Welcome Moisture – Daytime highs were in the 90s a week ago. The mercury will only climb into the 40s and 50s for much of the Dakotas and Minnesota this week. Widespread rain was seen over the weekend and more is expected this week. The moisture is welcome for the newly seeded crops. For the best agricultural weather coverage, follow World Weather Inc. Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Drew Lerner on the Red River Farm Network. In addition to updated forecasts each morning and noonhour on your favorite RRFN radio affiliate, Lerner’s reports are also found online. In this edition of FarmNetNews, you’ll find the latest gyrations happening with budgets and ag policy in Washington, D.C., crop conditions and the cattle market.

Budget Reconciliation Passes Committee in Unusual Sunday Night Vote – The House Budget Committee voted 17-16 to approve a comprehensive bill, including everything from tax cuts, action to protect the border and agriculture provisions. This bill was shut down Friday night when four Republicans voted against it. It was revived in a rare late-night vote on and these same four lawmakers voted ‘present.’ The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will now move to the House Rules Committee, setting up a vote on the floor before Congress adjourns for the Memorial Day holiday. Even if the narrow majority in the House approves the bill, the legislation is expected to drag on throughout the summer in the Senate.

Farm Policy Provisions Found in Budget Bill – The budget reconciliation bill moving through the House increases reference prices and farm program payment limits. It allows farmers to add base acres for ARC and PLC programs. The coverage for Dairy Margin Coverage expands and doubles the money for trade promotion programs. The tax provisions include 100 percent bonus depreciation, an increase in the Section 199A deduction and changes in estate taxes. The deduction impacting farm cooperatives remains. The 45Z tax credit for biofuels also gets an extension. The bill also makes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and shifts a portion of the SNAP costs to the states.

‘Much Needed Support for Rural America’ – Tom Sell, managing partner at Combest Sell and Associates, says the House budget proposal addresses long-standing needs for the farm sector. “GT (House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson) was able to do that while also trying to make investments that we’ve all been talking about the last three or four years in the farm safety net tied to crop insurance, even the conservation programs, and some research dollars were provided for the future and specialty crops.” With continued delays in passing a full farm bill, Sell believes this legislation could provide much-needed support to Rural America. “This is just kind of the next step in that,” he explained. “Can we in the future come back and do a full, complete, 12-title farm bill? Absolutely, but that takes a willing participation by everyone.”

A Contentious Markup for the Ag Committee – In the markup of its budget reconciliation bill, the biggest point of contention was a $300 billion whack to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson made two points: SNAP is not working, and the farm safety net needs to be strengthened. “I assume my colleagues need reminding of contemporary farm bills, where farmers were stripped of billions in exchange for additional funds in nutrition or where nutrition saw a one percent decrease in the deficit reduction exercise of 2014, yet farmers had to face an astonishing 25 percent cut.” In her opening statement, Ranking Member Angie Craig said the Republicans on the committee should be ashamed. “The instruction to this committee was to find $230 billion in cuts to SNAP, but that wasn’t good enough for the extremists in your party, so tonight you’re cutting more,” said the Minnesota lawmaker. “You know a traditional farm bill is not a priority for your leadership. If it were, we would’ve seen it on the House floor in the last session of Congress. The cut you are proposing to SNAP tonight would be the largest rollback of an anti-hunger program in our nation’s history.”

Boozman: House Bill Helps Farmers, Strengthens SNAP – U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman is voicing support for the House-passed reconciliation package. Boozman praised Chairman GT Thompson’s efforts, calling it a key step to prevent tax increases on farmers and ranchers. He also emphasized the importance of improving the SNAP program, saying it’s reasonable to expect working-age adults receiving benefits to be part of the workforce. The overall bill’s prospects in the House remain uncertain, and the Senate is expected to make significant changes. The Senate budget proposes just a $1 billion cut to SNAP. The House bill would increase reference prices that trigger farm subsidies, boost crop insurance premium support, and fund other USDA programs. The Senate will now begin its review of the House’s plan.

