THE LAND ~ December 14, 2018 ~ Southern Edition

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December 14, 2018 December 21, 2018

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

What’s needed for next 100 years?

P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XLII ❖ No. 25 32 pages, 1 section plus supplements

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to work both sides of the aisle. He knows At the 100th annual meeting of the the inevitable mess if the farm bill isn’t Minnesota Farm Bureau which took done now, but instead is passed along to place Nov. 16-17, MFB President Kevin the new Congress after Jan. 20. We Paap commented, “It’s fun being part of would be starting over with a Congress history. But it’s not so much the past 100 with 100 new members. Think about the years; it’s what do we need to do the next time and education needed to get these 100 years? Farm Bureau is always fornew faces even tuned into agriculture.” ward looking.”

That’s why Paap is projecting Peterson So much for Paap’s vision. But how do will get the farm bill in 2018. As I write you make it happen? I decided Land LAND MINDS this on Dec. 4, Congress got slowed a Minds would be a good place to explore

By Dick Hagen week with the memorial services of the Paap’s mind on the future of agriculture.

41st U.S. President, George Bush. And Granted, when you’re talking with I must admit I was duly impressed Paap, you’re getting a lot of Farm and gained total respect for this Texas Bureau stuff. So just bear with us. gentleman and the skillful and courteous way he Paap said 61 Minnesota County Farm Bureaus guided our country. Definitely somewhat lacking in were celebrating their first 100 years at this year’s current leaders.

November event. Emphasizing policy development But Paap is concerned about agricultural clout in at the county level gives every delegate to the annual this new Congress. He says every member of meeting a voice on future directions of their county organizations, plus the state Farm Bureau, and even Congress should have some concern about food issues. major policy decisions of the American Farm Bureau. But there are a declining number of Congressional districts with a significant agricultural population.

Then he mentioned food awareness events: “Days on the Farm” with non-farm kids; various farm safe- “I’d say less than 40 Congressional districts and that’s not enough to get anything done. Farming is ty events; farm/city projects as examples of local no longer the connection to get bipartisan support on community happening which impact people within key issues. Today, food is the connection and that is every Minnesota county. “And here at our annual why we need to work together to get anything done.” meeting, each county has the privilege of introducPaap’s thoughts on the challenges of keeping ing resolutions that directly influence future hapyoung people involved in agriculture? penings at county and state levels and sometimes “Sustainability is the issue. For farming, generationeven a national impact,” said Paap. al stability is most important. We’re hearing so Yes, he admits to regional differences within the American Farm Bureau. This is to be expected when often from young farm family members who don’t you consider agricultural variations across America. see much future in farming. Too much risk; not enough land; rural bankers not giving financial sup“But our strength in Farm Bureau is that everyport; and sometimes mom and dad aren’t providing thing in our national policy was initiated from one much encouragement ether.” of the 2,600 county or parish Farm Bureaus across Paap’s situation was two young sons eager to get America. The fact that something might have startinto farming. And a dad who was getting busier ed at your county annual meeting months earlier and busier with Minnesota and also American Farm and moved through the entire system tells you Bureau programs. Kevin is a voting board member there will be similarities that get tanked along the of the American Farm Bureau board of directors. So way; also lots of combining. he jokingly commented, “My two sons, according to “But we respect the democratic process,” stated Paap. “That’s why we debate each resolution propos- my neighbors, are doing a better job running the farming business than I did. And that may be al. You vote and when we walk out we have unified entirely true. We’re going to continue do a good job policy which every member supports. It’s the same farming and a good job with Farm Bureau too.” procedure with our 78 Minnesota Farm Bureau On this delicate question: Are farmers getting too organizations and our 50 state Farm Bureaus plus big too fast? Will we soon simply not have enough Puerto Rico. It’s a tested and proven system. This land and/or enough capital to keep sustaining this opportunity of being a voice for American agriculincredible growth? ture regardless of where you live is the very strength of Farm Bureau.”

Paap responded this way: “We’re aware of the issue.

We talk it; we debate it; but we don’t know how to That being the case, what did Paap have to say about the likelihood of Congressman Collin Peterson slow it down other than the potentially painful way getting a new farm bill passed before the end of cal- of letting depressed commodity prices dictate who will be the winners. Today, it’s hard to make anyendar year 2018? thing work on rented land. Animal agriculture defiPaap thinks Minnesotans are fortunate to have nitely is on the road to bigger and fewer. But could Collin Peterson as chairman of the House Ag this crunch pave the way to more community family Committee. “He’s a dedicated servant at the table every day representing all of agriculture. He’s been farms that grow and market a variety of both garden in Washington enough years so he understands how See LAND MINDS, pg. 4

OPINION

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

GIPSA is on the move, the ‘GIPSA rule’ is not GIPSA, the badly named, ASCS became FSA.) When hard-working mule inside that redo was nearly comthe U.S. Department of plete, Mitchell says, two Agriculture, is on the move USDA programs still lacked again over objections that homes: the Federal Grain the Trump Administration’s Inspection Service and the ongoing USDA reorganizaPackers and Stockyards tion will bury it — and Administration. other, less obscure parts of “So USDA threw them FARM & FOOD FILE the department like the together at the last minute Economic Research Service

By Alan Guebert to create GIPSA,” Mitchell — in new layers of says. But “they were misbureaucracy so deep that fits from the start none will ever be seen because each operates again. under its own Act to do different work But Larry Mitchell, the last adminis- by different staffs.” trator of GIPSA (the Grain Inspection, After overseeing the disparate parts Packers and Stockyards for more than four years, Mitchell has Administration) supports the move no problem with Secretary of because GIPSA’s two “missions” of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s plan to grain inspection as well as packers place GIPSA under the Agricultural and stockyards oversight “have no Marketing Service umbrella to, as business being together. Never did.”

Perdue explained last September, “proIf you think candor like that is vide a unified USDA presence focused refreshing in Washington’s foggy envi- not on programs, but on customers rons, you’re going to love this: and the services they are provided.”

Mitchell’s an ardent Democrat who That’s a good idea, says Mitchell served as the deputy administrator of from Austin, Texas, where he is the farm programs in the Clinton coordinator for commodity programs Administration’s Farm Service Agency at the Texas Department of before returning to run GIPSA for the Agriculture. “If you can provide a more Obama White House from June 1, sound platform for [GIPSA’s] two 2012 through noon, Jan. 20, 2017. efforts that helps both farmers and His first USDA tour may have agriculture, that’s good government informed his second because, beginand everybody comes out ahead.” ning in 1994, USDA began to impleSeveral farm groups, however, aren’t ment its last major overhaul. (Oldas hopeful about Perdue’s GIPSA move. timers may remember it as when Roger Johnson, president of the

OPINION

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National Farmers Union, issued a press release Nov. 30 to condemn the change.

It noted Perdue was making a “big step in the wrong direction” especially now “when just a handful of companies control all the markets that supply and buy from family farmers and ranchers.”

Worse, Johnson added, the move “comes on top of USDA’s decision to withdraw the Farmer Fair Practices Rules…”

The Farmers Union boss is right on both counts. The GIPSA move became a done deal on Nov. 29 when USDA issued the “final rule” on it. And, yes, the Farmer Fair Practices Rules (known for years as the GIPSA Rule) is a goner, too.

The GIPSA rule, however, has been a goner for a while. It was effectively dead the instant the Trump Administration was sworn in. Perdue just ordered the bureaucratic moves to officially kill it.

And with it, Mitchell says, went an important tool for farmers and ranchers to challenge Big Ag’s power in today’s heavily concentrated and

integrated markets. “The GIPSA Rule was a way for an individual farmer or a group of farmers to be afforded protection against damages caused by anticompetitive behavior,” he explains.

What it wasn’t, though, was an antitrust rule that gave GIPSA power to take action against ag players.

“Antitrust is what the Justice Department does; GIPSA does anticompetition,” explains its former administrator.

Anti-competition might “be small potatoes” next to antitrust, relates Mitchell, “but with enough potatoes, you can still make a lot of fries.”

Hopefully, that’s what the repositioned GIPSA will be able to do better than when it was a standalone organization, suggests Mitchell.

“The GIPSA Rule is dead, but GIPSA and its mission are still very much alive,” he adds.

The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. v

Could hemp be an option?

LAND MINDS, from pg. 2

entists (both academic and farm type) if agriculture has adopted so much and animal products for local markets? new technology so rapidly that farmers are now their own enemies? And I He also suggested, “Let’s look at usually get a mixture of ‘yes, for cerother alternatives. Maybe even hemp farming under proper rules and regu- tain’; some suggesting open trade markets worldwide would take care of this lations can be an option. We’ve got a excess production. So too would one Senate Majority Leader (McConnell) from Kentucky who is very interested horrible growing season in key production areas around the world (but skipin hemp. So hemp is kind of getting ping Minnesota). Are tariffs an obvion everybody’s radar screen. ous answer to more profitable trade?

“Yes, Farm Bureau represents all of Well, yes, if you have the buyers willagriculture and we will continue to ing to pay your price. have policy that is good for every We’re wrapping up another year. You aspect of agriculture. But that gets farm families continue to impress me tough as we begin to have more and more different types of agriculture. No with your diligence and dedication. Even when not making a buck you have that doubt there are some very real finaninvaluable charm of letting us know it’s cial and emotional challenges out going to get better. That’s maybe because there right now.

“Hopefully it’s not going to get worse it can’t keep getting worse.

I wish you all a joyous Christmas before it gets better. But it’s not looking season. May the Lord shine brightly in good right now. We need to be innovative in agriculture. That is the formula your presence and may 2019 be anoththat has built American agriculture. In er grand chapter in this incredible profession of feeding the world. God these more difficult times, innovation bless you. may be even more important.”

Dick Hagen is staff writer of The Well, no arguing with the general Land. He may be reached at consensus of what Paap has to say. I v often ask some of my agricultural sci- rdhagen35@gmail.com.

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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Life on the Farm: Readers’ Photos

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Al Batt of Hartland, Minn. reminded The Land the American Goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa. Winter causes the finch to lose its bright yellow plummage for a few months.

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Santa should have no problem getting around New Ulm, Minn. this Christmas. Rose Wurtzberger sent these photos taken on Dec. 2 after she received 3-4 inches of snow. Nature’s whitewash clung to the side of a shed and highlighted the colors of a door hinge.

Letter: Things will get better To the Editor, It’s been another year with a lot of problems: a shooter that shoots people, then blows his brains out. Many people commit suicide. It proves nothing, it solves nothing, it’s zero.

Here’s a prayer that does for all people. It’ll take you to paradise.

“Follow the ten commandments the best you can.

Have faith in Jesus, follow His church. Whatever is bugging you will get better. You’ll have something really good to look forward to — a good life forever.

Jesus can handle your biggest problems — like death. Jesus can give us a second life and there would be nothing that would take it away from us.

Amen.”

Myron Solberg Buffalo, Minn.

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

“Soy to the World” (or at least two counties)

By KRISTIN KVENO The Land Correspondent ‘Tis the season to give and help those in need in our community. The Nicollet/ Sibley County Corn and Soybean Growers Association have been doing just that for six years now.

The need for donations to area food shelves is great — especially around the holiday season — so the association wanted to take action and help stock the shelves. According to board member Steve Hulke of Courtland, Minn., “we just talked about it at a county meeting, about what we could do this time of year.” What they decided to do was help the food shelves in Nicollet and Sibley counties. “We thought it was a good idea.”

The board members gather one day in December every year at the Hy-Vee in New Ulm and buy products for the food shelves. They don’t just purchase any food items; they buy products that contain soybeans in them. Whether it’s vegetable oil or cake mix, supporting soybean growers while helping those in need just makes sense. According to

Hulke, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association gives money towards the purchase of the food as well. Usually about six or seven board members do the shopping. “Everyone seems to have a good time,” Hulke said.

The items purchased go to food shelves in Gaylord and St. Peter. “I think we’ll continue doing this as it’s been quite successful.” The need is great as the “food shelves are extremely happy to get the food.” The association spends about $1,000. Giving of time and money for the betterment of the community is important to the association. While they would like to do a big food drive in the summer, farming duties make that a challenge though they do donate money to the food shelves at that time.

For Hulke, giving back to the community is important as is serving on the association’s board of directors for the past 15 years as well as serving on the board for the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. The association’s goal is to “promote corn and soybeans.”

They do this in a variety of ways

through “some radio advertising” as well as “a golf outing in July,” Hulke said. The golf event is a way to bring farmer members together for some fun and camaraderie.

For many areas in the state, this year was full of difficulties from planting to harvest but “in our two-county area we didn’t have quite the challenges that others areas of Minnesota had.” Hulke believes that “overall it was a decent year.”

As with farming, “you always have to be optimistic.” The same could be said for helping others this time of year — optimistic that those in need will get the resources that will help them get back on their feet again. Corn and soybean growers in Nicollet and Sibley counties are doing their part this holiday season in providing food to those in need, ensuring that tummies will be full and hearts will be warmed. v

MDA announces statespecific dicamba restrictions ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently announced a state-specific restriction for the use of the herbicide dicamba in Minnesota for the 2019 growing season. Dicamba is primarily used for controlling post-emergence broadleaf weeds.

The 2019 Minnesota restriction is in addition to those established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The affected formulations are XtendiMax by Monsanto; Engenia by BASF; and FeXapan by DuPont.

The decision follows the MDA’s ongoing investigations and informal surveys into reports of crop damage from alleged dicamba off-target movement over the past two growing seasons. In 2017, the MDA received 253 reports of alleged dicamba drift; 55 of those were formal complaints requesting investigations. Those reports impacted an estimated 265,000 acres. After state restrictions were put in place for the 2018 growing season, the number of complaints dropped dramatically this year to 53 reports, of which 29 were formal complaints. Just over 1,800 acres were impacted in 2018.

“We now have two years’ worth of data to show what measures can and should be taken to limit the potential drift of dicamba to non-target crops,” said Agriculture Commissioner Dave

Frederickson. “It is evident that measures put in place last year worked well and we must continue to use this product in a prudent manner.”

Based on the review of survey results and peer reviewed literature, and input from the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Drift Task Force, the University of Minnesota Extension weed scientists, and the pesticide manufacturers, Commissioner Frederickson has added one additional protocol for dicamba use for the 2019 growing season: Cutoff date: Do not apply after June 20, 2019. Setting an application cutoff date of June 20 is again expected to help reduce the potential for damage to neighboring crops and vegetation.

The majority of Minnesota soybeans are still in the vegetative growth stage

by June 20 and research has shown that plants in the vegetative stage are less affected than those in the reproductive stage.

There will be no temperature application restriction in 2019.

In Minnesota, the XtendiMax, Engenia, and FeXapan formulations of dicamba are “Restricted Use Pesticides” for retail sale to and for use only by certified applicators.

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

Letters to the editor are always welcome.

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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Post-harvest could be busiest time for livestock farmers Harvest. just do an old-fashioned John Wayne-like cattle drive.

The word alone brings visions of bountiful fields of golden corn ... and brown soyTheir horses of choice to guide the cows bean fields that are pregnant with the on the right path are four wheelers, year’s labors. We envision slow-moving which also need to be loaded up and combines, tractors and trucks going taken to the field — along with a staff of through the fields, looking serene and help — for the great round-up. even appearing to be at a purposeful, How funny it looks today to see cows slow pace in a world where most everymoving on the hoof down the road.

TABLE TALK thing moves at break-neck speed.

