Future Farmer Mar/Apr 2024

What Landmark Companies can do for you!

We offer cutting-edge technology in design software and equipment to design and install drainage systems for growers looking to improve their cropland. Our dedication to the industry keeps us at the top of the list if you’re in need of professionally designed and installed drainage systems.

How Landmark Companies approaches each project to give the best product for each field.

Our experienced sales staff will meet with the customer to identify the needs of the grower. From there, they will turn this information in to Landmark Companies' design staff to acquire light detection and ranging (lidar) to further understand the topography of the field. We will also use soil maps to help determine the proper spacings and drain tile type. The three main types of drain tile are narrow slot, regular slot, and sock tile. These different types of perforations will be decided based on the type of soil. For example, sock tile will be used in sand subsoils. Narrow slot tile will be used when the subsoil is moderately sandy, and regular perf will be used in heavier subsoils. Selecting the right perforations helps keep the pipe from taking on sediments and prevents it from clogging while

maintaining the drainage coefficient. Once we determine the tile type, we will then determine the drainage coefficient. The drainage coefficient is the measure of water drained per 24 hours. The three main drainage coefficients used are one-half inch, three-eighths inches, and one-fourth inch. To achieve the best results in a drainage system we would use the soil type to choose what coefficient would best fit the application and budget. Once the tile type and drainage coefficient are determined, we will create a design and size the drainage system based on those specifications. After the project has been designed, we will go over the project with the customer to make any changes they may want or to add to the project. Some projects may need surface water intakes to remove the surface water or may need a lift station to pump the water if a gravity outlet is not available.

Misconceptions of drain tile. Most frequent questions asked

Q: Does drain tile hurt your field during extended dry periods without rain?

A: No, drain tile increases root growth which helps the crop withstand this. Drain tile is only removing excess water.

Q: Will drainage systems increase flooding?

A: No. After the field’s water table is under control by the drainage system, this leaves more area to store water during the wet periods. So when the field is drained, it will be able to take water underground instead of running off the field to the ditches. Fields with the unmanaged water table will not be able to take on as much water.

Q: Why do I still have wet spots in my field if I have installed drain tile?

A: Water will only percolate through the soil so fast. So, if you have a low area that holds water, the suggestion would be to install a surface inlet to help remove the water faster or add tighter spacings in the low ground if inlets are not desired. Ground compaction can be a culprit as well.

How a properly designed and installed drain tile system can benefit growers.

• Provides better root growth by lowering the water table.

• Increases crop yields.

• Reduces erosion.

• Ability to plant and harvest faster after a rain event.

• Increase property value.

• Help eliminate saline in soil.

Why Landmark Companies would like to work for you.

With over 80 years of combined experience between our install crews, salespeople, and management staff, we pride ourselves on workmanship, integrity, and honesty. We will always continue to deliver the highest quality work that research and technology has to offer. Our greatest accomplishment is your field to perform the way it never has before. We believe in making your ground produce higher yields year after year and continuing business in the future.

By Cass County Electeric Cooperative

Submitted by Cass County Electeric Cooperative

the Northern Plains, where agriculture forms the backbone of our communities, the role of electricity transcends beyond lighting homes and powering gadgets. It fuels rural economic development and drives the efficiency of grain dryers and irrigation systems. It’s something Paul Matthys, Cass County Electric Cooperative's (CCEC) new president and CEO is familiar with. Having grown up on a farm in rural North Dakota and contributing the last 23 years in various roles at CCEC where he enhanced safety while driving innovation and rate stability, he’s ready to lead the cooperative and its members into the future.

Q: Tell us about growing up in rural North Dakota.

A: I grew up on a farm between Horace and West Fargo. My dad had an electrical contracting business and worked very closely with CCEC in the mid-1980s, helping them develop the dualfuel program. Following in my father's footsteps, I pursued a career as an electrician and ended up doing some contract work for CCEC, digging in the underground plant and installing off-peak equipment and systems. When I saw a position open at CCEC for an electrician, I applied and got it. Admittedly, I thought it was going to be a stepping stone, but I never left and this is where I plan on ending my career. I’m sort of a “co-op kid” with “co-op blood.” I liked the opportunity the electric co-op provided and the business model to make decisions locally, plus I enjoyed the work and working with our members.

Q: How has this shaped who you are today?

A: I'm very fortunate to grow up in the era that I did and where I did. My dad's advice was always “be the hardest working kid in the class.” What he meant by that is no matter what you're doing, just be the hardest worker and don't compare yourself to anybody else. Compare yourself to yourself. If you want to be better, then be better than yourself. So I took that with me.

Q: Are you still living the farm life?

A: I didn't move very far. We’re about 12 to 13 miles from our original farm, Southwest of Kindred about 7 miles. It's a great place to raise a family; hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, all outdoor activities are right there, just like how I grew up. It’s been great for our kids. I couldn't ask for a better place to raise a family.

Q: As you think about stepping into this new role as president and CEO, what does supporting our communities look like to you?

A: Rural communities are extremely important to CCEC and to me; that’s my roots, that’s where I come from, and

that’s where the cooperative started. We not only work with economic development organizations in the cities of West Fargo and Fargo but also with rural development committees to support economic growth in those areas. This includes the Growing Small Towns nonprofit in Oakes, ND, which promotes economic growth in small communities.

Giving back is a big focus for us as well. Operation Round Up gives our members an easy way to give back to our communities through bill roundups. I am also proud of our employees who provide their time, talent, and resources to projects like the demolition work we did at the museum in Fort Ransom. We help to maintain and support our rural communities where the resources may not always be there.

Q: Our rural communities can be a little more vulnerable during harsh weather like the ice storms we had this past winter. What do you think it takes to enhance electric reliability in those areas?

A: Most outages do occur in our rural areas so we’re focusing on maintaining and hardening those systems to mitigate outages and enhance the

distribution system so it can hold up to the toughest weather like some of the ice storms we experienced this last winter. This means taking down some of the overhead three-phase east-west feeders—where it makes sense—and replacing them with underground cable, along with rebuilding some of that line to our new design specs.

Q: What is CCEC’s role in powering the future of agriculture in North Dakota?

A: Ag is extremely important to our state. So we will continue to work in the rural economic development space by bringing agricultural businesses and loads into our community. We have several members in the ag sector with grain drying and we’re looking at bringing in some large dairy operations. We are providing power, providing service to them, providing a rate, and supporting economic development to get these operations into our communities.

Q: What do you think the electric sustainability roadmap looks like in our state?

A: We’re focusing on embracing technology to improve our member services and inefficiencies while keeping rates stable. Smart meters, for example, will allow for back-and-forth communication. We’re also planning to install a fault location isolation and service restoration (FLISR) system, which can automatically restore power to customers in the event of a fault.

When it comes to our ag community we’re working toward sustainable and efficient energy that reduces their costs and gives them some rate flexibility. This includes providing energy audits for grain drying operations and an off-peak program for grain drying and irrigation.

Q: What’s your approach to educating members on renewable energy?

A: Our job is to be the expert in the energy field and the go-to for answers when it comes to renewable energy.

We do our research and work closely with our power provider, Minnkota Power Cooperative, to ensure we have a healthy balance, which I think we do right now. First and foremost we want to make sure we still support our base load generation. At the end of the day, that's what's keeping our lights on 99% of the time, but we also continue to explore new ways to work through this energy transition.

Q: What goals do you have for CCEC?

Project Tundra is a carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative to reduce carbon emissions from the coal-fired Milton R. Young Station near Center, ND. When completed, it will capture up to 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year and safely store it more than one mile underground, making it one of the largest CO2 capture projects in the world.

A: Seeing Project Tundra through. This technology would capture roughly 90% of the carbon dioxide on the Milton R. Young coal-fired power plants in Center, ND. This is an incredible step in ensuring longevity for a reliable and affordable power supply resource for some time. Also, like I mentioned, we're embracing technology and constantly looking at ways to control our distribution costs, which in turn controls our costs for our members.

Q: How do you ensure that reliability and rate stability remain paramount for your members, even in the face of constant change?

A: We've worked with Minnkota over the years to add emission controls on the back end of the coal-fired plants. We have a great mix in our energy supply portfolio of wind and CCEC was the first ever to have a community solar project in the state of North Dakota. Continuing to look at ways to provide energy that's reliable, stable, and being good stewards of our environment is our dedication to our members.

Tory Hart, the Jamestown market president and lending team leader at Bank Forward, has deep roots in the agricultural world. Raised on a cattle and small grain farm in Foster County, ND, Hart's early life was shaped by the rhythms of farm work and the guidance of his family. His father, LeRoy, and uncle, Dennis, served as mentors, instilling in him a profound understanding of both livestock and crop farming. This foundation led him to work at the Carrington NDSU Research and Extension Center and later at the Kensal Farmers Elevator after graduating from North Dakota State University.

