THE LAND ~ February 28, 2020 ~ Northern Edition

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Februar y 21, 2020 Februar y 28, 2020

To the Rescue!

Man’s best friend sniffs out people in peril

PLUS: Reports from the MN Ag Expo Crop insurance sign-up by March 15 A new book from Barbara Kodet Mages

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Pests give no soybeans rest P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XXXIX ❖ No. 4 28 pages, 1 section plus supplements

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Cover photo by Richard Siemers

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

2-5 4 4 6 7 8 10 14 19-20 21-27 27 28

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Always a good visit, Bruce Potter, longthese larvae are inside the plant. We put time plant pathologist at the Southwest cages in some infested fields last year.

Research and Outreach Center in We had pretty good evidence the larvae Lamberton, Minn. was willing to share were overwintering in the soil. When we some time (even though I arrived one day checked these traps we found the first early for the 2020 Winter Crops and Soils generation of adults in late June. Then Day which was Feb. 5 at Lamberton and we moved the cages into infected soybean Feb. 6 at Luverne, Minn. Yes, we ag jourfields and identified the second and nalists get confused too! third-generation moths. So it’s apparent these adult moths emerge from the soils LAND MINDS With Potter, a question-and-answer of infected fields. approach works well; because Bruce will

By Dick Hagen talk about most any subject I’ve expeThe Land: So that suggests a likely rienced. So hang on … here we go: infestation again this spring?

The Land: What is this soybean gall Potter: I’m hoping not. It’s been midge concern? around a few years and I don’t see any evidence it’s disappearing. This year the soybean check-off is Potter: It was first confirmed in Minnesota in going to support a bigger survey to see just how 2018 in the southwest part of the state. Last year widespread this pest already might be in the Upper we found quite a few more infestations.

Midwest. Also, where damage is more severe, we The Land: What’s its origin? can pick up some clues if certain environmental conditions favor this pest.

Potter: We don’t know if it’s a native insect or it was introduced from some other country. From yield The Land: Would the mostly wet and cool condimaps we have some indication it might have been tions of last season favor this pest? here in 2016 and earlier.

Potter: We can’t say with certainty; but we do The Land: What do you see? know that last season had above-average precipitaPotter: Wilted and dying plants with infestations tion. This occurrence dates back to 2012, and especially the last three years. So there might be some worst at the edge of the field. Some larger plants will break off at the lower stem where the little fly ‘wet weather’ syndrome relates to this disease but larvae are infesting. They’re underneath that outer we don’t know. And it definitely survives Minnesota layer of skin; so if you peel back the epidermis and winters. first layer of stem tissue, you’ll see the larvae. They The Land: What is your prognostication on disrupt that inner tissue. The plant gets corkyweather for the start of the 2020 season? looking or dried looking. You’ll see a discolored Potter: Meteorologists are speculating a wetterarea on the outside of the plant’s skin. Between the than-normal spring. But that doesn’t suggest more green and the infected tissue, you’ll see almost a pest problems this spring. We haven’t had a hard black border to it. That’s what we key on in our enough winter to curb corn rootworms. A lot of the surveys. problems we had last year in soybeans where two The Land: So far, how much penetration has insects that migrate into the state: thistle caterpiloccurred in Minnesota? lars and green clover worms. If you have a lot of southerly rain events tracking into our state, that Potter: First infestation we diagnosed was in usually is a good corridor for insects to migrate in Rock County — adjoining both Iowa and South also. However, seems to me we’re about due for a Dakota. Also last year, we picked up infected fields dry spring. Once we get past our state high school around the Montevideo area and other counties basketball tournaments, I’ve got a request in for no along the Minnesota River. So far it’s in that westrain until sometime in May. Then, once planted, ern area of soybean production: western Iowa, maybe an inch a week. (Potter doesn’t claim any northwest Missouri, eastern South Dakota and accuracy on his predictions — at least not in the western Minnesota. year he makes them. But he’s willing to trivialize The Land: At this stage, how do we control soyon weather just like the rest of us.) bean midge gall?

The Land: Are soybean aphids a declining issue?

Potter: We don’t. We use soybean check-off dollars Potter: The last few years we’ve had relatively to help fund these issues. Nebraska and Iowa have low incidents … for a couple of reasons. The winter likely done more research than anyone else. So far, of 2018-19 was severely cold. That might have nothing seems to work. Insecticides by themselves knocked them back a little. But I think the bigger aren’t working; seed treatments don’t work. So at this stage it’s confusing. Soybean aphids — once we reason is the late soybean planting of the past few seasons. They’re having a hard time finding soyfound out you can control (them) with insecticides beans to colonize when they want to come off buck— was relatively easy. Also, we haven’t discovered thorn shrubbery. Food quality for these buggers is a any resistance in particular varieties; so there appears to be no genetic linkage. The problem is See LAND MINDS, pg. 5

OPINION

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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The changing geography of U.S. farming and food Geography isn’t static. castor oil.

Rivers change course, Those long-forgotten mountains erode, and twins seem to have a modislands disappear under ern equivalent. Total U.S. rising seas. wheat acres peaked at 88 The geography of farming million in 1981. Last year, and food changes, too. For total U.S. wheat acres were example, 180 years ago my about one-half of that, or home county was the castor FARM & FOOD FILE 45.6 million acres. bean and castor oil capital In its just-published

By Alan Guebert of the United States. Both “Agricultural Projections titles, however, slipped to 2029,” however, the into irrelevance as a new U.S. Department of resource, crude oil, rose Agriculture forecasts to dominate the lubricant business. wheat’s decades-long slide will stabiToday, fewer and fewer Americans lize between 45 million and 46.5 milhave ever heard of castor beans or

lion acres in the coming decade. That estimate also comes with a warning: “U.S. [wheat] export growth is tempered by sustained price competition from Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union.”

It’s no surprise that the two biggest benefactors of wheat’s decline are America’s two biggest crops: corn and soybeans. As David Widmar of Agricultural Economic Insights pointed out more than two years ago, almost 30 million of wheat’s lost 43 million acres have been planted to corn and soybeans since 2000.

There are two critical (among other)

Four-leaf clovers are universally considered to be lucky and are associated with happiness, wealth and general well being. References to these lucky green leaves are prevalent in music, poetry and folklore. Many childhood memories include looking for the elusive four leaved clovers with my brother. We would have contests to see who

four-lobed lucky green will help home owners creleaves. Statistical surveys ate bee-friendly habitat by have found the occurrence of covering up to 90 percent of the rare four leaved clover to the cost of converting tradibe close to 5,000 to 1. tional lawns or acreage into Records reveal collectors food sources for pollinators. have found as many as The web address for infor160,000 clovers in a lifetime. mation and an application The reported world record for this program is beeandfor the number collected in butterflyfund.org.

IN THE GARDEN one hour is 166 and was set James Wolfin, with the

By Sharon Quale

by American Kati Borka in University of Minnesota June of 2018. I recall Bee Lab has been my brother and I found researching bee diverupwards of a dozen of sity and habitat and the lucky leaves in one says; “Some 55 of the search. When a lucky state’s roughly 350 one is found, it is likely species of bees have more are close by. It is been spotted eating thought the fourth Dutch white clover. A leaflet is caused by a pound of white clover genetic mutation as seed costs about $7 well as environmental and the clover grows conditions. low enough people The three-leaf clover is called a would not have to change the way shamrock in Ireland and legend has it they mow their lawns. Just by not that St. Patrick came to Ireland to treating clover like a weed and letting spread Christianity and used the it grow provides a really powerful shamrock as a metaphor for the resource for nearly 20 percent of the Trinity. Irish brides have a shamrock bees in the state.” in their wedding bouquets and the The pluses of a clover lawn are grooms wear one in their boutonniere. many including; drought resistance, Folk traditions have a different attrilow cost, no need for herbicides or pesbute for each leaf of the four-leaf cloticides, grows in poor soil and attracts ver. The first is hope, the second is pollinating insects. A final plus for me faith, the third is love and the fourth is the color and fragrance added to the leaf is luck. yard as well as the opportunity to look Clover lawns or part clover lawns for the elusive, lucky four-leaf clover. are surging in popularity now because Sharon Quale is a master gardener they provide many positive environfrom central Minnesota. She may be mental benefits. The state of reached at (218) 738-6060 or Minnesota has passed legislation that squale101@yahoo.com. v

OPINION

reasons for the big switch: government ethanol blending mandates have fueled corn’s rise and fast-growing soy exports, especially to China, have pushed soybean acres higher.

Both forces, however, are losing steam. Increased use of electric cars and, soon, trucks, has already flatlined the once voracious U.S. gasoline — and, in turn, ethanol — appetite and continued global competition in the soy trade is pinching U.S. soybean margins towards breakeven.

The elective, sustained tariff war with America’s biggest soybean cusSee GUEBERT, pg. 7

Clover can be lucky for you and bees as well could find the most and who could find a perfect specimen. When found, they were reverently pressed in books and regarded as artifacts deserving permanent preservation.

The common white clover, Trifolium repens, is found in pollinator-friendly lawns and is the best plant for finding

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PAGE 5

Potter: Many farmers are now using consultants LAND MINDS, from pg. 2

the work of one of our guys; also, aphid resistant lines are a priority. little bit better when weather condiThe Industry right now has been hightions are on the dry side. We’ve put ly focused on herbicide-resistant traits. together yield data since 2003. These Talking Roundup or Dicamba beans, trials all had 250 count thresholds.

We’ve only had detectable yield loss by those first varieties may not have the best defensive traits in them. For controlling aphids 60 percent of the time. My point being that threshold is example, some of those early releases of Dicamba Extend soybeans didn’t pretty darn conservative. have much white mold resistance.

The Land: Are we making genetic You’ve got to be focused on the overall progress on aphid resistance? health of your soybean fields. If you Potter: There are quite a few aphid- get trapped for just picking varieties for herbicide resistance, you could end resistant genes now. Ideally, we’d like up with other problems. pyramids of genes because we’ve picked up biotype of aphids that can The Land: So as science and speaffect each individual gene. Some cialists like you keep adding to the could affect even Rag 1 and Rag 2 technology skills of soybean farmers, stack genes. So we need to shepherd are we tending to make growers overly those closely. If we can get some resis- dependent upon technology and ‘new tant varieties into our soybean packscience’ to bail them out of production age, that’s going to help keep those issues? populations knocked back. We don’t Potter: I’ll be careful here. I have that big snowball effect of aphids wouldn’t say growers are relying too anymore. Pyramids are like similar much on us educators and researchgenes but two different sources. ers to solve their problems. Farmers The Land: In your unbiased opinhave to absorb and integrate a treion, who is producing the most signifi- mendous amount of knowledge each cant research to upgrade the soybean cropping season: land rental agreeindustry these days? ments; marketing decisions; machinery changes; hybrid selections; pest Potter: I would say our academic management choices; etc,. Yet they institutions with soybean breeding seldom have a level playing field that these days are more interested in looking at different resistant traits for eases their decision-making capabilities. I’m seeing more farmers delegatspecific actions in a grower’s field. ing some of those choices to a consulSoybean cyst nematode resistance is tant who knows these difficult deci-

Farmers need to sign up for ARC, PLC by March 16 University of Minnesota Extension Educator Dave Bau encourages farmers to update crop coverage at their local FSA office by March 16. If a farmer fails to sign up by this date, their farms will be enrolled the same way they were in the previous 2014 farm bill. They will not receive a payment if one is due in 2019 if not signed up before the deadline.

Farmers are signing up for the first two years of the farm bill (2019 and 2020) and then will be permitted each year thereafter for the last three years.

Farmers can chose between three choices: Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC-CO) which is based on national price and county yield; Price Loss

Coverage (PLC) where price coverage is based only on national reference price; and Agricultural Risk Coverage – Individual (ARC-IC) which is a whole farm program. All crops planted by each FSA farm number must be ARCIC and payment is based on crops planted.

To help evaluate the three choices, farmers should evaluate potential payment yields. A calculator is available and farmers are encouraged to compare payment amounts based on their estimates for price and yield at https://z. umn.edu/ARC_PLC. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

sions even better. But I think good farmers still need to keep their hand in this decision-making process. Good farming, I think, always starts with sharp-minded individuals who understand the basic concepts of their profession. And that includes being tuned in to consumer trends in organic foods, meatless meats and much of the ‘new thinking’ of people — the consumers of all the foods American farmers generate.

On hemp I can only say watch it carefully! Yes, creating tremendous interest amongst consumers and producers. Yes, potentially a huge new industry. But everyone is still in a learning process on all the many aspects of growing the crop, harvesting the crop, handling after harvest, and having genuine markets for the crop — and its many products yet to come. Stay tuned … lots more to come.

The Land: My closing question … with all the brilliant minds here at

SWROC, have you yet generated a 100-bushel soybean yield?

Potter: On plots I’ve hit over 80. But I haven’t yet had an individual plot do 100 bushels. Yes, you can ask ‘why not?’ Part of the reason is Minnesota’s location. We don’t have enough season to grow Group IV soybeans here and expect it to mature. We’re not in Virginia or Mississippi or Florida. Yes, 100 bushel yields have been realized in the deep south, but not up here in Yankee Country where we don’t know if we’ll be planting corn and soybeans May 1st … or shoveling our latest snow. But we’re favored with productive soils, smart farmers and lots of us ‘answer guys and gals’ who want to assist our growers towards 100-bushel soybeans. It’s a great world out here.

I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to assist as I can.

Dick Hagen is the staff writer emeritus of The Land. He may be reached at rdhagen35@gmail.com. v

Letters to the editor are always welcome.

Send your letters to: Editor, The Land P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002 e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Sloppy joes will generate lots of compliments (and napkins!) generous amount of sloppy joe Sloppy Joes have been a mixture, additional cheese and finstaple in our cooking rotaish with another buttered slice of tion at the Kveno house for bread, butter side up. Cook in the years now. I grew up with skillet until lightly browned on the my mom opening up a can bottom, about 1-2 minutes, and of Manwich sauce to mix flip over. Press down to flatten with the ground beef and slightly, so the cheese can melt. that’s how we sloppy joe’d.

Continue cooking until the other My sorority house at North COOKING side has browned and the cheese Dakota State University WITH KRISTIN has melted, another 1-2 minutes made “barbeques.” The first

By Kristin Kveno or so. Repeat with remaining sandtime I heard that barbeques wiches. Serve right away with would be served for dinner potato chips or dill pickles on the side. there I thought it would be some type n of meat with barbecue sauce slathered on top … but it was just sloppy joes.

Time to add some Philly style to sloppy joes.

There’s lots of different names and The peppers, onions and cheese combined with ways to prepare sloppy joes; but any the ground beef to make this simply delicious. way you slice it, it’s delicious.

Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes I’ve perfected my sloppy joe sauce. It https://dinnerthendessert.com/philly-cheeseconsists of onion powder, ketchup, mus- steak-sloppy-joes/ tard and brown sugar. All are staples 1 pound lean ground beef in our kitchen; thus sloppy joes are 2 tablespoons butter always a quick meal during the busy 1 small yellow onion diced week. Let’s take the regular, but tasty 1 small green bell pepper diced sloppy joe and give it some flair. Here 8 ounces brown mushrooms minced are some sloppy joe culinary delights.

2 tablespoons ketchup This sloppy joes recipe encompasses some of 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce my very favorite foods: grilled cheese, pickles 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and sloppy joes. How can you say no to this 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper tasty take on the classic sloppy joe?

1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 cup beef broth Dill Pickle Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese https://bellyfull.net/2012/09/06/dill-pickle-slop- 8 ounces Provolone cheese slices chopped (use 6oz if you don’t want it very cheesy) py-joe-grilled-cheese/ 6 brioche hamburger buns 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil Add the ground beef to a large cast iron skillet 1 pound lean ground beef (this browns very well) and brown until a deep 1 small sweet onion, diced brown crust appears before breaking the beef 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder apart. Stir the ground beef and brown until a 1/2 cup ketchup deep crust appears on about 50 or so percent of 2 teaspoons yellow mustard the beef. Remove the beef (you can leave the fat) 2 teaspoons brown sugar and add the butter and the onions and bell pep1/2 teaspoon kosher salt pers and mushrooms. Let brown for 1-2 min1/4 teaspoon black pepper utes before stirring, then let brown for 1/2 cup diced dill pickle another 1-2 minutes before stirring again. Add 8 slices Texas toast bread (or any thick/sturdy the beef back into the pan. In a small cup mix the bread of your choice) beef broth and cornstarch together add the 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, unsalted butter In a large non-stick skillet, over medium-high beef broth/cornstarch mixture into the pan. Cook heat, warm the olive oil. Add in the ground beef until the mixture is only slightly liquidly (about 75 percent of the mixture is above liquid), 3-5 minand onions; cook until the onions are softened utes. Turn off the heat, add in the provolone and no pink remains in the beef, about 3 minutes. Drain off all the grease. Stir in garlic pow- cheese. Served on toasted brioche buns. n der, ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. Mix well. Season with the salt and pepper. Stir in Chinese food is wonderful and so are sloppy the dill pickles and mix to combine. Transfer joes. Thus, combining the two together just sloppy joe mixture to a bowl and set aside; makes sense. The flavor combination in this cover to keep warm. Wipe out your skillet and recipe is delectable. return pan to medium heat. Spread butter over Asian Sloppy Joes one side of a slice of bread. Place butter side www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/ down into the skillet, top with a little cheese,

a57982/asian-sloppy-joes-recipe/ 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1/2 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 pounds ground pork (or ground beef) 1/2 cup ketchup 1/2 cup hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 cup shredded cabbage 2 tablespoons mayonnaise Juice of half lime 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 2 thinly sliced green onions 4 sesame buns In a large skillet over medium heat, heat sesame oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

(Sesame oil can burn quickly, so don›t heat it for too long!) Add onions and cook until beginning to turn tender, about 4 minutes, then stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add ground pork, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, and cook until no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add ketchup, hoisin, soy sauce, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar.

Season with salt and pepper and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. In a medium bowl, combine shredded cabbage, mayonnaise and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Make sandwiches: Top the bottom half of each bun with sloppy joe mixture then sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Top with remaining bun halves. n If you’ve never made a Mississippi Roast, then I’m sorry to say you’re missing out on an awesome, tender roast full of flavor. This recipe takes those flavors and packs it all in a sloppy joe.

Mississippi Roast Sloppy Joes www.thechunkychef.com/mississippi-roastsloppy-joes/ drizzle of olive oil 1 pound ground beef 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 3 tablespoons sliced pepperoncini peppers 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons ketchup 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup beef broth 2 teaspoons cornstarch 6 slices provolone cheese 6 toasted brioche buns (or your favorite type) ranch sauce: 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon milk 1/4 teaspoon dried dill dash of paprika splash of pepperoncini juice from jar To a large skillet, add olive oil and heat over medium high heat. Add beef and cook, crumbling as it browns, for about 4-5 minutes. Drain beef and set aside on a plate. To same skillet, add onion and cook another 4-5 minutes, stirring just occasionally, so the onions are softened, but a little charred on the edges. Add the beef back to the pan, along with the minced garlic. Cook about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium. Season with salt and pepper, then add in sauce ingredients (mayonnaise, vinegar, milk, dill, paprika and pepper juice), and stir well to combine. Stir in peppers, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup. Top with butter and stir until melted. In a small bowl, whisk together beef broth and cornstarch. Pour into the skillet and cook, stirring often, until thickened, usually about 5 minutes or so. Serve on toasted buns with a slice of provolone cheese and a couple extra slices of pepperoncini peppers (optional).

The recipes for sloppy joes are endless, so if you’re ever in a sloppy joes rut then try one of these flavorenhanced recipes and fall back in love with sloppy joes again.

Kristin Kveno scours the internet, pours over old family recipes and searches everywhere in between to find interesting food ideas for feeding your crew. Do you have a recipe you want to share? You can reach Kristin at kkveno@thelandonline.com. v

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PAGE 7

Pow-Wow group sheds light on life’s storms After our warm getaway, we only receive enough for we were at the Tampa airthe next one. port with other Minnesota In snowstorms and sicktravelers who were also beds, layovers and layoffs, wondering where they were in challenging meetings going to lay their heads with bankers and bosses, down to sleep that night. teachers and troubled Though we had all thought teens, we want out. we were going to be home, Could someone please those plans were disinteTHE BACK PORCH shine a light on a no-fail grating with the weather.

By Lenae Bulthuis step-by-step plan that gets A blizzard hit the northus through this mess and to land. If the airline kept delaying or the other side where things are comcanceled our flight, we would end up fortable, pleasant and safe? sleeping in or near the airport. If the Sometimes we can pull to the side of plane did depart, we would need a motel in the Twin Cities because they the road and wait for the storm to pass. Most times we need to turn the were not recommending travel in our lights low, and do the slow and laborineck of the prairie. ous work of plowing through the storm After a couple of delays, we made it doing the next right thing, one decito Minneapolis by midnight. The next sion at a time. morning, despite the Minnesota While storms are no respecter of perDepartment of Transportation and our sons, for people of faith, we have the adult daughters advising us not to promise that we never go alone. Jan travel, we did just that. It wasn’t too Johnson writes, “It may look like the bad until the final leg of the trip. clouds are gathering for a storm, but I The combination of snow plus wind can rest because I have God’s companequaled low-to-zero visibility. We ionship and that is enough. Decisions slowed to a crawl, and at times made aren’t so harrowing—because I know complete stops. the light dawns slowly but will come What we needed most was a bright as needed.” light to pierce through the storm and A friend of mine occasionally sends take us home. But high-beam heademails saying it is time for a Powlights only created a dizzying effect Wow. We then take turns sharing a that made the situation even more Pow (one low point of our day) and a treacherous.

Wow — a high point of our day. It’s a It’s frustrating and ironic. At the conversation starter some call moment we are most desperate for “Thumbs Up-Thumbs Down,” “Roses light in the storms of fog, blizzards and Thorns,” or “High-Low.” and everyday life; conditions force us Whatever you call it, it opens the to dim the lights. Instead of obtaining door to meaningful conversations that an abundance of light for every step,

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celebrate what is good, and identify where storms are brewing.

Whether you’re in a season of Wow, Pow, or a unique blend of the two, the truth is we can trust God’s companionship. He is always with you and for you.

To believe it is to receive a double portion of strength. Trust strengthens your

heart with hope, and your spine with courage so that can stand firm no matter the scope or sequence of your storm.

Lenae Bulthuis’ blog can be found online at www.lenaebulthuis.com and she can be reached via email at lenaesbulthuis@gmail.com. v

Brazil’s soybean acres to boom GUEBERT, from pg. 4

man of China’s largest food company told Brazilian ag leaders his firm tomer, China, throughout 2018 and wanted to increase its Brazilian soy 2019 has added to that woe. imports by 25 percent over the next More troubling for U.S. farmers is five years. He added his company the unabated growth of their soy com- would underwrite soy expansion on petitors — especially South America’s some or most of Brazil’s undeveloped biggest soy boy, Brazil. Late last year, 25 million hectares.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service How many acres are in 25 million noted that for the first time ever, hectares?

You better sit down for this: “Brazil is forecast to overtake the a staggering 61.8 million.

United States as the leading soybean That number and the Chinese promproducer in the world during the ise should finally dispel another myth 2019-20 season.”

Part of the explanation is American; too long at the center of U.S. agricultural geography: Buy land because 2019’s terrible weather clipped U.S. they’re not making it anymore. soybeans harvest nearly 20 percent.

Well, “they” are making more of it; Another part, though, is Brazil’s and many of those makers — Brazil, strong and steady rise in plantings.

Ukraine, Russia, China among others Last July, the Brazilian Ministry of — are poised to substantially alter Agriculture forecast the nation’s soybean acreage would balloon 25 percent American farm and food geography in the next 20 years. in the coming decade. If accurate, the In fact, they already are; just ask a increase of 23.5 million acres would wheat grower. boost Brazilian soy acres to 112 million by 2029, or about 22 million acres If you can find one. more than the record U.S. soy plantThe Farm and Food File is published ings in 2017. weekly through the United States and A few days after that news hit global Canada. Past columns are posted at markets, Reuters reported the chairwww.farmandfoodfile.com. v

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

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Minnesota author returns with stories of farm’s history

By KRISTIN KVENO The Land Staff Writer Editor’s note: In June of 2018 The Land published a review of Barbara Kodet Mages’ memoir, “To Bechyn and Back.” The book is a reflection of Mages’ childhood during the Great Depression to her adult life. Mages is back with another offering, “Dandelion Salad.”

Because “Bechyn” received such generous feedback from readers of The Land, Kristin Kveno gives us a look at Mages’ latest work.

It’s been said that the best things in life aren’t things. For Barbara Kodet Mages, writing down memories of her life as a keepsake for her family became vital over the years. The stories will be there for generations to read, to grasp what life was like ‘back in the day,’ farming the land, caring for animals and raising a family in southwestern Minnesota. Mages not only wanted her family to have these stories, but decided to fill a book with memories for all to enjoy.

Mages’ life stories are filled with faith and family. Life wasn’t always easy on the farm but her faith in God was woven through all the stories, even the ones that were filled with hardship. In her writings she seemed to be full of unending hope and positivity through it all.

The latest book by Mages, “Dandelion Salad,” is a collection of short stories and starts where Mages’ first book “To Bechyn and Back” left off. Her first book recalls Mages’ early life up until her marriage to her husband, Alphonse.

Mages and Alphonse married in 1946

and began farming in Morton, Minn. Life wasn’t always easy on the farm. Mages recalls some tough winter storms, no indoor plumbing and a shared party line with 14 other neighbors.

The theme throughout the book is the dedication the Mages family had to the farm, their faith and to each other.

There was a sense of unity when dealing with the adversities that they faced.

Each of the short stories began with “Remember when.” The stories tell the tales of life raising 16 kids out on the farm. Mages and Alphonse first started farming in Morton, Minn. but knew that they wanted a large family and when they grew out of that farm they found the perfect fit on a farm in Sleepy Eye, Minn. and raised their 16 kids there.

The stories are wonderful tales of a different time and place. Plus, some of the stories are just darn entertaining, like the time in 1982 when Alphonse won $7,000 and a ceiling fan on the game show, The Price is Right. His winnings made the front page of the Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch. Ever the practical farmer, the $7,000 went for a new bailer and feed wagon for the farm.

If you’re from the Sleepy Eye and Morton areas, you’ll find lots of nostalgia about the people, places and an occasional animal or two from there.

care for when living on the farm in Morton. The lamb was bottle-fed from glass pop bottles and quickly became a family favorite. The lamb got away in a snowstorm and the hunt was one to find the little guy before he froze, thankfully he was discovered hiding from the howling wind and snow under a lilac bush. He was sold that next year but the wonderful memories of the lamb remain fresh for Mages even after all these years.

The St. Patrick’s Day blizzard on March 17, 1965 not only brought about snow, and lots of it, but it also brought a new Mages baby into the world. The race was on to get to the Redwood Falls hospital six miles away before the baby arrived and before the roads became impassible. Alphonse, Mages and their son Danny made it to the hospital but with the snow coming down hard, they had to drop off Mages off at the hospital and head back to the farm. Mages gave birth to son, Michael Patrick, the middle name is an ode to that memorable day. Mages recalls that in the snowstorm a woman in labor that lived just six blocks from the hospital had to be picked up by the snowplow from her home and brought to the hospital. It was quite a blizzard. Mages was snowed in at the hospital for days until Alphonse could pick her and baby Michael up.

technology was limited at best, and families worked side by side to harvest the crops, care for the animals and take care of the home.

Mages tells stories of the many family gatherings over the years including the annual summer picnic which has been going on for 50 years and counting. From family baseball games to the beloved annual sisters’ weekends.

Gathering together seems to have always been an integral component of the Mages family and remains so even today.

The back pages of the book are filled with photos of family and special occasions. It ties the people together with the stories and is a great addition to the book.

The title of the book is “Dandelion Salad,” a dish that the Mages family would make frequently. The dandelions were mixed with bacon, radishes, cucumbers and red onions with a dressing of hot bacon drippings and vinegar, all coming together in making the salad a hit. The use of dandelions found around the corn cribs and in the road ditches, made an excellent salad year after year. Taking what is available and making the best of it, was a theme found throughout the book.

If you yearn for stories of life on the farm, adventures with a large family and some interesting tales, then then grab a copy of “Dandelion Salad.”

“Dandelion Salad” is available in Sleepy Eye at the following shops: Schutz Each story that Mages shares evokes Family Foods, Randy’s Family Drug Mages writes about an orphaned v wistfulness of days gone by. Where and Nex-Tu-Nu II. lamb that was given to the family to

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.

March 2 — Nitrogen Smart Meeting — Willmar, Minn. — Program consists of a three hour training on how Nitrogen behaves in the environment and how this affects nitrogen fertilizer management, as well as environmental concerns. Contact Brad Carlson at bcarlson@umn.edu or (507) 389-6745.

March 4 — Farm Transition and Estate Planning Workshop — Olivia, Minn. — Topics include farm goal set-

ting, business structures, business succession, estate planning and retirement and family communication. — Contact Megan Roberts at meganr@umn.edu or (507) 389-6722.

