THE LAND ~ July 2, 2021 ~ Northern Edition

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June 25, 2021 July 2, 2021

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Spraying and Praying Relief is spotty as many fields are begging for rain INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Dick Hagen reports from the World Pork Expo Hispanic farmer expands enterprise from humble beginnings Kent Thiesse runs down the latest PAP details ... and more!

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THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56001 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XL ❖ No. 13 24 pages, 1 section plus supplements

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I’ve learned to not ever utter, “I’ll never.” Chances are very high that I will in fact do the thing I have stated that I’ll never do.

I remember being a “parenting expert,” judging (inside my head) when a child had a temper tantrum on a plane and the parents seemed to be not in control of that little person. Fast forward to years LAND MINDS later as my heart now goes out to any

By Kristin Kveno parent on a plane with a screaming kid, as it’s tough to calm your child while so many of your fellow passengers’ judging eyes are on you.

“I never want a cat in the house.”

That was said multiple times over the years by my husband, Seth. He was raised with the animals outside — not in the house. Dogs were protectors of the farm and the kids that lived there, cats were professional mousers keeping the rodent population in check.

We are now the proud owner of a GIANT Maine Coon cat who has zero hunting instincts, except for getting the occasional dead bug. We haven’t actually tested the hunting prowess of Ole, our cat, as he’s strictly an indoor feline.

We have one daughter in particular who has adored cats since she was a toddler. Her first grade teacher asked Ole us to please get a cat, so that Lauren’s sentence of the day could then be about something different than wanting a cat. Lauren got plenty of time with the barn cats at her grandparents’ farm but she still desperately wanted one of her own.

Then one day Seth came across a Maine coon kitten that needed a home and the stubborn cat-outsideonly guy became an indoor cat owner.

Not only is Ole an inside cat, he’s a cat with one leg shorter than the other. See, this delicate cat, while a kitten a few years ago, ran under the couch. While doing so, he hooked his leg around the leg of the Toby and Claire couch, snapping his hip bone right off. The vet was able to re-attach his femur, but had to do so a little further up, thus his shorter leg.

OPINION

When we picked up Ole after his femur reattachment procedure, the receptionist at the vet clinic handed me some pain meds for Ole and a Ziploc bag with what she and I both thought was a large pill. I asked when he needed to take this, and she went back to check with the vet who informed her that it in fact wasn’t a pill, it was actually the head of Ole’s femur.

Apparently you get a souvenir to keep when you get that procedure done. We promptly threw the bone away. I didn’t want to chance it that Ole would swallow that thing and we’d end right back at the vet. This all happened two weeks after our daughter broke her wrist falling over a hurdle at a track and field meet, needing surgery complete with pins. That was a very, very pricey two weeks for the Kvenos.

Our sweet 18-year-old mutt Jack Kveno passed away last fall. For almost Jack’s whole life, Seth said that this will definitely be our last dog and I agreed with him as I wanted a lap dog and he wanted an outside pup. We agreed to disagree on that subject.

Well, meet Toby Kveno, our fivemonth-old Lhasa Apso/ Bichon Frise mix puppy. I got my lap dog and Seth got a small little buddy who loves to try to boss around cows — from a distance of course.

Named after Michael Scott’s most-hated employee, Toby Flenderson, from The Office, Toby is anything but hated in our family.

This lovable pooch is a sweet addition to our family, minus his car sickness antics.

Life is full of curve balls — some amazing, some heartbreaking; but just when you think you’ll never do something, you may very well end of doing it. BUT NOT THIS: My daughter is lobbying for a pet snake. That will NEVER happen …

I mean it this time!

Kristin Kveno is the staff writer of The Land. She may be reached at kkveno@TheLandOnline.com. v

THERE’S EVEN MORE ONLINE... @ TheLandOnline.com • “Calendar of Events” — Check out • “E-Edition” — Archives of past The Land’s complete events listing issues of The Land

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

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This time the scoreboard tells the whole story In farming, the late Farm Journal econA June 18 federal court filing by the omist John Marten liked to say, we keep U.S. Department of Justice charts score with acres. decades of USDA loan program discrimination despite several court-ordered and Right or wrong, acres — and the wealth Congressionally-mandated remediation they represent — have always been a efforts. measure of personal and professional success. The converse is true, too. The The revealing, cathartic DOJ filing lack or loss of acres usually implies failcame in response to a June 10 federal ure of sorts. court order which required USDA to halt FARM & FOOD FILE the $4 billion loan relief program. The That critical measure is at the center of order came after the Wisconsin Institute

By Alan Guebert the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture of Law and Liberty sued USDA on effort to remedy its well-documented, behalf of “white farmers who” contend“vast” and “systematic” discrimination ed they were “not eligible for the same against “minority farmers” through debt relief,” according to DTN. Section 1005 of the recently enacted $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, commonly referred to as the The Wisconsin lawsuit isn’t the only legal chal2021 Covid relief package. lenge the $4 billion program faces, but it is getting In the new legislation, Congress set aside as much the most attention. After the federal judge issued the temporary restraining order to freeze USDA’s as $4 billion to address the devastating impact USDA’s failure to fully implement and fairly admin- action, the lead attorney for the white farmers praised the judge’s order by noting the “Biden ister color-blind, government ag lending programs.

That failure can, as usual, be found in the numbers. Administration is radically undermining bedrock principles of equality under the law.”

According to USDA, 949,889 Black farmers Nonsense, wrote DOJ lawyers in their tart, worked 41.4 million acres in 1920. Today, just 42-page reply to the judge’s order. Almost every gov48,697, or only 1.4 percent of American’s 3.4 million ernment effort to redress past discrimination in farmers, own or rent 4.7 million acres, a staggering USDA lending programs has been litigated (some 88 percent less than a century earlier. repeatedly) and rendered legal, it noted. The 2021 By any measure — acres, farmers, percentages — program is meant to finally fix a broken bureaucrathat’s a virtual wipeout. cy USDA now readily admits it has repeatedly failed to remedy.

There are many reasons for the steep decline: industrialization of the U.S. economy, domestic Remarkably, that failure continued even in the migration, the rise of new ag technologies. But one early Covid relief programs because, DOJ explains, indisputable reason that USDA itself acknowledges “...nearly the entirety of USDA’s Market Facilitation is its widespread discrimination in ag lending proProgram,” a $14.4 billion Trump Administration grams. That overt action helped fuel an exodus of scheme to counter the market impact of its export Black and socially disadvantaged farmers from U.S. tariff policy, “and almost all of the $9.2 billion proagriculture. vided through USDA’s first Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, went to non-minority farmers.”

How does USDA send almost $24 billion in nostrings-attached taxpayer money to U.S. farmers and ranchers in two years and socially disadvanWell … there’s bad news and good news. The bad taged farmers and ranchers end up with nothing news is the dates for the Todd County Fair were more than chicken feed? incorrect in The Land’s County Fair Guide. The good Simple, DOJ notes in its June 18 court filing, news is, you haven’t missed out on this year’s Todd County Fair. The correct dates for the event are July “Congress again found … the lingering effects of 15, 16, 17 and 18. We apologize for any confusion we systemic discrimination in USDA programs.” may have caused. Enjoy the fair.

In fact, it added, quoting Senate Ag Committee

OPINION

Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, USDA’s “latent barriers and historic discrimination” remain so strong that “73 percent of Black farmers were not even aware of the agricultural aid provision of the[se] coronavirus rescue programs.”

That’s unbelievable until you listen, really listen, to Stabenow’s words. Systemic discrimination.

Latent barriers. Historic discrimination.

This is 2021, not 1921 or even 1821.

But you wouldn’t know it by the scoreboard.

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

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THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

The garden and life are synonymous — weeds and all All winter long I had been dreaming may not even be known to us — until, at about being outdoors and spending time some inopportune time, it will suddenly in my garden. Well, summer has finally expose itself. So many times I may be arrived for real. These weeks of 90-plus sharing my garden with others. It looks temperatures only confirms that summer clean, but all of a sudden there is this is here. It is time to put all that winter glaring ugly weed that somehow was ambition into action and enjoy the warm missed. So it is with us. sunshine.

Throughout the years, new plants are And so I am. Usually I just enjoy listenadded to the garden. Some I have FROM MY ing to the birds sing their praises, and let searched for, others just seem to find me FARMHOUSE my mind wander to wherever it wants to and are perfect for a specific location.

KITCHEN go: menus, people, writing. It is always Scripture is like that. Sometimes when

By Renae B. fluttering off somewhere — somewhat our souls are hungry or desirous for Vander Schaaf akin to the bumblebees buzz around the encouragement, direction or correction, Drumstick Alliums for a bit, then off to the we search the Bible for help. Other times, a verse Beardtongue/Penstemons. jumps out grabbing our attention.

But this season that old gospel song “Life Is Like Most of my plants are perennials, returning each A Mountain Railroad” just keeps playing in my spring. They are reliable and familiar. We all have mind. Railroads were quite significant when this our scripture passages we depend on to bring comsong was written and played a role in almost every- fort; or when rejoicing, the verses will just flow from one’s life. our heart.

Railroads conveyed people, livestock, food, dry On that same note, gardens will not thrive withgoods, farm machinery, and whatever was needing out water and nutrients. So too do we need spiritual transporting to destinations hither and yon. Since food which comes from reading and meditating on most of us have never ridden on a train, or loaded scripture, listening to sermons and worshiping with livestock to be taken to the Chicago Stockyards, we other believers. When that is neglected, we suffer. rather forget how the words of this song really corIt seems as though asparagus, cilantro and garlic related to life — and still do. like my flower garden spot. They pop up wherever I can hear the train whistle when I am weeding. It they want to. I leave them, as it is hard to weed out seems to me that there is much in the garden that food that may be needed someday. These plants also parallels life, too. remind me to sprinkle good deeds whenever, wherever possible throughout each day because someone Obviously, the weeds are easy to equate to sin in may be in need. many ways. Purslane is quite small at this time of the year and appears quite harmless. But … oh, It’s evident in the garden that there are seasons. how it spreads. Even so, a seemingly small sin can The crocus and tulips have finished their blooming. escalate and invade our whole being.

The peonies and lupines are in their prime now. As they fade away, the Monarda and Butterfly Weed A weed growing close to a plant is often hidden and overlooked until revealed through closer inspec- will burst forth in colorful bloom. tion; or it towers over the plant that it had been So it is with us. We are as grass, here today, gone using for cover. We may harbor hidden sins; or a sin tomorrow. The Bible tells us: “For all flesh is as

www.TheLandOnline.com Weed Management Field Day July 13 FOLEY, Minn. — Plan to attend the Weed Management Field Day July 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at 22760 330th St Albany, Minn. This field day will address corn and soybean weed management concerns facing growers in Central Minnesota. Topics covered will include weed identification, herbicide best management practices, and a plot tour of both the corn and soybean weed management plots.

Presenters for the day will be University of Minnesota Extension Weed Scientist Debalin Sarangi, Regional Extension Educator for Crops David Nicolai, and local Extension Educator Nathan

Drewitz.

The field location is about 2 miles south of Albany on Highway 41 and half a mile east on 330th Street on the south side of the road.

Pre-registration is not required but helps with planning. For more information and to pre-register, contact Drewitz at (608) 515-4414 or by email at ndrewitz@umn.edu.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:24,25 King James version)

Because I mentioned this song, I suspect the tune is now in your mind.

Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad (from Hymnary.org) Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that’s brave; We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave; Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; never falter, never quail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us, Till we reach that blissful shore; Where the angels wait to join us In Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife; See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life; Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain; On a hill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train; Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan’s swelling tide, You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide; There you’ll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son, With the hearty, joyous, plaudit, “Weary pilgrim, welcome home!”

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

PAGE 5

Independence Day not exactly a holiday for Mom There is hardly a national holiday dad worked all year long to support a which fits into a farmer’s schedule more family of nine. He was never finished than the Fourth of July. with his work before dark. And when us kids got old enough to play outside after For your average farmer who rarely has dark, rare were the days when Dad time to socialize because there is always would stop in front of the shop and hit so much work to be done, this celebration some balls with a bat for us to catch. can rank high on the list of convenience holidays because the main event happens Those times seemed so very special. after dark.

