ECAP Program Announced at Commodity Classic – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made her first visit to Commodity Classic, beginning with a message from her boss, saying President Trump hears you and will never stop fighting for the farmers and ranchers. Rollins promised to be agriculture’s second greatest champion, second only to President Trump. Rollins also had a major announcement. “Today, I’m proud to announce the economic assistance program will be called the Emergency Commodity Assistance program, ECAP,” said the USDA leader. “ECAP is the new program to distribute the $30 billion in economic funds Congress passed in December; they gave us 90 days to start distributing the first $10 billion and we are on track to beat that.” Rollins promised a streamlined application process. Priorities promoted in this speech ranged from passage of a new farm bill this year to the repeal of the death tax. Rollins emphasized “the far left agenda” is being ferreted out of USDA through the work of the Department of Government Efficiency. To date, 340 contracts valued at $300 million have been cut. “We even slashed a grant for $200,000 for a Brazilian forest and gender consultant.”

Policy Shifts, Pesticide Debates, Trade War Worries – The pace of change in Washington with the new administration is staggering. American Soybean Growers Association Chairman Josh Gackle cites the downsizing in the government workforce, including the impact on local Farm Service Agency offices. The Make America Healthy Again movement and the influence on pesticide use is a talking point. “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and some of the positions he’s taken on agriculture are things that we have some concern about.” Gackle, who farms at Kulm, North Dakota, says all of these issues are being discussed at Commodity Classic. The impact of a trade war in 2018 also remains top-of-mind. “We heard the news of tariffs and possible retaliation from China at a Commodity Classic event and we remember what happened with the immediate market prices and profitability. We also saw the long-term damage, telling China that the U.S. may not be the most reliable supplier and China invested in Brazil and other countries to source soybeans and protein.”

A Part of the Negotiation Process – There is apprehension about a potential trade war with tariffs scheduled to kick in Tuesday. South Dakota farmer Kevin Scott is a past president of the American Soybean Association and said tariffs are part of the negotiating process. “The negotiating process is something the current president does really well,” said Scott. “Some things that are said seem outrageous right off the bat, but I’ve learned to let it lay a while and think about it and don’t react right away; hopefully, it’ll turn out great for agriculture.”

Biofuels Offer Boost for Farmers, But Policy Needed – For many farmers, biofuels represent a much-needed new domestic market for their crops. “There’s huge opportunity with sustainable aviation fuel. It’s not a fix that’s going to change things tomorrow, but every day we get closer and it is just an awesome opportunity to dramatically grow demand for our soy, to keep that money here domestically,” said American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland. “It’s good not only for the American soybean farmer, but also for America and our economy as a whole. It’s good for rural America, and that’s a wonderful thing, because we need a shot in the arm.” According to Ragland, the big takeaway from their delegate meeting was the need for guidance and policy to direct the production of SAF.

Farm Bill Remains on the Table – Over the weekend, the Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota soybean grower groups caucused together to make sure the region was united for the American Soybean Association policy meetings. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Darin Johnson said the farm bill was again part of the discussion. “It’s a broken record it seems like, but it does feel like there is bipartisan support and get this thing caught up to where it needs to be.” MSGA will be in Washington, D.C. later this month to lobby on the farm bill and other issues. Johnson said the tax bill is also a priority. That includes tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel. “Just in the United States alone, aviation fuel is a 30 billion gallon market and we’re hoping to have a role in it.”

Economics Have Changed Since Current Farm Bill was Written – Once Congress gets through the budget process, the farm bill will be on the chore list. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Past President Bob Worth sees the bill that passed in the House Agriculture Committee last spring as a good starting point. “That was a farm bill that everyone could have lived with,” said Worth. “It did some great things for trade, doubling the money for trade (promotion) and it also made adjustments in ARC and PLC; this farm bill was written almost eight years ago and things have changed a lot.” Farm expenses have gone up considerably since the last farm bill passed in 2018. “People may be unhappy that farmers get economic aid, but they have to realize these young farmers and the guys just starting don’t have working capital, they don’t have net worth, our input costs have not come down and our prices for our commodities have really tanked.”

Soy Leaders Urge Policy Action – North Dakota Soybean Growers Association President Justin Sherlock says we’re long overdue for a new farm bill. “We’ve extended the 2018 farm bill twice now.” There’s a lot on the agenda for federal policy right now. We’re still waiting to see how a lot of it will play out, whether it’s biofuels or tariff discussions, there’s been a lot of back and forth.” Biofuels are an important part of the debate. “I think it’s our future, to be honest, but the biggest challenge right now is the lack of clear direction. We need federal policy to tell us where we’re going.” Sherlock is also a director for the American Soybean Association.

MFBF Minute – Minnesota Farm Bureau Public Policy Specialist Hunter Pederson joins this week’s MFBF Minute with information about the legislative session. You can hear the report by clicking here. 

