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MSGA President Bob Worth welcomed the first federal legislator to his Lake Benton farm when Sen. Amy Klobuchar stopped by to talk farm policy and take a closer look at 2023 growing conditions.
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Minnesota Soybean raised the stakes at this year’s Farmfest 2023 by using augmented reality to highlight the soybean checkoff’s long-term value and how policy wins continue paying off for Minnesota farmers.
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With summer ending and the kids back in school, four Minnesota farmers talk about their experiences welcoming international students into their homes and onto the farm.
Farm Business Management celebrates 70 years in 2023. MSGA Secretary Rose Wendinger helps producers balance their checkbooks and navigate a turbulent farm economy.
Minnesota Soybean supports the next generation by sponsoring FFA and 4-H programs. This summer, two farmer-leaders visited with FFA and 4-H officers to highlight the career opportunities in agriculture.
Tom Frisch is stepping into the batter’s box to hit a home run for the soybean checkoff. The Dumont farmer has moved into the major leagues of the soybean industry since becoming an MSR&PC director in 2019. Last year, he was appointed to the United Soybean Board and in June 2023, the Council tabbed Frisch for the chair position. Touch ‘em all, Tom! Photo courtesy of USB.
Read on Page 22
Bob Worth
President
Lake Benton, MN
Lincoln County
Darin Johnson
Vice President
Wells, MN
Faribault County
Rose Wendinger Secretary
St. James, MN
Watonwan County
Ryan Mackenthun
Treasurer
Brownton, MN
McLeod County
ASA
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 (term ends in Dec.)
Tyler, MN
Lincoln County
Jeff Sorenson (term begins in Dec.)
Morgan, MN
Redwood County
ASA YOUNG LEADERS
Gary and Tina Schoenfeld
Waseca, MN
Waseca County
Paul Mesner and Mary
Dybedahl-Mesner (2021-22 Class)
Chandler, MN Murray County
Trevore Brekken
Crookston, MN Polk County
Mark Brown
St. James, MN
Watonwan County
Steve Brusven Cottonwood, MN Yellow Medicine County
Jason Cadieux Hallock, MN Kittson County
Brian Fruechte Verdi, MN Lincoln County
William Gordon Worthington, MN Nobles County
Tom Grundman Osakis, MN Douglas County
Corey Hanson Gary, MN Norman County
Matt Heers Owatonna, MN Steele County
Ray Hewitt Le Sueur, MN
Le Sueur-Scott Counties
Brad Hovel Cannon Falls, MN Goodhue County
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
Matt Purfeerst Faribault, MN Dakota-Rice Counties
Tim Rasmussen Rothsay, MN Otter Tail-Grant Counties
Justin Remus New Ulm, MN Brown County
Mike Skaug Beltrami, MN Polk County
Cal Spronk Edgerton, MN Pipestone County
Jamie Seitzer St Peter, MN Nicollet-Sibley Counties
Lawrence Sukalski Fairmont, MN Martin County
Jeremy Tischer Breckenridge, MN
Clay-Wilkin Counties
Doug Toreen Bird Island, MN Renville County
Earl Ziegler Good Thunder, MN Blue Earth County
In the July-August 2023 issue of Soybean Business, Minnesota Pork CEO Jill Resler’s name was misspelled. We apologize for the error.
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Tell the compelling stories behind Minnesota’s soybean farmers and their industry, from the field to Capitol Hill to international markets – and everywhere in between.
School buses making their appearance on our roads again after a long summer slumber are my first signal that harvest is right around the corner for our nearly 3,000 members. As we enter this hectic, stressful, busy season, I want to throw one more thing on your to-do list. Keep a close eye on how your farm and farming operation could work better. No, I’m not talking about that certain son-in-law, or the employee with the foot-long, KoolAid-dyed beard. Our hands are tied there. Instead, I’m talking regulations, rules, taxes and fees that pinch your profitability without an identifiable benefit.
In a MSGA resolution meeting two years ago, an idea was thrown out to amend the homestead tax credit as it pertains to township distances. That idea morphed and evolved. By working with Minnesota Pork and legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle, we helped transform the resolution into new legislation that increased the homestead base exemption to $3.5 million. This sets a new floor for the exemption and will save Minnesota’s family farmers dollars this next tax season and for years to come. This is a textbook example of advocacy in action –from the county level all the way to the Capitol in St. Paul.
We have a truly dynamic duo of lobbyists that represent us in St. Paul. Cory Bennett and A.J. Duerr work tirelessly on the priorities laid out by our board. Their work this past session – with about one-third of lawmakers who were new to the legislature – was key in securing the tax reduction wins. They have decades of experience in the halls of the Capitol and know how to get things done for farmers. What they don’t know – and where we need your help – is what needs to be worked on.
To be fair, yes, we have a rather large list of priorities to still work on through our current resolutions. However, there are new issues cropping up across the state on a
yearly basis. These issues are exactly what our annual resolutions process is there for. This winter, we will meet again to discuss new resolutions, cross off those that we accomplished and highlight the most pressing issues. This grassroots process is not valuable without robust participation. Our preresolution meeting is set for Dec. 11 in Mankato. We will have two representatives from every organized soybean county at that meeting. Then, on Jan. 17, we will meet at our annual meeting during MN AG EXPO to finalize our resolutions. Be on the lookout for more information as winter (yes, it’s coming) approaches.
Talk with your county board about submitting resolutions and make sure your area’s concerns are heard. Have a new local county issue? Let us know! Some new legislation is impacting your operation in an unintended way? We’re listening! Still mad about buffers? Yup, we hear you! Like I said, we still have some work to do.
Want to help us help you? Well, get on the bus and join MSGA! Visit mnsoybean.org/msga/invest/ to become a member today. We’ll work for you, your farm, family and future.
Sincerely,
Joe Smentek, Executive Director, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
Joel Schreurs has spent nine years representing Minnesota farmers on the American Soybean Association (ASA) board. After a few dozen stops in the nation’s capital, Schreurs decided to switch it up for his final Hill Visit as an ASA director.
For the first time in his advocacy career, Schreurs wore a tan suit to the Capitol.
“I thought, ‘This is my last one, I’m going to do something different,’” the Tyler farmer told his fellow directors prior to visiting Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers.
Upon his morning visit with Rep. Michelle Fischbach, Schreurs already received positive remarks on his light threads. On a hot day in Washington, D.C., he certainly felt more comfortable.
“You rock the tan suit,” Nick Lunneborg, Fischbach’s deputy chief of staff, told Schreurs.
And when you look good, you advocate good. Schreurs and the team of ASA and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) directors got down to business on the Hill. Passing a timely and effective Farm Bill was top of mind
throughout meetings with Minnesota’s congressional members, including fellow farmer Rep. Brad Finstad.
“The current Farm Bill is a good one, but we need to strengthen the safety net,” MSGA President Bob Worth told Rep. Fischbach, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. “Our biggest asks are improving the safety net and crop insurance. There’s a big gap right now.”
Fischbach told growers that Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, who chairs the House Ag Committee, is optimistic that a new Farm Bill can pass by September, if not the year’s end.
“I trust GT,” she said. “He wants to do it.”
ASA’s additional Farm Bill priorities include:
• Expanding trade programs by providing more funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program;
• Enabling greater
access to voluntary conservation programs to meet demand;
• Building biobased market opportunities to promote value added uses of soybeans;
• Investing in research for innovation and competitiveness; and
• Maintaining the farmer-financed soybean research and promotion checkoff.
“If we didn’t have the checkoff program, we wouldn’t have the biodiesel industry,” said ASA Director Chris Hill, a Jackson farmer who also sits on the Clean Fuels Alliance America board. “It’s such a good investment.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s legislative aides said the senator continues to press the EPA and Biden administration to prioritize biodiesel. MSGA and ASA recently expressed their disappointment with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for 2023, 2024 and 2025 set by the EPA.
“We need an RFS to better reflect the market and be something that encourages growth,” Worth said. While meeting with Rep. Ilhan Omar’s staff, farmers underscored how biodiesel helps clean the air and provides jobs in Rep. Omar’s district in Minneapolis.
