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September 7, 2018 September 14, 2018

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Crop on a stick Mighty Axe grows hops on 20-foot poles for local brewers

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Political asylum

P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XLII ❖ No. 18 40 pages, 1 section plus supplements

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COLUMNS Opinion Farm and Food File Cooking With Kristin The Back Porch In The Garden Marketing Farm Programs Calendar of Events From The Fields Mielke Market Weekly Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing Back Roads

2-5 5 6 9 11 14-15 16 19 23 25 29-39 39 40

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Is there Politics Anonymous? Some byists in Washington, D.C. as the USDA meeting where you gulp coffee and conis shelling out payments of $1.65 per fess your political afflictions? Sign me up. bushel.

This week, as I sat down to craft this I still maintain the trade situation of Land Minds, I pledged to stay away from “United States vs. everyone else” is going politics. If I keep yammering on about to take some time to shake out. the farm bill, upcoming elections, tariffs Unfortunately for most farmers, time is and trade agreements, it becomes white not on their side. In the scope of the noise and readers jump over page 2 altovalue of American agriculture products, LAND MINDS gether to see what Kristin Kveno is cook$6.3 billion (or even $12 billion) won’t ing for dinner. keep the lights on for long.

By Paul Malchow It’s important to mix things up and See … I can’t stop. not become stuck in a political rut. n Dick Hagen can spin Paul HarveyA quick “good-on-ya” to Daniel and esque tales of The Chatterbox Café, trips to Isreal Annette Gregor of Montgomery, Minn. The Gregors and the Olivia Lions Club. I should be able to ignore won The Land’s grill give-away contest just for fillthe Trump/Perdue show for a week or two and tell ing out their subscription form (and winning the you about the garage sale we had last weekend. drawing).

I can’t.

Much the same way as my wife faithfully tunes in to “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” I have to hear the latest unravelings in the White House.

From staff firings/resignations to flying the flag at half-staff to hush payments made to porn stars, the story lines keep bordering on the preposterous to unbelievable.

Not being satisfied with his shoving match against China, President Trump now has his sights set on Canada. Really? Canada? What hopes do we have for world peace if we can’t even get along with Canada?

U.S. agriculture has been buzzing after the announcement of a $12 billion tariff relief package for farmers. (Well actually, $6.3 billion. But $12 billion sounds like more.) Farmers and ag organizations have filed the news under “Better than nothing.” (Unless you grow corn — then the news is a penny better than nothing.)

As of this writing, no one has spilled the beans on Just as in farming, publishing has its share of regwho actually determined how the $6.3 billion was ulations. In order for The Land to obtain the best divvied up. Sonny isn’t saying. Reports are sorghum postage rate, we need to be able to provide signed and cotton growers will benefit the most. It’s proba- requests (from you) to the post office to prove we bly a little late in the growing season to make the really have subscribers. crop switch. In a lump-sum figure, the pork producWe really truly deeply appreciate that you send in ers are looking at a bit of a windfall. But when you break it down to $8 per head, not many pig farmers your signed forms. Thanks to the Gregors and will be vacationing on the Riviera this winter. News everyone else. for dairy is ho-hum while cattle is just shy of being Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. forgotten. Soybean growers may have the best lobHe may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com.v

OPINION

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

17 — Expanding markets keep hops growers happy 22 — Garlic Festival celebrates love for the clove

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

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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Tariff ‘mitigation’: The carrot, the stick and you The Trump that ranged from lukewarm Administration’s good cop/ (“Well, ah, OK”) to the more bad cop approach to U.S. heated (“You’re kidding trade policy was on full disme!”). play Aug. 27 when The lukewarm groups President Donald J. Trump included cotton growers (the bad cop that day) who, calculates the farmannounced a very incomdocDAILY group at the plete NAFTA trade deal — FARM & FOOD FILE University of Illinois, “have fueled by his heavy use of experienced increased prictariffs — that pointedly

By Alan Guebert es but are” rewarded “with excluded Canada. relatively large payment (NAFTA is the North rates.”

American Free Trade Better yet are sorghum Agreement now under growers who “receive a payment rate renegotiation between the United that is more than four times as large States, Mexico and Canada.) as the estimated price decline from That day’s good cop was U.S. May to August,” — the period the paySecretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue ments are meant to mitigate. who explained how the first half of the How did these crops end up with White House’s allocated $12 billion in comparatively better deals than other trade “mitigation” funds will be discommodities like corn or milk? The tributed to U.S. farmers clobbered by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s twoglobal blowback to, yes, those same paragraph explanation, attached to its White House tariffs.

23-page “final rule,” offers little For now, that’s the White House’s insight. double-barreled trade policy: At one Farm leaders representing commodimeeting tariffs are the stick to whack a stubborn negotiating partner back to ties mostly stiffed by the White the bargaining table; while at a second House’s “mitigation” checks quickly spotted these discrepancies and pubmeeting, taxpayer money is the juicy licly filed their complaints. carrot to keep U.S. farmers from rejecting the Administration’s marketOklahoman Jimmie Musick, presicracking tariff policy. dent of the National Association of So far, however, the Administration’s Wheat Growers, pointed out to Perdue that the 14 cents per bushel payment carrot-and-stick tariff use has delivrate promised wheat growers “poorly ered more trouble than good — for reflects the reality that all farmers are both the President and farmers. being harmed by tariffs.” And, he For example, after Perdue added, “The long-term solution is to announced the tariff payment scheme end the trade war.”

Aug. 27, silence fell over farm country Kevin Skunes, a North Dakota farmas farmers and farm groups analyzed er serving as National Corn Growers the crops affected, payment rates, Association president, was more blunt. income limits and market impact.

“Unfortunately, this plan provides virThat silence soon gave way to views

OPINION

Letters to the editor are always welcome.

Send your letters to: Editor, The Land, P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002 e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com All letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) to verify authenticity.

tually no relief to corn farmers,” he said after learning that initial payments to corn growers will be a miserly 1 cent per bushel, or about $96 million for tariff losses NCGA estimates to be more than $6 billion.

Perdue was Buddha-like toward the reviews: serenely silent.

Some of the Administration’s biggest backers, however, were not quite as meditative. Many, like the Wall Street Journal, had a hard time finding one kernel of anything to praise in the President’s underlying, no-Canada NAFTA move. “We’re glad to see Mr. Trump step back from the suicide of NAFTA withdrawal,” noted the Journal’s lead editorial Aug. 28, “but on the public evidence so far, his new deal is worse.”

And that’s the case, it noted, even if Canada jumps into the Mexican-U.S. not-yet-done deal — a move that remains uncertain at deadline.

London’s Financial Times had an equally tough, more international judgment of Trump’s incomplete NAFTA deal: “The best that can be said about” the Mexican-U.S. deal that excluded Canada “is that it is meaningless. It is emphatically not a positive development for NAFTA, or for the quality of trade policymaking in the United States and beyond.”

If either analysis is only partly correct, U.S. farmers have every right to howl over the Administration’s “mitigation” payment schemes. And (so far anyway) it’s very counterproductive carrot-and-stick tariff policy.

Especially now, with emerging proof, that it’s going to be a big harvest and a long, carrot-filled winter.

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

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

These recipes are ideal for those pummeled with produce Last week I was sitting on my front Caprese Salad porch enjoying a beautiful (muggy and 2 cups, chopped ripe tomatoes buggy) summer evening when I noticed a 1 cup (4 ounces) cubed mozzarella cheese cherry tomato with a big bite out of it on 2 cups sliced zucchini, 1/8 inch thick the edge of the porch. I asked the kids Dressing: who took a bite out of a tomato and then 2 teaspoons chopped oregano left it there. No one admitted to it, but 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt upon further inspection I could see that 2 teaspoons basil the culprit was our friend, the garden 1/4 teaspoon pepper COOKING chipmunk, Chippy. My husband has 1/2 teaspoon sugar WITH KRISTIN other names for Chippy but none that 2 tablespoons olive oil

By Kristin Kveno can be printed so we’ll just call him 2 teaspoons vinegar Chippy.

Combine tomatoes, mozzarella and zucchini, set aside. Mix Chippy and friends have been constant invaders dressing ingredients then toss into the veggies and mozzarella, in our garden for years, so before he started on the refrigerate overnight. all-you-can-eat produce buffet, I gathered all the n ripe veggies and brought them in the house. With Now that I rescued my cherry tomatoes from the all this fresh food, it was time to get creative in clutches of Chippy’s tiny paws, it’s time to put them using it all. Here are some delicious recipes that to good use. This recipe stuffs herbed goat cheese in use garden veggies as the main ingredients. cherry tomatoes and the result is pure deliciousness.

This is my favorite way to use zucchini. It’s a light Cherry Tomatoes with Herbed Goat Cheese salad that highlights this tasty veggie and throws www.yummly.com/recipe/Cherry-Tomatoes-with-Herbed-Goatsome tomatoes and mozzarella in as well to create Cheese-1405110 the perfect combination. I make this often and it’s always a winner at dinner.

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can add more chicken broth during the cooking process, but don’t be afraid to let it all cook away so the onions and peppers can start to caramelize. n I’ve loved stuffed green peppers since I was a little kid. There’s just something about the combination of rice, beef and peppers that spells comfort. This is a tried and true recipe with a bit of Tabasco for a little zip.

Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/dads_stuffed_bell_peppers/ 1-1/2 cup of cooked white rice 4 bell peppers, any color 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped 1 pound of lean ground beef 1 cup chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned (if using can, drain of excess liquid first) 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon of dried oregano 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 cup ketchup 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire Sauce dash of Tabasco sauce Cut the tops off of the bell peppers about 1/2 inch to 1 inch from the stem end and remove the seeds. Place a steaming rack in a large pot and add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan by an inch. Place the bell peppers on the rack, cut side up, and bring the water to a boil. Cover the pot and let the peppers steam for 5 to 10 minutes until they start to soften. Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat 4 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring often, until soft and n translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute I recently had a fridge full of green beans and need- more. Add the meat, cooked rice, cooked onions, tomatoes, oregano salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix everything together ed to find a good way to use them. I discovered this with your hands or a wooden spoon — just enough so that the recipe. The name won me over and the taste of this ingredients are all well distributed. Do not over-mix. Drizzle dish did too! remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil inside the peppers. Arrange The Best Green Beans Ever the cut side of the peppers up in a baking dish, then stuff pepwww.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/the-best-greenpers with filling. Combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, beans-ever-recipe-1989056 Tabasco sauce and 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl, then spoon 1 pound green beans over filling. Add 1/4 cup of water to the baking dish. Place in 2 tablespoons bacon grease (can substitute 2 tablespoons butter) oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes (or longer, depending on 2 cloves garlic, minced how big the peppers are that you are stuffing), until the internal 1 large onion, chopped temperature of the stuffed peppers is 150 to 160 degrees.

1 cup chicken broth, plus more if needed I hope you have a bounty of garden vegetables 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper this summer and not a thief in sight (I’m talking 1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt about you, Chippy). Enjoy the fresh taste of the garground black pepper den and give these recipes a try!

Snap the stem ends of the green beans, or cut them off in a Kristin Kveno scours the internet, pours over old big bunch with a knife if you’d prefer. Melt the bacon grease in a family recipes and searches everywhere in between to skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook find interesting food ideas for feeding your crew. Do for a minute. Then add the green beans and cook until the beans you have a recipe you want to share? You can reach turn bright green, about a minute. Add the chicken broth, Kristin at kristin_kveno@yahoo.com. v chopped red pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Turn the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid, leaving the lid cracked to allow steam to escape. Cook until the liquid evaporates and the beans are fairly soft, yet still a bit crisp, 20 to 30 minutes. You

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Canning today not a necessity, but an obsession

By RENAE B. VANDER SCHAAF The Land Correspondent Where, oh where, has this summer gone! Is it possible that the calendar changed itself from July to August overnight?

For school children, this means the looming, dreaded first day of school, where freedom to explore the great outdoors and learn new skills through self-teaching or from a mentoring person comes to an end.

It’s time now to devote one’s energy to studying and learning from books which is also needful with the aid of dedicated instructors.

For those of us who have the privilege of gardening, canning continues at breakneck speed. Only it’s incorrect to speak of canning as speedy. It takes time to pick and ready the produce for preservation, hours are spent filling jars before processing in

what is usually timed in minutes so psychologically one doesn’t realize it takes many minutes for the canner to reach a rolling boil. When all is said and done, the total may be reckoned in hours. But if one really thought that through, even the most persistent canner just might say, “No, let’s forget it.”

That isn’t even the sum total of hours at all. I doubt anyone includes in their computations of time needed the 24 hours the sealed jars must sit before the rings can come off. Nor the final steps of dating the jars and bringing down to the cellar to arrange on shelves (which finally happens when there is no room on the kitchen counter).

Nope, speedy is not the word to describe canning.

Sometimes I think canning is some kind of addic-

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tion. There appears to be very little money saved or earned from the time involved.

For instance, gardening can be a constant battle of fighting drought or flooding — sometimes in the same week. Vicious insects that want to devour plants and the gardener. Cold, freezing temperatures or hours of sweating under a blazing sun, or the wild critters or farm animals that enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Modern agriculture has done a fantastic job of bringing low-cost food to grocery shelves. So well, that not everyone knows potatoes and carrots grow underground, and have dirt on them before they are cleaned.

