The Place to Be – The National Association of Farm Broadcasting is in Kansas City this week for its annual convention. One highlight will be Thursday’s induction of Gale Cunningham and Janet Adkison into the NAFB Hall of Fame. Cunningham is a veteran Illinois farm broadcaster who recently began a new endeavor as the ag director for the Central Illinois Multimedia Group. Adkison is now the director of public affairs and advocacy for the Missouri Farm Bureau. Her farm broadcasting career highlights include time at RFD-TV and KMZU radio. Established in 1986, the NAFB Hall of Fame has recognized 81 farm broadcasters. That list includes RRFN’s Mike Hergert in 2015 and Don Wick in 2018. The RRFN team will broadcast from the NAFB Convention later this week.

Trump Touts Lower Food Prices – Affordability has become the new mantra from both parties in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump addressed food prices before leaving Florida last night. “Prices are coming down very substantially on groceries; they’re already much lower than they were in the last administration,” said Trump. Trump signed an executive order on Friday that exempts numerous food imports from high tariffs. The list includes everything from coffee to bananas. The White House is also dropping a ten percent tariff on Argentine beef imports. In addition, 80,000 metric tons of Argentine beef can be imported duty-free. That’s up from 20,000 tons before Friday’s announcement.

Another Surprise for the Cattle Market – The chaotic cattle market suffered another surprise with the White House removing beef from its reciprocal tariff list. Tariffs were rolled back on more than 200 items, including beef. The cattle herd remains at a 70-year low, but took a psychological hit on October 19^th when President Trump told reporters U.S. beef prices were too high. Trump doubled down with similar comments on Truth Social. Another twist happened on November 7^th when Trump called for a Justice Department investigation into the four major beef meatpackers.

Fertilizer Import Tariffs Rolled Back – The Trump Administration has made a dramatic shift in its tariff strategy, rolling back reciprocal tariffs on numerous food and agriculture products. Faced with high input costs, farmers will see relief with the action taken on fertilizers. The executive order exempts ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate, UAN, ammonium sulfate, DAP and MAP fertilizer from U.S. import tariffs.

Farm Bill Extended – Included in the bill to reopen the government, Congress passed a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. This is the third farm bill extension in the past three years. The extension covers areas not addressed in the July budget reconciliation bill.

Hoeven Highlights Ag Funding Secured in the CR – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven hosted a roundtable event at NDSU Friday, outlining key ag provisions secured in the continuing resolution that reopened the government. “The funding we got into the legislature exceeds $50 million when you look at NDSU and its partners,” said Hoeven. “That includes everything from ag research to the new Ag Risk Policy Center that we have here, which is really a national center now.” Hoeven drew comparisons between the new policy center and the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). “We really are now driving farm policy on a national basis with our policy center. Also, $5 million for Grand Farm, which is driving the future of agriculture.” Hoeven chairs the important Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee.

Cramer Hails Progress After Historic Shutdown – After the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the Senate voted 60 to 40 to advance an appropriations package that could finally reopen federal agencies. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer says the bipartisan vote was a major step forward. “Getting those last five Democratic votes to get us to 60 was huge. I get the sense there are several other Democrats in the vote no, hope yes category who are just as relieved, even though they couldn’t or didn’t have to vote yes to finally get the government reopened.” The spending package includes key funding for farm programs, FSA offices, and research that will benefit producers nationwide.

The Certainty of a 5-Year Farm Bill Needed – American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Scott VanderWal, who is also president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, said farmers need the certainty of a five-year farm bill. “We already know that fertilizer prices are going to be quite a bit higher. Landlords aren’t voluntarily reducing rents, and so we will certainly see higher costs in a very low commodity price environment,” said VanderWal. “I think the temperatures are going to start rising as people go in for loan negotiations. I’ve already heard from some people who think they’re probably gonna be told no. That will be a very unfortunate thing; that’s where the cries from the country are going to start coming up.”

