THE LAND ~ November 24, 2017 ~ Northern Edition

“Since 1976, Where Farm and Family Meet” © 2017

November 24, 2017

NORTHERN EDITION

(800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com theland@TheLandOnline.com P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002

Home on the Range

The Peterson family’s turkeys thrive in the great outdoors Blog chronicles farm life in all 50 states Anderson Seeds proves bigger isn’t always better Flu season is here — protect your pigs Plus our final From The Fields report for 2017

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

That’s the thanks you get P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com Vol. XXXVI ❖ No. 24 facebook.com/TheLandOnline twitter.com/TheLandOnline 32 pages, 1 section plus supplements Cover photo submitted

COLUMNS

Opinion Farm and Food File Calendar of Events Table Talk From The Fields Marketing Swine & U Farm Programs Mielke Market Weekly The Bookworm Sez Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing Back Roads

2-4 4 4 6 9 15-16 19 20 21 24 25-31 31 32

STAFF

Publisher: Steve Jameson: sjameson@mankatofreepress.com General Manager: Deb Petterson: dpetterson@TheLandOnline.com Managing Editor: Paul Malchow: editor@TheLandOnline.com Associate Editor: Marie Wood: mwood@TheLandOnline.com Staff Writer: Dick Hagen: rdhagen35@gmail.com Advertising Representatives:

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Long before any of us knew what it their head. Not everyone had a car to meant to be polite, one of the first social drive. Not everyone had food to eat. Not lessons we learned as children was to everyone even had parents. say “please” and “thank you.” I don’t I recall one summer which was really recall much of an explanation as to why dry. Really dry. As I blissfully played my you say please and thank you. In the way through summer vacation, my parmind of a greedy toddler, someone had ents had to be sick with worry about our something I wanted and the best hopes crops. One night we all hopped into the of getting that something was to say car and went to church. A lot of people “please.”

LAND MINDS were there. Everyone was there to pray for That mission being accomplished, it rain.

By Paul Malchow made sense to cut and run with the Now it was bad enough to have to go bounty before the giver changed his or to church on Sundays and most holiher mind and took it back. days, weddings and funerals; but going “What do you say?” Mom would ask. Summoning to church in the middle of the week for no reason at up all of the angelic sweetness possible, the proper all really put me in a mood. response was a big smile while sing-songing the That mood changed as I saw all of the people in words, “thaaaaank yooooou!” that church with one singular mission: prayer. It I use Mom in the above example because Mom wasn’t a normal Sunday service. There was almost a enforced the please-thank-you-don’t-burp-at-thepalpable urgency in the air. Old people, whose achtable-no-talking-in-church rules. (We kids loved it ing joints probably felt great in the dry heat, prayed when Dad would doze off in church. Our church for rain. People who lived in town and didn’t even behavior was never brought into question if Dad fell have fields or crops prayed for rain. My dad prayed asleep in church.) for rain.

It wasn’t that Dad was rude or uncouth. In fact, There was no miracle that night, but a couple of Dad was always quick with a brief wave and a short days later it rained — a long, warm, soaking rain.

“Thanks!” to anyone. But to this day, I cannot imag- We all hopped into the car and drove to church … to ine my Dad with his hands on his hips, reminding say “thanks.” me “What do you say?” — any more than I could Thanksgiving isn’t pilgrims and turkey and footimagine him spitting on a kleenex to wipe dirt off of ball and Black Friday. And it’s not just a 24-hour my face. period. Thanksgiving is probably the most personal Thankfulness was always stressed while growing holiday we celebrate. Different people are thankful up. I suspect if the lesson was hammered home for different things: big things, small things, things enough times, once in a while it might stick. “Be no one else might even know about; but we hold in thankful for our food,” when I had to eat a lessour hearts. than-desirable meal my mother worked hard to Our situation could always be better, and it defimake. “Be glad you have warm clothes,” when I was nitely could always be worse. The key is being able wearing my brother’s hand-me-down winter coat to find the thanksgiving in the worse stuff. which didn’t really look like the other kids’ winter What do you say? coats.

Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land.

Through no fault of my parents, it took me way He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com. v too long to realize that not everyone had a roof over

OPINION

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

7 — Woman learns farming face-toface in all 50 states 8 — Anderson Seeds has been serving customers since 1938 10 — Minnesota seed potatoes are shipped throughout the country 11 — Road trip: Dick Hagen takes to the air with Beck’s Hybrids

THERE’S EVEN MORE ONLINE... @ TheLandOnline.com • “SHOP” — Search for trucks, farm equipment and more • “Calendar of Events” — Check out The Land’s complete events listing • “E-Edition” — Archives of past issues of The Land

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

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Life on the Farm: Readers’ photos Office View Pete Bouman snapped a picture of the view from his office door (left).

STAND TALL

These two photos were submitted by Pete Bouman of Ruthton, Minn.

Snow on Corn A dusting of snow decorated the corn stalks on Pete Bouman’s farm near Ruthton, Minn. (below)

A promise ro o t ed in t he firmes t ground of all .

Mary Crawford sent in this photo of her grandson on their farm in Rock County, Minnesota.

Crawford’s 2-year-old grandson Ralph Crawford learned about corn when Grandma “MeMe” took him for a ride to watch the dry corn get loaded out from the bin.

He can also identify a bean and corn head!

Family.

We’re family-owned. Rooted here in the north.

We don’t report to anybody. But you. When you call, we answer.

And, when we give you our promise, you can count on it.

PetersonFarmsSeed.com | 866.481.7333

e-mail your Life on the Farm photos to mwood@thelandonline.com 58241_1 PFS_PromiseRooted_6-875x10-375_TheLand-S.indd 1

11/3/17 11:25 AM

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Remembering Thanksgiving and those not around the table iday. Thanksgiving was The scarlet and gold reserved for family, feastpromise of mid-harvest ing, and loud, laughterhas slipped into the gray, filled pinochle games with damp reality of early winmy father’s side of the ter. Last month we smiled family. at sun-kissed crops. This month, we smile when we Those long, wonderful finally see the sun. holiday afternoons, like the equally long, wonderOn the southern Illinois FARM & FOOD FILE ful holiday meals, were dairy farm of my youth, pure delights. Card partBy Alan Guebert November was a month ners had been decided at more endured than birth. They were, as enjoyed. Its most memoGrandpa liked to rable features were announce, “Missouri muddy cows, muddy Synod,” or women vs. men. The friendmachinery, and often-muttered ly competition, however, was anything prayers for weather cold enough to but lady-like or gentlemanly. freeze the ground so we could complete harvest by Thanksgiving.

I can still see and hear the usual Neither ever happened. Harvest usu- players (my parents, Dads’ parents, ally dragged on until the next holiday, and my grandmother’s two sisters and their husbands) playing eight-handed, Christmas. The only consolation to that cold fact was that we weren’t the single-deck, single-bid pinochle from only ones picking corn in the mud and almost the moment the dinner table was cleared until the minute the supsnow. Back then, very few farmers completed harvest — let alone fall till- per table was set. age — by Thanksgiving.

At the head of the table was Grandpa doing the two things he did Still, outside of milking cows, we never worked on November’s high hol- every card game: keeping score and

OPINION

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scowling. The grimaces were usually directed at his own teammates, Uncle Ches and Uncle Pete. Ches was the family comedian who often brought games to a guffaw-filled halt with a clever wisecrack. Uncle Pete was Ches’s perfect straight man. “What’s so funny?” he’d often ask with a face so placid it would ignite another round of full-bellied laughter.

Grandma sat opposite Grandpa at the kitchen-end of the dining room table in the unlikely event someone could possibly want more food during the game. She and her sisters, Aunt Del and Aunt Lu, were as quiet as their husbands were loud. All, however, laughed and laughed when the Ches-and-Pete “What’s trump? Who’s my partner?” comedy routine started.

My grandmother, however, would be the first to get back to the business at hand because she played cards like Ulysses S. Grant commanded a battlefield: she always attacked. Grandma never hesitated to bid over, trump over, and shout over anyone, including her sisters, husband, son or pastor, if they stood between her and card table triumph. Also like Grant, she was humble in victory and quiet in defeat.

Now, 50 years later, all, except my mother, are gone. The first to go was my grandfather after a summer-long ailment in 1969. The last was Aunt

Del, in 2008, after 102 healthy, cardfilled years.

After my grandfather’s death, the Thanksgiving meals and card games rotated between Dad’s aunts and two sisters. Since all except Aunt Lu and Uncle Pete lived 40 or more miles from the farm, one of my older brothers or I would “volunteer” to stay home on Thanksgiving to do the evening milking so everyone else could enjoy the holiday.

It was better than it sounds. A threehour shift in the evening dairy barn with the quiet, easy-going herdsman, Howard, was a small price any teenager would gladly pay for an entire day of no church, no parents and no hard work.

But I did miss being at a table so sturdy and so generous it could easily hold Grandma’s wonderful food, the family’s roaring, red-hot card games and a three-generation chorus of almost endless laughter.

I still do, and all will be mentioned — as will many others — when we again give thanks for all their giving.

The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. Past columns, events and contact information are posted at www. farmandfoodfile.com. v

Calendar of Events Visit www.TheLandOnline.com to view our complete calendar and enter your own events, or send an e-mail with your event’s details to editor@thelandonline.com.

Nov. 30 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Red Lake Falls, Minn.

— Review historic and projected rental trends, input costs, rental agreements, worksheets and flexible rental agreements — Contact David Bau at University of Minnesota Extension at bauxx002@umn.edu or (507) 3723900 Dec. 1 — 40 Square Cooperative Solutions — Thief River Falls, Minn.

— Learn about health plans for farmers, employees and family — Visit 40square.coop Dec. 1-2 — Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention — Bloomington, Minn. — Convention highlights include

Cattlemen’s College series, membership meetings, networking, updates from national leaders — Contact (612) 618-6619 or ashley@mnsca.org or visit www.mnsca.org Dec. 7 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Two locations: Crookston and Clearbrook, Minn.

Dec. 8 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Two locations: Cold Spring and Foley, Minn.

Dec. 14 — Farm Business Transition for Women — St. Cloud, Minn. — Learn beginning steps to farm transition presented by Women in Ag Network — Register at z.umn.edu/WAGN-Transition

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Seeing Iowa through a different lens Maybe I have finally grown up, or sending the rain, a farmer will try. maybe it’s because I’m not traveling with I saw potash cars on a train that went bickering children in the car anymore. on forever, complete with all the graffiti Regardless, a recent road trip gave me a that rail cars attract. The tracks curved whole new perspective on our state. beautifully around the Iowa countryside.

When my nephew announced he would There is something striking about a be married, it was great news. When he grain elevator standing watch over its announced the wedding would take place community at dusk. Its silhouette stands in northern Illinois, our trip became a tall and proud, reminding us that we all strategic planning session of epic proporTABLE TALK came from agriculture, and without it, we tion, since swathing, baling (and most

By Karen Schwaller would have nothing. likely, extreme cussing) would be in full I drove in some of the most beautiful force by then. country near Anamosa, and that beauty The wedding date was set and we began to make was paralleled by the irony of the state penitentiary plans to attend. A side note here tells us that midthat exists there, with row upon row of windows dle-aged life should help us appreciate all the gifts with bars over them, and signs telling us to lock our that life gives us — our health, purposeful work, car doors. I was free. friends and family, a place to call home, food to susWhen I crossed the enormous Mississippi River, I tain us — all the things that make life worth living. thought about all the history and mystery it held — That is, until you plan to go to a Saturday wedand even about those whose lives it had taken. If ding that’s actually on Friday. only that river could talk.

Our middle-aged memories forgot the wedding I saw signs for towns we had heard of so many was on a Friday night, and my husband had hay times at the state wrestling tournament, and names down that needed to be raked and baled. (Insert of towns who had suffered tremendous losses, such extreme cussing here.) It meant not only that he as Applington and Parkersburg, whose beloved footcouldn’t attend, but it also meant I would be makball coach lives now only in their hearts and in biting the seven-hour trip alone. tersweet memories.

I began praying immediately for the travel gods to Every state has stories of its own triumph and give me some sense of direction. tragedy, and its own beauty. As I drove through But I have to say that as I left our humble abode Iowa alone in the car, I felt a new pride in knowing in northwest Iowa and traveled east across our this was my state ... my home. rural state, I saw with different eyes the beauty of I appreciated it more than the year Dad, an Iowa what was all around me. farm boy all of his life, had the gutsy idea for our I saw corn fields just on the verge of tasseling. family of nine vacationing in Iowa via a pull-behind, And from Iowa well into northern Illinois, I saw pop-up camper. that our corn growers do a great job of planting that I have to say, though, the peace and beauty of an commodity that sustains life. Our brothers in agriIowa corn field can’t compare to a grumpy father of culture learned so much of what they do from all seven on a family camping trip — everyone packed who farmed before them — some of them on or into a 1967 station wagon, with a wife who wasn’t behind horses. Farmers are still doing the work, and necessarily happy about having to do her home job are doing a great job. on the road and calling it a vacation.

I saw the rolling hills of eastern Iowa with its red I’m pretty sure Dad invented moxie. barns and lush row crops. I saw hay that was also Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land cut and lying in wait for someone to come and bale from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be it. I saw irrigation systems running because our reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v state has been dry this summer. When God isn’t

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PAGE 7

Beck’s Hybrids honors farmers in ‘Why I Farm’

By Marie Wood Associate Editor When Natalina Sents was a student at Iowa State University, Ames, she saw a “Why I Farm” video produced by Beck’s and knew she wanted to be part of “Why I Farm.”

The two-minute video told the story of a Kentucky farm woman Natalina Sents who kept the farm going for her children after her husband died. The objective of Beck’s Why I Farm Movement is to honor the American farmer and share their stories.

When Sents first applied for a marketing internship with Beck’s, she was told she wasn’t ready. She persevered. She had a dream to travel 50 states by the time she was 25 years old. So the summer before graduation, she pitched her idea of a “Why I Farm” year-long, 50-state road trip that would tell the story of farmers through blogs and photos. Beck’s said yes.

Within a week of graduation, she hit the road, departing from Ames, in a lime green Ford Fiesta that looked like a jelly bean. She visited 25 pig farms and 25 dairy farms. She learned where blueberries, sugar cane, mushrooms and barley come from.

“Over the course of a year, I traveled over 100,000 miles, visited all 50 states, visited 100 farm families and drank over 50 gallons of coffee,” Sents said.

From farmers, she learned what it takes to be successful. In Texas, she learned you cannot be selfish.

“I farm to feed my friends, feed my family and feed my enemies. I farm for everybody,” said Texas farmer Terren Moore.

In South Carolina, she met Adair McCoy. Her car bottomed out in his sand driveway. Before she could even introduce herself, he was hooking up her car to his tractor to tow her out. She still wanted to inter-

view him, so they sat in his shop must live out your purpose, pason 5-gallon buckets and talked. Why I Farm Movement sion and be true to yourself. In He had once dreamed of becomSouth Carolina, she learned that ing a millionaire tomato farmer. To read the “Why I Farm” road trip successful farmers are good stewIn the process, he shattered his blog, visit www.whyifarm.com/blog ards. relationships with his wife, One of her greatest personal father and friends. While on the To watch videos of featured farmers, challenges on her road trip tractor one day, he realized he visit www.whyifarm.com occurred in the final weeks. She couldn’t live like this anymore. wrecked her car in the Nevada McCoy got his life back on track and became a suc- desert. In winds of 70 mph, her car blew off the road cessful farmer and is doing great things in his com- and rolled 3-and-a-half times. She had no cell sermunity, said Sents. vice. Her belongings were blowing across the desert.

“Success isn’t always a straight and smooth path,” “I’m really alone,” thought Sents.

Sents said.

She was able to get out of the car and flag someone Visiting a female farmer in Hawaii, she learned down. At a small town, a half hour away, she relied the value of perseverance. The woman is part of a on the kindness of strangers. The town had all she multi-generational farm that raises pigs and goats. needed: hotel, convenience store and junkyard. The Challenges of farming in paradise include high hotel owner’s sister gave her a ride to Las Vegas, feed costs, getting supplies to the island, animal which was 100 miles away, to get a rental car. health, marketing and family harmony.

Up until that point in her travels, she primarily interacted with people in the agricultural commu“Sometimes things are tough, but you just need to nity she loves. push through it,” said Sents.

“There’s good people out there, outside of agriculIn North Dakota, she met Laura Rutherford, a sugture.

That was a really big lesson to me,” said Sents. arbeet farmer near Grafton, N.D. She is also a scien“It’s OK to talk to people outside of agriculture and tist who can explain why they use genetically modiexpand your horizons, expand your tribe. I think ag fied organisms and technology. will be better for it.”

This sugarbeet farmer taught Sents that successTo read the “Why I Farm” road trip blog, visit www. ful people are grateful. What keeps Rutherford going whyifarm.com/blog.

Visit www.whyifarm.com to is a photo of her grandparents that she looks at every v day. Her grandfather started the farm and she is watch videos of featured farmers. thankful for the blood, sweat and tears that built her family’s farm.

“My motivation is to be able to do the same thing for my kids that Grandpa did for his family. I want to be able to pass it on to them,” said Rutherford.

In Virginia, she learned that to be successful you

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There are three types of competitive grants: individual grants ($7,500 maximum), team of two grants

for two farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($15,000 maximum), and group grants for three or more farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($22,500 maximum). A total of approximately $459,000 is available for this program.

NCR-SARE is accepting online submissions for the grant program. More information can be found at bit.ly/NorthCentralGrants. Proposals are due on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.

Potential applicants with questions can contact Joan Benjamin at benjaminj@lincolnu.edu or (573) 681-5545 or (800) 529-1342.

Applicants should also contact Joan Benjamin if they need a hard copy or an e-mail version of the call for proposals.

This article was submitted by the North Central Region SARE. v

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PAGE 8

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Decades of growing keeps Anderson Seeds a family affair

By KRISTIN KVENO base,” Neal said.

The Land Correspondent In almost 90 years in the seed busiNORSELAND, Minn. — Down a long ness, what are the most challenging gravel road, a few miles outside of aspects?

Norseland, there’s a seed company “The weather is always a challenge,” rooted in family and tradition. Anderson said Neal.

Seeds may be small among the giants in For Kelsey, it’s that genetics quickly the seed industry, but it’s their strong change, along with keeping up with farming heritage and customer service what the customer wants. that has made this seed company weather the storms of change throughWith low overhead, Anderson Seeds is out the decades. able to keep its prices reasonable. With farmers needing to cut operating costs, Anderson Seeds began in the early Kelsey is seeing many of them price 1900s with N.E. Anderson. According to shopping. the Anderson Seeds website: “N.E. was good at selecting seed to be saved over Anderson Seeds relies on “word of Submitted photo mouth,” Neal said. for the following year’s crop. His knack for selecting eventually won him the big Here is an aerial view of Anderson Seeds in Norseland, Minn.

The business model offers a “more prize at the Nicollet County laid-back situation,” Kelsey Fair in 1913. He was awarded said. She also points out that a silver trophy and a tractor it doesn’t matter the size of for his efforts. While we no the seed order. longer own the tractor, the “We value all our customtrophy is proudly displayed ers the same,” Kelsey said. in the office at the farm.”

