Agriculture 2011

FALL 2011

AGRICULTURE Where it goes after the harvest This harvest season has been a little less hectic than 2010 for staff at Litchfield elevator

Inside: Thinking about next Farm Bill, questions to answer before planting next year’s crop, USDA supports organic efforts, USDA announces renewable energy program, seminar helps plan for next year’s crop, net worth of Minnesota farms grows, support for next generation of farmers, ranchers, and more

Who will own the farm?

Planning ahead can help you avoid having to sell your property to pay for long-term nursing care

Litchfield Independent Review • Hutchinson Leader

2 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

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What’s Inside

Agriculture 3

AGRICULTURE is published in March and November by ...

Where it goes after the harvest

Thinking about next Farm Bill

This harvest season has been a little less hectic than 2010 for staff at Litchfield elevator

Lawmakers expect cuts, but the safety net will be kept intact

Page 37-38

Page 4

Many questions must be answered before planting next year’s crop / Page 8 Planning ahead can help you avoid having to sell your farm to pay for long-term care / Page 13 USDA supports organic efforts / Page 14 USDA announces renewable energy program / Page 16 Seminar helps plan for next year’s crop / Page 17 Net worth of Minnesota farms grows / Page 18 Bountiful support for next generation of farmers, ranchers / Page 24 Locally grown foods becoming more common in school lunches / Page 25 Federal grant helps veterans return home to farm / Page 28

THE LITCHFIELD INDEPENDENT REVIEW P.O. Box 921 Litchfield, MN 55355-0921 Phone: 320-693-3266 Fax: 320-693-9177 E-mail: editor@independentreview.net Website: www.independentreview.net

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4 Agriculture

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November 7, 2011

WHERE IT GOES AFTER THE HARVEST THE PACE AT THE CARGILL ELEVATOR IN LITCHFELD IS SLOWER THIS YEAR, AS SMALLER YIELDS OF CORN AND SOYBEANS AWAIT SHIPPING TO CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

By ANDREW WIG Staff Writer ast year’s harvest season would have been a bad time for John Negoski to quit smoking. But this year, the hectic atmosphere at the Cargill grain elevator in Litchfield has lightened, and the elevator manager is now down from two packs a day, to four in the last 10.

And the farmers dropping their grain at the elevator seem to be in a better mood. It’s not that they’ve had a bumper crop, not by a long shot, it’s just that the lines to unload their trucks aren’t so maddeningly long.

“It’s not been busy at all,” Negoski said in October.

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PHOTOS: In the background, corn waits to be shipped to markets around the world.

At left, the Cargill grain elevator stands at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and State Highway 22 in Litchfield.

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review Trucks filled with corn and beans were still filing in — October and November is still the busiest time of year for the elevator — just not all at once. “Last year was a supreme year, a bumper crop,” Negoski said, “and it all came in at the same time.”

There would be 25 trucks waiting at once to unload, elevator workers said.

This year there are one or two.

At the Litchfield elevator, where corn and beans are taken in and shipped by rail and truck to places like California, Arizona and Mankato, employees are appreciating the eased pace of work. “Last year was wild. I said I’m not gonna do this again,” recounted seasonal employee Dan Zwettler. He is now working his second harvest at the elevator.

One of his jobs is to unload trucks when they arrive at the giant corn and bean piles situated a few blocks down U.S. Highway 12 east of the elevator.

The mounds grow to 200 feet long, 100 feet wide and about 30 feet high.

They more than double the elevator’s capacity, containing 500,000 to 800,000 bushels, while the bins at the plant hold 400,000, Negoski said.

It takes eight men to cover a pile with a tarp.

While the piles are growing slower this year, Negoski expects to receive more

inventory as farmers’ bins and country elevators fill to capacity.

“With the higher prices this summer, I think a lot more people got completely empty,” Negoski said. “I think they’re still filling their bins.”

The Litchfield elevator isn’t seeing long lines, “yet,” Negoski said.

He believes farmers are holding on to as much as they can in hopes of higher prices come spring and summer. But they have only so much space, and Negoski says his elevator has essentially endless capacity for corn and beans. “We’ll find a place to put it,” he said.

The Litchfield elevator takes in 20 percent to 25 percent of its yearly inventory in October and November, but the longer the busy season can go on, the better for Zwettler and the five other seasonal workers. Getting $12 an hour and working at least 40 hours a week during harvest, they augment a permanent work force of three at the Litchfield facility.

“It’s not a career move, but I’m grateful for the work,” Zwettler said.

He lives in Kingston, moved here from Idaho three years ago, and used to sell building supplies until the market slowed.

Zwettler thought he’d be back to selling

Continued on page 6

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 5

STAFF PHOTO BY ANDREW WIG

One year ago, there would have been more than one truck in line at the Cargill grain elevator in Litchfield, but things have slowed at the nine-bin elevator. Elevator manager John Negoski attributes the slowdown to lower yields and a more spread out harvest.

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Elevator Continued from page 5 lumber by now. But here he is, back at the big corn piles. His wife, Michelle, now works here, too, at the intake room where she tells trucks where to go and tests samples of their grain for quality and moisture levels.

Her husband has the same hope of selling lumber by this time next year, but for now will take the elevator work, which stretched into March last season. “I don’t think it’s going to be that way this year,” he predicted, looking out to the space where trucks, he said, lined up by the dozens one year ago.

Zwettler was explaining his job at the elevator — in addition to working the piles, he runs the Cargill-owned locomotive that hooks up the train cars so they can be picked up by the railroad company — when Negoski interrupted. “Don’t be turning this into an interview about your pumpkin,” he razzingly instructed.

“He grew a 500-pound pumpkin,” Negoski told a visitor.

“600 pounds,” Zwettler clarified.

That was last year. This year it was too

November 7, 2011

wet and his would-be monstrous orange gourd died.

The weather killed Zwettler’s pumpkin and slowed things down at the elevator, but workers there say there is still little, if any, down time. If there is not grain to take in or ship out, there is always maintenance to be done, workers said. There are no playing cards laying around, but if for whatever reason there is some downtime, “we got a checkerboard stashed,” said Dan Penk, a year-round worker.

He and his cohort, Brandon Schultz, said they have been working 70 to 75 hours a week during harvest. The elevator takes in grain from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with varying hours on the weekend. Workers usually get out about a half hour after closing time, but said last year they would be there until 9:30 every night.

Schultz and Penk explained all this in the control room where they hit the buttons that operate the conveyer belts, which distribute the grain between the elevator’s nine bins, organizing loads based on quality and moisture levels.

The dusty menace

STAFF PHOTO BY ANDREW WIG

That equipment running these belts is

Continued on page 7

Chris Mares processes a corn sample in the intake room of the Cargill grain elevator in Litchfield. She checks samples for moisture content and the amount of foreign materials and cracked kernels.

