‘Tremendous’ Amount of Soybeans to be Sold to China – Agricultural trade was a big part of the 90-minute meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Trump briefed the media on Air Force One. “A tremendous amount of soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased starting immediately,” said Trump. “If you notice, President Xi authorized yesterday (Tuesday) for China to start buying very large quantities of soybeans and other things, which I appreciated; it is a very nice gesture.” Ahead of the meeting, China purchased three cargoes of U.S. soybeans. On social media, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that was “a great start.” The U.S. and China still need to officially sign this trade deal and Trump said that would happen “pretty soon.” Trump also announced he will visit China in April and Xi will travel to the U.S. sometime after that.

White House Fact Sheet Offers Insight into China Agreement – Over the weekend, the White House released fact sheets detailing a new trade deal with China. According to the agreement, China will purchase at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans during the last two months of 2025 and at least 25 million metric tons in each of the years 2026, 2027, and 2028. Additionally, China will suspend all retaliatory tariffs that have been announced since early March. This suspension includes tariffs on corn, soybeans, wheat, pork, beef, and dairy products. Furthermore, the U.S. and China have agreed to a one-year suspension of fees for ships entering each other’s ports. into each other’s ports.

Costs Remain Under the Cost of Production – Thief River Falls farmer Kyle Jore is a member of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association officer team. Jore is excited that China has committed to continuing to purchase U.S. soybeans. “We’d like to put into perspective that this is on par with maybe where they were purchasing even a few years ago, so it’s not necessarily new purchases, but it is definitely exciting to a soybean producer to know that that market is not entirely closed off.” The Red River Farm Network asked Jore if the deal with China eliminates the need for a farm assistance package. The response was simple. “We’re still under the cost of production.”

USMEF Encouraged by U.S.-China Trade Progress – The U.S. Meat Export Federation says it’s encouraged by progress in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China following last week’s meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom says removing non-tariff barriers would help restore access for U.S. pork and beef exports to China. Halstrom adds the group supports a one-year pause in port fees and encourages efforts that boost investment without increasing export costs.

An Important First Step – Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Dan Glessing sees the trade truce with China as an important first step. “We need to see the deal signed, we’re caustiously optimistic, is what I would say,” said Glessing. “Quite honestly, if we can get those products moving, that’s going to be a huge thing for agriculture.” Glessing is also encouraged by the other trade deals made during President Trump’s trip to Southeast Asia.

Republicans Join Dems in Rare Challenge to Trump Tariffs – The Senate voted 50-46 Wednesday night to repeal President Trump’s tariffs on Canada. That follows a similar vote on Tuesday regarding the tariffs placed on Brazil. A handful of Senate Republicans rejected the President’s tariff strategy and voted with the Democrats on these two resolutions. The move is seen as largely symbolic because the House is not expected to bring the same language up for a vote.ca

High Court to Address Tariff Powers This Week – The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments regarding President Trump’s use of emergency tariffs on Wednesday. The National Taxpayers Union has released a letter signed by 465 economists, stating that the continuation of these tariffs poses a significant threat to the U.S. economy. A group of Democrats in Congress has also filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Court, claiming Trump illegally imposed tariffs under the Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Trump Reaffirms Position on Beef Prices – President Donald Trump revisited the issue of beef prices while on Air Force One while on the way to Japan. Trump said consumer beef prices must come down, but he’s willing to take action so cattle ranchers aren’t hurt in the process. Trump also blamed former President Biden for the high retail beef prices.

Rollins Downplays Significance of Argentine Beef Imports – During an appearance on Fox News, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins reiterated President Trump’s pledge to lower consumer beef prices while supporting cattle ranchers. “Those two goals are not mutually exclusive,” said Rollins. “In America today, we consume 12 million metric tons of beef per year, and historically, 10 million metric tons we produce ourselves, two million we import in. This is not new news. What we’re talking about in Argentina is going from 20,000 metric tons of the 12 million total to about 60,000 or 80,000 metric tons of the 12 million total.”

Vance Challenged on Argentine Beef Decision – In as closed-door meeting with Vice President JD Vance, Senate Republicans blasted the Administration’s plan to import Argentine beef. The lawmakers said farmers and ranchers have been some of the President’s biggest supporters but were thrown under the bus with the decision to quadruple the amount of beef imported from Argentina. Cattle prices tanked when this issue surfaced at mid-month. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Trump comments ran counter to his America First philosophy.

Fedorchak Hosts Beef Roundtable – North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak met with ranchers, ag leaders, and market experts at Black Leg Ranch near McKenzie on Wednesday to discuss the future of the U.S. beef industry. Fedorchak said North Dakota ranchers “are innovating every day to raise safe, high-quality beef” but need “commonsense policies that let them do what they do best.” Participants raised concerns over potential beef imports from Argentina, emphasizing the need to uphold U.S. quality standards and protect domestic herds. The group also discussed improving labeling, strengthening import inspections, and addressing labor shortages linked to the ongoing government shutdown.

