USDA Cabinet Nominee Announced – Texas native Brooke Rollins is the agriculture secretary nominee. President-Elect Donald Trump made the announcement Saturday after speculation surfaced Friday that former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler was the pick. Rollins is the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. She grew up on a farm, graduated with a degree in agricultural development at Texas A&M University and was a White House policy advisor in Trump’s first term. When making the announcement, Trump said Rollins would “spearhead the effort to protect American farmers.”

Bringing White House Experience to USDA – Agriculture Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins led President Trump’s Domestic Policy Council and has White House experience with domestic and global environmental issues. Policy Solutions President Jay Truitt appreciates her international credentials. “That was during the same timeframe that they were going through the Paris Accords, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera,” said Truitt. “She was probably one of the lawyers that would look through what they could legally do and not legally do; that was her job in the past and now she’ll be doing it from the Department of Agriculture.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of modern farming practices and wants to crack down on how food is produced. Truitt believes Rollins will be able to stand up to Kennedy’s influence. “I think one of the things she’ll bring to the table is making sure everyone stays in their lane. I like the idea that Mr. Kennedy is going to have to see her before he can see anybody else and that’s a good thing.”

Stabenow Releases Farm Bill Text – Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow has released the text of her 1,300-page farm bill proposal. Stabenow’s bill would raise reference prices by five percent with a maximum payment rate of 15 percent of the effective reference price. The House bill uses an escalator to increase reference prices as much as 20 percent. Stabenow’s bill also includes disaster funding, while the House disaster bill is a separate package. Senate Ranking Member John Boozman said “an 11th hour” partisan proposal is “insulting.”

GOP to Seek One-Year Farm Bill Extension – In a closed-door meeting, House Republicans have agreed to pursue a one-year farm bill extension. At the same meeting, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson rejected Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow’s farm bill text. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman made a similar comment, saying Congress is running out of time to approve a farm bill before the end of the year.

Farm Bill Proposal Includes Updated Reference Prices – The American Farm Bureau Federation found some positives in Chair Stabenow’s farm bill text. “There is an increase in reference prices, there is more funding for conservation programs at USDA,” said Joe Gilson, government affairs director. Moving forward, bipartisanship will be key. “The next Congress looks like Republicans will have a very slim majority in the House and you still need 60 votes in the Senate to get a farm bill done.”

Time is Short for Farm Bill Debate – A farm bill extension seems more likely than the passage of new legislation. “It would have been nice if (Senate Agriculture Committee) Chair (Debbie) Stabenow would have brought the farm bill language up earlier than she did because timing is precious,” said Dan Glessing, president, Minnesota Farm Bureau. “We’re still advocating to get a good farm bill, whether that’s here in lame duck or not.” The Senate is expected to consider a farm financial assistance package. A similar plan has not been offered in the House, but the Minnesota members of the agriculture committee have signed off on a letter supporting this relief.  Listen to the full interview with Glessing.

Farm Bill Standoff Spurs Talks of Extension – With Republican leadership rejecting Senate Agriculture Committee Debbie Stabenow’s farm bill proposal, all eyes are looking toward another extension. “I certainly don’t think it changes for lame duck purposes, the money question,” said South Dakota Corn Growers Association Executive Director DaNita Murray. “There’s certainly talk about providing some type of assistance for folks who are impacted by hurricanes and natural disasters. I fully expect that appropriators will find that money.” Murray believes economic assistance should be considered. “I know there’s suffering out there that we are a little worried will continue into 2025.”

A Down Payment on Disaster Losses – Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow’s farm bill language did not appeal to everyone. “It was, for lack of a better term, panned by Republicans across the board and it’s not going anywhere,” said Randy Russell, president, The Russell Group. Disaster relief remains on the table. “I think you’re going to see Congress at least make a down payment on losses that have occurred both agriculturally and in other parts of the economy due to the damage done by hurricanes and wildfires.”

Add-Ons Possible with Farm Bill Extension – AgCountry Farm Credit Services Senior Vice President Howard Olson said the farm bill extension may include additional support for farmers and ranchers. “Here’s the lingo we’re hearing from some of the Democratic committee staff, they said we could have an extension, we could have an extension plus, or we could have an extension plus plus,” said Olson. “Our group that was there said we’re supportive of the extension plus plus.” Olson was part of the Midwest Council on Agriculture delegation in Washington, D.C.

