Soybean Business November-December 2022

MN SOYBEAN

CONTENTS

P.13 P.6

MSGA celebrated 60 years in 2022 as the oldest state association in the American Soybean Association family. Gov. Tim Walz helped soybean farmers celebrate with a day dedicated to MSGA.

The Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston is nearing completion of the first phase of a three-phase project dedicated to finding value-added uses for soybeans and other oil seeds.

P.16

Those in agriculture understand the power of Lynn Ketelsen’s voice. The man who helped build Linder Farm Network was honored as the first farm broadcaster in MN Broadcasting HOF history.

P.26

Minnesota soybean farmers wrapped a major campaign this summer, donating more than 2,500 pairs of soy-based shoes to frontline health care heroes across the state.

P.38

The MSR&PC is making inroads in Uzbekistan with soybeans. A pair of Council directors recently traveled to the country to see what’s on the horizon for soybean shipments from Minnesota.

ABOUT THE COVER

New opportunities are opening for Minnesota’s soybean farmers via the Port of Duluth and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Minnesota Soybean has been at the forefront working to open this vital market.

OFFICERS

Bob Worth President

Lake Benton, MN

Lincoln County

Darin Johnson Vice President Wells, MN Faribault County

Brad Hovel Secretary

Cannon Falls, MN Goodhue County

Ryan Mackenthun Treasurer

Brownton, MN McLeod County

ASA DIRECTORS

Jamie Beyer Wheaton, MN Traverse County

George Goblish Vesta, MN Redwood County

Adam Guetter Wabasso, MN Redwood County

Christopher Hill Brewster, MN Jackson County

Jim Kukowski Strathcona, MN Roseau/LOW Counties

Michael Petefish Claremont, MN Dodge County

Joel Schreurs Tyler, MN Lincoln County

ASA YOUNG LEADERS

Tim Braun

Princeton, MN Mille Lacs County

Gary Schoenfeld Waseca, MN Waseca County

Paul Mesner and Mary Dybedahl-Mesner (2021-22 Class) Chandler, MN Murray County

COUNTY DIRECTORS

Hannah Anderson

Barnesville, MN

Clay/Wilkin Counties

Trevore Brekken Crookston, MN Polk County

Mark Brown St. James, MN Watonwan County

Steve Brusven Cottonwood, MN Yellow Medicine County

Steve Commerford New Ulm, MN Brown County

Brian Fruechte Verdi, MN Lincoln County

Theresia Gillie Hallock, MN Kittson County

William Gordon Worthington, MN Nobles County

Tom Grundman Osakis, MN Douglas County

Corey Hanson Gary, MN Norman County

Jeremy Hanson Morristown, MN Dakota/Rice Counties

Matt Heers Owatonna, MN Steele County

Ray Hewitt Le Sueur, MN Scott/Le Sueur Counties

Jim Jirava Ogema, MN Becker/Mahnomen Counties

Kyle Jore Thief River Falls, MN Pennington/Red Lake Counties

Bob Lindemann

Brownton, MN McLeod County

Bruce Nelsen

Rose Creek, MN Mower County

Keith Nelsen Westbrook, MN Cottonwood County

Robert Nelsen Westbrook, MN Murray County

Tim Nelson New Richland, MN Waseca County

Lucas Peters Luverne, MN Rock County

Nathan Potucek Warren, MN Marshall County

Andy Pulk Wannaska, MN Roseau/LOW Counties

Tim Rasmussen Rothsay, MN Otter Tail/Grant Counties

Mike Skaug Beltrami, MN Polk County

Cal Spronk Edgerton, MN Pipestone County

Jamie Seitzer St Peter, MN Nicollet/Sibley Counties

Jeff Sorenson Morgan, MN Redwood County

Lawrence Sukalski

Fairmont, MN Martin County

Doug Toreen Bird Island, MN Renville County

Rose Wendinger St. James, MN Watonwan County

Earl Ziegler

Good Thunder, MN Blue Earth County

EDITORIAL STAFF:

MSGA Executive Director

Joe Smentek

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association 888-896-9678 jsmentek@mnsoybean.com

Art Director Doug Monson Sr. Director of Integrated Marketing Ag Management Solutions 888-896-9678 dmonson@agmgmtsolutions.com

Managing Editor

Drew Lyon Sr. Manager of Communications Minnesota Soybean 888-896-9678 dlyon@agmgmtsolutions.com

Layout Editors Kaelyn Rahe krahe@agmgmtsolutions.com

Alex Troska atroska@agmgmtsolutions.com

ADVERTISING:

Bailey Grubish, Advertising and Sales Manager 507-740-0064 888-896-9678 | bgrubish@agmgmtsolutions.com

Advertising space reservations can be made by the 15th day of the month prior to publication. In consideration of the acceptance of the advertisement, the agency and the advertiser must, in respect of the contents of the advertisement, indemnify and save the publisher harmless against any expense arising from claims or actions against the publisher because of the publication of the content of the advertisement.

Advertisements within this publication contain the opinions and information of the advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the Minnesota Soybean organizations or affiliated groups.

CIRCULATION:

Soybean Business is published six times a year on behalf of Minnesota Soybean. Comments and suggestions can be submitted to: Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, 1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001.

mnsoybean.org

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Officers and ASA Directors:

Letter from the President

Exceeding Expectations

Each issue, the Soybean Business team works diligently to produce a magazine that Minnesota soybean farmers can be proud of and call their own. During the editorial process, our staff often settles on a cover story and designs the cover long before it hits mailboxes. Then there are moments when creating the cover is a mad dash. This is a bit analogous to agriculture advocacy: Sometimes, we can see issues looming and plan for them – like the Farm Bill. Other events, say a pandemic or a natural disaster, find us having to pivot on a dime.

For the first issue of 2022, our design team was up against the wall. With literally minutes to go before deadline, they finally found the headline they were seeking: Expect the Unexpected. How prescient they were!

This year delivered many unexpected challenges: supply chain issues, inflation, rising fuel costs, myriad weather issues and plenty more. But we also seized many opportunities: higher commodity prices, a return to “normal” and growth in new markets in previously untapped countries like Uzbekistan. And MSGA celebrated several milestones in 2022: 20 years of biodiesel, MSGA’s 60th anniversary and – as you’ll read in this issue – two decades of MSGA supporting its official magazine.

A few years ago, I would’ve considered the prospect of returning as MSGA president as “unexpected,” but I’ve seen a lot in my 70 years. Never say never! Much has changed in the nearly 20 years since I was last president. Back then, we had a staff of about six and focused on a narrower scope of policies. Now, we have over 20 experts in their field at Ag Management Solutions making sure MSGA remains an advocacy leader on a broad range of policy issues.

Once the dust settles following the 2022 election, delegates from across Minnesota will meet in December for our Pre-Resolutions meeting to plot our policy

priorities. In January, during our annual meeting at MN AG EXPO, delegates will meet to finalize our resolutions. We appreciate all the farmers who participate in this important process!

Thank you for your membership; and if you’re not a member, I encourage you to join today.

MSGA is the nation’s oldest state soybean advocacy group because we work as a team. I’m grateful to my predecessor, Mike Skaug, for a fantastic year as president. I’m also fortunate to have a fantastic board and capable officer team working alongside me. There are always unexpected turns of events each year, but with a strong crop of leaders stepping up, I surely expect to watch them lead MSGA into the future.

On behalf of our board and staff, I hope you had a great harvest and wish you and your loved ones all the best this holiday season! I look forward to visiting with present and future MSGA members in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Bob Worth, President, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association

STATE of MINNESOTA

‘Staying Power’

Gov. Walz proclamation caps MSGA’s 60th anniversary

By Drew Lyon

On Sept. 24, 1962, a group of Minnesota farmers gathered in Sleepy Eye to form an association to represent soybean growers at the capitol in St. Paul. Five hours later, a unanimous vote led to the creation of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, a farmer-led group that would help advance the state’s agriculture industry.

“It’s because of the vision of our Founding Fathers that MSGA is here today,” President Bob Worth said. “We all follow in their footsteps because they knew we needed representation when it came to policy.”

MSGA was the nation’s first state soybean association. To mark 60 years since its formation, Gov. Tim Walz declared Sept. 24, 2022, “Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Day” across the state.