But the Fourth of July for Mom as a TABLE TALK Dark is just the right time for any farm wife was perhaps a Twilight Zone

By Karen Schwaller marathon on wheels. For her it was just important summer celebration to begin.

After all, by then the chores are usually more work, mostly. finished, the hay is too damp to continue It was our family tradition to climb into cutting, the livestock are content, and supper is usu- the station wagon and drive to the Plymouth ally still warming on the stove or in the oven (from County Fairgrounds, where the fireworks took place. which the rest of the family ate three hours previBut in order to first get into the station wagon, ously).

Mom had some work to do.

Ironically, farmers — who grow food and should We always went there with snacks and drinks, but eat well 365 days of the year — often get so not pre-packaged snacks and drinks like we might involved in their work they become experts at disbring today. That would be far too expensive. Mom secting and consuming shoe leather. Ketchup to a would make supper and we would clean it all up. farmer is almost as important to keep in the side Then she would get the popcorn pan on the stove holster as his pliers. and pop away until she filled a garbage bag full of Perhaps some of the wonder of the Fourth of July it. We would make soft drink mix in two pitchers, has passed us by. But again, I’m now entering that then pack it all up — popcorn, bowls, glasses, pitchera of people who begin their stories with “…when I ers of soft drink mix, and sittin’ blankets. was growing up…”

Unbelievably, all of it — and a family of nine — fit Sometimes I wonder which generation is harder of into the car. We were skinnier then. hearing.

It all got unpacked and distributed at the fairI do remember Fourth of July holidays when I was grounds. And for that short time, Mom’s life was one a kid. I would never take away from how hard my of leisure — enjoying the fireworks and some pop-

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

July 7-10 — Pipestone Sheep for Profit School — Pipestone, Minn. — A professional management and business school for the sheep industry to help improve sheep management skills, increase profitability and form relationships in your business - combining lecture, group discussion and visits to area sheep operations. Contact Philip Berg at Philip.berg@ mnwest.edu or (507) 825-6799.

July 8-9 — 2021 South Dakota Governor’s Agricultural Summit — Sioux Falls, S.D. — Sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

July 8 — Dairy Grazing Pasture Walk — St. Cloud, Minn. — Graziers, dairy farmers and interested parties are invited to connect and share experiences in the field. Contact Angie Walter at angie@ sfa-mn.org.

July 13 — Beef Tour: Rock-Nobles Cattlemen’s Association — Worthington, Minn. — The Summer

Beef Tour and Trade Show showcases experienced cattlemen, innovative techniques and quality beef setups. Registrants will have access to more than 50 agricultural-related businesses featuring new products and services available to cattlemen through the Trade Show. Contact Matt Widboom at mwidboom@ gmail.com or (507) 376-7313.

July 13 — Central Minnesota Weed Management Field Day — Albany, Minn. — The field day will address corn and soybean weed management concerns facing growers in central Minnesota. Topics covered will include weed identification, herbicide best management practices, and a plot tour of both corn and soybean weed management plots. Contact Nathan Drewitz at ndrewitz@umn.edu or (608) 5154414.

July 14 — Soil Health Field Day — Moorhead, Minn. — Research of on-farm soil data will be shared.

Field day is an opportunity to discuss soil health practices and network with other land owners. Contact Katie Feterl at katie@sfa-mn.org.

corn if there was any left.

But no great thing can last forever; so when it was finished, it would all be packed up: this time an empty garbage bag; all the metal bowls and glasses, empty pitchers, blankets now laden with grass clippings, and the family — back in the car for the 30-minute drive home. Then it was brought back in the house by tired and perhaps surly kids by that hour, and unpacked again to be washed and put away the next day.

She must have hit the pillow all those holidays with the functioning brainwaves of a cantaloupe.

Like I said, Dad worked hard every day of his life.

But Mom worked hard too, and I’m pretty sure this holiday was one she may have opted to bypass altogether in exchange for a little quiet time alone at home for once, to let Dad ride herd over the noise and squabbles of seven kids like she did every day.

And yet we had no idea how obnoxious we were.

I think I understand now why — in her exasperation — she always threatened to get herself a oneway ticket to France.

Except it would be a mystery to us kids that she would go without us.

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

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

World Pork Expo a hot time (literally) in Des Moines

By DICK HAGEN said no decision has been made yet on appealing the The Land Staff Writer Emeritus ruling of the slow down in line speeds — indicating the decision is up to the Solicitor General.

DES MOINES — The June 9-11 World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines is “We’re encouraging the appeal of this decision,” indeed a showcase for virtually anything and everysaid Dierks. “We’re encouraging resolution to this thing going on in the swine industry. Yes, perhaps issue. The swine industry is enjoying good times the hottest three days in the event’s 33-year history. right now.”

Covid-19 wiped out the 2020 Expo. A nation-wide Said Dr. Hayes, “Six pork processing plants are curswine flu scare cancelled the 2019 event. However, rently operating at higher line speeds under the new 2021 was not to be denied. Thousands of producers USDA inspection system. Five have been operating listened and learned as hundreds of pork industry at these speeds for more than 20 years under the professionals collectively shared latest technologies, pilot program introduced during the Clinton admininnovations and networking opportunities. Plus, free istration.” pork luncheons were served each day. And the few capacity if the ruling stands.”

Three of the impacted plants are located near Iowa. beer tents could barely keep up with the herd!

But perhaps new thinking by the U.S. Department Hayes estimates this will cost producers $83.2 milSaid National Pork Producers Council President of Agriculture: During a press conference with report- lion via lower spot market prices with small hog Jen Sorenson, “We’re excited to be gathering for the ers this week, Agriculture Secreatary Tom Vilsack farmers likely to bear the brunt of the decision. v first time since 2018. This year, the show features more than 700 vendors representing companies from North America and around the world. And this year’s trade show will likely be the world’s largest pork-specific event.”

I’m always curious about what’s going on in this However, their government directed billions of Added Doug Fricke, Expo director of trade show dizzy world of agriculture. And when it comes to yuan (money) into new, intensive farms over the marketing, “This year’s show expanded to more than world pork production, there’s no better place to last year to rebuild the herd. Yes, under their 300,000 square feet plus more than 50 hospitality get educated than the recent World Pork Expo in totalitarian system, things can and do happen tents. Also, attendees could take part in 13 business Des Moines, Iowa. quickly in China. seminars informing on ecosystems, new production With the Expo drawing a true international Check this: China’s pig herd rose 23.5 percent in packages, climate neutrality and more.” audience, I wondered what the top producing May from a year earlier according to the Ministry Yes indeed, a virtual educational bonanza for any countries might be. of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The sow herd and all attendees. But stealing the chatter was the Perhaps being biased, obviously I was thinking increased 19.3 percent during the same period, March Federal Court ruling ordering six packing America would be the leader. Yes, China has reaching 98.4 percent of its population at the end plants to operate at slower speeds. Said to take effect always been big in swine producing because they of 2017.

July 1, these six would need to revert to their old are also the world’s most populated country. And According to Xin Guochang, an official with the speeds of 1,106 animals per hour. their people have a huge appetite for pork. But I agricultural ministry’s Animal Husbandry and Neil Dirks, CEO of the National Pork Producers was also aware a rare disease called African swine Veterinarian Bureau, “We can now say with comCouncil, calls this the most pressing issue for the fever had virtually decimated Chinese swine herds plete confidence that the original three-year mispork industry. He says recent studies have shown the past couple of years. sion for the restoration of pig production has been reductions of line speeds don’t improve worker safety However when it comes to current rankings look completed ahead of schedule.” like proponents claim. “And smaller producers will at this data: However, China is now urging its pig farmers to be most impacted.” be cautious. Live hog prices have plunged by 60

Rank Country 2018 Production According to Dr. Dermot Hayes, Iowa State percent since the start of the year and are cur (1,000 metric tons) University economist, “When plants have to cut back rently at an average of 14.68 yuan ($2.29) per on daily processing it creates chaos amongst produc 1 China 54,040 kiklogramme, lowest level in two years. This ers. Even with possible mandatory overtime to comcaught the market by surprise coming even before

2 European Union 24,300 pensate for lost capacity, our study showed the the herd fully recovered from the African swine 3 United States 11,942 industry will lose 2.5 percent of overall harvest fever outbreak that began in 2018.

4 Brazil 3,763 Pam Chenjun, senior analyst at Rabobank, said Surprised? I certainly was. China is rebuilding farmers are unlikely to respond to the government their swine industry. Their people are earning advice to hold onto pigs, with a supply shortage of more; demanding better food; and fortunately, hogs in the second half now likely.

America continues to be the number-one provider “At the moment there’s a kind of panic as prices of pork, beef, even dairy products to this hungry keep falling,” she said. “When there’s panic sellmarket. ing, many follow and that makes it worse.”

China’s huge hog herd (much to my surprise) Good advice to American hog producer’s also? produces about half of the pork consumed globally!

Perhaps so — especially in view of current U.S. Yet that huge production plunged 40 percent in swine markets.

But stay tuned … the entire U.S. 2019 official data shows after the deadly African farm market is topsy turvey these days. v swine fever virus swept through its farms.

Who leads in world pork production?

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

PAGE 7

Iowa pork producer likes the look of swine’s future

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus DES MOINES — “The industry is very profitable right now … the best it’s been in many years. Sustainability?

I can’t really say. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. The consumer drives what takes place here. The pork industry has been real good Dennis Gienger about making changes as needed to keep up with consumer demand. They want quality and they want traceability with that product — even to the very farm that is producing the pork they are buying.”

My first interview at the World Pork Expo generated these comments from Iowa pork producer Dennis Gienger who was one of dozens of fellow pork producers serving free pork lunches at the expo.

Hailing from Webster County, Gienger complimented the pork industry. He’s been in it for 45 years and currently produces 8,000 animals per year. “I’m just a finish man,” he admitted. “Used to do the farrow to finish routine, but that has changed for many of us.

Today we just provide the facilities. We have six finishing barns and do 1,200 head in each. We’re still growing and intend to build some more barns. The hog industry has been my bread and butter; but its changed 180 degrees from what it was just a few years back. And it will keep changing. That’s what makes the Expo such a big deal for us guys and producers from around the world. This event always gives some clues as to who are the current shakers and doers.”

“If you’re going to adapt and follow, that’s why we’re here feeding all these people. We want to put ourselves front and center of all these people so they

Telling the story…

Giving a chance for rebuttal from the younger generation, I also spoke with Jason Geinger, son of Dennis Geinger.

Hagen: You’re 35 years old. How long have you been farming?

Jason: All my life. Probably 10 or 11 when I started with my Dad. And I’m pretty confident about the future of farming. Everyone needs to eat. And we have the most affordable pork of any country … and the safest also.

Hagen: Your Dad told me you guys are finishing 8,000 pigs per year. Who calls the shots on your feeding operation?

Jason: When you are a contract finisher you don’t have any say on the feeds. They adjust the feeding program according to pricing and the diets needed for the particular growth sequence of each batch of pigs.

Hagen: Does this incredibly hot weather impact the rate of gain and mortalities?

Jason: We’ve got extra fans cranked up in each facility. We’re sprinkling water on them all day.

Everything is automated … the side curtains are down. The pigs are comfortable. They don’t move around much. When it’s 95 degrees outside, it’s also 95 degrees inside — but always easy access to both feed and water. And the pigs are always in the shade because these are total confinement structures — no open pens or outdoor feeding. We have slat flooring in each pen so the pigs stay clean.

Hagen: How do you handle pig manure?

Jason: Manure drops into the pit beneath each building. Every spring and fall we pump out these pits into our manure tanks and spread over our fields — digging this manure 6 inches deep into

the soil. This eliminates the need for buying commercial fertilizers, which have become a growing expense for farmers.

