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How Can You Improve
FARM SAFETY? You can start by
increasing your awareness of farming hazards and making a conscious effort to prepare for emergency situations including fires, vehicle accidents, electrical shocks from equipment and wires, and chemical exposures. Be especially alert to hazards that may affect children and the elderly. Minimize hazards by carefully selecting the products you buy to ensure that you provide good tools and equipment. Always use seat belts when operating tractors, and establish and maintain good housekeeping practices. Chris Nelson General Manager
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Here are some other steps you can take to reduce illnesses and injuries on the farm: 1
Read and follow instructions in equipment operator’s manuals and on product labels.
5
Make sure that guards on farm equipment are replaced after maintenance.
2
Inspect equipment routinely for problems that may cause accidents.
6
3
Discuss safety hazards and emergency procedures with your workers.
Review and follow instructions in material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and on labels that come with chemical products and communicate information on these hazards to your workers.
4
Install approved rollover protective structures, protective enclosures, or protective frames on tractors.
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Humane housing for livestock INSIDE THIS ISSUE On the cover
Stahl, Powerful Advocate.......................... 10
SD Hail Storm..................................................... 13
Features
Humane Housing.............................................................. 3 Explaining Granges........................................................... 4 Raising Pigs........................................................................ 5 Farm to Table..................................................................... 7 Facts & Figures.................................................................. 8 Ag & Econ.......................................................................... 9 Organic Benefits..............................................................16 Ethanol: Supply & Demand............................................17 Publisher JO N I H A R M S Editor L U K E H AG EN Advertising Director LO R I E H A N S EN Layout Designer JEN PH I L L I PS South Dakota Farm & Ranch is an agricultural publication dedicated to informing SD and Midwest area farmers & ranchers about current topics and news. This publication fits the niche of our unique farmers and ranchers of the Midwest, and the diverseness we have in our area. Although the Missouri River divides our state, we are all South Dakotans and thank the land for supporting us each and every day. Our readers may be livestock ranchers or row crop farmers, and everywhere in between, however, we all have a common goal in mind. We feed and support the growing population, and want the next generation to find that same love and support that agriculture can offer. We’re all South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers’ and when you advertise in South Dakota Farm & Ranch, you are immersing your company, product, and service into a growing community of dedicated farmers and ranchers. Welcome to South Dakota Farm & Ranch! To subscribe to this FREE publication, contact South Dakota Farm & Ranch.
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By Mitchell Republic Consumers depend on various agricultural producers to provide the fruits, vegetables and meat and dairy products they rely on for sustenance. The conditions in which livestock are sometimes housed and cared for is a cause of concern for many such consumers. However, farmers who understand that their livelihoods depend on the health of their animals often do their best to keep their livestock healthy and comfortable. Animal agriculture is evolving as animal scientists, veterinarians and farmers seek ways to provide for animal health and welfare. At the same time, farmers are seeking ways to minimize the negative impact these changes can have on employees and the environment. INDOOR HOUSING Data published in 2016 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that indoor housing protects livestock from harsh external environments and serves to decrease exposure to parasites and diseases spread by insects, wildlife and other vectors. Although some are quick to say that outdoor living is better and indoor conditions can be unsanitary, many studies have proven the opposite. Increased prevalence of infectious disease and parasites are well-known risks associated with outdoor housing of livestock, says the USDA. This has been proven by studying both indoor and outdoor chickens, as well as swine. BATTERY CAGES Many people are concerned about the welfare of hens spending time in battery cages. These cages prevent hens from fighting with one another, but they also put the birds in very tight quarters. Battery cages were often coveted because their sloped floors allowed clean eggs to roll away into collection areas, making the process less labor-intensive. Farmers are trying to find a balance between keeping eggs clean and birds safe while providing humane living conditions without affecting the cost of eggs. In some areas, such as the European Union, battery cages are no longer in use. Egg-laying hens in Canada also may find battery cages a thing of the past thanks to the a new NFACC code for the care and handling of Canada’s hens. In addition, Publix, Wal-Mart, Costco, Denny’s, and more than 20 other major companies have stopped buying eggs from producers who use battery cages. GROUP HOUSING Veal production has long been a point of contention among animal welfare activists. The traditional option has been keep calves alone in “veal crates,” which are small and provide limited movement. Many veal farmers have slowly transitioned away from veal crates, says the organization Animal Smart. Group pens and indoor barns are climate-controlled and allow calves to stay together. Some farms even afford the calves some outdoor time for fresh air. Group housing is more social and less restrictive for the calves. According to the American Veal Association, veal farmers spent more than $50 million over 10 years to transition to these group housing systems. Calves can stand, stretch, lie down, groom themselves, and benefit from year-round ventilation to thrive. Furthermore, milk-fed calves raised for veal are raised until age 22 weeks, and marketed at 500 pounds, which is much older and larger than many people likely know, according to AVA. Great strides are being made to ensure that livestock are provided humane living conditions and environments to keep them comfortable and safe. «
October 2021 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 3
