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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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Publisher: Steve Jameson: sjameson@mankatofreepress.com General Manager: Deb Petterson: dpetterson@TheLandOnline.com Managing Editor: Paul Malchow: editor@TheLandOnline.com Staff Writer: Kristin Kveno: kkveno@thelandonline.com Staff Writer Emeritus: Dick Hagen: rdhagen35@gmail.com Advertising Representatives: Sebastian Barton: (507) 344-6379, sbarton@TheLandOnline.com Deb Petterson: dpetterson@TheLandOnline.com Office/Advertising Assistants: Joan Compart: theland@TheLandOnline.com Lyuda Shevtsov: auctions@thelandonline.com For Customer Service Concerns: (507) 345-4523, (800) 657-4665, theland@TheLandOnline.com Fax: (507) 345-1027 For Editorial Concerns or Story Ideas: (507) 344-6342, (800) 657-4665, editor@TheLandOnline.com Because of the nature of articles appearing in The Land, product or business names may be included to provide clarity. This does not constitute an endorsement of any product or business. Opinions and viewpoints expressed in editorials or by news sources are not necessarily those of the management. The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The Publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. Classified Advertising: $19.99 for seven (7) lines for a private classified, each additional line is $1.40; $24.90 for business classifieds, each additional line is $1.40. Classified ads accepted by mail or by phone with VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Classified ads can also be sent by e-mail to theland@TheLandOnline.com. Mail classified ads to The Land, 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001. Please include credit card number, expiration date and your postal address with ads sent on either mail version. Classified ads may also be called into (800) 657-4665. Deadline for classified ads is 5 pm on the Friday prior to publication date, with holiday exceptions. Distributed to farmers in all Minnesota counties and northern Iowa, as well as on The Land’s website. Each classified ad is separately copyrighted by The Land. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Subscription and Distribution: Free to farmers and agribusinesses in Minnesota and northern Iowa. $49 per year for non-farmers and people outside the service area. The Land (USPS 392470) Copyright © 2022 by The Free Press Media is published biweekly by The Free Press, 418 S 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001-3727. Business and Editorial Offices: 418 S. 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001-3727, Accounting and Circulation Offices: Steve Jameson, 418 S 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001-3727. Call (507) 345-4523 to subscribe. Periodicals postage paid at Mankato, MN. Postmaster and Change of Address: Send address changes to The Land, 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001-3727 or e-mail to theland@ TheLandOnline.com.
Dear Readers, The Land takes great pride in bringing you agricultural news along with entertaining articles and photos in each issue. Every week, our staff strives to do our best to make this happen, but we need your help. It’s time for The Land’s annual subscription drive. In today’s issue you should have received the 2022 subscription form. In order to make sure The Land remains a “voluntary pay” magazine for farmers who qualify, we need all of our readers to take a moment and help us out. Please fill out, sign, date and return the subscription card in the handy postage paid envelope and be sure to check the boxes that relate to your farming operation too. Your signed card is how we prove that our readers want to receive The Land. In order to qualify for lower postage rates, the post office requires verification that readers are requesting the publication. Plus local and national advertisers, whose support is essential, want to know that The Land is being requested by readers and that it is not just being mailed to a random mailing list. You will notice that the suggested subscription price is $49.00 annually. Since paying for The Land is voluntary, this is just a suggestion. As is the case with most small businesses right now, the fallout from the Corona virus epidemic has hit The Land magazine pretty hard. We will welcome any donation you see fit to make. Every subscriber who returns a completely filled out 2022 subscription card is eligible to place one FREE line ad (valued at $19.99) in the classified section in 2022. As a bonus, subscribers who send in a completed form will have a chance to win $400.00 in cash. On March 4, 2022 we will draw a winner from all of the subscription cards that we have received so far. We will only use the phone number or email address to contact you if you win or if we have a problem with your subscription. We will not sell your private information! We do not share phone numbers or email addresses. Thank you in advance for taking the time to fill out and return the 2022 subscription card. Please remember to sign and date it at the bottom. A special thank you goes out to those who qualify for a free subscription and pay for it anyway, and to those of you who send in more than the suggested price. It really helps. We respect and appreciate The Land readers and we look forward to serving you in 2022. Sincerely,
Deb Petterson General Manager, The Land
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 8 — An agronomist previews the 2022 corn crop. 9 — Dick Hagen interviews Darren Hefty.