Hagen: Things seem to be working great for you guys. Any changes ahead?

Jason: We’re always making some changes. And that’s the primary reason so many of us show up at this World Pork Expo. There isn’t a more convenient way to catch up on the very latest technologies — be that equipment, air quality ideas, nutrition improvements. Plus the incredible ‘pig talk’ we pork producers thrive on. There’s tremendous talent serving this industry and they’re all here.

So the fun part is picking and choosing.

For me, new technologies for the ventilation systems would be a priority. Plus, of course, what new automations are available. We’re looking at sensors that control humidity levels within each pen so that we can adjust fans individually within each building as needed … so we’re not running fans continuously for the entire building if we don’t need to.

Hagen: You’re here working at your big free pork feed starting at 11 a.m. How many do you expect to feed during this two-hour free lunch session?

Jason: We’re hoping to get 4,000 to 5,000 today.

We’ve got enough meat. Tomorrow, two other county pork producers take over offering different pork sandwiches. But because its pork, it will be delicious. In addition to the free pork sandwiches, additional munchies are provided — plus a chilled bottle of water. Yep, it’s sort of a big deal; but that’s one reason we’re here. Showing and telling the success story of the American swine industry is what keeps us going. v

can see what we are doing and relate the farmer to the product.”

Like many, Gienger’s operation grows enough corn to feed the 8,000 hogs he finishes each year. And like many, he’s not concerned about marketing the pigs.

“The hogs are all contracted through the guy that provides the pigs to us. We get 45-pound pigs and grow them to 300 pounds. All we do is just take care of the pigs. A few years back, 220 pounds was the market weight. Genetics, nutrition and handling facilities today have improved so much we can get our pigs to 300 pounds just as rapidly as it used to for a 220-pound pig. You just need larger boxes to put the cuts in.” (I like the sense of humor in these modern pork producers too!)

Yes, Gienger know the genetic traits of today’s pigs too. “You’ve got to have the white breeds for the mothering ability and the color breeds for the quality of the meat … the taste, the texture, the eating satisfaction. And that’s why the importance of genetics.

Litter size and ‘mothering ability’ comes from the white-skinned animals; carcass quality more a function of the colored breeds.”

Cost per pound of gain? It’s hard to nail a pork producer down these days on that score — simply because the scenario as they say keeps changing.

Instead, Gienger opted, “That’s changing constantly.

The good thing right now is the pig market is so strong right now. But on the other side, the corn market is pushing $7; soybeans trending the same direction. Soybean meal is over $400 a ton right now.

That’s takes a big chunk out of your profit. You’re still making money, but the ‘break even’ is changing daily.

“A year ago we were getting $80 a head for our pigs.

Today we’re getting $250 a pig. But the corn has doubled; soybeans have more than doubled.”

I asked Gienger how important is China to the U.S. hog industry?

He responded very directly: “China is important to U. S. agriculture big time. Their huge population is earning more; they want better foods — especially meats. I just wish they could be more trustworthy in what they do and what they say. However, that is the unique position of Iowa and this pork industry. We create the food … nobody can match what we do. As long as we have that power, America will survive.

But if we lose that power, its over for us!”

At 71 years of age, Gienger isn’t about to call it quits. “The farms been good to me,” he said. “I have a son and two other guys working with us. I have no plans to retire; maybe slowing down just a bit, but the farm has been good to me and the pork industry is thriving these days. So we keep right on getting and giving. That’s the beauty of agriculture — people willing to share and sustain.”

With 90 degree weather and little or no rain for nearly two weeks, how are his crops looking? Perhaps a typical farmer response, Gienger said, “Right now See GIENGER, pg. 8

PAGE 8

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

Danish swine genetics making their way to the U.S.

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus DES MOINES — Yes, the World Pork Expo provides great opportunities for snoopy ag writers like me to learn. For example, my chance meeting with Ramon Martinez, a Canadian working the DanBred exhibit at the Expo. He told me some Ramon Martinez very intelligent Danish swine breeders — through intensive genetic progeny studies — had developed a new strain delivering upwards of 18 to 20 pigs per farrowing.

“And soon, European swinesmen were clamoring to get this new genetics into their hog production systems,” Martinez told me.

Soon this ‘new bloodline’ showed up in Latin America in places like Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Argentina. “Next was to bring this new genetics to North America via Canada and proper quarantine.

Then into North Dakota and Minnesota. We’re looking to establish a nucleus to start re-building new herds in eastern Canada and our benchmark states here in North America.”

At the Expo, Martinez said, “Because of heat conditions we were expecting small attendance. But this first day is exceptional. And I’m learning interest in our new DanBred swine line is great too. Because the profit cycle is good right now in the swine industry and Covid issues are now behind us, hog farmers appear to be gearing up for bigger herds, more production.

“Hog people knowledgeable about swine genetics in Europe recognize the DanBred name,” Martinez went on to say. “I visited Denmark three months ago.

I was impressed … they are now talking 43.5 weaned States in nearly 20 years! pigs per sow per year. That’s an improvement in litter Segrid said the hogs had been in quarantine for size of 22 to 23 pigs per farrowing. Yes, a small about four months. “They’re weighing close to 350 decrease in birth weight of these piglets; but look at pounds. Give them about four weeks to settle in and the bonus of more piglets. Four to five farrowings per they’re ready to go to work. Then we’ll start collectlifetime is normal. But now, six to seven farrowings ing semen offering to current DanBred producers in are also common in this new DanBred breeding.” both Minnesota and North Dakota, plus of course Martinez also told me Danish law outlaws total additional commercial swine producers wanting to confinement production. Instead, open pen housing is check us out. mandated in Denmark.

Is this new bloodline likely to replace current So do these significant advances in production effi- genetics with your producers? ciencies of the new genetics have any impact on pork “Our Canadian/U.S. venture started with imported quality? “None whatsoever,” Martinez responded, some boars from Denmark in the mid-1990s and and no change in muscle mass vs. fat content of the they did very well. Evaluated in the National Swine pig carcass.

Registry, these boars ranked 1, 2, 3 and 4. Yes, they I asked Fred Segrid, DanBred Manager-Americas, did quite well. At that time DanBred had a business what precipitated this new breeding line within your relationship with a Nebraska group called DanBred company?

North America. That business broke down in 2012.

“Improvement is the obvious answer,” Segrid That company turned into DNA which has done very well. But then, another group replied. “We first talked this from Denmark came here with change at the 2015 World Pork another new Danish line. So Expo. Yes, this involved hunthis is a new DanBred line — dreds of trials; thousands of but the ‘children’ of previous comparisons of various genetic generations were already well blood lines. But big news at this known here in the U.S. Since expo: We’ve got 900 females just then, genetic progress within out of quarantine in Ontario the DanBred Company has been Province, Canada now heading considerable. World-wide, they for our new nucleus system at are a reliable breeder — particCrosby, N.D. Plus, 100 boars ularly within the Duroc lines. also just cleared quarantine and So, yes … I think this new arrived yesterday at our genetics will gain rapid accepPhoto by Dick Hagen Bricelyn, Minn. facility. These tance everywhere.” v DanBred’s booth at the World Pork Expo was are the first animals directly from Denmark into the United loaded and ready to receive interested customers.

At age 71, Gienger isn’t about to call it quits GIENGER, from pg. 7 we’re looking good. But we looked good last year too — until Aug. 10 when that derecho wind storm hit and wiped out our corn crop. This year we had a perfect spring … got planted early, four-and-a-half inches rain in May. But it looks now like we’ll be using our subsoil moisture up in June rather than July and August. But Mother Nature usually responds.”

The Pork Checkoff rate is 40 cents per every $100 of the sale price. The U.S. pork industry has had a 100 percent checkoff program since 1986 when Congress created the checkoff as part of the Pork Promotion and Consumer Information Act of 1985.

Recalled Gienger, “It started at 25 cents … then got raised to 40 cents, but I’m okay with that. So those 300-pound pigs are costing me $1.20 per critter. It’s stabilized there now. The pork industry does a good job of spending our dollars — better than a lot of others and way better than our government.”

Since he brought up the government… Quickly Gienger said, “What’s going on right now is going to be devastating to our country. We can’t sustain the kind of spending this current president is demanding. I thought it wouldn’t happen in my lifetime; but right now that debt will consume us and it may only be a matter of a few more years. When the debt gets so large you can’t pay it back, then the fight worldwide will be what monetary system takes control. It appears to me the only objective of the bureaucrats now running our country is that they end up controlling the money.

“This idea of taking the money from taxpayers and spreading it out to everyone will never happen.

There’s a reason the rich are rich. They’ve come to America; they do the American dream; they work hard, make money. I have no problem with that.

Everybody still has that chance today. It’s still out there. But thinking ‘big government’ knows how to make this work is simply becoming a big joke.”

Gienger has a 35-year old son helping with the farm and pig operation, plus a 32-year old who is a police officer. He persists the future is still there for his family. “My grandson is 5 years old. He’s already looking like he wants to step into my shoes and hopefully that can happen — because his opportunity will be there. But that’s one thing about the current course of American agriculture: we’re losing so many people who could be good on agriculture’s side; but the ‘opportunity scale’ has been tipping against them in recent years. I think our education system is much to blame … and somewhat we farmers too — complaining about the challenges of agriculture and encouraging our kids get trained for other work.”

Perhaps surprising (at least to me) this well-spoken guy doesn’t have a lick of college education! Pardon my bias, but I figured he must have some Iowa State University training. “I got out of high school, did a little diesel training and then started farming.” v

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

PAGE 9

Drought is putting wheat, alfalfa crops in peril Mark Wettergren, Blair Hoseth,  St. Peter, Minn.  FROM THE Mahnomen, Minn. — — June 18 June 17

“Dry.” That’s how Blair Hoseth summed up the field conditions when The Land spoke with him on June 17. A half an inch of rain fell on June 11.

That was just enough moisture for Hoseth to then re-seed 80 acres of soybeans. The re-plant was necessary due to dry conditions initially at planting this spring.

The first cutting of alfalfa yielded half of what Hoseth usually gets. The bugs seem to love the dry conditions. “They moved in by the hoards.” Hoseth has now sprayed the alfalfa fields. Looking at those fields, Hoseth is concerned about the second cutting of alfalfa if rain is still in short supply.

“Very little chance of rain.” The temperature on the Hoseth farm have been unseasonably warm with plenty of days in the 80s and 90s. “Now we’re dropping back into a more normal weather pattern.”

Hoseth isn’t panicking but he is concerned about what he’s seeing in the fields. “I’m not saying it’s a disaster yet.”

He sees the stress from the lack of rain in the wheat. There are fields of wheat that are substantially below average. One field is headed out already. “If this keeps up, we’ll be harvesting wheat at the end of July.” Last time he saw wheat like this was in 1988, that was the year that Minnesota recorded its worst drought ever.

“Everything is dependent on rain. That is what everyone is concerned about.” v

FIELDS

Compiled by KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Staff Writer

Wertish, Olivia, Minn. — Steve June 17 “Things right now this time of morning look wonderful.”

The Land spoke with Steve Wertish on the morning of June 17. He reported that by the afternoon some of the crop start to look rough due to the lack of moisture.

Wertish likes what he sees in the sugar beet fields. “They are beautiful.” With the long taproot, the crop doesn’t need much water.

The soybean rows are now closed. “They are limping along.” Wertish has been doing some spraying of Enlist herbicide in the bean fields.

The late-planted edible beans have taken the biggest hit with the drought.

The corn is currently at the 10-leaf stage. Its growth is slower than it should be at this time. Wertish is concerned that the yield is already taking a hit because of the lack of rain. “I would definitely call it a drought, it’s real.”

There’s a 60 percent chance of rain late Saturday, early Sunday morning. He’s crossing his fingers that rain is finally on its way.