By Josiah Kopp | provided by Bank Forward

- Tory Hart, Jamestown Market President and Lending Team Leader, Bank Forward

Sherry Koch Senior Technical Sales Manager, The Mosaic Company

Dr. Craig Whippo Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS

Bill Shores Strategic Account Manager, Pivot Bio

by Grant Ayers

Key Takeaways and Insights from Grand Farm Field Days' Recent Speakers

Grand Farm's recent Field Day event, a series of panels by six industry leaders, including Sherry Koch of The Mosaic Company, Dr. Craig Whippo of USDA-ARS, Bill Shores of Pivot Bio, Eddy Mejia of Earnest Ag, Charles Smith of IMIO, and Brian Otteson of NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm, offered a deep dive into the changing world of agriculture from their perspective. The event, which centered on crop nutrition, seed genetics, and soil health, provided a platform for these experts to share their insights and innovative solutions to pressing challenges in our region's agriculture.

Each speaker highlighted the constantly changing nature of the agricultural sector and the importance of embracing sustainable practices with cutting-edge technologies. From discussions on soil health management to integrating microbial solutions in farming, the speakers brought critical trends and practices to light that are expected to transform agriculture. As we explore each presenter's insights, we learn more about their commitment and expertise that is pushing our region's agricultural industry and practices toward a more productive and sustainable future.

Eddy Mejia

CEO, Earnest Agriculture

Charles Smith

Co-Founder and CEO, IMIO

Brian Otteson

Director, NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm

Sherry Koch

Senior Technical Sales Manager, The Mosaic Company ith a background that spans over 30 years in agriculture, Koch's journey from growing up on a farm to her role within The Mosaic Company was no short path. Still, her dedication has allowed her to build up an impressive portfolio over the years.

"I spent 15 years working as an agronomy production specialist for a local North Dakota retailer, selling directly to farmers, then I spent four-and-a-half years with the Monsanto Company as an Account Manager in seed and chemistry," Koch said. "Then came the opportunity to work for The Mosaic Company, which is a fertilizer company. I made the switch to round out my professional portfolio, as I've worked directly with farmers and retailers through distribution and sales, and now working in fertility with The Mosaic Company for the last 12 years."

The Mosaic Company is an integrated producer of concentrated phosphate and potash—two of the most important nutrients in agriculture. I had the privilege of speaking with Sherry Koch, Senior Technical Sales Manager at The Mosaic Company, who's focused on supporting customers in the Upper Midwest region, teaching them product knowledge, and helping them sell directly to growers with marketing and sales tools they may need. During our conversation, Koch shared how she aims to increase farmer productivity through fertility solutions and educational outreach, her advice on what growers should be mindful of, and more.

Head to cropnutrition.com to find all of their product information and data. Growers can search their ZIP code to find their nearest local dealer.

Photo Courtesy of Sherry Koch

At the recent Grand Farm Field Days event, Koch highlighted the potential behind performance products and biologicals for growers in our region. "I discussed The Mosaic Company's performance products for the Upper Midwest, which are Micro Essentials and Aspire. Micro Essentials is an enhanced phosphate product with sulfur and zinc, while Aspire is an enhanced potash product with boron," Koch said.

"On the other side of the coin, Mosaic Biosciences is the biological side of our business. We have two separate products that my counterpart Peter White, Regional Sales Manager for Mosaic Biosciences, discussed, which are Powder Coat and Bio-Path. They are fertilizer-specific biologicals that can be put on any fertilizer, not just ours, hence why they make a great fit for our region's growers."

With industry experts like Sherry Koch and others leading the charge to improve crop productivity, our growers' success is all the more likely in the years to come.

Q&A with Sherry Koch

Q: Do you have any words of advice or things that growers should be mindful of in different landscapes across the Upper Midwest that you serve?

A: 1 communicate with your retailers, consultants, salespeople, and agronomists and make sure that everybody's on the same page and that things are getting done properly. Ultimately, a lack of communication is where issues can occur.

Keep it simple, be upfront, and be honest. It doesn't have to be complicated! There's enough complication in the world as it is. I look at things often and promote them like building blocks. Fertilizer makes up roughly 60% of a farmer's yield, so what can we build on top of that to be successful? What else does a farmer need? If we have a pie, and 60% of that pie is our fertility or what we're putting in the soil, what are the pieces that are most important?

Whether it's soil testing, tissue sampling, or farm planning, growers should be doing their research. They need to make sure they know what they're purchasing so that they can get the best bang for their buck.

Enjoy what you do, have fun, take care of your neighbor, and know that you're helping feed the world.

Q: Do you have any other resources to recommend to readers and growers?

A: In February, we launched a YouTube series called 'Advanced Crop Nutrition with Sherry' that discusses different aspects of crop nutrition while trying to keep it simple, because it can be a very complicated topic. Oftentimes, folks hear the words 'advanced crop nutrition' [and] may question what it means. We cover different topics on some of the research that we're doing with our R&D folks, and I'll also be interviewing different people throughout the series. It's a great, informative YouTube series to watch throughout the year, as we're aiming [to] release several new episodes in 2024.

I work with several agencies, television networks, and radio stations, and more throughout the Upper Midwest, where we try to cover different markets through social media, newspapers, radio, keeping in mind that a lot of farmers are over 50, but there are also a lot of young, aggressive farmers out there looking for new methods on different platforms, like social media and others."

- Sherry Koch

Check out the Mosaic Advanced Crop Nutrition YouTube channel here!

Find The Mosaic Company on: MosaicCo.com

/MosaicCompany

Search 'The Mosaic Company' @MosaicCompany @CropNutrition

The Connection Between Soil Practices and Our Food’s Future

with Dr. Craig Whippo, Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS

Dr. Craig Whippo

Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS

an interview with Dr. Craig Whippo, a plant physiologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), we dive into the work being done to reshape North Dakota's agricultural landscape, an upcoming field experiment, and Dr. Whippo's input on what growers should know.

Dr. Whippo was hired under a new ARS initiative, known as "Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People." The goal is to understand how soil health management practices influence food, nutritional quality, and ultimately, human health. Plants are the integrator of the environment, with Whippo's focus on understanding the connection between soil health management practices and plant physiology, and in turn, how that physiology affects the nutritional quality.

Q&A with Dr. Craig Whippo

Q: Tell me a bit about how you found yourself aligned with USDA-ARS.

A: I grew up in central Indiana and pursued my bachelor's degree in plant breeding and genetics at Purdue University. Following that, I advanced my studies at Indiana University, where I completed my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research, focusing on the molecular biology of plant responses to light environments. My academic journey then led me to Dickinson State University, where I served as a biology professor for eleven years, teaching biology, biochemistry, and biostatsitics courses. I began this

The USDA-ARS is pulling the pieces together and leveraging the research power of the three ARS units in North Dakota to understand the long-term environmental, nutritional, and economic outcomes of our agricultural systems. This research is intended to help farmers produce nutritious food, be profitable, and protect natural resources for future generations."

- Dr. Craig Whippo

Did You Know?

The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area.

Photo Courtesy of Seth Archer, USDA-ARS

journey with USDA in June 2022 and am currently in the process of grounding my research program.

Q: How do you describe USDA-ARS to newcomers?

A: The research problems and questions that we face in the agriculture community today are very complex, and they require a multidisciplinary team such as ourselves to solve these problems. We're generating and using large relational data sets with sophisticated analytical tools. To address the computational needs of scientists, the ARS increased computational capacity through high-performance computing clusters and also training opportunities for scientists.

Q: What practices aren't being implemented by growers as much as they should be?

A: The management practices that help farmers conserve and protect their soil resources are going to have a major effect on efficiency in the future. These management practices are going to involve decisions about biodiversity and what species are planted, the microbiology, and even the specific genetic diversity. It's good to implement management practices that help deal with nutrient cycling, cover crop, residue retention, and any other practices that help with both water availability and water capture. These management practices are a great starting point for any farmers or growers not already doing these.

It's easy to see the value when you consider that environmental conditions are always changing. If I'm measuring photosynthesis in North Dakota, the environmental conditions are different from those for a plant physiologist taking the same measurements in Illinois. By having this data public, we can share data and see how crops are behaving differently in different locations, increasing the amount of comparisons that we can make. We'll be able to look deeper into these comparisons when we launch a field experiment this year.

Q: I see. Can you talk more about the upcoming field experiment, regarding what local growers should be aware of?