Showing corn at the MinneIn 1938, Hubert Anderson sota State Fair is a tradition joined N.E. and started growat Anderson Seeds and one ing and selling hybrid corn. that Kelsey is passionate As the family continued to about. Showing corn at the grow, so did the seed busistate fair started with N.E. ness. Sons Neal and Peter Anderson and Kelsey is conare now owners of Anderson tinuing that legacy.

Seeds along with Peter’s daughter Kelsey, the sales “I’ve wanted to keep up Submitted photo Submitted photo with it; it’s been a part of my and office manager, and son All corn is sorted on this husking bed, looking for Jacob is the day-to-day oper- This photo of Neal, Justin, Hubert, Kelsey and life,” Kelsey said.

Peter Anderson was taken about 10 years ago. bad cobs and cobs which need to have the husks ations assistant manager.

It’s not just the Anderson removed.

Hubert retired from the family that makes up Anderseed business many years son Seeds. Seed production ago. At 97 years old, he “still wants to be aware wouldn’t be possible without the 30 to 40 detasof what’s going on,” Kelsey said. In fact he “just selers that Anderson Seeds hires for two to three quit doing field work last fall.” weeks in the summer. For many of these young people, this is their first job and it’s a great way Anderson Seeds has evolved with the seed to see ag production, literally, first hand. industry. They have adapted to customer demand for varying seed technologies and Anderson Seeds sells corn, soybeans, wheat, traits. According to Neal, “the biotechnology oats, alfalfa, barley and grasses. has fueled a lot of research.”

At the end of the day, what’s the best aspect “Now the industry is gravitating toward conof being a part of Anderson Seeds? ventional,” said Kelsey. “We probably gain five “Seeing it all come together,” answered to 10 conventional customers a year.”

Kelsey. “Seeing the products we sold in the To satisfy demand for genetics protected spring come out of the fields (in the fall).” with biotechnology, Anderson Seeds has access There’s a balance at Anderson Seeds of tryto the industry’s leading traits. Through utiliPhoto by Kristin Kveno ing to look ahead to future but maintaining zation of those traits, Kelsey sees a strong the integrity that got them this far and not future for Anderson Seeds as long as they can The Anderson’s seed crop for the year is stored in these steel bins. trying to expand too fast, Neal said. maintain a relationship with these licensors.

Anderson Seeds is a family business that Being a multi-generational family business sets strives to maintain the balance of big industry evoluAnderson Seeds apart from many seed companies. tion with the history, tradition and heritage of their They’ve had long-lasting wholesale customers, some deep-rooted past. v for 40 years and counting. It’s a “loyal customer

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

Farmers wrap up Harvest 2017

PAGE 9

This is the last installment of From The Fields. We whole-heartedly thank our farmers for their reports through the growing season.



Corey Hanson, Gary, Nov. 20

In northwest Minnesota, harvest and tillage ends a few weeks earlier than in southern Minnesota. By Nov. 1, Hanson had wrapped up harvest and tillage on his wheat, corn and soybean farm. He also runs a beef cow-calf operation.

On Nov. 20, the ground is frozen to 33 inches deep. The snow removal equipment is ready. “The climatology of our state is so large.”

“I finished up putting some machinery away, parking it and getting the yard ready for winter,” said Hanson.

The calves are being weaned this week and he is making sure all the Corey Hanson cows are healthy.

He is working on year-end paperwork — figuring yields and recalculating break-evens. “So we can look for a profit anytime this winter if the market gives it to us.”

Most of his corn went into storage. He has about half of his soybeans in the bin and 75 percent of his wheat is in storage.

Overall 2017 was another learning year, said Hanson.

“Diversity in farming still shows you never hit the homerun by being diversified, but you get closer to break-evens. And you have a different portion of your farm that makes money, so that you get to do your hobby for another year,” said Hanson.

This year, Hanson will make his money on his wheat and his cow-calf operation.

“I’d like to thank the readers for the comments I’ve gotten back,” said Hanson.



Larry Konsterlie, Pennock, Nov. 20

“We’re done with everything,” reported Bob Roelofs from his family corn, soybean and hog farm.

They finishing combining corn during the early days of November.

Corn yields were about as good as 2016. He noted his farm was above 200 bushels per acre.

They kept current on tillage, so they were able to finish that up on Nov. 10.

“Tillage went pretty good. We had some wet spots here and there so we Bob Roelofs went back and took care of them,” said Roelofs. “Manure went on well.”

All in all, the 2017 growing season turned out better than expected.

“When we started this spring, I didn’t suspect that we’d have a crop that was as big or bigger than last year,” said Bob Roelofs.

Considering spring conditions, cool summer and rainy August, Roelofs was surprised by the yields.

“I was surprised that our beans were as good as they were,” said Roelofs.

The quick corn drydown was also a pleasant surprise. He credits the technology of the hybrids.

“I’m thinking they may be getting a lot more resilient to the swings in the weather.”

Roelofs will stay busy through the off season.

“Now back to taking care of the hogs every day,” he said.

Late afternoon on Nov. 20, Larry Konsterlie was in the combine picking corn, but he planned to be done in time for Thanksgiving.

“Corn yields have been good,” said Konsterlie. “I’m overall happy with the crop condition.”

Corn has been getting drier as he goes, 18 percent on average. He was pleasantly surprised by corn yields and estimates bushels per acre at a little under the 200 bushel average. Tillage has been staying pretty close behind the combine the last week.

Larry Konsterlie Local farmers have wrapped up combining, but he lost a few days of picking due to mechanical problems with his dryer. He used the time to move corn. He filled a couple grain bags and rented a bin from a retired farmer.

“I didn’t want to haul in right now because of the prices. The bagging and storage was reasonable,” said Konsterlie.

He is storing 70-75 percent of his corn crop and 65 percent of his soybean crop. His soybean yields could have been better, but some acres were affected by white mold due to the cold, wet August. His hay crop turned out well.

“In the end, an overall good season. Surprising how some things turned out with the conditions we dealt with,” said Konsterlie. “As always we’re looking forward to next year.”

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Mark Ditlevson, Blooming Prairie, Nov. 9

On Mark Ditlevson’s corn, soybean and small grain farm, his harvester will begin combining the corn on Nov. 10 and he should be done by Nov. 13. From his neighbors and harvester, he’s hearing good things regarding corn yields.

“People are pretty pleased. The corn yields are good, if not better than last year,” said Ditlevson.

Mark Ditlevson Since he’s no-till, there’s no tillage to do. And his cover crops are planted.

On Ditlevson’s 950 acre farm, 2017 was a good year. A third of the acreage was planted to small grains, his biggest crop of small grains to date. His small grains are contracted for cover crop seed. “The small grains did turn out well for me.”

His soybean yields were a little off. Now, two thirds of his soybean acres are covered in cereal rye and winter wheat. If the crops overwinter, he will harvest and sell the seeds.

He also planted winter rye this fall.

In his small grain acres, he planted a cover crop mix of kale, buckwheat, radishes, peas, vetch and turnips. He interseeded his corn with a mix of annual rye, kale, turnips, sorghum, crimson clover and radishes.

He was getting ready for winter when he talked with The Land.

“I’m putting the snow blower on,” he said.

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Minnesota farmers grow certified seed potatoes

By Tim King The Land Correspondent EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — Twenty-eight Minnesota farms and greenhouses, along with a private laboratory and university potato breeding program, raised more than 6,500 acres of certified seed potatoes in the state in 2017, according to Jeffrey Miller of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Miller, who is based in East Grand Forks, is a seed potato specialist with MDA’s Potato Inspection Unit.

“The farms range from small farming operations of less than 10 acres to a large farm of over 1,000 acres,” he said.

Most of the certified seed potatoes are grown in northwestern Minnesota counties in the Red River Valley and east of there in Clearwater, Lake of the Woods and Red Lake counties. However, there are some certified seed potatoes produced in Freeborn County in southern Minnesota, Miller said.

“Most of the seed grown goes to commercial growers throughout the U.S. and some for export markets,” Miller said. “Some seed is sold to other seed growers or planted back on a grower’s farm the following year for recertification.”

The certification process is voluntary and conducted by the MDA. Farmers apply to MDA to have a field certified for a particular year.

“Seed growers apply to MDA for each seed field they are planting for certification. The application deadline is June 15,” Miller said.

The certification process is defined by both Minnesota statute and by regulations adapted and published by the Minnesota Commissioner of Agricul-

ture. Broadly speaking, certified seed potatoes have been inspected twice, according to Miller.

“The potatoes were inspected while growing in the field and again after being harvested,” he said.

Minnesota certified seed potatoes can receive one of three levels of certification.

“Minnesota blue tag is the highest certified seed grade having the strictest lot tolerances for condition, size and defects,” Miller said. “Minnesota yellow tag is the second highest seed grade. It allows for a few more condition defects above what the blue tag specifies. Minnesota white tag is the lowest certified seed grade. They are graded according to agreement between the seller and the purchaser as to size and defects. The tolerances for soft rots must be adhered to. Certificates for bulk quantities must also show the date of issuance, the class, the grade and the approximate weight of the bulk load.”

Randy Schmidt is a fourth generation producer of certified seed potatoes who farms in the Red River Valley near Sabin. Schmidt said that his family planted close to 350 acres of certified seed potatoes in 2017. The Schmidt family also raises wheat, corn, beans and sugarbeets.

“Our acreage fluctuates some and we were down a little in 2017,” Schmidt said. “One of the issues for us is trying to find clean seed that is eligible for us to plant for recertification. Prices on that last year were fairly significant so we cut back a little.”

Schmidt Potato starts shipping from its Barnesville potato warehouse in late October. Those early shipments go to Florida. Throughout the shipping season, the family sends potatoes throughout most

From The Fields: Harvest 2017



Nate Hultgren, Raymond, Nov. 9

Late afternoon, Nov. 9, Nate Hultgren was combining corn with his 6-year-old son. He was on his last field.

There was a dusting of snow between the corn rows.

Nate Hultgren He was pleasantly surprised by corn yields. Corn that wasn’t silage ran on either side of 200 bushels per acre. Moisture was about 18 to 19 percent. The dryers are running.

“We have about 150 acres left. We’ve been waiting for the snow to come off. It’s cold enough today, so the snow that’s on the field isn’t bothering the combine,” said Hultgren.

Other neighbors were in their combines also. He expects to wrap up corn harvest by week’s end. “There’s always a ghost in the machine when you’re trying to wrap it up.”

Then a couple hundred acres of tillage awaits. Manure spreading for Meadow Star Dairy is done, which means a lot of the farm’s fertilizer plan is taken care of.

The farm also grows sugarbeets, soybeans and dark red kidney beans. Those harvests wrapped up later than usual.

Harvest 2017 was all about waiting. Even silage got off to a late start. Every day, he’d look at the fields to see if they could go. There were many days spent looking for something to do.

“In farming, when you’re waiting, it doesn’t count as relaxing,” said Hultgren. “Everybody’s just worn out and ready to be done.”

“Once we’re all done here, I’ll probably say it’s not as bad as we thought,” he added.

Looking back on the 2017 season, weather extremes stand out. Hail storms ravaged fields to the point of discontinuing the crop, which Hultgren hasn’t seen on his farm before. In addition, there were huge rain events including about 15 inches of rain in August.

An unseasonably warm October helped. Then Oct. 27, he woke to snow on the ground. November brought more cold temperatures, snow and waiting for OK conditions for combining.

“The climate wasn’t friendly this year,” he said. “It just goes to show the strength of genetics and these crops. Despite the weather, we still got pretty good crops.” v

of the United States. Schmidt said that freight costs can occasionally be prohibitive for long distance shipping. The seed potatoes, which are all certified with a blue tag, go to a variety of customers. Most states don’t accept yellow and white tag potatoes, Schmidt said.

“A lot of our seed is for home gardeners and our product is packaged anywhere from bulk down to 3 pound bags,” Schmidt said. “We do a lot of business with Fleet Farm and other stores. We have three different brokers that I go through and when we’re in our busy season, it’s easier to go through them rather than do the marketing ourselves.”

The Schmidt family grows a number of widelyavailable potatoes such as Red Norland, but they also grow some specialty varieties that are not widely available.

“We’ve got All Blue, Adirondack Blue and Purple Majesty,” Schmidt said.

All three varieties have blue skin and blue flesh.

Schmidt said that Adirondack Blue and Purple Majesty hold their blue color when cooked better than All Blue, however.

“There was not ample supply of clean reliable seed for some of those varieties, so we started tissue culturing some of our own seed for the specialty varieties,” he said.

Growing seed potatoes by tissue culturing involves greenhouse culture of leaf cuttings from one diseasefree mother plant. Only about 10 daughter plantlets can be grown from a mother plant before it is cut down but 10 daughter plantlets produce around a hundred disease- free daughters of their own. A variety is multiplied repeatedly until there are enough plants to produce micro-tubers. The micro-tubers are planted in the field and they produce seed for certification.

It’s a painstaking process. “We have a couple greenhouses and my son runs those. We moved to growing some of our own seed from tissue culture six or seven years ago,” Schmidt said.

Minnesota certified seed potatoes are higher quality than seed potatoes from some other states and Canada. In particular, Minnesota certified seed can contain no more than 1 percent mosaic virus whereas some states allow up to 5 percent, according to Schmidt. Mosaic virus causes foliage damage that in turn results in the loss of tuber yields.

Although Mosaic virus has been around a long time, Schmidt said that there are new viruses coming into Minnesota from the East Coast in recent years. Additionally, Minnesota is seeing some increase in competition from Canadian-grown seed.

Regardless of the challenges involved with certified seed production, the Schmidt family is proud of their heritage in the business and intends to continue growing high quality seed.

“It’s in our blood,” Schmidt said. v

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 11

Beck’s Hybrids expands market to Minnesota, Dakotas

By Dick Hagen The Land Staff Writer ATLANTA, Ind. — Atlanta (population 800) is home base to Beck’s Hybrids, which dominates the economic vitality of this small Indiana town and surrounding countryside.

The family-owned company markets in 11 Midwestern states and is now expanding into Minnesota and South Dakota, followed by North Dakota.

Beck’s Hybrids began in 1937. Lawrence Beck and his son Francis each planted 3 acres of hybrid parent seed corn from the Purdue University botany department. This first crop gave birth to Beck’s seed corn!

Today, Beck’s has more than 600 employees. The seed lineup includes corn, silage corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, milo/grain sorghum, certified organic corn, soybeans, wheat and selected cover crops. Beck’s is now recognized as the third largest seed company in the United States.

Sonny Beck, 76, is CEO and an everyday presence at the Atlanta headquarters.

“Our number one priority is to help farmers succeed. My Dad, Francis Beck, coined the motto: ‘We aren’t selling you a bag of seed, we’re selling you a stand of corn.’ That continues to be our business model. That is why we started our 100 percent free replant policy. Our uniqueness, however, is not that we are family-owned. Helping farmers succeed continues our number one priority,” Sonny said.

The culture of the company was noticeable at once in the tour. Beck’s was founded on determination rooted in family heritage and Christian faith.

That tenet led this small farm to become a major force in U.S. agriculture.

Looking back, Sonny said these are exciting times in agriculture.

“Those three bags of seed from Purdue University in 1937 set the stage.

There had been no change in yield from 1865 to 1935, just a steady 30 to 32 bushels per acre for those 65 years.

However, these new double cross hybrids were giving us at least onebushel-per-year yield increases. Then single crosses came along in 1967 and yield increases were two bushels per year. Now with the advent of traits and insect and herbicide-resistant genet-

Photos by Dick Hagen

The Beck’s facility tour included a look at its indoor corn breeding operation. ics, we’re getting three-bushel-per-acre yield increases,” Sonny said.

Sonny predicts “output” traits are the new future of hybrid seed. “How can we get a better protein; how can we get a better oil; how can we keep tweaking the yield genes … these are questions today.”

Culture Scott Beck, 52-year old son of Sonny Beck, is the company president. He shared these thoughts on the family business at the Purdue football game.

Sonny is a Purdue graduate, 1964; Scott a 1987 Purdue gradu- Scott Beck ate.

Scott said, “Back then I was employee number 12. So we wore a lot of different hats in those days doing a lot of different things. We were still in early adolescence. And we often talked about the future of small and medium size seed companies such as ours.

“Most companies at that time were production focused. That continues to be important, but we had a minor change in mind-set.”

They chose to focus on marketing

and how to attract farmers to buy from them.

“That led to the development of our Practical Farm Research program.

These studies go beyond just comparing Hybrid A to Hybrid B,” he said.

“We’re into answering questions that farmers are asking every day about this business of growing corn, things like what’s the correct nitrogen rate, what’s the best time for nitrogen, what about seeding rate, variable planting rates for different soil conditions, what about cover crops?”

Beck’s does 75 to 100 different studies in six different locations in Iowa, central Illinois, southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

“This business starts with quality genetics and quality seed,” Scott said.

“But the information bank keeps growing. What can we do to help a farmer in his decision making is the guts of our PFR program. Because of the constant introductions of new technologies, farmers are hungry for ideas that can help in their success. In three days of See BECK’S, pg. 12

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PAGE 12

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Practical Farm Research helps producers decide corn breeding station for a few years during high BECK’S, from pg. 11 On Oct. 7, Dick Hagen joined 16 others in a one-day journey school and while at Iowa State.

Beck technology events we fed and educated 11,000 from Willmar, Minn., to Beck’s Hybrids headquarters in Atlanta, Cavanaugh said he thought he would be a Pioneer people! They came to learn.”

Ind. The trip in a Beck’s jet included a tour of the seed complex corn breeder, but a year before he graduated from and Big 10 football. The group attended the Purdue University/ Beck’s is also focused on seed treatments.

Purdue he interviewed with Sonny Beck. The interUniversity of Minnesota football game in Beck’s suite at the “We have our Escalate yield enhancement system view lasted five-and-a-half hours.

Ross-Ade Stadium. Travel time from Willmar to Beck’s airfield which comes standard on every unit of Beck’s seed.

Early on, he sensed the family culture at Beck’s. at Atlanta was 58 minutes.

Escalate’s unique blend includes an industry-lead“We’re a tight-knit group. Our motto of ing fungicide package and highest rates helping farmers succeed is prevalent in of insecticides. This year we are also the the minds of all employees,” Cavanaugh exclusive supplier of Bayer’s Poncho said. “When people ask me what’s the 1250/Votivo 2.0, a biological which stimnumber-one challenge to Beck’s Seeds, I ulates nutrient uptake,” Scott said. tell them it’s not national brands, it’s not Comparing competitive seed costs technology, it’s not anything external. within the industry, Scott looks at value.

It’s simply making certain that we main“We price not only on the value of the tain our culture of being a farmer’s seed but also on the value of our service friend. We have a genuine friendship When a farmer buys Beck’s, it’s more with our dealers and our customers.” than just a seed transaction; it’s a perCavanaugh said the company has an sonal decision in allowing us to work extensive Practical Farm Research prowith them with their entire operation.” gram.