Wertish will continue to monitor the bean fields for weeds. He’s hauling beans from the bins right now and expects to be done with that in four to five days. He will scout all his fields — keeping a close eye on any potential problems that could pop up. What he does hope that pops up is some nice rains — and soon! v

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“We need a drink.” The Land spoke with Mark Wettergren on June 18 as he reported things are getting mighty dry out in the fields. “A week ago today we had a half an inch.” That’s all the rain that fell in the past few weeks.

“The beans are starting to show stress.”

Wettergren reported that where the ground is a little heavier soil, the crops are faring better.

The corn is starting to close rows. “The corn looks good.” Though the crop is dealing with the lack of rain as well. “When we had those hot days, the corn was protecting itself — curling up.”

Wettergren would like to spray the beans after a good rain. He hopes to get to do that the last week of June. He expects that it will take two to three days to get all the beans sprayed.

Looking on the bright side, Wettergren noted he hasn’t had to mow the lawn. He is spending quite a bit of time watering his garden though.

With rain in the forecast, some respite from the incessant heat, Wettergren is hoping better growing days are ahead. Who knows, maybe that lawnmower will get a workout mighty soon! v

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PAGE 10

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

Garcia brothers built successful farm from scratch

By TIM KING ing cooperative. A group of peoThe Land Correspondent ple, including the Garcia brothers, were interested and they LONG PRAIRIE, Minn. — agreed to test their ideas out in Before the recent heat wave, sevthe 2012 growing season on four eral days of freezing temperacommunity garden plots. The tures passed through central gardens were operated by Long Minnesota. The cold hit the Agua Prairie’s Economic Development Gorda farm hard.

Authority. Villalaz helped the “We lost 1,500 cucumber plants new farmers organize as a coopto the frost,” Javier Garcia, who erative and found them an expehas been farming here since rienced farmer, named Rodrigo 2012, said in Spanish.

Calla, to consult with.

Garcia has a homemade germiThe 2012 growing season was a nation chamber in one of his success and, in 2013, Agua Gorda three high tunnel hoop houses, rented several acres in a flood warmed by an old milk house plain owned by the Development heater and lit by off-the-shelf Corporation. In 2015 they fluorescent lights which he uses expanded again by purchasing to germinate fussy seedless the 50 acres adjacent to the watermelons. After the unseaDevelopment Corporation. By sonal frost, he immediately seedthen, all the co-operative memed some flats of cucumbers, bers (except the Garcia brothers) popped them into the germinahad decided that farming wasn’t tion chamber, and within a little for them. over two weeks had a new batch In 2019 the Garcia family, and Photo courtesy of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce of seedlings to transplant.

Agua Gorda, was named Todd The Garcia family named their farm Agua Gorda after a town in Mexico.

“The harvest will be a little County farm family of the year later than I expected,” he said. is pretty big; but we’ve been unable to drill a well by the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Garcia, who came with his family from the fruit here.”

Reflecting on the early years of Agua Gorda, Javier groves of California in 2000, sets out his plants using Agua Gorda’s relationship with Long Prairie goes recalls that they grew five different crops in 2012. a tractor-pulled, two-person transplanter. As it slow- back to the early days of its planning. During the Now they are growing around 15 different crops. In ly moves forward, the transplanter punches a hole in winter of 2011-12, Jaime Villalaz, of the Latino 2013, when they moved to the larger piece of rented the three-foot wide raised bed covered with black Economic Development Council, held a number of land, Jaime Villalaz helped them arrange for a conplastic mulch. With a hole in the mulch, a rider drops meetings with Latinos interested in forming a farm- tract to sell tomatillos to La Loma, a Twin Cities a plant in. The machine firms the transplant up, and tamale maker. At that time, however, most finally waters it from the tank mounted on of their crops were still grown on speculathe back. A crew member walks behind the tion. transplanter looking for holes that were “I remember one year we grew a lot of very missed. nice cucumbers but we didn’t have customAgua Gorda, which is named after the ers for them,” Javier says. “There was a town in the Mexican State of Michoacan whole pickup load of cucumbers and they many immigrants is this area come from, were just garbage. That was very hard.” has nine acres of vegetables and vine crops.

Now Javier won’t grow anything without That adds up to many dozens of 280-foot an order. This year he’s got orders for everyplastic mulch covered rows of growing transthing from Romaine lettuce to Roma tomaplants. Under all the plastic film are one toes to watermelon. And, of course, cucuminch in diameter hoses with a pin hole every bers. foot.

Most of the produce grown by Agua Gorda “I couldn’t farm without the plastic mulch is sold through Shared Ground Farmers’ or the irrigation from the drip line hoses,” Cooperative in the Twin Cities. Rodrigo Javier said. “It is the growing system that Calla helped create that connection and most vegetable growers use — even the cerAgua Gorda has been a member of the cooptified organic one like Agua Gorda.” erative for four years.

The Agua Gorda farm consists of 50 acres In the early years Agua Gorda bought a lot owned by Javier and his brother Jose, and of their transplants. Now Javier grows all of several adjacent acres rented from the the farm’s seedlings and direct seeds a few towns’ industrial park.

Photo courtesy of the University of Minnesota crops, like cilantro and radishes, in one of “We rent from the city so we can get our Javier Garcia and his family were honored in 2019 as Todd County’s Farm See AGUA GORDA, pg. 11 irrigation water,” Javier said. “Our water bill Family of the Year.

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

PAGE 11

Milk output hits highs not seen in over a decade This column was written for the marketMinnesota milk prduction was up 6 ing week ending June 25. percent on 19,000 more cows and a 30-pound gain per cow. Wisconsin output U.S. milk output shot sharply higher in was up 144 million pounds or 5.6 perMay, hitting a record 19.85 billion pounds, cent, on an 85-pound gain per cow and according to the U.S. Department of 17,000 more cows.

Agriculture’s preliminary data. This is up 4.6 percent from May 2020, and the bigDairy cow culling dropped below the gest month-to-month increase since March previous month and year in May. The 2006 — thanks to favorable weather, USDA’s latest Livestock Slaughter MIELKE MARKET increased cow numbers, and increased report shows an estimated 223,400 head WEEKLY milk per cow. It was the 12th month in a were sent to slaughter under federal

By Lee Mielke row to top year-ago output and was up a inspection, down 34,100 head from April hefty 4.1 percent from May 2019. and 9,900 or 4.2 percent below May May output in the top 24 producing 2020. Culling in the first five states, hit 18.9 billion pounds, up 4.9 months of 2021 totaled 1.37 million percent. head, down 39,700 or 2.9 percent from the same period a year ago.

Keep in mind a year ago the nation was coping with the Covid pandemic which had plunged dairy In the week ending June 12, 52,600 dairy cows product prices due to shuttered restaurants and were sent to slaughter. This is up 6,100 from the foodservice demand, created havoc throughout the previous week and 700 or 1.3 percent above that entire food chain, plus many dairy farmers faced week a year ago. milk production restrictions mandated by their n cooperatives.

The nation’s dairy stocks are growing. The USDA’s Revisions added 45 million pounds to the April latest Cold Storage report showed May 31 butter estimate, now put at 19.34 billion pounds, up 3.5 totaled a whopping 401.8 million pounds. This is up percent from a year ago, instead of the originally 15.6 million pounds or 4 percent above April, and a reported 3.3 percent. weighty 26 million pounds or 6.9 percent above May cow numbers were up for the 11th consecuthose on May 31, 2020. May was also the 23rd contive month, totaling 9.5 million head in the 50 secutive month butter stocks topped those of a year states, up 145,000 head from May 2020. May numago; but May is typically the month stocks peak and bers were up 5,000 from the April count which, with hover there for about one or two months, according USDA revisions, was up an astounding 26,000 head to StoneX. from March.

American-type cheese climbed to 830.7 million May output per cow averaged 2,088 pounds, up 61 pounds, up 4 million or 0.5 percent from the April pounds or 3 percent from 2020. level (which was revised down 4.1 million pounds from last month’s report), and were 10.7 million

MARKETING

Garcia learned to set up markets in advance the hard way AGUA GORDA, from pg. 10

Jaime Villalaz (left) and Javier Garcia

the high tunnels. He also sells a few seedlings.

Javier has learned a lot over the years but he still places a call to his mentor, Rodrigo Calla, from timeto-time.

“I’ve been lucky to have a very good teacher,” he said.

Like any farmer, Javier is always dreaming of new projects. Lately, he’s been thinking how he could use his non-cultivated acres to raise some calves. In addition to growing produce at Agua Gorda, Javier manages the calves for Double Eagle Dairy near Clarissa, Minn. v

pounds or 1.3 percent above a year ago.

The “other” cheese category jumped to 612.8 million pounds, up 11.9 million pounds or 2 percent from April, and 2.9 million or 0.5 percent above a year ago.

The total cheese inventory stood at a record high for the month of May at 1.465 billion pounds, up 16.6 million pounds or 1.1 percent from April, 10.8 million pounds or 0.7 percent above a year ago, and 79 million pounds or 6 percent higher than 2019.

Cheese consumption was still fairly strong in May, according to StoneX Dairy broker Dave Kurzawski.

Speaking in the June 28 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, Kurzawski said considering what happened to prices, demand likely dropped off at the end of May as the Food Box program ended and schools were closing — so there were some dynamics at work there.

Butter wise, Kurzawski said restaurant reopening demand in the first half of 2021 has since slowed some. The biggest users of butter and cream are the higher end, white tablecloth type restaurants, he said, and he doesn’t believe that demand has come back quite as strong as the other restaurant types.

Butter demand is not as strong as a year ago when people were quarantined at home “watching baking shows and making cookies and bread, etc.”

That’s not happening now, Kurzawski said, plus business travel has not resumed to prior levels. n Dairy farm margins continued to deteriorate over the first half of June as ongoing weakness in milk prices more than offset the impact of steady to weaker feed markets, according to the latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC. “Demand for dairy products remains quite strong on both the domestic and export markets,” the Margin Watch stated, but increased milk production is pressuring prices. It points out that milk production in the first four months of 2002 was up 2.5 percent from last year adjusting for the Leap Day, and Midwest cheese manufacturers are running 6-7 days every week while cream supplies are ample in the west.

“Recent intense heat in the west and northern plains may begin to temper milk production moving through the summer though, with temperatures hitting 110 degrees in California’s Central Valley,” the Margin Watch warned.

“The U.S. exported 547.7 million pounds of dairy products valued at $681.3 million in April, setting a record for the month and up 26.5 percent from last year,” according to the Margin Watch. “Accounting for Leap Day, U.S. dairy exports are up 14.9 percent from 2020 through the first four months of this year. Cheese exports of 89.1 million pounds were a See MIELKE, pg. 14

PAGE 12

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

USDA begins contacting swine producers this month America’s swine health study census has taken place in agriculture since 1983. It has a tremendous impact on perspectives of livestock health in the United States. Conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, this study takes an indepth look at livestock operations, their management and their health. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service oversees the National Animal Health Monitoring System. NAHMS works with the National Agriculture Statistics Service to collect the data and evaluate it.

The National Animal Health Monitoring System NAHMS was formed to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on animal health, management and productivity across the United States. The NAHMS team conducts national studies on the health and health management of U.S. livestock populations.

U.S. livestock commodity groups, along with the people who work within the industries, use the NAHMS information to meet their information needs.

NAHMS teams conduct species studies on a rotating schedule. They first collected swine data in 1990, followed by studies again in 1995, 2000, 2006, and 2012. In 2007 they collected information about swine raised in small-scale operations. In the years between these swine studies, they are learning more about health management in dairy, beef, sheep, equine, goats, bison, cervids and aquaculture. Each species is on a rotating schedule which implements a study every five to six years on average.

Data collected from previous swine studies can easily be found on the internet at the NAHMS website. The NAHMS Swine Studies website contains data from all previous NAHMS swine studies, and tremendous information which has been analyzed and distilled to illustrate changes in the swine industry from study to study. Data collected in these studies is strictly confidential and used to generate scientifically based and statistically valid national estimates which can be used for education, research and policy development.