Explaining granges and how they affect rural residents By Metro Creative ocal granges serve as a center of rural life in many agricultural communities. People who live outside such communities may be unfamiliar with granges, including what they are. The most basic definition of a grange is an outlying farm or land with a manor building on the property. When first developed in 12th century Britain, granges were properties that may have been owned by a lord, who chose to live on the property or leased it to others. Other granges were held by the church, mainly by monasteries. The grange definition and system was modified when the concept was
L
brought to North America. After the Civil War in the United States, Oliver Kelley, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, realized while touring the region that poor farmers in the South bore the brunt of the war’s devastation. Kelley noted outdated farming practices that were disorganized and largely ineffectual. He considered an organization that could bring farmers together across the country with a spirit of mutual agricultural cooperation. Out of this idea the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (also called The Grange) was established as a nonprofit organization in 1867. The goal was helping rural American families
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with a strong emphasis on issues related to agriculture. The first grange (Grange #1) was founded in 1868 in Fredonia, New York. Other granges soon sprung up across the country. The organization operates on four tiers: community, county or district, state, and national level. It is the oldest American agricultural advocacy group with a national scope. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it has membership in the hundreds of thousands. According to The Grange, their mission is to “strengthen individuals, families and communities through grassroots action, service, education, advocacy, and agriculture awareness.” In addition to agricultural
advocacy, The Grange has been involved with a number of legislative and practical initiatives. For example, it currently is aiming to find ways to reduce the cost of Medicare as well as helping to reform the U.S. Postal Service. It also is advocating for open auctions of spectrum frequencies used for wireless technology to provide greater access to high-speed wireless technology to rural areas. Various Grange halls and centers are located across the country, and these facilities host events and provide gathering spots for families. Tracing their origins to 12th century Britain, granges remain a central component of agricultural life in the 21st century. «
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THE BASICS OF RAISING
PIGS
M
By Metro Creative any people subscribe to the notion that “everything is better with bacon.” Imagine being able to control the quality and flavor of pork products, and knowing just what went into producing delicious bacon? In an era of growing uncertainty about commercially produced food, many agriculturally inclined people are raising livestock right on their properties, and small-scale pig farms can be a successful venture. Despite pigs’ reputation as dirty animals, the animal resource PetHelpful indicates they are actually one of the cleanest farm animals. Pigs tend to wallow in mud only if they do not have proper shade and a clean, steady water supply to regulate their body temperature. Furthermore, giving pigs plenty of space to roam will enable them to keep dry, clean and cool. Pens should be large enough so pigs can sleep and eat on one end and use the other end for soiling. Pigs also are intelligent animals that will adapt to routine. This means it may be easier to care for pigs than some other farm animals. Even though pigs can grow to be quite large, they do not need to live on an expansive farm. Many pigs can live quite well on an acre if their pen and foraging areas are rotated periodically. Data from the past 50 years shows that today’s pig farms use less land and other resources to produce one pound of pork, according to the National Pork Board. Therefore, raising pigs can be a sustainable undertaking. According to Mother Earth News, when selecting pig breeds for a pig farm startup, these are popular as lean-meat producers and shouldn’t be hard to find: Yorkshire, Duroc-Jersey, Berkshire, Hampshire, PolandChina, Chester White and Tamworth. Choose sows (females) or barrows (castrated males) for the best-tasting meat. Also, keep in mind that pigs are social animals, and even though the average family will do just fine with one pig’s worth of meat, pigs do better if raised in pairs or more. Pigs need a varied diet to thrive. Diets should include grain, milk, fruits, vegetables, and greens from pasture. Experts suggest novices ask a veterinarian or another pig farmer about feeding. A family garden or bartering with other families nearby for food materials can keep feeding costs minimal. Many pigs can be butchered by the age of six or seven months. After pigs reach that age, they begin to grow quite large and become a much larger investment of time and money. Pig farming can be a worthwhile venture. More in-depth information on raising pigs is available at porkgateway.org/resource/introductionto-raising-pigs/. «
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THE VARIOUS BENEFITS OF
FARM-TO-TABLE By Metro Creative Few things are more satisfying than biting into a fresh tomato right from the garden or seasoning a meal with herbs picked from a windowsill greenhouse. Restaurants recognize the value of such experiences, and more and more are relying on locally sourced products in their kitchens. The farm-to-table movement is not new, but it has gained momentum as consumers become increasingly enamored with the flavor and environmental impact of locally sourced foods. The National Restaurant Association found that farm-to-table food was one of its top 10 trends for 2015. Furthermore, the group says that one in five consumers are willing to pay more for local food, and 41 percent admit that locally sourced ingredients influence their decisions when choosing where to dine. Newcomers to the farm-to-table dining experience may not understand all the fuss surrounding this popular trend. The following are some of the key benefits of farm-to-table.
► PEAK FRESHNESS AND RIPENESS: Local produce ripens on the plant and can be harvested at the last possible minute before it turns up on a plate. This helps ensure that it contains the highest amount of nutrients and flavor, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Food that has to travel further is often picked well before it is ready, ripening on the way to stores or other vendors. ► BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Food that needn’t travel far before reaching diners’ plates saves roughly 500 gallons of diesel fuel to haul produce a distance of 1,500 miles. This conserves fossil fuels and prevents harmful emissions from entering the atmosphere. ► SUPPORTS NEIGHBORING FARMS: Supporting farm-to-table restaurants and other eateries keeps business local in two different ways. It not only benefits local restaurants, but it also directly supports neighboring farms, fisheries and other suppliers.