THERE’S EVEN MORE ONLINE... @ TheLandOnline.com • “Calendar of Events” — Check out The Land’s complete events listing • “E-Edition” — Archives of past issues of The Land
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
24
TOP 10 FINISHES
IN 2021 UNIV. OF MINNESOTA CORN GRAIN FIELD CROP TRIALS
BRAND
TRIAL
RANK
YIELD
PLOT AVG ADVANTAGE
DS-3727AM™
Central Early Morris
1 of 29
259
227
32
DS-4510Q™
Central Late Hutchinson
1 of 37
248
212
36
DS-4917AM™
Southern Late Rochester
2 of 33
303
273
30
DS-4510Q™
Central Late 2-Location Average
2 of 37
246
220
26
DS-4878Q™
Southern Late Waseca
3 of 33
289
256
33
DS-3727AM™
Central Early 2-Location Average
3 of 29
233
215
18
DS-3162Q™
Northern Rothsay
3 of 38
305
261
44
DS-3727AM™
Southern Early Lamberton
4 of 37
184
163
21
DS-3550AM™
Northern 3-Location Average
4 of 38
206
191
15
DS-3550AM™
Northern Rothsay
4 of 38
302
261
41
DS-4014Q™
Southern Early Lamberton
5 of 37
181
163
18
DS-4910AML™
Southern Late Waseca
5 of 33
284
256
28
DS-3550AM™
Northern Crookston
5 of 38
142
122
20
DS-3959Q™
Southern Early Lamberton
6 of 37
175
163
12
DS-4917AM™
Southern Late 3-Location Average
6 of 33
250
232
18
DS-4878Q™
Southern Late Lamberton
6 of 33
183
166
17
DS-3959Q™
Southern Early 3-Location Average
7 of 37
239
228
11
DS-3959Q™
Southern Early Waseca
7 of 37
259
244
15
DS-3366AM™
Central Early Morris
7 of 29
235
227
8
DS-3162Q™
Northern 3-Location Average
9 of 38
201
191
10
DS-3727AM™
Southern Early 3-Location Average
10 of 37
236
228
8
DS-4878Q™
Southern Late 3-Location Average
10 of 33
246
232
14
DS-3550AM™
Central Early Morris
10 of 29
231
227
4
DS-4510Q™
Central Late Morris
10 of 37
244
228
16
See how our strongest lineup ever performs in your area at DairylandSeed.com or call one of our local reps: BENTON CO. Scott Heilig, DSM (320) 250-4545
CARVER CO. David Richter, DSM (320) 248-1794 CLAY CO. Agri Seed Solutions (701) 238-4650
MARSHALL CO. Northland Ag Nathan Wesolowski (218) 779-2711
OTTER TAIL CO. J & L Nutritional Consulting LTD (218) 346-7487
POLK CO. Northland Ag Nathan Wesolowski (218) 779-2711
RENVILLE CO. Dale Filzen (320) 894-7480
SIBLEY CO. Merlin Schwecke (507) 276-6900 TRAVERSE CO. Chad Birchem, DSM (320) 815-8980
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WILKIN CO. Minn-Kota Ag Products Inc (218) 643-6130
Data based on 2021 University of Minnesota corn grain field crop trials. ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2022 Corteva.
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
Crystal ball for 2022 needs a good dusting off Is it just me or has 2020 and 2021 merged together into one big long year? Sure, we’re getting out more. We can go to the movies again and the airports were clogged with holiday travelers this Christmas. Farmfest opened its gates in 2021 and the MN Ag Expo is back in Mankato on Jan. 19 and 20. But Covid keeps evolving and there are plenty of Greek letters we haven’t even used yet; so I don’t see us finding our way out that dark forest anytime soon. With so many people still not vaccinated, it’s hard to tell if any progress is being made or if we’re
just chasing the latest mutation. Regardless, new case reports are high, ICUs are booked solid, and people at risk are still at risk. Even though Covid is still front page news, a lot more has happened in the last 12 months or so. The country has a new president and apparently the same old congress and senate. So many infrastructure and relief packages have been proposed and shot down it’s a wonder anything gets accomplished (?). And don’t hold your breath for things to improve. Your favorite representatives will begin running for re-election in earnest; which takes pri-
OPINION
As seen on RFDTV & Rural Radio!
