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August 10, 2018 August 17, 2018
FARMERS AT HEART ™
History on the hill
A hardy group of volunteers steer the Heritage Hill Threshing Show into its 38th year. See Page 13
Inside: New techniques help build the soil and save fuel Plus: Milker’s Message, From The Fields, Markets and more!
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
Final days of summer are active P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XLII ❖ No. 16 40 pages, 1 section plus supplements
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Cover photo by Paul Malchow
COLUMNS Opinion Farm and Food File Readers’ Photos The Back Porch Cooking With Kristin In The Garden From The Fields Mielke Market Weekly Calendar of Events Marketing Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing Back Roads
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STAFF
Publisher: Steve Jameson: sjameson@mankatofreepress.com General Manager: Deb Petterson: dpetterson@TheLandOnline.com Managing Editor: Paul Malchow: editor@TheLandOnline.com Staff Writer: Dick Hagen: rdhagen35@gmail.com Advertising Representatives: Danny Storlie: theland@TheLandOnline.com Jerry Hintz: jhintz@TheLandOnline.com James McRae: jmcrae@TheLandOnline.com Office/Advertising Assistants: Joan Compart: theland@TheLandOnline.com Deb Lawrence: auctions@TheLandOnline.com For Customer Service Concerns: (507) 345-4523, (800) 657-4665, theland@TheLandOnline.com Fax: (507) 345-1027 For Editorial Concerns or Story Ideas: (507) 344-6342, (800) 657-4665, editor@TheLandOnline.com National Sales Representative: Bock & Associates Inc., 7650 Executive Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55344-3677. (952) 905-3251. Because of the nature of articles appearing in The Land, product or business names may be included to provide clarity. This does not constitute an endorsement of any product or business. Opinions and viewpoints expressed in editorials or by news sources are not necessarily those of the management. The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The Publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. Classified Advertising: $19.79 for seven (7) lines for a private classified, each additional line is $1.40; $24.90 for business classifieds, each additional line is $1.40. Classified ads accepted by mail or by phone with VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Classified ads can also be sent by e-mail to theland@TheLandOnline.com. Mail classified ads to The Land, P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002. Please include credit card number, expiration date and your postal address with ads sent on either mail version. Classified ads may also be called into (800) 657-4665. Deadline for classified ads is 5 pm on the Friday prior to publication date, with holiday exceptions. Distributed to farmers in all Minnesota counties and northern Iowa, as well as on The Land’s website. Each classified ad is separately copyrighted by The Land. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Subscription and Distribution: Free to farmers and agribusinesses in Minnesota and northern Iowa. $25 per year for non-farmers and people outside the service area. The Land (USPS 392470) Copyright © 2018 by The Free Press Media is published biweekly by The Free Press, 418 S 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001-3727. Business and Editorial Offices: 418 S. 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001-3727, Accounting and Circulation Offices: Steve Jameson, 418 S 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001-3727. Call (507) 345-4523 to subscribe. Periodicals postage paid at Mankato, MN. Postmaster and Change of Address: Send address changes to The Land, P.O. Box 3169, Mankato MN 56002-3169 or e-mail to theland@TheLandOnline.com.
Summertime and the living is easy. dous noon-time feeding by a Sioux Falls Great song when I was a kid. And it still catering outfit. There were displays is. My wife reminds me it was Ella galore and talkers with every display. Fitzgerald belting out those neat lyrics in Plus, I got in a little chatting from the the big show “Porgy and Bess.” A goodly Hefty boys too — both Darren and Brian. number of your seniors remember the It was all free. Great marketers, that music. Just simply good listening … and Hefty clan. a touch of melancholy memories too. Speaking of marketing, many of you are So what am I leading up to? Well, it becoming aware of a new seed corn brand LAND MINDS certainly is summer time. But is the livin the area. Beck’s is the name. Last fall, ing really easy? Let’s first point fingers I had the pleasure of a jet flight visit to By Dick Hagen at the weather. Across the upper their Atlanta, Ind. home base. A genuMidwest there is more variety than ine family-owned operation which needed. Many of you scratched around truly does project a “farmers-at-heart” unexpected ponds in your fields this culture. spring. Hop into a plane with a local pilot and you And good news for my town of Olivia! Becks just will see an amazing pattern of patchwork quilt purchased a large facility with intentions of making designs across your fields. Which, at this stage, Olivia the newest marketing outlet of Beck’s leaves me questioning U.S. Department of Hybrids which now serves farmers in 11 states. Agriculture crop estimates for this season. Yes, lots What’s next? State fairs — both Minnesota and of 200-plus bushel yields very likely once again. But Iowa. Yes, the state fair remains a huge agriculturoften in the same field spots with less than al showcase, but not like they used to be. 100-bushel yields and even some zero yields. Minnesota’s Farmfest pretty much eliminated But let’s get on with this summertime chatter. It’s Machinery Hill at the Minnesota State Fair. absolutely amazing how busy we all have become. Farmfest just wrapped up (Aug 7-8-9), and we Check your calendar and any given week you have thank many of you who stopped at The Land booth what seems like a dozen or more activities. We’re to say hello. It’s great to see you and share the latsmack dab in the county fair season. Minnesota est gossip — plus politicians galore. Both (and I suspect Iowa) are blessed with county fairs Minnesota Soybean Growers and Minnesota Corn in virtually every county. And thanks to 4-H and FFA, your children or grandchildren often have live- Growers Associations invited candidates to visit their big tents to meet with Minnesota farmers. stock, or garden, or craft and shop exhibits competing for ribbons. Mostly blue ribbons we hope, but a And I have the fun of being one of the ag press people who got to ask questions at the various political variety of colors are needed for the multitude of forums that Kent Thiesse lined up this year. Yes, kids who now participate in these events. trade tariffs were on the agenda. Perhaps your Yes, farm numbers keep declining. So too, farm potential agenda features the big Farm Progress kid numbers keep declining. But thanks to town Show in the Boone, Iowa area. The event takes kids now getting involved in many of these ag place Aug. 28-30. shows, wandering through the livestock and exhibit But in between these biggies, you’ve got baseball buildings at any county fair gives a good reminder with you local town team plus family picnics, high that the farm scene isn’t being forgotten. school class reunions and that family vacation with Hundreds attended the annual Hefty Field Day Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes scenario the big attracevent which took place on July 26 in Baltic, S.D. tion. Hopefully you do find the time for that genuine This was the third year for me and it is indeed a family vacation. Mom, Dad, and your kids … you sensational event. They say 10,000 people attendSee LAND MINDS, pg. 5 ed, which is believable to me. There was a tremen-
OPINION
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 12 — New tillage system promotes healthy soil, fuel savings 19 — Hefty field day continues to present new farming practices 24 — Man retires after judging 4-H dairy for nearly 50 years
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 • “SHOP” — Search for trucks, farm equipment and more
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Landowners can leave a legacy in their region By Tim Penny and Diana Anderson Glenn Krog has been working his family’s land near Lake Benton, Minn., for decades. However, he has no children to carry the tradition forward. For a farmer who is living off land homesteaded by an ancestor several generations before, it can be worrisome to imagine that land going to a distant investor with no real connection to the community. A dwindling pipeline of younger farmers paired with deep-seated emotional ties to land means succession planning is a growing concern in agriculture. The average age of farmers in southern and southwestern Minnesota is 55 years and climbing, and it is estimated that $11.5 billion in wealth will transfer hands by 2030 in these regions. Farmland will account for a large portion of that wealth, yet it remains unclear who this wealth will be trans-
ferred to. For every six farmers 65 or older, there is only one under the age of 35 standing in line to replace them, according to the 2012 U.S. Department of Agriculture ag census. However, there is a model that allows retiring farmers the peace of mind that their land will continue to be farmed. In 2005, Southwest Initiative Foundation launched a farmland retention program called Keep It Growing. Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation followed in 2014 with a similar program called Preserving our Heritage. What makes our model unique is that rather than liquidate the asset as most charities do, we keep the land, continue it as productive farmland and use the income stream to support impactful work. There are six Minnesota initiative foundations that serve greater
Remember to vote Aug. 14 LAND MINDS, from pg. 2 all need that “get-away” excuse — sometimes just to catch up with the lives within your own family. Because it’s the political season once again, we’ve all had a chance to listen to, shake the hand of, or simply observe as candidates pass by in your local community parade — literally dozens of political candidates. Corn Capital Parade out here at Olivia (the Corn Capital City) on July 28 is always a big deal. And for a town of 2,500, we put on a good show. There was a great parade with four bands this year — including the 34th Infantry Division Band leading the parade. They are really good! Plus the event hosted the big sweet corn feed which satisfied the hunger pangs of about 3,100 people. Congressman Collin Peterson always makes the Olivia parade. I asked him why he comes to Olivia when, on any given Saturday, he could attend a dozen other events. Honest politician that Peterson is, he winked, “Because your people are so friendly. I don’t hear a single boo at your Olivia parade!” Now it’s NFL football time. Already, harvests of sweet corn, peas and small grains are history. Sugar beet digging
Minnesota. Established by McKnight Foundation in 1986 during the farm crisis, each foundation invests in their respective region through grants, business loans, and programming. West Central Initiative, Initiative Foundation and Northwest Minnesota Foundation have also used the farmland retention model to start programs in their regions. For landowners across the state, the Minnesota Initiative Foundations are a ready partner for this unique model of giving. Choosing to donate one’s land is an enormous benefit on all fronts: The landowner will receive a tax deduction and bypass capital gains while still being able to maintain a stable revenue source using a retained life estate. The tenant can continue to rent and farm the land. The county maintains its tax base. The Foundation retains ownership and acts as a steward of this resource to ensure the community benefits long-term from the income generated. Through this program, retiring farmers can give some or all of their land directly to their regional Initiative Foundation, or to one of the many community foundations that exist under their umbrella, allowing farmers to build the wealth of their individual communities. There are 26 community foundations in SWIF’s region and 27 in SMIF’s region that could benefit from a farmland donation. When a farmer is thinking about estate planning, it can be a comfort to know there is a way their land can remain active farmland and provide
OPINION
is about to begin with a harvest that will be every bit as variable as your corn and soybean yields. Sept. 1 and schools will reopen. High school football once again dominates coffee shop chatter in every rural Minnesota and Iowa community. Plus, hopefully you all had at least one unusual summer adventure too. Mine will be on Aug. 11 when I’m taking in the annual Garlic Festival at Hutchinson, Minn. I’ll carry a clothes pin just in case the garlic whiffs get overpowering. I’ll share a bit of this visit in a later issue of The Land. Wrapping up, keep the good Lord in your agenda every day. Don’t expect any marketing miracles from trade war battle and tariffs. Don’t expect a new farm bill until after the election. Do pray for our country leaders. And may peace and sanity reappear as the footstone of America. P.S. Do vote in the Aug. 14 primary election. Remember, every Minnesota House member gets voted on this year. And Nov. 6 is the big national election. Regardless your leanings, this is indeed likely to be one of the most significant elections in America. Dick Hagen is staff writer of The Land. He may be reached at rdhagen35@gmail.com. v
them with a steady revenue stream, while also benefitting the communities and causes they care about most. Krogg decided to set up his will so his long-time farm employee has lifetime use of the farm. Upon his passing it will benefit the Lake Benton Area Foundation, one of SWIF’s affiliates. He wants his gift to support hometown favorites like the historic opera house, community programs and more for years to come. So far, a total of 1,730 acres have been donated to SWIF, who in turn will continue to manage this land and re-invest the rental income into southwestern Minnesota. The fields that surround our towns are more than economic assets. They represent our heritage. Many farmers in Minnesota are fifth and sixth generation landowners and the landscape depicts “home” for farmers and nonfarmers alike. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations realize the importance of preserving the land as both a cultural and economic asset for generations to come. To learn more about how to make farmland a lasting asset, contact Tim Penny, timp@smifoundation.org, (507) 455-3215, or Diana Anderson, dianaa@ swifoundation.org, (320) 587-4848. Tim Penny is the President and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Diana Anderson is the President and CEO of Southwest Initiative Foundation. v
Letter: Johnson deserves Republican support To the Editor, Former Governor (Tim) Pawlenty gave up his high-paid lobbyist career in D.C. to return here and run for governor again. He avoided the state convention, evidently assumed a RINO (Republican In Name Only) would not be endorsed! Now his secret group of wealthy business friends (the phantom 100) are funding his war chest to convince we voters to vote for him. Money talks so their millions will help. Jeff Johnson has received the party
endorsement, so it is up to us to elect him. Various ag leaders are promoting Jeff because of his global viewpoints. Our state’s largest industry is farming and the last four years have been a disaster. Mental health is a serious issue (suicide, bankruptcy are prime examples). Minnesota needs a great governor. Vote Johnson at the primary election and in November. Don Buck Zumbrota, Minn.