I am quite thankful for the fact that food is plentiful and arrives swiftly to the store. How else could I find the food items to can such as apricots, Italian prunes and peaches that do not grow on my farm?

Putting up food isn’t the survival necessity that it may have been for earlier generations. Hey, maybe there is an undiscovered canning gene that drives us to this frenzy? Or could it be the bright colors of red tomatoes, purple grape juice, green pickles in the jar that thrill those of us with this canning addiction?

Actually canning is rather simple. Just follow the rules. Creativity comes in handy when dreaming up new recipes to use the abundance of produce. My math skills come back in use when determining how much sugar and salt is needed to eliminate one more trip to town.

Maybe it’s that challenge of finding the tastiest canning recipes, picking the produce while it is in prime condition, squabbling at the grocery store over who needs the mustard seed most — when it’s the last one in the tri-state region. But it’s awful hard to give in when there is only one mustard jar on the shelf when the bread and butter pickles are sitting on ice waiting for the brine.

Me thinks the love of canning has something to do with that old adage, “waste not, want not.” The food is available, so why not preserve it? Perhaps the words of Proverbs 31 on the virtuous wife provide the incentive. This happens to be our way of looking to our family’s needs.

Whatever the reason, canning does seem to be addictive. There is no sense in starting a Canners Anonymous care group, because it would swiftly become CAN (aka: Canning Adherents Network) with a new supply of food preservers to share recipes and methods. v

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PAGE 9

Things should be looking up — even when they’re not ter try that again. I know It could be worse. you can stomp louder.” Sure It’s an odd way to comfort enough. He was right! yourself. But it’s the best I When life is at its worst, could do as I crawled into what do you do? Some bed on Friday night. Both stomp and slam doors; othmy husband and dad’s ers numb, stuff and stew. hearts were in AFib (Atrial And studies show a growing fibrillation is an irregular number of Americans suffer and often rapid heart rate).

And after business hours on THE BACK PORCH from anxiety disorders. that same Friday, my Jeep’s

By Lenae Bulthuis Here’s the thing: when light blinked warning and we’re down, we need to go the pump on our farm well somewhere with our worry and pain. went wonky — refusing to dispense May I suggest up? even one drop of water.

Speak up. In an authentic converI stared into the darkness, and chose sation about depression, Tara told me to battle my worse-case-scenario about a friend who was upset when no thoughts with gratitude. Thank you one helped her through her deepest for medicine and medical professionpit. Though the close-knit community als, mechanics who work weekends, was quick to help others, they didn’t and the water-well dudes that promhelp her. Why? ised to show up first thing in the With all the love, Tara responded, morning.

“You never told us. You never let on And though “It could be worse” may that anything was wrong!” be a practical tool to fight for personal If we tell people we’re fine, pretend perspective in the tough stuff, it’s a things are well, and go to great lousy way to comfort others. lengths to hide what we don’t want “It could be worse” seems to tell pit- others to see, the pit will get lonelier dwellers they have two options. Either still. Dare to speak up to those you they are standing on a trapdoor that trust. You’ll receive needed help, and could drop at any moment and make bonus! You’ll give others the courage things worse yet, or they should to stop pretending, too. search for someone in an even deeper Stand up. When life is hard, stand pit so they can feel better about their up for yourself. Push the pause button. situation. And pity the one who can’t Instead of worrying about what others find someone worse off than he! may think or expect of you, do what’s When one of our young grands gets best for you and your future. Give frustrated things aren’t going his way, yourself needed space and permission he screams, “This is the worst!” Then to feel, heal and deal with the difficulhe storms out of the room, down the ty. steps, and into his bedroom. You know Look up. In her book, The Hiding he arrived when you hear his door Place, Corrie Ten Boom shares how slam. she and her family helped many Jews I’m familiar with the pattern of his escape the Nazi holocaust during ways. I did the same thing as a kid.

World War II. But when they got Except I stomped up the stairs to my caught, they experienced horrific conbedroom instead of down. And when I sequences including solitary confinewas really angry, my dad would call ment in a federal prison, concentration me back to the bottom step. And with camp, hunger, punishment and for a twinkle in his eye he’d say, “You bet- some, death.

Keep the photos coming E-mail your Life on the Farm photos to editor@thelandonline.com.

Your photo may be published in our next issue!

On the first night of their incarceration, they read Psalm 91 and prayed.

Then they talked about their unknown future and reminded one another of God’s promise to never leave them or forsake them.

From the very beginning, they made the commitment to look up. Corrie said, “For a child of God, no pit could be so deep that Jesus was not deeper still.”

It takes courage to choose “up.” But if we look at seeds, we see hope in the hard. Seeds are planted into dark holes. And the only ones that experi-

ence growth and transformation are the ones that break open and look up.

May the things that are breaking you today produce life. And from the growth in patience, compassion and perseverance, may you have the strength and wisdom to help others rise from their pit, too.

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

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Works of celebrated rural artist featured in auction

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. — Monday, Sept. 17, Kirkhoff Auction Center in Redwood Falls will be conducting a most unique auction. Nearly 400 paintings by Dorothea Paul, a noted Renville County farm gal who turned artist, will be offered for sale.

More importantly, potential bidders from across America and beyond will also get involved via online bidding.

Paul was 87 when she died. As often happens with the passing of a family member, a public auction seemed the logical direction. But no machinery, no grain, no livestock this time. Instead, the auction will celebrate a 52-year accumulation of watercolor paintings which had made Paul known to farmer and agricultural individuals across America.

Her daughter, Beryl Wernberg, was at Paul’s farm home on Aug. 15 doing some of the odds and ends necessary to collect the many paintings. She shared some thoughts with The Land that day.

How many paintings will be part of this Sept. 17 auction?

“At least 360 plus,” said Wernberg, adding “which includes both framed and unframed originals and prints. As a prelude to the auction, I hired a company from the Twin Cities to come out and conduct an appraisal which included taking pictures of all the paintings plus the size and descriptions of each.

These will all be part of the information online and to people who personally attend the sale.”

Paul was a busy daughter, wife, mother of three and farmer. She faithfully attended to the chores, gardening and family duties during the first 34 years of her life. Wernberg relates, “She always had an interest in drawing.

That kind of runs in the family. She particularly liked to draw horses. She was born and raised right here on the farm, so she grew up with horses.

“She did the farming,” Wernberg continued. “My dad worked construction and eventually went to work for MnDOT (Minnesota Department of Transportation) so Dad was gone much of the time. Come winter and farming was less a chore, so Mom started painting. She’s pretty much self-taught, but

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Beryl Wernberg holds one of the many paintings by Dorthea Paul which will be put up for auction in Redwood Falls on Sept. 17.

did take a couple of college classes on painting and went to occasional workshops here and there. But mostly she learned it all on her own. My mother is a great example of learning by doing.”

As hundreds of people can attest, Dorothea Paul’s artistic flairs didn’t specialize in any particular environment. But her love of agriculture dominated. Country scenes, quite often involving horses, were her passion.

“She loved to garden and did many garden scene paintings which often featured just one individual flower,” said Wernberg. “She also did a lot of paintings of people’s farms. People would send her an aerial photo of their farm.

She personalized those scenes — often including their dog, horses and other animals. And if it was hay-making time, with a team of horses hoisting hay up into the haymow, that would be featured for certain.”

Paul also did some portrait work.

“She really excelled at water colors,” said her daughter, commenting “all her paintings were good, but her watercolors were exceptional”!

Yes, Paul had favorites in her paintings. Always it was farmers. Because of her own heritage, her paintings of farmers’ faces often depicted both the frazzled determination and the quiet continence so readily apparent in these masters of the prairie.

Nope, there were no particular dignitaries in her personality paintings. You will find no governors or politicians or secretaries of agriculture. “They were always farmers,” related Wernberg. “’The souls of our landscape’ she would say. So that meant real-life farmers — often their children too.”

Trojan Seeds would purchase the back cover space of The Farmer magazine and at times would use a Paul

painting. One particular advertisement carried the title, “Trojan Country — Where Corn Fields are Classrooms!”

That particular Trojan ad won the “Best of Print” campaign in a national farm advertising competition.

But The Farmer magazine wasn’t her only notoriety in the publishing world.

According to Wernberg, her mother had 125 magazine covers over the years!

Locally, the Master’s Coffee Shop in downtown Olivia features a six-foot diameter circular painting by Paul.

This huge painting has seven scenes — each depicting an activity of Trojan Seed Company including that Farmer cornfield classroom scene.

Paul’s farmhouse was her studio. “If she had been on the tractor all day, getting into her house and doing an evening of painting was her relaxation,” recalled Wernberg. “Eventually she did add a special section to her house which essentially became her studio.”

With Paul’s growing notoriety came unusual requests. She started doing calendar pictures for seed companies, tractor firms such as International Harvester and John Deere, even farm cooperatives. “I used to joke with her that when I was growing up nothing but IH was allowed on the farm,” smiled Wernberg. “When she started doing calendar paintings for John Deere I would tease her about getting green ink on her fingers.”

Wernberg said Paul loved farming and loved the land. “We have that in common,” said her daughter. “Land is something that gets into your soul and that showed in my mother’s paintings.

She was painting right up to about a month before she died.”

In her later years, Paul moved into a mobile home in Redwood Falls but still went to the farm daily. Her husband died several years earlier, so farm life got to be a lonesome existence. She had two unfinished paintings on easels when she died. She donated many paintings for various fundraising efforts. “She always wanted to advance education in the arts. She has paintings in every state in the Union and more than 50 foreign countries. She never advertised, but her paintings have traveled far and wide,” summed up Wernberg.

The Sept. 17 auction starts at 11 a.m.

For additional information, visit www. kerkhoffauction.com. v

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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

PAGE 11

American mountain ash is a year-around delight Thirty feet from my front porch, an old American mountain ash tree shows off its canopy — covered with clusters of brilliant orange-red berries.

This tree started as a bare root little seedling 25 years ago and has grown to full maturity.

The tree is a harbinger of all IN THE GARDEN the seasons. In spring, it develops clusters of showy

By Sharon Quale white flowers. In summer it sports apple-green clusters of fruit. In fall it puts on a spectacular splash of colored berries and the foliage turns yellow, orange and reddish-purple. During winter, the bright berries that remain contrast sharply with the snow and dark-colored bark.

Favorite spring and summer visitors to the ash are yellow bellied sapsuckers (a wood pecker species). As their name implies, they suck sap and will drill an array of uniformly spaced holes in the trunk and large branches. These birds announce their presence with a nasal sounding kind of squeal.

Many folks are concerned about the woodpeckers damaging the tree, but the damage will usually not kill the tree. The tree is not a long-lived species and I believe the enjoyment of watching the bird activity is more than worth putting up with any damage to the tree. Before their migration, flocks of robins descend on the tree and stuff themselves with the berries. It is a spectacular sight to see the robins loading up with food the same color as their red breasts.

Catbirds, thrushes and waxwings also like the fruit.

The mountain ash tree belongs to a different genus from other ash trees and is not attacked by the emerald ash borer. It grows in zones 3-7, likes welldrained, slightly-acidic soil and full sun to partial shade. Pruning needs are minimal as it naturally grows in an oval shape. The only needed care is removing any small dead branches and water sprouts.

Old folklore stories, some from the 18th century, include tales of people planting mountain ash trees near the front of houses and burning twigs to lay outside the entrances to ward off evil. The tree was also thought to bring good luck because the stalk on each berry has the shape of a five pointed star known as a pentagram.

This small tree is easy to grow, carefree and makes a statement year-around with dark green foliage and large flower and fruit clusters. n A reader wants to know what could be wrong with her African violet plant. It has white crumbs on the leaves that look like white cake or bread crumbs.

They are easily brushed off but soon return. The leaves look okay but there are not a lot of blooms.

It could likely be a fungus producing powdery mildew. You can try using a Q-tip dipped in a solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent rubbing alcohol to remove it. Organic neem oil or jojoba oil are also com-

mercially available sprays to treat powdery mildew. If it is advanced and covers the entire plant, it might be best to discard it and start with a new cultivar.

Sharon Quale is a master gardener from central Minnesota. She may be reached at (218) 738-6060 or squale101@yahoo.com. v

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Farmers, industry, government team to improve watershed

By PAUL MALCHOW The Land Managing Editor BLOOMING PRAIRIE, Minn. — Rebuilding soil and improving water quality are daunting tasks facing land owners throughout the Midwest. But if you reside in the Cedar River watershed, you are not in the battle alone.

The Cedar River Watershed Partnership, formed in 2017, is a first of its kind collaboration in Minnesota.

The goal of the partnership is to improve water quality and farmer profitability utilizing precision agricultural practices and conservation.

Members of the Cedar River Watershed Partnership include Central Farm Service (a local ag retailer), Hormel Foods, Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, and the Mower Soil and Water Conservation District. The partnership is facilitated by Environmental Initiative — a nonprofit organization that works with business, nonprofit and government leaders to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota’s environmental problems.