► ACCESSIBILITY TO SEASONAL CHOICES: Farm-to-table eating provides a wide variety of in-season foods. This can translate into tastier foods because they are grown and harvested during their optimal growing season. ► REDUCES FACTORY FARMING: According to the informational resource powered by Overstock.com, farm-to-table and local farming can reduce reliance on large, profit-driven corporations that may focus on maximum production over animal health and welfare. Local farms may be more inclined to treat their animals well and institute sustainable practices. ► LEARN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY: A person might live in an area and never know that a local vineyard is in the vicinity or that a producer of straight-from-the-hive honey is nearby. Exploring farm-to-table resources can open people’s eyes to local businesses doing great work in and around their communities. Farm-to-table is a popular movement that people are embracing for various reasons. «
October 2021 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 7
Facts and figures on farm safety
By Metro Creative According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agriculture is among the most hazardous industries. Fatal and nonfatal injuries pose a significant threat to farmers, including the many young people who work on farms. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in an effort to promote productive and safe workplaces, supports programs that conduct research on injuries associated with agriculture as well as pesticide exposure, pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss, and stress. Studying the results of such research, compiled by NIOSH, may compel veteran and novice farmers to further emphasize safety measures and promote practices that can reduce risk for accidents on the farm.
► Estimates indicate that there were roughly 2.1 million full-time workers employed in production agriculture in 2017 and between 1.4 and 2.1 million hired crop workers employed annually on crop farms in the United States. ► An estimated 893,000 young people under 20 years of age resided on farms in 2014. More than half of those young people performed farm work, and an additional 266,000 youth were hired to work on farms in 2014. ► Each day, roughly 100 agricultural workers suffer injuries that cause them to miss time at work.
► In 2014, 12,000 youth were injured on farms, and 4,000 of those youths could trace their injuries to farm work. ► In 2016, 417 farmers and farm workers died from work-related injuries. Tractor overturns and other transportation incidents were the leading cause of death for these farmers and farm workers. ► A rollover protection system, or ROPS, is a structure, similar to rollcages and rollbars in cars and trucks, intended to protect farm equipment operators from injuries caused by overturns or rollovers. NIOSH notes that an ROPS is the most effective way to prevent overturn deaths. Despite that, in 2014, only 62 percent of tractors used on farms in the U.S. were equipped with an ROPS.
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8 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH October 2021
Farmers don’t cut corners, neither do we
AGRICULTURE AND THE ECONOMY
M
By Metro Creative
any people rely on the agriculture industry for their foods, but think little of the impact that agriculture has on the larger economy. However, data indicates that agriculture can serve a significant role in the process of solidifying the economy of a country, particularly developing nations. Agriculture also can contribute to the economic prosperity of advanced countries. IPP Media points out that the economic history of many developed countries indicates that agricultural prosperity contributed heavily to their economic advancement. When the basic food supply is strong, the national economy can be strong as well. Particularly in the early days of the United States, farming held a crucial place in establishing the American economy and culture, and still shapes the country today. Many states find that farming and other agricultural pursuits contribute much to the local and national economy. For example, new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Extention show that agriculture is a powerful economic force in Wisconsin. Agricultural businesses help generate more than $83 billion in activity and have created more than 400,000 jobs in that state. The public should not disregard how strong a factor agriculture can be in establishing a strong economic environment. Safeguarding agricultural jobs and the agricultural industry is crucial to economic stability. «
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October 2021 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 9
BRIDGEWATER’S
SCOTT STAHL A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR CORN GROWERS
Matt Gade / Republic
McCook County farmer Scott Stahl is currently the President of South Dakota Corn Growers Association. By Matt Gade Mitchell Republic BRIDGEWATER — Scott Stahl likes being a part of something bigger than himself. That’s what drives the Bridgewater farmer’s active membership with the South Dakota Corn Growers Association. He is serving out his first term as president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association with the possibility of a second term in 2022. Stahl, a Corn Growers member since 2013 and on the board since 2017, said his upbringing of leaving the world better for the next generation is why he’s taken such an active role in the association. “It’s just kind of neat to be part of something like that, where you have relations with industry and with policymakers and are able to hopefully make it better for the next generation than it was for mine,” he said. Stahl grew up on his family’s farm west of Bridgewater in rural McCook County. He spent several years in the financial industry as an
Life is full, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “I’m blessed with my wife and healthy kids. I enjoy what I do. – SCOTT STAHL ag lender for First National Bank in Sioux Falls, but the farm life came calling. He said it’s that background, working with financial institutions, that have helped him in advocating for policies that benefit farmers. “Being a part of the professional world, I just wanted something to continue to challenge me, not that farming isn’t challenging, but something to continue to challenge me and working with policymakers. I just decided to take that next
step,” he said. Stahl credits a lot of that extra step to his family, which includes his parents who continue to work the farm and his wife who takes care of the five kids when Stahl is occupied with his Corn Growers duties. “Life is full, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “I’m blessed with my wife and healthy kids. I enjoy what I do.” Stahl’s work ethic toward the SDCGA hasn’t gone unnoticed
by some of South Dakota’s top legislative leaders including Congressman Dusty Johnson. “(Stahl) is such a dedicated guy. When people make a decision, like Scott has, to start serving their state and national associations, it’s not like there’s a huge paycheck that comes with that,” Johnson said. “These are people who are giving away time to family, they’re giving away time from work. And there is a cost for that. It’s a beautiful gift that Scott has been willing to make to the producers of this state and the country.” While Stahl’s background in the financial industry means he knows numbers, he knows it’s the personal stories that have a bigger impact on convincing policy leaders. “He has really put a face on some of these discussions when you start talking about, ‘Oh, this tax policy will hurt people,’” Johnson said. “When Scott comes and tells specific stories about how it will impact specific producers and families, it’s a far more powerful message.”