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Checkbooks, guns and baloney The day U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Pacific Rim nations) and the Sonny Perdue announced the White Transatlantic Trade and Investment House plan to spread $12 billion of taxPartnership (with most of Europe); payer salve on its festering tariff wound, demand renegotiation of current agreeNovember soybean futures ended their ments (NAFTA); and slap tariffs on day completely unimpressed – down a imports from anyone (China, Mexico, sleepy 2.5 cents. Canada, the European Union) who questions anything. Farmers echoed the market reaction. They, too, were unimpressed with the It’s hard to recall a time when FARM & FOOD FILE bailout. “Trade, not aid,” was their polite, American farmers had more riding on By Alan Guebert but pointed take on the handout. such an incoherent, uncoordinated approach to trade. It isn’t hard, howevLess than a week later, however, er, to remember a time when the November soybean futures closed a United States was more disingenuous sparkling 28-cents higher “after Bloomberg News reported officials from the U.S. and in its approach to trade: never. China were having private talks in hopes of resolvWorse, our trading partners know it. ing trade disputes.” China, for example, alerted the Trump Hmm. Sec. Sonny throws 12 billion borrowed Administration it no longer trusts U.S. Secretary of bucks (and who knows how much of it from China) Commerce Wilbur Ross to act as a liaison should at U.S. farmers to bandage a trade cut and the mar- bilateral trade talks resume. Why? Presumably ket barely burps while a single rumor of undefined because of a mid-May speech to the National Press “talks” sends it skyward like a bottle rocket. Club in which Ross claimed, “China, the world’s largest car market, is effectively closed to our There’s a lesson here for big-tweeting, gunslinger exporters.” toe shooters in the White House and its worshipful Cabinet: Holster your checkbooks, guns and baloney While that sounds good in Washington, it simply and whip out your smiles, manners and facts if you isn’t true. Indeed, General Motors announced in want to regain the trade ground lost since you “free early 2018 that it “and its joint ventures sold more traders” took over. than 4 million vehicles in China for the first time in That’s especially important now, as Congress mar- 2017.” And, it added, “China was GM’s largest retail ries the Senate and House farm bills for a hoped-for market for the sixth consecutive year.” September vote. Each has two hinged parts: crop Ross isn’t alone in creating facts to fit his story. insurance and trade. The former won’t work without Recently the President announced “a breakthrough the latter and the latter is – has been – the market- agreement” on trade with the European Union after driving center of U.S. farm policy for decades. a White House meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, Was it – is it – wise to put our eggs in that global president of the European Commission. basket? Should we continue to, basically, export our “While Mr. Trump told an Iowa crowd Thursday vital natural resources at ever-cheapening world [July 26] that ‘we just opened up Europe for you commodity prices? Should we look to a longer-term, farmers,’” the Wall Street Journal reported the next more resource-accountable farm policy? day, “officials in Brussels later said he did no such All are important questions. Congress, however, is thing … ‘Agriculture is out of the scope of these disa politically pragmatic body that reacts to constitu- cussions,’” a European Commission spokeswoman told reporters. ents – at least the ones with political muscle and moolah. If farmers want an export-directed, riskWhich raises the simple point that if the Trump averse farm bill that’s short on rules and long on Administration can’t shoot straight with either you promises, Congress figures out how to deliver it, not or your trading partners, maybe “aid, not trade” is whether it’s right or fair. more of a reality than a clever rural rhyme. But that process leaves American farmers and The Farm and Food File is published weekly ranchers at the mercy of today’s White House trade through the United States and Canada. Past colstrategy: Exit nearly completed multilateral agreeumns, events and contact information are posted at ments like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (with www.farmandfoodfile.com. v
OPINION
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Letter: Soybean experts share ideas at annual retreat To the editor: Do you remember those days as a kid when you and your friends tested the last nerve of an adult, and they told you to “talk amongst yourselves?” With the exception of wondering if the adult butchered the word “among,” you were fine to stick with your own age group and converse with your neighborhood buddies. Fast forward too many years to count, and those of us who’ve spent a lifetime in agriculture realize that talking amongst ourselves is not a successful formula for helping our profession. Moving the needle, as they say, involves casting a wide net for solutions. The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council recently brought together farmer and industry leaders along with university researchers for our third annual retreat. It was an opportunity for farmers to sit down with the researchers and talk one-on-one with the issues that are affecting them on their farming operations.
The idea is to create communication among all the parties. Farmers walk away with a better understanding of research capabilities, time tables and realities, allowing farmers and researchers to better understand each other. Twenty-three Minnesota soybean farmers, along with 39 researchers and industry leaders, participated in the two-day retreat. A variety of topics was discussed: general agronomy, soil fertility, plant pathology, insect and weed management, soil hydrology and soybean utilization. MSR&PC focuses its research on three main objectives: improving yields through genetics, improving agronomic practices and improving pest management. Each year we fund research that contributes to a steady increase in soybean yields, greater variety availability, improved pest management options and much more. If not for the support of farmers and their checkoff funds, it is unlikely Minnesota would have grown to become one of the nation’s top soybean producing states. In 2017, MSR&PC invest-
OPINION
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ed in 24 major production research projects. We strive to spend our checkoff funds wisely, and our research retreats allow us to share knowledge and improve communications on critical issues for soybean research. It’s about enabling conversations with a focus on increasing the productivity of Minnesota soybean growers. Take for example, soybean cyst nematode, which causes an estimated 90,000,000 bushel yield loss of soybean in the north central United States each year. SCN is a microscopic roundworm that in the U.S. was first found in North Carolina in 1954. SCN has since moved north and west, reaching southern Minnesota in 1977. We are currently finding research that will develop a Minnesota SCN sampling program to determine the incidence and severity of SCN populations. This in turn will help us develop a Minnesota SCN education program to stress how sampling to monitor populations is essential for effective management. We’re proud to be working with talented researches and graduate students from the University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, University of Iowa, and University of Wisconsin, as well as industry and independent researchers from Monsanto, Bayer, Winfield United, AgRevival, as well as the Central Lakes College Research Farm/AgCentric. Farming is a complex entity — a manipulation of a biological system to develop an economic response. Complex issues require a meeting of the minds, a free-flowing exchange of ideas. Talking amongst ourselves should remain a thing of the past. Tom Slunecka Chief Executive Officer Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council
West Nile Virus confirmed ST. PAUL — A 3-year-old miniature horse in Pine City was confirmed to have West Nile Virus on July 27, which marks the first equine case in Minnesota in 2018. The attending veterinarian reported to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health that the stallion presented with acute neurologic signs, exhibiting profound weakness in his front limbs, tripping and falling and requiring assistance to stand. The horse has no documented history of vaccination against West Nile Virus and is currently receiving supportive care. A mare and a foal also live on the property and are healthy at this time. The last confirmed case of West Nile Virus in a Minnesota horse was November 2017. Last year, 39 states reported 307 equine cases of West Nile Virus. This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. v
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No matter what may come to pass, family is family When we checked out of the Lemmon, I don’t know your story. Maybe your S.D. lodge that was only single-digits old, family is picture perfect. For real. Or I gushed on the clerk. The place is lovely; maybe you find world peace more probathe hospitality warm. Though she was ble than gathering your family under the grateful for the glowing words, she said same roof come Christmas. many remain skeptical. “We once had a Mike and I seek to live by this family woman call from New York who asked if rule: I cannot complain about his family we had any rooms without dirt floors.” and he cannot complain about mine. They don’t. Nor do stagecoaches provide Why? Because for better or for worse, for THE BACK PORCH richer or for poorer, in sickness and in their public transportation. Ms. New York was scripting 21st centuBy Lenae Bulthuis health, these are our people. And though ry fiction based on historical facts. And we may not always agree or understand she’s not alone. We can all write fiction in our heads one another, nor will they always agree or underabout one another, can’t we? As Holley Gerth writes, stand us, we are family. And family matters. “It’s so easy to smack a label on what we don’t We have three daughters and the oldest two understand. So convenient to believe the assumpcouldn’t be more opposite from each another. As tions because it’s a lot less work than love.” children there was a season when they shared the It’s easier to shake our baffled heads at those we same bedroom. And there was no confusion about don’t understand than to shake their hands and learn whose side of the bedroom belonged to who. On one their story. It’s easier to keep people at an arm’s disside, the clothes were hung in the closet with care tance than to link arms and be for one another. and the t-shirts and socks were organized in dresser drawers in a rainbow color scheme. And while that certainly applies to diversity and the desperate need for world peace, let’s take it closThe other side of the room was disastrous. It was er to home. All the way home. anyone’s guess what clothes were clean and what Family can be challenging. Even the Cleavers and were dirty because they all shared the same floor space. Waltons had their troubles. The saying goes, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your The only thing these girls have in common is the relatives.” And that’s before you add in-laws and same parents and their love for Jesus. other interesting twigs and twists to a family tree. While bagging my groceries, I noticed the mid-life gentleman behind me was wearing dress clothes and a boutonniere. “What are you celebrating?” I asked. “My stepdaughter just got married,” he responded. When I congratulated him, his mouth twisted then said, “I’m not happy about it, but it seems she is.” Come to the 52nd Annual Butterfield Threshermen’s
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They are incompatible, yet inseparable. Why? Because they’re family. They are sisters who love and appreciate one another in spite of their differences. And when we remember we are family, it changes everything. It’s the difference between holding a grudge or extending grace. Thinking the worst or believing the best. Insisting on being right or making things right. One of the most-popular hobbies in America right now is discovering your genealogy. And as people identify the specifics of their lineage and geography, I wonder if it changes how they view people who they now know are their relation? Bigger still, what if you and yours, me and mine actually understood that though we may not share the same branch on the family tree, we share the same roots. No matter where you live, how you are wired, the color of your eyes, hair, or skin, or how you are voted in the last election, we are family. Period. It may just change the fiction we write in our head, online or out loud. Lenae Bulthuis muses about faith, family, and farming from her back porch on her Minnesota grain and livestock farm. She can be reached at lenaesbulthuis@gmail.com or @LenaeBulthuis. v
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There’s nothing corny about these summertime treats Some people can’t wait until Christmas, their birthday or a big vacation; but this time of year there’s only one thing I can’t wait for and that’s SWEET CORN. Nothing says summer better than taking a bite out of fresh, tasty sweet corn. Now that sweet corn season is here, it’s time to get your fill of this delectable veggie.
went back there two more times on our trip. I wanted to try to find a street-style corn-on-the-cob recipe that tastes just like it did with the sea breezes and good friends on that trip. I found this recipe and making it instantly takes me back to those good times on the sunny coast. Now to find myself a great COOKING jalapeno margarita recipe! WITH KRISTIN Grilled Mexican Street Corn By Kristin Kveno www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/07/ Every year my old college sorority sisters and I mexican-street-corn-elotes-recipe.html take a trip somewhere. Last year it was to Holly- 1/4 cup mayonnaise wood, Fla. The moment we got off the plane we 1/4 cup sour cream or Mexican crema needed to find food and fast — as a few of us 1/2 cup finely crumbled Cotija or feta cheese, (me) were getting a little hangry (definition: so plus more for serving hungry that you get a little angry.) We discovered 1/2 tsp. ancho or guajillo chili powder, plus more the Taco Beach Shack and fell in love with the for serving Mexican street corn. Oh and the jalapeno mar1 medium clove garlic, finely minced (about 1 garitas! We loved both those items so much we teaspoon)
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems 4 ears shucked corn 1 lime, cut into wedges Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals evenly over half of coal grates. Alternatively, set half the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grates in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate. While coals heat, combine mayonnaise, sour cream or crema, cheese, chili powder, garlic and cilantro in a large bowl. Stir until homogeneous and set aside. When grill is hot, place corn directly over hot side of grill and cook, rotating occasionally, until cooked through and charred in spots on all sides — about eight minutes total. Transfer corn to bowl with cheese mixture and use a large spoon to evenly coat corn on all sides with mixture. Sprinkle with extra cheese and chili powder and serve immediately with lime wedges. n
If you’re in the mood for a little garlic and lemon to go on your corn, then this recipe is for you. The lemon-garlic glaze adds just enough pizazz to bring corn on the cob to the next level of deliciousness. Lemon-Garlic Glaze Corn on the Cob www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250126/ lemon-garlic-glazed-corn-on-the-cob/ 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 ears corn, husked 1/3 cup water 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Add corn, water, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and cook, gently shaking the pan occasionally to turn the cobs, for 5 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, turning the cobs occasionally, until all but a few tablespoons of liquid has evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes more. Serve the corn In doing research for this column, I came drizzled with the lemon-garlic pan sauce. across recipes that included adding honey, milk n and cream to the water for cooking corn on the I’m a heat gal. I love Tabasco or Sriracha on cob. I’d never heard of this, but with such just about any food; from salads to pizza to my impressive reviews on this method of cooking favorite, popcorn. I can’t get enough hot sauce. corn, I can’t wait to give it a try this weekend. This recipe is perfect for anyone that likes a little Down Home Milk and Honey or a lot of heat along with the smokiness of ChiCorn on the Cob https://4sonrus.com/home-milk-honey-corn-cob/ potle in your food. Chipotle Grilled Corn on the Cob 8-10 ears of fresh shucked, and well rinsed www.tabasco.com/recipe/chipotle-grilled-cornsweet corn on-the-cob/ water 6 teaspoons Tabasco Chipotle sauce 1 cup of 2 percent or whole milk 6 ears fresh corn, shucked 1/2 cup of heavy cream 6 tablespoons butter, softened 1 stick of unsalted butter salt to taste 3 tablespoons of honey 1 teaspoon of Cajun or Creole seasoning Heat grill to medium-high. Blend butter with freshly ground salt & pepper to taste Tabasco Chipotle sauce. Place each ear of corn chopped parsley for garnish optional on a square of heavy aluminum foil and spread each with butter mixture. Add salt to taste. Close Fill a stock pot half full with water. To the pot add the milk, cream, butter, honey, Cajun or Cre- packets securely and place on grill. Cook for 18 minutes, turning packets over halfway through ole seasoning and salt and pepper, to taste. grilling. Whisk everything together until evenly incorporated. Add in the corn cobs, whole or cut to size. Now’s the time to pick up some deliHeat the pot over low heat to warm the milk and cious sweet corn and give one of these melt butter. Turn the heat up just below medium, unique but divine recipes a try. careful not to let milk mixture actually come to a boil. Allow the corn to slowly simmer in the milk Kristin Kveno scours the internet, pours over old family recipes and mixture for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, and using tongs remove the corn searches everywhere in between to find interesting food ideas for feeding your from the milk and honey mixture. Let the corn crew. Do you have a recipe you want to rest one minute and serve immediately. share? You can reach Kristin at n kristin_kveno@yahoo.com. v
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Nasturtiums can repel pests and are edible too Edible flowers are making Nasturtiums can be usea comeback and add color ful as companion plants to and flavor to many food dishrepel a number of pests. es. I plant a packet of nasturThe cucurbit pests like tium seeds every year just squash bugs and cucumber for the fun of it. They grow in beetles don’t like to hang a rather dry spot of somewith nasturtiums. They what poor soil in the back also benefit the brassica patio garden area. The poor vegetables, especially caulisoil is due to the clay and flower, brussels sprouts and IN THE GARDEN gravel mixture brought in broccoli to ward off their By Sharon Quale for setting the patio blocks. pests. They thrive there and actuThe culinary aspect of ally flower better without rich and fer- this unique annual flower is amazing. tile soil. The flower is most often consumed, Tropaeolaceae is the genus name of but all parts of the plant are edible — nasturtium. Linnaeus thought the including the shield-shaped leaves. flowers looked like helmets of Roman Nasturtium has a mild peppery flavor soldiers and he thought the leaves and the blossom can add drama and were shaped like shields. A trophy zest to any salad. Some people like to pole would be set up to display the use nasturtium leaves on sandwiches armor and weapons of the defeated as a substitute for mustard. One layer army – hence the name tropaeolaceae. for mild, several layers for hot musThe flowers, about the size of a fifty tard flavor. I read that the unripe seed cent piece, are intricate and come in pods can be harvested and used in the intense colors of orange, yellow and place of capers in vinegars and other red orange. They bloom continuously condiments. I like to place a full blosfrom midsummer through fall. som on the edge of the salad and hear the ohs and ahs!
