Family Time – As we gather with our families this Thanksgiving, we’re reminded that ‘family’ extends well beyond our own kitchen tables. That feeling was front and center at last week’s National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, where broadcasters, agribusiness partners, and friends came together with the same sense of connection and shared purpose. The NAFB community truly is a family of its own, rooted in agriculture, strengthened by storytelling, and committed to serving Rural America. We extend special thanks to NAFB President Jeff Nalley for his continued leadership and service to this wonderful industry.

Making Year-end Decisions – Farm Business Management Instructor Josh Tjosaas has reviewed preliminary 2026 cash flow projections. Cash flow will influence year-end decisions. “There’s always discounts on prepaying and a lot of farms have done that over time, but it’s a little bit tougher when there’s less available to prepay,” said Tjosaas. “I think it’s important to really get a handle on where you’re at and how early 2026 looks before jumping wholeheartedly into potentially higher expenses.” Working capital has taken a hit with the low commodity prices, but that may be offset by good yields in many areas.

Short-Term Adjustments Likely for Land Values – Terrain Senior Grain and Oilseed Analyst Matt Erickson remains bullish on farmland for the long term, “but in the short term, commodity prices that are depressed here a bit, you’ve got rising interest rates, I think you’re going to see a little adjustment on land prices.” Erickson does not anticipate a major drawback in land values, but buyers will be more selective. What about cash rents? “When we think about the macro environment, like the ten-year treasuries that investors look at, if I’m a landlord and I have a 4.1 or 4.2 percent ten-year treasury, and my current return for my farm ground for cash rent is 2.7-2.8 percent, I may be less reluctant to reduce my cash rent price.” Listen to the full RRFN interview. 

Adjustments Seen in Cash Rents – According to analysis from Agricultural Economic Insights, cash rental rates were higher year-over-year in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. The ‘I’ states of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana saw rents adjust slightly lower from 2024-to-2025. Cash rents are up 15 to 30 percent higher than five years ago. However, there are pockets in North Dakota where individual counties saw rents more than 30 percent higher than five years ago.

Purdue Economist Highlights Producer Sentiment at NAFB Convention – At the 2025 NAFB National Convention, Purdue University Ag Economist Michael Langemeier shared new insights from the Ag Economy Barometer, noting the sharp divide in sentiment between crop and livestock producers.  “Net returns for crop producers look really tight again in 2025, and it looks like that might be the case in 2026, whereas livestock producers, particularly beef producers, have had some pretty good returns this year.” Despite short-term market pressures and lingering trade questions, long-term confidence remains solid across most of the country. “There is a lot of uncertainty right now, but as that uncertainty gets resolved, people typically become more optimistic.”

Adapt to the Financial Realities – Faced with tight margins and rising costs, Agricultural Economic Insights co-founder and managing partner David Widmar says careful financial planning is more important than ever. Speaking at NAFB Trade Talk, Widmar emphasized the need to track profitability, working capital, and debt obligations. “So if you think about this as profits as the water going into the barrel and then the cost of debt service, family living and the capital purchase, those are the draws on that barrel, we’ve got to make sure those get in the balance.” Widmar said operations must adapt to the realities of the current economy to regain financial stability.  “You have to maintain your resolve that this is going to happen, but you can’t lose focus. You can’t just blindly hope that it’s going to improve.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson says the U.S. dollar is red hot right now, which is not the best news for the ag markets. Meanwhile, wheat continues to be in the “not hot” category. Click here to listen to the full report.

Farmers Welcome Lower Costs as Key Fertilizers Exempt from Tariffs – Farmers received some more much-needed good news with the announcement that major fertilizers will be immune to tariff rates going forward. StoneX Vice President of Fertilizers Josh Linville says the news only affects urea and phosphate, but is good for farmers, nonetheless. “Urea and phosphate are included, so they are no longer going to have a tariff rate on them. Potash has never been subject to any of it because most comes from Canada, and is part of the North America trade agreement.”