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Menaces Continued from page 6 “explosion proof,“ meaning the sparks that occur during operation are sealed off from the surrounding environment. For example, a regular plug-in, which sparks every time it is used, would not be “explosion proof,” Negoski explained.

Even cameras, which Negoski said are not “explosion proof,” are prohibited from enclosed spaces where this equipment is running, like in the tunnel that houses one of the elevator’s main conveyor-belt arteries. It is damp and puddled, smelling like the basement of an old farm house, and is the place where an explosion would be most likely to occur, Negoski said after guiding a visitor through that very passage.

There is an extensive history of elevator explosions across the country.

One infamous blast killed seven people in DeBruce, Iowa, in 1998. Nothing has exploded at the Litchfield elevator, Negoski said.

But fire remains “a very big concern,” he added, enough so that firefighters come out every year to inspect the facility and

familiarize themselves with the elevator’s workings in case of such an instance.

Aside from being “explosion proof,” the elevator’s moving parts have temperature gauges when things get too hot.

All this is why the issue of dust is such an obsession at the elevator.

“We try to keep everything cleaned and sealed up so that we don’t get a bunch of dust,” Negoski said. “An elevator will never explode if there is not a dust problem, and then of course if there isn’t an ignition source like fire or heat.”

The elevator has a giant suction fan that sends dusty air through a ventilation and back into the bins, and they coat the grain with food-grade vegetable oil. On a recent visit, the air outside those bins seemed much less particulate than one year ago, perhaps due to the lower grain volume.

Negoski said that when it does seem dusty it is most likely from the gravel lot that surrounds the elevator, which he is trying to get it paved.

All the precautions are part of an operation that, with the constant unloading and loading and with all the towers and shoots and belts, look plenty complicated. But the essence of the operation is simple.

Zwettler, before he started talking about his pumpkins, summed it up most simply: “Corn and beans in, corn and beans out.”

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 7

STAFF PHOTO BY ANDREW WIG

Elevator manager John Negoski explains the control room at the Litchfield grain elevator. The panel behind him diagrams the elevator’s various bins and conveyors.

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8 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011 mine the 2011 crop year figures. Production costs have been trending higher and it is becoming even more important to minimize the cost of production even though the market prices are higher. Locking in inputs at lower prices and finding discounts can help to minimize the cost of production. Finding efficiencies and maximizing inputs can be important to get the most out of the dollars spent to produce the crop.

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MANY QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED BEFORE PLANTING NEXT YEAR’S CROP

By NATHAN WINTER Extension educator he market price for many commodities has been strong in recent years, but it has also been very volatile as well. Many experts predict that there will be strong demand for agricultural commodities in the future due to increased demand from the food, fiber and fuel areas. The growing world population and economic prosperities in growing countries are helping to increase the value of agricultural products in the United States.

The agricultural commodity future looks strong at this time, but other factors are also changing that could cause some

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potential impacts to the farm. There is uncertainty on the next farm bill and how changes could impact crop insurance and safety nets for farmers.

Where will interest rates be in the future? Will commodity prices stay at high levels? Will fertilizer, seed, fuel, chemical and machinery prices continue towards higher levels? Can one afford to feed highcommodity crops to livestock? Will land rental and sale price values continue to go higher or will they plateau or decrease?

Will more regulation take place that increases the cost of production? Will there be tax changes that impact the farm at the local, state and federal levels? Can the farm be continued on for future generations?

These previous questions should be an area of discussion for future decision making. However, these factors can change and we may see new areas of difficulty in coming years. The last few years indicate that the agricultural industry is changing very quickly and these changes can create risk issues.

The following is information compiled

from McLeod and Meeker County farms in Finbin by farm business management instructors. For more information, visit www.finbin.umn.edu.

The 2010 total direct expenses for corn on rented land was approximately $512 per acre. The average corn value per bushel price was $4.71. The 2010 total direct expenses for soybeans on rented land was approximately $309 per acre. The average soybean value per bushel price was $10.71.

Land access, fertilizer, fuel, and seed are some of the biggest cost factors.

Data will be collected this winter to deter-

Minimizing the cost of production can be important, but it is also going to be very important to avoid risk. Crop insurance is an important tool to help avoid problems with low yield and price. Another very important factor in avoiding risk is marketing. Marketing can be the key to making sure you can lock in a price above the cost of production. Utilize the tools provided in marketing the crop and hopefully you can avoid the lower prices in the market.

There are many questions for 2012 and beyond. There are indicators that may give us an idea of what the future will bring, but we just do not know for sure.

Ask the hard questions and do your best to position your farm to maximize your inputs for increased production. Position your farm to avoid risk by utilizing tools available so that you can handle changes in the marketplace.

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Agriculture 9

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10 Agriculture

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Agriculture 11

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Agriculture 13

Who will own the farm?

WILL YOU SOME DAY NEED EXPENSIVE NURSING HOME CARE? PLANNING AHEAD CAN HELP YOU AVOID HAVING TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY TO PAY FOR LONG-TERM CARE

By JORGE SOSA Staff Writer o one looks forward to a future when they might depend heavily on others to stay alive. But for all of us, especially farmers, it’s essential to plan for the possibility.

When helping farmers with estate planning, Hutchinson attorney Lenore Flinn said, “One of the biggest concerns I find is that people are going to have to move into a long-term care facility for their health care and they’re going to have to sell their property to pay for it.”

“We all want to have enough to take care of ourselves and have some to give to those that come after us,” Flinn added.

“The thing that we don’t have that we need is a crystal ball. We don’t know how long we’ll live, what’s going to come our way and what costs will come our way. If we knew all those things, we could always create the perfect life for ourselves.”

The next best thing to precognition is a plan. “We want a plan that’s flexible,” Flinn said, “that we can work with over the years to react to circumstances as they arise.”

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“The (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) is constantly looking for ways to get people to pay for more and more of their own nursing home costs and shelter less of their assets.

The rules have changed tremendously just in the last couple years. And they’ve changed completely since 2006.”

Chris Kleiman, attorney “I like to push people in the direction of long-term care insurance because then you’re taking responsibility for your own medical costs,” said attorney Chris Kleiman of the Hutchinson firm Kraft, Walser, Hettig, Honsey and Kleiman.

“Most people don’t have long-term care insurance,” Kleiman added. “If you go into a hospital and you’re over 65, Medicare will pay for the hospital stay. If you need to go to a nursing home, Medicare pays for rehabilitative care for the first 100 days. If you’re not

getting better, you go to private pay until you qualify for Medical Assistance. Most nursing homes can cost $6,000 to $8,000 a month out-of-pocket, if you’re not covered by long-term care insurance.”