Lawmakers Eye Memorial Day for Budget Reconciliation – House Speaker Mike Johnson wants the budget reconciliation bill passed by Memorial Day. “I don’t know that’s going to be the case or not, but there is a desire to get something done as quickly as possible,” said Jim Callan, CEO, James Callan Associates. “If some of the bigger parts, like crop insurance and reference prices, are taken care of, it may take some of the steam out of the farm bill, but there are other things in there that are important, too. Policy changes like updates to base acres, livestock biosecurity programs, and research are also very important.”

Canola Minute – Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman discusses proposed changes in the 45Z tax credit are positive news for the canola industry. Coleman calls it ‘a game-changer.’ Listen to the Canola Minute by clicking here. 

NFU President Urges Unified Farm Bill Approach – National Farmers Union President Rob Larew responded to the House Agriculture Committee’s reconciliation bill, saying he appreciates efforts to strengthen crop insurance, the farm safety net, and conservation programs. However, Larew criticized the process, warning that dividing farm and nutrition priorities creates unnecessary conflict. He emphasized the need for a unified farm bill that addresses the full range of challenges facing agriculture and rural communities, saying it must support farmers, ranchers, and families alike.

Wheat Growers Support Boosts to PLC and Crop Insurance – The National Association of Wheat Growers is voicing support for the House Agriculture Committee’s version of the reconciliation bill. NAWG President Pat Clements says the legislation includes many of the top priorities wheat growers have pushed for over the past three years. The bill boosts the Price Loss Coverage program, strengthens crop insurance, and doubles funding for export promotion through the Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs. NAWG says Congress must act this year to deliver these improvements and provide long-term certainty for wheat producers.

Olson: A Step Forward – With the 90-day rollback in tariff rates, NDSU Crops Economist Frayne Olson sees a short-term window for the U.S. to re-enter the Chinese market. “The first steps of this are to de-escalate, meaning that we’re going to take the tariffs that both the U.S. and China had on each other’s products and bring that back down to levels where at least some trade is possible.” Despite all the rhetoric between the two countries, Olson said the tone likely shifted dramatically in private meetings. “I think it was really important that the key decision makers, both from the Chinese side as well as from the U.S. side, sit down in the same room and say, all right, let’s just have an honest discussion about what is possible.”

90-Day Pause Seen as a Trade Reset Opportunity – The American Soybean Association sees the decision to lower tariffs between the U.S. and China for 90 days as a chance to rebuild a market that has not fully recovered from the previous trade war. ASA President Caleb Ragland said the development is a step in the right direction. “I think it’s a very positive first step in us getting to the table and hammering out some important details that can be really good for soybean trade in particular, agriculture, our rural communities and our country as a whole.” Ragland emphasized that past tensions have had a lingering impact on soybean exports. “Before the first trade war, one out of every three rows of U.S. soybeans went to China,” said Ragland. “In the last trade year, about 25 percent of U.S. soybeans were going to China, so one out of four rows. We were gaining back, but we’ve never fully gotten the market share we had in the past.”

Xi Warns Trump Trade Policy Will Backfire – Days after agreeing to lower tariffs on U.S. products, Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized President Trump’s trade policy, claiming that it would backfire and that there were no winners in trade wars. In a speech, Xi said bullying only leads to self-isolation and cooperation among nations is indispensable for safeguarding global peace and stability.

Corn Matters – In the Minnesota Corn Matters program, Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Jim Kanten highlights the new trade deal with the United Kingdom. Here’s the link. 

Record Demand Despite Tariffs – Even with the 90-day de-escalation of tariffs between China and the U.S., U.S. meat exports to China have ground to a halt.  “In the case then of China, that’s our third best customer, and we now are sending them no beef, pork, or chicken,” said Tim Petry, livestock economist, NDSU Extension. “Tariffs as high as 147 percent have been reduced to 32 percent, but China has not approved any packing plants for beef, so no beef is going there, even though it’s only 32 percent tariffs.” International demand from other parts of the world remains strong. “From a price standpoint, we are moving product to those other countries in very good quantities. In some cases, like Korea, maybe even a little bit higher on beef, and continue to move at record high levels. Demand is holding very, very well.”

American Beef Remains a Hurdle in the UK Market – As the U.S. and UK officials finalize their trade deal, England is still refusing to let American beef treated with growth promotants into its market. During a news conference in London, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she is incredibly proud of the quality of beef in America. However, U.S. cattle operations may move away from standard production practices if there is an opportunity to meet the demands of the UK consumer.