March 5 — SFA Midwest Soil Health Summit — Elk River, Minn. — Stay on the leading edge of regenerative agriculture by attending this summit. — Contact Jason Walker at jason@sfa-mn.org.

March 7 — Gardening Education Day — St. Joseph, Minn. — Breakout session topics include landscaping, lawn care, vegetable and soil, pest control, container gardening. Vendors on hand to

offer a wide variety of services. — Contact U of M Extension at (320) 255-6169 ext. 1.

March 10 — Irrigation Clinic — Glenwood, Minn. — Topics include introducing regenerative ag to a conventional operation; soil health; irrigation and water quality research in central Minnesota; and variable rate irrigation technology. — Contact Holly Kovarik at (320) 634-5327.

March 11 — Farm Transition and Estate Planning Workshop — St. Cloud, Minn. — Contact Megan Roberts at meganr@umn.edu or (507) 389-6722.

March 12 — Dairy Farmers Night Out: Nutritionist Panel — Winthrop, Minn. — Insight on how to manage current and future feed inventory and answer questions about nutritionrelated challenges. — Contact Karen Johnson at ande9495@umn.edu or (320) 484-4303.

March 14 — Farmer to Farmer Fruit and Vegetable Growers — Dassel, Minn. — Connect with fellow fruit and vegetable growers to build relationships, share insights and new ideas, — Contact Natalie Hoidal at hoida016@ umn.edu.

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

PAGE 9

Cover crops and winter rye reduce erosion

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus MANKATO, Minn. — Red Wing, Minn. area farmer Brock Olson was a vendor at the MN Ag Expo which took place in Mankato Jan 22-23. His display told the story of his three-year participation in a Minnesota Corn Growers Association Innovation Grant Program — one of 12 projects around the state in 2019.

“I came up with a three-year rotation adding winter rye to the Brock Olson mix,” explained Olson. “After this winter rye harvest, I plant a multi-species cover crop consisting of oats, radish, winter peas and sorghum sudan. All four of these cover crops winter kill so I don’t need any spring tillage. They’re all decayed and I can no-till my corn and soybeans directly into this stubble. And most important, I have virtually zero erosion on those slopes compared with typical corn/ soybean fields in our area.”

The objective of this project is to reduce nitrate loss and soil erosion. Winter rye does this while also improving soil health. So maybe winter rye emerges as a third crop in the corn/soybean rotation.

Yes, there is plenty of rolling topography in the Red Wing area, so soil erosion is a continued threat — especially in view of the heavy rains during the past couple of seasons.

Olson uses a 12-row planter with trash wheels and no-till coulters and spike closing wheels. Following harvest of the corn field, he plants the rye cover crop to protect the land over the winter and next spring.

Then he’ll no-till plant soybeans into the green rye and terminate the rye after planting with a Roundup spray application.

Spike closing wheels intended to crumble the soil didn’t work so well in last spring’s wet soils. “It was nerve-wracking because there were never ideal planting conditions,” Olson admitted. “I planted regardless. It was too wet … and it stayed too wet.”

Olson has found the soybeans aren’t affected by the growing rye crop. “I’ve sprayed the day after planting and never saw any yield hit compared with no rye.

I’ve sprayed three weeks after planting without any yield hit from the rye. They seem to grow okay together for a while; and in the process certainly tend to eliminate soil erosion too.

“The goal of my project was to have zero erosion at any point during the year with any crop. So far I have witnessed zero erosion where I have applied this technique.”

And, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. Olson’s Expo display, comparing no-till corn and no-till soybeans vs. conventional tillage corn, showed $299 profit per acre with full tillage corn/ soybean vs. $281 per acre for notill winter rye with corn and soybeans. And a positive attribute of zero till is you leave less ruts in your field at harvest.

“There’s more soil structure, more root mass to support the heavy harvest equipment,” Olson added.

“Yes, slightly less profit per acre, but elimination of tillage costs — and most important — zero erosion with cover crops and this third crop of rye. I also learned the importance of getting that winter rye crop seeded earlier. My first year it was mid-November seed. Last fall I seeded earlier — mid-October into my soybean stubble — and I have a great winter stand of rye this year.”

His cover-crop seed source has been Albert Lea Seed House. And yes, this young agriculturist is interested in soil health; so he’s submitted soil samples the past two years for organic matter readings on his no-till ground vs. his tilled fields. Last year he also started doing the Haney Soil Health test — a measuring device of the carbon content of the soil.

The higher the number, the healthier the soil.

Olson’s data showed organic matter in the first year was 1.5 percent and the Haney Health Test reading was 4.1. Recent tests show 3.5 percent organic matter with a Haney reading of 7.4.

“Hopefully I’ll learn more in the future,” said Olson.

“Though only a three-year trial run, I’ve seen positive results in reduced soil erosion. It’s not without its challenges. I’ve never raised a small grain until this year. It’s different than growing corn and soybeans. I have struggles with the timing of the herbicide application because it’s something I’m not yet used too.”

Olson is 35 years old and admits there is lots of learning yet to happen. He farms about 400 acres.

This Innovative Grant project using a three-crop rotation system with cover crops was on a 40-acre field.

He’s doing the same test on another 40-acre field this year.

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association shares some of the cost of these innovative grants with participating farmers. Olson said MCGA covered his cover crop seed costs and the soil testing costs. Olson is counting on his ‘testing’ concept to soon be working on his entire 400 acres of crop production!

www.TheLandOnline.com

A University of Minnesota graduate in mechancial engineering, Olson worked 10 years with 3M; but he professes, “I grew up on a family farm and just wanted to be out working with my hands in the profession of crop production and soil health.”

Variable rate planting of corn (maybe soybeans too) are next on his hopper list. His combine can generate maps of each field as he plants, so assessing soil scores and plant populations may be a 2020 project also. He’s aware of companies offering grid soil testing for adjusting fertilizer rates; as well as corn populations field-by-field — even on the go.

“The more I farm, the more I understand that our land is very variable in production and soil structure,” said Olson. “This to me means I should be farming according to these variations. But even with my engineering background, I need some time and money to get into these strategies. Maybe 2020 is my push year.”

“I try to make improvements, but you can only make so many changes in one season it seems to me.

Farm size will continue to grow and consolidate … these trends seem inevitable. My hope is that the family farm can still stick around and compete because I think growing up on a family farm raises you with certain aspects you can’t get anywhere else.

There’s a dedication to the soil that just grows within you. To me, it’s part of the bonding process that makes farming a very unique profession.”

Olson’s only child, Isaac, is 3 years old; but a second Olson is on the way. Yes, he thinks agriculture will need to help young people who are getting into farming. “I hope to mentor my son and get him as excited about this thing called farming as I am,” he said.

“We’ll simply hope and pray that ag leaders and policymakers keep American agriculture stable and profitable forever and ever.” v

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PAGE 10

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Milk output in U.S. is up, but growth rate is low This column was written for the marketing week ending Feb. 21.

January U.S. milk output hit 18.8 billion pounds, according to preliminary data in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first Milk Production report of 2020. That’s up 0.9 percent from January 2019. Output in the top 24 states totaled 17.9 billion, up 1.2 percent. Revisions added 88 million pounds to the original 50-state December total, now put at 18.37 billion pounds, up 1.2 percent from December 2018.

The report pegged 2019 milk output at 218 billion pounds, up 0.4 percent from 2018, the slowest growth rate since 2009. Cow numbers totaled 9.34 million head, down 0.7 percent from 2018 and up 2.3 percent from 2010.

The 2019 output per cow averaged 23,391 pounds, up 241 pounds. The

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

PAGE 11

U.S. fluid milk sales falter; down 9.4 percent from 2018 MIELKE, from pg. 10 in the milking string. Dairy cow culling was up in January, according to the USDA’s latest Livestock Slaughter report. An estimated 298,500 head were sent to slaughter under federal inspection, up 33,100 head or 12.5 percent from December and just 100 head above January 2019. n Butterfat and powder values again pulled the Global Dairy Trade auction lower, though not as much as expected. The weighted average of products offered fell 2.9 percent, following the 4.7 percent plunge on Feb. 4, as traders remained concerned over the ramifications of the coronavirus outbreak.

Anhydrous milkfat led the decline, down 5.5 percent, following a 4.5 percent drop Feb. 4. Butter was down 3.9 percent after inching up 0.2 percent. Skim milk powder and whole milk powder were both down 2.6 percent, following losses of 4.2 percent and 6.2 percent respectively. GDT cheddar cheese was up 5.3 percent after it saw a 6 percent boost last time.

FC Stone equated the GDT 80 percent butterfat butter price to $1.8841 per pound U.S., down 7.4 cents from the last event. Chicago Mercantile Exchange butter closed Feb. 21 at a bargain $1.7550. GDT cheddar cheese equated to $2.0527 per pound, up 10.1 cents, and compares to Feb. 21’s CME block cheddar at a bargain $1.7675. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.2882 per pound and compares to $1.3186 last time. Whole milk powder averaged $1.3455, down from $1.3786. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Feb. 21 at $1.17 per pound. n Cash cheese, in the shortened President’s Day holiday week, saw the cheddar blocks finish Feb. 21 at $1.7675 per pound. This is down 5.25 cents on the week, lowest since Dec. 17, but 17.25 cents above a year ago. The barrels saw a Feb. 21 close at $1.59, up a half-cent, 18.5 cents above a year ago, and 17.75 cents below the blocks. Ten cars of block traded hands on the week and five barrels.

Cash butter fell to $1.7550 per pound on Feb. 20 and stayed there — down 4.5 cents on the week, a low not seen since October 2016, and 50.5 cents below a year ago. Thirty-four carloads exchanged hands on the week.

Cream supplies remain plentiful in the Central region and throughout the country, according to Dairy Market News. Churns are running at or near capacity and some plant managers expect to be full for at least the next two weeks. Butter sales are steady, but looking to pick up soon as seasonal spring upticks are on the horizon.

In perhaps a knee jerk reaction to China’s Feb. 17 announcement, Grade A nonfat dry milk jumped 3 cents the next day, to $1.20, but closed Feb. 21 at $1.17. This is unchanged on the week, but 17.25 cents above a year ago, with 28 cars sold.

FC Stone points out in its Feb. 20 Early Morning Update, since December 2017, the price of nonfat dry milk has doubled in the United States. In December 2017, it hit a low of 64.75 cents per pound. Late last month it hit $1.2975.

“Does that mean we’re done going up?” asks FC Stone. “No, not necessarily. We’ve got a long year ahead of us. We’re not sure what demand will look like if the coronavirus news cycle dies down. We’re not sure what weather will bring this summer or how poorer quality feed will impact U.S. milk production.”

“What we can tell you is that we’ve pushed more milk into Class IV production in the past year, and that looks to be continuing, and that has helped NFDM prices move higher. It’s also helped put serious pressure on the price of butter. It’s also, we think, contributed to the price of U.S. cheese trading about 20 cents higher per pound than this time last year and we think that will continue for now.”

CME dry whey held all week at 37 cents per pound, 2.25 cents above a year ago, with no sales reported on the week. n U.S. fluid milk sales continue to falter. The USDA’s delayed data shows 3.7 billion pounds of packaged fluid sales in November, down a whopping 9.4 percent from November 2018. Conventional product

sales totaled 3.5 billion pounds, down 10 percent from a year ago. Organic products, at 220 million pounds, were up 1 percent, but represented just 5.9 percent of total sales for the month.

Whole milk totaled 1.2 billion pounds, down 8.3 percent from a year ago and made up 32 percent of total fluid sales in the month. Sales for the 11 month period totaled 13.7 billion pounds, up 0.1 percent from a year ago. Skim milk sales, at 258 million pounds, were down 16.4 percent and made up 6.9 percent of total milk sales for the month.

Total packaged fluid milk sales, January through November, totaled 41.95 billion pounds, down 2.5 percent from a year ago. Conventional products year-to-date totaled 39.6 billion pounds, down 2.5 percent. Organic products, at 2.3 billion pounds, were down 2 percent and represented 5.5 percent of total fluid milk sales for the period.

Speaking of falling fluid sales, the March Federal order Class I base milk price was announced at $17.46 per hundredweight, down 9 cents from February but $1.48 above March 2019 and the highest March Class I price in six years. It equates to about $1.50 per gallon, up from $1.37 a year ago.

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

PAGE 12

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

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Canine trackers provide vital search and rescue aid

By RICHARD SIEMERS The Land Correspondent SILVER LAKE, Minn. — In 2014, Sandie AdamsBruins took part in a search for a young man who had disappeared and foul play was suspected. Their foot searches covered a large area and took three months. Eventually, while searching around a suspect’s property 30 miles away, they finally came across the remains. All the time she was out searching, her pet bloodhound, Bleu, sat at home.

“After that search I said, You know, let’s train him for what the good Lord made him to do.”

While they did find the victim’s remains, it would have been quicker with a dog. She said the searchers may have been able to figure out earlier that the victim had been put in a car and moved from the scene of

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the crime, where they had spent much time looking.

That experience sent her off on a new adventure. She and her husband, Bob, got hooked up with Steve Wald of Austin, Minn. who operates Common Scents — training and consulting with search and rescue dog teams.

“He showed us how to get things started, and we went home and went to work on it,” Adams-Bruins said.

“Then I found the American Mantrailing, Police and Work Dog Association (AMPWDA) and decided to go there to continue the training and get certified with Bleu.” (A second Photos by Richard Siemers bloodhound, Bootlegger Jack, is being The Minnesota Canine Search Rescue and Tracking team lined up the trained for when Bleu retires.) dogs in front of their transport – an ambulance donated by the Kasota That eventually led to Adams-Bruins Fire Department. Pictured are (left to rght): Cameron Abbey with his co-founding Minnesota Canine Search black German shepherd, Bear; Sandi Adams-Bruins and Bob Bruins Rescue and Tracking (MCSRT) team. and their bloodhound, Bleu; Katie Hallman with her German shepherd, It is one of a number of such teams Esuda; and Paul Matheson with his Portugese water dogs Bridger and around Minnesota available to assist MacKenzie. law enforcement and other agencies.

Matheson demonstrated human remains detection.

MCSRT is based out of Silver Lake, Minn., but travHe hid the scent of remains among some cast-off palels wherever they are needed. There are five handler/ dog teams in MCSRT right now. They’ve participated lets and rocks. We followed MacKenzie on the search. in about 35 searches in the four years of their exis- The dog trotted about, checking out various spots while he encouraged her to keep looking. When she caught tence. the scent her head went alert and her tail curled up.