Your Grain Marketing & Crop Insurance Experts Agents
Advisors
ority over actually serving in office. The world of agriculture has its own list of matters which will carry into 2022; some of them guaranteed to go beyond. Right now, input costs and availability of products LAND MINDS for the 2022 growing season is a popular coffee shop By Paul Malchow topic. Some say not to worry; but smaller operations are worrying. Grain prices are strong right now, but they will need to remain that way to offset higher costs. Picture how much you’re paying to fill your vehicle with gas and multiply that by everything. Washington D.C. is playing quite a bit of lip service to fighting monopolies, but the conglomerates continue to thrive. With a “bigger is better” American ethic, it will be interesting to see what sort of plan the feds come up with. I remember when Ma Bell was divvied up in the 1980s, so I guess it can be done. I’m not sure Congress has the interest in doing it — certainly not before November’s elections. The other ag matter Washington is going to have to weigh in on is carbon credits. The press has taken a fancy to calling the carbon market “the new wild west.” With no guidelines in place, you or I could get into the carbon market business. You’d like to think carbon marketing is a great opportunity for farmers and the environment; but without some sort of oversight, people will get hurt by unscrupulous “brokers” and contracts gone bad.
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Who has more clout in Washington: ag or oil? Ethanol and biofuels strike all of the eco-friendly notes, but legislators aren’t dancing. In spite of global warming talk and pressure from regional senators, proposals for stronger ethanol blends are not gaining traction. Any ag-based fuel mandates will have a big impact on how farmers choose to plant their acreage; and that impact is at least one if not two growing seasons away. And speaking of crops, it seems like yesterday when corn and soybean prices were in the tank and everyone was talking about alternative crops. Kernza and hemp were both attractive to growers. Hemp processors are scarce which has growers shy about taking the plunge. Proponents of soil health are pushing kernza and the quasi-perennial certainly seems to be advantageous in that arena. But the sirens’ call of $6.00 corn and $14.00 soybeans is hard to resist. My question is: with South American crops supposedly on the rebound this year and a still-shaky relationship with China, how long will See LAND MINDS, pg. 6
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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PAGE 5
Move along, move along … nothing to see here No one was shocked recently when the But come it did and USDA Secretary General Accountability Office announced Sonny Perdue was ordered to design and the U.S. Department of Agriculture had implement a CCC-based plan which overpaid farmers billions of dollars durwould pay farmers a portion of their lost ing the slapdash tariff-mitigation scheme income due to now-faltering export sales. ordered by the Trump White House in MFP is what Sonny’s USDA number2018 and 2019. crunchers and political cronies cobbled together. A couple of billion bucks in government waste is, evidently, chump change when From the start, however, the plan FARM & FOOD FILE (as in the case of the officially-named reeked of bad design and leaked buckets By Alan Guebert Market Facilitation Program) it’s comof money. In fact, in its first iteration, the pared to the $30 billion in Commodity $23 billion MFP was so poorly Credit Corporation money USDA had designed it was heavily reworked to to play with each year of its short, put in place a different payment 24-month life. scheme in 2019. The redesign wasn’t much better, according to GAO. Besides, the MFP was a real rush job. One day U.S. farmers were feeding millions in China; the For example, in trying to fix the potholes in just next day, the Trump Administration had picked a the 2018 wheat program, “USDA used a new basebitter trade fight with their second-biggest ag cusline … to calculate 2019 MPF wheat trade damage tomer. No one saw it coming — especially not of $836 million — more than three times the 2018 USDA. MFP estimate and more than twice the 2017 value of China imports of U.S. wheat.”