A: This summer, we're adapting a field study that was started in 2009. The last version of the experiment examined how residue retention, livestock integration, and crop sequence length impacted soil and agronomic attributes in a no-till system involving spring wheat, corn, pea, and canola. The modified experiment will include a tillage treatment to understand how soil disturbance affects this system. We are replacing spring wheat in the rotation with winter wheat to maximize the presence of living roots— black beans will be included in this experiment because of the benefits of pulse crops.

Q: What's the latest information from the ARS that is pertinent to growers in our region?

A: The ARS is now requiring scientists to provide our data to the public so that that data can be used by others. I think data sharing is an important step forward because it offers two significant benefits: increased transparency and versatility. Its value extends beyond its initial purpose, allowing other scientists to explore new research questions with the same data.

About ARS

Q: What outcome are you hoping to see?

A: Many people in agriculture are making a connection between soil health and nutritional quality. Logically, there's some sense to this, but the numbers backing this up are scarce. The goal of this project is to get those numbers and show how this system is affecting nutritional quality. Having those numbers, people can then be more confident in making their decisions and arguments based on evidence, rather than just a logical train of thought. It will be beneficial for everyone to have that evidence in front of them when they making decisions.

"The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. Here are a few numbers to illustrate the scope of our organization:

• 660 research projects within 15 National Programs

• 2,000 scientists and postdocs

• 6,000 other employees

• 90+ research locations, including overseas laboratories"

- USDA-ARS Website

Bill Shores' Insight into ND Agriculture

Bill Shores Strategic Account Manager of Pivot Bio

rowing up on a farm in west-central Minnesota laid the roots for Bill Shores' career, as he combined his passion for farming with advanced agricultural science at Pivot Bio. With a Bachelor of Science in plant industries management agronomy from the University of Minnesota-Crookston and 25 years in the ag industry, Bill's experience revolves around fertility, seed, chemistry equipment, and people. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shores to discuss Pivot Bio, insights for growers, forward-thinking strategies and tactics in the world of microbial products, and much more.

Pivot Bio's mission, as Shores explains, is twofold: enhancing farm fertility management and contributing to environmental sustainability. "Our primary goal is to fit into the management of fertility on farms and make things better for the grower," Shores said. "Secondarily, we aim to clean up the environment and help reduce carbon footprint. Others in the company might reverse those in order of importance, but I've always tried to do right by the grower first, with everything else coming after that."

Pivot Bio stands out in the microbial space with its gene-edited microbes, an approach that contrasts

A sustainable agriculture company, Pivot Bio delivers farmers patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility. We are solving agriculture’s biggest challenge—delivering nitrogen to plants to feed a growing population without the negative impacts of synthetic fertilizer or compromising on yield."

- Pivot Bio Website

Photo Courtesy of Bill Shores

with the native microbes used often by other companies. These gene-edited organisms are designed to produce more nitrogen than they consume, offering a more efficient solution to crop fertilization that bypasses the inefficiencies and environmental risks associated with synthetic fertilizers. With 16 patents related to gene editing and no signs of slowing development, Pivot Bio is at the cutting edge of microbial technology, aiming to bridge the gap between lab research and field application.

Q&A with Bill Shores

Q: You've mentioned striving towards environmental consciousness at Pivot Bio. Could you give me an example of how you are doing this?

A: There is typically a risk of loss with synthetic fertilizer when applied to the soil. However, we're not subject to those same events of leaching, volatilization, or denitrification. Once growers get on board with new advancements and become adapted to using microbial products in conjunction alongside synthetics, that will help with a lot of environmental concerns at hand including shipping and our carbon footprint.

Q: Looking ahead, is Pivot Bio consistently developing more patents to evolve growing processes and operations?

A: The entirety of the company is around 500 people right now. Roughly two-thirds of them are scientists in labs, heavy in laboratory development, working to develop the next strain. We have microbes that can produce ridiculous amounts of nitrogen right now in the lab, but our current

challenge and goal is to bring them from the lab to the field and help them survive there. We're going through the steps of ground-truthing them to ensure that they're going to do what we say they're going to do in their environment because, as we know, Mother Nature is in charge.

Q: What are some of the biggest misconceptions that growers may have regarding these microbial products at work in the fields?

A: Microbial products all get lumped into one big bucket that tends to not be looked at positively because there have been many other attempts that have come and gone without delivering. I understand the skepticism about microbial products, but if used correctly, they can make a world of difference to both the grower and the product.

Q: What tactics should growers be mindful of regarding crop nutrition, seed genetics, and soil health?

A: Be open-minded, conduct your own evaluation, and do your due diligence. Microbial products, along with other innovative approaches to crop cultivation, are emerging, and we should be ready to embrace them. This perspective is what attracted many of us to Pivot Bio. Familiarize yourself with the microbial conversation and become comfortable with it. Avoid ignoring these advancements as microbial products are on the horizon, and they will be widely available for applications including weed control, disease management, insecticides, and beyond.

We're all farm kids at heart. We're very easy to work with and passionate about what we do, but I would direct anyone curious to our website first and foremost. From there, reach out to a representative or one of us for more."

- Bill Shores

Find

PivotBio.com

515-436-4462

support@pivotbio.com

/PivotBio Search

Hedging Bets on His Vision of Ag's Future

with Eddy Mejia, CEO of Earnest Agriculture

Chief Growth Officer

"Eddy served 6 years in the military with tours to Afghanistan and Iraq. Has worked for 5 Fortune 500 companies, and holds a BS in Computer Engineering, and an MBA. During his free time, he loves to play with his dog Oso, work out, and learn."

- Earnest Agriculture Website

Eddy Mejia CEO, Earnest Agriculture

ddy Mejia, CEO of Earnest Agriculture, is on a mission to cultivate a sustainable world through regenerative agriculture—a step beyond sustainable agriculture. Mejia and his partner Dr. Gabe Price are determined to steer the course towards more sustainable and efficient farming practices. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mejia, who shed light on the role of biopesticide testing, as well as the importance of local growers getting involved and educated.

"Two things set us apart in our approach to research and development on sustainability initiatives. Where we get our microbes, and our technology that matches the bacteria together," Mejia said. With a decade of microbial ecology research under their belt, Earnest Agriculture's strategy revolves around diversifying microbial solutions to achieve consistency across different agricultural regions.

This approach addresses one of the sector's most significant challenges: the variability of results due to geographical and environmental differences. By researching multiple microbial strains across different environments, Earnest Agriculture ensures that their solutions bring comprehensive benefits to the plants, no matter the regional challenges they face.

"To create opportunity, growth, and impact in every community through innovative, renewable, and authentic practices, processes, and technology."

Agriculture

Photo Courtesy of Earnest Agriculture

The distinction between biostimulants and biopesticides, according to Mejia, marks a crucial fork in the road for the industry's future. While biopesticide testing is a more rigorous and capital-intensive process, it nonetheless offers substantial long-term benefits.

"Biopesticide testing requires a lot more stringent testing against fish, birds, rats, and more, and testing can take anywhere from 16 to 30 months," Mejia said. "It can cost a lot in terms of upfront investments ($1.2 million), but once you're biopesticide certified, you can make much stronger claims about disease prevention and more because those extra tests were conducted."

This approach ensures the safety and effectiveness of agricultural products and also aligns with the increasing demand from consumers and corporate partners.

Q&A with Eddy Mejia

Q: What should growers be aware of in our region's agriculture landscape?

A: It's important to be mindful of where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is headed. There are two different paths to take; biologicals/biostimulants or biopesticides. First, you have the biologicals, or simply biostimulants, which is like a 'Wild West.' You can put a product on, register, and send it out, but you never know what impact that can have on the food that you're growing and whatnot. Second, you have the biopesticide route, which is much more stringent. There are more tests and capital required to pass, but this is where the industry is going and what corporate partners are looking at. Some won't even talk to people doing anything less than biopesticide testing.

Q: What emerging agricultural practices should growers be steering toward in the next 5-10 years across the region?

A: Growers have to recognize and learn that implementing different tools and practices collaboratively, as a joint effort, is going to be what propels us forward. The problem is that you can't live solely with synthetics and there are cases where it won't always work. There has to be a balance or combination of practices, old and new, moving forward to get the best product possible.

Q: Looking ahead to the next years of agriculture across the region, do you have any advice for our readers?

A: Stay tuned to what's happening around the globe. There's a lot of uncertainty through the end of the year at least, depending on elections and ongoing wars, but it's important to keep going and stay mindful. There's a huge impact on which initiatives are set forth and such based on how the election plays out this fall, as well as the conflicts taking place around the globe. Whether it be the events surrounding Ukraine, Gaza, or China, trade is impacted between these groups.

For example, the Red Sea trade route is under attack right now, which is costing the supply chain by causing people to go around the entire continent, therefore increasing transportation costs and lessening the amount of product that can be bought. Keep an eye out for those events because they affect prices for products such as corn, soybeans, and more.