Fertilizer Transparency Fades as World Competition Grows – Strategic Trading Advisors Founder Jody Lawrence says farmers face a far different fertilizer landscape today than they did a decade ago, with reduced transparency and more supply controls shaping nitrogen and input markets. Speaking at a newsmaker session at the NAFB convention in Kansas City, Lawrence cited explosive global demand as a major factor. “Thirty years ago, the United States farmer used 28 percent of all agricultural inputs produced in the world. What do you think that number was in 2025? It was eight percent. Brazil’s expansion during that time has been exponential. They are using more and more of the worldwide supply.” Lawrence said farmer leverage has also eroded as companies tighten allocations and timelines. “The entire dynamic of the market and the transparency has shifted so much in the last decade, producers are hostage to that relationship as rising costs force them to chase higher yields.”

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, Brad Carlson, Extension Educator, talks about nitrogen in rural water. You’ll find the update at this link. 

Plan Now for a Successful ’26 – With a tight economic situation in agriculture, RRFN asked BASF Crop Protection Marketing Director Brady Spangenberg how that will influence buying decisions for 2026. “What we saw in ’25 is that people who put together an early plan were some of the most successful at the end of the year.” That plan included overlapping residuals in the weed control program, proactive fungicide application, and taking advantage of zero-percent financing. “All those things added up to preserving up to $200 an acre in corn or $100 an acre in soybeans in the ’25 season.” The full interview can be found here.

Assistance Announcement Expected in Early December – According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, emergency farm assistance will be announced during the first week of December. The relief package is expected to be in the $12 million range.a

MFU Minute – The Minnesota Farmers Union hosted its annual convention this past weekend. Ahead of the meeting, MFU Government Relations Director Stu Lourey was featured in the MFU Minute, highlighting the policy discussions happening at the convention.  Click here to listen. 

Expanding Markets Key to Soybean Industry’s Future – American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland says U.S. soybean producers are cautiously optimistic as they work to meet export targets with China while also expanding domestic and global markets. Speaking at NAFB’s Trade Talk, Ragland emphasized the importance of both policy and market opportunities for stabilizing the industry. “We’re cautiously optimistic, but we really want to see some follow through and we have a lot more sales to get made here to meet those targets of the 12 million metric tons to China by the end of the year. There are great opportunities here at home with biofuels to grow those markets; we just need Congress to act.”

NCBA Applauds Balanced Approach to WOTUS Change – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association supports the newly proposed Waters of the United States rule change. “We said if you’re going to give us a new definition of WOTUS, make it really good,” says NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. The proposed rule change adheres to the Sackett decision by the Supreme Court, which requires wetlands to have a continuous surface connection to a jurisdictional waterbody like a river or lake. “Fortunately, we have an administration that really saw that Supreme Court decision for what it was and worked really hard to put together a definition that balances protection of our nation’s natural resources with protecting the interests of farmers and ranchers.”

Public Comment Sought on the Endangered Species Act – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a revamp of the Endangered Species Act regs, bringing the policy back to the rules adopted during President Trump’s first term. The plan eliminates the so-called blanket rule that gives threatened species the same protection as endangered species. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the plan restores the Endangered Species Act to its original intent while respecting “the livelihoods of Americans who depend on our land and resources.”

Brazil Beef Tariffs End – With an executive order, President Trump is removing the 50 percent reciprocal tariffs on Brazilian beef. The decision is apparently based on Trump’s attempt to bring down consumer beef prices.

Rollins Blames Biden Administration for Tight Cattle Supplies – During an appearance on Fox Business, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins placed the blame for low cattle supplies on the Biden Administration. “We are suffering from the last administration’s literal war on cattle,” said Rollins. “If you remember, they wanted to reduce the herd sizes because they believed that cattle caused climate change. I mean, that wasn’t that long ago that that was sort of a common narrative.” Rollins also blamed high beef prices on the drought, the closure of the U.S. border to Mexican beef, and strong protein demand. The USDA leader said the Trump Administration has a plan in place to address consumer beef prices.