Actually, it looks scenic and maybe even Not all that long ago I was visiting with By Karen Schwaller breathtaking if you like watching cattle a fellow livestock farmer about the harand if the cattle drive is supposed to hapvest and how glad we would be to have pen. When cattle are seen coming down that rush behind us so we could relax a little bit. the road when they are not supposed to be, it changes the outlook from serene to a four-alarm, allBut it didn’t take long for me to learn that his hands-on-deck state of affairs. opinion on the end of the active harvest was a lot different than mine.

While the cows are grazing in lush golden and gleaned corn fields, gathering up the corn that has He told me that once he gets through all of his acres with the combine, the real work of fall is just fallen to the ground, the balers come out in alreadygrazed fields to bind up stover into round bales, and beginning. those bales are gathered up and hauled home to be He said when the crops are out he needs to build used during the winter. a fence around his corn fields, haul water tanks and His next big job is to get the tillage done on acres water, gather up his cows and turn them out. When that were being grazed. The wait to do that tillage one field has been grazed, he does those things all is valuable, as the grazing helps the cows with over again in another field. nourishment, gives them nourishment that would Building the fence and moving water supplies was have otherwise gone to waste, does the first work of usually easy, he said. But moving the cows can be a naturally reducing volunteer corn in the soybeans challenge. Depending on how far they are going, they might round them up and haul them in groups with a trailer, or if the next field is close, they might

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.

Jan. 10-11 — Minnesota Organic Conference — St. Cloud, Minn. — Topics include managing Canada thistle; organic soybeans; forage quality; new row crop ideas; marketing; stress; record keeping; organic certification; soils; financial management; grazing cover crops; pastured poultry; relationships between community and farm — Contact Cassie Dahl at Cassie.Dahl@state.mn.us or (651) 201-6134 Jan. 17-19 — Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference — Ames, Iowa — Topics include using cover crops to control weeds; niche pork production; biodynamic farming; growing winter small grains; eggplant production; prairie habitat; organic dairy; rural mental health; regenerative grazing; marketing — Contact Debra Boekholder at debra@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661 Jan. 18 — Winter Crops Day — Waseca, Minn.

— Topics include Potassium in soil and effects on corn and soybeans; cover crop establishment; weed control and cover crops; soil benefits of cover crops — Contact Deanne Nelson at (507) 835-3620

the following year, and also helps fertilize the land — since we know that what goes in must come out.

Livestock farmers are an unusual breed. There is literally no end to the work — no matter the season.

Most often on the farm, animals come before people do, much to the chagrin of young the woman of the farm, who can be known to wonder if she will always come second.

A cattle-producer friend of mine once jokingly told her mother, “If only we could grow tails, we would get more attention.” There has probably not been a farm wife in history who hasn’t wondered that at least once over her years on the farm.

When I look at pictures from the days of my grandparents working on the farm, I’m convinced there is a reason I never see any fat people. They did the same work we do, only with much less technology and conveniences, and with no more time in months than we have.

And their harvest season was done by hand before any of that other fall work was done.

While today’s harvest scenes might appear tranquil, perhaps farm people were the first to coin the question, “Are we done yet?”

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

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Growing crops doesn’t have to be a big-time operation Your hands are filthy. missing “Farming While Black” would be a dirty shame.

“Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Dirt lines every crease and covers Guide to Liberation on the Land” much of your knuckles. It’s beneath n your fingernails, all the way up to

by Leah Penniman, foreword by Karen Washington The mistletoe is hung, and so are the your wrists, soiling the edges of your garlands, the ornaments, window decosweatshirt and down your front. Yes, c.2018, Chelsea Green Publishing rations and lights. You’d be ready for your hands are filthy; but once you’ve the holidays, too, if you weren’t hung $34.95 / $47.50 Canada read “Farming While Black” by Leah up on a gift for that one certain person.

Penniman, your smile will be wide.

368 pages THE BOOKWORM Now what? Now head to the bookYears ago, in search of a way to SEZ store with this column in-hand, and make a difference in black lives, Leah look for one of these great books.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer Penniman fell in love with cilantro. plant. Food and medicine If your giftee a lover of memoirs, “Woman at She met it on the first day of an may both be wel-come in 1,000 Degrees” by Hallgrimur Helgason is a novel urban program to teach people to grow food, and your community. Know the proper she may like, too. It’s told in the voice of 80-yearwhen she smelled the herb, it was “magical.” It (and safe) way to use tools, and how old Herra Björnsson, who is at the end of her life made her want her own farm, to feed her children, to take care of those you use. Add and she’s in the mood to share. Wrap it up with to ease the dire statistics she knew about obesity animals to your farm. And finally, remember that “The Clockmaker’s Daughter” by Kate Morton, a and heart disease among African Americans and you don’t have to have acres and acres to farm. A novel of an archivist, a very old manor, and a bit of Native Americans, and to lessen the terrible comsmall, abandoned corner is a perfectly valid way to a mystery that transcends time. monness of “food deserts.” dip your toes in the dirt.

For the giftee who sometimes wishes for a lifeTo begin, she says, “Aspiring farmers need three Although it’s a little pricey as paperbacks go, rewind, “The Dinner List” by Rebecca Serle could be essential ingredients: training, land and material “Farming While Black” is absolutely one of those a good choice to give. It’s a story about one evening, resources.” Training can be received through classes books where you get your money’s worth. one meal, a lot of loved ones (past and present) and or intern programs, but be careful what you ask for: Starting with the illustrative story of Soul Fire a chance to make things right. Pair it up with “The some programs might require you to work for free, Farm’s beginning, author Leah Penniman offers staDream Daughter” by Diane Chamberlain, a book which may be “all too reminiscent of the exploitatistics to prove on-going need, and history to show about a mother’s first chances. tion of [your] ancestors.” that farming isn’t anything new for black For the historical fiction fan, look for “A WellAs for acquiring land, you may find what you need Americans. In today’s world, though, Penniman Behaved Woman” by Therese Anne Fowler. It’s a by “squatting” (check local laws), or by finding a advocates community-based farms that are tended multi-generational tale of wealth and high-society farmer who’s retiring. Know your options when it not by one set of hands but by many — and she (and the Vanderbilts), set in the years following the comes to financing, and make a business plan; in takes their creation step-by-step so that readers fact, never tackle a farm without a plan. don’t feel overwhelmed. Indeed, her thoroughness (it Civil War, and one woman’s desire (need?) to make it to the top of New York’s social scene. seems as though every little detail is covered) If the land you want has been ill-cared for, don’t makes this a solid reference book for farms and For the armchair detective or CSI fan, “The Handy despair. There are ways of restoring land that has community gardens of all sizes.

Forensic Science Answer Book” by Patricia Barnesbeen neglected. Know what to “feed” it, and then know proper land management methods to mainBe aware that this book may seem somewhat new- Svarney and Thomas E. Svarney will be a welcome tain soil health. Think carefully about what you’ll agey at times, and it can over-reach, too. Some chap- gift this year. In a question-and-answer format, this ters seem superfluous. Even so, for budding farmers, book teaches and answers the kinds of questions any detective show fan can come up with. It may new green thumbs, or aspiring back-to-the-landers, Public Notice by also chill you. Wrap it up with any good murder it could be the exact right book to have. For you, mystery, of course! Or better yet, wrap it up with Minnesota Pork Board and the “Murder, Lies, and Cover-Ups” by David Gardner, a National Pork Board book about conspiracies and the whodunit deaths of The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2020 celebrities your giftee will surely remember.

National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take Where would you favorite pal be without you — or place at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 4, 2019 in conjunction Early deadline for ads in The Land vice versa? In “Text Me When You Get Home” by with a Board of Directors meeting of the Minnesota Pork Board Kayleen Schaeffer, your giftee will see how female at Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN Due to the Christmas and New Year Holidays, friendships are forged, nourished, and kept strong; 55403. All Minnesota pork producers are invited to attend.

The Land office will be closed on and what happens when they don’t. Wrap it up with “Girl Talk” by Jacqquline Mroz, a book about female Tuesday, Dec. 25th and Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019.

Any producer, age 18 or older, who is a resident of the state friendships from a scientific perspective. and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a Deadline for The Land’s delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible And for the cook on your list, “Buttermilk Graffiti” producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt Dec. 28th issue is

by Edward Lee would make a great gift. It’s part proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff history, part memoir, part foodie paradise with reciTues., Dec. 18th at noon. deducted. pes and it’s yummy.

For more information, contact: Deadline for The Land’s The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has Minnesota Pork Board, Jan. 4th, 2019 issue is been reading since she was 3 years old and never 151 Saint Andrews Court, Suite 810, goes anywhere without a book. She lives in Wed., Dec. 26th at noon.

Mankato, Minnesota Wisconsin with three dogs and 10,000 books. v Telephone: (507)345-8814

NOTICE

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Minnesota Farm Bureau celebrates centennial year in 2019

By CAROLYN VAN LOH The Land Correspondent BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — November 8,1919: the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s date of birth. Goals of the federation included protecting, promoting and representing the interests of farmers as well as developing the agriculture industry. The agriculture organization embarked on a year of commemorating its century mark at the Farm Bureau’s annual meeting Nov. 15-17 in Bloomington, Minn.

Printed in the convention brochure, MFBF President Kevin Paap wrote, “For 100 years, MFBF has been that friend to farmers and their communities; bringing them together to discuss challenges, identify solutions and advocate on issues we’ve determined are critical to keeping current and future generations on the land.”

Young Farmers and Ranchers members and collegiate young adults had an opportunity to participate in discussion meets. They worked their way through preliminary elimination meets to compete in the final round at the convention. Competitions such as these are building blocks in the foundation of a participant’s future in agriculture and ag-related careers.

Elected political leaders, regardless of party affiliation or farmer’s organization membership, were warmly welcomed to the MFBF convention. All farmers must work together to promote the agriculture

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industry.

On Nov. 17 two speakers had powerful, worlds-apart messagThe mood of the convention es. Dr. Chris Johnson, a national was anything but dwelling on expert on opioids, is a member of achievements of the past 99 the Board of Directors for years and resting on those accomPhysicians for Responsible plishments. The upbeat atmoOpioid Prescribing. sphere was a blend of humor, warmth and inspiration to In one of Dr. Johnson’s opening encourage members in their worstatements he made a profound thy causes. There was a sense of apology. “My profession did this motivating attendees to keep on and the medical industry failed moving ahead and communicatyou.” Johnson went on with ing the story of agriculture to countless power point slides to misinformed people who are farsupport his conclusions concernremoved from farm practices. ing the opioid crisis.

Each year after the Friday eveThe current problem can be ning awards banquet, the MFBF traced in history as far back as Foundation auction is an enterwritten civilization itself and taining way to raise funds for Roman mythology. The pharmaPhoto by Dave Van Loh ceutical industry is the driving the foundation. Auction items are donated by county Farm Farmer Chris Koch inspired his audience force behind the opioid epidemic.

Bureau groups and many times at the annual Farm Bureau meeting with Between the years of 1992 and are representative of objects sold his life story and experiences.

2012 prescriptions had tripled in their county or made by somefrom 7 million to 220 million. one in the county. One of the top auction competitions The combination of farming’s hard work and stress this year was a Henry repeating rifle. Total amount factors have increased the need for pain relief, and raised at this year’s auction exceeded $10,000. The taking opioid-related drugs can be dangerous. foundation supports numerous agriculture and safeJohnson’s concluding comments shed light on the ty education and leadership development. In 2018, situation.

“We need to reform the system that created the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation awarded nearly $40,000 for Agriculture Promotion grants and the situation.” He went on to warn his listeners: “Do contributions to county Farm Bureaus, just a few of not start opioids.” the donations made each year.

Seminar attendees left with a plate full of food for thought, and moved to the Grand Ballroom for a noon luncheon followed by an outstanding motivational and inspirational speaker, Chris Koch. He was born and raised on a farm and continues to farm. His inspirational and motivational presentation blended wisdom with humor.

Koch began by commenting that he’s had “a fun ride with lots of laughs,” but many things he cannot

By CAROLYN VAN LOH do because he was born without arms and legs.

The Land Correspondent Growing up was quite normal for him. “It’s not physical abilities, it’s in the mind I needed to make misAccording to the Centers for Disease Control takes to get better,” he said. and Prevention, approximately 100 farmers and ag workers suffer a lost-work-time injury every Chris Koch has experienced each of the following day. The injury can easily become an even larger, words of inspiration. more critical circumstance when the injured per“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know son is prescribed a strong painkiller. nothing about. Every day may not be great, but Dr. Chris Johnson is a nationally-recognized there’s something great in every day. Take control of expert on the opioid and heroin epidemic which your circumstances instead of passively waiting for currently claims over 25,000 American lives per them to decide your fate. The core of the human year. Johnson conducted a seminar on the epispirit comes from new experiences. Get away from demic at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation your comfort zone as often as you can. You get out of annual meeting in November. Johnson is an life what you put into it.” emergency and urgent care doctor who began his The two days moved quickly, and there will be spepresentation by apologizing to his audience. “My cial events scheduled throughout the coming year as profession did this. The medical industry failed part of the centennial celebration for the Minnesota you.”

Farm Bureau. v See OPIOIDS, pg. 15

Farm Town Strong addresses growing opioid crisis

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

PAGE 11

Renovated theater is home to family Christmas show

By RENAE B. VANDER SCHAAF The Land Correspondent LE MARS, Iowa — The fall field work is finished on the Brown family farm in Plymouth County, Iowa. That’s good, because now their attention turns from producing crops that are utilized in feeding a nation to providing nourishment to souls through their music.

November and December are big months for the Brown family as they are hosting their fourth annual Christmas music show. The all-new show theme is “A Hometown Christmas” which is appropriate as the show takes place in their home town of Le Mars.

“We’ll sing the season’s traditional songs,” said Michaela Brown. “But also will be singing two songs that we wrote.”

“Night Of Hope” was written and produced by Michaela, her mother Shelley and songwriting icon Joel Lindsey and Dove Award nominee Photos by Renae B. Vander Schaaf Jeff Baumgardner. The combined Michaela Brown invites everyone to enjoy their music shows in Le Mars, Iowa. efforts of Michaela, Shelly and their producer Wayne Haun resulted in the song, “Christmas — In Our Hometown.”

Another extra treat is the “Irish C h r i s t m a s Blessing” that was written by someone else specifically for the Brown’s annual show. That’s just one of two music productions they are offering this Christmas season.

In the past, the Browns have been able to set the stage up in the beginning of November and Once a bank, and more recently leave it until their office space, the century-old March show. This building was purchased by the Browns in 2015. year they can’t as the Browns are not only doing their Christmas show, but also a musical which they have produced.

It was an accumulative effort of the Browns, Haun, Baumgardner and Lindsay to write the script and 14 original songs. It is debuting at the Brown’s Century Theater and is the only place it can be seen in 2018.

The 14 songs will elicit a variety of emotions from laughter, sorrow, joy and praise as they tell the Christmas story.

“It has been a dream of mine to produce a musical,” said Michaela. “The innkeeper’s wife presents a little different perspective. She is overworked and a bit skeptic when her husband offers the tired couple the stable for the night. But when Joseph, a carpenter, gives her an unexpected gift, she comes to the stable. A change happens in her heart, her eyes are open and she believes.”

That is why the Browns sing — to share the gospel. It’s been a family undertaking since Michaela, along with her brothers Adam and Andrew, came to their mother’s rescue.

