow down their fungicide application window. “Decision Support Tools are developed from predictive models using historical disease data and combined with weather data, we create these statistical models that can be used either online or on smartphones that help guide management strategies.” Webster said the potential savings from this tool could be upwards of $30 per acre.

Soil Fertility Minute – On this week’s Soil Fertility Minute, sponsored by the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council, University of Minnesota Extension Soil Scientist Dan Kaiser says producers may have some extra time this spring to pull soil samples before applying fertilizers. Urea applications need to be timed correctly. Even if there is a chance to get in the field, producers may want to hold off on that form of nitrogen application.

Budget Framework Agreement in Place – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and House Speaker Melissa Hortman have announced a budget framework agreement. The budget is for $447 million for 2024-2025. That includes $4.5 million allocated for agriculture.

Walz Unveils Supplemental Budget Proposal – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is out with his supplemental budget proposal. The $226 million budget includes $16 million to support ambulance service in rural Minnesota, which has faced severe funding and staffing shortfalls. For agriculture, the Walz budget recommendation includes $4 million for the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation or AGRI grants and $3 million for nitrate treatment.

MFBF Minute – Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation members from across the state visited the Minnesota State Capitol on National Agriculture Day. MFBF Vice President Carolyn Olson joined the MFBF Minute to discuss all the activities members and supporters participated in throughout the day.

Session at Half-Way Point – House Agriculture Committee Chair Samantha Vang says a major focus for the committee is the nitrate contamination in southeastern Minnesota. “My intent for this year is really to listen to what ideas we have out there, I think it’s going to be a mixed approach and a balanced approach.” Governor Tim Walz’s supplemental budget proposal includes the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation or AGRI grants. AGRI grants are used for agricultural development programs, including biofuel infrastructure and livestock development. “Last year, we had one of the largest budget targets that the ag committee has ever received however, when AGRI was created they had a sunset date that was approaching and that created a hole that we had to fill,” said Vang. “This year the focus will be on making sure that AGRI continues to be whole so we don’t have to worry about the sunset.”

Ag Comittee Considers Additional AGRI Funds – The Minnesota Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a bill to increase funding for the state’s Agricultural, Growth, and Innovation program. AGRI supports numerous programs, including biofuels infrastructure, crop research, meat processing and county fair grants. Without this funding bump, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel said key programs will be affected. “As of right now, there’s some programs that the funding does go down,” Vaubel told the committee. “We’re talking about meat processing going down about $1 million, our bio-incentive payment program going down about $2.75 million, our biofuels infrastructure grant program also drops, and then the amount that we have for non-specified or non-earmarked funding also drops.: Vaubel said the non-earmarked funding allows MDA to be nimble and address emerging issues. The bill was laid over for inclusion in an omnibus bill.

MN Corn Matters – Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Dana Allen-Tully says E15 sales in December of 2023 broke the previous record. In this week’s Minnesota Corn Matters, Allen-Tully discusses what is driving the increase in demand and sales.

Ag Committee Briefed on Soil Health Bill – Northfield Representative Kristi Pursell is sponsoring this bill that promotes regenerative agriculture practices, such as cover crops and no-till farming. “This is focusing for the first time as a pilot project in the southeast Karst Region of state; the idea is to figure out where the challenges lie before then rolling it out statewide,” Pursell told the House Agriculture Committee. “We’ve talked a lot about nitrogen in this committee (and) we’ve talked a lot about fertilizer, o this is continuing that conversation.” The bill will move to the environment committee before it returns to the House Ag committee.

Additional Scrutiny for Large Dairy Farms – A bill that triggers a full environmental impact statement for farms with more than 10,000 animal units was reviewed in the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Wednesday. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish testified in favor of this bill. “Our members do have questions about what a natural disaster, emerging animal disease, a human disease that affects workers, or other disruptions would mean for such a large operation,” said Wertish. “And I think more about the social and economic effects that are more fully addressed with an EIS.” Daryn McBeth represented the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, speaking against this bill. McBeth described the current environmental regulations as robust and a mandatory EIS would just add cost and time to any project. “To say to a dairy enterprise from another state or western Minnesota that has seen its share of dairy expansion in the last 20 years that you’re not welcome in Minnesota would be sending the wrong message at a time when our farmer-owned dairy processing plants are already struggling.” The bill was held over for possible inclusion in an omnibus later in the session.

MFU Minute – Friday was the deadline for new legislation in Minnesota to have earned hearings in both the House and Senate to be considered for passage this session. Minnesota Farmers Union Director of Public Policy Stu Lourey says around 8,000 bills have been introduced and it is a race to get things over the finish line in this week’s MFU Minute.