“This is quite an honor, and we thank the governor and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for their support of MSGA,” said Joe Smentek, MSGA Executive Director. “To be recognized in this manner is very gratifying and should be celebrated by anyone who’s been involved with

MSGA over the past 60 years.”

The governor surprised MSGA directors with the proclamation order during a meeting in August at Farmfest.

Throughout its 60 years in advocacy, MSGA has established itself with policymakers and agency leaders across both parties and all levels of government. One of MSGA’s first lobbying efforts included securing $500 in state funding for soybean research. Since then, the group has built a legacy of legislative action by: successfully advocating for research, delivering significant tax relief, expanding international markets, protecting the use of chemicals, and helping to create a biodiesel market two decades ago that improves Minnesota’s environment and economy.

“Whether it’s expanding opportunities for local soybean farmers or fighting for their bottom line, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association tirelessly serves farmers across our state,” Gov. Walz said. “I am proud to recognize their work on behalf of this multi-million dollar industry. I’m grateful for all they do to advocate for Minnesota’s soybean growers and strengthen our agriculture industry.”

More than 40 district directors across the state serve on the nonpartisan board on behalf of the state’s approximately 27,000 soybean farmers. Members help support MSGA’s grassroots mission. MSGA’s legacy continues to grow, but the mission remains the same: improving farmer profitability through grassroots advocacy. To join MSGA, visit mnsoybean.org/msga/invest/.

“Sixty years is really amazing,” Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “It shows the staying power of MSGA.”

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BUSINESS MSGA’s magazine marks 20th year in publication

By Soybean Business Staff

Minnesota Soybean relied on various communication modes to deliver priorities and promotions during its first 40 years: its Minneline newsletter, in-person events, press releases and the MinnSoy Voice, to name a few. In fall 2002, the organization published its first magazine, Minnesota Soybean News & Views, to add another communication outlet to Minnesota soybean farmers.

“We felt (our press releases) weren’t reaching the farmers themselves,” said Sherry Lowe, former Minnesota Soybean director of communications and the magazine’s first editor. “The best way we thought was to put a face

to all these farmers who are creating this amazing crop and putting their checkoff dollars into research, and on the Growers side, putting their efforts into enacting policy.”

There was one stipulation: the magazine had to be printed with soy ink.

“That was another interesting product. We promoted that all over the U.S.,” said Lowe, who remained with Minnesota Soybean until 2010.

“We wanted to make sure everything we did was printed with soy ink.”

In her President’s Letter – the first piece of original content seen on the magazine’s pages – then-Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Kristin Weeks Duncanson outlined the mission

behind the magazine.

“There is much happening in the soybean industry and soybean farmers need to be kept up-to-date on the issues that impact them,” Weeks Duncanson wrote. “This magazine will address federal and state legislation, ag policy, the emerging biodiesel industry, soybean research, international marketing programs and other activities being carried out to help make soybean farming profitable.”

The inaugural issue featured content that remains relevant to soybean farmers: biodiesel (“Our goal is that at some point in the near future, anyone will be able to pull up to a pump and fill their tank with biodiesel,” Weeks Duncanson

predicted); the importance of membership; soybean quality reports; promoting exports via the Pacific Northwest; and a feature on the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) program. Gene Hugoson, then-commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, also wrote a guest column.

“We had a lot of farmer-input. We had a great board and committees,” Lowe said. “They’re very passionate people and always helpful.”

That first issue was a slim 16 pages with just two outside advertisements. The magazine was published quarterly. Today, Soybean Business averages around 44 pages across six annual issues, with about a quarter of the issue devoted to advertising partners.

In 2021 and 2022, editions that included the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s Annual Report reached over 70 pages. Soybean Business is not just an outlet to report information on the soybean industry; it’s also a key

fundraising source for MSGA.

“We rely on our advertising partners to support MSGA’s mission,” MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek said. “Over the years, as the magazine has evolved, Soybean Business has become a top revenuedriver for MSGA, which is a testament to our board and staff, and the relationships we’ve built within our industry.”

Spreading the news

Soybean Business is supported by a farmer-led committee (currently

chaired by MSGA Treasurer Ryan Mackenthun) that offers editorial input and advertising tips. The Council also submits articles highlighting checkofffunded projects, events and the organization’s annual election.

“The Council is very proud to support Soybean Business,” Council Chair Joe Serbus said. “It’s one of the strongest ag publications in our state. In talking with farmers, it’s clear that Soybean Business is one of the best places to learn about Minnesota soybean checkoff investments.”

Mike Skaug brings northern exposure to MSGA

For the July-August 2015 cover (right), Soybean Business unveiled MSGA’s new logo.

With Dan Lemke at the editorial helm, the publication rebranded as Soybean Business in 2011, featuring the tagline on the cover that is still used today: The Magazine for Minnesota Soybean Growers. In early 2015, Doug Monson became editorin-chief, a title he held until 2021, when he moved to his current role as art director.

Under Monson’s direction, Soybean Business became more focused on design elements and feature stories and took a closer look at MSGA’s advocacy efforts. The magazine also debuted two of its most popular sections: Faces of MSGA and Bean Briefs. Industry peers began to notice: Since 2018, Soybean Business has been nominated for several national agriculture marketing awards.

“When I started with Minnesota Soybean, Soybean Business was at a pivotal place in its history,”

Monson said. “Some people didn’t see value in it, others knew how important of a fundraising tool it was for MSGA.

“I saw value in the magazine and wanted to prove to the doubters that this magazine could not only be profitable, but a great source of information for Minnesota’s soybean farmers.”

After using outside designers and freelance writers for most of its first two decades, Soybean Business became wholly operated by Ag Management Solutions (the group that oversees Minnesota Soybean) in 2021. That same year, the magazine began using a “soft-touch” coating on the

cover. Along with its farmer-advisors, AMS’ staff of writers, designers and editors work in tandem throughout the year to create a publication Minnesota soybean farmers can call their own.

“It’s always a thrill to send the magazine off to the printer and find it in your mailbox a few weeks later,” Managing Editor Drew Lyon said.

“Soybean Business is a team effort all the way through the editorial process, and we challenge ourselves to keep raising the bar and publishing a quality and profitable magazine for our farmers.”

Farming is all about getting the most from the soil, seed and inputs that are needed to produce a quality, profitable crop. Soybean farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota are optimizing their profit potential by utilizing an innovative tool from Mustang Seeds and GDM called Optimus.

“Optimus is an analytics tool that’s mainly used for agronomic decisions,” says Tyler Strahl, Mustang Seeds precision agriculture specialist. “The Optimus tool is being used to create multi-variety and variable rate seeding prescriptions, and then analyzing those fields after harvest.”

Developed by GDM, the Optimus program has been used in Argentina and Brazil for several years. Mustang Seeds and GDM introduced the program to the United States in 2020. Since then, Optimus has been used by growers in Minnesota and the Dakotas as a tool to help them fine tune their management.

“Optimus allows you to view your management zones and separate the higher performing areas compared to the lower performing parts of the field,” Strahl says. “You’re analyzing your applied rates and comparing them to your harvest maps to see if any management zone changes need to be implemented for the next season.”

Strahl says Optimus can also help farmers identify areas of the field where less seed may be needed to achieve maximum yields.

“In variable rate soybean fields, we are applying less seeds per acre in the high productivity zones and achieving a higher yield and return on investment in those zones.” Strahl explains. “We're also working with variable rate fertilizer using those same management zones. The combination puts a greater emphasis on the profitability per acre and allows you

Optimizing Soybean Profitability

to focus on where you're spending your dollars.”

Farmers who have used the Optimus system have seen positive results.

One example of how Optimus helps farmers achieve greater productivity is from a South Dakota soybean field shown in the graph.

Using a control treatment across all management zones allows us to compare the variable rate population to a fixed rate in each management zone. The graph on the right shows that the high zone had a 23% yield increase when using the variable rate population compared to the flat rate population. Across all zones in this field, the variable rate population had a 12% yield increase compared to the flat rate population.

Already a groundbreaking technology, Strahl says GDM is investing significant resources to continually build and enhance the Optimus program to give farmers even better information.

“There’s an entire digital product team working on this. They also have agronomists working on it as well as data scientists,” Strahl says.

While Optimus is only available through Mustang Seeds and GDM, Optimus works with existing management programs farmers may already be using like FieldView and Ops Center.

“Optimus focuses more on the in-depth analysis of those management zones and looking to see what we can improve for next year,” Strahl explains.

