THE LAND ~ April 6, 2018 ~ Southern Edition

“Since 1976, Where Farm and Family Meet” © 2018

April 6, 2018 April 13, 2018

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Moving on, moving forward

Lake Crystal twins are retiring from farming.

An Amboy couple is taking it on. See page 14

Plus inside: Minnesota’s 1992-93 state FFA officers: Where are they now?

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

‘Downturn’ doesn’t quite cut it P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XLII ❖ No. 7 40 pages, 1 section plus supplements

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If misery loves company, a recent thing to happen to improve prices,” said report released by the University of Aaron Brudelie, farm management Minnesota shows the state’s farming instructor from Minnesota West community is not a lonely crowd.

Community and Technical College. “We’ve seen a little pop in prices this last few Data from the report comes from an weeks, with production problems in South annual farm income analysis conducted America. That has given producers a by the University of Minnesota chance to sell some 2017 crops at a profit Extension and Minnesota State. The as well as a chance to lock in a little betanalysis examined data from 2,164 parter price for some of their 2018 crop. We LAND MINDS ticipants in the Minnesota State Farm have a long way to go, but crop farmers Business Management programs and 104

By Paul Malchow are a little more optimistic about this members of the Southwest Minnesota next year.”

Farm Business Management Association. Participating producers Minnesota livestock producers fared represent approximately 10 a little better in 2017, although percent of commercial farmers. the median livestock producer earned only $32,800 from farm The statewide results, comNorthwest operations for the year. piled at the University of 2017: $57,000 Minnesota’s Center for Farm Pork producers were the only Financial Management, show farms that, as a group, had a 2016: $75,000 that across all types of farms, profitable year in 2017. The nearly one-third of Minnesota report states the median earnNorthcentral/ farmers lost net worth in 2017. ings for hog farms was just Northeast 2017: $4,800 The median farm income from over $122,000 — after losing last year was $28,551, down 2016: $10,073 Minnesota almost $5,000 in 2016. Pork from about $36,000 in 2016. producers received almost 55 Farm cents per pound produced, up West Central Corn and soybean growers from just under 50 cents in 2017: $22,500 Income had little to show for their high 2016. The average farm made 2016: $29,053 yields. The median crop farm 2017 about $11 per head finished. earned $23,722, down from South Southwest $46,831 in 2016.

Prospects for 2018 are cloudy, Central Southeast 2017: 2017: $19,000 according to Purdue economist 2017: $29,000 In Minnesota, corn yields $36,500 2016: Chris Hurt. Much depends on 2016: $52,322 $29,238 2016: $23,054 topped 200 bushels for the secfeed cost, which are inching up ond year in a row, up nearly 20 because of corn production percent from the previous 10-year average, the problems in South America. report says. But the 2017 crop also was strong across the U.S. Corn Belt and internationally — 2017 was another dismal year in cattle country, increasing stockpiles and pushing prices below the although not as bad as the year before. The median cost of production for many farmers. Prices averbeef farm lost money for the third consecutive year, aged $3.25 per bushel in 2017 after topping $7 per netting a farm loss of $3,800 in 2017 compared to a bushel just five years ago. loss of almost $12,000 in 2016. Cow-calf producers made about $17 per cow in 2017 after losing ($83) The report also stated producers whose costs per cow in 2016. Cattle finishers made $137 per include farmland rental lost an average of $25 per head, after losing ($77) last year. acre of corn.

Dairy farmers faced some of the toughest chal2017 soybean yields were 7 percent above the lenges as milk prices plunged in the second half of 10-year average at 48 bushels per acre. On average, the year — a drop which continues in 2018. each soybean acre contributed $28 to farm profits.

“2017 was really a tale of two halves,” said Nate “It seems like a lot of producers have been treadSee LAND MINDS, pg. 6 ing water these last few years, waiting for some-

OPINION

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

10 — Where are they now? Catching up with the 1992-93 FFA officers 17 — Farm management specialist is passing the torch

THERE’S EVEN MORE ONLINE... @ TheLandOnline.com • “Calendar of Events” — Check out The Land’s complete events listing • “E-Edition” — Archives of past issues of The Land

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Life on the Farm: Readers’ Photos

inter has not let go of Minnesota yet. Rose Wurtzberger snapped these photos on her New Ulm farm after the snowfall on March 24. She wrote, “I feel like I’m living in Siberia.”

That was before more snow blanketed southern Minnesota on April 3. Will April snow showers bring May flowers?

The evergreen trees bear the weight of the heavy spring snow on the Wurtzberger farm near New Ulm, Minn.

Keep the photos coming Photos by Rose Wurtzberger

The red shed is barely visible amidst the snow on the Wurtzberger farm near New Ulm, Minn.

E-mail your Life on the Farm photos to mwood@thelandonline.com.

Your photo may be published in our next issue!

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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

New farm bill can’t be re-heated 2014 legislation Texan Mike Conaway, the Republican counterpart, Minnesota Democrat Collin chairman the House Ag Committee, went Peterson, for the ongoing delay. full cowboy on committee Democrats “I assumed he was working with his after he learned all 20 of them would members to socialize,” (socialize?) “the vote “no” on his 2018 farm bill if he preSNAP cuts. He didn’t. He simply told sented it with what they said were 20 them, ‘Conaway’s just doing what (GOP percent cuts in SNAP (the nation’s members) did in 2013 and we don’t need $68-billion-a-year Supplemental to be a part of it.’”

Nutrition Assistance Program).

It was just more Conaway shape-shiftConaway’s reaction was like a country/ FARM & FOOD FILE ing because, in fact, it’s not Peterson’s job western song. It had three stanzas and

By Alan Guebert to deliver Democratic votes to the comended in defiance. mittee’s GOP chairman so his bill First, he was “deeply disappointed appears bipartisan. The best way to and hurt, quite frankly” that commitdeliver a bipartisan bill is to allow all tee Democrats walked away from the farm bill pro- members to have a hand in writing it. cess without knowing all the details of his SNAP Conaway’s partisan sniping seems more aimed to “reforms.” get him one vote in the White House but it won’t help Next, he shifted blame. His closed-door writing of him get the 218 votes he needs in the U.S. House. the bill wasn’t why it stalled, he explained. It stalled In truth, the Texan has an even bigger problem because the Dems, in protest, walked away from his than SNAP-protecting Democrats. Nearly all of his closed-door process. Still, he added, if the blind sheep committee (as well as the Senate Ag Committee) wished to return, “we will welcome them back.” isn’t actually writing a new farm bill. They are re“But in the meantime,” he said, “we’re going forwriting the 2014 law as if the nation and world ward. I need a bill that gets 218 votes. I don’t care if haven’t changed in the last four years and won’t they are Democratic votes or Republican votes, change in the next five. we’re going to get 218.”

Much, however, has changed. When the 2014 bill A week later, in a speech to cattle folks in Fort finally passed, the previous year’s net farm income Worth, Conaway pointed at his ranking committee was $123 billion. In 2018, it will be $59.5 billion.

Nothing in either farm bill addresses farm income collapse.

Changed, too, is the global grain scene.

OPINION

Letter: Help save the pheasants, bees

To the Editor: To my knowledge, the government has never recommended alfalfa or clover when we seed CRP land.

Alfalfa is the best habitat for pheasants. It provides bugs which the baby chicks need for food and cover from predators like red tail hawks, eagles, fox and coyotes. The bees love the clovers and alfalfa to produce their food and honey. They will also come back year after year.

The seed that the government is telling us to seed CRP land with has noxious weed seed and sometimes Palmer amaranth in it. Palmer amaranth is the worst weed in the country and is spreading fast.

Let’s replace these noxious seeds with alfalfa and clover. It will help the pheasants, bees and farmers.

We are doing all we can to control weeds — not plant them. The seed the government is getting mixed up for CRP needs to get sent to a university to get tested before it can be used, as some weed seed cannot be identified.

You can learn a lot out of a book, but when it comes to pheasants, bees and weeds, talk to a farmer. We grew up with them. Please talk to your soil conservation and tell them we need alfalfa and clover in CRP. Chris W. Skaar Hayward, Minn.

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For example, in the June-to-July trade year, Argentina’s wheat exports have increased from 1.6 million metric tons in 2013-14 to 13.7 mmt in 201718, an 835 percent increase. Over the same period, Russia’s wheat exports grew 200 percent (18.6 mmt to 37.5 mmt) and the Ukraine’s rose 176 percent while U.S. wheat exports dropped from 31.5 mmt to 24.5 mmt over the same period.

Again, nothing in either the current or proposed law addresses seismic market shifts like wheat has undergone in just four years. Since January, however, Congress has instituted ad hoc “disaster” programs for U.S. goods, like cotton and dairy, wilting under world market heat.

Will this unwritten component of the 2014 bill be a silent part of the 2018 bill, too?

And, of course, White House trade policy, like the White House itself, has changed. President Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, and Chinese goods; his achingly slow renegotiation of NAFTA; and his leaving the mega Trans-Pacific Partnership rightly worries farmers and ranchers.

What happens if he fails to thread even one of these sharp needles?

That failure (or some other, unforeseen change) could change everything for farmers and ranchers.

Maybe that’s why Conaway is complaining about age-old SNAP instead driving a forward-looking policy debate for the coming decade. It’s far easier to gripe about old problems in old programs than to come up with creative solutions for new ones. v

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Young or old, home or away, be careful out there Although we hear the Farms are great places to words, “be careful” from raise children, but common many people over the course sense tells us that danger of our lifetime, it’s almost lurks anywhere on a farm. always said for the same When our children were old reasons. enough to go outside alone to play, I told them to be I used to hear it all the careful. time growing up. While doing dishes, Mom would “It’s the same thing as TABLE TALK often hand us the steak saying ‘I love you,’ because I knives to dry, along with an By Karen Schwaller don’t want you to get hurt,” accompanying, “... careful, I said. hon — those are sharp.”

I explained that to them She still said that to me when I was many times as they grew into elemenin high school. I came to decide that tary-aged school children. my ability to retain information was They would always listen as I apparently on a train that had derailed explained, which also amazed me. somehow and left no survivors.

Over time when I would tell them to Now that I’m in mid-life, the easiest be careful, I would add, “You know thing I retain is water. what I’m saying, don’t you?”

I guess it doesn’t matter how old When they were toddlers, they would your children are. Once a mother, tell me what I was saying. But when always a mother. they got a little older, I would usually see a big red-faced grin as they But the reasoning for being told trucked out the door for another round something like that is still the same: you want the people you care about to of highly-anticipated toy farming that awaited them in the house yard or be safe and to not get hurt. sandbox. Their grins told me they I used to say it to our young children understood, even after they were too when they would go outside to play. cool to tell me.

Switching to the grown-up world of farming, it’s interesting to run into people we know on gravel roads, in implement stores, hardware and farm stores, grocery stores, at the elevator and out in the farmyard. If you’re with your husband and you run into friends and neighbors who also farm, it takes less than 10 seconds for the conversation to turn to farming.

It used to drive me crazy — even as a farm wife and part-time farmer. But more often than not, I learn a lot from listening to the banter. That is, when I’m not morphing into an inanimate object from the sheer amount of time that conversation usually takes.

But often times these days, I’ll hear farmers exchange parting words of, “Have a safe harvest” or “Have a safe calving season.”

And the reason they say those words to each other is still the same as the reason Mom used to warn me when handing me the steak knives to dry, and why I used to tell it to the kids when they were very young and just beginning to adventure life on their own.

We care about them and we don’t want to see them hurt — or worse.

Field hours are often long and tedious.

Calving season can be the root of many a sleepless night while awaiting a calf that’s coming, or following insomnia from a calf check at 2 a.m. on a frigid February night. Mama cows can turn cantankerous, and accidents anywhere on the farm take only a moment. And even when we’ve had a few short nights after field work or out in the barns, there’s usually a full agenda for the next day, tired or not.

So the next time someone tells you to be careful, enjoy the feeling.

Because, disguised as a friendly greeting, they just told you they care about you. Sometimes a red-faced grin is all we need to see to know someone understands what that statement really means.

That’s heart language at work on the farm.

Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v

Surveyed organic producers are showing healthier earnings LAND MINDS, from pg. 2 Converse, farm business management instructor at Central Lakes College in Staples. “For the first six months, we had relatively profitable prices, but the bottom fell out in the second half.

Right now, many of the dairy producers I work with are losing $2 per hundredweight produced and the outlook does not look much better for 2018.”

The median earnings for dairy farms was almost $50,000, up from $31,500 in 2016. The average dairy farm made $370 per cow, up from $135 in 2016, with producers receiving $17.94 per hundred pounds of milk, while production costs averaged $17.24.

Currently, most producers are receiving less than $15.50 per hundredweight.

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Organic producers reported a better year. The 15 farms participating in the survey reported median earnings of $102,000 in 2017. Prices for organic milk are at about $33 per hundredweight, down slightly from $35 in 2016.

“Minnesota farmers came into this five-year downturn with very strong balance sheets,” said Extension economist Dale Nordquist. “But we see increased financial stress across Minnesota agriculture. Like any industry, every farm has a different cost structure and some farms are doing better than others. There is a lot of slow bleeding going on out there. It becomes a crisis for some individual farms who don’t have a strong enough balance sheet to withstand this extended downturn.”

“Downturn” sounds less painful than the farm “crisis” of the late 1980s, but the numbers are troubling nonetheless. Minnesota has about 23,000 fewer farm operations than in 1985

OPINION

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and the number continues to drop.

Farm and commodity organizations from Angus to zucchini are collectively holding their breath as U.S. trade negotiations with foreign countries twist and turn like a political soap opera. An interest rate hike is almost certain and the federal reserve is considering as many as three by the time the 2018 harvest is complete. It appears someone’s ox will be gored in the 2018 (or 2019) farm bill. There are too many players and not enough money to satisfy everyone.

If this all sounds too negative, I’m not alone. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., only 18 percent of Americans today say they can trust the government in Washington to do what is right — a new low.

Our elected officials don’t seem too worried about that downturn either.

Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com. v

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PAGE 7

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Book explores amazing capabilities of the human body You need a shave.

It’s been awhile and, though you’ve been grooming and growing, you’re long overdue.

So, maybe just a little off the top. You’ll feel a lot better when you do, and in the new book “Endure” by Alex Hutchinson, you’ll see how THE BOOKWORM your body will adapt on track, SEZ path, ocean, drift and desert.

Prior to 1954, it was believed By Terri Schlichenmeyer that the human body was physically incapable of running a mile in less than four minutes — until the late Roger Bannister put that notion to rest quite handily. As for today, the belief that a marathon of 26.2 miles can’t be finished in under two hours still holds — but barely.

When it comes to endurance, effort and the human body, we’ve long been fascinated with possibilities.

The questions, in fact, go back centuries and countless tests and studies have been (and are being) done to determine answers when a hundredth of a second means something. Still, one thing’s for sure says Hutchinson, “the will to endure can’t be reliably tied to any single physiological variable.”

Much of the matter of endurance has to do with

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We’ve all known that “can’t go another inch” feeling when a surprising well of reserve is suddenly present. Where did that come from? And can you utilize it at will? In “Endure,” you’ll see.

But first, this is not just a book for athletes. “the need to override what your instincts are telling While it’s true that author Alex Hutchinson writes you to do…” Perhaps not surprisingly, it very much extensively about men and women who participate has to do with the brain, “but not in the simple it’sall-in-your-head manner of self-help books.” The sci- in extreme, even elite, sports, the lip-biting anecence of it all is “complex,” made even more so by out- dotes inside “Endure” prove that this is a book for anyone who might find themselves in inclement liers who, for any number of reasons, can and do weather or unusual situations. Yes, it’s mostly about achieve beyond preconceived limits. Which is to say athletic endurance, but its everyday relevance lies in that we still don’t know where the “ultimate limits” the science Hutchinson brings. Though the science is lie. sometimes a bit too deep for the casual reader, it is The stories, even so, are tantalizing. applicable whether you run to the finish line or the Hutchinson writes of Henry Worsley who, at age ’fridge.

48, tackled a South Pole trek that “demanded every Athletes and trainers, of course, will soak this book ounce of his reserves.” up, and adventurers will jump for it. Even couch Hutchinson shows how early scientists helped save potatoes should enjoy it because “Endure” is razor the lives of the men who built Hoover Dam. He sharp. examines how we pace ourselves, sometimes subLook for the reviewed book at a bookstore or a consciously; why we do better after we’ve suffered; library near you. You may also find the book at online and how hypnosis may increase strength. book retailers.

He explains how deep diving and high climbing The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has pose the same questions; why marathon runners are been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes shrinking; why thirst shouldn’t matter; what diet anywhere without a book. She lives in Wisconsin with can do; and how none of this may matter in the three dogs and 10,000 books. v

“Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance”

by Alex Hutchinson foreword by Malcolm Gladwell c.2018, Wm. Morrow $27.99 / $34.99 Canada 306 pages

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

April 10 – High Tunnel Workshop – Mason City, Iowa – Soil management, tomato grafting, vegetable disease, insect management and environmental control; visit to a local farm operating a high tunnel – Contact Ajay Nair, Iowa Extension and Outreach, nairajay@ iastate.edu, (515) 294-7080 April 11 – Women’s Agricultural Leadership Conference – Chaska, Minn. – Conference celebrates 20 years with keynote panel, breakouts on law, leadership, policy, advocacy, business, social media, marketing – Visit womensagleadership.org or contact doris@ sunriseag.net or (612) 414-7574 April 12 – AURI New Uses Forum – Plymouth, Minn.

– Learn about value-added agriculture in Minnesota while networking with others with new ideas and suc-

cessful ventures – Contact Nan Larson at nlarson@ auri.org or (320) 979-7412 April 14-15 – Cattle Fitting Clinic – Estherville, Iowa – McCullough Fitting Clinics will be at the Emmet County Fairgrounds for a hands-on clinic from daily hair care to preparing your animals for a show – Contact Iowa State University Extension at morgan1@ iastate.edu or (712) 362-3434.

April 22-24 – Iowa FFA Leadership Conference – Ames, Iowa – FFA members and guests gather to learn about agriculture careers, compete in scholarship, volunteer and shape the future of Iowa FFA – Visit www.iowaffa.com April 22-24 – Minnesota State FFA Convention – University of Minnesota, St. Paul and Minneapolis – FFA members and guests participate in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops, visit with colleges and more – Visit www.mnffa.org

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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PAGE 9

FFA looks to capture metro interest in agriculture

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer OWATONNA, Minn. — With 41 years of agricultural history, Jim Ertl, retired executive secretary of Minnesota FFA, has a barn full of data about the Minnesota FFFA Jim Ertl organization.