Biotech Approvals – Following its review process, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined six biotech crops can be safely grown and bred in the U.S. The list includes a Bayer CropScience canola variety bred for herbicide resistance; a Nuseed canola variety for improved product quality and herbicide resistance and a Michigan State University potato modified for resistance to potato late blight.

Fire-Fighting SoyFoam – The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council was on the scene for a demonstration of a new firefighting foam made from soybeans. PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ have been used in firefighting foam for decades. The SoyFoam product does not contain harmful chemicals, including PFAS and fluorides. “It’s a positive for soybean farmers because it builds a market; it’s a positive for our rural fire departments due to health and safety, a win-win all around,” said Mike Youngerberg, senior director of product development and commercialization, MSRPC. “The State of Minnesota banned that firefighting foam so any department in the state that had the previous foam can’t use it.” Soybean farmers, firefighters, and industry leaders from throughout the country participated in the SoyFoam product demonstration in Dalton, Georgia.

A Long Term Investment – For the 25th year, the Red River Watershed Management Board and Flood Damage Reduction Work Group hosted a joint conference. RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip provided a legislative update. “We are requesting $57 million in bonding dollars for flood mitigation,” said Sip. “If we get the dollars to get some of these projects done, we could get about 100,000 acres of new water storage of the ground.” With no or minimal flooding anticipated this spring, the importance of flood mitigation projects can be forgotten. “With flood infrastructure, these projects can take 20 years from beginning to end.”

A Farmer’s Perspective on Flood Mitigation – Roseau, Minnesota farmer Jason Braaten serves as treasurer of the Red River Watershed Management Board. As a farmer, Braaten said these flood mitigation efforts mean a lot. “It really makes it a lot easier for us to farm, it gives us some protection.” Braaten, who manages the Roseau River Watershed District, said a new project will add 22,000 acre-feet of gated storage. “We’re going to control this water better and farmers are going to get in the field probably seven to ten days earlier. Nobody wants to collect insurance year-in and year-out; that’s why these projects are great.” RRFN broadcast from the RRWMB conference in Moorhead.

Farm Transition Meeting Draws Crowd – The county Farm Bureau organizations in Wells County, Eddy County and Foster County hosted a farm succession meeting in Fessenden, North Dakota Friday. Wells County Farm Bureau Director Jeff Schafer spoke with other farmers and ranchers in preparation for the event. “I asked what percentage of them have done anything (on farm transitions) and the scary thing is it’s less than 20 percent,” Schafer told RRFN. “Myself included, I’m not pointing fingers at anybody, but it’s a difficult subject and it’s hard to tackle.” With the average age of a North Dakota farmer being 57, Schafer it’s time to have this discussion before its too late.

TransFARMation: A Passion for Farm and Ranch Safety – NDSU Farm and Ranch Safety Coordinator Angie Johnson grew up passionate about the agriculture industry. “I’ve always had a drive for agriculture and to help people,” said Johnson. Some close calls and tragedies drove the passion for her career. Her dad has recovered from an injury from an accident he had while installing duels on a tractor. “We have an opportunity to provide prevention-based education where we can truly do as much as we can on education, awareness, and training programs to help people make the best decisions to prevent an injury or a fatal situation.” Johnson says this includes helping people find mental health resources as well. Helping just one person avoid injury or overcome a challenging time is Johnson’s objective. TransFARMation is made possible through a grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and its Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. Find resources on the North Dakota Department of Ag website and listen to this episode at rrfn.com/transformation.

Anheuser-Busch Beer to Carry the ‘U.S. Farmed’ Seal – American Farmland Trust and Anheuser-Busch have introduced the U.S. Farmed packaging seal for farm products and value-added products that derive at least 95 percent of ingredients from U.S. farms. “At Anheuser-Busch, we’re very excited to be the first company to ever certify its products as U.S. Farmed,” said John Rogers, chief procurement officer, Anheuser Busch. “Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light, and Michelob Ultra have all been U.S. Farm-certified.” Busch Light will have the new label starting in May. ” It’s because Anheuser-Busch beer is American-grown, made, and enjoyed, we’re proudly supported U.S. farmers for over 165 years and we see the U.S. farm certification as taking that commitment to American agriculture to the next level.”

Antitrust Allegations Levied Against Sugar Producers – A coalition of bakeries and a restaurant group filed a class-action lawsuit against sugar producers including United Sugar Producers and Refiners Cooperative. American Crystal Sugar Company and Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative are among the members of United Sugar. The federal lawsuit was filed in Minnesota and alleges price-fixing and a violation of antitrust laws. In a statement, United Sugar said this case has no merit.