Japan Eyes More U.S. Corn in Trade Talks – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba suggested that increasing U.S. corn imports, particularly for ethanol and biomass use, could be part of ongoing trade negotiations with Washington. Ishiba emphasized Japan’s commitment to protecting its domestic agriculture sector, especially as pressure mounts from U.S. tariffs on automobile exports. Trade talks between the two nations remain slow, with Japan seeking relief from new U.S. tariffs set to rise further in July. Japan imported $2.8 billion worth of U.S. corn in 2024, helping offset a steep decline in exports to China.

SD Corn Comments – In South Dakota Corn Comments, Danita Murray, executive director of South Dakota Corn, discusses a recent negotiation between India and the U.S. Murray said a promise by India to work on issues, such as the importation of biotech corn, is not “a real win.” Click here to listen. 

Addressing Farm Labor Shortage – A bipartisan group of lawmakers has reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The bill updates the H-2A program to help address the farm labor shortage. The same bill passed in the House, but through the Senate.

Minnesota Ag Bill Clears Legislature – A major agriculture funding bill is heading to the governor’s desk after passing the Minnesota Legislature with strong bipartisan support. The omnibus ag finance and policy bill passed the House 130-4 and the Senate 58-8, with the final agreement posted online just hours before the vote. The legislation allocates $115 million to the Department of Agriculture for the 2026-27 biennium, along with funding for the Board of Animal Health, broadband development, and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. House Agriculture Committee Co-Chair Rep. Paul Anderson said, “we kept the heart of the bill in the programs even though they got a bit of a haircut.” Co-Chair Rep. Rick Hansen called the bill “a hybrid” that blends traditional ag priorities with future needs, adding, “you shouldn’t have to have a lobbyist to be able to get public support for farming”.

Topsoil Relocation – Sugarbeets are especially vulnerable to the strong winds seen this past week. Grand Forks area farmer Chris Adams hopes the beets were small enough to avoid replanting. A lot of topsoil has been moving with the winds. “It’s definitely making us rethink our fall tillage practices. We didn’t have any snow cover so all of last year’s edible bean ground just wants to blow away, so we gotta make some changes and try to get some cover crop action going in the fall.”

Crop Watch Visits Formo Farm – RRFN’s Crop Watch made a stop at the Mark Formo farm at Litchville, North Dakota on Tuesday. At that point, Formo said the season has been ‘phenomenal.’ “A lot of guys are pretty much done with corn. They’re moving on to soybeans.” Formo said wheat has emerged while corn has been slower to poke out of the ground.

Winds Influence Weed Control – Ron Truax, who leads Spring Creek Ag at Litchville, North Dakota, has seen a lot of the corn and soybeans planted. Weed control now becomes a worry. “One of the conversations now is, when are you going to get a pre on for weed control?” The wind speed limited spraying much of the week. “Guys may do some lay-bys later, it’s a bit of a struggle to figure out the right answer on that.”

A Year With No PP – In the mid-Red River Valley, Proseed President and CEO Keith Peltier said most of the planting has wrapped up. During the Red River Farm Network Crop Watch update, Peltier said it is a big year for corn. “Our sales are up on corn and they’re up on beans, a little less wheat is going to be planted,” said Peltier. “Our nemesis is preventive plant and it looks like we’re going to avoid that this year.”

Soil Sampling for Soybean Success – Soil sampling is the best way to understand what is happening in the field. NDSU Extension Soil Health Specialist Naeem Kalwar said planting soybeans in unhealthy soil is never a good idea. “When we look at the economics on paper, the numbers may look very good, but when we plant soybeans in problem areas, they are not going to get the yields they are looking for,” said Kalwar. “They’ll lose money and you might be better off planting some other crops. Second, the topsoil will blow, and there will be more soil erosion and accumulation of salts and sodium in the future.”