Beef Prices Reflect Supply and Demand, Not Politics – Recent market volatility and media-driven headlines have created confusion for cattle producers. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Governmental Affairs Ethan Lane emphasizes consumers, not social media or political messaging, ultimately drive market signals. “The only cure for high prices is high prices. Consumers will be the best vehicle to tell us when prices are too high because they will buy something different when they go to the grocery store. Producers are in the driving seat right now, have cattle that are worth a lot of money. This is really a time for them to pay down debt and rebuild.” Lane also cautioned producers about misinformation on social media, pointing to false claims about government programs. “Delete Facebook and Instagram from your phone this afternoon; it is making everyone dumber. Social media influencers are there to drive engagement, not to move accurate information.”

K-State Economist Says U.S. Herd Expansion Still on Hold – Kansas State University Agricultural Economics Professor Glynn Tonsor says the U.S. cattle herd has yet to begin its long-anticipated rebuild, with missing data from the canceled October Cattle on Feed report leaving a major gap in understanding heifer retention. Tonsor said the lack of updated steer–heifer mix information limits clarity, adding, “my best guess is that the January cattle inventory report is going to say we are the same as last year. I still think we are going to expand the herd, but it hasn’t started yet.” Tonsor also cautioned that even when expansion begins, the next cattle cycle will peak lower than the last due to productivity gains. “We get so much more beef out of every cow in the system that we do not need as many cows to hit a global-driven beef volume target. A real consequence of that is fewer cows are needed in this industry.”

Placements Down 10% From October ’24 – In Friday’s cattle-on-feed report, the inventory totaled 11.7 million head. That’s down two percent from November of 2024. Placements are down ten percent from one year ago. The placements figure is the lowest on record for October. Marketings are eight percent below 2024.

Milk Output Increases Nearly 4% – In the 24 major dairy states, October milk production was up 3.9 percent from a year ago. In Minnesota, milk production increased by three percent. Milk cow numbers rose 10,000 head. South Dakota’s milk output jumped 9.3 percent, and an additional 20,000 cows in the state dairy herd.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The bill expands the options available to schools, including whole milk and two percent options. National Milk Producers Federation President/CEO Gregg Doud said the bill helps children get “back on solid nutritional footing.”

Fielding Questions – This week on Fielding Questions, we’re joined by AgCountry Farm Credit Services Tax Officer Dane Larson. With tax season approaching and major rule changes taking effect, Dane breaks down what farmers need to know — from FSA program updates to planning for year-end. Click here to listen to the full podcast.

Dry Bean Scene – In the Dry Bean Scene, NDSU Extension Dry Bean Breeder Juan Osorno talks about a recent trip to Zambia where he helped local growers develop legume crops. Click here to listen. 

Custom Cutters Report Solid Yields Despite Tough Conditions – U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc. President Paul Paplow says the 2025 harvest season yielded solid results but was hindered by persistent rains and crop diseases across several states. Paplow said weather setbacks stretched out their multi-state run, noting, “We could never really get any good running days in from Kansas all the way up through Montana, but we had nice crops and it just took a little longer to get to it. Made it a little more challenging getting scheduling and the timing figured out.” Paplow said disease pressure cut into yields in parts of the Midwest. “The weakest I saw would have been the Hartley, Iowa area. Typically, you’d see a lot of 250 to 260, maybe up to 280 bushel yields in corn, and 200 was topping basically all that off. It was just a lot of disease pressure.” Paplow said areas near Worthington, Minnesota, posted the strongest results this season.

Beet Stock Values – The first American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock broker sales of the season finally transpired last week. There were two small sales, 20 shares at $4,250 per share and 25 shares at $4,200 per share. “This was the latest first sale of the season in some time,” said Acres & Shares broker, Jayson Menke. “With the long, drawn-out harvest and lower payment it’s been the quietest trading fall since the 2007-08 trading season.” Menke said the first broker sale that year was December 11, 2007.

