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THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
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Dear Readers, The Land takes great pride in bringing you agricultural news along with entertaining articles and photos in each issue. Every week, our staff strives to do our best to make this happen … but we need your help. It’s time for The Land’s annual subscription drive. In today’s issue you should have received the 2021 subscription form. In order to make sure The Land remains a “voluntary pay” magazine for farmers who qualify, we need all of our readers to take a moment and help us out. Please fill out, sign, date and return the subscription card in the handy postage-paid envelope and be sure to check the boxes that relate to your farming operation too. Your signed card is how we prove our readers want to receive The Land. In order to qualify for lower postage rates, the post office requires verification that readers are requesting the publication. Plus, local and national advertisers (whose support is essential) want to know The Land is being requested by readers and that it is not just being mailed to a random mailing list. You may notice the suggested subscription price is $49.00 annually. Since paying for The Land is voluntary, this is just a suggestion. As is the case with most small businesses right now, the fallout from the coronavirus epidemic has hit The Land magazine pretty hard. We will welcome any donation you see fit to make. Every subscriber who returns a completely filled out 2021 subscription card is eligible to place one FREE line ad (valued at $19.99) in the classified section in 2021. As a bonus, subscribers who send in a completed form will have a chance to win $400 in cash. On March 5 we will draw a winner from all of the subscription cards we have received so far. We will only use the phone number or email address to contact you if you win; or if we have a problem with your subscription. We will not sell your private information! We do not share phone numbers or email addresses. Thank you in advance for taking the time to fill out and return the 2021 subscription card. Please remember to sign and date it at the bottom. A special thank you goes out to those who qualify for a free subscription and pay for it anyway, and to those of you who send in more than the suggested price. It really helps. We respect and appreciate The Land readers and we look forward to serving you in 2021. Sincerely,
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
10 — AGCO Equipment manufacturing company shares the wealth locally. 12 — Live auctions are still taking place and drawing a crowd
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Agriculture facing many issues in 2021 (and it’s not just Covid) It’s that time of year when writers trot the vaccine. Vaccinating health care out their predictions for 2021; express workers first seems to be universally their disgust for the last year; and/or list accepted, but there is plenty of pushing the top 10 of whatever strikes their in line after that. Americans by nature fancy. “The top 10 things I ate in 2020!” are not patient people and we will all “Top 10 places I’m not allowed to go to need to keep our heads during the vacciduring the pandemic!” “The top 10 things nation process. Like it or not, “normal” I’ve always hated to do, but don’t have to will not return in 2021. do because of coronavirus!” You get the The Land being an agricultural publicaidea. LAND MINDS tion, what is in store for farmers this Not to disappoint (and to stay in good year? It seems like just yesterday when By Paul Malchow standing with the United Columnists President Trump’s tariff war with of America), I’d like to offer my China was killing the grain market. thoughts on what 2021 might bring Today we’re giddy with the prospects our way. There aren’t 10, but I’ve seen of $5.00 corn and $14.00 soybeans. some lists which contain 12 items, so it all works Even at these prices, China is buying more U.S. out in the end. grain than ever before. No 2020 list would be complete without mentioning Covid-19. The pandemic has supplied something for everyone (except a steak dinner at a good resVaccinating health care workers first taurant or tickets to a baseball game). Tragedy, seems to be universally accepted, despair and frustration abound from literally all but there is plenty of pushing in line over the world. In fact, Covid-19 has been the greatafter that. Americans by nature are est global unifier I can remember. The virus doesn’t not patient people and we will all care if you are third-world or an industrial giant. need to keep our heads during the Everyone seems to be getting their fair share of the vaccination process. Like it or not, pain. This is not to say you would get the same “normal” will not return in 2021. quality of care in Nigeria than in the United States; but the virus doesn’t play economic favorites. In Hog producers, and to a lesser extent, beef producfact, the obese population of the United States may be in greater danger. The number of cases and fatal- ers were broadsided by the Covid outbreak. What do you do with 5,000 pigs when there is nowhere to ities in our country would bear this out. send them? A pig has got to eat and Hormel et al Covid in 2021? Even warm, dirty water brings relief to a man dying of thirst; and the promise of a doesn’t want 400-pound pigs. Will livestock producers alter operations or continue to whistle in the Covid-19 vaccine has infused the world with dark — hoping for the best? renewed hope over the recent holiday season. But The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic the vaccine brings with it a fair amount of heavy Research Service estimated in their latest farm baggage we’re just beginning to unpack. financial forecast that net farm income will hit Just three weeks since the vaccine was released, $119.6 billion in 2020. This is a 41 percent increase there is already plenty of finger pointing as to who is to be blamed for distributing (or not distributing) from 2019 and the highest income level since 2013.
OPINION
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However, about $35 billion of that income came in the form of Covid relief. Even if you’re a left wing socialist, that’s a pretty hefty government hand-out. By all accounts, the Biden administration is an agriculture unknown; but it is unlikely farmers will see that much federal help in 2021. Speaking of the federal government, Minnesota farmers will get a one-two punch in the stomach in 2021. Small(er) farm stalwart Collin Peterson lost his bid for re-election to congress this fall. Love him or hate him, Peterson carried a big stick in federal ag policy. All indications point to that big stick will now be carried in the southern United States. Sure, they grow corn and soybeans in the south, but Minnesota commodity lobbyists won’t find Peterson’s open door in Washington, D.C. The other setback for Minnesota farmers is a predicted loss of a seat in congress once the 2020 census is tabulated. Minnesota’s congressional districts are already urban weighted. Peterson’s (or I suppose I should say Michelle Fischbach’s) 7th congressional district currently covers just under 34,000 square miles — almost the entire western half of the state. Re-districting, consolidating eight districts into seven, is almost guaranteed to make this district even bigger — squeezing the farm vote into a smaller congressional seat. The last 2021 issue worth watching is currently taking place in Winona County. In 2019, the Daley Farm sought an exception to local zoning rules to allow an expansion of its dairy farm in excess of the county’s limit on farm size. Just before that variance application, in January 2019, County Board members Marie Kovecsi, Chris Meyer and Greg Olson voted 3-2 to scrap a rotation system for selecting the board chair in order to appoint Kovecsi over County Board member Steve Jacob. Once that was accomplished, Kovecsi, Meyer and Olson appointed critics of the Daley Farm’s feedlot expansion project to the Planning See LAND MINDS, pg. 6
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This should be obvious: it’s not 2009 While 2021 is not 2009, it’s easy to see On the House side, Democrat David how some Americans — and, in fact, Scott, reelected to his 11th term from many farmers and ranchers — might get suburban Atlanta in November, is the confused. first Black member to chair the Ag Committee. His Republican counterpart, After all, a quick look around Ranking Member Glenn Thompson Washington, D.C. late this Jan. 20 will (Penn.) came to Congress in 2008. reveal several similarities to the same day 12 years earlier: Joe Biden is in the Neither old pro is known for making White House, Nancy Pelosi reigns as waves — departing from conventional FARM & FOOD FILE Speaker of the U.S. House, the Democrats Big Ag policies — and both won wide By Alan Guebert run the Senate, and Tom Vilsack awaits praise from agbiz advocacy groups like confirmation to run the U.S. the International Dairy Foods Department of Agriculture. Association and the National Corn Growers after claiming their commitOther ag similarities ended 11 days tee posts. earlier when three of the four principle writers of several past farm bills departed Congress. Two, The leadership of the Senate Ag Committee, Democrat Collin Peterson of Minnesota and because of the Democratic doubleheader sweep in Republican Mike Conaway of Texas, have been on Georgia Jan. 5, swings to Michigander Debbie the House Ag Committee all or most of this century. Stabenow, a long-time Democratic member who And since 2015, each has served as its chair. played a key role in stitching together the yearsoverdue 2018 farm bill. The third departing member, Sen. Pat Roberts from Kansas, is the only person to ever chair both Republican John Boozman from Arkansas will the Senate and House Ag committees. serve as ranking Republican despite the 50/50 DemBetween the three (Roberts and Conaway retired; Repub Senate split. Interestingly, Boozman came to the Senate after trouncing Blanche Lincoln, the Peterson was retired by the voters) Congress lost a only other woman to serve as Ag Committee chair collective 85 years of farm bill-writing experience in 2010. and farm policy memory. All this matters because everyone — especially Fear not, however. Change is not just around the those on Capitol Hill — knows the Donald Trump/ corner because a.) faces change in Congress, Sonny Perdue Gravy Train which has delivered an Congress itself rarely changes; and b.) both parties astonishing $130 billion in federal subsidies in just have so many new (but not young) bulls ready to replace the old bulls that it’s doubtful most farmers four years to American farmers and ranchers, is out of steam. and ranchers will notice any switch.
OPINION
Still in play, however, are the conditions that fueled it: a 19th century, tariff-based trade policy; a crop insurance-centered farm program that stokes low prices; an anything-goes, rancid meatpacking sector; soil and water conservation programs that are an embarrassment to the word “conservation;” and an anti-science approach to climate change. That list of failures also serves as a to-do list for the new ag leaders now, two years before the next farm bill is due. In fact, the new leaders — despite their loyalty to the old chairmen and old programs — should use the coming year to examine new ways (carbon payments, meatpacker antitrust, science-based conservation rules, community-driven hunger programs, and other ideas) to shore up U.S. ag’s weakening economic and agronomic walls. And, no, any new program doesn’t need to replace Big Ag’s worn-out, costly and largely ineffective “cheap food” farm policies. New ones should be given space, however, to rise alongside the old to revitalize the weakening rural economy through regenerative, sustainable food production rather than fund a deepening dependency on unsustainable, ad hoc farm subsidies which mostly spur overproduction and end up elsewhere. New leadership, after all, implies new ideas, new directions and new choices. Besides, it’s a new year and it’s not 2009. The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. Past columns, events and contact information are posted at www.farmandfoodfile.com. v
Registration for PorkBridge and SowBridge now open WILLMAR, Minn. — Registration for PorkBridge and SowBridge distance education programs is now open. PorkBridge is for those who own, manage or work in swine grow-finish facilities. SowBridge is for people involved in managing or caring for sows, and/or their litters, and boars — including operation owners, caretakers, technicians, managers and technical service providers. Both programs begin in early February. The PorkBridge program has six sessions generally offered on the first Thursday of every other month starting in February 2021. All sessions start at 11:15 a.m. and will last a maximum of 60 minutes, which includes time for questions. Cost for the series is $100 for the first registration from an entity and $50 for each subsequent registration from the same entity. PorkBridge 2021 sessions are as follows: Feb. 4 — “How to Handle Activists on Farms.” April 1 — “Mental Health for Pig Barn Workers.” June 3 — “In-barn Impacts on Pork Quality.” Aug. 5 — “Water Management to Maximize Performance.” Nat Stas, PIC
Oct. 7 — “Biosecurity for Grow-Finish Production.” Dec. 2 — “Interventions to Reduce Mortality: Postweaning.” Registration information for PorkBridge can be found at z.umn.edu/PorkBridgeRegistration. The SowBridge program has 12 monthly sessions throughout the year generally scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month. All sessions start at 11:15 a.m. and last no longer than 60 minutes, which includes time for questions. Cost for the series is $200 for the first registration from an entity and $100 for each subsequent registration from the same entity. SowBridge 2021 sessions are as follows: Feb. 3 — “Day One Sow Care.” March 3 — “Preventing Covid-19 on Swine Farms.” April 7 — “Mental Health of Barn Workers.” May 5 — “Gilt Development.” June 2 — “How to Handle Activists on Farms.” July 7 — “Litter Size Adjustment Strategies.”