Farm Bill Extension Ends Shutdown, Leaves Issues Unresolved – NDFB President Daryl Lies says the one-year farm bill extension was expected, but leaves important issues unresolved. “Without going big into that whole farm bill, there’s a lot of those regulatory relief things that we would like out there, and those things not being really addressed is part of the concern.”  Lies wants Congress to return to regular order in the appropriations process. “More than just reopening the government again, we need to ask if we’re really doing things the way they’re supposed to be. If not, did we really achieve anything?”

Short-Term Farm Bill Relief Leaves Long-Term Questions – North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne feels the farm bill extension provides short-term stability but delays important updates needed for farmers and ranchers. “I think it might be a little worrisome, as we obviously got the good news that they had enhanced the crop insurance a little bit in the ARC and PLC payments, but they’ve left the other stuff to just sit there, and by this extension, their unwillingness to deal with it could put it at jeopardy in the future.” Watne also notes rising costs make it even more critical to have a long-term farm bill. “The farm bill has never been an inflationary bill. It’s always a baseline bill. So if you keep things out of baseline and you don’t adjust it or enhance it, farmers and ranchers make commitments to do things that are in the interest of soil health or food production, and you may not have the availability of those dollars that help offset those costs.”

Senate’s Stopgap Plan Frustrates Ag Leader – Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish describes the one-year extension of the current farm bill as a continued lack of leadership in Washington. “We keep kicking that can down the road, oh gosh, since 2018. It seems like we don’t have the type of leadership to get a farm bill across the finish line.” Wertish says the farm bill is vital for more than just farmers. “It’s a safety net for farmers, but it’s also a safety net for rural communities. There are a lot of pieces in there through the rural development title that help small rural communities, so it definitely needs to be done.”

Finstad Blasts Political Standoff – Minnesota Congressman Brad Finstad sees the end of the federal government shutdown as welcome news, but argues the entire standoff should never have happened. “This was completely avoidable, this was unnecessary,” said Finstad. “It was the worst of the political theater that we’ve seen in quite some time in this country and it’s unfortunate, but I’m happy that the adults in the room were able to prevail.” Looking ahead, Finstad wants Congress to return to bipartisan work on remaining farm bill issues. “It’s my hope that we don’t see this continued defiance of governing by the Democrats, and hopefully they have got their hissy fit over and we can get back to doing the people’s business.”

Thykeson: ‘Back to Business as Normal’ – As of 8 o’clock Thursday morning, all Farm Service Agency employees reported back to their county offices. North Dakota FSA State Executive Director Brad Thykeson asks farmers to stay in close contact with their county offices, noting that some program deadlines will be extended because of the furlough. “We’ve been kind of handcuffed during this time, especially on our loan side, where producers have had a tough time getting, say, a third-party check endorsed,” he says. “Those people are back in the office now, so I encourage producers to get those commodity checks in and get some of these operating notes paid off and start that communication with your loan officer to start looking forward to 2026.”

China Deal Finalized Before Thanksgiving – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expects the trade deal with China will be finalized before Thanksgiving. “I am confident that post our meeting in Korea between the two leaders, President Trump, President Xi, that China will honor their agreements.” Bessent was featured on Fox News on Sunday.

Vaden: Beijing Expected to Honor the Deal – The clock is ticking for China to purchase 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans before the end of the year. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden told the Red River Farm Network he expects Beijing to honor the deal. “I’m confident the Chinese understand Joe Biden is no longer in the White House; that means if they don’t live up to their arrangements, Donald Trump will do something,” said Vaden. “If there’s one thing I have complete confidence in, it’s that anyone who crosses an agreement made by President Trump—it does not end well for them.” The full interview can be found on the Red River Farm Network website.

Changing Market Conditions to Influence Aid Package – Once the government reopens, USDA is expected to provide emergency relief to farmers similar to the 2019 Market Facilitation Program payments. In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden emphasized this is not aid for aid’s sake—it is a bridge to help farmers get to 2026. “For that reason, we have to take into account current market conditions. When you and I spoke earlier this year at Farmfest, look at the soybean price then compared to the soybean price now. We’ve hit 15-month highs in soybean prices because of the deals that have been recently cut in Asia. That will need to be taken into account for any aid payments because obviously the price of commodities has risen, that’s what we want. We want market-based returns, and because the numbers have changed, our numbers will necessarily change.”