Advocating for the Farm Bill and Disaster Relief – The Midwest Council on Agriculture was in Washington D.C. this past week to lobby for farm policy. “We’ve been advocating for a strong farm bill before the end of the year,” said Jim Callan, James Callan Associates. “At the same time, we’re looking at a disaster bill if we can’t get a farm bill.” MWCA is stressing the urgency for guidance on biofuel tax credits going into 2025.

Enviros Speak Out on Farm Bill Policy – A coalition of 170 environmental groups sent a joint letter to congressional and agriculture committee leadership, asking lawmakers to reject any attempt to reduce spending on climate-smart agriculture programs. The groups, including the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth, also oppose language to overturn California’s Prop 12.

Ranking Member Scott Faces Challenge From Costa – California Congressman Jim Costa plans to challenge Ranking Member David Scott of Georgia for the leadership role on the House Agriculture Committee. Costa is the second-highest ranking Democrat on the committee. Scott became the senior member of his party on the agriculture committee after House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson was defeated in 2020. In addition to health issues, Scott has been criticized for his inability to move forward with Democratic objectives in farm policy. Costa has been in Congress since 2005 and his family’s background is in dairy and almond farming.

Disaster Relief Sought – The Biden Administration is seeking $100 billion in disaster relief. Hurricanes Helene and Milton dominated the discussion in a three-hour Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, However, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven said drought is also having its impact. “Forty-eight states reported drought this year and last I checked there’s only 50 states so you can see the kind of stress that our farmers are facing,” said Hoeven. “Our farmers and ranchers are up against it.” In addition to the money, Hoeven said USDA needs to make sure the disaster programs are structured correctly. “We’re losing farms at a high rate and the farms we’re going to lose as a result of these disasters and the drought and everything else are the ones that are on the edge. Those are the ones that get hit the hardest.”

Vilsack Promotes Climate-Smart Ag – At the COP29 Food, Ag and Water Day, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explained how climate-smart practices can help small farms. “Now instead of one source of income, that tiny amount from each commodity item, you have an environmental payment. You may have a utilization of farm waste into something more valuable.” Vilsack offered up a variety of programs that the USDA has created to incentivize such practices.

Animal Health as a Climate Solution – During the United Nations COP29 Climate Change Conference, Environmental Defense Fund Senior Director of Global Agriculture Methane John Tauzel said animal health can be a part of the solution. “Healthier cows produce more food to support global nutrition, providing economics for farmer livelihoods and reducing the methane intensity of milk and meat.” Tauzel cited research proving animal health impacts greenhouse gas emissions.

Another Lawsuit – Growth Energy and Clean Fuels Alliance America is back in court, challenging EPA and its failure to fully account for small refinery exemptions when issuing renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said billions of gallons worth of demand have been lost due to EPA’s mismanagement of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

USDA Funding Awarded for Wetland Mitigation Banks – USDA is investing $7 million to support the development of wetland mitigation banks for agriculture. To participate in many USDA programs, conservation compliance is required. This program allows farmers to purchase credits and avoid penalties for farming converted wetlands. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources was awarded $995,000 to create six mitigation banks. Ellingson Drainage and its partner, Moore Engineering, will receive an award of $975,000 to develop three-to-five wetland mitigation banks in western and southern Minnesota. Projects in five other states also received funding.

Competition Issues Highlighted at MFU Meeting – During the Minnesota Farmers Union Convention, members heard from State Attorney General Keith Ellison and Justice Department Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Kades about anti-trust issues. MFU Anti-monopoly Director Justin Stofferahn said major advancements were made during the Biden Administration. “I think it remains to be seen what that work will look like (in the new administration), it’s going to come down to who President-Elect Trump appoints, but I am concerned the work that’s been started may not be continued into the next administration.” Stofferahn said the Biden White House strengthened merger guidelines and that could be carried forward. Competition is also an issue for the new Republican majority. “Vice President-Elect Vance has made comments about being supportive of the work (Federal Trade Commission Chair) Lina Kahn has been doing and I think there are Republican members of Congress that have a lot of concern around consolidation.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in Markets – In today’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson cited the U.S. dollar and Dow Jones Industrial Average. The feeder cattle market is also bullish. “Feeder cattle seems to be the market of choice right now.” The veg oil markets are under pressure. Listen to the report. 