Because of Mustang Seeds strategic partnership with GDM, Mustang Seeds customers can access the unique Optimus technology to optimize their profitability. Contact your local Mustang Seeds dealer to learn more about Optimus or call 605-256-6529.

To learn more about Mustang Seeds and their seed portfolio, visit mustangseeds.com.

By Sydney Harris

For over a century, agriculture has driven innovation. From the steel plow to the tractor to genetically modified crops, the industry has continually grabbed the bull by its horns to produce food, fiber and fuel to a growing population.

As the industry continues to advance, the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) aims to host cutting-edge breakthroughs in agriculture.

“We’re going to develop and process products that consumers want today and tomorrow, not yesterday,” AIC Acting CEO Tom Slunecka said. “That’s the whole point of this center.”

The Crookston-based project will be built in three phases. Phase 1 – the crush plant – is slated to commence operations in March 2023. An office complex and research labs comprise phase 2 and rentable discovery bays will round out the project as phase 3.

“The AIC is unique and very exciting,” said Bill Paulsen, AIC plant manager. “There is a lack of a place people can go to to do their research and then go run their product through a crush facility and understand what it does on a bigger scale than a lab.

Long term, our plan is to provide the ability for people across the country to research their products.”

Team effort

While farmers were busy planting, growing and harvesting their crops, construction on the AIC plowed ahead.

“The building is 90% complete and everything is moving on schedule,” said Slunecka, who’s also CEO of Ag Management Solutions, the Mankatobased group that oversees Minnesota Soybean. “The grain handling equipment is beginning to arrive, and the installation of the crush equipment will start in November.”

By opting for pre-cast walls that

could be poured over during the winter, the building was erected in June.

“We literally saved eight months with pre-cast walls. Because we did the site work last fall, this spring we were able to go in, dig the footings and set the building up,” said AIC construction consultant Brian Ruschy, owner of Brian Ruschy Construction and Consulting.

“Additionally, the Wells pre-cast building really lends itself to a food grade building, meeting Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.”

A project of this scale requires an extraordinary amount of teamwork. With the help of Advanced Grain Handling, Wells, Innes Construction and Peterson Sheet Metal, AIC has gone relatively smoothly despite the myriad roadblocks laid down by the pandemic and supply chain issues.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have a number of good contractors working on this project,” Ruschy said. “It’s been

enjoyable watching everyone on this project work together.”

Investing in the future

Without industrious people manning the ship, a project like the AIC couldn’t be successful. That’s why Energy Management Solutions was hired to curate a workforce that will take the AIC from an idea to a reality.

With over a decade of experience, Energy Management Solutions has operated facilities across the Midwest and is already in the process of hiring a maintenance manager and a plant manager.

“Whenever possible, we always want to hire local people,” said Paulsen, Energy Management Solutions CEO. “We also always look for an opportunity to bring someone back home that’s from the area.”

Along with recruiting talented individuals, the AIC is actively seeking industry partners to bring the

next two phases of the project to life.

“Major regional companies are coming on board with many national groups contacting us to learn what the Ag Innovation Campus is all about,” said Slunecka.

One such company is Farmers Union Enterprises, which recently signed on as a major sponsor of the AIC, joining the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and several other groups. Farmers Union Enterprises consists equally of Minnesota, North Dakota,

South Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin’s Farmers Union state organizations, which have equal ownership of Farmers Union Industries, LLC. The organization is based in Redwood Falls.

Ag Innovation Campus nears completion of first building phase

“It’s an investment into the future that will provide opportunities for agriculture,” said Gary Wertish, president of Farmers Union Enterprises and Minnesota Farmers Union. “Farmers Union organizations are grassroots organizations that have been around for a long time, advancing policies for family farmers, and we look at this project the same way – it will advance the economic viability of family farms.”

The AIC has many ways for groups to participate and all inquiries are welcome.

Sponsorship is the best way to get a closer look at the many new technologies with the potential to reach full commercialization scale at the AIC.

The Ag Innovation Campus is on the cusp of making waves in the agriculture industry. In the coming months, as phase one construction is finalized and talent acquired, Slunecka is optimistic the facility will continue generating support from entities across the region, state and nation. But above all, the AIC will give birth to the next generation of agriculture and cultivate economic growth in the Crookston area.

“As construction begins on phase two and three, we hope that Crookston becomes a new center of ag exploration,” said Slunecka. If interested in building a career at the Ag Innovation Campus, please contact Bill Paulsen at 605.216.5010 or at emsplantmanagement.com.

As a not-for-profit, the AIC will process about nine semi-trucks a day, crushing a grand total of 62,400 tons of soybeans per year. But the crush plant is just in its first of a three-phase rollout. Due to a dramatic rise in input costs, the AIC has rolled with the punches and found creative ways to do the most with the hand they were dealt.

“This project has endured large price increases, but on the flip side, crush margins have increased at nearly the same rate,” Slunecka said. “Once construction is complete, the revenue stream from crush operations should have a dramatic bump in the ability for the AIC to complete phase two and three and to offer long term sponsorships of programs that will utilize the center.”

Phase two will be an office complex and research labs, with AURI operating the research labs. Phase 3 consists of rentable discovery bays and a Crushwalk that will be available for short to midterm use for companies that want to prove their designs at full production scale.

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Moving Soy Forward. Moving You Forward.

By Drew Lyon

After voicing thousands of hours behind the microphone, Lynn Ketelsen doesn’t feel an ounce of pressure in the moments leading up to his weekday 12:30 p.m. live broadcast on Linder Farm Network. After more than 40 years in the business, speaking to his loyal band of listeners – friends, farmers and non-farmers alike – across southern Minnesota has become second nature for Ketelsen.

“I never thought of (getting butterflies),” Ketelsen said, putting on his headphones while his longtime radio partner, Linda Brekke, laughed in the background. “Maybe I should.”

Ketelsen was recently recognized for blazing a trail in agriculture media. In September 2022, an agriculture institution known as “The Voice of Minnesota Agriculture”

was enshrined in the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame, becoming the first farm radio announcer to receive the distinction. In 2016, Ketelsen earned his place in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame “I guess I was around long enough,”

Ketelsen said. “It’s a very nice honor.”

During his induction speech (which, he noted, he kept to his allotted three minutes, unlike some of his fellow inductees), Ketelsen revelated the ultimate highlight from his storied career. He didn’t mention traveling the world to promote

Minnesota agriculture; marching in Washington, D.C., with Rev. Jesse Jackson on behalf of the American farmer; or interviewing former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Instead, Ketelsen cited a listener who said that Ketelsen’s reassuring words on the airwaves helped bring the farmer out of a deep depression.

“He said, ‘Because of your show, I didn’t kill myself,’” Ketelsen said during an interview in his office at Linder’s Owatonna headquarters.

“I said, ‘That’s the highlight of my career. It doesn’t get any better.’ … If I did that with just one farmer in 40 years, that’s been worth it.”

Ketelsen said that listeners respond to the hopeful message he conveys on the airways: It’s always darkest before the dawn. That resilient tone is conveyed on the “TransFARMation” podcast, a joint venture between Linder, the Red River Farm Network and Minnesota Department of Agriculture that brings rural mental health issue out into the open.

“I want to give them hope and be optimistic because things always do turn around in ag,” he said. “When you think it’s not going to get any better, it does get better.”

Sending out signals

Ketelsen was raised on a crop and livestock farm in eastern Iowa, where the radio played constantly. He worked as a sportswriter with the Cedar Rapids Gazette and considered becoming an outdoors writer or a teacher and football coach. But Ketelsen reconsidered his options after earning a farm broadcasting scholarship at Iowa State University.

“I decided between being a head football coach in Webster City or going to work in radio,” Ketelsen said. “I liked teaching, but radio sounded like more fun.”

After about 18 months at KMA Radio in Shenandoah, Iowa, Ketelsen moved to Minnesota to join the fledgling Linder Farm Network, which sought a farm broadcaster for its four outlets in Mankato, Marshall, Montevideo and Willmar.

“I’d never heard of them and figured, what the heck, I’ll take a crack at it,” Ketelsen said. He accepted the job against the advice of radio colleagues. At the time, Linder was a small fish in a big pond. The station competed against WCCO, the region’s dominant radio outlet.

“They were a juggernaut,” Ketelsen said.