Aug. 4 — “Sow Lifetime Productivity Findings.” Sept. 1 — “Pig Farm Safety Practices.” Oct. 6 — “Gilt Synchronization Tools and Techniques.” Nov. 3 — “Economics of Mortalities on Sow Farms.” Dec. 1 — “Interventions to Reduce Mortalities: Preweaning.” Jan. 5, 2022 — “Sow Lameness.” Registration information for SowBridge can be found at z.umn.edu/SowBridgeRegistration. Before each session, subscribers will receive an email message with links to download materials for that session. During the scheduled time, participants call in to listen to and interact with the presenter. To get a sample of each program, people can view a PorkBridge and SowBridge session from 2017 at https://z.umn.edu/PB-sample and https://z.umn.edu/ SB-sample respectively. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
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Some Christmas surprises are easier to pull off than others Well, holiday time is upon us and while ing as the open road and enough speed to some are finished with their shopping make the dog slobber. already, the rest of us are just getting a Christmas day arrived, and we were all good start on our lists and deciding just excited for Mom to find her new machine. how kind we want to be. As the morning unfolded, there were all Kindness seems to come more naturally kinds of treasures to be realized: a toy or at Christmas time. Our sons, for example, two for younger kids and 1970’s-era elecchoose to bed their cows on Christmas tronics for older kids … things we would morning every year. It’s their gift to them never have dared ask for, and yet, were TABLE TALK to make sure the herd has clean, warm under the tree with our names on them. bedding every Christmas morning. By Karen Schwaller It was pure magic. I had never entertained the notion Finally, the time came for Dad to give (until they started doing this) to put farm Mom her gift. He said something to try to animals on the Christmas list. But for all the gifts coax her to the basement, but no dice. farm animals give to us all year long, they certainly He tried again, and Mom declined his offer to deserve top placing on Christmas morning. accompany him to the basement. Again, Dad fabricated a story about something down there, to which Mom kindly invited him to go down there and take Kindness seems to come more care of it himself. naturally at Christmas time. Our When the rest of us came up with ways to suggest sons, for example, choose to bed to Mom that she go downstairs, she said firmly, “I’m their cows on Christmas morning not going to the basement today. All there is down every year. It’s their gift to them to there for me is work.”
make sure the herd has clean, warm bedding every Christmas morning.
Christmas on the farm can contain its own brand of excitement. My brother got a shiny new bike one year. But our dad — who enjoyed a well-thought-out strategy now and then — decided not to just place it by the Christmas tree. He hid it out in an empty grain bin and orchestrated the most lengthy, nonmilitary search-and-discover operation known to man. The whole family came along and moved together as a common street gang on this mission that seemed so exciting. We must have visited six or seven places all around the farm on a cold Christmas morning. Each destination contained clues leading to the next place to look, before my brother finally found the bike. He should have found the bike in the chicken house, because he was getting to be in a ‘fowl’ mood by the time the end of the search brought him to the one thing that every kid wants for Christmas. With my brother’s patience running thin near the end, Dad was lucky he hid such a glorious treasure in the grain bin. One Christmas, Dad bought Mom a new washing machine, and the whole family was in on it — mostly because we had to help keep Mom out of the house while Dad had the machine installed in the basement. Her old one had seen plenty of farmfilthy laundry, and while the machine was not dead, it was gasping for air. I’m pretty sure Mom was tired of waiting for Dad to make the time to fix it, and I’m sure Dad was tired of fixing it. For Dad, the thought of not having to devote more time to that must have felt as free-
And there we had it. She was not going to the basement, and that was that. As we all casually waited for an opportunity to capitalize on, Mom happened to be drawn downstairs by a shortage of milk. She did get to see her new washing machine on Christmas Day, and she was very surprised and happy to have received such a gift — one that she almost missed, and a gift that still meant work for her. Dad probably needed a brandy after all the work it took just to get her to step into one of her many household work areas on Christmas Day. Christmas can play out all kinds of ways, but it never hurts to have a backup plan for moms who want a day off, too. Mom’s Christmas gift would also ensure we all had clean, warm bedding on Christmas morning, too. Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v
Land use issues to continue in 2021 LAND MINDS, from pg. 4 Commission and Board of Adjustment. A few weeks later, the BOA voted down the Daley Farm’s variance request. Daley Farms sued the county, stating the county board stacked BOA appointments with opponents to the expansion. BOA members are supposed to act as impartial judges, but emails and other records uncovered in the Daley Farm’s lawsuit showed that two BOA members were actively involved in a campaign to oppose the Daley Farm project led by the environmental group Land Stewardship Project. The records indicated that LSP staff lobbied Kovecsi, Meyer and Olson to scrap the chair rotation and appoint those opponents of the Daley Farm project. After reviewing the evidence, Olmsted County District Court Judge Kevin Mark ruled, “I think the record is clear that [those BOA members] got placed on the BOA in a conscious manner with the forethought to oppose a particular application for a variance that was going to come before them. And
this just can’t be. It can’t be that way.” The impact of large scale farming operations on the environment is not an issue new to 2021. But with increasing scrutiny over climate change, will rural county leaders be willing to support these operations? Do counties have the stomach and the resources for prolonged court battles? The power and effectiveness of planning and zoning boards could be severely tested. The Daley Farm case is much more complex than what I’ve stated. The Winona Post has been covering the matter and many good reports can be found on their website: www.winonapost.com. So what’s in store for 2021? Some would say, “Nowhere to go but up” and we all hope that is true. For me, a long journey is more manageable in smaller steps. I’m ready to take on January. Happy new year, everyone! Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com. v
Letters to the editor are always welcome. Send your letters to: Editor, The Land, P.O. Box 3287, Mankato, MN 56002 e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com
All letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) to verify authenticity.
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Extension’s online sessions look at 2021 crop issues WORTHINGTON, Minn. — Key issues and questions around crop production facing Minnesota corn and soybean farmers is the focus for Extension’s “Strategic Farming 2021: Let’s Talk Crops.” Sessions will be held over Zoom, which can be accessed via your computer, phone or other mobile device, and run from 8:30 to 9 a.m. on Jan. 6 through March 24. These free online sessions will start with a brief presentation (about 10 minutes) by the discussion leaders for the day, followed by 20 minutes of discussion, framed around farmer/participant questions on the topic. Speakers will include researchers and educators from the University of Minnesota and North Central region, as well as area agency personnel. Resources will be posted prior to the discussions for anyone wishing to take a deeper dive into the topics. Jan. 13 — Soybean variety selection. Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist and Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist. Jan. 20 — Herbicide technology traits: What to use
where, when, and how? Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed specialist and Tom Peters, Extension sugarbeet agronomist. Jan. 27 — Broadcasting versus banding P & K. Jeff Vetsch, researcher and Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist. Feb. 3 — Third crops ready to work for you. Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist and Craig Sheaffer, forage specialist. Feb. 10 — We’ve got you covered: The latest on cover crop research and tools you can use. Axel Garcia y Garcia, Sustainable Cropping Systems; Anna Cates, Extension state soil health specialist; and Gregg Johnson, Biomass Cropping Systems. Feb. 17 — Adjusting soil pH to maximize crop production. Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist and Jeff Vetsch, researcher. Feb. 24 — The nuts’n bolts of on-farm research Doin’ it right. R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Extension corn specialist, Purdue University; and Seth Naeve, Extension soybean specialist.
U of M equine conference goes virtual Updating horse owners and professionals with timely, cutting-edge, research-based information is the goal of the 2021 UMN Equine Virtual Conference being held online on Jan. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. The conference is free to attend, but registration is required by 5 p.m. Jan. 19. After a participant registers, they will receive a link to join the conference. Four research summaries will be shared, including updates focused on reducing round bale hay waste during outdoor storage, composting horse mortalities, genetics of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses. Winter is a critical time for hay storage in the Midwest. Krishona Martinson, PhD, will discuss reducing round bale hay waste during outdoor storage. Graduate student Hannah Locher will present new research on the feasibility of composting horse mortalities, along with veterinarian and horse owner perceptions on the topic. Advances in horse genetics has allowed owners and professionals to better care for and manage their horses. This is especially critical when managing
horses with PPID and cardiac arrhythmias. Dr. Lauren Hughes, DVM and PhD graduate student will discuss the potential genetic component of PPID in horses — a relatively common disease affecting the aged horse population. Postdoctoral research fellow Sian DurwardAkhurst, DVM, PhD will share results of her current research investigating cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses which is also contributing to a better understanding of cardiac arrhythmias in humans. Participants have the option to tune into parts or all of the conference through the conference link and are encouraged to submit questions prior to and during the conference. Due to the presentation of unpublished research data, the conference will not be recorded. To register, and for more information, visit https:// www.equine.umn.edu/events/2021-umn-equine-conference. The online conference is being hosted by equine faculty and staff at the University of Minnesota. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
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March 3 — Making every acre pay. Naeem Kalwar, Extension soil health specialist, North Dakota State University; Tanner Bruse, Minnesota Ag and Conservation Programs Manager, Pheasants Forever; and Alan Lepp, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. March 10 — What insects are bugging your corn this year? Ken Ostlie, Extension entomologist and Bruce Potter, Extension integrated pest management specialist. March 17 — SCN: So tough a threat, it warrants a coalition. Greg Tylka, Nematologist, Iowa State University; Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist; and Samuel Markell, Extension broadleaf plant pathologist, North Dakota State University. March 24 — Stand establishment for corn and soybean. Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist; Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist; and Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist. You need only register once for the whole program series. At registration, please take a moment to let us know what questions you would like highlighted during the discussions. Sessions will be recorded and posted for viewing later at your convenience. For more details on each session and to register, go to https://z.umn.edu/strategic-farming. These programs are being offered at no charge, thanks to support from the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
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THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
Garden Spring Symposium topics announced ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Join the Stearns County Extension for “Spring Symposium” — a free, weeklong gardening workshop seminar series. Taking place March 1-5, each day will have a session at 2 p.m. and a 7 p.m. session. If you are familiar with Extension’s Gardening Education Day, you may notice the name change to Spring Symposium. The hope is that this virtual experience will be a onetime event; with a return to an in-person gathering in 2022. Participants can choose to join as many sessions as they would like. All sessions will be recorded, but
participants are encouraged to join the session live to get the most out of the sessions. March 1, 2 p.m. — “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Seed Starting” with Robin Trott. Learn sowing strategies which will have you successfully starting your own plants indoors and out. Discover how temperature, light, growing medium and humidity can affect your seedlings. Also pick up some easy seed recommendations to get you started. March 1, 7 p.m. — “Japanese Beetles: How Bad Are They, Really:” with Annie Klodd. This talk will explore tried-and-true ways to manage Japanese
Extension on-line classes announced University of Minnesota Extension, in collaboration with the Minnesota Dairy Initiative Central Region, have announced six informal conversations on a variety of topics relevant to Minnesota farmers. Each Zoom discussion will be held from 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 13 — “Hiring the Next Generation of Youth on Your Farm” Gen. Z (those born after 1997) are beginning to make their presence known on worksites across the country. Employers and producers have mounting questions on how best to hire, communicate, work with, and train these newcomers. Learn what separates Gen. Z from other generations and how you can best utilize their unique skill set in your operation. Jan. 27 — “Creating an Inclusive Culture on the Farm” Understanding how different cultures and perspectives can impact communication on your farm is important. This may be different ethnicities, religions, gender, or age, but being aware of these differences plays a role in overcoming them to be a better communicator. This discussion will go over some of the differences and strategies to overcome them. Feb. 10 — “Multiple Perspectives to Farm Transition” Farm transfer and estate planning is a process and can take years to complete. In this webinar, a panel of dairy producers describe the approaches, conversations, resources, and experiences which have helped their farm and family prepare for farm transition planning.