Readers ask: What is happening to my tomatoes? They have a dry sunken spot on their bottom. You are most likely experiencing bottom-end rot. According to the University of Minnesota, bottom-end rot is caused by insufficient calcium in the tissue of the tomato. This a complex issue because it is also associated with watering. The tomatoes are OK to eat Photo by Shaon Quale after you cut away the bad part. Frequently, it The seeds resemble beet seeds and only affects the first fruit. For more enjoy a two hour pre-soak in water information, contact your local extenbefore planting. They take their time sion office. germinating. Nurseries seldom carry Thank you to a reader from Dexter, the plants as they don’t like being potMinn. who confesses to be a “Hostated, so your best bet is to plant seeds. Put nasturtiums on your list for seeds holic”. I enjoyed hearing from her. to order or buy next spring. Sharon Quale is a master gardener Other common edible flowers include from central Minnesota. She may be carnations, marigolds, roses, hollyreached at (218) 738-6060 or hock, squash blossoms and violets. squale101@yahoo.com. v
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Change in tillage systems means healthy soils, less fuel By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer BUFFALO LAKE, Minn. — The lead paragraph in a story I wrote in December 2015 read: “Making a ‘total switch’ from conventional tillage to strip tillage on 3,500 acres in one season is a boondoggle move. And he won’t have data until harvest next fall to verify his wisdom — or lack thereof. But at this stage, Brian Ryberg of Ryberg Farms in Buffalo Lake, Minn. is confident — even excited — he and his wife Sandy made absolutely the right decision in a ‘sit down, let’s talk’ conversation at the kitchen table of their Sibley County farm home. He admits they were a bit uncomfortable in those first discussions. But the more they talked and studied, the more they felt they were heading in the right direction.” And now, a quantum leap to July 17, 2018. I’m sitting with Brian in his huge farm shop. Today was a soil health partnership event sponsored by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the Soil Health Partnership. Another 60 or so farmers are outside getting “educated.” A unique display holds six soils and six tillage versions each in separate containers. Overhead, a rotating nozzle sprays 1.5 inches of simulated “rain” over these boxed soils. Beneath each soil sample, a plastic container catches water passing through each of these six soils. Inside the big shed, my first question to Ryberg: It’s four years later. Are you still learning about soil health? Perhaps with typical farmer modesty, Ryberg responded, “Yes, still learning and that’s the fascination of this new tillage system.” “We’ve really noticed the change in soil structure,” Ryberg explained. “Our soils don’t compact anymore. Might be different this year with all the intermittent rain showers, but seeing how slowly the rain water is passing through my soil in this simulated rain test looks good. “Most noticeable is the reduction of wheel traffic compaction. We’re using heavy equipment. But with this strip till system, we’re not digging into that entire soil profile like we would be with full scale tillage. Our soil structure stays intact. So thanks to strip tillage, plus our cover crops, we’re rebuilding our soils. It’s this stronger aggregate structure that carries the weight of our equipment. “We started with cover crops after our sugar beet fields were harvested about four years ago. We broadcast cereal rye to gain some cover through the winter to prevent soil erosion. It has worked well and is fairly inexpensive. We expanded on this in 2017 by interseeding cover crops in our corn fields at the same time we side dress nitrogen at about the V5-V6 stage. “Our goal is to not only improve soil health, but also get enough green cover to overwinter and no-till soybeans the following spring. This living cover crop in the spring will take up excess moisture and allow us
extremely durable machine with deep to plant on a timely basis. We are trying cog wheels that mixes trash into the some 5 and 8-way blends of cover crops row center creating an 8-inch wide and which include annual rye, turnips, rad3 to 4-inch residue berm in the process. ish, buckwheat, rapeseed, etc. This interseeding is done with a 36-row, That first year (2014), Ryberg’s total 22-inch bar placing 10-20 gallons of 32 field hours went from 430 hours with percent nitrogen between the rows with two, four-wheel-drive tractors, to 210 a coulter; while broadcasting the cover hours and just one four-wheel-drive crop seed with a Hiniker seed box that tractor. air delivers seed to each of the 36 rows.” Corn populations in this intensive Ryberg Farms is 50-50 on corn and system averages right at 36,000 plants soybean acres, plus some continuous per acre. “But we’re strip testing in each corn and a couple hundred acres of field — boosting populations to 40,000,” sugar beets which are on a five-year Photo by Dick Hagen said Ryberg. “Yield information this fall rotation to minimize disease issues. Brian Ryberg will tell the story. Varieties too can make a difference. Some handle higher Better soil health each year? “Yes, these improvements and restructuring of soil profile populations better. As we work with our seed dealers, are happening each year,” Ryberg said. “We’re also they give us a pretty good idea which hybrids we can seeing soil biology come alive and really handling the push a little more. Even though our soils are quite residue from our continuous corn fields. Residue isn’t uniform, we do have some pockets and hilltops where the issue that it used to be. That’s really been a plus. we back off on populations … down to 28,000 if this “Together with Soil Health Partnership (with is a sandy loam subsoil structure.” Ryberg’s two steady assistants, Jason and Chris, whom we work), we’re doing fertility tests on each field. We pull soil samples and they send them in to quickly picked up on the Soil Warrior and the singlea soil lab which does the Haney test which measures pass planting system. “It’s great to have a couple of soil biology levels. We’ll continue to do that for the really dependable, head-start guys .” next five years. We’ll have data telling soil health — There are big changes in Ryberg’s fertility program field by field — and even topographic differences too. No more fall urea and fall nitrogen applications. within a given field.” Instead, they apply phosphorus and potassium in the The Soil Health Partnership team concentrates on fall when doing their single-pass tillage. All nitrogen several goals: minimize disturbance; maximize diver- is spring applied (liquid) while planting (20 gallons of sity; armor the soil; maximize living roots; and inte- 32 percent) plus a side dress application for the balance of nitrogen needed. grate livestock grazing. Fuel economy is significant. With conventional Yes, the tillage system, cropping regime and cover crop program can and does influence organic matter farming, 7 to 8 gallons of fuel consumption per acre content of your soils. Ryberg admits organic matter is the usual. Ryberg says he is at about 3.5 gallons has never been an issue on the loam soils of their per acre with his tillage system. “Take it across a fields. “We’re consistently in that 6.7 to 7 soil pH bunch of acres and it adds up.” around here … so we have the benefit of high organWhen renting new ground, Ryberg said they mostly ic matter right from the get go.” just jump right in with the fall tillage and dry fertilHow was planting this wet spring? “We knew we izer application. “I think interest is really growing weren’t having compaction issues because we don’t for this tillage system — especially with commodity do any cross traffic and our soil aggregate is good,” prices being in the tank and people looking to save Ryberg stated. “Our planter units are riding on money with fewer trips across the field. Plus, what untouched soil, so we had really good emergence, we are doing for soil health is the big ticket. We’re good stands and now today virtually all corn is fully seeing virtually zero erosion; a regeneration of soil bacteria and biological activity in the soil; and defitasseled and heavy into pollination.” Despite the frequency and intensity of late May nitely more interest in overall conservation of our and early June rains, “Our fields handled the 1-inch soil resources.” His land owners are supportive too. Ryberg told of and 2-inch rains very well. But those 4-6 inch downpours got all of us into the same pool,” related Ryberg. a land owner, just short of 90 years old, who moldThe Ryberg crew plants using 300-horsepower board plowed until the day of his auction. “He said to John Deere power units on tracks. This track unit me, ‘Brian, this is fantastic.’” Corn maturities on Ryberg farms range from 97 to also pulls grain carts which also have tracks during harvest. But the major workhorse for this one-over 108-day varieties. While it’s too soon to venture yield strip till crop farming strategy is a machine called projections for this season, Ryberg is confident there the Soil Warrior — pulled by a JD 9630 which is in will be 200-bushel yields this fall too. “We’ve still got that 530 hp category. The Soil Warrior is manufac- some time,” he said. “With some dry weather and v tured at Faribault, Minn. Ryberg says it’s an heat, I think this crop will come around.”
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Heritage Hill brings love of history back for 38th year By PAUL MALCHOW The Land Managing Editor MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — What began as a labor of love for a small group of vintage ag equipment enthusiasts has evolved into a true step back in time. The Heritage Hill Threshing Show will unveil its 38th season from Aug. 17-19. The event takes place at the show grounds and her passion for Heritage Hill the bucolic show site east of Montevideo, Minn. on is contagious. State Highway 7. That passion is shared by a nine-member board of directors and about 225 members of the Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power and Machinery Association. But the threshing show’s salad years were much smaller in scope. In 1977, a seed corn company hosted a variety plot tour northeast of Montevideo. As an added attraction, a group of area farmers brought a few old engines and antique tractors to display. Their common interest in preserving agricultural history led to the establishment and incorporation of the Gerald Kleene MVAFPMA. The group held its first threshing show in 1980. An admitted “John Deere girl,” Sally Phillips Helling “We called it the annual confession for John Deere stands with some of the tractors which will be available for viewing at the threshing show. The three-day show presents a wide variety of activities and demonstrations of early agriculture — many which have gone the way of steam engines and steel wheels. Organizers of the threshing show are dedicated to passing this history on to a generation far removed from rural life. “We are hoping to attract young people with families who will follow in our footsteps and enjoy preserving our rural heritage into the future,” said Sally Phillips Helling. Her family’s farm is located near
people,” chuckled MVAFPMA President Gerald Kleene. During those early years, the event took place at various locations. From 1987 to 1998 it was held at Chippewa County Historical Society’s Olaf Photos by Paul Malchow Swensson Farm. But in the late 1990s, the popularity of the event and the crowds it attracted required another move. In 1998 the organization purchased the 25 acres which is now known as Heritage Hill.
This log building was originally built in 1870. The outside overhang was added on later. See HERITAGE HILL, pg. 14
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Some site buildings are used for storage in the off-season Heritage Hill, from pg. 13 Volunteers built the “Threshers’ Kitchen” which was the first building on the site. Other buildings were moved onto the property including a log cabin, a one-room school house and the Hagen House. Heritage Hill now has 20 structures on the site.
One structure which looks very old but was built new is the chapel. Designed on a napkin, the chapel can hold about 75 people. “It’s a non-denominational chapel with a Lutheran theme,” said Helling. “People use it for baptisms.” Helling was married in the chapel and her mother made the stained glass windows in the chapel’s entry. The interior for the chapel came
The altar, railing and pulpit were all torn apart when moved from the previous church and needed to be reconstructed. Helling’s mother made the stained glass window which decorates the front entry.
Teachers and students’ pictures are on display at the school house.
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from a church built in Mandt Township in 1910. “The furnishings needed a lot of restoration and repair,” said club historian Jim Roe. “If it didn’t fit through the door when they took it out of the church, they just knocked it down until it did. Much of it was in pieces.” See HERITAGE HILL, pg. 15
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Association looking for younger members to carry on Heritage Hill, from pg. 14 The Hagen House was originally built in 1947 and is filled with artifacts and furnishings from that period. But it wasn’t the first farm house brought onto the site. The first house was donated by the Nordaune family and moved to Heritage Hill in 2009. While restoring the house for visitors, it caught fire. Paper was used to insulate the house in those days and it didn’t take long for the house to be engulfed in flames. It could not be saved There is a room in the Hagen House dedicated to the Nordaune family in respect to their generosity.