Q: Are there any misconceptions out there that growers may assume about your work, but should wish to correct course?

A: Yes, all biologicals are not snake oil. A lot of farmers simply don't believe in them, but with data and time, we believe that we can convince them that it truly works and is the future. Farmers need to be thinking about sustainable innovations like biologicals and see how synthetic solutions may be more reliable, but they aren't the best for soil health. Instead, using a balance between both of them is key.

About Earnest Agriculture

"At Earnest, we partner with farmers to turn their waste into sustainable soil products that help you, your plants, and the environment grow healthier and stronger. Our dedicated team of researchers, engineers, and scientists are helping to automate waste recycling and creating innovative products that improve cultivating outcomes at home and on farms."

- Earnest Agriculture Website

Unlocking the Potential of Soil

with Charles Smith of IMIO

Did You Know?

IMIO develops and manufactures regenerative agricultural products that outperform leading ag chemicals.

Charles Smith, Co-Founder and CEO, IMIO

harles Smith is the co-founder and CEO of IMIO, a company dedicated to reshaping how we understand and enhance the productivity and sustainability of our region's farmlands. As part of our exclusive insight from speakers at March's Grand Farm Field Days Event, I had the opportunity to sit down with Smith and discuss the innovative approaches that IMIO is taking with Re-Gen, rising initiatives across the nation pertinent to growers, and more.

Smith began by shedding light on the inception of IMIO and its mission to integrate microbial solutions into modern farming practices. "At IMIO, we've harnessed the power of microbes to create Re-Gen, a combination of bacteria and fungi that break down plant residues into bioavailable nutrients, turning 'waste' into a valuable resource for the next crop cycle," Smith said.

This microbial solution not only aims to increase farm profitability but also addresses the critical challenge of sustainability in agriculture. Re-Gen was motivated to confront the challenges posed by climate change and the wastage of organic matter. According to Smith, 33-40% of food grown globally is wasted, contributing to methane emissions. "We saw this as both an environmental problem and economic opportunity," Smith said. "Microorganisms are nature's key to recycling, so the idea was to create the most effective combination of them for breaking down plant residues into valuable nutrients for farmers. Re-Gen is especially good at breaking down lignin and cellulose, the toughest parts of plant residues, so farmers can get more value from everything in their soil."

IMIO's Approach

Regenerate: We create products that allow agriculture to return value to natural ecosystems.

Collaborate: We let science and nature work together, rather than pitting them against one another.

Iterate: We believe that incremental progress, sustained over time, adds up to massive results.

Replicate: We take inspiration from the natural symbiotic relationships between plants and beneficial microbes.

- IMIO Website

Photo Courtesy of of Charles Smith

This approach has the potential to enhance soil health, improve crop yields, and reduce chemical fertilizer reliance. In their trials conducted on corn in Vermont, IMIO has been able to demonstrate 20% plus yield improvements in multiple years with Re-Gen treatments, as well as the potential for fertilizer reductions based on the data that IMIO has collected.

"We're confident that we're going to continue seeing strong yield improvements because of the things we're doing for greater consistency," Smith said. "There's so much potential value that we can unlock for farmers in these crop residues. We're expecting to see really good things as we generate more data in the Corn Belt that can give growers more confidence in the reliability of these products and the potential to increase yield and reduce costs."

Q&A with Charles Smith

Q: What does growers' reception appear to be regarding developments such as Re-Gen, or are people accepting of implementing new processes into their soil?

A: From what I've seen, more farmers are interested in using some form of microbes to improve their soil health, increase their output, and protect their plants. There's a real growing awareness of the potential power of microbes, but consistency has been the main challenge for farmers adopting these products. We've put a lot of scientific resources into making sure that our microbes are extremely active when used by farmers because the microbes have to be healthy and alive to create value for plants and to ensure that they're set up for success.

Many farmers recognize the potential of microbial products and know that good soil has a lot of life in it, including insects and microbes. However, there does appear to be some skepticism among growers as to whether or not microbial products will work for them. With a lot of biological products, you need things to go just right. You need the microbes to be able to work their way through the soil, get down to the plant roots, and form a symbiotic relationship. With Re-Gen, growers are spraying our microbes directly onto their plant residues, so they're set up for success from the beginning—

they're applied directly into the right environment for them to thrive

Q: What steps are you taking with your product to make the field easier for growers?

A: We've developed a freeze-drying methodology that turns our microbes into a shelf-stable powder, so we avoid the variation that can happen when live liquid culture spends time on the back of a truck or a retailer shelf. Furthermore, live liquid culture can lose viability. Microbes can die and you can have population changes based on temperature swings, so we turn our liquid cultures into freeze-dried shelf-stable powders that the farmer mixes with water on-site to ensure that we have high activity levels. As a result, we can guarantee 100,000 times more microbes per acre compared to many other biological products out there, which we're very proud of.

Q: How are you addressing any skepticism?

A: Our approach is to try to generate and share objective third-party data. Funding from the National Science Foundation has allowed us to work closely with the University of Vermont. This year, we're going to be doing more trials with other universities including the University of Minnesota, the University of Kentucky, and more. We want to be transparent, show the data, and work with trusted universities, agronomists, and retailers.

Q: Do you see any rising initiatives or efforts across the agricultural industry?

A: I think there's increasing awareness across the agricultural industry, and in government circles, that we need to get more value to their soil. I think that we're going to see a lot more emphasis on improving soil health, both for short-term productivity and the long-term value of farmland. We want to help farmers increase the immediate profitability and long-term value of their land for themselves and for future generations, helping them create more value at all stages of that timeline.

"Re-Gen was the first product that we developed with funding from the National Science Foundation. Many crops that we grow commercially have meaningful portions that aren't sold and are treated as a byproduct. We know there's a lot of value in those residues and that farmers know that as well. With Re-Gen, we make it easy to recapture more nutrient value through a combination of different microbes. We grow each microbe individually, and mix them at the end of our process, which helps ensure consistency, instead of doing a big batch where you can have variation across different microbial populations."

- Charles Smith

Nurturing the Future of Agriculture

Brian Otteson, Director, NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm

NDSU is a large organization with many experts on board, and I'm just one person who focuses on seed production. I encourage people to reach out to their extension agents or specialists with any questions, as we have some great people on board. As far as seed production, NDSU has been breeding crop varieties for well over 100 years. I also encourage producers to reach out and access the information that NDSU has put out regarding crop varieties and production."

- Brian Otteson

a discussion with Brian Otteson, Director of the NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm, we explored the innovative landscape of agriculture in North Dakota. Otteson, with his extensive background in seed production and its crucial role within agricultural research, provides a unique perspective on the current and future trends in crop nutrition, seed genetics, and soil health. When looking at NDSU's agriculture landscape, its range of services is comparable to an umbrella, according to Otteson. NDSU Agriculture offers three divisions; NDSU Extension (getting ag-related messages out), the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources (CAFSNR), and the ND Agriculture Experiment Station (the research side which Otteson and the Agronomy Seed Farm fall under).

The Agronomy Seed Farm is a standalone unit, according to Otteson. "We're not a research center as we also specialize in seed production, but we do get grouped in with research centers across the state. Whereas they have more extension and research people located there, we focus on seed production and exploring new crop varieties." They grow spring wheat, barley, oats, soybeans, and more for seed production. Furthermore, they work closely with plant breeders and have breeding nurseries in Casselton, ND.

Did You Know?

The Seed Farm has always been 100% self-supportive through seed sales since its setup in 1950, including salaries, equipment, land, and any other expenses. "Even though we're a state agency, we don't use any state tax dollars. We're unique within the NDSU system in that we're so selfsupportive. The people who set up the Seed Farm back in the late 1940s and early 1950s were forward-thinking to set it up that way and push for it to be so self-supportive, which is something that we've always been proud of."

- Brian Otteson

Photo Courtesy of NDSU

Q&A with Brian Otteson

Q: You've mentioned your involvement in research. What are some of the latest trends in research that you've been seeing that may benefit growers?

A: The latest trend I've seen is the use of drones, robotics, and collecting field data in the research plots. I've noticed most plant breeding programs have switched to using drones, small robots, and other devices that scan their plots and do the work that used to have to be done by hand. Historically, plant breeders would walk through the fields with a clipboard and notebook, and take notes on plant heights and other characteristics. Now, much of that is done electronically. One of the biggest shifts in plant breeding has been adapting new technologies to ease the workload.

Everybody's looking for ways to speed up the plant breeding process. Plant breeders are working with the latest and greatest technology on the genetic side to speed up how quickly a variety is released. It typically takes 10 years but that can be sped up slightly with some of the newer technologies. Lastly, I've seen a shift toward experimenting with new crops. Several researchers are looking for new crops to bring into the area with NDSU that may help the farmer, but it takes a while to get it into the marketplace, as there has to be a viable market for it and guidance on how to use it.