NAHMS Swine in 2021 The 2021 NAHMS Swine Study was originally scheduled for launch in the summer of 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic and its affiliated effects on the US pork industry necessitated postponement of the study to summer of 2021. In preparation for the study launch, USDA-APHIS has been sending out announcements, collaborating with state Departments of Agriculture and university Extension programs to get the word out.

The actual swine study will be conducted in three phases from July 2021 through January 2022. In June 2021, selected producers will be mailed a letter describing the study and be provide a questionnaire to be completed and returned. Selected producers who do not respond will be called by a NASS representative to arrange a convenient time to complete the questionnaire via telephone interview.

UniversityofMinnesota

EXTENSION

SWINE &U

Participation in the study is voluntary and confidential.

The privacy of every participant is protected, and only those people collecting study data know the identity of respondents. No name or SWINE & U contact information will ever be associated with individual

By Diane DeWitte data, and no data will ever be reported in a way that could reveal the identity of a participant. After the survey is complete, data are presented only in an aggregate or summary manner.

Not a “one size fits all” kind of study The 2021 NAHMS Swine Study has been developed to address two specific types of pig farms.

Divided into the “Small Enterprise Study” and the “Large Enterprise Study” the two will collect different types of information based on the size of the operation.

Small Enterprise Study — In contrast, this study will collect data from swine operations with fewer than 1000 pigs. The NAHMS team hopes to learn more about the swine health and management practices used on these farms and the alternative marketing strategies they implement.

Small enterprise swine production is a growing sector of the U.S. swine industry because it’s a primary supplier of many niche-market products. This industry segment is very diverse, and the study hopes to learn more about small-farm health and production practices, animal movement and mortality on small pig farms, and contrast the differences between small and large pig operations.

For the small swine enterprise study, 5,000 swine operations from 38 states will be asked to participate. Interestingly, these 38 states account for 95 percent of the U.S. pig farms with fewer than 1,000 pigs. North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, and six small urban states in the northeastern United States are the states who do not have a large population of small enterprise swine farms.

Large Enterprise Study — This survey will take an in-depth look at U.S. swine operations with 1,000 or more pigs. Approximately 2,700 swine farms will be selected from 13 states. These states, Minnesota, Iowa, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma represent 90 percent of the U.S. hog operations with 1,000 or more pigs.

The objectives of this large study were developed through discussion and surveys within the swine industry, including focus groups populated with representatives from the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Much of the information collected in this survey will assist the industry in disease management and preparedness strategies to protect the swine industry.

This study of large pig farms will describe current U.S. swine production practices related to housing, productivity, biosecurity, and morbidity and mortality prevention. The study will help determine the producer-reported prevalence of select pathogens in weaned market pigs; and describe antimicrobial stewardship and use patterns. The study will also evaluate the presence of select economically important pathogens and characterize isolated organisms from biological specimens.

Epidemiologist Charles Haley of USDA-APHIS recently discussed the upcoming swine health study and its value to producers and researchers during a University of Minnesota Extension swine podcast with Extension Educators Sarah Schieck Boelke and Diane DeWitte. He emphasized the important medical information which can be gathered from large swine producers across the country. “In addition to combating misinformation, the large enterprise study is useful in resource planning should the worst happen, so that USDA knows what’s out there and can plan for allocating resources in the event of a large disease outbreak.”

Haley also spent time discussing the important details of small-farm or niche-marketed pig farm data which USDA hopes to collect this summer.

“Previously we called swine producers ‘small’ when they were less than 100; but it was suggested to us that a better representative inventory would be less than 1,000”. Haley shared the small enterprise study will help identify niche marketing pig farmers and learn what specific or even older-style health challenges these producers face.

Why should selected producers participate?

Producers who are selected to participate in the 2021 NAHMS swine study can benefit the swine industry in many ways. The study will provide transparent, credible information on industry practices which will help counter misinformation. It will assist the U.S. swine industry to understand disease preparedness strengths and vulnerabilities; as well as help policymakers and industry stakeholders make science-based decisions. The study will proSee SWINE & U, pg. 16

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

U.S. dairy exports set record for the month of April MIELKE, from pg. 11 new record high, besting the previous high-water mark in June of last year by 4.4 million pounds.

Nonfat dry milk exports in April of 173.1 million pounds were also a record for the month, up 15.5 percent from last year.”

“The U.S. Census Department reported that combined spending on food at retail and foodservice establishments of $139.2 billion in May was up 25.7 percent from last year and for both April and May, food spending increased 10 percent over 2019’s prepandemic levels,” according to the Margin Watch.

“Corn and soybean meal have come under significant pressure recently as updated forecasts are for moderate temperatures and suggest more rain for the Corn Belt,” the Margin Watch concluded. Producers are encouraged to “evaluate strategic adjustments on existing positions to strengthen feed hedges while allowing for more upside flexibility on milk hedges following the recent sharp drop in prices.” n China continues to drive international dairy markets. May imports were the largest, topping a year ago from New Zealand in the form of whole milk powder and fluid milk and cream from Germany, according to HighGround Dairy.

China’s whole milk powder imports totaled 163.9 million pounds or 71.8 percent from a year ago and up 22.4 percent year-to-date. Imports from New Zealand were the highest May on record, says HighGround Dairy, followed by Uruguay and from Turkey for the first time ever.

Fluid milk and cream imports continue to be offthe-chart strong, says HighGround Dairy, and reached a fresh record high in May with Germany

becoming the top supplier and outpacing New Zealand. Skim milk power totaled 94 million pounds, up 110 percent, and whey imports, at 161.8 million pounds, were up 39.9 percent, with year-todate up 56 percent.

Demand for finished goods was also strong.

Cheese imports totaled 36.1 million pounds, up 180.2 percent, with year-to-date up 66.4 percent.

New Zealand’s market share jumped to 51 percent and cheese from the EU reached a record high, up 206 percent, most coming from Denmark, according to HighGround Dairy.

Butter imports amounted to 22.9 million pounds, up 129.1 percent, with year-to-date up 15 percent. n The USDA announced the July Federal order Class I base milk price at $17.42 per hundredweight, down 87 cents from June, 86 cents above July 2020, and the highest July Class I since 2014. It equates to about $1.50 per gallon, down 7 cents from June. The seven month Class I average stands at $16.31, up from $15.94 a year ago and $16.12 in 2019.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange dairy traders had to weigh data from the May Milk Production and Cold Storage reports plus the weather as the end of June Dairy Month approached. The cheddar blocks started the week falling to $1.4725 per pound but closed June 25 at $1.49, down a quarter-cent on the week and $1.085 below a year ago.

After plunging 13 cents the previous week, the barrels rolled to $1.47 per pound on June 22 (the lowest since March 26), climbed back to $1.50 on June 24, but also finished the next day at $1.49.

This is down 5.25 cents on the week and 91 cents below a year ago. There were four sales of block reported on the week and 24 of barrel.

Any expectations of lighter milk supplies in the Midwest due to the heat are yet to be met, says Dairy Market News. Cheesemakers reported even steeper discounts on spot milk this week. Cheese output is active but demand is mixed. Cheese inventories are growing as buyers “see the near-term writing on the wall, as market prices continue to struggle,” says Dairy Market News, but the restoration of the block-over-barrel price is viewed as an indicator of stability.

Demand for cheese in the west was steady to lower across both food service and retail markets.

Contacts reported that pricing remains favorable in international markets. Milk is plentiful in the region, allowing producers to run full schedules, but delays in transportation due to a shortage of truck drivers is, reportedly, causing warehouse inventories to build. n Spot butter fell to a June 25 close at $1.7175 per pound. This is 6.75 cents lower on the week and 4.75 cents below a year ago, with 14 cars exchanging hands.

Central butter production remains steady though cream availability is spottier and Western cream availability is tightening quite quickly, according to some. Retail sales are in their early summer lull, but food service interest remains steady.

Cream is available in the west. Ice cream production is flat to strong but butter plants are receiving steady supplies of cream. Butter output is seasonally active. Some report that supply chain issues are driving up prices of packaging items, like boxes and bags. Butter makers are not happy absorbing the extra costs but the supply chain snags are not See MIELKE, pg. 16

Project to measure the cost or benefit of conservation practices Three Stearns County dairy farmers have experienced improved environmental impacts and lower financial costs while implementing conservation practices on their farms. Steve Schlangen, Tim Kerfeld, and Tom Gregory grow crops and milk cows on their farms in central Minnesota and a recent report showcases their data.

All three farmers are part of a Return-onInvestment study led by the Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership to explore the connections between conservation practices and profitability. Each farmer has been analyzing different costs and revenue for their farms with instructors through the Farm Business Management program. They also worked with Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District to track the environmental benefits of the practices they use.

All three farmers are motivated to improve water quality and ensure that their land is healthy when they pass it on to their children. They are all optimis-

tic that conservation practices are a sound approach to maintain their livelihood which is dependent on rich, fertile soils. “I think conservation is important because we want our land to be here for the next generation,” shares Steve Schlangen. “We raise our family on this farm, and we want to make sure the water is safe to drink and that the water going downstream is as clean as possible. We try to do practices that improve all that.”

Each farmer continues to explore new practices — such as buffer strips, cover crops, and manure stacking slabs — using data in their decision-making about what to try. “If you’re not changing with the times, you’re sitting still,” says Tim Kerfeld. “And nowadays, you have to keep moving.”

On average, the three farmers in this study had greater environmental and financial performance compared to regional benchmarks. The recently released report analyzed financial and environmental data from the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons.

Averaged across crop enterprises, farmers had a 21 percent higher gross return as well as 23 percent higher crop yield, with 12 percent lower production costs. Farmers built soil carbon and had 79 percent less soil erosion compared to regional benchmarks.

The farmers suggest testing new practices on a small piece of land and talking with neighbors already employing these practices to learn more. Finding a trusted specialist or farmer is the best way to learn about new practices and determine what might work for your operation. “I don’t see different types of conservation practices coming to an end,” says Steve Schlangen. “I think there are always ways that we can improve, and I think that as farmers we need to keep improving, not just to protect the environment but to protect our bottom line and stay in business.”

This project continues this summer and is scalable depending on availability of future funding.

This article was submitted by the Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership. v

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

PAGE 15

MARKETING

Grain Outlook It’s ‘wait and see’ as corn market watches weather

Livestock Angles Willing packers keep cash cattle strong

out of the last ten years, but Triple digit moves are an will increase. As this happens The following marketing in the last five years, it has almost daily occurrence in and the supply of beef analysis is for the week ending closed lower twice. the livestock futures as of becomes more ready availJune 25. late.

Some is due to the cash able to the consumer, expect Weekly corn export sales CORN — The central and prices moving in large direcprices paid for live cattle to were neutral for both old eastern Corn Belt benefited tions on a daily basis.

Some is peak soon after this happens. and new crop. Old crop sales from timely rain this week due to the large speculative were 8.5 million bushels.

The short-term outlook will with more in the forecast for Total commitments are 2.737 makeup in the market at the remain questionable and the balance of June. In some billion bushels vs. the USDA present time. Also, it is partly expect a continuation of radicases, severe storms caused PHYLLIS NYSTROM JOE TEALE outlook for 2.85 billion bush- due to the overall uncertainty cal behavior in the futures flooding but nothing which CHS Hedging Inc. Broker els. We only need to average of the underlying economic market as well in the live was considered significant in St. Paul Great Plains Commodity trade.

4.7 million bushels of sales conditions at the present. the big picture.

Afton, Minn. to hit the USDA forecast. In The current Covid-19 panic The hog market has Big daily price swings have the report, two corn cargoes has disrupted the supply line appeared to find a potential top during become the norm as the market reducwere switched from unknown to China. from top to bottom for the last year and the week ending on June 18. Futures es the weather premium in the market China has 255.9 million bushels left to is still a factor in the uncertainty of the prices have plummeted under heavy and funds reduce their net long expoship. New crop sales were 12.2 million supply chain of the entire meat produc- long liquidation as pork cuts outs have sure before month and quarter end. bushels to bring total commitments to tion. Another cause of wide swings is also begun to fall back from the recent The June 30 U.S. Department of 617.3 million bushels. The International purely the dynamics of the trade. When rally.