It wouldn’t happen overnight, but Linder eventually overtook WCCO as the preferred station among rural southern Minnesotans. Today, the network is carried on 30 Minnesota radio stations. At one point, Linder ventured into the Red River Valley and Iowa, but the expanded reach – with different crop production and policy issues – hampered local coverage.

“We defined our geography,” he said. “It’s the corn-soybean area of Minnesota.”

With Ketelsen anchoring the

farm

credibility with its listeners through attending thousands of farm events and by becoming the first station to employ a markets analyst and announce futures prices.

Lessons from Lynn Ketelsen, who is often recognized by his voice alone, offered some advice to aspiring radio broadcasters: Speak naturally and project with energy. “You need to sound like yourself when you’re on the radio,” he said. “You need to be who you are.”

coverage, Linder established

“We had to be more innovative with our program,” he said, “and that’s where we got to where we’re at. And we’ve built trust; we have a strong news department.”

Ketelsen is also a familiar face on TV. He’s served as a correspondent for KEYC-TV, RFD-TV and reported for ABC News during the American Agricultural Movement demonstrations in Washington, D.C. But ever since he listened to farm broadcasters in Iowa, radio has remained Ketelsen’s preferred medium. He’s stayed friendly and engaging – and his voice still retains a smoothness that belies his years –but is still committed to reporting ag news without any fluff or pretensions.

“If you want to reach the masses of farmers, radio is still the most effective medium hands down,” he said. “If you’re a farmer with a busy day, you can tune in for a half-hour and have a pretty good idea of what’s going on in agriculture.”

A biofuels booster

Through his connections and constant presence at agriculture meetings, Ketelsen helped form the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. He was crucial voice in the growth of ethanol in the state and is still a strong proponent of biofuels. He bonded with leaders from across the commodity spectrum, including directors from both the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC).

“The soybean guys were a bunch of radicals,” Ketelsen joked. “They were fun; they’d let their voice be heard.”

During the start of the 2022 harvest, Ketelsen invited MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka to join him in the studio for his 12:30 p.m. broadcast

to discuss soybean checkoff projects, including biodiesel and opening new markets. Following the visit with Slunecka, Ketelsen reminisced about his longstanding relationship with Minnesota Soybean.

“I’ve been extremely close with all the (soybean) leaders. Of all the organizations I’ve been in involved with, soy has been fun because they tend to attract leaders that aren’t afraid to speak their mind. They’re going to say what they think,” Ketelsen said.

“As a reporter, you love that.”

Ketelsen has emceed numerous MSGA annual meetings, including its 25th anniversary. In 2019, Linder hosted the “Soy Spotlight” with farmer-leaders. Ketelsen mentioned current President Bob Worth as a director who embodies MSGA’s proactive ethos.

“Everybody likes Bob. How can you not?” Ketelsen said. “He’s involved, he speaks his mind, knows ag and is one of many good soybean leaders over the years.”

In 2020, Minnesota Soybean honored Ketelsen with its Industry Leader of the Year award at MN AG EXPO.

“Lynn is simply a legend in Minnesota agriculture,” Slunecka said. “Anytime you visit with him, it’s like talking with an old friend. He always makes you feel at ease.”

‘Still fun’

Linder’s headquarters has kept its appeal; the network is still a family operation. Ketelsen’s corner office is adjacent to the studio, and all Linder staff are within an earshot.

He’s one of the first to arrive at the station at 5:30 a.m., in time for his 6 a.m. broadcast with Brekke. Ketelsen then exercises at home before coming back to the station by late morning, staying until the day’s work is done.

“Lynn cares about his employees, cares about the people that he works with,” said Brekke, Ketelsen’s radio partner for 24 years. “He comes to work every day and he really cares about what he does. He puts everything he has into every show and that’s what makes him so special.”

Ketelsen isn’t quite sure where or when the “Voice of Minnesota Agriculture” moniker started. Though the title is often ascribed to Ketelsen, he eschews the mantle, giving ample credit to the station he now owns.

“I’m proud of that but it’s also a lot of responsibility. Right now, ag doesn’t have as many voices as it needs to tell its story,” Ketelsen said. “The Twin Cities media doesn’t know what’s going on out

here as far as getting the farmers’ perspective, and so we try to fill that void by talking about what farmers do, how they do it, why they do it, why soy is important, why biofuels are important.”

Ketelsen has traveled extensively.

He’s reported on farm policies in D.C. and promoted agriculture in faraway places in Asia, Russia and South America.

In an industry that places a premium on relationships, Ketelsen insisted that visionary farmer-leaders are the primary force behind the explosion in U.S. ag exports in the 21st century.

“I’m convinced that without busloads of farmers flying over to China, we would’ve never had the relationship with them buying U.S. soy,” he said. “It

was fun to watch it happen.”

Ketelsen sees plenty of opportunities in agriculture, but also unique challenges – from climate change to policies that shift away from biofuels.

“On the flip side, we’ve had a good run on prices, and that’s a big deal,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and there’s always been ups and downs.”

Now a grandparent of six, Ketelsen and his wife, Mary, prefer domestic travel. But he remains an omnipresent figure at Minnesota agriculture gatherings. He continues to enjoy sharing the day’s ag news and sees no reason to retire.

“This is still fun for me,” he said. “I think, for Minnesota farmers, they like what we do.”

WISHH catches new markets for U.S. soy by advancing aquaculture. soy by

ASA/WISHH is helping explore opportunities for soy-based feeds to grow aquaculture in 8 sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania

WISHH graduates entrepreneurs

Connect with WISHH wishh.org

ASA/WISHH

Connect with WISHH wishh.org

WISHH is a program of the American Soybean Association and is funded in part by the United Soybean Board and state soybean board checkoff programs.

WISHH is a program of the American Soybean Association and is funded in part by the United Soybean Board and state soybean board checkoff programs.

from global training for high-quality foods and feeds. from for

Minnesota Soybean looks to diversify shipping options

By Drew Lyon

Long before he joined Minnesota Soybean in 2013, Joe Smentek apprenticed as a legal intern at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

During his three years at MDA, Smentek helped conduct a feasibility study on moving grain via the Port of Duluth and the massive Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System.

“That was the first question when I started here: ‘What are we doing with the Port of Duluth?’” recalled Smentek, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. “I know now that we’ve been hammering on it.”

After nearly a decade of Minnesota Soybean checkoff investments, relationship building and MSGA advocacy efforts, it appears soybean producers eventually could have another viable option to ship their commodities and diversify the agriculture supply chain. This follows the Hansen-Mueller Company’s recent acquisition of

General Mills’ Duluth Elevator A, a deal that brings a much-heralded return of the grain-handling facility.

“It’s very cool stuff,” Smentek said. “We’re excited to see the progress.”

The facility can store 3.5 million bushels of grain and stands 195 feet above the bar. The site also supports a nearly 2,000-foot dock and on-dock rail service from BNSF Railway. The facility is expected to export small grains, plus soybeans and meal, from the United States and Canada to both domestic and international destination.

“The Port of Duluth has had a storied past of decades of prosperity, but also of less usage recently,” said Minnesota Soybean Research

& Promotion Council CEO Tom Slunecka. ”Things are shifting, and it’s coming back around to where its value is again important.”

Kate Ferguson, director of trade and business development with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said despite valiant efforts by the Council and MSGA, commodity trade via the Port of Duluth has proven difficult primarily because most of the facilities are held by private entities.

The Jones Act, legislation enacted in 1920 that requires shipping vessels are flagged in the U.S. if they travel from one U.S. port to another, has also hampered efforts to move more grain through Duluth.

“Minnesota Soybean has always wanted to have a public facility to use to ship their beans,” Ferguson said. “We’re not seeing a lot of soy being shipped, but we have seen a development in the last six months that might allow soy to move through, and soy can always move via container

transportation.”

Though the port still ships about a million tons of grain annually –wheat is typically the top exported commodity – iron ore is king at the Port of Duluth-Superior, which first opened for commercial shipping more than 150 years ago. The Port is the continent’s furthest inland seaport and the highest-ranking port on the Great Lakes. Shippers are attracted to ship via Duluth because traffic is uncongested; traffic on the Seaway could double and ships and barges would still flow freely. Additionally, low water levels on the Mississippi River, along with supply chain snarls on the West Coast, are making the Great Lakes system increasingly more appealing to shippers.

