Benton Ag Plus - August 15, 2020

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Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, August 15, 2020

A passion to educate

Popp represents Minnesota dairy farmers on Midwest Dairy Corporate Board

BY KAYLA ALBERS STAFF WRITER

Rubes Sponsored by Fluegge’s Ag

Popp page 3B

PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE

The picking crew for Janson Sweet Corn – Gareth and Evelyn Nouis (front, from left); (middle, from left) Eden Andres, Carissa Andres, Candace Stangl, Graci Stangl, Brenna Andres, Janice Janson, Roger Janson, Kelly Nouis, Keith Janson and Matt Janson; (back, from left) Brant Andres and Kyle Gill – gather after picking sweet corn Aug. 7 near Buckman.

The group picks 150 potato sacks of corn every day. Not pictured are Alyssa Gall and Logan Janson.

A summertime staple

Jansons grow, harvest sweet corn for central Minnesota

T

BY JENNIFER COYNE | STAFF WRITER

he height of summertime in central Minnesota is marked with long days spent outside that conclude with an evening cookout. And for many, those cookouts include the Janson family’s sweet corn.

“I always thought I would retire out of this, but people tell me I can’t quit,” Roger Janson said. “Everyone counts on our corn.”

Roger and his wife, Janice, and their son, Keith, operate

Janson Sweet Corn from their farm near Buckman.

Throughout the year, Keith and Roger oversee planting and field operations while Janice is the business’s bookkeeper. She also helps pick and coordinates the stands. The family runs three roadside stands in Buckman, Royalton and Onamia, as well as provides corn to grocers in Little Falls and Pierz.

This year, harvest began July 20. From then until early September, the Jansons and a collection of neighborhood children handpick each baker’s dozen that is prepared for customers. They begin at 5:45 a.m., filling 150 potato sacks with corn – approximately 7,800 ears – every morning of the week off the farm’s 35 acres.

“We began planting in April this year and put away the planter July 1,” Roger said. “This way it’s not all ready at the same time.

We can spread the season out.”

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ROYALTON – Doug Popp, of Royalton, has a deep passion to educate the public about the dairy industry and to help dairy farms. Such interest makes his newly elected role to Midwest Dairy’s corporate board a fitting position for Popp.

“I think sometimes you can identify with a person who is living closer to the same life as you,” Popp said of his role on the board. “I want to give back to the farmers.”

Popp was recently elected to the leader position as a dairy farmer from central Minnesota. Popp milks 40 cows with his family on their fourth-generation farm near Royalton.

Popp’s first taste of leadership was in his high school years. He served as a board member for the Morrison County American Dairy Association. Then in 2001, he was elected to the Minnesota Division Board for Midwest Dairy for two consecutive two-year terms.

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spending money,” Roger said.

Then in the mid 1980s, Roger and Janice expanded the family business by selling their sweet corn in area grocery stores.

At the turn of the 21st century, the Jansons reorganized the business and focused on the local stores in Pierz and Little Falls as well as roadside

stands.

“We were running a lot more acres back then,” from front Janice said.

Roger agreed.

Roger grew up on his “We have four sons father’s dairy farm across and two daughters, and the street from his current that sweet corn put them residence. As a high all through college,” he school student, he helped said. harvest a small plot of For some time, the sweet corn that he sold out couple reduced their sweet of his church’s parking lot. corn acreage. Then, Keith “Back then, it was just returned to the family farm in 2013 which allowed the Jansons to ramp up production.

Every fall, the Jansons review sweet corn varieties and purchase seeds based on what they believe their customers will enjoy the following summer.

“There are a lot of varieties, and we always try to plant the best, the sweetest because that’s what people like,” Roger said. “We have never Roger Janson scouts his sweet corn fields Aug. 7 near focused on yield but Buckman. The Jansons plant corn in stages so the last to quality and flavor.” ripen is in September.

This year, the family tried a new variety.

“Customers are coming back for more; that’s how we know it’s really good,” Keith said.

The Jansons carefully watch their crop throughout the growing season. Every field is irrigated and fertilized to ensure proper nutrients are available for the corn, and the fields are monitored for wildlife, such as raccoons or deer.

BA33_1B_RB The ears are ready to

Jansons

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COYNE

Roger Janson evaluates an ear of sweet corn Aug. 7 at his farm near Buckman. The Jansons plant 35 acres of sweet corn to sell throughout central Minnesota.

pick about 20 days after the first tassels appear. To be sure of the quality of the crop, Roger scouts the fields daily and samples ears that are nearing ripeness.