Early season sales are looking good for “We work with more germplasm proBeck’s Hybrids. Corn sales show a 19 viders than any other seed company. We percent increase; soybeans around 7 perhave our own breeding program and we cent as of Oct. 6. have the ability to cross with many other “Part of that lag on soybean sales I programs. We can access new genetic think is because of farmer indecision on choices from eight different platforms particular trait packages within the soyincluding Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, bean offering — Extend, or Liberty, or Dow, BASF and Bayer. When you have stay with traditional Roundup, or maybe that ability to merge two distinctly difEnlist if it gets approved in time for the ferent programs, you are dealing with 2018 planting season? There are several options farmers are still debating,” Scott On Oct 7, a group of 17 departed Willmar, Minn., in a private jet bound for Beck’s hybrid vigor in its purest form. So germplasm from our own breeding program said.

Hybrids, Atlanta, Ind. plus other sources is the route to Beck’s also offers conventional hybrids improved performance,” he said. with the group on Oct. 7. and organic crop seeds. “The key is diversity of offerHe continued, “We are not on the road to 100 per“My job is to tell the Beck’s story and do a training ings. Because we work with Monsanto, Pioneer, Syncent proprietary products. We want to leverage these genta, Dow, all the major suppliers, we also have a function with new dealers and customers,” said other programs to build a stronger lineup. We are relationship with those companies so they can pro- Boersma. doing just that with our regional product selections. vide us with untreated seeds so that we can produce He added that he is looking for new dealers and organic seed. This gives organic farmers diversity of will be transferring the culture that visitors experi- Some companies want to sell Hybrid A from Ohio to Nebraska. That’s not for us. We want to find products choices also,” Scott said. enced at Beck headquarters. that outperform national competition in given Though still only a minor seed product item, Beck’s “It’s an exciting company. I’ve studied and observed regions. Southern Minnesota is a good example. We recognizes that organic farmer numbers are increas- them for some time. They have a style that makes want to identify products that fit particularly well in ing. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows Iowa you feel good and needed,” Boersma said. southern Minnesota. We won’t sell them in other increased organic farms by 42 percent from 2008 to regions because they best fit in that given area. We 2015. Iowa had 670 organic farms in 2015, still less Research Beck’s research director is Kevin Cavanaugh, Iowa call it ‘G by E’ meaning genotype by environmental than 1 percent of the total number of farms in the State University graduate with a doctorate from interaction. These hybrids are regionally adapted for state.

Purdue University. Cavanaugh worked at a Pioneer that area. That is how you maximize performance.”

Scott Beck expressed confidence on the expansion He noted Beck hybrids last only about one-and-ainto Minnesota. half years in the product lineup.

“We’ve met some of your farmers indicating a high “That is why a two-to-three-year trial run just interest in our products. I’m sensing Minnesota doesn’t work anymore. Genetic gain is rapid these growers are ready for changes. I predict there will be days. We’re averaging about 3.2 bushels genetic gain thousands of new crop acres planted to Beck’s seeds each year. Because of this rapid advancement, we next spring. We are now actively seeking both dealtell farmers they need a trusted seed advisor. That ers and customers,” Scott said. could be our Beck’s man, or a respected retailer or your local cooperative seed handler. They need someJeff Boersma, formerly of 212 Seed and Ag, Bird one they trust to keep up with the latest genetics for Island, Minn., is a seed advisor with a district maneach farm,” he said. v ager function for Beck’s Hybrids. Boersma traveled

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 13

The turkeys might be thankful to be raised at Ferndale Farm

By PAUL MALCHOW The Land Managing Editor CANNON FALLS, Minn. — Life for a turkey might be for the birds, being looked at as nothing more than a stuffing container for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. But life is what you make of it and if you’re a turkey, you might want to spend that life at Ferndale Farm.

The Peterson family owns and operates the 120-acre farm located outside of Cannon Falls and raises about 150,000 turkeys a year. What separates Ferndale Farm from many turkey operations is the birds get to spend the majority of their short life outdoors.

Free-range turkeys are gaining popularity with the social conscious consumer, but Dale Peterson had been following the practice since 1939. After studying poultry science in college in North Dakota, Peterson set up his operation at the farm’s present location in the Little Cannon River Valley.

Shortly after Peterson got started, he met his wife-to-be, Fern. Peterson Farm eventually became Ferndale as a way to honor the founders.

John Peterson is the third generation to operate the farm.

“Looking back, I was a little naïve,” admitted John. “Growing up, I loved living and working on the farm, but it never occurred to me to go back and join my dad. I graduated from college and was working in communications when my wife and I started thinking about the food we eat and started thinking about coming back to the farm.”

That concern about food quality is the backbone of the Ferndale operation. The Petersons work closely with a nearby hatchery which incubates eggs to Ferndale’s specifications (including no antibiotics in the incubator). Ferndale raises its turkeys without the use of antibiotics or growth promotants. The hatchery delivers the poults (baby turkeys) when they are a day old.

After their arrival at the farm, the poults are started in a brooder barn which is bedded with fresh wood shavings. The poults start arriving in the end of January and the newly-hatched brood is kept at a temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. As they mature, the birds are transitioned to a

Photos submitted by Ferndale Farm

John Peterson stands in one of the two 15-acre ranging pastures on Ferndale Farm.

The Petersons raise four flocks of broadbreasted white turkeys each year. barn with indoor-outdoor access.

During the warmer months, the turkeys are eventually moved to pasture.

The turkeys are on the farm for four to five months, depending on sex and desired size.

“We have much lower growing densities than a typical poultry farm because of our indoor-outdoor barnyards and

“From our standpoint, there are tremendous pros to raising our turkeys free range,” said Katie. “We believe the turkeys are healthier and happier.

They get to spend their days in the sunshine getting lots of exercise and exhibiting their natural curiosity. Many chefs have told us that our turkey is more flavorful than most, which we attribute to all the time the birds spend working their muscles.”

Katie added the farm staff enjoys working outdoors. She said free ranging is also beneficial for the land as the turkeys naturally fertilize the pastures which in turn grow back quickly.

Dale Peterson chose the river valley land for turkeys because of its sandy makeup. The sandy soil helps keep the turkey ranges dry and free of standing water. Unfortunately, that same soil is very poorly suited to grow feed grains.

In fact, none of the Ferndale acreage is cropped.

The Petersons purchase their custom-blended turkey feed — adding probiotics, yeast and natural herbs to the feed. Poultry gizzards are designed to digest small grains so Ferndale’s feed program includes fresh ground corn purchased from area farms. Soybean meal is also part of the blend.

“Because we do not feed certifiedorganic grains, our turkeys are not certified organic,” said John, “although our growing practices meet or exceed those of organic producers. As we see it, a switch to organic feed would add no discernible difference to the welfare or quality of life for our turkeys or the flavor of the meat, but it would double or triple the cost of growing our birds. This impacts the ability of average consumers to purchase our free-range, antibiotic-free turkey products.”

The Petersons’ turkeys are processed at a grower-owned USDA facility in western Minnesota. “We are fortunate that they are a niche facility and able to process our turkeys to our specs,” said Katie, “which include being processed naturally with no additives. We also have great local partners for our further processing including Lorentz Meats in Cannon Falls, another multi-generational family business.”

The further processing Katie refers to

ranging pastures,” said Katie Peterson, John’s sister. “It’s a different model altogether.”

The Petersons utilize two ranging pastures which are 15-20 acres in size.

The turkeys are rotated to fresh pasture every week to give the birds fresh grass and to prevent overworking the See FERNDALE, pg. 14 land.

PAGE 14

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Petersons opened Ferndale Market to sell direct from farm Ferndale Market is located at 31659 Willow Trail, south of Cannon Falls. The farm is just over 30 minutes south of the Twin Cities and 40 minutes north of Rochester — just two minutes off of Highway 52. v

FERNDALE, from pg. 10 is a variety of smoked turkey and sausage products the Petersons sell with the label, “Ferndale Market.”

“We decided to direct market our turkey because we wanted to be able to connect directly with our customers — something so many farmers have lost these days,” Katie said. “It has been a joy to work with so many fantastic customers — including local retailers, restaurants and schools — and have the ability to see where our turkey ends up.”

Feast! Local Foods Marketplace: Ferndale Market, other farmers and food makers will offer samples and sell their products at over 100 exhibit booths. Discover new flavors made with local ingredients.

Cooking demonstrations and children’s activities too.

In 2008, the Petersons opened their own on-farm grocery store — also called Ferndale Market.

The store features Ferndale’s turkey products, along with a wide variety of local meats, cheeses, produce and other grocery items. The Petersons partner with over 75 local farmers and food producers.

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10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 2 Mayo Civic Center, Rochester General Admission: $5 at the door; $2 for children (ages 2-12); beer/wine/hard cider tasting wristband is $25 (includes admission) Making the transition from patriarch Dale Peterson’s farm to Ferndale is the Peterson family (left to right): Granddaughters Maren and Katie, Dick’s wife Jane (Jane and Katie work on marketing, events and social media), Dale’s son, Dick, and Dick’s son, John (who work together to oversee the farm operations, along with managing wholesale operations), and John’s wife Erica.

Managing wet corn in storage WORTHINGTON, Minn. — Kenneth Hellevang, Extension engineer with North Dakota State University, is a regional expert on corn storage issues. Hellevang offers a few suggestions for dealing with wet corn and a late harvest.

Do not expect corn grain to dry much in the field at this point. Little in-field dry-down of grain, if any, can be expected with cold air temperatures.

Natural air drying is not efficient when air temperatures are lower than about 40 F. When air temperatures drop to around 40 F, corn should be cooled below 40 F with aeration, and to 20 to 30 F when possible.

Corn should be dried to 13 to 14 percent for longterm storage. Corn grain at a moisture content up to 20 percent can be cooled to 20 to 30 F with aeration, held over winter, and then dried when outdoor temperatures average 40 F or warmer by using natural air drying with an airflow rate of at least 1 cubic feet per minute per bushel.

The wetter the corn, the more quickly it deteriorates and the shorter the time this grain can safely be stored. At a temperature of 40 F, corn grain at a moisture content of 13 percent has a maximum allowable storage time of around 150 months. At 18 percent, this drops to 6.1 months (see the University of Minnesota fact sheet “Grain Storage Tips” at https://z.umn.edu/grainstoragetips). For corn at 28

percent, this drops to 30 days.

Grain temperature is a major factor in determining the approximate allowable safe storage time for corn.

For example, at 30 F, corn at 20 percent moisture can be safely stored for over 300 days. At 40 F, this time drops to 90 days and at 50 F, this time drops to only 50 days. A key reason is because of the impact of temperature on insect activity. Insect reproduction is reduced below 70 F, insects are dormant at about 50 F, and insects are killed if grain is below 30 F for a few weeks. Cool temperatures also hinder mold development.

The allowable storage time (AST) for grain is cumulative. If half of the AST for harvested grain is used before grain is dried and cooled, only about half of the AST will be left for the grain after it has been dried. For example, corn stored at 20 percent moisture and 50 F has an AST of about 50 days. Drying the grain to 15 percent moisture after 25 days and cooling it for winter storage will use half of the AST. When temperatures warm to 70 F next summer, the AST for this grain at 15 percent moisture and 70 F would now be about 60 days instead of the 125 days shown on an AST chart.

More information on grain drying and storage is available at https://z.umn.edu/cornharvest.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 15

Local Corn and Soybean Price Index Cash Grain Markets

corn/change* soybeans/change* St. Cloud $2.76 -.01 $9.02 -.02 Madison $2.80 .00 $9.04 +.01 Redwood Falls $2.89 +.07 $9.10 +.04 Fergus Falls $2.68 .00 $8.90 +.10 Morris $2.75 -.01 $9.00 +.02 Tracy $2.88 -.01 $9.05 +.08 Average: $2.79 $9.02 Year Ago Average: $2.80 $9.22

NOV ‘16

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

Grain prices are effective cash close on Nov. 20. The price index chart compares an average of most recently reported local cash prices with the same average for a year ago. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

Grain Outlook Late rallies buoy corn, beans

Livestock Angles Cattle market has dismal week

Grain Angles Plan for 2018 crop insurance

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Nov. 17.

CORN — December corn set a new contract low this week at $3.36.25 per bushel as harvest reached 83 percent complete as of Nov. 12. Harvest is usually 91 percent complete as of Nov. 12. There weren’t any earth-shaking headlines to sway up the markets, but a decent rally into the weekend nearly erased earlier week losses. The bottom line is, the world has PHYLLIS NYSTROM plenty of corn, above and beyond CHS Hedging Inc. demand; but fund buying into St. Paul the weekend may prompt additional short covering.

Funds keep trying to pick a bottom and that keeps the market from taking a steep downward trajectory.

The fund net short position as of Nov. 14 was expected to show a record short position, according to the traders’ estimates. The record net short for funds is just over 265,000 contracts. There will likely come a point when fund short-covering will drive a rally.

When the crop is put away and growers demand a better flat price, the basis and board will need to improve if the market wants to keep bushels in the pipeline. The carries in corn narrowed during the past week, which may suggest we are nearing a harvest bottom. The market doesn’t usually “earn” the carry, i.e. the deferred price tends to gravitate to where the previous contract expired.

Weekly export sales were a huge disappointment at just 37.4 million bushels. This was the second low-

The month of November has started out changing the direction of livestock prices. After a decent fall rally in both cattle and hog prices, both have run into some resistance and have fallen back from recent highs. Now we will see if this sets a new lower trend for the weeks ahead or just a correction in that fall rally.

The cattle market had a dismal week ending Nov. 10 with market suffering lower prices in the cash and futures. The only plus for the week was the beef cutout which ended higher, but with fewer JOE TEALE boxes traded during that of the Broker previous week. This appears to Great Plains Commodity indicate that the holiday buying Afton, Minn. for beef cuts may be drawing to a conclusion for this season. With two U.S. Department of Agriculture Cattle on Feed reports behind us indicating more cattle on feed than previously thought and a new report out on Nov. 7, the pre-report estimates appear to reflect a good supply of cattle in feedlots. If that cattle on feed report does reflect a good supply of cattle in the feedlots, then one would anticipate the possibility of further erosion in cash cattle prices into the end of November. The only positive would be an increase in the export of beef which at this point is nothing more than speculation. Producers should remain aware of current market conditions and protect inventories as needed.

The hog market seems to also have found at least a temporary top during the same time frame as the cattle in both the futures and the cash trade. It would also appear the accumulation of pork prod-

See NYSTROM, pg. 16

See TEALE, pg. 16

As we near the end of the 2017 crop insurance season, many of us have started to lay the foundation for our 2018 farming operations. How profitable will your next production season be? It depends on how you plan for it.

I encourage clients to educate themselves and seek out an agent with experience and expertise. Understanding, evaluating and managing risk is a vital part of any successful operation. I recommend looking at risk management as a whole and evaluate what all of your risks are, as KRISTA BLAIR opposed to making decisions Compeer Crop based on what happened in the Insurance Team Leader last six months. The goal is for Blue Earth, Minn. growers to discover new ideas and solutions, while also becoming educated on crop insurance risk management tools.

Before the end of the 2017 crop year on Dec. 10, be sure to get production records in order to report your bushels to your crop insurance agent. With lower ending harvest prices, look at both production and revenue guarantees to check for a possible indemnity payment. If you have a possible loss, contact your agent immediately to help with that determination, and ask them to contact an adjuster for you if necessary.

What are your crop insurance needs for 2018?

Commodity price risk and weather are two of the most unpredictable aspects of managing an operation. Your agent should encourage you, the producer, to continue to utilize multi-peril crop insurance as a See BLAIR, pg. 18

Information in the above columns is the writer’s opinion. It is no way guaranteed and should not be interpreted as buy/sell advice. Futures trading always involves a certain degree of risk.

PAGE 16

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Poor demand, big supply keeps soybean prices down NYSTROM, from pg. 15 est figure in the last six weeks. Total export sales commitments at 800.8 million bushels are 26 percent below last year’s 1.088 billion bushels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting total export sales this year at 1.925 billion bushels which is a 16 percent decline from last year. Total corn sales are 43 percent of the USDA projection compared to 47 percent on average.

South America is currently the cheapest source of corn on the world market.

Brazil has surpassed the Ukraine as the largest supplier of corn to the European Union in the last four months.

Weekly ethanol production was down slightly from the previous week at 1.054 million barrels per day compared to 1.057 million bpd last week. The record for ethanol production was set in January 2017 at 1.061 million bpd.

Ethanol stocks were up 1 percent at 903 million gallons.

Informa Economics released its acreage expectations for the 2018-19 crop year this week. They pegged corn acres at 91.415 million acres vs. last year’s 90.4 million acres. Soybean acres are forecasted to fall 700,000 acres year on year to 89.627 million acres.

The Rosario port in Argentina will see a 30 percent cut in docking fees beginning in December. The Rosario

port handles 80 percent of all of Argentina’s agricultural exports.

The current docking fee is $108,000 per vessel. Argentina’s ag secretary is pegging their corn planting at 47 percent complete vs. 44 percent on average.

Brazil’s first corn planting was estimated at 77 percent complete vs. 75 percent on average.

The Cattle on Feed report showed 106 percent on feed as of Nov. 1 vs.

105.5 percent estimated; October placements at 110 percent vs. 107.5 percent estimated; October marketings were 106 percent vs. 105.5 percent estimated.

Outlook: Unless funds decide to cover short positions (as they did at the end of the week), there seems to be little to drive prices a lot higher. The next support in the December contract is $3.28.5, the level the September 2017 contract traded down to in late August.

December corn has trended higher in the last half of November only six times in the last 15 years. For the week, December corn closed a half-cent lower at $3.43, July was down 1.75 cents at $3.71.25 and December 2018 corn fell 2 cents to $3.87.25 per bushel.

Trading days and hours will be shortened in the coming week with the Thanksgiving holiday upon us. Markets will trade normal hours through the

For marketing news between issues ... visit www.TheLandOnline.com

Cattle and hogs are oversold TEALE, from pg. 15 ucts for the holiday season are drawing to a close. The same factors that the cattle market is experiencing is the same for the hog market. Pork cutouts are still advancing but at a slower pace than in previous weeks and the volume in the pork trade is slowing down. As with the cattle market, the export market has been fairly good for pork.

However, with the increase in hog numbers over the past several months, will the market be able to absorb these numbers and rally and extend past the recent highs in both cash and futures?

close on Nov. 22, then won’t reopen until 8:30 am CT on Nov. 24. The grain markets will close early on Nov. 24. December options also expire the day after Thanksgiving. Brazil and Argentina will be on holiday Nov. 20.

SOYBEANS — Soybeans plunged lower to begin the week, ultimately moving to its lowest price since Oct. 4 at $9.67 per bushel on what could be termed a World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates hangover. An absence of demand and fund selling kept prices on the defensive with harvest progress reaching 93 percent complete as of Nov. 12 vs. 95 percent complete on average. Weather issues have become a non-issue in the United States and South America for the time being. A huge rally into the weekend wiped out the week’s losses, resulting in weekly gains. The January soybean contract was 3.5 cents higher for the week at $9.90.5, July was 4 cents higher at $10.19.5, and November 2018 beans were up 2.25 cents at $10.01 per bushel. The seasonal trend for May and July beans to rally from mid-November until just before the end of the year may have kicked in.