When Ertl started teaching Minnesota FFA had 17,600 members.

“Then during those difficult farm income years in the early 1980s, we dropped all the way down to about 6,500 FFA members. We’re back up to about 11,000 right now,” Ertl said.

Ertl is still a keen observer and consummate recruiter for the FFA organization whenever he has the opportunity.

Ertl said part of this significant membership decline was the elimination of several FFA chapters in both northwest and southease Minnesota.

“We used to have 290 chapters. We’re down to 190 chapters today.”

However, he points out many FFA chapters now have two instructors — a few even have three. Their teaching has expanded beyond the agricultural curriculum to include the power industry, food science, horticulture, pet care and small animal stewardship.

“One thing so very evident today is the demand for more hands-on opportunities in the workplace. There is now a demand for all kinds of career tech-ed positions — whether it be electricity, carpentry, concrete or the building trade in addition to what we need in the agricultural sector. There’s a serious demand and a shortage of skilled workers across the country.”

Are there sufficient post-high school community training centers to address this new demand?

Ertl reflected, “Doubtful.

Years ago, in the 1970s, we had like 33 post-secondary institutions that had agriculture. Now we’re down to just a handful. Also, our visibility is not that good. When it comes to telling the story about agriculture, the metropolitan area has been missing for decades.

“We may never get the metro area aware of our agricultural industry, but we can make some changes. The St. Paul public school district has three schools with an ag program. Como Park just started one this current year.”

The University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences has hired Brandon Roiger, former FFA Star Farmer, as an outreach coordinator to recruit pre-college students of color into agriculture education at the university. Roiger is connecting with multicultural students to engage them in hands-on CFANS projects and agricultural issues.

“Some of my ideas include providing more education at the Minnesota State Fair on the CHS Miracle of Birth Center. On our Christiansen Farms Stage, we’re going to take a look at how we can publicize and exhibit more about farm living. Telling farm family stories on the stage and connecting with business and industry in some five-minute team-teaching demonstrations multiple times each day during the 10-day run of the State Fair could be a great education process for thousands of fair goers.”

Ertl attended the North American Farm and Power Show in Owatonna to do a little fact finding and connect with some ag business exhibitors that might be willing to share at the State Fair.

“City folks listening and seeing both

Iowa FFA Conference is 90 The 90th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference will take place at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, on April 22-24.

Each year, over 5,000 FFA members and guests from across Iowa gather to learn about careers in the agriculture

industry, compete for scholarships, volunteer in the community and shape the future of the Iowa FFA Association.

Visit www.iowaffa.com to learn more.

This article was submitted by the Iowa FFA. v

farm kids and farm families mixing with ag industry people is a great story for anyone,” Ertl said.

Ertl started teaching at St. Francis just north of Anoka. He then moved to Kasson-Mantorville when the ag position opened in that community. He was there for three years and commented, “We had a really active chapter. Students wanted to be in everything. And their parents were ardent supporters as well. It became a power-house vocag program and still is.”

What is Ertl’s take on the future of high school vocational agriculture?

“Again, we’re going through an economic squeeze in agriculture. And that impacts so much of our total ag indus-

try as well. Plus, because there are many ag-related jobs available, I think young families wanting to farm might go that route instead. This could slow our national voc-ag program.

“But I say to those who have the drive, the ambition and can finance a four-year college program in ag education, by all means go for it. We need teachers to replace those ag teachers who are retiring. The baby boomers are into that retirement pace now.

We’re going to have a severe shortage of teachers in all areas.”

Jim Ertl was interviewed at the North American Farm and Power Show in Owatonna. Ertl can be reached at jim.ertl@state.mn.us. v

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PAGE 10

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

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Meet the Minnesota FFA officer team of 1992-93

Photo submitted

The 1992-93 Minnesota State FFA officer team is (left to right) Mike Thofson, Amiee Anderson, Sheila (Henning) Ripley, Tricia (Weis) Sheehan, Christina (Rohrer) Patnode and Michelle (Lammers) Sands.

FFA

values of hard work, service and leadership run deep in state officers long after their terms end.

All carry stories of Jim Ertl, FFA executive secretary, and Paul Day, state advisor, in their hearts. In fact, Officers Mike Thofson and Sheila (Henning) Ripley created an ice cream for the Minnesota State Fair in Ertl’s honor — Snickers bar ice cream because he loved Dairy Queen Snickers Blizzards.

Catch up with the 1992-93 Minnesota State FFA Officer Team 25 years later! The 2018 Minnesota State FFA Convention is April 22-24 at the University of Minnesota. The theme is “Go Beyond.” ­— FFA stories by Marie Wood, The Land Associate Editor

FFA president credits public speaking contests for career Tricia (Weis) Sheehan President Tricia (Weis) Sheehan’s career in ag communications is rooted in public speaking contests in FFA. The 1992-93 Minnesota state FFA president heads up strategic communications and farmer relations for Dairy Management Inc. “I enjoyed doing the public speaking contests and it led me into communications,” she said.

Sheehan works with dairy farmers, training them in crisis preparedness and elevating their communication skills. Besides conducting media training, she

networks with dairy farmers — introducing herself, building trust and showing them how the checkoff works for them. Networking was part of the FFA skill set.

Before working for Dairy Management, she worked with an agricultural public relations agency for Tricia Weis 18 years.

Sheehan With her husband, Matt Sheehan, they make their home in Palatine, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. They are raising three children, ages 15 to 8. Sheehan grew up on a dairy farm in Pine Island and belonged to the Pine Island High School FFA chapter.

“My parents still have the crops, but they sold the milking cows when their help went away to college,” she said.

Matt’s parents operate a dairy farm near Rochester. Her children spend time between both grandparents’ farms in the summer. They are in 4-H and show dairy calves at the Olmstead County Fair.

“We’re working hard at trying to keep the ag roots for the kids even though they are suburban Chicago kids,” she said.

She joined FFA because she wanted to show her calves at the county fair in 4-H and FFA. Her advisor and other members encouraged her to attend state Greenhand and Leadership camps. The camps got her excited, energized and opened her eyes to everything FFA can do.

“Being open and trying new experiences, not being afraid to step outside your box, is another thing that FFA is great at doing,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan earned an agricultural communications degree at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She enjoyed her year with the officer team and the different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that each officer brought to the team. As they got to know each other, they designed programs for the younger members.

Looking back, Sheehan said FFA was beginning to expand its focus from production agriculture and broaden its reach to urban schools. She talked to kids from urban backgrounds and told them: “You are involved in ag. You work in a grocery store. You like to eat.” That was a jaw dropper for many teens who never thought of it that way before.

Sheehan took the opportunity to teach them a little bit about all the parts of agriculture so they could speak to it.

Sheehan plans to attend the state FFA convention and looks forward to seeing her officer team there. v

The Land salutes MN FFA

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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PAGE 11

VP Mike Thofson dedicates career to ag education, FFA Mike Thofson Vice President Mike Thofson has dedicated the bulk of his career to agricultural education and FFA. In fact, the vice president of the 1992-93 Minnesota state FFA officer team has attended every state FFA Convention since 1988.

Mike Thofson Thofson is principal of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial High School. Before that, he was the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor there for 20 years. He began his career at Austin Public Schools.

“I really cherish the FFA for the leadership, for the people I met across the state and across the country as a state officer,” Thofson said.

He attended University of M i n n e s o t a - T w i n C i t i e s, where he graduated with a degree in agricultural education. He was the only guy on the officer team so he took a lot of ribbing.

His officer team was determined to do things differently than everybody else. For the state convention, they pitched a red-and-white circus tent next to the beef barn to house some activities. Being April, it rained and was muddy.

“It was a fantastic year that we had. It was unique,” he said.

Thofson hales from the Albert Lea High School chapter, where his interest in FFA was sparked in freshman year. In sophomore year, FFA advisor Kim Meyer fired him up.

“He pushed me to do a little bit more. I raised sheep my junior and senior year and showed them at State Fair,” Thofson said. “I did everything. I just soaked it all in. I went to national convention every year I was in high school.”

From FFA, he learned that hard work pays off. “If you want recognition, you sometimes have to seek recognition,” he added.

By that he means, students must fill out applications for state degrees, officer positions and awards to get recognized for the work they do.

He wanted to pay back FFA. Beginning in 1993, he has been stage director of the state convention. The role includes sound, lights, welcoming presenters and speakers and more.

“I’ve done that every year and include as many of my students as I could,” he said.

With his wife, Amy Thofson, they have two sons.

Patrick is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Matthew is a sophomore at

LCWM high school. They both had their dad as a teacher, which is what they wanted. Both sons are FFA members. Patrick raised show goats and Matthew raises dairy heifers. Amy works at Associated Milk Producers Inc. in New Ulm. At this year’s FFA convention, Thofson is passing

on the job of stage director to Patrick. Patrick is majoring in agricultural communications and marketing with a double major in theater. Last year, Patrick was key in live streaming the convention.

After 24 years in the job, Thofson is happy to see his son is taking on the role. v

PAGE 12

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Treasurer grateful for opportunity, skills, friends Sheila (Henning) Ripley Treasurer Sheila (Henning) Ripley, treasurer of the 1992-93 Minnesota state FFA officer team, grew up on a farm in Okabena. Today she is raising four children on her husband’s family farm near Blue Earth and serving on the school board.

Sheila Henning Sheila and Ken Ripley’s children Ripley range in age from a college freshman to a fourth grader. The oldest three have been active in their FFA chapter. They grow corn and soybeans, but every summer the kids raise 4-H pigs.

Ripley knows the value of hard work — a value inherent to FFA. She works on the farm, raises their children and serves on the Blue Earth Area School Board. “Education has always been near and dear to my heart.”

She graduated with a degree in agricultural education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

In the early years of marriage, the Ripleys lived in many places due to Ken’s job with John Deere crop insurance, now owned by Farmers Mutual Hail. Ken still works there. His career took them to Dickinson and Devils Lake, N.D., Reno, Nev., and Columbus, Ohio. Ripley was a substitute teacher during that time.

Those were neat times because you got to meet so many different people, learn about everybody’s different experiences.

— Sheila (Henning) Ripley They returned to the farm 14 years ago. “We knew we wanted to get back to the farm before our kids started school.”

As a state officer, planning and leading the State Greenhand and Leadership camps were highlights, along with attending the National Leadership Conference for State Officers.

“Those were neat times because you got to meet so many different people, learn about everybody’s different experiences,” she said.

For their business and industry tours, they headed to northern Minnesota. Unlike southern Minnesota, the chapters were far apart, but the long road trip was fun.

The skills she learned in FFA have proven valuable in her life. Manners, courtesy and respect were instilled. She uses her communication skills — especially in listening to those around her — on the school board.

Parliamentary procedure is also helpful. “You don’t think you will have an opportunity to use those (skills), but you sure do in different community organizations. Those skills stick with you,” she said.

She said her officer team was a great group of people and she keeps in touch with them, even if it’s just Christmas cards. At a high school basketball game this year, she waved across the gym to Mike Thofson, vice president of her officer team. Later, she sat next to him and caught up as Blue Earth played Lake Crystal.

“Coming back to southern Minnesota, it’s great to have those memories and connections,” she said.

She is grateful for the many opportunities in FFA to learn, compete in contests, travel, attend camps, grow as a person and meet people.

“FFA is a great experience,” she concluded. v

In Memoriam: Secretary known for energy, smile Michelle (Lammers) Sands Secretary Michelle (Lammers) Sands was the secretary of the 1992-93 Minnesota state FFA officer team. She died on March 3, 1998, at the age of 24.

“My best memory of Michelle is she always had a huge smile on her face. She was that bubbly, welcoming person. She helped bring our team together,” said Trisha (Weis) Sheehan, FFA 1992-93 president. “The kids she interacted with really connected with her.”

Mike Thofson, FFA vice president, had a blast working with Sands. “She was bouncing and bubbly.

She was so much fun. She had so many creative ideas.”

Sands was a member of the FFA chapter from Southland High School in Adams. In 1997, she graduated with a degree in agricultural education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Sands served as the Minnesota pork ambassador during her first year of college. In 1997, she received the chancellor’s award as outstanding ag student.

She achieved her dream of becoming an agriculture teacher in Colby, Wis. She was survived by her husband and two children.

Sheila (Henning) Ripley, FFA treasurer, said, “She lit up a room when she walked in. You just couldn’t help but smile when you saw Michelle. She was always such a happy person.”

Biographical information is courtesy of her obituary compiled by Adams Funeral Home. v

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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PAGE 13

FFA sentinel is making difference through cancer genetics Aimee Anderson specific mutations what stage Sentinel the cancer is in, what treatment might work best and the For Aimee Anderson, it was prognosis. She measures how important to have a career well their treatment is workthat makes a difference in the ing. She also works on prenaworld. That’s why she is a cantal diagnoses. cer geneticist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

By choosing a technical field Aimee in medicine, she said “I can be Anderson, of the New Prague non-stop working to help peochapter, was the sentinel on Anderson ple.” the 1992-93 Minnesota state FFA officer team. As an officer, she was Anderson, of Rochester, is divorced attending Minnesota State University with two daughters, age 10 and 6. She Moorhead, where she graduated with a rides and competes in horse shows. degree in biology pre-med.

She has two horses that she keeps As a geneticist, her focus is in clinical with a friend — one for her daughter cancer cases. When someone is diag- and one she is training. nosed with cancer, such as leukemia or As a state officer, she loved hitting lymphoma, she can tell by looking at the road every weekend from Moor-

head. Since most of her team was at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she was sent to speak to chapters across northern Minnesota.

“I loved going and meeting people, FFA members, parents and community members. People who were so passionate about helping FFA,” she said.

“I hear a town and I remember going there and what I had to eat at the VFW.” Sometimes she had three or four different events on the weekend. She pointed out that this was before Google Maps. “It was me and the map. Sometimes I’d bring a friend from college and we would just head out. It was really fun.”

In her career, Anderson has confi-

dence to get up and speak, whether it’s at a genetics conference or a company meeting. She credits FFA with this skill. Public speaking was just a regular part of what we did in FFA, she said.

“I know what I’m saying and if I’m asked a question I know I can back it up. It helps in job interviews too,” Anderson said.

She complimented Mike Thofson on being such a good sport as the only male officer on the team.

“He handled that so well,” Anderson said.

Anderson had a good time serving with the 1992-93 officer team and is looking forward to attending the state FFA convention. v

FFA reporter built career in livestock nutrition Christina (Rohrer) Patnode parents’ place and down the Reporter road from where he grew up,” she said.

Christina (Rohrer) Patnode was the reporter on the 1992Patnode came from the 93 Minnesota state FFA offiLeRoy-Ostrander FFA chapcer team. After building a ter. She was a freshman at U career at Cargill, she is curof M when she served as state rently working at home raisofficer. As reporter, she pubing three young children in Christina lished three newsletters. She Corcoran.

Rohrer Patnode enjoyed leading the camps for the high school kids.

Patnode earned an animal science degree from the University of “It was neat to be an officer and be Minnesota-Twin Cities. In 1997, she the one hosting and putting the probegan working at the Cargill Innova- grams together,” she said. tion Campus in Elk River. The campus She continued to volunteer with is a research facility for livestock and youth in agriculture. She was involved aquaculture nutrition. She started as a in livestock and meat judging with the technician carrying out research stud- university and 4-H. She showed 4-H ies in the swine unit. She worked her members how genetics play a role in way up as supervisor of poultry and the carcass. Many of the kids knew aquaculture units and then to poultry how to feed an animal to get the proper statistics. look for a live show, but Patnode taught Today she is on call for Cargill. She them about meat quality. goes in and helps out when they have Patnode also served on the Minnebusy days. sota State Fair 4-H Beef Show ComHer children are ages, 3, 4 and 7. Her mittee. She assisted with weigh-ins, husband, Brian Patnode, is a self- data entry and office work to put on employed electrician. In addition to the show. caring for her children and home, PatThese days, her daughter has joined node handles the administration and 4-H. When she watches the kids runbookwork for her husband’s business. ning the meetings, she coaches her They bought a piece of land on the daughter on parliamentary procedure Patnode family’s century farm and — a skill she learned in FFA. She make their home there. instructs her daughter to raise her “We’re right across from his grand- hand and say “I move that… .”

When they are old enough, she hopes her children will join FFA. She commends FFA for teaching young people leadership and public speaking, as well as introducing them to careers in

agribusiness.

She plans to attend this year’s FFA convention and participate in the opening ceremony. v

PAGE 14

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Hylen brothers bid farewell to farming at auction

By MARIE WOOD The Land Associate Editor LAKE CRYSTAL, Minn. — Farmers, neighbors, truckers and construction workers tromped through mud in a Lake Crystal farmyard to get a deal on tractors, semis, pickups, ATVs, grain trailers, tools and firearms on a chilly March morning.

Twin brothers Dennis and Darrell Hylen, farmers for 40-plus years, held a retirement auction with Matt Maring Auction Co. More than 150 people came to kick the tires and several drove semi cabs and tractors right off the farm.

“It’s time to retire. We had no one to take over the operation so it made it real simple,” Darrell said.

Standing by a table of firearms, Darrell looked at the farmhouse.

“This is where we were born and raised,” Photos by Marie Wood he said.

After 40 years of farming, Dennis (left) and Darrell Hylen held a retireDennis retired and moved from the house to ment auction on March 22 in Lake Crystal.

Norwood Young America last year. Darrell lives in Mankato and works fulltime for Wingert Realty and Land Services. Their dad, Swen Hylen, came from Norway and started this farm.

“It’s sort of the end. We accomplished what we wanted to do. It’s time to move on,” Darrell said.

Auctioneer Matt Maring has seen an uptick in the auction business in 2018. One reason is the strong rally in commodity prices in 2012 and 2013. Many farmers, like the Hylens, needed a tax break, purchased new machinery and now five years later they

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have received some of the depreciation, Maring explained.

“Now with the crop prices as low as they are, it’s not near as much fun,” Maring said.

Plus, the average age of farmers is 58, according to the 2012 U.S. Census, with 31 percent of principal farm operators age 65 and older. The Hylens turn 67 in May. The Hylen operation does not have debt and low crop prices were not a factor in their decision to retire.

“We’d all like to see higher prices in corn and soybeans,” Darrell said. “We still need to grow food. Someone’s got to be willing to do that.”

Caesar and Tanya Larson of Amboy are willing. They bought the Hylens’ home farm with its tillable acres, bins, dryer and buildings. They also lease the brothers’ additional cropland. This is the second year the Larsons are farming this land.