“Every year is better than the last,” Roger said. “This year is just

phenomenal. We opened our season about 11 days ahead of schedule.”

When it is time to pick, the Jansons welcome the help of more than a dozen youth from the area.

“Some of these kids are second- or thirdgeneration pickers,” Roger

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Kelly Nouis packages a dozen ears of sweet corn Aug. 7 at a Janson Sweet Corn stand in Buckman. Nouis regularly mans a stand for her family’s business.

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said. “Their dads picked for us when they were kids.”

Janice agreed.

“All the neighbor kids have picked corn at Jansons’,” she said. “It’s a nice job because they have to get up early, but then they’re done by morning before sports practice or anything.”

While Janice, Keith and the Jansons’ daughter, Kelly, oversee the stands, Roger is in charge of delivering the product to retailers.

“Family is a part of everything we do,” Keith said. “We all help with the stands and get the corn to customers.”

Over the years, the Jansons have created quite the name for themselves and their sweet corn.

“About three years ago, we started using social media and our presence has grown so much,” Keith said. “This year, our first post saying we were open for the season reached 29,000 people.”

As the business retains its presence in central Minnesota, the Janson family is grateful for the support of the local communities. Oftentimes, they use their sweet corn to help support local charities or town festivals.

“We’ve done a lot of sweet corn boils,” Roger said. “I firmly believe that the more you give back, the more your business grows.”

And whether providing dozens of ears of corn for a cookout or simply microwaving an ear of corn for lunch, growing and eating sweet corn is a summer staple for the Jansons.

“There’s just nothing that beats a juicy burger and side of sweet corn with lots of butter,” Roger said.

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Farmer sentiment

With his newest position, Popp will represent his district farmers for one year.

“Everyone’s term on the board will be up in 2021 because of redistricting,” Popp said. “I’ll only serve one year but hope to be reelected.”

As a member of the corporate board, Popp represents Minnesota dairy farmers and brings their concerns to the corporate members of the remaining 10 states in the organization: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.

In his new position, Popp travels to board meetings with members of the other eight divisions of Midwest est Dairy.

Popp also assists sts in promoting the he dairy industry and d properly educating the public on the benefits of dairy consumption. Popp always welcomes visitors to the farm to help promote dairy. y.

He enjoys making ng connections with the he families who come me to buy sweet corn, rn, pumpkins and gourds ds that the family grows every year, which is all part of promoting dairy.

The dairy farmer feels it is the corporate board’s responsibility to provide information to the public about where their food is sourced.

“That has continued to be my passion, to promote dairy,” Popp said. “As each generation comes in, not everyone knows where their food comes from.”

At a recent corporate board meeting, the members met with individuals who shared their views on the health benefits of dairy foods, animal care and sustainability in the dairy industry. Each individual expressed their concerns, as well as their enthusiasm, about the future of dairy.

Popp sees the influence that social media has on the information that individuals get about dairy online and the positive message that can be spread.

“We take care of the cows because they take care of us,” Popp said of the message dairy farmers aim to promote.

Popp’s passion for dairy farming traces back 42 years ago when he got a very young start

Farmers are often referred to as the eternal optimists, but as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, that optimism is fading.

According to the latest Purdue University Ag Economy Barometer, farmers have become more The Business concerned than ever about of Farming what is going to happen to by Roger Strom their business in the months ahead.

Of those surveyed, 61% said they were fairly or very worried about coronavirus impacting their farm’s profitability and two-thirds said they need Congress to pass another bill to provide economic support so they can stay in business.

With so much uncertainty, farmers are not building or buying big ticket items; 56% of the farmers said they are holding off on buying equipment. In fact, John Deere reported their net income for the quarter that ended in April was down 40% from a year ago, and John Deere executives have lowered their expectations for earnings for the fiscal year by $1 billion. The company is now in the process of cutting salaried manager positions.

Meanwhile, a report from the American Farm Bureau shows the number of farm bankruptcies is tapering off, down 40% this last quarter, as the result of financial help from the CARES Act. Eighty percent of the filings are in the Midwest, Northwest and Southeast with Wisconsin dairy farmers filing for the most bankruptcies in the country. That makes three years in a row that Wisconsin has had the most farm bankruptcies. In the last six months, Wisconsin has had 69 farms going bankrupt compared to Minnesota where there were 36 filings.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall issued a statement saying, “The fact that we saw bankruptcy filings slow in the first six months of 2020 shows how important the economic stimulus alongside the food and agricultural aid from the CARES Act have been in keeping farms above water, but the economic impact of the pandemic is far from over. It’s imperative that Congress addresses the challenges facing farmers and ranchers in current coronavirus relief legislation.”