Feb. 24 — “You Did It! Setting and Achieving Farm Goals” What will your farm look like next month, five years from now, or 20 years down the road? Tips, tools and action planning to help set and achieve SMART goals for your farm. Learn how to use the SWOT and SOCS analysis systems, along with business planning tips. March 10 — “Alternative Forages: Do they fit your program?” In this session, Jared Goplen and Nathan Drewitz will discuss some key details to consider in order to maximize forage production and quality. March 24 — “Win, Win, Win: Improving calf performance and animal welfare” Dr. Marcia Endres will share the latest options in animal group housing and discuss their impact on animal welfare, performance and farm management. These educational discussions are free to attend. Registration is required by noon on the day before the event at https://z.umn.edu/CentralWDS. All sessions will be recorded and emailed out to participants to watch at their own convenience. The event brochure is available at https://z.umn.edu/ WDSCentral. Questions should be directed to Dana Adams at adam1744@umn.edu, (320) 204-2968; or Leah Bischof at leahbischof@gmail.com, (320) 429-0611. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
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beetles and how to decide when it is time to control them. March 2, 2 p.m. — “Commonly Encountered Landscape Tree Threats” with Gina Hugo. Certified arborist, forest manager, parks coordinator and allaround tree hugger, Gina Hugo will talk about the most commonly encountered landscape tree problems she dealt with. Hugo will delve into how to manage for these problems and why they are becoming increasingly problematic. March 2, 7 p.m. — “Cool Season Crops” with Natalie Hoidal. Cool season crops like broccoli and lettuce are popular among gardeners, but these vegetables can be hard to grow. In this session we’ll talk about why these crops can be tricky to grow successfully, and how to avoid common mistakes. March 3, 2 p.m. — “Growing Greener: Tips on Sustainable Gardening” with Dr. Joe Storlien. Whether it includes providing pollinator resources, growing food organically, or creating a sanctuary for wildlife, gardeners are often leading the charge to promote environmental sustainability. However, some practices we commonly perform may undercut our overall sustainability goals. Issues related to usage of plastics, nutrients and chemicals, growing media, and plant selection will be explored along with potential solutions which offer greater sustainability. March 3, 7 p.m. — “Ornamental Plants for Your Home Garden” with Robin Trott. Learn about annual, perennial and biennial plants that grow well in Minnesota. From plant selection to plant maintenance and beyond, Trott will answer all your questions about adding ornamental plants to your garden. March 4, 2 p.m. — “How to Plant and Build a Trellis for Raspberries” with Annie Klodd. Building a trellis for raspberries will help support their long canes and produce more healthy fruit. This presentation will show how to plant a raspberry patch, select varieties, and build a wire trellis to support your raspberries. March 4, 7 p.m. — “Insect and Disease Management” with Natalie Hoidal. In this session, we’ll discuss preventive management strategies for common garden insects and pathogens. March 5, 2 p.m. — “Going No-till with Your Garden - 2.0” with Dr. Joe Storlien. Frequent tilling leads to soil crusting, enhanced erosion, reduced organic matter, degraded soil structure and health. Dr. Joe Storlien will cover the benefits of why we should till less and how to begin your no-till garden journey. Register at z.umn.edu/SpringSymposium. If you have questions or need assistance with registration, call the Stearns County Extension office at (320) 2556169. This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
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AGCO 2020 awards directed to aid local causes By KRISTIN KVENO The Land Staff Writer For 14 years, AGCO Corporation, an agricultural machinery manufacturer, has honored an Operator of the Year; but not this year. For 2020 they decided to do something different, allowing the past winners of OOTY the opportunity to choose a charity in their community to receive a donation from AGCO. According to AGCO Director of Marketing David Webster, these applicator OOTY winners have been an integral part of their community. By volunteering, they excel in the companies they work for — promoting good stewardship and passing on knowledge they have to younger and/or newer employees. “It has been a great, great program over the past 15 years,” Webster said. “In a typical year, we have a promotion that kicks off in the summer,” Webster said. AGCO has ag retailers nominate someone for operator of the year. Four finalists are selected and are guests of AGCO at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference held
each December. The winner is announced at the event. “The overall program is a way to recognize unsung heroes who are a critical component to production agriculture,” Webster said. Covid-19 is the reason AGCO took a different direction this year when it comes to the OOTY award. “It wasn’t going to be fair to ask the finalists to travel (to the convention) during the pandemic,” Webster said. It was decided to not choose a 2020 award winner and instead allow the past 14 OOTY winners to pick a charitable organization in their community to receive a donation from AGCO. The response AGCO received from those previous award winners was positive and heartfelt. “The reception was really good in pivoting this year,” Webster said. Photos submitted The past OOTY award winner’s orga- AGCO’s first Operator of the Year donation, with the help of Ziegler Ag Equipment, is from Ag nization of their choosing received a Partners in Goodhue, Minn. to the Courage Kenny Foundation. The Courage Kenny Founda$2,000 donation this fall. The only tion maximizes the quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. stipulation from AGCO was that it had to be a charitable organization in the community. “We saw some great organizations benefited,” Webster said. Matt Missling, applicator and 2007
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AGCO’s second Operator of the Year donation, with the help of Ziegler Ag Equipment, is from Crystal Valley Cooperative in Madelia, Minn. to the Future Farmers of America’s Madelia High School chapter.
OOTY from Crystal Valley Co-op in Madelia, Minn., chose the Madelia FFA chapter as recipient of the AGCO donation in his honor. According to Cole Kottke, regional operations manager of Crystal Valley Co-op, Missling was thrilled when AGCO contacted him with this oppor-
tunity to choose an organization to receive this donation. “Missling has been with Crystal Valley Co-op as a custom applicator for over 20 years,” Missling was part of FFA when he was in high school and experienced See AGCO, pg. 16
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Another round of Food Box Program welcomed by producers moderate participation.”
This column was written for the marketing week ending Jan. 8. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Jan. 4 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will purchase an additional $1.5 billion worth of food for nationwide distribution through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The Department has distributed over 132 million food boxes, according to a USDA press release.
MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY
By Lee Funding for the program was included in the just-passed Covid-19 relief package as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. HighGround Dairy says, “In this fifth round of purchases, USDA will again purchase combination boxes to ensure all involved recipient organizations have access to fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk and meat products, and seafood products.”
Mielke
But, StoneX warned, “We’re encroaching on a place where market participants feel as though there may be little to no downside to milk and cheese markets because of the USDA. Forget about setting a floor price, thus the Chicago Mercantile Exchange put options on Dairy Revenue Protection Insurance, the USDA is again providing pandemic options. Eventually (and this may be a year down the road) USDA bids will likely go away and the market will have to trade its own merits.”
MARKETING
StoneX Dairy says, “With food box and Section 32 purchases, we should be looking at the government buying 2 percent of milk production February through April, and maybe as much as 3 percent in April if the dairy donation program ramps up with
HighGround Dairy also warned, “While this food box spending is significant, it is important to remember there are some bearish factors in this announcement. The pandemic remains worrisome, with the vaccine rollout proceeding slower than expected, and this is negative for anticipated foodservice demand — especially in northern cities like New York and Chicago where indoor dining is closed and outdoor dining is not ideal during the winter.” HighGround Dairy predicts cheese exports will be lower in the coming months as U.S. prices become less competitive, and milk and cheese production will be strong through the spring flush, coupled with lower foodservice demand.
HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess reminded us in the Jan. 11 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast that this is the program which drove intense volatility in 2020. HighGround Dairy believes CME block cheddar could get as high as $2.25 per pound in the near term as vendors scramble to procure dairy products to fill these boxes.
Meanwhile, farmers face rising feed costs as seen in last week’s Ag Prices report. Much of the increase is from strong demand from China (according to the Daily Dairy Report) and “concerns about empty grain bins and dry weather in South America” which banned corn exports until new supplies arrive in March.
Fuess said as many as 40 million boxes may be sent to families in need across the country and they will keep dairy prices supported; with the caveat that strong U.S. milk production may temper the price gains to farmers.
You’ll recall November U.S. milk output totaled 18 billion pounds, up 3 percent from November 2019. The latest Dairy Products report shows where the milk went.
March 26 — “Pre-Weaned Calf Rearing Systems and Raising Healthy Dairy Calves” Dr. Brad Heins and Karen Johnson will discuss options for raising healthy dairy calves with different rearing systems including automatic feeders, individual and pairhousing and raising calves with cows. These educational discussions are free to attend. Registration is required by noon on the day before the event at https://z.umn.edu/SCMNdairyseries. All sessions will be recorded and emailed out to participants to watch at their own convenience. The event brochure is available at https://z.umn.edu/ WDSSouthCentral. Questions should be directed to Adam Austing at aausting@umn.edu, (320) 249-5929; Karen Johnson at ande9495@umn.edu, (320) 484-4303; or Jill Zieroth at jzieroth@co.carver.mn.us, (952) 240-9993. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
Italian-type cheese fell to 457.5 million pounds, down 2.4 percent from October and 3.1 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date, Italian was at 5.1 billion pounds, down 1.4 percent.
n
Cheese output totaled 1.1 billion pounds, down 2.7 percent from October and just 0.6 percent above November 2019. Year-to-date, cheese output was at 12.1 billion pounds, up just 0.4 percent from a year Durst, Michigan State University, will talk with a ago. couple of Minnesota farmers who have had success Wisconsin produced 275.5 million pounds of that hiring employees. November total, down 5.1 percent from October and March 12 — “Best Practices for Productive Farm 1.4 percent below a year ago. California output, at Meetings” In this discussion, Jim Salfer and Jill 200.7 million pounds, was up 0.2 percent from Zieroth will discuss how to prepare for meetings, how October and 7.7 percent below a year ago. Idaho, to engage everyone at the table, and how to ensure with 83 million pounds, was down 3.3 percent from you’re accomplishing the goals you’ve set for the October but 7.6 percent above a year ago. meeting.