The October National Oilseed Processors Association Crush report came in at 164.2 million bushels crushed vs. 164.475 million bushels estimated. This crush number is the second-largest for the month of October, behind last year’s 164.6 million bushel record. Soyoil stocks were 1.224 billion pounds compared to 1.410 billion pounds estimated. The report was viewed as slightly bullish.

Weekly export sales were at the very bottom of the estimates at 40.6 million bushels. This is the second-lowest weekly sales number this year. Total export sales commitments are running 15 percent behind last year when the USDA is projecting a 3.5 percent increase in year-on-year exports. We need weekly sales to be 33 percent per week higher than last year to hit the USDA’s export forecast for 2.250 billion bushels. Bean sales are 53 percent of the USDA number vs. 67 percent on average. U.S. sales to China now total 18.24 million metric tons compared to 22.49 mmt last year at this point of the crop year. Export sales for 2018-19 were 2.6 million bushels this week, bringing total new crop commitments to 7.7 million bushels.

MARKETING

Because the futures have moved from a premium to cash to now a discount, the obvious feeling of the trade is not very optimistic. Therefore, producers should stay on top of market conditions, and protect inventories when and if the opportunity should warrant.

As an addition, both cattle and hog markets are approaching a short term oversold condition. This could bring about a rally in prices to either alleviate this condition or end this current downtrend in both. v

COFCO expects to increase the amount of soybeans sourced from Mato Grosso, Brazil in the next five years by 80 percent. They currently buy 4 mmt from Mato Grosso and anticipate the quantity to grow to 7.2 mmt. COFCO operates 13 grain elevators in the region. The Mato Grosso government said Brazilian companies are in talks with a group of Chinese investors about building 30 grain storage facilities in the state at a cost estimated at $459 million. COFCO also anticipates its 2017-18 soybean imports to total 100 mmt. The USDA is presently predicting 97 mmt.

Some traders are watching dry areas in Argentina, but no one is waving a red flag. Reports of increasing chances for La Niña could mean dryness in Argentina and southern Brazil in the coming months. Brazil’s soybean planting as of Nov. 10 was 56 percent complete vs. 60 percent on average. La Niña is often associated with a cold, snowy winter for the northern United States.

Outlook: Without a weather problem developing in South America, it will be a trial to trade above the $10 for any sustained time. Poor demand, nonthreatening weather in South America and big world supplies will keep a cap on any upside. Slow country movement, bulls watching to see if dryness becomes a problem in Argentina, and a positive technical seasonal may slow the downward slide. January soybeans have trended higher in the last half of November in nine of the last 15 years.

Nystrom’s Notes: Contract changes for the week ending Nov. 17: Minneapolis December wheat slid 12.5 cents lower at $6.35, Chicago was 4.25 cents lower at $4.27.25, and Kansas City plunged 11.25 cents lower to $4.22 per bushel.

Crude oil pulled back this week, down $1.60 at $55.14 per barrel, ULSD dropped 3.25 cents, RBOB lost 6.75 cents, and natural gas dove 11.5 cents lower. The U.S. dollar index was down .705 for the week as of mid-afternoon Nov. 17.

The CME plans to launch a new Black Sea Wheat and Black Sea Corn contracts Dec. 18. The contracts will be cash settled based on Platt’s daily Russian wheat 12.5 percent protein FOB Black Sea Deep Water price assessment and Platt’s Ukrainian Corn FOB Black Sea price assessment. v

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

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PAGE 17

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PAGE 18

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Flexible leases can help weather low market prices Once harvest is completed in any given the region have had two years in a row of year, farm operators and non-farm landcorn yields that were 10-20 percent above owners begin the tenuous task of negotiattheir 10-year crop insurance actual proing annual land rental rates for the followduction history yields. This is leading some ing crop year. Approximately 60-70 percent farm operators to be overly optimistic of the cropland in the upper Midwest is about crop income expectations for 2018, under a land rental agreement, and most and is also resulting in some landlords rental agreements are negotiated on an being unwilling to reduce high cash rental annual basis. There are some two or threerates for the 2018 crop year. However, it is year leases in existence, which are more FARM PROGRAMS not advisable to use these high yield levels common in rental agreements among famias a planning tool for 2018. Use the updatBy Kent Thiesse ly members. ed 10-year APH yields, or other verifiable yield data, to make yield proIn the past, many land rental jections for determining realistic arrangements have been between land rental rates. farm operators and landlords that usually have known each other quite well, someCash corn prices have remained fairly low for the times being neighbors or family members. However, past two years, and are not showing any signs of in recent years, more and more land ownership has significant improvement in the near future. Soybean been transferred to family members or family trusts prices did have a brief rally in early 2017, but outside of the local area where the land is located. declined by nearly a $1.00 per bushel by harvest Some land owners are hiring the services of a land time. The projected forward prices for autumn of 2018 are only slightly higher than current price levmanagement company to represent them in land rental negotiations. Many times, the farm operators els, and there is some concern that prices could drop even lower next year. Cash corn prices in the upper have had very limited previous working relationMidwest have been near $3.00 per bushel or lower ships with the newer landlords or those representin recent months, and cash soybean prices have ing land owners. This can lead to more challenges been close to $9.00 per bushel or lower. Many of the when negotiating annual land rental rates — especurrent cash rental rates that are at higher levels cially during more difficult economic times in crop were established when crop prices were near $4.00 farming, such as we have been experiencing in the per bushel for corn, and $10.00 per bushel for soypast two or three years. beans.

Crop producers in the upper Midwest realized The tight cash flow margins in crop production for mixed crop production results in 2017. Some prothe 2018 crop year are causing some concern for ducers reported good-to-excellent corn and soybean farm operators as they negotiate land rental rates yields, while producers in other areas had yields that were closer to average. Some farm operators in for the next year. The very tight, or even negative

profit margins for next year’s crop are also a concern for ag lenders, as they begin to re-finance crop producers for the 2018 crop year. Some farm operators will need to do some serious evaluation before agreeing to pay very high land rental rates for 2018 which could potentially lead to some large financial losses for their farm operation.

In many cases, landlords have been reluctant to lower land rental rates, due to the high commodity prices that existed from 2010-2013, and the good to excellent crop yields in past couple of years. In addition, real estate taxes on farm land in some areas have been quite high in recent years. However, as crop economics have changed significantly in the past three to four years, farm operators have found it more difficult to achieve break-even levels from crop production. This has started to temper the strong demand for rented land at higher land rental rates. Serious and honest negotiation between farm operators and landlords will be required to arrive at equitable rental rates for 2018 and beyond.

An alternative to a straight-out cash rental rates which may be difficult to cash flow for 2018 might be for producers and landlords to use a flexible cash lease rental agreement, which allows the final cash rental rate to vary as crop prices and/or yields vary; or as gross revenue per acre exceeds established targets. The use of a flexible cash rental lease is potentially fairer to both the landlord and the farm operator, depending on the situation, and how the flexible lease is set up.

Flexible leases can work well for newer or younger farm operators who may not be able to afford See THIESSE, pg. 20

cals, crop insurance, crop drying and fuel; in addition to repairs, operating interest, land rent, overhead costs and machinery depreciation. The more you know, the better the risk management plan will be laid out.

Products like RevNet and PriceFlex allow you to lock in a spring price at an earlier date or choose alternative price discovery periods. When coupled with your multi-peril bushel guarantee, it allows you to analyze expenses (cash rent, seed, fertilizer, etc.) and guarantee revenue to assure a profitable position.

HarvestMax will help protect against shallow yield losses and allows you to insure up to 95 percent of your approved yield.

Margin Protection is a new crop insurance coverage option that helps provide coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margins.

If livestock is part of your coverage needs, livestock risk protection provides protection against declining livestock prices. Livestock gross margin protects an expected gross margin.

Whole farm revenue protection helps cover both crops and livestock up to a certain level. You must have at least three commodities of significance to get the 80 to 85 percent coverage levels. This insures against a whole farm loss, not a shallow or spot loss on crops or commodities.

Crop insurance used as a risk management tool can take some of the emotion and guesswork out of grain marketing. Remember to be consistent! Stick with price opportunity and risk management strategies in good times and bad. Great marketing is measured over the long haul. Be sure to pre-plan your marketing strategies. Know your intentions if the market goes up or down and make those decisions based on long term goals.

Your insurance agent is ready to help you fix an end point for revenue planning and build a crop insurance package that puts you in control.

For additional insights from Compeer industry experts or to learn more about programs, check out Compeer.com/education. v

MARKETING

It pays to compare insurance products for managing risk BLAIR, from pg. 15 safety net. Multi-peril crop insurance gives a revenue floor per acre as well as utilizing a subsidy from the government. Is hail your greatest peril? There are several cost-effective hail products to review with your agent. Strategic marketing on those commodity prices involves several layers of decision making.

Each decision, including crop insurance coverage, should be made according to how it will influence overall average price. You should always aim for the best possible average price for all sales and purchases, while trying to maintain a reasonable cost for managing both opportunity and risk.

Your agent can help compare several insurance products that will compliment your existing multiperil policy with some additional price protection built into them. If you want to look at multiple crop insurance products, set an end point — the revenue per acre needed to break even. From there, work backwards in order to sort out per-acre costs and make marketing decisions which put you in control of your price floor. When looking at costs per acre, be sure to consider the following: seed, fertilizer, chemi-

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 19

Swine producers should be vigilant entering the flu season Winter has arrived, and with it some particular disease concerns — both in the pig barn and with the caretakers. In UniversityofMinnesota swine, the “Big Four” diseases EXTENSION are PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome), Mycoplasma pneumonia, while with the sow. Coughing, Porcine Circovirus (PCV) and pneumonia and fever are the SWINE & U Swine influenza virus (SIV). most common symptoms. The Swine influenza virus can be By Diane DeWitte high temperatures of SIV can cause abortions in pregnant simply referred to as the flu, sows.

Growing pigs will experience but there’s nothing simple about it in severe respiratory distress for seven to the herd.

10 days, then return to normal over the Many people remember the 2009 next seven to 10 days. human influenza pandemic which was In his discussion of influenza at the originally referred to as “swine flu.”

2017 Allen D. Leman swine conference, Indeed, it was an H1N1 virus which affected swine or humans, but connect- Jeremy Pittman, of Smithfield Hog Production’s North Region based in ing it to swine was a public relations disaster for the pork-producing commu- Virginia, related that it is no longer simnity. At that time, in late August 2009, ply “the flu” and today it is a full-time H1N1 was considered to be responsible disease in swine. In the Midwest, 90 percent of swine herds containing growing for an 11 percent drop in global pork pigs have tested positive for SIV. trade, with the underlying reason attributed to the name “swine flu.”

While commercial vaccines exist for swine influenza, many herds prefer to Because the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was the worst human flu attack since use an autogenous vaccine created specifically for them. These custom1918, and because its origins were a made vaccines are formulated by re-assortment of human, bird and using herd-specific antigens from the swine flu viruses, much research has occurred in the ensuing years to better influenza-infected population. understand flu in pigs and people.

Human influenza season Flu viruses are most common in Influenza in pigs humans during the fall and winter, Swine influenza virus is present in although, like in pigs, the virus can be most swine herds across the country, detected any time during the year. and it appears to be a disease that Influenza generally makes an appearmany farms constantly live with. It’s a ance in October, then peaks between respiratory disease which affects all December and February. The U.S. stages of production. Suckling piglets generally have immunity to the disease Center for Disease Control indicates flu

SWINE &U is contagious beginning one day before symptoms develop, and up to five to seven days after a person becomes sick.

Symptoms begin one to four days after the virus enters the body. The virus can easily be spread without a person knowing that he or she is sick.

In humans, flu is most easily spread from droplets in the air made by people with flu. Droplets spread as far as 6 feet when a sick person coughs, sneezes or talks, and, to a lesser extent, flu virus is spread by a person touching a surface that has the virus on it, then touching their nose or mouth.

Influenza is caused by ever-changing RNA viruses. The change in the virus isn’t mutation, it’s called re-assortment. When more than one similar virus is affecting the same cell, the viruses can exchange genetic material.

This new combination virus has properties of the original viruses and is called a variant. The H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 happened when people were infected by a variant of a swine, avian and human virus.

Typically, the seasonal human flu is caused by the H3N2 virus. In 2011, a variant of H3N2 was discovered in humans which contained a gene from the 2009 H1N1 virus. That H3N2 variant has been most commonly found in people who experienced prolonged

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exposure to pigs at fairs.

Latest studies The past five years have found the University of Minnesota on the forefront in conducting valuable applied research to try to understand influenza in swine, its control, and how it can be eradicated.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine have recently published influenza information which details the prevalence of certain variants of the virus during outbreaks, and how seasonality and weather can have an effect on influenza outbreaks.

Work done by Andres Diaz and others from the College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Public Health investigated the recurrence of specific variants of SIV when pigs on a farm go through more than one outbreak of the virus.

The team studied 3-week-old pigs for 15 weeks. This gene-level research project showed that two variants of H1 and another of H3 were “co-circulating” within the pigs tested. There were two separate SIV outbreaks during the study, and the team discovered that even though there was a common presence of three distinct viral groups throughout the study, there were up to 13 more distinct viral genome constellations circulating in the outbreaks.

These findings are important to help researchers learn more about how SIV components alter during infection, and how to deal with the changes in them which make them infectious to humans.

See SWINE & U, pg. 21

PAGE 20

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Prices, production costs can influence lease agreements THIESSE, from pg. 18

average crop yields, or the projected break-evens for crop production for the coming year. The best way to establish the base rental rate is to have a rental rate per acre which is agreeable to both the landlord and farm operator, with an established method of calculation. There are a number of ways to approach the determination of a base rental rate.

However, the base rent needs to be kept at realistic crop production breakeven levels for a flexible lease to function properly.

MARKETING

the higher cash rental rates for farm land. Most lenders support of the use of flexible leases as a way to reduce financial risk in a farming operation. A flexible lease makes it easier for producers to utilize risk management tools such as crop revenue insurance policies and forward pricing of grain. A flexible lease, with a fair base rental rate, allows landlords the security of a solid base rental rate, while having the opportunity to share in added profits when crop prices and/or yields exceed expectations.

Flexible leases are a nice alternative for landlords who want to continue to work with long-standing farm operators, without setting cash rental rates too high to keep the current tenants.

A true flexible cash lease allows for the landlord to receive additional land rental payments above a base land rental rate, if the actual crop yields and/ or market prices, or the gross revenue per acre, exceed established base figures. A true flexible cash lease would also allow for the base rent to be adjusted downward if the actual crop yields and prices, or revenue per acre, fall below the established base figures.

The modified “base rent plus a bonus” approach is acceptable if the base cash rental rates are kept within a reasonable range. If the base rent is set too high, above breakeven levels, resulting in a loss, it is very difficult for the producer to recoup any of those losses with a flexible lease. There are many variations of flexible land rental leases in existence — some very workable, and some not. In most flex leases, any bonus or additional rents are paid with the second half or final rental payment.

Determining the base rent per acre (which in most instances is the minimum rental rate for the year on a land parcel) is one of the biggest challenges in setting up a flexible lease agreement. The base rate should be adjusted upward or downward annually, depending on changes in crop price expectations,

Many flexible cash leases require a base yield of some type. The easiest method to get a base yield is to use the 10-year crop insurance actual production history yield on a farm, which is updated annually.

— Kent Thiesse Many flexible cash leases require a base yield of some type. The easiest method to get a base yield is to use the 10-year crop insurance actual production history yield on a farm, which is updated annually.

Another alternative to determine a base yield for a crop could be using the producer’s actual verified annual production on a farm, which is averaged over a period of years. Actual yield calculation on the farm for a given year can be determined by warehouse receipts, settlement sheets, scale tickets, bin measurements, grain cart weigh wagons, yield monitors, or any other method that is acceptable to both the landlord and farm operator. Many times, yield determination requires a certain trust level between the landlord and the farm operator.

The base price for a crop could be the projected harvest (October) price at the local grain elevator or processing plant for that crop on a specified date prior to planting. The final price would be the price for that crop at the same location on a specified

Wheat harvest shatters records Minnesota is on track to break its wheat harvest record and, for the first time in nearly 30 years, the number of acres planted with University of Minnesota-developed varieties edged over the 50 percent mark.

Harvest is tracking at a record-breaking 67 bushels, shattering the previous record of 60 bushels per acre set in 2015, said University of Minnesota Extension small grains scientist Jochum Wiersma. Yield trends from 1995 to 2016 have shown an overall 2.7 percent increase in average yield per year.

About 1.17 million acres of Minnesota farmland were planted with wheat in 2017, down from 1.3 million last year. Market volatility over the last

two decades has kept wheat acreage from expanding significantly beyond its strongholds in northwestern Minnesota, where about 80 percent of the state’s crop is grown.

Nonetheless, wheat is making some inroads in southern Minnesota. Farmers recognize wheat’s value, including the benefits of planting it as a rotation crop to break disease and pest cycles, Wiersma said. Wheat uses less water, for instance, compared to full-season crops like soybeans and corn, allowing the soil to recharge for the next season.

More about Extension’s small grains program is available at https://www.extension.umn.edu/ agriculture/small-grains/. v

date in the fall. In some cases, a weekly or monthly average price at the local level from planting to harvest is used to determine the final price.

Whatever method is used to determine both the base and final prices should be consistent, using the same grain elevator or processing plant as a source for the local grain price.

With the occurrence of much higher crop input costs in recent years, some flexible cash leases have been modified, and are now based on gross revenue triggers that exceed the cost of production, rather than on crop yield and price triggers. In this type of lease, the landlord only receives additional cash rental payments beyond the base rent when the final gross revenue per acre exceeds the established cost of production for the year. Typically, the added flex rent payment to the landlord would be a set percentage of the added gross revenue per acre above the established cost of production per acre.

This is usually around 30-35 percent for corn, and about 35-40 percent for soybeans, with a maximum rental rate per acre.

Just as with crop yields and prices, determining the established cost of production for a crop for the year can be a challenge. Some possibilities would be to use cash flow statements for the year prepared by a farm management advisor, ag lender, or the producer themselves. Many universities and farm management associations have average cost of production data available. There could be allowances in a flexible lease to allow for added costs or expenses due to weather or emergencies.

There are many variations to setting up a flexible lease agreement between a landlord and farm operator, including using yield only, price only, or a base crop revenue compared to a harvest crop revenue, with or without using cost of production, and many more. The big key, regardless of the flexible lease agreement, is that both the landlord and tenant fully understand the rental agreement, and the calculations that are used to determine the final rental rate. It is also very important that flexible lease agreements, as well as all land rental contracts, be finalized with a written lease agreement.

For additional information on flexible land rental leases and sample flexible lease agreements, please forward an e-mail to kent.thiesse@minnstarbank. com. Iowa State University also has some very good resources on flexible cash leases and written cash rental lease contracts, which are available at http:// www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/. The University of Minnesota has a computer spreadsheet titled “Fair Rent” which is an excellent resource for determining equitable land rental rates and evaluating flexible lease data. It is available at https://fairrent. umn.edu.