This demonstration showed how various farming practices are impacted by heavy rains. The collection jar on the far right filled quickly with soil sediment.

Photos by Paul Malchow

Justin Krell explains his operation’s use of this chisel plow to leave as much soil undistrubed as possible.

On Aug. 17, the Cedar River Watershed Partnership conducted a soil health field day at the Krell farm north of Blooming Prairie, Minn. Members of the watershed partnership were on hand to share their thoughts on how farmers can increase productivity while at the same time take measures to improve water quality.

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Justin Krell is a fifth-generation farmer running 1,600 acres of corn, soybeans and sweet corn. The Krell farm has land in three different watersheds and is the highest point in Steele County. “As farmers, we have to take the opportunity to get involved and learn more every day. What I like about events like this is showing how different farming practices can coexist. You drive down the highway and you can see irrigators in fields that are also strip-tilled, you can see windmills turning and terraces, and you see a lot of growers side dressing corn now instead of putting all the nitrogen on up front. It’s important that we make ourselves aware of these practices.”

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tices must expand beyond the group in attendance at the event. “We have to reach across to the public to protect our waters,” he said. “Public/private partnerships do matter. If we can duplicate this across Minnesota, the country, we win.”

“What we are doing here is not perfect,” Carstens went on to say. “We’re just moving in a direction to make improvements. But these practices have to be beneficial to farmers as well. Without profit, this cannot be sustainable.”

Bert Strayer, a cover crop expert with La Crosse Seed, and Steve Lawler, a soil scientist with Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District, presented five farming practices to demonstrate how healthy soil can help with water retention and mitigate intense rain events.

Sections were cut out of fields implementing a variety of land practices. One section was taken from a field which used 11 species of cover crops in a grazing mix. The land is grazed for two months after harvest.

Another section featured conventional soybean practice. The third section featured no-till corn planted into wheat stubble, and another with sweet corn planted in a green cover of winter rye. The final section was soil from a field practicing conventional sweet corn farming without cover crops. Each section was placed at a 6 percent slope and was watered with an inch of rain at a 7 to 10-minute rate. The simulated rainfall was collected in two separate containers — one to show water retention abilities of the soil and the other to collect runoff.

While soil samples featuring cover crops revealed little runoff, the conventional sweet corn field experienced about a 40 percent runoff rate. Plus, the runoff water from the conventional section was black with mud. Any runoff from soil incorporating cover crops was basically clear water.

“Rye is the most popular cover crop right now,” Strayer said. “It grows fast and is a forgiving species which overwinters well. Corn planted in a green cover crop is not for the novice.

Most farmers starting Travis Routh of L&D Services out will do the answered questions concerning tillinterseeding just age options. after planting in the spring — something short-term.”

Matt Kruger and Brian Ray of Land O’ Lakes demonstrated tilling practices using a chisel plow. Tanner Schuldt, service manager for Environmental Tillage Systems, drove a couple of passes with a Soil Warrior See WATERSHED, pg. 13

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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

PAGE 13

No till, cover crop techniques not always well received WATERSHED, from pg. 12

MAWQCP. “We can keep the government out of it,” he said. “No one can ask who is certified tilling system. Travis Routh, general managor where the land is located.” er for L&D Service in Hartland, Minn. showed Farmers interested in certification should the company’s strip till unit. contact their local soil and water conservaKrell said he has tried strip tillage on some tion district to start the application process. of his fields this year. “Learning management Krell motioned toward his daughter and is probably the biggest thing,” he said. “We cut said he wants to be able to pass the farm on down on passes and eliminated a spring pass to a sixth generation of Krells. He knows the and are seeing better fertilizer efficiency. But importance of healthy soil and clean water for some of our neighbors and landlords are skepfuture descendants. In spite of current martical of the practice.” ket prices, Krell remains optimistic.

District Manager Justin Hanson of the Cedar River Watershed’s water quality improvement practices drew “We are seeing less nitrogen usage while Mower SWCD agreed no-till and cover crop much attention at a field day which took place near Blooming Prairie, increasing yields,” he said. “We’re looking for techniques are not always well received. “Soil Minn. on Aug. 17. a third crop besides corn and soybeans; and health is a ‘silver bullet’ idea,” he said. “But growing soybeans with winter wheat. We see farmers don’t want to be the one whose field ness to assist farmers in becoming certified in looks terrible. That culture will change with a MAWQCP. This assistance may include providing the value of cover cropping and healthy soils. But healthy profit margin.” education, advising growers, utilizing their data-col- from a renter’s standpoint, it’s tough to spend money on developing land you don’t own.”

Ashley Schmeling, a precision ag agronomist with lection capabilities, and helping farmers identify The Cedar River watershed in Minnesota encomCFS, hopes farmers will be patient when implement- cost-share opportunities. ing soil health techniques. “These practices will have One of the farmers attending the event was con- passes 454,029 acres in Mower, Freeborn, Dodge, and the greatest impact on lighter soils,” she said. “But it cerned with having his operation scrutinized for Steele counties. For more information on MAWQCP or might take years of field history to get there.” water quality practices. “Sympathy for farmers is other soil and water quality issues, contact Hanson at justin.hanson@mowerswcd.org; (507) 434-2606 ext. 5; Brad Redlin of the Minnesota Department of lost,” he stated. “There is a distance between urban or your local soil and water conservation district. v and rural.

Let’s say I open my farm up for the water Agriculture spoke about the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. This voluntary quality program. What if they find bad things?” program rewards farmers for implementing practices Kruger said Land O’ Lakes can certify a farm for which help improve water quality. Benefits of participating in this program include technical and financial assistance, along with regulatory certainty for a 10-year period.

• Fast and efficient manure transportation “Certification is site-specific,” Redlin said. “The • Up to 3700 GPM. reviewer looks for risks which needed to be treated. unload speed We meet one-on-one with service providers and look • 5000 gallon to 11,000 at the situation parcel-by-parcel, crop-by-crop.” gallon • Stainless or Aluminum Fifteen farmers in the Cedar River Watershed are • Remote or manual currently certified by MAWQCP, five of them through controls the activities of the Cedar River Watershed • New and used set ups Partnership. Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN, in conjunction available with CFS, is the first Minnesota private sector busi-

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

MARKETING

Grain Outlook Argentine outlook may boost exports Editor’s Note: Joe Lardy, CHS Hedging research analyst, is sitting in this week for Phyllis Nystrom, the regular “Grain Outlook” columnist.

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Aug. 31.

CORN — There was nothing overly positive from a fundamental standpoint at the beginning of the week. Corn seemed to drift lower to sideways.

The financial health of Argentina took a sharp turn for the worse this week. They need cash quickly and the International Monetary Fund wants to see more tax revenue coming in prior to giving them a bailout of cash.

There were strong signs an export JOE LARDY tax in Argentina could be reinCHS Hedging Inc. stated as soon as Sept. 3. This St. Paul prompted a strong rally in corn futures on Aug. 31. This rally helped December corn futures settle positive for the week with a small gain of 2.25 cents with a close at $3.65 per bushel.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress report showed corn condition unchanged at 68 percent good/excellent. Corn dough was reported at 92 percent vs. the five-year average of 84 percent. Corn dented was seen at 61 percent complete vs. the fiveyear average of 42 percent. Corn mature was reported at 10 percent compared to the five-year average of 5 percent. Corn export sales had been strong for a while, but this week they were very disappointing at only 6.9 million bushels. The previous 10-week stretch averaged 16.2 million bushels.

The North American Free Trade Agreement situation took two different paths this week. President Trump set an Aug. 31 deadline to have a deal completed. Mexico and the United States were able to come to terms early in the week and the focus shifted to Canada. The United States and Canada met all week, good progress was made and a deal seemed imminent. Some off-the-record comments by President Trump went public. Trump stated he wouldn’t make any “insulting” compromises to make a deal. These comments roiled the talks and left them in doubt for what could happen next week.

The market is going to start talking about the next World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report after returning from the long holiday weekSee LARDY, pg. 15

Cash Grain Markets corn/change* soybeans/change*

Stewartville Edgerton Jackson Janesville Cannon Falls Sleepy Eye Average:

$2.93 .00 $3.08 -.07 $3.06 -.02 $3.11 +.09 $2.94 -.02 $3.06 -.04

$3.03

$7.24 -.60 $7.44 -.52 $7.53 -.42 $7.55 -.42 $7.10 -.65 $7.44 -.47

$7.38

Year Ago Average: $2.98 $8.77 Grain prices are effective cash close on Sept. 4. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

Livestock Angles Cattle prices still stubborn The past several weeks have seen the livestock futures markets spend time going nowhere in a very choppy trade and predominately quiet trade closing near unchanged for the most part. In the same vein, the cash cattle trade has followed the same pattern while the cash hog prices have continued to deteriorate.

Obviously, the next several weeks may produce a change in these patterns. A seasonal change can sometimes dominate the livestock markets. One thing that has embellished the livestock markets during the past month has been the tariffs that involve the markets. This will continue to hang over the livestock markets JOE TEALE until there is some conclusion to Broker these tariffs which influence the Great Plains Commodity import and export markets.

Afton, Minn.

As far as the cattle market is concerned, the market has not significantly changed as far as a direction in price over the past few weeks.

This stabilization in the market can usually bring about an oncoming change in direction in prices or acceleration in the continuation of the past direction in that price movement. Obviously, this next change is yet to be determined.

An interesting change in in the boxed beef trade has been the increase in export business as well as the improvement in the cutout values. This suggests there is increasing interest in beef demand — both domestic and internationally. If this holds true for See TEALE, pg. 15

Grain Angles Working capital in a down cycle As summer is winding down, farmers are ramping up their preparations for the 2018 harvest. While facing tight or negative profit margins, I am continually asked what areas operators should focus on as they approach this upcoming fall season. Although it has been said many times before, I can’t emphasize enough for farmers to become experts of their own financials — in particular, analyzing their working capital position.

Some operators have been able to hold steady over the past few years, but very few have been able to grow their working capital.

Over the last five years, we have seen a trend of declining working capital — not just in the grain sector, but across most of the agriculture industry. None of this should come as a shock to anyone, but SEAN MULCAHEY Compeer Senior let’s break it down to help you betCredit Officer ter prepare for the months ahead.

Mankato, Minn.

Simply put, working capital is a measure of your “net” liquid assets on your farm’s balance sheet. Working capital is the liquid funds that a business has available to meet short-term financial obligations. Using your farm’s balance sheet, it is the difference in value between current assets and current liabilities. Current assets are assets that can be turned into cash in one year or less. These include cash, grain inventory, pre-paid inputs and accounts receivables. Current liabilities are liabilities due within one year and include operating loans, accounts payable, current portion of term debt payments and accrued interest. Working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets.

Working capital is closely looked at by lenders, especially during times of volatility. Due in large part because it is a strong indicator of a farm’s ability to meet cash flow demands and manage future earnings volatility. By having strong working capital, you are able to position yourself to take advantage of unexpected opportunities and make strategic investments in the business.

Typical underwriting guidelines require 15 percent working capital compared to your annual gross revenues. For an average grain operation, this will be close to $100/acre of working capital. Although 15 percent working capital/revenue or $100/acre is what is preferred by lenders as a minimum, a good management target would be 30 percent working capital/ See MULCAHEY, pg. 15

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

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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

PAGE 15

African swine fever could create feed demand issues LARDY, from pg. 14

end. FC Stone lowered their corn yield estimate from 178.1 to 177.7. Expectations from a full host of industry analysts should be out midweek. Could a slightly lower yield be a bullish catalyst for the market??

Outlook: The direction of the corn market will be focused on the Argentina situation. If taxes are raised on Argentinian corn, it could certainly improve the chances for more U.S. export opportunities.

SOYBEANS — Without any new developments in the Chinese tariff situation, the bean market continued its grind lower. President Trump is planning to add $200 billion in new tariffs as early as next week which is not going to make the situation any better.

Reuters reported that Chinese buyers left an annual U.S. soy exporters conference in Kansas City with-

MARKETING out any official frame contract promise as has happened in previous years. This has been a significant event in prior years as several million tons of frame contracts were signed as indication of good faith and good trade relations. Chinese officials also said they would find alternative sources for meeting their feed needs. At the exporters conference, Mexico is reported as having promised to buy some U.S. soybeans.

Crop progress reported soybean conditions at 66 percent good/excellent, up 1 percent from last week.

Soybean setting pods was seen at 95 percent complete compared to the five-year average of 90 percent.

Soybean dropping leaves was reported at 7 percent compared to the five-year average of 4 percent complete. Soybean export sales were pretty weak overall.

Hog cash price continues decline TEALE, from pg. 14 the next several weeks, it may bring more strength to the demand by the packers, which could mean an improvement cash prices.

The next few weeks could be very important to the direction of the cattle market, so producers should continue to pay close attention to market direction and act accordingly.

The cash trade has been the dominate feature in the hog trade over the past month or more. There has been a steady decline in the cash price paid for hogs over the past month. However, during the past few weeks, the futures market has moved from a discount to a premium to cash. The reason for the

change in this basis of futures to cash appears to be the anticipation of some type of agreement on tariffs — especially with Mexico — which could possibly influence an agreement with China. Obviously, this is still conjecture and in yet to be settled.