Winter Dairy Series announced University of Minnesota Extension, in collaboration with the Minnesota Dairy Initiative SouthCentral Region, have announced the upcoming Winter Dairy Series. This series will consist of six informal conversations on a variety of topics relevant to Minnesota dairy farmers. Each Zoom discussion will be held from 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 8 — “Feeding for Components vs. Production: What makes sense for your farm?” Barry Visser of Vita Plus will introduce the value of each approach to feeding dairy cows for maximum profit. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and further discuss approaches which can be incorporated on their farms. Jan. 22 — “Am I Ready for Robotic Milkers?” Learn from dairy farmers Ashley Swenson and Jim Dieball about the reasons they installed robotic milkers and keys to making them successful. Feb. 12 — “Bessy’s Bottom Line: How much is that cow actually making you?” Joleen Hadrich will discuss feed cost per cow and opportunity cost of labor and management. We will also touch on how profit isn’t just about input management, but revenue management as well. In light of government funding this year, we will talk about which profit we should use to make decisions — the one which includes government payments or not? Feb. 26 — “Finding (and keeping!) Farm Employees” In this discussion, Extension educators and Phil
American-type cheese totaled 449.2 million pounds, down 2.8 percent from October but 3.9 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date, American hit 4.9 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent. Mozzarella output was at 362.8 million pounds. This is down 3.3 percent from a year ago, and signals that pizza sales have not kept pace with prioryear levels, according to the Daily Dairy Report. Year-to-date, mozzarella was at 4 billion pounds, down 1.6 percent from 2019. Cheddar, the daily traded cheese at the CME, slipped to 320.7 million pounds. This is down 8.3 million pounds or 2.5 percent from October; but was 11.5 million or 3.7 percent above a year ago. Year-toSee MIELKE, pg. 18
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On-line or in person, auctions still pull in a crowd By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus LITCHFIELD, Minn. — Needing an excuse to venture out into the real world, I took in the Dec. 17 Steffes Ag Iron consignment auction. The remarkable event took place at the spacious Steffes headquarter facility in Litchfield, Minn. Steffes’ colorful ad in the Dec. 11 issue of The Land read: “Over 375 lots to bid on! New items added daily. Three complete farm lines included; along with consigned farm equipment, hay equipment, trucks, recreational items and construction equipment.” Enough variety to satisfy even the most grizzled farm auction attendee, I thought. Plus, this intriguing note: “Auctioneers will run multiple rings with
live online bidding available on major equipment.” And these two welcome words: “Join us!” And so I did. Temperatures were in the mid-30s as I motored the 50 miles from Olivia — arriving at 11 a.m. The start time for the auction was 10 a.m. I knew that when you arrive late at a Steffes auction, parking might be limited — even at their generous grounds adjoining State Hwy. 22 on the south edge of Litchfield. But in typical Steffes fashion, friendly guys directed my vehicle to one of the few parking spots still available. Busy? You’ve got to see it to believe it. I quickly veered towards the auctioneering chants I was hearing. As I shuffled amongst the crowd (mostly Photos by Dick Hagen men, but a few gals too) the A chilly December day didn’t deter the 200 bidders attending a consignment auction ‘dress’ was predominantly hood- held by the Steffes Auction Group in Litchfield, Minn. ed jackets, scarves wrapped $100 for a rock-picking, rubber around necks, and very likely tired trailer. Yep, this rig showed fleece-lined jeans worn by both some age; but since I know the guys and the gals. Yes, in nothing about old rock-picking Minnesota, when attending an trailers, that $100 seemed like a outdoor public auction in bargain to me. December, dress warmly is a given. Just coming down the steps of a big JD 9120 was Gregory I spotted the Steffes auction Munsch, a farmer from the truck with speakers mounted Atwater/Bird Island area. “It’s on each rooftop corner. The in real good shape and I thought truck stopped briefly at each it went really cheap,” Munsch auction item only long enough claimed. “I wasn’t interested, to get an opening bid. Then it’s Donnie Hammesh but my son was looking at it. Me sort of like ‘hang on’ because we and my brothers got a bigger ain’t stopping now. Somewhat model than this one. Ours is an like a wave effect, that auctionInternational on tracks. But eering chant draws you to the these three John Deere tractors, action. all owned by the same guy, I I quickly realized getting a thought went fairly reasonable few minutes for a live interview … and they’re in nice shape.” with the Steffes auctioneer just I continued my walk, already wasn’t likely. However, Albany, wishing I had dressed warmer. Minn. farmer Donnie Hammesh I sauntered to the Steffes buildwas standing nearby so I asked ing complex and good fortune him why he was there. Being a prevailed: a sit-down interview good-natured guy, Hammesh Gregory Munsch with Scott Steffes, president of responded, ”I’m looking at those gravity boxes over there. Should be getting to those this dynamic business celebrating their 60th year. I asked Steffes how big he thought the crowd was here pretty soon.” I asked Hammesh how much he was willing to bid today. “Last time I checked, there were about 200 regison a gravity box. “About $6,500,” he replied, “but it likely will draw more. Everybody’s got money today it tered bidders in the audience,” he replied, “plus who knows how many on the Internet for on-line bidding. seems.” In my opinion, one of the better buys of the sale was See STEFFES, pg. 14
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AT THE HEART OF IT. FOR SOME, IT’S ABOUT COMMUNITY. LIVING THE LIFE YOU WERE MEANT TO LIVE. WHILE WE ALL MAY DO IT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, THERE IS ONE THING THAT UNITES US. ONE THING THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE. AT THE HEART OF IT, WE’RE ALL FARMERS.
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THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
Steffes conducts three Ag Iron events per year STEFFES, from pg. 12
think the largest Ag Iron event in our history was the summer of 2012 in West Fargo, N.D. when we did an We have no way of knowing total count. But we know $11 million auction. We had seven auction rings online bidding has added a new dimension to this working that day and about 3,000 auction lots.” business.” Because today’s sale it also online, how many states “Prior to Covid we were about 50-50 live vs. online,” might be in contact with you? Steffes went on to say. “In today’s constantly chang“Can’t tell you until we’re done,” Steffes admitted, ing environment it’s a tougher call. We still like to do live auctions when they let us; and fortunately in “but typically our online sales reach upwards of 50 Minnesota we are considered an essential service so states … and we’re now into five countries. But even can continue auctions as needed and requested. But online sales in Canada are down simply because of the reality today is we are about 20 percent live shipping restrictions now in place. We just sold a action and 80 percent internet only. Hopefully we’ll motor patrol grader to a broker in New Jersey who’s exporting it to Egypt. get back to that 50-50 ratio as time goes by. So will overseas sales continue to increase? “From In view of the financial struggles of agriculture an Ag Iron perspective, which we do three times a earlier this season, I was curious if Steffes was suryear from three locations, I think it will likely conprised with this strong attendance today. tinue to increase,” Steffes “No, this fall — and stated. “But because of even into summer when internet bidding, our we started back into live attendance at these live auctions — we’ve seen auction events is diminattendance advancing. ishing. Everything in Since the March arrival today’s world is becomof the pandemic, our first ing internet-based. We live auction was July 8 at do a twice-monthly our Fargo facility. Since Internet-only auction then we’ve been doing which creates great both live and online sales advantages for our sellwith good results in ers because they don’t Arkansas, Kansas, the need to truck their equipDakotas, Iowa and here ment to the auction site.” in Minnesota. People are Still, folks are still willsimply pleased to get out ing to drive some disand about at our public Ashley Huhn takes a break after a stint in the Steffes auction tance to attend public sales. But because of truck shown in the background. auctions. “It seems about Covid, people are really taking advantage of our internet auctions these days 250 miles is the maximum distance,” Steffes guessed, “but It’s not uncommon when potential buyers can also. visually scan a particular piece of equipment from “Since post-harvest, this farm machinery market one of our online listings. They will drive, or even fly has really erupted,” Steffes went on to say. “It’s nice to see, kick, smell, climb the cab, check the tires and to see such positive optimism rebounding again in whatever else propels them. And sometimes we hear the ag world. I suspect most farmers are wishing this comment, ‘We just needed a get away too.’ Farm they still had a big bin of soybeans to unload into the equipment dealers readily travel to our Ag Iron market. events seeing if they might get a bargain price on a Steffes said there were in the neighborhood of 600 particular machine.” items up for sale in today’s auction. “Usually at these “Yes, home-state origin makes a difference too. auctions, between 600 and 700 items. Today I know People from other parts of America like to come up there are 400 auction lots in Ring 2 and I believe here to buy farm machinery because typically it is Ring 1 has about 200. And all prices too … like that owner-operated and that tends to reflect better main$100 rock picker you mentioned, to several thousand tenance. Also, most of our tractors and combines sit dollars for the many tractors and combines being under roof when not in use. If you go to farm auctions sold today. My Dad started in the auction business in in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas … those farmers mostly 1960. His first auction was a farm retirement sale don’t have sheds. Their equipment shows the stains, which included all the machinery plus the man’s live- discolorations and weather stresses of 365 days expostock: cows, pigs and some chickens I recall him tell- sure. Up here, about the only concern I hear from ing us kids. The sale grossed $5,500. Today, it’s not farmers is they hope the mice don’t get into their uncommon for us to sell single pieces of farm equip- equipment in their sheltered environments. ment for $350,000!” You’ve got six bids callers handling today’s auction. I asked Steffes if this will be a $5 million dollar day. So is there about a two-hour auction call until your “No, typically these are around $2 million sales. I next caller gets into the truck?
“That’s about right. We like to trade off so we’re always fresh. In the old days, we’d often go five, six, even upwards of 10-hour calls; but not anymore. We have a great staff. We’ve gotten smarter; maybe we’ve gotten lazier too!” said Steffes, chuckling a smile. “We should wrap up no later than 4:30 or so.” Scott Steffes Once the sale is over, Steffes said it won’t take long for these 600 items to clear the premises. “My Dad told me years back, auctions are like fires … they make things disappear. So about 50 percent of what sells here today will be gone within 48 hours. So after cleaning our grounds we start reloading for the next one.” Now 59 years old, Scott got into the auction business the easy way. “My dad started the business in 1960,” he said. “Now, in 2020, we’re celebrating our 60th anniversary. Lots of family members today … sons and bothers, aunts and uncles, cousins and others. I went to the Kansas City, Missouri School for Auctioneers in June, 1980. And after you and I wrap up, I’ll grab a bite before my two-hour call begins at 2 p.m.” Besides the actual bid calling, Steffes auctioneers like to entertain as part of the bid coaxing. “When it comes to bid calling, I think some natural talent is part of the call,” Steffes reasoned. “Just like vocalists, everyone has a different style; a different approach. In this profession you quickly learn what works and what doesn’t. Don’t attempt humor if you really aren’t capable. But not to worry … people let you know what’s working and what isn’t. Good fun and humor is just as important to our bidding audience as it is to us callers. Even in today’s world of sophisticated business people, it’s just good sense not to take yourself too seriously.”
And when will you retire? “Don’t know and don’t even think about it,” Steffes flatly stated. “I‘m simply having too much fun. Working in agriculture is the greatest. We’re working with folks with big hearts, generous minds, and ambitions kindled up a notch or two higher than most people. This year we’re doing 600 auction events — ranging from our five facility locations at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Fargo, N.D.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mason City, Iowa, and here at Litchfield, Minn. plus a few on-farm auction sites also.” To wrap things up, I asked Steffes if he has concerns about the financial health of America’s famers these days. “Bluntly speaking, just three things govern my answer,” he said, “commodity prices; crop production; and interest rates. Fortunately all three are on a positive swing right now. As we so well know, this too can change. However, we have confidence in our American farmers. So the very best to our American farmers in this challenging — but exciting — new year. v
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MULTIPLE SOAs: THE BEST WEED CONTROL OPTION The easiest weeds to control are those that never emerge. Cliché? Maybe. But as weeds continue to adapt, mounting resistance to herbicides builds every year. Sustainable control has become increasingly more challenging to achieve. The over-reliance of a single site of action (SOA) continues to provide new challenges for weed control in soybeans with each growing season. XtendFlex® soybeans will help farmers focus on the basics of a sound weed management system — multiple SOAs and overlapping residuals, all without having to compromise performance and yield. Sustainable weed control is only possible through the incorporation of a herbicide program that utilizes multiple effective SOAs. Beck’s multi-year Practical Farm Research (PFR)® data has demonstrated the impact and importance of utilizing a pre-emerge program with multiple SOAs (Figure 1).
