Framework Finalized for ‘Social Infrastructure’ Bill – The White House and congressional Democratic leaders have put together the framework for the budget reconciliation bill. The Build Back Better plan has a price tag of $1.8 trillion, down from the previous proposal of $3.5 trillion. For agriculture, the plan includes a $25 per acre payment for cover crops, increased funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. There’s also $960 million for rural development, research, biofuels infrastructure and a debt forgiveness program for socially-disadvantaged farmers.

Pay-Fors in Place for Budget Reconcilation Plan – To pay for the budget reconciliation package, there will be a 15 percent corporate minimum tax on large companies. It also includes a five percent individual income tax surcharge on those with an adjusted gross income of $10 million and higher and an additional three percent surtax for an AGI above $25 million. The size of the Internal Revenue Service will double to increase enforcement. The previous proposals, including the elimination of stepped-up basis and changes to the estate tax, are not in the current plan.

Fertilizer Availability May Override Cost Concerns – As farmers in the Eastern Corn Belt wrap up harvest, many are preparing for next season. Based in central Illinois, Bennett Consulting owner Matt Bennett thinks availability of inputs will be a bigger issue than cost. “Once the soil temperature gets where it needs to be, farmers need to be ready to roll. The big issue I see moving forward is if we don’t get a good fall run in the Eastern Corn Belt on anhydrous and you don’t get much on, this will test the system like we never have before.” Because of supply concerns, Bennett says many farmers are choosing to put fertilizer down sooner, rather than later.

Epic Acreage Battle Likely – According to AgriSompo North America market analyst Sterling Smith, input costs will drive the decision process over acreage in 2022. “We are going to have an epic acreage battle if we see strong South American production. That will pressure prices and we’ll need to make tough decisions and guys will be looking at everything they can to avoid those big input costs.”

Buying Acres – With spring wheat at more than $10 per bushel, Ever.Ag market analyst Matt Tranel expects wheat to buy acres. The unknown is where those acres will come from. “How many acres really do move out of a different crop into Minneapolis wheat? We won’t know for awhile, but there will definitely be some.” Fertilizer will also play a role in next year’s corn acreage. “The thoughts are right now you’ll have fewer acres because costs are high or you get less production per acre if you don’t feed the crop as well.”

Barge Shipments Grind Lower – Barge grain movement on the Mississippi River was record low in mid-September. The decline is due to low grain stocks and the impacts from Hurricane Ida. In the midst of market and weather uncertainty, the supply of hopper barges was low to begin the marketing year. USDA says the Gulf area is recovering from the hurricane, but the shipping industry is still facing high fuel and labor costs.

Container Fee Imposed to Ease Port Congestion – Beginning today, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are implementing an emergency fee for shipping containers that aren’t moved quickly. A record number of container ships are waiting at anchor to load and unload which is adding to the congestion at the port. On the first day past the allowed period, a fee of $100 per container will be assessed. That goes to $200 on the second day, $300 on the third day, etc.

Farm Groups Ask Court of International Trade to Intervene – The Agricultural Retailers Association, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council and National Sorghum Producers are asking the U.S. Court of International Trade to overturn a previous decision regarding phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco. In March, the ITC began imposing tariffs on Moroccan and Russian phosphate fertilizers. Mosaic filed the petition to implement the tariffs. “We’re facing sever cost hikes on fertilizers and are worried about fertilizer shortages,” said Chris Edgington, president, NCGA. The farm groups claim Mosaic controls over 80 percent of the phosphate market.

Ag Chem Restrictions Would Hurt an Already-Stressed Supply Chain – The EPA is considering regulatory revisions for several herbicides. In a letter put together by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association and National Cotton Council, the plea was made to avoid additional registration or label restrictions. These farm groups said EPA restrictions would “likely exacerbate product shortages or lead to potentially catastrophic market disruptions.”

La Nina May Influence Argentine Corn Acreage – Soybean and Corn Advisor President Michael Cordonnier says Brazil’s farmers are off to a good start while planting in Argentina lags behind. “They plant their corn in two phases; the first phase is in September and October, they kind of skip November and than they go with the second phase in December and January.” With La Nina, Argentina could see dry conditions in December and farmers may reluctant to plant corn. “I think those corn acres are in flux.”