Kent Thiesse is a government farm programs analyst and a vice president at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. He may be reached at (507) 726-2137 or kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. v

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 21

Domestic cheese market is strong, exports weak This column was written for the marketing week ending Nov. 17.

Cash cheese and butter retreated the week before Thanksgiving. Chicago Mercantile Exchange block cheddar closed Nov. 17 at $1.62 per pound, down 9 cents on the week and 29 cents below a year ago when it peaked for the year at $1.91. The barrels finished at $1.6275, down 12.5 cents, 12.25 cents below a year ago, and three-quarters above the blocks.

Two cars of block sold on the week and 39 of barrel.

Midwest cheese sales were fairly consistent with those of the previous

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

week, reports Dairy Market News.

Traditional cheese makers reported steady to balanced demand, while pizza cheese makers continue to see seasonally healthy sales. Milk is becoming more available for cheese production and spot loads ranged $1.50 under to $1.00 over Class. The previous week’s uptick of the CME block price had some contacts “breathing a sigh of relief,” says Dairy Market News, as “There was some concern that barrel prices would drop to meet block prices, but the recently plucky cheese market tone remains resilient.”

MARKETING

Cheese production in the West is higher as milk production is mostly increasing. The majority of plants are running at or close to full capability.

Contacts report strong retail sales for the Thanksgiving holiday and are hoping for further sales as the holidays get closer. Overall, demand in the domestic market is stronger. However, inventories remain plentiful, says Dairy Market News.

Cash butter crept up to $2.28 per pound Nov. 14 but retreated from there and closed Nov. 17 at $2.2150, down 4 cents on the week but 18.5 cents above a year ago, with 22 carloads finding new homes on the week. n See MIELKE, pg. 22

Biosecurity important in preventimg spread of influenza SWINE & U, from pg. 19 A robust five-year study of 34 breed-to-wean farms led by a team at the U of M veterinary population department undertook the three-pronged challenge of estimating the prevalence and seasonality of SIV, investigating the correlation between the prevalence of SIV and weather, and studying the genetic diversity of the SIV on the farms over time.

The team found that the prevalence of influenza in herds over five years ranged from 7 percent to 57 percent with a median presence of 28 percent. Herdlevel influenza occurrences followed a cyclical pattern with levels increasing during the fall, peaking in December and May, and subsiding in the summer.

Researchers were able to correlate the prevalence of herd-level influenza with lower outdoor temperatures and low absolute humidity. The team’s research also showed that over time there were genetically diverse influenza viruses co-circulating within the herd.

Protect people and pigs Although influenza is not a federally reportable or regulated swine disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in conjunction with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and National Pork Board, have collaborated on the establishment of a national swine influenza virus surveillance program. Veterinarians can submit nasal fluid, oral swabs or lung tissue to a local lab to be evaluated. In Minnesota, the U of M Veterinary Diagnostic Lab on the St. Paul campus is the surveillance site. Information gathered there can help determine the presence of or changes in influenza virus on pig farms.

Because flu viruses can be transmitted between pigs and people, guidelines are in place for pig handlers and farm team members. As always, biosecurity is important to prevent the spread of influenza from pigs to people and from workers to pigs.

Wearing personal protective equipment like gloves and masks that cover nose and mouth can reduce the transfer of flu virus. Workers should not eat, drink or put anything in their mouth in pig areas.

Also important is hand-washing often with soap and running water before and after working with pigs. If soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based hand rub is recommended. Pig barn employees with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever ends.

The National Pork Board and the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommend that people who work with pigs get a seasonal flu vaccination.

Vaccinations are the most valuable tool for prevent-

ing flu transmission. Annual vaccination will prevent the spread of the flu between people and from people to pigs.

Flu season has arrived. Make sure that you, your family and your pigs are protected against the disease.

Diane DeWitte is an Extension educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension. Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn.edu v

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

U.S. milk exports down, Mexico shops other countries MIELKE, from pg. 21 Western United Dairymen’s Nov. 10 newsletter reports that September butterfat exports were down 17 percent year-over-year and were at the lowest level since August 2016. It says 65 percent of that U.S. butter went to Canada, Mexico and the Middle East/

North Africa and the largest volume loss was from the Canadian market, with exports down 57 percent from August.

“September Imports were fortunately down from last year, but only by 2 percent. The largest butterfat exporter

Dairy series to start Dec. 11 University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Dairy Initiative will host a series of free dairy-focused educational events throughout the winter of 2017-18.

The first seminar will be held at noon on Dec. 11 at the Scott County Extension Office, 7151 W. 190 St., Jordan. The event includes a free lunch and will run until 2:30 pm. Jim Salfer, UMN Extension Dairy Educator, will discuss dairy management without the use of rBST. Salfer will guide producers in comparing profitability and milk production with and without the use of the hormone rBST, because dairy producers will not be able to use rBST begin-

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to the United States was Ireland, representing 71 percent of U.S. import volumes. The second largest import volume came from Finland and this was the first time since May where Mexico did not occupy the second rank. Imports from Mexico were down 80 percent year-over-year in September.”

Dairy Market News says interest in both unsalted and salted butter continues to maintain strength for Central region butter makers. Butter exports are characteristically 82 percent fat and unsalted where as domestic butter is 80 percent fat and salted. Producers point out that unsalted demand is stronger, but the availability of unsalted loads is limited compared to its salted counterpart.

Western butter makers say there is plenty of cream available. Butter production is generally active as manufacturers work to fulfill holiday demand. However, in some cases, butter makers are “slowing the churns to reevaluate stocks and seasonal butter needs. As expected, butter inventories are diminishing with typical autumnal requests, but manufacturers are cautious to keep supply and demand in balance.” Demand for bulk butter used in further food processing remains strong, says Dairy Market News, but “retailers’ willingness to promote butter heavily, and therefore retail orders, vacillate in accordance with market prices. The proximity of the fall and winter holidays is creating an urgency to prompt consumers to make everything better with butter.”

Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Nov. 17 at 72.5 cents per pound, up a quarter-cent on the week, but 17.5 cents below a year ago, on 15 sales for the week. n HighGround Dairy reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest commercial disappearance data shows that natural American-style cheese had “exceptional domestic and export demand in September from 2016, up 10 percent year-on-year, and total demand growth was the second largest of the year, (up 11.5 percent in May) with year-to-date figures 3.3 percent higher than last year and the highest it has been this late in the year since 2014.”

MARKETING

ning in 2018. He will be comparing profitability and milk production of different operations and relating these data to rBST usage.

Vic Larson of Larson Hoof Trimming will express his views on proper foot bath protocol. He will provide guidance on how to use foot baths as well as talk about proper hoof care.

Pre-registration is not necessary, but is appreciated for a meal count. Please contact Colleen Carlson, Extension educator for Carver and Scott Counties at (952) 466-5300.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

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HighGround Dairy warned that other-than-American cheese “continues to find stronger demand in the export sector rather than in domestic use, suggesting that U.S. cheese movement will become highly subject to movements in the U.S. dollar or availability from other major exporters. Otherthan-American style cheese exports were 22.9 percent above 2016 year-todate through September.”

U.S. butter demand continued to draw down U.S. ending stocks, according to HighGround Dairy. However, September’s disappearance was “lackluster at best.”

“September domestic disappearance, at 162 million pounds, was slightly above the 5-year average of 155.9 million, but still 12.7 percent below last year.”

“Year-to-date domestic disappearance is just 0.6 percent above last year,” according to HighGround Dairy.

“Butter exports year-to-date are up 69.8 percent, though volumes are very low, up just 13 million from last year through September. September export business vs. last year was down 15.4 percent, the first year-on-year decline since August 2016.”

“September nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder disappearance felt the effects of Mexico sourcing from other world players as export business was down 15.89 million pounds from the previous month (calculated on a 30 day month) and nearly 37 million pounds from the prior year,” HighGround Dairy stated. “While domestic fourth quarter baking demand helped cushion the blow, ending stocks still jumped to a record 61.8 days of use remaining — the highest it has been since 2002.” n U.S. fluid milk sales were down.

USDA’s latest data shows September packaged fluid sales totaled 4.01 billion pounds, down 2.8 percent from September 2016.

Conventional product sales totaled 3.8 billion pounds, down 2.7 percent from a year ago; organic products, at 208 million pounds, were even down, off 4.2 percent. Organic represented about 5.2 percent of total sales for the month.

See MIELKE, pg. 23

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 23

Canadian milk output up, European production is ‘booming’ MIELKE, from pg. 22 Interestingly, whole milk sales totaled 1.2 billion pounds, up 3.1 percent from a year ago, up 2.4 percent year to date, and made up 30.9 percent of total fluid sales in the month. Skim milk sales, at 338 million pounds, were down 10.8 percent from a year ago and down 12.2 percent, year to date.

Total packaged fluid milk sales in the nine-month period totaled 35.7 billion pounds, down 2.2 percent from the same period a year ago.

Year-to-date sales of conventional products, at 33.7 billion pounds, were down 2.4 percent; organic products, at 1.9 billion pounds, were up 0.2 percent.

Organic represented about 5.4 percent of total fluid milk sales so far in 2017.

Speaking of Class I milk, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced the Golden State’s December Class I prices at $17.95 per hundredweight for the north and $18.23 for the south, down 54 cents and 53 cents respectively from November and $1.27 and $1.26 respectively below December 2016. They are the lowest Class I prices since June 2017.

That puts the year’s average at $17.98 for the north, up from $16.24 in 2016 and $17.69 in 2015.

The southern average, at $18.26, compares to $16.53 in 2016 and $17.96 in 2015. The December Federal order Class I base price is announced by the USDA on Nov. 22. n One more item from Western United Dairymen, which serves as a word to the rest of us: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a requirement that businesses which emit more than a threshold level of certain emissions into the air must report those emissions to the National Response Center under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. “Most emissions from agriculture do not fit the reasons for which reporting was required under the Act and could overwhelm the NRC with calls where no response is expected or will occur anyway.

Therefore, EPA adopted regulations in 2008 exempting most of agriculture from reporting under CERCLA but environmental activists groups sued EPA challenging that exemption and won. The original date for farmers to begin reporting was Nov. 15.

However, the EPA asked for a stay of that ruling so that agriculture does not have to report.

“The U.S. Court of Appeals has not ruled on EPA’s request to continue the stay. If the court does not grant EPA’s request, some dairy farms may need to report air emissions from manure under CERCLA if emissions for ammonia and hydrogen sulfide exceed the threshold quantity of 100 pounds in a 24-hour timeframe.

“EPA has made a strong case in favor of granting the stay. But at this point, the National Milk

MARKETING Producers Federation urges dairy producers not to file air emission reports and besides that, the reporting process is changing, according to WUD.” n In other news; the USDA’s latest Crop Progress report shows 83 percent of U.S. corn has been harvested, as of the week ending Nov. 12. This is up from 70 percent the previous week, but 9 percent behind a year ago and 8 percent behind the 5-year average.

The report shows 93 percent of the soybean crop is harvested, up from 90 percent the previous week, 3 percent behind a year ago, and 2 percent behind the five-year average. Cotton is 64 percent harvested, up from 54 percent the previous week, 4 percent ahead of a year ago and mirrors the five-year average. n Cooperatives Working Together accepted 16 requests for export assistance this week from members to sell 1.94 million pounds of cheese to customers in the Asia, Central America the Middle East and North Africa. The product has been contracted for delivery through February 2018 and puts CWT’s 2016 export sales at 59.88 million pounds of American-type cheeses, and 4.7 million pounds of butter (82 percent milkfat) to 21 countries on five continents. n U.S. dairy exports help support prices more and more, but the global outlook is not promising due to rising milk output. I talked about it with Matt Gould, editor and analyst with the Dairy and Food Market Analyst newsletter in the Nov. 20 Dairy Radio Now broadcast.

His Nov. 10 issue reports Canadian milk output was up 6.2 percent in August and has risen 5.9 percent in the first eight months of 2017. It adds, “Between January and September, (Canadian) skim milk powder exports hit a new record, up 253 percent to 124 million pounds. Canadian whey exports were also up 52 percent to 110 million pounds due to the implementation of the Class 7 pricing system.”

The Dairy and Food Market Analyst also points to Europe where milk production is “booming.” It states, “Preliminary monthly data show output grew by 4.4 percent year-on-year in September (with 45 percent of production states reporting). The most recent weekly data indicate production is running up 3.4 percent year-on-year in Germany, 6.4 percent in France, and 3.8 percent in the United Kingdom.

These top-three milk production states represent 46 percent of the EU-28’s production.”

The United States is tracking around 2 percent growth, according to Gould, and New Zealand’s latest data shows output is up 2.7 percent, “so it’s fair

to say that the world is awash in milk.”

Conversations in the industry ask how low prices will go and for how long. Gould says that is “dominating sentiment,” but “to put it all in perspective, globally the world’s population is consuming something on the order of 1.5 and 2 percent more milk every year. When you have output growing globally at 3.5 percent, you obviously have more supply than you have demand.”

Supply will have to ratchet back in order to bring those two in balance, Gould warned, and he doesn’t see that happening until second or third quarter next year. He adds that it’s not low prices in the United States that are needed to balance the market; it’s low prices in Europe.

“The European dairy farmer has had a very profitable year in 2017,” Gould concluded, “and 2018 isn’t going to be nearly as good. But it will have to be low enough that they slow production, farms exit and supply contracts or grows at a slower rate.” n Meanwhile, as it always does, USDA’s monthly Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook, issued Nov. 16, echoed dairy projections contained in the Nov. 9 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.

Looking specifically at milk output, the Outlook states, “With slower than expected growth in cow numbers in the third quarter of 2017, the fourth quarter estimate for milk cows has been lowered to 9.405 million head — 5,000 less than last month’s forecast. The milk per cow forecast for the fourth quarter is 5,685 pounds per head, 15 pounds lower than last month’s forecast. The milk production forecast for the fourth quarter is 53.5 billion pounds, 100 million pounds less than last month’s See MIELKE, pg. 24

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Novel reveals life in sixth-generation American farm family You really have to play it Through the decades, the safe. farm had been through many changes. It was inherYou can’t afford to lose, ited, sold, re-purchased and can’t handle anything but a redrawn; it had seen bad safe bet, can’t see anything weather, plagues, drought, without a guarantee. No big cattle rustlers and family chances for you; risky feuds. Now Kyle, Meghan, behavior just isn’t someand Meghan’s brothers thing you like. You’re no THE BOOKWORM would farm their mother’s gambler, no rebel or wild SEZ portion of it with computchild. And in the new

By Terri Schlichenmeyer ers, GPS, genetics, chemibook “This Blessed Earth” cals and the understanding

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Kyle Galloway had a lot riding on It takes constant effort to make a the line. living. Because crops are commodities, His girlfriend-almost-fiancé, prices are never guaranteed. Moisture Meghan’s father, Rick, made no bones in the ground means different things about being ready to pass the family for soybeans and for corn; they mean farm to what would be its sixth generdifferent things for different kinds of ation of farmers. Meghan had been soybeans and corn, in fact, and preparing for it all her life and, knowing when to plant is guesswork because there’d been talk of marriage as much as knowledge. The same goes soon, Kyle was working toward that for knowing when to take crops to goal, too. So when Rick gave Kyle the market and when to hold off. task of figuring out a crucial task for Figure wrong, and financial disaster planting, Kyle understood the seriousmightn’t be far away. ness of the responsibility.

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And yet, said Meghan, “… we’re still here, still going...”

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If you know, then you’re likely not going to be surprised by what’s inside “This Blessed Earth.” If you’ve no idea where breakfast was grown, though, be prepared to have your eyes opened wide.

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seen from a tractor cab and blissful quiet through Genoways’ words. But then he shows the flip-side: markets gone bad, failing crops, late harvests, bank loans due, and weather gone wrong, not to mention environmental concerns and what happens when farm meets government meets Big Business.

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Cow numbers lowered MIELKE, from pg. 23 forecast. With lower than expected third-quarter milk production and a lower forecast for the fourth quarter, 2017 milk production is projected at 215.8 billion pounds, 400 million less than last month’s forecast.

The 2018 projection for milk cow numbers has been lowered by 5,000 head to 9.440 million, as growth is still expected but from a lower base.

Milk per cow for the year has been lowered 55 pounds to 23,280 pounds, in line with lower estimates for the fourth quarter of 2017 and lower expected milk prices. Milk production in 2018 is now forecast at 219.7 bil-

lion pounds, 700 million pounds lower than last month’s projection.

The 2017-18 price forecast for corn is $2.80-$3.60 per pound, unchanged from last month’s forecast. The soybean meal price forecast for 2017-18 is $295-$335 per short ton, a $5 increase from last month’s forecast at the midpoint of the range. The alfalfa hay price in September was $149 per short ton, $2 more than August and $13 more than September 2016.

Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in newspapers across the country and he may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v

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020 Farm Implements

035 Tractors

036

Sell your land or real estate FOR SALE: Grain door kit FOR SALE: Case IH 895 4x4, in 30 days for 0% commiscanopy roof, shuttle shift, for a rear unload Gruetts sion. Call Ray 507-339-1272 dual PTO, dual hydraulics, forage box. (715)896-0828 2,316 hrs w/ 2255 loader, We buy quick attach. 715-896-1050 Real Estate Wanted 021 Salvage Equipment Parts Available NEW AND USED TRACTOR WANTED: Land & farms. I Hammell Equip., Inc. PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, have clients looking for (507)867-4910 55, 50 Series & newer tracdairy, & cash grain operators, AC-all models, Large tions, as well as bare land Tractors 036 Inventory, We ship! Mark parcels from 40-1000 acres.

Heitman Tractor Salvage Both for relocation & in- '98 CIH Steiger 9380 4WD, 715-673-4829 vestments.

If you have 4802 hrs, Cummins N14, 400 even thought about selling hp, 24spd trans w/high-low, contact: Paul Krueger, differential locks, 4 reFarm & Land Specialist, motes, 20.8-42 triples, rockEdina Realty, SW Suburban box, air seat, Outback autoOffice, 14198 Commerce steer, Tires 50-60%, Ave NE, Prior Lake, MN $55,000. (641) 590-1102 55372. paulkrueger@edinarealty.com FOR SALE: 18.4x38 axle du(952)447-4700 als; 15.5x38 axle duals. 952873-5566 Hay & Forage Equip 031 Hoelscher Model 1000 bale accumulator, good cond., and can deliver, $3,500. 715878-9858 New Haybuster 2660 bale shredder, dealers cost.

Used #2100. Price $5795.

612-719-6524 Bins & Buildings

033

Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys.

100% financing w/no liens or red tape, call Steve at Fairfax Ag for an appointment. 888-830-7757 Grain Handling Equip

LARGE LATE MODEL RETIREMENT MACHINERY AUCTION

SALE DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND @ 9:45 A.M.–LOCATION: Ziemann Farm at 945 150th Avenue, Fairmont, MN. From I-90 Exit #99, go 4 1/2 mi South on Co. Rd. 39/Bixby Rd, then West on 90th St for 4 mi, then North on 150th Ave for 1/2 mi. Watch for auction signs!