“We’re finding all kinds of ways to reduce our use of petroleum
through soybean oil,” said MSGA Director Kyle Jore, who was recently elected to MSGA’s Governing Board.
Expanding agricultural exports via the Port of Duluth-Superior is a growing priority for MSGA. Directors explained to lawmakers, including Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents the Duluth area, how diversifying transportation routes is increasingly critical to bringing soybeans to international markets.
“If we can open up the Port of Duluth, we can start to get more grain to places in Europe and North Africa, so we’re not so reliant on China,” ASA Director Michael Petefish told Rep. Betty McCollum’s staff.
In the day’s final visit, growers were whisked to the Capitol building to visit with Sen. Tina Smith, a member of the Senate Ag Committee.
“We appreciate all the support we receive from Sen. Smith and her colleagues,” said MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek. “We know we’re lucky in Minnesota to have lawmakers on both sides of the aisles representing us in D.C. who understand how important agriculture is to our economy and reducing carbon.”
MSGA was accompanied by two special guests throughout the Hill Visits. ASA Director Jeff Harrison, who farms in Ottawa, Canada, joined his neighbors to the south for the day on the Hill. Le Sueur farmer Colby
Brandt, a member of ASA’s Ag Voices of the Program, tagged along for his first visit to Capitol Hill before beginning his first year at Iowa State University, where he’s planning to study agriculture and rural policy.
Walking Capitol Hill with an all-star roster of farmers – not to mention embarking on his first plane ride – made for a surreal week for the aspiring advocate.
“This was an unbelievable experience,” Brandt said. “To walk in the Capitol was just amazing.”
During the Soy Issues Forum, ASA briefed the board of directors from its 26 state affiliates on the legislative environment in D.C. in
advance of the Hill Visits and hosted a forum featuring four Agriculture Committee staffers.
Since the last Farm Bill was passed in 2018, more than 200 new members have been elected to Congress.
ASA’s staff also underscored how the soy checkoff benefits the industry. Sen. Cory
Booker, who sits on the Senate Ag Committee, and Sen. Mike Lee have co-introduced a bipartisan bill that would prevent commodity checkoff groups like the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) from partnering with MSGA. During each Capitol Hill visit, MSGA continued spreading the message that the soybean checkoff has broad support among farmers and doesn’t need reforming. During the last checkoff referendum, less than 1% of growers sought a repeal of the program.
“Growers know how the checkoff has benefitted their operation, from finding new markets to research,” Worth said.
Even though checkoff funds can’t be used for lobbying purposes, MSR&PC and MSGA have collaborated within the parameters of the Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act for decades, leading to improved farmer profitability. Today, for each dollar farmers invest into the checkoff, growers earn $12.34 in return value.
“Who loves the soybean checkoff?” asked Ariel Wiegard, ASA director of government affairs, to a chorus of roars.
Upon arriving in D.C., MSGA Treasurer Ryan Mackenthun – on his birthday no less –reached millions
of viewers when he spoke with RFDTV about MSGA’s participation in the Hill Visits. During his conversation on the national outlet, Mackenthun highlighted how Minnesota has promoted checkoff projects via the organized county program.
“The checkoff goes into research projects like biobased RePlay, Roof Maxx and Goodyear Tires,” he said. “Research is huge toward growing demand and finding new markets for our products.”
While on the Hill for the last time as an ASA director, Schreurs passed along some wisdom to his successor, Redwood County farmer Jeff Sorenson, who will fill Schreurs’ ASA spot starting in December.
“It’s impressive being here,” Schreurs said. “The access we get is incredible. Gradually, you get to see, (legislators) are just people, too.”
For the second year in a row, MSGA returned to Washington, D.C., in September for a state-led Hill Visit.
Bob Worth has visited with dozens of state and federal officials in his decades of farmer advocacy. He notched another advocacy milestone this summer by hosting his first U.S. senator on his Lake Benton farm when Sen. Amy Klobuchar paid a visit.
“Anytime you get the chance to have a leader like Sen. Klobuchar on your farm, it’s an honor,” Worth said. “She’s been a big supporter of agriculture during her years in Washington, D.C., and it’s a thrill to have her out here to show her how we farm and talk about some of our priorities and concerns.”
Worth, his son, Jon, and wife, Gail, gave the senator – who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee and is next in line to become chair – a tour of their farm shop. The Worths explained how rising equipment costs pose challenges to the incoming generation. The Worths have farmed the land since 1955, and this year marked Bob’s 53rd crop.
“That’s why we’re struggling to get new, young farmers into this occupation because it’s so expensive to buy new things,” Worth told the senator.
Worth was joined by fellow Lincoln County farmers and MSGA Directors Joel Schreurs and Brian Fruechte, along with Executive Director Joe Smentek. The Farm Bill, which expires Sept. 30, was a key discussion point throughout Sen. Klobuchar’s hour-long visit to Worth Farms. The senator and MSGA leaders exchanged ideas on how to improve the Farm Bill. Directors also thanked the senator for supporting increases to the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), which haven’t seen a boost in funding in 20 years.
“Our main goal is to keep what’s good about the Farm Bill and get it done and make it as strong as we possibly can,” Sen. Klobuchar said. “There’s interest in making some changes, but we want to make sure we get it passed.”
ASA is urging legislators to increase budget authority for the next Farm Bill, which is justified in this current environment marked by economic and geopolitical volatility.
“We do need new money into the Farm Bill,” Smentek said. “It’s chronically underfunded.”
The conversation shifted to biodiesel. Sen. Klobuchar has
been a longtime supporter of biodiesel, and her leadership contributed to $500 million in biofuels infrastructure being included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
“It’s very important to keep biofuels strong, and biofuels are good for the environment,” Sen. Klobuchar said. “Biofuels are a huge percentage of our fuel supply.”
To cap her visit, Klobuchar looked at the Worths’ soybean crop, which was mired in its third year of drought conditions before much-need rain arrived in August. The senator found the miracle bean a sight to behold.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “You got to love a soybean plant.”
As Sen. Klobuchar departed, Smentek joked that, if she were to consider another run for president down the line, she should consider returning to Worth’s farm for the announcement.
“It would be a good backdrop!” she said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the financial assistance application process for eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide this assistance. Since the law’s passage, USDA has worked to design the program in accordance with significant stakeholder input.
“The opening of the application process is an important step in delivering on our commitment of providing financial assistance to those who faced discrimination in USDA farm lending, as swiftly and efficiently as possible,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
The program website, 22007apply.gov, is now open. Applicants can download or submit via an e-filing portal, information on how to obtain technical assistance in-person or virtually, and additional resources and details about the program.
Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in its farm loan programs prior to Jan. 1, 2021, and/or are currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that was the subject of USDA discrimination that occurred prior to Jan. 1, 2021, are eligible for this program.
To apply, borrowers have the option to apply via the e-filing portal at 22007apply.gov or submit paperbased forms via mail or in-person delivery to the program’s local offices. The application process will be open from July 7 to Oct. 31, 2023. Under the planned timeline, applications will be reviewed in November and December, with payments reaching recipients soon thereafter. Importantly, applicants should know that the application process is not on a first come, first served, basis. All applications received or postmarked before the October 31st deadline will be considered.
To support producers throughout the application
process, USDA is ensuring that organizations with extensive experience conducting outreach to farm organizations can support individuals who may be eligible for the program. In August, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Joe Smentek, Vice President Darin Johnson and Treasurer Ryan Mackenthun visited with Monica Armster Rainge, USDA’s deputy assistant secretary for civil rights.
“We fully support the USDA’s efforts to address discrimination in farm lending and encourage any of our members to take the next steps if they feel they may qualify for assistance,” Smentek said.
In March 2023, USDA shared initial details on how the Section 22007 program will work, including that the Inflation Reduction Act specifies the Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for providing this assistance through qualified nongovernmental entities, under standards set by USDA. USDA entered into agreements with vendors and cooperators in May.
In starting up this program, USDA has become aware of some lawyers and groups spreading misleading information about the discrimination assistance process, pressuring people to sign retainer agreements, and asking people to fill out forms with private and sensitive information. The official application process has begun and filling out an application is free.