The Atmosphere is ‘Not Broken’ – The harvest was slowed by this past week’s rain. Nutrien Principle Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass is optimistic about the moisture situation. “The good news is October brought a lot of moisture. I know that chased us out of the field and it was a problem, but it tells me the atmosphere is not broken and it’ll get moisture to you this year.”  Snodgrass is watching to see if the La Nina fades in January or February. “If it is gone and fading hard at that point, we could transition into an El Nino spring and summer. With that the jetstream will come out of the southwest and that means we get normal precipitation and reduce the risk of drought.”

Harvest is Wrapping Up in Southeastern North Dakota – According to Pioneer Field Agronomist J.J. Jaehnning, nearly all of the soybeans and 80 percent of the corn has been harvested in southeastern North Dakota. “Corn has been a pleasant surprise, but that is really based on geography.” Corn lodging has been minimal. “In some of the really drought prone pockets where they received only two-or-three inches of rain all summer, that plant cannibalized itself and there is some down corn, but by and large the corn is standing really well.” Looking ahead to next year, Jaehnning says input costs will be a big consideration. Listen to the full interview.

A Goldilocks Crop – Reflecting on the sugarbeet harvest, Grand Forks farmer Paul Sproule made a comparison to the story of Goldilocks. “It’s been too hot, too cold and too wet.” Sproule’s attention will now shift to corn. “The test weights look decent; we had really dry corn and then we got those rains and picked up some moisture.” Yields will be highly variable.

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – Corn, spring wheat, canola and oats are higher to start the week. That puts more focus on the Northern Plains as farmers make acreage decisions for 2022. In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Advance Trading Risk Management Advisor Tommy Grisafi says input costs and labor issues are concerns.

Sunflower Harvest Begins to Wind Down – Winfield United Croplan product manager Mark Torno thinks about 15 percent of the crop is still in the field. “It’s been a fast moving harvest and the income coming off these acres, I think, is better than every single crop that is out there.” Torno says oil content has been phenomenal.  “We haven’t had oil this high in a few years and getting those bonus premiums has been icing on top of the cake.”

American Crystal Harvest Nearing the End – Sugarbeet harvest for the American Crystal Sugar Company is starting to wrap up. “We’ve had great progress. With the cool nights, farmers are doing a good job keeping toppers close so we can keep going and putting sugarbeets in the pile,” says Joe Hastings, general agronomist, American Crystal Sugar Company. “We anticipate wrapping up with harvest before November 1.” Sugarbeet growers are harvesting a respectable crop. “We think this crop will come in around 29 tons. It’s a very nice surprise. We got good rains in September and a good crop.”

Equipment is Parked for the Year – Most of the fall fieldwork is complete in the Roseau, Minnesota area. Richard Magnusson says crops were widely variable. “Crops were generally better than expected, but there were some pretty low expectations with as dry as it was.” Magnusson has not made many cropping decisions for 2022. “The markets are pretty wild, especially with some of the specialty crops, and the other big factor is what is happening with fertilizer prices.”

Crop College – Be careful when basing next year’s crop decisions on this year’s crop. That’s the main message from Peterson Farms Seed agronomist Rick Swenson in the latest Crop College update.

Moisture Situation Improves – The soybean harvest is nearing the end in southeastern North Dakota. Well over half of the corn is done. DEKALB Asgrow agronomist Grant Mehring says there is optimism for 2022. “We have really recharged the soil moisture profile,” said Mehring. “W’e’re going to see the ponds refilling and the rivers at a little higher level. Where the winter goes will really determine what kind of spring we have.”

Fall Tillage and Fertilizer Applications in Focus – Stephen, Minnesota farmer Craig Halfmann is almost done with harvest for the year. Once soybean harvest wraps up, fall tillage and fertilizer application will be the focus. “In addition to tillage, we’re also doing drainage work and ridging for next year’s sugarbeets. There’s not much time left for fieldwork when you get to October, but as long as the weather allows, we’ll do as much as we can.”

Getting Ground in Good Shape – Buffalo, North Dakota farmer Randy Melvin is working fields of corn stalks and soybean stubble, preparing for the 2022 growing season. “There are some corn fields that have rye growing in it. I’ll leave those with the plan of no-tilling soybeans into those next year. We’re trying to get the ground in the best shape we can as long as Mother Nature allows.” Melvin doesn’t want to risk losing topsoil. “We’ve been playing with rye as a cover crop for a few years. We’ve learned a lot.”