ADVANTAGES OF THE XTENDFLEX ® SYSTEM XtendFlex soybeans feature the benefits of the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System with the addition of tolerance to glufosinate. This allows access to multiple effective herbicides to manage each of your fields’ unique weed challenges. Beck’s PFR studies on the effectiveness of combining glufosinate and glyphosate show they are a powerful tool against tough-to-control waterhemp. POWER IN THE PRE™: Controlling weeds early with a pre-emergence application not only reduces the likelihood of developing resistance, but it also
protects soybean yields. The over-reliance on POST programs to control early-emerging weeds is unlikely to provide results and could cause yield losses of up to 2.5% for every growth stage you delay your applications. Put the Power in the Pre™ and let your pre-emergence applications do the heavy lifting. Post-emergence applications can then be used as rescue treatments for weed escapes. POWER OF MULTIPLE SOAs: In-season, Liberty® will provide effective post-emergence control of weeds such as waterhemp, kochia, and giant ragweed. XtendFlex soybeans provide postemergence tolerance to multiple SOAs to control resistant broadleaf weeds. Now farmers can confidently pursue higher yields by making earlyseason herbicide applications and maintain the option of spraying Liberty over-the-top once crops have emerged. POWER OF HIGHYIELDING GERMPLASM: Backed by uncompromising yield potential and outstanding agronomic performance in all maturities, XtendFlex® soybeans are built on the same proven genetic performance of highyielding Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans, now with the power of Liberty herbicide. While weed control continues to provide new challenges with each growing season, you will have the option to bring the power to your soybean platform in 2021 with XtendFlex soybeans. The EPA is currently reviewing a new registration for XtendiMax® for the 2021 season and beyond.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans. Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. XtendFlex®, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® are trademarks of Bayer Group. Liberty® is a registered trademark of BASF.
FIGURE 1: INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE SOAs ON WATERHEMP CONTROL (% VISUAL CONTROL) Number of SOAs (Pre-Emerge) Influence on Waterhemp Control from Beck’s Multi-Year Practical Farm Research (PFR) ® data.
97% 89%
60% 3 SOAs
2 SOAs
1 SOA
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THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
Plus and minuses of batch farrowing on today’s pig farms The University of Minnesota’s Leman Swine Conference was held virtually in October — a new twist to the presentation of the 30-year conference for swine veterinarians. During the conference, the University of Minnesota’s John Deen moderated a session which discussed the pros and cons of batch farrowing in 21st century pig production. Batch farrowing used to be a common practice, but as farms got bigger, continuous-flow production became the norm. Now it appears batch farrowing is making a comeback. If we optimize across both the grow-out stage and the reproductive stage, we find that changing the way we do reproduction may improve our grow-out stage — even though it may affect things that we emphasized in the past when simply focusing on the sow herd, like pigs per sow per year or weaning age. Historically, batch farrowing was more attractive to smaller farms, when producers needed a set number of pigs to fill a truck or barn. But we’re seeing it much more in large sow units. In fact, the practice is being considered and experimented with in many larger systems across a wide geographic area. The major variable tends to be whether or not a whole sow unit is batched at the same time. Secondly, what is the weaning age the sow unit is actually targeting against? Then the third area is the discussion on how to manage the gilt pool and whether or not we solidify the introductions of the gilts on a steady basis into each cohort of farrowed sows. The biggest challenge is labor, because batch farrowing changes how the farm operates and how labor is utilized. Once a pattern is embedded, it’s very difficult to change. The example that’s always given for employees is typing. It’s been proven time and time again that the standard layout of keys, called the QWERTY keyboard, is actually not very efficient. And yet we’ve all been trained on it, and whenever it’s suggested that we should change, it involves a lot of labor, and in most cases we’ve been slow to change. Some of the same difficulties are occurring on the sow farm. Labor is more concentrated in certain areas on certain days, so repatterning our responsibilities on the farm is by far the biggest challenge. The major benefit of batch farrowing is pig health in the grow-out stage. For farrowing, we have an allin, all-out system within the sow herd. We have a mature animal that doesn’t shed that much, and we have a cohort of piglets that are of the same age and challenged at the same time within the growout phase. In some cases, however, health can be challenged. For example, if a new disease introduction occurs in the sow herd, a much larger cohort of piglets would be affected at one time. Conversely, that health challenge would happen at one time and could be managed on a more definitive basis within the sow
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herd. Other reproductive challenges SWINE & U (if they occur) can be concentratBy John Deen, DVM ed as well. Seasonal infertility — especially the effects of heat if we have a bad set of weeks around the time of lactation and then mating — can concentrate some of those effects into a larger population of herds. But for the most part, meeting the needs to control health is actually the big reason to use batch farrowing. Improved biosecurity is another major benefit of batch farrowing because there is less mixing of pigs. There is a more concentrated transportation effect: If we use a truck, we can use it multiple times between the sow site and the grow-out site. Biosecurity is one of the added benefits we see when we create a larger pool but with a concentrated, focused effort for a normal batch farrowing. Even the introduction of supplies and the introduction of employees to do certain tasks on the farm can be more focused. They can be scheduled against the needs of the farm in a more productive manner. Batch farrowing requires a different mindset for producers and their employees. The pattern of work for employees is different, so the calendar will need to be laid out clearly and carefully. Sharing that calendar so we can look forward not only into next week but even into future months is critical. As that schedule is laid out in more detail, it’s actually a benefit to employees. They can plan their life around it rather than simply working off the same schedule each week.
The U.S. pork industry is dealing with low-frequency diseases that circulate within the sow herd. They can expand in that production phase then blow up in the nursery phase. The mechanism by which batch farrowing benefits the grow-out phase isn’t understood in detail yet. We need more intensive disease monitoring to really understand that aspect and to understand some of the population dynamics in the herd — especially gilt introductions and the effect upon that disease dynamic. I’d like to understand the control points within a batch-farrowing system in which we can manage a disease more effectively. Understanding gilt introduction and gilt management in a batch-farrowing system may be very useful, in addition to understanding how much spillover of pathogens occurs through a batch-farrowing system. This will be useful in managing future decisions related to vaccination and treatment. In addition, research is needed on how to re-train employees. We find that certain employees and, frankly, most systems push back on the idea of going to a batch system. But afterwards, the great majority of them actually say we’ll never go back; we’re embedded into this new system. We need to understand how to make that mindset change more effectively. Labor management and labor selection would be excellent areas to study in more detail. John Deen is a distinguished global professor at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He can be reached at deenx003@umn.edu. v
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AGCO looks to continue program AGCO, from pg. 10 first-hand the opportunities available through being a part of the organization. “He really has a passion for agriculture. It didn’t take him long to figure out who to give the money to,” Kottke said. There’s a longing across the country to go back to the way things used to be before the pandemic, but there’s one thing Webster hopes won’t change — the new giving component of OOTY. “There’s so many great organizations in these small communities,” Webster said. The chance to give to these deserving charitable
organizations this year has sparked something special that Webster would like to see continue in the years to come. He looks forward to the OOTY award recognition next year at the ARA convention; and with that, there’s a possibility of giving the OOTY finalists the chance to choose an organization to receive a donation from AGCO. ‘Tis the season for giving, which seems to be more important now than ever before. AGCO’s donations to 14 charitable organizations across the country in this challenging year has certainly spread a little holiday cheer. v
THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
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PAGE 17
MARKETING
Grain Outlook Stronger U.S. dollar may halt corn’s uptrend
Livestock Angles Export market improving heading into 2021
excellent category to 12 percent with 15 percent rated poor/very poor. The corn crop is 29 percent pollinated, behind last year’s 43 percent pollinated. Brazil continues to have timely rain in the forecasts and is not thought Corn pushed to new conto be in as much need of rain tract highs as we kicked off PHYLLIS NYSTROM as Argentina. the new year; but closed a CHS Hedging Inc. Weekly corn exports were fraction lower to break the St. Paul the second-lowest of the marstring of fourteen higher closketing year at 29.5 million es. March corn quickly bushels. Total export commitresumed the streak of higher closes ments are 1.73 billion bushels or 65 and peaked above the “glass ceiling” of percent of the U.S. Department of $5.00 to trade to $5.02.75 per bushel on Agriculture’s 2.65 billion bushels outJan. 6. This is the first time the lead corn contract has traded to this height look. We need to average 25.7 million since May 2014. The high in 2014 was bushels of weekly sales to hit the tarin May at $5.19.5 per bushel. Corn get. For those interested, China has hasn’t closed lower two times in a row purchased 459.8 million bushels of U.S. since Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. March corn corn this marketing year. They have has closed higher 17 out of the last 19 shipped 203.4 million bushels leaving a balance of 256.4 million unshipped. trading sessions. This does not take into account any Argentina met with farm groups late sales to unknown which may end up in the week and said they would review going to China. We saw just one daily the halt of corn export licenses until export flash this week of 4 million March 1. This doesn’t mean the halt bushels to unknown. Corn on the will be lifted, just that they will review Dalian Exchange reached $11.09 per it. There were rumors in the market bushel this week. that Argentina was considering impleThe average trade estimates for the menting a similar act on wheat exports, Jan. 12 monthly World Agriculture but there have been no announcements
Now that the year 2020 is A positive for supporting behind us, the hope is that cattle prices has been the 2021 will be a good year for export market which has livestock feeders. There will improved as the dollar has be some hurdles to cross on moved lower. The feeders are the road ahead, but hopefully currently struggling at the the outlook will be promising. present time because of the corn market rally. Feeders The livestock markets have are likely to continue to been caught in a sideways JOE TEALE struggle until the corn rally trade for several years and Broker subsides or cattle prices rally the hope for this year is that Great Plains Commodity enough to make it more profthe markets will break out of Afton, Minn. itable to buy feeders. The this pattern. As to which month of January is likely to direction the breakout moves will be determined by the future events set the direction of the cattle market which take place in the next few for the first quarter of the year. months. The hog market is also at a crossroad The cattle market has experienced a as the market has firmed in the latter decent rally into the end of the year part of December. Both the live price primarily due to the strong beef mar- for hogs and the pork cutout have ralket. Volume and price in the beef prod- lied into important areas which have uct has been the dominate feature been resistance in the past. making the packer increase the price Product movement has again paid to acquire enough live inventory. increased which seems responsible for Currently, the cattle market appears the recent strength. Both domestic and to be trying to make a breakout to export business have increased prompthigher prices. For this to continue, the ing the packers to increase their bids packer will have to remain aggressive for live inventory. As like the cattle, the in their bids and the cutouts will have month of January is likely to set the to continue to move higher. If these tone and the direction of the hog marevents do not take place, then the cat- ket for the first quarter of the year. The tle could slip back into the long stand- underlying question will be whether the hogs can break out of the sideways ing sideways trade. market which has been in place since 2015. v
The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Jan. 8. CORN — Happy new year! We hope everyone has a healthy, happy and prosperous 2021!
to that effect. It’s believed the govern- See NYSTROM, pg. 18 ment may be more concerned about new crop supplies replenishing the system vs. old crop availability and current prices. Just before the weekend, corn/change* soybeans/change* farmer groups offered to guarantee domestic corn supplies in return for the St. Cloud $4.75 +.63 $13.58 +1.61 government lifting the export ban. The Madison $4.74 +.50 $13.54 +1.59 government said they will analyze the Redwood Falls $4.83 +.63 $13.58 +1.63 offer. Fergus Falls $4.73 +.59 $13.43 +1.58 The weather in South America is Morris $4.78 +.55 $13.48 +1.61 mixed. Argentina has rain in the short Tracy $4.63 +.45 $13.58 +1.70 term forecast, but longer-term leans Average: $4.74 $13.53 drier. This past week they were hot and dry. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange Year Ago Average: $3.56 $8.66 estimates corn planting at 85 percent Grain prices are effective cash close on Jan. 12. complete vs. 88 percent last year. Corn *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period. conditions fell 5 percent in the good/
Cash Grain Markets
For marketing news between issues ... visit www.TheLandOnline.com
Information in the above columns is the writer’s opinion. It is no way guaranteed and should not be interpreted as buy/sell advice. Futures trading always involves a certain degree of risk.