To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
A trade team featuring soybean industry leaders from three continents visited Jeremy Tischer’s farm east of Breckenridge in August to learn more about how Minnesota soybeans are grown and the ins and outs of a typical Red River Valley farming operation. The INTSOY trade team was a partnership between the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program and the Northern Crops Institute (NCI).
Tischer, a Minnesota Soybean Growers Association director and president of the Clay-Wilkin Soybean & Corn Growers, gave the INTSOY trade team a brief history of soybeans in the Red River Valley, discussed the unique soil and weather conditions they battle and went through a typical growing season on their thirdgeneration family farm. He also gave a farm tour and allowed them to get close and personal with the modern equipment used on the farm.
“(Soybean farmers) rely on foreign markets,” Tischer said, “and to have a group of end users like this on our farm to connect with and show that we can grow a good quality crop that they can use in their products is hugely beneficial.”
One of those end users and INTSOY trade members was Lyndon Paul, managing director & co-founder of Danish Care Foods (DCF) of Cambodia. DCF produces innovative, affordable and quality nutritional products to fight against malnutrition.
“Soybeans are one of the main ingredients in the products that we make,” Paul said. “Working with ASA and WISHH, we’ve learned a lot more about the nutritional value of soy and specifically the food-grade
soybeans grown in the US.”
Paul set out to learn how to purchase soybeans directly from U.S. farmers and how American soybean processing differs Cambodia’s. One takeaway from his experience on this trade trip was how knowledgeable and efficient the growers are when it comes to producing quality soybeans.
“The farmers here in the U.S. have access to great technology to increase yield and efficiency, and also care about the end user and want to put out a good product the supports them and their needs,” Paul said.
In addition to visiting the Tischer Farm, the INTSOY trade team spent two days at NCI in Fargo. The team participated in hands-on processing of soy foods and feeds and learned more about the current and future status of the global foods industry and the U.S. soy industry. Kim Nill, director of market development for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, (MSRPC) provided insight into the production and marketing aspect of soybeans.
“They’ll get a better handle on risk management, how to purchase soybeans and some of the logistical hurdles they may encounter during the transportation and shipping stages as well,” Nill said.
Following the Fargo portion, the WISHH group made its way to Brookings, S.D., where they visited a soy processing facility and learned how soybeans are used for feed in both livestock and aquaculture practices.
Countries represented in this year’s INTSOY program – co-sponsored by MSR&PC – included Cambodia, Myanmar, Dominican Republic, France, Nigeria, Ghana and Kazakhstan.
Minnesota Soybean took Farmfest into the next dimension.
By using augmented reality, the Council and MSGA gave attendees a glimpse into the future by showing how both organizations make investments in the future to benefit farmers for generations. The thousands of farmers and industry leaders who visited booth 620 saw that where Minnesota Soybean is going, we don’t need rows.
Thanks to everyone who scanned and played!
MSGA recruits today’s and tomorrow’s farmers to become members at the 2023 Farmfest.
The Council uses augmented reality featuring two future farmers to highlight the checkoff’s long-term impact.
At Farmfest 2023, Minnesota’s farming community learned how soybean oil and meal demand impacts not just today’s producers, but future farmers like Sandy and Paul.
With a close eye on current market trends, the checkoff funds projects that best support soybean farmers in today’s evolving marketplace. By using new technologies, the checkoff transforms familiar products into new opportunities, improving and employing advanced techniques to create new, value-added uses for soy.
Scan the QR code to learn more about these value-added investments.
As demand increases for soybean oil for biodiesel, it has become imperative to find new avenues to use soybean meal. Taking market factors into consideration, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council funded 21 soy product innovation projects in two topic areas: soybean oil and soybean meal.
Scan the QR code to meet Paul and Sandy and see how these checkoff investments help improve farmer profitability for years to come.
How it works:
• Scan the QR code
• Allow camera access
• Turn on the sound and push play
• Meet a future soybean farmer!
Whether it’s improving soybean meal to outperform the competition or promoting the sustainability of U.S. soy, the soy checkoff has been working behind the scenes to help farmers satisfy their customers’ needs. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And for U.S. soybean farmers like you, the impact is invaluable.
See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for farmers at unitedsoybean.org
You’re where the rubber meets the road. And the engine. And the interior.
All soybean farmers, including you, are busy replacing petroleum with your soy oil. How? By pooling your resources through your soy checkoff. Learn how your soy checkoff is bringing tangible returns back to you and your operation at unitedsoybean.org/hopper
When teenagers who grew up in other countries imagine living in the United States, they most likely picture an urban area like New York City or perhaps a California beach town. They probably don’t consider rural Minnesota.
But international exchange students who spend their time in small town Minnesota are privy to a unique experience, especially when it involves the farm.
“I tell my students that their exchange year is going to be what they make of it,” said Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) Director Patrick O’Leary. “I don’t want them to worry about living in a small town. It’s a learning experience and what they choose to take home from it is what it will be. If they want it to be great, it’ll be great.”
O’Leary, who farms near Benson, has hosted 23 international exchange students across nearly two decades, even hosting two students at once a handful of times.
“It all started with me asking a simple question, with no real intent behind it,” O’Leary said. “My parents hosted a couple of students through 4-H on a short-term basis and then they hosted a student for a full year. I happened to ask someone who worked with the exchange program if single people could host, just out of curiosity, and about three weeks later I got a phone call from her saying she
had the perfect student for me.”
For Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) Vice President Darin Johnson, hosting exchange students gave him an even deeper appreciation for “normal” sights that may not be so ordinary to others.
“I’ll never forget when we brought her home from the airport,” said Johnson, who’s raised three children with his wife, Rachel. “By the time we got home, it was dark out and as we started driving through the rural areas, the first thing she said to us was, ‘I’ve never seen stars before.’ It blew my mind. We take so many things for granted.”
The Johnson family has hosted two international exchange students. The first hailed from Hong Kong and the second was Lebanese. Their first student, Wynn, fully embraced life on the farm.
“She wanted to try everything,” Johnson said. “She was never afraid to lend a hand. My son likes to square bale ditches, so she got to hop on the bale rack and help stack bales. At one point we stopped and she’s like, ‘You teach me to drive tractor.’”
Even for students who have been exposed to agriculture in their home
Council Director Patrick O’Leary (right) hosts international students while managing his farming operation in Swift County and often stays in touch with past students by visiting their home soil.
countries, Minnesota farms are an entirely different ball game. Sam Ziegler, farmer and GreenSeam director, and his family hosted Arnau, an international exchange student from Catalonia who grew up around his uncle’s orchard farm.
“They don’t even have a perception of Minnesota agriculture because they’re so far removed from it,” said Ziegler, whose father, Earl, is a longtime MSGA director. “Their farms are just so vastly different. So, I think it was a complete shock for him.”
Minnesota’s wide-open spaces were another factor that caught Arnau off guard.
“The space and the scope and the size was very foreign to him,” Ziegler said. “In Catalonia, he walked to school, to his friends’ houses, everywhere. So, when he got to the farm, where we are miles from town, it was a big change for him.”
Despite the unfamiliarity, Arnau was quickly enraptured by the farm.
“He jumped right in with the family, learning how to drive different machinery,” Ziegler said. “He’s actually studying mechanical engineering, so he absolutely loved all of the equipment around the farm.”
Like O’Leary, the start of Neal and Joni Anderson’s hosting experience started somewhat unexpectedly.
“Our son played soccer with an exchange student, so we knew him pretty well,” said Neal Anderson, who farms near Norseland in Nicollet County. “The school guidance counselor called us and asked if he could spend time with us over the winter break and eventually that segued into him moving in with us.”
After hosting three students, the Anderson family noticed that the quiet of the farm roared loudly in their students’ ears.
“They were a little bit afraid because it was so quiet on the farm,” Joni Anderson said. “They weren’t used to that. They were used to the noise of the big city, like cars going by on the street and honking horns – there’s so much action going on. On the farm, all you can hear are the crickets.”
Bidding farewell to students who’ve grown close to their hosts can prove difficult for some families.