Take Time to Consider Crop Insurance Options for ’25 – Farmers may need a fresh approach when buying crop insurance for the 2025 crop. AgCountry Farm Credit Services Senior Vice President Tony Jesina cites the tight margins. “When we look at the most common policies producers took in 2024, we looked all across our AgCountry footprint and that policy won’t cover your cost of production in 2025,” said Jesina. “The good thing is there are some additional things you can layer on or add to that like a Supplemental Coverage Option or Enhanced Coverage Option.” Farmers may also consider increasing their underlying coverage level or combination to cover their production costs in 2025. Click here to listen to the full interview. 

Mpls Fed: Financial Challenges – The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reports farmers in the Ninth District face financial strain despite good yields. Falling crop prices cut into farm income, reduced capital spending, and increased loan demand. Loan repayment rates declined while farmland values and cash rents rose modestly.

Little Change Seen in Land Rents – Margins are expected to remain a challenge heading into 2025. “Even though the expenses aren’t going to change a lot, if commodity prices don’t go up, it’s going to be a pretty tight year,” said Terry Longtin, area vice president, Farmers National Company. Land rents, for the most part, are holding their value. “From ’24 to ’25, we’re not seeing much of a change, and land values are holding strong.”

A Resilient Land Market – Despite weak commodity prices, farmland remains a popular investment. According to Farmers National Company Senior Vice President Matt Gunderson, farmland values are determined by its location. “It really depends upon the piece of ground, the productivity of that ground; what has come up or not come up for sale in that particular area and the third component of it is if there are two determined bidders.” For the most part, cash rents are holding steady. Cash rents are most common, but there is increasing interest in bonus flex-provision rents. “If it’s a great year for yield or price for that operator, they’re sharing a little bit with that land owner, but we can keep that contained to that crop year and can have a discussion for next year depending on the economics.” Listen to the interview.

A Mix of Tax Policy Possibilities – Speaking at the University of North Dakota Tax Practitioners Institute, Washburn University School of Law professor Roger McEowen said he is watching what Congress in this post-election session. “In the lame-duck session, there are some things that must pass, some things that are likely to pass, and some things that are unlikely to pass,” said McEowen. “They need to do a budget bill. That’s a must or we’d face another government shutdown and they need to do disaster relief so I’d put those two in the must-pass category.” The question remains if lawmakers will tag any tax provisions into those must-pass pieces of legislation.

Beet Stock Values – American Crystal Sugar Company beet stock trended down to $5,200 per share last week. According to Acres & Shares owner Jayson Menke, there were nine sales last week totaling 318 trading from a range of $5,300 down to $5,200 for an average price of $5,223.27 per share.

Adjustments Needed in H-2A Program – The labor shortage impacts every segment of the economy, but custom harvesters face unique pressures. Custom cutters need people to operate expensive equipment while moving up and down the road for a nine-month harvest run. U.S. Custom Harvesters Incorporated Secretary Mark Anderson is hopeful to see positive changes to the H-2A program. “With the new administration coming in, I’m optimistic and excited that we might be able to actually get something put in place to help correct some of these things and get that program back on track working the way it needs to be.” In his interview with RRFN, Anderson also recaps the 2024 harvest campaign.

October Heat May Predict Winter Trends – DTN Meteorologist John Baranick is part of a team of researchers looking at the effects a warm October has on winter weather. “They’ve noticed, at least over the last 20 years, warm Octobers have led to warm winters.” Baranick is quick to point out that warmer does not necessarily mean less snow. “We’re cold enough for snow even when it’s warmer than normal up here, but every year is going to be different, so we’ll see how that plays out.”