“There are many times we have searched when we The handler has to be able to read his or her dog, know that we are looking for human remains,” which includes its body language. If a dog seems to Adams-Bruins said. “But there are many searches for have lost the scent, the handler needs to figure out live victims where really what we are doing is providthe situation. ing information, like a direction of travel.”

“That’s where you, as a handler, are helping the Their searches for a missing person do not always dog, so it’s a team effort,” Matheson said. “But you have a happy ending. “That can be hard,” AdamsBruins said, “but rewarding at the same time, have to be able to read your dog so you can trust them. The dogs can smell a thousand times better because we are giving someone closure.” than humans and I believe dogs can reason; but I One of their team is Paul Matheson, 74, of Eden think humans can problem solve with reasoning betPrairie, Minn. who has been at it for 10 years. While ter than dogs. The dog knows what to do; it’s the most of the team has day jobs, Matheson devotes handler you have to train.” much time to his new vocation.

In addition to understanding the science of scent “I wanted something to do with my dogs when I (e.g. it may be wafting over a low spot and the handler retired and I started exploring,” he said. “I wanted to must know how to help the dog pick it up again), hanget into something where I could be of service to dlers are also trained in first aid, crime scene preserpeople and also work with my dogs.” vation, and hazardous waste, among others skills.

Matheson has Portuguese Water Dogs. He started Adams-Bruins said the certification with AMPWDA with a live-trailing dog which he lost two years ago. does not come easily.

He now works with two dogs, MacKenzie and Bridger, “We do a certification trail which is double-line, which are also trained for Human Remains Detection which means nobody knows where the person is,” she and as therapy dogs. He is a trainer with AMPWDA, said.

“We have a starting spot. You don’t know which and is the Minnesota Director for CUE (Community United Effort) Center for Missing Persons out of direction they went. The hider carries a GPS, and the Wilmington, N.C. which works on a lot of cold case K9 handler carries a GPS. After the ‘find’ is made, searches, and continues to advocate for families the handler’s GPS track is overlayed over the hider’s when “law enforcement has to back off on the energy GPS track. They must be on track 80 percent of the trail and the trail must be completed within a time they can put into a search,” he said. limit to certify.”

On the day of the interview, the team was training Tracking for the dogs is somewhat like a game of at a gravel pit. Volunteers hid themselves in a large hide and seek with the nose. tract of land with rocks and trees and brush, and the See SEARCH AND RESCUE, pg. 13 team members tracked them down.

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

PAGE 13

Agriculture activist urges farmers to utilize social media

By KRISTIN KVENO The Land Staff Writer MANKATO, Minn. — Michelle Miller, also known as the Farm Babe, has amassed over 125,000 social media followers. Miller calls herself “a big city globetrotter turned Iowa farm girl.” She currently farms 2,200 acres of row crops and raises sheep and cattle with her boyfriend in Iowa.

Miller’s work online and in print, along with presentations she gives all over the country and internationally, is aimed at debunking myths in agriculture and spreading the truth. She was the keynote speaker at the MN Ag Expo on Jan. 22 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minn. Her talk included excerpts of a presentation that Kevin Fulta, chairman of the horticultural science department at the University of Florida, has given in the past.

“Public is exposed to a lot of food labels,” Miller said. There’s a portion of the population that wants to know more, there’s another group of people that are distractors — or as Miller calls them, “extreme activists.” Those people make up very little of the population, but their voices are loud to gain maximum attention. “Ninety percent of the people are in the movable middle.” Miller focuses her debunking of ag myths to that 90 percent.

The public has interest in where and how their food is grown and seems to appreciate the work being done by famers. “They like and trust farmers but don’t always like and trust farms.” Miller feels that while facts are facts, that doesn’t always make a difference.

“Facts don’t matter until you establish trust.”

“To earn trust we have to overcome the barriers,” Miller said. She encourages producers to show how they care. Finding commonality is vital in generating meaningful dialogue. “Really create common context.

We all care about earth.” The public needs to understand more about what farmers do.

Miller spoke about the opportunity she had a few years ago being the keynote speaker at the March for Science in Des Moines, Iowa. “I led with why. I wanted to educate people about GMOs. I started with real world problems (in farming.)” At the end people cheered “because I led with why.”

Miller suggests farmers can volunteer at school to talk about agriculture, create content online, or amplify the information that’s out there. “We have one of the most powerful tools at your fingertips (social media.)”

Miller also believes the media wants to hear from farmers. She suggests talking to those who are involved in food creation. “Chefs are a great market of people to talk to,” she said. They can be misinformed because they may not have a direct connection to a farmer. Being available to share information on farming can educate the chefs on how the food was grown and raised.

You can debunk some of these myths out there.

“Being that voice of reason and myth busting. It’s so important for us to speak up so science has the loud-

est voice. It’s important that we’re a bigger part of the conversation,” Miller said. This is especially true when talking about the fear-induced GMO debate.

Don’t underestimate the power of your farm story.

“People have never been more interested in where their food comes from,” Miller said. Tasks on the farm that farmers do every day, but take for granted, is exciting to the general public. She used the example of letting the bull out to pasture. There’s a great disconnect between the public and where their food is grown.

Showing what farmers do and why on the various social media platforms helps bridge that disconnect.

When on social media, Miller suggests finding commonality when dealing with those who don’t agree with you. Also, keep it positive — don’t go negative.

“Remember to have that empathy. Remember to take that high road.”

Miller believes farmers need to have a voice. “We

need to all be a part of this message.”

She encourages producers to go beyond your group and find people who may not know much about farming and communicate your agricultural message.

“Reach out to new groups, share your story,” she said.

“Listen to understand shared values. Have the courage to tell the truth. Always remember that the distractor is a very small percentage.”

“I strongly encourage all of you to get on social media,” Miller said. She advises to use humor and suggests not to overthink your social media post.

Getting your agricultural message out isn’t hard, but it takes the willingness to put the information out there and have a meaningful dialogue on the significant role agriculture plays in our society.

Miller has used social media to debunk farming myths and wants other farmers to join her online to grow agriculture’s voice in social media. v

Fundraiser will take place in March SEARCH AND RESCUE, from pg. 12 “Our K9 partners were born to do what they do,” Adams-Bruins said. “They love the challenge and enjoy ‘the game.’ As an added benefit, we throw a treat or their favorite toy in at the end of a search to help keep them motivated and keep the urgency to get to the end.”

While searching may be like a game for the dog, it is a very focused game. Trailing dogs work off of the specific scent of an individual. An area search dog looks for a human scent. Human remains dogs have been imprinted with that scent.

“We train over animal trails to discourage the dog (from losing focus),” Adams-Bruins said. Matheson told of a time that he and Adams-Bruins had spotted a fawn they had walked within a few feet of, but the dogs had ignored it. Dogs are trained to seek a specific scent and ignore all else.

Searches which do not locate the object of the search are still helpful. They can eliminate a lot of the search area, and a lot of search time.

“We’ve been brought to certain areas where there was a suspicion of a body buried and our K9s did not indicate on any human remains, so not only are we finding people, both alive and deceased, but we are also gathering clues and information.”

Adams-Bruins said the shortest search she was on was for a missing child. When the scent stopped at the end of the driveway, they knew the child had not wandered off but had been picked up and put into a car. That was not the hoped-for outcome, but it hastened the search.

Sometimes their searches take them onto farmland, but landowners are typically contacted first.

“We are a tool for law enforcement and fire departments to use,” Adams-Bruins said. “They take care of logistics like talking to landowners and the press and the like.”

MCSRT will hold their fifth annual fundraiser in March. The money helps cover their expenses on a search. The Kasota Fire Department donated an ambulance which they use for hauling dogs, for which they have insurance and maintenance expenses, as well as travel, lodging, training and re-certifying costs. They depend on donations because they do not charge for their services.

Like most search and rescue teams, they are volunteers who like working with their dogs and want to help people. Most of the team members have day jobs, and Adams-Bruins said their employers have been very generous in understanding that at any given moment, the phone could ring and they would need to go.

“Rarely do we get to take an actual vacation,” she said, “because of missed time at work. None of us are paid for our time away from work.”

That is why she founded MCSRT, so they could accept tax exempt donations to help with expenses.

“We’re a non-profit,” Adams-Bruins said. “We operate on donations and out of our own pocket. We always like to make sure people know that we’ll never charge for a search, ever.”

The website for MCSRT is www.minnesotacaninesearchrescueandtracking.com. v

PAGE 14

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Consider this when making crop insurance decisions During the next few ance coverage levels from 50 weeks, many farm operato 85 percent, and losses are tors will be finalizing their paid if actual corn or soycrop insurance decisions for bean yields on a farm unit the 2020 crop year. March fall below the yield guaran15 is the deadline to purtees. chase crop insurance for the Revenue protection (RP) 2020 crop year. Profit marand revenue protection with gins for crop production harvest price exclusion this year remain very tight, FARM PROGRAMS (RPE) insurance policy which makes the 2020 crop options provide a guaranBy Kent Thiesse insurance decisions even teed minimum dollars more critical. of gross revenue per Producers have sevacre (yield multiplied eral crop insurance by price). This minipolicy options to choose from, includmum guarantee is based on yield hising yield protection policies and revetory (APH) and the average CBOT nue protection (RP and RPE) policies, prices for December corn futures and supplemental crop option, and other November soybean futures during the insurance policy options. There are month of February. The RP and RPE also decisions with using “enterprise insurance policies function essentially units” vs. “optional units”, as well as in the same manner, except that the decisions on the use of “trend adjustguarantees on RPE policies are fixed ed” actual production history yields. at the base price level and are not affected by harvest prices that exceed Yield protection insurance policy the base price. The revenue guarantee options provide for “yield only” insurance protection, based on historic actu- for RP policies is increased for final al production history yields on a given insurance calculations, if average CBOT prices during the month of farm unit. Yield protection prices are October are higher than the February based on average Chicago Board of Trade prices for December corn futures CBOT prices. and November soybean futures during Producers purchase RP and RPE the month of February — similar to insurance coverage levels from 50 to revenue insurance products. Producers 85 percent, and losses are paid if the can purchase yield protection insurfinal crop revenue falls below the reve-

MARKETING

nue guarantee. The final crop revenue is the actual yield on a farm unit times the CBOT December corn futures price and November soybean futures price during the month of October. As of Feb. 17, the 2020 estimated crop insurance base prices in the upper Midwest for YP, RP, and RPE policies were estimated at $3.92 per bushel for corn and $9.20 per bushel for soybeans. The current 2020 base price estimates compare to 2019 base prices of $4.00 per bushel for

corn and $9.54 per bushel for soybeans. The 2020 crop insurance base prices will be finalized on March 1, while 2020 harvest prices are finalized on Nov. 1.

Most corn and soybean producers have utilized RP policies in recent years. However, in many years, the RPE policies can offer similar protection at a lower premium cost. If the “harvest price” (average CBOT price See THIESSE, pg. 16

Table A — Comparison of Yield Protection and Revenue Protection for Corn

Assumptions:

Actual production history: 190 bushels per acre 85 percent yield protection bushel guarantee: 161.5 bushels per acre Yield protection market price: $3.90/bushel (Chicago Board of Trade December futures estimate) Revenue protection/ revenue protection with harvest price exclusion base price: $3.90/ bushel (Chicago Board of Trade December futures estimate) 85 percent revenue protection minimum guarantee: $629.85 per acre

Estimated Actual 2020 Production (bushels per acre) 205 190 175 160 145

Estimated Insurance Indemnity Payment Per Acre

Insurance Type (Before Premium Deductions) Yield Protection (85 percent) 0 0 0 $5.85 $64.35 Revenue Protection (85 percent)

(Chicago Board of Trade

Harvest Price per Bushel)

$4.50 $4.25

0 0 0 0

0 $6.75 $74.25 0 $6.38 $70.13

$4.00 $3.75 $3.50 $3.25

0 0 0 $6.00 $66.00 0 0 0 $29.85 $86.10 0 0 $17.35 $69.85 $122.35 0 $12.35 $61.10 $109.85 $158.60

NOTE: Table developed by Kent Thiesse. The tables are for example only. Actual crop insurance calculations will vary,

depending on the insured crop, farm location, actual production history yield, endorsements, etc.

Table B — Comparing Yield Protection and Revenue Protection for Soybeans

Assumptions:

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Actual production history: 55 bushels per acre 85 percent yield protection bushel guarantee: 46.75 bushels per acre Yield protection market price: $9.20/bushel (Chicago Board of Trade November futures estimate) Revenue protection/ revenue protection with harvest price exclusion base price: $9.20/ bushel (Chicago Board of Trade November futures estimate) 85 percent revenue protection minimum guarantee: $430.10 per acre

Estimated Actual 2020 Production (bushels per acre)

55 50 45 40 35 Estimated Insurance Indemnity Payment Per Acre

Insurance Type (Before Premium Deductions) Yield Protection (85 percent) 0 0 $16.10 $62.10 $108.10 Revenue Protection (85 percent)

(Chicago Board of Trade

Harvest Price per Bushel)

$10.50 0 0 $18.38 $70.88 $123.38

$10.00 0 0 $17.50 $67.50 $117.50

$9.50 0 0 $16.63 $64.13 $111.63

$9.00 0 0 $25.10 $70.10 $115.10

$8.50 0 $6.10 $47.60 $90.10 $132.60

$8.00 0 $30.10 $70.10 $110.10 $150.10 NOTE: Table developed by Kent Thiesse. The tables are for example only. Actual crop insurance calculations will vary,

depending on the insured crop, farm location, actual production history yield, endorsements, etc.

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Compare apples to apples when selecting coverage THIESSE, from pg. 14 in October) for December corn futures or November soybean futures is lower than the “base price” (average CBOT price in February), the RP and RPE payment calculations function similarly. RPE policies will likely result at higher net indemnity payment at similar insurance coverage levels. However, it is important to recognize the added risk of utilizing a RPE policy when the final “harvest price” exceeds the “base price” in years when farm units have a yield loss that exceeds the insurance coverage level — such as occurred with the 2012 drought in many areas. This scenario could result in significantly less insurance indemnity payments with RPE policies as compared to RP policies, and could add considerably more risk to a farming operation.

A historical analysis for the past 13 years (20072018) shows that the final crop insurance harvest price for corn has been lower than the spring base price in 10 of the 13 years — including the past seven years (2013-2019). The only years which saw an increase in the harvest price were 2010, 2011 and 2012. The range has been from an increase in the harvest price of plus $1.82 per bushel in 2012 to a decline of $1.27 per bushel in 2008; and a decline of $1.26 per bushel in 2013.

For soybeans, the harvest price has increased in five years (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016), decreased in seven years (2008, 2011, and 20142019) and stayed the same in 2013. The range has been from an increase of $2.84 per bushel in 2012 to a decline of $3.00 per bushel in 2008.