Eighteen years ago Shelly Brown faced a dilemma. The woman’s trio from church was disbanding after 10 years of singing together. They still had engagements that needed filling.

She felt an obligation to keep those commitments as best she could. Her See BROWN THEATER, pg. 12

PAGE 12

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Theater is only part of the Browns’ many enterprises BROWN THEATER, from pg. 11 husband Keith was farming land that had been in the family for more than a century. Through those many years, she knew there were times the family had pulled together to get the work done with what they had.

Keith was busy with the farm work.

But her three children, Adam, Andrew and Michaela, she reasoned, were doing pretty well with their violin lessons.

The family always enjoyed singing together and they knew the songs. The more she thought about it, she came to the conclusion, ‘Yes, it would be possible that they could do those last scheduled concerts’.

“And we did,” said Michaela. “Soon the invitations came for the Brown family to perform at churches and other events. God definitely had a plan for our family.”

Their focus has been on singing southern gospel which took them throughout the United States. Twelve years ago they were the featured artists for a Christmas show in Branson, Missouri.

“That really did give us a bug for the theatre,” said Michaela. “It was definitely appealing to just be able to open the doors and have our instruments there. Packing up after each performance and travelling is hard work.”

In August of 2015, the Remodeling of the historic building revealed a boxed ceiling, stenciling and an original marble wall. Browns purchased a centu-

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The former bank vault is now home to the Brown Theater gift gallery. The bank’s safety boxes are used to display new treasures. ry-old building in Le Mars. It was originally built as a bank, but in more recent years it had been a lawyer’s office.

To their surprise, the work of renovating became one of restoration instead. Upon removing a layer of sheetrock, the Browns found an original marble wall in fairly good shape.

A beautiful boxed ceiling was discovered when the false ceilings came down.

It was a delight to learn the original painted trim could be repaired.

“These discoveries did decide the colors for us,” said Michaela. “It also influenced the décor, as we chose Biltmore chandeliers from the 1915 era.”

The building measures approximately 20 feet wide and is 120 feet deep (as are most buildings on the town main street). The upper floor is used as offices by the Brown family, with the theatre on the main floor. In the basement is a gift gallery stocked with their music CD’s and DVD’s. Many gift items can be found there including cookbooks that Michaela has written.

“I took several culinary courses from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris,” said Michaela.

“And I really like to cook.”

With a twinkle in her eye, she points out the cookbook entitled, “Brownielicious — a Brownie Cookbook.” “After all, we are the Brown family,” she said. The other cookbook, “From the Stage to the Stove,” contains a variety of recipes.

Michaela’s knowledge and enjoyment of cooking is quite useful in two of the

Browns’ new ventures. Just kitty-corner from the Brown Century Theater is The Browns Central Event Center.

Above the event center is the brandnew The Brown’s Bed and Breakfast.

Work on the four luxury suites has just been completed.

It doesn’t matter if their guests come by car or tour bus, they can all make reservations to enjoy a delicious homecooked meal.

“We feature a buffet that showcases some of Iowa’s finest foods,” said Michaela. “All of it is made from scratch.”

The meal is served at the event center which is decorated in a Victorian Christmas theme.

Attending “Christmas In Our Hometown” and “The Innkeeper’s Wife” could easily become a family tradition.

Throughout the year, the Browns will host different toe-tapping music shows.

The Fourth of July week is devoted to patriotic music. A Celtic music show takes place in March; a mother’s tea in May; traditional country music in the fall; and an Easter concert in the spring.

Performances of “A Hometown Christmas” are currently underway and will continue through Dec. 22. An afternoon and evening performance of their “New Year’s Eve Celebration” take place on Dec. 31. Tickets for all events are available by calling (888) 202-2712 or online at https://thebrownstheater.tix.com.

The Browns Century Theater is located at 11 Central Ave. NW, Le Mars, Iowa 51031. v

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

PAGE 13

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Influenza season requires precaution in handling pigs Winter has arrived and with it some particular disease concerns — both in the pig barn and with the caretakers. In swine, the “Big Four” diseases are PRRS (Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome), Mycoplasma pneumonia, Porcine Circovirus (PCV) and Swine Influenza Virus (SIV).

Swine Influenza Virus can be simply referred to as the flu, but there’s nothing simple about it in the herd.

Many people remember the 2009 human influenza pandemic which was originally referred to as “swine flu.” Indeed, it was an H1N1 virus which affected swine or humans, but connecting it to swine was a public relations disaster for the pork-producing community. At that time, in late August 2009, H1N1 was considered to be responsible for an 11 percent drop in global pork trade, with the underlying reason attributed to the name “swine flu.”

Because the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was the worst human flu attack since 1918, and because its origins were a reassortment of human, bird and swine flu viruses, much research has occurred in the ensuing years to better understand flu in pigs and people.

Influenza in pigs Swine influenza virus is present in most swine herds across the country, and it appears to be a disease that many farms constantly live with. It’s a respiratory disease which affects all stages of production. Suckling piglets generally have immunity to the disease while with the sow. Coughing, pneumonia and fever are the most common symptoms.

The high temperatures of SIV can cause abortions in pregnant sows Growing pigs will experience severe respiratory distress for 7-10 days, then return to normal over the next 7-10 days. In the Midwest, 90 percent of swine herds containing growing pigs have tested positive for SIV. While commercial vaccines exist for swine influenza, many herds prefer to use an autogenous vaccine created specifically for them. These custom-made vaccines are formulated by using herd-specific anti-

UniversityofMinnesota

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gens from the influenzainfected population.

Human influenza season Flu viruses are most common in humans during the fall and winter; although, like in pigs, the virus can be SWINE & U detected any time during the year. Influenza generally

By Diane DeWitte makes an appearance in October, then peaks between December and February. The U.S. Center for Disease Control indicates that flu is contagious beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after a person becomes sick. Symptoms begin 1-4 days after the virus enters the body. The virus can easily be spread without a person knowing that he or she is sick.

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

Influenza is caused by ever-changing RNA viruses.

The change in the virus isn’t mutation, it’s called reassortment — when more than one similar virus is affecting the same cell, the viruses can exchange genetic material. This new combination virus has properties of the original viruses and is called a variant. The H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 happened when people were infected by a variant of a swine, avian and human virus.

Typically, the seasonal human flu is caused by the H3N2 virus. In 2011, a variant of H3N2 was discov-

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ered in humans which contained a gene from the 2009 H1N1 virus. That H3N2 variant has been most commonly found in people who experienced prolonged exposure to pigs at fairs.

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

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

Dr. Fabian Chamba Pardo recently published findings of his study of the factors which affect influenza infection status of piglets at weaning time. From 2011 to 2017, Pardo collected samples at weaning on 83 swine farms in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. These monthly samples were part of a routine surveillance program and yielded these results: Piglets who were raised by sows vaccinated against influenza were less likely to have the disease. Gilts who entered the sow herd and were influenza-positive were associated with positive piglets at weaning. Further details of Dr. Pardo’s study can be found at https://z.umn.edu/PardoInfluenzaStudy.

A robust five-year study of 34 breed-to-wean farms by the team at the U of M Veterinary Population Department undertook the three-pronged challenge of estimating the prevalence and seasonality of SIV, investigating the correlation between the prevalence See SWINE & U, pg. 15

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PAGE 15

Vaccinating handlers is best way to prevent spread of flu SWINE & U, from pg. 14 of SIV and weather, and studying the genetic diversity of the SIV on the farms over time.

The team found that the prevalence of influenza in herds over five years ranged from 7 to 57 percent with a median presence of 28 percent. Herdlevel influenza occurrences followed a cyclical pattern with levels increasing during the fall, peaking in December and May, and subsiding in the summer. Researchers were able to correlate the prevalence of herd-level influenza with lower outdoor temperatures and low absolute humidity. The team’s

research also showed that over time, there were genetically diverse influenza viruses co-circulating within the herd. (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, October 2017).

Protect people and pigs Although influenza is not a federally reportable or regulated swine disease, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in conjunction with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and National Pork Board, have collaborated on the establishment of a national swine influenza virus surveillance program.

Veterinarians can submit nasal fluid, oral swabs or lung tissue to a local lab

72,000 lives were lost to opioid overdoses in 2017 OPIOIDS, from pg. 10 Individuals seeking relief from chronic pain have been looking for long-term opioid prescriptions, and in the process, contribute to the epidemic.

Johnson said that opioids are important for short-term acute pain relief, but long-term use can have devastating effects.

“Use it for a couple days, take an edge off the pain, but don’t pretend it’s something you can take for years without risk,” says Johnson.

In the United States, opioid-related prescriptions tripled between 1992 and 2012 with prescriptions rising from 7 million to 220 million. Six thousand users overdosed in 1999; however, 50,000 overdoses occurred by 2016. A record 72,000 lives were lost to overdoses in 2017.

Johnson asserts that the crisis is not an accident. It arose from deliberate action of those with a financial interest in expanded prescribing of opioids.

Some medical communities are vulnerable to the influence of corporate money and willing to compromise their scientific principles.

The opioid crisis is evidence of a health care system that must be reformed because the high cost of the medications is causing a greater deal of pain. The problem is difficult to overcome because incentives in the health care industry are poorly suited to stop-

ping the crisis. Many are not interested in stopping the crisis if that might result in financial loss or exposure to liability.

Prescribers can take steps to curb the epidemic, but society must respond by limiting the use of opioids or refusing to take them. Pain can be unbearable, but a person experiencing the pain must be cautious of putting confidence in a drug that can ultimately cause death if not used correctly. Areas across rural America are in dire need of help.

On October 26, 2017, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency. The United States comprises 5 percent of the world’s population and consumes more than 80 percent of the world’s opioid painkillers. More Americans have died of accidental prescription overdoses than the number of U.S. soldiers lost in Europe during WWII. Recognizing the crisis, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union worked together and established Farm Town Strong (https//farmtownstrong.org).

The goal of Farm Town Strong is to bring attention to the opioid epidemic in farm country and to provide information and resources to help those struggling with opioid abuse.

To learn more, log onto the Farm Town Strong website, the USDA site at www.usda.gov/topics/opioids or Google “opioid epidemic” for further information. v

to be evaluated. In Minnesota, the U of M veterinary diagnostic lab on the St. Paul campus is the surveillance site.

Information gathered there can help determine the presence of — or changes in — influenza virus on pig farms.

Because flu viruses can be transmitted between pigs and people, guidelines are in place for pig handlers and farm team members. As always, biosecurity is important to prevent the spread of influenza from pigs to people and from workers to pigs. Wearing personal protective equipment like gloves and masks that cover nose and mouth can reduce the transfer of flu virus. Workers should not eat, drink or put anything in their mouth in pig areas. Also important is hand-washing often with soap and running water before and after working with pigs. If soap and water is not available, an

alcohol-based hand rub is recommended. Pig barn employees with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever ends.

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

Vaccinations are the most valuable tool for preventing flu transmission.

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

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

Diane DeWitte is an Extension Educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension.

Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn. edu v

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Dairy auction prices see first increase in months This column was written for the marketa peak of $16.49 in September. ing week ending Dec. 7.

November’s Class III price also equates U.S. farm milk prices continue to fall. to $1.24 per gallon, down from $1.34 In The U.S. Department of Agriculture October and $1.45 a year ago. announced the November Federal order Interestingly, a survey of retail prices Class III benchmark at $14.44 per hunconducted by Federal Milk Market dredweight, down $1.09 from October, administrators found conventional whole $2.44 below November 2017, the lowest milk prices for November averaged $3.27 Class III since July 2018, and the lowest per gallon. Organic whole milk averaged MIELKE MARKET November Class III price since the disas$4.09 per half gallon. Conventional WEEKLY trous year of 2009. reduced fat (2 percent) milk gallons averaged $3.22 and organic reduced fat (2 FC Stone says, “Based on the Chicago

By Lee Mielke percent) milk half-gallons averaged $4.09.

Mercantile Exchange block cheddar cheese prices from Oct. 26 to Nov. 21 The November Class IV is $15.06, and USDA Dairy Market News up a nickel from October and $1.07 Western mostly dry whey prices above a year ago, and the highest released during the same period, the November Class IV since September 2017. The Class IV averClass 4b milk price calculates to $13.55 per cwt.” age stands at $14.15, down from $15.31 in 2017 and That would be down $1.88 from October and would compares to $13.66 in 2016. have been 89 cents below what the FO Class III n price was announced at.

The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel was The 11-month Class III price average stands at seen in the Dec. 4 Global Dairy Trade auction. The $14.69, down from $16.24 in 2017 and compares to weighted average of products offered jumped 2.2 $14.64 in 2016. percent, following a 3.5 percent drop on November Dec. 7 Class III futures portended a December 20 and a 2.0 percent decline November 6, ending price at $13.74. That would result in a 2018 average seven consecutive sessions of decline. Sellers of $14.61, down from $16.17 in 2017 and compares brought 80.4 million pounds to market, down from to $14.87 in 2016. The January 2019 contract was at 94.7 million in the last event. $13.94; February, $14.40; and March at $14.80, with Gains were led by buttermilk powder, up 16.9 percent, followed by anhydrous milkfat up 3.9 percent, after plunging 9.4 percent on November 20. Butter was up 2.7 percent, after leading the declines last time with a 9.6 percent drop, and whole milk powder was up 2.5 percent, after dropping 1.8 percent last time. Skim milk powder inched up 0.3 percent, after it saw a 1.6 percent decline last time.

Invest in the success of all three with a The only loss was cheddar, down 2.2 percent, after membership in Southwest Minnesota Farm it inched 0.2 percent higher in the last event..

Business Management Association FC Stone equates the GDT 80 percent butterfat butter price to $1.6573 per pound U.S., up 4.8 cents from the last session but is 36.7 cents below where it was a year ago. CME butter closed Dec. 7 at Visit: http://swroc.cfans.umn.edu/node/436 $2.2075. GDT cheddar cheese equated to $1.4443 Call: 507-752-5094 per pound. This is down 3.1 cents from the last event, 23.2 cents below a year ago, and compares to Email: gthillen@umn.edu Dec. 7’s CME block cheddar at $1.35. GDT skim milk powder averaged 89.35 cents per pound, up from 89.13 cents last time. Whole milk powder

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averaged $1.2095, up from $1.1789. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Dec. 7 at 88.5 cents per pound.

The Daily Dairy Report credited the higher prices to New Zealand-based Fonterra reducing volumes in this auction. “Given that context and higher NZX futures prices in recent weeks, the GDT results were disappointing,” The Report stated. n Meanwhile, October U.S. dairy exports were mostly higher than year-ago volumes, according to the Daily Dairy Report, but continue to lag volumes in the first half of the year, before China and Mexico levied higher tariffs on U.S. dairy products. U.S. cheese prices have been low enough to make up for the tariffs at least for now.

HighGround Dairy reports that Fonterra revised its 2018-19 forecast Farmgate Milk Price from $6.25-$6.50 per kilogram of milk solids (kgms) to $6.00-$6.30. Fonterra Chairman John Monaghan said the revision was due to “the global milk supply remaining stronger relative to demand, which has driven a downward trend on the GDT index since May. Since our October milk price update, production from Europe has flattened off the back of dry weather and rising feed costs. U.S. milk volumes are still forecast to be up one per cent for the year. Here in New Zealand, we are maintaining our forecast collections at 1,550 million kgMS.” When asked about low milk prices in the U.S., Jerry Dryer, analyst and editor of the Dairy and Food Market Analyst newsletter, stated in the Dec. 10 Dairy Radio Now broadcast that the U.S. has been playing in a world-wide market the past several years.