US Ethanol Exports Booming – U.S. ethanol exports are on track for a record year, totaling 188.8 million gallons in August, up 15 percent from July and 24 percent from a year ago. Canada and the European Union account for most shipments. Year-to-date exports have reached 1.42 billion gallons, 16 percent ahead of 2024.

Year-Round E15 Key to Strengthening Farm Income – At the 2025 NAFB Trade Talk in Kansas City, POET Vice President of Corporate Affairs Doug Berven said year-round E15 sales are critical for stabilizing farm income and helping the industry manage surplus grain. Berven says expanding ethanol use is the fastest way to boost demand. “It’s critically important, especially right now when we are oversupplied with grain. We are telling everybody that E15 is the only thing that can soak up surplus grain in the United States and make the farmer successful again.” Berven says regulatory obstacles and pushback from the oil industry continue to slow progress, but he argues that nationwide E15 adoption would support farmers, lower fuel costs for consumers, and strengthen the broader economy.

Regulatory Hurdles Keep E15 Growth on Hold – Year-round E15 remains stalled. Ron Lamberty, senior vice president, American Coalition for Ethanol, blames outdated rules and industry hesitation. Lamberty argues consumers consistently choose E15 when it is available because it is less expensive, calling it a missed opportunity for farmers and fuel retailers. “Stations that sell it, it’s their best-selling product.” Lamberty noted that station owners are reluctant to make fuel changes when the rules fluctuate. “E15 is actually a lower Reid vapor pressure product than E10 is.” During the first Trump administration, the EPA ruled in favor of the 15 percent ethanol blend, but it immediately faced litigation from the American Petroleum Institute, which resulted in the need for an annual emergency exemption.” He added that uncertainty around labeling and summer restrictions continues to deter fuel retailers, saying, “It just doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a lot for a station owner.”

Bode Calls for Science-Based Approach in MAHA Policy – Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode says the administration’s MAHA initiative is generating momentum on chronic disease prevention while raising red flags for agriculture. “When science and risk-based policies are abandoned, we see things like irrational challenges to agricultural production practices that are very sound, well-established,” warns Bode. “To pledge radical transformation of our food system is to pledge increased food prices.” Bode says the long-term effect on agriculture will depend on whether federal agencies continue insisting on science-driven policy and regulatory integrity.

MAHA Movement Puts Spotlight on Crop Protection Industry – At the 2025 NAFB National Convention, CropLife America President and CEO Alexandra Dunn said the “Make America Healthy Again” movement has increased scrutiny on pesticides and raised broad questions about food system safety. Dunn emphasized that crop protection products undergo decades of testing and strict EPA review before reaching farmers. “These products just do not get hooked up and put on the market. There is a whole system for it. We are really trying to explain that to everyone and help farmers come together with companies to talk about the fact that we are all really responsible here.” Dunn says the industry is helping farmers understand new label requirements, including Endangered Species Act language, by providing tools such as online videos and flow charts. She says predictable access to safe, effective crop protection tools remains essential as farmers work to meet regulatory expectations.

Crop Insurance is a Certainty Anchor Amid Uncertain Times – Dr. Tom Zacharias, President of National Crop Insurance Services, says lawmakers and industry leaders have consistently emphasized the need to improve farmer access to crop insurance. “There were also investments made in the delivery system, some changes in the structure of reimbursements back to the agents and the companies, which is an important enhancement.” Zacharias says growers can expect improved premium support options and clearer pathways to buy-up coverage, helping reduce market and production uncertainty. He adds that farmer satisfaction remains high, and the system is focused on continuous improvement as new programs roll out nationwide.

New Discounts, Endorsements Highlight 2026 Crop Insurance – RCIS Sales and Service Manager Stefanie Wolfe urges farmers to review upcoming changes to crop insurance for the 2026 season to ensure they’re getting the full benefits of new premium support and endorsements. Expanded discounts are available for beginning farmers and ranchers. “That discount used to only be for five years and the “One Big Beautiful Bill” did extend that to ten,” said Wolfe. “They should talk to their agent to see if they need a new application? How can they now qualify for that additional discount?” Wolfe also encouraged farmers to communicate any changes in their operation, such as adding new family members or retiring, to their crop insurance agent to avoid eligibility issues.