Centrally located on the grounds is a large stage which is home to many events throughout the show including musical performances and the Threshing Show Queen coronation. “My girls dreamed of being queen,” said board member Chip Grube. “Both made it and drove tractors in the parade.” Ah yes … the tractors. Each year the threshing show features a certain make of tractor and a special tractor of that make is chosen to be highlighted. Allis-Chalmers is the featured make this year and the center- Chip Grube piece is a 1939 AllisChalmers RC tractor which was bought
new by Leo Thissen and handed down to his son Felix. Grube will be bringing three AC tractors he owns: the Allis 190, a 1951 WD and a 1955 WD 45. The 190 is a bit of a rarity in the AllisJim Roe Chalmers line. “The date on the block is 6-24-64, which makes it exactly two months older than I am,” Grube said. “The serial number is 1413. The serial numbers started out with 1001, which as near as I can estimate, makes it built during the first six months of production.” A community tractor drive will take place on Aug. 17, leaving Heritage Hill at 3 p.m. The 12-mile drive is open to anyone driving any make of tractor. On a smaller scale, the threshing show features a garden tractor pull which will take place on Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. Last year, nearly 50 garden tractors competed in the stock, stock-altered, super stock, modified and outlaw classes. Some participants take the mowing deck off the tractor they have in the garage and give it a go. There are many other activities for all age groups taking place throughout the three days as well as sawmill, threshing, corn shelling and blacksmith demonstrations. “The young people like noise,” laughed Helling. “We have lots of noise makers out here.” The Heritage Hill site provides primitive camping space on a first-come, first-served basis. The Threshers’ Kitchen opens each day at 7 a.m. and other food options (along with a beer garden) are also available. Daily admission is $6 with children 12 and under admitted free. But the threshing show isn’t the only event hosted at Heritage Hill. “We had the circus here in June,” Helling said. “We’ve had a farm and home show, class reunions, graduations and weddings. We look at this as a community asset.” Just as farming is an aging profession, MVAFPMA is seeing its members getting older and is hoping younger people will become involved in the
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organization. “I don’t even own a tractor,” said Roe, “but I love history and these are some great people to be with.” Grube agreed. “Everyone pitches in,” he said. “No one says, ‘It’s not my job.’” For more information on the Heritage Hill Threshing Show or the Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power and Machinery Association, visit www.heritagehill.us or call Jim Roe at (320) 269-7507. v
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
Technology leveling playing field for northern growers By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer GLYNDON, Minn. — Growing corn in the Bagley, Minn. area used to be a challenge. Robert Johnson got serious about corn in 1995-96 when 80-day hybrids, even 75-day corn for grain production came into the market. He relates his dad also grew corn, but mostly just for silage because quality early hybrids for grain weren’t yet available. Johnson’s farm sits in Clearwater County, only about 100 miles from the Canadian border. That puts him on the eastern edge of the more uniform, more productive soils of the Red River Valley landscape. He and his dad were doing about 600 acres of mixed crops 15 years ago. Now he’s up to about 4,500 acres with a crop mix of sunflowers, canola, plus corn/soybean rotations with 20-inch rows. The area features a variety of soils, so planting rates vary from 18,000 on the lighter soils up to 38,000 on the higher producing areas. And thanks to technology, he does variable rate planting on the go. “My agronomist writes my field maps and we then just put that data in the Ag Leader system which automatically adjusts planting rates — even starter
fertilizer amounts as we move through the field,” related Johnson. He’s also gotten specific on his tillage. Like most farmers, fewer trips across his fields is his strategy. After harvest, he sizes corn residue with a vertical tillage machine … weather permitting. “But thanks to early freezing, I only got about half my corn stalk tillage done last fall. So this spring I finished up with the vertical till unit, then waited a couple days and went in with another tillage tool called ‘The Joker.’ Then we planted. I’ve got row cleaning units on the planter plus hydraulic down pressure for each row so can plant through quite a little trash if needed,” said Johnson. He likes the hydraulic down pressure system. “The ground varies so much, sometimes you don’t even have down pressure. Instead, its actually lifting row units up. Getting that seed at the right depth is a big factor in getting even stands.” Johnson has not yet begun photo mapping with drones. He has nothing against this latest technology tool, but he thinks it is still a bit costly. ”And if you’re not fully understanding what you’re reading, you are wasting both time and money,” Johnson added.
“That’s why it’s nice to be working with an agronomist like my West Central guy. Getting the right thing done when it’s supposed to be done is how we survive these days.” Johnson was a panel member at the June 26 LIFT event held in Glyndon, Minn. It was hosted by BASF, Corteva, NuFarm, Valent and Monsanto/Climate Corporation. LIFT is Leaders of In-Furrow and Foliar Treatments. Johnson does both furrow and foliar applications. He’s got a Twin Bin floater rig so he can apply potassium and phosphorus at variable rates. “Doing two products simultaneously on the go saves time.” He uses the same equipment doing foliar liquid applications also. “We’re just touching the edges today of this foliar feeding technology,” said Johnson. “We know it’s going to be there. We just haven’t quite figured the right combination of product, timing and dosage. I’ll be heading home to do a foliar feeding of a field as soon as we’re done here today.” He’s also rapidly getting into the importance of seed treatments. “With the price of seed these days you have to do whatever you can to protect it in your soil,” summed up Johnson. v
Nutrient managment may be key to increasing yields By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer GLYNDON, Minn. — Despite weather challenges across America, crop yields expect to keep increasing! Elimination of nutrient stratification may be a reason why.
At a West Central Distribution LIFT (Leaders of In-Furrow and Foliar Technology) event on June 26, University of Illinois Professor of Plant Physiology Dr. Fred Below said that even with last year’s nationwide average corn yield of 177 bushels per acre, there is opportunity for growth. He’s talking about better nutrient management.
I’m hesitant to address these major changes as being in the best interests of the individual farmer ... it suggests less opportunity for research funding, less opportunity for student employment ... — Dr. Fred Below
Darin Zanke
New Ulm/Mankato Area
David Baldner Austin, MN
Michael Terry Fairbault, MN
“The plant has to sense a certain amount of nutrients right from the beginning and those key nutrients seem to be nitrogen and phosphorous,” said Below, adding “Those nutrients set the growth trajectory. It’s like taking a dimmer switch in yield potential and turning it all the way up.” Yes, tillage systems are part of this nutrient availability puzzle too. “There are clearly soils that would benefit from no-till,” said Below. “These soils tend to be more droughty, so lack of organic matter deprives their moisture-holding capacity. Yet in higher organic content soils, compaction can result in nutrient stratification. In these situations, tillage is a viable practice.”
Below claims tillage depends on soil type, weather, topography, and of course previous cropping history. “Some crops simply respond better to no-till,” he admitted. “Yet when it comes to soybeans, I have difficulty measuring the difference between no-till and tilled fields. With corn it’s a different story. With too much residue and a cold, wet spring, tilled soil tends to get that crop off to a better start.” Admitting to being shocked with the good yields of 2017, Below credits a cool August as being key to those record yields. At the LIFT event, he said the 2018 crop based on stand counts and uniformity was looking even better than 2017. “At this stage I think we’re on trajectory to break a 180-bushel U.S. average this year.” (Incredible rains early July might curb his optimism.) He reflected that over the past 55 years, trend line yields have increased slightly better than two bushels per acre. With continued increases in marker-assisted plant breeding (those gene chippers run all day/all night), the genetics is better; precision technologies at planting and harvesting keeps improving; better fertilizer products; significant advances in microbiological products that keep the plant healthier … all these things add up to continued higher yields. Below also thinks improved technologies in crop production are being advanced worldwide. “Yes, there are things we can learn from agronomists and farmers in other countries. We can learn better soybean strategies from South American farmers in Brazil and Argentina. They can learn from our skills in corn production.” See BELOW, pg. 17
THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
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PAGE 17
Below encouraged by number of females in ag programs BELOW, from pg. 16 But Below is a bit skeptical with the ongoing ownership of major input entities into global crop production. Speaking specifically on the recent Bayer acquisition of Monsanto he commented, “I’m hesitant to address these major changes as being in the best interests of the individual farmer. From my standpoint, it suggests less opportunity for research funding; less opportunity for student employment; and I can’t see it as more opportunity for the grower. Plus, I’m not convinced these huge mergers lead to more competitive innovations.” Relating to the student body of the University of Illinois, Below is very encouraged by the increasing number of female students in agricultural studies. “When it comes to understanding agronomy or agriculture totally, there aren’t any gender advantages. I’d welcome more females into graduate studies in our agricultural programs.” Always an optimist, Below is not discouraged about America’s agricultural productivity expanding at a faster rate than world consumption. World population gain will continue, so he thinks productivity per acre has to increase. New cultivated acres, at least in North America, are no longer available. “I continue to be amazed at the new technologies that continue to be developed in agriculture. In my own career, I want to keep on going — because I want to know how it all ends,” chuckled Below.
A reason he enjoys coming to events such as this LIFT occasion is partially because research is a competitive sport. “I have to prove the value of my research every year,” Below stated. “Do you know there is a linear direct relationship between commodity prices and the amount of money that goes into
agricultural research? If the ag companies aren’t making money, the retailers aren’t making money; and farmers aren’t making money then there is simply fewer dollars going into research. So I come to these events to get a leg up on my competition and to promote the value of my research.” v
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
Growers seeing some aphids, but not spraying beans
By KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Correspondent
Blair Hoseth, Mahnomen, Minn., July 27
Sweet corn harvest has begun on the Hoseth farm. The Land spoke with Blair Hoseth on July 27 as he reported that he started picking sweet corn on July 23 and likes what he sees. It’s “gorgeous.” Hoseth planted enough sweet corn to give to friends, neighbors and people at his church. Hoseth could start triticale harvest as early as this afternoon, then begin spring wheat, “maybe by the middle of next week.” That would be a typical start Blair Hoseth date to the wheat harvest for Hoseth. The heat earlier in the growing season may have affected yield in the wheat. Only time will tell what — if any — yield loss Hoseth’s crop may have experienced. The soybeans and corn are “looking pretty good.” The “aphids aren’t too bad this year.” Hoseth believes the “storms and the wind may have knocked them off early in the season.” The beans are a “long ways from enough rain to fill these pods.” Though, Hoseth still thinks that the beans “got potential.” The start of harvest is here for Hoseth and how will the crops yield is still unknown. What is known is the time has arrived for the bounty of sweet corn from the Hoseth farm to be shared with many.
Matt Haubrich, Danube, Minn., Aug. 3
the summer.
Jamie Beyer, Wheaton, Minn., July 28 Over past two weeks the Beyer farm has received “three to five inches of nice rain.” The Land spoke with Jamie Beyer on July 28 as the rain was a welcome sight in what is usually a dry part of
The corn’s “looking like possibly the biggest crop ever.” There was good pollination coupled with the timely rain to really help the crop along.
Jamie Beyer
FROM THE
The soybeans “look excellent” though there is some yellowing due to soybean cyst nematodes. “There’s nothing we can do this year.” However, next year Beyer will look for seed that is more soybean cyst nematode resistant. The sugar beets “look excellent,” Beyer put the third round of fungicide on the crop. The grapes are now changing color in the vineyard. Beyer will head out to Farmfest on Aug. 9 to work at Minnesota Soybean Growers Association booth. She also plans on taking in the gubernatorial debate there.
FIELDS
In addition to being at Farmfest, Beyer will be out in her fields these next few weeks “scouting for pests.” She’ll also be keeping an eye on the sky for any signs of rain. “If we had one more perfectly-timed rain, it will be a good harvest.”
The wheat harvest on the Haubrich farm is currently in wait mode. The Land spoke with Haubrich on Aug. 3 as he tried to combine wheat on Aug. 2 but, “we got to drop off five points of moisture.” Haubrich plans on trying the wheat again by the middle of next week. “We don’t have a lot of wheat acres, but the wheat acres mean a lot.” The wheat bedding is important for the livestock on the farm. “Usually by this point it’s all harvested.” Wheat is currently two weeks behind the average harvest start date.
Karson Duncanson, Mapleton, Minn., Aug. 3
“Things are going well.” The Land spoke with Karson Duncanson on Aug. 3 as he was thrilled with the cooler, drier “perfect pollinating weather.” The corn is “looking pretty decent.” The “dry weather made our roots go down.” The corn needed that, “it was a blessing.” Duncanson finished spraying all his soybeans with fungicide last week. He believes that there’s “more benefits to applying it early. Once it’s past R4 you really don’t need to spray.” He’s starting to see aphids though not enough to spray quite yet and will continue to monitor the aphid population in his fields.
The soybeans are filling pods. While Haubrich has seen some aphids, the “number counts aren’t there yet” to spray. “We’re going to see good corn.” Haubrich had been “noticing a shallow root system” in the corn this growing season but with the lack of rain lately “they’re now going down seeking moisture.”
Karson Duncanson
While Haubrich has wheat harvest on his mind, he’s also looking forward to his sons’ showing lambs at the local county fair for 4-H next week. “It’s all going to come together real fast.”
With harvest just around the corner, Duncanson is “continuing to work on getting machinery ready to go.” He still has a few bins he needs to clean up as well before fall.
The lambs on the farm have hit their weight bracket and Haubrich is now moving them out. He’s “already thinking of our lamb crop 2019.” Which means that in two weeks he’ll bring the rams in.
As for the weather, “we got a little drizzle a couple days ago.” Though “we could use a shot (of rain).” The forecast for the Duncanson farm calls for temperatures in the mid-80s with lows in the 60s at night and a chance of showers this weekend. It’s, “pretty perfect.” Bottom-line: “we’ve been getting just about the weather we need to salvage this crop.”
Matt Haubrich
Life is busy with impending wheat harvest, moving lambs and cheering on a few special 4-H members as they show at the fair, but Haubrich is ready to dig in and enjoy all the these moments on and off the farm.