TRACTORS: CIH 500 Quadtrac, ‘14 model, only 172 hrs., bought new; CIH 340 Magnum, ‘14 model, only 93 hrs., bought new; CIH 125 Magnum MFD & L750 8’ Loader, ‘11 model, 1,028 hrs. COMBINE & HEADS: CIH 7230 AFX, ‘14 model, ONLY 222 Sep hrs., 387 eng. Hrs., bought new; CIH 4408 8-30 Chopping Head, ‘16 model, approx. only 600 ac. or use; CIH 2162 35’ Draper Head, ‘12 model; MD Stud King 38’ Header Trailer MACHINERY & EQUIP: Apache Self-Propelled Sprayer AS1025, ‘14 model, only 144 hrs., bought new, 90’ boom, 1000 gal. tank; ‘11 CIH 870 Disk Ripper, 9 shank; ‘11 Wil-Rich Quad QX2 48’ Field Cult; ‘15 Brillion Landoll WFP 42’ Roller; CIH 496 Disk 28’; CIH 1830 12-30 Cult; ‘13 Brent 657 Gravity Wagon; Brent 657 Gravity Wagon; M&W Little Red Wagon; Dakon Wagon; ‘09 Friesen 240 Bulk Seed Express; ‘04 Peck 30x10” Auger; Feterl 41x8” Auger; Peck 72x12” Auger; Homemade 20’ Header Trailer; Farm Farms CFAB 270 Grain Dryer, 3,588 hrs. SKIDLOADER, TOOLCAT & ATTACH: Case 1840 Skidsteer, 98’ model, 1,101 hrs., Bobcat Toolcat 5600, 572 hrs., Materials Bucket & Forks; Bobcat Snowblower, ‘10 model, 78” TRUCKS: ‘07 Sterling Truck, 450 hp., 24’ Crysteel Box & Hoist, tarp, quad axle, steerable front lift tag, air lift rear tag, alum wheels, auto trans, Mercedes diesel, 77,277 mi, 295/75R22.5; ‘05 Sterling Truck, 280 hp., 21’ Futureline Alum box w/alum floor, tarp, tri-axel w/steerable lift tag, auto trans, Mercedes diesel, 187,618 mi, 11R22.5 MISC EQUIP & TOOLS: John Deere 1435 Lawnmower, 509 hrs., 72” 7 iron deck; Arctic Cat Puma Snowmobile, ‘94 model, 1286 mi; 250 gal Cage w/pump for DEF; Bulk Oil Stand w/2 poly tanks; WEN Power 3500 Port Generator; Welder; Battery Charger; Shop Vac; Weed Trimmers; Tiller; Load Binders; Ladders; Misc. Hand Tools & Bolts; Old Steel Rims; Cattle Panels, Gates & More. AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Bruce & Susan’s machinery is in excellent shape with most of it being bought new by the Ziemann Family!

There is not a lot of smaller items, will be on machinery approx. 1 hour after the sale starts, so do not be late! Visit www.auctioneeralley.com for full listing, pictures and Proxibid Internet Bidding.

BRUCE & SUSAN ZIEMANN-OWNERS 507-236-1663

Hartung, Kahlers, Wedel & Pike Auctioneers 507-238-4318(O) 507-236-7629 • 507-920-8060

www.auctioneeralley.com

YEAR END INVENTORY REDUCTION

034

18,000 gal Propane tank Steel saddles and National Board number, $36,000. www.FarmPropane.com (612) 298-6710 FOR SALE:Used grain bins, floors unload systems, stirators, fans & heaters, aeration fans, buying or selling, try me first and also call for very competitive contract rates!

Office hours 8am-5pm Monday – Friday Saturday 9am - 12 noon or call 507-697-6133 Ask for Gary Farm Implements

Classified line ads work!

507-345-4523

PAGE 25

035

Case IH Tractor 4WD, Triples, rear wgts, 4 hyd, bareback, 9100 hrs, $42,500/OBO. (651) 328-9173 Gehl MX170 grinder mixer with scale, hydraulic drive, extra screen, $8,900. Call 715-644-2374 Hydrostatic & Hydraulic Repair Repair-Troubleshooting Sales-Design Custom hydraulic hose-making up to 2” Service calls made.

STOEN'S Hydrostatic Service 16084 State Hwy 29 N Glenwood, MN 56334 320634-4360

OPENS: Mon. November 27 / CLOSES: Wed. December 6 | 7PM

2017

Real Estate

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PREVIEW: November 20 - December 6, 8AM - 5PM / LOADOUT: December 7, 8AM - 5PM

Equipment is located at Park River Implement, Park River, ND; Houtcooper Implement, Cando, ND; & Rolla Implement, Rolla, ND. Complete terms, lot listings & photos at SteffesGroup.com.

Tract & 4WD Tractors / MFWD & 2WD Tractors / Combine New Duraswath Heads / Draper & Flex Draper Heads / Other Heads / Self-Propelled Windrower / Air Drills & Drills / Planter Vertical Tillage / Other Tillage Equipment / Sprayers / Hay Equipment / Grain Handling Equipment / Skid Steer Loader Other Equipment / Tires / Parts PARK RIVER IMPLEMENT Office, 701.284.6316 Charlie, 701.331.9717

or Dave Krostue at Steffes Group, 218.779.6865 Steffes Group, Inc., 2000 Main Avenue East, West Fargo, ND 58078

701.237.9173 | SteffesGroup.com

Scott Steffes ND81

PAGE 26

Steffes Auction Calendar 2017

For more info call 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com Opens November 27 & Closes December 6 Park River Implement, Park River, Rolla & Cando Locations, Year End Inventory Online Auction Opens November 28 & Closes November 30 Holmquist Lumber Company, Grove City, MN, Commercial RE Auction November 29 at 10AM AgIron West Fargo Event, Red River Valley Fairgrounds West Fargo, multi ring consignment event Thursday, November 30 at 11AM 3rd Annual Alamo Farms Hay Auction, Oakes, ND Friday, December 1 at 11 AM David G. Larson Estate, Lake Park, MN, Farm Auction Opens December 4 & Closes December 12 Collector Toy Auction, Larchwood, IA, Variety of collectible farm toys Timed Online Auction Tuesday, December 5 at 10AM AgIron Sioux Falls Event, Larchwood, IA, multi ring consignment event Opens December 6 & Closes December 13 December Online Auction, Upper Midwest Locations, see complete list and photos at SteffesGroup.com Thursday, December 7, 8AM – 11AM Yankton County, SD Development Lot, 15+/- Acres north side of Yankton, SD, Timed Online Auction Thursday, December 7, 8AM – 12PM Spink County, SD Land Auction, 80+/Acres near Tulare, SD, Timed Online Auction Thursday, December 7, 8AM – 1PM Spink County, SD Land Auction, 169+/Acres near Huron, SD, Timed Online Auction Thursday, December 7 at 10AM AgIron Mt. Pleasant Event, Mt. Pleasant, IA, multi ring consignment event Opens December 8 & Closes December 18 Kibble Equipment, Montevideo, MN, Late Model Ag Equipment Timed Online Auction Tuesday, December 10 at 11AM Rick Bergeron Estate Auction, Warren, MN, Farm Auction Thursday, December 21 at 10AM AgIron Litchfield Event, Litchfield, MN, multi ring consignment event Saturday, January 20 at 10AM Multi-Party Firearm Auction Event, Steffes Group West Fargo, Consignment deadline is December 15!

Thursday, February 8 at 11AM Schroeder Farms Inc., Sabin, MN, Farm Retirement Auction Tuesday, February 27 at 10AM Bill Hayen Auction, Cogswell, ND, Farm Retirement Wednesday, February 28 at 10AM Kellerman Bros. Auction, Enderlin, ND, Farm Retirement

4.417” x 5”

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

291.51ac of Prime Sibley County Farm Land

Land Auction

Thursday, December 14th - 10:30 am

Tractors

036 Harvesting Equip

This property will sell as three parcels:

Location of property within Sibley County: Cornish Twp, Sections 19 & 30, Range 30 Total of farm: 291.31 acres, approx. 277.43 acres tillable.

Productivity Index: 91.9 Parcel 1: 89.02 total acres, approx. 85.67 acres tillable.

Productivity Index: 92.3 Parcel 2: 127.21 total acres, approx. 119.68 acres tillable.

Productivity Index: 91.4 Parcel 3: 75.08 total acres, approx. 72.08 acres tillable.

Productivity Index: 92.

Note: All acres are published based on Sibley County Online Records and FSA records.

In case of severe weather, listen to 860AM KNUJ at 8:30 the morning of the auction for postponement & rescheduling info. Blizzard Date is December 15th ~ noon

V. Spaude Family LLC

Listing Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002 Lic 08-17-003

Auctioneers: Lar ry Mages, Lafayette; J oe Maidl, Lafayette; J ohn Goelz, Fr anklin Joe Wersal, Winthrop; Ryan Froehlich, Winthrop; Broker: Mages Land Co. & Auction Ser vice, LLC. Terms: No Buyer ’s Premium. Everything sold in “AS IS” condition.

magesland.com

EDIGER AUCTION SERVICE Your Auctioneers

Col. Pat Ediger, Samantha Ediger-Johnson, Erika (Ediger) & Jim Connolly

IH Vintage Machinery Collector AUCTION Live & Online bidding available on Proxibid

Sat., NOVEMbER 25, 2017 - 9:00 A.M. Location: 23075 Quarry Trail, Belle Plaine, Minn.

2 miles w. of Belle Plaine on Scott Co. Rd. 6 (between Belle Plaine & Blakeley).

See List & Pics at: www.midwestauctions.com/ediger 13 Tractors; Combines; Lots of red field machinery; Snowmobiles; Threshing machines; Tandem trailers; Horse-drawn implements; Dr. Buggy; (2) 400 Cyclo IH Planters; Grain Drill; Flare wagons; MM Corn sheller w/drag sections; NI 327 Picker; 2 & 3-Bottom trip & hyd. plows; 1986 Chevy C20, 2wd; 1989 Ford Ranger 4x4; Sylvan 16’ fishing boat w/50 Hp Merc & roller trailer; JD 318 lawn tractor w/54” deck w/power bagger; #49 Snow blower & front thatcher (fit 318); (2) 4’x20’ Culverts; 36’x8’x12’ D-shaped culvert; Collectibles; Belt drive sawmill planer; Large floor safe; (2) Local Sinclair Station signs 39”Hx24’L (in 3 sections), plus much more! Most all items are in usable condition.

OWNERs: Daniel C. schmidt, Belle Plaine & Jonathan Henschen, Norwood (the Henschen Collection) Auctioneers: Col. Pat Ediger, Samantha Ediger-Johnson, Erika (Ediger) & James Connolly Lic. 70-06; 72-03; 70-85; 70-56 Belle Plaine & Arlington, Minn.

PHonE (952) 873-2292 / (952) 855-6607 / (612) 598-7775 / (952) 201-0874 / (507) 351-1885 Clerk: Ediger Auction Service-Belle Plaine, Minn. Deb Ediger Office Manager.

Terms: Settlement due within 15 min. of auction conclusion with Personal Check, Cash or Major Credit/Debit Card.

(Credit/Debit cards will be charged a 5% convenience fee.) Everything sells as is, where is!

038

Unverferth 400 Seed Box 037 Trailer 4 - Pro Box Seed Tender, Ex cond, used FOR SALE: JD 7720 Titan II very little, $15,000. (651) combine, PRWD, 5245 hrs, 328-9173 good condition, $12,000/OBO. 893 JD cornhead, 8-30, good condition, 039 $12,500/OBO. Will consider Tillage Equip pkg deal. 320-630-1598 '10 Great Plains Turbo-Till Model TT3000 HD vertical Just finished our last corn tillage unit, 30' width, Hyd harvest so selling JD 4400 down pressure, wgt kit, combine (2800 hrs.) and 2 Rock flex gangs, Rolling heads as well as gooseneck spike & basket rear attachhydraulic dump trailer, like new. 715-425-8353 ment, $26,500. (641)590-1102 Harvesting Equip

Directions to land: From Winthrop, head West on State Hwy 19 for 6.2 miles. Then turn South onto 611th Ave (gravel) and head 3.2 miles. Land will be on the East side of the road. Watch for signs!

037

FOR SALE: Ford 8240SL J&M Grain Cart/ '12 1500 w/ tractor, cab, FWA, loader, Scale/Tracks/New Bear$18,000. 605-886-8139 ings, $60,000. (651) 328-9173 FOR SALE: IH 5088, 2WD, Planting Equip nice, $19,500. 320-761-5611

Auction held at: Mages Auction Site 55780 State Hwy 19, Winthrop, Minnesota

The Land 11/17/17 & 11/24/17

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017 Tillage Equip

039

Tillage Equip

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” 039

Tillage Equip

039

FOR SALE: IH 700 5 bottom JD 512 disc ripper, 9-shank, 16” auto re-set plow; IH 710 very good condition, 5 bottom 18” auto re-set $15,000; Brillion 7-shank Vplow. Both with like new ripper, unused, $4,500. (612) moldboards. 952-873-5566 390-6886 '12-Landoll 6230-36 Disk, HD Tires, gauge whls, front & Machinery Wanted 040 back blades 22" SN62J1102627, Hydraulic All kinds of New & Used leveling, 3 section folding, farm equipment – disc chisused very little, $33,000. els, field cults, planters, (651) 328-9173 JD 2410 Chisel Plow '12 Flex soil finishers, cornheads, C-Shank, twisted shanks, feed mills, discs, balers, 28' center frame, Gates '97 DMI Field Cultivator haybines, etc. 507-438-9782 Magnum, 3 bar harrow w/ 40.5' Tigermate I, Blue, carbide tips, $40,500. (651) WANTED TO BUY: JD 8300 Tandem wheels, 3 bar har328-9173 row, double fold, narrow or 450 grain drill w/ grass. center frame, gauge 320-352-3878 Reduced Prices On wheels, nice unit, $12,500.

New M&W EarthMasters (641)590-1102 Spraying Equip 041 1- #1710 5 or 7 Shank 1- #1465 5 or 7 Shank GREAT PLAINS 30 Ft Tur'94 Terragator Model 1903, bo-Till (2005) Blades Very Now – Built Heavier 4465 hrs, 85' boom, 2000 gal Good (Wore 1/2”) Measures SS tank, Cum L10 Eng, M&W EarthMasters 19 1/2”. RHINO 20 Ft 18spd torque boost trans, Parts #SR240 Flex-Wing Cutter, Raven controller, Outback Serving Farmers 55 Yrs Foam Filled Tires. Both Auto Steer, $23,000. (641) DEALER 319-347-6282 Real Good. 319-347-6138 590-1102

PAGE 27

Read The Land online: www.thelandonline.com

~ NEW EQUIPMENT/BIG INVENTORY ~ Port-A-Hut Shelters:

• All Steel Shelters for Livestock & Other Uses • • • • • • • • • •

JBM Equipment:

Feeder Wagons - Several Models Self-locking Head Gates • HD Feeder Panels Self-locking Bunk Feeders Tombstone Horse & Horned Cattle Feeders Skid Feeders • Bunk Feeders Bale Wagons • Bale Thrower Racks Flat Racks for big sq. bales Self-locking Feeder Wagons Fenceline Feeders Several Types of Bale Feeders

Smidley Equipment:

• Steer Stuffers • Hog Feeders • Hog Huts • Calf Creep Feeders • Lamb & Sheep Feeders • Cattle & Hog Waterers • Hog & Sheep Scales – We Rebuild Smidley Cattle & Hog Feeders –

Sioux Equipment: • • • •

Gates • Calving Pens • Haymax Bale Feeders Cattle & Feeder Panels • Head Gates Loading Chute • Hog Feeders Squeeze Chutes & Tubs • Calf Warmer

• • • • •

Rock Buckets • Grapple Forks • Manure Forks Bale Spears • Hi-Volume Buckets & Pallet Forks Bale Transports & Feeder Wagons, 16’-34’ Adult & Young Stock Feeders & Bale Feeders Land Levelers

• • • • •

Squeeze Chutes - Head Gates Large & Small Animal Tip Chutes Open Bar Corral Tub Round & Square Calving Pens Tub & Alley Chutes • Crowding Tubs

Notch Equipment:

For-Most Livestock Equipment:

S-I Feeders:

• Mid Size and Full Size Bunks • One-Sided Juniors and Adult Bunks [Arrow Front 4-Wheel Feeders, 12’-36‘] $500 rebate Special Prices •

DR POWER EQUIPMENT

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

GT (Tox-O-Wik) Grain Dryers, 350-800 bu.

150 Bu. Steel Calf Creep w/wheels Bohlman Concrete Waterers Livestock Equipment by Vern’s Mfg. Jari Sickle mowers EZ Trail Wagons Boxes & Bale Baskets Taylor-way 3-way Dump Trailer Skidsteer Brush Cutters (Hayhopper) Bale Feeders Caltel Hutches & Animal Barns R&C Poly Bale Feeders Goat, Sheep & Calf Feeders Ameriag Poly Mineral Feeders ~

®

Lorenz & Renegade Snowblowers ~ Special Prices We can also sell your equipment for you on consignment

• • • • • • • • • • •

~ USED EQUIPMENT ~

#580 & #380 GT (Tox-0-Wik) Grain Dryers, V.G. #3626 New Idea galvanized spreader #7810 78” hyd Lorenz snow blower for skid steer, V.G. 150 Bushel 2 wheel bunk feeder wagon Vermeer Trailer type TS44A tree spade Used and New Parts for GT (Tox-O-Wik) Grain Dryers Roto King Round Bale Processor SS 9 shank disc chisel 4 yd dump type scraper 60A Hesston Stak-Hand V.G. (3) 250-350 Bu gravity boxes

~ WANTED TO BUY ~

• Used Smidley cattle feeders & hog feeders • Misc cattle equip, offset disc

Lot - Hwy 7 E

Office Location - 305 Adams Street Hutchinson, MN 55350

320-587-2162, Ask for Larry

PAGE 28

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Red River Valley Fairgrounds 1805 Main Ave. West, West Fargo, ND West edge of West Fargo, ND, I-94 Exit 343

Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com

Over 500 Lots to be SOLD!

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 | 10AM AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Auctioneers will run multiple rings with live online bidding. There will be no loading assistance until 1PM. Cars & pickups may enter grounds at Noon for self-loading. Equipment removal by Dec. 1, unless other arrangements are made. Hauling & loading are available. Contact auctioneers for owner information, new consignments, or changes at 800.726.8609. Live online bidding available on major equipment.

TRACK TRACTORS

PowerGard powertrain warranty until June 10, 2019 or 1,500 hrs.