Harsh Winter May Boost Agriculture – Conduit Senior Science Fellow Eric Snodgrass expects a cold winter. “I think we’ve got a strong chance of having more repeated intrusions to colder air and that means more snow.” A cold winter with more snow can be good for agriculture. “The harder our winters are with more snowpack that we have to melt off come March and April, the more water for our crops.”

Soymeal Exports Driven by Asian Demand – A majority of soybeans grown in the Dakotas are exported to Southeast Asia. “The meal exports have increased in that part of the world,” emphasized Mike McCranie, who farms at Claremont, South Dakota and is a member of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. “We have big increases in three major countries; the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.” McCranie expects soybean meal exports to get a boost from the increase in crush facilities throughout the Upper Midwest. Listen to the full interview here:

China and Brazil Ink Trade Agreements – China and Brazil have signed nearly 40 deals covering everything from agriculture to technology. Brazil can now export sorghum, grapes and sesame to China. There was a discussion about beef, pork and dried distillers grain, but a decision has been pushed into next year.

Tied Legislature-an Opportunity to Share Our Story – The Minnesota House is expected to be tied 67-67 when the session convenes in January, an even split between Republicans and Democrats. Minnesota Farm Bureau Vice President Carolyn Olson says this could be an opportunity. “I’ve had the opportunity already to hear a few of our elected officials speak at other events and I hope that the spirit of cooperation they’re expressing now carries through,” said Carolyn Olson, vice president, Minnesota Farmers Union. “With a tied Legislature, telling our stories is critical, those are opportunities to really make a big difference.” The work now begins to reach new lawmakers. “We have 22 brand new representatives in the House and 22 new opportunities to build relationships.” The Minnesota Farm Bureau identified five priority areas for the upcoming legislative session. That list includes support for generational farming, practical and scientific conservation practices, ag research, rural prosperity and emergency animal preparedness.

Canola Minute – Here’s the latest Canola Minute from the Northern Canola Growers Association. This week, Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman joins us. NCGA will hold its annual research conference over Zoom. Click here to learn more about this virtual event. 

A Unique Situation for Upcoming Session – In the upcoming legislative session in St. Paul, Representative Melissa Hortman will lead the House DFL Caucus and Representative Lisa Demuth will have the same role with the Republicans. The committees will be run with co-chairs, one from each party. However, the Constitution only allows one Speaker.  Minnesota Farmers Union Government Relations Director Stu Lourey said it’s not known how that will be managed. “It’s just going to take a lot of work on our part to engage thoughtfully with that process and also to make sure that our priorities are broadly supported on a bipartisan basis and I think we’ve got a really good shot at doing that.” MFU plans to connect with the new and existing lawmakers. “We’re kicking off the session with a Lobby Day on February 4. We just got it scheduled and I think it has been important to us to schedule that early in the session so we can build those relationships with new members and make sure they understand what Farmers Union is and what we’re looking from from our representatives in the Legislature.”

Grassroots Policy Development at Work – It was a busy weekend for farm policy with the annual meetings for the Minnesota Farmers Union and the state Farm Bureau groups in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. NDFB Executive Director Jeff Missling said this meeting is an example of grassroots policy development. “It’s fun to watch; there aren’t too many opportunities anymore where people can stand up on a delegate floor in a hotel ballroom and just speak their peace, speak what’s on their mind and in their hearts and I’m always invigorated to see that process each year,” said Missling. “That’s what guides us. We’re going to go to work both in Bismarck and in Washington D.C. to try to forward what our members want us to take stances on.”

An Engaged Membership – After a rigorous policy discussion, NDFB delegates set the path for the organization for the year ahead. At the NDFB Annual Meeting, President Daryl Lies reinforced the importance of the advocacy that happens at the grassroots level. “I’m just so proud of our membership and our delegates at our convention here,” said Lies. “It is so important to be engaged and we have some big opportunity here with the new governor coming into the state of North Dakota and a new administration coming in on the federal level. We need to take advantage of that and we need our members to be with us in that walk.” North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring addressed NDFB members in Bismarck.