The National Debt is ‘a Big Curse to our Citizens’ – House Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution late Tuesday night with a 217-215 vote, unlocking the reconciliation process to advance President Trump’s domestic agenda. North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak was dismayed the debate denigrated into criticism of Elon Musk and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. “We spend a huge amount of money every single day just on the interest on that debt; it is a big curse to our citizens,” said Fedorchak. “It is something that we quite honestly have to get our arms around. He’s going after the bureaucracy. The Democrats don’t like it. They want to raise a bunch of red flags about it, but I embrace a lot of what he’s doing. Some of the tactics wouldn’t be what I would do, but in general, I think we need to take some pretty big swings at dealing with this massive federal debt.” Click here to listen to the full interview.

Time to Look Under the Hood of Government – With the national debt at more than $36 trillion, Minnesota Representative Brad Finstad says it’s more important than ever to get a balanced budget. The budget resolution passed this past week is a 40-page document that provides financial targets for each committee. Finstad said the committees will now work on this process over the next few months. That includes conversations with their constituents. “What programs are working? What programs aren’t? Where can we tighten our belt? Where can we become more efficient? Where can we look under the hood of government and not only look at the engine, but figure out if the fuel injectors work, is the exhaust hooked up, did we check the oil, is the dipstick showing oil in the engine? That’s really what the committee process will be about.” Click here to listen to full interview.

Tariffs Begin This Week – President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico will take effect on Tuesday. Trump went to social media, saying the U.S. neighbors failed to do enough to stop the movement of fentanyl. An additional ten percent tariff on imports from China are also expected to start on Tuesday.

‘People are Nervous’ Says Ranking Member Craig – House Agriculture Committee Angie Craig meets regularly with farmers from across the political spectrum. “I make it a point not only as ranking member, but also as someone who represents Minnesota’s Second District, I spend a lot of time with folks who lean a little Republican, lean a little Democrat and folks who don’t like either one of us from a political party perspective and between the threat of tariffs, frozen grant dollars with EQIP and REAP, and the fact USDA laid off so many people in the state, people are nervous.” Craig delivered criticism about the Trump Administration. “It’s kind of a shit show right now because running the government or running an agency like this, I’m not even sure that the people making decisions know what the hell they’re doing at the moment.” In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, Craig said she is developing a good relationship with Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. “We’re not flame-throwers to each other, but we both have some challenges; I can’t get a farm bill across the finish line with 150 Democrats to vote for it without the coalition we’ve always had in place.” That includes support for the federal nutrition programs. Click here to listen to full interview.

Senate Dems Challenge Mass Layoffs at USDA – Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar and every Democratic member of the Senate Agriculture Committee are asking Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for more information on the termination of numerous USDA employees. They want a breakdown by state, agency, job position and veteran status. The letter said these layoffs jeopardize the USDA response to avian flu and their ability to process farm loans, disaster relief and farm assistance.

DOGE-Checkoff Drama is Overstated – National media outlets have reported Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are looking at the commodity checkoff programs for cuts or elimination. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane downplays that possibility. “The usual suspects that have long had an issue with the beef checkoff are doing what they always do, whether that be the radical animal rights activists in Farm Action or the standard folks on Twitter that like to light their hair on fire about whatever the issue is of the day, but we’re not seeing that conversation spread beyond those usual suspects,” Lane told RRFN. “The reality is the vast majority of producers around the country are huge supporters of the beef checkoff. They believe that that investment returns a significant amount to their operations. Lane said checkoff programs don’t use federal dollars and the DOGE conversation is a false narrative.

Economic Relief on the Way – Speaking at the Ag Outlook Forum, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said USDA plans to release the farm assistance payments by the congressional deadline of March 21^st. At the end of 2024, Congress passed $10 billion in ad hoc assistance within the overall disaster aid package. Rollins also said she will speak at Commodity Classic this Sunday in Denver.

$1B Investment to Address Avian Influenza Outbreak – The Trump Administration is investing up to $1 billion to deal with avian influenza. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a five-prong strategy, including $500 million to help U.S. poultry farmers implement first-class biosecurity measures. The plan also considers the use of vaccines for laying hens and provides up to $400 million in financial relief. Rollins said the Administration is confident it will restore stability to the egg market within three-to-six months.

Klobuchar Urges Science-Driven Approach and Expert Support – At Wednesday’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar welcomed the new USDA avian influenza strategy, calling it a priority issue she raised with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “It was the #1 thing I raised with her; we must follow the science to build on the existing national testing strategies and support for farmers engaging with experts to develop new prevention and response methods and a thoughtful vaccine strategy.” Klobuchar also spoke about the importance of keeping non-partisan experts in the federal government. “Veterinarians, animal disease researchers, frontline animal disease responders, my colleagues and I, pressed (the administration) when some of these people were laid off. I understand some of them are being rehired, but we can’t mess around with this right now. We must make sure that the USDA has the resources available to respond to this outbreak.”