Heat and Moisture Could Challenges Emergence in Sugarbeets – Sugarbeet seeding throughout the Red River Valley is mostly finished. NDSU Extension Plant Pathologist and Sugarbeet Specialist Eric Branch says growers should keep an eye on their sugarbeets as they emerge. “We’ve had a few days of really intense heat, and of course, that could have an impact on germinating seedlings as they push up to the ground and are exposed to extra temperature right at the soil level. There are wind and disease concerns, as well. Plant diseases, particularly rhizoctonia, if there’s some ponding and standing water, could cause issues. There’s an increased risk for that particular disease, should we see some increased moisture.”

The Sugarbeet Report – In the latest edition of the Sugarbeet Report, Dr. Tom Peters, NDSU/UM Extension sugarbeet agronomist, discusses current crop conditions. Listen to the Sugarbeet Report by clicking here. 

Grain Stocks Tighten – The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report offered a bullish tone for corn and soybeans, with new crop stocks coming in significantly lower than trade expectations. “USDA came in and obviously kept demand fairly strong for both corn and soybeans, and stocks coming in 220 million bushels less than anticipated by the trade for corn,” said Randy Martinson, president, Martinson Ag Risk Management. “That’s very friendly as far as corn is concerned. Soybean stocks also dropped 80 million bushels below expectations, despite an increase in yield. “That was even before we had a U.S.-China trade deal, too,” Martinson added weather will now take center stage. “We’re at a position where stocks are fairly tight, and any kind of a hiccup in production is going to cause these markets to see some strength.”

Pioneer Agronomy Update – Pioneer Field Agronomist Eric Lagge is featured in the latest Pioneer Agronomy Update. With a lot of emergence being seen in the region, Lagge offers insight into corn and soybean stand establishment. “After four days of extreme wind, it may be necessary to give corn plants a few days to green back up to accurately evaluate whether the severity of the wind-whipping or sand blasting warrants replanting.” The Pioneer Agronomy Update is heard Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on the Red River Farm Network. Click here. 

Cattle Prices Show No Signs of Slowing – Cattle markets are surging with record-high prices reported at local auction barns. Brad Thelen, owner, Long Prairie Livestock, says demand is strong across all classes, including dairy, beef, and crossbred calves. Holstein springers are topping out at $3,850, with baby beef calves reaching up to $1,450. Even cull and fat cattle are bringing historic prices, with quality beef cows selling between $154 and $195 per hundredweight. “What a market. That’s all I can say,” said Thelen.

Cattle Market Vulnerable to Sharp Correction – Cattle prices continue to push into record territory, but Van Ahn and Company Marketing Specialist Steve Witt warns the market may be nearing a tipping point. “Labor shortages are keeping the packing plants running at limited capacity.” Witt cited recent days when cattle slaughter was under 100,000 head “and at times, at peak capacity, they’re around 125,000–126,000 head so the limited supply is definitely affecting the cutouts.” Risk management strategies are advised. “We could lose $25, $30 of premium, not really doing a lot of chart damage, but we could crack that much lower just on some major trade news or all of the bans being lifted again.” Witt added that the biggest question going forward is how long consumers will continue to pay elevated prices.

MN Beef Update – In this week’s Minnesota Beef Update, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Kaitlyn Root offers information on the summer beef tour. Click here to listen. 

Supply+Demand=Price – The cattle market remains in lofty territory. Heartland Investor Services Commodity Trading Advisor Gene Graner is cautious at these levels. “We’re probably seeing a ceiling on what the consumers are willing to pay,” said Graner. “We’re already seeing Walmart struggle moving meat.” Cattle supplies are tight, but the consumers have to be willing to pay for beef. “Remember, supply plus demand equals price and $350 on this choice box beef choice seems to be quite a threshold up here.”

NCBA: Screwworms Likely to Cross Border This Summer – The U.S. cattle industry is on alert as the threat of New World Screwworm re-emerges. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall says the parasitic pest is likely to cross the southern border later this summer. “It’s no longer a question of whether or not we see a return of New World screwworms in the United States. It’s a matter of when. Probably sometime later this summer,” said Woodall. Efforts are underway to boost sterile fly production to curb the spread. Woodall emphasized the need for quick Congressional action, pointing to the bipartisan Stop Screwworms Act and potential Commodity Credit Corporation funding. “Congress needs to understand that while we appreciate their support, we have to get some things going now.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – In today’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management owner Randy Martinson cites the hog market as one of the stronger aspects of the market. “The front months are trading up over $100 now.” The Dow also had a good week last week. What’s not hot? ‘Everything else” said Martinson.