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2004 MACK VISION CX613
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MACK eng, 460hp, 13spd trans, tandem rear axles, OH’d, Jake, cruise, tilt & telescoping, PW, PL, power & heated mirrors, AR cab, air slide 5th, 50% brakes & drums, 70% of steer tires & 85% of drive tires remain, 944,562 miles
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1999 JET
Steel composition, spring suspension, steel wheels, 30’Lx96”Wx66”H, 2 hoppers, tandem rear axles, side shoots, sight windows, 20” hopper clearance, 11R22.5 tires, front tires 90%, rear tires 40-60%, front brakes 50%, rear brakes new, drums 70-80%
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PAGE 19
Strip tillage and nutrient placement promote soil health By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer BALTIC, S.D. — Agriculture is a never ending classroom. Best evidence is attending a Hefty Field Day. The promo reads: “10,000 farmers from more than 40 states and 12 foreign countries.” And so it is. This July 26 event was my third Darren Hefty year of attendance. There isn’t an agricultural short course on any campus in America that compares with the educational opportunities at this Hefty event. And activity is nonstop from 8 a.m. until shutdown time at 5 p.m. (and I’m sure much later for many). What do you want to see? What do you want to learn? Just stop, look, listen. And then start asking questions. I’m good at that. So when I finally got Darren Hefty corralled for a few minutes, here’s our brief visit: The Land: I’m seeing a Soil Warrior out here. Are you guys really into strip tillage? Hefty: We really like strip tillage. We’re big on reduced tillage. We used to go no till. That was tough for my Dad, coming from north-central Iowa, thinking no-till would be good here. He knew how we were usually limited on rainfall. And he questioned the residue. Plus, he questioned if the soils be that much cooler in the spring. But that’s not an issue with strip till. Matter of fact, it’s seven degrees warmer in the strip than between the strips. And the other big bonus is nutrient placement. When we place nutrients down below our soybeans … wow … Do we get a yield response! Just as big, perhaps bigger is the time savings. With conventional tillage, you’re sometimes up to 10 trips across the field from planting through harvest. With strip till, essentially two trips: the fall tillage (which is when we also do our phosphorus and potassium placements with this same Soil Warrior rig); and spring planting, which is when we do our nitrogen placements. So right after harvest we strip till with the Warrior. Next spring, we’re ready for planting while also doing nitrogen and micro nutrient apps. The Land: It’s an expensive machine. Are you asked to do custom work? Hefty: We have too many acres. But we sure do answer lots of questions about the practice. I talk with many farmers who see the advantages. Yes, you need lots of acres to justify the Warrior, so famers are joining with other farmers to cost-share. This cooperative approach is just smart strategy. There are too many benefits to ignore this system. What it does to soil health is the big item — plus there are huge reductions in time and fuel. Even in continuous corn, residue is not a problem. In fact, the residue berm between the planted rows acts as a barrier to weeds. We’re in 30-inch rows and a corn/soybean program. We really like 15-inch soybeans, but as soon as we
started doing the 30-inch strip till and putting fertilizer right below the seed, our yields were just as good as 15-inch rows and broadcast fertilizer. Plus white mold was no longer an issue.. The Land: Besides P & K applied in the fall with the Soil Warrior as it strip tills, anything else? Hefty: Yes, we do micros such as zinc, manganese along with the P & K. They don’t move much, so we’ve have good success with fall apps also. The Land: Are micros a necessary part of crop production these days? Hefty: Absolutely. In our earlier days, when we had cattle and hogs, we were putting manure on every acre. But with all the things we’ve got going, we dropped livestock a few years back. Sure, we were doing the job with N, P, K and sulfur. But where were the micros? Micro nutrient levels have dropped over the last generation. Yes, micro nutrients are definitely something farmers need to be watching. The Land: How does soil biology enter into this discussion on strip till farming? Hefty: Soil biology is a big discussion when you get into tillage. At the AgPhD Field Day this year, we’ve got a number of different microbial products such as bacterial, fungal and others. We can see they are making a difference. Get the main things taken care of on your farm land and the responses to these lesser elements start showing up. Soil pH needs to be moderated; you need to get your N, P & K levels to a decent spot and then you start working on these other soil issues. Getting the microbes working in your soils releases other soil nutrients. It’s been a huge benefit for us. Soils are the sustenance of our entire food chain around the world. Our mission is to keep our soils in the best of health year after year. The Land: So as farmers buy into tillage issues, do they also get into soil biology too? Hefty: Most definitely. I don’t think you need to avoid tillage, but I want to do as little tillage as possible. I want to focus on soil health all the way through each cropping season. And as you know, these topics are often part of our radio and television shows too. We’ve been doing AgPhD television for 20 years and AgPhD radio for five years. We’re thankful for all the support we get. These AgPhD Field Day events and all the meetings we do across the Midwest is our way of sharing more information with our farmers. Let’s be honest: Farmers sustain the world! And we are grateful. The Land: New to me at this Field Day is something called D-Comp. Even more about soil biology? Hefty: Yes, very much so. I think it could be the next big thing in rebuilding soil health. We think about these issues with non-farmers. They don’t like it when we spread manure. They don’t like the smell. They don’t like the flies it attracts. I know as a kid we weren’t composting manure. Every Saturday, Dad
would have us cleaning the chicken house, or the hog barn, or the cow shed. Nobody cared that we were spreading on the fields around us. We just understood this is what you do. Now that’s not the case. Country dwellers are springing up everywhere. We want to be good neighbors. Livestock populations keep building up on certain operations. And that often means a long haul for the manure and/or not enough acres for field spreading. So I think composting is a major issue in livestock operations. And that’s what D-Comp is all about. Their literature reads: “D-Comp is a unique combination of 70 different bacteria and fungi designed to speed breakdown of plant and animal residue. With D-Comp, manure may turn to compost in 4 to 5 weeks instead of 4 to 5 months. We call it the answer to your manure decomposition issues.” The challenge with traditional composting is time. It takes time. What we’re working on are microbial products that can be added to the manure as it is being cleaned out of the pens. This much quicker action reduces odor, flies and pathogens and produces a much more consistent product. Summed up Hefty: “The percentage of our population involved in agriculture is now the lowest in world history. In the United Sates, 99 percent of voters are non-farmers. We believe it important that everyone understands where food comes from and what farmers have to do to produce it. Many thanks to the American farmer!” Hefty Field Day took place at their research and general farming operation, about 4 miles south of Baltic, S.D. To learn more about AgPhD research go to www.agphd.com. v
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
Federal order prices, futures lagging in latest report This column was written for the marketing week ending Aug. 3. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the July Federal order Class III benchmark milk price at $14.10 per hundredweight. This is down $1.11 from June, $1.35 below July 2017, and the News and information for Minnesota and Northern Iowa dairy producers lowest Class III since February. It equates to $1.21 per gallon, down from October, $16.19; November, $16.28; and which is traded daily at the Chicago Mercantile MIELKE MARKET $1.31 a month ago and $1.33 a year ago. December $16.12. Exchange, totaled 314.1 million pounds. This is down WEEKLY The seven-month Class III average is at The July Class IV price is $14.14, down 77 1.8 percent from May but 4.0 percent above a year By Lee Mielke $14.37, down from $16.02 at this time a cents from June, $2.46 below a year ago, and ago, with year-to-date cheddar at 1.9 billion pounds, year ago and compares to $13.73 in 2016. the lowest Class IV since April 2018. Its down 0.9 percent. Churns produced 143.5 million pounds of butter, Late morning on Aug. 3, Class III futures portend- seven-month average is at $13.73, down from $15.30 down 14.7 percent from May, but 3.1 percent above a ed an August price at $14.82; September, $15.63; a year ago and compares to $13.42 in 2016. California’s July Class 4b cheese milk price is year ago. Year-to-date output is at 1.02 billion, up 4.1 California butter totaled 44.5 million $14.09. This is down 34 cents from June, $1.20 below percent. pounds, down 12.3 percent from May, but a hefty 9.5 a year ago, a penny below the federal order Class III GREAT DEALS GREAT PRICES NOW! price (smallest differential since February’s 2 cents) percent above a year ago. Pennsylvania output fell to and the lowest 4b price since March 2018. Its seven- 6.6 million pounds, down 23.1 percent from May and month average is at $14.06, down from $15.14 a year 10.7 percent below a year ago. Yogurt output amounted to 369.3 million pounds, GREAT DEALS GREAT PRICES NOW! ago and compares $13.02 in 2016. down 1.9 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date The July Class 4a butter-powder milk price is $13.72, down 50 cents from June and $2.69 below a year ago. output hitting 2.2 billion pounds, down 3.0 percent. Its seven-month average is at $13.42, down from Dry whey for human consumption totaled 85.9 mil$15.07 a year ago and compares to $13.11 in 2016. lion pounds, up 2.9 percent from May, but down 0.8 percent from a year ago. Stocks totaled 71.3 million n HIGH STEEL INSERT IN 20’ ARROW FRONT FEEDER pounds, up 7.4 percent from May, but 13.1 percent You’ll recall that preliminary USDA data reported below those a year ago. June 50-state milk production at 18.3 billion pounds, Nonfat dry milk production totaled 148.2 million up 1.2 percent from June 2017. USDA’s latest Dairy HIGH STEEL INSERT IN 20’ ARROW FRONT FEEDER pounds, down 7.3 percent from May and 9.0 percent Products report shows where that milk went. below a year ago. Year-to-date output stands at 968.8 Cheese output totaled 1.06 billion pounds, down 1.9 million pounds, up 0.8 percent. Stocks climbed to percent from May but 1.8 percent above June 2017. 301.9 million pounds, up 31.2 million pounds or 11.5 Year-to-date output stands at 6.4 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from May and are 4.1 million pounds or 1.4 percent from a year ago. June was the 63rd consecutive percent above those a year ago. LARGE BALES IN A 30’ TANDEM AXLE ARROW FRONT FEEDER month that output exceeded that of a year ago. Skim milk powder production totaled 58.9 million Wisconsin remains the number-one cheese produc- pounds, up 16.9 percent from May and 49.1 percent er, hitting 276.5 million pounds in June, which is above a year ago. Year-to-date skim is at 284.2 milLARGE BALES IN A 30’ TANDEM AXLE ARROW FRONT FEEDER down 3.1 percent from May and 0.7 percent below a lion pounds, down 2.1 percent from a year ago. year ago. Number two, California, produced a tad FC Stone’s Dave Kurzawski says, “The startling under 205 million pounds, down 5.5 percent from FULL SIZE BUNKS number out of this report was the powder stocks May and 1.1 percent below a year ago. number over 300 million pounds.” He points out, SPECIALTY FEEDERS Idaho provided 83.7 million pounds, up 8.1 percent “Stocks came in at 301.9 million — up 11.5 percent from May and 1.1 percent above a year ago. Minnesota, month-over-month on relatively soft production of FULL SIZE BUNKS at 62 million, was down 2.6 percent from May but 2.6 148.2 million pounds. We assumed demand slowed in SPECIALTY FEEDERS percent above a year ago. New Mexico output totaled June, but not by this much. Using our estimates, 73.9 million pounds, down 2.0 percent from May but today’s report suggests domestic disappearance for See Your Local Dealer for information on the a whopping 16.2 percent above a year ago. June was down 42 percent from last year. Something complete line. Ask for a full color brochure. Italian cheese totaled 449.7 million pounds, down doesn’t quite add up there. Either there will likely be 1.8 percent from May and 0.1 percent below a year a revision for the June number, or we’ll see sharply Marzolf Implement Northland Farm Sorensen’s Sales & Systems Rentals United Farmers Coop See Your Local Dealer for information on the the See Your Local Dealer for information on ago. Year-to-date, Italian is at 2.7 billion pounds, up higher July demand.” Hutchinson, MN Lafayette, MN Spring Valley, MN Owatonna, MN complete line. Ask for a full color brochure. complete line. Ask for a full color brochure. 2.4 percent from a year ago. Mozzarella, at 354.4 mil320-587-2162 507-228-8224 The report was less dramatic for cheese, Kurzawski 507-346-7227 800-385-3911 lion pounds, was up 1.4 percent, with year-to-date at said, with “a strong shift out of other American-style Northland Farm Systems Marzolf Implement Marzolf Implement Northland Farm Sorensen’s Sales & Systems Rentals 2.1 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent. United Farmers Coop Sorensen’s Sales &Marzolf Rentals Implement Northland Farm Systems cheeses into cheddar,” and “butter continued its grind Owatonna, MN Spring Valley, MN Hutchinson, MN Lafayette, MNMN Spring Valley, MN Owatonna, MN Hutchinson, MN Spring Valley, MN Owatonna, higher as hot weather in the United States and Europe American-type cheese production totaled 430.5 mil320-587-2162 507-228-8224 507-346-7227 800-385-3911 800-385-3911 507-346-7227 800-385-3911 320-587-2162 507-346-7227 lion pounds, down 2.9 percent from May, but 2.7 per- was keeping bids beneath the market.” He says, “the Sorensen’s Sales Rentals Implement Marzolf Northland Farm TheSystems Leader In & Feeders! cent above a year ago, with year-to-date at 2.6 billion market may be more focused on heat and tighter Owatonna, MNHutchinson, MNSpring Valley, MN pounds, up 1.6 percent. Cheddar output, the cheese See MIELKE, pg. 23 Famous for minimum feed waste! 507-346-7227 800-385-3911 320-587-2162
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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” MILKER’S MESSAGE
PAGE 23
Sharp: Price for Holstein heifers is lowest in decades MIELKE, from pg. 22 cream supplies than the Dairy Products report.” July was the real hot month, especially in the west. He argues, “We really need to see those numbers later this month. What we can tell you is that we expect the heat to have a material impact on the fat content of milk. While you may say this is normal, what’s not normal is the material decline in fat in European milk.” n A slightly higher U.S. All Milk price average and lower feed prices pushed the June milk feed price ratio up for the first time in six months. The USDA’s latest Ag Prices report shows the June ratio at 1.98, up from 1.90 in May, but down from 2.31 in June 2017. The index is based on the current milk price in relationship to feed prices for a dairy ration consisting of 51 percent corn, 8 percent soybeans and 41 percent alfalfa hay. In other words, one pound of milk today purchases 1.98 pounds of dairy feed containing
that blend. The U.S. All-Milk price averaged $16.30 Block cheddar closed Aug. 3 at $1.5875 per pound, per cwt), up a dime from May but a dollar below June up 6.75 cents on the week and the highest since June WE BUILD RIGHT!fin2017. Michigan was on the bottom, with $14.80, 18, but 11 cents below a yearOUR ago.STALLS The barrels unchanged from May. California was at $15.63, down ished at $1.4750, down 4.5 cents, 5.5 cents Take a lookbelow at a 3 cents from May. Wisconsin was at $16.50, down 20 year ago, and 11.25 cents below the our blocks, with tubing withthree cents from May. cars of block sold on the week and 52 of barrel. unequaled corrosion June corn averaged $3.58 per bushel, down 9 cents Kurzawski wrote in his Aug. 2 protection! Early Morning from May, but is 15 cents per bushel above June Update, “The relationship between blocks and barTubing has 2017. Soybeans averaged $9.55 per bushel, down 29 rels has been exacerbated by Freudenthal trade wars as been less engineered for your cents from May, but 45 cents per bushel above a year cheese exports means more surplus milk willspecific move requirements whereastrength ago. Alfalfa hay averaged $181 per ton, down $8 from into barrel production that will have to find home and corrosion resistance that are CORROSION Auto Release Locks Panel May, but $27 per ton above a year ago. Looking at the Head domestically. Although there are some headlines critical design factors. PROTECTION cow side of the ledger, the June cull price for beef and the United States is making progress on trade deals dairy combined averaged $66.30 per cwt. This is up a with Mexico on autos. If there’s a deal made with CS-60 Comfort dime from May, $10.20 below June 2017 and $5.30 Mexico that could significantly change Tie the Stall perception below the 2011 base average of $71.60 per cwt. of the cheese markets as we will have more certainty The Toughest The Daily Dairy Report’s Sarina Sharp adds, “The on the U.S. export prospects.” Stalls price being paid across the country for quality Kurzawski talked about the reasons for the block/ on theNow Holstein springers has averaged $1,200 per head barrel relationship in the Aug. 6 Dairy Radio • Provides superior lunge area market, over the past month, putting the cost of replacement broadcast but especially on other export destinations • Muchinstronger than our heifers at lows not seen decades.” for U.S. dairy products that might help offset losses guaranteed competitors’ beam systems See MIELKE, pg. 24 not to bend n • No Stall mounts in the • Entire panel made of H.D. 10 gauge tubing concrete or sand are hot dippedWI galvanized after W. 6322 Cty. O,• Panels Medford, 54451 • Fully adjustable welding inside and out (715) 748-4132 • 1-800-688-0104 • Stall system stays high and Heaviest, • 6’, 8’, 10’, 12’ lengths dry, resulting in longer life www.freudenthalmfg.com Strongest, REMODELING, EXPANSION OR REPLACEMENT • 12’ panel weight 275 lbs. • Installation labor savings Custom Buy Direct From Manufacturer and SAVE! We Can Handle All Your Barn Steel Needs • Head-to-head and single row Cattle Diagonal Feed Thru Panel options available Auto Release Head Locks Panel Gates • Compare the weight of this on the system, heaviest available Elevated Dual Market on the market today
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PAGE 24
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
For 50 years, judge enjoys talking cows and teaching By KRISTINE GOODRICH Mankato Free Press
and how they answer questions about their animal.