Soil Test May Look Very Different Next Spring – Combines were parked at midweek due to rain. Channel District Sales Manager Mike Dufault says the moisture is welcomed. “Wow, I think this is important to recharge the soil moisture; if we could see a few more of these before spring, it would be great.” Higher-than-normal residual nitrogen is being seen in many fields. Dufault saw a similar situation in 2012. “The nitrogen is real, but the question is how much moisture do we get between now and next spring and does that nitrogen stick around,” said Dufault. “A soil test this fall may look a whole lot different than it would next spring.” Due to high fertilizer prices, Dufault is seeing increased demand for soybean seed for 2022. Farmers are being advised to lock in that seed purchase now to get specific varieties.

Soil Sampling and Nitrogen Calculators Can Payoff – For those waiting to apply fertilizer, NDSU Extension Soil Specialist David Franzen says a good soil sample now can help farmers prepare for spring fertility needs. “Many times, coming out of a drought, we expect there to be large amounts of nitrogen in the soil. In some cases, there is, but in other cases there can be normal amounts.” Frazen said there wasn’t any nitrogen mineralization in the soil this past year. “All the crops saw all year was whatever nitrogen fertilizer was put on. Maybe the residual nitrogen isn’t as high as people think it is.” Tools like University of Minnesota Extension and NDSU Extension’s nitrogen calculators can help farmers make better decisions and save money. “Fertilizer prices are high. Consult these nitrogen calculators to find the most profitable rates to use.”

ND Farmers Learn From Spring Top Soil Losses – Based in the Jamestown, North Dakota area, Centrol Crop Consulting agronomist Lee Briese thinks there’s been an increase in cover crop plantings, but a decline in tillage this fall. “I think this relates to the high winds we had in spring 2022. We had a lot of wind erosion in March and April. Farmers remembered that so rather than leaving the soil open, farmers are leaving residue.” Following a dry year, Briese says it’s important to monitor water intake for cover crops. “Oats, wheat and other cereal cover crops are likely already dead. If your cover crop is still alive, it may likely be time to terminate.”

Dry Bean Scene – The Michigan dry bean harvest is running ahead of schedule, and this year’s crop is one for the books. Hear more from Michigan State University Dry Bean Systems Specialist Scott Bales in this week’s Dry Bean Scene. This radio update is made possible by Johnstown Bean Company, SRS Commodities, Sharpen from BASF and the Northarvest Bean Growers Association.

Ag Represented at UN Climate Summit – The Biden Administration has announced its strategy to reach a net-zero goal for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan includes the use of clean energy to generate electricity. Regarding agriculture, the report promotes climate-smart farming practices. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is part of the U.S. delegation at the climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland this week. “We are making sure that folks understand that America is leading in efforts to expand significantly investments in ag research and climate-smart practices.” Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow and National Farmers Union President Rob Larew are also representing U.S. agriculture at the UN climate change summit.

Senators Send RFS Letter to President Biden – A group of Republican Midwest Senators sent a letter to President Biden and others in the Biden administration, cautioning against attacks against the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Senators reiterate the importance of using higher blends of biofuels, like E15, as a greener option at the fuel pump. They also ask Biden to set robust Renewable Volume Obligations to restore the integrity of the RFS.

Trump Era Endangered Species Definitition Rescinded – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is withdrawing two changes made to the Endangered Species Act. The rule changes adjusted the definition of ‘habitat’ and were made during the final days of the Trump presidency. The previous administration said the endangered species designation did not give enough consideration to the economic impact on agriculture and the energy industries.

House Ag Committee Dives into Biotech – The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock hosted a hearing on the state of biotechnology on Tuesday. Subcommittee Ranking Member Dusty Johnson of South Dakota gave opening comments. “How are we going to feed a growing world at the same time where we are working to be good stewards of the environment? We are called to feed the world. We aren’t going to succeed without embracing innovation and technology.” Johnson said innovation allows farmers to produce more food with fewer resources. Watch the hearing.

Corn Matters – There is a Call to Action out from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association on the Next Generation Fuels Acts. Find out more from board member Brian Thalmann in the latest Corn Matters program.