“It’s beautiful land,” Caesar Larson said.

Auction-goers checked out the John Deere tractors at the Hylen Brothers farm retirement auction on March 22 in Lake Crystal. All major John Deere machinery was bought new from Kibble Equipment.

The tracts are close together with excellent drainage and fertility making it some of the most productive in the area, he said. He has already moved grain in and out of the bins. He didn’t have one dryer breakdown.

The Larsons grow corn, soybeans, yellow peas, white milo, sweet corn, sweet peas, small grains and navy beans. Larson said there are still margins that can be attained with focused production and marketing.

See AUCTION, pg. 15

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PAGE 15

Poker-faced bidders went home with equipment, tractors Auctioneer Matt Maring began the auction by selling off pallets of tools and shop items including this pallet of bolts.

The Hylens listed with Matt Maring Auction Co. Maring kept the auction rolling, calling out nearly a million dollars of machinery, firearms and shop items in less than three hours.

AUCTION, from pg. 14 The transition has gone smoothly.

The Larsons stored the equipment for a year and allowed the Hylens to hold their auction on site.

Many a neighbor came to show their support and wish the Hylens well in retirement.

“They’d do anything they can to help you,” Mark Gronewold of Madelia said.

Last call It took less than three hours for Maring to sell nearly a million dollars of machinery to the highest bidder.

“One of the major enemies of an auction is time. You have to keep it rolling,” Maring said.

Small items — pallets of tools, nuts and bolts, an old seed sign, chains and chainsaws, firearms — were auctioned off first. When it came time for the big equipment, the auctioneer welcomed online bidders.

The online bids rolled in with the “on the ground” bids. Maring moved the sales along quickly, pausing only to comment on the meticulous maintenance of the equipment.

“If you’re looking for used equipment, buy if from the Hylens,” he said.

In auctioning off a White planter, he said “Last chance, last call. Here we go.

Let me know.”

Stone-faced and with a nod of the head, farmers on the ground bid on International semis; John Deere combine, corn head and tractors; Case IH tillage equipment; Wilson grain hopper trailers; Brent grain cart; and Ford pickups with dump boxes. All major John Deere machinery and grain trailers were bought new, including several John Deere 2013 models.

Kevin Maring and Allen Henslin worked the auction, flagging the caller as they moved between active bidders.

Between bids, they spoke quietly to competing bidders about what a great deal the equipment was.

The John Deere 2013 S670 RWD combine sold for $157,500. Maring estimates between 3,000 and 4,000 of these models are for sale in the upper Midwest.

The biggest price tag was $177,000 for the 2013 John Deere 9510 RT tractor on Camoplast tracks.

“It went well. It brought what it’s going to bring,” Darrell said.

All told, the sellers were happy, Maring said.

“It was an excellent sale. It brought very strong auction price money,” Maring said. v

PAGE 16

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Cover crops fuel seed market for North Dakota company

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer PRIOR LAKE, Minn. — More Upper Midwest soils are being conditioned every season thanks to the growing popularity of cover crops. Even seed handlers at the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association annual convention were upbeat about cover crop success stories.

But data on just how much cover crops enrich your soils usually produces this response: “We can’t tell you benefits in dollars and cents; but once a farmer gets hooked on using cover crops, he’s hooked!”

These are not the exact words of Scott Davis of Agassiz Seed and Supply, but he commented, “Cover crops have boosted our sales every year since we started handling them several years ago. We’re located at West Fargo. Our

seed outlets are at elevators in the Dakotas and Minnesota.”

Agassiz Seed was a trade show exhibitor at the March 6-8 convention. Davis said Scott Davis winter rye continues to be the favored starter for cover crop plantings. But multiple varieties mixed into the seed package are now common. “This diversity of species also gives you a diversity of biological activity in your soils. It’s the way cover crops are going. We’ve got guys using 30 or more species in their mix.”

But one issue about establishing cover crops doesn’t change: getting your seeding established. “Seeding into the standing crop, especially corn, in a

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timely fashion is the challenge. If you wait until after corn harvest, the less chance you will be getting the cover crop going. Yet we’ve had customers who didn’t get their cover crop seeded until mid-October.”

So what are the predictable upgrades to soil health? “With a clover or a pea you’re getting some nitrogen in to your soil. Other things like radishes or turnips are storing nutrient reserves, both from the plants and the bulbs. These crops penetrate down into your soil profile and scavenge up nutrients leached into these lower levels. Otherwise these nutrients, including nitrogen, move down into tile systems and lower. Then they’re into your groundwater and away they go. That continues to be a challenge for farmers.”

Tap roots of these forage radishes reach down 7 feet into the soil profile.

That’s breaking up soil compaction and providing incredible biomass. Plus, because of great cold tolerance, barring snow cover, cattle will graze the leaf matter first; then start digesting the bulbs too!

Davis reported farmers working cover crops into corn-soybean rotations with some using cover crops in continuous corn. “Seeders are now available to work through corn in the V8-to-tassel stage. And some do aerial application.

Timing is everything on aerial apps.

You’re going to have some loss. Seeds get caught up in the tillers or simply don’t make good soil contact. So if you’re doing aerial application into standing corn, you’ll need to up your application rates because 20-30 percent of your seeds won’t germinate.

Aerial into soybeans at leaf drop however, is pretty reliable. But seed too

early and you may have 6 to 8 inches of cover crop growth which could cause some harvest issues.”

So what are costs per acre to establish a cover crop?

Seeds costs would be $10 to $12, somewhat depending upon the seed mixture, said Davis. With a rye-radishturnip basic cover crop seeding, you’d be seeding 22 to 24 pounds per acre.

Rye is relatively cheap and it would be 20 pounds of that total seed mixture.

Radish and turnip seeds are more expensive, but they would only be 1 or 2 pounds of the mix. Plus, with rye, you would likely need a spring herbicide to terminate the cover crop ahead of corn and soybean planting.

Is data available to substantiate these cover crop claims? Davis hedged, “We would so much like such information from university testing or other reliable sources. But because every season is different in terms of weather, weed pressures, soil temps and other variables, cover crops each season end up being their own microcosms.”

Davis summed up saying soil health improvements are real. “We’ve had so many success stories from farmers telling us cover crops jump-start the biology of their soils. Their subsequent crops are just healthier. They have less weed pressure. So even though we don’t have hard data verifying what farmers tell us, it’s pretty obvious cover crops keep winning the favor of more farmers.”

Agassiz Seed and Supply’s 2018 product guide contains four pages of 29 different cover crops. For more information, visit www.agassizseed.com. v

MDA offers urban ag grant ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently announced $250,000 in grant funding for urban youth agricultural education or urban agriculture community development. The grant is part of the Agriculture Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) program.

The AGRI Urban Agriculture grant program is available to for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, schools, Native American tribal communities and local government entities.

Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project, and up to 100 percent of the total project cost may be covered by the grant. Half of the award may be requested as an advance.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on April 19. For more information, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/ urbanaggrant or contact Erin Connell at erin.connell@state.mn.us.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.v

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PAGE 17

Farmland specialist’s career has seen many changes

By DICK HAGEN Heller recalls Renville County land The Land Staff Writer selling for $3,000 per acre in 1980 and then selling for $800/acre in 1985. But OLIVIA, Minn. — Young people lookthe 1986 farm bill under President ing for an opportunity in the exciting, Reagan stabilized farm income. Interest challenging and often rewarding profesrates came back down and people sion of farmland advisory work might regained confidence in agriculture. want to contact the Heller Group in Olivia.

In 2005, Heller sold his firm to Upper “We are now offering opportunities for Midwest Management in New Ulm. He young people to join our firm as licensed agreed to manage its real estate departreal estate agents with the intent they ment for 18 months which expanded to would become future partners,” Roger three years. Sensing an expanding real Heller said. estate market, he licensed with 1 Stop At age 86, Heller is strongly hinting Realty with name rights of The Heller retirement is next. Heller sees opportuPhoto by Dick Hagen Group. Soon he was rehiring some of his nity for his staff to mentor these younger The Heller Group is made up of (left to right): Gary Hotovec, Roger Heller, Pat previous employees. As he put it, “We people.

Keltgen and Marissa Castillo. cranked up again.”

Heller, founder of the original Heller However, this past November Heller Farm Land Management Company, explained, “We’ve land. It was called the Minnesota Farm Managers decided it was time to downsize. Today he has a fourAssociation in those days.” had a successful business these many years — both person operation known as The Heller Group Land This association later became a chapter within the Company, LLC. In January, two young people — Tyler on our own and in recent years with Upper Midwest Farm Management of New Ulm. In 2010, we associ- American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Waldner and Abby Kristensen, both from South Dakota ated with 1 Stop Realty in Kasson, Minn. Then, in Appraisers.

— became licensed with The Heller Group. They now 2009, we decided to launch our own operation called His first year in farm management services was operate a successful farm sales and management busithe Heller Group specializing in farm auctions, farm- 1963. He teamed up with Frank Sanders, a Bird ness, the AgVisors, in Redfield, S.D. Brian Fernholz at land exchanges and farm management.

Island vocational-agriculture teacher who special- Madison rounds out the staff of ag professionals.

“I’ve had the good fortune of working with good ized in farm accounting. Heller enjoyed the cropland To learn more, visit www.hellergrouplandsales.com. people. Pat Keltgen has been with us 45 years. Gary management challenges. In 1966, Heller and Sanders v Hotovec brought his auctioneering skills into the split the business with Sanders setting up his own business in 2009. Last fall both joined with me as farm accounting firm, which still flourishes, and Heller going solo in farm management services. business partners.”

“I had 12 farms at the end of that first year,” Heller The Heller Group brings well-qualified mentoring skills to the table. Heller is a past-president (1998) of reflected. “Not enough to make a living so I got work the National Realtors Land Institute. In 1984-85 he wherever … including selling fertilizer and chemiwas president of the Minnesota Association of Realtors. cals for a Bird Island dealer. And thankfully, I still On Jan. 20 of this year, Hotovec was inducted into the had a great banker in Danube (Wayne Kircher) who Minnesota Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. In believed in what we were doing and continued to the early 1960s, when Heller was teaching agriculture finance us without any collateral.” in Danube, Hotovec was one of his ag students.

And his farm management service was growing.

Keltgen became a licensed realtor in 2009. She sees “By 1968 I had more than I could handle alone. I a growing need for skilled farm managers which bought North Star Farm Management Company at Madison, Minn. I had about 25 accounts at that time; often are a key link in farm loan developments.

Heller’s take on the future of farmland transac- that added 25 more, so now I had 50 accounts in three states. I realized I had to hire additional help tions? … clerical help in my downtown Olivia office and a “The activity level is down, as you might expect, in farm service manager at Appleton, Minn.” view of the cost-price squeeze now underway. But a The farm crisis of the 1980s necessitated further decent balance remains between good farmland for expansion because he was suddenly handling propersale and buyer demand. Land values have declined ties for eight major insurance companies with clients slightly on quality land, but there’s enough demand from the Mississippi to the Missouri rivers. Farm to generally meet asking prices.” clients were up to about 100 by then because they A 1953 graduate of South Dakota State University, were selling up to 60 farms a year.

Heller earned his master’s degree in 1957. He taught Heller noted those crisis years were not rewarding vocational agriculture for 10 years, 1953-62. Adult ag work emotionally, but they were financially. “I could programs were common in those days. Heller had 26 not avoid empathy for the farmers I had to deal with. families enrolled in his Farm Financial Records class.

Interest rates jumped as high as 25 percent. But I “That was when I started to see the value of good also had empathy for the guys making these loans 255 16th Street South farm management and good financial management. I because they too were losing customers. Those were started attending winter conferences on this subject not good years for agriculture, but you just had to St. James, MN 56081 and that got me acquainted with people managing deal with it.”

PAGE 18

MILKER’S MESSAGE

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Voting underway to establish FMMO for California This column was written for the marketing week ending March 29.

Another sizable drop in the U.S. All Milk price average, plus higher corn, soybean and hay prices, pulled the February milk feed price ratio lower again. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Ag Prices report shows the February ratio at 2.03.

This is down from 2.19 in January and 2.62 in February 2017.

The index is based on the current

News and information for Minnesota and Northern Iowa dairy producers milk price in relationship to feed prices for a USDA will conduct a referendum among dairy prodairy ration consisting of 51 percent corn, 8 per- ducers to determine whether they support the procent soybeans and 41 percent alfalfa hay. In posed FMMO. The referendum will be held from

By Lee Mielke other words, one pound of milk today purchases April 2 through May 5. USDA will mail ballot materi2.03 pounds of dairy feed containing that blend. als to all known eligible dairy producers supplying The U.S. All-Milk price averaged $15.30 per hundred- milk to the proposed marketing area. The FMMO weight, which is down 80 cents from January and a would become effective if approved by two-thirds of depressing $3.20 below February 2017. Michigan the voting producers, or by producers of two-thirds of again scored the lowest at $13.80, with California at the milk represented in the voting process. $14.75, and Wisconsin at $15.60. n February corn averaged $3.38 per bushel, up 9 Speaking of milk prices, Penn State’s March Dairy cents from January, following a 6 cent rise from Outlook candidly warns, “With cow numbers steady, December; but is still 6 cents/bu. below February increasing domestic milk production, robust inven2017. Soybeans averaged $9.49/bu., up 19 cents/bu. tory of dairy products, and other factors, there are no from January, but 37 cents/bu. below a year ago. market signals to indicate strength for future milk Alfalfa hay averaged $155 per ton, up $3 from prices.”

January and $28/ton above a year ago.

The Outlook says, “Markets continue to move sideLooking at the cow side of the ledger, the February ways with little prospect for substantial improvecull price for beef and dairy combined averaged ment.

The predicted mailbox prices for September$65.60/cwt., up $2.30 from January and 70 cents above February 2017. But it is $6/cwt. below the 2011 November 2018 are averaging $17.56 per cwt, which is $2.00 per cwt higher than the second quarter of base average of $71.60.

2018 average mailbox price. If these predicted prices n do occur this autumn, it will provide a few months of A point of explanation concerning the All-Milk relief from the punishing low prices currently price was stated in the March 16 Western United experienced by dairy producers. This temporary Dairymen’s newsletter. This is the price USDA uses relief is still below the 3-year average breakeven for in the Margin Protection Program’s formula to calcu- most Pennsylvania farms. late the milk price part.

“Dairy producers that have a small land base and “It is not a number that can be compared to the need to purchase corn on a regular basis should California overbase price,” WUD states. “The All- watch price trends closely. The markets are expecting Milk price is calculated by using total dollars paid to corn prices to rise by autumn and through the winter producers at average fat test, including any premi- of 2018-19. Dairy producers in the Northeast are ums or discounts (prior to deductions for hauling, already at a disadvantage in purchasing corn due to promotions, or dues) divided by total pounds of milk. the transportation basis that adds 15-20 percent to Total dollars paid would not include any dividends the Chicago market price. So, watch corn closely,” the paid by co-ops or hauling subsidies. The data comes Outlook advises. from various sources. In some states, USDA uses “The short rally in the price of soybeans was due to data obtained from co-ops or federal milk marketing the dry weather in Argentina. However, soybean orders. In California, USDA uses data provided by export sales from the United States have been less the California Department of Food and Agriculture. than expected, so futures prices have had a clear To calculate a U.S. price, USDA weighs the top 23 upper limit.” states’ price estimates by the states’ monthly milk n production estimates.”

Cash dairy prices at the Chicago Mercantile The USDA published in the March 30 Federal Register a long-awaited final decision to establish a Exchange were mixed in the Good Friday holidayFederal Milk Marketing Order for California. The shortened week as only butter advanced. The marproposed FMMO would incorporate the entire state kets had little to chew on in the way of USDA reports of California. The final decision is based on the evi- that the industry regularly monitors. dentiary record of a public hearing held in Clovis, The cheddar blocks closed March 29 at $1.53 per Calif., from September to November 2015. A recom- pound, down 1.5 cents on the week, unchanged on the mended decision regarding the proposed program month, but a penny above a year ago. The barrels was published on Feb. 14, 2017.

See MIELKE, pg. 19

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

MILKER’S MESSAGE

PAGE 19

Cheese manufacturers expect increased production MIELKE, from pg. 18

Western cheesemakers report that demand has at $2.2150. This is up 2.5 cents on the week, up 3.5 been solid, according to Dairy Market News, but the cents on the month and 10.75 cents above a year ago. came under pressure as product found its way to WE BUILD OUR STALLS RIGHT! relatively strong orders and ample milk supplies A total of 62 cars found new homes on the week.

Chicago, and dropped to $1.44, down 7 cents on the have pressed manufacturers to keep up.

Take a look FC Stone pointed out in its March 27 atEarly week and the lowest since Feb. 15, down 3.25 cents our tubing with “Industry contacts are pleased cheese is moving Morning Update, “Historically, we’ve seen downon the month, 3 cents below a year ago, and 9 cents of Easter;corrosion but we’ll below the blocks. Two cars of block traded hands on well and prices have been fairly stable. However, side following the big demand unequaled some suggest that cheese demand due to spring holi- have to see how pipelines get refilled to make that protection! the week at the CME and 23 of barrel. day orders has eased. The changing seasons leave call this year. In addition, European butter continues Midwestern cheesemakers tell Dairy Market News Freudenthal Tubing has been processors with the knowledge they will soon face the to find remarkable support at prices trading north of engineered for your specific that demand is moving at steady to increasing levels. vanward waves of spring flush. $2.80 per pound.” requirements where strength Mozzarella and provolone makers say sales are meetare “Manufacturers expect heavier milkAuto supplies, “Central region butter makers reportresistance that spot ing expectations, while some traditional/cheddarRelease Head Locks Panel CORROSION and corrosion critical design factors.moving but is uncertain style producers are pointing to increases in orders. increased cheese production and higher stocks may cream is widely available PROTECTION Milk intakes continue to be heavily discounted: $2 to limit the upside potential of cheese markets in the ahead. Some expect, as ice cream makers begin to that prices willTie level Comfort Stalloff and $5 under Class III. “Cheese inventories vary quite a near term. Contacts hope the grilling season will compete more heavily, CS-60 bit per producer,” Dairy Market News says. “However, start early and Americans’ desire for cheeseburgers resurge to where they have been in recent weeks.

The Toughest there is some anxiety regarding the National will add a bullish bravado to an otherwise bearish Butter demand continues to meet expectations, although food service orders have slowed due to holiAgriculture Statistics Service’s cold storage numbers dairy market.”