More Antitrust Investigations on the Horizon – President Trump’s antitrust investigation into the beef packing business may be just the beginning. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden told the Red River Farm Network a series of announcements will be coming from the Administration soon. Vaden is anxious to take a deeper dive into specific segments of agribusiness, specifically fertilizer and farm equipment. “When you purchase a piece of equipment, it should be yours. You should have the right to repair it as you see fit. You should have the right to pick from whom you wish to purchase it and not be limited based on geography, and you should have the ability, if you want, to purchase parts from someone other than the original equipment manufacturer. All of these limits placed on farmers do one thing, and that’s jack up their costs and jack up the profits of the companies that are putting these highly legally questionable restrictions on what farmers can do.”

Farm Finances at a Crossroads – The farm financial outlook for 2026 remains challenging, particularly for corn and soybean growers. During the American Bankers Association Ag Lenders Conference, University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management Extension Economist Pauline Van Nurden said she expects additional pressure from land rents and fertilizer. Reviewing farm financial data, Van Nurden sees dramatic differences between the high-profit and low-profit farms. “They seem to get a little better production out of their commodities. They tend to do a better job marketing overall and get a better price for their product. They also do a little bit better at cost control, so keeping costs lower, managing those input expenses, and then lastly, the efficient use of capital.”

Farmers Brace for Higher Costs – Production costs are climbing again as farmers prepare for the 2026 crop year. North Dakota State University Extension Ag Finance Specialist Bryon Parman says fertilizer, seed, and chemical prices are all trending higher, tightening margins for growers. “Some of it’s right at the rate of inflation, but incomes aren’t necessarily expected to go up at the same rate. Fertilizer can make up as much as 25 percent of corn production costs and up to 30 percent for canola. Even herbicides and overhead are rising. It’s looking like everything will be more costly across the board, and there just isn’t a lot of margin there that we’re expecting to be able to absorb.” Unless input costs ease or commodity prices rise sharply, Parman says 2026 could be another year of narrow margins for U.S. farmers.

Farm Debt to Increase in ’26 – Ag lenders expect farmers to be profitable this year, but less than half are projected to stay in the black in 2026. According to the annual survey conducted by the American Bankers Association and Farmer Mac, nearly 70 percent of lenders are very worried about profitability in the grain sector. That’s up from 15 percent two years ago. Farm income and working capital are top concerns for the lenders surveyed.

Yields Are Not Enough to Offset Low Prices – Even with record-setting yields across parts of the Ninth Federal Reserve District, farm incomes remain under pressure. “Overwhelmingly, lenders told us that farm incomes decreased relative to a year ago,” said Joe Mahon, regional outreach director, Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. “Capital expenditures, such as purchases of equipment and buildings, and other capital by farm operations, were also down quite a bit.” Market conditions continue to overshadow the positive impact of strong crop production. “Lower prices are still driving incomes down. Strong production should offset some of that. So that’s good news to farmers, but not necessarily seeing that balance out in terms of higher income because prices are so low.”

ARC-CO Payment Update – The Farm Service Agency is processing and distributing PLC and ARC-County payments. Peanuts and cotton were the only two covered commodities to trigger PLC payments.  ARC-County payments for corn in Minnesota total more than $373 million, with payments averaging nearly $50 per base acre. The estimated 2024 payment is well below the national average in North Dakota and South Dakota. North Dakota’s average payment is under $5 per base acre and South Dakota is at $16.31. The estimated ARC-County payment for soybeans is nearly $26 per base acre in Minnesota; just under $14 in South Dakota and less than $2 per base acre in North Dakota.

Wiesemeyer: Court Decision Could Shape Trade Policy – The Supreme Court has begun hearing arguments on President Trump’s tariff authority. Washington D.C. analyst Jim Wiesemeyer believes the outcome could shape U.S. trade policy for years to come. “I’m in the minority. I think that for the most part, they will go along with what Trump has announced relative to the tariffs, but you won’t get that as a consensus viewpoint,” said Wiesemeyer. “I don’t think there’s any correlation to when you hear the initial hearings and can project how the Supreme Court is going to rule.” Even if the court limits Trump’s tariff powers, Wiesemeyer says the administration has other ways to pursue its trade agenda. “Tariffs are here to stay. While the President mentioned a $2,000 dividend for Americans from the tariff money, that would have to go through Congress. With the divisions in Washington, that’s not likely.”