GARDEN CITY, Minn. — John Schroeder had gentle suggestions for a 7-year-old with tear-stained cheeks who made her first appearance in the 4-H judging arena.
“I have a passion for beautiful cattle and I like working with young people,” Schroeder said. Schroeder has judged fair shows in two-thirds of Minnesotan’s counties. He also has been to Wisconsin and South Dakota a few times and judged at the Minnesota State Fair several times.
“When you get big enough you want to hold her head up nice and high,” Schroeder told Emma Appel as she showed her dairy cow Jewel at the Blue Earth County Fair.
In his prime, Schroeder judged up to 10 shows a year. This year he’s down to two. He’s warned Tesch that this year might be his last.
Emma was upset that her dad couldn’t make it to watch her Friday morning but left the ring with a smile as Schroeder congratulated her on a strong first showing.
“My age is catching up with me,” he said.
Emma was the only entrant in the division for the youngest dairy cow show competitors. Some of the other divisions also only had one entrant.
Tesch said she remembers Schroeder judging her when she was a youth. “I always remembered his kindness and helping me become a better showperson,” she said.
Julie Tesch, interim Blue Earth County 4-H program coordinator, said Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial he was worried Schroeder wouldn’t Photo by Pat Christman, Mankato Free Press agree to judge again this year when he Dairy cattle judge John Schroeder talks with Emma Appel, 7, as she shows her cow 11th-grader Matt Thofson was named learned there wouldn’t be many par- Jewel with her aunt Theresa at the Blue Earth County Fair on July 27. Schroeder has this year’s dairy show grand champion. The Vernon Center area teen said ticipants. But he didn’t hesitate. been judging dairy cattle for almost 50 years — primarily for 4-H and FFA. Schroeder gave him good advice on “He replied, ‘I don’t care the size of how he could improve his showmanship and which the show. Those youth deserve the same opportuniHe’s since judged approximately 350 shows, mostly member of his herd he should select to take to the ties as large counties and I am happy to help,’” Tesch for 4-H and FFA. State Fair. said. “That right there sums up John Schroeder.” For 25 years Schroeder also coached the New Ulm “(Schroeder) comes from a dairy farm. He’s seen a This summer marks Schroeder’s 50th year judging FFA dairy judging team, continuing after his own lot of cattle. He knows what to look for,” Thofson said. dairy cattle. It’s more than 50 if you count his years children were grown. When an aging body forces him to retire from judgas a student judge. “I just enjoy talking cows and teaching kids,” he ing, Schroeder said he will be content to come back as The lifelong dairy farmer from rural Courtland got said. a spectator. his start on the University of Minnesota judging He judges the bovines on how well their physical “Maybe it’s time for someone younger to step in,” he team. He got his first invitation to be a professional attributes match breed ideals. He judges their hansaid. “I have done my share and have had a great judge soon after graduating in 1969. dlers on how well they control and display their entry time doing it.” v
Cheese production cut, inventories at record levels MIELKE, from pg. 23 to Mexico and China. His first point was that the U.S. will not likely lose 100 percent of its trade with either country. “If we lose, say 20 percent of our sales with Mexico, for example, if other countries increased their purchases by 6 percent, we would offset that loss.” “I think we can certainly do that out of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Viet Nam, even Japan potentially, maybe the Middle East” Kurzawski concluded. “It’s not an insurmountable number. It is a number that remains to be seen. We don t know if that’s going to be the case, to fully offset it. I think it will be responsive to price, so if the U.S. can maintain a little bit of discount to the world prices going forward, I think
we have a seat at the table to move product globally in a bigger way.” Dairy Market News reports that some Midwest specialty cheese producers plan to cut production by a day per week during their slower period while pizza cheesemakers are gearing up for heavier sales as schools and colleges prepare to open their doors, and football season draws near. Cheese producers are “slightly anxious, but hopeful regarding some steadiness moving forward in the cheese markets. A majority of spot milk purchases moved closer to flat market, while some discounts and premiums were reported. The range was $3 under to $1 over Class III, but producers who took on discounted spot milk do not expect the same deals the following week,” according to Dairy Market News.
Western cheese output is steady, and manufacturers have plenty of milk. Even with summer heat suppressing milk volumes and components, cheese output has been active. Inventories were at record levels in June. Cheddar stocks are in “relatively good balance, while mozzarella and hard Italian cheeses are long. Cheese purveyors describe demand as not good enough but are hopeful that as schools start up and football seasons begin, institutional food service sales may improve and pizza sales may start to draw down mozzarella stocks.” CME butter finished Aug. 3 at $2.32 per pound, up 5.75 cents and the fourth consecutive week of gain; but is 41 cents below a year ago. 25 carloads found new homes on the week. See MIELKE, pg. 25
THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” MILKER’S MESSAGE
PAGE 25
Heat, transportation issues limiting cream supply MIELKE, from pg. 23 Butter makers continue to sell cream to the spot market instead of churning. Butter producers maintain that retail and food service sales are meeting summer expectations. Fall outlooks are mixed but most lean bullishly, with suggestions that the lack of churning currently will lead to “a balanced, if not favorable, supply/demand ratio.” Tighter cream stocks are restricting western butter manufacturing as ice cream and butter makers compete for available cream. Issues with truck obtainability combined with higher temperatures are making it tougher to move cream in some areas. Some processors are selling part of their cream to take advantage of the higher premiums and to save on storage. As a result, butter stocks, although still abundant, are not building. Butter demand is mixed,
ED
according to Dairy Market News. Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk closed a penny higher on the week, at 82.75 cents per pound, 3.5 cents below a year ago, with 21 cars selling on the week. Spot dry whey closed Aug. 3 at a fresh high for the brand new market at 43.5 cents per pound, also up a penny on the week, with no sales reported. n Cooperatives Working Together member cooperatives accepted offers of export assistance from CWT that helped them capture contracts to sell 908,305 pounds of cheddar cheese and 14.495 million pounds of whole milk powder to customers in Asia and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery through December. CWT’s 2018 exports now total 45.446 million pounds of American-type chees-
es, 12.085 million pounds of butter (82 percent milkfat) and 27.106 million pounds of whole milk powder to 29 countries on five continents. These sales are the equivalent of 889.245 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. The totals were adjusted due to cancellations, according to the CWT. In politics, the Senate, in an 84-to-14 vote, defeated a proposed amendment to an appropriations bill that would have prohibited the Food and Drug Administration from enforcing dairy standards of identity on product labels. At issue is the practice of plant-based beverages calling themselves “milk.” The National Milk Producers Federation praised the action, stating,
“We are very pleased with the Senate’s overwhelming rejection of Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) blatant attempt to interfere with the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to enforce standards of identity for dairy products and other foods. We fought this amendment because it would have undermined the decades-long policy, established by Congress, that the FDA should regulate food names in order to promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.” Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in newspapers across the country and he may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v
COVERED
Calendar of Events Visit www.TheLandOnline.com to view our complete calendar and enter your own events, or send an e-mail with your event’s details to editor@thelandonline.com. Aug. 11 — Minnesota Garlic FestiAug. 15 — Farmland Leasing and val — Hutchinson, Minn. — This festi- Land Values Workshop — Waukon, val features food, celebrity chefs, music, Iowa — Contact Iowa State University artisans, games and lots of garlic — Extension and Outreach at (563) 568Contact Jerry Ford at (844) 922-5573, 6345 ext 705 or crowriver@sfa-mn.org Aug. 15-16 — North American Aug. 13, 14 – Farm Camp 2018 – Manure Expo — Brookings, S.D. — Waseca, Minn. – FarmAmerica hosts Features educational sessions, trade campers entering third-sixth grades to show, facility tours and the opportunity connect with agriculture and food; to compare agitation and application SKID AND TRACK LOADER on-field COVERAGE COMES STANDARD choose between Aug. 13 orEXTRA 14 – Visit equipment in a side-by-side, www.farmcampminnesota.org — Contact David Kringen Since 1973, environment. Gehl has pushed skid loader innovation forward. Today, Gehl at david.kringen@sdstate.edu or (605) Aug. 14 — Farmland Leasing and the tradition with a complete line of continues skid loaders and track loaders 995-7378 Land Values Workshop — New Hampdesigned with productivity and efficiency in mind. Purchase new Gehl SkidLOADER or EXTRA a SKID AND TRACK COVERAGE COMES STANDARD ton, Iowa — A range of topics related Aug. 16 — Farmland Leasing and Track Loader and receive an included 2 year / 2,000 hr XPRT total (full machine) Since 1973, Gehl has pushed skid loader innovation forward. Today, Gehl to farmland values and leasing. Attend- Land Values Workshop — Fayette, continues the tradition with a complete line of skid loaders and track loaders Offer subject change, inquire for details. ees will receive a workbook extended with differ-coverage Iowa — plan. Contact Iowa State to University designed with productivity and efficiency in mind. Purchase a new Gehl Skid or ent types of farm lease arrangements. Extension and Outreach at (563) 425Track Loader and receive an included 2 year / 2,000 hr XPRT total (full machine) — Contact Iowa State University Exten- 3331 extended coverage plan. Offer subject to change, inquire for details. sion and Outreach at (641) 394-2174 Aug. 17-19 — Heritage Hill ThreshAug. 14 — Annual Horse Field Day ing Show — Montevideo, Minn. — CALL YOURLOCAL LOCAL GEHL GEHL DEALER CALL YOUR DEALERTODAY! TODAY! — St Paul, Minn. — Participants will Allis Chalmers tractors and farm equipNorthland Marzolf A&C rotate through five stations including ment will be featured. Daily activities getting your soil seed ready; How to include *Steam Threshing Machine Farm Systems Implement Farm Service prep a seedbed and what to seed; pas- Demonstrations, Blacksmith Shop, tracOwatonna, MN Spring Valley, MN Paynesville, MN ture management in the first year; long- tor exhibits, sawmill, flea market and* 800-385-3911 507-346-7227 320-243-3736 term pasture managment strategies; food offerings throughout the day. — and nutrition and forage research. — Contact Chip Grube at chipgrube@ www.gehl.com Contact Krishona Martinson at (612) yahoo.com or (320) 815-5791 625-6776 or krishona@umn.ed www.gehl.com
CALL YOUR LOCAL GEHL DEALER TODAY!
PAGE 26
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
MARKETING
Grain Outlook Wheat news gives corn a boost
Cash Grain Markets
corn/change* soybeans/change* Stewartville $3.04 +.17 $7.91 +.17 Edgerton $3.27 +.18 $8.13 +.20 Jackson $3.19 +.15 $8.05 +.27 Janesville $3.16 +.02 $8.07 +.27 The following marketing analysis is for the week Cannon Falls $3.15 +.22 $8.00 +.22 ending Aug. 3. Sleepy Eye $3.25 +.15 $8.01 +.18 CORN — Corn benefitted this week from uncer- Average: $3.18 $8.03 tain yield potential and the rally in the wheat market, which was a result of shrinking world wheat Year Ago Average: $3.03 $9.17 production. Dryness in Ukraine, European Union, Grain prices are effective cash close on Aug. 6. Russia, Australia and Canada have resulted in lower *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period. world wheat production forecasts. Europe’s Matiff wheat hit five-year highs during the week. A big boon to wheat came late in the week on an initial report that Ukraine was going to limit wheat exports. Wheat prices shot to calendaryear highs. A short time later, during that trading session, subsequent explanation that the Ukraine government wasn’t The cattle and hog prices are continuing to go in going to unilaterally set an PHYLLIS NYSTROM opposite directions as we moved into the month of CHS Hedging Inc. export limit, but would be workAugust. Each market has been subject to the proSt. Paul ing as usual with traders on posed tariffs in the international trade. However the export targets, saw wheat prices hog markets appears to be more influenced by the recoil 25-30 cents off the day’s tariffs talk than the cattle market. This is reflected high. Ukraine is the world’s fifth largest wheat by the Chinese tariffs more exporter. because of the greater amount of Trade chatter about the rush in corn to ear weight pork in comparison to the amount reducing early maturation, and increasing talk of of beef that the Chinese import yield reducing tip-back on ears, did push corn prices from the United States. These through resistance to its highest level in six weeks. fears have dominated the liveCorn was 38 percent in the dough stage as of July 29 stock markets for quite some vs. 20 percent on average. Ninety-two percent of the time and are likely to be a marcrop was silked compared to 82 percent on average. ket influence to prices until these Corn conditions were steady at 72 percent good/ tariffs are settled one way or JOE TEALE excellent. Corn garnered spillover support from the another. Broker wheat, but didn’t take out the recent high set earlier As for the cattle trade, it Great Plains Commodity in the week at $3.88.5 in the December contract. appears the packers are still in Afton, Minn. Uncertainty on how little the U.S. Department of need of live inventory at the presAgriculture may increase the corn yield on the Aug. ent time as price paid for live animals continues to 10 report provided underlying support to prices. remain relatively firm. Product movement has noticeInforma Economics left their U.S. corn yield at 176 ably declined in the past several weeks, but this has bu./acre with production at 14.392 billion bushels. not been reflected in the live prices the packers have Farm Futures did a farmer survey which estimated been willing to pay. This has narrowed the packers’ U.S. corn yield at 175.4 bu./acre and production at profit margins, but has not deterred the packer from 14.36 billion bushels. In the July World Agricultural accumulating live inventory. Supply and Demand Estimates report, the USDA The futures market is remaining as a cautious folwas using 174 bu./acre with production at 14.23 billower of the cash trade as worries over numbers of lion bushels. In each of the last three years, the animals may still overwhelm the demand for beef. USDA August corn production number has been This struggle is likely to continue through the higher than the average trade guess. remainder of the month of August. This puts producOn a bright note, it looks like the United States and ers in a position of a cautious approach to the cattle Mexico are making progress on a North American market, but should continue to monitor market conSee NYSTROM, pg. 27 See TEALE, pg. 29
Livestock Angles Tariff talk continues to haunt market
Grain Angles Surviving in global agriculture Agriculture is definitely an American success story. The productivity and size of America’s agricultural industry is virtually unmatched by any other agricultural industry in the world. We are fortunate enough to have plenty of products to keep prices in this country relatively low for the American consumer and still have the ability to export vast amounts of products around the world. Unlike many other industries, agriculture in this country is still made up of many individual producers growing products for the world market. According to the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, over 15 percent of the corn production in the country will be exported and 47 percent of the soybean producGLENN WACHTLER tion will be exported. American Compeer Senior farmers need a strong export Lending Officer market to succeed. Baldwin, Wis. It’s as if overnight, global challenges have come to the forefront. Global challenges including a potential trade war which leads to volatile markets and an uncertain future. In addition to trade, currency fluctuations between trading partners can have a major impact on how attractive a commodity is going to be on the world market and how much of total production will be exported. Another potential headwind is the large supply in some areas of the world — including the United States — may lead to depressed prices extending into the near future. These are just some of the global issues that are impacting your farm. Most American farmers do not have a trained economist on their farm, nor a lobbyist, legal team, consultant and marketing expert to guide them through the complex situations they are facing today. So how does a relatively small individual producer in the United States survive when it seems like the weight of the world is on their shoulders? Actively learn, communicate and align yourself with others Global agriculture issues are in the news daily. Stories of global challenges are starting to be shared with people far outside the ag industry who do not have a background in agriculture. Some of these people do not have in-depth knowledge of the issues. Educate yourself and practice communicating the issues as you see them affecting your farm. When people are able to connect with you on a personal See WACHTLER, pg. 29
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.