“The great thing about the Great Lakes is we can offer a diversified supply chain for many of these shippers utilizing the coast,” Ferguson said. “So many companies want to diversify their risks, and we know the Great Lakes can be a reliable chain.”

In October, Minnesota Soybean Director of Market Development

Kim Nill met with officials from the United Kingdom, the Port Authority and Minnesota Department of Agriculture to discuss ways the Great Lakes System could increase soy shipments to markets including the U.K., Europe, North Africa and Uzbekistan, among others.

“The size of ships gives Duluth its niche,” Nill said. “Not all ports can handle the large ships coming out of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) or out of the Gulf of Mexico. … It was nice to be able to have our foot in the door to discuss the benefits of shipping more soybeans out of the Port of Duluth.”

Reaching those overseas customers via the St. Lawrence Seaway would hit a “sweet spot,” said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

“There’s a real opportunity for seeing soymeal exported via the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway,” he said. “That’s something that’s really exciting to me.”

Ferguson said she’s looking forward to working with commodity groups and shippers to expand transportation options and improve the region’s economy.

“I hope we can continue to support Minnesota Soybean,” she said. “We’re all trying to support our region, support ag in helping our region get products to market.”

Growing markets

The St. Lawrence Seaway, the “Opportunity Belt” that traverses 2,300 miles from the head of the Great Lakes in Duluth to the Atlantic Ocean, currently accounts for only about 2% of U.S. soybean exports.

“It’s the transportation conduit between the rest of the world and the Great Lakes and the Upper Midwest,” said outgoing St. Lawrence Seaway Deputy Administrator Craig Middlebrook, who spoke with Soybean Business days before his retirement after nearly 30 years with the organization. “The reliability of the infrastructure is one of our strongest selling points.”

Industry leaders hope the Gateway Incentive program, an agreement spearheaded by the Soy Transportation Coalition that offers a 50% discount on soybean imports to encourage more agricultural shippers to use the route, will stimulate more traffic.

“As export customers continue to look to our soybeans for qualities they value, like sustainability, the St. Lawrence Seaway represents a great opportunity for soybean farmers,” Council Director Gene Stoel said.

Stoel, a Lake Wilson farmer, has experience working in the grain elevator business and appreciated the need for optimization.

“We used to transport a lot of soybeans on the St. Lawrence Seaway and ship them,” he said.

During a recent Hill Visit to Washington, D.C, directors from the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association met with Peter Hirthe, international trade specialist at the Great LakesSt. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, to discuss opportunities for increased grain shipments via the Great Lakes.

“It was exciting to see the opportunities the St. Lawrence Seaway could have, especially to expand our sales of commercial soybeans and specialty soybeans that will be processed at the Ag Innovation Campus to new customers and new countries,” said MSGA Director and former President Mike Skaug, who also chairs the AIC.

Through September 2022, the Seaway System has moved 689,000 metric tons of U.S. grain, a 41.24% increase compared to the same period in 2021. Although the Great Lakes system is unlikely to ever supplant shipments out of the PNW or Gulf of Mexico, Steenhoek says the industry should take notice of the ongoing drought and heed the “golden rule” of commodity transportation.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” he said. “One thing we try to do as an organization is try to diversify that supply chain, and the St. Lawrence Seaway System is one of those opportunities that we think should be widely utilized.”

With lessons learned from the pandemic, promoting – and investing in – the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System will be an ongoing Minnesota Soybean priority in the years ahead.

“The specialty grains and Identity Preserved markets are growing, and we’re developing new markets,” Slunecka said. “All of these things are helping to make the Great Lakes a very viable option for our products.”

The Port of Duluth closes from early January into March but is otherwise open nearly 300 days annually.

If the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway region was a country, it would comprise the world’s fourth largest economy. Agricultural products represent about 40% of all Seaway trade, more than 25% of which is shipped in November and December

REMEMBER, HE CREATED YOU FOR THIS.

Don’t be afraid. Just believe. Mark 5:36

Giant Steps

By Soybean Staff

Minnesota soybean farmers work hard, day in and day out, tending to their crop to provide food, fuel and other products for the world.

That’s why it only makes sense that the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) works just as hard to wisely invest checkoff dollars. In summer 2022, the Council walked the walk by launching the Stepping Up: From Farm to Frontline campaign.

The campaign highlighted Skechers soy-based GO shoes and allowed the state’s 44 organized county boards to donate 50 pairs of shoes to health care workers in their communities. The shoes use soybean oil to improve grip, stability and durability, using the same checkoff-supported technology found in Goodyear Tire Company’s line of soybased tires.

“I am so thankful for all those that worked the frontline during COVID, and it is wonderful to give back,” Norman County Soybean Growers President Corey Hanson said. “I am so touched by the appreciation of all those that received Skechers as a thank you.”

During the course of the campaign, more than 3,000 pairs of shoes were donated to 121 facilities across Minnesota.

At the end of the day, both farmers and health care workers have dedicated their lives to serving others. With the Stepping Up campaign, Minnesota’s soybean farmers were able to honor their local health care workers who selflessly persevered through a global pandemic.

“The nurses in two nursing homes and one hospital in Watonwan County were on the frontline caring for vulnerable residents and patients during the pandemic,” said Watonwan County Corn and Soybean Growers Director Dale Busch. “They gave of themselves long and hard hours above and beyond what most of us can imagine. There should be a special place in heaven for these people.”

Council’s shoe donation leaves impression on farmers, frontline worker

MSR&PC is the only state soybean checkoff with organized county soybean boards. With 44 organized boards representing 53 counties, these boards aide in carrying out the state’s messaging.

As part of the Stepping Up campaign, county soybean boards across the state walked the walk as they donated 50 pairs of shoes to (a) health care facility(s) in their county.

The state is divided into four territories with a regional project manager overseeing each region. Regional project managers worked with the county boards and facilities to explain the purpose of the campaign and to help deliver the shoes across Minnesota.

Step-by-Step: Honoring Health Care Heroes

Health care heroes in local communities throughout Minnesota have done more than their fair share to help keep others safe and healthy. This past summer, Minnesota soybean farmers, with the help of their soybean checkoff, asked community members to nominate a health care worker who they felt deserved to receive a pair of Skechers soy-based shoes as a ‘thank you’ for all they do for their local community.

Nominations ran from June 1 through Aug. 4. Originally, 20 health care heroes were to be picked to receive a pair of shoes; however, due to a plethora of heart-felt nominations, 30 individuals were selected instead. Get to know the health care heroes who ‘Stepped Up’ in their community and were nominated by a fellow community member.

Name: Piper Jungers

Facility/Location: CentraCare, Willmar, Minn.

About: Jungers has worked as a medical scribe at CentraCare in the Dermatology department for the past nine years, has volunteered as an EMT for the Olivia Ambulance Service for six years and is currently attending nursing school. She stays busy, typically seeing 50 patients a day and is always moving.

“I enjoy the provider I work with, the nurses and connecting with patients,” she said. “I honestly do not know where I would be if did not have my amazing coworkers. They are my second family!”

Her favorite part of her job is saving lives and knowing the patient can always count on her to do whatever is needed to help.

“Piper is an amazing mother of two kids and a farm wife,” said her nominator. “She has a very strong passion for the medical field that is unmatchable.”

Name: Lexy Pressman

Facility/Location: Grand Forks, N.D.

About: Lipinski has worked in health care since 2014. He started his career as a CNA in a nursing home for two years, then an LPN in an inpatient rehab facility before becoming an RN in 2019.

He currently is contracted out to a food production facility, where he works with the plant’s safety manager to help make a safer workplace for all the employees. He also provides first aid at the plant and works as a liaison between the plant and the local Occupational Medicine department.

“Every day is something new,” he said. “I really enjoy getting to establish a rapport with the employees here, and really enjoy getting to know everyone.”

Lipinski stepped up – pun intended – for his community

“He has a kind, caring heart and wants to help people. When the pandemic started, he was working in inpatient rehab but would get moved to the hospital floors to help because of staffing. He never knew where he would be working,” said his nominator. “He is now … making a difference by making sure workers are healthy and following safety procedures.”

Facility/Location: Babbitt Ambulance - Volunteer Service, Babbitt, Minn.

About: Rebekah and Matt Littler both have dedicated their time to the community of Babbitt by serving on the Babbitt Ambulance. Rebekah has been an EMT with the department for five years and enjoys helping her community.