Fall Crop Insurance Values Finalized – With the turn of the calendar, the fall insurance price discovery period is complete. The final reference price is $5.37 per bushel for corn and $12.30 per bushel for soybeans. That compares to a spring price of $4.58 per bushel for corn and $11.87 per bushel for soybeans. The corn price was up 17 percent from spring-to-fall and soybeans increased nearly four percent.

Tai Hopes to Stabilize Trade Relationship With China – Speaking at a National Chicken Council meeting, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said trade relationship with China is in a difficult place. Tai highlighted a recent call with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He where she spoke about the importance of working together. However, the Chinese officials wants the U.S. to eliminate tariffs on their products. Tai said her goal is to “bring the temperature down” so the two sides can stabilize the trade relationship.

U.S. and European Union Find Resolution on Steel and Aluminum Tariffs – The United States and European Union reached an agreement to re-establish a transatlantic trade flow of steel and aluminum. A statement from the White House says the United States will not apply section 232 duties and will allow duty-free imports of steel and aluminum from the EU at historical-based volume. The EU will also suspend related tariffs on U.S. products. Moving forward, the U.S. and EU will create a technical working group to develop a method to confront climate change and global market distortions.

Trade Missions Return in ’22 – COVID-related travel restrictions are being lifted and USDA in-person trade missions will begin again in 2022. The first trade mission on the schedule is to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in mid-February.

New DMI CEO Outlines Her Vision – In a news briefing, Dairy Management, Inc.’s new CEO, Barbara O’Brien said she wants to see a more deliberate approach to exports. “Rather than taking a pro forma approach annually, we’ve talked about putting together a three year plan and being deliberate on how those dollars flow depending on where the business is and how the opportunities come forward.” That includes a growing investment in the export arena. O’Brien said the promotion of dairy products is critically important. Partnerships are described as a way to expand those efforts. “We need to continue to look at milk and milk-based products that meet consumers’ changing lifestyles.” O’Brien has been with the dairy checkoff program for 20 years, most recently as DMI’s president and the CEO of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

DMC Payments Top $981 Million – Through the first eight months of the year, USDA Dairy Margin Coverage indemnity payments have totaled more than $981 million. Payments have averaged $51,500 year-to-date. Wisconsin leads the nation in the total amount of DMC payments, followed by California, New York and Wisconsin.

Minnesota Beef Update – The new Minnesota Beef Ambassador team has been announced. Hear more from Minnesota State CattleWomen’s member Natasha Mortenson in the latest Minnesota Beef Update.

National FFA Strives to Come Back Stronger – When schools went virtual during COVID, agriculture education programs were challenged. In the last year, National FFA membership declined by three percent. That’s more than 25,000 members. Current FFA membership is at 735,000. National FFA Organization CEO Scott Stump says FFA is still digging into the data, evaluating the trends and trying to learn from the pandemic. “We are thinking through which activities we need to have in person and convention is one of them. Part of the reason why convention registration is likely so strong this year, well above 55,000, is because there is pent up demand. Advisors and students say they need this.” Moving forward, National FFA plans to bring back the in-person Washington Leadership Conference in 2022. FFA is still trying to decide which hybrid pieces are sticking around for the next National FFA Convention. Hear the story.

National FFA Organization Names 2022 Officer Team – A new National FFA Officer team was named during the final session of the National FFA Convention.  A South Dakota State University student will serve as the Central Region Vice President. Wisconsin-native Cortney Zimmerman is an agricultural communications major. Her top goal is for the next generation of agriculture to understand how important they are to the FFA. “It happens in one-on-one connections with students, being able to find students through our travels at conventions or in the classroom.” The new National FFA President is Cole Baerlocher from Washington. The National FFA Secretary is Jackson Sylvester from Delaware. The Southern Region Vice President is Erik Robinson Jr. from Georgia. Representing the Eastern Region is Mallory White from Kentucky. In the next year, these six officers will interact with business and industry leaders, FFA members, corporate sponsors, government officials and others.

USDA Under Secretary Stops by National FFA Convention – Almost three months after being confirmed, USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Moffitt is traveling and meeting with the agriculture industry. Moffitt attended National FFA Convention on Thursday. She says there are a few key issues to watch. “We have critical things to work on like African swine fever and other pest and disease issues, but then we have some exciting things on growing and building resiliency in the food system. There’s work we’re doing on competition, including the Packers and Stockyards Act.” Moffitt would not speak about the ongoing cattle market investigations at the Department of Justice, but did have something to say about African swine fever. “We are diligently working and testing. We don’t have results that show there’s ASF in the United States, but we won’t let our guard down anytime soon.”