If a patient lacks that coverage, Kleiman noted, Medical Assistance requires them to spend their assets down below a low threshold. “For a single person, that’s $3,000 and a prepaid funeral.”

To retain a farm and pass it on to future generations, Kleiman said, “You can give it

away or you can do a life estate.”

Under a life estate arrangement, parents can gradually transfer their interest in the farm to their children while receiving steady income to live on. If the life estate is established at least five years before the parent has to go on Medical Assistance, Kleiman said, “a life estate is considered an unavailable asset.”

“One of the drawbacks to the life estate is that it’s not a silver bullet,” he added.

“It’s not going to completely protect your asset because you have to wait five years.”

“They keep putting the squeeze on all of these things,” Kleiman said. “The (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) is constantly looking for ways to get people to pay for more and more of their own nursing home costs and shelter less of their assets. The rules have changed tremendously just in the last couple years.

And they’ve changed completely since 2006.”

“Whatever you did with Aunt Petunia in 1996, forget about it,” Kleiman laughed, “because those rules don’t apply anymore at this point … You want to find a set of rules that’s more arcane than Medical Assistance, look at farm programs.”

14 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

USDA supports organic agriculture efforts griculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced in late October 23 new grants to research and extension programs working to help organic producers and processors grow and market high quality organic agricultural products.

Among the grant recipients are the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, which will receive $380,923. The U of M project will improve organic soybean and dry bean production by developing new organic varieties with enhanced competitiveness in weed control and soil nitrogen fertility.

The 23 grants, totaling $19 million in all, are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through two unique programs: the Organic Agriculture Research

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and Extension Initiative and the Organic Transitions Program.

“As more and more farmers adopt organic agriculture practices, they need the best science available to operate profitable and successful organic farms,” Merrigan said. “America’s brand of organic agricultural goods is world-renowned for its high-quality and abundance of selection. These research and extension projects will give producers the tools and resources to produce quality organic food and boost farm income, boosting the ‘Grown in America’ brand.”

The grants include more than $15 million in 2011 grants through the OREI. Supporting the development of sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, including organic farming, to both reduce negative impacts on the environment and keep U.S. farmers competitive is a priority of USDA research.

In addition, the grants announced today include nearly $4 million through the ORG. In FY 2011, ORG focused on environmental services provided by organic farming systems that support soil

“America’s brand of organic agricultural goods is world-renowned for its high-quality and abundance of selection. These research and extension projects will give producers the tools and resources to produce quality organic food and boost farm income, boosting the ‘Grown in America’ brand.”

Kathleen Merrigan, USDA deputy secretary conservation and contribute to climate change mitigation. Practices and systems to be addressed include those associated with organic crops, organic animal production and organic systems integrating plant and animal production.

Since the late 1990s, U.S. organic production has seen significant growth. U.S. producers are increasingly turning to certified organic farming systems as a potential way to decrease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value

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Agriculture 15

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16 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

USDA announces renewable energy effort

griculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in late October announced that USDA is funding anaerobic digester projects in eight states to encourage renewable energy production, reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and farm-based pollution.

The announcement was made on the secretary’s behalf by Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager during a trip to Wisconsin.

“Through the efforts of the Obama Administration, the Rural Energy for America Program has helped rural small businesses, farmers and ranchers across the nation,” Vilsack said. “Since its cre-

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ation this program has assisted almost 9,600 small businesses, farmers and ranchers and created or saved an estimated 15,000 jobs. It also provides producers with new opportunities to diversify revenue and make American agriculture and rural small business more competitive.”

Funding for the biodigesters is provided through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program and has created or saved an estimated 13.4 billion kWh of electricity and reduced almost 14.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the biodigesters announced today will be constructed on Heller Farms near Alma Center in Jackson County, Wis. It is expected to produce 3.3 million kW hours of renewable energy each year, enough to power 400 average Wisconsin homes per year. Digesters will also be constructed in Pennsylvania, Idaho, Iowa, Florida, Oregon, Ohio, and Vermont.

Today’s announcement is in concert with an agreement signed by Secretary Vilsack in December 2009. During climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the secretary signed a historic agreement

to help U.S. dairy producers cut greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement between USDA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy calls for the parties to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms by 25 percent by 2020.

In fiscal year 2011, USDA, through the REAP program, provided nearly $21 million in assistance for biodigesters, and leveraged over $110 million in project development. Through its Value-Added Producer Grant program, USDA provides planning grants of up to $100,000 and working capital grants of up to $300,000 to be used for establishment of a biodigester.

Additionally, the Natural Resources Conservation Service offers financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives program.

Funding of each award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant or loan agreement. Grants can finance up to 25 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $500,000 for renewable energy systems, $250,000 for energy efficiency.

Since taking office, President Obama’s

Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council — chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack — the President wants the federal government to be the best possible partner for rural businesses and entrepreneurs creating job opportunities and for people who want to live, work, and raise their families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices.

Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $155 billion in affordable loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 17

Seminar helps plan for next year’s crop armers and ag professionals are invited to the sixth annual 2012 Crop Management Input Seminar on from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Hutchinson Event Center, in Plaza 15 at 1005 State Highway 15 S. The seminar is coordinated by the University of Minnesota Extension with registration starting at 9:30 a.m. There is a $15 per person registration cost at the door without a ticket and registration includes information from speakers and lunch.

Crop producers and agricultural professionals who assist them are faced with important decisions in planning for the 2012 crop year. Volatile land sales, rent, commodity prices, potential government program changes, and input prices make management decisions even more impor-

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tant. The seminar agenda includes the following topics: “Crop Budgets, Input and Market Uncertainties, and Farm Transition and Estate Planning Topics,” David Bau, University of Minnesota Extension educator, agricultural business manager “Goss’s Wilt and Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybeans,” Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist “Value of Tissue Testing & Nitrogen Management, Dan Kaiser,” Extension soil scientist, soil/plant nutrition management “Protein and Oil Data for Minnesota, Inputs with Impact in Soybeans and Seeding Rates,” Seth Naeve, Extension agronomist, soybeans “Herbicide Recommendations for Weeds with Glyphosate Resistance,” David Nicolai, Extension educator, crops

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18 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Net worth of Minnesota farms grows

By DALE NORDQUIST University of Minnesota Extension he average Minnesota farm is growing rapidly in terms of total assets and net worth, according to the 2010 FINBIN Report on Minnesota Farm Finances published by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Farm Financial Management.

FINBIN, one of the largest and most accessible farm financial databases in the world, summarizes actual farm data from thousands of agricultural producers to generate detailed reports on whole farm, crop and livestock financials.

In constant dollars, total assets per farm have increased by more than $1.1 million over the past 15 years. However, total debt increased by about $500,000 over the same period. As a result, the average farm has gained almost $700,000 of real net worth over the past 15 years. This equates to 10 percent growth in net worth per year.