Rollins Meeting with Mexican President Today – Texas FFA alumnus and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was a special guest speaker at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. After speaking in front of more than 70,000 students about her time in FFA, Rollins took questions from the media. New World Screwworm was part of that discussion. “We obviously take this incredibly seriously. I’ve been down to the border two or three different times and announced a new sterile fly facility.” With no official date yet announced for the U.S.-Mexico border to reopen, Rollins stressed herd safety and the importance of giving this issue its proper due diligence. “There’s about 250,000 head of cattle waiting to move over, but I am not convinced yet that we have this under control and as tough as it is on our cattlemen, our number one biggest priority is to protect the herd.” Rollins will meet with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum today to discuss the NWS and the border.

MN Corn Matters – In the Minnesota Corn Matters update, Minnesota Corn Growers Association Market Development and Industry Relations Director Devin Hoffarth offers details on a recent visit by a Taiwanese trade delegation. Click here. 

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 markets have “done a 180” with the grain markets heating up and the cattle market cooling down. Click here to listen to the full report.

Cattle Fundamentals Have Not Changed – Cattle futures started to rebound Wednesday after undergoing a dramatic drop since President Trump’s infamous Truth Social post in mid-October. Despite the big changes in the market, Terrain Senior Animal Protein Analyst Don Close says the fundamentals in the cattle market haven’t changed. “I would go futher than that and say the psychological damage that has been done to the market in the past ten-12 days has destroyed producer confidence and setback our efforts to rebuild female inventory,” said Close. The pain has been felt at the auction barns. Feeder calf prices at Phillip Livestock declined $40-to-$55 in the past week. At Hub City Livestock Auction in Aberdeen, steer calf prices were down as much as $30. “In other situations that we’ve been through over the years, I don’t know that I recall that big a decline in a single week’s reported trade. Typically, when we see that kind of correction in the market, it takes weeks or months to see that amount of price decline. To see it just cut all in one fell swoop, that’s a rare occurrence.” Close emphasized the supply of beef will on tighten from this point forward, and beef demand remains strong. In an interview with RRFN, Close also considers the true impact of Argentine beef imports and the potential impact of lower tariffs from Brazil. Click here to listen. 

Cattle Market Volatility Continues – Cattle markets have faced sharp swings in recent weeks, with prices falling hard after reaching record highs earlier this month. Beef industry expert Cassandra Fish says uncertainty and emotional trading have rattled the industry. “The market was near or on contract highs on October 16th, and then there was a tweet that night, and the market fell below the limit on the 17th,” said Fish. “We still have the tightest fed cattle supplies ahead of us, and although we’ve stabilized the U.S. beef cow herd, we have not yet begun to expand it.” Fish says political headlines and trade uncertainty are adding to the instability. “You’ve created a real confidence crisis for many participants in the cattle and beef industry today,” said Fish. “If we could get the headlines to go away and get back to focusing on our supply scenario, then we might find our footing and establish a decent trading range, but it remains to be seen.” Fish authors a daily market column called The Beef. 

ASI Requests Investigation into Lamb Imports – The American Sheep Industry Association has formally requested a government investigation into lamb imports and the negative impact on the domestic sheep industry. According to ASI, imported lamb is often sold at lower prices and harming U.S. farmers, packers and employees. ASI wants a U.S. International Trade Commission global safeguard investigation.

A Legislative Traffic Jam Expected – The budget reconciliation bill that passed this summer included the update to reference prices, crop insurance adjustments and redirected Inflation Reduction Act funds to high-demand conservation programs. South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson says more work needs to be done with the ‘skinny’ farm bill. “We should absolutely get a ‘skinny’ farm bill done before the end of the year, but I don’t want to lie to you either,” said Johnson. “This shutdown has just created an absolute traffic jam between now and the end of the year. We’ve got the annual Defense bill we’ve got to get done, we’ve got appropriate money for the rest of the year, we’ve got this skinny farm bill, and not all of that’s going to get done. That is going to create a real problem.”

Skinny Farm Bill on Hold During Government Shutdown – This is the 33^rd day of the government shutdown, and there is no end in sight. Compeer Financial Services Vice President of Legislative Affairs Perry Aasness believes agriculture will have a full plate when the legislative logjam ends. “Farm Bill 2.0 being one, we got a lot of good things in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act back earlier this summer, but there are a lot of things that are normally in a farm bill that Congress has yet to address,” said Aasness. “The good news is it seems like both the administration and Congress are hearing clearly that something will need to be done, but again, everything is on hold until the government reopens.”

Farmers Await Relief as Congress Stalls – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven says he’s working to keep critical farm programs and federal nutrition assistance funded during the government shutdown. Using Section 32 and school nutrition funds, programs like WIC and SNAP will operate through October, but funding beyond that is uncertain. “Those are mandatory programs, but we have to appropriate the money to fund them, and we can’t do that when the government is shut down.” Hoeven adds that farm support programs are stalled. The Market Facilitation Program, ready to assist farmers, cannot move forward while the shutdown continues. “We have that ready to go, but that’s being held up by the shutdown as well. That would provide some assistance to our farmers as a bridge to get to where they’re going to have more sales.”