National FFA Names American Star Award Winners – Four American Star award winners were announced during the sixth general session of the National FFA Convention on Friday. The American Star Farmer is Grady Johnson from Nebraska. The Star in Agribusiness is Tyler Ertzberger from Georgia. The American Star in Agriscience is Chase Krug from Iowa. The American Star in Agricultural Placement is Caleb Peckham from Connecticut. Read more.

Local Farmer Recognized as American Star Finalist – As a finalist for the American Star Farmer award, Carson, North Dakota farmer Kurt Muggli will receive a cash award to help out on the farm. He currently farms 1,800 acres of wheat, corn, soybeans and sunflowers. “I grew up in a combine and tractor. Just being around the farm, that’s what drove me to continue to want to farm. At the end of the day, you can see what you did. Not many jobs allow you to see the rewards each day at the end of the day.” Now that convention has wrapped up, Muggli is back in North Dakota and will resume sunflower harvest.

Olander Wins Ag Mechanics Proficiency Award – At the National FFA Convention, Staples-Motley FFA member Ben Olander won a proficiency award in agricultural mechanics design and fabrication placement. “I started out completing simple tasks around my uncle’s machine shop, changing parts. He taught me how to weld and fabricate metal. As I learned more, I worked on more complex projects. To be part of those processes and learn for my future farm some day is incredible.” Olander will receive a scholarship from the National FFA to use at the University of Minnesota – Crookston as he majors in business and agronomy.

Rugby, ND FFA Chapter Wins CDE – The Rugby FFA Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems Team is the best in the nation. Kordell Kraft was among the top ten individuals in this contest. “It is really rewarding to put in all of the work and get to this point and win as a team.” Carson Mattern placed fifth in the career development event and visited with the Red River Farm Network. “When I grew up, my grandpa worked on all of our farm equipment and he taught me everything I know so it reminds me of him when I work on stuff like this.”

Staples-Motley FFA Gets Second Place in Ag Communications CDE – During the National FFA Convention, the Staples-Motley FFA Chapter was ranked second in the Agriculture Communications Career Development Event. “I think it was great to learn more about the agriculture communications editing quizzes,” said Addison Lorber, Staples-Motley FFA. “We learned together and this shows us that hard work pays off in the end.” Part of the contest was virtual, done before the in-person convention, and the team had an in-person presentation in Indianapolis. “This has been a super long process and we worked so hard, but in the end it’s worth it,” said Brooke Converse, Staples-Motley FFA.

Honorary American FFA Degrees Awarded – Honorary American FFA Degree awards were awarded during the fourth general session at the National FFA Convention on Friday. This award is the highest recognition available to individuals in the FFA. Those receiving the award contributed to local, state and national programs and have established legacies of leadership for agriculture. Minnesota nominated 10 individuals for the honor including Doris Mold, Natasha Mortenson, Sherry Newell-Optiz, Lavyne Rada, Amy Smith, Darcy Dahna, Stacy Fritz and Michael Miron. North Dakota has four recipients including Tracy Hartwig, Tam Maddock, Adam Marx and Daniel Spellerberg. South Dakota does not have Honorary American FFA Degree recipients this year.

SD FFA Delegates Discuss Ways to Make a Difference – During the National FFA Convention, delegates considered ways to improve the organization. South Dakota FFA State President Tessa Erdmann from Groton, South Dakota served on the ag education and retention committee. “We’re excited to promote the scholarships we have available at the National FFA. The scholarships are meant to encourage colleges to start an agricultural education program and more.” South Dakota FFA State Sentinel Trinity Peterson was also a delegate. “I served on the membership experience committee. One recommendation was to put a personal circumstances box on scholarships, for students with extenuating circumstances. Especially due to the COVID pandemic, there’s not really a spot to account for those missed activities,” says Peterson. “We also explored the option to put a link for IEP and 504 plans on scholarships.”

Vilsack: Diverse Agriculture Career Opportunities Available – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had a few things to say to the National FFA Convention attendees last week. Vilsack made virtual remarks, mostly focused on building careers in agriculture. “I know you all can lead the way to change and advance work on important issues and priorities. The opportunities for a career and agriculture are diverse and often at the forefront of addressing some of the toughest challenges we face as a nation and world in the 21st century. You all are tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture. I have no doubt the future will be bright with you at the helm.”