One positive is the rapid decline in cash prices has slowed in recent days and the decline in pork cutouts is showing signs of stabilizing. This could be indicating the decline in hog cash prices is possibly nearing a conclusion. The hog market has reached some type of important juncture which could mean a change in direction or a continuation of the current trend in prices. Producers should closely monitor market conditions over the next several weeks and protect inventories if needed. v

This was the lowest total in a month.

China has announced a fifth case of African swine fever. This disease is lethal and the only real treatment to stop the spread is to cull the entire herd and set up a quarantine area. The Chinese ag ministry has reported that of the 20,000 samples they have taken, all are negative for African swine fever, but they cannot rule out the possibility of more outbreaks. They are claiming the outbreaks came from outside the country. It is now being reported that the African swine fever impacting China has migrated to the Korean peninsula. If the disease continues to spread it could become a feed demand issue — especially if it travels around southeast Asia.

The Argentine peso has devaluated very sharply the last two days. The peso vs. the U.S. dollar is the weakest it has ever been.

The Argentinian Central Bank raised its interest rate from 45 to 60 percent overnight to try to control inflation which is now running at over 30 percent.

The president also asked the IMF to speed up a $50 billion bailout package. Grain export taxes were being reduced a little bit each month, but the government has frozen the reductions to keep as much tax revenue flowing in as possible.

Argentina is the world’s biggest soybean meal exporter. We could see reductions in meal exports as producers hold the crop as an inflation hedge, and also if taxes go up making Argentinaian meal less competitive.

Outlook: The bean market will get direction from the Argentina tax decision as early as Sept. 3. The bean market has been very responsive to headline risk so any big developments in Argentina or China will get the market to pop. v

Selling assets could improve operations’ cash flow MULCAHEY, from pg. 14 revenue or $200/acre. According to Compeer Financial’s 2017 benchmarking report, the clients in the benchmark averaged $241/acre of working capital which is a decrease from the 2016 average at $258/acre. With the difficult outlook in the agriculture economy, I would expect the average to decrease again in 2018.

Those who are able to stay profitable have been able to maintain working capital. If your operation is losing money, you will burn working capital in order to meet cash flow demands and keep all the bills paid. In order to maintain working capital, I would recommend you limit all capital purchases unless absolutely necessary in these difficult times. If a capital purchase is necessary, then I would strongly recommend financing the purchase in order to maintain as much working capital as possible.

We have seen some clients rebuilding their working capital through restructuring of debt. Compeer has done this for many of our clients. The key is to ensure

you are making other changes to your operation which will keep you profitable into the future.

Otherwise, the restructure is just a short-term fix and soon you will be without working capital again.

You will have an increased debt load because of the additional real estate debt. Lenders typically only like to rebalance debt once. So if you have to go back for a second rebalance to improve working capital, it will likely be much more difficult to get approved and you may need to look at different options to rebuild working capital.

Although the idea of selling of assets can be a tough pill to swallow, it is a possible way to improve your farm’s working capital position. I would encourage you to look for any underutilized or unneeded equipment that could be sold to improve your cash position.

Another option could be to sell a piece of land. Maybe there is an outlier farm or a less-productive farm which wouldn’t have much effect on your net earnings if it were sold. You may want to consider selling that farm to improve your working capital and it may also

improve your future earnings. As always, when selling assets, be aware of potential tax implications.

I mentioned earlier, becoming an expert of your own financials should be a top a priority. The FINBIN or Farm Financial Management Database offered by the University of Minnesota is a great tool and resource for farmers to see how they stack up against their peers. The database has the potential to help farmers build reports to keep an eye on how their farm is performing year after year.

As we approach another harvest season, I would encourage you to make sure that your current balance sheet is up to date so that you can determine your current working capital. If you are worried you may run into issues, reach out to your financial lending partner. Maintaining open communication will allow them to work with you in being proactive and finding resolutions to potential problems, rather than be reactive after you find yourself in a tough spot.

For additional insights from Mulcahey and the rest of the Compeer team, visit Compeer.com. v

PAGE 16

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Information on trade mitigation package still coming The U.S. Department of Agriculture has Agricultural Trade Promotion Program authorized up to $12 billion in a “Trade — The ATP programs will be adminisRetaliation Mitigation” (farm tariff) aid tered by USDA’s Foreign Agriculture package for 2018. The program came Service, with the goal of securing new about to help offset the financial impacts agriculture trade relations and agreeresulting from ongoing trade disputes ments in the future. Approximately with China, Mexico, Canada and other $200,000 has been allocated for ATP procountries. The aid package will include grams. direct payments to producers of affected Details for the Market Facilitation FARM PROGRAMS Program farm commodities, purchases of surplus commodities for food and feeding proBy Kent Thiesse The sign-up period will begin on Sept. 4 grams, and trade promotion programs. and continue through Jan. 15, 2019.

The financial aid package will be MFP applications can be made at administered in a manner that is local FSA offices or can be submitted consistent with World Trade to FSA offices electronically.

Organization requirements.

The USDA aid package will be implemented in 2018 and will include three components: Direct payments to farmers — USDA will provide Based on 2018 production levels direct aid payments under the “Market Facilitation Soybeans produced for seed will be eligible for MFP payProgram” to producers of soybeans, corn, sorghum, ments. wheat, cotton, hogs and dairy. The MFP program will be administered under the USDA Commodity Corn or sorghum used for feed (silage) will not be eligible.

Credit Corporation through local Farm Service First payment will be 50 percent of calculated payment.

Agency offices. The MFP payments will be made in two phases, with the first payments to begin after Soybeans = $1.65 per bushel Sept. 4. Total allocation for the first phase of the Corn = $.01 per bushel MFP program is approximately $4.7 billion.

Wheat = $.14 per bushel Purchase of surplus commodities — USDA will Sorghum = $.86 per bushel purchase excess pork, beef, dairy products, rice, fruits, vegetables, nuts and other ag products for Cotton = $.06 per pound distribution to school nutrition programs, food Hogs = $8.00 per head (based on Aug. 1 inventory) banks and other outlets. Approximately $1.3 billion Dairy = $.12 per hundredweight (milk) has been allocated for these commodity purchases.

The formula for the first payment will be bushels (grains), head (hogs), or pounds (milk), times the payment rate for each commodity, times 50 percent.

Soybean example: 50,000 bushels harvested multiplied by $1.65 per bushel, less 50 percent will mean a first payment of $41,250.

Corn example: 200,000 bushels harvested multiplied by $.01 per bushel, less 50 percent will mean a first payment of $1,000.

Hog example: 6,000 head multiplied by $8.00 per head, less 50 percent will mean a first payment of $24,000.

MARKETING

MFP payment rates

To be eligible for MFP payments, a producer’s adjusted gross income may not exceed $900,000, the producer must meet FSA requirements for actively engaged in farming, as well as wetland and conservation requirements.

Total MFP payments to producers for all grain crops will be capped at a combined $125,000 per person or legal entity. Similarly, total livestock payments for hogs and dairy will also be capped at $125,000. MFP payments will not count against other farm program payment limits.

Crop producers requesting MFP payments must

have a 2018 crop acreage report on file at their local FSA office. Application for MFP program can be made once they have completed their 2018 harvest and submit the MFP application form, which includes the method of production verification.

FSA will be doing spot-checks to verify crop production levels, so be sure to keep verification records on file. Acceptable crop production verification methods will be similar to other required yield verification through FSA or federal crop insurance.

Be sure to not co-mingle 2018 grain production with previous years, prior to verifying the 2018 production levels. If there are questions on verification of crop production, it is advisable to check with the local FSA office.

Payments for dairy producers will be based off the historical milk production levels which have been reported to FSA offices under the Margin Protection Program. Dairy producers must have been in operation on June 1, 2018 Payments to hog producers will be on a per-head basis and will be based on the number of hogs owned on Aug. 1. Production records for hogs will include breeding records, inventory record, sales receipts, rendering receipts and veterinary records.

The first payment will be 50 percent of the calculated payment, based on the payment formula. The first payments to producers will be made after Sept.

4, once the production information has been verified

by FSA. USDA will determine later if there will be a second payment and what the payment level will be.

Details on the second MFP payments (if they occur) will be announced by USDA in December.

FSA offers the following suggestions to expediate the MFP sign-up process: Hog and dairy producers are encouraged to apply in September before crop harvest is completed. Crop producers are encouraged to apply one time for all crops after harvest is completed. Producers are encouraged to make MFP application online (web address below), using Form CCC-910. Producers do not need to supply production information when they apply for the MFP program. However, they should keep records on file for FSA spot-checks.

The MFP application form (CCC-910), a MFP fact sheet, and other very useful application tips for the program are available on the USDA web site at: www.farmers.gov/MFP. Kent Thiesse is a government farm programs analyst and a vice president at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. He may be reached at (507) 726-2137 or kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. v

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PAGE 17

Small research program looks for big things for hops

By TIM KING The Land Correspondent WASECA, Minn. — A hops breeding and research program at the University of Minnesota’s Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca is working to develop uniquely-flavored hops varieties that will thrive in Minnesota’s challenging climate.

The program, which started in 2012, is tiny compared to U.S. Department of Agriculture and private hops breeding programs in the United States and around the world.

“We generate about 300 seeds per year,” Charlie Rohwer, the project manager, said. “USDA and private breeding programs will generate more than 30,000 seeds.”

Rohwer is undaunted by the small size of his program and is aiming to release one-to-three new varieties in the next four years. In the long run, he hopes that the U of M’s hops breeding program will be part of a vibrant hops growing industry in Minnesota.

But finding and selecting the right genetics to build one of the pillars for the foundation of a Minnesota hops industry is no small task.

“Many of the hops varieties currently available to midwestern growers were selected to grow well in areas of Washington, Oregon and Idaho that are extremely dry — or at least dry in the summer,” Rohwer said. “Our humidity, dew and rain can make management of some diseases a bigger challenge here. Our spring can happen much later here, which means we must manage the growth of hops, which are perennial, differently. In Waseca and much of the region, our soils are heavier and have more clay and organic matter than soils in the Pacific northwest.

Other varieties from Germany or Europe, in addition to any climate and soil differences, were selected to grow well at higher latitudes than most of our region.”

Oregon might spray fungicides eight times per year for downy mildew,” he said. “Our climate in Minnesota is generally more conducive for downy mildew than in Oregon. Downy mildew can kill some varieties of hops or it can severely reduce the quality or yield.

Every grower must have a plan for managing downy mildew — even in fields that don’t have it yet.”

expanded and on-farm trials are important. Maybe I can grow one plant just fine. But if a grower grows 20 of them and they are difficult, perhaps the variety is not good enough. If a grower can grow 20 and get decent yield with no extraordinary effort or inputs, then there will be enough hops to give to breweries for making beer. But if the brewers don’t like it, then there’s no Powdery mildew also has the poten- reason to continue on-farm trials.” tial to damage Minnesota hops crops.

Flavor is all-important in hops when it comes to beer brewing and beer “Powdery mildew exists on wild hops drinking.

Rubbing the hops in the field all over the region,” Rohwer said. “Josh Havill, a PhD student under the super- can release some aromas from the varivision of UMN barley geneticist Gary ety and give a sense of the potential Muehlbauer at the U of M in St. Paul, flavor, Rohwer says. Thanks to a is studying this disease and the genetic Minnesota Department of Agriculture grant, the University is partnering basis for resistance in hops.” with Rahr Malting of Shakopee to take Selecting genetics that will thrive in that in-field testing a step further.

Minnesota’s challenging climate is half “Rahr will be helping us with taste the battle. A hops breeder also has to panels to try to determine, on a small select for flavor — facing the risk that scale, if we can identify acceptable, nota particular beer flavor can be a little acceptable, or interesting aromas in like last year’s fashion statement. beer,” Rohwer said.

“Many of the existing available variComing up with a new hops variety eties were selected for brewing qualithat is flavorful and agronomically ties desired by brewers of light lagers,” Rohwer said. “Craft brewers generally don’t make light lagers and they’re looking for a wider variety of flavors from hops. Those flavors do exist in commercially-available varieties; but the vast majority of those varieties are Call: 507-248-3577 proprietary and cannot be legally For our Summer, Fall Specials grown or sold by Minnesota hops growers.”

suitable to Minnesota’s climate and beer drinking tastes will give Minnesota hops grower an advantage in the growing craft brewing industry.

Cascade and Chinook are hops varieties that are widely grown in the Pacific northwest. They also do well in Minnesota. It’s good for Minnesota farmers to have varieties to choose from. But to grow the same varieties as the industries’ gorillas is risky.

“Imagine you are a new hop grower in Minnesota and you are making a big jump into hops with five acres of Cascade,” Rohwer said. “Guess what?

Someone in Washington just planted 50 acres and can sell them for maybe half the price because of efficiencies of scale. If the Minnesota grower had a variety that the Washington grower couldn’t grow, or couldn’t grow as well, that gives the Minnesota grower a leg up in marketing.”

It’s that leg up that the University of Minnesota is working to provide for current and future Minnesota hops growers. v

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Finding the right genetics for flavor, disease resistance and hardiness is a painstaking process. A lot of material gets discarded along the way, according to Rohwer.