Milk output in New Zealand is expected to be up 3-4 percent in the current market year, Dryer said, but it’s expected to be flat or down in Europe and flat or down in the United States by some time in the first quarter of 2019.

Dryer admits demand is strong right now in the United States because of the holidays, “but not as strong as it could be and production is even stronger (than demand).”

The supply of milk is and will be impacted, according to Dryer, from weather issues in Europe and weather and economic issues in the United States, so he expects higher milk prices ahead “but they’re still a few months away.”

Dryer gave a small preview of his December forecast, stating, “Given some feed quality issues etc., we’re going to see that milk production number get trimmed pretty significantly, the growth in it could turn negative before the end of the first quarter” (in the United States). In response to a comment on how low Class III futures are right now, Dryer said, “The futures aren’t always a good forecaster of the future.”

Dryer believes we will see some $17 milk by the end of the year and, if his hunch on milk supply See MIELKE, pg. 19

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

PAGE 19

Lower U.S. cheese prices spikes interest in export market MIELKE, from pg. 18 becomes reality, “We could see $20 milk by the end of next year.” n Cash prices headed lower the first week of December. The cheddar blocks closed at $1.35 per pound, down a penny on the week and 12.5 cents below a year ago when they fell almost 9 cents. The barrels finished at $1.2225, down 9.25 cents on the week, 44.75 cents below a year ago, and with the spread at an unsustainable 12.75 cents. Three cars of block sold on the week and eight of barrel.

Midwest contacts tell Dairy Market News that cheese volumes are “plentiful on the whole but some buyers are holding off, awaiting the potentiality of further market bears.”

Demand is mixed. Some relay average, or just below average sales for this time of the year; while others suggest orders are fairly robust and last-minute holiday orders are keeping production active.

Milk availability was a bit more mixed this week.

Some plants were still taking milk at a discount while others find regional milk is a little tighter. Spot milk prices ranged $1 over to $3 under Class III. “Cheese markets remain stagnant, with many contacts pointing to export declines and cheese inventories as market agitators,” says Dairy Market News.

Western contacts report that export demand “ebbs and flows with the rise and fall of prices. With U.S. cheese prices lower than a few months ago, there has been renewed interest from international buyers. But some foreign cheese prices have declined along with U.S. prices, creating stiff competition in a few markets.”

Domestic demand has been steady, according to Dairy Market News, but there is pressure from the heavy stocks at all levels. Contacts say there is plenty of cheese in warehouses so “buyers have no sense of urgency to make immediate purchases.

Instead, they would rather focus their energy on 2019 contracts.” Cheese output is heavy and related to plentiful milk intakes with many plants at or near capacity.

Cash butter closed at $2.2075 per pound, down 3.5 cents on the week and 1.25 cents below a year ago, with 10 cars sold on the week.

Midwest butter producers say the amount of cream offered has escalated and prices were slightly lower than the previous week but “still above their comfort zone and they will hold out until further drops, which are expected.” Production is mixed and inventories are reportedly lower. Buying interest remains strong but bulk butter is not readily available in the area so some buyers are finding it in the west and paying freight. Butter markets are maintaining steadfastness, says Dairy Market News, but there are reports and concern that New Zealand butter will make way into the United States in 2019.

Western butter orders are seasonally higher, especially for retail. International butter demand is slow

due to expensive U.S. prices compared to the rest of the world and a costly dollar exchange rate.

The spot Grade A nonfat dry milk finished Dec. 7 at 88.5 cents per pound, down 2 cents on the week but 20.25 cents above a year ago, with six cars sold.

Cash dry whey closed Dec. 7 at 43.75 cents per pound, up a quarter-cent on the week, with 13 cars sold on the week. By the way, the Ag Marketing Service surveyed whey price a year ago was at 29.13 cents per pound. n October cheese output totaled 1.12 billion pounds, according to the latest Dairy Products report, up 6.1 percent from September and 3.0 percent above October 2017. Year-to-date output hit 10.7 billion pounds, up 2.5 percent from a year ago. October was the 67th consecutive month output exceeded that of a year ago.

Italian cheese totaled 470.6 million pounds, up 4.4 percent from September and 3.5 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date Italian is at 4.6 billion pounds, up 2.9 percent from a year ago. Mozzarella, at 369.9 million pounds, was up 6.3 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date at 3.6 billion pounds, up 4.1 percent.

American-type cheese totaled 433.5 million pounds, up 3.9 percent from September and 0.7 percent above a year ago, with year-to-date at 4.3 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent.

Cheddar, the cheese traded daily at the CME, totaled 303.4 million pounds, up 12.6 million pounds or 4.3 percent from September but 4.4 million or 1.5 percent below a year ago, with year-to-date output at 3.1 billion pounds, up 0.4 percent.

Churns produced 144.4 million pounds of butter, up 7.0 percent from September but 0.3 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date is at 1.6 billion pounds, down 4.0 percent.

Yogurt output, at 369.0 million pounds, was up 0.1 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date output at

3.7 billion pounds, down 2.2 percent.

Dry whey totaled 87.2 million pounds, up 8.0 percent, with year-to-date at 859.0 million pounds, down 1.2 percent. Dry whey for human consumption totaled 85.5 million pounds, up 22.2 percent from September and 7.9 percent above a year ago. Stocks totaled 72.5 million pounds, up 6.3 percent from September but an impressive 21.5 percent below those a year ago.

Nonfat dry milk production totaled 125.3 million pounds, up 15.1 percent from September but 13.6 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date output stands at 1.5 billion pounds, down 4.0 percent. Stocks fell to 252.9 million pounds, down 9.4 million pounds or 3.6 percent from September and 63.9 million pounds or 20.2 percent below 2017 levels.

Skim milk powder totaled 37.5 million pounds, down 19.4 percent from September but 44.5 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date skim powder hit 463.4 million pounds, up 5.8 percent from a year ago. n The National Milk Producers Federation gave U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue a thumbs up for returning low-fat (1 percent) flavored milk as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. The final rule implementing regulatory changes needed to add low-fat flavored milk to more school menus and other nutrition programs serving children was announced this week by the USDA. The International Dairy Foods Association President Michael Dykes stated, “This final rule makes permanent the option for schools to offer lowfat flavored milk at each meal service. We commend USDA’s commitment to provide students with access to a variety of nutritious and healthy milk options, including the flavored milks they enjoy.”

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

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Farm bill moves towards President Trump’s desk

The U.S. House and Senate Conference years. Calculation formulas, etc. for the Committee released the official text for ARC-CO program will remain similar to the “Agriculture Improvement Act of the current farm program.

2018” (the new farm bill), including proBeginning with the 2021 crop year, provisions for the various titles it contains. ducers will be able to make an annual The new farm bill will govern U.S. election between the ARC-CO and PLC Department of Agriculture programs program choices. If available, this ability from 2019 to 2023 and will be very simito switch between the two programs lar to the current legislation, outside of a would have been quite beneficial under few tweaks to the commodity and conser- FARM PROGRAMS the current farm bill — especially to corn vation titles. The commodity provisions of and wheat producers in 2017 and 2018.

By Kent Thiesse the new farm bill would be implemented During these two years, farm profor the 2019 crop production year. As gram payments were much more of this writing, the U.S. House and favorable under the PLC program.

Senate have not taken final action However, a large majority of producon the new farm bill. However, all indications are ers were locked-in to the ARC-CO program in 2017 that the legislation will pass both Houses of and 2018.

Congress and will be signed into law by President ARC-CO payments will now be based on the counTrump before the end of 2018. ty where an FSA farm unit is located, rather than Once the new farm bill is approved by Congress the county that the producer chose as the FSA and signed by President Trump, it will likely take a administrative office (as currently exists). The curfew weeks before USDA initiates implementation of rent method created an unfair advantage in certain the legislation and releases farm program details to instances. local Farm Service Agency offices and producers.

The reference prices for PLC and ARC-CO proWhile none of the new farm bill legislation is official grams will be established at the greater of the curas of this writing, here are a few details on provirent reference prices or 85 percent of the market sions that are likely to be in the final farm bill, IONS Please read attached email year average price for the most recent five years, based on information released by Congressional excluding the high and low year. The reference price Conference Committee. (However, there could be cannot exceed 115 percent of the current reference IONS Please read attached email AMES ALREADY ON AD THE LAND 3.7461 x ” “tweaks” to some provisions). price. The current reference prices are: corn, $3.70/ Commodity Programs bu.; soybeans, $8.40/bu.; and wheat, $5.50/bu.

AMES ALREADY AD getTHE LAND 3.7461 the x ” Producers willON again to choose between Crop base acres will remain at current levels for price-only “Price Loss Coverage” and county yield all crops on most farms. revenue-based “Ag Risk Coverage” (ARC-CO) program choices for the 2019 and 2020 crop production Producers will have the opportunity to update their farm program payment yields beginning with the 2020 crop year. Yield updates will be based on 90 percent (90%) of the average farm yields on planted acres for eligible crops for the 2013 to 2017 crop years. If the updated yields are lower than current levels, producers can choose to keep their current FSA program yields. The farm program yields are used to calculate PLC payments on individual FSA farm units, so this ability to update yields may be quite important to some farm operators in the coming years.

The Risk Management Agency yields which are used for crop insurance yield calculations will now

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be used as the primary yield data source for determining ARC-CO payments, rather than the National Ag Statistics Service yields which are currently being used. The trend-adjusted RMA yields will also be used to determine the benchmark yields for the ARC-CO program rather than the current five-year “Olympic average” yields, which should help eliminate the wide swings in benchmark yields from county-to-county following a couple of low production years.

There will be new RMA trend-adjusted average “plug yields” to serve as farm program yields on farms that do not have a yield history. The “plug yields” will be set at 80 percent of the average yields, rather than the current 70 percent level, which will be beneficial to producers that acquire additional farm units.

Farm operators who lose farm program payments on unplanted acres over a designated timeframe will now qualify for conservation payments if they agree to keep those acres in grass.

Nephews, nieces and cousins will now be treated as eligible family members to receive farm program payments, provided that they meet the FSA “actively engaged in farming” requirements.

The maximum allowable adjusted gross income level to be eligible to receive farm program payments will remain at $900,000, and maximum farm program payment level will remain at $125,000 per qualifying individual or farm entity.

Commodity Loan Rates Many producers utilize the CCC commodity loan program through local FSA offices to offset shortterm farm operating credit needs, in addition to operating credit through their normal ag lenders.

The CCC loans are also usually at a reduced interest rate compared to normal farm operating loans.

The CCC loans are taken against unsold grain from eligible commodities that is being stored by the producer for future sale or use. The CCC national loan rates are also used to determine the price at which PLC payments end, and where loan deficiency payments are initiated. County loan rates are adjusted from the national loan rates, based on local grain prices and geographical price differences.

These CCC national loan rates are being proposed in the new farm bill for the most common crops in the upper Midwest, beginning with the 2019 crop year: corn, $2.20 per bushel (currently $1.95/bu.); soybeans, $6.20 per bushel (currently $5.00/bu.); and wheat = $3.38 per bushel (currently $2.94/bu.).

Note: These national CCC loan rates have not been finalized and could be adjusted in the new farm bill.

Dairy Programs The new farm bill will make some significant improvements to the current Dairy Margin Protection Program which will now be named “Dairy Margin Coverage.” The DMC upgrades will especially for benefit small to medium sized dairy See THIESSE, pg. 21

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

PAGE 21

Water quality project funding available in Iowa DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recently announced applications are now being accepted for water quality planning and development projects. Selected projects will help inform, prioritize and coordinate implementation of conservation practices focused on improving water quality.

“This is an opportunity to bring in new partners to work with farmers and landowners to scale up construction of infrastructure based conservation practices. With long-term water quality funding now joining existing conservation programs, we are able to look several years ahead and make sure we are able to use the additional funding in a targeted, cost-efficient manner to improve water quality” Naig said.

Projects should focus on planning and design efforts that will directly lead to the adoption of water quality focused conservation practices. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate a proven track record of delivering planning, development, and design of projects and practices. Strong partnerships with stakeholders that have or will be contributing significant resources to the project are also critically important.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts, counties, county conservation boards, other units of government, not-for-profit non-governmental organizations, public water supply utilities or watershed management organizations are eligible to submit applications. Applicants are also encouraged to partner with additional stakeholders that will be able to assist with education and outreach.

The applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on

Sign up for USDA internships U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the “OneUSDA Internship” opportunity for summer 2019. Internships provide students a way to explore a career in government while gaining work experience in agriculture, natural resources, rural development and other career fields. An internship with USDA will involve various components of onthe-job experience, mentorship, and training tailored to the student’s education, experience, and interests.

USDA will hire Pathways Interns in the fields of

FSA will provide farm bill policy updates THIESSE, from pg. 20 herds (under 250 cows). These improvements are in addition to changes that were made earlier this year in the federal budget bill.

Crop Insurance The new farm bill will make very few changes to the crop insurance program, so overall crop insurance provisions for 2019 and beyond should remain very similar to the current crop insurance program.

However, the USDA Risk Management Agency has the ability to make year-to-year adjustments in crop insurance program options within the parameters of the farm bill legislation.

Conservation The maximum level of Conservation Reserve Program acres would be increased from the current 24 million acre maximum to a new maximum of 27 million acres by 2023, with two million of the added CRP acres designated for the Grassland Reserve Program.

The maximum CRP rental rates would be set at 90 percent of the average FSA prevailing rental rates in an area for the continuous CRP program, which focuses on the most environmentally sensitive land, and at 85 percent for general CRP signups. Currently, the maximum CRP rental rate is 100 percent of the FSA prevailing rental rate.

The Conservation Stewardship Program, which involves implementing conservation practices on operating farms and is quite popular in Minnesota and neighboring states, will not be eliminated in the new farm bill (as was proposed in the U.S. House version). Some of the funding for the CSP program will be reduced over the next five years (2019-2023)

Feb. 15. Projects selected to receive funding will be announced in early March and are projected to start on April 1.

Project application guidance can be requested by contacting the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at (515) 281-5851.

This article was submitted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. v

and redirected to other programs.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which provides funding to help offset the cost of implementing farm-level conservation measures, will get increased funding in coming years.

Once the new farm bill is signed, USDA will begin the task of finalizing all the rules and regulations for the new farm bill. Most likely, the new and changed provisions for the commodity title of the new farm bill will receive high priority, since farm operators will be finalizing their 2019 crop planting decisions very early in the year. Official information and sign-up details for the 2019-2023 farm programs will come from USDA through local FSA offices, most likely beginning early in 2019. Local FSA offices will also likely be holding informational meetings on the new farm bill and the changes in the commodity farm program choices.

The choice between the ARC-CO and PLC program for 2019 and 2020, the first two years of the new farm bill, will likely vary both geographically and among eligible program crops. There will be a lot of information coming out on the farm program choices and provisions, once the new farm bill is signed. Farm operators need to take time to understand the farm program provisions in the new farm bill and to analyze the best choices for their farms.

These decisions could have important economic implications during this period of very tight profit margins in crop farming.

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

veterinary science; biological sciences (e.g., natural resources management forestry, wildlife biology, fish biology, ecology, botany, rangeland management, recreation); engineering; agribusiness; and general administration and office support.

To apply, students should log into www.usajobs. gov/ to set up an account, then follow the prompts.

When applying, applicants will also have an opportunity to indicate their preferred area of interest and USDA Agency or office.