Optimism for a Thaw in Canada-China Relations – After a week in China, Canadian Agriculture Minister Heath McDonald is optimistic that trade relations between the two countries are improving. Canada has been effectively locked out of the Chinese canola market since 2018. McDonald said China has not made any promises to lift the ban on Canadian canola, but the door is opening for change.

Klobuchar Wraps 87-County Minnesota Tour – Senator Amy Klobuchar concluded her annual 87-county tour of Minnesota with a visit to the Olson farm near Thief River Falls, where healthcare costs were part of the conversation. “When I hear these stories in rural Minnesota, they’re just gut-wrenching of how much money people are spending on premiums,” said Klobuchar. “It just bugs me that they gave the same amount of money to Argentina that would have covered a one-year reduction in the premium. I would have liked the president to come to the negotiating table.”  On farm policy, Klobuchar noted the challenges facing farmers due to tariffs and delayed legislation. “They are going to give some aid to farmers, and that’s good, but I think, number one, we’ve got to reverse these tariffs. They’re incredibly damaging.”

MN Ag Leaders in Germany, Switzerland – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen are in Germany and Switzerland this week for a trade mission. Agribusiness and commodity group leaders are also participating on this trip. Germany is Minnesota’s eighth largest export customer; Switzerland is ranked 22^nd.

SD Corn Comments – In South Dakota Corn Comments, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council director Jay Esser, Redfield, talks about recent refinery exemptions. Click here. 

Record Yields Forecast – USDA forecasts the corn crop at 16.75 billion bushels, down from the previous estimate of 16.8 billion bushels. Despite the slight decline, the would still be a record large corn crop. Corn yields were put at 186 bushels per acre, down from 186.7 bushels per acre in the September report. The previous record yield was just over 179 bushels per acre. The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates projects the average soybean yield at 53 bushels per acre, slightly below the previous estimate, but above the 2016 record yield of 51.9 bushels per acre. USDA raised the wheat yield by a half-bushel an acre at 53.3 bushels per acre. Due to the government shutdown, USDA said some data sources typically used when compiling this report were not available.

WASDE Report Adds Fresh Uncertainty – The USDA supply/demand report delivered mixed signals for corn, soybeans, and wheat, leaving traders with more uncertainty than direction. Van Ahn and Company market analyst Kristi Van Ahn says the corn outlook looks manageable on the surface, but deeper concerns remain. “What is concerning for me is that our feed use, they left unchanged, and that feed use number is over 600 million bushels more usage than we had last year. I just don’t know how we are going to be able to shrink that with the current dynamics we have in there.” Soybeans offered a slightly more supportive tone, but market reaction quickly turned negative. “Soybeans themselves could be on the friendly side, but it just comes down to will we see China actually step in here and buy?”

Small Changes Seen in USDA Report – USDA made limited changes to the supply and demand report, but some of those tweaks pressured prices.  “We didn’t think USDA would come in and make a lot of changes because they haven’t been back to work for that long,” said Randy Martinson, president, Martinson Ag Risk Management. “As far as wheat, it was a little negative because we took in the increase in production from the Small Grain Summary Report, and that built stocks up, and it was actually a little bit negative on the wheat.”

Adjustments Made to Regional Yield Forecasts – In Friday’s USDA report, Minnesota’s average corn yield was estimated at 193 bushels per acre, that’s down six bushels from the September report. In North Dakota, the yield increased by one bushel to 146 bushel per acre on average. South Dakota corn yields are forecast at 173 bushels per acre, up from 167 bushels in the last report. For soybeans, the Agriculture Department cut the average yield in Minnesota and North Dakota and bumped up the South Dakota total. Yields are projected at 51 bushels per acre in Minnesota, 48 in South Dakota and 34 in North Dakota. That’s down two bushels per acre from September in Minnesota, up one bushel per acre in South Dakota and down three bushels per acre in North Dakota.