Support for Less Regulation, More Trade Opportunities – Private property rights and taxes dominated the policy meetings at the NDFB Annual Meeting. Public Policy Director Pete Hannebutt said these issues will be advanced to the national level. The NDFB policy book will cover the organization’s priorities “at the courthouse, at the State House and in the White House.” Hannebutt said Farm Bureau is about less regulation, less taxes and more trade, more opportunities in a free market system. “We’ll hope to have a friendlier administration for agriculture with the new (Trump) administration coming in and we hope that we will not be cursed with burdensome regulation as we’ve seen in the last four years.”

Look Out for Friends and Family – According to South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal, the main focal point of the annual meeting is policy development. “That started in late summer when all of the county organizations started having their policy development meetings; it is truly a grassroots process.” VanderWal acknowledged the financial stress seen in agriculture today. “Rural mental health is a big thing for Farm Bureau and we’re asking everyone to watch their neighbors and family. If people start acting differently or acting like they are under severe stress, encourage them to get help.” VanderWal, who is the American Farm Bureau Federation vice president, said the commitment to the rural mental health issue speaks to the ‘Farm Bureau culture.’

Increasing Revenue for Crops and Calves – Backgrounding is a popular choice this year for cattle producers. “You can delay marketing by backgrounding,” says Karl Hoppe, livestock systems specialist, North Dakota State University. “You can also add weight so you’re getting paid for more beef.” With low feed prices, Hoppe sees backgrounding as a way to add value to the crops and the cattle. NDSU Extension has created a series of videos full of backgrounding information on their website.

Recovery Continues in Cattle Country – High-quality calves continue to move through the auction barns. “I think everybody’s got plenty of feed and I think that has something to do with the market being aggressive,” said Casey Perman, co-owner, Mobridge Livestock Market. “Everybody kind of leaves happy and it’s just a really great time in the ranching industry for people to catch up from the last nine years.”

Dairy Heifers Bring Top Dollar – Compared to most years, Long Prairie Livestock is seeing bigger cattle runs this fall. “Market wise, prices are good. Buyers, sellers, you got a pretty nice selection, I’d say the quality is excellent,” said Brad Thelen, owner. Beef-on-dairy genetics and sexed semen are resulting in tight dairy heifer supplies. Thelen has been seeing top dollar for springing dairy heifers.

Neutral COF Report – In Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report, USDA said there were 12 million head of cattle and calves on feed. That’s equal to one year ago. Placements and marketings were both five percent larger than a year ago.

‘Yes’ Vote Encouraged for Federal Orders – A lengthy process to reform Federal Milk Marketing Orders is moving toward a producer vote. A national hearing process lasted nearly 50 days in late 2023 and early 2024. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service issued its recommendation this past summer, followed by a public comment period. Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative Vice President Heidi Fischer said this is an important step. “The votes coming up by the end of December so we’re hoping that that will pass,” said Fischer. “Change hasn’t happened in almost 15 years. We were hoping for a bit more change, but we’re hoping this will open the door.”

Milk Production Up 0.2 Percent – In October, U.S. milk production rose 0.2 percent from a year earlier. In South Dakota, milk production increased nearly ten percent. During the past year, South Dakota dairy farms added 17,000 cows to the milk herd. Minnesota milk production declined a half-percentage point, losing 9,000 cows over the past year.

Ag Industry Unites to Defeat Measure 309 – Much of the livestock industry collaborated to defeat Denver’s Measure 309.  The goal of the ballot initiative was to shut down the Superior Farms lamb processing plant while preventing others from being built. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick believes Denver was a trial run for similar activist measures nationwide. “The animal rights community decided that Denver would be a test case, they thought if they could do it in Denver they could do it in any city in the United States.” There was another major takeaway, according to Orwick. “All of the livestock and meat industry came together, unified around this campaign, to allow our side to prevail over $1 million raised and spent. That’s an important story.”

White House Hosting MN Turkeys – President Joe Biden will pardon national Thanksgiving turkeys today on the White House South Lawn. The two turkeys, raised in Minnesota, will be spared and sent to Farmamerica after staying at the luxurious Willard Hotel. Turkey pardoning dates back as far as President Abraham Lincoln, though the first official pardoning took place under President John F Kennedy’s tenure. The practice was not formalized until President George H.W. Bush in 1989.