Dietary Guidelines Delay – The Trump Administration is delaying the release of the new dietary guidelines due to the ongoing government shutdown. The Department of Health and Human Services and USDA were planning to finalize the report by the end of this month, but the release is now tentatively scheduled for December. These guidelines are updated every five years. RFK’s Make America Healthy Again movement is expected to put its stamp on these recommendations.

Senate Committee Probes Competition in Seed & Fertilizer Industries – The Senate Judiciary Committee reviewed competition issues in the seed and fertilizer industries. American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland testified, saying soybean farmers are expected to experience a net loss of $109 per acre on their crop this year. “In just five years, seed prices have increased by 18 percent; fertilizer by 37 percent; pesticides by 25 percent; machinery by 23 percent and interest expense by 37 percent.” Ragland said advancements in seed and crop protection products have delivered significant agronomic benefits, but at an added cost. Progressive Policy Institute Vice President Diana Moss testified about her concerns over competition. With the large ag biotech mergers, we now see a highly integrated engineered system of traits development, traited seed, agrichemicals, and now digital farming,” said Moss. “It is very, very difficult for smaller innovators, say independent seed companies or independent trait innovators, to penetrate markets, to get a foothold and to compete effectively.”

House Members Push Treasury to Act on 45Z – A bipartisan group of 25 House members has sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, seeking final guidance for the 45Z clean fuel production credit. Despite having more than three years to develop and publish this guidance, the Treasury Department has failed to do so. The letter stated that the 45Z guidance will ensure that no loopholes are available to undermine the importance of the program for farmers. One lawmaker from the tri-state region signed off on this letter; Representative Brad Finstad of Minnesota.

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, Big Stone County farmer Anne Schwagel talks about the process of water certification. Listen to the report. 

Hoeven, Klobuchar Raise Rail Competition Concerns – Senators John Hoeven of North Dakota and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are pushing for a thorough review of the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, citing potential risks to rail service and competition. The senators warned that the merger could particularly impact agricultural shippers, who already face limited transportation options. In a letter to the Surface Transportation Board, the lawmakers noted the combined UP–NS system would control more than 40 percent of freight rail traffic across 43 states. They urged the STB to apply heightened post-2001 merger standards to ensure long-term competitiveness. The call has received backing from national farm and industry groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, and American Crystal Sugar Company.

SD Corn Comments – In this edition of South Dakota Corn Comments, hear an important Veteran’s Day message. Click here.

Farmers Eye Finish Line in Fergus Falls Area – Fergus Falls area farmer Gaylen Affield describes corn as the bright spot this season, while soybeans struggled with disease pressure. “The corn was above average for us, which was nice. The soybeans were a little bit less,” said Affield. “They just were suffering, and whether it was fungus or disease or something, they just got short and didn’t grow very good.”

Excellent Corn Yields Reported – Harvest is wrapping up across southeastern North Dakota, though some corn remains in the field as farmers wait for it to dry. Havana area farmer Joe Breker says storage and moisture are the biggest challenges right now. “Bins are full. Corn is hanging onto its moisture a little bit, so it’s a little tougher to deal with these tail-end bushels,” said Breker. “A lot of it is either standing in the field waiting for some more dry down or going to the elevators to pay for drying.” Soybean yields have been highly variable, depending on drainage and rainfall. “If you had well-drained fields and missed out on one of those showers this summer, you had above-average beans. If you caught that extra rain, those fields were probably half. There’s some variability, but for the most part, the corn yields are excellent, probably best ever.”

Harvest Delays in Central North Dakota – Harvest has come to a halt in parts of central North Dakota as wet conditions keep farmers out of the fields. Mandan area farmer Dennis Renner says most of his corn and soybeans are complete, but soggy soils are holding up progress. “We’ve had, I think, in the last six weeks, over eight inches of rain. This last one produced a little over two inches for us here, it’s wet.” A fair amount of crop has been harvested. “It’s been going pretty well. We finished up the beans, and the corn was coming off pretty dry in some cases because of the frost earlier,” said Renner.

Good Spots and Bad Spots – Harvest is nearly complete across northeastern South Dakota. Peever area farmer Louie Nigg says yields were average. “Well, there’s a lot of good spots and a lot of bad spots, and I think we ended up probably with the average crop,” said Nigg. “The good spots were the hilly spots in the field that had good drainage, and the bad spots were the ones where all the water ran.” Soybean yields were more limited this fall. “I’d say that was probably a below average of probably high 40s for averages down in this area.”

Soybean Yields Lag, Corn Excels – Rains have slowed harvest in northeast North Dakota, but farmers report solid yields, especially for corn. Emerado area farmer Shane Sand says the sugarbeet harvest is complete and the corn is coming with promising results. “Yields look pretty solid there, so that was exciting,” said Sand. Soybean yields didn’t quite meet expectations, but corn is shaping up as one of the best crops in years. “We’ve only done maybe ten percent of our acres, but that first ten percent was an eye opener for sure, maybe we’d better start making some space here or find a spot on the ground to pile a little bit.”

Fighting Mud in Extreme NW MN – Harvest conditions remain uneven across northwest Minnesota as wet fields continue to challenge farmers. Roseau area farmer Richard Magnusson says his own harvest is complete, but others are still battling standing water. “It’s awfully wet around the area.” Despite the soggy finish, Magnusson says yields have been good for most growers. Yet, the harvest has been miserable. “West of Roseau, it’s been really wet for the last month, to the point that the only way to travel is on tracks or they’re in mud all the time.”