2011 Case-IH 260 Magnum, MFWD, buddy seat, powershift, 1,565 hrs., S/NZBRD04873 2006 JD 7920, MFWD, IVT, JD 746 self-leveling loader, 3-function joystick, 4-tine grapple, 3,420 hrs., S/NRW7920D051689 2000 Case-IH MX270, MFWD, 8,371 hrs., S/NJJA0107322 1983 JD 2550, MFWD, 65 hp., JD 640 loader, quick tach 7’ bucket, quick tach 36” forks, shows 5,893 hrs., S/NL02550U456344L

2014 Case-IH 620 Quadtrac, luxury cab w/susp., powershift, 6 hyd., large hyd. pump, return flow, power beyond, large 1000 PTO, Pro 700 display, 36” tracks, 1,825 hrs., S/NZEF301720 2011 Case-IH 550 Quadtrac, luxury cab, leather, powershift, 6 hyd., integrated auto steer, Pro 700 display, 30” tracks, 3,035 hrs., S/NZBF125984 1995 Caterpillar Challenger 85C, powershift, 4 hyd., return flow, large 1000 PTO, Trimble EZ-Steer, ground speed radar, (2) HID front lights, 30” tracks, 7,897 hrs., rebuilt injectors at 2WD TRACTORS 5,885 hrs.

1994 Caterpillar 85C, powershift, 4 & LOADERS hyd., JD 200 ATU, cast drivers, 30” 1982 JD 4840, CAH, 8 spd. powershift, tracks, 65% tread, 8,950 hrs.

3 hyd., 3 pt., quick hitch, shows 4,958 hrs., S/N4840P015662RW 4WD TRACTORS 1982 JD 4440, CAH, quad range, 3 2012 JD 9560R, deluxe hyd., power beyond, 3 pt., quick hitch, CommandView cab, powershift, 4 9,190 hrs., S/N4440H59707RW hyd., return flow, integrated auto 1976 IHC 1466, cab, heat, 2 hyd., steer, 7” color touch screen display, diff lock, HID lights, weight pkg., 1,800 3 pt., 540/1000 PTO, aux. front fuel tank, Farmhand hyd. loader, 7’ hrs., S/N1RW9560RJCP002358 1994 JD 8770, 12 spd., 4 hyd., approx. bucket, shows 9,700 hrs.

1965 AC 190XT, WF, 2 hyd., 1000 1,000 hrs. on JD remfg. engine, PTO, Farmhand loader starter, alternator, injectors, turbo, JD 158 hyd. loader, 96” bucket, 4-tine muffler & tires, S/N8770S002021 grapple 1974 JD 7520, CAH, factory ROPS, 3 hyd., 3 pt., quick hitch, 1000 PTO, COLLECTIBLE TRACTORS radio, 7,762 hrs., S/NT923R004893R Minneapolis Moline U, WF, 540 PTO, 1996 NH 9682, Cummins, 12 spd., 4 exhibited at Rollag hyd., shows 8,600 hrs.

Farmall Super M, NF, power steering, tank heater, S/N6754 MFWD TRACTORS Farmall H, modified, NF, Chevrolet 6 & LOADERS cyl., automatic, live hyd., 12v 2016 JD 6195R, MFWD, TLS, Farmall 806, cab, WF, gas, Dual AutoQuad Plus, standard cab, GS3 loader, 23.1-34 tires, S/N6349SY 7” display, integrated auto steer, 4 JD 40, runs good, New tires hyd., 40 gpm pump, Cat III 3 pt., AC C, WF, Woods 6’ belly mower 540E/1000/1000E PTO, front fenders, loader ready, rear wheel weights, COMBINES 235 hrs., S/N1RW6190RTGA024101, 2013 JD S690, Contour-Master, 2WD, basic warranty until August 17, 2018 premium cab, deluxe controls, 5 spd. or 2,000 hrs. feeder house, 1,065 sep. hrs., 1,463 2016 JD 6175R, MFWD, AutoQuad engine hrs., S/N1H0S690SLD0755558 Plus, MFWD, AutoQuad Plus, standard 2014 JD S680, Contour-Master, cab, premium radio, 7” display, premium cab, PRWD, 5 spd. feeder integrated auto steer, 4 hyd., 40 gpm house, 930 sep. hrs., 1,600 engine hrs. pump, Cat III 3 pt., 540E/1000/1000E 2013 JD S680, STS, Contour-Master, PTO, front fenders, full coverage rear premium cab, deluxe controls, fenders, rear wheel weights, 165 hrs., ProDrive, 5 spd. feeder house, S/N1RW6175RCGT024338, basic integrated auto steer, harvest monitor, warranty until March 25, 2018 or 950 sep. hrs, 1,400 engine hrs., 2,000 hrs.

S/N1H0S680SHD0757645 2016 JD 6155R, MFWD, TLS, 2012 JD S680, Contour-Master, PRWD, AutoQuad Plus, premium cab, GS3 7” premium cab, deluxe controls, ProDrive display, Greenstar ready, 3 hyd., Cat w/Harvest Smart, integrated auto steer, III 3 pt., 540/1000 PTO, front fenders, 1,160 sep. hrs, 1,600 engine hrs., S/ full coverage rear fenders, loader N1H0S680STC0747796 ready, rear wheel weights, HID lights, 2014 JD S670, Contour Master, 2WD, 160 hrs., S/N1RW6155REGT024464, premium cab, deluxe controls, 3-spd. basic warranty until April 9, 2018 or trans, 810 sep. hrs., 1,240 engine 2,000 hrs. hrs., S/N1H0S670STE0767334 2016 JD 6130R, MFWD, AutoQuad Plus, 2014 JD S670, STS, Contour-Master, standard cab, GS3 7” display, Greenstar premium cab, deluxe controls, HD ready, 2 hyd., Cat III 3 pt., 540/1000 variable speed feeder house, 1,015 PTO, LH & RH doors, full coverage sep. hrs., 1,495 engine hrs., rear fenders, loader ready, 170 hrs., S/ S/N1H0S670SPE0765309 N1L06130RJGK856761, basic warranty 2009 JD 9870, STS, Contour-Master, until June 10, 2018 or 2,000 hrs., premium cab, deluxe controls,

ProDrive, 5 spd. feeder house, 1,350 sep. hrs., 2,015 engine hrs., S/NH09870S731355 2008 JD 9770, STS, Contour-Master, bullet rotor, fixed speed feeder house, 2,964 sep. hrs., 4,279 engine hrs., S/NH09770S727056 2007 JD 9860, STS, deluxe cab, 3,019 sep. hrs., 4,052 engine hrs.

1983 JD 8820, variable speed feeder house, shows 6,669 hrs., S/NH08820X565749 1983 JD 8820, rock trap, hopper ext., chaff spreader, 5,100 hrs.

FLEX DRAPER & DRAPER HEADS

2017 JD 645FD flex draper, 45’, S/N1H0640FDHG0795024 2017 JD 645FD flex draper, 45’, S/N1H0640FDPG0795014 2017 JD 645FD flex draper, 45’, S/N1H0640FDEG0795025 2015 JD 640FD flex draper, 40’, S/N1H0640FDAF0775273 2012 JD 635FD flex draper, 35’ 2014 JD 635D draper, 35’, S/N1H00635DKER765415

GRAIN CART

Demco 1400, 1,400 bu., corner auger, roll tarp, scale, 1000 PTO, 520/85R38 duals, S/ND48026

PLANTER

JD 7100 planter, 12x22”, lift assist, 1.6 bu. hoppers, markers

VERTICAL TILLAGE

2013 Salford I4100 Extreme, 41’, 7-1/2” spacing, concave front disc, 8-wave rear coulters, rolling baskets, tandems across, weight & light pkgs., 3-bar heavy duty harrow, 305/70R22.5 tires on main frame, S/N131371 2013 Salford I4100 Extreme, 41’, 7-1/2” spacing, concave front disc, 8-wave rear coulters, rolling baskets, tandems across, weight & light pkgs., 3-bar heavy duty harrow, 305/70R22.5 tires on main frame, S/N131135 2012 Salford, 41’, 3-bar harrow, rolling baskets

MINIMUM TILL & OTHER TILLAGE EQUIPMENT

2014 JD 2720 disc ripper, 22-1/2’, 9 shank, 30” space, cushion trip, rock flex discs, single pt. depth, scrapers, 2012 JD 612C chopping, 12x30” walking tandems across, wing gauge 2011 JD 612C chopping, 12x30” Case-IH 1083 non-chopping, 12x22”, wheels, S/N1A82720XHE0755216 Kelly diamond disc harrow, 45’ poly snouts, knife rolls Alloway 2150 RTS field finisher, JD 843 non-chopping, 8x30”, steel S-tines, 22’, electric depth control, snouts, oil bath, knife rolls hyd. down pressure on rolling baskets FLEX HEADS JD 980 field cultivator, 44-1/2’, 2012 JD 635F, 35’, finger reel, 5-section fold, walking tandems S/N1H00635FCC0746286 across, single pt. depth, 3-bar harrow 2011 JD 635F, 35’, finger reel, JD C25 field cultivator, 11’, 3-bar S/N1H00365FCB0742883 harrow, sweeps, New tires 2009 JD 635F, 35’, finger reel, DMI pull-type round bar crumbler, S/NH00635F732152 45’, double fold 2005 JD 635F, 35’, finger reel, Harrow, 24’, 3-bar S/NH00635F712117 Case-IH 55 chisel plow, 21’, 16” spacing 2005 Crary C36, 36’, full poly, Case-IH mounted harrows, 30’, off S/N403200 5600 chisel plow 2002 JD 930F, 30’, finger reel, ATV utility disc, 4’ S/NH00930F696715

CORN HEADS

OTHER HEADS

SLEEPER SEMI TRACTORS

2008 IHC ProStar Eagle Lexion F30 sunflower head, 30’, conventional, 56” high-rise sleeper, Lucke 9” pans, high sides & back ISX Cummins, 400 hp., 10 spd., engine brake, air ride, 208” WB, HEADER TRAILERS 570,000 actual miles (2) FW Mfg, 46’, 6-wheel, fenders 2009 IHC 8600, 32” flat top sleeper, (2) FW Mfg, 46’, 6-wheel, New C13 Cat, 410 hp., 10 spd., engine (2) Industrias America 842, 42’ brake, air ride, air slide 5th (2) FW Mfg, 42’, 6-wheel, fenders 2007 IHC 9400, sleeper, ISX Cummins, (4) FW Mfg, 42’, 6-wheel, New 10 spd., 235” WB, 800,000 miles (2) Industrias America 840, 40’ 2006 Volvo VNL, sleeper, Volvo, 465 (2) Industrias America 440, 40’ hp., 13 spd., engine brake, air ride, FW Mfg, 37’, 6-wheel, New shows 1,200,000 miles, New clutch, Horst CHCF36, 4-wheel, 36’ rear end, & drive shafts at 945,000 (2) Industrias America 836R tandem miles, newer tires & brakes axle, 36’, 6-wheel 2000 IHC 9900I, 72” mid-roof sleeper, (2) Industrias America 435, 35’ 12.7L Detroit, 470 hp., 13 spd., engine (2) Industrias America 835, 35’ brake, air ride, 246” WB, 849,335 miles J&M Trail Blazer tandem axle, 35’ 1996 Freightliner FLD112, sleeper, FW Mfg, 32’, front fenders only M11 Cummins, Eaton 10 spd., shows (2) FW Mfg, 32’, 6-wheel, fenders 42,375 miles, has 619,195 actual 1997 Golden Bell, 4-wheel, 30’ miles Industrias America 430, 30’

controller, radar, 3” fill, foam markers, hyd. tread adj., fenders, 380/85R46 2008 Peterbilt 367 heavy haul tires, 3,009 hrs., S/NJFG0005284 tri-axle, day cab, C15 Cat, 475 hp., NYB skid sprayer, 80’, 400 gal. tank, Eaton 13 spd., engine brake, air slide Honda 8 hp. motor, radar, Mid-Tech 5th, 281,070 miles controller, on Ford one ton pickup, 4 2008 IHC ProStar, day cab, Cummins spd., manual, runs good ISX435ST, engine brake, air ride, 176” WB, 730,528 miles BOX TRUCKS 2007 Mack CN613 Vision FLATBED, UTILITY, conventional, day cab, Mack AC engine, 380-410 hp., Meritor 10 spd., & OTHER TRUCKS engine brake, air ride, 185” WB, 762,000 actual miles SERVICE & OTHER (6) 2007 IHC 8600, tandem axle, day PICKUPS cabs, C13 Cat, 410 hp., 10 spd., engine brake, air susp., air slide 5th, HOPPER BOTTOM 165” WB, 12,000 lb. & 20,000 lb.

TRAILERS axles, from 431,961 to 664,065 miles 2007 IHC 8600, 12.5L Cat C13, Eaton IMPLEMENT, LOWBOY, Fuller 10 spd., 172” WB, 399,584 & FLATBED TRAILERS actual miles (2) 2007 Freightliner Columbia STEP DECK TRAILERS tandem axle, day cabs, 14L 60 Series Detroit, 10 spd., 174” WB, BELLY DUMP, END shows 819,000 miles & shows DUMP, & GRAVEL PUP 858,000 miles (2) 2006 Freightliner Columbia PNEUMATIC TANKER tandem axle, day cabs, 12L 60 TRAILERS Series Detroit, 10 spd., 174” WB, shows 613,000 miles & shows REEFER TRAILERS 735,000 miles & DRY VANS 2005 IHC 8600, ISM 6 cyl. Cummins, Eaton Fuller 10 spd., 158” WB, UTILITY & OTHER 559,154 actual miles TRAILERS 2005 IHC 9200, day cab, ISX Cummins, 10 spd., 165” WB, 455,000 FERTILIZER & miles NH3 EQUIPMENT 2005 Volvo, day cab, 12L Volvo, 465 hp., 10 spd., engine brake, 184” WB, HAY & LIVESTOCK 780,000 miles EQUIPMENT 2003 Freightliner FLD, C12 Cat, 410 hp., Eaton Fuller FRO14210C 10 GRAIN HANDLING & spd., 198” WB, shows AERATION EQUIPMENT 839,310 miles 1999 IHC 9900, day cab, Detroit, 470 BLADES & GRADERS hp., 10 spd., 190” WB, has had some engine work SNOWBLOWERS 1996 Ford L9000 Aeromax, day cab, N14 Cummins, 10 spd., sliding 5th, TRACTOR & 148” WB, approx. 300,000 miles WAREHOUSE 1995 Kenworth T800B, single axle, FORKLIFTS day cab, 60 Series Detroit, Eaton Fuller 10 spd., shows 324,470 miles BOOM LIFT & 1988 Freightliner FLD120, day cab, Cummins, 400 hp., 15 spd., 50,000 lb. CONSTRUCTION ITEMS winch behind cab, 400,000 miles

DAY CAB SEMI TRACTORS

SPRAYERS 2010 JD 4830 self-propelled sprayer, buddy seat, 120’ booms, 1,000 gal.

SS tank, 7-section boom, ride control, traction control, 5-nozzle bodies, integrated auto steer, Capstan remote shut-off, hyd. tread adj., fenders, 4,535 hrs., S/NN04830X008096 Set 650/70R38 flotation tires, w/rims for John Deere 4830 sprayer, New 2003 Case-IH SPX3200 selfpropelled sprayer, 90’ booms, 1,000 gal. SS tank, rinse tank, Aim Command, 5-way nozzles, integrated auto steer, Trimble FM-750 display, receiver, Raven SCS460 auto rate

OTHER EQUIPMENT SUVS & CARS LAWN EQUIPMENT SKID STEER LOADER & ATTACHMENTS SHOP EQUIPMENT TANKS / TIRES / PARTS FARM SUPPORT & MISC. View Full List & Photos at

SteffesGroup.com

TERMS: All items sold as is where is. Payment of cash or check must be made sale day before removal of items. Statements made auction day take precedence over all advertising. $35 documentation fee applies to all titled vehicles. Titles will be mailed. ND Sales Tax laws apply. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

Auctioneers & Clerk: Steffes Group, Inc., 2000 Main Avenue East, West Fargo, ND 58078

Scott Steffes ND81, Brad Olstad ND319, Bob Steffes ND82, Max Steffes ND999, Ashley Huhn ND843, Eric Gabrielson ND890, Randy Kath ND894, Shelly Weinzetl ND963 | 701.237.9173 | 800.726.8609 | SteffesGroup.com

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017 Spraying Equip

041

Feed Seed Hay

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

FOR SALE: '86 Freightliner ALFALFA, mixed hay, grass Liquid Tender Truck Day hay & feed grade wheat cab, black, air ride, Tanstraw, med. square or dem axle, Cummins eng, round bales, delivery avail10spd trans, 1650 gal HD elable. Thief River Falls, MN liptical tank, 30 gal & 60 gal Call or text LeRoy Ose: chem mix tanks, 120 rinse (218)689-6675 water tank, 2" bottom fill, 5hp x 2" transfer pump. Fertilizer & Chem 051 Call or text for more info or pictures, $13,200. (641)590Why Buy Lime? When Bio 1102 Liquid Calcium is cheaper and more effective tan Feed Seed Hay 050 lime! Let us help fix PH and Hardpan problems!

SEED CORN SALE! Yield Also Avail. Organic certileading conventional hyfied Products. Call Gary at brids start at $117! (20 unit (715)533-0174 order by Dec. 1) RR/GT, Double & Triple Stack hybrids also available. Man054 age your weed problems w/ Livestock proven ”KLEENACRES” solutions. Big yields, great FOR SALE: Black Angus pricing, proven satisfacbulls also Hamp, York, & tion! Free catalog: Hamp/Duroc boars & gilts.

320-237-7667 or 320-598-3790

Upcoming Issues of THE LAND

Southern MNNorthern IA **Dec. 1, 2017 Dec. 15, 2017 **Dec. 29, 2017 Jan. 12, 2018

Northern MN Dec. 8, 2017 Dec. 22, 2017 **Jan. 5, 2018 Jan. 19, 2018 Feb. 2, 2018

Deadlines are 1 week prior to publication with Holiday deadlines 1 day earlier ** Indicates Early Deadline Ask Your Auctioneer to Place Your Auction in The Land!

PO Box 3169 • Mankato, MN 56002 Phone: 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665 Fax: 507-345-1027

Pre-Owned equiPment

Website: www.TheLandOnline.com • e-mail: theland@TheLandOnline.com

‘14 JD S670 2WD Combine, 638 hrs., Pro-Drives, 5-spd. reverser, 520/85R42’s, chopper, quiPment JD bin ext., re wned Warranty Til 9/18 .................. $214,500

P -O

e

‘17 JD 608C StalkMaster Chopping Corn Head

‘14 JD 635F HydraFlex, low dam, $ 87,500 (New), Warranty, Never Been............................................

Used! .................. $36,500 ‘10 JDJD 9770 STS 2-WD, 1650 Hrs., HD Final Drives ‘09 612C (12R30”) Non-Chopping Corn Head, knife rolls, Low Acres!

W/76X50R32 Floaters (Duals Available), 22’ Auger ................................................ $29,500 $

Combine Program Completed Thru Shop - 115,000

‘14 JD 8285R, MFWD, PS, ‘13 JD 9410R 4-WDw/duals, Tractor, 1480420/85R34 Hrs., 1000 PTO, Hi-Flow 480/80R50’s $ .................. $154,500 fronts, 199,500 Hyd.(78 Gal.),Warranty 620/70R42’s W/Duals, Warranty .......