“The hardest thing about hosting is that I have to say goodbye to these kids,” O’Leary said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of year I’ve had, saying goodbye to these kids is unbelievably difficult for me. It has to do with the fact that I don’t know when I’m going to see them again.”
But for some host families, goodbye isn’t forever.
“I’ve visited about three-fourths of the students I’ve hosted,” O’Leary said. “Every time that I go and do that, the appreciation that their family shows for me and what I’ve done for their sons is incredible. The relationships that I’ve built with some of these students –some of which have spanned 18 years – is why I keep hosting.”
In summer 2023, the Ziegler family spent nearly two weeks in Catalonia visiting Arnau and his family – even spending time at his uncle’s orchard.
“His parents took the entire 12 days off from work so that they could be with us,” Ziegler said. “We got up bright and early every morning and weren’t eating supper until about midnight. We fit as much into the trip as we could. We were so grateful for the experience and the friendships we got to build.”
Minnesota and the Johnson family made quite the impact on Wynn, who has come back to visit Wells five times since her time as an exchange student.
“She usually visits us every other summer,” Johnson said. “It’s funny because her favorite food she discovered here was shake and bake chicken, so that’s the one thing that whenever she comes back, we have to have.”
Though international exchange students may not expect to get placed in rural Minnesota, it’s clear that the impact that those small communities and farm families have last a lifetime.
Upon entering the town of Dumont, Minn., (population: 75) a welcome sign greets visitors: “Boyhood Home of Dick Bremer, TV Voice of the MN Twins.”
All due respect to Bremer, but perhaps the sign should be amended: “Lifelong Home of Tom Frisch, Chair of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.” In Dumont, both farming and baseball have been a way of life for generations.
“It was a small town, and that’s what everybody did – played baseball,” Frisch said. “A lot of farm kids played.”
While Bremer broadcasts for the hometown baseball club, Frisch has become a leading voice for Minnesota soybean growers and plays an important position on Team Soybean. But soybean leadership, like the national pastime, requires input from all the key players in the lineup.
“Every one of our directors has great ideas,” said Frisch, who
replaced Joe Serbus as chair. “They’re all experts in their fields and I think it’s important for a chair to provide an atmosphere of open and honest dialogue where directors can disagree in a respectful manner – all with the end goal of best directing the checkoff.”
Farming, of course, is another Frisch family pastime: Tom currently grows soybeans, corn and alfalfa on the fourth-generation family farm alongside his cousins Dean, Greg and Paul. Prior to joining the Council in 2019, Frisch served on his local golf course board. For the past 20 years, he has been an active member on the Dumont Volunteer Fire Department, previously serving as chief. He’s also the current township board chairperson.
“My grandfather prided himself in serving the community that had provided so much for him,” Frisch said. “I try to follow the same philosophy.”
Tom and his farm aren’t just part of the community in spirit; they are literal centerpieces. Frisch’s office,
along with his cousin Paul’s insurance agency, are located on Main Street. His farm shop is located just behind it, and his bin site is across the street. Oh, and their fields and other farm sites surround the town.
Along with a commitment to community, Frisch is an all-star player for soybeans.
He helps direct national checkoff investments on the United Soybean Board (USB) and serves as treasurer of the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) board, along with the myriad duties that come with leading MSR&PC.
With USB, Frisch teams up with members from across the country to create profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers. “It’s a lot like serving on MSR&PC, only a hundred times bigger,” said Frisch, who was appointed to USB in 2022. “It’s interesting to see some different perspectives with farmers from different regions, but in the end we all want the same thing and that’s to add more value to soybeans.”
Frisch first became involved with the Council in 2014, when he participated in MSR&PC’s See For Yourself mission to Japan and the Philippines.
“Being a part of the mission opened my eyes to what our soybeans are used for overseas and how our checkoff board can make a difference,” he said. “It showed me the big picture – how our checkoff dollar investments can help the local farmer.”
Before becoming MSR&PC chair, Frisch has been involved in two of the Council’s recent investments: TruSoya high oleic varieties and the AIC.
“Last year we grew a TruSoya soybean variety on our farm, and those beans will be the first specialty soybeans to be crushed at the new Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston,” Frisch said. “Both those projects are very exciting investments for the checkoff and it’s neat to see them tied together.”
The meal from those beans will be used to study the benefits of high oleic meal for aquaculture.
Frisch operates a small crop consulting business and has directed his energy toward research following his election to the Council. He focused on studying new lines of soybeans with disease resistance and ways farmers can grow more productive soybeans.
As chair, Frisch is also focused on the promotion of soybeans.
“I’m excited to change gears a little bit and see what we can do to bring Minnesota soybeans to new markets and increase demand,” Frisch said. “We have a trip to the Port of Halifax coming up to see if we can get more of our soybeans shipped out of Duluth through the St. Lawrence
Seaway and over to countries like Uzbekistan, where we recently had a trade team visit as well.”
As Council chair, Frisch will lean on his managerial approach and expertise to help guide the organization, but said his director peers help Minnesota soybeans take home the pennant.
“There are 14 other directors who serve on the Council, and they have all been tremendous to work with,” he said. “They’re all very knowledgeable and they all want what’s best for Minnesota soybeans.”
Vice Chair Gail Donkers joined the Council in 2019 alongside Frisch
Tom and his wife, Dr. Jane Vangsness Frisch, live about two miles north of the original Felix Frisch and Sons homestead. Off the farm, the Frischs enjoy the good life with their dog, Josie Jo, and relax by traveling, hunting, fishing and golfing. The Frischs, who married in 2010, met during a golf outing when Tom was paired with Jane’s father, uncle and brother.
“My wife is way better than me at golf,” Tom said of Jane, who owns a small consulting firm focused on nonprofits and higher education, while also serving as an affiliate graduate faculty member at North Dakota State University.
and has watched him hone his leadership skills.
“Tom has been a great asset to the MSR&PC, especially with his work on the Ag Innovation Campus,” she said. “I really value his input and I’m eager to work alongside him in his new role.”
Being chair also means a lot more time away from the family farm, but Frisch is lucky to have an understanding family standing behind him.
“It’s a lot of time and investment to serve as chair, and I couldn’t without the support of my family to help out on the farm,” he said. “There’s a lot more travel, meetings and functions, but the guys on the farm understand what I do is important for them and the big picture when it comes to soybeans.”
After four years on the Council and serving on numerous checkoff boards, including the North Central Soybean Research Program, Frisch understands that not every checkoff program is a grand slam. Some projects hit the gap; others, bunt singles. But, with a mix of patience and awareness, the runs pile up.
“I think the Council and the checkoff are in a great place right now,” he said. “We’re winning for our farmers.”
FOR WE LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.
II CORINTHIANS 5 : 7
By being recognized as Minnesota’s Outstanding Conservationist by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), Janski Farms are proactive in their role as stewards of the land.
Dan Janski, a fourth-generation grower, thought his passion was dairy until he discovered regenerative agriculture, leading to his enrollment in the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).
“Our farm started experimenting with cover crops in 2016 or 2017, which really opened up a different world for me,” said Janski, who farms alongside four generations of his family, including his parents and brother. “It was kind of exciting. It was something new that we weren’t familiar with, and it was fun to learn about. Now, it’s become my passion.”
A voluntary opportunity, MAWQCP allows growers around the state to take initiative in protecting Minnesota’s waters by implementing conservation practices such as reduced tillage and cover crops.
Janski Farms tapped into MAWQCP as a resource when the operation wanted to take the leap in experimenting with its production practices. By taking advantage of technical and financial assistance available through the program, Janski viewed MAWQCP as a safety net.
“One of the main reasons we went through the MAWQCP was because we were very nervous about experimenting with multi-species cover crops,” Janski said. “Because it’s very expensive and how do you know you’re getting that return on investment when you spend all that money on the seed?”
The other deciding factor was that Janski Farms had already implemented many of the production practices to qualify for enrollment.
“We were already drastically reducing our tillage,” Janski said. “So, it made sense for us to complete the program.”
Janski Farms, which grows cereal rye, alfalfa, corn, oats, soybeans and canning peas – along with having a one hundred cow dairy – had a few lingering reservations about completing the program. Fortunately, by working with Janski’s local SWCD, those doubts were quelled.