Many producers in the upper Midwest have been able to significantly enhance their insurance protection in recent years by utilizing the trend-adjusted yield endorsement, with only slightly higher premium costs. The APH yield exclusion option allows specific years with low production to be dropped from crop insurance APH yield guarantee calculations. Several counties in central and northern Minnesota are eligible for yield exclusion for corn and soybeans in some of the past several years. For information on which counties, crops and years are eligible for yield exclusion, go the Risk Management Agency web site (www.rma.usda.gov/).

Enterprise Units and Optional Units Enterprise units combine all acres of a crop in a

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given county into one crop insurance unit, while optional units allow producers to insure crops separately in each individual township section.

Enterprise units usually have considerably lower premium costs (approximately $4.00-$7.00 per acre) compared to optional units, for comparable RP and RPE policies. Producers should be aware that enterprise units are based on larger coverage areas, and do not necessarily cover losses from isolated storms or crop damage that affect individual farm units — such as damage from hail, wind or heavy rains. So additional insurance (such as hail or wind insurance) may be required to insure against these types of losses. It is also important for producers to run “what if” scenarios when analyzing the comparison between enterprise units and optional units.

Many times, producers automatically opt for enterprise units every year, due to the lower premium cost per acre for similar coverage, and probably not totally understanding the differences in coverage between enterprise units and optional units. It is important to analyze the yield risk on each individual farm unit when determining if paying the extra premium for insurance coverage with optional units makes sense. If a producer has uniform soil types and drainage, in a close geographical area, and is primarily concerned with a price decline, a RP policy with enterprise units is probably a good option. However, if a producer has farm units that are more spread out geographically, with more variation in soil types and drainage, and has greater concerns with yield variability, they may want to consider a RP policy with optional units.

Supplemental Coverage Option insurance considerations for 2020 Many corn and soybean producers also have to decide on Supplemental Crop Option insurance coverage for 2020 by the March 15 sign-up deadline.

The SCO coverage is only available to producers who choose the Price Loss Coverage farm program option for the 2019 and 2020 crop year.

SCO allows producers who choose the PLC farm program option to purchase additional county-level crop insurance coverage up to a maximum of 86 percent coverage. The SCO coverage fills the gap up to the 86 percent coverage level from the coverage level chosen by the producer (75, 80, 85 percent, etc.) for yield protection or revenue protection insurance. For example, a producer who purchases an 80 percent revenue protection policy could purchase an additional 6 percent SCO coverage. There is not much incentive for producers already at the 85 percent coverage level to add SCO coverage. The federal government subsidizes 65 percent of the premium for SCO coverage, so farm-level premiums are quite reasonable.

SCO is a county revenue-based insurance product which is somewhat similar to some of the area risk protection crop insurance products available. The calculations for SCO function very similarly to revenue protection insurance policies, since they utilize

the same crop insurance base price and harvest price. The biggest difference is that SCO uses county-level average yields, rather than the farm-level actual production history yields. It is possible for a producer to collect on an individual revenue protection policy, but not on a SCO policy, or vice versa.

Interested producers should check with their crop insurance agent for details on SCO insurance coverage and premiums for 2020.

Key items to consider There are a wide variety of crop insurance policies and coverage levels available. Make sure you are comparing “apples-to-apples” when comparing crop insurance premium costs for various options or types of crop insurance policies; as well as recognizing the limitations and the differences of the various crop insurance products. 2020 crop insurance premiums for most coverage levels of corn and soybeans in the Midwest should be similar to comparable 2019 premium levels.

View crop insurance decisions from a risk management perspective. Given the tight profit margins for crop production in 2020, some producers may have a tendency to reduce their crop insurance coverage in order to save a few dollars per acre. However, a producer must first decide how much financial risk they can handle if there are greatly reduced crop yields due to potential weather problems in 2020, and/or lower than expected crop prices. Revenue protection crop insurance policies serve as an excellent risk management tool for these situations, and 2020 may not be a good year to reduce insurance coverage, given the current uncertainty surrounding crop prices.

Take a good look at the 85 percent coverage levels — especially when using enterprise units with Revenue Protection insurance policies. Many Midwest corn and soybean producers have been utilizing a minimum of 80 percent revenue protection coverage with enterprise units in recent years. 2020 may be the time to consider upgrading to the 85 percent coverage level — especially for soybeans. In many cases, the 85 percent coverage level offers considerably more protection, with a modest increase in premium costs. Many producers will be able to guarantee near $550 to $700 per acre for corn; and near $350 to $475 per acre for soybeans at the 85 percent coverage level for 2020 — particularly when utilizing trend-adjusted actual production history yields.

Use caution when considering RPE (harvest price exclusion) insurance policies. If the harvest price (average CBOT price in October) for corn or soybeans is lower than the base price (average CBOT price in February), the RP and RPE payment calculations function similarly; and RPE premium costs are slightly less than RP premiums at similar coverage levels. Remember, there is considerable added risk in utilizing a RPE policy when the final harvest See THIESSE, pg. 17

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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Take a good look at the 85 percent coverage levels THIESSE, from pg. 16

insurance average production history yield guarantee calculations. price exceeds the base price, and your A reputable crop insurance agent is farm unit(s) have a yield loss that the best resource to find out more exceeds the insurance coverage level. details of the various crop insurance In most instances, utilize the trend coverage plans, premium quotes, and adjusted average production history to receive assistance with 2020 crop endorsement for 2020. Many producinsurance decisions. ers in the upper Midwest have been The following are some very good able to significantly enhance their web sites with crop insurance informainsurance protection in recent years tion: USDA Risk Management Agency by utilizing the trend adjusted aver(RMA): http://www.rma.usda.gov/; and age production history option with the University of Illinois FarmDoc: only slightly higher premium costs.

Using the trend adjusted average pro- http://www.farmdoc.illinois.edu/ duction history endorsement is a very cropins/index.asp. good crop insurance strategy for most Kent Thiesse is a government farm eligible corn, soybean and wheat proprograms analyst and a vice president ducers. Also consider utilizing the at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, yield exclusion option where available. Minn. He may be reached at (507) 726This allows specific years with low 2137 or kent.thiesse@minnstarbank. production to be dropped from crop com. v

Future of Farming in Minnesota report released ST. PAUL — New and potential farmers in Minnesota face multiple barriers that make it more difficult for the next generation to enter or stay in agriculture, more than 200 people told the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in six listening sessions around the state and via the Internet in 2019.

The results of those meetings have been collected in the Emerging Farmers in Minnesota report to the Legislature, which is now available on MDA’s website (www.mda.state.mn.us).

The report lays out recommendations on reducing or eliminating those barriers and suggests creation of an Emerging Farmers Task Force to provide expert guidance on how to achieve those goals.

“When we support emerging farmers, we strengthen the agricultural industry as a whole, which also helps established farmers in their work,” said Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. “I am excited by the conversations that we had during these listening sessions, and I look forward to the work we have ahead of us to support emerging farmers across the state now and into the

future,” she said.

“People who identify as emerging farmers feel unseen in the current system,” Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey said. “We have tried to identify in this report ways to make our agricultural economy more inclusive to all who want to share in it. This report is an important step in identifying the biggest barriers to entry that prevent many Minnesotans from owning and operating their own farms.”

The category of emerging farmers includes people who identify as women, veterans, people with disabilities, members of communities of color or Indigenous peoples. It may also include people with zero to 10 years of experience, members of the LGBTQ community and others.

Besides recommending legislative establishment of a task force, the report also recommends providing incentives to farm service providers and the MDA to translate their training materials and creating additional grant resources to support emerging farmers.

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

PAGE 17

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Variable nitrogen rates reduce costs and leaching

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus MANKATO, Minn. —Northfield area farmer Sam Peterson worked as an applicator for his local farm co-op right out of school. He was driving the crop sprayer applying the nitrogen to area farm fields. And that got him interested in split rate applications and how that could benefit their farm.

At that time, Peterson was already a member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. That’s why he was knowledgeable about the MCGA’s Innovation Grant Program. Now in its fourth year, the program is funded through the corn check-off and assists farmers with conservation-minded research projects.

Peterson understood variable rate applications of nitrogen increases nitrogen efficiency, crop yields, net profit and decreasing nitrogen loss.

But he didn’t yet know what split rate applications would work on Peterson Farms. So he applied to be a participant in the Innovation Grant Program — one of 12 projects across the state.

At the recent MN Ag Expo, which took place in Mankato, Minn. Jan. 22-23, Peterson displayed charts and data showing three years of comparison studies.

“I was motivated to find out if variable rate nitrogen applications would generate positive returns on our farm, our soils,” said Peterson. He’s aware of the negative press farmers sometimes get for nitrogen contamination in stream and rivers. “So if VRN (variable nitrogen rate) shows us how we can ratchet down our N apps, decrease nitrogen runoff and boost yields in the process, that’s a win/win situation.”

Peterson is an ag economics graduate of the University of Minnesota. “My project compares three different variable rates of nitrogen compared to a flat-rate check. We’re comparing the economic return of each of these programs to see if they really are paying off.”

And what has he found out? “So far I’ve found each program generates different results. We had the same winner the first two years, but a new winner last year. It showed that all were kind

of neck and neck. They each have a different way of producing results … and so far, there isn’t a single best way to do nitrogen apps on our farm fields.”

Nitrogen rates were 100 pounds flat rate anhydrous before corn planting; then side dress apps of urea in mid to late June in the 80 to 100-pound rate.

This was corn on corn so thus the higher N rates. “Usually our farm does two years corn, one year soybeans; but these trials were always on secondyear corn.”

So are farmers guilty of over fertilizing their corn crops? Peterson would say ‘yes’ in past years. “But recently, we’ve been driving down our pounds of nitrogen per bushel — maybe to the extent that we have under applied and limited our yields the last few years. We’re trying to find a happy medium and we think this split rate applications is showing us how,” he said.

Differences in soil type obviously can impact results and that too is part of Peterson’s analyses. “So we’re taking soil cores and testing for nitrates in the soil; also tissue samples to see how much nitrogen is actually in the plant.

At this stage I can’t say which is the right procedure. It depends on your farming practices such as manure applications and how much pre-plant N you apply.”

The Peterson farm land has a history of hog manure applications; plus they buy quite a lot of dairy cow manure and turkey litter also.

He said their current cost per bushel for corn production is around $3.65.

They averaged 140 bushel on that June 2 planting last season. The rest of the corn planted earlier averaged around 200 bushels per acre for 2019. “An average yield for us is around 210 bushels,” Peterson said. “Last year was not the best corn growing season.”

Peterson Farms plant 30-inch rows with 34,000-35,000 plants per acre. All acres are variable rate planted, so both corn populations and nitrogen apps are adjusted on the go. “Anymore, our combine monitor pretty much tells us how to farm,” summed up Peterson.

For more information, contact Peterson at (507) 649-1582 or via email at sam.peterson140@gmail.com. v

Grant program fosters innovation Dr. Adam Birr, Executive Director, Minnesota Corn Growers Association “The Innovation Grant Program has been one of the highlights of MCGA programs. Started just four years ago, this past year we had 12 different projects. Demonstrating conservation by working with our farmer members has become a marquee program for us.

Yes, this is part of the research portfolio of MCGA. Research projects with the University of Minnesota is the keystone to the nearly $2.5 million dollars we pledge into research each year.

Biopolymer research projects today rank at the top of our ambition listing. We’ve been talking about renewable plastics for some time now. But this group at the University sees more and more details emerging — particularly as we look at what might be done with tires. We are learning

some corn-based feed stock might become part of future tire manufacturing. Corn starch is the product they are working with. Yes, this indeed will be a needle mover.”

Dr. Birr mentioned the on-going Nitrogen Smart meetings now taking place across various Minnesota locations as another key activity stirring up attendance with Minnesota corn growers and even some of the nonfarm audience in rural Minnesota.

He contends that becoming ‘nitrogen smart’ means dealing with the geology of the soil structure across Minnesota. “When you look at the technology and the economic squeeze we’re in these days with crop production, no one can afford to waste inputs right now. We’re into our sixth year of economic downturn. We’ve got to manage our inputs into crop production more wisely,” summed up Birr. v

New Ulm Hub Club Farm Show set for March 6-7 The 39th annual New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show will be held March 6 and 7 at the Civic Center on the fairgrounds in New Ulm, Minn.

Friday’s hours are 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday’s hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Three new features have been added to this year’s show: grain bin rescue demonstra­tions on-the-hour each day; at 5:30 p.m. on March 6, Tom Lyden from FOX 9 News will speak about the documentary, “The Last Harvest;” and a community forum takes place at 10 a.m on March 7. Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen and Minnesota DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen will take part in the forum, moderated by State Senator Nick Frentz. They will discuss current legislation and answer questions.

Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Amy Kyllo of Byron, will be at the show March 7.

The show’s ex­hibition area contains over 20,000 square feet of display space

that promotes all facets of the agricultural industry. It will feature the latest in farm equipment, technology, and services. Exhibitors include farm equipment suppliers, agricultural lenders, auctioneers, communications companies, ag building suppliers, heating companies, car/truck dealers, government services, and much more.

Everyone attending will be invited to register for door prizes. A children’s door prize drawing will also be held.

Winners need not be present to win, but will be asked to pick up their prizes at a local business.

In conjunction with the club’s Farm Safety show theme, safety glasses and earplugs will be distributed at the show.

For further information, contact Jenny Eckstein at the New Ulm Area Chamber of Com­merce, (507) 233-4302 or jenny@newulm.com.

This article was submitted by the Farm-City Hub Club. v

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

PAGE 19

MARKETING

Grain Outlook Coronavirus news holding down corn

Cash Grain Markets

Financial Focus

Making 2020 crop insurance decisions

corn/change* soybeans/change* St. Cloud $3.37 -.07 $8.09 -.06 Madison $3.50 -.07 $8.17 -.06 Redwood Falls $3.63 -.07 $8.24 -.01 Fergus Falls $3.20 -.07 $7.79 -.06 Editor’s Note: Joe Lardy, CHS Hedging research Morris $3.34 -.09 $7.99 -.06 analyst, is sitting in this week for Phyllis Nystrom, Tracy $3.65 -.08 $8.24 -.06 the regular “Grain Outlook” columnist.

Average: $3.45 $8.09 The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Feb. 21.

Year Ago Average: $3.24 $8.06 CORN — The corn market was stuck in a trading Grain prices are effective cash close on Feb. 25. range where it touched $3.90 *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period. every day from Jan. 27 to Feb. 19, before seeing two big down days to close the week. The big driver to the late weakness was the new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture outlook conference.