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Trade war: Sign up for direct aid payments in September NYSTROM, from pg. 26 Free Trade Act agreement. Both sides are hopeful a plan will be in place by the end of the month. Glaringly, Canada has not been invited to the table. Weekly corn exports were good at 11.5 million bushels for old crop and 38.8 million bushels for new crop. Total old crop sales are 97 percent of the USDA target vs. 103 percent on average. New crop total commitments at 281.7 million bushels are 61 percent higher than a year ago. Weekly ethanol production fell by 10,000 barrels per day to 1.064 million bpd. Stocks rose 300,000 barrels to 22 million barrels. Ethanol crush margins rose be 2 cents to 7 cents per gallon. Outlook: Underlying demand for corn should continue to be supportive, as well as spillover from a stronger wheat market. The Aug. 10 WASDE report will be focused on the yield change and its effect on carryout. It may take a political or weather event to push December corn closer to $4.00 per bushel ahead of the USDA report. For the week, September corn was 7.75 cents higher at $3.69.75 per bushel. December corn rallied 8 cents to close at $3.84.25 per bushel. The high this week in the September contract was $3.74.25 and in December it was $3.88.5 per bushel. December 2019 corn settled the week at $4.10.75 per bushel. If the trade war with China doesn’t get resolved, how many bean acres will switch to corn next year? Something to be thinking about. SOYBEANS — Just to show how sensitive the soybean market is to the Chinese tariff situation, soybeans rallied over 31 cents on July 31 to a new recent high of $9.22.75 per bushel, before settling at $9.19 per bushel, in response to talk that the United
MARKETING States and China were going back to the negotiation table. The next day, the U.S. administration rumbled they may raise the tariff percentage from 10 to 25 percent on the next $200 billion in proposed tariffs on Chinese imports. These new tariffs would go into effect Sept. 5. This erased over half of the previous day’s gains. China responded, saying they are ready with 5-25 percent retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports, if the United States goes ahead with the next $200 billion in tariffs. The negative attitude carried over into Aug. 2 and losses were extended on less than stellar weekly export sales. However, the soybean market maintained its recent reputation as nearly “untradeable” when the week ended with a key reversal higher. Where the United States and China currently stand is questionable. Depending on which official is talking (it doesn’t matter from which country), one sounds like they want to return to the negotiation table, and the other talks of more tariffs. China did say they could risk running short on soybeans in the fourth quarter when South American supplies get tight, if they relationship with the United States isn’t fixed. Informa Economics updated their U.S. soybean yield forecast to 50 bu./acre, an increase of 0.2 bu./ acre from their last refresh. Their soybean production number was a record 4.445 billion bushels. A Farm Futures grower survey put the U.S. soybean yield at 49.8 bu./acre and production at 4.42 billion bushels. In July, the USDA was using 48.5 bu./acre and 4.31 billion bushels of production. In each of the last three years, the USDA soybean production fore-
Scout soybean fields for aphids Scouting for soybean aphids in Minnesota fields should be underway. Early-planted soybean in areas with moderate rainfall this year might see significant aphid populations first. Smaller fields with wooded borders are often the first to develop high populations. In addition, early-planted fields and fields with slightly droughty coarser textured or lower potassium testing soils often see aphid populations develop sooner. Full-maturity soybeans or lateplanted soybeans, such as beans following peas, are often reported to have higher populations. The decision to apply insecticide for soybean aphid should be based on scouting and the economic threshold. The economic threshold is the trigger point for scheduling an insecticide application to prevent populations from reaching an economically damaging level. “You need to get into the field to count or estimate aphid numbers on plants,” says Dr. Bob Koch, University of Minnesota Extension Entomologist. “Either count the number of aphids on plants selected from throughout the field or follow a scouting
procedure known as Speed-Scouting.” A refresher on scouting tips and techniques for aphids can be found at https://swroc.cfans.umn.edu/ sites/swroc.cfans.umn.edu/files/sba_scouting.pdf. “Be sure to scout fields before making a treatment decision. Avoid the temptation to treat below threshold numbers. This is bad management,” Phillip Glogoza, U of M Extension Educator for Crops, warns. “Indiscriminant insecticide treatments are contributing to insecticide resistance to the class of insecticides known as pyrethroids.” The soybean aphid has been confirmed to be resistant to pyrethroid insecticides (Group 3 insecticides). After treating a field, be sure to scout the field after 3-5 days to ensure efficacy of the treatment. If a field needs to be retreated, alternate to a product containing a different insecticide group for the follow-up treatment. Check product labels for insecticide group numbers. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
cast has been higher than the average trade estimate. As of July 29, 60 percent of the soybean crop was setting pods vs. 4 percent on average. Soybean conditions were unchanged at 70 percent good/excellent, up 11 percent from last year. There are a few more details on the government’s plan to help U.S. soybean farmers who have been hurt by the trade war with China. U.S. farmers can begin signing up for direct aid payments in early September. Of the $12 billion in aid, $7-$8 billion will be available in the form of direct payments. Payments will be based on a formula using this year’s actual production, so growers will have to wait until after harvest before applying. China may allow soymeal imports from Argentina in the coming months, which are currently not allowed. Brazilian farmers are facing about a 20 percent increase in year-on-year fertilizer and pesticide costs this year. Weekly export sales were disappointing for old crop at 3.4 million bushels and okay for new crop at 20 million bushels. Old crop total sales of 2.14 billion bushels have exceed the USDA forecast for 2.085 billion bushels. China cancelled 120,000 metric tons and unknown cancelled 316,000 metric tons of old crop corn purchases. China still has an estimated 51.5-58.8 million bushels on the books with the United States for this year. How much gets rolled of cancelled is yet to be seen with five weeks left in the marketing year. Next year’s total commitments are running nearly 63 percent ahead of last year. The National Agricultural Statistics Serive’s June Crush Report showed 169.6 million bushels of soybeans were crushed during the month, slightly higher than the 168.8-million-bushel estimate. This was a record for the month of June. Outlook: August weather makes the soybean yield. Whether soybeans can extend this week’s gains into the August crop report without positive political or weather news is uncertain as ending stocks edge closer to 700 million bushels than 600 million bushels. While it doesn’t look like China will increase the soybean tariff on U.S. soybeans, this week’s action indicated we’re not getting any closer to a resolution to the trade war. The upside to any price rally in the coming week will have to come from a friendlier relationship with China, or a change to hotter, drier forecasts for the corn belt. The high this week in November soybeans was $9.22.25 per bushel. For the week, it was up 17 cents to close at $9.02.25 per bushel. September meal was down $1.20 for the week at $330.60 per ton and September soyoil was off 15 ticks at $28.52 per pound. Nystrom’s Notes: Contract changes for the week ended Aug. 3: Minneapolis September wheat jumped 20.25 cents higher to $6.12.75, Chicago rallied 25.75 cents to $5.56.25, and Kansas City was the leader with a 34.75 cent surge higher to $5.67.25 per bushel. Crude oil was down 20 cents at $68.49, ULSD lost 3.25 cents, RBOB was 4.75 cents lower, and natural gas was 7 cents higher. The U.S. dollar index as of mid-afternoon Aug. 3 was up .510 for the week. v
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American agriculture is feeling the weight of the world WACHTLER, from pg. 26 level as you are telling your story, they will be more likely to be open to your viewpoints. Also, do research on organizations that are aligned with your viewpoint and show your support for them. These organizations likely have economists, lobbyists and legal teams who can be leveraged to your advantage. Control the things that you are able to control How global economic forces affect your farm is analogous to how the weather on the wide open ocean affects a sailing vessel. Sometimes the wind is at your back and sometimes it can be pretty rough. The best strategy is to be prepared and run a “tight ship.” There are many factors which you do have control over. You have control over your financial position, risk management plan, in addition to your family and personal relationships. Tighten up your balance sheet by reducing debt and if need be, liquidate unnecessary assets. Also, add to your sources of income by taking on additional custom work, nonfarm work, or pursuing new business. I personally know many farmers who have transferred the knowledge they have gained from running a successful farm business to another industry and they have achieved great financial rewards. Risk management needs to be more than just a plan. Your risk management strategy needs to be executed. Simply trying to get the highest price for your grain is not a risk management strategy. A risk management strategy for pricing grain analyzes your break-even production costs and has definitive prices
MARKETING and timeframes to sell grain. Reducing or eliminating crop insurance may save some dollars, but it is definitely not part of a sound risk management strategy. Purchasing crop insurance should be viewed as a requirement, not an option. Family and personal relationships can be one of the most challenging or rewarding aspects of owning a farm. They are also some of the least talked about subjects on the farm. In a perfect situation, everyone will be rowing the boat in unison, but it seldom works that way in the real world. Consistent and open communication can assist in uncovering challenges before they become problems, and opportunities may
be discovered by listening to the goals and ideas of others who share a vested interest in the farm. Ask for help Don’t hesitate to ask an ag service professional for help. Your banker can also be a valuable contact as you review your financial position and make changes that affect your farm. In addition, I encourage every producer to do an annual business review in order to improve their ability to navigate rough waters. Glenn Wachtler is a Financial Officer at Compeer Financial with over 20 years of experience. For more insights from Wachtler and the Compeer Financial team, visit Compeer.com v
Pork market likely to remain weak TEALE, from pg. 26 ditions and protect inventories if needed. The hog market has been under severe pressure since the end of June. Several conditions have affected the market during the past month. First, the seasonal pattern has turned negative during the normal time frame of late spring to early summer. The other major influence has been the dominance of the proposed tariffs in particular to the Chinese market. The Chinese, as well as other countries around the world, have been major buyers of U.S. pork. This fear has dominated the market for weeks and is not likely to
change until it draws to a conclusion. This has changed the meat protein market by a large measure as pork is considerably at a far deeper discount to the consumer than beef on a per-pound ratio. The prospect that demand for pork may increase because of this disparity between pork and beef at the wholesale level. This could result in some price appreciation for hogs in future weeks. Until this disparity changes, the hog market is likely to remain weak in the near term. Producers should remain cognizant of market conditions and protect inventories as warranted. v
Start thinking about late-season weed management ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Hindsight is 20/20, but for crop producers with late season weed issues, the focus should shift to what options there are to control weeds in the late stages of crops. These weeds have already impacted yield, and by letting them go to seed, they will create even more issues in the years to come. For example, waterhemp can produce over 200,000 weed seeds with one plant. Especially if these weeds are herbicide-resistant, it becomes critical to manage these plants before they go to seed, which will occur in the next few weeks. With late season weeds, a miracle broadleaf killer to apply is not present and herbicides aren’t a great option. First, most soybeans are developmentally past the label’s range to apply many popular herbicides like Roundup or Liberty, and others have preharvest intervals that need to be observed and can do damage to soybeans this late in their development. Additionally, the weeds that are a present issue are probably a couple of feet tall, which is way over the recommended maximum height to try and control them with herbicides. If the soybeans haven’t canopied yet, cultivation could still potentially be a weed control option. Unfortunately, the best option to manage is by hand-
pulling these weeds. If these weeds are pulled soon, they will not need to be removed from the field as the weeds will not be producing viable seeds. However, if one would wait a few weeks to when these plants produce viable seeds, it is preferred to remove the weeds from the field as the seeds would still spread through the field and could potentially create problems next year. Another important weed management factor to consider this time of year is weeds that are present in the ditch or along a fenceline. Managing these weeds will help keep the end rows of the field clean from weed