“I am able to assist people in some of their hardest days,” she said. “This drives me to continue to learn, grow and be the best version of myself.”

Matt has been a paramedic for the past eight years and an EMT for at least a decade. He also works with the DNR and ParaCorp for disaster relief. He regularly goes out on wildfire assignments as a medical resource and has traveled to provide medical during hurricanes, and worked in COVID clinics during the pandemic. He continues to push and learn more to help aid others.

He just received his community medic certification and is currently in school for critical care paramedic.

Both Rebekah and Matt have made an impact in their community.

“They are both dedicated to learning and are constantly pushing for more knowledge,” wrote their nominator. “Patience, quiet, gentle, kindness and true concern for others is what fires these two.”

Facility/Location: Health Partners, St. Paul, Minn.

About: Pressman has been a registered nurse for four years. She primarily works triage, helps in the clinic, works on scheduling and is a resource for staff. She enjoys advocating for her staff and patients and is a dedicated nurse who always has the best interest of her patients.

Pressman worked on the COVID-19 unit during the shutdown. She was one of the nurses holding the iPad, so family members could see their loved ones during hospital stays.

“She not only cared for the patients’ medical needs, but she was a support to the family members as well,” said her nominator. “Lexy is a dedicated nurse who always has the best interest of her patients!”

Name: David Miller

Facility/Location: CentraCare & MN Healthcare Preparedness Program, St. Cloud, Minn.

About: Miller has been a paramedic since 1995 working in the Emergency Trauma Center (ETC). Currently, he still works in the ETC, but has transitioned to the Emergency Preparedness Team at CentraCare as well as for the Central & West Central MN Healthcare Preparedness Coalitions. In his role of Emergency Preparedness, he works mainly with staff education and safety.

His programs involve staff personal protective equipment (PPE), HERT (Hospital Emergency Response Team) formation and on-going trainings which cover decontamination, evacuation, site security, exercise development and execution at both the hospital and coalition levels. He most recently returned to the ambulance for CentraCare.

“During the height of the pandemic, myself, along with many of my co-workers, worked 120-150 hours per pay period working to protect staff with the training and PPE that they deserved, testing nursing home residents, and administering the COVID-19 vaccines, he said.

His dedication to the health care industry has not gone unnoticed.

“He was a main player for all the COVID-19 vaccine clinics and worked 85+ hours a week. He deserves something to show how appreciated he truly is,” said his nominator.

Name: Matt and Rebekah Littler

Name: Daniel Lipinski

Matt and Rebekah Littler

Daniel Lipinski

Piper Jungers

Lexy Pressman

David Miller

The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) certifies farmers for managing the land within their operation in a way that protects water quality and improves soil health for today’s and tomorrow’s farmers.

Area Certification Specialists assist farmers through the certification process. Producers can get started by contacting their local Soil and Water Conservation District, their Area Certification Specialist or contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (www.mda.state. mn.us/mawqcp-contact-form) for follow up from program staff. After a farmer complete the program application, a Certifying Agent will work with you on the assessment process, which includes an online assessment tool and on-farm field verification. Lastly, compliance with existing laws and rules needs to be complete when the certification agreement is signed.

“Our specialists are the crucial part of the certification process,” MAWQCP Project Manager Brad Jordahl Redlin said. “They love working with farmers and helping them every step of the way—finding financial assistance, handling the paperwork, identifying options—to ensure

MAWQCP Endorsements

The MAWQCP currently has five Endorsements available to water quality certified producers: Climate Smart Farm, Soil Health, Integrated Pest Management, Wildlife and Irrigation Water Management. Many conservation practices targeting water quality have benefits for other conservation goals, and the Endorsements provide additional recognition to water quality certified producers who are going above and beyond to implement conservation on their farms. The MAWQCP partnered with various non-profit organizations, University of Minnesota, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and federal and state agencies to develop the criteria for the Endorsements.

Endorsements are available to producers who are enrolled in the MAWQCP. Those who achieve an Endorsement will receive an additional sign for their farm and recognition for their conservation excellence.

Contact a MAWQCP Area Certification Specialist today!

Northwest: Glen Kajewski, East Polk SWCD, glen. kajewskieastpolk@gmail.com, 218-689-1502

North Central: Jim Lahn, East Otter Tail SWCD, james. lahn@eot.mnswcd.org, 218-346-4260 x122

Northeast: Ryan Clark, Carlton SWCD, ryan.clark@ carltonswcd.org, 218-384-3891 x6

West Central: Grant Pearson, Stearns SWCD, grant. pearson@mn.nacdnet.net, 320-428-4374

South Central: Herman Bartsch, Cottonwood SWCD, hermanbartsch@outlook.com, 507-344-3210

Southwest: Danielle Evers, Pipestone SWCD, danielle. evers@co.pipestone.mn.us, 507-825-1199

Southeast: Mark Root, Olmsted SWCD, MSROOTMAWQCP@gmail.com, 507-226-5923

Metro: www.mda.state.mn.us/mawqcp-contact-form, 651200-5307

“(The specialists) really did a great job,” said Washington County farmer Fran Miron, who was MAWQCP-certified in 2020. “It’s really a painless process.”

The more than 1,275 producers currently certified in the program – now in its seventh year of implementation –cover over 925,000 certified acres and implement more than 2,550 new conservation practices. These practices are reducing over 43,000 tons of sediment of each year, 127,000 tons of soil and cutting nitrogen loss by nearly 50%. The MDA plans to celebrate certifying one-million acres of farmland in Minnesota in early 2023.

“This program works on every level,” Gov. Tim Walz said at the 2022 MN AG EXPO, “and it works because producers are at the center of it, producers help write it and producers help execute it.”

every certification serves the unique needs of each farm.”

By Kristeena Thisius

One. Two. Three. Four.

In four seconds, adults can sink knee deep in flowing grain and cannot free themselves. In 20 seconds, an adult can become completely engulfed with little hope of survival.

nominee wrote Ghent was utilizing a homemade tube, which lacked in features and potential efficiencies in case of an emergency.

Ghent Fire Chief Cory Crowley says the new equipment will be a great addition to their community.

organizations like the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council to ensure first responders have the resources and training needed to respond to grain entrapments,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide.

“We are very excited to receive this grain bin tube and auger,” Crowley said. “These tools are often overlooked in many small-town budgets. This will go a long way to ensure firefighter safety, along with the ability to quickly and safely extract a victim for many years to come.”

Tips to prevent grain-related incidents

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To help bring hope and reassurance to rural communities across Minnesota, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the soybean checkoff developed a nomination process during the summer months for community members to nominate their local first responders to receive one of five aluminum grain bin rescue tubes and auger.

“Everyone in farming is aware of the dangers that come with our profession and working in and around grain bins is certainly one of those hazards,” said MSR&PC Chair Joe Serbus, who farms near Bird Island. “At the end of the day, we all want to return home safely to our families.”

Over 50 fire departments were nominated, spanning from the Canadian border to southern Minnesota.

“Narrowing down the nominees to five is extremely difficult, especially knowing how critical this equipment can be to any rural community,” Serbus said. “We hope they never have to be used, but it’s reassuring knowing five more communities will be prepared and ready.”

The Ghent Fire Department, located in Lyon County, was one of the five recipients.

Through the nomination form, when asked why the department was deserving of the equipment, the

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In addition to the Ghent Fire Department, Lewisville, Currie, St. Martin and Hallock were also nominated and selected.

A collaborative effort

To ensure the equipment donated was state-of-the-art and proper training was included, MSR&PC partnered with Nationwide and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), both of whom have been leaders in promoting grain bin safety.

“We are proud to work with

Since the beginning of Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety program in 2014, they have provided 14 rescue tubes and training sessions to Minnesota first responders, with one of those tubes successfully rescuing a Glenville farmer in August 2017. This fall, NECAS and Nationwide delivered the equipment to each department and provided hands-on training for first responders, utilizing their mobile trailer.

“These are awesome tools,” said Brad Kruse, a safety and rescue instructor with NECAS, “but (you must) respect them.”

The grain tube is made of six panels – called “The Great Wall” – that slide into place around the victim. Once inserted, the tube halts the flow of grain and relieves the pressure on the trapped individual. One cubic foot for grain weighs 50 pounds; without the tube, grain can continue to collapse the victim as rescuers remove it.