NASDA Appreciates USDA Approach to HPAI – At the 2025 NASDA Winter Policy Conference, members updated policy to support a plan for detecting and controlling highly pathogenic avian influenza. NASDA CEO Ted McKinney backed Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins’ approach. “We were encouraged by the level of support we heard from the Secretary on addressing this bird flu issue,” said McKinney. “The level of federal support was welcomed and astounding; there were no indications that you as the states must pick this up and we’re thrilled with that.” NASDA members also passed two related action items: one urging a national vaccine strategy led by USDA APHIS with industry coordination and another pushing Congress to support USDA APHIS compensation for foreign animal disease outbreaks.

Avian Influenza Plan Does Not Include Turkey Production – National Turkey Federation President John Zimmerman, who farms at Northfield, Minnesota, testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee. Zimmerman acknowledged the new USDA avian influenza strategy, saying the industry appreciates the urgent attention, “but, after a brief overview, it seems only to cover the egg-laying industry. As I have stated in my testimony, the turkey industry has been devastated by HPAI and we ask that any plan also address the urgent needs of the turkey industry.” In addition to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Zimmerman said the turkey industry is facing losses from another disease called Avian Metapneumovirus.

Acreage Estimates Released at Ag Outlook Forum – The USDA forecasts a modest rise in 2025 planted acreage for corn, wheat, and soybeans, totaling 225 million acres, up less than one percent from last year. Corn is expected to see the largest gain at 94 million acres, while wheat acreage also increases. Soybean plantings are projected to decline due to global supply pressures. Farm prices for all three crops are expected to dip, with corn at $4.20 per bushel, soybeans at $10.00, and wheat at $5.50. Lower production costs may help offset weaker prices. Updated projections will be released in the May 12 WASDE report.

Inflation Lessons From 1970s/1980s – At the USDA Ag Outlook Forum, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President/CEO Jeff Schmid stressed caution in monetary policy. Schmid said the labor market is strong but expressed concern over inflation. He pointed to the lessons of past economic crises, particularly the challenges of the 1970s and 1980s when the Fed struggled to contain inflation. “Once inflation is embedded in expectations, it becomes much more painful to vanquish. It took more than just easing economic tightness to bring down inflation in the 1980s. It took the Fed building credibility and inflation fighter credibility that came at a cost of steep increase in unemployment and severe recessions.”

Trade Gap is ‘Pathetic’ – Speaking at the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, National Milk Producers Federation President Gregg Doud emphasized the need for a more aggressive U.S. trade policy, particularly in closing the agricultural trade gap with the European Union. “We import $3 billion in dairy from the European Union and we export $167 million to the European Union, that’s pathetic,” said Doud. “We export 15 times more cheese to Guatemala than we do the European Union. We export more cheese to New Zealand and they’re a major (dairy) exporter with 5 million people.” Doud, who is the former chief agricultural trade negotiator, said the U.S. agricultural trade deficit with the EU today is $23.6 billion.” Doud pointed to the $8 billion investment in U.S. dairy processing as evidence of the industry’s potential for growth.

Johansson: Foreign Subsidies Hurt U.S. Growers – Rob Johansson, director of economics and policy analysis, American Sugar Alliance, spoke about shifting policies and economic uncertainty at the USDA Ag Outlook Forum. “There’s a lot of potential policies the administration is pursuing that will affect farm country, both good and potentially adverse.” Johansson stressed the impact of foreign subsidies on U.S. sugar producers, noting that countries like Brazil, India, and Thailand heavily support their industries, creating unfair competition. “Our farmers meet high environmental and labor standards, but when other countries subsidize, they can dump sugar at lower prices than we can afford to produce here.” While tariffs remain a divisive issue, Johansson emphasized the need for fair trade policies to protect American agriculture. Click here to listen to the full interview.

Litkowski – Farm Economic Performance – At the USDA Ag Outlook Forum, USDA-ARS Senior Economist Carrie Litkowski provided a detailed forecast of the farm sector’s economic performance for 2025. Net farm income is expected to rise nearly 30 percent. “When we look at total cash receipts from commodity sales, they are projected to decline slightly, almost $2 billion, so most of the forecast increase and net income or net profits is coming from direct government payments which are forecast to increase by $33 billion in 2025.” Litkowski noted that farm income constantly shifts due to market fluctuations, policy changes, and external economic factors. Litkowski also pointed out that lower production expenses and stable farm equity will play key roles in shaping the farm economy in the coming year.

Fed Expert: Land Values Are Keeping Farm Credit Afloat – Credit conditions in agriculture weakened in 2024, with rising interest rates and declining farm income putting pressure on loan repayment, according to Nathan Kauffman, Senior Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. While financial stress has grown, farmland values have remained steady, providing some stability. “Despite the various pressures, despite the increases in financial stress at a modest pace, declines in repayment rates, tighter profit margins, higher interest rates, the uncertainty that we could spend the rest of the afternoon talking about, farm real estate values have held firm,” Kauffman explained.  However, the demand for farm loans has increased as expenses stay high, and commodity prices fall. Many farmers are restructuring debt to manage financial strain, a trend the Fed is watching closely. “When you’re thinking about this from the perspective of a producer, expenses are still quite high, commodity prices and income have been declining, that naturally leads into an expectation then that you’re going to see more in the way of demand for financing,” Kauffman said. As lenders extend credit lines and farmers adjust to economic shifts, experts are closely monitoring whether stress levels will continue to rise in 2025.