Making an Investment in the Future of Agriculture – The CHS Foundation is partnering with the National FFA Organization to support the future of agriculture. CHS Foundation President Nanci Lilja says the investment is spread across many different programs. “We support the National Teach Ag Campaign, National FFA Convention, the Supervised Agricultural Experience program, state officer leadership programs and more.” Lilja attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this past week. Lilja enjoys interacting with FFA members. “The chance to listen to FFA members at convention and interact with them, seeing the sea of blue jackets walking down the street, it’s invigorating. I always come back feeling very encouraged about the future of agriculture.”

Exploring the Collegiate Section of the National FFA Expo – There’s a collegiate section of the National FFA Expo. The University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University all had a presence at the event last week. Oakes-Sargent-Central North Dakota FFA Chapter Greenhand Olivia Throener walked through the Expo during convention. “I think we’ll find a lot of cool, different businesses and colleges to talk to about opportunities.” At the NDSU booth, former North Dakota FFA Officer Jayden MacDonald has a new perspective on the Expo this year. “As a student and FFA member, all of these things are going on at the Expo and people are trying to get you interested in things. As soon as you’re out of the corduroy jacket, now you do the same thing. It’s now your job to help students figure out what they want to do after high school.”

A Bright Future Ahead for Agriculture – Agriculture companies attend the National FFA Convention to interact with the future of agriculture. Nutrien Ag Solutions Vice President of Marketing, Sustainability and Proprietary Products Brent Smith was at the FFA Expo last week. “We made an observation these kids aren’t walking around, looking at their phones. They’re walking around talking to each other and experiencing the convention. I know it was hard to not do it last year and we understand why, but it’s good to be back.” Smith appreciates the skills FFA members bring to the workplace. “These students bring passion about agriculture. Then, they bring leadership and work experience. These are people working to bring the next level of innovation to our industry.”

MDA Funds Farm Stress & Rural Mental Health Projects – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and 11 project partners have been awarded $500,000 in federal support to address farm stress and rural mental health. The MDA’s ‘Build, Don’t Break’ initiative includes support for mental health counseling, farm advocates, the farm and rural helpline and the Red River Farm Network TransFARMation radio and podcast series.

Funds Awarded for ND Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance – USDA has awarded $500,000 to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and its Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The funding will be used for education and address the issue of farm stress and mental wellness.

ND Special Session Scheduled – The North Dakota Legislature will convene one week from today, November 8, for a special session. Lawmakers will allocate funding from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan. Priorities include strategic investments in infrastructure, workforce development and the economy. Tax relief will also be on the table.

LiDAR Provides Imagery for Flood Mitigation and Ag Drainage – The Red River Watershed Management Board is contracting with a Colorado company to collect mapping data from the air. LiDAR provides detailed imagery that can be used for flood mitigation and habitat restoration. This type of data was last collected in the area in 2009. RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip says new technology provides very detailed information. “We’re really excited to be able to use imagry and data to tell our story and the tie-in back to ag drainage and that can be done better and more efficiently with more precision and accuracy.” Over half of the Red River Basin has been surveyed. Depending on weather, the data collection should wrap up within three-to-four weeks.

Ag and Food Summit This Week – The Minnesota Agriculture and Food Summit will be held Thursday in Minneapolis. Governor Tim Walz will present his views on the State of Agriculture.”We will also have Dr. John Newton, who is the chief economist for Ranking Member John Boozman from the Senate Agriculture Committee,” explained Tamara Nelsen, executive director,  AgriGrowth. “John will give us an economic outlook, but also insight into where the Senate might be for ag policy for the next farm bill.” The agenda also includes a look at cybersecurity in agriculture and an appearance by USDA Undersecretary Jennifer Moffitt. “She is an organic walnut farmer who has been the commissioner of agriculture in California and I think she will provide a unique perspective on getting your farm products to market.”