The latest estimate for upcoming planted acreage is 94.0 million JOE LARDY with harvested acres at 86.6 milCHS Hedging Inc. lion. The yield is projected at 178.5 For the most part, livestock prices have been under St. Paul bushels per acre, which would put pressure for the first half of the month of February. production at 15.46 billion bushAll sectors — including cash, cutouts and futures — els. The bottom line is, the carryout stands at 2.637 billion bushels which is certainly have been under pressure from continued selling casting a very heavy bearish blanket on the market driving prices lower throughout the period. Currently each category mentioned above has participated in right now. the sell off and each is techniThe other big factor which faced a lot of scrutiny cally oversold at this writing. was around Chinese purchases. The USDA posted a The question now becomes will $3 billion dollar increase in ag exports despite a the markets turn higher and much higher target agreed to in the Phase 1 agreehold or is a correction all that ment. USDA secretary Sonny Perdue said that Phase can be counted on. Time will 1 details were not included in the outlook forum foreanswer this question. casts due to significant uncertainties — primarily Cattle have been under presdue to the coronavirus. sure since the middle of January The coronavirus continues to be a threat to the ag as prices have plummeted nearly JOE TEALE markets. The number of new cases continues to climb $9.00 per hundredweight in the Broker along with the number of fatalities. There are now futures contracts. At the same Great Plains Commodity more than 75,000 cases with 2,200 deaths. China time, the beef cutouts have Afton, Minn. continues to extend shutdowns across the country in dropped a similar amount. The order to contain and prevent the spread of the virus. movement of beef was rather slow including domestic Production continues to be reduced — affecting refinusage and the export market, also affecting prices. ery production, automobile manufacturing, and Weights have also been a problem as beef producmovement of goods including those in the ag space. tion has been greater than anticipated. This has Another possible threat on the horizon is loomincreased the supply of beef during this period which ing. China will launch a $200 million dollar fund to has been another negative to the cattle market. combat an increasing infestation of army worms As spring approaches and temperatures increase, along with a possible invasion of locusts across their the barbeque season should increase demand for agricultural sector this year. beef. In the short run it would appear that because Weekly export sales were really good this week at the market is oversold, a rally should ensue. The key just over 49 million bushels. This is the third-best to higher prices will be the advent of stronger sales total of the year so far. There has been a nice demand for beef whether domestic or the export surge in sales the past six weeks with sales above 30 market. Producers should remain diligent and pro-

Farmers last year dealt with a wet spring, which brought prevented planting, delayed planting and late planting. Then, storms throughout the summer brought hail and wind. That, unfortunately, wasn’t the end of what the year would bring.

Harvest brought on its own set of challenges, including light test weight, quality issues and tillage left unfinished. Thankfully, many also received some assistance through programs like the Market Facilitation Program and the prevent plant top-up payments.

So, can we expect more of the same for 2020? None of us have a crystal ball to know. The good news is, farmers can make deciAMY KRAMER sions in the next month to help Compeer Insurance ease some of the unknowns we Training Specialist can’t control.

Waite Park, Minn.

Sign up for your 2018 farm bill decision at your local FSA office by March 15 As with 2014, farmers have three choices for the 2018 farm bill: Price Loss Coverage (PLC), Agriculture Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO), or Agriculture Risk Coverage-Individual (ARC-IC). For 2014, many went with ARC-CO for most crops due to what appeared to be a guaranteed payment for the first year and a good chance for a payment in year two. The election was made for the duration of the farm bill.

For the 2018 farm bill, the decision depends on the county or counties you farm in. For example, several counties in southwest Minnesota experienced immense corn yield losses due to late planting and untimely winds during fast growing conditions.

These producers may choose ARC-CO, a revenuebased program, which best meets their needs for the 2019 growing season. Those in decent yielding areas may choose PLC, which focuses on more of a priceonly protection for 2020. Your decision should weigh the type of risk you want to protect against: revenue (price and yield) or price only. ARC-IC is also an option for those producers who had either 100 percent prevent plant farm numbers or had lower yields by farm number, but aren’t expecting an ARC-CO payment for 2019.

For those who elect the PLC coverage, be sure to discuss Supplemental Coverage Option with your crop insurance agent to see if this is a good fit for your operation. SCO is a highly-subsidized federal

See LARDY, pg. 20

See KRAMER, pg. 20

Livestock Angles Oversold beef could spark rally

See TEALE, pg. 20

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

PAGE 20

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

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Soybean carryouts highest since 2016-17 LARDY, from pg. 19 million bushels in each of those weeks.

Ethanol production was higher by 7,000 barrels per day to 1,040,000 bpd this week. Stocks were up by .4 million to 24.8 million barrels. This is a new all-time record for ethanol stocks.

Outlook: The corn market has a headwind of bearish USDA to fight against. The corn bulls are hoping that Chinese purchases can help jump start the market.

SOYBEANS — July beans have been extremely rangebound — settling between $9.00 and $9.20

every day since Jan. 31. The ongoing coronavirus continues to add bearish pressure to the complex.

Until China turns the corner on the outbreak, a wave of new bean purchases seems unlikely. It is South America’s export window right now, so big purchases from China via the United States will have to wait.

The USDA outlook forum projected upcoming acreage at 85.0 million with harvested acres at 84.2 million. They are using a yield of 49.8 bushels per acre which gives a production of 4.195 billion bushels. The carry is projected at 320 million bushels. The last time we saw a carryout of that size was 2016-17, and the average farm price on beans was $9.47

Exports were really poor this week at only 18 million bushels. In the past nine weeks, the highest export total has only been 29 million bushels. Luckily there was good buying by China to give overall sales a lead on the USDA pace. The wildcard remains Chinese purchases for the rest of the year.

Outlook: All eyes are on China. What will happen with the coronavirus? Will we see any Phase 1 purchases in soybeans? Lots of unknowns here, but the price action in futures seems like the market is remaining extremely flat until some of these questions are answered. v

Growers have until Sept. 30 to update PLC yields KRAMER, from pg. 19 crop insurance option which allows the producer to obtain 86 percent area-based coverage. It is not for everyone, but is definitely something to look into with PLC. The sign-up deadline of March 15 is for 2019 and 2020. Producers will have the opportunity to change the election by farm number for crop years 2021-2023 in the future, on an annual basis. The producer who had the land in 2019 will make the election for 2019 and 2020, irrespective of who is farming it in 2020.

Regardless of which program you sign up for, you also will be allowed to update your PLC yields by Sept. 30. FSA has your current PLC yields on their 156EZ Form. This also lists what your base acres are for each farm number. Lastly, enrollment is by farm number unlike crop insurance, which is typically by crop, county and section and unit numbers.

The March 15 deadline to add, delete or change coverage on any crops and counties for the 2020 crop year is also fast approaching. Here are a few items to keep in mind as you meet with your crop insurance agent.

Pork cutouts slip lower this month TEALE, from pg. 19 tect inventories as needed.

The hog market continues to be a roller coaster market and has been since back in 2014. Currently we are near the lows of this elongated up and down in the market. China continues to be a market maker as from one week to the next rumors continue to fly.

This has contributed much to the erratic performance in the futures market over the past year and will likely affect the market in the weeks and even

the months ahead.

Pork cutouts have slipped lower over the month of February so far. Pork movement appears to be gaining some strength over the past week and could help in initiating a rally in prices in the near term. One would have to expect hog prices will continue the roller coaster pattern which has been in place for several years until either supply or demand changes significantly in the near future. Thus, producers should protect inventories if needed. v

Compeer offering organic bridge loan SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Compeer Financial, a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative based in the Upper Midwest, has announced the launch of a new loan product that provides financing options for farmers transitioning their conventional grain operations to certified organic. Compeer’s organic bridge loan provides built-in flexibility that meets the unique needs of producers who are making the switch to organic.

“When farmers transition all or part of their operation from conventional production to certified organic, they are more likely to experience an initial decline in cash flow due to changing yields and increased costs related to the adoption of new organic farming practices,” said Paul Dietmann, senior

lending specialist at Compeer Financial. “Our organic bridge loan addresses these specific needs, helping farmers to bridge cash flow shortfalls during the organic transition period.”

With Compeer’s organic bridge loan, clients pay only interest on their loan for the first two to three years, with a declining balance operating loan while they are working toward organic certification. The loan converts to a standard five-year intermediate term loan with fully amortized principal and interest payments after a client has achieved organic certification.

Learn more at compeer.com/.

This article was submitted by Compeer Financial.v

Prevent Plant Buy-Up — For most crops, a producer can add an additional 5 percent prevent plant coverage in the case of another year like last year. This would equate to receiving 60 percent of your production guarantee for any corn prevent plant acre payments and 65 percent on soybeans vs. 55 percent and 60 percent, respectively. In most areas, adding this option to your coverage is usually at a minimal cost.

SCO — As mentioned above, if electing PLC for the 2018 farm bill decision for 2019 and 2020, you can add SCO, area-based coverage, to your MPCI policy.

SCO loss payments are triggered by an area (usually county). However, the amount of insurance/liability is calculated based on your individual approved actual production history. SCO covers the difference between your MPCI coverage level up to 86 percent.

County T-Yields — RMA reviewed the corn county T-yields for 2020. In most cases, these increased and, in some counties, are quite significant. This impacts those actual production history databases which currently include county T-yields and possibly any added land for 2020, in which the county is now higher than your simple average.

Hemp — New for 2020, RMA released a crop insurance coverage option for producers growing hemp in certain states including Minnesota and Wisconsin, but not Iowa. This can be insured under an APH plan of insurance and allows for a yield-based coverage only. Many rules and procedures must be in place to insure hemp under the new program.

With the complexity of both the FSA programs and crop insurance options available, risk management can be overwhelming. Align yourself with someone you can trust to assess your needs and to help you achieve your farm operation goals for 2020. Whether working with FSA, your crop insurance agent (or hopefully both) over the course of the next few weeks, one thing is clear: you must take action as you have no time to lose.

Amy Kramer is an Insurance Training Specialist at Compeer Financial. For more insights from the Compeer team, check out compeer.com. v

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21 /FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21 /FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Feed Seed Hay

e in ALFALFA, mixed hay, grass ion. hay & wheat straw, medium square or round bales, delivery available.

Thief River Falls, MN. Call or text LeRoy Ose: 218-689-6675

Bins & Buildings

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

Farm Equipment

Farm Equipment

Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys. FOR SALE: 2008 JD 8530 FOR SALE: JD combine 7720, 100% financing w/no liens or MFWD, 3817 hrs, duals all 3800 hrs, shedded, excelred tape, call Steve at Fair- around, 60 gal per min pump, lent shape; JD pickup head, fax Ag for an appointment. IVT trans, GreenStar ready, $1,500; New Holland 311 bal888-830-7757 full wgt pkg, 4 remotes, pre er, shedded, excellent shape, $5,000. 507-524-4637 WANTED TO BUY: 5,000 to DEF, $142,000. 952-688-1095

10,000 bu cone bottom bins.

Harms Mfg. Land Rollers, Sell your farm equipment 507-327-6430 I Brand New, 12’-$6,800; in The Land with a line ad.

OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn. for 14’-$7,000; 16’-$8,000; 24’507-345-4523 era- Produces more high quali$14,800; 32’-$17,500; 42’Farm Equipment and ty silage on less acres than FOR SALE: JD 1765 12R30 $21,500. Others from 8’-62’. hybrid. $67/bushel plus shipres. planter, Seed Star II, row 715-234-1993 est- ping. High feed value grain. ‘05 Hardi Navigator 1000M command, L. fertilizer w/ PLANNING AN AUCTION? ven Located at Teutopolis, IL Sprayer, 60’ All Hydraulic Yetter openers, 1700 acres; on- 217-857-3377 Boom, Foamer and Monitor, Hardi 750 sprayer, 60’ w/ all Get the best results when you advertise in THE LAND m& Nice Shape, $6,950/OBO. 815- options. 320-360-1240 507-345-4523 Re-Softer Non GMO cornstalks, 988-2074 New 4x5 net, $35/each, some Live & Online Firearms & Spor tsman’s shedded, 5x5s, + oat straw, FOR SALE: JD 2210 38 1/2’ field cult, very nice, $23,500; om soybean stubble, $50-$60 each. Can possibly deliver. JD 200 crumbler, 39’, like new, $15,000; JD 1750 8R30” 320-905-6195 Call or text. planter, e-sets, wave seed MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 @ 1:00P.M. tubes, Air Command downpressure system, 2020 monLOCATED AT: KERKHOFF AUCTION CENTER Bins & Buildings itor, low acres, very nice, $23,500; Loftness stalk chopBarn and Quonset Roofing per, like new, $15,000. 320and Straightening.

424-1601 Also polebarn repair and FOR SALE: Chandler litter giving more head room. manure spreader, 22’ long, Kelling Silo. 1-800-355-2598 $15,000. 320-250-1371

.

AU C T I O N

PAGE 23

Steffes Auction Calendar 2020

For more info, call: 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com Opening February 21 & Closing March 2 Chuck & Mary Brock Farm Retirement Auction, Clarkfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 25 & Closing March 5 at 7PM Byro Farms Retirement Auction, Winthrop, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 26 & Closing March 4 at 4PM Anoka County, MN, Rural Residential Development Land/Investment Opportunity Auction, 98± Acres, Elk River, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 2 & Closing March 10 Miles Lacs County, MN Tillable Farmland Auction - 28± Acres, Milaca, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 2 & Closing March 10 Tjosvold Equipment Auction, Granite Falls, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 2 & Closing March 11 Albertville, MN, Investment Opportunity Auction - 1.66± Acres, Albertville, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 2 & Closing March 11 at 7PM Tree Toad Tree Spade Auction, Steffes Group Facility, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Thursday, March 5 at 10AM Tim Brakke Farm Retirement Auction, Aneta, ND Opening March 6 & Closing March 12 Online Steffes Auction - 3/12, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening March 6 & Closing March 16 Michael G. Nelson Farm Realignment Auction, Rothsay, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 9 & Closing March 16 at 1PM Scott Shellito Farm Retirement Auction, Moorhead, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 9 & Closing March 18 Meeker County, MN Tillable Farmland Auction - 52± Acres, Dassel, MN, Timed Online Auction

Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles, Shotguns, Parts & Accessories, Ammunition and more.