“For me, selecting is basically throwing away plants that aren’t good enough,” he said. “In that sense, I’m mostly selecting against poor traits.

The first step is to get rid of plants that aren’t agronomically good enough.

That means getting rid of plants with poor yield and poor pest and disease tolerance. I also get rid of plants that are difficult to pick, have extremely late maturity, and show extremely poor vigor.”

Downy mildew is one disease which can be a problem for hops growers in the Pacific northwest, where most hops are grown. Rohwer is concerned that Minnesota hops could eventually face “We are just now getting to the stage the same problem. where I think I have some plants that “In addition to cultural practices to grow well enough. So we need to start reduce disease severity, growers in figuring out if they make OK beer,” Rohwer continued. “That’s where

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Mighty Axe is making a mark in Minnesota hops

By TIM KING The Land Correspondent FOLEY, Minn. — Josh Havill and Charlie Rohwer, hops researchers at the University of Minnesota, estimate there are about 120 acres of hops being grown in Minnesota. Mighty Axe raises 80 acres of that total in their rural Foley hops yard. Ben Boo of Mighty Axe says they are growing about 1,000 plants per acre. Boo says an acre of hops yields between 1,600 to 3,000 pounds of dried hops annually — depending on the hops variety and the season.

Mighty Axe may be the big fish in Minnesota’s tiny hops industry but, like everyone else in Minnesota, they are relative newcomers to the enterprise.

“Our very first trial of 25 plants went in the summer of 2013,” Boo said. “The meager six ounces that we picked off that trial went into a beer brewed by ON THE COVER: Ben Boo (left) and Eric Sannerud display bounty from their 2017 crop.

Niko Tonks when he was still working at Sociable Cider Works.”

Boo says that the first hops trial at Mighty Axe came just a year or two after the first commercial planting of hops in Minnesota.

“The Minnesota Hops Growers Association was founded in 2013 and I think the first small farms got started a couple years before then,” he recalled.

“The industry is quite young and we all have a lot to learn about growing hops in our state with its unique weather and soil. We also have a lot to learn

Hops blossoms

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about which varieties thrive here. As we all develop our ability to grow, I think you’ll see growers dialing in their portfolio of varieties to better match what brewers want and what they can grow best.

Hopefully, that portfolio can someday include new varieties of hops bred for our climate.

Right now all the varieties come from breeding programs in Oregon and Washington.”

Since its first modest trial, Mighty Axe has expanded its planting along with the varieties of hops the farm raises.

Boo says he and his farming partner, Eric Sannerud, have been following their own advice by learning what best suits their farm and what local brewers are interested in.

Photos submitted “The different variet- Mighty Axe began with a trial of 25 plants in 2013. ies that we raise all offer a range of agronomic and brewing our picking window and get more acrecharacteristics — along with different age through our harvest and drying ripening times that let us stretch out facility,” Boo explained. “Centennial, for example, is lower yielding, less vigorous and early ripening. It offers a really nice citrusy-floral aroma that brightens up pale ales and IPAs. Zeus, on the other hand, is extremely vigorous, high yielding, late ripening, and has a pungent, spicy, dank aroma that brewers like to use for a savory punch that rounds out more intensely-flavored IPAs.” Although Boo and Sannerud expanded their hops yard fairly rapidly, their first hops trial was conservative. They encourage new hops growers to take a somewhat go-slow approach as well.

“We recommend a quarter-acre installation for new growers to start with,” Boo said. “Hops growers would do well to avoid heavy clay soils for their hops yards, though most other types of soils can be made to work through amendments for fertility and hilling for drainage.”

Mighty Axe continues to experiment with different varieties of hops to make Although hops plants are planted, a the best use of their acreage while supSee MIGHTY AXE, pg. 19 plying brewers with quality product.

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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PAGE 19

Hops plants are thirsty, ‘drip irrigation is a must’ at www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/ MIGHTY AXE, from pg. 18 hops. Boo recommends both sources hops yard is said to be installed. Boo, of information for the beginning hops based on the experience at Mighty grower.

Axe, estimates that a quarter-acre installation will cost about $5,700 Boo says that Mighty Axe is focused from start to picking and processing on delivering a local and quality hops the first harvest. Once installed, a product to craft brewers. hops yard will last from 10 to 25 years “We are serious about being a farm before replanting is required. that grows exceptionally high-qualiIn addition to planting the hops ty hops,” he said. “Brewers are used plants, an installation includes 20-foot to getting their hands on some really poles, cable, a drip irrigation system, nice stuff from Germany and the and strings to support individual Pacific northwest, so for us to be plants. locally grown is only half of the challenge. We also have to bring them Boo says hops plants are thirsty and hops that exceed their expectations that irrigation is necessary. and offer something different — and “Drip irrigation is a must,” he better — than what they can get anystressed. “Sprinkler irrigation can where else. As we hone our craft and lead to higher disease pressure and is learn how the hops behave in our an inefficient means of increasing unique soil and climate, we get closer plants’ available water in the soil.” and closer to delivering on that promMighty Axe has developed an instalise.” lation guide that is available at their Mighty Axe now cultivates 80 acres of hops. Each acre yields about 1,000 plants.

Boo says that Mighty Axe and the other members of the Minnesota website mightyaxehops.com. The University of Hops Growers Association are ready and willing to Michigan has hops growing resources at canr.msu. work with new hops growers to deliver on that promedu and the University of Vermont has hops resources ise as well. v

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

Sept. 14 — Hands-on Livestock Care with a Veterinarian — Sac City, Iowa — Discussions include how to give a physical exam, where to properly give injections and how to castrate livestock — Contact Tamsyn Jones at (515) 232-5661 Sept. 18 — Sustainable Cropping Systems Seminar — Waseca, Minn. — A general overview of crop modeling; current and future cropping systems that increase profitability and resiliency, improve resource use efficiency and contribute to environmental quality — Contact Dr. Garcia y Garcia at axel@umn.edu or (507) 752-5080 Sept. 18 — Educational Crop Tour Field Day — Madison, Minn. — Program will explain how the interaction of soil, equipment and seed impact crop emergence, stand establishment, plant growth and crop yield. Experts will demonstrate how down lpressure settings, planting depths, seed spacing and soil conditions can affect a grower’s crop production results — Contact Linda Leydens at LindaLeydens@ yahoo.com or (515) 360-2029 Sept. 25 — Ag & Animal Science Conference 2018 — Willmar, Minn. — Region’s top agriculture and animal science stakeholders convene to discuss some of the industry’s most pressing issues — Contact MinnWest Technology Foundation

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Tastiness is in the air at Minnesota Garlic Festival

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer HUTCHINSON, Minn. — Perhaps one of the better kept secrets in rural Minnesota is the Minnesota Garlic Festival. Staged at the McLeod County fairgrounds in Hutchinson on Aug. 11, the festival takes a raft of volunteers to keep this shindig happening — which does indeed provide one of the most tasty and mind-teasing events in middle America.

The 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. agenda had everyone smiling, eating, viewing 62 vendors, eating again, listening to garlic experts, and then just a bit more eating. The festival offered at least 36 concoctions containing various tastes of the nearly 100 different garlic varieties working their way into an ever-increasing lineup of garlic-flavored morsels.

Music at the festival was provided by Rogue Flamenco, utilizing dance, singing, percussion, NS Spanish Please read attached guitars andemail the poetry of Flamenco.

Photos by Dick Hagen Zachary Paige MES ALREADY AD Ulm THE LANDRuss 3.7461 x ” Swenson The NarrenON of New is eight crafty (at times elegant) and often bizarre individuals — each in outlandish costumes a German festival which has been going on probably complete with outrageous, hand-carved wooden face for hundreds of years. Yes, we’re crazy and that’s why masks. Perhaps better described as a German “Village it’s so much fun. We call it German Mardi gras.” of Fools.” Explained Kathy Ruby, “We’re a takeoff on The Minneapolis Police Pipe Band performed with Scottish bagpipes along with violin/fiddle player Dempsey Schroeder.

The Preludes to a Blizzard is a collective of Twin Cities natives who perform a variety of music. Master falconer Marc Rude and his Harris hawk Mr. Harley were in attendance as well as The Gardenhosen Fairy and ukulele player Ingrid Sofia Carlson.

Making this a family event is an area of children’s activities at the “Little Tent” with games and a garlic toss. There is even something called “The Peculiar Pragmatic Promenade.” A kite contest encouraged festival goers to build and decorate their own kite, then fly it in the grandstand parking lot.

There was also plenty of information for those who might like to become a garlic growing farmer. The University of Minnesota Extension Service covered these topics: “Garlic 101: Everything you need to Darin Zanke New Ulm/Mankato Area know about growing garlic in Minnesota;” “Preserve David Baldner Your Harvest: Can, Freeze, or Pickle Produce Safely;” Austin, MN and “Chickens and Pigs and More, Oh My!” Michael Terry Extension Educator Wayne Martin spoke on the Fairbault, MN benefits and challenges of raising livestock on a small farm. “Farm Transition Hub” with Sustainable Farming Association’s Theresa Keaveny discussed transitioning land to new and aspiring farmers.

Wrapping up this potpourri was “Garlic Growers

4

Roundtable” with Jerry Ford and Festival Garlic Growers doing an informal discussion about the 2018 garlic season.

A garlic growing contest showcased the biggest and best garlic from local gardeners and growers.

Four medallion hunts were provided for those seeking “The Holy Clove.” Those who found The Holy Clove received fame, fortune, and perhaps a fabulous prize … maybe. Hunters are identified as the few, the proud and the stinky!

The beverage pavilion featured Minnesota wine, cider and craft beer; but surprisingly, not a garlicflavored beer. But the festival did offer garlic ice cream by Minnesota Nice Cream — described as softserve ice cream with garlic waffle cones and a variety of garlic toppings. Chefs from The Abundant Kitchen, Barbette, Red Stag Super Club, Zellas, and Great Scape Café each shared “food talk time” about using garlics in home food cooking.

The festival included some garlic growers selling their products and encouraging even more new growers.

Russ Swenson, who lives near Ortonville, Minn., calls his garlic operation Big Stone Garlic. “I love growing garlic,” he claimed. “It’s now our main crop.

We planted about 23,000 cloves last fall — which is less than half an acre. Depending upon variety, each bulb produces six and up to 20 cloves. The clove is the seed portion which is planted in October just ahead of when the ground freezes up. We want the cloves to put down roots but not sprout. Our mulch is 6 to 8 inches — either wheat straw or ditch hay — to keep the weeds down, maintain soil moisture and lessen winter damage.”

Swenson loves this event too. “This Festival is the premier selling event for most of us growers. Our biggest one-day sale of bulbs is at this event. Plus, we’re working with the University of Minnesota and the Sustainable Farming Association to get garlic and other rural produce into the grocery food chain system. Our first shipment to food stores will be the first week in September.”

Zachary Paige, operations manager of GreenSide Farm in Ponsford, Minn., grows certified organic garlic in the Pelican Rapids area. “I grew about 400 pounds of organic production this year which is almost 4,000 garlic heads. Garlic is almost like a pyramid scheme. Get just 20 to 30 pounds that first year, but it grows exponentially from there. Each clove that you plant produces a garlic bulb with five or more cloves, so you can expand your numbers

See GARLIC, pg. 28

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PAGE 23

Soybeans ‘look good’, harvest prep is underway



By KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Correspondent



Blair Hoseth, Mahnomen, Minn., Aug. 24

The corn is showing the effects of the lack of moisture. “The drought stress I’m sure will affect the fill.” Hoseth believes “we’ve lost yields and test weights.”

Blair Hoseth

Hoseth will be seeding triticale and applying some cover crop in the next two weeks. He plans on doing no-till triticale into the wheat stubble due to it being so dry.

The expectation going into the late growing season is, “there’s definitely going to be a yield loss.” Hoseth believes that it will be the poorest yielding crops in the last three years. In some areas, the beans are dead and the corn is white. This is most evident on hilltops. “I don’t think we’ll get an average yield.” Mother Nature can be your friend one minute and your foe the next. That’s true this year for Hoseth. “The season certainly started off better than it’s finishing up.”



White mold continues to be an issue in Jamie Beyer’s soybean fields. The Land spoke with Beyer on Aug. 24 as she estimates “a 10 percent loss due to white mold.” While she expects the beans to have an above-average yield, the white mold will definitely make an impact this year.

A quarter of an inch of rain fell on the Hoseth farm on Aug. 23. “That is the most rain in over a month.” The Land spoke with Blair Hoseth on Aug. 24 as he was happy to finally have some rain to report.

The lack of rain this past month means the “beans are starting to show stress.” The rain is still welcome, but “the benefit of the rain isn’t what it would’ve been two weeks ago.” The saying goes that “August rain makes beans, but it also fills corn.”

Matt Haubrich, Danube, Minn., Aug. 31

Jamie Beyer, Wheaton, Minn., Aug. 24

Jamie Beyer

 FROM  THE  

FIELDS

Beyer estimates that bean harvest will start around Sept. 20. “Some of the early maturities are starting to turn color.” With harvest less than a month away, the concern now is where are the beans going to go? Beyer will be vacuuming out all the bins as she expects that prices will dictate that she hold onto the beans for a while.