Moisture Boosts Winter Wheat Outlook – Much of the U.S. winter wheat crop received timely rains before heading into winter dormancy. “In a very short time, we went from very poor crop condition ratings to a much more positive outlook,” said Tyllor Ledford, market analyst, U.S. Wheat Associates. “If this moisture is able to hold in the soil over the winter, that’s excellent for the crop.” Ledford emphasized early-season conditions do not necessarily tell the story for the final yield and quality prospects for winter wheat.

A Smooth Harvest – K and D Krueger Farms and Sons partner Matthew Krueger had a smooth harvest in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. “We had time to let the weather do its thing and try to dry down the corn a little bit more,” Krueger said, who let the sunflowers dry down naturally as well this year. “What’s the point in spending $30 an acre on sunflower desiccation when we can just let the frost do its thing?”

Pipeline Permit Resubmitted to SD PUC – Summit Carbon Solutions has resubmitted its pipeline permit application to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The PUC rejected the initial application more than a year ago. North Dakota and Iowa have already approved their permits and a decision is pending in Minnesota. The Summit pipeline would capture carbon dioxide from Midwest ethanol plants and deliver it to western North Dakota for sequestration.

Dietary Update Favors Pulse Crops – Updated dietary guideline recommendations are opening the door for pulse growers to meet a potential increase in demand. “There were recommendations that were made to move pulses to more of a visible part of the guidelines and in doing that, we look at this as a great opportunity for our producers to potentially produce more of these crops,” said Northern Pulse Growers Association Executive Director Shannon Berndt. “Over the past several years, we’ve seen rising demand on the domestic side because of increased use as a food ingredient. Globally, depending on the markets, there’s always going to be high demand for proteins.”

UM Evaluates Neonics and the Environment – New research from the University of Minnesota considers the amount of neonicotinoids found in Minnesota’s ground and surface water. The report found neonics are largely confined to shallow water table aquifers. “The main places we see the neonicotinoids in groundwater were in the Karst region in the southeastern part of the state and also in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties,” said University of Minnesota Professor of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering Bill Arnold. Land use, especially, agriculture, was cited as a contributing factor. Funding for the research was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

MN Corn Matters – Minnesota Corn Growers Association Jim Kanten joins this week’s Corn Matters to highlight the 2025 MN Ag Expo. Click here to listen.

WCAS Members to Vote on CHS Merger Tuesday – West Central Ag Services member/owners will vote on a proposed merger with CHS Tuesday, November 26. Chair Duane Brendemuhl said meetings were held to review the bids made by CHS and The Arthur Companies. In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, Brendemuhl said the CHS offer is ‘superior’ and is ‘the right fit.’  The CHS patronage program was a part of the decision. “You factor in a price on it on what the patronage would be in the future earnings and that increased it quite a bit,” said Brendemuhl. “There was a certainty of getting the deal done. Also the treatment of the employees, every employee is guaranteed for a year with the CHS and there was no plan on the Arthur side.” After The Arthur Companies announced its bid, CHS increased its purchase price from $200 million to $225 million. A two-thirds majority of the members attending the November 26 meeting is needed to approve the CHS proposal. If approved, the CHS merger would take effect next month.

The Arthur Companies Provides Alternative Option – The Arthur Companies CEO James Burgum remains confident a deal can be finalized on a timely basis if West Central Ag Services members vote down its proposed merger with CHS. “We appreciate the chance to sit down with West Central’s leadership,” said James Burgum, CEO. “The Arthur Company remains willing to work out a deal to prioritize the growers’ bottom line while maintaining competition and great customer service for future generations. We encourage patrons to get out and vote on November 26.” The Arthur Companies is offering $250 million to acquire West Central Ag Services. Details are available online.

CHS Expands ND Grain Terminal – CHS is expanding and upgrading its grain terminal at Kindred, North Dakota. Existing steel bins will be replaced with concrete space to hold 890,000 bushels. The facility is projected to be finished in late 2026. “Updating grain storage and reducing load times at the facility allows for faster and more efficient service to farmer-owners during harvest and other high-volume seasons,” said Dennis Novacek, senior director of operations, CHS Dakota Plains Ag.