Agriculture reports for planted acreage Grains Council raised world corn pro- prices move to higher prices than norand grain stocks as of June 1 could There is an old saying when hog duction by 7 mmt. mal range at any given time, the volachange the scenario, but we will have prices exceed cattle prices it won’t be Weekly ethanol production was up tility will normally expand. The future long before the hog market will fall. to wait and see.

23,000 barrels per day to 1.05 million will decide when the volatility will This appears to be what is taking place As of June 20, U.S. corn ratings fell 3 bpd and only 2.2 percent behind the diminish and the wide swings in prices at the present time. Therefore, the outpercent to 65 percent good/excellent. same week in pre-Covid 2019. Ethanol will also subside. look has the possibility of suggesting Minnesota conditions dropped 8 perstocks rose 518,000 barrels to 21.1 milAs for the cattle market, prices have lower hog prices may be in the future cent, Illinois fell 4 percent, Indiana lion barrels, the highest in 13 weeks. moved higher over the past few weeks heading into the fall months. down 3 percent, Iowa down 7 percent, Net margins improved 3 cents to 13 as packers continue to buy cattle at Ohio up 4 percent, South Dakota Because the export of pork has been cents per gallon. Gasoline demand rose higher prices in an attempt to bring dropped 11 percent, and North Dakota so exceptional over the past year, the from 9.36 million bpd to 9.44 million back a better supply of beef to the conwas 3 percent lower. initial drop may be the most severe folbpd. We did see the first ethanol imports sumer. The disruptions because of the The average trade estimate for the in 27 weeks at 6 million gallons. pandemic have slowed the production lowed by an easing lower as we move into the fall months.

June 30 Planted Acreage report is 93.8 AgroConsult lowered their Brazilian of beef products for the past several million acres with a range of guesses months. However, as we get back to n from 92.0 to 95.84 million acres. The See NYSTROM, pg. 16 more normal conditions, production I would like to thank The Land for USDA forecasted corn acreage in the opportunity to write “Livestock March at 91.1 million acres and has Angles” for their magazine for all these been using that on the balance sheet. years. It has been a pleasure and I will Last year we planted 90.8 million acres. certainly miss writing the livestock

corn/change* soybeans/change* The average trade estimate for corn article in the future. However, after 48 stocks as of June 1 is 4.144 billion St. Cloud $6.09 -.44 $13.20 -.91 years in the futures industry, I felt it bushels with a range of guesses from Madison $6.21 -.44 $13.05 -.86 was time to move on in my life and 3.917 to 4.546 billion bushels. Last Redwood Falls $6.24 -.43 $13.40 -1.06 retire. Thank you and God bless. v year we had 5 billion bushels of corn on Fergus Falls $6.19 -.39 $13.00 -.96 hand on June 1.

Morris $6.18 -.39 $13.05 -.91 On the June 30 report day, corn stocks Tracy $6.37 -.28 $13.38 -.96 were higher than the average trade Average: $6.21 $13.18 estimate in four of the last five years.

Corn stocks as of June 1 have been Year Ago Average: $2.99 $8.16 higher than the average trade estimate Grain prices are effective cash close on June 29. in all the last four years. On report day, *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

December corn has closed lower five

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.

PAGE 16

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

Supreme Court ruling on biofuel exemptions hurts soybeans NYSTROM, from pg. 15 corn production number from 91.1 mmt to 90.2 mmt.

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange pegged Argentina’s corn harvest at the halfway point. They kept their corn production forecast at 58 mmt. Argentina continues to struggle with low water levels with some barges stranded along the Parana River. Transportation costs are rising due to reduced loading levels.

Outlook: It’s pointless to put a call on the markets before the June 30 reports and with traders eyeing every updated weather forecast as an opportunity.

It’s a case of the have and have nots in terms of crop potential this year. The eastern belt is in good shape, but the Dakotas, Minnesota, and parts of western Iowa are begging for relief from the dryness. What hits the ground vs. what the radar shows can be two entirely different amounts, as we all know. Looking out your backdoor doesn’t always give you the best picture of what the market is surveying. As my mother used to say, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” This may be that kind of year.

For the week, September corn skidded 47.25 cents lower to close at $5.30.25 and the December contract dropped 47 cents to $5.19.25 per bushel.

Fourth of July holiday: once the markets close at their normal time on Friday, July 2, they don’t reopen until 8:30 a.m. on July 6.

SOYBEANS — Soybeans traded the entire week within the June 17 trading range. That was the session we plunged a record $1.18.75 per bushel in the July contract. This week was mostly lower based on new weather forecasts every six hours, the upcoming Acreage and June 1 Stocks reports, and positionevening ahead of month and quarter end.

The USDA did announce fresh combined new crop soybean sales to China and unknown totaling 43.3 million bushels and a small sale of meal to Mexico split between 2021-22 and 2022-23 crop years.

The market got a surprise ahead of the weekend when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of small refineries seeking exemptions from federal law requiring increasing levels of biofuels in blending. At question in the case before them, the Court said the Environmental Protection Agency issued certain waivers when the refineries in question had not received continuous prior extensions of the first exemption. The administration had been considering alternatives for small refineries due to the high cost of Renewable Identification Numbers. Renewable fuel groups were against waivers citing lost business for their products. What happens now is in question, but will the administration issue many waivers considering their green policy?

Soybean yields aren’t determined in June, meaning we have a wider window for soybeans to recover from current adverse dry weather. There are areas, however, where full recovery won’t be the case, i.e. the northern plains. Severe weather hit parts of the Midwest. Is there a point too much becomes an issue?

What the June 30 Acreage report says will be a major driver of how weather will be treated. Keep in mind that this year’s soybean acreage increases were centered in areas where last year’s prevent plant acres were the largest — again in the northern plains.

The average trade estimate for the June 30 Planted Acreage report is 89 million acres with the guesses ranging from 87.9 to 90.4 million acres. In March, the USDA forecasted acreage at 87.6 million acres, and they have been using that number on the balance sheet. Last year, we planted 83.1 million soybean acres.

The average soybeans stocks as of June 1 are estimated at 787 million bushels with the range of guesses from 696 to 952 million bushels. Last year, we had 1.381 billion bushels of soybeans on hand.

In each of the last four years, the June soybean stocks number has been below the average trade estimate. Soybean acreage on the June report has been lower than the average guess in all the last five years. The average trade estimate for soybean stocks is 787 million bushels vs. last year’s 1.381 billion bushels. The average trade estimate for planted soybean acres is 88.96 million acres vs. 87.6 million estimated in March and last year’s 83.1 million acres.

On report day, November soybeans have closed higher in four of the last five years.

Weekly export sales were on the high end of expectations and an eight-week high for old crop but below estimates for new crop. Old crop sales were 5.2 million bushels to bring total commitments to 2.269 billion bushels. The USDA’s target is 2.28 billion bushels.

China has 27.6 million bushels of old crop purchases left to ship. New crop sales were 1.7 million bushels to bring total commitments to 279.6 million bushels.

China announced they will send teams from the National Development and Reform Commission into the country to investigate bulk commodity prices and supplies. This fits into announcements earlier in the month about controlling market information and keeping prices at “reasonable” levels. China was also encouraging its hog producers to not panic and continue producing despite negative margins.

As of June 20, U.S. soybean conditions fell 2 percent to 60 percent good/excellent. Minnesota’s conditions dropped 8 percent, Illinois improved 3 percent, Indiana down 3 percent, Iowa fell 4 percent, Ohio up 1 percent, North Dakota 1 percent lower, and South Dakota plunged 12 percent.

Outlook: World vegetable oil markets were a bright spot for the week until the Supreme Court’s decision nearly wiped out the week’s gains. Soyoil posted a key reversal lower to the end week while canola oil held gains into the weekend. It is still very early in the season for soybean yields to be determined. We will continue to trade high volatility and large daily ranges. We need to be on the other side of the June 30 reports to set our next direction. Buckle up, boys, we’re not done yet!

For the week, August soybeans crumbled 52.25 cents to $13.02.75 and the November contract slid 43.25 cents to $12.69.75 per bushel.

Nystrom’s notes: Contract changes for the week as of the close on June 24 (September contracts): Chicago wheat fell 25 cents to $6.40.75, Kansas City was 6.75 cents lower at $6.09, and Minneapolis surged 41.75 cents to $8.08 per bushel. v

Swine study provides credible information SWINE & U, from pg. 10 vide data which can be used by researchers and private enterprise to focus on swine health issues — both large and small. It will also help identify educational needs related to health and production on small and large swine farms.

The NAHMS Swine team is gearing up to meet and visit with swine producers across the United States beginning in the summer of 2021. Producer partici-

pation is a great way to provide credible data to researchers, and later in the study, to get some biologics testing of the herd. Data collected in this 2021 Study will provide an unquestionable benchmark for swine production and health in the United States, and assist the industry in planning for the future.

Diane DeWitte is an Extension Educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension. Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn.edu v

Butter inventories building for fall demand MIELKE, from pg. 14 reported to be disrupting production. Inventories are growing and ready for fall demand. Retail sales are soft but steady and food service demand remains strong, says Dairy Market News.

Grade A Nonfat dry milk closed June 25 at $1.2650 per pound, unchanged on the week but 24.5 cents above a year ago. Nineteen sales were reported for the week.

Dry whey saw a June 25 finish at 57.75 cents per pound, down 3.25 cents on the week but 26.5 cents above a year ago, with two sales reported for the week.

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

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

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

PAGE 17

USDA announces additional pandemic assistance On June 15, USDA announced addireceived an additional PAP payment eartional aid to farmers and other agricullier this year, based on the cattle inventotural entities as part of the Pandemic ry numbers submitted for CFAP 1 eligiAssistance to Producers (PAP) program. bility in 2020. This “top-up” CFAP payIn March of 2021, USDA authorized up to ment was basically a doubling of the orig$12 billion for the PAP program as part inal 2020 CFAP 1 payments, with payof the overall $900 billion Consolidated ment rates depending on the size and Appropriations Act which was passed by type of cattle.

Congress late in 2020. USDA utilized the Noticeably missing in the latest PAP latest round of PAP program funding to FARM PROGRAMS program assistance announced by USDA especially target farmers and ranchers was the additional “top-up” payment of

By Kent Thiesse who did not previously qualify for aid $17 per head to hog producers who through other coronavirus assistance had previously applied for and programs; as well as to assist beginreceived a CFAP 1 payment in 2020. ning, socially disadvantaged, and Hog producers initially received a small-to-medium sized farm operations.

CFAP 1 payment of $17 per head, so the additional Following is a brief summary of the information payment would raise the total payment to $34 per from USDA regarding the latest round of PAP prohead. The additional “top-up” CFAP payments to gram payments: hog producers apparently is still under review by Support for dairy farmers and dairy processors — USDA and there was no update on the status of these payments. For the latest details on many of $400 million is earmarked toward the new “Dairy these programs, farmers should contact their local Donation Program,” designed to address food inseFarm Service Agency office or refer to the following curity and mitigate food waste and loss. Additional web site: https://www.farmers.gov. pandemic payments will be available to dairy producers who have demonstrated losses which were Update on 2019 WHIP+ and QLA payments not covered by previous pandemic assistance proUSDA also recently announced the authorization grams. Also, approximately $580 million has been of more than $1 billion in additional 2019 payments set aside for “Supplemental Margin Coverage” to through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity small and medium sized dairy operations. No Program (WHIP+) and for payments to producers details were released on how this will be administhat qualified under the Quality Loss Adjustment tered by the USDA. (QLA) program. Many farmers in southern Minnesota and other areas of the upper Midwest Assistance to poultry and livestock producers left were eligible to receive the additional WHIP+ payout of previous rounds of pandemic payments — ments, due to significant crop losses which resulted Financial assistance will be made available to confrom late planting and excessive rainfall in 2019. tract growers of poultry who were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. (Note: In the USDA announce- Most eligible producers who applied had already received their 2018 Whip+ payments and the first ment, there was no mention of additional assistance to contract hog producers or contract producers of any half of eligible 2019 WHIP+ payments. The funding for the second half of the 2019 WHIP+ payments other livestock entities.) The USDA will also provide was authorized in the COVID relief bill passed by assistance to poultry and livestock producers who were forced to euthanize animals during the pandem- Congress in late 2020. Following are the details on the latest WHIP+ and QLA payments: ic from March 1, 2020, through Dec. 26, 2020.