Opening March 9 & Closing March 18 at 7PM Robert Gundell Farm Retirement Auction, Ogallala, NE, Timed Online Auction Tuesday, March 10 at 12PM Quality Tested Hay Auction, Steffes Group Facility, Litchfield, MN Wednesday, March 11 at 10AM AgIron West Fargo Event, Red River Valley Fairgrounds , West Fargo, ND Thursday, March 12 at 11AM Cornerstone Farms LLC Farm Retirement Auction, Sauk Centre, MN Opening March 12 at 8AM & Closing March 12 at 12PM Benson County, ND Land Auction - 346± Acres, Warwick, ND, Timed Online Auction

AUCTIONEERS: Doug Kerkhoff - 507-829-6859 Zac Kerkhoff - 507-829-3924 1500 E. Bridge Street Redwood Falls, MN 56283 Office - 507-644-8433

WWW.KERKHOFFAUCTION.COM

Friday, March 13 at 10AM Faribault County, MN Land Rent Auction - 377± Acres - 3 Tracts, Bricelyn, MN Tuesday, March 17 at 10AM Sellie Brothers Farm Retirement Auction, Cathay, ND

PAGE 24

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

Farm Equipment Haybuster 2564 bale processor for wet or dry bales, blows 70 plus ft, $16,900; New-Demo 2660 full warranty, $20,500. Consider trades, B.O. 320-543-3523

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

JD 7000 8x30 planter, liquid Tractors fertilizer, Yetter Trash whippers, $3,750; Case IH 4300 FOR SALE: JD 4440 with 5600 45’ field cult, low transport hrs, power shift, clean trachgt, 6 sets walking tandems, tor with duals, would trade 3 bar adj harrow, $6,450; for a 4240 w/ 34” tires. Call Case IH 1830 12x30 flat fold 507-359-3065 cult, $4,450; Degelman reel type rock picker, w/ hyd FOR SALE: IH 5488, MFD, drive, $2,750. 320-769-2756 very nice. 320-292-4284

Low Houred Clean Farm Machinery Auction MATT MARING

CO.

We have a Large Amount of Exceptional Farm Machinery from Local Estates & Farm Retirements.

Auction Location: Maring Auction Lot, Highway 56 north of Kenyon, MN one mile (next to Peterson Ford)

Sat., March 14, 2020 9:00 A.M. CDT. – Complete Details, Photos & Online Bidding at

www.maringauction.com

Live & Online Bidding @ proxibid ® This is Only a Partial Listing. Go to www.maringauction.com For Daily Updates.

JD 6615 MFWD & 4720 MFWD, Hoverstad Estate

‘05 JD 6615 MFWD, Low Hours, Cab, 18.4-38, Power Quad, LH Reverser, Wheel Weights, One Owner; ‘10 JD 4720, Cab, MFWD, 400X Loader, 1,135 Hrs, Clean; Frontier HP2025-HP2134 Power Pack Hyd Unit, 540/1000PTO; Frontier SB2176, 72” Snowblower, Front Mount; Frontier 2072, Rotary Mower; JD 450 Trailer Sickle Mower 7’

1992 JD 4255 2WD Lew Erlanson 507-824-2632

1992 JD 4255 2WD, 1,258 Act One Owner Hrs, 15 Sp, Q.H., SN: PO11219, Started & Operated Regularly, Must See

JD 630 Complete Restoration

JD 630 Wide Front, Complete Nut & Bolt Restoration, Show Paint, New Tires, Engine Rebuilt, Air Stack, New Wiring

JD Tractors & Machinery Kent Schmidt

‘84 JD 4450 MFWD, 3,661 Act Hrs, Quad, 3pt, 540/1000PTO, 18.4x38, Clean; ‘76 JD 8630 4x4, 6,891 Act Hrs, 689 Hrs On New Engine, Quad, 3pt, 1000PTO; JD 7200 Planter, 16R30”, Finger, Dry Fert, Corn & Bean, Cleaners, Front Fold, Clean; JD 960 FC, 42.5’, 3 Bar Harrow; JD 345 Lawn Tractor, 48”; JD 38STX Lawn Tractor, 38”, Bagger; JD ATU Steering

Livestock, Haying & Forage Machinery

‘10 EBY Gooseneck Aluminum Livestock TRL 8.5’x32’, TriAxle, 2 Gates, Full Rear Door, HD Crossbeams, Looks New; Agco-Hesston BP25 Bale Grinder, Ex. Condition; VanDale 2,200 Gal Manure Tank, Vacuum, 540PTO; Tonutti RCS 10 Wheel Rake; NH 2000 Big Square Baler, 1000PTO, 4’x3’ Bales, w/2010 Bale Accumulator; JD 945 Discbine Hydra-Swing; Byron 1314 Hyd Dump Cart; JD 24’ Bale Elevator Model 200

ATV; Zero Turn Mower; Power Tools

‘06 Polaris Ranger 500 EFI 4x4, 2,400 Hrs, Good Condition; ‘08 Artic Cat Prowler 650, 4x4; ‘73 Yamaha CT175 Motorcycle; Olathe 54HL lawn Sweeper, Self-Propelled, Hydro; Cub Cadet Commercial Zero Turn 60” Deck, 25hp, 853 Hrs; Large Amount Of Power Tools

Tractors

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Tillage Equip

Planting Equip

Grain Handling Equipment

2004 JD Bauer built DB44 FOR SALE: 2010 Westfield FOR SALE: IH 986 tractor, 2004 Great Plains 30 Ft 1979 model, 18.4x38 tires, Turbo-Till w/ New Rolling MaxEmerge XP row, draw MK100-61 auger, good paint, very nice condition, $12,000. Harrow/Basket Last Year. bar pull planter, 500 gal nice condition, foam filled 507-276-5733 Blades 19.5” (New Blades tank, liq starter in furrow, swing hopper tires, $5,000.

20”) Real Good. 2015 MAN- E-sets, Yetter row cleaners, Reason for selling, ReNEW AND USED TRACTOR DAKO 46 Ft Land Roller brown box controller, w/ in- tired. John Pemble, East of PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, (42”x 5/8 Wall) 3” SHAFTS secticide. 320-583-5324 Mankato. 507-381-7097 55, 50 Series & newer trac- NOT 2 7/16”, 4000 Acres, Like WANTED: Farm Fan grain tors, AC-all models, Large New. Retiring. 319-347-6282 FOR SALE: Older Minnesota 250 gravity wagon with dryer, model 410, CF/SA, Inventory, We ship! Mark Let It Ring.

Sudenga hydraulic driven good condition; looking also Heitman Tractor Salvage 715-673-4829 FOR SALE: Wil-Rich QX2 brush auger, 10 ton running for Farm Fan CF270 for field cultivator, 3 bar har- gear, Syntex roll tarp, reason parts. 320-815-3495 row, rolling basket, 500 gal for selling, Retired, $1,500. J. Thank you for reading tank and spray kit, very low Pemble 507-381-7097 Wanted acres. 952-688-1095 THE LAND! JD 7000 Corn Planter, 2 Row 3PT, $1,800; Fert. Avail. All kinds of New & Used farm $350/Row. 715-234-1993 equipment - disc chisels, field cults, planters, soil finishers, Farm Tractors, Backhoe & Skid Loaders cornheads, feed mills, discs, JD 8960 4x4, 9,400 Hrs, 800-70R38, Rear Spraying Equip balers, haybines, etc. 507Weights, 24 Sp, Nice; JD 8300 MFWD, 438-9782 PS, PTO, 4 Hyd, 18.4x46, 8115 Hrs, Clean; JD 4630, w/JD 280 Hyd Loader, PS, New 4710 JD self propelled sprayDAMAGED Engine Less Than 100 Hrs, 20.8R42, 3hyd, er, 90’ booms, triple nozzles, WANTED: CORN - LIGHT TEST 1000PTO; JD 4230 8sp P/S, 18.4-38, Front 5 section shut offs, foamer, Weights, R134, Many New Parts, Sharp; Ford 5550 Tractor Loader WEIGHT & HIGHER brown box controller, 3800 Backhoe, 8sp, 30” Backhoe Bucket; Bobcat S250, 2,710 Hrs, Full MOISTURE CORN. PAYhrs, 380/90R46 tires, and Cab, Aux Hyd, 72” Bucket; Loftness Kwik Pik SL Rock Picker ING COMPETITIVE 650/65R38 floater tires, exc Bucket; Case D100XR Skid Loader Backhoe, 18” Bucket; JD 317 PRICES DEPENDING shape.

Will sell floaters sepSkid Loader, 1,861 Hrs; Many Skid Loader Attachments QUALITY. ZANE HANarate. 507-220-5153 SON (507) 459-8653 Planting & Tillage, Orthman Scraper, Irrigation Gun

JD 1770NT, 16R30”, Corn & Bean, Row Cleaners, Vacuum, 3 Bu. Boxes, Pneumatic Down Pressure, 600 Gal Fert Tank, Ex. Condition; JD GS3 2600 Display, Used w/Planter; J&M TF212, Torsion Flex, Double Twist Harrow, Basket 24.5; Orthman 425RF, 5 Yard Scraper, Hyd Lift; Bushhog 3D96 Disc, Notched Blades; (2) Pepin 35’ Spiketooth Drag Hyd Cart; (2) Kewanee 1600 Cultipacker 36’, Hyd Fold; Brillion 30’ Cultipacker, Hyd Fold; JD 960 FC 36.5’, 3 Bar; CIH 5400, 20’ Soybean Special Drill, 15”, Markers, 3pt; Elk Creek Drill Caddy; Dagelman R5705 Hyd Reel Rock Picker; Keller Pull Type 60’ Rotary Hoe, Hyd Cart, Ex. Condition; Yetter 3541 Rotary Hoe, 41’, 3pt; Rite Way RR200, Hyd Reel Rock Picker; Yetter 20’ Rotary Hoe, 3pt; Ag-Rain 40A Irrigation Hose Reel w/Gun, 1320’ Of 4” Hose, TA-40 1320 Reel; CIH 4700 FC, 42.5’, 3 Bar; Glencoe 28.5 FC; JD 7000 Planter 8R36” Dry Fert; Tyee 20’ Drill, 3pt, 15” Spacings; Century 500 Gal Crop Sprayer, 48’ Booms; CIH 2608 Corn Head 8R30” Chopping Head, Poly, Hyd. Deck Plates; Crust Buster Speed King 31’ Belt Conveyor, 5hp; Mayrath 10”x32’ PTO Auger; Allis Chalmers 4R30” Planter, Dry Fert; Tyler 4 Ton Fert Tender

Semi Tractors; Tender Trucks; Grain Trailers

2000 Sterling Tender Truck, 73,246 Miles, ISM, Auto, Single Axle w/Air Tag, 2 – 1,000 Gal Tanks, Honda Pump, Inductor; ‘95 Freightliner Day Cab Semi N-14, 10sp, 565,000 Miles, New Clutch, 24.5; (2) Wilson Pace Setter Grain Trailer 1995 & 1993, Ag Hoppers 43’x93”x66”, Roll Tarps, Spring; ‘02 Mack CH613, E-7, 10sp, Tandem, 18’x102” Flat Bed; ‘07 Freightliner Business Class M2 Cab & Chassis, Tandem, 22.5, MB Diesel, Auto; ‘05 Sterling Day Cab Semi, 12.7 Detroit, 10sp, 411,000 Miles, 22.5; Several Chev, Ford, Dodge 3/4 - 1 Ton Pick Ups, Most 4x4; ‘95 White/GMC Truck, Tandem, M-11, 10sp, 2-1500 Gal Tanks

All Items Need to be on Auction Lot

by Thursday, March 12 at 12:00 Noon www.maringauction.com

Area Farmers, Sellers We Sell the Earth & Everything On It.

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

Matt Maring Lic# 25-28 507-951-8354 Kevin Maring Lic# 25-70 507-271-6280 Adam Engen Lic# 25-93 507-213-0647 Tom & Gerry Webster

Terms: Cash, check, all major credit cards. All sales final. All sales selling as-is condition with no warranties or guarantees expressed or implied. All items must be paid for in full day of the auction. MN sales tax applies.

Hay & Forage Equipment

WANTED: Self propelled windrower/discbine. Preferably 14-16’ header. Must be nice. 763-286-2868

FOR SALE: 570 NH baler, w/ thrower, 50’ Hayrite bale conveyor, both like new, al- WANTED: Case IH Tigermate ways shedded. 507-732-4415 200 field cultivator, from 30’ to 34’ in length. 320-492-4630

Grain Handling Equipment

Livestock

FOR SALE: 2020 Neville built aluminum grain trailers, FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls 38.5’, new condition. For also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ photo and information call Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred Kemen 320-598-3790 or text 218-791-3400

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21 /FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Cattle

Miscellaneous

Swine FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hampshire, Duroc & Hamp/Duroc boars, also gilts. Excellent selection. Raised outside.

Exc herd health. No PRSS. Delivery avail. 320-760-0365

PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS New pumps & parts on hand.

Call Minnesota’s largest distributor HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Boars & Gilts available.

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

FARM RETIREMENT

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

LOCATION: 14826 Stearns Line Rd, Sauk Centre, MN 56378.

AUCTION

From Sauk Centre, MN, 4.3 miles west on Co Rd 184, 2 miles north on Co Rd 183, 1/4 mile west on Stearns Line Rd.

2020

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | 11AM

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Gene and Doug have decided after a lifetime of farming to retire but, will continue with their trailer repair and tree moving business. Please note the excellent maintenance and repair on their equipment. Please call to view equipment. Major equipment is shedded.

PAGE 25

WANTED

Miscellaneous

DAMAGED GRAIN

Purebred Black Angus Bred 2000 Ford F450 4x4, 7.3 diesel, WANTED FREON R12. We Heifers to Aged Cows, Ex- auto trans, cab chassis, 67K pay CA$H. R12 R500 R11. cellent Quality and Disposi- actual miles. 320-583-0881 Convenient. Certified profestion, High Value Marketing sionals. 312-291-9169 Plan available. 651-764-1281 RefrigerantFinders.com/ad

rain SA, also POLLED HEREFORD for registered yearling bulls for sale. All shots, Dectomax, semen tested. Halter broke. Delivery available.

Klages Herefords. Ortonville, MN. (320) 273arm 2163(h) (605) 880-0521(c) field ers, Please recycle this magazine. scs, 507-

ed efust

Trucks & Trailers

Cattle

field int, lled 000.

Ret of

ED ST ER AYVE NG N-

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

STATEWIDE

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.

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

CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY Your ad could be here!