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The FINBIN report included 2,446 Minnesota farms, or about 10 percent of the state’s commercial farms with total sales of more than $100,000. From $250,000 to $500,000 in total sales are generally needed to provide for a family’s living expenses.

Net worth increases can have two sources: those resulting from earnings, either farm or non-farm, and those resulting from asset appreciation.

Over the past 15 years, 79 percent of the net worth growth was earned. Retained earnings result when farm and non-farm income exceed the amount consumed by family expenditures and income taxes.

The remaining 21 percent of net worth growth resulted from asset appreciation.

In high-profit years, the high-debt farms are able to leverage borrowed capital to multiply their earnings growth. However, they remain in high-risk territory in terms of their liquidity and solvency positions.

More details of the 2010 FINBIN Report on Minnesota Farm Finances are available at www.finbin.umn.edu.

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What does the agriculture Extension program do? he program’s main emphasis is to develop and implement educational programs for agricultural systems that produce, market, or consume agricultural products in the McLeod and Meeker County area. Information can be obtained on all aspects of livestock, crops, horticulture, natural resources, and environmental management issues.

Following are some examples of services conducted.

Coordinate technical information to the public on livestock, forages, crops, soils, and horticulture.

Develop programs for the public related to livestock, forages, crops, soils, and horticulture.

Provide horticulture technical assistance on wide variety of questions that include: insects, soils, lawns, water, gardens (commercial & home), as well as trees and shrubs.

Evaluate farm operations and assist

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new farmers with developing their plans and goals.

Increase awareness on agricultural and community issues related to the environment, manure management, pesticides, and water quality topics.

Assist committees and producer groups with information and resources to help aid in the development of active community groups.

Write timely news releases and provide information to the public by many means of communication.

Coordinate the activities of the Master Gardener Program.

Feel free to contact the McLeod County Extension Office for more information on agriculture and horticulture at 320-4844303, or the Meeker County Extension Office at 320-693-5275. The University of Minnesota Extension website, www. extension.umn.edu, also has an extensive amount of information to help consumers with their questions.

Becoming a Master Gardener in your community The number of Master Gardeners is growing, but there’s still plenty of room for you! Do you have an active interest in gardening? Do you have a desire to share your gardening interest with others? Are you willing to learn more about gardening? Are you able to communicate with groups of people?

If you answered yes to these questions, you have the qualities looked for in the Master Gardener Program. The 2,000 Master Gardeners in Minnesota invite you to join them in 2012.

The Master Gardener Core Course is offered in in person at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul on Tuesday’s Thursday’s and Saturday’s from Jan. 14 to Feb. 9. The online course will take place from Jan. 9 to May 4. The cost for the course is $275, which equals approximately $6 per hour of instruction. This year there will also be a cohort that will gather at the McLeod County Extension Office in Hutchinson to view the online education as a group.

To become a Master Gardener, you first must make contact with your local Extension office and complete a short application to be returned to your county extension office. Upon acceptance of your application, you will complete the Master Gardener Core Course which is 48 hours of classroom instruction by University of Minnesota personnel. This instruction covers 12 basic topics concerned with all phases of gardening, lawn care, pesticide safety and landscape design.

After completing the Master Gardener Core Course, you will be expected to complete an internship of 50 hours of volunteer service the first year by working on volunteer projects. Following the initial year, expectations include 25 hours of volunteer service and five hours of continuing education.

For interest in the Master Gardener Program, call the McLeod County Extension Office at 320-484-4303, or the Meeker County Extension Office at 320693-5275.

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 19

20 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Minnesota counties named disaster areas .S. Department of Agriculture announced in October designated disaster areas for several Minnesota counties impacted by multiple natural disasters in the 2011 crop year.

Disaster areas includeded Renville, Sibley, Stearns and Wright counties, as well as Big Stone, Chippewa, Grant, Lac Qui Parle, Redwood, Stevens and Traverse counties.

Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of McLeod, Meeker, Kandiyohi, Anoka, Benton, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Douglas, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Lyon, Morrison, Murray, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Scott, Sherburne, Swift, Todd, Wilkin and Yellow Medicine.

“The extreme weather in western Minnesota has caused severe damage to crops

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and taken a heavy toll on rural communities,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said. “With these designations, farmers are eligible to access the permanent disaster program and emergency financing they need to get through this difficult period and continue their vital role in Minnesota’s economy.”

“The devastating weather conditions that western Minnesota experienced over the last year have created extensive hardship for many of our producers,” U.S. Sen. Al Franken said. “I’m relieved that the USDA has designated our hardest hit counties as agricultural disaster areas because it gives our farmers somewhere to turn to for help. I urge producers in these counties to speak with their local FSA offices to see if they qualify for this assistance.”

“Farmers take on a big risk every season when they plant their crop,” U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson said. “Sometimes Mother Nature throws a curve ball, and this disaster assistance is important to helping our producers get through these weather problems.”

“In order to supply the safest, most

“Sometimes Mother Nature throws a curve ball, and this disaster assistance is important to helping our producers get through these weather problems.”

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. abundant food supply in the world, our farmers take on considerable risk,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Walz. “While we cannot control the weather, we can make sure our producers can recover when they are hit by disaster and continue to be a vital part of our local economies.”

These Minnesota counties are designated as natural disaster areas due to combined effects of excessive rain, excessive heat, high winds, tornadoes and an early

fall frost occurring during the period of April 1 and Sept. 15, 2011.

Producers in both primary and contiguous counties are eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 and was implemented beginning on Jan. 4, 2010.

FSA will consider each application on its own merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers and ranchers with additional information.

USDA also has issued a disaster designation for Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Traverse, and Wilkin counties as a result of spring snowstorms, frosts, and freezes in late spring and early fall; excessive rain, flooding, ground saturation, and landslides, high winds, hail and tornadoes; periods of unseasonable cool spring temperatures and excessive summer heat, and weather-related insects and diseases that occurred beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

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Agriculture 21

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22 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

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Agriculture 23

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

Bountiful support for next generation of farmers, ranchers USDA GIVES ALMOST $19 MILLION TO HELP PROVIDE EDUCATION, TRAINING FOR THOSE JUST STARTING OUT his autumn is shaping up to be a bountiful harvest of federal support for America’s next generation of family farmers and ranchers.

USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced in September the awarding of almost $19 million in Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grants to organizations that provide education, training, technical assistance and outreach programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers.

Thirty-six projects in 23 states and possessions — Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming — will receive funding through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the agency that administers the BFRDP grants.