Expenses Skyrocket Since the Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill – At the USDA Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C., American Sugarbeet Growers Association President Neil Rockstad highlighted the growing financial strain on farmers due to soaring input costs and legislative delays. “We’ve been looking at an across-the-board 30 percent increase in our input costs since we passed the last farm bill in 2018,” said the Ada, Minnesota farmer. “Certainly. we have a lot of work to do to make that safety net come up and meet our expenses, not make us profitable, of course, but provide that safety net so that we can continue to survive as an industry.” Rockstad detailed skyrocketing expenses, citing land costs rising 70 percent since 2018, fertilizer prices more than doubling, and equipment costs surging. Rockstad warned that repeated delays could make the farm bill more expensive and less effective in addressing the challenges faced by farmers. Click here to listen to full interview.

Beet Stock Values – It was another slow week of American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock trading. According to Acres & Shares broker Jayson Menke, there were two sales of 10 shares each at $5,600 per share last week.

Land Values Remain Firm – Credit conditions in agriculture weakened in 2024, with rising interest rates and declining farm income. According to Nathan Kauffman, senior vice president, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, farmland values have remained steady, “Despite declines in repayment rates, tighter profit margins, higher interest rates, and uncertainty, farm real estate values have held firm.” However, many farmers are restructuring debt to manage financial strain, a trend the Fed is watching closely. Kaufman addressed the USDA Ag Outlook Forum.

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson says the cattle market continues to hold its strength. Gold is also strong. What’s not hot in the markets? “Everything else in that category. Click here to listen.

Greer Confirmed – The Trump Administration’s new point person on trade was confirmed by the U.S. Senate with a 56-43 vote. Jamieson Greer is an attorney who specializes in international trade. He previously served as chief of staff to former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Short Term Disruptions for Long Term Success – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven acknowledged the uncertainty facing farmers over tariffs but emphasized the importance of market access and fair trade. “President Trump’s goal is to get us more access to markets on a fairer basis and that’s a goal we all share but in the short term is there a disruption, of course,” Hoeven told RRFN. “We understand that and we’re working very closely with (Agriculture Secretary )Brooke Rollins and the ag team. We think she’s going to do a good job. She’s very close to President Trump so that’s very helpful and we do have some experience working with President Trump on tariffs. We did the first round with Sonny Perdue and ultimately got to a place where we got more ag sales.” In the interview, Hoeven also voiced a familiar theme, saying “our farmers and ranchers produce the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world that benefits every single American.” Click here to listen to the full interview.

Canadian Dairy Export Policy Under Fire – The House Ways and Means Committee focused on expanding trade at Tuesday’s hearing. Former agricultural trade ambassador Gregg Doud, who is now the president and chief executive officer of the National Milk Producers Federation, spoke about the importance of trade enforcement. Doud said 44 percent of U.S. dairy exports are shipped to our neighbors in Canada and Mexico. “Mexico has largely been a positive trading partner, Canada has not,” said Doud. “Unfortunately, Canada has a long history of attempting to undermine previously agreed-to market access, a trend that has continued under USMCA. Through manipulative tariff rate quota policies and a systemic circumvention of USMCA’s dairy protein export disciplines, Canada has cheated U.S. exporters out of market access benefits promised to them under the agreements and has tried to dispose of growing volumes of artificially low-priced dairy protein into global markets.” Doud testified the 2026 USMCA review represents a critical opportunity for Canada to reform these practices. Doud also criticized the European Union, saying the EU exports $3 billion worth of dairy products to the United States while the U.S. exports $167 million in dairy products to the EU.

NPPC Asks Congress to Intervene on Prop 12 – In testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, National Pork Producers Council President Lori Stevermer said American Agriculture is being put at risk by California’s Proposition 12 “which has increased farmers’ operating cost, created business uncertainty, and raised pork prices at the grocery store.” Stevermer told lawmakers Prop 12 hurts small and medium-sized producers the most. “We have followed the processes in place to address this issue and we are before you because the Supreme Court has said it is a matter for Congress to take up.” Stevermer, who farms in southern Minnesota, also cited the threat of foreign animal diseases, trade issues and labor challenges.

Farm Bill Urgency – At the USDA Ag Outlook Forum, American Sugarbeet Growers Association President/CEO Luther Markwart emphasized the urgent need for a new farm bill. “It is incredibly difficult out on the farm right now,” Markwart said. “Our input costs are up, commodity prices, including sugar, are coming down, and we’re getting caught in that pinch. We have got to get a farm bill done.” Sugar beet and cane growers have been actively engaging with lawmakers, visiting about 140 congressional offices to push for a stronger safety net amid growing financial uncertainty. Markwart noted that while there is broad consensus on the need for action, funding remains a key obstacle. “We’ve got a horrible budget deficit, we’ve got huge debt, and the president has stepped in to try to address it across the board.” Click here to listen to the full interview.