P+ payments — Producers who were eligible for Other PAP program provisions — $700 million is WHIP+ for the 2019 crop year and have already dedicated to biofuel producers to offset the market loss during the pandemic in 2020. $700 million will received 50 percent of the eligible payment are now receiving a second WHIP+ payment on 2019 crop be made available for “Pandemic Response Safety losses. No additional WHIP+ application was necesGrants” which are targeted toward specialty crop sary, and no new applications were accepted. The growers, meat packers and processors, seafood second payment is 40 percent of the total eligible industry workers and others for PPE equipment, 2019 WHIP+ payment, bringing the total 2019 supplies and other measures. An additional $200 WHIP+ payment to 90 percent of the eligible million has been set aside for small, family-owned amount. (Example --- $10,000 total 2019 WHIP+ timber harvesting and hauling businesses. Up to payment eligibility; $5,000 paid earlier; $4,000 paid $20 million is planned for additional organic costnow, and $1,000 remaining to be paid). The second share assistance, including for producers who are 2019 WHIP+ payment was reduced by USDA to transitioning to organic production. assure adequate funding exists to make the payEarlier this year, eligible crop producers received ments. If sufficient funds are available, a third and an additional $20 per acre PAP program payment final WHIP+ payment may occur. (so-called “CFAP 3 payments”) as part of the panProducers with eligible 2018 crop losses already demic assistance aid authorized by Congress in 2020. The payment eligibility for crops was based on received the entire 2018 WHIP+ program payment. the same criteria which was used for the 2020 WHIP+ payments for 2020 crop losses, including CFAP 2 payments. Some cattle producers also the devastating Derecho storm in Iowa and sur-

MARKETING

rounding states, was not included in the latest announcement by USDA. Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) payments — The QLA payments are for crop and forage producers who suffered quality losses due to the natural disasters in 2018 and 2019. The application period for the QLA program was from January 6 through April 9 of this year.

Producers who qualified for QLA assistance will receive 100 percent of the eligible payment amount.

The maximum payment limit a person or legal entity may receive through the QLA program in a given year is $125,000. Persons or entities with an adjusted gross income exceeding $900,000 are not eligible for QLA benefits unless 75 percent or more of the adjusted gross income is derived from farming and ranching.

All producers receiving WHIP+ or QLA benefits are required to purchase federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program cover for the next two available crop years at the 60 percent or higher coverage level. For most crops, this requirement can be met by purchasing USDA Risk Management Agency Revenue Protection insurance policies which are offered through local crop insurance agents.

For more information refer to the USDA WHIP+ website at: https://www.farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus.

PPP loan program ended In late May, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced loan applications for the Paycheck Protection Program were being discontinued. SBA had previously announced a PPP application deadline May 31, 2020. However, all allocated PPP loan fund had been exhausted prior to the deadline.

If eligibility requirements are met, PPP loans may be forgiven by the SBA. Many first round PPP loans and some second round PPP loans have already been forgiven. The application for forgiveness of PPP loans for farmers and other small businesses is administered through the local banks and ag lenders which originally submitted the PPP loan to SBA. More details on PPP loan applications are available on the SBA website at: www.sba.gov/.

Kent Thiesse is a government farm programs analyst and a vice president at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. He may be reached at (507) 726-2137 or kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. v BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND

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THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021 T

Real Estate SELL YOUR LAND OR REAL ESTATE IN 30 DAYS FOR 0% COMMISSION. Call Ray 507-339-1272

Real Estate Wanted WANTED: Land & farms. I have clients looking for dairy, & cash grain operations, as well as bare land parcels from 40-1000 acres.

Both for relocation & investments. If you have even thought about selling contact: Paul Krueger, Farm & Land Specialist, Edina Realty, 138 Main St. W., New Prague, MN 55372. paulkrueger@edinarealty.com (612)328-4506

Feed Seed Hay

Bins & Buildings

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

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

SILO DOORS Wood or steel doors shipped promptly to your farm stainless fasteners hardware available.

(800)222-5726 Landwood Sales LLC

Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys.

100% financing w/no liens or red tape, call Steve at Fairfax Ag for an appointment.

FOR SALE: MFS grain bin, 888-830-7757 10,000 bushel, side leg to load trucks, asking $1,500.

507-732-4415 Farm Equipment

Bins & Buildings

SILO REMOVAL 507-236-9446

FOR SALE: 530 DMI disk ripper, x frame w/ 20” disk blades, lead shanks, hyd leveler, excellent condition, paint is very good, $12,500.

IH 710 5-18s auto reset plow, $1,000; IH M and H parts tractors. 507-276-5733 Gravity Wagons: Brent 657, like new, $14,900; Brent 444 tarp & fenders, $8,900; Parker 505 with tarp, $9,500; Kill Bros. 1055 tarp & fenders, like new, $12,500. Delivery available. 815-988-2074

Journeyman Electrician - Agriculture If you enjoy working with farm animals, setting your own weekly work schedule, along with working on a variety of large Ag and commercial projects, we may have the ideal position for you.

Electrical Production Services, Inc. has an exciting opportunity for a MN Licensed Journeyman Electrician who specializes in Commercial Agricultural Projects and Maintenance Service.

Our ideal candidate will have experience in servicing large farm facilities including hog, dairy, and chicken facilities with an understanding of bio-security procedures.

The customers we serve are located throughout southern and southeastern Minnesota, and northern Iowa. EPS is a growing Commercial Electrical Contractor who has been in business for over 32 years. We offer highly competitive wages, excellent health benefits, a 401K plan with company match, Health Savings Account, PTO, Dental, Vision, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance and much more. Please send your resume to joel@electricalproduction.com or call 952-564-6471.

You can also learn more about EPS by going to our webpage at www.electricalproduction.com or on Indeed.com.

JD 4760 MFW tractor, P/S, 8600 hrs, 3 hyds, 18.4x42 w/ duals, recent $7,300 work order, $46,900; Wil-Rich 12x30 flat fold cultivator w/ shields, $2,250; IH 133 16x22 folding cultivator, $1,750; JD 346 small square baler, w/ bale chute, $4,750; Wheatheart 10x61 swing hopper auger, exc cond, $4,900. 320-769-2756 JD Combine Heads: 920 very nice, $5,500; 925F full finger, very good, $9,500; 893 with hydraulic deck plates, $12,500; 693 with knife rolls, very good, $11,500; 643 with knife rolls, very nice, $5,500; 843 with JD poly and new rolls, $5,500. Delivery available. 815-988-2074 JD Combines: JD 9550, 3000 engine hours, very good shape, $42,500; JD 9510 good shape, $32,500. 815-988-2074

THE LAND — JUNE 25 /JULY 2, 2021

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PAGE 19

Steffes Auction Calendar 2021 For more info, call: 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com

Opening June 28 & Closing July 6 Roger Sandstrom Farm Auction, Roseau, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 1 & Closing July 8 Gopher Excavating Retirement Auction, Glyndon, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 2 & Closing July 7 Online Steffes Auction – 7/7, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening July 2 & Closing July 12 at 12PM Valley Tree Services Farm Equipment Inventory Reduction, Hankinson, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening July 5 & Closing July 13 at 7PM David Gibson Farm Retirement Auction, Mankato, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 5 & Closing July 14 at 7PM Bill Brown Farm Retirement Auction, St. James, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 6 & Closing July 14 John Sommerfeld Estate Auction, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 8 & Closing July 13 at 12PM Dickey County, ND Commercial Real Estate Auction, Monango, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening July 8 & Closing July 15 Calvin & Cheryle Schlenker Harvest & Equipment Auction, Jud, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening July 8 & Closing July 15 at 12PM Bruce Olson Harvest Equipment Auction, Badger, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 8 & Closing July 15 at 7PM Dennis Miller Antique Equipment Auction, Emerado, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening July 9 & Closing July 13 at 12PM Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 12 & Closing July 20 at 1PM Multi-Party Construction Auction, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 12 & Closing July 21 at 7PM Ed Rudnicki Estate Auction, Holdingford, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 12 & Closing July 21 at 7PM Arnold Companies Tire, Track and Attachment Auction, Glencoe, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 13 & Closing July 20 Steven & Sandra Anderson Farm Retirement Auction, Halstad, MN, Timed Online Auction Wednesday, July 14 at 10AM Larry & Susan Richard Farm Retirement Auction, Horace, ND Opening July 15 & Closing July 22 M.R. Skaug Farm Grain Handling Equipment Auction, Beltrami, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 16 & Closing July 21 Online Steffes Auction – 7/21, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening July 19 & Closing July 27 at 1PM Lichtsinn Feedlot Dispersal Auction, Dumont, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening July 20 & Closing July 27 Hulst Farm Equipment & Realignment Auction, Salo, MN, Timed Online Auction

PAGE 20

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

Farm Equipment John Deere 6 bottom plow, 6-18s, w/ Midwest drag; 60’ sprayer boom, 3pt; 24” barn fans; New Holland 195 manure spreader, new floor, tandem wheels; 10 horse 3 phase motor. 507-289-2200 RETIRING. 5080 FWA Allis Chalmers, 20’ disk, 24’ field cultivator, 9 shank soil saver, White 518 vari-width plow, bale thrower wagons and gravity boxes, 7720 John Deere combine. 952-393-1784

Please recycle this magazine.

Farm Equipment

Hay & Forage Equipment

Rick Morem Estate Farm Auction – Saturday, July 24th @ 9:00 AM - LIVE and ONLINE Location: 30427 120th St., Harmony, MN 55939

Preview Dates: Thursday, July 22nd & Friday, July 23rd from 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM and then day of sale.

Rick Morem Estate Farm Auction – Tuesday, July 27th @ 6:00 PM - ONLINE ONLY

Location: Hamilton Auction Company, 130 State Hwy 16, Dexter, MN 55926 Preview Dates: This will be the 2nd part of the estate sale which will be ONLINE ONLY and PREVIEW/PICKUP will be located at Hamilton Auction Company, Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday’s 8:00 AM to Noon.

•

Duane Wigham Revocable Trust Farm Auction Saturday, August 7th @ 9:30 AM – LIVE and ONLINE

Location: Hamilton Auction Company, 130 State Hwy 16, Dexter, MN 55926 Preview Dates: Items will be at Hamilton Auction Company and ready for preview beginning Saturday, July 24th. Our office hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday's 8:00 AM to Noon

•

August Consignment Auction – Tuesday, August 10th @6:00 PM – ONLINE ONLY

Location: Hamilton Auction Company, 130 State Hwy 16, Dexter, MN 55926 *Taking Consignments TODAY!! **If you would like to have your items listed on the sale bill they either need to be on our lot or listed with us no later than Monday, July 12th. *** We will take consignments for the sale till Friday, July 30th***

•

Livestock

Swine

FOR SALE: John Deere 800 FOR SALE: JD 843 cornhead, FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls FOR SALE: Yorkshire, swather, with 12’ draper 8R30”, very good cond, also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ Hampshire, Duroc, cross through the shop every year, Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred bred boars, gilts & 4-H pigs. head, sold for parts. always stored inside, plastic Kemen 320-598-3790 Top quality. Excellent herd 507-250-0853 or 507-533-6644 health. No PRSS. Delivery snouts, (GDL-snout). ConFOR SALE: Vermeer 3pt disc verted to telescoping back available. 320-760-0365 mower, model M5040, 2 yrs shafts and cob saver, $7,500/ Your ad old, like new. 507-317-1392 Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Tractors OBO. 507-276-3753 could be here!