ADM’s Quarterly Profits Decline – Arther Daniels Midland reports quarterly net income of $18 million, down from $821 million in the same period one year ago. Profits in ADM’s Ag Services and Oilseeds divisions dropped 43 percent in the quarter. Higher canola prices resulted in lower crush margins and a downturn in profits in the oilseeds crush business. An internal investment found irregularities in its accounting process, which delayed the original earnings release date of November 5.

Mankato Flour Mill to Close – The Ardent Mills flour mill in Mankato will shut down by mid-January. This facility has a milling capacity of less than 10,000 hundredweight per day. The facility was built in the late 1870s by Hubbard Milling. Cargill acquired the mill in 1989 and Ardent Mills took over when it was created in 2014.

Green Ammonia: Landus Leads the Way – Green ammonia can play a large role in sustainable nitrogen fertilizers for the future. Landus, a large agricultural cooperative headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, produced a first-of-its-kind green ammonia system in North America. “We will integrate our green ammonia offerings into our larger suite of products and programs with environmental and economic sustainability impacts that bring value to farmers,” said Lori Marco, sustainability and downstream engagement lead. “We think green ammonia will be a big part of helping us achieve reductions.”

Hybrid Wheat On the Way – Corteva has announced the first-of-its-kind proprietary non-biotech hybrid wheat technology. Corteva plans to launch a hybrid Hard Red Winter wheat as early as 2027 in North America and add to its platform over time.

YoBark Introduced – A new dairy product is coming to a supermarket near you. General Mills and the dairy checkoff partnered to create YoBark. This is a refrigerated snack that combines the creaminess of yogurt with the crunchy texture of granola. Dairy Management Inc has been working with General Mills on this concept since 2021.

FFA Foundation & Food Bank Benefit From Inaugural Ball – North Dakota Governor-Elect Kelly Armstrong will host his Inaugural Ball on January 18 in Bismarck. In addition to the celebration, there will be a charitable element of the event. The Governor’s Heritage Foundation will partner with the North Dakota FFA Foundation and the Great Plains Food Bank. A portion of all donations from this event will benefit these two organizations.

SD Corn Comments – Jim Wooster joins South Dakota Corn Comments this week with a special Thanksgiving message. Listen to the update. The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. 

Job Opportunities in Agriculture – Check out the Job Opportunities tab on the Red River Farm Network website. The Pennington County Farm Service Agency is hiring a full-time temporary program analyst in Thief River Falls. If your business has a job opportunity, contact the Red River Farm Network to reach your future employee.

AURI Update – The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute hosts an ag innovation podcast with Dan Skogen that discusses Minnesota agriculture. A2 Milk, a business guide for on-farm anaerobic digestion and sustainability are all discussed in this week’s report. Listen here. 

Armstrong Makes Key Appointments – Governor-Elect Kelly Armstrong is filling out his team. Roz Leighton will serve as Armstrong’s chief of staff. Leighton has had a similar role in Armstrong’s congressional office and has experience in the White House, Senator John Hoeven’s office and as executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party.  Aaron Weber will serve as policy director in the governor’s office. Weber is a senior advisor to Hoeven, focusing on agriculture issues. Weber’s resume also includes time as an agriculture advisor when Hoeven was governor. Armstrong also selected Corey Mock as North Dakota’s chief information officer. Mock is a longtime Democratic state representative and served as minority leader.

A New Role for Hollinrake – David Hollinrake is the new CEO for Exacto LLC, which focuses on the agricultural, turf and ornamental horticulture markets. Most recently, Hollinrake was the global head of strategy and portfolio management for Syngenta Seeds. Before that, he was president of Syngenta Seeds North America. Hollinrake’s resume also includes time at Bayer, Monsanto and Adayna.

Air Quality Researchers Join USDA Task Force – USDA has appointed 27 new members for its Agricultural Air Quality Research Task Force. Most of the members are from the East and West Coast. However, the region is represented by University of Minnesota researcher Rod Venterea and North Dakota State University Assistant Professor Iris Feng.

Spiers to Lead USW – Mike Spier was elected as the next president and CEO for U.S. Wheat Associates. Spier will succeed Vince Peterson when he retires July 1, 2025. He has been the USW vice president of overseas operations.