What’s Hot What’s Not in the Markets – On this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson says the soybeans and corn are in the hot category, and the wheat market leads the not-hot commodities. Click here to listen to the full report.

Highly Variable Yields Across SD – South Dakota’s corn harvest is approaching the finish line. “Quite a few of our corn farmers are finished up with harvest,” says South Dakota Corn Growers Association Executive Director DaNita Murray. “But the work continues. It doesn’t just end when the last stalk of corn has been pulled out of the field.” Yields have been highly variable due to weather and disease pressure. “Certainly, we’re going to have record-setting yields in parts of South Dakota, but then other parts that perhaps got hit with southern rust at some point later in the summer and it really depended then if they had applied a fungicide.”

Cold Weather Firms Ground, Aids Harvest – Proseed District Sales Manager Dave Gehrtz says the cold weather is helping growers finish the harvest. “We needed cooler temperatures to firm the ground up a little bit. There’s water standing out in the fields when you get into it, but there are guys that are driving through, so the crop is coming off.” Gehrtz is based at New Rockford, North Dakota.

Snow, Rain Slow Final Harvest Push – A mix of rain and snow delayed the combines on the last few fields in southwestern North Dakota. Yields have been a mixed bag depending on harvest timing, but Elgin farmer Harlan Klein reports encouraging corn quality. “Test weights on the corn are going to be pretty decent.”

White Mold, Blight Impact Dry Bean Crop – After a long, weather-delayed finish, the 2025 dry bean harvest is wrapping up across North Dakota and Minnesota. Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley says most of the crop is finally in the bin despite challenging harvest conditions. “Some of the crop that ended up getting left out in the fields through the heavy rain periods in late September through most of October has started to come around and finally, the final one to two percent is coming out. Quality stayed okay. It’s coming off wetter than we would like, but overall, farmers are able to get it in the bin, get it on some air.” Disease pressure was commonplace. White mold is a common issue in dry beans, but other diseases were also seen. “We had a lot of blight, which is a bit abnormal, but you could attribute it to some wind storms that we had come through, perhaps opening up some lesions on the plants, causing some damage.”

A Successful Beet Crop – The sugarbeet harvest wrapped up on a strong note for Ada, Minnesota farmer John Brainard. This year’s campaign brought above-average yields despite a few late-season challenges. “We had a couple of nights at the harvest that were a little sticky, a little wet, that were kind of a struggle, but otherwise harvest went pretty well for us this year.” Yields were above average. “The price is low, and expenses are high, so from an economic standpoint, we’re not real happy, but we’ll survive another year.” Overall, Brainard is pleased with the crop’s sugar content and thankful that Cercospora disease stayed mostly south of his area this season.

Disease and Rain Tested Sugarbeet Growers – The Red River Valley sugarbeet harvest is officially complete after a long and challenging season. Harrison Weber, executive director, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers, says wet weather made it difficult for many growers to finish, particularly in the northern part of the region. “However, all in all, we had some pretty good numbers in terms of tonnage with the beets this year. I think we’re definitely pleased there right around 13.3 million tons, which is kind of at where we need to be in today’s day and age, and we’re going to finish it just a hair over 18 percent sugar.” Cercospora leaf spot remains a major threat to sugar quality across the Red River Valley. “The further south you went, the worse it got, and so it’s certainly going to be a production challenge for us moving forward.

Planters Rolling in Brazil – Brazil’s first crop corn is going in the ground. “I think around 60 percent of Brazil is planted,” reports Brazil Intel owner Kory Melby. “Eighty-five to 90 percent of Mato Grosso is finished with soybean planting. Recent dryness has caused a bit of a pause and some replanting, but it’s minor so far.”

Dry Bean Scene – In the Dry Bean Scene, NDSU Extension Dry Bean Breeder Juan Osorno and Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley provide a recap of the 2025 crop. Click here to listen. 

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, MDA’s Megan Mullen offers a monthly update on program numbers. Click here. 