“These BFRDP grants, once again, show a serious commitment on the part of USDA and Congress to help foster the next generation of family farmers’ and ranchers’ entry into agriculture,” said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Policy Director at the

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Center for Rural Affairs. “There is more that we can and must do, especially in the next farm bill, but today we can celebrate another year support for rural America’s future farmers and ranchers, support in the form of 105 grant awards — from over 300 applications — that has reached nearly every state, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories and possessions.”

According to Bruckner, Merrigan’s announcement also comes on the eve of an important Congressional action. The Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Opportunity Act of 2011 is slated to be introduced in October.

“In the current economic and political climate, it is crucial that we show the taxpayers that funding for specific farm bill programs is an investment in job creation, rural development and a more prosperous rural America,” Bruckner continued. “We know that our investment in beginning farmers and ranchers meets and exceeds those expectations.

Bruckner explained further that the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011 will include new credit, savings and investment, conservation initiatives as well as expanded outreach programs.

“BFRDP has been a tremendous investment in rural America’s future, a small, efficient investment that is on the ground, right now, creating jobs, farms, ranches and real economic opportunity across rural America. And the Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Opportunity Act is the natural evolution of that investment in rural America’s future,” concluded Bruckner.

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24 Agriculture

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 25

And kids say it even tastes good STUDENTS ARE BEING OFFERED MORE LOCALLY GROWN FOODS IN SCHOOL LUNCHES THIS YEAR innesota students are eating more fresh, locally grown produce in school lunches this year thanks to the Farm to School efforts of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Health.

MDA’s Minnesota Grown Program has a new online directory that makes it easy for schools and other institutions to find local farmers capable of supplying them with locally grown foods. More than 65 farms are already listed in the new database with more being added each week, according to MDA’s Local Foods Supervisor Paul Hugunin.

“The Minnesota Grown Program has more than 1,100 farmer members throughout Minnesota and has been promoting locally grown foods for the past 30 years. So capitalizing on our membership

number of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Low fruit and vegetable intake, high calorie diets and limited activity are key risk factors for childhood obesity.

The good news is that students involved with Farm to School programs increase the number of servings of fruits and vegetables they eat by one daily serving and they carry these habits home. That’s why

MDH works to increase access to healthy foods for Minnesota children through Farm to School.

MDH supports state and local Farm to School efforts through the Statewide Health Improvement Program, Great Trays and other partnerships. For example, SHIP initiated or expanded Farm to School efforts in more than 325 schools in 2010.

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base and experience to create a directory of farmers selling to institutions seemed like a natural idea,” said Hugunin. “We’ve designed this online directory to allow institutional buyers to search for farmers not just based on their location and products offered, but they can also sort for farms that deliver directly to the schools or through a distributor.”

The free online directory is available to schools as well as other buyers and can be found at www.minnesotagrown.com.

Minnesota farmers who sell to schools can list their farm in the new database by becoming a Minnesota Grown member for just $20 per year.

Farm to School programs are also one solution to the epidemic of obesity in Minnesota and the nation. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, four out of five Minnesota sixth- and ninthgraders do not get the recommended

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, center, works with high school students in a school garden.

School gardens and efforts such as the Minnesota Grown Program have increased the amount of locally grown food used in school lunches.

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

Organic farming profits rose in 2010 REPORT SHOWS 2010 ORGANIC FARMING PROFITABILITY IMPROVED AFTER TOUGH 2009 he profitability of Minnesota organic farms improved in 2010 compared to 2009, according to a new report issued by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The report, titled “2010 Organic Farm Performance in Minnesota,” shows improved whole-farm economic performance and stronger returns for crop and dairy enterprises.

In addition to the increase in whole-

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Online tool helps farmers consider new enterprises

farm profitability, financial measures such as liquidity, debt repayment capacity, and net worth also improved last year. The most profitable organic crop on a per-acre basis was corn, which averaged a net return of $430.36 on owned and rented land. Organic dairies reported net returns per cow of $756.20 in 2010.

The 48-page report contains wholefarm financial summaries as well as data on individual crops and dairy. The report can be found online at www.finbin.umn. edu/docs/2010_Organic_Farm_ Performance_MN.pdf, or by calling MDA at 651-201-6012.

“Minnesota has nearly 700 certified organic farms, and they are an important part of our farm economy,” MDA Organic and Diversification Specialist Meg Moynihan said. “We’re pleased to see net farm income for organic operations rebound

We are committed to handling calls with a minimum demand on the customer’s time. In almost every case, we are equipped to handle problems without supervision or assistance.

We are committed to repair rather than replacement. Only if repair is impossible or uneconomical will we replace a tire.

We are equipped and committed to handling emergency or service calls in one visit. And every effort will be made to solve problems the first time out.

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after a tough year in 2009.”

MDA developed the 2010 organic farming report with major funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency. Financial informa-

tions,” said Moynihan. “We designed this guide to provide a simple systematic way for producers to consider how new opportunities would fit their personal goals, production and management skills, land and facilities, and economic expectations.”

Moynihan says the compass is not intended as a substitute for a detailed feasibility study or a business plan but rather a starting point for farmers to focus on a few promising options and determine whether they should pursue them.

The Compass is online at www.mda. state.mn.us/protecting/sustainable/mf o/mfocompass.aspx, or a printed copy can be requested by calling 651-201-6012.

tion was collected from 79 certified organic farmers enrolled in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities farm business management education programs.

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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has re-issued its 12-page Agriculture Diversification Compass, and is making the tool available to Minnesotans free of charge both online and in print.

The guide is designed to help producers evaluate the potential of new crop and livestock enterprises they may be considering for their farm.

MDA Diversification Specialist Meg Moynihan says new or expanded enterprises are likely to have a different set of financial, marketing, management and policy options than growers have experienced with their existing operation.

“We hear from many farmers of all ages who want to diversify their opera-

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Agriculture 27

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November 7, 2011

“No one is more deserving of spending a rewarding life on the land than those who have willingly helped to defend the United States of America.We will do our best to repay them.”

Richard Oswald, president of Missouri Farmers Union

Grant helps veterans return home to farm PROJECT AIMS TO HELP VETERANS ESTABLISH PLAN FOR SUCCESSFUL FARMING, RANCHING hile some veterans have jobs waiting for them when they return home from service, many do not and are returning to rural areas where jobs can be scarce.

The USDA Risk Management Agency has awarded the Center for Rural Affairs, Farmer-Veteran Coalition, Nebraska AgrAbility Project and eight additional partner

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organizations with funding intended to introduce new veteran farmers and ranchers to various areas of agriculture, and thereby find solutions to the employment and economic challenges facing so many rural veterans.

“The long-term goal for this project is to help new veteran farmers and ranchers successfully establish farms and ranches in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Missouri,” said Kathie Starkweather with the Center for Rural Affairs.