Q: Are any external forces across the globe impacting this work in our backyards for you?

A: Whether it's the war in Ukraine or unrest in other parts of the world where wheat is grown, those actions have a ripple effect on world markets. At the agronomy seed farm, one of our major crops is hard-ridge spring wheat, and spring wheat markets have been greatly affected by these events.

Q: Looking ahead, what should growers prepare for regarding the crop nutrition and soil health landscape?

A: Prepare for new technology, as it's the biggest driving force nowadays. It's how we handle everything from seed genetics to customer paperwork, to seed sales and advertising. We've seen huge advancements in farm machinery between new technology and equipment, along with researchers utilizing new technologies to help speed up processes. We're poised to step up in terms of ag research and start utilizing some of these new technologies to help the research people get their job done and hope others follow suit. Grand Farm also has a lot of a lot of work going on this year, and they're going to be looking at new technologies as well. NDSU will partner on some of those projects, whether it be drones or other technology, so keep an eye out for what Grand Farm is doing.

"The Agronomy Seed Farm (ASF) produces foundation seed for North Dakota seed producers and cooperates in research efforts of the ND Agricultural Experiment Station scientists located at the main station in Fargo. Research and outreach efforts focus on the evaluation and development of new crop varieties, and providing data on varieties grown under eastern North Dakota growing conditions."

- NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm Website

Photos Courtesy of NDSU and NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm

for July 15.

provided by Bell Bank

2024 continues to take shape, the ag financing market remains a complex landscape. There are a number of challenges at play including diminishing COVID-era funding, rising input costs, and fluctuating interest rates. As net farm incomes face pressure, the sector continues to grapple with the implications of high interest rates and the impact of global conflicts.

We sat down with Bell Bank's Senior Vice President (SVP) and Director of Agribusiness Development Lynn Paulson to learn more about the landscape.

Lynn Paulson speaks at Bell Bank's 2023 AgViews Live 2023, Bell Bank's free seminar for agribusinesses and producers. 2024 AgViews Live Fargo is scheduled

The State of the Ag Market

Lynn Paulson with

By Brady Drake

About Lynn Paulson

Lynn Paulson, SVP and director of agribusiness development at Bell Bank, has deep roots in the local agriculture market. He has financed farm operations and businesses for the majority of his life, and he has continued to own a family farm located in Benson County, ND.

Q&A

Q: What's on the top of your mind right now when it comes to ag finance?

A: We're coming off the heels of 2020, 2021, and 2022 being phenomenal profit years in most of the ag world— especially in grain crops. I've been doing this for 40 years and I don't think I've been involved in another three-year stretch where so much money has been made. 2023 was okay—yields were pretty good but commodity prices were down 20-25%, so that certainly had an impact. But I think 2024 is where we are going to see margin compression really start for a couple of reasons. Number one is we have much higher interest rates. So, for the people who are borrowing money, going from 4% to 8% or 9% is a significant increase—especially given the amount of money needed to operate today’s farming operations.

When I started in this industry 40 years ago, a $100,000 line of credit was pretty big. Now, that $100,000 is $1 million.

However, I think producers right now are generally in really good financial shape. They've got a fair amount of financial runway built up, but there are also so many things going on that are outside of the producer's control. You've always got Mother Nature, and, right now, there are plenty of geopolitical factors to contend with. That is kind of the knife that cuts both ways. The war in Ukraine certainly helped commodity prices in the short run, but what it does in the long run remains to be seen. And all the other things that are going on in the world will have an impact as well that is yet to be determined.

You've got your environmental issues out there—are they threats or opportunities? There are things like sustainable aviation fuel, which reminds me of ethanol which really changed the whole landscape of crop farming in the early part of this decade. We simply need to find more uses domestically for all of the farm commodities we produce. Certainly, part of that may be ethanol for aviation or soybeans for aviation. We use 25 billion gallons of aviation fuel a year. So, there is a huge market. Aviation also leaves a huge carbon footprint, so there are a lot of interesting dynamics at play.

Lately, farmland prices have been really high. We don't see necessarily any big reductions of those coming. But, there are a lot of things going on in the ag world. The 1980s, which I went through, was when the last really big farm crisis occurred. We're not in the ’80s by any means, but the ’80s were highlighted by increased inflation, and increased interest rates—some of those same factors

The State of the Ag Market with Lynn Paulson

are creeping in, but the major difference is our ag producers are in much better financial shape now.

Q: Do you have any sort of insight on what is to come due to these ongoing geopolitical factors you mentioned?

A: It's a lot of speculation right now. Ukraine was a really large agricultural exporter of a lot of the same commodities that we produce—wheat, corn, soybeans. Since Russia invaded, they had to find alternative ways to get some of those same exports out, but it's really been very little. So, somebody had to come in and fill that need, and the US was in a position to do that. In the short term, our farmers were able to take advantage of someone else’s adversity.

China is still a huge buyer of agricultural commodities. If China was to invade Taiwan, that could be a potential game changer.

Honestly, one of the biggest risks that American agriculture faces, at least with respect to exports, is Brazil. First of all, they are the largest soybean exporter, and they now are the largest corn exporter. They have maybe 100 million more acres that they can bring into production. In many respects, they've got currency advantages—that's a real big deal. Don’t sleep on the impacts of Brazil. At some point, our competitive advantages become fewer and fewer.

Q: What should producers be doing to prepare for those shifts and challenges?

A: I think they need to be aware and pay close attention to their financial statements. They need to watch their liquidity and cash positions. When these downturns come, you need to be able to bridge those gaps until the next positive cycle.

Agriculture is a hugely cyclical business. In general, when it comes to agriculture, it's not always about how you handle adversity, it's about how you handle

prosperity. It's about what you do with your money in the years that you make it. It's about doing the right things at the right time—investing back in the farm, buying farmland, and keeping cash on hand to take advantage of opportunities. I like to tell producers, don’t be afraid, be prepared.

Q: So, overall, you think 2024 may be a tough year?

There's no doubt about it because, like I said, commodity prices are off 20% to 25% from a year ago. And, expenses really haven't gone down. Fertilizers have gone down a little bit, but, for the most part, they aren't going to raise the crops for less.

Q: Is there anything else you want to say to our readers?

It's always kind of a slippery slope for bankers to be talking about lifestyles, right? But you know, you need to watch those expenditures right now. We've got some folks that live fairly large, and when times are good, that's great. But it's something we need to start watching right now. Once you set your spending habits, it can be hard to change.

We've gone from historically low rates over the last decade or two to a place where people think they're really high. Right now prime interest rates are about 8%. Back in the early ’80s, it was 20%. So, historically, we’re really not that high. However, the dollars that people have to borrow to finance their operations are so much larger that any increase in rates can be impactful.

Everybody in this region has some connection to agriculture. We're an agriculture-driven economy— most everyone in this region benefits from a strong farm economy. It’s a great business to be part of with enormous opportunities in addition to being an awesome lifestyle.

SKY HIGH HARVESTS

How Drones are Transforming the Future of Farming

today’s ever-changing landscape of modern agriculture, drones are one tool in a farmer’s arsenal that allow them to maximize resilience and productivity. Since 2016, universities in over 20 states have collaboratively delved into drone research for agricultural applications. The collaboration has since produced innovative drone systems capable of identifying pests and diseases in fruits, assessing crop irrigation needs, expediting crop measurements, spotting stray livestock, creating 3D models of animals to calculate market value, monitoring water quality, and determining flood risks.

This article will delve into the new techniques that drone pilots are using to revolutionize the agriculture industry and some of the potential regulations that may impact those operations.

BY DOMINIC DAVIS Attorney, SW&L Attorneys

PESTICIDE APPLICATION

Among the many uses of drones in agriculture, a notable application is their ability to replace conventional methods of applying pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Unlike conventional methods such as manual backpack sprayers, tractor pulled rigs, and crop dusting performed by manned helicopters or airplanes, drones offer reduced operator exposure to the chemicals. Drones also have the ability to access areas that may be inaccessible for traditional manned crop sprayers, such as near power lines, meteorological evaluation towers (MET) towers, and areas with rough or muddy terrain. Their takeoff flexibility, unlike traditional crop sprayers, is also advantageous since they can be launched from the back of a pickup without any runway for takeoff and landing.

Photo by Geneva Nodland

LIVESTOCK TRACKING

Another field of agriculture where drones are getting off the ground is in tracking livestock. This practice, although relatively new, has been happening for some time by colleges and universities such as the University of North Dakota. Tracking can often be done by aerial counts or even thermal imaging if necessary. In 2019, a UND biology professor used the technology to track bison in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The advantage of using drones is that you no longer have to place tracking devices on large animals such as bison, which can be a daunting and dangerous task for anyone willing to attempt it.