Stalls day and spring breaks at the school level.” moving mostly in the northerly direction. As demand n on the has been decent, milk intakes are only increasing • Provides superior lunge area Butter stocks vary, but some suppliers report market,their Somebody wanted to buy butter on March 28 and and are unlikely to slow until the summer. That said, stores are generally balanced.

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PAGE 20

MILKER’S MESSAGE

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Sharp: China tariffs would greatly impact whey market MIELKE, from pg. 19 report’s monthly and annual storage upticks have some in the industry concerned,” says Dairy Market News, “but others suggest they have been disabused of the notion that butter is easily provoked by other-

wise bearish news. As the public view on butter has changed, they feel the butter markets are less frangible than other commodities, at least for the near term.”

Butter churning is ongoing in the West given that higher milk loads are available and have to be

cleared. Export sales are unchanged from last week, and market players do not expect any big change in the near future. Current butter stocks are more than sufficient to meet end users’ needs, according to Dairy Market News. n Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk saw a March 29 close at 69 cents per pound, which is down a quartercent and 11 cents below a year ago, with 23 cars sold this week.

The March 29 Daily Dairy Report says the EU sold 4,127 metric tons of skim milk powder from its Intervention stocks at the minimum price of the equivalent of 58.5 cents per pound (U.S.) — the lowest minimum price fixed for the past 18 tenders.

“Based on 2017’s ending Intervention stocks, the European Union has only sold 2.7 percent of its stocks so far this year,” according to the Daily Dairy Report. “At its current pace, Europe would deplete Intervention stocks in just over 85 tenders. China’s lower SMP imports in February (especially from European countries) has many wondering where EU SMP will move to eventually.” n CME dry whey closed March 29 at 28.5 cents per pound. This is down a quarter-cent on the week, with two sales reported. The lagging USDA surveyed whey price was up 2.2 cents, to 26.14 cents per pound.

The Daily Dairy Report’s Sarina Sharp warned in the March 23 Milk Producer Council newsletter, “If China continues to slap U.S. agriculture with retaliatory tariffs, the whey market would be the most vulnerable part of the dairy complex. The fact that whey prices held their own this week suggests that the trade expects the status quo to prevail.” n In politics, the massive Congressional spending bill signed into law by President Trump contains several important achievements for America’s dairy farmers, according to the National Milk Producers Federation — including relief from potential regulation under the CERCLA law.

An NMPF press release stated, “The omnibus bill contains a provision strongly supported by NMPF that would relieve dairy and other livestock producers from having to report manure-related air emissions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).”

NMPF says it helped organize a coalition of farm groups to urge Congress to clarify that the measure, aimed at monitoring emissions from hazardous waste sites, was never intended to generate reports on low levels of emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from farms.

See MIELKE, pg. 21

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

MILKER’S MESSAGE

PAGE 21

Dairy operations boost production with LED lighting

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer OWATONNA, Minn. — A can’t-miss vendor at the recent North American Farm and Power Show in Owatonna featured electric lights that brilliantly illuminated the booth. And that’s because special electric lights were the display.

Tim Simon of IBA Dairy Supplies in Owatonna explained, “A well-lit dairy barn helps with production and the overall health of the animals. Here you are looking at 5,000 Kelvin which is like sunlight. On a good sunny day, you get 5,000 Kelvin.”

Color temperature is a way to describe the light appearance provided by a light bulb. It is measured in degrees of Kelvin on a scale from 1,000 to 10,000.

Typically, commercial and residential lighting application Kelven temperatures fall somewhere on a scale from 2,000 to 6,500.

So why the higher production in a well-lit dairy barn? Simon said brightness encourages the cow to eat more. And the net result is more milk and a healthier environment. Perhaps a safer work space for the milkers too.

However, light systems like this cost more money.

“There’s a five-year warranty on the bulbs,” Simon said, “but you’ll get a good seven years out of these lights.” Plus, Simon added, they consume considerably less electricity, so an added bonus is a cheaper electric bill each month. Also, he said, most utility companies offer rebates for converting over to these LED lights.

So where all are these super bright lighting systems being installed? “All over. Hog buildings, poultry barns, farm shops, even some homes are now installing these lights,” said Simon. Because dairy barns are their number one market, he admitted poor milk prices have dampened their lighting business as well.

Traffic at the Owatonna show held March 15-17 was terrific — partly because people were intrigued to see the best lit booth. Also, a lot of dairy barns are experiencing failures with their fluorescent lighting.

“We have the retrofit kit where you can replace the fluorescent light bulb with LED.” Besides these new lighting systems, IBA Dairy Supplies handles a broad lineup of dairy industry supplies including silage and hay preservatives, cleaning compounds, pest control products, calf milk replacers, animal health products, even paper towels and teat cups. IBA is a family-owned business and has been around Minnesota since 1980. Company headquarters are in Millbury, Mass. and have provided dairy products since 1960.

Rusty Paulson is the IBA Minnesota distributor. He can be reached at (507) 456-7585 or rustyiba@gmail. com. v

Congressional spendng bill creates bright spot for dairy MIELKE, from pg. 20 “Because of recent court decisions, the CERCLA law was poised to require farms to generate meaningless reports that regulatory agencies do not want and will not use,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “The congressional spending measure also includes a provision to recreate the Section 199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction tax provision that was repealed by last year’s tax reform bill. The measure largely refashions the DPAD to help preserve the competitive position of farmer-owned cooperatives in the marketplace. NMPF worked with other agricultural organizations to address the competitive implications created by last year’s tax law, emphasizing the need to maintain the prevailing tax treatment of dairy cooperatives and their farmer members in this area.

NMPF adds, “The omnibus bill also addresses Congressional concerns that many plant-based foods and beverages are not properly labeled, building on language from the Dairy Pride Act — a bipartisan bill introduced last year in both chambers of Congress to compel FDA to act against misbranded imitations.”

“Given the existing definition of milk as a product of a dairy animal, NMPF said that Congress’ instructions to FDA in the omnibus bill should restrict the ability of beverages made from plant foods from using the term ‘milk’ on their labels. This will also affect products misusing other dairy food names such as ‘cheese’ and ‘yogurt’ that are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations and cited in the congressional bill.”

Mulhern also stated, “It’s shaping up to be a difficult year economically for many dairy farmers, and the passage of these provisions is a bright spot for

Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in our members. We will continue to work with the House and Senate on other priorities, such as addi- Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in tional improvements to the dairy safety net, and newspapers across the country and he may be reached v changes to our immigration policies that address the at lkmielke@juno.com. labor needs of our farmers.”

PAGE 22

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

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Beans or corn? Crop selection should be done field by field iron chlorosis and soybean cyst

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer nematode. In these situations, corn may still be a better choice MARSHALL, Minn. — At than going beans on beans. the Feb. 14 Farm Outlook and Growers need to look at this Education Seminar in Marshall, field by field. We saw growers agronomy services manager go that route on some of their Ken Franzky of Centrol Crop fields last year. Some were betConsulting spoke on “Merging Ken Franzky ter off because they pretty Agronomics with Economics.” much knew the chemistry of Q: With five consecutive years of their soils from field to field and could increasing yield trends, is a back- adjust inputs accordingly. spin likely this year?

Q: Are we realistically going to Franzky: That’s the million dollar see more dicamba damage simply question. If we could nail that down, because there likely will be more our jobs and farming too would be a use of this product? little easier.

Franzky: I firmly believe we will.

Q: Coffee shop chatter says if And that’s not because growers won’t corn can’t make a buck this year, do the right thing from an application why not more beans? viewpoint. But the inherent Franzky: Good and logical question. nature of dicamba gives us Cash flow with our customers is telling some challenge to keep it us profits on corn aren’t likely this where we want. Off-target temperature year. But depending on where you movement, farm, soybeans on soybeans take some inversions and volatility are different management decisions. In predictable issues regardless some areas in central Minnesota, soy- the accuracy and timing of beans are a difficult crop because of application. Physical drift in

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the dicamba world is the easiest to manage. The new dicamba products are better than the older labels for having less volatility risk. But less does not mean zero. If we put more dicamba into the total crop mix, more potential risk is inherent with that arithmetic.

Q: You’re OK with June 20 and 85 F temperature cutoff, plus sunlight to sundown application restrictions on dicamba use?

Franzky: Yes, a consensus agreement, but the June 20 cutoff is the primary driver in my opinion. That gets dicamba applications before our soybeans start to flower which usually is near the summer solstice. If we have off-target movement in the vegetative stage, the probability for yield loss is much less than if soybeans are in the flowering and podfilling reproductive stage.

Q: Are treated seeds getting to be an overplay?

Franzky: Treated seed definitely continues on the increase … getting a big kick when soybeans hit $15 and we could invest for extra insurance and crop protection. Treated seeds with fungicides for disease prevention makes sense where you’ve got heavy soils, wetter soils, heavy residue conditions. In those conditions, treated seed will help get that plant up and running healthier. So you have more stand and healthier plants. Plus insecticide-treated seeds are a safeguard for ground insects like wireworms, white grubs and seed corn maggots. If those are issues in your soils, then treated seeds make sense. Also, treated seed makes sense with heavy manure applications, composted manure and cattle feed lot manure.

The third treated seed choice is inoculated seed. That fits extreme conditions such as low pH, high pH, marginally drained soils or where we haven’t grown soybeans in a long rotation interval and you need to reinvigorate the soil rhizobia bacteria with inoculants to colonize the roots where the soybean can fix atmospheric nitrogen through the soybean root nodules. The newest seed treatments are the nematicides such as Clariva and Oliva.

Unfortunately, in the real world of farming, these haven’t looked as good as they have in small plot and lab studies.

So generally I say seed treatments have been overplayed. But where you need them, they are a very wise decisions to make.

Q: Are neonicotinoids getting to be a real threat to our pollinator bee numbers or mostly just chatter?

Franzky: Yes, this is much chatter, but yet a very important topic. We know the neonicotinoid family of insecticides can have negative effects on honey bees and pollinators. But that’s not the only problem. With colony collapse disorders, honey bee populations naturally vary. So is it overplayed? No. Is it over chatted? Maybe, but maybe that is a good thing because it helps make better overall agronomic conditions for particular environments. I think it’s quieting down because science is beginning to dispute some of the front-side chatter. We’re learning more through sound science that it is not just a neonic problem with honey bees.

Q: With new corn hybrids now being introduced yearly, how does a farmer develop reliability with his current hybrids if new choices are available each year?

Franzky: We never want to miss the opportunity of new being better than current hybrids. I would say the trick is to adopt slowly. Seed companies do extensive testing before introducing a new hybrid. Perhaps just as important as its high yield capability is its stability and reliability under a variety of different environments. I say the best thing with new products is to try on a limited amount that first year. Don’t expose yourself to the unknowns that we still haven’t learned. However, today the strong hybrids do last five to six years because they are dependable.

Learn the merits and disadvantages on a limited basis first.

As a certified crop adviser, I have access to quantities of data — both farm and research locations — from various locations across the Corn Belt.

When I start zeroing in on data from our southwest Minnesota locations, I have access to a very reliable resource for my immediate area.

Visit www.centrolcrop.com. v

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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

PAGE 23

Manure injection gets nutrients to young corn roots

By DICK HAGEN “We plow 8 to 10-inches deep. We do not The Land Staff Writer plow hilly ground, nor do we plow highlyerodible land that would be suspect to wind ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Called the Titan erosion. I’ve done research on this for 10 Manure Application Bar, this new piece of years. I’ve got yield data that shows we are equipment attracted attention at the Central averaging about 32 more bushels per acre Minnesota Farm Show in St. Cloud, held Feb. with the moldboard plow. Plus it takes a half27-March 1. Telling the story was Jean gallon less fuel per acre. The moldboard plow Fiedler. You might remember Fiedler from is just more efficient than the chisel plow.” the March 9 issue of The Land talking about flying pigs to China. Yes, Fiedler usually has He also noted today’s moldboard and chisel more than one project brewing. plows are designed to handle large quantities of trash so maybe that stalk cutter attachApplying manure in a more equitable and ment on your combine head isn’t needed. shallower depth while improving soil health in the process is how Fiedler describes the So did Fiedler just happen to have a Titan. And the net result is a healthier corn 10-year old moldboard resting in one of his plant. sheds? “No, I went to my John Deere dealer and bought a new one. I’ll admit new chisel “We want to put the manure in the root plows today are better designed. They much zone for early plant growth,” Fiedler Photo by Dick Hagen better handle the trash. Today, we have a explained. “With 3-point hitch and chisel plow machines with 24-inch spacing, the The Titan Manure Application Bar injects manure into plants’ root zone. 14-bottom Salford on 20-inch spacing. That much spacing leaves about 20 percent of the manure was getting 8 to 10 inches deep. Soil “It’s smart to do a nutrient test of liquid manure trash visible so wind erosion isn’t an issue.” temps at that depth are 38 degrees when I’m planting corn. So when those young roots sprout, they before pumping and applying,” Fiedler said. “Your He also became aware of the Titan Manure can’t get to the manure. Yellow corn was too often purpose is to match application rates to what the Application Bar and he liked what he saw. He bought soils in a particular field need for the crop to be one and now he and his son are dealers at their showing up in these newly-planted fields.”

Bazooka Farmstar in Sauk Centre.

Fiedler said they had to add supplemental nitrogen grown.”

However, the bigger surprise is Fiedler’s primary to get those young corn plants into a healthier mode.

Fiedler explained, “If you do 2,000 acres per year tillage.

He’s definitely a conservation-oriented farmwith this machine, your cost is going to be about $6 “Last year we spent $48,000 doctoring up our corn er, yet he uses the moldboard plow in his continuous an acre.

If you do 3,000 acres (which is very easy to because of our inadequate manure injection process.

So lots of extra expense, plus not doing any favors to corn program! And he claims it’s more cost effective. do), your cost is $4.75 to $5.25 per acre — which is He explained, “We did 100 percent chisel plowing two bushels of corn no matter how you look at it. Yet the soil environment either,” said Fiedler. we’re conservatively picking up at least 20 bushels Talking about the Titan bar, Fiedler explained its for 30 years. But in the process of going from 100 per acre with the moldboard plow and Titan manure bushel corn to 225-bushel corn, we had doubled the differences from conventional manure application application system.” equipment. “It’s pull-type, so you don’t need a 3-point amount of surface trash. We raise lots of hogs, so manure application is key.

We were just getting too He can size up the health of his Stearns County hitch on your tractor. When you turn at ends of fields, much trash.

It was shielding the sun from warming corn fields quickly and easily. Fiedler’s get-away you don’t have to raise the bar. Raising the typical the soil.

So we tried moldboard plowing 100 acres.

We vehicle is a Cessna 185 Skywagon. “I take a lot of injection rigs usually means a temporary manure pool. These ‘surface spreads’ concern DNR had a 30 to 40-bushel yield increase. The soil was 7 photographs … been doing it for 20 years. And these (Department of Natural Resources), local PCA degrees warmer in the spring. It was still 5 degrees aerial photos pinpoint virtually every trouble spot in (Pollution Control Agency) people, maybe even the warmer at the four to five leaf stage.

See TITAN, pg. 25 sheriff driving by. When you are applying 20,000 gallons per acre, those manure pools at your turnarounds are a real mess. Nearby neighbors don’t appreciate that sudden stench either. This machine stays in the ground on these turnarounds. With that 16-inch spacing at 8 to 10 inches deep, it pulls easier.

Plus, the manure is placed in the root zone of the young corn plant.”

Fiedler said the Titan bar is available from 32-feet wide up to 50 feet. For road travel, the unit folds to 12 feet wide and 10 feet high; whereas a pull-type unit is both wider and higher. A heavy duty pickup readily moves the Titan rig down the road. In the field he indicated a 300 horsepower tractor does the job.

Application rates somewhat depend on nutrient content of the liquid manure, but 5,000 to 6,000 gallon rates are common, Fiedler said. Then 12,000 gallons per acre might be the next level. For some, 20,000 gallons is do-able.

PAGE 24

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

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

MARKETING

Grain Outlook USDA forecasts less corn acreage The following marketing analysis is for the week ending March 29.

CORN — It’s been awhile since we had a U.S. Department of Agriculture report generate such activity! The March 29 Prospective Planting report caught everyone off guard with smaller-than-expected acreage at 88.026 million acres. The trade was looking for 89.420 million acres, with estimates ranging from 87.550 to 91.0 million acres.

Last year, U.S. growers planted 90.167 million corn acres. Total planted acreage to major crops PHYLLIS NYSTROM was forecasted at 251.4 million CHS Hedging Inc. acres vs. 252.1 million acres last St. Paul year. The trade was anticipating 254.2 million acres. Acreage numbers captured everyone’s attention and prices flew higher.

The bearish grain stocks as of March 1 report was pushed aside. Corn stocks were reported at 8.888 billion bushels. The average estimate was 8.703 billion bushels with a range of estimates from 8.550 to 8.881 billion bushels. Last year on March 1 there were 8.622 billion bushels of corn stocks. This year, 56 percent of the corn stocks are on-farm vs. 57 percent on-farm last year.

Weekly export sales were as expected at 53.3 million bushels, bringing total commitments for the year to1.8 billion bushels. This is now just 2 percent behind last year. The USDA is forecasting a 3 percent year-on-year drop in exports to 2.225 billion bushels. I would not be in a hurry to expect the USDA to increase the export line on the balance sheet until our shipments confirm the need for a sales increase. We need 17 million bushels of sales per week to accomplish the USDA’s outlook, which would be a record pace for the time frame. U.S. corn remains the cheapest source of corn in the world, but Brazil becomes competitive in late July.

Weekly ethanol production fell 10,000 barrels per day to 1.039 million bpd. Stocks were sharply lower at 22.8 million barrels compared to 24.3 million barrels in the previous week. Ethanol crush margins were steady at 15 cents per gallon. The United States has asked Brazil to raise its limit of tariff-free U.S. ethanol imports. The U.S. request came after the United States granted Brazil’s request to be exempt See NYSTROM, pg. 26

Cash Grain Markets corn/change* soybeans/change*

Stewartville Edgerton Jackson Janesville Cannon Falls Sleepy Eye Average:

$3.21 +.05 $3.36 +.13 $3.36 +.16 $3.39 +.09 $3.32 +.14 $3.38 +.13

$3.34

$9.12 -.26 $9.29 -.11 $9.55 +.20 $9.29 -.15 $9.49 +.12 $9.53 +.22

$9.38

Year Ago Average: $3.12 $8.68 Grain prices are effective cash close on April 3. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

Livestock Angles Tariff scare stifles futures market It has been a rough start for livestock so far this spring. Hogs have led the way to lower prices with the cattle beginning to follow with the hogs to lower levels. The tariffs proposed have made the markets very nervous and defensive with the potential to harm the meat complex export business. The futures market of both the cattle and the hogs have moved to deep discounts to their respective cash trade as a result.