Enversa Herbicide Coming in ’25 – Corteva Agriscience expects to have its new Enversa herbicide on the market for the 2025 growing season. Enversa herbicide is expected to be used in a variety of crops including soybeans, corn and sugarbeets. This is a residual Group 15 herbicide that will be very versatile.

Syngenta-CropX Collaboration – Syngenta Seeds is working with CropX Technologies to enhance the sustainability of its seed supply chain. CropX is an Israeli company that focuses on digital farm management.

Certis Biologicals Expands Fungicide Lineup – Certis Biologicals has acquired multiple assets from AgBiome, including Howler and Theia fungicides. Certis Biologicals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui and Company and has a portfolio of more than 40 products to control pests, crop disease and weeds.

Row Crop Biologicals Study on the Way – Syngenta, Pivot Bio and Meristem have signed on to sponsor a comprehensive market research project on ag biologicals. The Midwest-based Stratovation Group is doing the study on the rapidly changing biological sector.

A Boost to the Planting Program – Helena Agri-Enterprises has introduced Quickshot, a dual-purpose planter box treatment. In addition to a fluency agent, Quickshot includes a blend of macro and micronutrients to get nutrition to the seed faster and boost emergence and the stand. Quickshot is available this season at select locations only.

Income Up for Titan Machiney – For the full fiscal year, Titan Machinery had a net income of $112.4 million. That’s up from nearly $102 million one year ago. Fourth quarter revenues in the agriculture sector were up more than 40 percent. Titan Machinery is based in West Fargo.

Deere, Kinze, Ag Leader Collaboration Announced – A deal is in place making it easier for farmers to integrate equipment and technology offerings from John Deere, Kinze Manufacturing and Ag Leader Technology. With the agreement, farmers with Kinze and Ag Leader planting and display products can include their agronomic information into the John Deere Operations Center. The companies have also agreed to resolve all outstanding litigation with Deere licensing its planting technology to Kinze and Ag Leader.

Correction – In the March 18 edition of FarmNetNews, RRFN reported JBS and Tyson settled a lawsuit over employee wages. The story incorrectly stated Triumph Foods was part of a previous settlement. Triumph Foods did not settle. The company was dismissed from the lawsuit.

WDE Recognition Announced – World Dairy Expo has announced its 2024 award winners. Jim Barmore, Marty Faldet and King Hickman of GPS Dairy Consulting in Lakewood, Minnesota are being recognized as the Industry People of the Year. Former Semex CEO Paul Larmer of Guelph, Ontario is being honored as the International Person of the Year. Larson Acres, which milk 2,800 cows at Evansville, Wisconsin, is home to the Dairy Producers of the Year. The award ceremony will be October 2.

Beef Backer Award Goes to Crookston Meat Market – The Minnesota Beef Council has awarded a Crookston meat market with its annual Minnesota Retail Beef Backer Award. B&E Meats offers a wide variety of fresh and smoked meats. During the Christmas season, B&E Meats shared a prime rib cooking instruction video online and it received more than a million views.

FMC Executive Leadership Change – FMC USA President Darren Dillenbeck was elected vice president of FMC North America. Under Dillenbeck’s leadership, FMC has introduced new products in the U.S. and Canada. Dillenbeck led FMC’s Canadian business before being named president of FMC USA in 2022.

Danielson Castillo to Take Over NAEGA Reins – North American Export Grain Association President and CEO Gary Martin is retiring at the end of the month. Martin has been in that role for 24 years. U.S. Grains Council Manager of Global Trade Alejandra Danielson Castillo will succeed Martin. Previously, Danielson Castilllo was with Cargill.

Sorenson to Lead MAWG/MWRPC – Brian Sorenson has been selected as the new executive director for the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council and Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers. “I’ve been connected with farming, especially wheat farming, my whole life and it’s a passion I’ve always had,” said Sorenson. “It’s a great opportunity to really help on both sides with the growers as well as the checkout program; I’m excited.” Sorenson is a native of Fisher, Minnesota, and has been a program manager with Northern Crops Institute since 2018. Sorenson’s first day on the job will be April 2.

Oden to Succeed Brandenberger at NTF – Leslee Oden will take over as president and CEO of the National Turkey Federation in July. Oden will succeed Joel Brandenberger, who will retire after 17 years leading the organization. Oden is now the NTF senior vice president of legislative affairs.

From NCGA to Farm Credit Council – Ann Thompson is the new vice president of young and beginning farmer programs for the Farm Credit Council. Most recently, Thompson was the senior director of the political action committee and political strategy for the National Corn Growers Association.

MN Farm Leader Passes – Funeral services were held Friday for former Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Bruce Schmoll. The Claremont, Minnesota farmer also served on the U.S. Meat Export Federation board. Schmoll was 70 years old.