CROP IMAGING & PEST IDENTIFICATION

An additional prominent area of agriculture where drones are being utilized is in crop imaging and pest identification. Both are crucial steps in ensuring a healthy yield. One 2019 study that was performed in Minnesota demonstrated that drones were able

to spot Soybean Aphids by utilizing what is called Multispectral Imagery. Multispectral Imagery was a technology that was initially used by the military to identify targets, but has now been used for various purposes. Multispectral imaging takes a series of photographs in different wavelengths, both visible to the human eye (reds, greens, and blues) and not visible (infrared), to identify potential pests by utilizing computer algorithms and artificial intelligence to identify a certain pest or anomaly.

Earlier this year, the North Dakota Legislature approved $275,000 in funding to the ND Department of Agriculture to use for grants for drone detection of noxious weeds in four counties: Traill, Cass, Richland and Barnes. The primary focus of the project is on sugar beet and soybean fields to look for the noxious weed Palmer amaranth and others.

REGULATING DRONES IN AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS

The flying of drones is generally regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has

promulgated a number of regulations that can apply depending on the intended use of the drone, the weight of the drone, and various other factors. Although each situation is fact specific, here is a good starting point for any farmer or entrepreneur looking to learn how to start their drone operations.

RECREATIONAL USE VS. COMMERCIAL USE

The first and arguably the most prominent regulation that will be relevant to a farming operation is what is commonly referred to as Part 107. Part 107 is housed within Title 14 Subchapter F within the Code of Federal Regulations. Some of the main provisions within Part 107 are covered below.

If an individual wishes to fly a drone for commercial purposes such as agricultural operations, they first need to obtain certification under Part 107. To acquire a drone pilot certificate under Part 107, you must be: (1) at least 16 years old, (2) able to read, write, and understand English, and (3) in a physical and mental condition to safely fly. You must also take the knowledge test created by the FAA at an approved test center. The test

will cover general flight basics and restrictions as well as questions specific to the operation of drones.

Current pilots flying under a Part 61

Certification who have completed a flight review within 24 months can instead opt to take an online training course through the FAA Safety Team Website. The test covers dronespecific areas of knowledge to supplement a pilot’s prior knowledge of aviation regulations.

FEDERAL REGISTRATION & REMOTE ID

Generally, all drones used for commercial purposes under Part 107 should be registered with the FAA. In addition to registration, as of September 16, 2023, those drones that require registration must also operate in accordance with the Remote ID rule.

Remote ID is a technology that broadcasts the identification and location information of the drone and its control station. The remote ID can be tracked by the FAA, national security agencies, law enforcement, or other government agencies to determine whether the drone is being operated safely and whether it poses a security risk. Some older drones may not have Remote ID so it is important to know if your drone is equipped with a module or whether you will need to buy an aftermarket kit to bring your drone into compliance.

It’s worth noting that once a drone is registered, transferring it between operation types (e.g., from Part 107 commercial purposes to solely recreational purposes) isn’t possible. To register your drone, the FAA requires that you be at least 13 years old and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. For foreign applicants, the issued certificate of registration will possess slight variations and will serve as an acknowledgement of ownership rather than a U.S. aircraft registration certificate. Regardless of the type of registration obtained, registering your drone remains one of the initial steps in drone operations.

WEIGHT LIMITS

If you are operating under Part 107, your drone should not weigh more than 55 pounds at takeoff. This includes any cargo onboard or attachments to your drone. If your drone weighs more than 55 pounds you will have to apply for an exemption and also register your drone differently. If both of those are achieved through the FAA, the North Dakota Administrative Code also limits the maximum weight of aerial application drones to 500 pounds. If you operate beyond the allowed weight without the proper

certifications, operators can face penalties including revocation of your Part 107 certification.

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS & REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

If you are planning to operate a drone for aerial applications, you will also be required to obtain a certificate under Part 137. Part 137 specifically addresses the use of drones to dispense any substances such as pesticides or even disinfectants. North Dakota also requires all drone applicators to meet certain safety requirements and receive licensing from the ND Aeronautics Commission.

CONCLUSION

As the agricultural sector embraces drone technology, the revolutionary influence has become apparent across different facets of farming. From aerial photos to crop monitoring to pesticide application, the sky's the

limit of drone possibilities. However, with these continuous advancements in the field and technology, laws and regulations will limit how drones may be used. As a result of the ever-changing legislation and often confusing results, it's important to be constantly aware of the laws of the sky before you fly. Although this article provides some of the pertinent regulations, others may also apply so it's always best to consult with an attorney before any agricultural drone operations.

About Quinn Renfandt

As the President of Red River Harvest Cooperative and Controlled Environment Agriculture Expert, Quinn Renfandt is continually working on new solutions for agriculture, specifically in the realms of utilizing new technologies and energy-efficient practices. Though he doesn't consider himself a farmer in a traditional sense, Renfandt comes from a fourth-generation family of farmers and currently operates a 5,000 square foot greenhouse on his family farm—where he is putting innovation to the test. We caught up with Renfandt to learn more.

By Josiah Kopp | by Emerging Prairie

Innovative Grower Feature

Quinn Renfandt

Q: Can you introduce your operation to the readers?

A: I have a small vegetable operation that I started about four years ago. I have a geothermal system in the greenhouse, though I wouldn't necessarily say it's innovative—I think it's just the DIY YouTube version; I'm mainly just learning how to build out the workflow and the operation itself.

And that has led me to get a broad view of what other operations are doing and tapping into what I could or could not do. Right now, my primary focus is on energy and what I can do to reduce my energy costs. So, whether that be solar wind or setting up an array [of options] and seeing what kind of return I can get on that. I just talked to a local power company, and they said, you can sell (x) amount

back to the grid. I don't know if that's a viable justification for the upfront cost of something like that, but it's definitely eco-friendly.

Q: Are you leaning one way or another with any of those technologies?

A: I'm definitely going fully electric. Right now, the heating system is a fossil fuel heating system. I want to switch that over to electric and then have that run off of a wind generator and/or solar, which is happening this year.

Q: Your greenhouse operation sits on your family farm, correct?

A: Yes, I am technically the fourth generation.

Q: Can you tell me about your family's operation?

A: I don't know how long ago they stopped farming the land because we started renting everything out. We've pretty much just been renting out the acreage. I looked at purchasing some equipment that I'll probably end up doing as a hobby. I don't know if it'd be feasible for me to really get into farming on a large scale without taking on a significant amount of debt to do that operation. It's pretty much all managed by other ranchers that we have come in.

Q: So you never grew up farming?

A: Not traditionally—we didn't deal with livestock. And of course, I've dealt with the combine, but I was never tasked with anything major. Some of what we had was just open grassland. And so we cut that and turned it into hay, and that was a whole operation.

Q: What got you into this space?

A: My motivation was just to jump into different growing methods, specifically aquaponics and

hydroponics, and look at how we could build those out in controlled environments. This is great because you can localize the food supply, specifically specialty crops, fruits, and vegetables. I've just been building my own version of that and slowly scaling that up.

Q: What spurred that?

A: I just had a distaste for the way that the food system is operating at the current moment, and really just wanted to put myself in a position where I could learn as much about the way the system worked so that I can hopefully become an innovator in this space. And it's been about four years since I got started in this and now I feel like I understand it enough to at least talk about what should be done differently—and hopefully build myself up financially to have some piece of that too.

Q: What are you growing this year?

A: This year, there will be six different varieties of tomatoes, two different varieties of cucumbers, and various peppers, and then we're going to experiment with some melons. My end goal for that is working with specific culinary

applications, whether that be like a hot sauce maker or a chef that is looking for some new flavor on their menu; bringing in seeds and varieties of vegetables from anywhere around the world, and then growing them in a controlled environment. And ideally, I'll be able to sell that to a local chef who would never have that option. And even with the shorter growing season, a greenhouse extends it long enough to get that pepper to maturity.

Q: What are the viable growing seasons for your greenhouse?

A: You can grow in the summer, which is primarily what I have been doing. I can also grow in the wintertime, but the heating costs [and efficiency] are some things I need to figure out. Because you need to keep your temperatures at a nice balmy 75 to 80 degrees to really get the higher yields out of tomato or pepper—and it's just expensive in the wintertime. The other side of that is there's not enough sunlight, so you have to install supplemental lighting. [The challenge] is working against nature, because things generally don't grow here at least a solid six months of the year.

What are aquaponics and hydroponics?

Aquaponics is a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which then purify the water.

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.

Q: Are you going to build more thermal greenhouses?

A: Yeah, I'm looking at building the next two or three right now. So I'm coming out with the next prototype, so to speak, hopefully by the end of this year.