The application window will close on Jan. 18.

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PAGE 22

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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Grain Outlook Corn exports see healthy week

Cash Grain Markets

corn/change* soybeans/change* Stewartville $3.30 +.19 $8.25 +.40 Edgerton $3.40 +.18 $8.30 +.39 Jackson $3.36 +.19 $8.39 +.42 Janesville $3.34 +.09 $8.41 +.42 The following marketing analysis is for the week Cannon Falls $3.33 +.16 $8.23 +.39 ending Dec. 7.

Sleepy Eye $3.35 +.19 $8.30 +.48 CORN — Let us pause as we remember former Average: $3.35 $8.31 President George H. W. Bush, who passed away last week. Dec. 7 also lives in infamy as we remember Year Ago Average: $2.83 $9.17 those that lost their lives on this day 77 years ago.

Grain prices are effective cash close on Dec. 11.

Markets sparked higher in the first session and *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period. first day of a new month after the historic meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi in Buenos Aires on Dec. 1. The meeting was deemed a success on both sides and the markets surged higher. Details were thin on how the differences between the two were going to be resolved. Comments continued PHYLLIS NYSTROM throughout the week that the The start of the last month of the year has been for CHS Hedging Inc. talks were going smoothly, but the most part a very erratic trade for both the cattle St. Paul again, no details. Corn could benand the hogs. Both the cash and futures prices have efit from a deal by opening the darted up and down during the first week of market for DDGs, sorghum and ethanol.

December. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Most of the week’s news was associated with the the markets these days, so it is very possible this soybean market. Corn’s price direction has been volatility will continue in the driven by firm demand, soybean prices and South weeks ahead.

American weather. Even though corn managed a The cattle market experienced higher weekly close, the news was pedestrian after the best start for the month as the Chinese meeting. Unless the Dec. 11 World cash and futures both moved Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report higher. Packers stepped up and gives us some fuel for another rally, corn may be set- paid higher prices to acquire live ting up for rangebound trade into the end of the year. inventory while the futures kept Weekly export sales were excellent at 46.4 million pace by advancing with the cash bushels and bringing us to 17 percent ahead of last trade. Movement of beef picked JOE TEALE year’s commitments. We need 35.3 million bushels of up during that first week of the Broker sales per week to hit the U.S. Department of month as holiday buying is likely Great Plains Commodity Agriculture’s target of 2.45 billion bushels. If South the source of the increased moveAfton, Minn.

America’s weather forecast is correct, we could be ment. looking at strong competition for corn exports in the On the other hand, the feeder market did not fare first quarter of 2019. Adding to the competition, the so well. Prices ended the first week of December Ukraine increased their corn crop estimate to 35.2 slightly lower as concern over increasing grain prices million metric tons compared to the USDA outlook of brought about selling interest into that market.

33.5 mmt. There were no export sales for the 2019-20 Overall, with the holiday season upon us, it is reported on the weekly sales report. likely that the cattle and feeder markets will be subWeekly ethanol production increased 21,000 bar- ject to uncertain and possibly a more erratic moverels per day to 1.069 million bpd — the highest num- ment in the next several weeks. Weather and foreign ber in 13 weeks. Stocks rose 100,000 barrels to 23.03 markets could play a role in the direction of prices million barrels. U.S. gasoline demand is 1.2 percent during the upcoming weeks. So this should cause behind last year in the current corn marketing year. producers to pay close attention to market conditions Trade estimates for the Dec. 11 WASDE report: U.S. and protect inventories as needed. ending stocks 1.738 billion bushels vs. 1.736 billion See NYSTROM, pg. 23 See TEALE, pg. 23

Livestock Angles Yo-yos for Christmas

Grain Angles Consider leasing as financing option As we prepare to turn the calendar on another year of tight-margins and depreciating working capital, producers continue to look for new or different ways to help control costs while remaining competitive and increasing their overall efficiency. When looking to finance new or used equipment, building new livestock facilities or other ag structures, some producers have taken advantage of the benefits offered by leasing. When looking at a new purchase or construction project, I urge you to evaluate your financing options to ensure that you are selecting the right choice for your situation. Leasing offers some unique financial solutions, and cost-saving benefits when compared to traditional lending.

TERRY KELLER If you are experiencing consecuCompeer Senior tive years of tightening cash flow Leasing Specialist and working capital, having to Northfield, Minn. come up with a 20-30 percent down payment can be difficult.

However, in many cases, when pursuing a lease financing option, the down payment can be much lower than traditional equipment loan financing. Leases provide 100 percent financing for the value of the asset, with the first payment generally due in advance. Without having to come up with a large down payment, leasing may be an option to consider that will allow you to attain that additional equipment or expansion without sacrificing working capital or cash flow.

Although not always the general rule in leasing, often times leasing allows the customer (or lessee) and the lessor to create flexible terms and payment options to match your needs. In agriculture, we often deal with seasonality of markets — meaning that there are certain times through the year that you anticipate income. A lease provides the flexibility of structuring the payments around when the income is expected to come in. For example, a grain farmer generally sells crops after harvest. The lease could be set up to have the payment due on Jan. 1, with annual payments thereafter to correspond with when they are receiving their income.

Lease payments are generally fixed for the term of the lease. Lease payments are then spread evenly across the duration of the lease term, allowing for easier budgeting, and the ability to split payments across multiple parties or lessees. In comparison, depending on the type of loan product that you have, interest can be fixed or variable, meaning that your See KELLER, pg. 24

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 — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

PAGE 23

Chinese market puts soybeans in ‘wait and see’ mode NYSTROM, from pg. 22 in November; world ending stocks 307.59 mmt vs.

307.51 mmt last month; Argentine production 42.43 vs. 42.50 mmt; Brazilian production 94.41 vs. 94.50 mmt last month.

Outlook: Corn may be relegated to a sideways pattern without fresh input from the USDA report or a change in the status of Chinese trade talks. Seasonally, corn can rally in December, so be prepared if we inch higher. How the trade winds blow will provide our direction in the next month.

For the week, March corn captured a 7.75 cent increase at $3.85.5, July was 7.75 cents higher at $3.99.25, and December 2019 closed 3.25 cents higher at $4.03 per bushel.

SOYBEANS — January surged 29 cents higher at their high following the U.S./Chinese meeting on Dec 1, but disappointed bulls when they only managed to close 11 cents higher on the day. Many had been anticipating close to a limit up or 60 cent move on the positive sound bites at the conclusion of the meeting. A lack of details left some wondering what the 90-day ceasefire really meant. For now, the United States will not raise current tariffs, or pile on additional tariffs, that were scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. If no “real deal” is made by March 1, the United States is prepared to raise the 10 percent tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent and could put tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of goods. For their part, according to the U.S. release, China will purchase “very substantial” farm, energy, industrial and other products. Chinese traders said China will need to cut the 25 percent tariff on U.S. farm products before they can buy a “substantial” amount of U.S. products, unless the government forces them. It’s surmised that any Chinese soybean purchases would be made by the government for their state reserves. Brazilian soybeans are still cheaper than U.S. origin before any tariff. Negotiations continue, but events later in the week brought into question how talks will proceed.

MARKETING Late in the week, Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of giant Chinese technology firm Huawei (and daughter of its founder), was arrested in Canada — reportedly at the request of the United States. There are allegations the company re-exported U.S. products to Iran.

She is expected to be extradited to the United States.

How this arrest may affect U.S./Chinese trade negotiations is unclear. Remember, technology issues were what got us here in the first place.

Was last year’s Brazilian soybean crop underestimated? In November, they exported over 5 mmt of soybeans, more than double what they exported in November last year. Based on calculations, at this pace their carryout could be a negative 8 mmt. In the past, it sometimes hit a negative 2 or 3 mmt, but 8 mmt is huge! No one will be surprised when the USDA makes balance sheets adjusts to account for the tremendous Brazilian soybean exports.

Also out of Brazil this week, the government stated that if you did not pay the minimum freight rate implemented earlier this year, you would no longer have to pay a fine. This essentially did away with the minimum. A definitive January ruling is expected.

Some have insisted the minimum freight rate was unconstitutional. The new ruling is expected to eliminate freight barriers in getting the upcoming record crop to market. Brazilian soybean farmers are looking into a proposed railway giving them access to northern export ports. The $3.24 billion project could cut transportation costs from Mato Grosso to export ports by 30 percent from the current $2.34/bushel.

Argentina’s costs are estimated at $1.24 per bushel and the United States at 93 cents/bushel, according to Agroconsult. Celeres this week pondered that with favorable weather Brazil could produce 130 mmt of soybeans this year. The CEO of a large Brazilian grain producer stated at an industry event that 106 million acres of untapped grassland in Brazil could

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

Holiday volume should boost market TEALE, from pg. 22 The hog market — especially the futures market — has been a yo-yo as of late. It almost seems as every other day the market is up and the next day the market is down.

Cash prices are nearly steady while the futures have ended the first week of December lower. During this time the pork cutouts have rallied most likely in holiday buying in slightly increased volume. This has put the packer in a very positive position from a profit standpoint.

Now that winter has arrived, this might change the

dynamics of the trade as weather will become more of a factor. With the December futures well discounted to the February contract, there is a definite feeling by the trade that prices are likely to strengthen through the next several months.

There has been a lot of anticipation that the export market may strengthen in the next several months due to the Asian swine flu that has stuck the Asian continent. However, in the short term, the market may continue to be very sensitive to any changes in the above mentioned conditions. Therefore producers should continue to monitor these conditions and act accordingly to protect inventories if needed. v

be brought in agricultural production. Their combined soybean, corn and sugarcane acres is currently at 158 million acres.

Weekly export sales were at the upper end of trade estimates at 32.7 million bushels. However large, we slipped to 33 percent behind last year when the USDA is forecasting a 10.7 percent year-on-year drop in exports. We need 26.7 million bushels of sales per week to achieve the lofty 1.9 billion-bushel USDA export forecast. Last year from this point forward, weekly export sales average a record 21.3 million bushels per week. Without a return of China to the U.S. market, the current export forecast could be quite a stretch. There were only 100,000 bushels of new crop sales reported. This brings new crop commitments to 6 million bushels and well behind last year’s 11.6 million bushels. The October National Agricultural Statistics Service Crush Report was in line with trade expectations with 183 million bushels of soybeans crushed. October soyoil stocks were 2.041 billion pounds compared to 1.909 billion pounds expected.

Argentina has been talking with China to try and capture a portion of China meal import business. This week, China said they will buy 330-400,000 metric tons of soybean oil from Argentina, but said they were not interested in Argentine meal at this time.

Trade estimates for the Dec. 11 WASDE report: U.S. ending stocks 945 million bushels vs. 955 million in November; world ending stocks 112.79 mmt vs.

112.08 mmt last month; Argentine production 55.72 mmt vs. 55.50 last month; Brazilian production 120.88 mmt vs. 120.50 mmt in November. Some trade estimates for Brazil’s bean crop suggest over 130 mmt, if the weather stays favorable.

Outlook: We continue to be run by tweets and headlines. How the recent arrest of a Chinese technology company CFO will influence the U.S./Chinese trade negotiations is unknown. Everyone is waiting for China to make that first U.S. soybean purchase. If they buy anything, it will likely be for the state reserve. For now, it’s a wait and see situation. Brazil’s soybean crop was 96 percent planted by Dec. 4 and 1 percent is expected to be harvested by the end of 2018. It’s being bandied about that Brazil will be able to ship double the amount of soybeans in January than normal. It’s a waiting game for now, but in the long term we must be cognizant of the enormous crop potential in South America.

For the week, January soybeans held onto a 22-cent gain at $9.16.75 per bushel, March was 21.5 cents higher at $9.29, and November 2019 jumped 22 cents higher to $9.61.25 per bushel.

Nystrom’s Notes: Contract changes for the week ended Dec. 7: Minneapolis December wheat gained 5.75 cents, but Chicago rallied 15.5 cents and Kansas City 11.75 cents. Crude oil was $1.68 higher at $52.61, ULSD was up 5.5 cents, RBOB was 8.5 cents higher, and natural gas fell 12.5 cents. The U.S. dollar index dropped 671 ticks. v

PAGE 24

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THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Farm Bureau seeks young farmers’ input and help

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — “We need younger farmers to advise us.” Not exactly the words of Bob Shepard, President of the Pipestone County Farm Bureau. But after over 40 years in a variety of work with the American Farm Bureau and now back to that core function of being a county president, Shepard draws from a wealth of experience.

At the recent Minnesota Farm Bureau annual convention in Bloomington, Shepard shared a few thoughts. “We seniors tend to depend on what’s we’ve used in the past.

Younger farmers are so used to technology and when it comes to gathering information, they want it quick. They feel pressured –yet I believe younger farmers are more committed to getting tasks completed.

“They see something going on in their community. They hear negative conversations about their profession. They want to address that particular problem without being committed to a number of years to get that task completed.”

So is Shepard relying on the young bucks to guide the Pipestone County Farm Bureau? He responded, “Yes, we do want the young farmers, both guys and gals, to tell us what they consider the most pressing issues for Farm Bureau. We simply need to find new ways to get them involved.”

Relating to national concerns, how does Shepard view the current administration? He worked a few years in Washington, D.C. after American Farm Bureau moved from their national headquarters from Chicago, so treading lightly was an expected answer.

Shepard stayed politically correct with this response: “I think our farmers have confidence in Sonny Perdue (current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture). Yes, there are some challenges with the tariff situation and the impact on agriculture in particular.”

Shepard said President Trump is very results focused and relies on Perdue for the agricultural issues.

“That doesn’t say I am always in agreement with either of these two men, but because of their positions I respect

their judgments. However, as we know so well, it is the thinking of our county Farm Bureau members that dominates the resolutions adopted by the American Farm Bureau. And that is why input from younger farmers is so vital.”

Because of Shepard’s Farm Bureau experience in different locations, both state and national, did he see particular issues amongst the 100 voting delegates at this 2018 Minnesota convention?

“I sense there is genuine concern. The mood and questions – especially of younger farmers – about the financial future of farming and the immediate future of their own children makes you realize U.S. agriculture has some issues,” summed up Shepard.

Shepard was born on a dairy farm in central Michigan and received a degree in dairy science from Michigan State University. He farmed with his dad a few years but confesses, “I got doing so much volunteer work for Farm Bureau I decided it would be better to get paid.

So I started working as a field representative for the Michigan Farm Bureau; then served as an administra-

tor in North Dakota Farm Bureau; then Chicago at Farm Bureau’s National Headquarters where I headed up Farm Bureau training programs.

When Farm Bureau consolidated and moved to Washington D.C., I finished my professional career with Minnesota Farm Bureau where I was chief of staff.”

Yes, he certainly agrees 30 years ago the political climate was a lot less contentious. People were more willing to work together to reach solutions. And that certainly applied to Farm Bureau work too. “Today it seems more strident and conflict ridden.”

He noted the internet quickly has evolved into the primary source of information for everyone – including American farmers. But he challenges the accuracy of this entire new world of information. Now that he is back into Farm Bureau as a county president, he’s very much aware the voice of his younger farmers and the non-farm voices are critical to the future of rural America. v

Structured leases can provide estate-planning benefits KELLER, from pg. 22 payments could change over time and the ratio of principal and interest could change.