And wheat wasn’t the only payment crop USDA got wrong, noted the GAO. “For 14 of the 29 MFPeligible commodities it analyzed, USDA’s 2019 MFP baseline was higher than the highest value of retaliating country imports from the United States in any one year from 2009 through 2018.” How does what once was arguably the largest, finest collection of ag economists in the world, USDA’s Economic Research Service, get a two-year payment program at least $3 billion wrong — even after a major, mid-stream overhaul? There are many ways, explains an emeritus ag economist who asks to remain anonymous among his professional colleagues. “Differences could be due to the low quality of trade data for many countries or critical theoretical assumptions underlying the analyses,” the economist offers. Other reasons included “inexperienced economists in USDA” — a growing concern after Perdue ordered ERS move to Kansas City during the trade war — might account for the errors, too. “I’m not surprised at the differences,” he adds, “but some are bigger in magnitude than expected.” Congress wasn’t surprised by the differences either. GAO is, after all, its nonpartisan watchdog unleashed only when a House or Senate member smells wrongdoing. In the case of MFP, Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow (chairwoman of the Senate Ag Committee) asked for the review after questions of payment inequalities arose. In 2019, for example, the GAO found “that averAll letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) to verify authenticity. age payments per acre ranged from $119 in Georgia to only $15 in Alaska, Maine, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Eight of the top nine states with the highest payments per acre were in the South.” Secretary Sonny’s native South, that is … and boy, To the Editor, blessing that I can’t describe. I did not get vaccinat- was that a valuable coincidence. ed because I’m aware of the immune system that I opened your paper this morning and read the “GAO found that cotton farmers received payGod designed and it’s up to me to take care of my letter from Greg Rendahl (The Land, Dec. 24) and ments that equaled 40 percent of their expected body to foster healthy immunity. I’m also aware that started to move on while thinking, another doom value. A separate study from Kansas State the aged and those with compromised immune sysand gloomer. My eyes glanced back across the page University economists earlier this year found that tems are at risk. If the vaccine lowers those risks, to Whitney Nesse and her “Deep Roots” column. cotton payments were 33 times more than the estimake that choice. We have learned of so many treatWhat a stark contrast between the two. Whitney mated trade damage to cotton.” ments for the virus such as, vitamin therapies, time has encouraged us through her articles, to look for Add it all up and billions went to tens of thoutested drugs like ivermectin, and anti-body therathe good in our society and it starts with the small sands of either mostly unharmed or only modestly pies that have been proven to be successful. It’s things like she wrote about in her last article. harmed American farmers, noted GAO. frustrating our government and the medical conI mourn for the 60 million babies that have been glomerates use a one pronged approach, a non FDA Even more remarkable is the silence throughout killed in the name of “choice.” I would have to approved injection that does not stop infection or agriculture since the report’s release Dec. 20. No believe that someone like Whitney would go out of the spread of the virus. one has made one peep about assigning blame or her way to care for an unwed mother, like the Who do I want to be influenced by, the Whitneys or attempting to recoup one cent of the ill, woebegotten church and loving neighbors used to do. Now we gains. the Gregs of the world? When I see Whitney’s picexpect the government to take care of them. We live ture beside her column and read her words, I see Proving once again that when it comes to federal in a fallen world where wars and corruption have true joy that comes from the love of God and the farm programs, silence is golden. plagued this world from the beginning of time. Again, someone like Whitney is going to do her part saving grace of His son, Jesus Christ. God is still in The Farm and Food File is published weekly control, He may be giving us a little shake right now, to make this world a better place. through the United States and Canada. Past colbut I choose to embrace these times instead of fearumns, events and contact information are posted at I caught the Covid this fall and tried to continue ing them. Thank you Whitney for seeing the good! www.farmandfoodfile.com. v with the harvest. I finally had to stop. Friends and Chip Callister family finished the harvest for me and it was a
OPINION
Letters to the editor are always welcome. Send your letters to: Editor, The Land, 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001 e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com
Letter: Embrace, not fear these times
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
The sunny side: Perks of harvest participation There can often be kind of a love/hate In our operation, when it’s time to think relationship going between the farm famabout supper for our crew, it’s my job to ily and the harvest season. abandon the grain cart and leave it to someone else while I scamper to the nearKind of like what goes on between husest town to pick up something for everybands and wives during that arduous one. I could complain that I always have to and elbow-deep paper-flying tax preparabe the one to run after supper for everytion season … even without the profanione; but I don’t do it because those trips to ties which sometimes find their way to town also afford me a chance to answer the home office in the process. Mother Nature’s call like civilized people TABLE TALK The long hours of harvest offset the do. I need to be careful what I wish for… anticipation of what is always hoped to be By Karen Schwaller And after riding high in the