NASDA Passes New Policy – The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has updated its policy book. The NASDA members voted for policies to increase support for American-produced biofuels. The group is also advocating for labor reform and initiatives that expand the role of food as medicine. A resolution of support was also given for 2026 being the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Petersen Praises Cooperation Among Neighboring States – Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen was part of the National  Association of State Departments of Agriculture Winter Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. and addressed trade, disaster assistance, and regulatory uncertainty. There was also an opportunity to network with other state agriculture directors, commissioners and secretaries. Peterson also emphasized the importance of cooperation among neighboring states, particularly in trade and transportation. “North Dakota, for example, Commissioner (Doug) Goering and I talk a lot about using the Duluth Port.,” said Petersen. “Those North Dakota crops can come right over on Highway  2,  get on a ship and go out to Morocco, Africa, and Europe.” Petersen was happy to have Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, both from his home state, at the NASDA conference. Click here to listen to the full interview.

MFU Minute – In the MFU Minute, Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish discusses the uncertainty seen with the administration’s new tariff strategy. The job layoffs at USDA also gets attention. Listen to Wertish in this report. 

Consternation Over Regulatory Pressure in Biden Administration – Regulatory and economic pressures continue to influence the bottomline for farmers and ranchers. “Probably the biggest consternation has been over regulations and how things operated in the previous four years,” North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring told RRFN. “The sue-and-settle strategy at EPA has just given us fits. If you’re in manufacturing, food processing, farming or ranching, there is uncertainty and when you’re dealing with economic challenges, you don’t need that, too.” Goehring said the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Winter Policy Conference is the best-attended NASDA event each year. “I think we get 100 percent attendance at this one.” Click here to listen to full interview.

‘The Only Certainty is Uncertainty’ – There is an outside chance a farm bill could be folded into the budget reconciliation bill. Pro Farmer Washington Consultant Jim Wiesemeyer delivered the keynote address at the Ihry Insurance farm meetings in Hillsboro and Hope, North Dakota. Wiesemeyer said it is still a question whether congressional leadership will allow controversial measures, like a farm bill, to be included. “I think it’s the only way you’re going to get a farm bill this year is if it is in that reconciliation bill because that doesn’t need one Democratic vote so Republicans can do what they want, relative to reforming the SNAP program, put additional worker requirements on food stamps, etc.” $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers was included in the continuing resolution passed at the end of the year. The Red River Farm Network asked Wiesmeyer when those payments will be released. “Sooner rather than later,” was the response. “The USDA people have signed off on it to tell you the truth. They haven’t said that publicly, but they’re ready to go.” Wiesemeyer expects the initial payment will be at 85 percent with the rest of the money coming in a supplemental payment this summer.  Regarding the atmosphere in Washington under Trump 2.0, Wiesemeyer said ‘the only certainty is uncertainty.’ Click here for the full interview. 

Agricult-HER: Andrea Vaubel – Andrea Vaubel grew up in Verona, Wisconsin, just outside of Madison. After college, policy and politics became her focus. That includes time in Washington, D.C. working on the staff of then-Congressman Tim Walz. “That’s when I really fell in love with ag policy,” remembers Vaubel. “He was on the ag committee, represented southern Minnesota and there’s so much to do with agriculture there.” For the past 12 years, Vaubel has been at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and has been the deputy commissioner since September 2018. In this interview, we learn more from background, her role models and her advice for others to get involved in ag leadership. Click here to watch the interview.

Agricult-HER: Rachel Gray – Rachel Gray owns Little Timber Farms at Blackduck, Minnesota. Rachel is president-elect of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association and her farm won the environmental stewardship award at CattleCon ’25. “They awarded Little Timber Farms the award, but really the award would go back generations,” said Gray. “My grandpa came home from World War II and was a huge believer in conservation. He made the commitment to join our local Soil and Water Board. He was a district two supervisor, which I now hold that seat so that’s kind of a unique thing too.” In the interview, Rachel talks about the transition from being a teacher to farming full-time. Click here to watch the YouTube interview with Rachel Gray.

Agricult-HER: Erica Olson – Erica Olson and her husband, Craig, farm in that Colfax, North Dakota area. Erica is also the manager of market development and research with the North Dakota Wheat Commission. She grew up on a farm at Mohall, which was unique because the family farmed on both sides of the internation border. As a teenager, Erica and her brother had a custom canola swathing business. “When, you one of the producers I was working for complimented me on my work and at that time it was not very common for girls or women to be in the field, it was kind of the boost I needed.” The work at the NDWC includes numerous international trips including one of the first trips that included 14 countries in 23 days. Erica also remembers a NDWC trip to Algeria where she was the only woman at the conference. Her advice? “Don’t be intimidated. Ask the questions, join the conversation, expand your knowledge.” Watch the interview.