Wild Price Swings Challenge Cattle Producers – Ranchers across North Dakota are watching the cattle market swing wildly as prices react to political and trade uncertainty. Independent Beef Association of North Dakota Vice President August Heupel says market movement has been unpredictable in recent weeks. “It’s been a wild few weeks of excitement, good and bad,” said Heupel. “Any sort of comments, good or bad, that come out of Washington seem to really have it jumping up and down and all over the place.” Heupel agrees with President Trump’s executive order calling for the DOJ to investigate major meatpacking companies. “There’s too much consolidation when they control 85 percent of the kill market. That’s too big and that’s not okay,” he said. “There’s a misconception out there that the rancher’s getting rich at these high beef prices. Well, that’s not the case.”

Fall Calf Run in Full Swing – Napoleon Livestock co-owner Jim Bitz says feeder cattle numbers remain steady. “The calf market’s good, though it did take a little dip from where we hit our all-time record high maybe a month or so ago, anywhere from $250 to $400 a head better than last year, so people are very satisfied.” Yearlings are holding their prices well. “We’re selling a lot of pregnancy checked, open heifers here. I don’t think that market slipped much at all.”

Robust Red Meat Demand Despite Current Trade Environment – Despite a chaotic trade environment, demand remains healthy for U.S. pork, beef and lamb. During the U.S. Meat Export Federation Strategic Planning Conference in Indianapolis, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said ongoing negotiations may lead to new opportunities for U.S. red meat exports, especially in Southeast Asia. The strained relationship with China remains an issue for U.S. beef. In addition to tariffs, China delisted plants and failed to renew registrations for most U.S. beef processing facilities. Halstrom said the lockout from China could extend into next year. Pork exports are just below last year’s record pace, with Mexico, Central America and Colombia being key markets.

New Facility to Battle NWS – USDA has opened its sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico, to prevent the spread of New World Screwworm. The Agriculture Department is also investing $21 million to help Mexico renovate an existing site in Metapa, which is expected to begin sterile fly production next summer. Domestically, a similar facility is being built at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas.

Friday Deadline for Wildfire Losses – Friday is the deadline for livestock producers to apply for assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 flood and wildfire losses. Due to the government shutdown, the Farm Service Agency said livestock and dairy farmers may not have had the opportunity to submit applications for assistance previously. Wildfires in 2024 caused significant losses for North Dakota ranchers.

Rollins Outlines Dairy Policy Agenda – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined USDA’s priorities for the dairy industry at the joint meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation, National Dairy Board and United Dairy Industry Association. Rollins focused on four main points; incentivizing dairy consumption with changes to the federal dietary guidelines, lower production costs, support for investments in milk processing and expanded markets. Rollins also spoke about the importance of labor issues in the dairy industry.

September Milk Production Report Released – In September, milk production in the 24 major dairy states totaled 18.3 billion pounds. That’s up 4.2 percent from September 2024. In Minnesota, milk output is up 4.5 percent from a year ago. That’s with an increase of 14,000 cows in Minnesota’s dairy herd. South Dakota added 19,000 cows and milk production rose 9.4 percent. This report was previously scheduled for release on October 22. The October milk production totals will be released on November 21^st as previously scheduled.

Human Case of Avian Influenza Confirmed – The first human case of avian influenza in nine months has been diagnosed in the United States. The patient is an older adult with underlying health conditions in Washington State. With the fall season, the number of cases in commercial poultry flocks typically increases. There are currently three flocks in Minnesota, three in South Dakota and one in North Dakota being investigated.

Presidential, VP Races Highlight NDFB Annual Gathering – With the annual meeting this upcoming weekend, NDFB Director of Public Relations Lisa Hauf reminds members to bring any concerns or questions that need to be discussed at the state level. “These policies start at the county level, and they work their way up to the state’s annual meeting where they’ll be discussed and voted on. It’s just an amazing time to even sit in and just listen to the discussion that the delegates have.” Elections are also on the schedule. “We have Lucas Lang of Sterling and Val Wagner of Monango, who have announced their candidacy for president and then John Jacobson of Hatton announced his candidacy for vice president.”