tractor cab the biggest crop yet. Machinery breakall day, I feel like I’m riding a skateboard downs at critical times make farmers anxto town as I drive along in the pickup. ious; but when combine heads swallow up the year’s work, there’s something to be said about the satisfacThe days start early and are long. But in retrotion which comes from seeing a field completely spect, they go by quickly. It’s kind of exciting for most gleaned and moved from the field into storage. of the day, but by 8:00 at night I’m usually ‘over it’ and just want to go home. I might have another two There are many perks observed between the first field of the harvest being opened up and the last load of the year going to the bin. Breathtaking sunsets would have to be among those perks that only serve to distract a person so LAND MINDS, from pg. 4 much they could forget why they are out there to the grain market gravy train keep rolling? see it in the first place. More than once I’m sure it Alternative crops need a home at the U.S. was the reason for an S.O.S. call on the radio from Department of Agriculture. Hopefully research and my husband to tell me to get over a row or two study continues in this area and farmers have a because I was too close to the combine. more diverse market at their disposal. It’s the one time of year when I understand why Now more than ever, as agriculture goes, so goes the male of the species finds beauty so distracting. Though I can’t say I’ve ever had to tell my husband America. And the list of issues facing farmers in 2022 is facing everyone. Mental health and scant he was driving too close to me… resources to maintain that health is finally receivWhen you participate in the harvest you get to see ing attention. Hopefully we will be able to do more the world from a higher vantage point. For us short catching up in that long-neglected area. The people, it’s a glimpse into the world of thinner air drought of last year should have been a lesson on and for once, looking down at people … who can also how dependent we are on water and how limited now see our double chins without trying too hard. that irreplaceable resource is. How we use water I always find the irony in it when I’m following the and how much of it we use is just as important as combine in the field, and it appears to move along climate change and U.S. energy policies … perhaps slowly and methodically. But on the side of the com- even more so. Will the current pattern of weatherbine are small gears that you can see running ferrelated disasters continue? And if so, what will that vently — like they’re on a serious mission to keep mean for crop insurance? Will premiums skyrockthat combine going. It reminds me of ducks: looking et? Will smaller insurers be able to compete or will calm above the water, but padding like crazy under- they disappear like the local farmers’ cooperative? neath. I also think it’s how farmers look that time of The on-going New Year’s resolution at The Land is year—calm on the outside, but calculating like crazy to keep these topics alive in the public eye — so we profits and losses for the year, and hoping it’s good can be proactive in agriculture’s future instead of news for the banker and the bottom line. Eating lunch in the field is a special event all its own. A neighbor lady of ours told me just this past fall, “Everything tastes better when it’s eaten in a ST. PAUL — Scholarships are available to help tractor cab.” I had not thought of it that way before; Minnesota organic fruit and vegetable growers parand maybe it’s just a woman’s perspective. It gives me insight as to why young children are always find- ticipate in one-to-one business management guidance. ing their way into the farmer’s nosebag. There’s just Participants can work with instructors to improve something about finding some kind of treasure in their knowledge of accounting, budgeting, finance, there to eat while spending time in the combine cab. tax management and business analysis. Not having to cook supper is another perk for the Annual costs are up to $2,000. Scholarships coverwoman of the house who also gets more fresh air and ing 25 to 50 percent of the costs are available. exercise than normal as she helps with the harvest. Scholarships also are available to farmers transition-
or three hours before that happens, though. It’s amazing to watch the landscape change as the harvest goes along. Not just from our fields being done, but from the work all farmers are accomplishing. The fields are bare, you can see for miles, and it creates the canvas for the coming winterscape. All that’s left to come are the cows quietly grazing, round bales dotting the fields, and then the snow. Most of all, the harvest is a feeling of being part of something much larger than ourselves … something we could not do if it were left solely to human hands. Perhaps it’s a good thing God’s not ‘over it’ by 8:00 at night, like I am. Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v
Form takes two minutes (honest)
scrambling to survive the next embargo or virus. We gladly print letters to the editor and if there is a subject we need to be paying attention to, we want to know. And we want to have fun too (mental health?). I’m happy to say our writers are on board for another year to share their words, wisdom and pictures. Inside this issue is The Land’s annual subscription form. For the price of a stamp and a couple bushels of soybeans we’ll deliver 26 issues to your door in 2022. (We don’t even require the soybeans, but the funds come in handy in a lot of ways.) Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the subscription form found inside this issue. TRUTH: When The Land is at trade shows or Farmfest, people fill out the same form at our booth and it really does only take a couple of minutes — ask anyone. If you know a friend or neighbor who might enjoy The Land (city or country) we offer them the same deal. We believe The Land is a family-friendly way to stay connected during a time when things seem so disconnected. We wish everyone a prosperous — and most importantly, safe 2022. Thank you for your support! Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com. v