As relief payments end, the experts are predicting an even bigger increase in the number of farmers calling it quits.

On another subject, if you have not shopped for groceries lately, you may be in for a shock.

Prices are up nearly 6% from a year ago as a result of the pandemic.

The biggest price increases are for beef and veal which are up over 25% from a year ago. Prices for dairy products are up 5%, egg prices increased 12%, and pork and poultry prices increased 11% and 8%, respectively.

We are told the price increases are the result of disruptions in food supply chains and the shift from restaurant eating to preparing meals at home. … just say’n’.

from front

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Popp family – (from left) Nicholas, Doug, Jane and Emily – milk 40 cows on their dairy farm near Royalton. Doug was recently named to Midwest Dairy’s corporate board.

“It teaches the kids a good work ethic and they like agriculture.”

– Doug Popp of raising his family in the dairy industry.

While Popp’s wife works off the farm, she also handles all of the care of the calves and all of the mixing of ration for the dairy cattle.

Emily is attending the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities for a degree in agricultural communication and is one of the main milkers on the farm and started when she was 14.

Nicholas handles the skidloader and baling

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in the industry.

Popp’s dad bought a dairy farm from his uncle in 1975. Then, Popp and his father began milking three dairy cows and continued to grow from there.

The farm now has a tiestall barn big enough for 40 cows.

“The farm is pretty efficient for its size,” Popp said. “We have automatic take off, a harvester and a manure pit.”

Popp dairy farms with his wife of 26 years, Jane, and their two kids, Emily, 19, and Nicholas, 16.

“It teaches the kids a good work ethic and they like agriculture,” said Popp of raising the kids in the dairy industry.

Each member of the family has a role on the farm.

work and has stepped up to help out on the farm when Popp leaves for board meetings that require days away from the farm. Both kids haul silage and do field work on the farm.

“It is truly a family affair,” Popp said. “The family has had to step up to the plate while I was gone.”

Being a member of Midwest Dairy’s corporate board has not only helped Popp grow personally, but it has also shown his kids the importance of being involved in the community.

For Popp, being someone who farmers can come to with their concerns is an important responsibility.

“If they trust you and see you as a good individual in the community, they will want to come to you,” Popp said.

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Benton County Fair 4-H winners Grand champion static exhibits: – Creative crafts grades 3-5, Ben Zintek of Shamrock Shakers – Creative crafts grades 9-plus, Emma Jopp of Duelm – Demonstration, Claire Chmielewski of Busy Bees – Elements of photography grades 3-5, Khloe Hackett of Graham – Elements of photography grades 6-8, Henry Gramke of Running Rapids – Fine arts grades 3-5, Elise Gramke of Running Rapids – Fine arts grades 9-plus, Kennedy Pederson of Minden – Performing arts grades 3-5, Eliza Jopp of Duelm – Performing arts grades 9-plus, Emma Jopp of Duelm – Photo manipulation grades 9-plus, Katelynn Pollard of 79’ers

Reserve grand champion static exhibits: – Child development grades 3-5, Zoe Spiczka of Granite Clouds – Fine arts grades 3-5, Spiczka

Grand champion livestock exhibits: – Beef purebred dairy steer, Chase Dahler of Cornerstone Clovers – Beef registered junior yearling, Ashley Betker of Elk River Critters – Dairy goat dry yearling doe, Brooke Goertz of 79’ers – Llama performance course grades 9-plus, Marizza Lenz of Minden – Market lamb, Alexandria Burdette of North Benton – Meat goat senior meat breeding doe registered or grade, Taylor Posch of St. Pat’s – Meat market goat wether, Posch – Poultry chickens bantam breeding pen, M. Molitor – Poultry chickens breeding pen, M. Molitor – Poultry chickens egg production pen of brown egg layers, Mickaila Lenz of Minden – Poultry chickens egg production pen of white egg layers, A. Molitor – Poultry chickens market pen, Mickaila Lenz – Poultry ducks breeding pen, Claudia Schlough of Central MN – Poultry ducks market pen, Schlough – Poultry guinea market pen, A. Molitor – Poultry guinea breeding pen, M. Molitor – Rabbit small breed senior buck over 6 months, Izzy Bukovich of Independent – Sheep market lamb wether, Burdette