“Farmers Union is thrilled to be able to offer assistance to returning veterans. No one is more deserving of spending a rewarding life on the land than those who have willingly helped to defend the United States of America,” said Richard Oswald, President of Missouri Farmers Union. “We

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Rural America has experienced a chronic exodus of family farmers and ranchers out of agriculture. That fact, coupled with a lack of young families going into agriculture has changed the landscape of much of rural America, physically and demographically. The 2007 Census of Agriculture revealed that the average American farmer is 57 years old and climbing, with 35 percent of all farmers age 65 or older.

Rural America’s small cities and towns are, however, less prepared to absorb returning veterans than many urban centers. The Iraq and Afghan Veterans of America have noted that veterans returning to rural communities were having the

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will do our best to repay them.”

According to Starkweather, the project will allow veterans to learn strategies and implement plans for farm/ranch start-up, including financing, land access, and business development. Veterans will also learn to access the resources available to them for technical assistance, production and marketing information, and mentoring.

For more information on beginning farmer and rancher programs and for future developments of this project, see www.cfra.org/renewrural/farm. The organizations partnering in this project are the Center for Rural Affairs, FarmerVeteran Coalition, Swords to Plowshares, Kansas Farmers Union, Missouri Farmers Union, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union,

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review hardest time reintegrating into civilian life as these communities lacked both viable employment opportunities and access to needed veteran services. The Carsey Institute noted that only 24 percent of employed young adults, ages 18 to 24, hold full-time jobs in rural communities.

Starkweather believes that several of these economic and demographic challenges may also be opportunities. Farmers who are at or approaching retirement age control half of all farm and ranch land in rural America, meaning most of them will be looking for ways to transition their operation into younger hands in the nottoo-distant future.

Traditional rural employment in farming, logging, mining, fishing and small manufacturing have been declining for decades. Nonetheless, the smallest of farms have increased in the past decade, coincident with the great consumer interest in locally grown, organic and specialty foods. This demand creates unique and exciting opportunities for beginning farmers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the veterans who would become farmers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The participation rate of young rural Americans in the military is and has been far above the national average for at least two decades. When veterans receive train-

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 29

Grants from the USDA Risk Management Agency will be used to help educate military veterans about farming and ranching, helping them keep their ties to rural America. ing and secure agricultural employment in rural communities, rural America is strengthened, all of America is strengthened,â&#x20AC;? Starkweather said.

According to the grant application, veterans can build on their discipline and sense of service and use farming or ranching to reintegrate into society gracefully and fruitfully. They also can repopulate and re-energize rural communities. Some

assistance to launch a new generation of veteran farmers and ranchers can help ensure their successful entry into farming and ranching and a successful return to their country.

The Center for Rural Affairs and its partner organizations will hold educational workshops in Nebraska and Kansas to provide information and introduce resources on specialty crops, livestock,

land access, financing, crop insurance, production and marketing high value crops, and resources for beginners, veterans and the disabled.

The project also will include farm tours of sustainable grain, vegetable and livestock operations, as well as presentations on organic certification, production techniques and marketing.

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November 7, 2011

Plan your 2012 corn nitrogen management

By DAVID NICOLAI AND DAN KAISER University of Minnesota Extension ow, as soil temperatures cool down, is the time to plan your nitrogen management for 2012. The first important question is “How much nitrogen should I apply?”

University of Minnesota Extension nitrogen guidelines should be a starting point.

A new Extension nutrient management website (www.extension.umn.edu/nutrient-management) houses current fertilizer suggestions and data from the University of Minnesota. This website was made possible by funding from the Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council.

Nutrient calculators are now available on the website. There is also a link to the regionally developed corn nitrogen calculator hosted by Iowa State University at http://bit.ly/z3evN. The nitrogen calculator is easy to use.

The user enters their state (Minnesota),

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type of fertilizer, price per ton and expected corn price per bushel. The calculator will then calculate the Maximum Return to Nitrogen, the nitrogen rate where the economic net return to nitrogen application is maximized. Users also can enter multiple fertilizer and corn prices at the same time so that they can view and print a comparison of prices. There also are online nutrient calculators for soybean and wheat crops on the nutrient management website.

The amount of nitrogen to apply for corn depends on four factors, all of which are taken into account with the online nitrogen calculator: productivity of the growing environment previous crop price of fertilizer nitrogen to valueof-corn-crop ratio amount of risk a grower wants to assume The nitrogen application for corn should be adjusted based on the amount of residual nitrate nitrogen as indicated in

the Extension corn nitrogen guidelines.

The best time to test soils for soil nitrate-nitrogen will depend on several factors. First, if the field is in western Minnesota (approximately west of U.S. Highway 71), a soil sample from the surface 2 feet can be taken in the fall or spring. For the fall soil sample for nitrate-nitrogen to be accurate, it must be taken after the soil temperatures in the surface 6 inches have stabilized at 50 degrees or lower.

Fall applications of nitrogen are not recommended in southeastern Minnesota,

according to established best management practices for the state. In south-central Minnesota, late fall applications with a nitrification inhibitor are acceptable but with greater risk. In southwestern, westcentral, and northwestern Minnesota, late fall applications without a nitrification inhibitor are acceptable with greater risk.

In late fall applications, the nitrogen fertilizer must be an ammonium type.

What is meant by late fall? Late fall application should occur only after soil temperatures in the surface 6 inches are at or less than 50 degrees. Applications made at temperatures greater than this (earlier in the fall) may convert from ammonium to nitrate. This means that applying nitrogen when soils are still too warm can lead to loss of that nitrogen. This is not what farmers want to happen to their fertilizer and time investment.

Plan fall-applied nitrogen so that it stays in ammonium form throughout the fall, winter and early spring. Otherwise, when present in the nitrate form, there is a substantial risk for loss of nitrogen.

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Vilsack offers farm bill suggestions

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB Associated Press awmakers working on the next Farm Bill need to find an effective way to provide aid to farmers affected by natural disasters, increase funding for agricultural research and continue important conservation programs, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The former Iowa governor recently spoke to about 100 workers who make farm equipment at a John Deere plant in Ankeny, Iowa, telling them programs funded through the massive spending bill also must be streamlined and simpler to understand.

The current $284 billion bill, approved in 2008, expires in September 2012. Roughly three-fourths of the money goes to food nutrition programs, such as food stamps and school lunches, but it also provides subsidies for commodity crops, like corn and wheat, and funding for agricultural research, rural development and energy, among other things.

Perhaps the most controversial items funded by the bill are direct payments, which are subsidies paid to growers of certain crops regardless of crop prices and yields. Many lawmakers and some farmers support scrapping direct payments in favor of better crop insurance, which would kick in when prices drop or crops are damaged.

Southern farmers, however, remain strong supporters of direct payments, saying existing crop insurance programs don’t help much with the crops they grow.