Agricult-HER: Kristi Van Ahn – The Agricult-HER series continues as we visit with Kristi Van Ahn, COO, Van Ahn and Company. Van Ahn shares the path that brought her into commodity marketing and the family business. Her advice? “Don’t be afraid to be bold. That’s one thing that I will harp onto with my three girls, do not be afraid to state your opinion and do what you want to do.” There is also a unique perspective seen for women in marketing and Van Ahn offers her thoughts on that topic in this conversation. Watch the interview online.

MN Corn Matters – The EPA has approved a waiver for E15 and summer driving in eight Midwest states. In the Minnesota Corn Matters, Minnesota Corn Growers President Jim Kanten talks offers his thoughts on the change. Listen to the report.

E15 Waiver Welcomed in Eight Midwestern States – The Environmental Protection Agency approved a summer-driving waiver for E15 in eight midwestern states. South Dakota Corn Growers Association Executive Director Danita Murray is pleased that South Dakota is included in the waiver. “We strongly support year-round E15 sales,” said Murray. “Of course, the holy grail we’re looking for on E15 is year-round nationwide sales.”

GHG Endangerment Rule Questioned – EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reportedly wants the administration to overturn the 2009 ruling that said greenhouse gas emissions are dangerous for human health. Major media outlets are reporting this story citing anonymous sources. A change in the so-called endangerment rule would have implications for all segments of the economy, including agriculture. During Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Zeldin also said 65 percent of the EPA workforce will be eliminated.

Repeal Sought for Corporate Transparency Act – The Secretaries of State from 20 states nationwide are asking President Trump to support repealing the Corporate Transparency Act. South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson said this is a “costly, burdensome and ultimately meaningless regulation.” The Corporate Transparency Act tracks beneficial ownership of businesses, including farms.

Horse Slaughter Bill Reintroduced – Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to ban the slaughter of horses and prevent the export of horses for the slaughter market. Animal rights groups, including the Humane World for Animals, which formerly was known as the Humane Society of the United States, support the bill.

Fielding Questions – The Fielding Questions podcast is a collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Red River Farm Network. In this episode, AgCountry Farm Credit Services Insurance Officer Bill Roiger highlights MPCI crop insurance. Click here to listen to the podcast. 

Dockworkers Approve Contract – Union workers at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports have approved a new labor deal. The six-year deal includes a 62 percent pay raise and addresses the threat of automation. The International Longshoremen’s Association walked off the job for three days last fall for their first coastwide strike in nearly 50 years.

Higher Fees Coming for Chinese Shippers – The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is proposing a significant increase in fees for Chinese shipping companies and any Chinese-built ships that enter U.S. ports. The proposal won’t be open for public comment until late March. However, one industry expert said costs for containerized shipments will be at least ten times higher than existing charges.

Cold Weather Hampered Rail Traffic – The extreme cold in mid-February had a major impact on rail movement across northern United States. For the week of February 14, the origin dwell times for BNSF grain shuttle trains averaged 68 hours. That’s the longest since January of 2023. The number of loaded grain cars on the BNSF network that did not move for over 48 hours totaled nearly 1,400. In late November, that total was under 300 grain cars. Strong corn export demand through the Pacific Northwest led to secondary market values for shuttle trains being over $2,000 per car during this past week.

Dry Bean Scene – The Dry Bean Scene is a presentation of the Northarvest Bean Growers Association. Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley previews the upcoming planting season in the latest episode. Click here to listen. 

Cordonnier Updates South American Forecast – Soybean and Corn Advisor President Michael Cordonnier lowered his Brazilian soybean production by a million tonnes and held corn production steady in his monthly report. Cordonnier made no changes to the Argentine forecast, saying recent rains in Argentina have stabilized their crop. “I think Argentina may have turned a corner condition-wise and that’s probably stabilizing their situation.”

MN Legislature Working on Ag Emergency Funding – The Minnesota House Agriculture Committee laid over an emergency funding bill for inclusion in the committee’s budget bill. This bill calls for a $1.5 million appropriation from the General Fund for an agricultural emergency account to address avian flu and other animal health diseases.

A Proposal to Boost MN SAF Tax Credits – Legislation to increase the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit is moving to the Minnesota Senate floor. Under the bill, tax credits would climb from $7.4 million in fiscal year 2025 to $10 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. State Senator Rob Kupec believes this increase in tax credits will help strengthen Minnesota’s position as a leader in sustainable aviation fuel production. “This is a bipartisan bill that extends the length of that tax credit while also bringing in some new technology that can be applied directly into making sustainable aviation fuel.”