Soil Fertility Minute – University of Minnesota Extension Small Grains Specialist Jochum Weirsma is featured in the Soil Fertility Minute. Weirsma spoke about the critical role of nitrogen in spring wheat production, even as costs might make it a tough decision for farmers. The Soil Fertility Minute is presented by the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council. Click here to listen. 

AI as a Tool for Large Farms – Artificial intelligence is being used in every industry, including agriculture. Jeff Garlich is the director of product development for the Nutrien HUB, a digital platform that is integrating everything from crop insights and environmental data to financing options. To this point, AI has been highlighted as a tool for ag retailers as a way to save on labor. Garlich sees a role for this technology for the large-scale farmer, as well. “In the past, if you’re a large farmer, you have a lot of data to sort through, and so it’s tough to surface what the insights are that I should really focus on,” said Garlich. “I think that’s where a lot of these new tools will help them identify the specific things that you should focus on first, versus them trying to mine that data on their own and get those insights.”

Lies Delivers Final Message as NDFB President – In his retirement address, NDFB President Daryl Lies highlighted the importance of member engagement and grassroots involvement. NDFB’s commitment to private property rights and animal agriculture was also touted. Lies has been the NDFB president for the past ten years.

MFBF Policy Priorities Announced – Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation delegates identified four priority policy areas at its annual meeting. The priorities include support for farm families and the transition from one generation to the next; rural economic vitality; science-based land and livestock conservation practices and balanced energy policies.

Five Special Orders Approved – The Minnesota Farmers Union re-elected Gary Wertish as president and Anne Schwagerl as vice president. Delegates passed five special orders; addressing the farm crisis, calling for an end to the trade war, a reversal of healthcare cuts, support for the next generation of farmers and the restoration of funding for SNAP and other hunger assistance programs.

SBARE Meetings Take Input on Ag Research and Education – The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education is hosting a series of open events to gather public input ahead of the 2027 legislative session. NDSU Extension Director Greg Lardy values these meetings. “Any group from across the state is welcome to provide that input as fair, they can either do it through coming to the meeting and formally talking about their needs, sending the board an email, providing it through a letter, etc., but it’s really about the needs for North Dakota.” NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Stations use this meeting to prioritize research initiatives.

Extending the Growing Season – Tintah Beach Farm near Thief River Falls is home to one of Minnesota’s first farm-scale deep winter greenhouses. Marcus Langevin worked with the University of Minnesota to design this facility. “The farm-scale deep winter design greenhouses are basically twice the size of previous design concepts,” said Langevin. “It really gets growers like myself excited with all of that available square footage; it’s approximately 1,000 square feet of winter growing space. It’s going to allow my farm to extend the growing season another four to six months out of the year.” Langevin plans to grow kale, spinach, and microgreens this winter. His primary audience is CSA or Community Supported Agriculture customers. The greenhouse stores thermal heat in the ground during the day for use on demand. Tintah Beach Farm hosted an open house this Saturday afternoon.

Equine Viruses Identified – Horse owners are advised to monitor for two virus outbreaks. EHV-1 and EHM have been confirmed in horse events in Texas and Oklahoma. The viruses can be spread through direct contact, through air and on contaminated equipment, clothing and hands. For biosecurity purposes, horse owners are asked to avoid nose-to-nose contact and the sharing of food or water containers.

MN AURI – Ag Innovation News Podcast – In this episode of the Ag Innovation News Podcast, host Jamie Dickerman interviews Mary Hartman, CEO and founder of Stable Feed, an innovative horse feed and supplement company. Mary shares her journey from addressing her own horse’s health issues to creating a successful business that focuses on using food as medicine. The conversation delves into the importance of the microbiome in equine health, the benefits of Sainfoin as a sustainable feed option, and the challenges and triumphs of building a new industry. Mary also discusses her recent recognition as AURI’s Ag Innovator of the Year and her vision for the future of agriculture. Click here to listen. 