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On the family farm, Stahl said about 60 percent of the operation is corn and soybeans with the rest being livestock. As with most farmers, not being just focused on one operation, Stahl is always willing to cooperate with other agricultural associations with advocating for policies and initiatives that will benefit all organizations involved. One of Stahl’s top priorities has been advocating for year-round ethanol in biofuels that helps in energy independence and a cleaner carbon air presence. Stahl said that given ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, is a renewable energy source and is only growing in demand internationally, gaining more market availability would be positive for everyone involved. The often-overlooked benefit of ethanol, Stahl said is the distiller’s grain byproduct of making ethanol. It’s a protein that is used in cattle feed operations. Getting farmers a fair price for carbon credits and fighting against the elimination of stepped-up basis capital gains taxes that could prove too costly to the family farm are also focus areas. Eliminating the stepped-up basis capital gains tax is often considered a second death tax. Taxing the value of the whole operation on the difference from the time it was purchased to the time of the transfer to another family member. Something that the Biden Administration has been talking about since coming into office. “I am a fourth-generation farmer here in McCook County. And when you look at the transfer of a farm from one generation to the next, there’s hurdles, challenges
there,” Stahl said. “Farmers work very hard to invest in their farm. They don’t have your typical 401K or retirement plan. “Their retirement is their farm. They put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Anytime you have to come up with the cash needed to pay a tax, it would really limit operations ability to transfer to the next generation.” U.S. Sen. John Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the tax would be detrimental to all family farm operations and is glad leaders like Stahl have spoken out against it. “When there’s a death in the family and the operations being passed down, (the tax) is going to be enormously consequential in a very negative way for agricultural operators in South Dakota,” Thune said. “So (Stahl’s) advocacy on that is going to be important trying to defeat it. And I hope that in the end, we can defeat it. But if it’s going to take the kind of grassroots advocacy that Scott brings to the table.” As Scott enjoys his time on the SDCGA board as president, he’s appreciative of the path his family has taken through the generations. Stahl grew up on the farm with his grandparents running the operation, then to his parents, where now he hopes to leave it better for his kids. “I just can’t imagine the change (grandpa) saw, starting out in the ‘30s to where we’re at now,” he said. “I’m so thankful for my dad and my grandpa, the challenges they faced and that they overcame to give me the opportunity I have today because it is the cliché - ‘If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.’” «
SEED
For Farmers. By Farmers.
Matt Gade / Republic
At left; Scott Stahl, President of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, and Congressman Dusty Johnson listen to Kevin Scott, President of the American Soybean Association, during a roundtable discussion in June at the Scott Family Farms south of Valley Springs.
Matt Gade / Republic
Scott Stahl, President of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, listens as Congressman Dusty Johnson answers a question as Johnson met with leaders from the South Dakota Corn Growers Association and South Dakota Soybean Association for a roundtable discussion in June south of Valley Springs.
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The incredibly strong land market of 2020 is continuing into 2021 in South Dakota. The current market is rewarding landowners choosing to sell at an impressive rate. I would love to talk to you about how you can take advantage of the current market. CURRENT LAND MARKET CONDITIONS • Strong buyer activity driven in part by historically low interest rates. • Rise in commodity prices has increased interest in income producing land. • Stable land values for hunting, farmland and rural homes. • Low available land inventory due to increased demand.
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12 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH October 2021
9/3/21 1:43 PM
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
A field of corn at Coteau View Hunts and Kennels LLC, of Conde, South Dakota, on Sept. 17, 2021, shows corn “volunteer” seedlings that have come up after a punishing hail storm went through on Aug. 28, 2021. The corn was more than 7 feet tall before the storm.
STORM’S SOFTBALL-SIZED HAIL PUMMELED CROPS, DECIMATED WILDLIFE By Mikkel Pates Agweek CONDE, S.D. — The storm on Aug. 28, 2021, changed everything for Bryan and Bryce Sombke’s wildlife and hunting farm operation east of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Their Coteau View Hunts and Kennels was dead center for a hail storm that brought baseball-sized hail across northeast South Dakota. The worst of the baseball-sized hail went in a 2½-mile wide swath through northern South Dakota — from south of Ipswich to Summit. Officially, the National Weather Service called it a “supercell” with tennis- to baseball-size stones. Actually, the agency said the area of 1-inch diameter hail or greater ran 225 miles, stretching from Lake
Oahe to central Minnesota. The storm lasted six hours, from 2:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The average width of the severe hail was around 6 miles to 7 miles, the agency said, with the peak around 11 miles wide. Winds were clocked at 50 mph to 70 mph. Observers said the storm was similar timing for a 1984 storm that toppled a television antenna and a 2018 storm that brought 90 mph wind gusts. But this one was worse.