507-345-4523

PRUESS ELEV., INC. 1-800-828-6642 ROW CROP TRACTORS

COMBINES

’14 NH T8330, 2140 hrs, MFWD 1000 pts,

’15 JD 690, 4x4, 1745/1160 sep hrs, CM, chopper, 650x38 tires & duals ................... $179,000 ’13 JD 660, 892/1180 CM, chopper duals.............. $129,000 ’04 JD 9760, 2268/3460 CM, chopper duals............ $50,000

CORN HEADERS ’09 Drago 6R, 30" chopping fits JD ........................... $17,500

’00 JD 9650 STS, 2645/3623 chopper, duals ............ $37,000

’06 Drago 8R, 30" chopping fits Case/IH

’01 JD 9750 STS, 3013/4156 CM, chopper, duals .... $39,000

Flagship ................................................................ $14,500

’14 Case/IH 5130, 660/926, Tracker, Rt, chopper ... $125,000

’13 Case/IH 3408 8R, 30" for Flagship....................... $19,500

’11 Case/IH 8120, 1650/2250 Tracker, ’11 Case/IH 7120, 1610/2200 Tracker, Rt, chopper, duals ................................................ $89,500 ’10 Case/IH 7120, 1650/2250 Tracker, Rt, chopper, duals ................................................ $89,500

4WD & MFWD TRACTOR

TILLAGE EQUIPMENT

John Deere 960 field cultivator, 41-1/2’ 1982 Versatile 895 4WD, 3,523 hrs.

John Deere row crop cultivator, ulls 1996 John Deere 8300 MFWD, 12x30” mp/ 4,698 hrs.

John Deere 2700 disc ripper, 27’ John Deere 230 disc, 27 red 2WD TRACTORS 1969 John Deere 4020 2WD, 6,548 hrs. John Deere 1610 chisel plow, 2” points 1967 John Deere 5020 adjustable Harms land roller, 30’ wide front Herman coil tine harrow, 40’ Yetter 8421 rotary hoe, 20’

COMBINE & HEADS

2002 John Deere 9750 combine, TRUCKS 2,233 sep. hrs., 3,662 engine hrs., 0 1993 Freightliner FLD120 flattop hrs. on engine sleeper, 693,817 miles 2008 John Deere 608C chopping 1990 IHC 9300 day cab, 26,058 miles corn head, 8x30” 1990 IHC water/fertilizer tender 2003 John Deere 930F flex head, 3” (school bus conversion), 69,655 miles 1995 Ford F250, 250,000 miles GPS EQUIPMENT John Deere Starfire 3000 globe TRAILERS John Deere Starfire ITC globe 1973 Transcraft DTX-19-40 tandem John Deere 2600 display axle drop seed tender trailer John Deere 350 monitor 1992 Wilson Pacesetter DWH-200 John Deere brown box hopper bottom trailer, 43’x96”x66” (2) John Deere 200 ATU 1996 Wilson Commander DWH400C hopper bottom trailer, PLANTER 41’x96”x72” 2008 John Deere 1770 planter, Unverferth HT-25 header trailer, 25’ 12x30 Shop-Built header trailer, 30’

GRAIN CART

J-Craft grain cart

SPRAYER

1990 Willmar 745 self-propelled sprayer

CHEMICAL ACCESSORIES

John Deere liquid fertilizer tank, 200 gal.

Ag-Systems liquid fertilizer tank, 1,000 gal.

2013 Inject-O-Meter HVI-82 chemical/fertilizer pump, 57 gph.

Hutchinson Sukup jump auger, 40’x8”

OTHER FARM EQUIPMENT

Schulte Jumbo RS320 rockpicker Shop-Built pit West-Mor fuel tank, 2,000 gal.

Fuel tank, 100 gal.

PARTS

John Deere set of (12) regular seed corn discs & set of (16) regular seed corn discs, like new Spare rebuilt front disc hub Westfield Jumbo poly hopper GRAIN DRYER & GRAIN John Deere pallet of field cultivator shanks BINS 2000 GSI 1220 Network continuous (2) John Deere hyd. cylinders, 4”x8”, (11) John Deere 8000 Series batch or continuous flow dryer, 20’ suitcase weights & 3 pt.

Control panel John Deere 9000 Series hitch pin Sukup grain bin, 48’ Hypro centrifugal chemical pump Sukup grain bin, 27’ (2) John Deere frame toolboxes

AUGERS

2017 Westfield WR80-71 auger, 74’x8” (71’ w/3’ extension) 10 hp.

2016 Westfield MKX100-73 auger, 73’x10” 2011 Westfield TFX100-31 auger, 31’x10”

TIRES & MORE!

SteffesGroup.com

320x42 front tires & duals ..................................... $95,000

’01 JD 9650 STS, 3014/4325 CM, chopper, duals .... $37,000

Rt, chopper, duals ................................................ $89,500

ate 30’ 630

3 pt 4 Valves, 380x54 rear tires & duals,

’09 Case/IH 7088, 1275/1807 Tracker, Rt, chopper, duals ................................................ $87,000

4WD TRACTORS ’90 Ford 876, 8523 hrs duals .................................... $24,500 ’15’ Case/lH 370 HD, 895 hrs, 1000 PTO, pro 700 monitor, nav controller, less receiver, 480x50 tires & duals ... $169,000 ’14 Case/IH 370 HD, 7065 hrs, 1000 PTO duals ....... $75,000 ’08 Case Steiger 435, 2460 hrs, power-shift, complete auto steer system, 800x38 duals... .................... $108,000

TRACK TRACTORS ’14 Case 350 Rowtrac, 1865 hrs, 120" spacing, 1000 PTO ............................................ $149,000

TRACTOR LOADER BACKHOES ’11 Case 580N, 4x4 cab 2540 hrs ............................. $42,000

’02 Case/IH 2208 8R, 30" fits 1400-2000 series combines ................................................... $11,000 Case/IH 1083 8R, 30" ................................................... $7,900

WHEEL LOADERS ’14 JD 724 K, 9587 hrs, third valve, w/ medford pipe forks................................................... ................ $82,000 ’13 JD 644 K, 5520 hrs, quick coupler, 4.25 yd bucket, new tires ................................................................... $115,000 ’15 Volvo 90G, 4927 hrs, quick coupler & bkt ................ $89,000 ’09 Cat 938H, 7174 hrs, quick coupler & bkt ................. $69,000 ’16 Komotsu WA 270-7, 8193 hrs, quick coupler, 4 yd bucket ................................................................ $75,000 ’16 Komotsu WA 320-7, 6936 hrs, quick coupler, 3.5 yd bucket ............................................................. $83,000 ’14 Komotsu WA 470-7, 11223 hrs, w/ pipe forks, w/top clamp ............................................................... $72,000 ’13 Komotsu WA 380-7, 7267 hrs, quick coupler, 4.25 yd bucket, aux hyd ............................................ $79,000

EXCAVATORS ’15 Cat 323 FL, 3768 hrs, 40" bkt wired for grade control ...................................................... $125,000 ’14 Komotsu PC 138US-10, quick coupler, 42" bkt, hyd thumb ............................................................ $85,000 ’11 JD 290GLC, 3347 hrs, 12'6" stick, 42" bucket .......................................................... $110,000 ’11 Case CX300C, 2658 hrs, 12' stick, 54" bucket .. $110,000

SMALL EXCAVATORS

TILLAGE JD 512, 5 shank disc ripper ........................................ $8,500 ’10 Wishek 862NT-30, disc 30' rock flex, good blades .......................................................... $24,000

’17 Case CX57C, cab & air, 333 hrs rubber tracks ........................................................ $50,000 ’11 Bobcat E45EM, cab & air, 2965 hrs, rubber tracks ........................................................ $30,000

CORNERSTONE FARMS, LLC | DOUG MILLER & GENE MILLER

LARSON IMPLEMENTS 5 miles east of Cambridge, MN on Hwy. 95

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

Look at our website for pictures & more listings: www.larsonimplements.com

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

Doug, 320.241.3684, Gene 320.267.1804 / or Eric Gabrielson at Steffes Group, 320.693.9371

763-689-1179

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

Place d Your A ! y a d o T

irst Your F for Choice ds! ie if s s la C

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

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

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

FARM RETIREMENT

ANETA, ND

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 | 10AM

2020

PAGE 26

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Major equipment begins selling at 11AM. Live online bidding available on major equipment.

Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

LOCATION: From Main Street in Aneta, ND on the east edge of town, 1-3/4 mile southeast on County Road 7, followed by 3/4 mile east on County Road 7, north side of road; or from Sharon, ND, 4 miles north on County Road 7, followed by 2 miles west on County Road 7.

• Get more coverage

DEADLINE: Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the following Friday edition. Plus! Look for your classified ad in the e-edition.

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INCLUDES: 4WD Tractors, MFWD & 2WD Tractors, Combine, Heads, Swathers, Air Seeder, Sprayers & Sprayer Trailer, Tillage Equipment, Semi Tractors, Box Trucks & Tanker Trucks, Hopper Bottom Trailers, Drop Deck, Implement & Header Trailers, NH3 Equipment, Grain Handling Equipment, Other Equipment, Pickup, Tires & Parts

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

*

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  Horses & Tack  Exotic Animals Equipment  Livestock Equipment  Pets & Supplies  Wanted  Cars & Pickups  Free & Give Away  Industrial &  Livestock Construction  Trucks & Trailers  Poultry  Recreational Vehicles  Dairy  Miscellaneous  Cattle  Swine NOTE: Ad will be placed in the  Sheep appropriate category if not marked.  Goats

TIM BRAKKE | Scott Huso, 701.789.9800 At Steffes Group, 701.237.9173, contact Brad Olstad, 701.238.0240 or Tadd Skaurud 701.729.3644

TERMS: All items sold as is where is. Payment of cash or check must be made sale day before removal of items. Statements made auction day take precedence over all advertising. $35 documentation fee applies to all titled vehicles. Titles will be mailed. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer. Brad Olstad ND319

Red River Valley Fairgrounds 1805 Main Ave. West, West Fargo, ND

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

THE LAND

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 = ___________________________________ (Includes 1 Southern & 1 Northern issue)



 Border $10.00 each per run  Photo (THE LAND only)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | 10AM Complete terms, lot listings, photos, & details at SteffesGroup.com

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Auctioneers will run multiple rings with live online bidding. There will be no loading assistance until 12:00 PM. Cars and pickups may enter grounds at 11:00 AM for self-loading. Equipment removal by March 13, unless other arrangements are made. Hauling and loading are available. Contact auctioneers for owner information, new consignments, or changes at 701.237.9173 or 800.726.8609. Live online bidding available on major equipment. Registration, terms, & details at SteffesGroup.com.

= ___________________________________ TOTAL

= ___________________________________

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

Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________________State _______________ Zip ______________________ Phone ______________________________________________# of times ____________________________________ CHECK

We do not Card # ______________________________________________Exp. Date _____________________________________

SORRY! issue refunds.

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

4WD & MFWD TRACTORS

COMBINES SEMI TRACTORS

SteffesGroup.com

Steffes Group, Inc. | 2000 Main Avenue E, West Fargo, ND | 701.237.9173 Scott Steffes ND81, Brad Olstad ND319, Bob Steffes ND82, Max Steffes ND999, Justin Ruth ND2019

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 precedenceover all advertising. $35 documentation fee applies to all titled vehicles. Titles will be mailed. ND Sales Tax laws apply. Canadian buyers need a bank letter of credit to facilitate border transfer.

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THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21 /FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR 2020 SUBSCRIPTION CARD? The Land subscription card was inserted in January. If you haven’t already sent it back, please do it soon. If your card was missing you can call the office at 507-345-4523 to request a new one or you can fill one out online.

Visit our website at www.thelandonline.com.

YOU COULD WIN $400.00!

On March 6, 2020 there will be a drawing from all the subscription cards that we received in 2020 and one lucky subscriber will win $400.00.

No purchase necessary.

THANK YOU FOR READING THE LAND! WE APPRECIATE IT!

PAGE 27

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.

ADVERTISER LISTING Agri Systems/Systems West .................................................... 4 American Angus ..................................................................... 5 Anderson Seeds .................................................................... 14 Asbestos Disease LLC ............................................................ 9 Beck's Hybrids ....................................................................... 1 Courtland Waste Handling .................................................... 11 Fladeboe Land ..................................................................... 27 Freudenthal Dairy ................................................................ 10 Greenwald Farm Center ........................................................ 21 Henslin Auctions Inc ............................................................ 23 Kerkhoff Auction ................................................................. 23 Larson Brothers Implement .................................................. 25 Matt Maring Auction Co Inc ................................................. 24 Minnwest Bank .................................................................... 15 North American Farm and Power Show ................................... 3 Pruess Elevator Inc .............................................................. 25 Schweiss Doors .................................................................... 24 Smiths Mill Implement Inc ................................................... 22 Spanier Welding ..................................................................... 7 Steffes Group ...................................................... 21, 23, 25, 26 Whitcomb Brothers .............................................................. 13 Wieman Land & Auction Co, Inc .......................................... 21 YMT Vacations .................................................................... 15

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

PAGE 28

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

THE LAND — FEBRUARY 21/FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

S

Man of steel

am Spiczka, aka Sculptor Sam, doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand why people think steel is rigid.

Sam, who has been making steel flow and bend since he was a little boy working in his dad’s Sauk Rapids, Minn. metal working shop, sees steel as being like plastic or water. With some heat mixed with imagination, steel can stand on its hind legs and do tricks.

“That’s both a good thing and a bad thing,” Sam, who has a sculpture park outside his rural Sauk Rapids studio and home, said.

“Sometimes people ask me if my work is made from wood. When they learn it’s made from steel, they are sometimes disappointed.

Some people expect steel to have a certain look.”

But plenty of people do get it and have been delighted by his work.

Sculptor Sam has his work installed from California to Texas to Ohio and in between.

In 2018, Sam was the only American invited to Icheon in South Korea. There, under a tent, sculptors from around the world worked outdoors in a park to create works for the city’s large sculpture park.

“People came to the park and watched us work,” he said.

Sam has developed a bit of a specialty in sculpting

human hands from steel. In 2016, Sam lost all four fingers of his left hand in a lawn mower accident.

That got him to thinking about hands. He’s made a number of them since then. Not surprisingly, many of the sculpted hands have long beautiful fingers.

“The Minnesota State Arts Board recently commissioned me to do a new hand series,” he said.

Some of those hands will be installed in downtown St. Cloud this winter.

Lately, Sam has also been developing some functional art.

“Most of my sculptures are pretty to look at, but you can’t use them for anything,” Sam said. “Recently I designed a line of tables and lamps.”

The tables have a round wooden top and fabricated steel legs. The legs have that same flowing seamless look that so many of Sam’s sculptures have. He sells the tables and a line of electric lamps from his studio, at shows around the country, and on-line from etsy.com.

Sam’s sculpture park is open to the public. There you’ll see examples of steel misbehaving. The airborne ladder, for example, doesn’t look like steel or wood. You’ll want to make an appointment, however. Sam is often traveling to install a new sculpture. You can reach him at samspiczka@hotmail.com. v

Sauk Rapids, Minn.

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© 2020

Feb. 21/Feb. 28, 2020

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

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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

© 2020

Feb. 21/Feb. 28, 2020

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