Sugar beets are looking good. Beyer is “still expecting a big crop tonnagewise.” Drivers are wanted on the Beyer farm as pre-lift begins on Sept. 20. The corn is continuing to do well as it “still looks really big.”

The next few weeks will involve putting nets on the grapes as well as finding buyers for them. Beyer will be contacting local wineries in the area to see if they need any grapes. She expects the grapes will be ready for harvest before Sept. 15.

Harvest is just around the corner, but there are lots of items to check off the to-do list before then. The crops are looking good. The question now is, where they are all going to go?



Last Friday, hail and wind hit the Haubrich farm. The Land spoke with Matt Haubrich on Aug. 31 as he reported the storm resulted in “hail on 40 percent of our row crop acres.”

Karson Duncanson, Mapleton, Minn., Aug. 30

Two months of great weather were capped this past week by a few inches of rain on the Duncanson farm. The Land spoke with Karson Duncanson on Aug. 30 as he reported that in July and August “we’ve had exceptional growing conditions.” Those months help turn the crops around, “things look pretty good considering the early growing season.”

The crops “looked tough.” Some of the beans are lodged and some corn is now shredded. At this point Haubrich is “not overly concerned.” That storm resulted in an inch and a half of rain.

Matt Haubrich

The soybeans “look good.” Duncanson is seeing a little sudden death syndrome showing up in spots. He expects to start harvest in a month as “some beans are starting to turn.” Duncanson doesn’t anticipate record yields with soybeans this harvest.

The corn “is stressed out” and has “run out of nutrients.” The excessive rain fall earlier in the growing season caused a shallow root system in the corn thus now allowing the nutrients to be depleted. Haubrich is seeing some “good ear counts” though he’s also has seen “some lousy ones.” The corn “colors are not attractive; it’s not an attractive looking plant.”

Karson Duncanson

The soybeans “are looking fine.” The plants aren’t “overly tall and bushy.” Haubrich isn’t seeing any sudden death or white mold in the fields as of now. The early maturity beans are starting to turn color. Haubrich believes that the beans will be ready to harvest around the third week of September. Overall, the beans “look pretty darn good.”

The corn had good heat and comfortable overnight temperatures, which are perfect for grain fill. The corn is “not anywhere close to black layer.”

Duncanson is continuing to work on machinery. “In the next week or two we’ll put together a harvest plan.”

“We’re on the tail end of cleaning the barns.” Breeding season for the sheep is soon starting as Haubrich wants “to get this all taken care of before we start soybeans.”

While harvest is on Duncanson’s mind, so are the upcoming elections in November. On the local and state level, “there’s a lot at stake. Voters need to take their time and do their due diligence.” Duncanson encourages voters to really read up on the issues, the candidates and understand what their vote may mean, especially in the rural areas.

There are a lot of preparations underway at the Haubrich farm with breeding, the upcoming harvest and dealing with the aftermath of the hail and wind storm.

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PAGE 24

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

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Testing, record keeping vital in improving animal nutrition

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer

like Minnesota Supreme Feeders where cattle are WINDOM, Minn. — Perhaps because coming and going continmost cattle are confinement fed these uously? days, each individual animal’s health is Doering-Resch: The type even more critical. That means quick and age of cattle coming in is access, quick response and quick diag- my first observation. Are noses. they yearling open type catForm A Feed nutritionist is such a tle? Are the calf-fed cattle? talent. At the July 10 Minnesota Are they fall sourced? From a stability Cattlemen’s feedlot tours she was a and feedstuffs standpoint, we feed ‘non stop’ question and answer health about 60 percent home-grown feeds at this yard. So we can control feed qualsource. ity — depending upon the type of cattle Heidi Doering-Resch is a nutrition in particular pens. The other 40 perconsultant for Minnesota Supreme cent of the ration is purchased inputs Feeders — a 10,000-head confinement with ingredients and quality which we operation about five miles south of know very precisely. A young calf that’s Lamberton, Minn. With a Master’s bawling is a good indicator of needing degree in animal nutrition from South higher nutritional needs because you Dakota State University, Doering- have an individual with higher stress Resch is nutrition consultant with versus a yearling steer with a mature Form-A-Feed. She agreed to spend a rumen which we observe differently. few minutes with The Land while at The Land: When do you vary prothe Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association’s tein contents as pens proceed from Summer Beef Tour on July 10. young calves to mature yearlings?

The Land: What to you are the Doering-Resch: The young, naïve chief challenges in an operation calves have depressed rumen microbes

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from the truck road time that just delivered them. So we typically feed a little higher protein on arrival.

That jump-starts those rumen bacteria — or was we call them ’those protein digesting enzymes’ — which are so vital in getting these young critters into a healthy constitution. Once we get up on feed on some of those higher energy diets, they tend to plane out between groups whether they are yearlings or calf-fed.

Most of these tail-end diets are more high energy between 13.25 to 13.5 percent protein. Many of these commodities are higher protein and get pricechecked, so we can push a little more of those into the finishing ration. If you use Beta Agonist, that’s a high metabolic demand which means increased protein secretion going on. So we’re okay to run those levels knowing we’re not taxing the overall digestive system, but merely putting some pressure on that metabolic system.

The Land: Are antibiotics still part of cattle rations; or have other products now replaced antibiotics in view of the consumer clash about feed stuff antibiotics getting into the meats they eat?

Doering-Resch: The labor force here at Supreme Feeders is trained very hard on quick pulls on cattle that might need a little extra support early.

And part of this is the concern over these up-front, calf-fed yearlings. How hard to we push them? We don’t want to stress them, so we need to do an antibiotic. The cattle here are zero antibiotic except for individuals that have to be pulled because of a specific health issue. We pen-treat these animals, so we can watch them feed intake day by day. Our guys walk pens every morning and take the pulls out as needed for individual treatment depending upon their temperature and symptoms. But we don’t mass treat an entire pen with the addition of antibiotics into their feed stuffs unless that entire pen is ailing. Otherwise, treatments are on an individual basis.

The Land: As with new medicines, new additives come into being. Who does the testing before the additives enter commercial trade?

Doering-Resch: Anything coming down the pipeline needing FDA certification we wait until approval. But if it’s something that’s a grass status and not needing FDA approval, then we rely on Journal of Animal Science documents.

We’ll also hold it under our wings and do our own trial runs, so to speak. So we look at FDA data, industry and university trials. But what we really need to know is what are the results when we put this product into our own commercial feeds? Those final results then tell us whether it’s a go or no-go new additive for Form-A-Feed. Everything really boils down to a cost of gain data bank for Mark Pankonin, manager of Supreme Feeders. But the proving really is determined by his crew and my job in keeping the most production and efficient rations in the pens for each of his cattle.

The Land: Any difference in feeding between heifers and steers here at Minnesota Supreme?

Doering-Resch: At this facility, the heifers go on MGA. Social dynamics with them make a huge difference.

MGA is a feed additive labeled for increased rate of gain, improved feed efficiency and suppression of estrus (heat) in heifers fed for slaughter. So they just get up and eat, get a drink, then lay down and get fat. That’s better for our bottom line as well. It just goes into the female diet. It adds some costs, so it just goes into the female diet. You don’t use it with the steers. They have estrogen in their systems naturally. We feed more steers than heifers. But right now, heifers are showing better from a profit standpoint.

Doering-Resch has a Minnesota background. She summarized, “I went to University of Minnesota for my undergraduate work; grew up on a feedlot farm; had a lot of good teachers. But since then, being in the field working with good cattlemen and learning to better understand the business end of industry is really great work. I’m huge on records. The yards that I work with need to have records because I need to understand how I can give them recommendations that don’t cost them money but instead do give them performance improvements. This permits them to do things such as new performance facilities to make their profession even more rewarding.” v

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” MILKER’S MESSAGE

PAGE 25

Plenty of buzz about ‘disrupted market’ assistance This column was written for the marketing week ending Aug. 31.

Media reports were abundant on Aug. 27 regarding the United States and Mexico reaching agreement on a retooled North American Free Trade Agreement. Next stop is Canada to keep the trio intact. Word was that Canada may give some concessions — even on dairy issues. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced steps his department will take to “assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation by foreign nations.”

As announced last month, USDA will authorize up to $12 billion in programs, consistent with World Trade Organization obligations, to “assist agricultural producers to meet the costs of disrupted markets.”

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will

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PAGE 26

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” MILKER’S MESSAGE

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Most dairy prices higher going into Labor Day weekend MIELKE, from pg. 25 “This is truly unlike other farm aid packages,” says FC Stone. “The program seems significantly limited by the stipulations and conditions that need to be met in order to spark both direct payments and purchase programs. Additionally, the whole thing remains fairly vague as if the government is leaving themselves an ‘out.’ Mr. Perdue literally said that the aid package could ‘go away tomorrow’ if we can work out deals with major trade partners.”

“The farmer aid package is generally supportive of dairy markets currently,” FC Stone concludes. “We say ‘generally’ because there is a farmer payment plan here. We just don’t see that as a material enough payment to make any meaningful difference

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to milk production going forward. We await word on how any cheese and butter purchases may happen within the scope of this program. Depending on how they buy product and what it’s used for, the impact could be more or less bullish. So net bullish, but a new trade deal with Mexico is still likely a more supportive feature,” according to FC Stone.

The National Milk Producers Federation says the plan “falls far short of addressing the losses dairy producers are experiencing due to trade retaliation resulting from the Administration’s imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs. The dairy-specific financial assistance package centered on an estimated $127 million in direct payments, represents less than 10 percent of American dairy farmers’ losses caused by the retaliatory tariffs imposed by Mexico and China.”

“The price drop resulting from these tariffs has not been gradual, it’s hurting U.S. dairy producers right now and will continue to do so. Since the retaliatory tariffs were announced in late May, milk futures prices have lost over $1.2 billion through December 2018. Milk prices for the balance of the year are now expected to be $1.10 per-hundredweight lower than were estimated just prior to the imposition of the tariffs on U.S. dairy exports,” NMPF says.

NMPF adds that a study by Informa Economics on the impact of the retaliatory dairy tariffs “projects dairy farmer income will take a hit of $1.5 billion this year if the tariffs remain in place through the end of 2018. This loss compounds to $16.6 billion if the tariffs are left in place long term over the next five years, through 2023. The impact of lost sales to China account for most of that harm, accounting for 73 percent of the total. That sizable decline in farmer incomes will compound the low prices and financial losses that dairies have already felt,” NMPF warned.

The International Dairy Foods Association and the Milk Processor Education Program stated that they “support USDA’s efforts to provide additional benefits to people across the country who don’t have regular access to nutritious milk and dairy products, while helping to alleviate some of the financial difficulties facing dairy farmers and companies that stem from lost export sales.”

The USDA’s Economic Research Service reports in its August Farm Income Forecast that net farm income is forecast to decrease $9.8 billion (13.0 percent) from 2017 to $65.7 billion in 2018, after increasing $13.9 billion (22.5 percent) in 2017. In inflationadjusted 2018 dollars, net farm income is forecast to decline $11.4 billion (14.8 percent) from 2017 after increasing $13.0 billion (20.3 percent) in 2017. If realized, inflation-adjusted net farm income would be just slightly above its level in 2016, which was its lowest level since 2002.” It adds, “Receipts for milk are expected to decline $2.8 billion (7.4 percent) in 2018.” n The August Federal order Class III milk price is $14.95 cwt., up 85 cents from July, $1.62 below August 2017 and the lowest August Class III price

since 2009 when it was at $11.20. It equates to $1.29 per gallon, up 8 cents from July and compares to $1.21 a year ago. The eight-month average stands at $14.44, which is down from $16.09 a year ago and compares to $14.13 in 2016.

Class III futures late morning on Aug. 31 portended a September Class III at $16.47; October, $16.64; November, $16.58; and December at $16.37 per cwt.

The August Class IV price is $14.63, up 49 cents from July, $1.98 below a year ago, and the secondhighest Class IV price this year. Its eight-month average is at $13.85, down from $15.46 a year ago and compares to $13.57 in 2016.

The roller coaster took most dairy prices higher as it entered the Labor Day weekend. Block cheddar closed the week and the month at $1.6950 per pound.

This is up 2.5 cents on the week, up 15.5 cents on the month, and 15.5 cents above a year ago when they tumbled 11 cents. The barrels finished at $1.6450, up 4.5 cents on the week, up 21.5 cents on the month, and 12.5 cents above a year ago. Six cars of block traded hands on the week at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (33 on the month) and 34 of barrel (180 on the month). n Milk availability has markedly tightened for cheese production in the Central United States, according to Dairy Market News, with the range from Class to $2.00 over. Some cheesemakers report spot milk is unavailable. As a result, mozzarella producers are increasing usage of nonfat dry milk to fortify.

Production activity in most varieties is picking up, as demand is steady to stronger. Some cheesemakers report a growing and new customer base which is bullish for the market Western cheese producers have no trouble finding milk, and cheese output is generally steady. Sales continue to improve, but a number of suppliers report buyers are sensitive to offer prices. Barrels are in stronger demand than blocks, but the prices of both are firm. Food chains continue to demand more cheese for pizza. Some contacts say the USDA purchase of cheese is impacting inventory levels. Stocks tightened a little, but continue to be widely accessible.