The grain entrapment rescue auger, which accompanied the donated rescue tube, quickly aids in the removal of grain away from the victim.

“Grain bin entrapments not only impact the individual and their families, but a community as a whole,” Serbus said. “I’m proud the soybean checkoff could do its part in ensuring more rural areas have access to this life saving equipment.”

PROMOTION COUNCIL ELECTIONS

‘A rewarding endeavor’

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture holds commodity council elections each spring.

Council seeks candidates for 2023 elections

MSR&PC Directors

as of June 2, 2022

Beans by the Billions

MSR&PC, Taiwan ink purchasing agreement

By Soybean Business Staff

Five Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council positions are up for election.

Interested candidates need to ll out a candidate biography form and a candidate certi cation form and return to Minnesota Soybean by Jan. 23, 2023.

Dates to Remmber:

Have you ever wanted to have a say in directing and investing checkoff resources on behalf of Minnesota’s 27,000 soybeans? Now’s your chance to lead and become a candidate for election to the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC).

• Ballot requests and candidate forms are due to melinda@agmgmtsolutions.com by Monday, Jan. 23

• Ballots will be mailed by MDA Friday, March 17

• Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 4

It’s that time of year again: MSR&PC and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) are seeking candidates for annual commodity council elections.

“I know from experience that serving on the Council is an important step in directing where soybean checkoff

investments go,” MSR&PC Vice Chair Tom Frisch said. “A larger pool of candidates gives farmers the chance to vote for someone who will give them a voice on checkoff investments. The more candidates, the better.”

Council Directors Bill Zurn (Districts 1, 2 & 3); Patrick O’Leary (District 4); Pat Sullivan (District 5 & 6); Ron Obermoller (District 7) and Rochelle Krusemark (District 8), respectively, are all up for reelection.

Council directors serve three-year terms and help oversee the state’s soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of Minnesota’s soybean farmers. Interested participants must fill out a candidate

2023 MN SOYBEAN RESEARCH & PROMOTION COUNCIL ELECTIONS

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture holds commodity council elections each spring.

Five Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council positions are up for election.

Interested candidates need to ll out a candidate biography form and a candidate certi cation form and return to Minnesota Soybean by Jan. 23, 2023.

certification form and a candidate biography form to the Council’s office no later than Jan. 23, 2023. Ballots will be mailed via MDA by March 17 and must be postmarked by April 4.

“If you’re unsure about being a candidate or serving on the Council, we encourage farmers to reach out to their area representative,” Council Chair Joe Serbus said. “A position on the Council is a rewarding endeavor to represent Minnesota soybean farmers and to ensure soybean checkoff funds are invested properly.”

Interested candidates can download the necessary forms at mnsoybean. org/msrpc.

9

By Drew Lyon

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) signed a Letter of Intent in September with the Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association (TVOA), an agreement worth approximately $2 billion that will benefit the state’s nearly 28,000 soybean farmers.

The private event was held in the Governor’s Reception Room at the Capitol alongside Taiwanese officials, Minnesota ag leaders and Gov. Tim Walz. The agreement, which was last signed in 2018, is the culmination of soybean checkoff investments over the decades that focused on growing the Taiwanese market.

and Minnesota agriculture officials for a signing ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion. The following year, Slunecka, strengthened the relationships by participating in USDA’s first-ever Taiwanese trade mission.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Minnesota farmers to be the location where a trade deal of this size is implemented,” said Sluneck. “Of all the places they could choose to buy soybeans, they chose Minnesota because of the quality and long-term relationships.”

Since 1998, Taiwan has imported 40.5 million MT (equivalent to 1.5 billion bushels) of soybeans, a value of $15.1 billion.

“The relationship we have built with Taiwan is a direct reflection of what Minnesota soybean checkoff dollars can do,” Slunecka said. “It takes time and commitment, but we are fortunate our farmer-leaders are dedicated to doing all they can to increase the value of our soybeans.”

MSR&PC

as of June 2, 2022

Directors

“It’s wonderful to participate in this agreement with our friends from Taiwan,” said Council Chair Joe Serbus, who signed the agreement on behalf of MSR&PC. “This is yet another example of how soybean checkoff succeeds over the long haul, ultimately improving the profitability of Minnesota soybean farmers and generating economic activity across the state.”

In 2018, Council CEO Tom Slunecka joined Taiwanese leaders

The TVOA has pledged to purchase between 2.6 million and 2.9 million MT (equivalent to between 96 million and 107 million bushels) of soybeans between 2023 and 2024. The estimated value of the agreement totals between $1.9 billion-$2.1 billion.

In 2021, the total value of U.S. agricultural and related products exported to Taiwan reached $3.94 billion.

As of 2021, Taiwan is the seventh largest market for U.S. agricultural exports. The U.S. supplies about 27% of Taiwan’s agricultural imports.

In a goodwill gesture during spring 2020, Taiwan donated 29 boxes containing 100,000 surgical masks to Minnesota’s first responders to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have a relationship that’s rooted in respect,” Serbus said. “This was a great event, and I was proud to thank our friends from Taiwan for choosing high-quality Minnesota soybeans.”

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Bob Worth, who visited Taiwan in 2013, and Executive Director Joe Smentek, also appeared at the event. Earlier in September, MSGA visited with Taiwanese leaders at the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, D.C.

*MSR&PC Expiring Director Terms, 2023

Kris

Kris Folland

Bill Zurn

Paul Freeman

Patrick O’Leary Tom Frisch Joe Serbus Pat Sullivan Gene Stoel Jim Willers Ron Obermoller Cole Trebesch Rochelle Krusemark Gail Donkers

By Bailey Grubish

Soybeans are a universal language.

Around the world, soybeans are a vital commodity, and the emerging market of Uzbekistan presents opportunities for U.S. soybean use.

For a week in September, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) farmer-leaders arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and toured the country’s agriculture facilities that opened their eyes to the exporting possibilities.

“To me this country is in the same position Vietnam was 20 years ago as far as development,” MSR&PC Director Gene Stoel said. “If we can figure out how to get the soybean products there, they should take off just like they did in Vietnam.”

MSR&PC Directors Patrick O’Leary and Stoel traveled

to Uzbekistan with MSR&PC Director of Market Development Kim Nill. The group worked with in-country representative Chris Andrew to take a closer look at the growing country, which has a population of approximately 34 million.

Visiting the emerging market allowed the farmer-leaders to speak with local farmers, agronomists, crushing facility and feed mill owners as well as livestock operation owners. They also made connections with business owners who could sell soybeans in Uzbekistan and government officials from the U.S. Embassy as well as the Ministry of Agriculture.

The knowledge gained from speaking to these groups in-person couldn’t have been replicated

through any other communication method, O’Leary said.

“I definitely think it’s a marketplace we need to continue to explore,” he said. “We need to work on some of the logistics that we need to overcome to get product there. A small shipment of U.S. soybeans moved into the country so we know that it can be done. Probably one of the biggest challenges today is that Uzbekistan is landlocked and the transportation logistics of getting the product there.”

Uzbekistan’s readily available resources to start crushing, processing or selling made it an ideal location to tour.

Often times, when the

Council tours an emerging market there are few, if any, crushing and processing plants to visit.

The business owners the farmerleaders met with were also eager to learn how to purchase soybeans from the U.S. and to learn more about the benefits of high-quality U.S. soybeans.

“I don’t know that we had a meeting that wasn’t positive, where people weren’t interested in working to get Minnesota product or U.S. product,” O’Leary said. “I think the interest was significant in all meetings. It made it exciting to build relationships with people that want to. A lot of people want to build relationships with us and its exciting.”

Having Andrew stationed in Uzbekistan has been a successful investment, Nill said. He made connections with key business partners who will be instrumental in soybean importation from the U.S. Andrew traveled around the country prior to the visit to find those key players and create a bean buzz. This showed the benefits of U.S. soybeans and how using the product can improve the feed and

production in the country.

The first shipment of 700 MT of U.S. soybean meal arrived in the country, proving the possibilities of Uzbekistan.

“It was really important for the Minnesota grower-leaders to come to Uzbekistan to see for themselves the big opportunities that exist in Uzbekistan,” Andrew said. “I think what they found was that the country is hungry for technical assistance, and everyone was very welcoming. I think everyone left with a good impression of the country. We can do good things in the future.”