“Everyone on our operation was afraid to switch our entire operation to no tillage,” Janski said. “MAWQCP gave us the peace of mind that we are doing better for the watershed, wildlife and nature as a whole.”
Janski also gives credit to his USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Without their help, navigating the process would have had a lot more bumps along the way.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without their partnership,” he said. “It’s been a great relationship.”
Though financial assistance was a motivator that helped them take the initial leap, Janski would do it all again even if it wasn’t available.
“There’s so much of a benefit to doing those things that’s sometimes it’s hard to measure,” he said.
Farmers can contact their local SWCD to apply for MAWQCP certification and then complete a series of steps with local certifiers using a 100% site-specific risk-assessment process. By law, all data is kept private, and only by signing a formal release can a farmer’s name be released publicly. After becoming certified, farmers receive a 10-year contract ensuring they will be considered in compliance with any new water quality laws, an official MAWQCP sign to display on their farm and other benefits developed by local MAWQCP providers.
Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified contact their local SWCD or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com
‘It made sense’: Minnesota farmer promotes his passion for conservation
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program rewards farmers like you for what you do best, taking care of your land and its natural resources.
To get started and learn more, contact your local soil and water conservation district or go to:
MyLandMyLegacy.com
Farming isn’t as simple as getting in the tractor in the morning and parking it in the evening – though some growers probably wish it was.
Today, farmers need to be skilled mechanics, savvy businesspeople and plant scientists. Not to mention software engineers with the amount of technology used in modern machinery and equipment.
It can be overwhelming, which is
The Farm Business Management program (FBM) is a key resource for farmers to make the best decisions for their operations.
“We help farmers understand the business,” said FBM instructor Betsy Jensen, who raises soybeans in Stephen and offers her management advice in a regular column in Prairie Grains Magazine. “Farmers love to produce but the business side is maybe not why they got into farming.
AgCentric Executive Director Keith Olander, “but then it really grew out of the Vietnam and Korean War. It was a way to help them get trained postwar to enter into farming as a career. We’ve moved way beyond veterans, working with thousands of farms and we’ve expanded our programming.”
St. James farmer Rose Wendinger, an FBM instructor with South Central College since 2020, saw the program’s impact as a young girl, inspiring her to pursue her own FBM career.
“I grew up on a small dairy farm in Sibley County and watched my dad struggle through the 1980s and ‘90s,” said Wendinger, who also serves as Minnesota Soybean Growers Association secretary. “He started looking for resources outside of his lender that was going to be on his side of the table and found FBM. When our FBM instructor would come in, he gave my dad resources and ideas that would really lift up his spirits and help him continue on with the operation. It gave him a new outlook and an outlet to voice his concerns, along with resources and support. So, from a young age I always knew that I wanted to be that person for farm families.”
That experience drove Wendinger’s career. After graduating with an agribusiness and finance degree, she worked in ag lending for 10 years, gaining critical background experience to prepare her for FBM. Now, Wendinger works with more than 40 families, guiding them through the business aspect of their operations.
“Each farm that I work with is different,” Wendinger said. “It drives
my passion to see how every farm family is doing so many things differently and finding unique ways to be successful. Offering them resources that work with their operation and their production style is incredibly gratifying.”
success possible, the first being centralized leadership. FBM’s common database and professional coordination has ensured its survival across several decades. Secondly, FBM focuses on farm economics, which has kept them relevant no matter the status of other factors.
“The economics are there no matter if it’s good times or bad times,” Olander said.
“During the good times, you’re managing taxes and acquisition expansions while in tough times you’re trying to manage how to survive.”
Finally, FBM isn’t a “cookie cutter” program – it’s individualized.
“Instructors are at your kitchen table every six to eight weeks and develop a trusting relationship,” Olander said. “And the faculty arrive with nothing to sell. Their objective is to help that farmer achieve their goals, both professionally and business-wise.”
With the farming landscape drastically different compared to 1953, FBM has remained a dynamic program and constant ally for growers across Minnesota.
“Through all these decades, the financial cycle that we’ve been through as a country and that agriculture has been through hasn’t been stagnant,” Olander said. “Think about the high interest rate of the ‘80s. And then think about the drought along the way. FBM has supported farmers and built their resiliency through it all.”
To remain successful for so many years, Olander identified three key aspects of FBM that made its
Today, FBM has grown to more than 60 instructors with seven participating colleges, but their vision remains the same: to “provide educational opportunities for students to be successful in a competitive agricultural environment.” When Minnesota growers need an ally to help them with economic decisions, FBM will be at their kitchen table ready to support their goals.
“A farm is a business, and the business is dynamic and always changing,” Olander said. “The markets change, the weather changes, the needs of the family change. Life happens. If that business remains stagnant, they might not survive. That’s what FBM is here for – to guide them through.”
By Cassidy Strommen
Several years in the making, the renovation to the Farmamerica visitor center has reached completion. The 10,000-square foot building was in dire need of an update since no renovations had taken place since it was built in 1999. Twenty years later, the Farmamerica team started fundraising efforts to build what is now a fun and engaging agriculture education space.
In 2021, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) joined several commodity groups in donating funds toward helping Farmamerica reach its renovation goals. Soybean checkoff resources were used to build the Ag Around You Discovery Center, educational pods, a soybean pamphlet board and a toddler play station.
“Prior to any of this looking this beautiful, it was just concrete floors and green walls, a couple of conference rooms and a gift shop,” said Jessica Rollins, Farmamerica executive director. “Visitors walked into what felt like an empty hallway and weren’t even sure if they were in the right space.”
The goal was to be done in fall 2022. However, the COVID-19 pandemic set the project back.
Since the renovation, Rollins has enjoyed seeing students learn from the new exhibits, especially in the Discovery Center. Inside, visitors will find kitchen cabinets filled with soy-based foods, a door that opens to an infographic about biodiesel and road sealant, along with a desk filled with soy-based school supplies, among a variety of other agricultural products. A donation from the Waseca County Corn & Soybean Growers Association provided newspapers printed with soy ink for students to view.
“Any product in the Ag Around You Discovery Center that has the soybean sticker on it is made from a soybean and is here because Minnesota soybean farmers made it possible,” Rollins said.
The renovated areas allow visitors to have an engaging learning experience with real soy byproducts. With the addition of educational spaces, visitors can explore agriculture firsthand by participating in scavenger hunts and guided tours.
“They go through the scavenger hunt process to find products that come from soybeans, and afterwards we have a conversation about it based on their age and what level they can understand,” Rollins said. “I think they’re surprised by it. It’s good that they can make the connection that agriculture is in their house.”
These activities among others especially help the younger urban crowds understand that nothing comes straight from the grocery store; it must come from a farm first.
“We want to teach consumers that we’re not just growing soybeans because we love little bushy crops in the fields. Farmers grow them because there’s a multitude of products that come from them,” said Rollins. “That’s the story that we can tell consumers and students when they come to this space, and that will give them an appreciation and respect for Minnesota soybean farmers.”
Farmamerica brings in a variety of visitors from around a 70-mile radius every year. Before the renovation, the 360-acre facility was just a mile-long lane trail featuring the history of agriculture. With the new addition, they hope to better highlight modernday agriculture practices and products. The site improvements are expected to double the number of visitors to more than 15,000 each year.
Wise investments
MSR&PC is dedicated to providing educational outreach to improve public awareness and debunk myths about soybean production. Its investment in the renovation at Farmamerica helps to fulfill that goal.
“The Council believes in teaching students about the importance of agriculture in Minnesota in fun and interactive ways,” MSR&PC Vice Chair Gail Donkers said. “We’re very supportive of the mission of Farmamerica.” Rollins, who was raised on a farm, recognizes that checkoff investments aren’t frivolous and need to be directed prudently.
“I know what it’s like to have that (checkoff) money
removed from your income,” she said. “I really want to invest those dollars wisely and make sure that their donation is used to tell the story of Minnesota farmers.”