Scholarships for ag business management ing from conventional to organic operations. Learn more about the organic benchmarking cost share program at z.umn.edu/organicscholarships or by contacting Hadrich at jhadrich@umn.edu or Gigi DiGiacomo, research fellow in the Department of Applied Economics, at gigid@umn.edu. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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Gritty ‘Wildcat’ is not your typical Western novel The growl came from beneath your ribs. Rather than some ordinary “Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart, The Wild West’s gun-slingin’, rootin’-tooter, The pantry’s empty and so is your belly. Most Notorious Woman Bandit” this story of Pearl Hart is Now what do you do? In the absence of much wider: author John by John Boessenecker family, welfare and church, how do you Boessenecker likewise plan to stay alive? In the Old West, and c.2021, Hanover Square Press includes lengthy passages in “Wildcat” by John Boessenecker, the $28.99 / $34.99 Canada about Pearl’s sister, Katy, and answer wasn’t a happy one. 336 pages her escapades, as well as tales By all accounts, Albert Davy was “a of the mostly-lawless Davy THE BOOKWORM monster.” A rather violent man, he never and the younger Katy rode the siblings and others. These SEZ met a bottle or a brawl he didn’t like. And rails to Ohio to Chicago to yarns are interesting, though they so it’s somewhat surprising that he mar- By Terri Schlichenmeyer Minnesota; Lillie also served a often supersede Pearl’s story. ried a respectable young Frenchstint at a reform institution. More than anything, however, readCanadian woman who lived nearby. He Once released, she moved to ers will notice tale after tale about and Anna Duval started a family almost immediate- Buffalo, N.Y. where, calling herself Pearl what it was like for desperate young ly, as folks did in the latter 1800s. Their third child Hart, she operated her own brothel for a time ladies without familial support, at a was a girl born in April 1871, and they named her and hooked up with petty criminals and outlaws time when women were basically second-class citiLillie Naomi. one after the next. zens. Inside those eye-opening parts, there’s heroGrowing up, Lillie and her siblings were close ism and feminism, and though Boessenecker avoids In 1893, at the age of 22 years, Pearl went to because they had to be: there was never any food in Colorado and Arizona — the latter in which she any whiff of sentimentalism in his storytelling, the house and the Davy children took to thieving to eventually birthed two children that she probably those hard-luck tales still suck every shred of survive. It didn’t help that Albert moved his family romance out of any Old West works. sent to her sister to raise. constantly from shack to shanty. Eventually, some of “Wildcat” is a true story, recommended for westNo doubt, that was hard; but Pearl had done some the Davys had made their way across the border to ern fans and for anyone who reads women’s history. hard things before and had committed many New York. wrongs. And on May 30, 1899, this alcoholic, addict- It’s a yeee-haw with a sad streak, and missing it’ll By that time, Lillie and her sisters were sleeping make you growl. ed, thieving prostitute and gunslinger made truewith men in exchange for sustenance, wearing boys’ crime history with yet another very bad decision... Look for the reviewed book at a bookstore or a clothing so they weren’t harassed, lying about their library near you. You may also find the book at When it comes to westerns, “Wildcat” is extremely ages, and repeatedly running away from home to online book retailers. good, but it’s also not what you might think. escape their violent father. As young teens, Lillie The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives in Wisconsin with three dogs and 10,000 books. v
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Deadline extended for pandemic support The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program. This program provides pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses. The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses is now Feb. 4, rather than the original deadline of Jan. 7. Certified operations and transitional operations may apply for OTECP for eligible expenses paid during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. For each year, OTECP covers 25 percent of a certified operation’s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category (crop, livestock, wild crop, handling and State Organic Program fee). This includes application fees, inspection fees, USDA organic certification costs, state organic program fees and more. Crop and livestock operations transitioning to organic production may be eligible for 75 percent of a transitional operation’s eligible expenses, up to $750,
for each year. This includes fees charged by a certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections and development of an organic system plan. For both certified operations and transitional operations, OTECP covers 75 percent of the registration fees, up to $200, per year, for educational events that include content related to organic production and handling. Additionally, both certified and transitional operations may be eligible for 75 percent of the expense of soil testing required under the National Organic Program to document micronutrient deficiency, not to exceed $100 per year. Producers apply through their local FSA office and can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling (877) 508-8364. The program application and additional information can be found at farmers. gov/otecp. This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v
Saint Peter Toy Show January 29th & 30th 2022
Saturday 9am - 4pm Sunday 9am - 3pm Held at the St Peter Fair Grounds Johnson Hall, 400 West Union Street, St Peter MN Admission: $3.00 Farm toys; cars; trucks; Literature & Various Collectibles Concessions by Nancy to be available For More Information Call: Wendy: 507-381-8234 • Jim: 506-381-8235