Vilsack said farm aid is crucial, but it must involve some kind of accountability.

“We have a responsibility to the American people to use their resources wisely and to provide assistance only when it’s needed,’’ he said.

But, he also said aid needs to be provided more quickly when disasters happen and aid programs should be simple and easier to understand.

This has been a major year for agricultural disasters.

Texas has suffered a record $5.2 billion in livestock and crop losses since last fall because of drought. Meanwhile, Midwest farmers lost crops to river flooding, and those in the East were swamped by Tropical Storm Irene.

“A bad crop ruined by a natural disaster or an unpredictable price collapse can put a hard working farm family out of business quickly,’’ Vilsack said. “These families rely on a strong safety net.’’

And, aid has to be provided in a way that works for all farmers.

“It can’t favor the planting of one crop over another,’’ Vilsack said. “It needs to work for row crop farmers in Iowa and specialty crop farmers in upstate New York and cattle ranchers in Texas.’’

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”If we continue to flat-line our commitment to research, our productivity will likely suffer. This at a time when our productivity will have to increase to meet the global demand for food.’’

Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

Agriculture 33

November 7, 2011

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Minnesota, Wisconsin milk output hints at positive trend isconsin's dairy industry is continuing a modest turnaround in production, and Minnesota is inching closer to its own positive reversal.

For the past few months, Wisconsin's milk production had trailed the pace from the comparable period a year ago by a few percentage points. That changed in August, when production increased 1 percent.

New statistics show the positive trend continued last month. Wisconsin produced 2.1 billion pounds of milk in September. That was a 2-percent increase over the same period last year.

Minnesota dairy farmers harvested 714 million pounds last month. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 1-percent decline, but an improvement over declines of 5 percent and 7 percent in the previous two months.

California is still the nation's leading producer, harvesting 3.3 billion pounds.

Wisconsin remains solidly in second place.

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 35

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November 7, 2011

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

What will be in the next

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 37

Farm Bill?

LAWMAKERS EXPECT CUTS, BUT THE SAFETY NET WILL BE KEPT INTACT

By TERRY DAVIS Staff Writer y the time you read this, details of a 2012 Farm Bill proposal should have made their way from the U.S. House and Senate agriculture committees to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the “Super Committee.”

In mid-October, leaders of the ag committees, including Rep. Collin Peterson, a Democrat representing Minnesota’s 7th District and the ranking member of the House committee, reached preliminary agreement on $23 billion in Farm Bill program cuts over the next 10 years.

Their work represented Congress’ only bipartisan and

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bicameral committee recommendations to go to the Super Committee. They promised details of those recommendations by Nov. 1. The Super Committee is to begin work this month on trimming federal spending by $1.5 trillion dollars under a bipartisan agreement in August on deficit reduction.

“We came to an agreement last week on an amount we would cut out of our baseline on a bipartisan basis,” Peterson said Oct. 19. “This week, we are now working on fleshing out the details in order to get the legislation language to the Super Committee by Nov. 1. It this works, we could be writing the Farm Bill in the next two weeks.”

What the House and Senate ag committees are looking at would make the 2012 Farm Bill significantly different that recent past farm bills.

“There is an agreement amongst the four of us that we

38 Agriculture

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

would eliminate direct payments that were set up in the 1996 Farm Bill,” Peterson said. Joining him in signing an Oct. 14 letter to the Super Committee were Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairwoman and ranking member respectively of the Senate Agriculture committee.

Providing a safety net Eliminating direct payments represents cuts of about $5 billion a year, or $50 billion over 10 years, Peterson added. Some of that would be reallocated to a revenue program that will lay out over crop insurance.

“It will be a system where if you have a weather-related loss or prices drop, you’ll be protected,” he said. “If not, you wouldn’t get paid.”

Ag committee members are considering a plan that would replace disaster payments, the Counter Cyclical Program and the Acre Program from the 2008 bill with revenues freed up by the elimination of direct payments.

“There is a possibility we could have different programs for different crops that could avoid overpaying to commodities

Some crops are more sensitive to export markets. There also is still debate on what to base the revenue plans on — regional, county or individual farm price targets.

“Personally, I think it would be most efficient to use individual farm price triggers because some counties are so large (conditions can vary),” Peterson said.

Other proposals Rep. Collin Peterson

Nathan Winter

that don’t need it,” Peterson said.

Farmers in the Hutchinson appear to be preparing for such a plan, according to Nathan Winter, McLeod/Meeker County Extension Educator in agricultural production systems.

“Talking to farmers, there is a sense that some of the farm payments are not needed right now,” Winter said. “But what we don’t have right now is the loan-deficiency payment, which is a safety net. I think most would like to see some sort of safety net. People need to be able to plan for future crop seasons.”

Peterson said reaching a final agreement won’t be easy. Several commodity groups are pushing competing plans.

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Conservation programs within the existing Farm Bill have been coming under scrutiny, and Peterson said House and Senate ag committee members are looking to change the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP. “With (crop) prices higher, we are going to have less acres in the CRP,” he said. “We are hoping that the land that can be farmed stays in farming, and land that shouldn’t be farmed stays in the CRP.” Winter said farmers know conservation programs such as CRP “are under the microscope” of public scrutiny because of the bad economy and debate of the federal deficit.

Dairy programs also are facing a complete overhaul as committee leadership has reached agreement to include that in their bill. Gone is the price support system in favor of making the whole dairy system

more market-oriented, but provided with a margin protection system, Peterson said. ”There is still a debate over big vs. small dairy operation,” he added. “One proposal is for those with 250 cows or less to get a little better deal on the margin protection.”

The proposed plan also would replace the Milk Income Loss Contract program.

Leaders of the ag committee believe getting the Super Committee a bill that has bipartisan support in both houses of Congress gives the Farm Bill a leg up in gaining overall approval in the final federal deficit reduction plant, Peterson said.

“But there is no guarantee the Super Committee will be successful,” he added.

“We believe a good defense is a good offense. We know they are going to cut agriculture in the Super Committee.”

The hope is, he added, that by coming in with more cuts ($23 billion) than would be automatically enacted if the Super Committee fails, agriculture will be spared even more drastic cuts in what is called the sequestration process later.

Winter said the public needs to understand that the Farm Bill encompasses a lot more than just commodity payments.

“It almost should be called a food, fiber and fuel bill than a farm bill,” he said.

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 39

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Incidence of Goss’ wilt increases in state DISEASE KILLS LEAF TISSUE, CAN CAUSE YIELD LOSSES OF 60 BUSHELS PER ACRE

By DEAN MALVICK University of Minnesota Extension orn producers in Minnesota have historically had few widespread and significant problems with leaf diseases, in contrast to most major Midwestern corn-producing states. A leaf and stalk disease on corn called Goss’s leaf blight and wilt (or just Goss’s wilt) has been increasing in Minnesota since 2009.

