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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — AUGUST 20/AUGUST 27, 2021
MCGA hopes Unleaded 88 would soon become mandated MCGA, from pg. 9 exclaimed. “A great show, lots of exhibitors … I’ll have a chance to visit with our National Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall from Georgia. Plus, of course, I check up on Kevin to see how he’s treating you Minnesota folks too. I’m having a great time!” So I’m still at the Minnesota Corn Growers’ tent, thinking about one last ice cream for the road, when in walks MCGA Board Member Harold Wolle. My friendship with Wolle goes back to a church missionary trip to Africa 20 years ago. I motioned toward a huge banner on the MCGA tent wall which reads: Harold Wolle “Unleaded Octane 88.” Being curious by nature, I asked Wolle what’s that all about? “Because ethanol fuels continue vital in the energy world and the Minnesota Corn Growers have long championed these fuels produced from Minnesota grown corn, we’re now encouraging Minnesota gas stations to market ‘Unleaded 88’ which is 15 percent
ethanol fuel content,” Wolle said. “As you know, all regular gas in Minnesota has 10 percent ethanol; but Unleaded 88 is 15 percent ethanol. This higher octane fuel is usually 3 to 10 cents cheaper and produces fewer emissions … just a good deal for consumers.” MCGA hopes Unleaded 88 would soon become a mandated fuel by Minnesota government action. “That was a priority of Corn Growers at this last legislative session,” Wolle admitted, “but Covid changed the scenario. The bill we were advocating made it out of both the Senate and House Ag Committees. However, the oil folks don’t want give up any of their market share. I’m told it ran into some issues in the Commerce Committee; so we’ll fire up and push for better results next time. Wolle went on to remind me Mexico and Canada are solid buyers of U.S. ethanol. “Yes, both of our good neighbors continue to be buyers … in fact, a 10 percent ethanol fuels market nationwide in Mexico was being talked; but I understand that got cut back to 5.8 percent. However, I’m told we’re now up to 440 stations in Minnesota with E85 pumps too. But now look for a big move to Unleaded 88 which is already
available at Casey outlets, several Cenex and Quick Trip stations too. And according to EPA, Unleaded 88 is cleared for any vehicle 2001 and newer.“ I reminded Wolle of our visit to a remote country church in Arica some years back. “That was a trip you and I will always remember,” Wolle beamed, “and treasure as well. Yes, you and I were casually visiting with two ladies of the church. We noticed both had umbrellas. We asked why? They both replied, ‘Because if a sudden shower erupts, we’d need our umbrellas. Our church roof leaks badly but we have no money to fix it.’ So we agreed to see if we could raise enough money when we got back home so these two South African women might have a new rainproof roof over their country church.” These two sweet ladies even told Harold and I they would sing to us if this new roof happened over their church. Thanks to generous donations from our Minnesota Diocese the new roof did happen. However, Harold and I never got back for our song fest from the ladies of this country parish. v
Key questions for upcoming Farm Bill raised during forum THIESSE, from pg. 8
adequate safety nets for crop and livestock producers, climate change, and social issues affect the beef processing industry. Farm Bill discussion. Dairy farmers have seen some improvement in Some key questions relative to development of the profit levels during the past year. However, the long- next Farm Bill which surfaced at Farmfest include: term trend in the dairy industry is for continued Will crop insurance continue to be protected as a tight profit margins. This will likely result in a con- corner-stone risk management tool for farmers? Will tinued trend of smaller dairy producers exiting the crop producers still have farm program choices industry in the next few years. (PLC and ARC-CO)? Will carbon sequestration efforts be linked in the commodity title? Will there Looking ahead to the next Farm Bill — The current Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30, 2023, so congres- be a move to further expand CRP acres or add setaside acres for carbon sequestration? Will enhanced sional discussions on the next Farm Bill will likely begin later this year and continue into 2022. It will risk management tools be added for livestock producers? What will be the budget allocation and how be interesting to see how issues such as providing
much will be allocated the Nutrition Title? There are numerous other issues and programs which impact greater Minnesota in a variety of ways which surfaced during the Farmfest forums including rural health care, labor shortages, expansion of broadband coverage, and infrastructure needs. Congress is likely to make some key policy decisions in the coming years. 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
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. Aug. 28-29 — 55th Annual Donnelly Threshing Bee — Donnelly, Minn. — Featuring Ford and Massey Ferguson. Contact Harry Kruize at chkruize@runestone.net or (320) 246-3337. Sept. 1— Mississippi Valley Cattlemen annual meeting — Little Falls, Minn. — Includes a farm tour, discussions on DNA testing of seedstock, cross breeding, along with a question and answer period. Contact Clint Kathrein at (320) 232-7336.. Sept. 1 — Regionally Adapted Seed Field Day —
Delano, Minn. — Event is to train participants on how to select, save and sell regionally-adapted varieties on their farm. Contact Kitt Healy at kitt@seedalliance.org or (630) 346-4749. Sept. 1 — Soil Health Field Demonstration — Waseca, Minn. — Features demonstration on interseeding with Highboy, demonstrations with Rainfall Simulator and discussions on no till, strip till and cover crops in a corn and soybean rotation. Contact Cheri Brummund at cherib.swcd@co.waseca.mn.us or (507) 835-0607. Sept. 8 — Farm and Food System Field Day — Murdock, Minn. — Learn about the interconnection between soil health and climate change, tour the Falk
farm and learn about on-farm renewable energy. Contact Land Stewardship Project at (612) 722-6377. Sept. 9 — Dairy Grazing Pasture Walk — Brandon, 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 or (320) 815-9293. Sept. 9 — Soil Health Field Day — Waseca, Minn. — Topics include trial plot results with strip till and cover crops, weed control observations, soil biology and crop protection and soil health; plus soil health tests you can do on your farm. Contact Cheri Brummund at cherib. swcd@co.waseca.mn.us or (507) 835-0607.