The checkoff resources toward finishing the interactive children’s area are not only impactful in educating future generations, but also in allowing the team to focus on continuing research on their discovery farm plots, where they are currently monitoring water movement through tile drainage in the soil.
“I’d like to see farmers come to more events at the visitor center,” Rollins said. “When we have that data from the Discovery Farm site, they can come to see how their money is invested in the consumer education piece as well as the research, which can directly help them in their fields.”
As agriculture evolves, the educational center will also need to advance with technology. Fortunately, the opportunity to expand the experience is already built into the area.
“We left spaces in the signage where we can add QR code stickers,” said Rollins. “The goal is to link those to videos of things like drones and aeroponics. We want to be able to give folks that opportunity to not just read it on the wall but see it in action.”
More agricultural products will be added to the Discovery Center. Rollins is looking to potentially add soy-based tires and a pair of soy-based shoes – both supported by the soybean checkoff – to the collection.
Minnesota soybean growers are creating opportunities beyond the St. Lawrence Seaway.
In August, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) directors visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, as part of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance’s (SSGA) See for Yourself Port of Halifax tour. Connected to more than 150 countries, the Port of Halifax boasts the potential to export Minnesota-grown soybeans to European countries through the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, diversifying market access and increasing farmers’ bottom lines.
“The See for Yourself program gave us a firsthand look at the shipping opportunities available to the Eastern United States and Canada,” said MSR&PC Vice Chair Gail Donkers, who joined United Soybean Board
Director Lawrence Sukalski and seven other Council board members on the tour. “Over the next 10-50 years, the Council is looking to expand markets out of Duluth and the Port of Halifax to provide more opportunities for Minnesota soybean farmers.”
Generating dialogue was the focus while in Halifax. Those conversations were kickstarted at the PIER – a center for port innovation, planning and strategy – where attendees heard from key players in the shipping and transportation industry. As a membersupported company, the PIER is a living lab for maritime transportation and logistics, dedicated to solving persistent sector challenges.
“We want to drive innovation for our supply chain and create efficiencies,” PIER Director David Thomas said. “These problems are larger than just one partner. We have to be able to work with our rail line, with our terminal
operators, with our carriers.”
Along with Thomas, SSGA
Executive Director Eric Wenberg; MSR&PC Director of Market Development Kim Nill; Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
Executive Director Joe Smentek; Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway International Trade Officer Jazmine Jurkiewicz; Atlantic Grains Council Vice President Neil Campbell and Hapag-Lloyd Senior Manager of Port Operations Xavier Hamonic spoke with the group.
“SSGA is focused on the logistics and the business behind this trade,” Wenberg said. “As a learning and listening organization, we’re going to have conversations and figure out what to do next. Shipping and transportation is the backbone of what we do.”
In marketing year 2021/2022, the United States exported more than 2
billion bushels of soybeans, yet only about two percent left the country via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Why? Smentek posed another question.
“Why not Duluth?” said Smentek, who’s toured Europe, North Africa and Asia in efforts to knock down trade barriers on behalf of Minnesota Soybean. “We’ve had really great conversations with feed mills in Morocco. They want soy from Minnesota because they know the quality of the product that we have. There is a lot of opportunity for bulk shipments, especially port to port.”
If removing trade barriers was easy, everyone would be doing it. That’s why the Council and MSGA are engaging in what Smentek calls “sweat equity” projects.
“There are still barriers,” Smentek said. “The biggest one right now is economics. It is cheaper out of Houston and Norfolk (Virgina). Highway H20 is working on a study
to say, ‘Here is the cost that goes into the St. Lawrence Seaway and here’s the cost that goes into Houston.’”
Furthermore, exporting out of Houston is cheaper because the state of Texas pays most of the costs associated with shipping and transportation.
“The question is, what fees can we tap into?” Smentek said. “If there is a pilot fee on a dock, can the state of Minnesota pay for the pilot to come into Duluth? Can we start doing those things? But those questions haven’t even been asked yet. So that’s really what this effort is about.”
Luckily, Minnesota soybean farmers don’t shy away from addressing challenges.
“It’s nice to have farmers – the experts – in the room to ask those questions,” Smentek said.
As a Halifax See for Yourself sponsor, MSR&PC continues wisely investing checkoff dollars in ventures that illustrate and emphasize the importance of increasing demand
for Minnesota soybeans.
“In the meantime, it’s a good exercise for the checkoff to make sure that there is a plan,” Smentek said. “And if you do have people that want U.S. soy like they do in Morocco, that they have a cheap, easy way to get it there and to get it there from Minnesota and Wisconsin.”
While there is still work to be done before the Port of Halifax becomes a hub for Upper Midwestgrown soybeans, Minnesota soybean checkoff investments are doing their part to make the stars align.
“We got to meet some partners over there who are willing and able and excited to work with us,” Council Chair Tom Frisch said. “It’s going to take some more time and work, but the facilities are definitely capable, whether we go there by boat or rail, both loading or unloading. There are some just pieces we have to put together before that can happen.”
Throughout the year, students gather across Minnesota to compete in contests hosted by ag-based youth organizations like 4-H and FFA to showcase their skills and talents. These programs strive to create environments where students can become well-rounded and knowledgeable about the many different sectors within the agriculture industry.
“There are so many careers out there for students in agriculture and FFA is a perfect place to train our students,” said Joe Serbus, a director with the Minnesota Soybean
member.
FFA and 4-H’s diversified agricultural programing encourages students to participate in hands-on learning opportunities. Events like crop scouting and agronomy contests allow students to assess crops to prepare them for a future career in the agriculture industry.
It’s no wonder why MSR&PC chose to invest checkoff dollars into such influential programs to help educate students about crops — and more specifically, soybeans.
“We are happy to invest into the 4-H and FFA programs,” MSR&PC Chair Tom Frisch said. “It is so important that we educate students who will one day become the next generation of farmers in Minnesota.”
Sponsorship of the Minnesota 4-H and FFA crop contests helps MSR&PC fulfill its mission of educating farmers and non-farmers about soybean production.
Student programs like 4-H and FFA benefit from third party funding, especially on the state level.
Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and a FFA Foundation boardInvolvement from MSR&PC means that more opportunities will arise for students to learn about soybeans.
“Having a statewide sponsor like MSR&PC helps us put on statewide competitions and tours,” said University of Minnesota Extension Educator Anja Johnson. “It’s so important for us to offer youth an opportunity to travel outside of their county and meet kids and have other experiences.”
The University of Minnesota Extension hosted a combined 4-H and FFA forage crop scouting event. Competitors went head-to-head, showing off their knowledge from topics such as plant diagnostics to growth staging.
The contest was created in hopes of showing students a potential career path they could take in the future. During the event, students learn how to diagnose problems such as insects, weeds and diseases, identify cover crops, look at pesticide labels and stage soybeans and corn. All these skills are required by crop scouts and agronomists.
“We hope that it could be a career opening,” Johnson said. “Their experience working with a mentor or agronomist might make them say, ‘Hey, this would be a cool career in the future’.”
Thirteen counties brought 60 kids to the event, almost tripling their attendance from last year. Johnson and Brian McNeill, University of
Minnesota Extension educator, said that MSR&PC plays a significant part in helping the program grow.
“I think it just goes to show how the more support that we have from organizations, the better we are able to provide students with these opportunities,” said McNeill. “It’s been great to have the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council as supporters of our program.”
Part of MSR&PC’s sponsorship went toward purchasing plots for the crop scouting event so that soybean plants could be utilized throughout the duration of the contest.
In addition to the crop scouting event, virtual programs were set up to prepare students for terminology they’ll encounter during the event. Programs included a virtual plant science project bowl, ag in the classroom and science sprouts for middle aged students. Twenty-two 4-H ag ambassadors help to facilitate these programs all across the state.
“All of these programs relate to plant science,” Johnson said. “We just have a lot of different opportunities for kids who want to participate.”
The Council also sponsored the plant science competitions for the Minnesota FFA organization.
“Minnesota FFA is so thankful for MSR&PC’s investment into our programs,” said Miriana Eiden, 20232024 Minnesota state FFA reporter. “These funds will help us facilitate a
multitude of soybean related contests.”