South Dakota Farm Bureau Delegates Gear Up for Policy Debate – The South Dakota Farm Bureau annual meeting will be held in Sioux Falls. “We start Friday with a policy update,” said SDFB Regional Manager Lowell Mesman. “Then we jump right into district caucuses for the seven districts.” Saturday starts with an industry panel featuring former National Pork Board CEO, and current South Dakota Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Bill Even. The resolutions process will also be a meeting highlight. “As long as I’ve been at Farm Bureau, there’s been a discussion on taxes, especially property taxes, so it will be interesting to see where our delegates land on that.”

Minnesota Farm Bureau Prepares for Policy Session – The Minnesota Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is on the schedule this week. “Thursday night, we get everybody kind of into town and have a nice reception,” says President Dan Glessing. Delegate meetings begin Friday morning. “That’s how we form our policy book; that’s where we take up the business of all of the resolutions that have been sent in from all over the counties and let the delegates discuss the pros and cons of each.”

A Busy Weekend for MFU Members – The Minnesota Farmers Union will meet Friday-Sunday for its 84th annual convention. The Minneapolis event will include elections and policy debate. Special sessions are planned on farm transitions, farm-scale renewable energy and ‘building on Minnesota’s cooperative legacy.’

Plant-Based Protein Push at COP30 – A coalition of animal rights groups has introduced a proposal at the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil to establish what it calls Responsible Minimum Standards. The plan would encourage financial institutions to shift away from animal agriculture and toward plant-based proteins. A policy advisor for a group called Compassion in World Farming said upper- and middle-income countries should significantly reduce meat consumption to avoid a climate disaster.

Canola Minute – Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman discusses the recent annual meeting. Listen to the Canola Minute at this link. 

AFPI Advisory Council to Defend Farmers – The America First Policy Institute has launched the Lawfare Advisory Council to protect farmers ‘who are being unfairly targeted by the government.’ The conservative think tank was co-founded by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who previously served as its president and CEO. Country singer John Rich is one of the inaugural members of the AFPI Lawfare Council.

Boost Bushels with Soybean Rehydration – Soybeans dried down very quickly this fall. As a result, farmers lost bushels and dollars. “Any time you sell beans at a lower moisture than you want, we know that that lost weight is water and that lost weight turns into lost revenue or lost profit.” GSI Grain Conditioning Product Manager Alan Lockwood says the GrainVue system automatically runs the fans when conditions are ideal to add moisture back into the beans. This system can raise moisture levels by as much as three percent. “If your beans start at nine percent, we can usually get to 12 percent without too much trouble.” GrainVue can be installed in new grain bins or retrofitted to existing bins.

‘Science Delivers’ – Bayer has launched a new campaign celebrating the importance of science. In a statement, Bayer said the ‘Science Delivers’ initiative comes at a time when misinformation is threatening innovation in America. The multimedia campaign includes ads in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times and Politico.

The Land of Oz – Land O’Lakes and Microsoft are partnering to fast-track AI innovation in agriculture. With the alliance, they will work together to develop artificial intelligence tools, including a digital assistant called Oz. WinField United President Leah Anderson says Oz is different from other AI platforms. “I think the important piece here is that the data that’s going into Oz is not just any old data that you can find on the internet; this is structured, scientifically backed, sound, standardized data that’s been collected over 20 years with agronomy experts in the field in a consistent manner,” Anderson told RRFN. “When you’re using something like Oz, you know that you’re getting high-quality data that’s feeding that AI assistant.”  Oz is being beta-tested now and is expected to be released to retail agronomists in 2026.

Shareholders OK UP-NS Rail Merger – Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern shareholders have approved their merger. The new rail entity will control 40-to-45 percent of the U.S. freight rail traffic. A Surface Transportation Board decision on the merger is expected to be made in 2027.

Syngenta Gains Federal Approval for New Seed Treatment – Syngenta has received EPA approval for Victrato seed treatment on soybeans and cotton. This tool tackles Soybean Cyst Nematode, Septoria brown spot and frogeye leaf spot. It is also the first federally labeled seed treatment for Red Crown Rust. Pending state approvals, Victrato will be available for the ’26 growing season.