CRP Enrollment Announced – The Farm Service Agency is accepting offers for both the general and continuous Conservation Reserve Program sign-up through June 6. USDA only has 1.8 million acres available for CRP enrollment before it hits the statutory 27 million-acre cap.

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, Danielle Isaacson, Climate and Working Lands Manager, talks about a new report. Listen here. 

Farmers Turn to Agritourism to Boost Income – Agritourism is an opportunity for farmers to diversify income and share agriculture’s story with consumers. “Agritourism is the intersection between agriculture and tourism, and it includes five broad areas: education, hospitality, outdoor recreation, entertainment, and direct sales,” says University of Minnesota Extension Educator DeeDee LeMier. Agritourism comes in many forms. “Many folks have experienced agritourism in some way, such as U-Pick farms, corn mazes, farmers markets, or on-farm weddings so depending on your own experiences, that often flavors how people perceive what agritourism is.” Agritourism offers many benefits to farmers. “Agritourism provides an opportunity for farmers to be able to connect with their communities, their neighbors, with visitors in ways that are meaningful to them that connect with their values and that also allow them to add to their economic sustainability over time and to bring in that business diversity that makes it possible for them to continue farming.”

Deere Announces $20 Billion Pledge – During a second quarter call with investors, John Deere Chairman/CEO John May said the company will invest $20 billion in the U.S. over the next decade. Major projects include new assembly lines for the 9RX tractor in Waterloo, Iowa, a 120,000-square-foot expansion of the Deere remanufacturing facility in Missouri and the construction of a new excavator factory in North Carolina.

Electronic Acreage Reporting Saves Time and Money – The Farm Service Agency was seeking more efficiency even before the current reduction in staff. To that end, USDA accepts electronic acreage reports for FSA programs and crop insurance. MyAgData CEO Michelle Tressel says her company has taken a labor-intensive, paper-based system and digitized it.  “Typically, it takes a grower between 12 and 24 hours to file their report in the current manner and that depends on how many counties they farm in as well as the complexity of their farming operation,” said Tressel. “We changed that down to less than an hour.” Regarding simplicity, TurboTax was used as a comparison. There is an option to connect into precision agriculture tools like Climate FieldView. That allows the farmer to submit actual planted reports to FSA and RMA. By using actual planted data, farmers typically save three-to-ten percent on their crop insurance. “If you think about your yields per acre, when you’re using your actual planted acreage, you are no longer diluting your APH by using that larger CLU; correspondingly, you’re increasing your APH and by using your actual planted (acreage), you decrease your crop insurance premium, you increase your yield per acre, which corresponds to a higher guarantee on your crop insurance.” MyAgData is based in Fargo and is the only third-party company with the credentials to submit these reports directly to USDA. Listen to the interview with Tressel. 

Cutbacks Announced for Bayer Crop Science Frankfurt Facility – Bayer is reorganizing its Crop Science activities in Germany. As a result, the German-based company will discontinue its work in its Frankfurt location at the end of 2028. Bayer plans to sell a portion of the business and relocate other activities. In a statement, Bayer officials said the manufacturing of generic crop protection products, particularly from Asia, have oversupplied the market and driven prices lower. Regulatory pressures were also cited. This is part of Bayer’s five-year plan to ensure global competitiveness.

Ceres AI and FieldView Partner on AI-Driven Risk Intelligence – Ceres AI and Bayer Climate FieldView are working together, integrating Ceres AI’s advanced data analytics with FieldView’s digital farming platform. The collaboration will provide information to farmers, insurance carriers and capital management groups.

Rate Reduction OK’ed – The EPA has approved a rate reduction when applying Kenja 400SC fungicide on canola in six states, including North Dakota and Minnesota. The recommendation is now as low as four fluid ounces per acre to control white mold. This fungicide is produced by Summit Agro USA.

COFCO Invests Heavily in Brazilian Port – China is building the world’s largest export terminal in Santos, Brazil. The state-owned COFCO is behind this infrastructure investment. When complete, it will increase COFCO’s annual export capacity from 4.5 million tons to 14 million. Soybeans, corn and sugar will move out of this port. This facility is expected to reach full capacity in 2026.