CME butter closed the month at $2.2150 per pound. This is down 4.5 cents on the week, down 10.5 cents on the month, and 29.25 cents below a year ago when it lost 12 cents. Twelve cars were sold on the week and 73 on the month.

Cream availability for churning saw little change and remained plentiful the last week of August, says Dairy Market News. Supplies are available but market tones are steady The western butter market is somewhat bearish, but participants see lower prices as an opportunity to attract more international buyers. Butter output dropped slightly in recent weeks as more milk went into Class I utilization. Several vendors report abunSee MIELKE, pg. 27

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet” MILKER’S MESSAGE

PAGE 27

Cow slaughter volume up, heifer buyers scarce per bushel below July 2017. Soybeans worthwhile,” she concludes.

MIELKE, from pg. 26 when asked what he was going to do with all that money, he replied, “I think dant stocks and are looking for addi- averaged $9.10 per bushel, down 45 n cents from June and 32 cents per bushI’ll keep dairying until it’s gone.” tional sales outlets.

Lastly, it was Labor Day 1988 that I el below a year ago. Alfalfa hay averIt would be funny if it weren’t so true.

Grade A nonfat dry milk saw an Aug. aged $179 per ton, down $2 from June aired my first radio broadcast of 31 close at 88.5 cents per pound. This but $26 per ton above a year ago.

“DairyLine.” My former colleague Bill One thing for sure that hasn’t changed is 1.5 cents higher on the week, 2.25 Baker and I discussed how things have is my respect and admiration for dairy The Daily Dairy Report points out, changed in the dairy industry in those producers and what they have to deal cents above a year ago, and up 4.5 cents from Aug. 1. Fifteen cars were “the U.S. milk over-feed margin fell 61 30 years in his Sept. 3 Dairy Radio with day-to-day, year-to-year. Most consumers have no idea. I’m proud to be a sold at the CME this week, with 89 cents from June to just under $6.76 per Now broadcast. cwt. based on the dairy Margin part of this great industry; but I am loads for the month.

Many of the issues remain the same grateful that I have been on this side of Protection Program calculation, makDry whey was bid 2 cents higher on ing it the second lowest in 2018 and the — particularly the rise and fall of milk the barn door. the week to a new record 50 cents per third-lowest since May 2016.” prices; though it appears the extremes Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist pound, 6.75 cents higher than where it have increased. I think the advent of n was on Aug. 1. computers and futures and options who resides in Everson, Wash. His Looking at the cow side of the ledger, trading were two of the biggest chang- weekly column is featured in newspan pers across the country and he may be the July cull price for beef and dairy es I’ve witnessed.

In global headlines, Irish Farm combined averaged $66.80 per cwt. reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v I often told the story of the dairyman Journal reported that 31,493 metric This is up 50 cents from June, $10.50 tons of skimmed milk powder was sold below July 2017 and $4.80 below the who won the $2 million lottery and through the European Commission’s 2011 base average of $71.60 per cwt.

Intervention tender this month — up Milk cows for the quarter averaged sharply from the 2,408 metric tons sold $1,320 per head in July, down from last month. $1,360 in April, and $300 per head HighGround Dairy reports Fonterra below July 2017. They averaged $1,300 Cooperative Group revised its 2018-19 in California, unchanged from April forecast farmgate milk price from but $300 below a year ago. Wisconsin $7.00 per kgMS to $6.75 per kgMS. cows averaged $1,250 per head, down Fonterra Chairman, John Monaghan, from $1,320 in April and $1,650 per said the change was in response to head in July 2017. “stronger milk supply signals coming The Daily Dairy Report’s Sarina from some of the world’s key dairy proSharp wrote in the Aug. 24 Milk ducing regions.”

Producers Council newsletter, “Heifer n supplies are adequate to maintain the A 90-cent drop in the July U.S. All dairy herd even at the current cull rate, Milk price average could not be offset but dairy producers show no inclinaby lower feed prices and pulled the tion to keep their collective barns as July milk feed price ratio down after it full as they once were. Heifer buyers rose in June for the first time in six are scarce.” months. The USDA’s latest Ag Prices “At auctions around the country, report puts the July ratio at 1.91, springer values have slumped to new EXTRA SKID AND TRACK LOADER COVERAGE COMES STANDARD which is down from 1.98 in June and lows.

The combination of high slaughdown from 2.27 in July 2017.Since 1973,ter Gehl has pushed skidheifers loader suggests innovation forward. Today, Gehl volumes and cheap that contraction the U.S. line dairy The index is based on the current the continues tradition with aincomplete of herd skid loaders and track loaders continues.” milk price in relationship to feed priceswith designed productivity and efficiency in mind. Purchase new Gehl SkidLOADER or EXTRA a SKID AND TRACK COVERAGE COMES STANDARD for a dairy ration consisting of 51 perThe week of Aug. 6 saw 60,948 milk 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 cent corn, 8 percent soybeans and 41 cows head to slaughter. Sharp says, continues the tradition with a complete line of skid loaders and track loaders extended Offer subject to change, for details. percent alfalfa hay. One pound of milk coverage “That’s plan. the largest slaughter volume inquire designed with productivity and efficiency in mind. Purchase a new Gehl Skid or today purchases 1.91 pounds of dairy for this time of year since 1986, when Track Loader and receive an included 2 year / 2,000 hr XPRT total (full machine) feed containing that blend. the industry was buying out whole extended coverage plan. Offer subject to change, inquire for details.

The U.S. All-Milk price averaged herds and killing them.” $15.40 per cwt., down 90 cents from CALL YOURLOCAL LOCAL GEHL GEHL DEALER Sharp adds, “Across the pond, CALL YOUR DEALERTODAY! TODAY! June and $1.80 below July 2017. The scorched pastures and dwindling feedprice ranged from $14.10 in New A&C Northland Marzolf Mexico and $14.20 in Michigan to stocks are prompting a similar uptick Farm Service Farm Systems Implement Florida’s $20.10. California was at in cull rates. Growth in milk output in Paynesville, MN Owatonna, MN Spring Valley, MN $15.05, down 58 cents from June; and the world’s two largest dairy regions is 320-243-3736 800-385-3911 507-346-7227 likely to slow just as demand for dairy Wisconsin was at $15.30, down $1.20 seems to be ramping up. At long last, from June. the dairy industry may be able to suswww.gehl.com July corn averaged $3.47 per bushel, tain a rally that makes milking cows down 11 cents from June and 2 cents www.gehl.com

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COVERED

CALL YOUR LOCAL GEHL DEALER TODAY!

PAGE 28

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Local growers can’t meet the demand for garlic GARLIC, from pg. 22 fairly quickly once you get going.”

Paige displayed eight different garlic varieties at the festival. “People like the big clove varieties,” he admitted. “They have a nice purple look. They are the bigger garlic. We plant the first week in October, about 1½ to 2 cloves deep. Garlic is relatively easy to grow. Keep the weeds out. Yes, I think I’ll be expanding. The garlic market is strong.”

And the reason for an expanding market for garlic are the creative new uses for garlic such as garlic flavored popcorn — a popular snack at the festival.

Tracie Thiemann of St. Peter, Minn. was selling hand-popped garlic-flavored kettle corn with the Auntie Wendy’s label. “Yes, it tastes like garlic and it

Notice of Sale Via Sealed Bid Auction LYNDON KUNKEL FARM Sealed bids must be received by: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018, AT NOON Date of sealed bid auction: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 @ 9AM Location for receipt of sealed bids and auction (only registered bidders may attend): Blethen Berens 100 Warren Street, Suite 400 Mankato, MN 56001 RAPIDAN FARM 88.91 acres +/88.66 FSA tillable acres Productive and system tiled Section 4, Rapidan Township, Blue Earth County, MN Tax Parcels: R48.13.04.451.001 / R4813.04.478.003

HOME FARM/SITE 68.06 acres +/18839 and 18581 552nd Ave. Good Thunder, MN 56037 Section 10, Rapidan Township, Blue Earth County, MN Tax Parcels: R48.13.10.300.005 / R48.13.10.300.006 Productive/well drained tillable acres (56.80 FSA tillable acres) Grain facilities/machinery storage building 2,400 total head hog finishing barns (4) Modern newly renovated home FOR TERMS, SEALED BID FORM, ADDITIONAL PROPERTY INFORMATION AND VIEWING APPOINTMENT CONTACT: Kimberly K. Kunkel 507-317-2013 farmg22@gmail.com or Christopher M. Roe 507.380.3862 croe@blethenlaw.com

tered garlic growers in Minnesota plus a few more who have not joined the association. About 3,500 to 4,000 people attend each year. “We don’t believe you have to get bigger to get better. We like to keep our festival at a sustainable level. We make money. All the vendors and garlic farmers make money and everybody goes home happy,” said Ford.

Minnesota corn and soybean growers are having a tough year. “So too garlic growers,” said Ford. “We plant our seed cloves in October with sprouts coming up in April. But that April blizzard was devastating for newly-sprouted garlic plants, so everybody lost a lot of garlic this year and garlic bulbs are smaller.

Normally that cover mulch which we spread after our October plantings is all that’s needed to safely get the crop through the winter. But that heavy, wet snow in April compacted the mulch — squelching new garlic sprouts.”

Garlic growers prefer the “hard necked” garlics because of their winter hardiness. Many of these hard necked garlics originated in northern Siberia so garlic is a northern crop. Ford mentioned a particular variety from northern China were temps seldom get above 50 degrees at the 9,000-feet altitude where Jerry Ford these garlics are grown. is good,” said Thiemann. “It’s made like regular kettle California is the largest garlic producer in the corn to which we add a bit of garlic.”

United States. China is the world’s largest producer According to Jerry Ford, Upper Midwest Garlic and most grocery store garlic comes from China. Yes, Growers board chairman, there are about 110 regis- the China/United States trade wrangling is likely soon to impact even the price of garlic at your local food store. But Ford said a growing number of Minnesota garlic growers are marketing through the Minnesota Premium Garlic Project to various food stores both in the metro area and outstate. ”We can’t meet demand right now,” he admitted. “Demand is far more than what our local growers can provide.

But we’re expanding as rapidly as our growers can expand into these new markets.”

So why isn’t there a sudden increase in more garlic growers? Ford commented, “Because it takes a while to get started. And it’s not required to be organic to get into garlic marketing. Of the 15 growers here at our festival, only two of us are certified organic. If you have to use chemicals to grow garlic, you’re doing something wrong.”

“Growing garlic is easy,” summed up Ford, whose garlic banner reads, “Living Song Gourmet Garlic.”

“My wife and I are both musicians and thus the name of our garlic farm. Our garlic is not from China or California. We’ve developed our own seed lines which are producing a better, all-around garlic.”

Ford noted garlic is one of the few crops that lives in the soil for nine months. And if you want to start your own garlic patch, buy your bulbs locally because they are already acclimated to their surroundings.

Despite the excitement in the air at Minnesota’s Garlic Festival, Ford adds caution, saying, “it’s an expensive crop to start because seed stock is expen255 16th Street South sive. So you want to buy the right stuff that first St. James, MN 56081 time. And once established, you want to save from your own seed stock for future plantings.” v

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Thank you for reading THE LAND!

Real Estate 160 FARM FOR SALE: 155 tillable. SE 1/4 Sec 30, Kiester Twp, Faribault Co. Contact Dennis Christensen, Meridian Land Services, LLC Broker (MN RE License 477044) @ 952-240-0705 or Email: dchris7407@integra.net Sell your land or real estate in 30 days for 0% commission.

Call Ray 507-339-1272

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 Real Estate Wanted

Bins & Buildings

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Farm Equipment

SILO DOORS till-WANTED: Land & farms. I FOR SALE: Fantini chopping ster have clients looking for Wood or steel doors shipped 8R & 12R CH; 70’ Elmer promptly to your farm act dairy, & cash grain operadrag, Merritt alum hopper stainless fasteners grain trailers; 24R30” JD pl idi- tions, as well as bare land hardware available. on Kinze bar; Big A floater; Bro- parcels from 40-1000 acres.

(800)222-5726 175 Michigan ldr; IH 964 44) Both for relocation & investLandwood Sales LLC CH; White 706 & 708 CH & ail: ments. If you have even parts; White plows & parts; thought about selling con54’ 4300 IH field cultivator; tact: Paul Krueger, Farm & e in Land Specialist, Edina ReFarm Equipment JD 44’ field cult; 3300 Hiniion. alty, 138 Main St. W., New ker field cult; header trailer.

Prague, MN 55372.