Eiden and the rest of her team of state officers visited the Minnesota Soybean headquarters in summer 2023 for a Soybeans 101 learning course. The goal of the visit was for the officers to learn more about Minnesota-raised soybeans and how MSR&PC and MSGA work together to improve farmer profitability.
The state officers introduced themselves and talked to soybean staff about the Minnesota FFA Association. Immediately following, state FFA officers listened to the Soybean 101 presentation where they learned about MSGA, MSR&PC, soybean-related careers and the similarities between FFA and the two commodity organizations.
During the event at Minnesota Soybean’s headquarters, Serbus and MSGA Vice President Darin Johnson interacted with the state officers and explained how the two organizations support youth in agriculture.
“I love seeing you guys here today, because you are the next generation of leaders that can fill these spots in MSGA,” said Johnson, who’s been on his county board for over 20 years.
During the conclusion of the event, officers were presented with a pair of soy-based Skechers shoes, courtesy of the soybean checkoff.
“We look forward to working with MSR&PC in the future,” Eiden said.
“I prefer U.S. Soy because I learned about its quality through WISHH,” says Mathew Bonso who founded Harimat farms in 2018 in the West African country of Ghana. Bonso soon began working with WISHH through its U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress Project. He credits WISHH’s feed quality training, egg nutrition campaign and more as key to the management and profitability of his 50,000-bird flock. Today, WISHH continues to work with Bonso as he expands into broiler production.
Over the summer, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) hosted its fifth annual Agronomy Field Day in Marshall. An audience of farmers, students, researchers and locals gathered under a tent to listen to speakers, then later went on a tour of the SMSU research plots.
David Kee, director of research with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), spoke about the importance of the Council’s investment into the program.
“MSR&PC started this partnership with SMSU in 2018,” Kee said. “We can see that, long term, these research projects would enhance the soybean profitability for growers.”
The Council’s initial checkoff investment in SMSU in 2018 developed a certified crop advisor training program to train the next generation of ag professionals. Since then, collaboration between SMSU, MSR&PC and several other commodity programs has evolved into multiple education projects. The fields are designed to help local farmers and students calibrate their eyes to recognize certain damages when evaluating a field.
“It provides another field to look at,” said SMSU Agronomy Assistant Professor Adam Alford, who is working on a pair of checkoff-supported projects in fiscal year 2023. “Some students have only seen what works for their parents. We try to help them identify what routes are more problematic.”
During the summer, SMSU agronomy interns worked on the 50-acre research plot to gain a better understanding of agriculture practices while also conducting research projects. One of those interns enjoyed her first farming experience with soybeans.
Victoria Imafidor, a transfer student from Nigeria, spoke at the field day about her experience interning for SMSU’s agronomy department. Imafidor, who just learned how to drive a tractor before the planting season, learned about agriculture in a more hands-on approach.
“When you’re taking notes or studying in class, there are some things that we learned in theory, but it is much
different when you put it into practical use.” Imafidor said. “There is nothing in this field that I won’t remember how to do, because I spent four hours under the sun learning how to do it.”
One of the biggest lessons Imafidor learned during her internship was how to adjust her farming plan when it’s time to spray. Calculating for variables such as wind, waterways and neighbors’ fields was not something that was taught in the classroom. Gradually, she gained experience tending to the field.
“It’s a bit complex when mixing the herbicides because we are watching the weather and trying to make sure that the herbicide doesn’t blow into the waterway or onto another plant,” Imafidor said. “You just come out to the field and realize, ‘Oh, I have to be careful about this.’
Under the guidance of Alford, Imafidor is studying planting density in soybeans and its effects on leaf growth and plant weight, a project funded by the soybean checkoff. Imafidor has one year left at SMSU and plans to graduate in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy. However, she has enjoyed her Mustangs experience and is considering attending graduate school.
“Getting my undergrad done here is something I’ve always wanted,” Imafidor said. “It’s been amazing.”
NSM is comprised of the soybean checkoff organizations from Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The board invests soybean checkoff funds to conduct research on soybean quality in U.S. soybeans and soybean meal destined for export, especially those from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) ports. NSM funds educational outreach sessions for international soybean buyers to consider critical amino acid value as a complete assessment of soybean feed
quality rather than only crude protein levels.
Investing in market research to understand potential customers is critical for NSM and their mission. Because Southeast Asia is an ideal target for U.S. soy leaving through the PNW, NSM hired Spire Research and Consulting to survey key players in three SE Asia countries to gain more understanding on their U.S. soy import habits. Take a look at their findings.
01 02
Evaluate the knowledge and usage of the critical amino acid value (CAAV) metric
Understand how buyers make decisions regarding essential amino acids (EAA) versus crude protein
Critical Amino Acid Value (CAAV) is a protein quality metric measuring the five critical amino acids as a percent of crude protein.
% Lysine + % Threonine + % Tryptophan + (% Methionine + % Cysteine) divided by
Importers, feed processing companies, farmers and experts from:
Thailand Indonesia Vietnam
>80% of surveyed experts and nutritionists agree that essential amino acids are a better indicator of quality than crude protein.
The prevailing perception among buyers is that a higher level of crude protein means highly nutritious feed and higher amino acids.
Experts state that calculating CAAV is a more taxing process that many buyers don’t consider.
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA)
President Bob Worth and Minnesota Biodiesel Council Executive Director Mike Youngerberg have been appointed to the new Clean Transportation Fuel Standard Work Group. In their respective roles, Worth and Youngerberg will advocate for the sizable contributions Minnesota agriculture and biodiesel make in cutting carbon.
“I’ll be working to assure that the policies that are developed fit Minnesota’s climate goals,” said Youngerberg, a longtime biodiesel industry leader who also serves as senior director of product development and commercialization for Minnesota Soybean. “We’ve been at this since B2 (2% biodiesel), and there are certainly avenues that fit California that don’t fit Minnesota.”
The group, which was established as part of the transportation budget during the 2023 legislative session, comprises biofuels leaders, automakers, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and charging providers, and clean energy and conservation advocates.
“We need a farmer voice on that group to push for our own fuel that we raise and make sure they’re not jumping right into electric cars too quickly,” said Worth, who farms in Lake Benton. “We’re going to push pretty hard for biodiesel.”
The Clean Transportation Fuel Standard Work
including gasoline, diesel, biofuels and electricity. The working group will make recommendations on fuel pathways and determine impacts to jobs, fuel prices, rural and agricultural economic development and environmental justice for legislation during the 2024 legislative session to reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of all fuels used in transportation.
The work group held its first meeting on July 31 and will develop recommendations by Feb. 1, 2024.
If you are passionate about farming and ready to hone your leadership skills and connect with industry leaders committed to creating a better future for farmers, the ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program is for you! The American Soybean Association and Corteva Agriscience are seeking farmers to apply for the 40th Class of Young Leaders.
Phase I of the 2023-24 Young Leader program takes place Nov. 27-30 at Corteva’s Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa. The program continues Feb. 27-March 1, 2024, in
Group is tasked with preparing recommendations for implementing a Clean Transportation Standard (CTS), including development of performance-based incentives to reduce carbon pollution from all transportation fuels
Soybean growers, both individuals and couples, are encouraged to apply for the program, which focuses on leadership and communication, agriculture trends and information, and the development of a strong and connected network. Not “young?” You can still apply: Actual age isn’t important! Interested partners, even if not employed full time on the farm, are encouraged to attend and will be active participants in all aspects of the program.
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council invests checkoff resources into the program to
grow future leaders. Numerous Council and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association directors are past Young Leader graduates.
Applications are accepted online until Oct. 6. Interested applicants should visit soygrowers.com for additional information and to apply.
Four Minnesota farmers joined 73 farmer-leaders serving on the United Soybean Board to approve $191.5 million for the organization’s 2024 fiscal year budget.
The budget supports research, promotion and education investment portfolios selected through USB’s Portfolio Development Process. These investments drive demand for U.S. Soy and return value to all U.S. soybean farmers. The total budget figure also includes execution, oversight and program support.