The cattle market has more recently moved lower in defense of the tariffs, but it has also been the fear that the number of cattle available for slaughter is on the JOE TEALE rise in the weeks ahead. The Broker combination of these two factors Great Plains Commodity has the cattle market back on its Afton, Minn. heels.

Currently, the market is oversold and could be subject to some rebound in prices. However, this is more likely in the futures market rather than the cash trade at this time. Because of the deep discounts of futures to cash, there likely could be an increase in green cattle or lighter-weight cattle being marketed to take advantage of the extremely positive basis.

This could change the outlook for the cattle market because of the lack of choice cattle if this continues to take place. It appears that the cattle trade will stay very volatile and unpredictable for the near future which means producers should maintain close attention to market conditions.

See TEALE, pg. 25

Grain Angles Future of cropland values While local auction results have been variable at both extremes, what does our data tell us about the cropland market across southern Minnesota? In general terms, the market has been fairly steady, but mixed, over the past two years. It really comes down to specific counties, the number of sales and the quality of land hitting the market in those areas.

When you look across the landscape of southern Minnesota and other corn-producing counties around the area, some land prices have increased 5 percent over the last year. Yet over that same period of time, prices might be down 5 percent in another coun- ADAM SCHMIDT Compeer Regional ty.

Appraisal Manager The chart below shows some Northfield, Minn. sales data to help demonstrate this point.

Our appraisal staff tracts sale data across the territory that we work in. Taking 25 counties in the southern Minnesota core agriculture territory, there were 375 total sales in 2017. This compares to 378 sales in the same area for 2016, so the number of sales occurring has been very steady with supply and demand in good balance.

In 2017, only 6 percent of the sales were over $9,000 per acre with most of these sales being in the southwest corner of the state where values tend to be slightly higher. A total of 20 percent of the sales are over $8,000/acre — meaning there are still some stronger market areas of high quality land. In fact, over half of the good sales analyzed in this area were between $6,000-$8,000/acre which seems to be the “sweet spot” for most cropland across southern See SCHMIDT, pg. 25

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.

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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

PAGE 25

Liquidation sales could impact land values, demand SCHMIDT, from pg. 24 Minnesota. This distribution of sale price would look very consistent to the 2016 data.

In Minnesota, cropland is rated on a productivity index system which ranks each soil type based on productivity potential, ranging from 0-100. Average quality farms tend to be in the 80-90 range and good quality farms tend to be in the 90-95 range.

Another statistic that really tells how stable land values have been is the “price per productivity index” which appraisers track on the sales that have occurred. This is calculated by taking the price per tillable acre divided by the productivity index on the cropland soils. In a sense, this is a way to compare apples to apples on different quality farms.

The average price per productivity index on the 2017 sales data is $83.28, compared to the 2016 of $84. This amounts to less than a $100/acre difference between the two sets of data. This indicates that when compared as a whole, the land market has been

MARKETING extremely stable since the beginning of 2016. When you take into consideration some areas of good quality land showing a bit of strength, it is balancing out with some lower quality land showing a bit of weakness. And in some market areas, the gap between high-quality and low-quality land slowly continues to widen.

There seems to be a lot of different opinions on whether the land market is priced too high or if it has simply stabilized before the next increase. There are many factors at play when it comes to the current market and which direction it is headed.

Three years of good yields — It’s no secret grain prices have been much lower than most farmers would like, given the current cost structure to produce an acre of corn or soybeans. However, most farmers have benefited from record or near record yields over the past three years. High production

Hog market extremely oversold TEALE, from pg. 24 The hog market has been most affected by the tariff news as of late with the report that China will cease importing U.S. pork products. Both cash and futures have come under extreme pressure and prices in each market have plummeted. Hog prices have now reached last year’s lows and could possibly even drift lower unless conditions change.

Obviously the market is extremely oversold and could see some recovery at any time. But consider

that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hogs and Pigs report released on March 30 was seen as negative. Most categories showed there were more hogs than the trade had anticipated and the market came under extreme pressure on Monday following the report. All things considered, the hog market will have a difficult time in the face of the negative fundamentals. Therefore, producers should pay close attention to market conditions and respond to any changes in the current fundamentals that affect the market. v

No manure is left on top of the ground TITAN, from pg. 23 the field. Stearns County gives us a remarkable variety of different soils.

We used the Titan on every field last fall, so we’ll get a quick lesson this spring on what we did right and where we did wrong. I think we will see that we have finally cured a 20-year old problem!

Jean Fiedler “We had neighbors use this machine on 2,000 acres of their own land. They are pleased.

They purchased a machine for their own use.’’

Manufactured at Washington, Iowa, the Titan Manure Application Bar has a two-year warranty.

“This machine is made to turn in the ground on the headlands. That’s unheard of in farm equipment, so obviously there is good engineering and construction in these rigs. What they did was basically double the size of the bearings in the coulters and the wheels to withstand this added stress of turning in the ground.

You cover the entire headland. There aren’t any tell-

tale markings of where you missed. You don’t leave any manure on top. That eliminates runoff into the ditches. The environment is cleaner. And your neighbors are happier,” Feidler summed up.

How does Fiedler assess soil health? He says organic matter and water absorption capability are two key criteria. “We’ve increased organic content 1 percent since going to the moldboard. That doesn’t sound like a lot but that equates to about 100 tons of additional organic matter on each acre of land. In 2016, we averaged 228 bushels per acre. Last year we were 225.4 bu./acre. Up here in the northern Corn Belt, that’s pretty good. You go 40 miles farther north and there isn’t hardly any corn. So we’re doing ‘Iowa yields’ in Stearns County. I’m pleased.”

About 40 percent of their ground gets irrigated. But rains have been favorable. Fiedler says the pivots were used only a couple times each of the past two seasons.

For more information, go to www.bazookafarmstar. com and www.fiedlerpumpingandsales.com. v

volume has helped to offset lower prices many received for the grain they sold. This has enabled more expansion farmers to participate in the land market and bid up land prices and cash rent. Without the good yields, the financial position would look much worse on many balance sheets and potentially take buyers out of the market.

Going forward, yields and prices will certainly help determine which direction the land market will go. If commodity prices hold in the range they have been and we see reduced yields across the region it could have a negative impact on land values. Additional financial stress to producers could limit market participants and/or the prices they are willing to pay for land or cash rent.

Favorable Interest rates — Interest rates have remained relatively low over the last two years. This has a direct impact on land values because most buyers need to finance the purchase and lower interest rates make borrowing costs lower. Lower interest rates also make other alternative investments less attractive to investors who have been significant participants in the land market over the last two years and have bid up land prices in some areas.

Interest rates have started to creep higher with the Federal Reserve calling for a total of four rate hikes in 2018. If we see rates continue to rise, the higher cost to borrow could certainly have a negative impact on land values along with the potential of investors looking for other places to put their money.

Supply — There have been a number of recent auction sales across southern Minnesota. There doesn’t seem to be a high concentration of sales in any one market area — meaning there is a good, healthy distribution that shouldn’t supply more acres than any single market can bear.

Potential scenarios which could disrupt supply and take things out of balance would include stressed or liquidation sales. So far, these types of sales have been limited and sporadic throughout the market, so they haven’t caused a disruption. If we see a lessdesirable 2018 crop year and the financial conditions continue to weaken, the likelihood of necessary liquidation of land assets will increase. The question will be whether the demand in those areas will be strong enough to handle the increased supply. If not, the market could become oversupplied and prices will decrease.

These are just a few of the factors at play. 2018 could prove to be a pivotal year in determining the direction of land values. Appraisers can be a great resource if you are looking for information on values in a specific market area or on a specific farm whether it be for sale, purchase or estate purposes. Good rural appraisers diligently track historical sale data and stay up to date with current factors influencing the market to help determine accurate values.

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

PAGE 26

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

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Soybean acreage estimates ‘shockingly small,’ should go up NYSTROM, from pg. 24 from the new U.S. metal import tariffs. Presently, Brazil has a 20 percent import tariff on any U.S. ethanol imports over 40 million gallons per quarter.

China’s purchases of ethanol in February were their highest since May 2016, with 96 percent sourced from the United States. This may be an on-going positive for U.S. ethanol exports.

Outlook: For the week, May and July corn rallied 10.5 cents to $3.87.75 and $3.96.25 per bushel respectively. December corn jumped 12.25 cents higher to $4.11.5 per bushel — its highest close since last August. The March 29 reports left the trade with a bullish sentiment, although many expect the acreage number to climb on future reports. Focus will continue to center on development of Brazil’s safrinha corn crop and U.S. planting weather. Under the Mr. Obvious banner, if U.S. weather is nice, we know the U.S. farmer likes to plant corn and would likely result in more than 88 million acres being planted. Especially if December corn stays above $4 per bushel. This week’s acreage number narrows the window for the United States to have any weather problems this crop year. And to add some perspective, funds are carrying a big long, the grain stocks number was bearish, and some believe this acreage number may be the smallest we see this year. Stay tuned and buckle your seatbelts.

We could be in for a rocky ride. For now, the trend is higher with limited downside/correction expected.

Keep an eye on U.S. spring weather forecasts.

SOYBEANS — The shockingly small soybean prospective planting number of 88.982 million acres sent November soybeans to a new contract high of $10.49.25 per bushel! The acreage figure was below the lowest trade estimate. The average trade guess was 91.056 million acres, with a range of 89.9 to 92.6 million acres. Last year we planted 90.142 million acres to soybeans. The grain stocks as of March 1 was at the top end of the estimates at 2.107 billion bushels with 41 percent of the stocks on-farm. The average trade guess was 2.030 billion bushels, with estimates rang-

MARKETING ing from 1.810 to 2.110 billion bushels. Last year we had 1.739 billion bushels of bean stocks on March 1 with 38 percent on-farm. The stocks report was bearish, but the bullish acreage news took center stage.

The reports resulted in key reversals higher on all the daily soybean charts as all the attention was on the acreage number. May soybeans have retraced nearly two-thirds of the drop from the March high of $10.82.5 (March 2) to the March low of $10.09.25 (March 23) with the weekly settlement at $10.44.75 per bushel. Price action leading up to the March 29 reports was lower as funds liquidated long positions in preparation for the reports and month and quarter end. Trade war concerns were also alive in the background. U.S. soybeans have become competitive with Brazil through the fall time frame as Brazil’s values have jumped higher in anticipation of increased Chinese purchases.

Weekly soybean export sales were a disappointment at 11.7 million bushels and the third lowest of this marketing year. Total export commitments at 1.85 billion bushels are 8 percent behind last year vs.

7 percent behind last week. The USDA is targeting exports at 2.065 billion bushels this year for a 5 percent year-on-year decline. China’s purchases so far this year are 28.5 million metric tons compared to 34.8 mmt last year at this time. We need our total sales to average 10.4 million bushels per week to hit the USDA’s forecast. As in corn, this would be a record pace for the next five months.

AgroConsult this week raised its Brazilian soybean production estimate to 118.9 mmt! They pegged soybean exports at a record 72 mmt. Safras & Mercado left its Brazilian bean outlook unchanged at 117.3 mmt. AgRural estimated Brazil’s soybean harvest at 71 percent complete, slightly ahead of the 69 percent average. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange pegged Argentina’s soybean harvest at 9 percent complete

with corn harvest at 18 percent complete. They left their soybean and corn estimates unchanged at 39.5 mmt and 32 mmt respectively.

After a meeting between the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the Chinese Ag Ministry, a U.S. official said U.S. soybeans are not currently being targeted for retaliation, but they are still on the table. This will keep any trade war talk and its effect on U.S. soybean exports to China looming in the background of trade chatter.

Outlook: For the week, May soybeans gained 16.5 cents to $10.44.75; July was 16.25 cents higher at $10.55.5; and November outpaced them both with a 21.25 cent increase to $10.47.75 per bushel. May soymeal was up $6.10 per ton for the week at $384 per ton and May soyoil was up 45 ticks at $0.3187 per pound.

Will soybeans hold their gains after traders have a long Easter weekend to ponder the report numbers?

Many believe we will see the soybean acreage number increase from here and the stocks number nearly exceed the trade estimates. Bean acreage from the March report to the June report has increased in five of the last six years, with last year’s number steady.

The increases have ranged from 500,000 to 3.3 million acres. Higher prices will also encourage additional planting. But U.S. beans are now competitive with Brazil and our exports may increase. U.S. weather will garner more attention going forward and the current forecast looks cool and wet. Consider pricing strategies to help protect your downside exposure. It should be an interesting spring.

Nystrom’s Notes: Contract changes for the week ending March 30: Minneapolis March wheat collapsed 24.25 cents lower for the week on a higher spring wheat acreage number of 12.6 million acres vs. 11.5 million expected. Kansas City wheat fell 9.25 cents this week with Chicago wheat down 12 cents. Crude oil was down 94 cents at $64.94 and natural gas was 14.25 cents higher. The U.S. dollar index was up .779 ticks. v

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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

PAGE 27

Demand is still there for U.S. agriculture commodities

By DICK HAGEN dollar is lower. And with those The Land Staff Writer weather markets in South America, it has offered our OWATONNA, Minn. — farmers a surprise rally in the Terri Erickson offered a glimmarketplace that at least gets mer of optimism and a friendus up decent value to sell. But lier outlook on the corn marwe still have so much old crop ket than the past two years at that the basis has not the North American Farm and improved. Last year the basis Power Show in Owatonna on Terri Erickson widened as the rally rallied March 14. and farmers lost by carrying into the Erickson is a commodity broker with next market year. With the lower dolInvestors Commodity Services of lar, that has offered opportunities for Mankato. She commented record world the best world price and we do have a stocks in corn and soybeans the past lot of grain to sell.” two years are starting to deplete. “Yes, She thinks U.S. producers are looking still a lot of soybeans out there, so we’re recommending getting price protection at a 2 billion bushel crop carry this fall at these levels — especially $10.40 and if 90 million acres are planted and November beans. Those prices are a 174 bushel per acre yield, carryout important especially for the bankers with this high demand could be reduced because they do pencil out above the to 1.7 and it could be less. “That potentially offers 20-30 cents more. And that cost of production.” could offer to the producer the option for Erickson related drought conditions a narrowing basis after harvest this fall in Argentina appear to be wiping out and into next spring.” any soybean meal exports for that When asked about forward pricing on country which had become the numberthe 2018 crops about to be planted, she one meal exporter. She indicated recent commented that she is “friendly rains have slowed harvest in Brazil and may help correct some of the defi- towards corn” and farmers should have a plan on a price level based on the curciencies in Argentina. rent fundamentals.

“But the bottom line is that our U.S.

Tips for spring garden design This period of fluctuating weather (warm one day, snow the next) is a great time to stay indoors and think about your next great garden design project. Start with these five considerations of sustainable design (in order of importance) and how they apply in your landscape: Functionality — What do you have to be able to do in your landscape?

Some common functions are entertaining, play area, pet areas, grow vegetables, have a fire pit (and haul firewood to your fire pit), access to all areas of your landscape.

Maintainability — Be able to maintain your yard and garden at the level you desire. Common landscape maintenance aspects include mowing, pruning, shoveling and storing snow (ugh), maintaining structures.

Be environmentally-sound — Promote a positive effect on the surrounding environment (vs. harming it) by choosing plants that will thrive — not just survive — in your landscape

and thus remain stress-free, pest-free and healthy. This will result in fewer inputs such as pesticides, less water waste, less work for you and a better looking landscape overall.

Cost-effectiveness — Have a landscape you can afford financially and from a time allocation aspect. Summer is short enough in Minnesota without spending all your free time maintaining your yard and garden. Create a landscape that will keep your personal inputs (money, time, work) in achievable bounds.

Visually-appealing — What you want to see when you are in your yard and garden. This is where the fun and creative aspects of garden design bloom. Collect ideas from magazines, websites, home and garden shows, public gardens, garden tours. Think how you can incorporate some of these into your little slice of paradise.

This article was submitted by Julie Weisenhorn, University of Minnesota Extension educator. v

“I think we will have a pause in the market this next month which is normal,” Erickson said. “Then we tend to move a little higher going into May. By that time, they ought to have whatever price level is available pretty well locked up for old crop and start doing some price protection on new crop.”

If $3.65 is available in May, should a grower take it? Erickson indicated she thinks the basis will start to widen and that could be the best opportunity to be in futures. “Even if the futures rally going into May, we might lose it on basis so I don’t know there is an advantage in holding old crop.”

When asked if farmers have gotten so good they are producing their own world glut on markets, Erickson responded, “Our farmers are very hard workers and they do a great job. But the world demand for food continues to grow, so I don’t think this current glut will last.

Just like the ebb and flow of the market price, we have that also in corn and soybean production. We can’t predict these changes, but after five successive years of yield increases, it seems somewhat logical that an adjustment could hap-

pen. Beans look negative on the fundamentals. That price should be dictating less acres and I think corn is already seeing those adjustments.

“Yes, we need to watch our competitors too. Brazil, for example, has more acres that could be brought into production. But demand will continue for feed and livestock. And I think China will always be major importers simply because they do not have land resources to grow more corn or soybeans. Yet their people are doing better economically and that means they want to keep improving their food resources too.

Their hog market currently is at the lowest level so they have pulled supports which is hurting our hog export market. But that too will change around just as corn does. Beef exports are still phenomenal. With their growing ethanol industry they will have corn starch and other by-products for their feeds. They too will become more efficient with farming operations and their demand will always be strong.”

Terri Erickson can be reached via email at terrierickson@investorsics.com. v

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THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

Information management vital for successful farming

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer OWATONNA, Minn. — Stroll the North American Farm and Power Show and a predictable vendor year after year is Bernie Paulson of McPherson Crop Management in Janesville. A predictable lead question to Paulson each year is, “What’s Bernie Paulson new, Bernie?”

That question is like opening a dictionary. This year he asked, “Well, do you want to talk soil sampling, or crop scouting, or variable rate prescriptions, or data management, or Trimble software, or GreenSeeker crop sensors or UAV technology?”

There was more, but The Land just wanted the newest scoop.

To which, he responded, “Well then let’s just look at what’s going on in the country. And what we find is farmers struggling with all the data they are collecting these days. What we used to do was try to sell them some software to access this world of information. But we realized that wasn’t really getting the job done. Then we got into more on-the-farm visits.

But time and manpower didn’t get us very far down that road either.