2005 Nuhn 6750, hyd drive, 5 507-380-5324 paulkrueger@edinarealty.com disc incorp, flow meter, 440 (612)328-4506 Raven monitor, 30.5/32 tires, FOR SALE: 15’ Alloway stalk chopper, new knives, $5,900; $27,000/OBO. (507)236-6149 JD 893 cornhead, w/ hyds, CIH 1083 8x30 cornhead, GVL deck plates, $15,900; DMI Feed Seed Hay poly snouts, $3,650; IH 720 530 Ecolo-Tiger, $8,900. All 6x18 3pt onland plow w/ very nice. Call for pics. 320Alfalfa, mixed hay, grass hay, coulters, $2,450; IH 720 7x18 333-2177 and feed grade wheat straw. 3pt onland plow w/ coulters, Medium squares or round $3,250; (2) Demco 360 bu FOR SALE: 230 JD 21’ tandem bales. Delivery available. gravity boxes w/ truck tires, disc, new tires, good blades; Call or text LeRoy Ose. 218- $2,350/ea; (2) J&M 370 bu 7’ Tebben heavy duty 3pt ro689-6675 gravity boxes w/ truck tires, tary cutter. (507)640-0146 $2,250/ea; 18.4x42 tires & Sell your farm equipment WANTED TO BUY: Damrims for JD combine, 11” in The Land with a line ad. aged corn, soybeans & other center, complete 4 tires & grains. Call Schwieger Cat507-345-4523 axle extentions, $2,750. 320tle LLC. (507)236-5181 769-2756 FOR SALE: Artsway 240B 8R stalk chopper/flail mower, FOR SALE: JD 6600 dsl comexcellent condition, $3,000. bine, JD 220 flex head, JD with a classified line ad!

Call 507-274-5162 643 cornhead. JD 7720 comCall us today bine. JD 8300 grain drill. All FOR SALE: JD 27 stalk chop507-345-4523 or excellent condition. 320-583- per, 15’; (2) 6” augers - 1 is 2751 21’ & 1 is 29’. (952)492-6144 800-657-4665

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Farm Equipment

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 Tractors

Tillage Equip

Harvesting Equip

FOR SALE: AC 8070 power DMI 6 bottom variable width shift, new rear tires, duals, plow, in furrow, works good, 2 yrs on OH, turbo re-do- never plugs in corn stalks, ne, runs great, great shape, above average condition, exDad’s toy, $16,000. 952-212- tra parts, $700. 507-317-1482 3545 FOR SALE: 1030 Case Com- FOR SALE: JD 512 disc ripGENERATORS Used, low fort King, straight pin, good per, good shape, $6,800. Call FOR SALE: ‘12 JD 618C hour take-outs. 20 kW - 2000 rubber, Dynoed, 93HP. 507- (507)456-4909 18R22”, chopping corn head, kW. Diesel, propane, & nat- 841-0085 Contour Master, hyd deck ural gas. CAT, Cummins/ plates, bought new, always Harvesting Equip Onan, Kohler, Detroit Diesel, FOR SALE: Farmall H, excelshedded, 2000 acres on & more. www.abrahamin- lent condition, like new tires, 12V, front end loader & trip 1994 Gleaner R-52, 2085 eng complete rebuild, exc cond, dustrial.com. (701) 371-9526 bucket, $1,500. 320-894-2103 hrs, 1250 sep hrs, clean ma- $74,900. 715-377-2940 chine, always shedded, will FOR SALE: ‘82 JD 6620 sideWe buy Classified Line Ads come with 6R cornhead & 20’ hill combine, 3885 hrs, AC Salvage Equipment beanhead, $32,000. (507)524- converted to R134A, 643 low Parts Available 4754 or (507)995-8110 Hammell Equip., Inc. tin oil bath cornhead, 216 (507)867-4910 Call 507-345-4523 Case IH 1020 20’ beanhead, bean head, 212 5 belt pickup w/homemade head mover. head, always shedded, quit NEW AND USED TRACTOR farming, $19,750. (763)497(507)327-8101 Tractors PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 7353 55, 50 Series & newer trac- FOR SALE: 1075 Gehl chop‘68 JD 3020, 148 ldr, gas, syn- tors, AC-all models, Large per, with crop processor, hay FOR SALE: JD combine, diecro/range, good tires; ‘68 JD Inventory, We ship! Mark head & corn head; New Ideal sel, good shape, 216 grain 4020 diesel, syncro/range, Heitman Tractor Salvage 708 uni, w/737 husking unit, 4 head, 444 cornhead, $4,000 715-673-4829 retired farmer. (952)466-9818 row corn head. (952)466-5606 for all. 763-856-4220

WORK!

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

18C ad, eck ays on nd,

deAC low 216 kup quit 497-

dierain 000

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 Harvesting Equip

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Grain Handling Equipment

Grain Handling Equipment

Wanted

PAGE 35 Livestock

FOR SALE: 4400 diesel com- JD Model 1291 12R22” corn- Brent 644 grain wagon with Grain Auger Mayrath 8x41 All kinds of New & Used farm FOR SALE: Black Angus bine, 3307 hrs, always shed- head, knife rolls, hyd deck spare tire and lights. Stored auger EMD ‘04 with/without equipment - disc chisels, field bulls also Hamp, York, & ded, new batteries, 443 corn- plates, exc cond, $24,000. inside. Pick up at my house 5hp motor and switch, used cults, planters, soil finishers, Hamp/Duroc boars & gilts. head, 216 bean head, $2,500/ Pictures & more. (218)791- outside of Wells, MN, $9,500. very little, $2,350 or $1,800 cornheads, feed mills, discs, 320-598-3790 3400 (507) 381-8205 no motor. NH 27 blower, balers, haybines, etc. 507OBO. 507-276-2839 Please recycle this magazine.

New Holland TR98, 3400/2300 FOR SALE: 6” Westfield au- harvest ready, nice, $475. 438-9782 FOR SALE: IH 1083 corn(507) 766-9697 head, good condition, $8,750; hrs, 18.4x42 duals or 800/65/ ger, unload or roof auger, 36’ WANTED: Full time help on Dairy Loftness 20’ stalk chopper, 1 R32 singles (your choice), 2 long, $425.00 (320)220-3114 New 10” power sweep for 36’ beef cows, swine & grain yr old gear box, new hoods & speed rotor, straw chopper, bin, $2,200. (507) 697-6133 farm. House provided. Call chaff spreader, terrain trac- Sell your livestock in The Land knives, $6,300. 507-461-3835 Leave message if no answer. for more details. (507)829- MN STATE BROWN SWISS er, $27,500. (507)380-2346 SALE, SEPT. 15, NOON, with a line ad. 507-345-4523 9678 FOR SALE: John Deere 6600 Milk cows, close heifers & combine with trash spreadLivestock Grain Handling project calves. St. Charles, er, very good tires, $1,800.

WANTED: 17.5’ Case/IH 1020 MN Brown Swiss Cattle Equipment Equipment 507-854-3528 bean header. Must be clean. Assn. (507) 932-3488 (2) Demco 400 bushel graviFOR SALE: Harvestor wa.ro. (763)420-3147 www.brownswissusa.com Gleaner 8200 30’ flex head, 2 ty boxes, lights, 22” rubber, matic roller mill, w/weigh SCH sickles, Crary air rail, stored inside, $6,450 for both. scale, 5 HP Baldor motor. fore/aft single point hookup, (952)201-1176 or (952)446-1120 (320)275-2435 or (612)201-7751 EZ Trail transport. (507)8675” Air Push Pac, 30HP, 3 PH Grain Leg For Sale: 100’ 4692 w/ airlock & controls, 500’ – Schlagel Grain Leg 5000 Sell your farm equipment 5” alum pipe 4 cyclones, sev- bph, 30’ conveyor & two Classified line ads work! eral elbows & flex couplers. hopper bins on structures to in The Land with a line ad.

Call 507-345-4523 be moved. (320) 979-6313 507-525-0708 507-345-4523

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

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

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The ad prices listed are based on a basic classified line ad of 25 words or less. Ads running longer than 25 words will incur an added charge.

CHECK ONE:  Announcements  Employment  Real Estate  Real Estate Wanted  Farm Rentals  Auctions  Agri Business  Farm Services  Sales & Services  Merchandise  Antiques & Collectibles

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1 run @ $19.99 = ___________________________________ 2 runs @ $34.99 = ___________________________________ 3 runs @ $44.99 = ___________________________________ Each additional line (over 7) + $1.40 per line per issue = ___________________________________ EXTENDED COVERAGE - must run the same number of times as The Land FARM NEWS (FN) - Serving farmers in Northwest Iowa, 21,545 circ.

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

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 Swine

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Sheep

Trucks & Trailers

Compart’s total program fea- Purebred Berkshire Boar Suffolk, Polypay rams for 2004 Volvo VNL 630, 500,000 tures superior boars & open Proven Breeder $300. Want- sale, aged & lambs, pro- miles, automatic transmisgilts documented by BLUP ed Hog Feeders. Daniel ductive & lots of muscle. sion, excellent condition, technology. Duroc, York, Borntreger, 21395 Cty Hwy (507)445-3317 or (507)822- $20,000. (218)791-3400 3398 Leave message.

Landrace & F1 lines. Ter- N, Kendall, WI 54638 FOR SALE: ‘79 Ford LN800 minal boars offer leanness, Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Twin & triplet ram lambs twin screw, 475 gas, Allision muscle, growth. Maternal gilts & boars are productive, Boars & Gilts available. ready for breeding. Meaty transmission, 19 1/2’ steel lean, durable. All are stress Monthly PRRS and PEDV. & fast growing, sired by Suf- box & hoist, roll tarp & no (507)276- rust, $9,995. 507-220-2834 free & PRRS free. Semen Delivery available. Steve folk/Hampshire.

7683 Lafayette also available through Elite Resler. 507-456-7746 FOR SALE: ‘95 Wilson PaceGenes A.I. Make ‘em Grow! setter 41x72 grain hopper Comparts Boar Store, INC. trailer. $13,500 (320)522-0589 Sheep Pets & Supplies Toll Free: 877-441-2627

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Dorset & Hampshire rams AKC GERMAN SHEPHERD Miscellaneous for sale. Lambs & yearlings, PUPPIES. Excellent worklarge framed w/fast growth ing bloodlines & temperathat will put extra lbs on ments. Suzette Riches, Hol- Firewood for sale (Jordan FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hamp- your lambs. I can deliver. loway, MN (320)394-2189 area); 7204/18 International shire, Duroc & Hamp/Duroc Gene Sanford (507)645-4989 plow; International chisel boars, also gilts. Excellent Texas Blue Lacy puppies, 4 plow, 13 shanks (Silver Lake) selection. Raised outside. females, 1 male, ready in (320)583-0606 Exc herd health. No PRSS. Sell your livestock in The Land 4 weeks, Call Eric 920-858www.thelandonline.com with a line ad. 507-345-4523 Delivery avail. 320-760-0365 3732

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THE LAND — SEPTEMBER 7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Lightly used Meyers 435 ma- Winpower Sales & Service nure spreader, dual apron, 2 Reliable Power Solutions beaters, 540 PTO; Loftness Since 1925 PTO & automatic 1082IG HD snow blower, 1000 Emergency Electric GenerPTO, 9’ double auger, works ators. New & Used Rich Opsata-Distributor great. (507)381-8280 800-343-9376 PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS New pumps & parts on hand. www.thelandonline.com Call Minnesota’s largest distributor Looking for HJ Olson & Company something special?

320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 REINKE IRRIGATION Sales & Service New & Used For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073

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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 — SEPTEMBER7/SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Richard Siemers.

T

Artistic resurrection

he mural that adorns the front of the K.K. Berge building in downtown Granite Falls gives new meaning to the term “public art.” It is the work of Granite Falls residents. The primarily blue and green tiles that flow across the front of the façade evoke the river that flows behind.

The K. K. Berge Building is a true survivor. First it survived the floods of 1997 and 2001 that inundated downtown Granite Falls.

Then it survived the city’s flood mitigation project while the buildings around it were demolished and replaced by a flood wall.

It did not survive on its own. The city had purchased it from its last owner and it was slated to be removed like the rest of the buildings being replaced by a flood wall.

Seeing historic value in the 1924 building erected by a tailor, K.K. Berge, a group called Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization (GFRR) came to the rescue. They purchased the building for $1. If they met requirements for keeping the building (which included raising the ground floor), they could access the $150,000 the city had allocated for its removal. With the help of generous donations, they accomplished the feat and saved the building.

GFRR sold the building to the Granite Area Arts Council, which has a gallery and gift shop there. The Arts Council wanted to honor all those generous donors. Artist Tamara

Granite Falls, Minn.

Isfeld suggested the mosaic.

As Isfeld described it, she drew the pattern like a coloring book picture and laid it out on a table in the building.

Her high school art students made tiles that included the names of the donors and put them on the mosaic.

She also supplied pails of glass and ceramic tiles, plus items folks had dropped off. During the winter of 2013-14 people would stop in and glue a few tiles.

“It ended up being a core group that really got into it — plus a few people that strayed in and out,” Isfeld said.

They ranged in age from 6 to 90. They had the freedom to apply any tiles or found objects they chose, as long as they stayed within the outline. Some brought pieces of their own.

The striking mosaic draws people to see what all is there. Only then do you notice tiles with the names of donors. Members of the community saved the building, then other members of the community honored them with the mosaic. K.K. Berge would be pleased how his original effort brought the community together.

K.K. Berge Building is at 807 Prentice St. Find out more at www.graniteareaarts.org or www.granitefallschamber.com. v

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Sept. 7/Sept. 14, 2018

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