issues. Mowing down these areas before viable seed production begins is another critical step in ensuring that weed issues don’t come into the field. When managing late season weeds, take note of the weeds that are still present. Look for large themes and try to ask yourself how these weeds made it through your pest management plan. Taking note of the plants that remain is a key step in making your integrated pest management plan as effective as possible. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
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9500 JD combine ‘90 model FOR SALE: Fantini chopping rebuilt, nice, $17,750; 9500 8R & 12R CH; 70’ Elmer ‘92 model dual, $16,500; drag, Merritt alum hopper 9500 JD combine ‘96 model grain trailers; 24R30” JD pl 4W Greenstar $17,500; 6620 on Kinze bar; Big A floater; JD Titan II sidehill combine 175 Michigan ldr; IH 964 ‘88 model, $7,500; 4320 JD CH; White 706 & 708 CH & tractor, new tires, $7,250; parts; White plows & parts; 4560 JD tractor, power shift, 54’ 4300 IH field cultivator; MFD, hub duals, $24,500. JD 44’ field cult; 3300 HiniCall 715-772-4255 ker field cult; header trailer. 507-380-5324 AUCTION, SAT. AUG 18 FOR SALE: ‘66 JD 4020, 7670 Sheep & Goat Equipment hrs, new short block on 3565 2 & 3 Way Sorting Gates 7 & 8 Bar Corral & Run Pan- hrs, duals, cab, WF, rock els 10 Ft Long. Guillotine box, new batteries, $9,500; Gates. Turn Cradles. Miner- 61’ Westfield 10” auger, $1,500. Jackson MN 507-840al Feeders, One Way Gates 0661 or 507-840-0005 Sold To Highest Bidder. davewhiteauction.com A.L. Buseman 319-347-6282 FOR SALE: JD 6600 dsl combine, JD 220 flex head, JD Fair Oaks Cleated Roller, Aer- 643 cornhead. JD 7720 comator, 20’ with 8” spades, 30” bine. JD 8300 grain drill. All drum, swing away tongue, excellent condition. 320-5832751 $12,000. 715-234-1993
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ingFOR SALE: H & S 18’ rear TO SETTLE ESTATE - 1900 mer unload silage wagon, like 7810 Ford tractor, $10,000. per new, $15,000; Kuhn GA3200 NH 1411 discbine, 11 ½ cut, D pl GT rake, new cond, $3950. premium condition, $12,000. ter; (507)236-4835 Will sell as a pair for $20,000. 964 Honda Shadow 750 motorcyH &FOR SALE: ‘08 6R Geringhoff cle, low miles w/ saddlebags, rts; cornhead, excellent condi- $4,500/OBO. 320-630-5336 or; tion, field ready, $22,000. 612We buy ini- 232-4078 or 612-803-8753 Salvage Equipment ler. FOR SALE: John Deere Parts Available 643 cornhead, low tin, new Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910 7670 chains. (763)434-5282 565 Harms Mfg. Land Sell your farm equipment ock Rollers, Brand New, in The Land with a line ad. 00; 12’-$6,800; 14’-$7,000; 507-345-4523 ger, 16’-$7,800; 24’-$14,800; 84032’-$17,500; 42’-$20,500. Tractors Others from 8’-62’. 715-234-1993 om‘53 JD A, narrow front, new JDJD 9510 Sidehill, $18,000 for front tires 2017, $4,000/OBO. om- repairs in the last year, 693, 715-257-9067 All 643, 920F, available. 608-792FOR SALE: 966 Int’l, 2,462 583- 8051 original hrs, mint condition, tin work excellent, always Classified Line Ads shedded, duals, 3pt quick tatch, rock box, M&W pistons. As clean as you will find, $11,500. 507-317-1482 Call 507-345-4523
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FOR SALE: AC 8070 power NEW AND USED TRACTOR shift, new rear tires, duals, PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 2 yrs on OH, turbo re-do- 55, 50 Series & newer tracne, runs great, great shape, tors, AC-all models, Large Dad’s toy, $18,000. 952-212- Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage 3545 715-673-4829 FOR SALE: Case 1470, 5,742 hrs, always shedded, tin work excellent, as clean as you will find, must see to appreciate, $11,700. 507-317-1482 Read The Land’s e-edition online at www.thelandonline.com
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Harvesting Equip ‘10 JD 9770 STS Combine 1932/1499 hrs, Duals, PRWD, CM, AAHC, Y&M, TS, Thru Service Program Every Season, Very Nice Machine, $112,500. (320) 979-9460 1460 IH combine, IH eng, 3100 hrs, exc combine, many new updates, 28Lx26 tires-80%, 1063 cornhead, exc shape, you will never see a combine this nice, $15,000/OBO (has a new unload & upright & gear box auger). (507)5334620 or (507)951-5071
1990 JD 9500 combine with 843 oil-bath cornhead. 17’ auger, duals, 3208 sep hrs, one season on new rasp and concave, $25,000/OBO (or best offer). (320) 905-7415
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018 TH Livestock Equipment
Livestock
1994 Gleaner R-52, 2085 eng FOR SALE: 35’ MacDon FD75 JD Model 1291 12R22” corn- FOR SALE:Used grain bins, FOR SALE: New Idea ma- 2400 head nursery spaces hrs, 1250 sep hrs, clean ma- draper head, w/ AWS air head, knife rolls, hyd deck floors unload systems, sti- nure spreader model S678, available, completely rechine, always shedded, will reel, one owner, approx 1900 plates, exc cond, $24,000. rators, fans & heaters, aer- slop gate. 507-642-8564 modeled, call for more info. come with 6R cornhead & acres, like new, $66,900. 507- Pictures & more. (218)791- ation fans, buying or selling, (507)920-7980 20’ beanhead. (507)524-4754 327-6430 try me first and also call for 3400 FOR SALE: Black Angus very competitive contract or (507)995-8110 FOR SALE: 1997 Brent grain bulls also Hamp, York, & rates! Office hours 8am-5pm Grain Handling Hamp/Duroc boars & gilts. FOR SALE: 1990 Case IH 1680 cart model 774 w/ weight Monday - Friday Saturday Equipment excellent shape, 320-598-3790 combine, Cummins motor scale, 9am - 12 noon or call 507-697w/5140 hours, always shed- $13,900. 507-327-6430 6133 Ask for Gary Behlen 3,800 bushel wet holdded & nice condition. 25’ fining tank, excellent condition. Superb SD 500 VQ Grain DryDairy ger reel off of 1020 head. Call Please support the advertisers you see here. Wanted (507)278-4010 Tell them you saw their ad in The Land! er, continuous flow, full heat, 320-293-8086 automatic moisture control, 70- 1st & 2nd calf animals for new gas valve last season, All kinds of New & Used farm sale, AI serviced popular good condition, works excel- equipment - disc chisels, field bulls, 45 year of breeding lent, $13,000; Sudenga 8 X cults, planters, soil finishers, and classified yearly, 27,500 71 top drive like new, $1,500. cornheads, feed mills, discs, lb herd average, 2X day balers, haybines, etc. 507- milking, just fresh, 30 days (507) 360-3396 438-9782 milking. Magnuson Mini Classified Line Ads WANTED: Allis Chalmers Acres 715-897-6986 talk to Scott. mounted disc w/snap coupler hitch; 18” grain bin aeration Sell your livestock in The Land Call 507-345-4523 fan. (763)434-5282 with a line ad. 507-345-4523
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Swine
cesANGUS BULLS FOR SALE Compart’s total program feare- - Yearling and 2 year olds, tures superior boars & open nfo. breeding soundness exam, gilts documented by BLUP Tschanz Farms, Us Hwy 53. technology. Duroc, York, 715-538-3123 Landrace & F1 lines. Tergus minal boars offer leanness, &Cow/calf pairs, calves are muscle, growth. Maternal sired registered Red Angus, ilts. Cows are bred back to Red gilts & boars are productive, Angus. Will make a produc- lean, durable. All are stress tive addition to any herd. free & PRRS free. Semen also available through Elite 715-229-4004 Genes A.I. Make ‘em Grow! Shorthorn yearling bulls. Reg- Comparts Boar Store, INC. for istered, quality A-I sired, Toll Free: 877-441-2627 ular polled. Call Keystone Shorting horns. 715-202-0594 Please recycle this magazine. 500 day ays Mini to
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018 TH Trucks & Trailers
Miscellaneous
FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hamp- FOR SALE: Buckboard, new 2004 Volvo VNL 630, 500,000 PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS shire, Duroc & Hamp/Duroc wood, rubber on wood spoke miles, automatic transmis- New pumps & parts on hand. boars, also gilts. Excellent wheels; Hereford roping sion, excellent condition, Call Minnesota’s largest disselection. Raised outside. saddle w/ bridle breast collar $20,000. (218)791-3400 tributor HJ Olson & Company Exc herd health. No PRSS. & blanket. 507-642-8564 FOR SALE: Ford 7.3 diesel 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 Delivery avail. 320-760-0365 pickups, parted out all yrs, call for parts or service. Spot, Duroc, Chester White, REINKE IRRIGATION (320)583-0881 Boars & Gilts available. Sales & Service Monthly PRRS and PEDV. New & Used Delivery available. Steve Please recycle this magazine. For your irrigation needs Resler. 507-456-7746 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073
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Sheep
Industrial & Construction
Recreational Vehicles
FOR SALE: IHC 660D Wheatland, pwr steering, T.A., hand clutch; ‘08 5th whl camper, 31’ Cougar by Keystone, 2 S/O’s, Polar pkg, always shedded; ‘13 Chevy Camaro SS, 6.2 ltr, red, exc FOR SALE: Dorset ewe FOR SALE: ‘97 JD 310E Back shape, 3,200 miles. (507)829lambs, Arndt Acres. Hoe 10,062 hrs, 75% Thread, 3793 (952)466-5876 Call evenings. Extended Arm, Motor Runs Great, Field Ready, Bushing Miscellaneous Sell your livestock in The Land are tight. Asking $18,700. with a line ad. 507-345-4523 Call Steve 320-212-8751, Mike 320-894-5415 or Carlos 320- Balzer 4200 gal liq manure 212-2946, $18,700/OBO (or spreader, slurry tank w/3 knife applicator & big tires best offer). 286x26, $11,000. (507)829-1224 Dorset & Hampshire rams for sale. Lambs & yearlings, large framed w/fast growth that will put extra lbs on your lambs. I can deliver. Gene Sanford (507)645-4989
FOR SALE: 1990 Komatsu FOR SALE: 7 Concrete H feed Call D68 Dozer, $13,900. (320)226- bunks. (952)466-5876 evenings. 0825
Winpower Sales & Service Reliable Power Solutions Since 1925 PTO & automatic Emergency Electric Generators. New & Used Rich Opsata-Distributor 800-343-9376
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ADVERTISING NOTICE: Please check your ad the first week it runs. We make every effort to avoid errors by checking all copy, but sometimes errors are missed. Therefore, we ask that you review your ad for correctness. If you find a mistake, please call (507) 345-4523 immediately so that the error can be corrected. We regret that we cannot be responsible for more than one week’s insertion if the error is not called to our attention. We cannot be liable for an amount greater than the cost of the ad. THE LAND has the right to edit, reject or properly classify any ad. Each classified line ad is separately copyrighted to THE LAND. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
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THE LAND — AUGUST 10/AUGUST 17, 2018
This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Managing Editor Paul Malchow.
E
agles and fish might seem like strange bedfellows, but at the Decorah fish hatchery, eagles and trout live side-by-side. And both draw their fair share of attention. The Decorah fish hatchery is located one mile south of Decorah, Iowa in Winneshiek County. The hatchery is a production rearing station for growing Shasta strain rainbow and St. Croix strain brook trout. About 130,000 catchable size rainbow and 20,000 catchable brook trout are raised each year. Siewers Spring is Iowa’s secondlargest spring and supplies water to the hatchery. The spring never freezes — even in the depth of winter. A Department of Natural Resources official said at an air temperature of -37 F, the water in the spring was 47 degrees. The hatchery’s limestone office and residence dates back to the 1930s as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It overlooks 24 cement flow-through raceways and three rubber lined earthen ponds where the fish are grown. Rainbow trout are raised in the cement raceways while the brook trout grow better in the earthen ponds. It takes 18 months for a trout to grow from an egg to catchable size (10-11 inches weighing about half a pound). Each month from April to October, 15,000-17,000 trout are stocked into 15 put-and-take streams in Allamakee, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek counties. The hatchery also stocks five seasonal urban lakes in Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, Ames and Ankeny or Bondurant. The Iowa Natural Resources Commission voted in May to change the name of the Decorah fish hatchery to the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery. Gipp retired in May after six years as Director of the Iowa DNR and around a decade of working at the state agency. Prior to serving at the DNR, Gipp was elected to the Iowa House, where he served
Fin and feather
Decorah, Iowa
as majority leader. Prior to that, he was a dairy farmer in northeast Iowa. Friends of the Decorah Fish Hatchery, an organization supporting the operation, recently constructed a 1,000-square-foot education and visitors center. Fundraising success for the center is largely attributed to a pair of eagles which reside a stone’s throw from the hatchery. The Raptor Resource Project installed a webcam trained on the eagles’ nest and runs the live stream for research purposes. (The project, established in 1988, protects more than 40 nests and nesting areas in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Colorado.) Filmed in real time, the parents can be seen delivering a variety of freshly caught prey, feeding the eaglets, and protecting them from predators and harsh weather. With the help of infrared lighting, the nest is viewable around the clock during the nesting season, which typically begins in January or February. Sometime in June the eaglets are able to fly. The Decorah eagles became an Internet phenomenon with roughly 2.4 million views per day. The eagles are not given names in order to prevent viewers from regarding them as pets, but that doesn’t stop thousands of visitors coming to the hatchery to get a live glimpse of the majestic birds. The enterprising hatchery friends group sells t-shirts and other eagle-related items — both at the visitor center and online. A volunteer last summer said in six weeks the hatchery had visitors from 42 states and six countries. The fish hatchery is open to the public 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. Group tours can be scheduled by calling the hatchery at (563) 382-8324. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The eagle cam can be found at https://explore. org/livecams/bald-eagles/decoraheagles. v
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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement
© 2018
August 10/August 17, 2018 (800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com theland@TheLandOnline.com P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002