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
Yes, corn growers face some issues next season By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus OLIVIA, Minn. — With 30 years of professional agronomic consulting services, plus being an actual farmer himself, Curt Burns gets listened to — such as at the Nov. 17 Renville County Corn and Soybean plots information session at Max’s Grill in Curt Burns Olivia, Minn. Burns listing: C.B. Agronomics LLC, Stewart, Minn. His email: burnsagro@gmail.com. Said Burns, “As we all know, 2021 turned out to be a challenging, teasing, then rewarding season. We started with plentiful soil moistures; then virtually no rains until August. Crops were writhing. You and I were thinking mostly negatively. At county fair time you were talking 100 bushel corn. Then August happened and 10 to 15 inches of rain! And you harvested 170 bushels, 200 bushels, 240 — even more. During this August/September time frame we simply underestimated the rainfall factor. Also, get favorable temps too and despite a drouthy start it’s apparent you can salvage a decent crop.” “I had guys thinking 100-bushel corn and ending with 150 to 175 bushel corn. Kernel size was deep; test weight was good. Yes, I hear about today’s genetics being better than genetics of 1988. But I also think we’re better farmers than we were in 1988! Still lots of moldboard plowing in 1988. But look at today … crop residues left on soil surfaces help absorb rainfall keeping the moisture in the soil.” “Also today, more narrow-row cropping. That additional canopy also helps preserve moisture. Yes, genetics today are better than 1988. But the reality is you guys are better farmers today … and you’ll be
even better farmers 10 years from now.” “It’s all about education; about technology; and your ability to put this technology to work on your own farm. This year variations, even from township to township, were amazing. I had townships with four inches rain all year getting 50-bushel beans and 150 to 160-bushel corn!” “The point being, your soils are still the numberone determiner of your success and it starts with good drainage which then permits good root penetrations. In my 30 years’ experience I’ve learned we can be on the dry side into June; but if we start getting wet in August and September, we can still get a pretty good crop.” “I’ve never seen low-ground, peat-soil areas produce like they did this year … yield monitors pushing 300 bushels in those areas. Summing up, even if the good Lord keeps us on the dry side into that MayJuly timeframe, but quenches our thirst starting in August, we can still have good crops.” “Yes, a couple of things about 2022 concern me … and you guys know fertilizer prices top the list. I know several of you locked in your prices earlier this fall. But I’m seeing many fertility tests now showing low to medium fertility … and cash rent prices already at $275 to $300. Are we now mining our soils because P and K prices are too high? Certain truths don’t change. If you’re going to successfully grow good crops you need good fertility practices. You can’t skip on fertilizer; you can’t skip on drainage. “A common mistake I see is a grower picks up a new farm to rent and that farm does not have the best drainage. I suggest work with that land owner about fixing those areas. No, I’m not saying pattern tiling, but fix the obvious. It’s important you work with these land owners — not just for your assurance of a
good crop, but perhaps even more important to that land owner is the added sustainable value to his property.” Another concern of Burns: “If we don’t have a really cold winter we’re likely to see expanding insect issues in 2022. I think grasshoppers will keep increasing; so too will spider mites; also root worms. I don’t like to say it, but we need a polar vortex for at least three months this winter or we will have insect issues next season. This means perma-frosts even 24-inches into the soil.” In order to get a good crop you’ve got to do the basics: drainage, fertility, weed control, insect control, and good crop insurance too. “Yes, your risk factor of damage from corn rootworms keeps increasing. I’m not saying that if you have long rotations — including sugar beets, or peas, or sweet corn — that you can plant non-transgenic hybrids and be fine. But if your neighbors are into continuous corn or you have a neighboring dairy farmer with increasing corn rootworm issues, you may be okay on your farm. But when you start bringing non-transgenic hybrids into closer contest with traditional or more transgenic hybrids, you’re likely going to see more root worm population into that township.” “What I’m saying is, look at your operation, plus how much continuous corn is in your neighborhood. If increasing, that proximity likely means more beetles closer to my corn fields too. So maybe I need to look at traited corn too. I’m not trying to sell something … I’m just saying that if we continue with this warmer winter scenarios, we’ll have issues with more rootworms.” “I don’t like ‘down corn.’ That’s my number-one concern,” sums up Burns. v
County Extension office. The 19th edition manual is the current reference for the exam and is available for $10 at your local County Extension office. Mail the $75 permit fee along with your test answer sheet in the envelope provided. Take the exam online by going to the University of Minnesota Extension website and looking under the Private Pesticide applicators page. The $75 permit fee is paid by credit card and the manual can be viewed online. Take the self-paced canvas course. This course will take you through the educational modules which you can complete at your own pace. This course must be finished within the timeframe noted on your registration form. You must register and complete all required components by no later than Feb. 28 to receive credit. Registration is at pat.umn.edu under the “Self-paced course” tab. The $75 fee is paid by credit card online. Attend a live online Zoom recertification workshop.