New Seed Treatment Available for Cereal Grains – Syngenta has released a new fungicide and insecticide seed treatment for cereal grains called CruiserMaxx Vibrance Elite. This new product includes two modes of action and will be available for the 2026 growing season.

New SCN Solution From Vive Crop Protection – Vive Crop Protection’s Averland FC nematicide is now registered for use in soybeans. The liquid in-furrow option protects the emerging crop from soybean cyst nematode pressure and supports early-season plant vigor.

Profits Plummet at Tyson Foods – In the latest quarter, profits dropped 87 percent for Tyson Foods, with income totaling $47 million. The meatpacker said its cattle costs rose by $2 billion in the 2025 fiscal year. The Arkansas-based company is also involved in the pork and chicken business, but the beef segment is being described as the company’s ‘soft spot.’

A Deal Made Between Gowan and SePro – Gowan USA has assumed the U.S. marketing, sales and development responsibilities for three products from SePRO Corporation; Brake Herbicide, Brake On! Herbicide and Bio-Tam biofungicide.

An Era Comes to an End – The Farmer’s Almanac has released its final publication. Famous for its weather predictions and home remedies, the Farmer’s Almanac has been published annually since 1818. By the way, the Farmer’s Almanac 2025-2026 forecast calls for ‘a season of dramatic swings and widespread wintry weather.’

NDFU Makes Major Donation to Great Plains Food Bank – The North Dakota Farmers Union has donated $500,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank. The money is targeted for the agency’s Harvesting Hope Campaign, which is focused on building a new statewide distribution center to expand food access across North Dakota.

MN Corn Matters – In the latest edition of Minnesota Corn Matters, Minnesota Corn Growers Association Treasurer Rob Tate offers information on Minnesota Corn scholarships. Click here to listen.

Cook Trades Yellow and Green for Cardinal and Gold – North Dakota State University President David Cook has been named as the next president of Iowa State University. Cook, who has been NDSU’s president since 2022, is an Ames, Iowa native and ISU graduate. He will begin his leadership at Iowa State on March 1. The State Board of Higher Education and North Dakota University System Commissioner will work with campus leadership to name an interim president while a search is conducted.

A Potential Candidate for Congress? – Texas Congressman Jodey Arrington, who is the House Budget Committee chair, does not plan to seek reelection. One of the names being circulated as a potential candidate for Arrington’s district is Tom Sell, founder and managing partner of Combest, Sell & Associates. The firm’s e-newsletter said Sell will soon have news to share about his future plans. “Our aim here at Combest Sell will be to support Tom in his decision and to continue to serve all of you with the same level of zeal, commitment and care that we have always put into our work.” Sell is heard frequently on the Red River Farm Network, providing input on farm policy issues.

Rexing Succeeds Mooney at NMPF – An Indiana dairy farmer, Brian Rexing, is the new chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation. Rexing succeeds Randy Mooney, who was in that role for 17 years. Associated Milk Producers Incorporated Sheryl Meshke is a member of the NMPF executive committee.

Noll Family Earns National Dairy Excellence Award – The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program’s Excellence Awards were presented at this past week’s joint annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation, United Dairy Industry Association and National Dairy Board. One of the four award winners is from the Midwest, Five Star Dairy Farm LLC of Alma, Wisconsin. Curtis, Mark and Scott Noll were recognized for their environmental stewardship. Five Star Dairy Farm is a member of Associated Milk Producers, Incorporated.

Faegre Drinker Welcomes Hamlin – After 11-plus years as CHS state government affairs director, Jake Hamlin has joined Faegre Drinker. Hamlin is the firm’s new senior director, focused on strengthening its agribusiness and state government relations and advocacy practice in Iowa. Hamlin is now based in Des Moines.

Lunemann Named AgriGrowth Director Emeritus – After more than 20 years on the Minnesota AgriGrowth board of directors, including three years as chair, Pat Lunemann is the first individual to be presented the director emeritus. Pat and Jody Lunemann are third-generation owners of Twin Eagle Dairy at Clarissa.