From My Farmhouse Kitchen

There are some people who prefer to receive a check through the mail. There are others who get more excited over a handwritten letter or a card in the mail. I know which one puts a smile on my face. Well, to be honest, they both do. FROM MY

Real letters from actual peo- FARMHOUSE ple are scarce. Thankfully, my KITCHEN birthday and Christmas happen in two different months so I receive letters at different By Renae B. Vander Schaaf times of the year. Since a letter is rarer than a check, therefore it obviously has more value.

It seems to me, when my children were younger, I wrote more letters through the year. Maybe it was the need to challenge my mind to think about something else besides dolls and tractors. And there was no lack of subject matter. Not bragging here by any means, but my children were so cute and smart — they take after their father, of course!

For whatever reasons, my letter writing was dwindling down to where our stamps were becoming outdated (that is, until they came out with the Forever stamp).

It was a struggle trying to remember how many pennies, or two cent stamps we needed to use up the random stamps which showed up in the oddest places. Or even to remember the legal rate for mailing a letter. By the way, what is the current postage for a letter?

But last winter I was inspired by a friend who told me she writes a letter every day because there are lonely people out there — especially when everyone was scared to leave their home. That prompted me to come up with a list of people who probably could use a letter. Because if I get excited over one, maybe they would too.

My letter writing never reached my goal, but it did get me a few telephone calls from people who were happy to get a letter. And I liked talking with them. It was nice to know my letter was read.

Sometimes my letters were a page or two long, written on notebook paper, or it was a short note sent in a fun hello card (there are many cute ones of those). Other times, a birthday card, get well card or a heartfelt sympathy card was sent.

This week I will be sending sympathy cards to a bereaved husband, his two young sons and his wife’s parents. A young woman was killed on her Nebraska ranch in one of those tragic accidents involving a UTV. She had attended college here and we got to know her because she came to our church and joined us for many Sunday dinners.

She was a sweet girl who excelled in all she undertook, actually inducted into the college Hall of Fame six years after graduation.

When she was in the third grade she was given a letter to read by her teacher. All the students were told to read and make notes. My young friend did, and it changed her life. She now lived to glorify God; because, you see, the letter she was given was the New Testament. The Bible is God’s love letter to us. In it He reminds us that before we were even born, He knew us. He pays so much attention to us that even the very hairs on our heads are numbered. God sees all that we do. When we ask, He will forgive us our sins and give us eternal life. He watches over us, even holding us in the palm of His hands. We can trust Him because He will never forsake us.

She didn’t know she was only going to live 32 years before she would be called to her eternal home. I am so glad she read and mediated on the words in this letter from God. The Bible was her guide to living a life that pleased God.

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v

Crop insurance benefits for producers with cover crops

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture if they planted cover crops during this crop year. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency, helps farmers maintain their cover crop systems, despite the financial challenges posed by the pandemic.

The PCCP is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, a bundle of programs to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions.

PCCP provides premium support to producers who insured their spring crop with most insurance policies and planted a qualifying cover crop during the 2021 crop year. The premium support is $5 per acre, but no more than the full premium owed.

Illinois, Indiana and Iowa have existing programs for producers to receive a premium benefit for planting cover crops. In these states, participating producers will receive an additional benefit.

All cover crops reportable to FSA are eligible and include cereals and other grasses, legumes, brassicas and other non-legume broadleaves, and mixtures of two or more cover crop species planted at the same time.

To receive the benefit for this program, producers must file a Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) for cover crops with USDA’s Farm Service Agency by June 15, which is distinct from the normal acreage reporting date. The normal acreage reporting deadline with FSA has not changed, but to receive the premium benefit, producers must file by June 15. The cover crop fields reported on the Report of Acreage form must match what the producer reported to their insurance company for crop insurance policies. To file the form, producers must contact and make an appointment with their local USDA Service Center.

Certain policies are not eligible because they have underlying coverage, which would already receive the benefit or are not designed to be reported in a manner consistent with the Report of Acreage form (FSA-578). PCCP is not available for Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, Enhanced Coverage Option, Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index, and Supplemental Coverage Option. Stacked Income Protection (STAX) and Margin Protection (MP) policies are only eligible for PCCP when insured as a standalone policy. STAX and MP endorsements to underlying policies are not eligible for PCCP.

PCCP does not change acreage reporting dates, reporting requirements, or any other terms of the crop insurance policy.