The soy difference

In general, Uzbekistan animal producers aren’t including enough soymeal in any of the feed rations. Along with the lack of soymeal there is a use of poor-quality ingredients such as low-quality wheat and sunflower seed meal. This is

causing the animals to grow to smaller sizes, causing a loss of profits for those producers. In the U.S., poultry layers get around 20% soymeal in feed, broilers around 26% and about 12% for dairy cows, which is considerably higher than what is put in the feed in Uzbekistan.

“They need to learn how to feed the soybean meal,” Stoel said. “When you look at some of the diets they’re using, they could be a lot more efficient in their feed use. That’s something that I can’t do on my own.

Building relationships was very beneficial, I think, just to show that the American farmer wants to help out where he can. That’s not something they’re used to, I don’t think.”

This was evident at the dairy farm when an employee giving the tour said, “These are very good cows, but with better feed they could get 40 liters of milk a day like in the states.”

Along with touring crushing plants, processing plants and meeting with various groups, the farmer-leaders visited a soybean field. The field they visited had never grown soybeans before. The local farmer was excited to welcome Minnesota farmers, just as much as they were excited to see the soybeans and speak about the field.

Soybeans are an unfamiliar commodity in Uzbekistan; its main crop is cotton. The crushing plants used for cotton have the capacity to add soybeans to the line if the supply and quality of whole soybeans is available. Currently, soybeans imported to Uzbekistan are from Argentina because war and drought has limited supplies from Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan.

During recent years, Uzbekistan has imported between 250,000300,000 tons of soybean meal annually. When the farmer-leaders met with the Poultry Association, they learned that by 2026 there will be a need for 500,000 MT of soybean meal. This is something MSR&PC noted as a problem that was due to the lack of quality meal available in the area.

“They’re being cut off from their earlier sources,” Nill said, “and now is the time for us to leap in if there’s ever going to be a time.”

There are currently 20 operating crushing plants in Uzbekistan.

Andrew and Nill distributed two books translated in Russian: The Full Fat Soybean Meal Handbook and the Practical Handbook of Soybean Processing and Utilization. These were given to some of these plants to avoid risk of improperly-processed soymeal and soyoil being sold in Uzbekistan.

“I think what was most exciting for me was their interest and their potential need for U.S. soybeans,” O’Leary said. “It’s exciting to see a country that potentially has

significant growth in their livestock sector and the growth potential of a product coming from Minnesota and the U.S. is significant as well.”

‘A golden opportunity’

After visiting six cities and spending seven days in the country, farmer-leaders headed home with an abundance of information and optimism.

“The next steps are once again teaching them how to best use the meal and the full fat meal in the rations and especially in the poultry rations,” Stoel said. “The younger generation is very progressive in my opinion, and they want to catch up with the rest of the world; it was pretty obvious when we talked to them.”

Looking ahead, a feasibility study is needed to discover the true demand and best location for the needed crushing plant. The long-term goal is to build a new 1,000-ton per day crushing facility in Uzbekistan in the next three years. The study would also examine where the rail service is and the best trucking routes.

“Uzbekistan’s a golden opportunity, Stoel said. “We just have to be there.”

Whether you’re dealing with drought, flood, heat or other climate-related stress, the soy checkoff is working behind the scenes to diversify U.S. soybean genetics and increase stress tolerance. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And it’s helping make a valuable impact for soybean farmers like you.

See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for soybean farmers at unitedsoybean.org

Council directors Patrick O’Leary (middle) and Gene Stoel (left) received special clothing gifts during a crushing plant tour in Uzbekistan.

FACES OFMSGA

The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) is the nation’s premier soybean association because farmers and agri-businesses recognize the value their investment in MSGA brings. Here are two examples of Minnesota members who actively promote Minnesota’s soybean industry.

By Sydney Harris

Sometimes, it’s not about what you see but what you don’t see. Austen Germolus knows that with his Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA), his membership helps fight battles that never cross his radar. “MSGA has done a lot for farmers, even if farmers don’t realize it,” said Germolus, vice president of the Norman County Corn and Soybean Growers. “Whether it’s … helping with crop insurance or pushing biodiesel.”

And MSGA isn’t one to shy away from going the extra mile for Minnesota soybean farmers. For Germolus, this commitment is shown through the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC), of which MSGA is a founding member and helped secure critical funding.

“The Ag Innovation Campus is going to have a huge effect on this area, including farmers and their operations,” said Germolus, who participated in Minnesota Soybean’s Future of Soybeans retreat in July 2022.

Germolus has 30 head of registered British white cattle and grows barley, soybeans, corn and wheat. He offers

good advice to those weighing the pros and cons of membership: MSGA is worth it.

“If you look at the cost of a membership compared to the costs that you’re dumping into daily things, like parts, that you don’t think twice about, the cost of a soybean membership is minimal and pays bigger dividends,” he said. “The little bit of money you spend on a membership goes on a long way.”

Germolus attended NDSU, earning a degree in ag economics and a master’s degree in meat science and has three sons – Oden, Thorin and Ronan – with his wife, Amy. Germolus is active in Norman County Farm Bureau and sits on the boards of the Perley Community Co-op and Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers.

Every day, farmers handle myriad moving parts. They wake up in the morning with a plan for the day and within an hour that plan has changed multiple times. Many simply don’t have the bandwidth to add policy work on top of their chores.

That’s why Minnesota soybean famer Mandy Dammann, who farms with her family as 4-G Farms, LLC, chose to invest in MSGA.

“We’re so busy working. We’re trying to make a living, we’re here on the farm,” said Dammann, who farms near Glencoe. “It’s hard to get away and get where you need to be to have a voice.”

While farmers are busy tending to their crops, MSGA is keeping an eye on the legislative work at the capital, in both St. Paul and Washington, D.C.

“I don’t always know what’s going on in the political side of things, but MSGA constantly knows what policies are trying to be put into place,” Dammann said. “And they’re ready to fight those policies when needed.”

As the Membership Chair for the McLeod County Corn and Soybean Growers, Dammann works to explain to others the impact that their membership dollars can have.

“It’s so important for us famers to have a voice when it comes to all these policies,” said Dammann, who also has a herd of 40 beef cows. “There is power in numbers. The more people that join MSGA, the bigger our voice will be.”

When it comes down to it, MSGA works to keep Minnesota soybean farmers doing what they love –feeding the world.

“I love growing food for people,” said Dammann. “And I love that MSGA fights for us.”

A Soy Salute to Our Newest Members!

We thank the following 40 members for joining the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association:

Sarah Feucht Brown

Carly Johnson Brown

Jan Frikke Chippewa

Megan Horsager Chippewa

Ginger Harris Clay

Andrea Vaubel Dakota

Brent Bitzan Douglas

Joel Rauenhorst Faribault

Rob Tate Goodhue

Keith Knutson Goodhue

Richard Callstrom Goodhue

David Hagen Goodhue

Gary Kellen Murray

John Salentiny Murray

Charles Paulzine Murray

Jeff Schaap Murray

Lauren Stoel Murray

Joel Enter Nicollet

Brandon Borgen Norman Kyle Stene Norman

We also extend our gratitude to the 150 members who renewed their membership during the summer. Together, we’re moving agriculture forward and fighting on your behalf in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.

To join the nation’s premier state soybean association, visit mnsoybean.org/msga/invest. Membership levels start at just $20 for students; a 3-year membership costs less than a quarter per day!

John Boltjes Out of State

Bob Metz Out of State

Allen Blankers Pipestone

Michael Merrill Pipestone

Aaron Kozlowski Pipestone

Joseph Goblish Redwood

Cody Johnson Renville

Cindy Serbus Renville

Nick Daugherty Renville

Norb Serbus Renville

Lyle Black Sibley

Joe Koehl Stevens

Craig Baxter Waseca

Gary Schoenfeld Waseca

Mike Singlestad Waseca

Steven Schoenfeld Waseca

Andrew Karau Watonwan

Scott Rigge Yellow Medicine

Ryan Bliss Yellow Medicine

Chuck Hoffman Yellow Medicine

All MSGA members receive the following benefits and discounts:

• Clean Fuels Alliance America Vehicle Discount

• Cabela’s discount (10%)

• Commodity Classic Registration - $100 Savings

• American Soybean Association (ASA) Membership

• $5,000 College Scholarship Opportunity

• Ability to join 40 Square Health Plans

The Johnson Family Wells, Minn.