An Above-Average Crop in Worthington Area – Harvest is nearly complete across southwest Minnesota, where farmers are seeing some of their best yields in years. Worthington farmer Bill Gordon says both corn and soybean yields are well above average. “You get east of us closer to Jackson, you’re looking 230 to 250 (bushels per acre) in corn, a lot of high 60s, 70s on beans, a few 80s, but mostly in the 60s and 70s,” said Gordon. “Around Worthington, you saw a lot of that give or take 60-bushel soybeans. I think we ran out of water right at the end.” Corn yields are estimated in the 200 to 230 bushel per acre acre range, “probably 20 bushels above our average.” Storage space is now tight as farmers bring in large crops. “Every bin in the countryside is full. The elevators are all piling corn,” said Gordon. “You can drive down Highway 60 or even south into Iowa, and there’s a lot of corn outside.”

Final Beet Acres Wrapping Up in Red River Valley – At the end of this past week, American Crystal Sugar Company growers were down to the last few fields to harvest. Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Executive Director Harrison Weber says yields have been impressive, with tonnage reaching the upper end of expectations. “Anytime we’re hearing 30-ton plus, we’re excited about that,” said Weber. “Sugar content may be a hair lower than we’d like to see, but it continues to rise as this last couple of percent has been in the ground longer. I think we’ll finish somewhere around 18 percent.”

CME Adjusts Daily Price Limits – The CME has reset daily price limits for major agricultural futures. Corn futures will now have a daily limit of $0.30 per bushel, soybeans $0.70 per bushel, and both Chicago and Kansas City Wheat $0.35 per bushel. The heavily traded Hard Red Spring Wheat contract on the MIAX exchange will remain at $0.60 per bushel for now.

NASS to Release Key Reports – While the government shutdown continues, more USDA data is being made available. The National Agricultural Statistics Service has announced release dates for key reports, including the supply-demand report and crop production report on November 14. These reports were originally scheduled for release on November 10. The milk production report that was supposed to be issued on October 22, will come out on November 10. The cattle on feed report will be released on November 21 as originally scheduled. Most of the agency is furloughed, so it’s not known how USDA will be able to compile the information.

Fall Crop Insurance Prices Set – The December corn average price is $4.22 per bushel. That compares to $4.70 last spring and $4.16 last fall. The November soybean average price is $10.35 per bushel, down from $10.54 last spring and $10.03 last fall. These numbers will be finalized this week. These numbers are used for revenue guarantee insurance policies.

Trade and Tariffs Squeeze Farm Margins – Rabobank’s Fall Harvest Outlook for North America says the U.S. farm economy may need to “return to fundamentals” to stay competitive amid trade instability and high input costs. The report highlights the ongoing pressure from tariffs, policy uncertainty, and rising fertilizer prices, which continue to squeeze farm margins. Rabobank analysts say government intervention is creating added uncertainty for producers. Stephen Nicholson, global sector strategist for grains and oilseeds, stated that China has shifted nearly all of its soybean imports to Brazil, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage. The outlook also points to structural barriers slowing sustainability adoption, with analysts warning that without stronger support, producers may struggle to manage risk while keeping costs under control heading into 2026.

Dvergsten: Many Farmers Below Break-Even – Even with generally good yields, Northland Farm Business Management Instructor Ron Dvergsten says farmers are struggling to make a profit. “This is really, for several people, probably a third year of prices really not quite where they need to be to turn any type of significant profit.” There’s no silver bullet to solve this situation. “It’s really getting back to the basics,” said Dvergsten. “Number one is just a good risk management plan, starting with crop insurance and looking at the level that best fits your financial position, but really also looking at managing on the expense side.”

Rural Mainstreet Index Falls Again – The Rural Mainstreet Index fell again in October, marking the eighth time this year it has dropped below the growth-neutral level of 50. The index came in at 34.6, down from 38.5 in September, the weakest reading since May 2020. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says lower commodity prices continue to pressure the rural economy. Farmland values also remain soft, staying below growth-neutral for the 17th time in 18 months. Farm loan delinquencies rose to 1.6 percent, while farm equipment sales showed only slight improvement, extending 26 months of weakness.

Carney Apologizes To Trump Over Ad – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has apologized to President Trump for an Ontario government television ad that used Ronald Reagan’s voice to criticize tariffs. Carney said the ad, which aired in the U.S., angered Trump and disrupted trade talks between the two countries. Speaking in South Korea, Carney said he advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to run the ad, calling it a mistake. The apology came as Carney also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing the discussion as “a turning point” in efforts to rebuild Canada’s trade relationship with China.