We’re All Ears: A Look Below the Equator and Ahead to 2022 – Weather is favorable for planting progress in South America. “Brazil may end up planting 98 to 99 million acres of soybeans,” says Lynn Sandlin, business intelligence manager, Syngenta. “If realized, that would be a new record. Brazil will be the top producer for soybeans again this year. They’re looking at probably in the 50 to 51 million acres of early crop and second crop corn.” Once the U.S. gets through harvest, Nutrien Ag Solutions Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass is watching to see if soil moisture gets replenished this winter. “Nearly all long-range forecasts have La Nina.” Hear more from Sandlin and Snodgrass in the latest podcast episode from Golden Harvest called “A Look Below the Equator and Ahead at 2022.” This episode is available on the Golden Harvest website, Podbean, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Spotify.

ADM Profits Double in Q3 – Strong oilseed crush margins and rising vegetable oil demand are having a positive impact on ADM’s agricultural services and oilseeds unit. The company is reporting strong third quarter profits with revenue at $20.34 billion. The strong vegetable oil demand, including from renewable fuels makers and favorable crush margins brought a 42 percent profit jump. Earlier this year, ADM announced plans to build a soy crush facility at the Spiritwood Energy Park near Jamestown, North Dakota. The $350 million facility is expected to process 150,000 bushels of soybeans per day. In August, ADM and Marathon formed a joint venture to make renewable diesel.

Profits Improve for Bunge – Bunge reports third quarter net income of $653 million, up from $262 million one year ago. Rising demand for vegetable oils to produce renewable diesel pushed the profits higher for the refined and specialty oils division. The milling business segment suffered due to higher input costs.

Syngenta Group Earnings Improve – The Syngenta Group is reporting third quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $800 million. That’s up 13 percent from one year ago. For the first nine months of the financial year, sales in the crop protection business were up 19 percent. MIRAVIS fungicide brand sales in North America were strong. ADAMA sales grew 19 percent with an increase in biological sales for cereal crops, sugarbeets and potatoes. Syngenta Seed sales are up 25 percent.

Canola Minute – The 15th Annual Canola Research Conference is Thursday, November 4 in Fargo. Learn more from Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman in the latest Canola Minute.

Indigo Acquires Soil Metrics – Indigo Agriculture has announced the acquisition of a company involved in assessing carbon and greenhouse gases called Soil Metrics. Indigo officials said this deal will help enhance and scale its carbon measurement, reporting and verification system.

PhycoTerra Approved for Residue Management – Heliae Agricutlure has received an expanded label in the U.S. for PhycoTerra in post-harvest residue management. PhycoTerra is a soil microbial food that is used in the management of crop residue. This product is not dependent on temperature so it can be used to maximize residue decomposition in late harvest, improving conditions for planting next spring.

Record Land Sales for Farmers National Company – With the end of its fiscal year, Farmers National Company said it marketed and sold a record amount of land. The company handled over three-quarters of a billion of real estate sales during the past 12 months, beating the previous record that was set in 2013. Farmers National said higher land prices and an increase in demand brought more sellers into the farmland market.

Tyson to Meet Vax Deadline – Tyson Foods has announced 96 percent of its workforce is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In early August, Tyson said it would require the vaccination by November 1^st. Tyson Foods is one of the world’s largest food companies and one the largest to require vaccinations.

Deere and Union Reach Agreement, Ratifaction Vote is Next – John Deere has reached a tentative agreement with union workers. The new agreement is for a six-year contract. Details of the agreement have not been released. The strike will continue until after the contract is ratified.

AG Settles With Sparboe Farms – Sparboe Farms has reached an agreement with the Minnesota Attorney General’s office to settle a lawsuit over price gouging. The Minnesota-based egg producer will donate more than one-million eggs to state nonprofit groups to address hunger and food insecurity. The lawsuit claims Sparboe Farms tripled its egg prices in March of 2020 during the early days of the pandemic. Under a state executive order, Minnesota consumers were protected from COVID-related profiteering from March of 2020-to-July of 2021.

PMA and United Fresh to Combine – The Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association are creating a new organization called the International Fresh Produce Association. The newly combined association will be officially launched in January.

Corn Comments – Priorities for the coming year will be discussed and approved at the annual business meeting of South Dakota Corn Growers Association on December 7. Find out more in the latest Corn Comments program.

Trudeau’s Third Term Begins With Cabinet Announcement – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reappointed Marie-Claude Bibeau as the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Bibeau was first appointed in 2019 and is Canada’s first female agriculture minister. Mary Ng will continue to oversee international trade and export promotion, a role she has had since 2018.

Ambassador McCain Confirmed – The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Arizona businesswoman Cindy McCain to be the U.S. ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture. McCain is the widow of Senator John McCain. The Food and Agriculture Organization focuses on the issues of food security and sustainable agriculture.