The ‘Ring alarms’
“It’s humbling, to say the least,” said Bryan Sombke, who runs the operation with his look-alike twin, Bryce, 34. The Sombkes help their older brother, Brett, and their father, Doug, who operate a 2,000-
acre grain and livestock farm. Doug also is president of the South Dakota Farmers Union. In 2008, the twins launched Coteau View Hunts on a nearby 500-acre farm. They focus on establishing wildlife-friendly habitat and Conservation Reserve Program grass. They guide pheasant and waterfowl hunts, both on the wildlife land and the family farm. They also train and breed “pointing Labrador” dogs — labs selected for the natural instinct to “point” rather than “flush” birds. The pheasant hunts account for about 40% of their business, while the dogs are about 60%. “We farm for the birds, mainly we use that land for the birds,” Bryan said. They raise corn and sorghum
food plots along roosting areas, tree rows. “It’s maybe 50% ag land,” he said. When the storm came through, the young Sombke men were three hours away at Freeman, South Dakota, for a dove hunt test. Freeman is about 50 miles west and south of Sioux Falls. “Early in the morning we woke up to our ‘Ring cameras’ going off,” Bryan said, referring to the popular security system. The alarms were designed to notify them of breakins on buildings and vehicles back home. For about 20 minutes the alarms continued to go off because the hail kept hitting them.
STORM: Page 14
October 2021 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 13
STORM From Page 13
“We’d silence them, and it’d come right back on again,” he said. It was the first hint that “something extraordinary” had happened.
Divots everywhere
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
Any vehicle outside that had comprehensive insurance was “totaled” from baseballsized hail that fell Aug. 28, 2021, according to Bryan Sombke, who with his twin brother, Bryce, owns Coteau View Hunts and Kennels LLC, of Conde, South Dakota. Photo taken near Conde, South Dakota, Sept. 17, 2021.
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
The hail storm on Aug. 28, 2021, left 2-inch-deep holes in the soil that were still apparent on Sept. 17, 2021, at the Coteau View Hunts and Kennels, operated by Bryan and Bryce Sombke. Photo taken near Conde, South Dakota.
“We had no idea the (storm) system was coming, otherwise we’d have put the vehicles away,” Bryan said. “It was something you read about, not something that happens to you.” Back home, their father, Doug, surveyed the damage about two hours later. When they got home, they found that only a half-section of sorghum/CRP that was spared. About 200 acres of corn had been standing about 7 to 8 feet tall and now is about 2 feet. Some ears shelled out. On a Sept. 17, 2021, tour, “volunteer” corn was coming up in the rows. Young, tender trees will need to be replanted — primarily plum and Russian olive. The CRP grass that stood 4 to 5 tall prior to the storm was “mulched up,” looking like a rotary mower had gone through it. “It’s almost thatched the whole surface of the ground,” Bryan said. “Every square inch has a baseball-sized divot,” Bryan said. The Sombkes found holes punched through trailers, between baseball and softball size. “Perfect circles, right through aluminum trailers,” he said. Car windshields were shattered, straight through the cowling on the windshields. Dents all over. Everything needs a new roof. Four vehicles were fully insured, totaled. An old Dodge pickup with only liability insurance will stay pock-marked, with roof light fixtures simply caulked shut. Scott Krueger, who lives in Groton but farms near the Sombkes at Conde, said the storm went right through the center of his farm fields. “Over half of my crop is literally gone,” he said. Insurance adjusters didn’t have to get out of their vehicles. “We’ve had hail before, but pea to marble size,” Krueger said. His parents, Lyle and Lois Krueger, in their 90s, live on the farm, where hail broke through windows and bounced up and took out the TV screen. Since the storm, Krueger has seen a deer fawn wandering, as though missing its mother. A hawk was standing by the road, not moving when approached, as though it couldn’t fly.
Help from friends
Before the storm, the Sombkes had been optimistic about the 2021 hunt. The pheasant hatch season had been fantastic. The season, though dry, seemed to favor the birds. The Sombkes have always prided themselves on taking hunters within three miles of their lodge.