When structured accordingly, the IRS does not consider a lease to be a purchase, but rather a tax-deductible expense. Because of this, you can deduct the entire lease payment from your

gross income. The equipment write-off is tied to the lease term, which can be shorter than IRS depreciation schedules, resulting in larger tax deductions each year. In comparison, with a traditional loan purchase, you can only claim a tax deduction for a portion of the loan payment as interest, and the depreciation can be spread out over a longer timeframe. If you are considering leas-

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ing as an option for tax purposes, I would encourage you to reach out to your tax advisor to understand how leasing may impact your own operation.

In addition, a properly structured lease can have estate-planning benefits over conventional financing. If you are considering estate planning with the intent to transfer assets from one generation to the next without incurring any tax implications, leasing may be a solution for you. As an example, say that Bob and Sue Johnson are working toward retirement while transitioning the farm to their two sons who are looking to purchase a new tractor. A partial solution to cut down on potential estate taxes is for Bob and Sue to lease the tractor through their lessor for five years. At the end of the five years, they forgo the option to purchase the tractor. However, the two sons take advantage of the option to buy the tractor from the lessor for the buyout price.

Mom and dad were able to get the income tax deduction, and the sons ended up with a quality tractor at a reasonable price. The main concept of this scenario is because the equipment

was owned by the lessor, therefore bypassing the estate of Bob and Sue. Each producer’s situation is different — dependent on their own financial circumstances. These are just a few of the potential benefits that could come into play when considering leasing.

During a time of tight margins farmers are continually looking for ways to be creative in helping to preserve working capital, cash flow, while also being cognizant of their desire for growth.

When looking to finance equipment, vehicles, a new structure or facility, I encourage you to consult with your lender and tax partners to gain insights into whether a lease or a loan is a better option for your operation. They, along with your equipment financing provider, will be able to provide you with resources to ensure that you are able to secure the best possible terms for your lease and/or loan. It’s always important to know your options, and understand the advantages of those available to you.

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

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

Real Estate Wanted

Real Estate

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

Feed Seed Hay

Blue Earth Co. Farm For WANTED: Land & farms. I Alfalfa, mixed hay, grass hay, Sale: Judson Township NE have clients looking for and feed grade wheat straw.

1/4 Sec. 14, SE SW 1/4 Sec. dairy, & cash grain opera- Medium squares or round 11. 187.9 tillable. Contact Ag- tions, as well as bare land bales. Delivery available. ricultural Resource Manage- parcels from 40-1000 acres. Call or text LeRoy Ose. 218ment Co. John Murphy Bro- Both for relocation & invest- 689-6675 ker PO Box 4097 Mankato, ments. If you have even MN 56002 507-625-1363 thought about selling conFarm Equipment tact: Paul Krueger, Farm & Sell your land or real estate in Land Specialist, Edina Re30 days for 0% commission. alty, 138 Main St. W., New 2015 AG side dumper, w/silage Call Ray 507-339-1272 Prague, MN 55372. ext, 24’ hitch drawn, $33,000, paulkrueger@edinarealty.com call for details. 507-920-8251 (612)328-4506 FOR SALE: JD 3710 10 bottom plow, low acres, nice condition, $13,900. 320-359-2692

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BATH TWP / FREEBORN COUNTY, MN

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FOR SALE: Used auger for 893/843 JD cornhead, $300.

320-212-2936

Marshall & Beltrami County, MN

Friday, December 28 @ 11AM

This is an unprecedented opportunity for farmers and investors alike to acquire a huge holding of coveted and desirable cropland at public auction! This auction features two, nearly contiguous, blocks of land with over 3,500 acres highly productive cropland near Grygla, MN and 1,700 acres of mixed-use land around Four Town, MN. The Grygla Farm is substantially improved with drain tile and soil productivity ratings into the 90s. The Four Town Farm features cropland and hunting tracts.

Marshall County, MN – Espelie & Valley TWPs Total Acres: 3,597.25+/Beltrami County, MN – Minnie, Spruce Grove, Hamre, & Steenerson TWPs Total Acres: 1,771.11+/-

2018

HUGE

PAGE 25

5,368 acres

85 ACRES+/- • 2 TRACTS

SALE TO BE HELD AT THE GENEVA COMMUNITY CENTER, 1ST AVE SE, GENEVA, MN

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 @ 10 A.M.

These are two very productive tracts of farmland. If you own land in or around the area, this would be an excellent time to add on to your farm.

offered in multiple tracts

Selling in 2 Tracts West of Geneva, MN

WATCH FOR A COMPLETE LISTING INCLUDING TRACT BREAKDOWNS & PHOTOS AT

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SECTION 11 OF BATH TOWNSHIP • TRACT 1: 46.70 DEEDED ACRES / 44.65 CROPLAND ACRES / CPI OF 60.8 • TRACT 2: 38.72 DEEDED ACRES / 36.54 CROPLAND ACRES / CPI OF 71.5 • TERMS: $25,000 DOWN ON EACH TRACT DUE DAY OF THE SALE, BALANCE DUE ON OR ABOUT JAN. 31, 2019. A 2% BUYERS FEE WILL APPLY.

AUCTION LOCATION

Ralph Engelstad Arena - Imperial Room 525 Brooks Ave N, Thief River Falls, MN Schmidt Family, Owners Max Steffes MN14-031

SteffesGroup.com

Steffes Group, Inc. 2000 Main Avenue East, West Fargo, ND

For a detailed Buyer’s Prospectus with complete terms and conditions contact Max Steffes at Steffes Group, 701.237.9173 or 701.212.2849 or online at SteffesGroup.com

TERMS: 10% down upon signing purchase agreement with balance due at closing in 45 days. Internet Bidding available to prequalified bidders.

Agricultural & Recreational Real Estate / Auctions / Farm Management

Broker/Auctioneer GREG JENSEN Broker Greg Jensen - MN, IA / Broker Brian Haugen - MN, SD, IA, WI / Broker Amy Willett - MO LandProz Real Estate, LLC. 111 East Clark Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007

PAGE 26

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PLANNING AN AUCTION?

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Get the best results when you advertise in THE LAND! Tell your auctioneer or call our friendly staff at

507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665

507-345-4523

FARMLAND AUCTION WEDNESDAY, DEC 19 2018 - 2:00 P.M. Brown Family Farm Highly Productive, Prime Renville County Farmland Tile Drained - Two Great Outlets to Ditch DESCRIPTION NE 1/4 Section 10, Brookfield Township, Renville County SALE HELD AT Hector Community Center 130 Main Street South Hector, MN 55342

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

USED PARTS LARSON SALVAGE Good selection of tractor parts - New & Used All kinds of hay equipment, haybines, balers, choppers parted out.

New combine belts for all makes.

Swather canvases, round baler belting, used & new tires.

6 miles East of

CAMBRIDGE, MN 763-689-1179

We Ship Daily Visa and MasterCard Accepted

Farm Equipment

Farm Equipment

Pre-Owned Machinery Schulte 1100 9’ 2 auger HD 1000 PTO, 2004 G.P. 30 Ft Turbo-Till w/ snowblower, New R.H. & Reel A-One Con. $3,650; JD 725 ldr, 8’ QT bucket, 30-55 series mounts, 2014 Great Plains #8326 $5,900; JD 1075 running gear, Discovator 26’ 5” (1800 A).

2004 JD #726 Mulch Finisher $975; JD 980 44’ field cult, JD harrow, $7,450; Top Air 38 (200# Shanks) 2015 NEW #5HDRP Heavy 1100 60’ sprayer, w/x-fold 5’ Rock Picker w/ Reel/Hyd boom, 13.6x38 tires, $3,750; Westfield 13x71 auger, w/LP Tongue. List $18,900 Year End Special $9,900 swing hopper, $3,900. 320Dealer Retiring 319-347-6282 769-2756

Sell your farm equipment in The Land with a line ad.

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Please support the advertisers you see here. Tell them you saw their ad in The Land!

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

Please recycle this magazine.

HAY AUCTION 4760 Hesston Medium squared baler 22500 bales always inside all options 1383 Massey Ferguson 2017 1520 acres used Kuhn Rake Rotary GA7501 model

Call Gary Dohlen for more info 320-808-5723

Steffes Group facility

24400 MN Hwy 22 S, Litchfield MN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 | 10AM AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Auctioneers will run multiple rings with live online bidding available on major equipment. Contact auctioneers for owner information, new consignments, or changes at 320.693.9371. Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

26 Livestock Equipment

Sprayer

4 Plows

3 Planters

17 Semi Tractors & Trailers

20 Tractors

12 Hay Equipment

TO ALSO INCLUDE: Flex Head, Gravity Boxes, Conventional Truck, Boxed Trucks, Pickups, Trailers, Spreaders, Forage Wagons, Wheel Loaders, Skid Steer Loader & Attachments, Farm Support Items, Snow Blower & Snow Plow, Lawn Equipment, Recreation, Automobiles, Shop Equipment, Corn Stoves, Misc. Items & More!

SteffesGroup.com Steffes Group, Inc. | 24400 MN Hwy 22 S, Litchfield, MN 55355 | 320.693.9371

Ashley Huhn MN47-002,, Randy Kath MN47-007, Eric Gabrielson MN47-006, Shelly Weinzetl MN47-017, Scott Steffes MN14-51, Brad Olstad MN14-70, Bob Steffes MN14-09, Max Steffes MN03-57 TERMS: All items sold as is where is. Payment of cash or check must be made sale day before removal of items. Statements made auction day take precedence over all advertising. $35 documentation fee applies to all titled vehicles. Titles will be mailed. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

15 Tillage

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018 Tractors

Tractors

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Wanted

Livestock

HD‘13 JD 7215R, 4672 hrs, 4 valves, FOR SALE: JD 6115D, MFD, All kinds of New & Used farm FOR SALE: Black Angus TO, 1000 PTO, Active Seat, Auto w/ JD H310 loader & snow equipment - disc chisels, field bulls also Hamp, York, & QT Trac Ready, MFWD, Power bucket, 400 hours. 507-381- cults, planters, soil finishers, Hamp/Duroc boars & gilts. nts, Quad, 320/90R50 Rear Tires 5781 cornheads, feed mills, discs, 320-598-3790 ear, w/duals, Thru Service Inbalers, haybines, etc. 507ult, spection at 4500 hrs, $68,500. NEW AND USED TRACTOR 438-9782 Sell your livestock in The Land PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, Air Call 1-320-979-9460 with a line ad. 507-345-4523 55, 50 Series & newer trac- www.thelandonline.com fold FOR SALE: ‘89 Case IH 7130, tors, AC-all models, Large 750; LP FWA, 5400 hrs, 18.4x42 rears Inventory, We ship! Mark 320- at 60%, duals at 25%, 16.9x28 Heitman Tractor Salvage fronts at 90%, rock box, re- 715-673-4829 cent eng OH, asking $42,000.

507-421-4732 H HHHHHHHHHHHH H Land Specialists H FOR SALE: Int’l 856 w/ ldr, H H H 7500 hrs, 2nd owner, 100% Firestone rubber on rear, H Every Wednesday H H nice original condition, cab, H H Hay & Straw January 10 heat, always stored inside. H H H $8,950. 320-359-2692 99.78± Acres Garden City Township, Blue Earth County 4:30 PM

www.thelandonline.com FOR SALE: JD 4440 very good condition, new tires, 4995 hrs, quad shift, inspected in John Deere Shop, $25,900. 320-359-2692

H H Homestead H H H H Sales, Inc. H H HWY 15 N, HUTCHINSON, MN H H H 320-433-4250 H H homesteadsalesinc.com H H HHHHHHHHHHHH H

Steffes Auction Calendar 2018

For more info, call: 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com Opening December 4 & Closing December 14 Wes & Kate Nelson Farm Retirement Auction, Grove City, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening December 10 & Closing December 19 Nathan Dixon Inventory Reduction Auction, Steffes Group Facility, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening December 17 & Closing December 27 Ralph & Kathleen Ochocki Farm Retirement Auction, Hendricks, MN, Timed Online Auction Tuesday, December 18 at 11AM Horstman Farms Retirement Auction, Howard Lake, MN Thursday, December 20 at 10AM Aglron Litchfield Event, Steffes Group Facility, Litchfield, MN Opening December 21 & Closing December 26 Aglron Online Auction - 12/26, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Wednesday, December 26 at 12pm Quality Tested Hay Auction & Customer Appreciation Brunch, Steffes Group Facility, Litchfield, MN Thursday, December 27 at 11AM Aglron Sioux Falls Event, Steffes Group Facility, Larchwood, IA Opening December 27 at 8AM & Closing December 27 at 12PM Richland County, ND Land Auction - 160+/-Acres, Wyndmere, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening December 27 at 8AM & Closing December 27 at 2PM Steele County, ND Land Auction - 517.65+/-Acres, South of Finley, ND, Timed Online Auction Friday, December 28 at 11AM HUGE Marshall & Beltrami County, MN Land Auction, 5,368+/-Acres, Thief River Falls, MN

Sealed Bid And Land Auction

For information brochures CALL 1-800-730-LAND (5263) or visit www.Wingert Realty.com.

Only registered bidders may attend.

View our other available properties for sale on our website.

1160 Victory Drive South, Suite 6 • Mankato, MN 56001 • 507-345-LAND (5263)

Charles Wingert, Broker # 07-53

FARM RETIREMENT

LOCATION: 10588 Cty Rd 6 SW, Howard Lake, MN 55349

AUCTION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 | 11AM

2018

WEEKLY AUCTION

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Chuck, Mark, and Cecil have farmed since 1981 together and have decided to retire. Most equipment was purchased new, has been shedded and has had excellent maintenance. Very few small items. Equipment will be shedded for inspection. Loadout available. Please call Eric to view at 701.238.2570.

Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

TRACTORS

TILLAGE EQUIPMENT 2002 Unverferth header trailer Unverferth 536 Road Runner 2017 John Deere 2720 disc header trailer ripper SPRAYER Wil-Rich Quad X field cultivator 2006 Hardi 4400 Commander TRUCKS 2002 IHC 9200I day cab, 777,959 pull-type sprayer 3 HAY EQUIPMENT COMBINE & HEADS miles 1995 White Volvo WG64T day 2004 New Holland 1441 mower 2010 John Deere 9770 combine, cab, 537,207 miles, S/N34770 conditioner 1,104 sep. hrs., 1,580 engine hrs. 1995 White GMC WG64T day 2004 New Holland BR750 round 2012 John Deere 608C baler cab, shows 92,011 miles chopping corn head, 500 acres AUGERS BOXED TRUCKS per year 2015 Westfield MKX130-74 Ford L8000 tandem axle grain 2011 John Deere 635F flex head auger truck, 95,590 miles GPS EQUIPMENT 2011 Westfield MK100-71 auger 2004 Ford Sterling Acterra John Deere 2630 display w/SF1 single axle grain truck Westfield WR100-31 auger John Deere 2600 display w/SF1 Snowco auger GRAIN CART John Deere Starfire ITC globe 2013 J&M 875 grain cart OTHER FARM SUPPORT w/SF1 2008 John Deere 9330 4WD, 2,221 hrs 1999 John Deere 8200 2WD, 4,353 hrs 1984 John Deere 4050 2WD, 5,702 actual hrs

John Deere Starfire ITC globe w/SF1

PLANTER

2003 John Deere 1770NT planter, approx. 10,000 acres

TRAILERS

2000 Jet hopper bottom trailer 1996 Wilson DWH-400 hopper bottom trailer 1997 Wabash DSA-102 MCW single axle van trailer

EQUIPMENT & MORE

SteffesGroup.com

Steffes Group, Inc. | 24400 MN Hwy 22 S, Litchfield, MN 55355 | 320.693.9371

HORSTMAN FARMS or Eric Gabrielson at Steffes Group, For information contact Chuck, 320.282.7551 320.693.9371 or 701.238.2570

TERMS: All items sold as is where is. Payment of cash or check must be made sale day before removal of items. Statements made auction day take precedence over all advertising. $35 documentation fee applies to all titled vehicles. Titles will be mailed. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer. Eric Gabrielson MN47-006

PAGE 27

FARM LAND SALE

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. +/- 80 acres of farmland Located in Brown County

5 miles West of Hanska, MN 17 miles Southwest of New Ulm, MN

Sale held at: Hanska Community Center 201 Broadway, Hanska, MN For more information, please contact attorneys

Steven J. Franta or Aaron D. Quinby (507)354-2161 / recept@thelegalprofessionals.com www.thelegalprofessionals.com

Somsen Mueller & Franta Attorneys at Law since 1896

PAGE 28

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

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

irst Your F or f Choice ds! ie Classif

Place d Your A Today!