U.S. Fresh Potato Exports to Japan Remain Stalled – The U.S and Japan signed a new framework trade agreement during President Trump’s visit to Southeast Asia. The National Potato Council is disappointed that the agreement did not include fresh market access for U.S. potatoes. NPC CEO Kam Quarles said U.S. fresh potato shipments to Japan could add $150 million and boost global potato exports by ten to 15 percent each year. “Unfortunately, Japan just continues to negotiate without concluding, and they’ve used that very successfully; they’ve protected their market.” Despite that disappointment, Quarles is pleased with the confirmation this past week’s Senate Finance Committee hearing for USTR chief agriculture ambassador nominee Dr. Julie Callahan. “She’s very committed to making sure this market is open, and I think having the chief agriculture negotiator nominee make such a strong statement is a positive step for us.”

Mexican Potato Growers Strike – Mexican potato growers held a nationwide strike last week, demanding that their government block U.S. potato imports as part of a broader nationalistic agriculture protest. Videos shared online showed growers calling for an end to U.S. potato shipments. National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles said the strike was timed to influence the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, adding that Mexican growers “want to return to the monopoly they originally held on Mexico’s domestic market.” U.S. potato exports to Mexico now total about $130 million annually, making it the top foreign market for American potatoes.

Migratory Bird Movement Complicates HPAI Situation – It has been a rough fall for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Minnesota, with 20-plus cases. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says the issue has been complicated by the migratory bird season. “We’re #1 in turkeys, but we’re also #1 in lakes and sometimes they don’t mix well,” said Petersen. “With the government shutdown, USDA has kept all of the employees who assist us with the depopulations, audits and everything else.”  There have been no reported cases of avian influenza in Minnesota dairy herds. “The potential is there for the strain to crossover into dairy so we’re watching that very closely; it has in the South in Arizona so we’re continuing to watch that.”

USB: Driving Domestic Demand – The Red River Farm Network visited with United Soybean Board Director Tom Frisch of Dumont, Minnesota. Frisch focuses on animal agriculture, soyfoam innovations and high-oleic demand opportunities. Click here to watch the interview. 

Dry Bean Scene – Big changes are coming for dry bean growers this winter. In the Dry Bean Scene, Northarvest Bean Growers Association Marketing and Communications Director Jed Brazier highlights the International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo. Click here to listen. 

Palmer Found in Divide County – Palmer amaranth has been confirmed in North Dakota’s Divide County. One plant was pulled from a wet/green spot at the outer edges of a wheat field. The National Agricultural Genotyping Center confirmed it was Palmer amaranth. Growers are being encouraged to report any suspect plants to local weed officers or NDSU Extension.

DRC Appeals Dairy Farm Permit – Dakota Resource Council is appealing the state permit for the Riverview Dairy project in southeastern North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality approved the permit for the 12,500-cow operation in early January. The Dakota Resource Council claims the state failed to consider potential water quality issues.

Bank of North Dakota Prepares Farm Relief Package – The Bank of North Dakota is working on a debt refinancing program for farmers. This program will collaborate with local banks and credit unions to support farmers during the current downturn in the farm economy. The state-owned bank outlined the program during this past week’s meeting of the North Dakota Industrial Commission.

AgriGrowth Launches Effort to Reclaim MN Agriculture’s Competitive Edge – In the words of AgriGrowth Executive Director Darin Broten, Minnesota Agriculture has ‘lost its mojo’ and is now at a competitive disadvantage to its neighboring states. The organization is working on a multiyear effort to build its vision for Minnesota agriculture and drive change. After extensive surveys of members and ag leaders, AgriGrowth has identified four areas of focus: being a global research and innovation hub, having advanced world-class processing facilities, an integrated transportation and export infrastructure and strong generational farms. Work will be on developing a clear, concise strategic vision over the next year and rolling out the roadmap for Minnesota agriculture’s future in the winter of 2027.

Regulatory Environment Not Keeping Up with the Pace of Innovation – Using technology and innovation was the topic for one of the forums at the  AgriGrowth Fall Summit. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Executive Vice President Mike Metzger highlighted its leader-follower autonomous trucks. “To date, we’ve logged 70,000 miles autonomously on the North Dakota side of the river, bringing sugarbeets from our receiving stations to the factories for processing.” Metzger remains hopeful that the State of Minnesota will provide a variance to utilize the same technology on its roads. “Government regulations will never keep up with the pace that technology moves forward and that’s a real problem for those who want to be early adopters,” said Metzger. “Minnesota has legislation for autonomous vehicles, but it is only allowed on four-lane roads. How many four-lane roads do we have in rural Minnesota? In our area, we have I-94 and Highway 10, that’s it.” Change needs to happen through the legislative process and at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “It comes down to being a little more metrocentric and a lack of education for the needs in rural Minnesota.”

FFA Conventon in Indy Through 2040 – National FFA has announced its national convention and expo will continue to be held in Indianapolis through at least 2040. The convention was held in Indianapolis from 2006-to-2012. It was in Louisville from 2013-to-2016 and has been back in Indy since then. The FFA convention has a $40 million economic impact on Indianapolis each year.

CHS Foundation Marks 50 Years with FFA – The CHS Foundation has a long history of supporting the agriculture community through stewardship and education. One of those long-lasting partnerships has been with the National FFA Organization. “We are excited this year to be celebrating 50 years of support for National FFA,” said CHS Foundation President Megan Wolle. “This year, we’ve really been focused on meeting students where they’re at with our support and helping them find their place in agriculture.” That includes giving students a glimpse behind the scenes at all the planning and work that goes into being an ag educator. “They certainly have worked with their own ag educator, but this gives them an opportunity to see even more.”