Q: Where do you see the operation heading?

A: The direction I'm personally going to take is traceability. If we're speaking about innovation, it kind of goes off the farm. I see there's a gap in the traceability mechanisms in place for small-farm agriculture, specifically. And then the example I give is, if you have a school buying from multiple producers, and someone gets sick at that school, right now, there's no real efficient way to identify quickly where that potential contamination came from.

In which case let's say it's carrots—and you source it from like five or six different smallscale local producers according to the rules. And to see how things would be handled—and for all operations to stop their sales of that particular product— can be very detrimental to the amount of effort and time you put in depending on how big of a percentage of your operation that particular crop is.

So if we had some type of mechanism that could hold that information of where things

were sourced from and give the end user a real-time view of where their product came from, then you can save a lot of products and you can save a lot of money for a local area. Figuring out how to develop something like that from the perspective of small-scale farmer is what I perceive myself diving into.

With a passion for addressing the food waste system through traceability and seeking innovative solutions for growing methods like aquaponics and hydroponics, Quinn Renfandt is a true innovator, and we're excited to see the continual growth and development of his operation.

SECURING THE HEARTLAND

By Brady Drake | provided by Chris Sherman

THE IMPORTANCE OF CYBERSECURITY WITH CHRIS SHERMAN

one are the days of simple farm life, at least to some degree. While the wide open spaces and the 'know your neighbor' community feel still permeate through rural America, the technology involved in today's agriculture operations is far too advanced for the status quo to go on as it previously existed—especially in regards to cybersecurity.

Chris Sherman, principal owner at Tech Support.Farm, is very aware of this problem. That's why he has made it his and his company's mission to bring farmers up to speed on cybersecurity—something that, unfortunately, is one of the last things on the minds of producers.

In April of 2022, the FBI came out and listed ag as one of the top 10 industries in the United States being targeted by cybercrime, this is alarming to Sherman and many others because agriculture is a key component of our national security.

While Sherman’s professional background is in business, he has immersed himself in the field of cybersecurity out of his commitment to agriculture. This is a cause that is near and dear to his heart. It's about raising awareness to the risks posed by technological advancements in agriculture. Every new solution or advancement comes with its own cyber risk.

the '80s, he was very technically savvy and ready to handle the challenge. "I remember buying my first computer when I was a teenager, promptly broke it, and had to figure out how to fix it," Sherman said.

Cybersecurity has evolved in recent years. The days of just using antivirus software like McAfee or Norton are long gone. The National Institute of Standards recently came out and released its framework, a five-piece guide that covers the different requirements for a complete cybersecurity stack.

You can find this complete guide at nist.gov/cyberframework/framework

One can imagine cybersecurity like the strategy we use when protecting our homes. Yes, locks on the doors are important, but so are smoke alarms, carbon dioxide monitors, cameras, motion detectors, sump pump alarms, or even your dog. All of these features contribute to our overall safety and security. Cybersecurity strategies are becoming very similar.

"Agriculture needs to start taking technology and cybersecurity seriously," Sherman said. "Every day I see

producers running multi-million dollar operations using residential grade hardware and a basic antivirus. We are lowhanging fruit for cyberattacks."

Cyberattacks in ag involve a lot of phishing scams, and email spoof campaigns. These attacks are becoming incredibly sophisticated. They may try spoofing your ag lender and sending you Docusign attachments. Unfortunately, people fall for this and return the documents complete with signatures, routing numbers, and bank account information.

Industrial Control System (ICS) attacks are the other less discussed form of cybercrime. ICS attacks are defined as cyberattacks on equipment that is remotely operated, managed, or monitored. This type of attack is used for two primary purposes; holding an operation for ransom, or destruction of property. Ransom attacks are not new, but cybercriminals are becoming creative on how and when they target facilities. Crystal Valley Cooperative in Mankato, MN was attacked in September 2021, halting the company’s operations during peak harvest operations.

Industrial control system attacks can come in many forms, but they are all focused on disrupting business. Whether it is destroying hard drives that store operating software for dryers, robotics, irrigators, or other automated systems, or ransoming servers used to run critical farm operations, an ICS attack can have devastating consequences to any farmer.

According to Accenture, a leading global IT firm, in the United States, 60% of small businesses that fell victim to cyber criminals were closed within six months. Cyberattacks inside agriculture are still relatively new, we have a chance to lock our farms down before it is too late.

FBI PRIVATE INDUSTRY NOTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS

On April 20, 2022, the FBI released a private industry notice detailing the potential increase in ransomware attacks against agricultural cooperatives during critical seasons. Here are the recommendations the bureau made during that notification.

Regularly back up data, air gap, and password protect backup copies offline. Ensure copies of critical data are not accessible for modification or deletion from the system where the data resides.

Implement a recovery plan that includes maintaining and retaining multiple copies of sensitive or proprietary data and servers in a physically separate, segmented, secure location (i.e., hard drive, storage device, the cloud).

Identify critical functions and develop an operations plan in the event that systems go offline. Think about ways to operate manually if it becomes necessary.

Implement network segmentation.

Install updates/patches operating systems, software, and firmware as soon as they are released.

Use multi-factor authentication where possible.

Use strong passwords and regularly change passwords to network systems and accounts, implementing the shortest acceptable timeframe for password changes. Avoid reusing passwords for multiple accounts and use strong passphrases where possible.

Disable unused remote access/RDP ports and monitor remote access/RDP logs.

Require administrator credentials to install software.

Audit user accounts with administrative or elevated privileges, and configure access controls with least privilege in mind.

Install and regularly update anti-virus and anti-malware software on all hosts. Only use secure networks and avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Consider installing and using a virtual private network (VPN).

Consider adding an email banner to messages coming from outside your organizations.

Disable hyperlinks in received emails.

Focus on cybersecurity awareness and training. Regularly provide users with training on information security principles and techniques as well as overall emerging cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities (i.e. ransomware and phishing scams).

The Importance of Cybersecurity with Chris Sherman

Their services fall under three categories:

TECH SUPPORT.FARM

Tech Support.Farm focuses on the maintenance and optimization of the technological infrastructure crucial to modern agricultural operations. They offer 24/7 cybersecurity services to protect your entire agricultural business, coupled with robust disaster recovery solutions to ensure business resilience. Their services are tailored to meet the unique needs of the agriculture sector, with an emphasis on enhancing productivity, securing assets, and guaranteeing seamless operations in contemporary farming environments.

"As a managed security service provider (MSSP), our mission is two-fold. We work meticulously to prevent cyberattacks, and we are ready to respond when they happen. Tech Support.Farm lives by the saying 'It’s not if, it’s when.' To ensure our success we have forged deep relationships with both our security and cyber insurance partners."

Unlike other MSSPs, Tech Support.Farm sources its security solutions from one company, Kaseya. The industry norm is to have anywhere from 10-15 different security software vendors.

“We utilize Kaseya for all of our security solutions. This type of dedication has strengthened our working relationship and ensures the best service for our customers. Kaseya answers our phone calls within rings not days. We have 24/7 access to security engineers and product specialists. Kaseya has taken a special interest in Tech Support.Farm and our mission. Every six months I meet in person with Kaseya’s leadership team, and we actively work to improve the security offerings and delivery methods. We strongly value this industry partnership.”

"In the event of a cyber breach, we rely on a company called Cysurance. The security solutions we use have been 3rd party tested and are warranted by Cysurance up to $500,000 per incident. Additionally, all clients of Tech Support.Farm are automatically entitled to a $1 million flat rate cyber insurance policy through them. The actions we

Maintenance

Network preventative maintenance, updates, security patches, backups, and hardware monitoring by IT professionals.

Cybersecurity

Protection against cyber threats, continuous monitoring, vulnerability assessments, and around-theclock incident response.

Disaster Recovery

Data backup, full system recovery, emergency planning, and rapid response to ensure business continuity after technology disruptions.

The Importance of Cybersecurity with Chris Sherman

take 'right of boom' or the moments immediately following a cyber breach will determine the level of success we have in recovering financial losses or how quickly we can get a farm back online. We work diligently with the Cysurance team to improve our incident response policies and best risk mitigation practices. Through tabletop exercises and routine security briefings we actively stay prepared for these inevitable events."

EXCLUSIVELY AGRICULTURE

"Tech Support.Farm is focused solely on agriculture. We do not serve clients from any other sector. Farms are not 8-5 operations and neither are we. During peak times, harvest, planting, etc., we are on call around the clock. It is our goal to provide the best onsite and remote service to our farmers. Our account reps are also your technicians, and they have backgrounds in ag. Clients will only deal with one person from our company. We are not in the business of churning through employees. These are long-term relationships built on trust.