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

To submit your classified ad use one of the following options: Phone: 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 DEADLINE: Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the following Friday edition.

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

South Central Minnesota’s Daily News Source

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THE FREE PRESS

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• Reach over 150,000 readers • Start your ad in The Land • Add more insertions • Get more coverage

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  Lawn & Garden  Feed Seed Hay  Fertilizer & Chemicals  Bins & Buildings  Farm Equipment  Tractors  Tillage Equipment  Planting Equipment  Spraying Equipment

 Hay & Forage Equipment  Harvesting Equipment  Grain Handling Equipment  Livestock Equipment  Wanted  Free & Give Away  Livestock  Poultry  Dairy  Cattle  Swine  Sheep  Goats  Horses & Tack  Exotic Animals  Pets & Supplies  Cars & Pickups  Industrial & Construction  Trucks & Trailers  Recreational Vehicles  Miscellaneous

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

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

THE LAND (Includes 1 Southern & 1 Northern issue)

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.

THE COUNTRY TODAY (CT) - Serving farmers in Wisconsin, 21,000 circ.

THE FREE PRESS (FP) - Serving south central Minnesota, 19,025 circ.

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

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Name ____________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________State_________ Zip__________ Phone __________________________________________ # of times _______ Card # ____________________________________________________________ Exp. Date__________________

CHECK

Signature _________________________________________________________

SORRY! We do not issue refunds.

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

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018 Swine

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

PAGE 29

Cars & Pickups

FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hamp- ‘98 Chevy 2500 series, good shire, Duroc & Hamp/Duroc cond, 148,000 miles, 2 & boars, also gilts. Excellent 4WD, good tires, w/rollup selection. Raised outside. tarp. Call mornings or noon Exc herd health. No PRSS. (507) 375-4289 Delivery avail. 320-760-0365 Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Boars & Gilts available.

Monthly PRRS and PEDV. Delivery available. Steve Resler. 507-456-7746

SELL IT FAST

with a classified line ad!

Call us today 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665

0% FINANCING OR CASH BACK! NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31.

The end of 2018 is a perfect opportunity to save big. Take advantage of 0% FINANCING* or choose cash back on current-year New Holland tractors and equipment. Hurry in. It’s out with the old, in with the new during our Year-End Celebration. And it all ends December 31, 2018.

Stop by today or visit nhoffers.com for details.

Get

RESULTS WESTBROOK AG POWER, INC. 31424 STATE HIGHWAY 30, WESTBROOK, MN 56183 www.westbrookagpower.com 507-274-6101

0% FINANCING OR CASH BACK!

The end of 2018 is a perfect opportunity to save big. Take advantage of 0% FINANCING* or choose cash back on current-year New Holland tractors and equipment. Hurry in. It’s out with the old, in with the new during our Year-End Celebration. And it all ends December 31, 2018. Stop by today or visit nhoffers.com for details.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31.

Sell it

FAST!

*For Commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your

Year End Pricing ‘17 JD S680 W/PRWD 472 Sep Hrs, 580/85R42’s W/Duals, PowerCast Tailboard, Powerfold Bin Ext, Serviced, Warranty .............. $305,000 ‘13 JD 9410R PS, 1480 Hrs, 78 Gal HiFlow Pump, 1000 PTO, 620/70R42’s W/Duals, Leather Trim, Serviced .............. $185,000

MS

Westbrook Ag PoWer

Hwy. 30 West • WESTBROOK, MN • Ph. (507) 274-6101

L225 NH, Cab/Heat/AC, Hi-Flow, 1350 hrs ................$32,900 TRACTORS L225 NH, Cab/heat/AC, 1008 hrs...............................$34,900 435 Versatile w/ guidance, 2010 hrs. ......................$139,500 L220 NH, Cab/heat/AC, 850 hrs.................................$33,900 9882 NH, 4810 hrs, w/ Guidance...............................$69,900 L185 NH, Cab/heat, Hi-Flow, 3850 hrs ......................$19,900 T8.330 NH, 1120 hrs................................................$139,900 L225 NH, Cab/heat, 1341 hrs. ...................................$27,900 T6.155 NH, 3000 hrs..................................................$99,900 T.5115 NH w/ loader, 350 hrs ....................................$67,900 MISCELLANEOUS 7130 CIH, 2WD 6200 hrs ...........................................$24,500 195 NH Spreader .........................................................$7,900 2145 II BV, 2WD, 4610 hrs ........................................$42,500 16’ Farm King Finish Mower, 540 PTO ......................$12,900 8670 NH, FWA, PS, 7200 hrs ....................................$39,900 WESTBROOK AGPL-5 POMiller WER , INC .

Loader .......................................................$6,500 1586 IH, 6140 hrs ......................................................$10,900 Westendorf 31424 STATE HIGHWAY 30, WL-21 WEST BROOKLoader , MN ...........................................$3,950 56183 T9 390 NH, 1400 hrs. ..............................................$154,900

www.westbrookagpower.com

‘12 JD 9360R PS, 1170 Hrs, 78 Gal HiFlow Pump, 1000 PTO, 480/80R50’s, Leather Trim, Serviced...........$165,000

DIVERSIFIED

New Holland dealeropportunity for details and eligibility requirements. payment may be required.

Offer good advantage through December 31, 2018 at of The end of 2018 isparticipating a perfect toDownsave big.

Take participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions apply. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. Offer subject to 0% FINANCING*change oror cancellation choose cash on Holland without notice. © 2018 CNHback Industrial America LLC. Allcurrent-year rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital New and New Holland Agriculture are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. tractors and equipment. Hurry in. It’s out with the old, in with the new during our Year-End Celebration. And it all ends December 31, 2018. www.westbrookagpower.com Stop by today or visit nhoffers.com for details.

M.S Diversified Fairfax, MN 320-848-2496 or 320-894-6560

www.ms-diversified.com | monte@ms-diversified.com

COMBINES

CORN HEADS 507-274CR8090 -6101 NH, 835 hrs ................................................$219,900 99C NH 12R30 ...........................................................$49,900 CR9070 NH, 989 hrs ................................................$179,900 99C NH 8R30 .............................................................$47,900 CR9070 NH, 1096 hrs ..............................................$169,900 98C NH 8R30 .............................................................$22,500 CR7090 NH, 930 hrs ................................................$184,900 974 NH 8R30 ...............................................................$3,500 CR9070 NH, 1426 hrs ..............................................$159,900 CR960 NH, 2375 hrs ..................................................$65,000 GRAIN HEADS 880CF NH Flex Draper, 40’ ........................................$54,900 *For Commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approvalTILLAGE

by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your 74C NH 35’ w/ Crary Air ............................................$24,500 participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility Down payment may be required.

Offer good through December 31, 2018 at 50’requirements.

Qx2 Wil-Rich, 3 bar/basket ..................................$46,500 New Holland dealers in the United States. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America 74C NH 30’ w/ Crary Air, Fitsparticipating TR ...............................$23,900 50’ Quad 5 Wil-Rich, 4-bar ........................................$14,900 LLC standard terms and conditions apply. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. Offer subject to 74C NH 30’ ................................................................$14,900 26’ America 4300 CIH, barreserved. .....................................................$7,500 change or cancellation without notice. © 2018 CNH Industrial LLC. All4rights CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Agriculture are 2020 CIH 30’ ..............................................................$19,900 980 ................................................................$7,900 trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH44.5’ Industrial N.V.,JD its subsidiaries or affiliates.

973 NH, 20’..................................................................$3,500 28.5 4800 CIH, 3 Bar ...................................................$6,900 3950 CIH Disc, 32’ Cushing Gang..............................$19,900 HAY EQUIPMENT 862NT Wishek, 30’ ....................................................$49,900 7450 NH Mower Conditioner......................................$22,500 513 Wil-Rich Soilpro 9-24 .........................................$43,500 BB940A NH Square Baler ..........................................$22,500 957 Wil-Rich 7-30 .....................................................$16,500 BR7090 NH 5x6, Twine/Net........................................$22,900 357 Wil-Rich 5-30 .......................................................$7,900 BR780 NH Baler, Twine ..............................................$13,900 5830 Wil-Rich, 25’ Chisel Plow .................................$31,900 6740 NH Disc Mower ...................................................$7,450 DM1358 MF Disc Mower .............................................$4,450 PLANTING New Tonutti 9 Wheel Rake ...........................................$6,950 3600 Kinze 16R30......................................................$39,900 664 NH, Twine..............................................................$3,950 3600 Kinze 16/31.......................................................$39,900 3200 Kinze, 12R30 w/liquid .......................................$34,900 SKIDLOADERS 12R30 Kinze Econo fold .............................................$10,000 L230 NH, Cab/Heat, 4100 hrs ....................................$26,900 L225 NH, Cab/heat/AC, Hi-Flow, 800 hrs...................$32,500

When you advertise in The Land!

Call us today!

507 345-4523 or

800 657-4665

PAGE 30

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

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

wants your feedback.

Email: editor@thelandonline.com or visit: www.thelandonline.com or call: our friendly staff at 507-345-4523 800-657-4665

Upcoming Issues of THE LAND Southern MNNorthern MN Northern IA Dec. 21, 2018 Dec. 28, 2018 * *Jan. 4, 2019 Jan. 11, 2019 Jan. 18, 2019 Jan. 25, 2019 Feb. 1, 2019 Feb. 8, 2019 Feb. 15, 2019

*

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Industrial & Construction

Purchase one line ad at regular price and get the second one free in the same editions. Offer good for one full circulation combo.

Free ad must be of equal or lesser value. Hurry! Offer ends soon.

Case 320 crawler tractor, 1/2 yd bucket, not running, not stuck, great restoration project, $1,000. Maple Lake, MN 320-963-5377

Classified Line Ads in The Land

507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665

WANTED

DAMAGED GRAIN STATEWIDE

Deadline is 8 days prior to publication.

Indicates early deadline, 9 days prior to publication.

PO Box 3169 • Mankato, MN 56002 Phone: 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665 Fax: 507-345-1027 Website: www.TheLandOnline.com e-mail: theland@TheLandOnline.com

We pay top dollar for your damaged grain. We are experienced handlers of your wet, dry, burnt and mixed grains.

Trucks and vacs available.

Immediate response anywhere.

CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY

PRUESS ELEV., INC. 1-800-828-6642

Ask Your Auctioneer to Place Your Auction in The Land!

USED TRACTORS

HAY TOOLS

‘03 Versatile 2310, PS ..................................... $85,000 ‘12 Buhler 280...............................................$109,000 NEW Massey GC1715 w/loader ............................. Call NEW Massey 7722 FWA CVT ................................. Call ‘05 CIH MX210 ................................................ $79,000 NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader.. ...... On Hand NEW NH T9.645, w/Smart Trac .............................. Call NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders ... On Hand NEW NH T8.410 ...................................................... Call NH T8.275, 495 hrs ....................................... $145,000 ‘08 NH 8010 .................................................. $110,000 ‘99 NH 9682 .................................................... $67,000 ‘96 White 6175 FWA....................................... $49,500 Allis 185..............................................................$8,750 Kubota L245 2wd ...............................................$6,500

New NH Hay Tools - ON HAND

TILLAGE 14’ Sunflower 4412-05.....................................$32,500 10’ Sunflower 4412-07 .................................... $31,000 ‘95 JD 726, 30’ ................................................ $21,500 10’ Wilrich QX2 37’ w/basket.......................... $38,500 Wilrich QX 55’5 w/bskt..................................... Coming CIH 730b cush. w/ leads ................................ $19,500

PLANTERS NEW White Planters ............................................... Call White 8182 12-30 w/liq ................................... $27,900 ‘12 White 8186, 16-30 w/liq. fert. .................... $45,000 ‘11 White 8516 CFS, Loaded .......................... $85,000 White 8186 16-30 w/liq .................................... Coming

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

New NH W80C wheelloader .......................... On Hand New NH E37C mini excavator ....................... On Hand New NH E26C mini excavator ....................... On Hand New NH track & wheeled skidsteers............. On Hand NH 230 w/cab & heat ...................................... $37,900 ‘99 Bobcat 863F .............................................. $16,800

COMBINES

Gleaner R65 ................................................... $105,000 ‘12 Gleaner S77............................................ $205,000 ‘03 Gleaner R65 ............................................... Coming ‘98 Gleaner R62 .............................................. $79,500 ‘98 Gleaner R62 ...................................................... Call Gleaner 3308 chopping corn heads ...................... Call NEW Fantini chopping cornhead ........................... Call Geringhoff parts & heads available

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW Salford RTS Units .......................................... Call NEW Salford Plows................................................. Call NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders .............................. Call NEW Westfield Augers ........................................... Call NEW REM VRX vacs. .............................................. Call NEW Hardi Sprayers............................................... Call NEW Riteway Rollers .............................................. Call NEW Lorenz Snowblowers ..................................... Call NEW Batco Conveyors ........................................... Call NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ......................... Call NEW E-Z Trail Seed Wagons .................................. Call NEW Rock Buckets & Pallet Forks ......................... Call REM 2700, Rental ................................................... Call Pre-Owned Grain Cart ................................... On Hand

All Equipment available with Low Rate Financing

Trucks & Trailers ‘09 Freightliner Cascadia, day cab, 700,000 miles, auto shift, w/clutch pedal, $19,000; ‘00 35’ Timpte trlr, bought new, farmer owned, ag hoppers, $16,500. 507-920-8251 FOR SALE: ‘04 Volvo VNL630, 500K miles, auto transmission, excellent condition, $20,000. 218-791-3400 RETIRING: ‘68 C050 Chev truck, 6 cyl, 4-2 transmission, 14’ steel box, good tires; ‘73 C-60 Chev truck 350, 5-2 transmission, 16’ box, good tires, used this fall, hoists work. 507-360-9413

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

‘17 JD Gator TS, 4X2, 514 hrs .......................................... $4,900 ‘15 John Deere 625I Gator, 4X4, canopy, bench seat, 250 hrs ................................................................................ $6,900 ‘14 CIH Magnum 235, 480/80R50 rear duals, 380/80R38 single fronts, 23 speed creeper transmission, 4 remotes, 2585 hrs ............................................................................ $79,500 ‘13 JD 7230R, 20 speed Command Quad Plus transmission, 380/90R50 rear duals, 540/1000 PTO, 4 remotes, HID lights, 840 hrs ..................................................................................... $95,500 ‘13 JD 8295R, powershift, 1300 front axle, 6 remotes, LED lights, 380/90R54 rear duals, 380/80R38 single fronts, 4890 hrs ..................................................................................... $92,500 ‘03 JD 8420, ILS, powershift, 380/90R54 duals, 9100 hrs ............................................................................ $59,500 ‘12 New Holland L218 skid steer loader, no cab, 72” bucket, 365 hrs .............................................................................. $19,750 ‘10 JD 9770 combine, 800/70R38 single tires, tank ext.