National FFA Convention Feels Like Home for Addington – For many students, the National FFA Convention is a chance to compete at the highest level, and to meet and make new friends. For Minnesota FFA State President Cameron Addington, it’s a little bit like coming home. “When the first day of the convention comes and you’re seeing all the chapters show up, all the different blue jackets from their different state associations and you’re seeing old friends, you’re making new connections. It just feels like home.” Addington says the past six months as a state officer have been a whirlwind of activities. “During the summer, we did leadership conferences, we went to the state officer summit, the Minnesota State Fair, and now we’re rolling into the fall with visiting those local agricultural education programs and FFA chapters, connecting with students one-on-one. We’re just excited for what’s next, whether it’s national convention or state convention prep rolling into the winter. We’re loving every minute of it.”

A Family FFA Legacy – FFA is a family legacy for Minnesota FFA State Vice President Hailey Chambers of Medford, Minnesota. “Both my parents were FFA members, my grandpa was an FFA member;  I’m a third generation FFA member, which isn’t something you hear every day. It’s a privilege, honestly, to be a part of FFA.” Chambers sees agriculture in her future. “I’m currently a freshman at Iowa State University, studying agronomy.”

Building Employment Skills – The National FFA Employment Skills competition involves building a resume and applying for an ag-related job. “It’s a project where you start by creating a resume, a cover letter, and a job description, and you send that to a panel of judges,” said Taylor Berkner, who represented Minnesota in the contest. “They score that, and then you have an in-person interview.” For the contest, Berkner applied for a job with local swine farm Schwartz Farms. “I was really drawn to them because they’re local to our community and they give so much back to our community as well.” Berkner, who is from the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter, plans to attend Iowa State next fall to study Kinesiology.

Embracing New Challenges – For Kindred, North Dakota FFA Vice President Kamryn Halvorson, the competition is one of her favorite parts of FFA. “I love the atmosphere and I love competing, and my advisors encourage me to try new things, even if they’re way out of my comfort zone,” said Halvorson. “There are so many things that I never would have imagined I could do, like ag sales and going up to strangers to try to sell them things or learning how to run a meeting.”

Rolla FFA Project Becomes Statewide Safety Day – For this year’s Premier Chapter competition at the National FFA Convention,  the Rolla, North Dakota FFA chapter presented a project called Slow Down, Share the Road Day. “Slow Down Day is really just about the need for people to stop for farm equipment on the roads,” explains Olivia Martin. “It’s actually more dangerous for the farm equipment than it is for us because there’s more of a chance of farm equipment going into ditches and rolling over.” Martin, along with teammate Kylie Juntunen, drafted the proposal themselves. “We wanted to do a project that involved our entire chapter, and to help with keeping farmers and their equipment safe when on the roads,” says Juntenen. “We first started out in Rolla, and we had the mayor sign it for us, and then we sent it out to the state so that the governor could look at it and pass it in the state.” The proposal was signed by North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, marking September 19th as the official Slow Down, Share the Road Day.

Von Berge Brings Minnesota Voices to National Stage – Minnesota FFA State Vice President Paisley von Berge is happy to be back at the National FFA Convention where she has been hard at work performing delegate duties. “I’m so thankful for this opportunity to be here to represent our state. I’ve had some pretty exciting work so far this week, being a delegate for our state and specifically a leadership delegate.” Part of the work done by the Hutchinson FFA Chapter member has been sharing her experiences when she returns to Minnesota. “Getting to share some of the stories from back home and help improve our future leadership programs through National FFA has been a great experience.”

MN Alumni Honored – The Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters brought home some hardware from Indianapolis and the National FFA Convention. The Minnesota group was named the outstanding state association of the year. This past year, Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters increased the number of new chapters by 21 percent and had a renewal chapter rate of 86 percent.

SD FFA’er Earns Proficiency Award – Elana Andrews of Beresford, South Dakota earned the National FFA Proficiency Award for swine production placement.

North Dakota Student Named Best in Nation for Plant Science Project – Flasher, North Dakota FFA Member Jocelyn Zingg took the top spot as best in the nation for this year’s Agriscience Fair in Plant Sciences at the National FFA Convention. “The first thing I thought of when they announced my name was that I had a math test I had to make up,” Flasher said of the experience. “After that, I couldn’t stop thinking how I’d won a national competition.” Zingg’s project tested phosphorus rates on plant growth. “I had 12 tubs growing 50 seeds in each tub, and it was quite the challenge to get all of those tubs prepared so they would be consistent.” Zingg is a freshman at Flasher High School.

Giving Voice to Rural Mental Health – Sleepy Eye FFA member Lily Kallevig represented Minnesota in Prepared Public Speaking. Kallevig chose to talk about mental health in rural communities. ” I talked about the four factors that impact rural mental health challenges: accessibility, availability, affordability, and acceptability, and how they impact our rural communities.” Kallevig says that in researching the project, one fact stood out the most. “Farmers are three and a half times more likely to die by suicide; I really was trying to get the message out there that farmers are struggling, we need to support them, and it’s okay to ask for help.” Kallevig placed silver in the national competition.