MN Lawmakers Push for Flexible Reporting for Grain Buyers – A bill introduced during the Minnesota House would adjust the reporting requirements for smaller grain buyers and elevators. Representative Paul Anderson says the bill’s goal is to exempt small grain elevators and purchasers from costly audits if purchases are under a set amount. ” I think this bill strikes a balance between having an accounting system that provides adequate certainty of the finances, but it also strikes a balance of not being too aggressively expensive for our smaller elevators.” Minnesota Department of Agriculture Fruit, Vegetable, and Grain Program Supervisor Nicholas Milanowski believes the bill offers smaller operations more reporting options while avoiding unnecessary and costly reporting fees. “It allows us to accept different reporting structures for each of these grain buyers here in Minnesota.”

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 Ag Water Quality Certification Program Agronomy and Conservation Programs Coordinator Clarissa Levi discusses her work. Listen to this week’s update.

More Commercial UAS Opportunities in ND – The commercial use of drones for agricultural spraying and other applications has gotten a shot in the arm in North Dakota. A $11 million appropriation has gained approval in the North Dakota House and Senate. Rather than line-of-sight, these unmanned aerial systems would be integrated into the federal government’s Pathfinder radar system. North Dakota would be the first state to be part of the FAA program. The Northern Plains UAS Test Site, which is in Grand Forks, was also the first-of-its-kind nationwide.

Expanding Value-Added Agriculture in ND – A pair of bills designed to expand value-added agriculture is moving through the North Dakota Legislature. “What we’re doing with both the potato processing plant as well as the milk processing plant is putting an incentive out there that this is the need we have in this state,” says State Senator Paul Thomas. “With increased cows and increased milk production, we hope to incentivize the processing industry to be expanded along with those cows and be able to capture the value added that would come from that.” Both SB2342, which targets the milk processing industry, and House Bill 1332, which targets the potato processing industry, passed the first round of voting and will move to the other chamber after Crossover.

ND Legislative Report – Inroads are being made in North Dakota’s animal agriculture business. In the North Dakota Legislative Report, State Senator Paul Thomas highlights the model zoning law and a new optional tool. Listen to the report. 

Three Versions of Property Tax Reform – Just ahead of crossover, the North Dakota House passed three different property tax bills. One proposal focuses on tax cuts for residential property. The other two would lower property taxes for all kinds of property. The bills will now be sorted out in the Senate.

Eminent Domain Bills Push Forward – In Pierre, the South Dakota Senate approved an eminent domain bill. Permits and mediation would be needed before eminent domain could happen. A total ban on eminent domain for carbon pipeline projects has been approved in the South Dakota House. Tuesday night was the crossover deadline. If a bill didn’t make it through one chamber, it was done for this session.

Elanco & Medgene Partnering on H5N1 Vaccine for Dairy Cattle – A new avian influenza vaccine for dairy cattle is moving one step closer to commercialization. Elanco Animal Health has an agreement with Brookings, South Dakota-based Medgene to bring this vaccine to market. USDA has already approved Medgene’s vaccine technology platform in cattle, allowing the accelerated development of the H5N1 vaccine. Medgene has existing vaccine supplies to deploy for this purpose. The product is in the final stages of review for conditional license approval.

No Cows Needed – Lab-grown meat has made headlines in recent years, but the world’s first lab-grown cow’s milk may soon be coming to market. A Boston company is producing what is called UnReal Milk. Rather than coming from a cow, this product is made from cell cultures. It reportedly replicates the taste, texture and nutrition of dairy milk and is billed as a lower carbon, cruelty-free alternative.

AI Revolutionizing Farming: Smarter Tools for Better Decisions – At the USDA Ag Outlook Forum, Shawn Haag, Executive Director of the AI Climate Institute at the University of Minnesota, highlighted how artificial intelligence is transforming agriculture by enhancing decision-making tools for farmers. AI is being integrated into existing technologies to improve fertilizer use, irrigation, and crop selection. “We’re really looking at AI in the sense of decision-making tools. Our goal is to collect real-time data from the fields and feed it into AI models that can then be integrated into tools farmers are already using,” Haag explained. Another key area of AI’s impact is in carbon credit markets, helping farmers navigate complex systems and maximize their participation. “This is really going to drive the future of carbon markets. AI-powered tools will help farmers better understand how to capture carbon, input their data more efficiently, and ultimately sell their credits in a streamlined way,” he said. Looking ahead, Haag predicts AI will revolutionize precision agriculture, providing real-time insights to help farmers optimize their operations. Click here to listen to full interview.

Soybean Farmers Urged to Prepare for Gall Midge Threat – Soybean farmers need to be prepared for the newest pest threat, gall midge. “I warn growers here in Nebraska and other states, this thing’s not going away,” said University of Nebraska-Lincoln Associate Professor of Entomology Justin McMechan. Part of the problem gall midge presents is how difficult it is to control. “Foliar insecticide application is kind of the go-to for farmers when they meet an acute problem like this, but it was pretty apparent it was going to be really tough for foliar insecticides to be what we could rely on.” When left uncontrolled, significant yield loss is a reality. “We saw 18 to 31 percent losses on the entire field on average,” said McMechan. “I had growers here in Nebraska that went from 63-bushel yields to 13.”