2WD, contourmaster, chopper, tank ext., 1650 sep. hrs, Just through service program........................................... $87,500 ‘12 JD RSX 850I Gator, 190 hrs ....................................... $7,500

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

(507) 234-5191 (507) 625-8649

smithsmillimp.com Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN

Mon. - Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon

Keith Bode

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

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018 Miscellaneous

1/2PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS not New pumps & parts on hand. roj- Call Minnesota’s largest disMN tributor HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

Miscellaneous REINKE IRRIGATION Sales & Service New & Used For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073

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

Miscellaneous Winpower Sales & Service Reliable Power Solutions Since 1925 PTO & automatic Emergency Electric Generators. New & Used Rich Opsata-Distributor 800-343-9376

day hift, ‘00 ew, ers,

630, mision,

hev misood uck 16’ this 9413

4WD TRACTORS

Agri Systems ....................................................................... 12 Anderson Seeds .................................................................... 15 Beck's Hybrids ........................................................1, 3, 16, 17 Broskoff Structures .............................................................. 10 C & C Roof ing .................................................................... 18 Courtland Waste Handling .................................................... 11 Curt's Truck & Diesel ............................................................. 5 Dairyland Seed .................................................................... 13 Doda USA ........................................................................... 21 Fahey Sales .......................................................................... 27 Gary Dohlen ........................................................................ 26 Grain Millers ......................................................................... 6 Homestead Sales .................................................................. 27 Keith Bode ........................................................................... 30 LandProz.com ...................................................................... 25 Larson Implement .......................................................... 26, 31 Letcher Farm Supply ............................................................ 19 Mike's Collision ..................................................................... 7 Minnesota Soybean ................................................................ 4 MN Pork Producers Assn ........................................................ 8 MS Diversif ied .................................................................... 29 Northland Buildings ............................................................. 20 Pioneer Soybean ..................................................................... 9 Pruess Elevator .................................................................... 30 Roy E Abbott Futures ........................................................... 24 Schweiss Doors .................................................................... 29 Smiths Mill Implement ......................................................... 30 Somsen, Mueller & Franta .................................................... 27 Southwest MN Farm Business ............................................... 18 Southwest MN K-Fence ........................................................ 20 Steffes Group ............................................................ 25, 26, 27 Upper Midwest Management ................................................ 26 Westbrook Ag Power ............................................................ 29 Whitcomb Brothers ................................................................ 5 Wingert Realty ..................................................................... 27

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

LOADER TRACTORS

‘14 JD 9560R, 1045 hrs, 5 hyd valves, 800x38 tires & duals, whl ‘09 NH TV6070, bi-directional, 3543 hrs, cab, air, 3pt, 540/1000 wgts ..............................................................................$210,000 PTO, 2 hyd valves, NH ldr w/84” bkt ............................$54,000 ‘13 JD 9360R, 1970 hrs, 1000 PTO, pwr shift, 620x42 tires & ‘11 Case SV300 skidsteer, cab, air, 1040 hrs, 2spd, ride control, duals .............................................................................$150,000 aux hyd, 72” bkt .............................................................$26,900 ‘02 JD 9320, 5341 hrs, pwr shift, 1000 PTO, 3 hyd valves, 8 new 18.4x46 tires & duals, universal auto steer ...................$89,000

COMBINES

‘92 JD 8760, 7558 hrs, 24spd, 3 hyd valves, eng OH at 6264 hrs, 20.8x38 tires & duals ..............................................$31,000 ‘13 JD S660, 1066 sep/1598 eng hrs, 4x4, 2630 display, ‘13 NH T9.390, 2557 hrs, pwr shift, 1000 PTO, 480x50 tires & duals, susp cab ..........................................................$120,000

ADVERTISER LISTING

PAGE 31

Contour-Master, chopper, long unloading auger, 20.8x32 tires & duals ........................................................................$139,000

‘11 NH T9.390, 905 hrs, pwr shift, 4 hyd valves, hi-flow, HID ‘13 JD S660, 892 sep/1180 eng hrs, Contour-Master, chopper, lights, 480x50 tires & duals ........................................$120,000 520x38 tires & duals ...................................................$139,000 ‘94 C-IH 9270, 8533 hrs, pwr shift, 4 hyd valves, front wgts, ‘04 JD 9760, 2268 sep/3460 eng hrs, Contour-Master, chopper, 650x42 tires & duals, Outback auto steer .....................$33,500 480x42 tires & duals .....................................................$54,000

TRACK TRACTORS

‘01 JD 9750, 3013 sep/4156 eng hrs, Contour-Master, chopper,

520x38 tires & duals .....................................................$42,000 ‘15 C-IH 500 Quadtrac, 2750 hrs, 36” tracks, cab susp, HID lights, Pro 700 monitor & receiver ...............................$175,000 ‘01 JD 9650 STS, 3014 sep/4325 eng hrs, Contour-Master, chopper, 520x38 tires & duals .......................................$39,000 ‘14 C-IH 350 Rowtrac Quadtrac, 1865 hrs, 1000 PTO, 120” spacing, 18” tracks, 4 hyd valves, hi-flow ...................$152,000 ‘00 JD 9650 STS, 2645 sep/3623 eng hrs, single point hookup, ‘14 C-IH 340 Magnum Rowtrac, 290 hrs, lux cab, susp front axle, chopper, bin ext. ............................................................$42,000 18” belts, 6 hyd valves, 1000 PTO, 3pt .......................$180,000 ‘14 C-IH 5130, 660 sep/928 eng hrs, rock trap, chopper, ‘15 Challenger MT 845E, 3909 hrs, 30” belts, 4 hyd valves, HID lights ....................................................................$142,500 ‘04 Cat Challenger MT 755, 4844 hrs, 16” tracks, 3 pt, 1000 PTO, 88” track spacing, JD ATU ..........................$65,000

ROW CROP TRACTORS ‘12 Challenger MT 665D, 1332 hrs, front susp, 3pt, 1000 PTO, 5 hyd valves, 480x50 duals & front duals .......................$95,000 ‘12 JD 8235, 2WD, 1235 hrs, pwr shift, 3pt, 1000 PTO, 4 hyd valves, 18.4x46 duals, extra clean...............................$110,000

tracker, 700 monitor, 900x32 single tires .....................$132,000 ‘11 C-IH 5088, 1541 sep/1743 eng hrs, rock trap, chopper, tracker, 30.5x32 single tires. ..........................................$88,000 ‘09 C-IH 7088, 1275 sep/1807 eng hrs, rock trap, chopper, tracker, HID lights, Pro 600 monitor, 520x42” duals .....$92,000 ‘11 Claas Lexion 740, 1466 sep hrs/1899 eng hrs, 4x4, power bin ext, Contour-Master, chopper, 620x42 tires & duals ......$98,000

CORN HEADERS

‘13 C-IH Magnum 260, 577 hrs, 540/1000 PTO, 3pt, 4 hyd ‘13 Drago 6R30 chopping, fits JD combine............................$25,000 valves, hi-flow, 420x46 tires & duals............................$110,000 ‘09 Drago 6R30 chopping, fits JD combine ........................$19,000 ‘13 C-IH Magnum 290, 1250 hrs, 1000 PTO, 3pt, 4 hyd valves, big pump, 480x50 tires & duals, front duals & wgts...$110,000 ‘06 Drago 8R30 chopping, fits flagship C-IH combine .............$14,500 ‘12 C-IH Magnum 260, 1784 hrs, susp front, 1000 PTO, 3pt, 4 ‘13 C-IH 3408 8R30, hyd deck plates, fits flagship combine ....$21,000 hyd valves, 480x50 rear tires & duals, front duals ........$99,000 ‘08 C-IH 3208 8R30, hyd deck plates, fits flagship combine...$12,500 ‘04 C-IH MX285, 5540 hrs, 4 hyd valves, 3pt, 1000 PTO, 10 front wgts, 18.4x46 tires & duals, fresh eng OH ...........$59,000 ‘02 C-IH 2208 8R30, hyd deck plates, fits older 1600-2000 series C-IH combines ...............................................................$11,500 ‘13 NH T8.360, 1200 hrs, lux cab, 1000 PTO, 3pt, 4 hyd valves, 480x50 tires & duals, complete auto guide syst...........$110,000 ‘05 Geringhoff 8R30 chopping, fits JD combine ................$17,500 ‘06 NH TG210, MFWD, 4240 hrs, pwr shift, 540/1000 PTO, 3pt ‘83 JD 643 6R30, low tin, oil drive ..................................... $6,500 hitch, 4 hyd valves, 380x46 rear tires & duals, 380x30 front tires & duals ...................................................................$56,000

TILLAGE

‘03 NH TG230, MFWD, 3346 hrs, pwr shift, 540/1000 PTO, Mega flow hyd, 4 valves, 3pt, 380x46 tires & duals......$59,000 JD 512 5 shank disc ripper .................................................. $9,500 ‘11 Versatile 305, MFWD 690 hrs, 3pt, 4 hyd valves, 1000 PTO, JD 980 field cultivator, w/ JD harrow ................................$11,000 HID lights, 480x46 tires & duals ....................................$95,000

LOADER TRACTORS ‘06 JD 7420, MFWD, cab, air, 5164 hrs, IVT trans, 3pt, 540/1000 PTO, 3 hyd valves, JD H360 ldr w/QT bkt ....$62,000 ‘04 JD 7320, MFWD, cab, air, 3pt, 540/1000 PTO, 2 hyd valves, JD 741 ldr w/QT bkt & joystick ......................................$52,000

GRAVITY BOXES Brent 740 gravity box........................................................... $9,800

STEEL TRACK SET-UP FOR 9610 JD COMBINE ............................................................................... $4,500

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

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

PAGE 32

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

THE LAND — DECEMBER 14/DECEMBER 21, 2018

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

Merry Christmas mansions

F

or the last 12 holiday seasons, the people and businesses of Little Falls, Minn. have joined together to deck out the former Weyerhaeuser and Musser mansions in a lavish display of Christmas ornamentation. The two mansions, known together as the Linden Hills mansions, date from the 1890s and are on a nine-acre estate overlooking the Mississippi River.

They were rescued from the developers’ bulldozers in the early part of this century by concerted civic action.

Since then, the town has worked collectively to preserve them in all their Victorian glory.

“We have around 160 volunteers and only three staff members,” Larry, a volunteer himself, proudly reports while giving a tour of one of the dining rooms on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Larry points out the intricate china and table setting that adorns the table and then draws the visitors’ attention to the fine craftsmanship of the room’s wood work.

“It was all done by hand,” he says.

The craftsmanship in the dining rooms, porches, libraries, bedrooms, dressing room, and on the stairways of the two homes is always on display. But for a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving, there are large and small displays of holiday decorations filling the houses and spilling out onto the

Little Falls, Minn.

manicured grounds. Even the outdoor lamp posts are decorated by a volunteer team.

It’s team work that gets the nearly 60 rooms, bannisters and spaces in the mansions decorated. Two teams of two decorated the spacious Weyerhaeuser living room and the sunny library. A team of four decorated the mansion’s Rose Room and teams of two decorated the camera closet and Van Cliburn room on the second floor. Then there’s the maids porch, pantry, children’s room, etc.

It’s much the same next door at the Musser mansion. There’s the River Room decorated by a team of two; the River Porch decorated by the employees of Pine Country Bank; and upstairs, the Hat Closet decorated by a team of one.

Next year’s Christmas at the Mansions extravaganza will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8.

Other times, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, mansion tours are available for individuals and groups. The Musser Mansion, along with its four levels and ten bedrooms, is also available for weddings. You can rent the grounds and have a beautiful garden wedding; or you can rent the grounds and the mansion for three days — from the groom’s dinner to the final dance — for a deluxe wedding.

For more information, call (320) 616-5580 or visit linden-hill.org. v

Page 4 - December 14/December 21, 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

D24280

© 2018

Dec. 14/Dec. 21, 2018

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

your local

GRAIN DRYER

$216,955

.00

www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

dealer

Air Systems

List $334,242.00

1010 Modular Dryer

GSI Transfer 5” 30HP

1,000 BPH

125,995

$

List price: $256,919

23,995

$

List price: $40,099

YOUR

DEALER

38,995

$

69,971

$

YOUR

List price: $147,950

List price: $87,300 DEALER

C2130A

CF/AB 270

9,80 BPH

520 BPH

REMOTE DRYER MONITOR

COMMERCIAL & FARM SYSTEMS

FOR ALL YOUR GRAIN DRYING NEEDS www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

Optional WatchDog™ Software Allow remote monitoring of varying functions from your phone.

Contact us for all your grain-handling needs! www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • Windom, MN

COMMERCIAL & FARM SYSTEMS

Page 2 - December 14/December 21, 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

Bucket Elevator

Bucket Elevator

Motor & Drive $40,528

Motor & Drive $23,615

100’ SR 36” 10,000 BPH with

80’ Hi Cap 24” 6,000 BPH with

only 57¢/bu

Conrad American Bin

only 54¢/bu

Conrad American Bin

only 53¢/bu

36’ x 7w 24,626 Bu.

$14,248

42’ x 10w 46,918 Bu. $25,398

Conrad American Bin

60’ x 11w 108,065 Bu. $57,198

VersaLoop Custom Pit

40’ x8” $9,485

Installed 1,200 Bu. (in-stock)

$50,000

Prices reflect materials only

www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

December 14/December 21, 2018 - Page 3

Page 2 - December 14/December 21, 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

Bucket Elevator

Bucket Elevator

Motor & Drive $40,528

Motor & Drive $23,615

100’ SR 36” 10,000 BPH with

80’ Hi Cap 24” 6,000 BPH with

only 57¢/bu

Conrad American Bin

only 54¢/bu

Conrad American Bin

only 53¢/bu

36’ x 7w 24,626 Bu.

$14,248

42’ x 10w 46,918 Bu. $25,398

Conrad American Bin

60’ x 11w 108,065 Bu. $57,198

VersaLoop Custom Pit

40’ x8” $9,485

Installed 1,200 Bu. (in-stock)

$50,000

Prices reflect materials only

www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

December 14/December 21, 2018 - Page 3

Page 4 - December 14/December 21, 2018

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

D24280

© 2018

Dec. 14/Dec. 21, 2018

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

your local

GRAIN DRYER

$216,955

.00

www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

dealer

Air Systems

List $334,242.00

1010 Modular Dryer

GSI Transfer 5” 30HP

1,000 BPH

125,995

$

List price: $256,919

23,995

$

List price: $40,099

YOUR

DEALER

38,995

$

69,971

$

YOUR

List price: $147,950

List price: $87,300 DEALER

C2130A

CF/AB 270

9,80 BPH

520 BPH

REMOTE DRYER MONITOR

COMMERCIAL & FARM SYSTEMS

FOR ALL YOUR GRAIN DRYING NEEDS www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • 507-831-2600 • Windom, MN

Optional WatchDog™ Software Allow remote monitoring of varying functions from your phone.

Contact us for all your grain-handling needs! www.AgBuilders.com • 1-800-826-2233 • Windom, MN

COMMERCIAL & FARM SYSTEMS