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Now, they’re faced with a “total wipeout” for wildlife. They found ten mature, dead whitetail deer does. One had been apparently knocked out, bludgeoned with holes punched through its side. “The birds suffered 100% death loss,” Bryan said. “It killed everything. Where you find one dead bird, you find ten to 20, where they were all roosted up for the night. They were killed right on the spot.” Most farms, of course, have crop insurance that artially compensates when events like this happen. Not wildlife. “When a storm like this comes through, we have no way to protect ourselves from that type of damage. And we’ve been lucky to never see anything like this, and now here we are,” Bryan said. “If I walked into an insurance office, asking for a plan to cover mortality on wild pheasants, they’re going to laugh me out the door.” But they’ll “rebuild.” “We’ll stock some birds,” Bryan said. “It’s a numbers game. We won’t have a high success rate, but you need to get something going. We need to get something going. It’ll be years until we’re back to what we know as ‘normal,’ but it’ll be something we have to deal with.” On Sept. 13, 2021, a friend set up a GoFundMe page which by Sept. 22, 2021, had raised $6,620 of a $10,000 goal to restore conservation acres, trees and birds. Coteau View will go ahead with their hunts. South Dakota’s “traditional” out-of-state season runs Oct. 16 to Jan. 31, 2022, with about 120 hunters from several states, as far away as Florida and Georgia. “We are in the process of reaching out to neighbors, family friends, just to try to find some land to conduct the (scheduled) hunts,” he said, adding, “You don’t have to go far to get out of this destruction.” They’ll put in a bit more CRP. They plan to place about 300 to 400 pheasant roosters this fall — if they can find them — and about 1,000 hens in the spring. They’ll place the birds for the hunters, but in part to re-establish the population. The birds cost about $15 each. With a three-bird-per-person limit, that’s a cost of $45 per day. Most hunters come for three to five days, so the costs add up quickly. If there’s a “silver lining” to a devastating storm, it’s that the damage will be a long term benefit for the CRP, much of which was planted at least ten years ago. The hail “completely destroyed” the mat of dead matter that builds up. “It’s down to bare dirt,” Bryan said. Producers often do light disking as “midterm management” for CRP. No need for that, now. «
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
The main barn at the Coteau View Hunts and Kennels LLC, of Conde, South Dakota, had some loose paint before the Aug. 28, 2021, hail storm. The baseball-sized ice chunks stripped the paint and loosened and knocked out nails. Photo taken Sept. 17, 2021.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service shows this “hail scar” satellite map imagery from the Aug. 28, 2021, “supercell” storm.
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
One of Coteau View Hunts and Kennels’ Conservation Reserve Program fields on Sept. 17, 2021, shows regrowth after being pulverized by baseball-sized hail on Aug. 28, 2021, with meandering water still standing from a 5½-inch rain that followed. Photo taken near Conde, South Dakota.
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October 2021 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 15
The benefits of organic agriculture By Metro Creative Modern consumers have more choices than ever before. Whether they’re buying appliances, books, clothing, or any of the myriad necessities of daily life, consumers have a wealth of products to choose from. An abundance of options also is available at the grocery store. That’s especially true in the produce aisle, where many stores have expanded their fresh fruit and vegetable offerings. That expansion reflects a growing preference among consumers for fresh products, including fresh produce. A 2018 report from the market research firm IRI and the Food Marketing Institute found that sales of fresh foods comprised just under 31 percent of food industry sales in 2017. Customers who prefer fresh fruits and vegetables to frozen alternatives may wonder if they should be even more selective when purchasing their favorite foods in the produce aisle. That decision may come down to whether or not to purchase organic produce. Organic produce can be significantly more expensive than non-organic fruits and vegetables, so it’s
understandable if budget-conscious consumers cannot afford to go entirely organic. However, it’s important that consumers recognize the many ways that organic agriculture is having a positive impact on the health of humans and the planet they call home. ► ORGANIC PRODUCE REDUCES EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES AND ANTIBIOTICS. UC Davis Health notes that organic produce has been proven to reduce consumers’ exposure to pesticides and antibiotics. That’s a significant benefit, as pesticide exposure has been shown to lead to neurodevelopmental issues and has been linked to higher cancer risk. Consumers shopping on budgets can pick and choose which organic foods they purchase, as UC Davis Health notes that certain foods have been shown to have higher pesticide residues than others. Apples, celery, grapes, spinach, strawberries, and tomatoes have high levels of pesticide residues, so choosing organic versions of these foods may be a wise choice. Avocados, broccoli, cabbage, and cantaloupe are some of the foods that typically have low levels of pesticide residue.
► ORGANIC AGRICULTURE REDUCES ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. The Organic Trade Association notes that synthetic pesticides and fertilizers used on some conventional farms can deplete the soil of valuable nutrients and increase environmental degradation. Organic farmers do not use such pesticides or fertilizers, instead utilizing such practices as composting, cover cropping and crop rotation, each of which can have positive, longterm effects on soil quality. ► ORGANIC AGRICULTURE BENEFITS LOCAL WILDLIFE. A 2015 study from researchers in Argentina that was published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment found that small mammals were more abundant around organic farms than conventional farms. That’s not just good for those mammals, but also the farmers, as small mammals can feed on insects that would otherwise adversely affect crops. Many grocery stores are increasing the availability of organic fruits and vegetables. Such foods can benefit human health as well as the health of the planet. «