Swanson to Join American Angus Association Staff – Effective December 10, Andrew Swanson will take over as a regional manager for the American Angus Association. Swanson is an Ivanhoe, Minnesota native and will cover Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota for the association. Swanson has been a beef business manager for Select Sires in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Daggett Named President/CEO of NoDak Insurance – Effective December 1, Seth Daggett will take over as president and chief executive officer of NI Holdings, Inc., the holding company for NoDak Insurance. Most recently, Daggett was the company’s chief financial officer and treasurer. Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis Matt Maki will suceed Daggett as CFO and treasurer. Cindy Launer has been the interim CEO and will return to her role as independent non-executive director of NI Holdings.

Pivot Bio Adds Hoag – Jason Hoag has been named the head of North American commercial distribution for Pivot Bio. Previously, Hoag was the North American marketing lead for Bayer Crop Science.

Ebach Moves to Thunder Seed – Thunder Seed has hired Marv Ebach as a district sales manager. Ebach has been a crop consultant with CENTROL.

Pulvermacher to Exit NDGGA Leadership Role – The North Dakota Grain Growers Association is looking for a new executive director. Kayla Pulvermacher has accepted a new role as a government relations manager for Midco. Pulvermacher joined NDGGA in July of 2023, succeeding longtime Executive Dan Wogsland.

Falk Awarded for County Leadership – The Minnesota Farmers Union honored Swift County Farmers Union President Jim Falk with a Distinguished County Leader Award. “Jim is a steadfast leader and one of the main reasons Minnesota has a grain indemnity fund,” said Gary Wertish, MFU president.

Ag Communicator Award Belongs to Groskreutz – Jerry Groskreutz of KDHL Radio, Faribault, was named the Minnesota Farmers Union Ag Communicator of the Year. The award was presented during the MFU Convention in Minneapolis.

MFBF Board Member Election Process Complete – Minnesota Farm Bureau Vice President Carolyn Olson was re-elected to a two-year term at the 106th annual meeting. Jeff Pagel of Olmsted County and Miles Kuschel of Cass County were re-elected to the MFBF board. Bruce Brenden of West Otter Tail County will complete two years of a three-year term vacated by former board member Shayne Isane of Roseau County.

Distinguished Service to Minnesota Agriculture – On Friday night, the Minnesota Farm Bureau presented its Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award to three individuals. The award winners are retired Minnesota State Fair CEO Jerry Hammer, retired USDA Wildlife Services supervisor John Hart and Tom Rothman, who retired after spending 40 years telling agriculture’s story as a farm broadcaster and with UM Extension.

MFBF Recognizes Excellence – Brownfield Ag New farm broadcaster Mark Dorenkamp was named Ag Communicator of the Year during the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation awards program. The MFBF Extension Educator of the Year is Nicole Kudrle of North St. Louis County. Nick Schiltz of Riverland Community College-Austin is the Post-Secondary Educator of the Year and Katie Emmett of Sleepy Eye FFA is the FFA Advisor of the Year.

Recognizing Time and Talent – During the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation meeting, recognition was given to members and industry supporters. Karin Schafer is the group’s executive director. “In order to make this organization work, we recognize we need volunteers and we need people who are contributing their time, energies, efforts and talents to make this organization thrive,” said Karin Schaefer. “We recognize folks who have been long-time members with an honorary life membership and we also recognize industry stakeholders who have made a huge contribution to agriculture.” Honorary Live memberships were presented to Bernie Aronson of Lincoln County, Jerry and Lori Beckel of LeSueur County and Al and Dianne Christopherson of Kandiyohi County. Christopherson served as MFBF president from 1988-to-2005 and was a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors. The Young Farmer and Rancher Committee Excellence in Agriculture winner is Luke Daninger of Forest Lake. The Achievement Award belongs to Dustin and Katie Wiese of Pequot Lakes. Megan Horsager of Clara City won the Discussion Meet.

Huber Wins Collegiate Discussion Meet – A student from North Dakota State University won the NDFB Collegiate Farm Bureau Discussion Meet. Alex Huber is from Jud, North Dakota and will represent NDFB at the American Farm Bureau Federation FUSION Conference in March.