Carrington FFA Excels in National Agribusiness Contest – The Carrington, North Dakota FFA Chapter took fourth in the Farm and Agribusiness Management Career Development Event in Indianapolis. Team members Molly Hansen, Bailey Ness, Chuck Jorgensen and Sam Simons, spent three months preparing for the 200-question test. “About a month ago, we really started working on this year’s case farm which was Kanduit Valley Farms, a dairy enterprise mainly, and we just dove deeper into their balance sheet, income statement, income taxes with some basic risk management and economic principles,” said Hansen.

Teacher’s Encouragement Leads Kiesel to FFA Success – For Kindred, North Dakota FFA Chapter’s Becca Kiesel, joining FFA wasn’t a given. It took some persuading from her ag teachers. “I didn’t think I wanted to be in FFA actually, but in eighth grade one of my teachers came up and talked to me and told me about this conduct team and said I should be on it. So, I gave it a try, and we didn’t do too bad so, I stuck with it.” Kiesel says her favorite part of FFA is the friends she’s made. “They encourage you to try new things, even if you don’t want to be this when you’re older, and it’s definitely more fun doing this with friends.”

Purina Dairy Podcast: Let’s Talk Livestock Risk Protection for Beef-on-Dairy Operations – There’s a new group of trusted advisors that’s been established to help dairy operators find and utilize some risk management tools for both milk and the beef on dairy element of their farms. Matt Ramsey is the livestock services manager with Purina Animal Nutrition and Land O’Lakes Risk Management. Ramsey talks with our farm broadcast colleague Pam Jahnke about why this team was created and where they focus their energies on assisting dairy producers. Ramsey understands that many operations have already been engaged with the Dairy Revenue Protection product, but there may be additional risk management elements that fit going into the new calendar year. Likewise, Ramsey is excited about the potential of the Livestock Risk Protection program that’s been revamped to address the high value and important revenue element, that beef on dairy calves and cull cows are adding to the balance sheet.  Making sure that dairy operations protect that stream of income is critical. Listen to the podcast.

Helping Farmers Achieve Healthier Soils and Higher Yields – Soil salinity is a significant issue across the Northern Plains. Midwestern BioAg CEO Gaji Balakeaneshan sees the management of moisture as the fundamental problem. “For example, if you don’t get any rain for the last couple months of the season, you’re really going to stunt your potassium availability and we can’t control the rain, but we can help the soils manage that moisture better, keep more moisture when it’s dry, help it retain the moisture in a more productive way when it’s wet, and just continue to feed the crop to get to those higher end yields.” The ultimate goal is to improve the availability and management of water and nutrients. Midwestern BioAg is introducing new products that address these issues in the next few months. Balakaneshan says these soil health solutions have a great fit for the Northern Plains. Listen to the full interview. 

NCB Co-op 100 Updated – The National Cooperative Bank has released its annual ranking of the top 100 revenue-earning cooperatives. CHS remains at the top of that list with 2024 income of $39 billion. Six of the top ten largest cooperatives are from agriculture, including Dairy Farmers of America, Land O’Lakes, CoBank, GROWMARK and AgriBank. There are notable businesses from the region on the list. That includes Basin Electric Power of Bismarck at 21^st, Aberdeen-based Agtegra at #27 and American Crystal Sugar Company at #29. Associated Milk Producers, Inc., which is headquartered in New Ulm, is 47^th; Bongard’s Creameries, with ties to the region, is ranked 85^th.

AMPI to Sell New Ulm Butter Plant – Associated Milk Producers Incorporated is selling its New Ulm, Minnesota butter plant to Grassland Dairy of Greenwood, Wisconsin. The sale is expected to close at the end of the year. An AMPI spokesperson said the move will allow AMPI to focus on its core business, which is cheese. AMPI’s headquarters will remain in New Ulm as it is the geographic center of the cooperative’s manufacturing footprint and its membership. AMPI will maintain its Dinner Bell Creamery brand

Cargill Moves Forward with Workforce Reduction – Cargill is permanently laying off 80 employees in Minnesota and an undisclosed number globally. The job cuts are part of a plan announced in December to reduce its workforce by five percent.

Indigo Ag Introduces Nemora for ’26 Growing Season – Soybean Cyst Nematode is the #1 yield-robbing pest for soybeans. Indigo Ag has received EPA approval for a seed treatment called Nemora to address SCN. It colonizes the eggs of SCN and prevents them from hatching. “Iif you think about the lifecycle of SCN, we can have multiple life cycles in a single growing season, so when we’re able to prevent that egg hatch, we’re really able to reduce the overall egg count and pressure that we’re experiencing out there,” said Bryan Randall, senior agronomy lead, Indigo Ag. “It also continues to grow throughout the entire growing season.” Nemora will be available for the 2026 planting season.

Syngenta Releases 3Q Financials – The Syngenta Group finished the third quarter with sales of $6.4 billion, down six percent from the previous year. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, sales for Syngenta Crop Protection rose three percent and seed sales were up one percent year-over-year.