‘13 8235R, PS,100 ILS, ‘16 JDJD 6155R W/640 MFWD, Ldr.& Grapple, Hrs., IVT (31 380/85R34 fronts w/duals, 480/80R46 mph), W/HD900 Frt.Brakes, rearTLS duals, hrs.,480/80R42’s, Warranty 380/85R30 $ .............................................. $164,500 139,500 frts, Loaded Up! ..................................SOLD

M.S. Diversified monte@ms-diversified.com

Fairfax, MN

800-432-3565 • 320-894-6560 www.ms-diversified.com

COMBINES

‘04 JD 7320 Cab, MFWD, 16 spd., 741 loader, ‘13 JD 660, 4WD, 1598/1066, 2630 display, Contour 6316 hrs .........................................................$55,000 Master chopper, 520x42” duals ...................$153,000 ‘13 JD 6170R, Cab, IVT trans, MFWD, 859 hrs., ‘13 JD 660, 1180 eng/892 sep hrs., cm, HID w/H380 loader, 3 pt., 540/1000 PTO, ..........$116,000 lights, high torque USD chopper, 520x38” duals ....

‘09 NH 6070, Bi-directional, 3543 hrs., cab air, w/NH ......................................................................$153,000 84lb loader, 3 pt., 540/1000 PTO...................$59,000 ‘12 JD 680, 1436 eng. hrs., 1021 sep. hrs., 2WD, Pro ‘12 Kubota M110, Cab, MFWD, 240 hrs., w/Kubota drive, 5 speed feederhouse, chopper, 26’ unloading LA1953 loader, 3 pt., 540/1000 PTO .............$55,000 auger, 520x42” tires & duals........................$149,000 ‘13 JD 6150R, MFWD, IVT tranny, 935 hrs w/ JD 360 ‘04 JD 9760, 3460 eng/2268 sep hrs., Contour Master, loader, electric joystick, 3pt, 580/1000 PTO, 3 hyd 18.4x42” tires ..............................................$103,000 Chopper, 184x42” duals ................................$62,000 ‘11 Challenger, MT 575 B, MFWD, 2242 hrs., ‘06 JD 9560 STS, 3038 eng./2278 sep. hrs., levaland ML98 loader ...................................................$72,000 feedhouse yield, moisture monitor, bin extention, chopper 24.5x32” tires...................................$62,000

TRACK TRACTORS

‘14 CIH, 340 MAG Row Trac 287 hrs., luxury cab, suspended frt axle, 18” tracks, 76” spacing, 6 hyd remotes, 3 pt., 1000 PTO ............................$195,000

WWW.KLEENACRES.COM

If you’re having a Farm Auction, let other Farmers know it!

PAGE 29

LOADER TRACTORS

050

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

‘14 CIH 1235, 16X30 stack fold planter .............$25,000 ‘13 JD 7230R, IVT transmission, 4 remotes, 540/1000

4WD TRACTORS ‘13 JD 9360, 1799 hrs., powershift, 1000 PTO, 620x42 tires & duals ....................................$162,000 ‘13 JD 9460, 1086 hrs., 5 hyd., hi-flow, 5 valves, 480x50”, triples ............................................$185,000

‘96 JD 9500, 5750 eng./3948 sep. hrs., chopper, bin extension, 30.5x32” tires .........................$21,000 ‘00 JD 9650TS, 3611 eng./2645 sep. hrs., chopper, 20.8x38” duals ...............................................$45,000 ‘01 JD 9650 STS, 4325 eng/3014 sep hrs, Contour Master, chopper, 520x38” duals ....................$44,000 ‘09 NH CR9060, 2400 eng./1800 sep. hrs., tracker, chopper, 520x42” duals .................................$69,000 ‘04 NH CR970, 3138 eng./2186 sep. hrs., tracker, chopper, chaff spreader, 520x42” duals........$49,000

‘11 Claas Lexior, 740, 1466 eng/899 sep hrs., 4x4 ‘11 NH T9.390, 905 hrs., powershift, diff lock, HID lights 480x50” tires & duals .........................$128,000 520x42” duals ..............................................$105,000 ‘09 CIH 385, 3071 hrs., 620x 46 tires & duals, 4 hydraulics, powershift ...............................$112,000

WHEEL LOADERS

PTO, 650/85R38 single rear tires, 540/65R34, Premium

‘90 FORD 876, 8253 hrs., 12 speed tranny, 520x38” tires & duals ...................................................$27,500 ‘13 Cat 930K Hi-lift, 5088 hrs, ride control, flex hyd,

cab w/suspension, 1520 hrs., warranty .............$116,000

‘13 VERSATILE 2375, 1482 hrs., 1000 PTO, outback auto steer, 710x42” tires & duals.....$117,000

‘10 JD 9330, powershift, 620/70R42 duals, 2055 hrs., diff. locks, auto trac ready..................................$125,000 ‘16 JD Gator TS, 4X2, 150 hrs ............................. $5,500 ‘13 JD 8260R, powershift, 1300 front axle, 380/90R50 duals, front duals, 540/1000 PTO, HID lights, 60 GPM hyd. Pump, 4 remotes, 2,000 hrs. .....................$116,000 ‘13 CIH Magnum 235, new 480/80R46 duals, 540/1000 PTO, through service program, 2235 hours ........$89,500 ‘12 Harvestec 5308C, 8X30 chopping cornhead, JD mounts, single pt hook-up..............................$19,500

ROW CROP TRACTORS ‘14 CIH 260, 605 hrs., MFWD luxury cab, 4 hyd, 3 pt hitch, 1000 PTO, 480x50” duals ..................$115,000 ‘12 JD 8235, 1235 hrs., 2wd, cab air, powershift, 3pt, 1000 pts, 4hyd. valves, 3 front weights, 18.4x46” tires & duals . $112,000

‘12 CIH 260, 1784 hrs., Deluxe cab, 19-spd., PS, susp. front axle, 3 pt., 4 hyd., Hi-Flow, 1000 PTO, 480x50” duals, MFWD .................................$110,000 ‘13 CIH 260, 577 hrs., PS, 3 pt., 540/1000 PTO, 4

net wrap, 2160 bales............................................$21,000

– AgDirect Financing Available – Please call before coming to look.

Keith Bode Fairfax, MN 55332 507-381-1291 www.keithbodeeq.com

‘15 KOMOTSU WA270-7, 425 hrs, cab, ride control, 2.75 yd bucket, 20.5x25” Michelin tires ......$117,000

FLEX HEADS ‘02 Case IH 1020 30’ flex, fore & aft, set up for tracker .........................................................$5,000

CORNHEADS ‘13 Drago N6TR, Fits JD, 6 row 30” Chopping with stalk stompers, low acres ..............................$26,500

hyd., big pump, 420x46” tires & duals ........$110,000 ‘13 Drago N6, 6 row 30” non chopping, unused fits Case/IH .........................................................$29,500 ‘13 CIH 290, 1250 hrs., 3 pt., PTO, big pump, 480 ‘06 Drago N8TR, 8 row 30” Chopping cornhead to fit front duals, 480x50” .....................................$115,000 CIH ................................................................$16,000 ‘02 CASE/IH MX 240, 7472 hrs., MFWD, 4 hyd, 1000 ‘05 Drago N6TR, 6 row 30” chopping, fits JD combines PTO, 14.9x46 tires & duals ............................$42,000 ‘13 NH 8360, 940 hrs., MFWD, leather seats, 4 hyd.,

‘14 NH BR7090 specialty crop round baler, twine &

6.5 yd bucket ...............................................$107,500

1000 PTO, auto steer complete, 480x50” rear tires & duals .........................................................$119,000

........................................................................$18,000 ‘09 Drago N6TR, 6 row 30” chopping, fits JD combine .........................................................$22,000 ‘02 Case IH 2208, 8 row 30” hyd., deck plates.. ........... ........................................................................$13,000

‘11 Versatile 305, MFWD, 690 hrs., 4 hyd., 3 pt., 1000 ‘05 Geringhoff, roto disc 830 8 row 30” chopping, fits PTO, HID lights, front wts, fender ..................$99,000 JD combine ....................................................$19,000

LARSON IMPLEMENTS 5 miles east of Cambridge, MN on Hwy. 95 763-689-1179

Look at our Web site for pictures & more listings www.larsonimplements.com

PAGE 30

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

irst Your F or f Choice ds! ie Classif

Place d Your A Today!

Livestock, Machinery, Farmland... you name it! People will buy it when they see it in The Land!

To submit your classified ad use one of the following options: Phone: 1-800-657-4665 or 507-345-4523 Mail to: The Land Classifieds, P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002 Fax to: 507-345-1027 • Email: theland@TheLandOnline.com Online at: www.thelandonline.com DEADLINE: Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the following Friday edition.

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Wanted Farm Services Fencing Material Feed, Seed, Hay Fertilizer & Chemicals Poultry Livestock Dairy Cattle Horses Exotic Animals Sheep Goats Swine Pets & Supplies Livestock Equipment Cars & Pickups Industrial & Construction Trucks & Trailers Recreational Vehicles Miscellaneous

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ADVERTISING NOTICE: Please check your ad the first week it runs. We make every effort to avoid errors by checking all copy, but sometimes errors are missed. Therefore, we ask that you review your ad for correctness. If you find a mistake, please call (507) 345-4523 immediately so that the error can be corrected. We regret that we cannot be responsible for more than one week’s insertion if the error is not called to our attention. We cannot be liable for an amount greater than the cost of the ad. THE LAND has the right to edit, reject or properly classify any ad. Each classified line ad is separately copyrighted to THE LAND. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017 Dairy

055

Cattle

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” 057 Miscellaneous

056 Horse

200 Holstein steers, approx. Hereford Bull, Real gentle, 275 lbs., vaccinated, 18 months old. Elk Mound, wormed, dehorned, nice WI. 715-879-5766 cut. Delivery available. 715Polled Herefords, heifer 613-2072 calves. Also bred cows & FOR SALE: Registered Holheifers. Call 608-235-9417 stein springers. AI sired & bred. 25,000 lbs herd aver- PUREBRED registered age. Free stalls & dirt lot.

Charolais heifers, 7 mos.

715-897-1544 old, excellent genetics and quality. 715-556-0677 FOR SALE: Registered Holstein bulls. 715-255-9242 Registered Texas Longhorn breeding stock, cows, WANTED TO BUY: Dairy heifers or roping stock, top heifers and cows. 320-235blood lines. 507-235-3467 2664 Spring calving, Purebred Black Angus cows, bred to Cattle 056 our Black Granite son.

Also bulls www.teamjsi.com.

FOR SALE OR LEASE Call 715-483-3866 REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS Bulls, 2 year old & WANT TO BUY: Butcher yearlings; bred heifers, cows, bulls, fats & walkable calving ease, club calves & cripples; also horses, balance performance. Al sheep & goats. 320-235-2664 sired. In herd improvement program. J.W. Riverview Angus Farm Glencoe, MN 55336 Conklin Dealer 320for reading The Land 864-4625

THANK YOU

USED TRACTORS

Marg Horse Company Buying horses of all kinds.

Please call. (715) 896-2213 Swine

065

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Reliable Power Solutions liable for an amount greater than the cost of the ad. THE LAND Since 1925 PTO & automathas the right to edit, reject or properly classify any ad. Each ic Emergency Electric PARMA DRAINAGE Generators. New & Used classified line ad is separately copyrighted to THE LAND. PUMPS New pumps & Rich Opsata-Distributor parts on hand. Call MinReproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

800-343-9376 nesota's largest distributor HJ Olson & Company 320974-8990 Cell – 320-212-5336

Compart's total program features superior boars & open gilts documented by BLUP technology. Duroc, York, Landrace & F1 lines.

Terminal boars offer leanness, muscle, growth. Maternal gilts & boars are productive, lean, durable.

All are stress free & PRRS free. Semen also available through Elite Genes A.I. WANT MORE READERS Make 'em Grow! Comparts TO SEE YOUR AD??

Boar Store, INC. Toll Free: Expand your coverage area!

877-441-2627 The Land has teamed up FOR SALE: Yorkshire, with Farm News, and The Hampshire, & Hamp/Duroc Country Today so you can boars, also gilts. Excellent do just that! Place a classiselection. Raised outside. fied ad in The Land and Exc herd health. No PRSS. have the option of placing it Delivery avail. 320-760-0365 in these papers as well.

More readers = better rePurebred serviceable age sults! Call The Land for Berkshire boar, $300. more information. 507-345Daniel Borntreger, 21395 4523 • 800-657-4665 Cty Rd N, Kendall, WI 54638

PLANTERS

NEW Versatile 500 w/ PS ....................................... Call NEW Versatile 310, FWA.............................. $157,900 ‘10 Versatile 435, 1050 hrs .......................... $150,000 ‘06 Buhler 2210 w/ auto steer........................ $92,500 NEW Massey GC1715 w/loader ............................ Call NEW Massey 7722 FWA CVT ................................ Call CAT 55 4,000 hrs ........................................... $67,000 CIH 3394 FWA................................................ $29,500 NEW NH T4.75 w/loader ........................................ Call NEW NH T9.645, w/Smart Trac ............................. Call NEW NH T4.120 ..................................................... Call NH T8.275, 495 hrs ...................................... $155,000 ‘12 NH T9.390, approx. 850 hrs. .................. $180,000 ‘08 NH 8010 ................................................. $114,500 Allis 180 D .........................................................$7,250 ‘12 Challenger MT 665D .............................. $155,000

NEW White Planters .............................................. Call ‘12 White 8186, 16-30 w/liq. fert. ................... $59,000 White 8222, 12-30 w/liq. fert. ......................... $42,000 ‘11 White 8516 CFS, Loaded ......................... $85,000

TILLAGE

MISCELLANEOUS

COMBINES

NEW Fantini chopping cornhead .......................... Call Fantini Pre-Owned 8-30 chopping cornhead ............................................................. Call ‘02 Gleaner R62 .............................................. $85,500 ‘94 Gleaner R62 .............................................. $38,000 ‘10 Gleaner R76, Loaded ............................. $195,000 ‘03 Gleaner R65 ........................................... $105,000 Gleaner 3308 chopping corn heads ..................... Call 12’ Gleaner S67, 532 sep hrs ...................... $235,000

HAY TOOLS

New Hesston & NH Hay Tools - ON HAND

NEW Salford RTS Units ......................................... Call NEW Salford Plows................................................ Call NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders ............................. Call NEW Westfield Augers .......................................... Call NEW REM 2700 Vac. ............................................. Call NEW Hardi Sprayers.............................................. Call NEW Riteway Rollers ............................................. Call NEW Lorenz Snowblowers .................................... Call NEW Batco Conveyors .......................................... Call ‘13 NH 220, 170 hrs ....................................... $33,000 NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ........................ Call NEW NH Skidsteers - On Hand ............................. Call NEW E-Z Trail Seed Wagons ................................. Call NH 230 w/ cab & air ....................................... $37,900 NEW Rock Buckets & Pallet Forks ........................ Call REM 2700, Rental .................................................. Call Pre-Owned Grain Cart .................................. On Hand ‘03 Sunflower, 32’, 5-bar spike ...................... $18,000 Sunflower 4610, 9-shank ............................... $45,000 DMI Tiger Mate II 40.5 w/ 4 bar ..................... $29,500 DMI 530B ............................................................... Call DMI/NH 775, 7-shank .................................... $23,500 ‘08 JD 2210, 44.5’ w/3-bar harrow ................ $29,500

090

PAGE 31

SKIDSTEERS

ADVERTISER LISTING

Courtland Waste Handling ..............................................21 Dairyland Seed Co., Inc. ................................................17 David Gass ....................................................................25 Diers Ag & Trailer Sales, Inc. ..........................................7 Doda USA, Inc. ..............................................................14 Double B Manufacturing ................................................23 Duncan Trailers ..............................................................29 Ediger Auction Service ..................................................26 Hanson Silo Company ....................................................19 Henslin Auctions ............................................................25 Hughes Auction Service ..................................................27 Icon Ag & Turf ..............................................................27 Keith Bode ....................................................................29 Larson Implement ....................................................25, 29 Mages Auction Service ..................................................26 MN Ag Expo ........................................................4, 11, 22 MS Diversified ..............................................................29 NK Clerking ..................................................................25 Peterson Farms Seed ........................................................3 Pioneer Corn ....................................................................6 Pruess Elevator, Inc. ......................................................26 Schweiss, Inc. ................................................................26 Smiths Mill Implement ..................................................31 Sorensen’s Sales & Rentals ............................................27 Spanier Welding ..............................................................9 Steffes Group ......................................................25, 26, 28 Ziegler ............................................................................5

All Equipment available with Low Rate Financing

SMITHS MILL IMPLEMENT Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN

Phone (507) 234-5191 or (507) 625-8649 Mon. - Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon www.smithsmillimp.com

• PO Box 3169 • 418 S 2nd Street • Mankato, MN 56001 • theland@thelandonline.com

PAGE 32

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THE LAND — NOVEMBER 24, 2017

This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Tim King. Photos by Jan King.

T

Creatures from the Big Bog

he 500 square mile Big Bog, in north central Minnesota, is a largely inaccessible forest and grassland growing on decaying sphagnum moss. Although humans only enter the margins of this wilderness, wild creatures like the Bog Lemming, Pine Marten and Great Gray Owls live in it alongside rare orchids, carnivorous plants and ancient dwarf black spruce and tamarack trees.

A mile-long boardwalk into the Big Bog was completed in 2005 as part of the Big Bog State Recreation Area, a roughly 9,500 acre area on the northeastern tip of Upper Red Lake. The boardwalk, which was constructed to minimize the environmental impact on this delicate ecosystem, gives visitors a window into the Big Bog that wasn’t available to even local people before it was constructed.

“I grew up here and thought I knew all about the bog,” the Department of Natural Resources ranger staffing the visitor center near Waskish said.

“When I could walk into the bog on the boardwalk, I discovered that there was a lot more to learn.”

The ranger explained that The Big Bog is like a vast spongy river and that much of it flows into Upper and Lower Red Lakes. In the autumn, when we walked the boardwalk, almost no water was visible. But it was there held in an endless mat of living and decaying acidic moss that is the bog’s soil.

Big Bog State Recreation Area

When we walked the boardwalk, the only wildlife we saw was a busy little Red Squirrel.

There was sign of recent beaver activity near the pretty pond at the walk’s beginning.

The big water rodents had been chewing on aspen and alders near the pond’s banks.

The boardwalk starts in what would be impenetrable alders and then enters a dark forest of fairly tall black spruce growing on soft thick beds of green and golden sphagnum.

Even for a country person used to relative silence, the quiet of this place is remarkable. Eventually, the spruce forest opens into a mixed park land of dwarf golden tamaracks, somber green spruce and reddishbrown grass.

Throughout the walk there are helpful interpretive signs and benches for rest and contemplation. Don’t feel obliged to complete the walk. Enjoy any part of it — even the picnic shelter at the pond’s beginning. Do take some water. We estimate the complete round trip is about three miles.

The recreation area also has a fire tower to climb, a beach on Red Lake and campgrounds by the Tamarack River. v

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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

© 2017

November 24, 2017 NORTHERN EDITION

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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

© 2017

November 24, 2017 NORTHERN EDITION

(800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com theland@TheLandOnline.com P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002