Reserve grand champion livestock exhibits: – Dairy goat senior doe kid, Lydia Hunt of Duelm – Llama performance course grades 9-plus, Mickaila Lenz – Meat goat junior meat breeding doe registered or grade, Posch – Poultry chickens bantam breeding pen, A. Molitor – Poultry chickens breeding pen, Mickaila Lenz – Rabbit small breed senior buck over 6 months of age, Bukovich Results were submitted by University of Minnesota Extension Benton County.

Text, email MDA’s rural helpline ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering two new ways farmers and others involved in agriculture can contact the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline: text and email.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for our farmers to get the help they need when they need it,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen.

“COVID-19 has come on top of several years of high costs, low prices and bad weather for farmers. We know chronic stress takes a toll on people and can really affect the way they cope with challenging situations.”

The confidential service, available 24/7, connects Minnesota farmers and others in the agricultural community to counselors who can serve as a sounding board, provide emotional support, link callers with

a rural mental health specialist, or help them find information about financial and legal resources. Users are welcome to remain anonymous.

Contact options now include: – Phone (toll free): 833-600-2670 – Text: FARMSTRESS to 898211 – Email: farmstress@state.mn.us The MDA also encourages people who are worried about family or friends and are not sure how to help to use this service.

The MDA’s companion Coping with Farm and Rural Stress in Minnesota website at www. minnesotafarmstress.com received 4,600 visits in 2019 and has already seen more than 5,000 in the first six months of 2020.

Minnesota 4-H will offer virtual statewide showcase events ST. PAUL – In most years, thousands of 4-H’ers from across Minnesota earn trips to the Minnesota State Fair where they demonstrate their learning about raising and showing animals, among many other 4-H projects.

This year, that experience will be different. University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota 4-H announced the week of July 27 that state-level

showcase competitions for livestock and other projects will take place online in August and September.

4-H has offered in-person showcase experiences that meet social distancing requirements in about half of Minnesota counties this summer, in partnership with local fair boards. In other counties, 4-H and local leaders have offered virtual events. Each decision

was made based on health and safety guidelines and the capacity to deliver a high-quality experience for youth. Young people in sixth grade or older who earned a blue ribbon at either an in-person or virtual county showcase are eligible to participate in a virtual 4-H statewide showcase.

“These online events offer an opportunity for 4-H’ers to present their projects to qualified judges who will offer

insight on the youths’ skill development, and help them prepare for future in-person events,” said Jennifer Skuza, state 4-H director. “We are proud to have showcase options available for 4-H youth who have worked so hard to prepare their projects over the past months.”

Local 4-H educators will provide registration information about the statewide showcases to 4-H families who are eligible.

A deeper look into white mold on soybeans

BY ELIZA CARLSON University of Minnesota Extension

ST. CLOUD – White mold, or Sclerotinia Stem Rot, is a destructive disease that is quite common throughout Minnesota.

The occurrence of white mold varies widely from year to year and from location to location depending on

weather conditions and past field history.

There are different types of conditions and factors that favor white mold on soybeans: prolonged wet and cool weather; high plant populations; high fertility; narrow rows; and early planting.

There are different symptoms that indicate the presence of white

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mold. During flowering, we look for lesions developing at nodes at the bottom of the plant.

After the lesions or markings expand, the tops of the soybean plants become grayish-green and then wilt and die.

At this point in the year, stems become soft and mushy and covered with white moldy growth. In some instances, soybean

plants can be killed in patches within the field or seen standing upright in affected fields.

There are ways to manage and decrease the chances of white mold on soybeans plants: select white mold resistant soybean varieties; lower plant populations; plant in wider rows; reduce irrigation frequency during flowering; plant later; proper weed management; add small grains into the crop rotation Foliar fungicides can also be used but this does depend on the situation. When looking at fungicide applications, consider the cost of application, application timing and chemicals used to help maximize the effectiveness and return on investment.

BENTON AG

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, AUG. 15, 2020 | Page 7B

A 4-H competition unlike any other

Lenz sisters’ passion highlighted in virtual judging

BY KAYLA ALBERS STAFF WRITER

ROYALTON – It was an unusual year for Benton County 4-H with no fair, but that did not stop youth from completing their projects and showcasing them in a mvirtual platform.