New Rail Service Metrics Proposed – The Surface Transportation Board is proposing two new rail service metrics. The ‘original estimated time of arrival’ would measure a rail carrier’s ability to meet its estimated arrival time. The ‘industry spot and pull’ metric measures the rail carrier’s success in performing local placements and pick-ups of loaded and unloaded railcars. The STB has extended the comment period until December 8.

Nation’s First Seamless East–West Rail Network Moves Closer to Reality – Shareholders have overwhelmingly approved a merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Railway. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says this union would create the first coast-to-coast, seamless railway in the country. “It’s essentially being able to create this east coast to west coast, more seamless single rail company, and that’s something that’s very unique and it has a lot of ramifications if it’s allowed to proceed.” The merger could reduce competitive pricing in the rail transportation industry. “What often occurs is that puts more upward pressure on rail rates that decreases service reliability. What you’re essentially doing is you’re changing the balance between the customer and the railroad. So, there’s a concern among many that when you’re starting to limit the number of transportation providers, more of the competitive balance will shift away from the customer and to the railroad, and we’ve seen examples of that throughout history.”

Funding Approved for SD Rail Line to Support Crush Plant – The South Dakota Railroad Board has approved a $5.7 million in low-interest loan funding to complete rail infrastructure for High Plains Processing, the new soybean and multi-seed crush plant at Mitchell. The additional funding will cover the remaining eligible rail costs for this major infrastructure expansion, including 33,000 feet of new track and the capacity to handle unit trains.

Canola Minute – In the Canola Minute, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman invites you to join their virtual Canola Research Conference in December. Find out more here. 

Hansen-Mueller Seeks Bankruptcy Protection – The Hansen-Mueller grain company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Omaha-based company reports an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 creditors and lists between $100 million and $500 million in liabilities. Viterra and Cargill are the two largest unsecured creditors.

Japanese Insurance Company Acquiring CIH – A Tokyo insurance firm, Tokio Marine Holdings, is buying Commodity & Ingredient Hedging. This deal is subject to regulatory approvals and will likely close in early 2026. The purchase price is $970 million. In April, CIH acquired the Bloomington, Illinois-based Advance Trading.

Yield Contest Seen as a Resource for Seed Selection – WestBred is one of the major partners in the National Wheat Foundation National Wheat Yield Contest. Marketing Manager Carrie Roach reports 16 of the 28 national winners planted WestBred Wheat. Five of those winners are from North Dakota, and one farms in Minnesota. This competition has evolved to include quality characteristics, which will be announced in January. Roach sees the contest as a resource for farmers planning for 2026. “I think the best place for a grower to start is to look at the state and the national winners, look at what varieties they’re planting, see if they’re close to your region and go to your seed supplier and start a conversation about those varieties.” Listen to the full interview. 

MN Corn Matters – In Minnesota Corn Matters, Minnesota Corn Growers Association Executive Director Adam Birr outlines a webinar dealing with Paid Family and Medical Leave. This state program impacts farmers. Click here. 

Duvall and Puglia to Co-Chair Ag Workforce Coalition – The Agriculture Workforce Coaltion unanimously elected American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia as its new co-chairs, following the retirement of former chair Chuck Conner. The coatlition says it will continue pushing for long-term labor reforms, including a more workable guestworker program, changes to wage and regulatory requirements, and a practical path to retain experienced farmworkers.

New AgriGrowth Executive Committee Elected – Matt Wohlman, who is with Land O’Lakes, is the new chair for the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council. Wohlman succeeds Associated Milk Producers Incorporated President/CEO Sheryl Meshke. Sparboe President Beth Schnell is the incoming vice chair. Chuck Tryon of Bushel Boy is secretary and Andy Martin of AgCountry Farm Credit Services is treasurer.

SD Corn Comments – South Dakota Corn Comments is a presentation of the South Dakota Corn Council. Jim Woster is with us, wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Click here, please. 