“We found the most efficient — both for the farmer and us — was to bring his information to our office at Janesville. Then sit down with us and explain all these various pieces of information on his data cards that we might not know about. We’re talking information collected at the beginning of the season on planting, fertilizing, herbicide applications and at the end of the season, yield information.

“At this stage we can really focus on helping a customer digest all that information. It’s complex.

Farmers collect scads of information. Our job is to simplify this entire process and give that farmer something he can take action on. We teach the process. He takes it from there.”

There are several ways to bring information in.

“There’s the cloud. A tech-savvy farmer can upload to a site which we can then download. We have guys who aren’t so savvy and they just bring their data stick right to the office … once after planting, then again after harvest. Then before spring they want their action plan. We give their data stick back to them with their action plan now loaded on their data stick.”

So how many client visits are required either at the office or on farm? “We’ll see a client three to five times a year.”

And the obvious question: What do you charge your farmers for this warehouse of information which you plug into his data stick? A lot of the service work is done by the acre, Paulson said, based on pre-determined acre prices with costs from 50 cents an acre to perhaps $5.50 for all the steps of data management.

There are some uploading fees to get things set up or intense analyses such as multiple treatments and multiple products or various rates of application comparisons. Those are by-the-hour charges.

“So if a farmer says, ‘I’ve got five different nitrogen

treatments out here and I’ve got three hog barns. I’ve got different things going on. I’ve got them marked.

Tell us what this means.’ Well, you can see that would be hourly rates because we don’t know how long this might take. We make an estimation from our experiences. It could be $125 to $150 an hour.

We’re not in that ‘attorney rate,’ but we need to cover our costs,” Paulson said.

In this day of questionable break-evens, Paulson said there is a growing awareness of need and a growing interest in our services.

“We are even seeing referrals from clients we have assisted in past years. We’re a growing business because of the difficulties in making a margin in today’s environment. Sharp farmers are looking for information from their own data set and they’re looking for information from somebody who is not trying to sell them a product,” he said.

McPherson Crop Management is also an opportunity for college students looking for unique summer internships.

“We need field crew students. We need young guys, young gals with a good work ethic and who realize how important their job is to scout a field, to soil sample a field, to do tissue analysis. Our field workers are vital. South Central College at Mankato has been a great student source for us,” he said.

For more information, visit www.mcmfarmworks. com. v

Field trials needed for ISU research Researchers at Iowa State University are looking for farmer cooperators interested in a specific field trial focused on the effects of cover crops and green manure amendments on soybean diseases (specifically SDS, IDC, white mold and Fusarium root rot).

For the 2018 season, ISU is looking for grower fields with a history of white mold where researchers can establish strips of spring oats and no oats.

Ideally, the growers would have an idea of the areas of their fields where there is highest disease pressure, so researchers could plant the strips there.

Strips would be about 100 feet long and replicated four times for a total of eight strips.

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Tensil e Fen Speed cing rite E nergiz ers Water ing Sy stems Grazin g Sup plies

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507-956-2657

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA

E”

Daniel & Terese Hall Jeremy • Andy • Tony • Mike 40133 - 620th Ave.

BUTTERFIELD, MN 56120

The following operations would be conducted on those fields: plant oat strips in mid-late March; kill the oats two weeks before planting soybeans; plant soybeans late April to early May; visit the field two to three times in the season for disease ratings and taking plant samples; and harvest the strips.

Researchers would take care of all the field operations for the trial. For the 2019 season, they will want to include rye and fall oats as treatments, so they are also looking for fields where they can establish fall cover crops this fall.

If interested, contact (515) 231-2830.

This article was submitted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. v

SwineMail • Organics in your• 4-H • Poultry • Gardening • subscription card Energy • Dairy • Cover and don’t miss an • Crops • Seed • Beef issue of FFA • Farm Safety • Sheep • Equipment • Farmfest • Markets

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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

PAGE 29

Commodity groups weigh in on Chinese tariffs National soybean and pork groups wasted little time responding to recent announcements by China on proposed tariffs on imported U.S. goods.

This article was submitted by the American Soybean Association.

Chinese Retaliation is no longer ‘what if’ for soybean farmers April 4, 2018 — Following China’s announcement of a proposed 25 percent tariff on imported U.S. soybeans, the American Soybean Association is again expressing its extreme frustration about the escalation of a trade war with the largest customer of U.S. soybeans, and calling on the White House to reconsider the tariffs that led to this retaliation.

China purchases 61 percent of total U.S. soybean exports, and more than 30 percent of overall U.S. soybean production.

ASA president and Iowa farmer John Heisdorffer issued the following statement: “It should surprise no one that China immediately retaliated against our most important exports, including soybeans. We have been warning the administration and members of Congress that this would happen since the prospect for tariffs was raised. That unfortunately doesn’t lend any comfort to the hundreds of thousands of soybean farmers who will be affected by these tariffs. This is no longer a hypothetical, and a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans into China will have a devastating effect on every soybean farmer in America.

“Soybean futures are already down nearly 40 cents a bushel as of this morning. At a projected 2018 crop of 4.3 billion bushels, soybean farmers lost $1.72 billion in value for our crop this morning alone. That’s real money lost for farmers, and it is entirely preventable.

“We regret that the administration has been unable to counter China’s policies on intellectual property and information technology in a way that does not require the use of tariffs. We still have not heard a response from the administration to our March 12 letter requesting to meet with President Trump and discuss how the administration can work with soybean farmers

and others in agriculture to find ways to reduce our trade deficit by increasing competitiveness rather than erecting barriers to foreign markets.

“But there is still time to reverse this damage, and the administration can still deliver for farmers by withdrawing the tariffs that caused this retaliation.

China has said that its 25 percent tariff will only go into effect based on the course of action the administration takes. We call on President Trump to engage the Chinese in a constructive manner—not a punitive one—and achieve a positive result for soybean farmers.”

The National Pork Producers Council presented its comments in this release in the beginning of the week.

National Pork responds to China’s tariffs on U.S. pork April 2, 2018 — Here is the statement from National Pork Producers Council CEO Neil Dierks on China’s tariffs on U.S. pork which went into effect on April 2.

“We are disappointed that China has placed an additional 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork exports.

“Exports are extremely critical to the financial well-being of our producers.

Over the past 10 years, the United States, on average, has been the top exporter of pork in the world, and we’re the lowest-cost producer. In any given year, we export pork to more than 100 nations, and those exports support 110,000 American jobs. Last year, nearly $6.5 billion of U.S. pork was exported, which was more than 26 percent of U.S. pork production.

“China was the third largest value market, with more than $1 billion in U.S. pork being shipped there last year.

We recall that not long ago there was serious talk about termination of the U.S.-Korea FTA. We are pleased that the U.S and Korea were able to reach an agreement that has not prejudiced U.S. pork producers or other sectors of U.S. agriculture. We recognize that the U.S. and China are negotiating, and we are hopeful that the 25 percent tariffs on U.S. pork will be short lived.” v

507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 email: theland@thelandonline.com

2018

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Hogs marketed  1-199  200-499 Sheep raised  1-49  50-199 Beef Cattle marketed  1-49  50-199 Dairy Cattle milked  1-50  51-99

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Land Specialists

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

Sealed Bid Land Auction

April 13 153.37 ± Ac. Lime Lake Township, Murray County For information brochures CALL 1-800-730-LAND (5263) or visit www.Wingert Realty.com Only registered bidders may attend.

View our other available properties for sale on our website.

1160 Victory Drive South, Suite 6 • Mankato, MN 56001 • 507-345-LAND (5263) Charles Wingert, Broker # 07-16-10

Real Estate

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

020 Real Estate

020 Merchandise

025

FOR RENT: Pasture & Hay- LAKE CABIN FOR RENT modern: May - Sept $3,500, Bulk oil tanks & lub oil 2 land; Cropland for organic bulk oil tanks ~265 gal Monthly $1,500, Hayward crops only. Southern Tremea, lub oils: call for deArea. 715-354-3363 pealeau Co. Call 608-323tails & pricing; Lake 7203 or text 608-385-2393 Crystal Farmfest bottles.

Sell your land or real estate (507) 508-2768 in 30 days for 0% commission. Call Ray 507-339-1272 FOR SALE BY OWNER: Central WI Grade A Dairy Please visit our 021 Farm. 196 acres (approx Real Estate Wanted 105 acres tillable). New website roof on house & barn, 51 WANTED: Land & farms. I www.thelandonline.com stall barn w/ pipeline, liquid have clients looking for manure pit, 2-18'x60' silos, dairy, & cash grain opera026 heifer shed w/feed bunk, tions, as well as bare land Antiques & Collectibles 44'x8' machine shed w/shop, parcels from 40-1000 acres. & 5 BR, 1 BA house w/wood Both for relocation & in- Buying and Selling Gold & Silver, collector coins, dia& oil heat. (715)257-7350 vestments.

If you have monds, gold jewelry, silver even thought about selling dollars, pocket watches, ancontact: Paul Krueger, FOR SALE OR RENT by tiques, rare currency, any Farm & Land Specialist, sealed bid: 102 acres in gold or silver items. 350+ Edina Realty, SW Suburban Sect. 35 & 36 Blooming gold coins for sale. Will Office, 14198 Commerce Prairie twp, Steele Cty. travel to buy! 35 years Ave NE, Prior Lake, MN Send by Apr. 15 to: Darwin same retail location.

55372.

Knutson, 3510 49th St., MoFairmont, MN, paulkrueger@edinarealty.com line, IL 61265 (309)373-2928 Kuehl's Coins, 507-235-3886 (952)447-4700

APRIL

PAGE 30

Hay & Forage Equip

031

WANTED: Meyer forage wagon – 4220 or RT220, w/1906 running gear, in good cond. (507)227-2602 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

034

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

OPENS: Wed. Apr. 4 / CLOSES: Wed. Apr. 11

TIMED ONLINE

Brought to you by SteffesGroup.com

Over

250 Lots!

THE LAND

To Include: Tractors, Heads, Tillage, Semi Tractors, Trucks, Trailers, Forage & Hay Equipment, Fertilizer Equipment and More!

For consignor information & location, complete terms, full lot listing & photos visit SteffesGroup.com Auctioneers & Clerk: Steffes Group, Inc. West Fargo, ND Grand Forks, ND 701.237.9173 701.203.8400 Ames, IA Sioux Falls, SD 515.432.6000 712.477.2144

If you visit an advertiser please tell them you saw their ad in

Litchfield, MN 320.693.9371

Mt. Pleasant, IA 319.385.2000

SteffesGroup.com

Scott Steffes ND81, MN14-51, WI2793-52

507-345-4523 800-657-4665 thelandonline.com

Farm Implements

035 Farm Implements

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” 035

4 Row Yetter rotary hoe, low FOR SALE: To settle Estate: '79 JD 4040, Sound acres. $1,500/OBO. ERVIN Gard cab, air, heat, hyd YODER, S3975 BARREAU seat, Sycro Range trans, RD, LA VALLE, WI 53941 rock box, good tires, 4007 hrs, $20,000; JD 430 round 42' Little Giant grain elevabaler w/ monitor, $2,500; tor PTO, $400/OBO; 32' bale Schweiss 8' dbl auger snowelevator plus (2) 8' secblower w/ hyd spout, $2,000. tions, $500/OBO; (4) 16' Phone 763-291-0429 steel kicker racks $1,000/ea/OBO; 3 PT head FOR SALE: Tyler moon mover, $500,OBO; RB 500 walk fertilizer spreader 5 grain dryer, $12,000; large ton capacity, 50' spread, straw bales, $35/ea. 608-539Like new condition, $4,850.

2100 920-860-2118

If you’re going to have an auction be sure to advertise it in The Land for the best results! Call us at 507-345-4523

Equipment saddle tanks, 30' JD 7000 8x30 planter, liq fert, Yetter trash whippers, 3pt spray boom 3 zones; $3,900; Case IH 183 8x30 ViHiniker tunnel sprayer 6R bra Tine cultivator, $775; w/extra tunnels; Hiniker NH 654 4'x6' round baler, spray commander w/anhyauto-wrap twine tie, exc drous; White 6R 5700 semicond, $5,450; JD 670 rake mounted planter w/Hinker w/dolly wheel, $1,350; HNH ridge cleaning units.

1000 gal nurse tank Mapleton, MN, e-mail: w/pump, like new, $3,900; kcslmiller75@gmail.com Degelman reel type rock (507) 524-4305 picker, PTO drive, $2,450.

(320)769-2756 FOR SALE: CAT 3pt forklift, $1,000. Truxedo roll top NH 315 hay baler, w/kicker & auto bale tightener, great cover, fits GM 2014 or newshape, $8,000/OBO; (3) er, fits 5' 8” box, like new, kicker wagons, 9x16, w/8 black, $250. 507-236-1387 ton running gears, extra wide track, great shape, FOR SALE: Clark forklift, $1,800/OBO; 50' Eagle small 3pt hitch, 2 stage; also 43” bale elevator, w/1 HP 220V silver steel Adkins sawmill motor & 50' cord, w/running blade. 320-398-7112 gear, $1,600/OBO; IH 180 rotary hoe, used 1x on 50acre field, $2,000/OBO; (2) FOR SALE: Fantini chopFord 8N hoods, 1 new & in ping 8R & 12R CH; 70' box, plus 1 used grill, Elmer drag, Merritt alum $350/OBO for all. All above hopper grain trailers; '89 equip has always been IH 1680 combine; 24R30” shedded. Call & leave mesJD pl on Kinze bar; Big A sage (507)689-2308 floater; 175 Michigan ldr; IH 964 CH; White 706 & 708 CH & parts; White plows & parts; 54' 4300 IH field cultivator; JD 44' field cult; 3300 Hiniker field cult; header trailer. 507-380-5324

PAGE 31

Consignment Auction

Saturday, April 21st - 9 a.m.

55780 St Hwy 19, Winthrop, MN 1/4 mi W of Hwy 19 & 15 intersection

Boats & Vehicles: ‘12 Dodge Grand Caravan, 175,000 mi; ’92 Glastron 17’ boat w/ Mariner 90 HP motor w/ spare prop & 2 fish finders; ’79 Cajun Bass Boat, 15.5’, 100 HP Evinrude motor w/ trolling motor, aux plug-ins & trailer; ’55 Pontiac, 4-door, does not run; Stahl service truck box; Farm Machinery & Equipment: IH 656 w/ Westendor f loader w/ hyd, 3pt & PTO; IH 574 w/ loader, gas, 1703 hrs, WF, 3pt, PTO; IH 720 5-bt plow; Alfa Delaval 340 TMR mixer, 4-auger; Case IH 5200 drill, 20’, 3pt, markers; Tye drill, 3pt, 13’; New Holland 271 baler; New Idea manure spreader; New Idea sickle mower; Kewanee 300, 52’ elevator; Minnesota hay rake; silage box, 16’, 12 ton Minnesota tandem gear; cattle gates; 12 - cattle panels, 16’; hog nursery plastic fence; chicken waterers & feeders; milk & cream cans; Lumber, Lawn, Garden, Shop & Tools: Ber co 72” UTV snowblower w/ Honda GX690 engine, very little use; JD 14SB push-mower w/ new clutch & clean carb; Craftsman 21” push-mower w/ B&S 550 EX motor; Snapper self-propelled mower, 5.5 HP w/ bag; Simplicity snow blower; Toro Snow Hound snow blower; wood splitter; Homelite 16” diesel chainsaw; Tahoe 7000 LXH diesel generator, 10 HP, 120/240 volt; Kubota 2-cyl Pony Pack; Large Amount of home sawed lumber includes (quantity): Walnut 2” x 8” x 8½’ (5), 1” x 3-13” x 8-10’ (90), 1” x 7” x 13’ (6), 1” x 4-8” x 9’ (190) & 1” x 5-10” x 8-9’ (102), Oak 1” x 5-10” x 8-10’ (513), 2” x 11” x 11’ (1), 2” x 6” x 7’ (9); wooden fence posts; Guns, Outdoor & Sport Equip: Remington 700, 22-250REM, bolt; Winchester Model 70, 30-06, bolt; Remington 742 Woodmaster, 30-06, semi w/ Redfield Illuminator scope; Remington 742 Woodmaster, 30-06, semi w/ Redfield 3x-9x scope; Remington 1100, 12 ga, semi; Remington 870, 12 ga, pump; Remington gun barrels, 12 ga; assorted ammo including .22 cal, 30-06, 12 ga; deer hoist & gambrel; Caldwell Lead Sled; arrows; gun cases; pistol belt; fish finders; fishing poles; saddles; Kouba prints; Redlin prints;

Farm Antiques, Collectibles, Tools, Household, Toys & More!

View terms, complete list & photos at: magesland.com

Area Neighbors

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

Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Service, LLC. Terms: 10% Buyer s Premium Fire ar ms buyer s must have valid drivers license. Pistol buyers must have valid “permit to purchase”. Not Responsible for Accidents.

magesland.com

4306 109th Ave SE, Litchville, ND

Wishek, ND

FOR SALE: JD 7000 6R planter; 28' Wilrich field cultivator; 6R Noble row crop cultivator w/Danish shanks; several gravity wagons. (507)426-7879

THURSDAY, APRIL 19 | 10AM

2018

Farm Retirement

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Major equipment begins selling at 10:30 AM. Live online bidding available on major equipment. Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 | 10AM

2018

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Major equipment begins selling at 10:30 AM. Live online bidding available on major equipment. Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

Location: 4306 109th Ave SE, Litchville, ND. From I-94 Exit 288 (Hwy. 1), 8-1/2 miles south, 4 miles west to County Rd. 32 or 43rd Street; or from the jct. of Hwy. 1 and Hwy. 46, 11 miles north, 4 miles west.

Tractors & Loaders / GPS & Monitoring Equipment / Combines / Heads & Header Trailers Grain Cart / Air Drill / Planters / Tillage Equipment / Semi Tractors / Trucks Pickups / Hopper Bottoms & Other Trailers / Sprayers / NH3 & Fertilizer/ Chemical Equipment / Hopper Bin & Grain Storage Ring / Seed Tender & Grain Handling Equipment Other Equipment / Radios / Farm Support Items & Parts

Steffes Group, Inc. 2000 Main Ave E, West Fargo, ND

SteffesGroup.com

Brad Olstad ND319

Location: From Wishek, 5 miles west on Hwy. 13, north side of road.

Tractors / GPS Equipment / Harvest Equipment / Swathers / Air Seeders / Planter / Tillage Equipment / Sprayers / Semi Tractor & Trucks / Pickup / Hopper Bottom & Other Trailers / Hay Equipment / Grain Handling Equipment / Other Equipment / Shop Equipment / Recreation Items / Parts & Farm Support Items Steffes Group, Inc.