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Squeezed by supply & demand Scarce corn, cheap ethanol has western North Dakota plants ‘in the jaws of a vise’
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By Mikkel Pates Agweek
RICHARDTON, N.D. — The 2021 drought has stressed ethanol producers across the Midwest, and it’s worse in western North Dakota, where ethanol plants are still unable to judge the size of the corn crop. Most local corn suppliers for Red Trail Energy LLC of Richardton, North Dakota, and Midwest AgEnergy LLC of Underwood, North Dakota, received less than 8 inches of seasonal rain, and 20 days of 100-degree temperatures. With the weather pushing corn production down, the companies are paying more for corn supplies and reaching out to corn by rail. Longer-term, both companies are working on adding to the environmental value of their ethanol by injecting carbon dioxide deep into the earth for long-term storage. Gerald Bachmeier is chief executive officer at Red Trail. The plant grinds 22 million bushels of corn a year and produces 65 million gallons of ethanol. It is owned by 938 investors, of whom 85% live in North Dakota. “This year, it’s going to be extreme, to get that there bushel,” Bachmeier said. North Dakota ethanol producers always compete with export shuttle-loading elevators that send corn to China and elsewhere. In recent years, 65% of the company’s corn has come from within 75DuringDutrhinisg ytheias ry’seaV r’as luVealueBoBnoannaznaza ssaalleess eevveenn t,t,thtehreeraerearmeorm e owraeys wtoayssavteo, inscaluvdei,nginc miles of the plant. There are “pockets” of over 100-bushel-per-acre 0% FIN NCGIN * Gan SH KO OFFFFEE ecetwNHeowllanHdoplrloandudctpsr.Yooduu’llcfitnsd.You 0%AFN INCAIN *d anC dA CA SHBBA AC CK RSRS onosenlescet lN production in that radius this year, but many acres were chopped for wH the besthtesabveisnt gssavoinfgsthoef thyeayreaor nonthteheNNeew Hoolllalannddtratcrtaocrtoarndaenqduipemqueniptmyoeun’vte yhoaud’vyeouhraedyeyo feed, not making 25 bushels to 30 bushels per acre. The company is bringing in more corn by rail. And they’re launchingon. Buot n.thBeustetho esffeerosffew rsow o n ’ t l a s t l o n g — V a emebceerm3b1e, r203211— rryso n’t last long—Valluuee BBonoannazna zeandesndDsecD , 2so02h1u— one plan to sequester carbon dioxide byproduct more than a mile into in today or visit nhoffers.com. in today or visit nhoffers.com. the earth, improving the value of their ethanol in California.
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Steaming along
A hundred mile drive to the northeast, Phil Coffin, serves as vice president of commodities and risk management for Midwest AgEnergy Group LLC. “We’re kind of caught in the jaws of a vise,” Coffin said, describing the corn and ethanol markets.
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ETHANOL: Page 18
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*For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2021, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions will apply. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2021 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
*For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See yo New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. Depending on payment ma*yFobr ecormeqmuericreiadl .usOefofenrlyg. CouosdtotmherropuagrthiciDpaeticoenmsubbejerc3t t1o, c2re0d2it1q,uaaltifipcaatritoinciapnadtianpgprNoveawl byHCoNllHanInddudsetraialel rCsapinitatlhAemUerniciateLdLCS. tSaeteesy.ouCr NpaHrtiIcnipdautinsgtrial C Red Trail Energy LLC of Richardton, North Dakota, started producing ethanol LLC standarNdewteHromllsandanddealceor nfodr idtieotanilss wanidll ealipgipblilyit.y Orefqfeuriresmuebnjtes.cNt otot acllhcaunstgoemeorsr ocraanpcpelilclaantitsonmawy iqthuaoluifyt fnoor ttihcise.raTteaxoer ste,rmfr.eDigehpet,ndsientg-uonp,mdoedleilv, eardyo, wandditio in 2007 and since has shifted energy sources and made local farmers attheir tachments not included in price. © 2021 CpaNyHmeInntdmuasytrbiealreAqumireedri.cOaffeLrLgCoo. dAtlhl rroiugghhtsDerceesmebrevre3d1., C20N2H1, Iant dpaurstitcriipaaltinCgaNpeitwalHaonlladndNdeewaleHrsoilnlatnhedUanrietedtraSdtaetems.aCrkNsH rInedguissttreiarleCdaipnitatlhAemUerniciated S other countries, owned by or licensed to CNHLLCIndstuansdtrairadl tNerm.Vs.,aintsd scounbdsitiidoniasriweisll oaprpalyf.fiOlifafeter ss.ubject to change or cancellation without notice. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or primary corn source. Now, they’re readying to inject and store carbon dioxide
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
before January 2021, and plan to market low-carbon, pharmaceutical ethanol. Photo taken Sept. 27, 2021, at Richardton, North Dakota.
attachments not included in price. © 2021 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
October 2021 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 17
ETHANOL From Page 17
National corn supply is tight, which means corn prices are high, while ethanol prices are soft. Blue Flint must attract production from farther away but the “cost of that corn may or may not be a price that allows us to operate an acceptable margin,” he said. Built in 2008, Blue Flint uses “waste heat” steam supply from Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station plant. The plant served by the Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western Railroad, a regional line that leases track from Canadian Pacific Railway. When Blue Flint was getting started Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western initially supplied almost 100% of the plant’s corn. The company later added a plant at Spiritwood, North Dakota, supplied by BNSF Railroad. Each of Midwest AgEnergy’s plants grinds about 25 million bushels of corn. They both market ethanol through Harvestone Commodities LLC, based near Nashville, Tennessee. Midwest AgEnergy ethanol goes primarily to refiners in Canada. Instead of the natural gas most of their competitors use, the Blue Flint Underwood plant uses the coal-fired electrical plant steam to heat fermenters and distiller’s grain dryers. It produces about 75 million gallons of ethanol per year. The company sells ethanol to California, where state standards require low-carbon fuel. Midwest AgEnergy competes with other low-carbon ethanol producers. It sometimes sells ethanol at a loss to receive the carbon credits.