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THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
New soybean buying sets contract highs this week NYSTROM, from pg. 17 Supply and Demand Estimates report are: U.S. corn production at 14.47 billion bushels vs. 14.507 billion last month; yield 175.3 bushels per acre vs. 175.8 bu./acre last month; ending stocks 1.599 billion bushels vs. 1.702 billion last month. Dec. 1 stocks are estimated at 11.95 billion bushels vs. 11.327 billion last year. World ending stocks are estimated at 283.5 million metric tons compared to 289 mmt last month. Outlook: Whether Argentina’s forecasted rain comes to fruition and how the market interprets the Jan. 12 WASDE report will drive direction in the short run. Funds are extremely long, but that has not prevented them from adding to that length. When you’re on a winning streak you need a reason to exit and we haven’t been given one yet. The market has turned sideways since breaking $5.00 in consolidation-type trading. Good demand with weather and export issues in Argentina, as well as on-going fund buying are supportive; but a stronger U.S. dollar may dampen the upside momentum. I’m not suggesting the uptrend is over, but don’t get caught flat-footed if the tide turns. For the week, March corn set a new contract high at $5.02.75 per bushel. It closed 12.25 cents higher at $4.96.25 per bushel. July corn gained 14.5 cents to close at $4.94.75 and the December contract was 5.75 cents higher at $4.40.5 per bushel. Over the last two weeks, March corn has soared 45.25 cents on a closing basis. SOYBEANS — Higher prices are supposed to ration demand and that hasn’t happened yet. Soybeans surged to fresh contract highs throughout the week as 7.5 million bushels of soybean export sales were announced to China as well as 7.8 million bushels for old crop and 4.8 million bushels for new crop to unknown. Talk of additional Chinese interest in U.S. corn, milo and soybeans provided on-going support in a demand-driven market. Uncertainty over crop prospects in South America keeps things
interesting. The U.S. attaché in Brazil lowered their soybean estimate 1.5 mmt to 131.5 mmt vs. the USDA at 133 mmt in December. He lowered the Argentine estimate 1 mmt to 50 mmt, in line with the December USDA number. There were rumors some Brazilian sales were being switched to the United States for February with concern Brazilian supplies may be delayed. Argentina’s dryness has certainly lowered prospects throughout the year and conditions have not yet generally stabilized. However, if predicted rains materialize, that situation could remedy itself. Argentina’s soybean conditions fell 15 percent to 27 percent good/excellent and the poor/very poor category increased by 10 percent to 17 percent. Soybeans blooming at 22 percent vs. 38 percent average. Argentina’s grain inspectors’ strike at the southern ports was settled. In Brazil, Safras and Mercado estimates farmers have sold 58 percent of this year’s soybean crop compared to 43 percent a year ago. Weekly export sales were horrible at a measly 1.4 million bushels, but are still record-large for this time of year. Total commitments at 2.012 billion bushels are 91.5 percent of the USDA’s 2.2 billion bushel projection. We need to average 6 million bushels of weekly sales to hit the USDA’s target. Cumulative soybean shipments are 1.436 billion bushels with China accounting for 70 percent of the total, or 1 billion bushels. Interestingly, this week’s report showed China buying 369,000 metric tons after no daily sale flashes; but 528,000 metric tons were switched from unknown and South Korea, and there were some cancellations. China has thus far purchased 1.2 billion bushels of U.S. soybeans. China has 203.18 million bushels of outstanding U.S. purchases remaining on the books. This total does not include any sales to unknown that may ultimately end up heading to China. Soybeans on the Dalian Exchange this week hit $17.80 per bushel.
Average trade estimates for the January WASDE report: U.S. production 4.158 billion bushels (4.17 billion previously); yield 50.5 bu./acre (50.7 bu./acre previously); ending stocks 139 million bushels (175 million previously). Dec. 1 stocks are estimated at 2.92 billion bushels vs. 3.252 billion last year. World ending stocks are pegged at 82.6 mmt vs. 85.6 mmt last month. Brazil’s soybean crop is estimated at 130.8 mmt compared to 133 mmt last month. Argentina’s production forecast at 48.5 mmt, down 1.5 mmt from last month. Outlook: The “buy the dip” mentality was apparent this week when prices pulled back but were met with new buying and then setting new contract highs just ahead of the weekend. The market’s job of rationing is not complete based on the price action. The Jan. 12 WASDE report may provide further direction; but for now, a rising tide raises all boats. I would suggest using the marketing tools available to you to provide some level of downside protection or selling small increments as prices increase. And don’t forget about new crop. We have a long year ahead of us where anything can happen, which 2020 drove home with a vengeance. The trend is higher, and I’ll not try and predict a top. For the week, March soybeans were up an astonishing 63.75 cents to close at $13.74.75 and reaching a new contract high of $13.86 per bushel. July soybeans were 60.5 cents higher at $13.58 and November soybeans gained an even 50 cents at $11.61.75 per bushel. Over just the last two weeks, March soybeans have rallied $1.10.25 per bushel! Nystrom’s notes: Contract changes for the week as of the close on Jan. 8: Chicago March wheat fell 1.75 cents to $6.38.75, Kansas City dropped 8.75 cents to $5.94.75, and Minneapolis rallied 8.5 cents to $6.07.75 per bushel. Over the last two weeks, Chicago wheat is up 12.5 cents, Kansas City up 5.5 cents, and Minneapolis jumped 25 cents. v
Dry milk stocks are 12 percent higher than last year MIELKE, from pg. 14 date, cheddar was at 3.5 billion pounds, up 2.8 percent. U.S. churns gave us 168.3 million pounds of butter, up 2.9 million pounds or 1.8 percent from October (the highest November total ever) and 6.4 million or 4 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date, butter was at 1.91 billion pounds — up a hefty 5.8 percent from 2019. Yogurt totaled 317.7 million pounds, down 0.6 percent from a year ago, with the year-to-date total at 4.1 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent. Dry whey output totaled 70.6 million pounds, down 4.2 million pounds or 5.5 percent from
October and 4.5 million or 5.9 percent below a year eye-catching 27.7 million pounds or 12.4 percent ago, with year-to-date at 875.8 million pounds, down above a year ago. 2.4 percent from 2019. Skim milk powder production slipped to 54.4 milDry whey stocks totaled 67.3 million pounds, down lion pounds, down 2.8 million pounds or 4.8 percent 1.2 percent from October and 14.9 percent below from October, but 3.4 million pounds or 6.8 percent those a year ago. above a year ago. Year-to-date, skim milk powder was at 510.2 million pounds, up a hefty 11.7 percent On a more bearish note, nonfat dry milk output from 2019. shot up to 151.7 million pounds. This is up 13 million pounds or 9.3 percent from October and 12.8 n million or 9.2 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date, The first Global Dairy Trade auction of 2021 shot powder was at 1.73 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent higher with the overall weighted average up 3.9 from 2019. percent, following a 1.3 percent gain on Dec. 15 and Stocks, at 250.3 million pounds, were up 15.1 mil- 4.3 percent Dec. 1. lion pounds or 6.4 percent from October; and an See MIELKE, pg. 19
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PAGE 19
Spot milk loads heavily discounted in first week of 2021 MIELKE, from pg. 18
price since Nov. 12, and 4.75 cents above a year ago.
The average winning price was $3,400 U.S., the highest since Jan. 21 of last year. Traders brought 66.8 million pounds of product to market, down from 69.9 million on Dec. 15.
The barrels gained 7.25 cents on Jan. 5, 8.50 cents the next day, and closed at $1.6525. This is 11 cents higher on the week, 13 cents above a year ago, but 26.5 cents below the blocks. There were 36 cars of each that traded hands on the week.
All products offered saw gains with some prices the highest in years, led by lactose, up 7.4 percent after a 1.5 percent rise on Dec. 15. Butter was up 7.2 percent following a 6 percent jump. This is the seventh consecutive session of gain. Anhydrous milkfat was up 5.5 percent after climbing 1.9 percent. GDT cheddar was up 5 percent following a 4.2 percent boost. Skim milk powder was up 4.1 percent following a 1.2 percent rise, and whole milk powder was up 3.1 percent after inching 0.5 percent higher last time.
Class III futures moved sharply higher as well. Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Jan. 8 at $1.19. The January contract settled on Jan. 7 at $16.85; February, $19.46; and March at $19.13 per hundred- This is up 4.75 cents on the week, but 8.25 cents below a year ago, with 27 cars exchanging hands. weight. StoneX says powder stocks were higher than Central cheese producers are very busy, says expected and exports were lower than expected and Dairy Market News, with some plants reporting thus question the price strength. “The price action staff shortages — particularly those in more rural is keeping pace with the global strength.” areas. The shortages were not solely due to Covid-
19. Contacts pointed to running six and seven-day workweeks over the holidays as a hurdle, but there StoneX equated the GDT 80 percent butterfat but- were few options considering the surplus of milk. Spot milk prices were at or near holiday levels. ter price to $2.00.3 per pound U.S., up 13.5 cents from the last event which saw a 10.4-cent gain. There was good news regarding demand. Although CME butter closed Jan. 8 at a huge bargain $1.38. some cheesemakers reported some softening from GDT cheddar cheese equated to $1.84.98 per pound, eastern customers due to Covid-19-related restricup 8.4 cents, which followed a 7.2 cent gain and tions, others said interest levels have shifted higher. compares to Jan. 8’s CME block cheddar at $1.91.75. Cheese market tones are positive following news of GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.38.05 per the continuation of food box programs, says Dairy pound, up from $1.32.9, and whole milk powder Market News. averaged $1.49.96, up from $1.45.6. CME Grade A Manufacturers say sales for western cheese going nonfat dry milk closed Jan. 8 at $1.19 per pound. into pizza have been strong throughout the fall and n winter and many think that will continue for the In other trade news, November U.S. dairy exports near term. Retail orders are firm as grocers restock shelves following the holidays. While food service didn’t give us a lot to cheer about. Cheese exports totaled 52.8 million pounds, down 15.8 percent from demand is still sluggish, some think the food box November 2019. It was the lowest volumes recorded resumption will help clear cheese stocks. Inventories are balanced to heavy. Some contacts think market since January 2017, according to HighGround Dairy, dragged lower by weak demand from Mexico, speculators are making purchases and putting cheese into storage within a cash-and-carry stratedown 38 percent. gy. Manufacturers say production is active with HighGround Dairy says total dairy exports to plenty of milk for the cheese vats. Mexico had been below a year ago in every month in n 2020. The exception was nonfat dry milk in November, which was actually stronger following Spot butter was caught in the updraft after dropfour months of losses. ping on Jan. 4 to $1.3950 per pound. It gained 5.25 Nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder exports totaled cents the next day, but then fell Jan. 6 and finished Jan. 8 at $1.38. This is down 4 cents on the week 137.1 million pounds (down 7.7 percent) while (the lowest since Nov. 30) and 54 cents below a year whole milk powder exports, at 8 million pounds, ago, with 14 carloads trading places. were up 8.9 percent. The USDA issued Section 32 solicitations for butDry whey totaled 37.0 million pounds, up 35.7 perter to be delivered in February and March, accordcent from a year ago. Much of that was due to ing to StoneX, but the volume was about half of China’s rebuilding its hog population. what they were expecting: 5.2 million pounds vs. the n 12.5 million they expected. Cash cheese prices started the first week of 2021 Butter markets also got a boost from the food box with the blocks losing 3.25 cents on Jan. 4 and the news, says Dairy Market News. Central churning barrels were down 6 cents. Then came Jan. 5’s GDT resumed following the holidays as there’s lots of and the USDA food box program announcement and cream available, locally and from the west. Some presto — the reversal was on. managers said cream trucks were lined up in some The blocks shot up 6 cents on Jan. 5 and closed the week at $1.9175 per pound. This is up a whopping 26.75 cents on the week, the highest CME
Western butter sales have since quieted. Retailers are restocking shelves, but orders are coming in sporadically. Food service demand is weak. Butter production is active and manufacturers have ample supplies of cream. Western butter stocks are heavy — especially for bulk butter, says Dairy Market News.