BASF Launches Real Results Yield Challenge – The threat of Asian Soybean Rust 20 years ago launched BASF’s investigation into Headline fungicide for soybeans. The big lesson learned was the plant health benefits seen with fungicides. It quickly became evident farmers shouldn’t wait until they see crop disease before they apply a fungicide. BASF Vice President of Agricultural Solutions Scott Kay advised farmers to be proactive, not reactive. At the BASF Science Behind 2025 event, BASF research showed “after 19 days, that might be the first time that you start to see it and yet the disease has been at work those whole 19 days.” BASF researchers confirmed by the time disease symptoms are seen on the plant, a lot of the damage is done. Even with the success of performance driven fungicides, only 45 percent of corn and soybean acres were treated with any fungicide last year. BASF has launched its largest fungicide trial called the Real Results Yield Challenge to prove its preventative and curative disease control. “We’ll roll that out to our retailers over the next week,” said Kay. “If we can set up those side-by-side (field trials), we want to create that field-level environment so farmers can get a good look at it in hopes that they’ll start to adopt.” Hear the full interview with Scott Kay.

Syngenta’s New Triple Bt Protein Stack Approved – Syngenta has received EPA approval for its latest corn trait stack for corn rootworm protection. The new Durastak trait will be available in Golden Harvest and NK brand hybrids and through independent seed companies for the 2027 season.

Syngenta Invests in R & D in Biologicials – Syngenta is expanding its research and development capacity into biologicals. This includes the acquisition of the Novartis selection of natural compounds and genetic strains for agricultural use. It also includes the transfer of the Novartis Natural Products and Biomolecular Chemistry team to Syngenta.

Canola Minute – Here’s the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association. This week, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman joins us to talk about an upcoming Getting It Right virtual meeting. Click here to listen. 

Flexible Options Found in Omega-3 Canola Production Contract – Specialty crop contracts can be a safeguard against fluctuation in the commodity markets. Nuseed Field Sales Manager Trygg Olson says the Nuseed Omega-3 Canola Production Contract is very flexible. “Once they lock in their delivery window and sign the contract, they are locked into the premium,” said Olson. “They can lock in the basis with an Act of God (clause) on it and it allows them to price when they want to giving the guy more freedom of choice to ride out the futures market.” For new canola growers, Olson said full agronomic support is available. The number of contracted acres is maxed out, but Nuseed is meeting with farmers about opportunities in 2026. Listen to the full interview with Olson.

Deere Unveils New Equipment Enhancements – John Deere has introduced new planter technologies; seed-level sensing, fertilizer-level sensing and active vacuum automation. These tools are designed to provide more information to farmers and make the planting process more efficient. Deere also announced enhancements to its 2026 model year combines. The updates include Harvest Settings Automation support for wheat, barley, canola, soybean, corn and rice crops.

Case IH SenseApply Introduced – Case IH is launching SenseApply technology, a single-cab mounted camera system that offers multi-season uses. The system is described as a cost-effective solution with no annual subscriptions or per acre fees.

Bohrer Returns to Washington, DC – North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer has named Jason Bohrer as the new communications director for his Washington, D.C. office. Bohrer is the former president and CEO of the Lignite Energy Council and will begin his new position April 7.

Corn Comments – In the South Dakota Corn Comments, Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton is featured. A salute to military families and the Summit League Tournament are included in the message. Click here. 

Halverson Named Potato Man of the Year – The National Potato Council has recognized Gregg Halverson of Grand Forks as its 2025 Potato Person of the Year. Halverson is president and board chairman of Black Gold Farms. “Being recognized isn’t as much a personal recognition as it is a recognition for our whole team, our whole family, and really the whole industry,” Halverson told RRFN. Halvorsen was in Washington, D.C. for the National Potato Council meeting and spent time on Capitol Hill to lobby for issues like the farm bill. “Also, immigration is really important. We need to figure out the whole immigration thing. We use a lot of H2A labor and sometimes it can be a pretty clumsy system, we need to refine that.”

Former SDSU Associate Dean to Retire – John Kirby, dean of the University of Rhode Island College of Environment and Life Sciences since 2010, is retiring. Before taking the job on the East Coast, Kirby was an associate dean at South Dakota State University and director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.

Post to Oversee Casselton Soy Crush Plant – CGB Enterprises has promoted Seth Post to vice president of soybean processing. Post will oversee the North Dakota Soybean Processors plant at Casselton and the CGB facility in Mount Vernon, Indiana. For the past 11 years, Post has been the company’s director of grain operations. CGB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated Grain and Barge.

Snodgrass Returns to Nutrien Ag Solutions – Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass is returning to Nutrien Ag Solutions. Since November, Snodgrass has been with Conduit. On his YouTube channel, Snodgrass said he stepped away from Conduit due to the company’s strategy refocus. Nutrien extended an offer for Snodgrass to return. Snodgrass delivers extensive agricultural weather analysis online and is a frequent speaker at ag meetings, including appearances on the Red River Farm Network stage at the Big Iron Farm Show.