This disease, appearing as large elongated tan lesions with irregular margins, kills leaf tissue. Dark green spots (“freckles”) and shiny patches of dried bacterial ooze develop in the lesions, and severe stalk infection can occur. See the University of Minnesota Extension’s Crops Disease website for Goss’s wilt photos at

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www.extension.umn.edu/go/1080.

Goss’s wilt has been known in Nebraska since 1969 and in the past few years has spread across the Midwestern Corn Belt.

This disease was first confirmed at two locations in Minnesota in 2009, although it likely appeared a year or two before this.

Goss’s wilt was reported in about two dozen fields scattered across southern Minnesota in 2010, and now in 2011 has been found in many more fields, especially in the southern and central parts of the state. Fortunately, it has caused minor damage and is unlikely to reduce yields significantly in most fields.

This can be an important disease that is capable of causing yield losses of at least 60 bushels per acre in Minnesota. We cannot predict the seriousness of Goss’s wilt in any particular field in the future, but there are a few facts that should be considered.

Goss’s wilt is caused by a bacterial pathogen called Clavibacter that survives from year to year in infected corn residue.

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Goss’s wilt appears as large, elongated tan leisons with irregular margins. storms. Goss’s wilt tends to be more common in corn-on-corn fields, although it also occurs in fields that have been rotated.

Fungicides are not effective for manage-

ment of Goss’s wilt. Good options available for disease management include crop rotation, planting hybrids with resistance to this disease, and management of corn residue. Given the relatively low known risk of severe Goss’s wilt developing in most fields next year, management options for this disease must be considered carefully and balanced with other factors to be managed to optimize yield and profitability in each field.

A University of Minnesota research team, with funding assistance from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, has begun a project aimed at improving the management and diagnosis of Goss’s wilt.

More information and photos of Goss’s wilt and other crop diseases can be found on Extension’s Crop Diseases website at www.extension.umn.edu/cropdiseases.

For more educational resources on corn production in Minnesota, visit Extension’s corn website at www.extension.umn.edu/ corn.

Dean Malvick is a plant pathologist with University of Minnesota Extension.

Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Agriculture 41

New varieties help wheat farmers look ahead SELECTION PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE IN MANAGING WEATHER, MARKET RISKS

By JOCHUM WIERSMA University of Minnesota Extension 011 was a challenging growing season for wheat. Delayed planting, a hot and humid July, Fusarium head blight and bacterial leaf streak took their toll on the crop.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service numbers bear this out in the Sept. 30 Annual Small Grains Summary. Minnesota’s average hard red spring wheat yield declined by 9 bushels (16 percent) from last year’s average of 55 bushels per acre.

The only bright spot has to be that much of the HRSW produced contained higher grain protein compared to the previous

2

three years, eliminating the steep discounts for below par (14 percent) grain protein contents at the elevator.

Projected record-high prices for corn and soybeans might discourage growers from using acreage for wheat after this disappointing growing season. How can wheat growers respond to this so they can look forward to growing wheat next year?

First, the 2011 growing season stressed once more the importance of planting date. Delayed planting past the optimum window is more punishing for the cool season annual grasses such as wheat, barley and oats than it is for soybeans and corn. Beyond planting date, it stresses the importance that variety selection is an important tool to manage weather and market risks.

The University of Minnesota released two new HRSW varieties this spring.

“Rollag” has a unique combination of strong straw and the highest-available resistance to Fusarium head blight. Rollag’s pedigree includes Ada and a scabresistant Canadian line. It is a medium-

maturity variety with high yield potential, and above-average protein and test weight. The variety is also moderately resistance to leaf diseases.

“Prosper,” developed at North Dakota State University, is the first-ever joint release with the University of Minnesota.

Prosper is a sister line of Faller and has, overall, a similar performance to Faller, including the good rating against Fusarium head blight. Under Minnesota conditions, Prosper may even show a slight increase in yield, test weight and grain protein when compared to Faller, which has been the most popular variety in the past two years with approximately 30 percent of the HRSW acreage.

For more information about agricultural production of small grains, visit www.smallgrains.org, a website from University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers.

Jochum Wiersma is a small-grains specialist with University of Minnesota Extension.

New wheat varieties offer resistance to disease, as well as above-average protein and test weight.

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Hutchinson Leader/Litchfield Independent Review

November 7, 2011

Assistance for weather-damaged crops armers who lost crops or had poorer quality crops due to adverse weather this year can apply for federal assistance.

Julie Welter, McLeod County executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, said farmers with 2011 crop losses can sign up for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments — or SURE — program in the fall of 2012.

However, farmers should have accept-

F

able quality test documentation ready when they apply. Welter urged people who believe their quality for a specific crop is less than the county average to consider having the crop tested. Quality issues might include low test weight, high moisture, low protein or other factors.

If forage and grain crops are produced for feed on the farm, quality tests and production determinations should be performed before feeding. Producers who intend on storing crops until Jan. 1, 2012, may want to consider having the entire

crop measured and tested.

The quantity of production associated with the quality test must be identified and determined by a third party. Documentation submitted to support a producer’s quality loss must be verifiable and contain specific production information related to the quality affected crop.

Acceptable third-party documentation includes: sales evidence that shows a reduction in price or grade, tests from a state university or

approved lab, and actual measurements or appraisals

by FSA, Risk Management Agency or reinsured companies.

Unacceptable documentation includes: certifications, estimates, producer ledgers, liquid propane gas receipts, and combine monitor printouts.

For more information, call the McLeod County Farm Service Agency at 320-8645178, or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.

Minnesota corn growers elect new president innesota Corn Growers Association board of directors held annual elections at its most recent meeting and voted for officers to lead the grassroots, farmer organization.

John Mages of Belgrade was elected president. Other top officers are Tom Haag

recently serving as vice president for the organization.

“The single most important issue now facing farmers is what’s going to happen to the next farm bill,” said Mages. “What kind of protection will the farmer have if there is a collapse in prices or a collapse in yield? What kind of bill will help Middle America stay healthy? We need a viable

safety net that can be successfully maintained within current federal budgetary constraints.”

MCGA represents 6,000 farmer members and strives to educate the public about the issues that impact farmers and the role farmers play in bringing food, fiber and energy products to the consumer.

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of Eden Valley, vice president; Ryan Buck of Goodhue was elected for a second term as treasurer; Bruce Peterson of Northfield will serve as secretary. Their terms began Oct. 1 and run through Sept. 30, 2012.

Mages, 54, raises corn and soybeans on his farm in Belgrade, in Stearns County.

He has been involved in leadership positions with MCGA for nearly six years, most

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November 7, 2011

Agriculture 43

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44 Agriculture

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November 7, 2011