2000 Main Ave E, West Fargo, ND | 701.237.9173

SteffesGroup.com

Brad Olstad ND319

CHUCK & MARY ANN RIEDMAN / 701.840.0592 or Brad Olstad at Steffes Group, 701.237.9173 or 701.238.0240

LYLE & KAREN BETTENHAUSEN / 701.452.2615 or Brad Olstad at Steffes Group, 701.237.9173 or 701.238.0240

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. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

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. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

PAGE 32

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

035 Farm Implements

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

035 Farm Implements

8260 115HP CAH, JD 7300 12R30 planter, semi NH MFWD, 18spd, PS, reverser mounted, vertical fold, fintrans, 11,500 hours, ger pickup, corn, Kinze $22,500/OBO or trade. 320bean units; Hardi sprayer, 543-3523 60' boom, tall tires, flush & rinse foam markers. 320Thank you for reading 583-6967

THE LAND!

60 Acres of Prime Bare Cropland - 56 Acres Tillable, All Part of N ½ of the NE ¼ Section 16, Minneola Township, Goodhue County MN • 80 CPI - Drain Tile in Place Great Soils - 80 CPI

MATT MARING

CO. AUCTION LOCATION: Covered Bridge Restaurant, 1439 North Star Drive, Zumbrota, MN 55992

Thurs., April 12, 2018 6 P.M.

035 Farm Implements

RETIRING

A. L. BUSEMAN Industries Closing Doors In June!

20% DISCOUNT

On All Parts On Hand

LOTS OF PARTS 18-20-22-24” Blades

035 Tractors

Tractors

036

For Most Brands Great Plains, Kent, Glencoe, Hiniker, Brady, C-IH, JD, Kewanee, Etc.

Used Farm Equip www.albusemanind.com 319-347-6282

We buy Salvage Equipment Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910

036

Riteway Model RR250 Rock Case IH 7210 MFWD, Duals 7100 hrs, very nice shape, picker, Like New, $6,950. from retiring farmer, 815-988-2074 $34,500. 815-988-2074 FOR SALE: '96 CIH 9350, 4WD, 6944 hrs., M11 Cumming eng, 4 hyd, 12spd, 3 rev manual trans, 20.8x42 tires w/duals, LED lights, no PTO, no 3pt hitch, good cond, stored inside, $30,000.

(320)905-5265

'01 JD 8110 MFWD. Just OH'd engine completely & FOR SALE: JD 8650, 16spd Quad, 7460 hrs, PTO, Qwik went through MFWD. $15K Tach, 3 SCVs, OH'd at 5355 spent on parts. Warranty hrs, 23.1x34 tires & duals, through spring. Very nice near St. Cloud, $23,500. 320tractor,$49,500. Call 507-789493-0878 6049

ASHLAND - HAYFIELD TWP / DODGE COUNTY, MN

www.maringauction.com IMMeDIaTe PoSSeSSIoN Possession Same Day as auction, So The Buyer(s) Can operate In a Timely Matter 60 acres of Prime Cropland - 56 acres of Tillable Cropland - 80 Crop Productivity Index - Drain tile in Place - 4 Corners Lays Good - All in Part of Section 16, Minneola Township, Goodhue County, MN • Addr H PID: 38.016.0100, Taxes 2017: $1,246 • Area: 60+/- acres • Tillable Acres: 56+/- acres • Crop Productivity Index: 80 CPI, great soils • Drain tile in place • Lays nice, 4 corners • Possession same day as auction, so the Buyer(s) can operate in a timely manner.

880 ACRES + • 5 TRACTS SALE TO BE HELD AT EVENTS, 401 8TH ST SE, KASSON, MN

FRI., APRIL 27 @ 10 A.M.

DIReCTIoNS To FaRM: From Zumbrota, North on Hwy. 52 to 420th Street, east on 420th Street 1 mile. Watch for auction signs.

Terms: $20,000 down the day of auction (which is non-refundable if Buyer(s) fail to close). The balance is due and payable in full on or before May 21, 2018, at which time the Buyer(s) shall receive a clear and marketable title. Possession the day of auction. All real estate is selling in as-is condition with no warranties or guarantees expressed or implied by the Seller(s) or any of their Agents. Property sells with no contingencies whatsoever. All Bidders and Buyer(s) shall conduct their own due diligence. All Bidders and Buyer(s) shall have all finances in order prior to auction date.

#1628 ZAITZ TRUST, LLP

The Zaitz family is offering these beautiful farms at public auction on Friday, April 27th at 10:00. You will find no better land than this 880 acres. The CPI’s are all in the 90’s and pattern tiled!

Online Bidding Available

Call for Information Packet: 800-801-4502 or view online at www.maringauction.com

Tract 1: 154.63 Deeded acres / 145.69 Tillable acres / CPI - 93.8 / Open for 2018 crop year • Tract 2: 160 Deeded acres / 152.34 Tillable acres / CPI - 94.3 / Open for 2018 crop year • Tract 3: 245.97 Deeded acres / 222.61 Tillable acres / CPI - 91.8 • Tract 4: 163.09 Deeded acres / 159.43 Tillable acres / CPI - 93.2 • Tract 5: 156.38 Deeded acres / 138.01 Tillable acres / CPI - 95.2 • Terms: $50,000 down on each Tract the day of the sale, remainder due on or about June 15, 2018. 2% Buyer’s Fee will apply.

www.maringauction.com

"The Experienced Farmland Professionals!"

Daniel K. & Susan F. Scheffler, Rev. Trust SELLERS We Sell the Earth & Everything On It.

MATT MARING AUCTION CO. INC. PO Box 37, Kenyon, MN 55946 507-789-5421 • 800-801-4502

Matt Maring, Lic. #25-28 • 507-951-8354 Kevin Maring, Lic. #25-70 • 507-271-6280 Adam Engen, Lic. #25-93 • 507-213-0647 Broker: Maring Auction & Realty Co. Inc., Lic. #40241191

Where farmers buy, sell and trade.

www.1stop-realty.com www.landproz.com Broker Kirk Swenson 507-254-5468

Broker Wendy Forthun Auctioneer Greg Jensen 507-251-1637 507-383-1067

1 Stop Realty, 20 4th St. SE, Kasson, MN 55944 LandProz Real Estate, LLC. 111 East Clark Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Tractors

036 Tractors

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” 036

FOR SALE: JD 4520, fast White 2-70 diesel tractor, very good condition, $5,500, hitch, rock box, duals, 2 w/implements.(608)712-6029 hyds, cab, tires 65% - 70%.

320-967-4694 Planting Equip 038 Case-IH 5100 12' Grain Drill Double Disc Grass Seed Press Wheels, Excellent Condition, $4,900/OBO. 715Int'l 1586 tractor Exc condi307-4736 tion, 42" tires w/ duals, shifting is tight, rebuilt enFOR SALE: 12 Martin til gine about 150 hrs ago, single disc fertilizer coulHour meter shows 6300, ters, in good shape, Suitcase weights available $1,000/OBO. 320-293-3302 at extra cost. Approx. year 1979, $13,500. (612) 221-4277 FOR SALE: 15' Marliss notill soybean drill, w/ coulter JD 6115D, MFD, w/JD H310 cart, 10” row spacing; ldr, exc cond, $400; D19 Al6”x12' hyd auger w/hoses, lis Chalmers gas tractor, w/hopper for gravity box. w/3pt hitch, good rubber & (612)741-7949 tin, exc cond. (507)381-5781 JD 6125R, MFWD, w/ldr, FOR SALE: JD 7200 12R30 planter, hyd wings, moni800+ hrs, premium tractor tor, trash whippers, seed guidance ready, IVT transfirmers, new bearings, mission, very nice shape. chains and sprockets. 320(507)642-8028 815-3495 NEW AND USED TRACTOR PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, FOR SALE: White 5100 6R30” planter, dry fert, 55, 50 Series & newer tracherb. & insect. box, monitors, AC-all models, Large tor, corn & bean plates, Inventory, We ship! Mark newer seed openers, drive Heitman Tractor Salvage chain & seed brushes, field 715-673-4829 ready, $4,000 (320)238-2281 WANTED: 4630 JD w/bad motor otherwise in good HYDRAULIC FLAT FOLD MARKERS. Will fit anyshape or IF you need a thing, $3,500. Ray's Magood motor for a 4630 JD. chine Shop, call or text 712Call (715)235-9272 or (715) 297-7951 120 DAY SPECIAL 308-2164

EDIGER AUCTION SERVICE Your Auctioneers

PAGE 33

Farm Retirement

Buffalo, ND

TUESDAY, APRIL 10|10AM

2018

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

Location: 13833 34th St SE, Buffalo, ND. From Buffalo, ND, 1/2 mile west on 34th St SE (Old Hwy. 10).

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Major equipment begins selling at 10:30 AM. Live online bidding available on major equipment. Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

Tractors / GPS Equipment / Chopping Corn Head & Header Trailer Planter / Tillage Equipment / Row Crop Equipment / Semi Tractor Pickups / Trailers / Sprayer / Fertilizer & Chemical Equipment NH3 Tank / Hopper Bins / Seed Tender & Grain Handling Equipment Scraper, Blades & Laser Equipment / Other Equipment / Tank Shop Equipment, Farm Support Items, & Parts / Boat & ATV

Steffes Group, Inc. | 2000 Main Ave E, West Fargo, ND | 701.237.9173

SteffesGroup.com

Brad Olstad ND319

MARK & JOANNE JOHNSON 701.238.1843

or Brad Olstad at Steffes Group, 701.237.9173 or 701.238.0240 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. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

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

AUCTION

Sat., ApRIl 21, 2018 - 9:00 A.M.

Farm Retirement

East Grand Forks, MN

23228 401st Ave., Arlington, MN 55307 (behind Dollar General on Hwy 5)

Complete wall-to-wall liquidation of all repair equipment, support equipment, SnapOn Tools, Ford tractor, JD lawn tractor, welders and shop supplies & inventory.

Complete set of Inland test & repair radiator test tanks; 54” Snap-On tool box full of 98% Snap-On tools; JD 318 riding lawn tractor w/60” deck, 44” blower, hard cab & chains; Ford 2N tractor w/step-up trans. and push blade; 18’ home built 5th wheel flatbed trailer; Miller, Lincoln & Chicago welders; clamps; stands; jacks; 7.3 Ford diesel engine; assortment of new & reconditioned radiators plus shelf inventory; office items.

OWNERs: A&N Radiator, Allen & Nicki scharn

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 or (952) 855-6607 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 Card (Credit cards will be charged a 5% convenience fee.)

There will be a 10% Buyer’s Premium that applies to this auction.

THURSDAY, APRIL 12|11AM

2018

See pics & list at: www.midwestauctions.com/ediger

LOCATION: 40454 130th Street SW, East Grand Forks, MN. AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Due to health reasons, Mike is retiring from production agriculture. Most items were purchased new, with excellent maintenance, and always stored inside. Major equipment begins selling at 11:30 AM. Live online bidding available on major equipment. Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

Tractors / GPS Equipment / Harvest Equipment Air Seeder / Planter / Tillage Equipment Row Crop Equipment / Trucks / Sprayer Hopper Bins / Grain Handling Equipment Scraper, Box Blade, and Blade / Ditchers / Other Equipment Steffes Group, Inc. | 2000 Main Ave E, West Fargo, ND | 701.237.9173

SteffesGroup.com

Scott Steffes MN14-51

MIKE KREJCI 218.791.1558

or Tadd Skaurud at Steffes Group, 701.237.9173 or 701.729.3644 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. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

PAGE 34

Do you have an upcoming

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

165.82ac of Sibley County Farm Land

$1,000,000 ($6,030 per acre)

RASM MLS: 7016975 N/S MLS: 4916206

4.417” x 4”

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

BATH TWP / FREEBORN COUNTY, MN

160 ACRES+/- • 2 TRACTS

SALE TO BE HELD ON SITE 74394 300TH ST. CLARKS GROVE, MN

SAT., APRIL 21 @ 10 A.M.

Directions to land: From Gaylord, go North on County Rd #21 approx. 2 miles. Land will be on both sides of the road. Watch for signs!

Tract 1: Home and outbuilding surrounded by 13 acre woods Tract 2: Productive cropland with great drainage and OPEN HOUSE CRP income Wed, April 4

Location of property within Sibley County: Dryden Twp, Section 22, Range 28

Online Bidding Available

PID’s: 2018 Proposed Taxes: 12.2202.000 $1,906 12.2205.000 $166 Total of farm: 165.82 acres, approx. 140.05 acres tillable.

Productivity Index: 89.7 This is an outstanding opportunity to own productive, well tiled farm land just North of Gaylord, MN. Do not miss this chance!

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

Listing Agent: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002 Broker: Matt Mages 507-276-7002; Larry Mages 507-228-8352

magesland.com

#1627 JOHANNES GROENEWEG ESTATE

5:30-6:30

or call for a private showing

Ag & Rec Real Estate / Auctions / Farm Management

PERSONAL PROPERTY AUCTION TO START AT 11 A.M. Joe was an avid auction buyer for years! If you are into American pickers here is your chance to be your own picker! Scrap iron buyers don’t miss this sale! This auction is an entire acreage of personal property plan on attending the entire day!

JJ Wise Auctioneering, License #24-117

Klemme, IA • 641-420-7355 • www.northiowaauctions.com

 507-373-5660

 gregjensen@landproz.com

Broker Greg Jensen - MN, IA / Broker Brian Haugen - MN, SD / Broker Amy Willett - MO

LANDPROZ Real Estate, LLC. 111 East Clark Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Timed Online

AUCTION OPENS: March 30 / CLOSES: April 9 | 7PM

2018

Farm

LOCATION: N25343 Kittleson Rd, Ettrick, WI 54627

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Short farm line to include tractors, tillage, planting, spraying & hay equipment.

PREVIEW: By appointment / LOADOUT: By appointment AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

Place your auction ad where it will get notice...

TRACTORS / PLANTER / DRILL TILLAGE EQUIPMENT / SPRAYER HAY EQIPMENT / BACKHOE ATTACHMENT MUCH MORE! Steffes Group, Inc.

24400 MN Hwy 22 S, Litchfield, MN | 320.693.9371

507-345-4523 800-657-4665 TheLandOnline.com

SteffesGroup.com Tim Brandtner | 608.863.0681

or Eric Gabrielson at Steffes Group, 320.693.9371 or 701.238.2570 Eric Gabrielson MN47-006 / Ashley Huhn MN47-002/WI2788-52

THE LAND — APRIL 6, APRIL 13, 2018 Planting Equip

038 Planting Equip

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” 038 Tillage Equip

039

Tillage Equip

039

Machinery Wanted

PAGE 35 040

FOR SALE: 45' Great Plains JD 7000 planter, 6R30”, dry #8326 GREAT PLAINS 2014 Organic Farm type IHC #461 All kinds of New & Used solid stand drill, 7.5” spac4-38" row front mounted fertilizer w/cross auger, farm equipment – disc chis26 Ft 5” (Discovator/Finishing. Marietta, MN (320)226cultivator. Factory "Blind monitor, bean meters & er) (1800A) Almost New. els, field cults, planters, cultivation" crop row 3837 corn finger pickup, $8,250.

Mandako 40 Ft (2015) Land soil finishers, cornheads, shields gauge wheels.

Fast (612)703-3710 Roller 3” shafts, 4000A Like feed mills, discs, balers, JD planter 7000 8R30" Liquid hitch rear. Mint! 300-560 New. 319-347-2349 Can Del haybines, etc. 507-438-9782 Fertilizer, $3,500/OBO (or Unverferth 3750 Seed Tender tractors. 715-247-3245 best offer). (507)676-0624 2010 - 6" conveyor, 2410 Scale, 2 bins, GX340 Honda FOR SALE: '13 Case IH 200 WANTED: Gear box for Trailer 1300G Liquid FertilizEngine w/ electric start, 37.5' field cultivator, w/2 H&S 260 manure spreader er Tender Trailer - Honda Roll Tarp. One owner, albar harrow, rolling baskets, Tiger Mate II 26.5', like new or complete spreader. 507pump, $5,000/OBO (or best ways shedded. $19,000/OBO exc cond.

(320)522-1637 450-8554 offer). (507)676-0624 condition, 4 bar harrow, no (320) 522-1212 rust, $13,000. (612) 221-4277

JOHN DEERE

saturday, april 14, 2018 10 a.M. FaRM EquiPMEnt REtiREMEnt auction DIRECTIONS: From Freeborn, MN ¼ mile west on Cty. Rd. 29, Or 285th St., then 4 miles north on Cty. Rd. 6; Or 645th Ave. to 640th Ave. Watch for auction signs! Location: 31838 640th Ave., Hartland, MN • 507-383-9162

VERY SHARP TRACTORS TILLAGE WAGONS – FARM EQUIPMENT John Deere 726 mulch finisher, 3-section folding, 28’ w/5-bar harrow; 48” Quick coupler pallet forks, HD; John Deere 2700 Disc Ripper w/rear levelers, 5-shank; John Deere 875 cultivator, 12-row x 30”, rolling shields, flat fold; John Deere 520 high speed stalk chopper, (8) rows, (4) wheels, 1000 PTO; John Deere 630 Hydra Flex grain head, 30’, w/ John Deere 8300, MFWD, air, new sickle; HT 30’ four wheel 480/80R, 46” tires w/duals, head moving trailer w/ lights; Demco tires 90%, 4,003 hrs., 5-hyd., model 365 gravity wagon, 400 bu., inside weights, rock box, Auto roll tarp, lights, 385/65R22.5 truck EZ steer & Trimble 500 montires; Demco model 365 gravity itor, SN: RW8300P021094 wagon, 400 bu., lights, 385/65R22.5 (Nice) truck tires; 1969 Chevrolet C-60 grain truck, 427 engine, 5x2 trans. 101,326 miles, air tag, w/18’ box & hoist; Schweiss snow blower, 7½’, double auger, 540 PTO; Winpower generator 25-45KW on trailer; 1,000 Gal. poly tank; Gas torch; 36” Pull-behind lawn sweeper; Dual compartment 100 gal. pickup fuel tank; 250 Gal. poly tank; 3-pt. head mover.

AUCTIONEER'S NOTE: Approx. ½ hour of small items. Machinery buyers please be on time. If you’re in the market for some very clean and well-cared-for farm equipment, you’ll want to be sure to attend this auction. – Tracy Holland TERMS: Cash or good check, picture ID required. No property removed until fully settled. Sales staff and owners are not responsible for accidents. Any verbal announcements made day of auction takes precedence over print.