The board’s approval during the organization’s summer meeting puts in motion a strategic portfolio that focuses on growing preference and increasing the resiliency of U.S. Soy. Priority areas include Infrastructure & Connectivity, Health & Nutrition, and Innovation & Technology across supply and demand. In addition, the Communication & Education Committee aims to enhance the U.S. Soy and checkoff reputation across key audiences and USB’s export promotion investments focus on differentiating U.S. soybeans around the globe.
“It’s one of the biggest budgets we’ve ever had, but I think we were conservative with our estimates,” said USB Director Gene Stoel, who farms in Lake Wilson. “We have a lot of good things coming up that will hopefully increase the bottom line for all soybean farmers.”
Stoel, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Chair Tom Frisch, Benson farmer Patrick O’Leary and Martin County grower Lawrence Sukalski represent Minnesota on USB.
During its August board meeting, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council approved its 2024 fiscal year budget. The meeting, held in Mankato, was the first since Dumont farmer Tom Frisch was elected chair.
The Council will continue directing checkoff investments into research, new uses and promoting growth in emerging markets to build momentum following 2022’s first-ever shipment of U.S. soymeal to Uzbekistan. The Council also sponsors numerous programs and events, including Farmfest, this summer’s Farm Journal Crop Tour and the upcoming MN AG EXPO, which takes place Jan. 17-18, 2024, in Mankato.
Sen. Aric Putnam joined the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association after visiting with directors at Farmfest and MSGA’s August board meeting.
“MSGA does it the right way,” Sen. Putnam said.
During the 2023 legislative session, Putnam chaired the Senate Agriculture Broadband and Rural Development Committee, which prides itself on bipartisanship. Putnam dedicated his chair position to improving the outlook of Minnesota and legislated by a guiding principle in 2023.
“We themed our work in the Senate around the voice of the farmer,” Putnam told directors.
Putnam, who represents District 14 in central Minnesota, spent his summer visiting dozens of farms to learn more about agriculture’s concerns and priorities.
“One of the clearest things that can be said about agriculture in the state of Minnesota is that it is profoundly diverse,” Putnam said. “Finding incentives to help grow agriculture opportunity is our goal.”
Putnam appreciates the responsibility of his role and supports MSGA because the organization is a leading voice of an industry –agriculture – that is the state’s second largest economic driver.
“There is no other place than agriculture that is more dangerous for people to make decisions not knowing how it will impact those people,” he said.
Because Putnam is the first to admit he’s not a farming expert, the college communications professor respects MSGA’s proactive efforts to promote and defend farm-friendly policy at the Capitol.
“I’ve only been in the Senate for three years, but I’ve seen a variety of lobbyists and MSGA’s are among the absolute best,” Putnam said. “You are well represented in the advocates that you have at the Capitol.”
Starbuck farmer and Minnesota House Rep. Paul Anderson is a longtime member of MSGA.
Rep. Anderson has represented District 12A in central Minnesota since 2009. In 2023, Anderson served as the Republican lead for the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee.
Anderson farms in his native Pope County, raising 700 acres of soybeans, corn and wheat. After attending college, Anderson’s passion for agriculture drew him back to the family farm.
“It’s a great place to raise kids and I really enjoyed being on the farm and being associated with others in agriculture,” Anderson said.
As a farmer, Anderson knows the importance of MSGA advocating for farmers’ right to operate freely and profitably.
“I think agriculture has a bit of a target on its back by those that may not understand what we do or why we do it,” he said. “I saw the need for farmers to tell their story and promote their products.”
Anderson appreciates MSGA’s dedication to putting the message out there about the value-added uses of Minnesota-grown soybeans.
“The emphasis put on new soybean uses really benefited everybody that raises soybeans, putting them at a higher price and better demand for our products,” Anderson said.
Anderson is proud to be part of the 1% that feeds the world and recognizes the need for more farmer representation at the Capitol.
“I feel that as a declining number, farmers need to work together to get their story told,” he said, “so that we can operate freely and profitably.”
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 MSGA members who actively promote Minnesota’s soybean industry.
The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association thanks the over 70 members who joined MSGA during this year’s Farmfest. We also extend our gratitude to the over 200 members who renewed their support of MSGA over the past several months. Thanks to you, our membership levels are at their highest in five years!
Kari Matejka
Rita Matejka
Roger Matejka
Joe Mauch
Vaughn Maudal
Dale McMullen
Mike McNab
Mark Melby
Robert Melby
Steve Metzger
Matt Millner
Steve More
Brian More
James Nesseth
Brad Nesvold
Greg & Nicole Newman
Jess Noble
Kirby O’Brien
Christian Olson
LeRoy Ose
Michael Osland
Jim Paplow
Katie Pestorious
Alan Pinske
Kaelyn Rahe
Greg Raymo
Nolan Rogers
Mark Rogers
Bradley Rokala
Steven Rupp
Steven Ryberg
Michael Sampson
Peter Scheff
Allen Schmidt
Morgan Schreurs
Jaden Serbus
Nathan Serbus
Lauren Servick
Tom Slunecka
Wyatt Slunecka
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, and a 3-year membership costs less than a quarter per day!
Jacob Sorensen
Kelli Sorenson
Randy Sorg
Lauren Stoel
Don Strickler
Grant Sukalski
Reagan Sukalski
Michael Sukalski
Andrew Sukalski
Gunnar Sukalski
Xander Sukalski
Vinny Sukalski
Higgins Sukalski
Gavin Sukalski
April Sullivan
Dean Summerlet
Sady Swiers
Dylan Thisius
Kristeena Thisius
Alex Thompson
Keith O. Tongen
Greg Traxler
Kenneth Tritz
Mike Trytten
Carter Van Sloun
Livi Van Sloun
Ava Van Sloun
Robert VanPelt
Andrea Vaubel
Bryce Verkinderen
Lisa Verkinderen
Blayne Verkinderen
Joe Versaevel
Aaron Vipond
Ryan Waage
Ross Waage
Scott Warner
Mikayla Wegner
Tony Wensloff
Nathan Westlund
Cut
Mackenthun
Lucas Maday
Timothy Malterer
Scott Marpe
William Slunecka
Jack Slunecka
Molly Smentek
Deron Soderholm
Matt Widboom
Randy Wiertsema
Bob Wolf
John Wolterman
Name:____________________________________Date of Birth:______/________/_______
Farm/Company Name:______________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________
City:_____________________________State:______Zip:_________County:_____________
Email:*________________________Phone:*_________________Cell:__________________
3 Year Membership: $250 (includes Minnesota Soybean sweatshirt and $100 biodiesel rebate)
Pullover size (circle one): S M L XL XXL XXXL
Biodiesel Coupon (Value $100)
1 Year Membership: $120
Yes I want to save $20! 1 Year Membership: $100
(with auto renew payment via credit card). By checking this option, I understand my annual membership to MSGA will renew automatically, charging the credit card on file at the time my membership expires
Young Professional (age 35 and under) & Retired: $70
Student (age 22 and under): $20
I’m a new member
Jon Worth
William Worth
Robert Worth
Adams Grain Company
Adrian Auto Service
Adrian State Bank Ads Tile
American Bank & Trust
Automated Waste Systems Inc
Behrends Signworks
Buffalo Ridge Concrete Inc.
Bullerman Livestock & Grain
Carls Farm Store
Chandler Coop
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CHS - SD
Compeer Financial Worthington
Cooperative Energy Co.
First State Insurance Agency
Southwest Graham Lakes Ag
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I
90 Seed Solutions
JBS Pork
Kibble Equipment Lakes Gas
Leading Edge Credit Union
Lismore Coop Telephone
Nickel & Associates Insurance
Nobles Cooperative Electric
Pioneer Hybrids 266 Ag Service LLC
Poet - Ashton
Professional Ag Marketing
Reed Farms Partnership
Reker Construction
Remington Seeds LLC - East
Scattum Confinement & Superior Buildings, LLC
Security Savings Bank
Southwest Hearing Technologies
United Prairie Bank
W-2’s Quality Meats
Worthington Tax & Business Solution
Wyffels Hybrids
Henning Construction
Ron’s Repair
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Card:______-______-______-______
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Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
1020 Innovation Lane
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-1635
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