Meanwhile, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made the determination not to update its conservation practice standard for cover crops. The latest version of the conservation practice standard can be found in the Field Office Technical Guide under Section IV, Conservation Practices and Supporting Documents, by State.

This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v

By PAUL MALCHOW age systems. “By 1985 were spending so The Land Managing Editor much time with farmers’ tiling and erosion

“Oh, give me land, lots of land under control needs, we started doing land sales,” starry skies above he recalled. “Today, four times the land is

Don’t fence me in.” being operated than in 1980. There is simply not enough land to satisfy the demand.” — Cole Porter In recognition for Wingert’s dedication

MANKATO, Minn. — No matter how to his profession, he recently received the you look at it, 6,500 acres is a lot of land national 2020 Land Realtor of America — fences or not. In 2020, Wingert Realty award at the Realtor’s Land Institute & Land Services, Inc. found buyers for 60 national land conference. “I haven’t seen different parcels of land totaling in the the hardware yet,” Wingert laughed. “The neighborhood of 6,500 acres. And as most conference was all virtual. I was very people will attest to, 2020 was not a great pleased to be chosen. In our industry, this year. Wingert Realty will typically handle is a big deal.” 75 to 95 transactions in a year. Wingert served as president of the

“Covid-19 impacted every aspect of soci- Realtor’s Land Institute in 2013. ety in 2020, and the market for land was no exception,” said broker Charles “Chuck” Wingert. “Purchasers were active in early spring, but took a wait-and-see approach as the year wore on. Even high-quality Wingert recently had other big news to share: On May 1, Wingert Realty & Land Services merged with Hertz Farm Management, Inc. farms struggled to find buyers. Sellers Founded in 1946, Hertz Farm Management specializes in professional farm management, farm real estate sales, farmland auctions (live and online), land acquisitions, and farm appraisals. With 15 offices throughout the Midwest, Hertz manages over 2,800 farms consisting of more than 625,000 acres. Wingert added land values stayed primarily flat from 2019. Top-quality tiled land sold in the $8,000 also decided to hold back until the negativity in the marketplace subsided.” Wingert Realty’s sales figures show nearly half of 2020 transactions took place by April; only seven were closed from May through August. But Wingert said properties which Photo by Paul Malchow Files on Charles “Chuck” Wingert’s desk testify to the interest in land in 2021. Low interest rates and rebounding grain markets create more competition for available parcels. had been in limbo during the summer were quickly to $9,000 per acre range with the majority of acreage Wingert’s Mankato office will expand services to sold. “Expansion farmers and investors aggressively landing in the $6,000 to $8,000 range. Parcels with include farmland sales and auctions, valuations, came back into the market,” Wingert said. creeks, marshland and/or wooded acreage garnered a appraisals, and farm management while continuing It is interesting to note that only about two-thirds of Wingert’s 2020 sales went to established farmers looking to expand while the other third were acquired by investors. “The internet really opens up the market to land investors,” explained Wingert. “It’s a safe wide range of prices; most falling in the $3,000 to $5,000 per acre range. Wingert credits online land auctions with boosting land prices 10 to 30 percent above seller expectations or appraisal. “Expansion farmers cite a profitable to serve landowners across Minnesota and the northern region of the Corn Belt. Along with Chuck, Wingert’s staff includes Darrell Hylen, Rick Hauge, Geoff Mead, Adam Knewtson, Nick Meixell, Sara Strande, and Andrea Thomas. investment, although with a lower return. Low inter- 2020, low interest rates and the opportunity to lock “Wingert’s strong reputation and philosophy of proest rates have allowed developers to sell their past in profitable prices for 2021 as their motivation to viding knowledgeable, personalized service to farminventory of lots and are now acquiring farmland expand,” he said. “Investors cite their desire to repo- land owners, dovetails perfectly with the Hertz phinear many cities for housing development.” sition stock market profits into land and purchase losophy of caring for and serving farmland owners,” Nearly all of Wingert Realty’s 2020 sales were under 200 acres in size, and half of the year’s sales were parcels under 100 acres. “In our area especially, ravines really cut up the lots,” said Wingert. “Plus, people with 1,000 to 2,000 acres aren’t selling.” land ahead of the inflationary cycle they feel is just around the corner.” Chuck Wingert has seen many ups and downs in land realty during his career. Wingert Realty opened its doors in 1976 as a surveying company designing drainsaid Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Real Estate Services. “We are very excited to welcome Chuck and his team into our Hertz family, and we look forward to the new opportunities it provides for everyone involved, including staff members, as well as current and future clients.” v

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