Antitrust Lawyer Gains Committee Approval – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the nomination of Jonathan Kanter to serve as an assistant attorney general in the antitrust division. Kanter is an attorney who has focused on antitrust issues within the technology business. During the hearing, Kanter promised to enforce antitrust laws in many areas, including agriculture.

Senate Ag Committee Adds Noffsinger to Staff – Alex Noffsinger is a new policy analyst for the Senate Agriculture Committee. Noffsinger’s responsibilities include commodity agriculture, crop insurance, livestock, dairy, specialty crops and labor. Most recently, Noffsinger was a legislative manager with The Russell Group.

Wheat Yield Winners From ND, MN, SD – Farmers from the tri-state region are winners in the National Wheat Yield Contest. Ransom County, North Dakota farmer John Hofer tops the spring wheat dryland division. Hofer yielded 122.2 bushels per acre with a WestBred variety. Dallas Diesen of Roseau County, Minnesota was next with a yield of nearly 115 bushels per acre, followed by Robert Holzwart of Hamlin County, South Dakota with a yield of 110.5 bushels per acre. Diesen used a WestBred variety and Holzwarth had a Limagrain variety. National winners will be recognized during Commodity Classic.

MPCA Commissioner Named – Governor Tim Walz has appointed Katrina Kessler to serve as the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Most recently, Kessler was the assistant commissioner for water policy and agriculture. Before that, Kessler worked in water issues for the city of Minneapolis.

A Career Move for Wilkins – Jake WIlkins is now an account director for ROKK Solutions. Wilkins was the communications director for North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer.

Minnesota Wheat Minute – This week’s Minnesota Wheat Minute features an update from the National Wheat Foundation. Hear more from board member Scott Swenson in the update.

HOF Honors for Henderson – AgriMarketing publisher Lynn Henderson has been inducted into the Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame. Henderson has been at the helm of AgriMarketing magazine since 2005. The recognition was done during the Ag Relations Council Annual Meeting.

AFBF Top Awards Announced – The American Farm Bureau Federation has announced two major award recipients. The  Distinguished Service Award will be presented to former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Former AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Terry Gilbert is being recognized with the Founder’s Award. The Farm Bureau convention will be held January 7-12 in Atlanta.

Corteva Board Names New CEO –

Chuck Magro has been appointed as Corteva’s chief executive officer. Magro suceeds Jim Collins, Jr., who announced plans to retire in June. Most recently, Magro was the CEO at Nutrien.

Bushel Adds Chief Growth Officer – Fargo-based Bushel has announced Michael Sharov is its new chief growth officer. Previously, Sharov was the head of strategy for Caterpillar Digital. He also was instrumental in the development of Encirca Services for DowDupont, which is now known as Corteva. Bushel provides software technology solutions for farmers, grain buyers, ag retailers and food companies.

Petta Takes UPL Job – UPL has named James Petta as the North American head of its natural plant protection business, overseeing the portfolio of natural and biologically-derived ag inputs and technologies. Petta has 36 years of experience in the ag industry, most recently at Valent USA and EcoFlora.

Foster Joins AMVAC – AMVAC has named Mark Foster as its Midwest marketing manager. Foster has worked for Monsanto/Bayer since 1999.

RLND Names New Program DIrector – Katie Tyler is joining North Dakota State University as an Extension specialist and program director for Rural Leadership North Dakota. Most recently, Tyler was the director of enrollment services at Minot State University. Previously, Tyler was a 4-H youth development specialist with NDSU Extension and an associate director student activities with Philadelphia University.

Plea Deal Granted in Crop Insurance Fraud Case – A northwest Minnesota farmer has pled guilty to crop insurance fraud. Kevan Jon Nelson will pay nearly $550,000 in restitution to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. With the plea agreement, Nelson could face 21-to-27 months in prison and fines of $10,000-to-$95,000. That’s far below a potential 30 years in prison and more than $1 million fine. The Lake Park farmer allegedly made false reports to receive crop insurance payments in 2018 and 2019.

BNSF Executive Passes – Former BNSF Group Vice President for Agricultural Products John Miller passed away. Miller, 60, previously worked for Continental Grain, Bartlett Grain and Scoular Grain. Miller was with BASF since 2008.