3Q Decline for FMC Corporation – FMC reports third-quarter revenue of $532 million. That’s down 49 percent from the same quarter last year. Most of that downturn is attributable to the actions taken to position the company’s India business for sale.

Smithfield Releases 3Q Financials – Smithfield Foods is reporting net sales of $3.7 billion for the third quarter, up more than 12 percent from the same quarter last year. The company said its bottom-line was supported by its vertical integration strategy with its hog production profits offsetting higher costs in its fresh pork and packaged meats business category.

CN Profits Edge Higher – Canadian National reports quarterly net income of $1.1 billion Canadian, or the U.S. equivalent of $813 million. That’s a five percent improvement over the same quarter last year. CN grain shipments declined last quarter due to a late harvest, but a significant bump in volume is expected in the current quarter.

AGCO Reports Third Quarter Results – AGCO had net sales of $2.5 billion in the quarter that ended September 30, down 4.7 percent from a year earlier. AGCO President/CEO and Chairman Eric Hansotia said political shifts and global trade tensions influenced farmer sentiments, especially in North America. However, actions were taken to mitigate the impact.

CLAAS Announces New Dealer Locations – CLAAS has announced the addition of two new dealer locations. They will be in Mitchell, South Dakota and Atlantic, Iowa. CLAAS FARMPOINT will also establish a regional hub in northwest Minnesota, making it easier for its technicians to serve local growers.

Otter Tail Power Seeks Rate Increase – Otter Tail Power Company has filed a request with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to raise electric rates for its Minnesota customers. The request begins an 18- to 24-month review process to determine the final rate decision. The company is also seeking permission for an interim rate increase of about 12.6 percent starting January 1, 2026. If approved, the typical residential customer’s bill would rise about $13 per month, and a typical business would see an increase of about $44.

Canola Minute – Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman invites everyone to attend this week’s annual meeting in Minot. Click here.

AFIA Welcomes Provost as COO – Megan Provost has joined the American Feed Industry Association as its new chief operating officer. Most recently, Provost was president of the RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment). Her career also includes stops at the Farm Foundation, Dow AgroSciences, American Farm Bureau, USDA and on Capitol Hill.

Connelly is Back at MDA – Christina Connelly is the new international trade supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. For the past 11 years, Connelly worked in the Minneapolis Office of the Consulate General of Canada as a trade commissioner. Connelly is returning to MDA, spending six years with the Department from 2008 to 2014.

NCAE Hires New CEO – The National Council of Agricultural Employers has named John Hollay as its new president and CEO. In January, Hollay will succeed Michael Marsh. Marsh is retiring after leading NCAE since 2017. Hollay has been serving as the government relations director for the International Fresh Produce Association. Before that, he was vice president of government relations for the National Milk Producers Federation.

Safarian Leading Inari – Lisa Nunez Safarian is the new chief executive officer of the seed technology company Inari and CEO-partner of its founding company, Flagship Pioneering. Safarian was with Monsanto and Bayer for more than three decades, including time as the president of Crop Science North America for Bayer.

A New Role for Koscelny – Innovative Seed Solutions has named Jeff Koscelny as its CEO. Koscelny spent 15 years as the wheat commercial lead for Bayer Crop Science and WestBred. He has been working as a senior consultant since December. Previously, Koscelny was an agronomy manager with Monsanto.

Leadership Changes at Hormel Foods – Hormel Vice President of Retail Sales PJ Conner plans to retire in the spring. Natosha Walsh, who has been with the company for 26 years, has been named his successor. Hormel Chief Financial Officer and Controller Jacinth Smiley has resigned and Paul Kuehneman is serving in that role on an interim basis.

Deere Names New Government Affairs Manager – Emily Buckman has joined John Deere as its manager of government affairs. For the past five years, Buckman has been in a similar role with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

SDSU Announces Hiring of New Water Specialist – South Dakota State University has welcomed Ryan Lefers as the new Griffith Endowed Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources. Lefers is also serving as the South Dakota Water Resources Institute Director and SDSU Extension Water Management Specialist. Prior to joining SDSU, Lefers co-founded three agriculture and water resource companies. He also worked for the company now known as Stantec and spent time as an assistant professor at Texas A&M.

NDCCA Officer Team Installed – The North Dakota County Commissioners Association Executive Committee for 2025-2027 include Neal Messer, Stark County: president. Tracy Dolezal, Dunn County: is vice president and Glenda Collier, Eddy County was re-elected treasurer. Joan Hollekim, Mountrail County, is the past president.

NDSU Foundation Trustees Named – The North Dakota State University Foundation has welcomed five new trustees and three of them have connections to agriculture. The incoming trustees include Steve Bobb, Leah Halverson and David Parish. Bobb, who retired in 2024 after 36 years with BNSF. Bobb received the NDSU Harvest Bowl Agribusiness Award last year. Halverson leads Ten Acre Marketing and is part of Black Gold Farms. Parish founded Agricultural Industry Solutions, which focuses on solving complex problems in the potato industry. The NDSU Foundation Executive Governing Board has reelected Keith Peltier of Proseed as its vice chair. The longtime administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission, Neal Fisher, wrapped up his six-year ECB term this summer.