cases outside their plants. Food service butter sales are well below last year; but plants are waiting for customers to settle in following the holidays.
CME dry whey marched to a Jan. 8 close at 50 cents per pound. This is 3.75 cents higher on the week, the highest since Jan. 18, 2019, and 15.25 cents above a year ago. Only two sales were reported on the week at the CME. Dairy cow culling was down, as is typical during the holidays. In the week ending Dec. 26, 44,100 dairy cows were sent to slaughter, according to the USDA, down 18,900 head from the previous week and 3,200 or 6.8 percent below a year ago.
The rolling four-week average hit 58,775, up 3,675 head from the previous four weeks, but 2,125 head or 3.5 percent less than a year ago. Last of all, U.S. milk production is steady to higher across much of the United States, according to Dairy Market News’ weekly update. Spot milk loads were heavily discounted in the first week of 2021. Midwest contacts reported spot milk at $10 to $5 under Class III. Bottling demand had increased ahead of the winter holidays but slowed during New Year’s week. Some contacts expected Class I sales to pick up by the end of the week as some schools prepare to reopen. Cream supplies are plentiful and surpassing the immediate demand of buyers, according to Dairy Market News. Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in newspapers across the country and he may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v
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Sell your land or real estate in WANTED: Land & farms. I ALFALFA, mixed hay, grass FOR SALE: Alfalfa, mixed OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn. 30 days for 0% commission. have clients looking for hay & wheat straw, medihay, grass hay, straw and in- Produces more high qualiCall Ray 507-339-1272 um square or round bales, dividually wrapped baleage. ty silage on less acres than dairy, & cash grain operadelivery available. Medium or large square hybrid. $67/bushel plus shiptions, as well as bare land bales. Delivery available. ping. High feed value grain. parcels from 40-1000 acres. Thief River Falls, MN. Call Zumbrota, MN. Call or text Located at Teutopolis, IL Both for relocation & investor text LeRoy Ose: Ray Leffingwell 763-286-2504 217-857-3377 ments. If you have even 218-689-6675 With one phone call, you can place thought about selling conyour classified line ad in The Land, tact: Paul Krueger, Farm & Alfalfa Hay - Dairy or stock High Quality Western Alfalfa Farm News and Country Today. Bins & Buildings Land Specialist, Edina Re- cow quality. Big square Hay delivered by the semi Call The Land alty, 138 Main St. W., New bales. Delivered from South load. Also low potassium Dakato. John Haensel 605- grass hay & clean straw. Prague, MN 55372. for more information 351-5760 Don Christianson 608-781- Barn and Quonset Roofing paulkrueger@edinarealty.com 507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 7765. 40 years of satisfied and Straightening. Kelling (612)328-4506 Silo. 1-800-355-2598 www.thelandonline.com customers.
One Call Does It All!
USED TRACTORS
PLANTERS
NEW Versatile 610 4WD ................................ On Hand NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader.. ...... On Hand NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders ... On Hand ’13 NH T8.330 w/auto steer .......................... $143,000 ‘11 NH T8.300 ....................................................94,500 JD 4450PS W/148 LOADER............................ $39,500 ’84 JD 4850 FWA ............................................ $37,500 JD 8310T 5400hrs .......................................... $62,500 Farmall 340 wf w/mower.................... ................$4,250 Massey 1715........ ............................................ Coming ’07 Massey GC2300 w/loader........ ................. $13,900
’11 White 8516 CFS, Loaded .......................... $68,000 ’06 White 8516 cfs .......................................... $39,000 ’06 White 8186 w/fert ...................................... $28,000 ’95 White 6722 loaded ....................................... $7,500
COMBINES
NEW Geringhoff chopping cornhead .................... Call ‘14 Gleaner S78 ............................................... Coming ’12 Gleaner S77 ............................................ $179,000 ’03 Gleaner R65 .............................................. $72,000 ’98 Gleaner R62 .............................................. $59,000 TILLAGE ‘95 Gleaner R52 w/ cummins .......................... Coming ’89 R60 w/both heads ..................................... $15,500 ’14 Sunflower 4412-05.....................................$30,000 ’90 Gleaner R40 w/heads ............................... $17,500 ‘13 CIH 870 9-24 ............................................. $38,500 ’13 Wilrich 513 5-30................. ..........................31,500 Geringhoff parts & heads available ’10 Wilrich QX2 37’ w/basket.......................... $34,500 MISCELLANEOUS ’09 Wilrich QX2 55’5 w/bskt............................ $34,000 Glencoe 7400 9sh ..............................................$6,500 NEW Salford RTS Units .......................................... Call CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders .............................. Call NEW Westfield Augers ........................................... Call NEW NH E26C mini excavator ...................... On Hand NEW REM VRX Vacs. .............................................. Call NEW NH E37C mini excavator ...................... On Hand NEW Hardi Sprayers............................................... Call NEW NH L318/L320/L328 wheeled units ...... On Hand NEW Riteway Rollers .............................................. Call NEW NH C327/C337/C345 track units .......... On Hand NEW Lorenz Snowblowers ..................................... Call ’12 NH 225 C/H ............................................... $27,000 NEW Batco Conveyors ........................................... Call NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ......................... Call HAY TOOLS NEW E-Z Trail Seed Wagons .................................. Call NEW Rock Buckets & Pallet Forks ......................... Call New NH Hay Tools - ON HAND REM 2700, Rental ................................................... Call Pre-Owned Grain Cart ................................... On Hand New Horsch Jokers ................................................ Call
Thank You For Your Business! (507) 234-5191 (507) 625-8649
smithsmillimp.com Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN
Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon
Land Auction
Tuesday, January 19th ~ 10:30 am
Auction held at: Mages Winthrop Office 55780 State Hwy 19, Winthrop, MN 55396
This will be a live auction with online bidding available, see magesland.com for details!
75 ac of Sibley Co Farm Land Location of property within Sibley County: Alfsborg Township, Section 22, Range 29 Parcel #1: 75 total acres, approx. 72.2 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 92.8
156.63 ac of Nicollet Co. Farm Land Location of property within Nicollet County: Bernadotte Township, Section 11, Range 29 Parcel #2: 80.63 total acres, approx. 80.63 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 89.7
Parcel #3: 76 total acres, approx. 73.01 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 87.7
Note: A ll acres are published based on Nicollet and Sibley County Online R ecords and FSA records. The buffer strips are not in any program and are counted as part of the tillable acreage.
Phil & Karen Wingen
Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002 Lic 52-20-018 Listing Agent: Ed Mages, 507-276-2976
Auctioneers: Lar r y Mages, Lafayette; J oe Maidl, Lafayette; J ohn Goelz, Fr anklin Joe Wersal, Winthrop; Ryan Froehlich, Winthrop; Broker: Mages Land Co. & Auction Ser vice, LLC. Terms: No Buyer’s Premium. Ever ything sold in “AS IS” condition.
magesland.com
THE LAND — JANUARY 8 /JANUARY 15, 2021 Bins & Buildings
Tractors
Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys. 2012 CIH 235, one owner, 100% financing w/no liens or 18.4R46 rear tires w/ dured tape, call Steve at Fair- als, fronts 14.9R34 tires, 4 fax Ag for an appointment. remotes valves, 3pt, fac888-830-7757 tory auto steer, 321 hrs, P/ Shift, never seen hard work, like new, always shedded, Farm Equipment cutting back on farming. $136,500. 651-503-5087 1998 Maurer 38 Ft x 8 1/2 Ft (8)Used Tractor Tires, 480-80Gooseneck Flat Bed Trail- R46, same size as 18.4 R46, er w/ Ramps Heavy Duty $650 for all or $100 each. 507(20,000# Load). Great Plains 754-5587 . #5109 9 Shank Turbo-Chis- el w/ Leveler. Both A-One NEW AND USED TRACTOR n Cond. Retiring. 319-347-6282 PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 50 Series & newer trac- or 319-269-4226 tors, AC-all models, Large . Forage Harvester GEHL 1275 Inventory, We ship! Mark L Chopper, tandem wheel pro- Heitman Tractor Salvage cessor. 3-Row Cornhead, 9ft. 715-673-4829 Hay Head 2 Badger Boxes 16ft. BN-1050 no tandem - 14 ton running gear, Very Good Planting Equip Shape, always shedded. 320g 290-4475 or 320-987-3402 2001 Moore built AGCO g FOR SALE: 2013 Yetter rota- 24R22” 6000 series, Martin ry hoe, 40’ flat fold, $7,900; row cleaners, hyd driven, 2013 Einbock tine weeder, 80’ starter, tru count air clutchfolding, excellent condition, es, 3 corn seed plates, 1 soy$26,900. 507-327-6430 bean plate, stored in heated shop. exc shape, looking to Harms Mfg. Land Rollers, sell, bought newer planter. Brand New, 12’-$6,800; 320-583-5324 14’-$7,000; 16’-$8,000; 24’$14,800; 32’-$17,500; 42’- John Deere 7000 6x30 plant$21,500; Others from 8’-62’. er, liquid fertilizer, monitor, 715-234-1993 corn and Kinze bean meters, $7,800; John Deere RM 6x30 JD 7000 Corn Planter, 2Row, cultivator, $500. 507-364-8740 3PT, $1,800; Fert. Avail. $350/Row. 715-234-1993 We buy Salvage Equipment Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
Wanted
Wanted
All kinds of New & Used farm WANTED: Yetter 2x2 fertilizequipment - disc chisels, field er discs for John Deere 1770 cults, planters, soil finishers, planter. 507-227-2602 cornheads, feed mills, discs, balers, haybines, etc. 507Livestock 438-9782 WANTED: John Deere Gauge FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls Wheels for John Deere 845, also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ 875 or John Deere 400 rotary Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred hoe. 507-227-2602 Kemen 320-598-3790 WANTED: Tile stringer cart in good condition. Homemade okay. 320-223-4110 Leave message. WANTED: Used LP propane tank, 15,000, 18,000 or 21,000 gallons. 507-327-6430
Swine Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Boars & Gilts available. Monthly PRRS and PEDV. Delivery available. Steve Resler. 507-456-7746
WANTED
DAMAGED GRAIN 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. CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY
PRUESS ELEV., INC.