Tech Support.Farm offers the best security solutions the industry has to offer, our people deliver the best service."

Unlocking New Insights From Your Data Grower Pain Point

How do you make sense of the overwhelming amount of data on your farm and turn that into actionable information?

By Brady Drake

echnology and the data that it gives you for your farming operation is great. However, as instruments continue to improve, it can become difficult to utilize it all. If one chooses, they can have access to data from soil sensors, weather stations, satellite imagery, and IoT-enabled farm equipment. This abundance of data can make it difficult to distill usable insights.

The following startups are working to eliminate that problem by making data more actionable.

Growers are the end users of technology. Their voices and their feedback need to be heard to ensure that we're solving their challenges. That's why in this recurring feature, we'll review challenges that growers face every day on their farms, examine the pain points, and look at possible solutions.

To learn more about the grower pain points, you can review Grand Farm's Grower Pain Point Report at grandfarm.com/growers

Vivent Biosignals

Vivent Biosignals, a Swiss startup, is working to leverage artificial intelligence to decode plant electrical signals to offer real-time insights into their health. Their system can identify different nutrient deficiencies and other causes of stress to so that growers know when to take action. Ultimately, their aim is to minimize "bad" growing hours to increase yields by minimizing prolonged stress.

"We have specific alerts for manys crops in terms of different types of, say, fungal infections based on what you need to look out for," said Co-Founder Carrol Plummer. "We can measure things like nitrogen, phosphate, calcium, iron, and manganese. These specific insights and alerts let the grower

Crop Diagnostix

submitted by Vivent Biosignals submitted by Crop Diagnostix

know whether they have a nutrient solution problem or whether they have an irrigation problem."

The adverse effects of plant stress on yield are well-known among experienced growers who strive to minimize stressinducing interventions. Vivent's research, particularly on tomato greenhouse yields, has shown that eliminating the worst 1% of stress hours can increase yield by up to 12%. Although completely eradicating these hours may not be feasible, reducing them can significantly improve yield results.

"Another important thing is that we don't monitor plants on an individual basis," Plummer said. "The grower doesn't care about one plant, they care about thousands of plants. We want to make sure they aren't making decisions based on just one plant."

In addition to providing insights about field crops, Vivent also measures signals post-harvest. "We are validating algorithms for predicting sprouting in stored potatoes," Plummer said. "Providing notice that sprouting will occur up to three weeks in advance enables storage managers to plan anti-sprouting treatments and to reduce weight losses. Here in Europe, where CIPC is no longer available, there is lots of interest."

According to Plummer, Vivent is building out use cases for its system and is only one or two growing seasons away from making an impact in our region. But, potato producers—be on the lookout soon!

vivent-biosignals.com

/ViventBiosignals

"Our goal is to replace your typical spectroscopy-type report on soil or tissue with gene expression," said Crop Diagnostix Co-Founder Joseph Swift. "Because we only need a hole punch this method can be done much earlier in the corn growing season (V3 stage), is simple to do, and the data can even be passed on to help crop breeding efforts as well."

Right now, Crop Diagnostix has built their minimum viable product in rice and they are doing work this season to adopt their technology to corn.

Attention Corn Growers!

Crop Diagnostix is begging to test on corn and they want your help. If you are interested, please reach out at joseph@cropdiagnostix.com

"Biomarker technology has been used in the medical space for some time," Swift said. "To detect thyroid cancer, clinicians can take a biopsy from a thyroid and use gene expression to determine how far along it is in its cancer development. But this sort technology is actually really versatile and can be used to monitor all sorts of biology. It's only now that the technology has become cheap enough that you could implement it in the crop space to diagnose crop pain points. We want to be the first movers in that field to deliver those insights."

cropdiagnostix.com

Pairtree Intelligence

Founded in 2018, Pairtree Intelligence is an Australia-based AgTech startup that focuses on connecting the agricultural technology world by streamlining data access, management, and use. They offer over 100 different integrations and APIs, aiming to make it easier for farmers, agronomists, managers, and agtech product developers to benefit from connected data.

"The farmer needs flexibility," said Co-Founder Hamish Munro. "It's not up to us to decide what agtech they use. That's why we try to work with as many as we can so farmers have options. We just want to streamline things for agribusiness, consultants and developers."

Their service, Pairtree Plus, provides weather, markets, mapping, and satellite imagery, and is designed to translate data from various IoT and agtech devices into a consistent format. This allows for streamlined reporting, automation, and new insights from data-backed decision support.

"Farmers shouldn't have to double enter their data anytime they want to send it to their banker or their agronomist or wherever they want to send it," Munro said. "Also, a farm management software has probably 50 or 60 different data metrics that it will capture. The farmer doesn't want to send all of those 50 or 60 things over to the bank, he just wants to send maybe 10 things. They can control that on our platform as well."

Look for Pairtree Intelligence which will be expanding to US markets soon.

pairtree.co

/pairtreeintelligence

@pairtreeintelligence

Picketa Systems Inc. is an agtech startup focused on helping growers and consultants find nutrient deficiencies before it's too late.

With their tissue sampling model, Picketa can sense 13 different nutrients in leaf plant tissues in as little as five minutes.

"My co-founder and I got the idea for this years ago when we were working as samplers on a potato farm," said CoFounder Xavier Hébert-Couturier. "We would be sampling leaf tissue on a weekly basis for 8 to 12 weeks. When we did that, the wait time was about a week. That's where we originally got the idea for this."

Attention Growers!

Right now, Picketa Systems' product is for potatoes and corn, but they are looking to expand. So, if you think this product could be useful for your operation, reach out to info@picketa.com

Their solution acts as a full lab replacement for tissue tests. "Agronomosists have been using this data for decades," said Hébert-Couturier.

picketa.com

/picketasystems

GRAND FARM SECTION

North Dakota Team Brings in Huge Grant From the National Science Foundation

A North Dakota team filled with giants in education, economic development, business, and agriculture technology has won a grant valued up to $160 million from the National Science Foundation to support innovation, jobs, and economic growth in AgTech.

The group of North Dakota State University, North Dakota Tribal College System, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber Foundation, and Grand Farm will receive up to $15 million over the next two years and could get up to $160 million over 10 years. The award will fund programs that help solve food insecurity and expand economic opportunities for not only more people and organizations but for increasing the growth of existing crops and introducing new crops to market.

Learn more about the grant and the organizations that collaborated to win it on GrandFarm.com

ere you will learn about new collaborations, projects, and things to come from Grand Farm. We are a collaborative network of growers, corporations, startups, educators, researchers, government, and investors working together to solve problems in agriculture through AgTech and innovation.

Find out more about Grand Farm at GrandFarm.com and our social media

@TheGrandFarm .

North Dakota State University Vice President for Research and Creative Activity Colleen Fitzgerald speaking about the FARMS Team winning a National Science Foundation grant.

Tickets on-sale for Cultivate Conference

The Cultivate Conference on June 13 in Fargo-Moorhead is where technology and agriculture collide. The event brings together a diverse community of experts, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and growers to share their knowledge and experiences, create feedback loops, and explore the exciting possibilities of technology in agriculture. An emphasis is placed on grower feedback and creating an impact on agtech advancements.

GrandFarm.com/Cultivate

AgTech Week

Cultivate is part of AgTech Week. It's where leaders come together in Fargo-Moorhead for agriculture and ag-techbased events with local growers and the organizations that help them thrive. Programs and activities will bring together the agtech industry including startups and established organizations, growers, policymakers, educational groups (K-12 and academia), and investors to accelerate the adoption of technology and create privatepublic partnerships.

Our goal is to get 50+ events hosted throughout the week from different groups. Events include customer events, farm tours, technology/product showcases, happy hours, investor and reverse pitch sessions, and policymaker meetups with entrepreneurs. By getting the community to rally, we know that we are stronger together and showcase our wonderful community. It is free to host events throughout the week, and Grand Farm will promote all events, but organizations must cover their own costs. AgTechWeekFargo.com

Look forward to several speakers including : Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott, CHS CIO David Black, Appareo Founder Barry Batcheller, Amity Tech Founder Howard Dahl, and Titan Machinery Founder David Meyer.

Grand Opening: June 10 from 9 to 10 a.m.

Work continues at the Grand Farm Innovation Shop near Casselton. The walls and the roof are up and there’s even some blue on the outside.

Contractors’ work on the building was celebrated March 14 with a beam signing. JLG Architects and Olaf Construction workers, the Grand Farm team, and the Board of Directors were thanked for their hard work designing and putting up the structure. Each person who took part was given a small 3D-printed beam with the date on it.

The Innovation Shop’s grand opening at 3729 153rd Ave SE Wheatland, ND 58079 is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 10 where we’ll have speakers and demonstrations.