Farm Aid Coming to MN – The 40^th anniversary Farm Aid concert will be held in Minneapolis this fall. In a statement, Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson said they’re coming to Minnesota “to fight for a food system that works for all of us.” The all-star event will be held on September 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

Students Learn High-Tech Farming Through FFA Initiative – The National FFA Organization and Microsoft are expanding their FarmBeats for Students program, which teaches precision agriculture in classrooms. Chief Program Officer Christine White said the program is aimed at helping prepare students for how emerging technologies are being integrated into farming operations. “We’re expanding to all 50 states so that students will have the ability to really look at tech and ag and sensors and how being able to put those pieces together will allow them to make smart farming and agricultural decision making moving forward.” The expansion follows a pilot program that started last year in four states. “It will allow students and teachers to look at technology and how technology plays a role in agriculture, and how we are equipping young people to be tech savvy.”

Canada Welcomes New Ag Minister – In the first post-election cabinet shuffle in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney named Heath MacDonald as the federal agriculture minister. MacDonald previously served on the House of Commons agriculture committee. MacDonald succeeds Lawrence MacAulay in the ag minister role.

Ibach Joins Midwest Council on Agriculture – The Midwest Council on Agriculture has added Greg Ibach as a policy advisor. Ibach is a former USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs and former Nebraska agriculture director. Ibach joins MWCA founder and former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson.

Dry Bean Scene – The Trump Administration has named the new Farm Service Agency state directors. Northarvest Bean Growers Association Executive Director Mitch Coulter welcomes these appointments in this week’s edition of the Dry Bean Scene. Listen.

Morris to Lead USDA AMS – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has appointed Erin Morris to be the new administrator of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Morris is currently the associate administrator and has been with the agency for 20 years. Morris succeeds Bruce Summers, who is retiring after a 40-year career at USDA.

Mersinger to Leave CFTC – Summer Mersinger is resigning from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to become CEO of the Blockchain Association, a lobbying group for the crypto industry. Mersinger filled a Republican seat at the CFTC and has been in that role since 2022. Mersinger is an Onida, South Dakota native who began her Washington, D.C. career working for Senate Majority Leader John Thune when he was a member of the House.

CropLife America Appoints Rea – BASF Senior Vice President of Agriculture Solutions Paul Rea has been appointed board chair for CropLife America. This is Rea’s second time serving in this role.

A Promotion for Snyder – Ceci Snyder has been promoted to senior director of marketing and operations with FoodChain ID. She’s been with the company for nearly five years. Snyder spent over 20 years with the National Pork Board with most of that time as its marketing vice president.

Schumacher Joins Meristem Leadership Team – Meristem Crop Performance has named David Schumacher its new chief commercial officer. Most recently, Schumacher was executive vice president and president of Helm Agro US. Previously, Schumacher was vice president of marketing for WinField United.

Hanson, King Added to Meristem Team – Meristem Crop Performance has added two sales representatives in the region. Curt Hanson is based at Mayville and will serve operations in North Dakota. Hanson previously was a location manager for Central Plains Ag Service. Cody King previously worked for Sound, King-Ag and Ag Systems. King lives at Toronto, South Dakota and is serving the Meristem business in his home state.

Muller Named SD Ag Ambassador – South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has named Glen Muller as the 2025 Governor’s Ag Ambassador. Muller, who is the executive director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, will be given the award at the Governor’s Ag Summit in Deadwood in mid-June.

Author Tom Brand Releases Debut Book – Longtime farm broadcaster Tom Brand, who also served as the executive director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, is now an author. “This isn’t a memoir,” Brand explains. “It’s a memory collection, a way to share the lessons and laughs that come from growing up where dirt roads and hard work meet.” With the unusual title, Welts on Your Butt a Calf Could Suck: Reflections on Faith, Family, and a Farm Kid’s Life, the book is now available for re-order.

Mental Health Advocate to Retire – Minnesota Agricultural Mental Health Specialist Ted Matthews plans to retire at the end of June. Matthews has spent more than 30 years in this role. Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said Matthew’s “impact on rural mental health in Minnesota can’t be overstated.”