Boars & Gilts available.

507-345-4523 Cleaning out a shed?

Monthly PRRS and PEDV. NEW AND USED TRACTOR Grain Handling Delivery available. Steve Make some extra cash PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, Equipment Resler. 507-456-7746 55, 50 Series & newer tracby selling your stuff in Cattle tors, AC-all models, Large FOR SALE: FarmFans 420J The Land!

Inventory, We ship! Mark grain dryer, single phase, Sheep Call 507-345-4523 or Heitman Tractor Salvage DC drive, legs, 510 bu per hr 3 Registered Angus Bulls - 2 715-673-4829 at 10 point, Good condition, are yearlings, 1 is 4 yrs old, 1-800-657-4665 20 Heavy Duty Steel Jigs For asking $17,500. 320-894-3303 All calving ease, $2,000/pc. Sheep & Goats To Make Delivery available.

Turning Cradles Sorting & 715-667-5245 Slide Gates, Corral & Run

Visit www.hamiltonauctioncompany.com for up-to-date information & listings Office phone #507-584-0133

•

Harvesting Equip

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

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

Multiple Farm Auctions

•

THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021 T

John & Becky Ramsey Farm Retirement Auction – Tuesday, August 24th @ 6:00 PM – ONLINE ONLY

Location: 82505 255th St, Albert Lea, MN 56007 Preview Dates: Saturday, August 21st, Tuesday, August 24th or by appointment.

Wanted

POLLED HEREFORD Muchow Auction Ad BULLS, yearlings and 2 year All kinds of New & Used farm equipment disc chisels, field olds, low birth weight, high Copy-is 5.16” x 6” cults, planters, soil finishers, performance, semen testcornheads, feed mills, discs, ed and delivery available. balers, haybines, etc. 507- Jones Farms, Le Sueur, MN. 438-9782 507-317-5996

Panels, Mineral Feeders, Bale Feeders, Etc. PLUS Approx 40 Pieces Of Inventory. $7,500/OBO. RETIRING. 319-347-6282 or 319-269-4226

Sell your livestock in The Land with a line ad. 507-345-4523

Real Estate Auction Tuesday, July 13th - 4:00 pm 24849 521st Ave, Winthrop, MN

This 5.58 ac farm site is a must see! The home is a 4 bedroom, 1 1/4 bath home featuring a porch with granite flooring, large kitchen and dining room area, den/office area and hardwood flooring throughout the main level. The outside of the home has a deck, detached oversized 2-stall garage with third door in the rear, large well-maintained yard and many outbuildings including: a barn, machine shed, granary and 3 grain bins. You will not want to miss this chance!

For complete information packet or viewing property contact: Matt Mages - (507) 276-7002 Tractors & Equipment: J D 4430 diesel, appr ox. 7000 hr s, showing 2000, 3 pt, Vaughn hyd quick attach loader w/ 72” mat bucket & pallet forks; JD 4010 Syncro, diesel, 3pt, dual hyd, 1000 & 540 PTO; Inland DA-84 snow blower, 2-stage, dual auger, 3 pt, PTO; IH 133 12-row folding cultivator; danish tine 17’ 3pt field cultivator; McCormick-Deering grain drill; AC sickle mower; hay rack on gear; 3pt grader blade; Shop & Tools: ‘18 Poulan Pro 27” snow blower, 208 cc, used only 1 hour; Powermate 11 gal air compressor; JD GT262 mower, good deck, carb issue, not running; utility trailer w/ ramp; Lincoln arc welder; welding helmets & accessories; Century battery charger/tester, 6-250 amp; Stihl chainsaw; Cadet 220 V garage heater w/ extensions; Ready propane heater; 12 ton hyd jack; screw jack; extension ladders; appliance dolly; car ramps; several log chains; saw horses; tools; yard tools; ext cords; tarps; scrap iron; Furniture & Household: Insignia 55” flat screen TV; round oak table & chairs; drop-leaf table; oak china hutch w/ lights; sofa; loveseat; recliner; antique 3 pc bed set; lg dresser; coffee table w/ matching end tables; glider rocker w/ ottoman; bed frames; lamps; tables; Weber BBQ grill; clay pigeon thrower; fishing equip; ant duck boat; household items; See magesland.com for complete details.

David & Lisa Muchow

Listing Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002, Lic 52-21-018

Broker/Clerk: Mages Land Co & Auction Ser vice, LLC. All Items Sold “AS IS”.

Not responsible for accidents. Terms: buyers premium applies on all online bidding only

magesland.com

THE LAND — JUNE 25 /JULY 2, 2021

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

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THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021 T Pets & Supplies

Miscellaneous

FOR SALE: Australian shep- PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS herd puppies. ASCA regis- New pumps & parts on hand. tered. Blue and red Merles, Call Minnesota’s largest disred and black Tri, first shots tributor and wormed, tails and dews HJ Olson & Company removed, 8 weeks old. 507- 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 766-3272

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

Upcoming Issues of THE LAND Southern MN/ Northern IA *July 9, 2021 July 23, 2021 August 6, 2021

Northern MN July 16, 2021 July 30, 2021 August 13, 2021 August 27, 2021

Deadline is 8 days prior to publication. *Indicates early deadline, 9 days prior to publication.

418 S. Second Street • Mankato, MN 56001 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!

THE LAND — JUNE 25 /JULY 2, 2021

6

PAGE 23

Classified Line Ads Work! Call 507-345-4523

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

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507-345-4523 800-657-4665 USED TRACTORS NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader... On Hand NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders.. On Hand New NH 25S Workmasters……. ………..OnHand ’17 NH T4.75 w/loader…………................$43,750 ’14 NH T8.350 ............................................ SOLD ’13 NH T8.390 ......................................... $169,500 Farmall 340 wf w/mower ..............................$3,000 New Massey Tractors .............................. On Hand Buhler 2145 FWA……………….........…..Coming Ford 4000……………............................…..$5,250

PLANTERS ’11 White 8831 31-15...................................... $78,000 ’09 White 8816 cfs .......................................... $58,000 ’05 White 8186 DF............................................ $24,900 Taking 2022 New Spring Orders COMBINES NEW Geringhoff chopping cornhead ....................Call ’12 Gleaner S77 ..............................................$179,000 ’03 Gleaner R65 .............................................. $72,000 ’95 Gleaner R52 w/cummins ........................... $32,500 ’89 Gleaner R60 w/both heads ........................ $15,500 Geringhoff parts & heads available

TILLAGE MISCELLANEOUS ’11 Sunflower 4412-07................................$28,000 NEW Salford RTS Units ........................................ Call ’13 CIH 870 9-24 ....................................... $38,500 NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders .............................. Call ’13 Wilrich 513 5-30 .................................. $31,500 NEW Westfield Augers .......................................... Call NEW REM VRX Vacs. .......................................... Call CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT 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 ’13 L225 EH 937hrs............................................... $33,500 NEW Batco Conveyors ......................................... Call NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ....................... Call NEW E-Z Trail Seed Wagons ................................ Call HAY TOOLS NEW Rock Buckets & Pallet Forks ...................... Call New Disc Mowers - 107,108,109 REM 2700, Rental ................................................. Call New Disc Mower Cond. - 10’, 13’ Pre-Owned Grain Cart .................................. On Hand New Wheel Rakes - 10,12,14 New Horsch Jokers ...................................... ......... Call New NH Hay Tools - ON HAND

Thank You For Your Business!

(507) 234-5191 (507) 625-8649 Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon

ADVERTISER LISTING

Auctioneer Alley ........................................................... 21 Beck's Hybrids ................................................................ 1 Ediger Auctions ............................................................ 21 Electrical Production Services ....................................... 18 Fladeboe Land .............................................................. 18 Greenwald Farm Center ................................................. 23 Hamilton Auction Service .............................................. 20 Henslin Auctions, Inc. ............................................. 19, 22 Kannegiesser Truck ......................................................... 9 Kerkhoff Auction .......................................................... 22 Leaf Filter .................................................................... 17 Mages Auction Service .................................................. 20 Pruess Elevator, Inc. ..................................................... 19 Rock Nobles Cattlemen's Association .............................. 5 Rush River Steel & Trim ................................................. 3 Schweiss Doors ............................................................. 23 Scott Buboltz .................................................................. 6 Smiths Mill Implement, Inc. .......................................... 23 Steffes Group .......................................................... 19, 21 507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 418 South Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001 www.thelandonline.com

PAGE 24

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THE LAND — JUNE 25/JULY 2, 2021

This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Managing Editor Paul Malchow.

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Crazy about curds

otorists whizzing along on U.S. Hwy. 212 east of Norwood/ Young America may not notice the hamlet of Bongards, Minn. But cheese lovers from throughout the United States have learned to make the stop.

“People come from everywhere!” exclaimed Bongards’ retail store manager Cathy Kerber. “New York, Texas. California … we have a signin book and you’ll see people come from all over.”

Indeed, even on a weekday morning, there were a number of shoppers examining the Bongards shop. “We stay pretty busy year-round,” said Kerber. “In January and February it’s a little quieter.”

Even the Covid-19 pandemic did little to slow down the store. “We did curbside pick-up for a month or two and still did good business,” Kerber admitted.

The Bongards retail store packs a little space with a lot of variety. In addition to cheeses and butter, meat products from the French Lake Butcher Shop and Knaus Sausage Haus are popular items. Freezers are filled with ice cream and pizzas.

There is a nice selection of gift items as well — cows, of course, being very popular.

“Everyone wants to have their picture taken with the cow,” laughed Kerber. The cow she’s talking about is hard to miss. It stands a good 12 feet tall outside the retail shop. Bongards employees named the cow “Bonnie” as they felt it went well with Bongards. She became the company mascot and was even featured in the 1999 movie “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”

The Bongards retail store is dwarfed and surrounded by the cheese plant. In early October of 1908, the Bongards’ town creamery burned to the ground in a fire. In response, local farmers gathered to discuss forming a new farmer-owned co-op creamery. Ninety farmers signed up to become the company’s first shareholders. Construction of the new creamery was completed in February, 1909. When creamery operations began, the first shipment of Bongards’ butter and cream was sent to a customer in New York.

In 1941, Bongards expanded into cheese making. By 1944 Bongards cele-

brated its first $1 million year, producing over three million pounds of cheese. A new plant was built to produce whey products. Plant Manager Jack Budahn created all of the machinery himself.

By 1960 the plant was processing up to one million pounds of milk a day.

In 1968 the co-op added its first automated continuous cheese making system to the plant. It could convert 1.5 million pounds of milk into 150,000 pounds of cheese and 85,000 pounds of dry whey each day.

Unfortunately, on Dec. 17, 1968, an explosion destroyed the cheese-wrapping building, including the warehouse and retail store. The lab and remaining plant buildings were severely damaged. A new warehouse, laboratory, and retail store began construction in the spring.

In 1982 Bongards earned the title of “The Largest Cheese Plant in the World Under One Roof”, processing two million pounds of milk per day. The co-op was comprised of 1,300 Minnesota farmers and had just under 250 employees.

Kerber explained that due to safety considerations, the plant does not conduct tours to the general public. However, visitors can watch a live feed of plant operations inside the retail shop.

Today, Bongards continues to update equipment and product offerings. In 2003 the company bought a cheese and whey manufacturing facility in Perham, Minn. In 2010 Bongards purchased a manufacturing facility in Humboldt, Tenn. Bongards products of slice, loaf and shredded cheeses, butter and whey are found in groceries and convenience stores. Bongards began processing commodity cheese for the National School Lunch Program and has been a large supplier to the USDA ever since the early days of the company.

But cheese curds are king at the Bongards retail store with a wide variety of flavors occupying an entire cooler. Fresh batches are packaged daily.

Bongards will be hosting an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 21. Kerber promises plenty of curds, polka music, prizes, various animals and other surprises.

Bongards has a Facebook page and other information can be found on their website, www.bongards.com. v

Bongards, Minn.