Val Wagner Takes the NDFB Reins – Val Wagner of Manango is the newly elected president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau. Wagner and her husband, Mark, operate a Red Angus/Simmental commercial cattle ranch. She has been on the NDFB board since 2020 and was elected vice president two years ago. John Jacobson of Hatton is the new vice president. Craig Vaughn of Cavalier, Tim Schoenhard of Steele and Brian Nordmark of Souris were re-elected as district directors.

Urlacher Wins Discussion Meet – North Dakota State University Sophomore Bailey Urlacher won the NDFB Collegiate Farm Bureau Discussion Meet. Urlacher is a Regent, North Dakota native.

Glessing Re-elected – Dan Glessing of Waverly was re-elected to another two-year term as Minnesota Farm Bureau president. Joe Sullivan of Franklin and Kevin Dahlman of Cokato will serve three-year terms on the board. Amanda Cook of Chisago County will chair the Promotion and Education Committee while Megan Horsager of Chippewa County is the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee chair.

MFBF Presents Distinguished Service Awards – The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation recognized Dr. James Luby, Ted Matthews and Dr. Craig Sheaffer with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. Luby is a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Science Department. Matthews has specialized in farm mental health in his service to rural communities over the past 30-plus years. Sheaffer, now retired, dedicated 47 years to researching, teaching and Extension, focused on forage crops and sustainable agriculture.

YF&R Award Winners Named – In the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers competition, Dylan and Shelby Radke of Beltrami County won the Achievement Award. They operate a first-generation Black Angus cow-calf ranch and manage a direct-to-consumer beef business. Katie Saterbak of Murdock was named the winner of the MFBF Discussion Meet. Stearns County Farm Bureau President Hannah Molitor, who is a program analyst with the Farm Service Agency and field technician for the Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association, won the Excellence in Agriculture Competition.

NAFB Honors the Best of the Best – During the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention, Meghan Grebner, broadcast supervisor, Brownfield Ag News, was named the Farm Broadcaster of the Year. The Horizon Award, which recognizes a broadcaster for early career success, was presented to C.J. Miller, assistant news director, Hoosier Ag Today and Michigan Ag Today. The prestigious Doan Award went to Michelle Rook, national news and market reporter for Farm Journal. The Doan is named after esteemed ag journalist Stewart Doan, who passed away in 2012.

MFU Awards Presented – The Minnesota Farmers Union honored Matt Kruger of Pine Island with its Rising Star Award. Claudine Arndt, who is the Director of Minnesota Cooks and Membership for Minnesota Farmers Union, was recognized for her dedicated service. Franklin Turnock of Aitkin County was given an award as a distinguished county leader. The MFU Dedicated Service to Rural Communities honor went to Paul Sobocinski of Wabasso and Carol Anderson of Foley.

New NAFB Officer Team in Place for Year Ahead – The 2026 NAFB officer team will be led by President DeLoss Jahnke, RFD Radio Network. Delaney Howell, Ag News Daily, is president-elect and Susan Littlefield, FARM, is the vice president. The West Region elected Andy Schwab of Northern Ag Network as its vice president. The South Region VP is Jesse Allen, FARM, and the East Region VP is Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today/Michigan Ag Today. Ashley Craft, Crafted Communications, joins Ben Nuelle, Missouri Pork, in representing the Allied Industry Council. Molly Nichols, Hoosier Ag Today/Michigan Ag Today, and Bob Brunker, J.L. Farmakis, represent the Management and Sales Council on the board. The Marketing and Promotions Chair is Russ Parker, Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.

Excellence Recognized at MFBF Convention – During the Minnesota Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Patric Pehrson, agriculture education instructor, Nicollet Public Schools, was named the FFA Advisor of the Year. Jess Feierabend of Central Lakes College is the Post-Secondary Educator of the Year and University of Minnesota Extension Dairy Livestock Systems Educator Jim Salfer is the Extension Educator of the Year. MFBF named Bonanza Valley Voice publisher and editor Randy Olson as the Agriculture Communicator of the Year.