Buying local
In recent years, Blue Flint has gotten 75% to 80% of its corn locally. With the drought, Coffin would be “thrilled” if local corn supplies half of its corn needs. To keep its plant running, Midwest AgEnergy a month ago paid up to 90 cents a bushel over Chicago futures, prior to the new crop showing up. (Others were paying $1.50 per bushel over futures price.) They were paying a “plus basis” of 40 cents a bushel on Sept. 27, 2021, with a “positive basis” of 40 cents, plus free drying. For perspective, Blue Flint normally would be paying 40 cents to 50 cents per bushel “negative basis” — a difference of 80 cents per bushel to $1 per bushel. One of their suppliers is Aaron Celley, who farms with his father, Roland, at Regan, North Dakota. They market all of their corn through Blue Flint. The Celleys typically produce a 100- to 140-bushels-peracre yield. This year, it’s looking like 50 to 80 bushels per acre, Aaron said. To respond to the basis, the Celleys tried harvesting corn at
25-26% moisture, but on Sept. 27, he was expecting 20-22% moisture. Overall, Coffin estimates local producers’ yield averages will be 50 to 60 bushels per acre. He thinks statewide, up to 30% of the state’s corn acres will be harvested for feed, versus a typical 7% to 8%. As of Sept. 20, Canadian Pacific Railway responded to a Blue Flint request to publish a freight rate, allowing the plant in Underwood to provide access to corn in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Midwest AgEnergy hadn’t committed to any shipments, as of Sept. 28. The CP source will be a “fall back” when the local source of corn is tapped out, Coffin said. Further, Midwest AgEnergy earlier this year announced its intent to store carbon dioxide in the ground to qualify for low-carbon markets, similar to the Red Trail efforts. If all goes well, the project could be completed in the next two years.
Back to future
Red Trail, which started producing ethanol in 2007, has only “railedin” one trainful of corn since Bachmeier became manager in 2010. In a normal year, they buy more than 95% of their corn directly from farmers, with the balance from elevators that don’t load shuttle trains. Bachmeier thinks this year’s yields will end up averaging 60 to 70 bushels per acre. “We will have to source corn from the east, and it will increase our transportation costs,” he said, mentioning the Red River Valley or Minnesota, or Illinois. He expects extra basis will add $11 million to $16 million to their costs. In 2020, the industry was hit hard by the COVID crisis, which reduced traveling. Red Trail still ended up with a good year. When basis levels shot corn bids up to $8 per bushel per acre, Red Trail “chose not to buy that corn,” Bachmeier said. Instead they ran their plant on corn they’d already sourced and in July took an extended maintenance shut-down. They resumed production in August and in September have slowed production to match the corn that has been reasonably priced.
Carbon capture, storage
Looking beyond the drought, Red Trail is spending $35 million on new projects for carbon storage and pharmaceutical markets. If the project goes as expected, it’ll be completed no later than Jan. 15, 2022. The company plans to liquefy CO2 and pump it more than a mile into the earth from a point on their property. That will lower Red Trail’s “Carbon Intensity” score of 68 to a range of about 38 to 40. Most ethanol plants are run from the 70s down to 58, depending on technology. Depending on the market for carbon, the low CI score should
18 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH October 2021
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
Gerald Bachmeier, chief executive officer of Red Trail Energy LLC, of Richardton, North Dakota, on Sept. 27, 2021, is flanked by construction of the floor of a building that will hold carbon capture equipment, which he hopes will help the ethanol maker’s countermove economics of acquiring corn during a drought phase. Photo taken Sept. 27, 2021, at Richardton, North Dakota.
Mikkel Pates / Agweek
A blowing “tube character” flaps at right, protecting distillers grain feed piles from bird depredation at the Midwest AgEnergy Blue Flint plant at Underwood, North Dakota, on Sept. 27, 2021. The plant is supplied with steam from the coal-fired electricity plant at left. Photo taken Sept. 27, 2021, at Underwood, North Dakota. be worth 34 cents to 35 cents a gallon, or about $1 per bushel of corn. Red Trail also invested in pharmaceutical-grade ethanol, used for things like hand sanitizer. Red Trail is a part owner of Renewable Products Marketing of Shakopee, Minnesota, which added a new industrial products marketing division to market the specialty products. RPM markets for 18 ethanol producers, only three of which make the pharmaceutical grades. No other has the low-carbon pharmaceutical product. While they’re helping themselves, ethanol companies are watching federal fulfillment of the Renewable Fuel Standard. They’re watching how infrastructure dollars will help agriculture. Bachmeier would like to see more low-carbon fuel standard markets develop in the Midwest and Northeast.
“We’d like to see that sooner than later,” he said. Bachmeier wants any state programs that incentivize carbon sequestration to ensure that the value remains in the state. He’d like the 45Q tax credit, which incentivizes carbon capture, to be a payment, not a tax credit. He also thinks that it may be time for North Dakota to reinstate a state “counter-cyclical” incentive program for ethanol. “In times like this, when you have the pandemic and the drought right behind it, maybe the state should look at something like that,” he said. If a program like that could be brought back for a year to help counter the basis level by 20 to 30 cents per bushel, that would help them survive, he said. «
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