SELL IT FAST
1-800-828-6642
with a classified line ad! Call us today 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665
If you’re having a Farm Auction, let other Farmers know it! Upcoming Issues of THE LAND Southern MNNorthern MN Northern IA January 29, 2021 February 12, 2021 *January 22, 2021 February 5, 2021 February 26, 2021 February 19, 2021 March 12, 2021 March 5, 2021 March 26, 2021
*
Deadline is 8 days prior to publication. Indicates early deadline, 9 days prior to publication.
PO Box 3287 • Mankato, MN 56002 Phone: 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665 Fax: 507-345-1027 Website: www.TheLandOnline.com e-mail: theland@TheLandOnline.com Ask Your Auctioneer to Place Your Auction in The Land!
PAGE 21
Steffes Auction Calendar 2020 For more info, call: 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com
Opening January 15 & Closing January 20 Online Steffes Auction - 1/20, Upper Midwest Locations, TImed Online Auction Opening January 18 & Closing January 25 Matt’s Automotive, Excess Equipment Auction, Fargo, ND, Timed Online Auction Friday, January 22 at 5PM Barnes County, ND Farmland For Rent, Valley City, ND Opening January 22 & Closing January 26 at 12PM Online Hay Auction - Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening January 22 & Closing February 3 Lindstrom, MN Estate Auction, Lindstrom, MN, Timed Online Auction Friday, January 29 at 5PM Cass County, ND Farmland For Rent, Gardner, ND Opening February 4 & Closing February 9 at 12PM Walsh County, ND Land Auction - 732± Acres, Edinburg, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 5 & Closing February 9 at 12PM Online Hay Auction - Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 5 & Closing February 10 Online Steffes Auction - 2/10, Upper Midwest Location, Timed Online Auction Opening February 9 & Closing February 16 Dakota Valley Growers Inventory Reduction Auction, Bathgate,ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 10 & Closing February 17 at 1PM Traverse County, MN Tillable Farmland - 320± Acres, Traverse County, Taylor Township, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 11 & Closing February 23 Bryan Albertson Excess Equipment Auction, Foxhome, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 12 & Closing February 22 at 12PM Colfax Farmers Elevator Equipment Auction, Colfax, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 15 & Closing February 23 at 1PM Brown County, MN Tillable Farmland - 100± Acers, Brown County, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 18 & Closing February 25 David & Aileen Clough Farm Retirement Auction, Fessenden, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 19 & Closing February 23 Willard Onchuck Estate Collectible Toy Auction, Steffes Group Facility, West Fargo, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 19 & Closing February 23 at 12PM Online Hay Auction - Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 20 & Closing March 1 Satrom Grain Farms, LLC Equipment Auction, Oriska, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening March 1 & Closing March 9 John & Kari Gramith Farm Retirement Auction, Norwood, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 1 & Closing March 11 at 7PM Richard Gabrielson Estate Farm Equipment Auction, Darwin MN, Timed Online Auction Tuesday, March 9 at 9AM Jim & Debby Coughlin Trust Farm Retirement Auction, Iroquois, SD Opening March 9 & Closing March 18 at 7PM Darwin & Kris Panning Farm Retirement Auction, Hamburg , MN, Timed Online Auction
PAGE 22
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
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.
INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU INVEST! Midwest Free Community Paper Association does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all classifieds and other ads which require an investment. (MCN)
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ONLINE AUCTION. Hansen Auction Group 250+ Items. Dickery BBQ, Gas Station & Car Wash Commercial Appliances, Equipment, Furniture & More. Call 763-389-5700 for more info. Bidding ends Jan 11. Bid now at HAGAUCTION.COM. (MCN)
AT&T TV - The Best of Live & On-Demand On All Your Favorite Screens. CHOICE Package, $64.99/ mo plus taxes for 12months. Premium Channels at No Charge for One Year! Anytime, anywhere. Some restrictions apply. W/ 24-mo. agmt (TV price higher in 2nd year.) Regional Sports Fee up to $8.49/mo. is extra & applies. Call IVS 1-866-387-0621. (MCN)
DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855-752-6680 (MCN)
Attention Active Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a new career and earn your Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 855-960-0997. (MCN)
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CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer. Competitive Offer! Nationwide FREE Pick Up! Call Now For a Free Quote! 888-366-5659. (MCN) BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 855-824-1258. (MCN) Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed. Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-855-679-7096 (MCN) DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-844-316-8876. (MCN)
The COVID crisis has cost us all something. Many have lost jobs and financial security. Have $10K In Debt? Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Call NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF! We can help! Get a FREE debt relief quote: Call 1-866-5520649. (MCN) MobileHelp, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1-855-385-9770. (MCN) Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and longlasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 844-716-2411.
Trucks & Trailers
THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021 Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
1997 Volvo day cab semi trac- FOR SALE: Boss SK 10’ box PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS Winpower Sales & Service tor, Cummins N14 select plus snow plow, used very little New pumps & parts on hand. Reliable Power Solutions engine, Eaton Fuller, 10spd, on skid loader, Paid $5,000, Call Minnesota’s largest dis- Since 1925 PTO & automatic less than 400K miles, locking Sell for $2,300. Moved to tributor Emergency Electric Generdif, A/R, newer steer & drive town. Robert Benz, Cannon HJ Olson & Company ators. New & Used Rich Opsata-Distributor tires, accepting best reason- Falls. 612-770-3659 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 able offer. 320-583-5324 800-343-9376 FOR SALE: Set of 2 18.4-46 REINKE IRRIGATION Ford 7.3 Power Stroke diesel tires, Firestone radial all Sales & Service Classified Line Ads used engines & trans, tested traction, 45 to 50%, asking New & Used & guaranteed, parts & ser- $750. 507-227-2602 For your irrigation needs vice also. 320-583-0881 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073 Please recycle this magazine. Call 507-345-4523
WORK!
Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-372-3080 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/midwest (MCN) NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you selfpublish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 855-623-8796 (MCN) Become a published author! Publications sold at all major secular & specialty Christian bookstores. CALL Christian Faith Publishing for your FREE author submission kit. 1-888-981-5761. (MCN) Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-5771268. Promo Code 285. (MCN) Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T’s Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! CALL 1-844290-8275. (MCN) DO WARM WINTERS SOUND GOOD?? Bring your RV down to the warm Rio Grande Valley. J-5 RV Park in Mission Tx. will welcome you with a country setting and friendly people. We have a special for 1st time visitors. We are following guidelines to keep everyone healthy and taking precautions to protect our community. hone us at 956-682-7495 or 515-4183214. Email info@j5rvparktexas.com Tom and Donna Tuttle, Managers. (MCN)
THE LAND — JANUARY 8 /JANUARY 15, 2021
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
• 5/8” drum roller wall thickness • 42” drum diameter wall thickness • 4”x8” frame tubing 3/8” thick • Auto fold
e s c -
MANDAKO 12’-60’ LONG ROLLERS
FOR THE BEST DEAL ORDER NOW!
PAGE 23 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
• Reach over 150,000 readers • Start your ad in The Land
THE FREE PRESS South Central Minnesota’s Daily News Source
• Add more insertions • 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.
GREENWALD FARM CENTER Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177 14 miles So. of Sauk Centre
ADVERTISER LISTING Agri Systems/Systems West ........................................ 10 Beck's Hybrids ................................................. 1, 13, 15 Dahl Farm Supply ........................................................7 Dairyland Seed Co., Inc. ..............................................3 Fladeboe Land ........................................................... 22 Generac ..................................................................... 19 Greenwald Farm Center .............................................. 23 Kannegiesser Truck ......................................................4 Mages Auction Service ............................................... 20 Pioneer ........................................................................9 Pruess Elevator, Inc. .................................................. 21 Rush River Steel & Trim ............................................ 12 Schweiss Doors .......................................................... 21 Smiths Mill Implement, Inc. ....................................... 20 Steffes Group ............................................................. 21 507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 PO Box 3287, Mankato, MN 56002-3287 www.thelandonline.com
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The ad prices listed are based on a basic classified line ad of 25 words or less. Ads running longer than 25 words will incur an added charge.
CHECK ONE: Announcements Employment Real Estate Real Estate Wanted Farm Rentals Auctions Agri Business Farm Services Sales & Services Merchandise Antiques & Collectibles
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
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)
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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.
PAGE 24
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — JANUARY 8/JANUARY 15, 2021
This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Tim King. Photos by Jan King.
Historical accommodations
I
n 1985, Carol Wingeier bought Del Iten’s 100-year-old log cabin. Mr. Iten, who was an elderly gent with a colorful vocabulary, told Wingeier, who was up from Chicago visiting her daughter and son-in-law, that his family wanted him to get rid of the dang blasted eye sore which was filled with junk and the collapsing remnants of an attached granary. Iten asked a dollar. Wingeier, who grew up in the Georgia mountains where they have twostory cabins like this, gave him $20. The hewer and builder of the cabin, George Maynard, was an American Civil War refugee from Kentucky. Being from nearly the same mountains as Wingeier and her ancestors, he used the same architecture. And that’s why Wingeier and that cabin belonged together, explains her son-in-law John King. Wingeier asked King to move the cabin to his land so she could have a summer house. It was a preposterous request; but King is a good son-in-law and Wingeier was a visionary. Marking and numbering each dove tail joint of each burr oak log Mr. Maynard had hewn with his broad axe, King disassembled the cabin from top to bottom, hauled the logs to his place, and reassembled them from bottom to top. Wingeier wanted a corrugated steel roof like in the
Long Prairie, Minn.
mountains. She got it. King added a porch. Wingeier put rocking chairs on it. Wingeier’s home had a wood burning stove, kerosene lanterns and an outhouse. She loved the peace of living off the grid and looking at the stars at night. Of course, the cabin didn’t have wi-fi so Doug, Carol’s husband and a world traveling Methodist scholar, would walk across the creek and through the woods to John and Ruth’s (his daughter) house to get connected. Carol passed on not long ago and Doug doesn’t travel anymore. John and Ruth worried about what to do with the Maynard cabin in Carol’s absence. They didn’t want the raccoons and mice taking over. So they decided others should have the opportunity of peace and simplicity that Carol enjoyed so much. They added a kerosene stove, some colorful furniture to complete the warm wood colors of the interior, and opened it up as an Airbnb. “We had a wonderful experience and we feel very lucky to have been able to stay in the cabin. We enjoyed the evenings with the lamps and the fireplace. Cooking on the kerosene stove was really neat and unique,” wrote a recent guest. You can search for the Maynard Cabin at airbnb.com. v
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Insulate your barn. Proper insulation prevents condensation and rust.
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MN LIC B C639351 MN LIC B C639351