(2) Demco Model 650 gravity wagons w/roll tarps & lights, 445/65R22.5 truck tires

John Deere 7330, MFWD, 480/80 R42” tires w/duals, 1,180 hrs., deluxe cab & lights, 900 lbs. inside weights, IVT single lever control w/JD 741 self-level loader, quick coupler hookup, joystick, 96” bucket, SN:RW7330P026135 (Sharp)

John Deere 3020, gas, JD wide front, rock box, tach shows 2,948 hrs. been changed, 12-volt, 80% tires, SN:120124

Farm King 620 rotary mower, 3-pt., 6’, 540 PTO CAN’T MAkE IT TO THE AUCTION? Live On-line bidding available at www.proxibid.com/holland

Pat & Rosanna staloch

owners

31838 640th Ave., Hartland, MN • 507-383-9162

HOLLAND AUCTION & REAL ESTATE

(507) 684-2955 • www.hollandauction.com AUCTIONEERS: TRACY HOLLAND & ASSOCIATES #7405002

Ellendale, MN, (507) 684-2955 or (507) 456-5128 (cell) CLERK: HOLLAND AUCTION

WHERE FARMERS BUY, SELL AND TRADE. 507-345-4523

PAGE 36

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

040

Spraying Equip

041

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018 Spraying Equip

041

Spraying Equip

041

Feed Seed Hay

050

nice TopAir 1100 FOR SALE: 5000 gallon Ace OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn.

WANTED: IH 550 manure FOR SALE: '95 53' Mono van Very sprayer w/1100 gal tank, 200 spreader for parts or in trailer w/ sliding tandems, Roto-Mold Vertical tank w/ Outproduces Hybrid for gal rinse tank, handwash working cond. (715)495-6804 (3) 1500 gal tanks, 30 gal 5HP Briggs & Strtton pump Silage. $67/bushel plus shiptank, 60' boom w/hyd fold, mixing cone, 5HP Briggs & & valve, $2,600. 507-327-1948 ping. 217-857-3377 new Raven 440 monitor Stratton pump w/ hose & Spraying Equip 041 w/new elect valves, hyd Feed Seed Hay valve, 2 side doors, $5,300.

050 driven pump, wide tires in Wheat straw 3x4x8 tops & 507-327-1948 '10 Top Air 3pt sprayer, 80' good shape, field ready, 4x5 net wrapped rd corn btms, dried out, tops scissor fold, less than 3000 FOR SALE: Century $7,000. (507)380-6001 caramelled, exc feed & bedstalks $25/ea; grass $50/ea; acres, $3,000/OBO; CAT sprayer, 60' boom, tandem ding when ground. $55/ton 900+lbs soybean stubble Challenger 55 spray tanks, axle, 750 gal tank, hyd fold, del. Also lg rnds 1st grass & $50/ea; alfalfa. Call for inThank you for (2) 250 gal fiberglass tanks, height, pump, very good 1st alfalfa, $90-$115/ton del. ventory, possible del, qty $1,000/OBO. Both always cond, always shedded, Tim 320-221-2085 reading The Land! discounts. (320)905-6195 shedded. 507-360-3173 $4,300/OBO. 507-451-9614

irst Your F for Choice s! d ie Classif

Place d Your A ! y a d To

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.

Plus! Look for your classified ad in the e-edition.

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• Start your ad in The Land

THE FREE PRESS South Central Minnesota’s Daily News Source

CHECK ONE:  Announcements  Employment  Real Estate  Real Estate Wanted  Housing Rentals  Farm Rentals  Merchandise  Antiques & Collectibles  Auctions  Hay & Forage Equipment  Material Handling  Bins & Buildings  Grain Handling Equipment  Farm Implements  Tractors  Harvesting Equipment  Planting Equipment  Tillage Equipment  Machinery Wanted  Spraying Equipment

The ad prices listed are based on a basic classified line ad of 25 words or less.

Ads running longer than 25 words will incur an added charge.

                    

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

NOTE: Ad will be placed in the appropriate category if not marked.

Now... add a photo to your classified line ad for only $10.00!!

THE LAND

1 run @ $18.79 =______________________ 2 runs @ $32.84 =______________________ 3 runs @ $49.76 =______________________ Each additional line (over 7) + $1.40 per issue =______________________ EXTENDED COVERAGE - must run the same number of times as The Land FARM NEWS (FN) - Serving farmers in Northwest Iowa, 14,219 circ.

THE COUNTRY TODAY (CT) - Serving farmers in Wisconsin, 25,000 circ.

THE FREE PRESS (FP) - Serving south central Minnesota, 22,500 circ.

PAPER(S) ADDED (circle all options you want): FN CT FP ($7.70 for each paper, and each time) issues x $7.70 =______________________ STANDOUT OPTIONS (THE LAND only) $2.00 per run:  Bold  Italic  Underline  Web/E-mail links =______________________ (Includes 1 Southern & 1 Northern issue)

NEW! Photo(THE LAND $10.00 run:per run: Photo (THEonly) LAND only)per $10.00

=______________________ TOTAL =______________________

This is NOT for businesses. Please call The Land to place line ads.

Name ________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________ City _____________________________ State_________ Zip __________ Phone ______________________________________ # of times _______ Card # _______________________________________________________ Exp. Date__________________

CHECK

Signature ____________________________________________________

SORRY! We do not issue refunds.

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 — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018 Feed Seed Hay

050 Livestock

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” 054

Cattle

056 Cattle

WANTED TO BUY: Dam- FOR SALE: Black Angus 28 registered pure bred black aged corn, soybeans & othbulls also Hamp, York, & Angus cows and heifers. er grains. Call Schwieger Hamp/Duroc boars & gilts.

Dan at 715-559-2989 320-598-3790 Cattle LLC. (507)236-5181 FOR SALE: 37 head of Hereford cattle.

Indianhead 055 Fertilizer & Chem 051 Dairy Polled Hereford Association 2018 Spring Opportuni5 Angus Holstein, Breed to BIO-CALCIUM (this is largty Sale; Sat., April 14, calve Sept. 2018. Call (715) er font and bold if possible) 2018;UW-Mann Valley Lab 363-2456 When Bio Liquid Calcium is Farm Auction 12 p.m. View Fresh Holstein cheaper and more effective Fancy Cattle at 10:30 a.m. Selling Heifers and Springing tan lime! Let us help fix 5 bulls, 9 young cows Heifers, AI sired, reasonPH and Hardpan problems! w/calves, 22 open heifers, 5 able price, low SCC. 608Also Avail. Organic certiembryo packages.

One 214-3798 fied Product Missed liming heifer to be raffled as a last fall, you are not out! fundraiser. View or request WANTED TO BUY: Dairy Apply Calcium now! catalog online at: heifers and cows. 320-235www.indianheadherefords.com Fix hard pan.

2664 Or contact us at Call Gary at 715-533-0174 715-760-2350 Cattle 056 Fertilizer Equip: S/S 1650 gal FOR SALE: Registered Angus bulls, 1-3 yr old, 4-2 yr 4 whl nurse caddy, $1,750; FOR SALE OR LEASE REGISTERED BLACK S/S Adams 5T dry spreadolds, good quality & size, AI ANGUS Bulls, 2 year old & sired, also reg bred heifers er, $1,950; John Blue LM yearlings; bred heifers, 4955s grd dr pump w/ drive due in April.

Miller Ancalving ease, club calves & Like New, $895; Hutch Engus, Kasson, MN (507)634balance performance. Al terprises 40' 15 shank appli4535 sired. In herd improvement cator, $3,995; John Blue program. J.W. Riverview 4455 grd drive pump, $3995; Angus Farm Glencoe, MN 9”x48” Kelborg duals 90%+ 55336 Conklin Dealer 320w/ JD 9 bolt hubs, $995. 507864-4625 381-6719

Polled Hereford bulls, exc growth & calving ease, semen tested; also Hereford black baldy replacement heifers.

Jones Farms, LeSueur. (507)317-5996 Registered Texas Longhorn breeding stock, cows, heifers or roping stock, top blood lines. 507-235-3467 Salers & Salers/Angus cross yearling bulls, low birth weights, good disposition, easy calving. Call Oakhill Farms (507)642-8028 WANT TO BUY: Butcher cows, bulls, fats & walkable cripples; also horses, sheep & goats. 320-235-2664

Custom Liquid Manure Application

Full agitation of deep pits/lagoons • 2 1/2 miles of hose • 3,000 to 20,000 GPA Sprin Serving Minnesota and Northern Iowa

County Line Customs Contact Justin 507-327-4729

056

Nice small groups of feeder cattle of both dairy & beef, all healthy & vaccinated & ready to go. 608-214-3798

ga sche nd Fall dulin g

PAGE 37

PAGE 38

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

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

Cleaning out your attic or shed?

Sell your stuff

with a classified ad.

Don’t limit your ads to just farm related items. The Land can sell anything!

Call

The Land 507-345-4523 800-657-4665

Horse

057 Miscellaneous

090

2 - Red Sorrel Belgium stud FOR SALE: Country Clipper zero turn 60” mower, Chalcolts, full brothers, pulling lenger 510 commercial bloodline, very stout made. grade w/24 HP Kawasaki Yearling, $3,500 & 2 yr. old, engine, hand rail & joy$4,500. Call (715)308-7608 stick, 32 hrs of use, 2014 model, excellent condition, Sheep 060 $5,500. (507)294-3373 FOR SALE: Dorset & SufOne call does it all! folk fall ram lambs, for With one phone call, you can breeding or show. (952)466place your classified ad in 5876 The Land, Farm News, AND The Country Today.

Call The Land for more Swine 065 info @ 507-345-4523 • 800-6574665.

Compart's total program features superior boars & PARMA DRAINAGE open gilts documented by PUMPS New pumps & BLUP technology. Duroc, parts on hand. Call MinYork, Landrace & F1 lines. nesota's largest distributor Terminal boars offer leanHJ Olson & Company 320ness, muscle, growth. Ma974-8990 Cell – 320-212-5336 ternal gilts & boars are productive, lean, durable.

REINKE IRRIGATION All are stress free & PRRS Sales & Service free. Semen also available New & Used through Elite Genes A.I. For your irrigation needs Make 'em Grow! Comparts 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073 Boar Store, INC. Toll Free: 877-441-2627 WANT MORE READERS FOR SALE: Yorkshire, TO SEE YOUR AD??

Hampshire, Duroc & Expand your coverage area!

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

Miscellaneous 090 More readers = better results! Call The Land for Automatic 200 roller mill, more information. 507-3453HP, 220V, $225. Mayrath 4523 • 800-657-4665 6" auger drive head, 1.5HP, $50. 715-557-0762 WANTED: Anything blacksmith related, anvils, powFOR SALE: 10'x10'x7' chicker hammers, swage blocks, en coop; (4) Osborne round cones, welton vises; Neil at hog feeders; 58' of 2”x8” 260-413-0626 PVC plank; Snapper 30” lawn mower. (507)342-5416 Winpower Sales & Service Reliable Power Solutions FOR SALE: 990 gal fuel skid Since 1925 PTO & automattanks, single walls; also 1 ic Emergency Electric high capacity pump w/meGenerators. New & Used ter, always stored inside.

Rich Opsata-Distributor (612)202-4619 800-343-9376

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

Upcoming Issues of THE LAND Southern MNNorthern MN Northern IA April 13, 2018 April 20, 2018 April 27, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 11, 2018 May 18, 2018 May 25, 2018 June 1, 2018 June 8, 2018 Deadlines are 8 days prior to publication with Holiday deadlines 1 day earlier.

PO Box 3169 • Mankato, MN 56002 Phone: 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665 Fax: 507-345-1027 Website: www.TheLandOnline.com e-mail: theland@TheLandOnline.com Ask Your Auctioneer to Place Your Auction in The Land!

THE LAND — APRIL 6/APRIL 13, 2018

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

www.TheLandOnline.com

HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Contact us and we’ll help you put money in your pockets when you sell through

PAGE 39

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 507-345-4523 800-657-4665

ADVERTISER LISTING Ag Spray Equipment ................................................................. 6 Anderson Seeds ....................................................................... 16 Broskoff Structures ................................................................. 15 C & C Roof ing ....................................................................... 14 County Line Customs .............................................................. 37 Courtland Waste Handling ....................................................... 21 Curt's Truck & Diesel .............................................................. 11 Dahl Farm Supply ................................................................... 10 Diers Ag & Trailer Sales ......................................................... 14 Doda USA .............................................................................. 17 Ediger Auction ........................................................................ 33 Factory Home Center ................................................................ 8 Freudenthal Dairy & Mfg ........................................................ 19 Gehl Company ........................................................................ 20 Greenwald Farm Center ........................................................... 37 Grizzly Buildings ...................................................................... 9 Harrison Truck Centers ............................................................. 4 Hawkeye Auction .................................................................... 34 Henslin Auction ................................................................ 30, 32 Holland Auction ...................................................................... 35 K-Bid Online Auctions ............................................................ 13 Keith Bode .............................................................................. 38 LandProz .......................................................................... 32, 34 Larson Implement ............................................................. 31, 38 Letcher Farm Supply ............................................................... 23 Mages Auction .................................................................. 31, 34 Maring Auction ....................................................................... 32 Mid-American Auction ...................................................... 33, 35 Mike's Collision ...................................................................... 12 Minnesota Soybean ................................................................... 3 Northland Building ................................................................. 28 Pruess Elevator ....................................................................... 37 Resler Spots & Durocs .............................................................. 5 Schwartz Farms ....................................................................... 39 Schweiss Doors ....................................................................... 37 Searles Well Drilling ............................................................... 10 SI Feeder/Schoessow ............................................................... 18 Smiths Mill Implement ............................................................ 39 Southwest MN K-Fence ........................................................... 28 Spanier Welding ...................................................................... 26 Steffes Group ................................................... 30, 31, 33, 34, 36 Wahl Spray Foam Insulation .................................................... 22 Wingert Realty ........................................................................ 30 Ziegler ...................................................................................... 7 Ziemer Auction ................................................................. 31, 33

507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 PO Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56001 www.thelandonline.com

PAGE 40

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

THE LAND — APRIL 6, 2018/APRIL 13, 2018

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

I

Metal masters

f what you need is made from steel or aluminum, Mark’s Welding and Steel Sales near Osakis, Minn. probably has it or can make it. And if you already own it but it’s broken, they can likely fix it.

“No job is too big or too small for us,” owner Ken Kraemer says.

To prove his point, he takes us to the work station for Timmy — one of the shop’s metal workers. Timmy is doing a quick repair job on somebody’s broken Revere Ware kitchen kettle. When he finishes that TIG (gas tungsten arc welding) job, Timmy turns back to the big tubular steel stand he’s fabricating.

“Panther Distillery needs this to put a big piece of equipment on,” Timmy says.

Kraemer, who farms near Osakis, bought the business from the original owner in 2014.

“My dad came here and I was also Mark’s customer,” he said. “When Mark wanted to retire after 30 years, buying the shop seemed like a good idea.”

Osakis, Minn.

The purchase has worked out for Kraemer, who continues to have a first-class farm equipment repair shop nearby, and for the customers that come from as far away as St. Cloud, Willmar and Morris.

They come because Mark’s Welding can custom machine a PTO shaft for them and provide all of the hardware necessary to get back to work ASAP. They also come because they have an idea and the crew at Mark’s can probably turn it into a reality.

“An area farmer wanted a large reel to mount on his skid steer loader to use for rolling up manure hose,” Kraemer said. “We made that and he liked it so much he wants a couple more.”

Customers come because Mark’s has a retail store with most sizes of chain, sprockets, pulleys, bearings, PTO yokes, and most sizes, grades, and types of bolts and nuts.

“We expanded our bolt selection when we took over,” Kraemer said. “I hate to have somebody come and not find what they want.”

Like any good blacksmith shop, Mark’s has some of its own products.

Kraemer says his line of bale feeders for cattle, calves and horses are popular. So are the field tile guards.

“We’ve made some improvements on the tile guards,” Kraemer said. “Ours don’t fall or blow over.”

Mark’s Welding is a good place to work also, says precision machinist Kyle Baker who started when he was 15 years old and had to ride a bicycle to work.

“I remember I drilled a lot of holes that first year,” Baker, who’s been at Mark’s for 33 years, said. v

Page 4 - April 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

PROPER INSULATION LOWERS HEATING BILLS AND PREVENTS CONDENSATION & RUST ESTIMATES ARE FREE

© 2018

April 2018

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

O G T ’ N O D R E H T ANO H T I W R A E Y G N I K A E L A F O O R L A T ME

Before

After

Before

After

Eliminate Leaks • Tighten Fasteners • Prevent Rust

greener world solutions CALL EDULE H C S TO E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business

MN LIC BC639351

greener world solutions CALL E HEDUL TO SC E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business MN LIC BC639351

SPRAY FOAM

Page 2 - April 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

S P O SH S N BAR S D SHE S E INSULATION M O H

greener world solutions CALL E HEDUL TO SC E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business MN LIC BC639351

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

O O T T N N I I G G N N I I PR SR SP A A H H T T I I W W G G N N I I R R P P SS T T A A O O C C H H S S E E R R FF ! ! ! ! ! !

T T N N I I A A P P OFOF

April 2018 - Page 3

Custom colors available

greener world solutions CALL E HEDUL TO SC E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business MN LIC BC639351

SPRAY FOAM

Page 2 - April 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

S P O SH S N BAR S D SHE S E INSULATION M O H

greener world solutions CALL E HEDUL TO SC E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business MN LIC BC639351

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

O O T T N N I I G G N N I I PR SR SP A A H H T T I I W W G G N N I I R R P P SS T T A A O O C C H H S S E E R R FF ! ! ! ! ! !

T T N N I I A A P P OFOF

April 2018 - Page 3

Custom colors available

greener world solutions CALL E HEDUL TO SC E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business MN LIC BC639351

Page 4 - April 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

PROPER INSULATION LOWERS HEATING BILLS AND PREVENTS CONDENSATION & RUST ESTIMATES ARE FREE

© 2018

April 2018

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

O G T ’ N O D R E H T ANO H T I W R A E Y G N I K A E L A F O O R L A T ME

Before

After

Before

After

Eliminate Leaks • Tighten Fasteners • Prevent Rust

greener world solutions CALL EDULE H C S TO E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business

MN LIC BC639351

greener world solutions CALL E HEDUL TO SC E A FRE ATE ESTIM

855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com A Minnesota Family-Owned Business MN LIC BC639351