Sisters Mickaila, 17, and Marizza, 15, Lenz, of Royalton, presented both static and livestock projects in the county’s first virtual judging, and earned seven champion and reserve champion ribbons with their llama and poultry projects.

“It’s a reward for working a lot,” Mickaila said.

The Lenz sisters have been involved in 4-H since they were in third and second grade.

While they love the many projects they are involved l p e d H d s h d s

in, animals hold a special place in their hearts.

“A lot of hard work goes into anything that we do, especially with the animals,” Mickaila said.

“With the llamas it shows that we work a lot more with our animals.”

Marizza’s favorite project is working with the llamas.

Each sister has their own llama – Marizza has Snickers and Mickaila has Aspen. This is an advantage for the sisters because they work with the animals whenever they have time. Most 4-H participants have to lease a llama to work with, and have to work around the schedule of the owner, said Mickaila.

The llamas go through a series of obstacles and showmanship at judging.

To prepare for judging, the sisters have obstacles

PHOTOS BY KAYLA ALBERS

Mickaila (left) and Marizza Lenz hold chickens a part of their 4-H poultry projects Aug. 10 at their home near Royalton. The Lenz sisters competed in several virtual 4-H competitions this year and received a combined eight champion and reserve champion honors.

set up on their property to practice. They work with them out multiple times a week.

Mickaila’s favorite project is her Rhode Island Red bantam breeding pen. She has a couple more years left in the 4-H organization and before then hopes to exhibit at the state fair s with her bantams. n Virtual judging e provided a few challenges o for the sisters this summer. e None of the participants could practice together and getting the projects done on time were a few of the struggles for the sisters.

“The showmanship this year is was harder than normal because you didn’t get to talk to the n judge face to face and rMarizza Lenz shows her fine arts projects at her home they didn’t get to see nAug. 10 near Royalton. Lenz exhibited the projects in the all the details that are a ninth grade and above division for Benton County 4-H. necessary in judging,” o e n t t r t e y t d l p

s t e g , f n s e n

Mickaila said of the having someone video virtual judging. tape it, it takes away the Marizza agreed. atmosphere of showing “For animals it with other exhibitors, and was most difficult for not interacting with the

judge,” she said.

Yet, the sisters’ hard work paid off. Marizza took top honors in the llama performance course for grades 9-plus competition, and Mickaila followed with reserve champion. Marizza was named champion of the llama showmanship competition for their age group, and Mickaila took reserve champion honors. In the poultry project, Mickaila was named reserve champion showman in her age group, and also garnered the reserve champion ribbon for her breeding pen and champion ribbons for her market pen of chickens and egg production pen of brown egg layers.

The girls also exhibited fine arts projects in the grades 9-plus division.

Throughout their 4-H careers, the Lenz sisters have also shown miniature horse and dogs.

However, this year, those projects were not offered for virtual judging.

Lenz page 8B

Mickaila Lenz poses with her llama, Aspen, Aug. 10 at her home near Royalton.

Throughout the summer, Mickaila and Aspen practiced completing an obstacle course to prepare for the virtual competition.

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Marizza Lenz leads her llama, Snickers, through an obstacle Aug. 10 at her family’s home near Royalton. The llama project is Marizza’s favorite 4-H activity.

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The sisters got started in 4-H because both of their parents, Dennis and Malissa Lenz, participated in 4-H. Up until a few years ago, their mother was the 4-H dog instructor.

“They really liked it, and we decided we would like to try it,” said Marizza of her parents’ involvement in 4-H. “It’s really fun.”

The sisters have learned through participating in 4-H, and they have met a lot of people as well.

“Leadership and hard work go a long way,” Mickaila said. “If you stick with something, people are more likely to ask you for advice.”

Marizza agreed.

“I have learned how to communicate with others and to help other 4-H members with their animals,” she said.

Because the sisters are so close in age, they often compete in the same age division, which creates a little friendly competition between the two. They both want to do their best, while still cheering the other on.

Mickaila has two years left to compete in 4-H events with her sister.

“I want to show that I worked harder than her,” Mickaila said. “But we are constantly cheering each other on, even though you might not be able to see it.”

Although this was an unusual year for judging, the Lenz sisters are constantly working with their animals to be better for the next competition.

Whether virtual or inperson, their hard work does not go unnoticed.