You must pre-register to attend the Zoom workshop. Check-in time starts 30-minutes prior to the start of the workshop, and you must have your applicator license on hand and available. Participation is required. All Zoom workshops are limited to 50 people and on a first-come, first-serve basis. You must remain online for the entirety of the workshop to receive credit. The $75 fee is paid by credit card online. The private applicators certificate is for farm operators who are applying restricted use pesticide products on their fields. This includes different herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and other pest control products labeled “Restricted Use”. First time Private Pesticide Applicators or those with certifications which expired prior to March 1 must use option 2 or 3 to be certified. For questions, call your local county Extension office. This article was submitted by Nathan Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
Farm Pesticide Applicator workshops available
FOLEY, Minn. — Farmers with Private Pesticide Applicator certifications which expire on March 1 will need to renew that license for the 2022 growing season. The process to renew your license remains similar to what it has been from previous years with a few newer options for 2022. Attend an in-person renewal workshop conducted by University of Minnesota Extension staff. Preregistration must be done online at pat.umn.edu three days prior to the workshop to ensure we have enough space to accommodate everyone. Walk-ins are still welcome provided we have enough space. Bring an official picture ID, such as a driver’s license, your current permit card if you have one, and a check to pay the $75 permit fee. You must arrive on time and stay for the entire workshop. Anyone 15 minutes late or leaves before workshop completion will not get credit for the workshop. Workshop locations are listed at pat.umn.edu. Take the written exam available at your local
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Hefty: Most farmers will stick with their rotations in 2022 By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus MORTON, Minn. —It was my pleasure to join the “Priming for 2022” presentation by Hefty Seed Company on Dec. 22 at Jackpot Junction Casino. I was able to sit down with Darren Hefty, a most gifted spokesman for this Darren Hefty Minnehaha County, S.D. seed company. Over the years I’ve learned Darren will handle any question I toss at him, so here we go. The Land: What are the top three questions farmers are tossing at you these days? Hefty: Today that immediately centers on the supply chain with Liberty and Roundup herbicides. Also, how to deal with these outrageously high fertilizer prices right now … and still make money raising a crop next year. You ask if we’re guilty of over-fertilizing our fields in the ongoing quest for bigger yields. I would say what we are most guilty of is not recognizing the variabilities within our fields. Sure, farmers don’t want to over-fertilize because that’s simply wasting money. But identifying these variabilities within a field is the challenge. The Land: I’m hearing about cutting nitrogen
rates up to 50 percent if applied to your corn crop as needed. Hefty: Nitrogen is a real challenge because we want to get it out there at the exact right time. But with summers like we had in 2020 and 2021, it’s difficult to make in-season applications and have enough moisture to move those products into the plant. We suggest testing your soils each fall or early spring and adjusting your fertility program up front at planting — or even before — on heavy soils. Yes, we see value in in season’ applications … we just need to understand rainfall and application methods. The Land: So is ‘spoon feeding’ your fertilizer, especially nitrogen, a preferred technology? And with anhydrous prices ramping up three to four times higher than last season, why not? Hefty: One of the important developments is the ability to test your soils and prescribe most accurately the fertilizer appetite of your corn, even accounting for differences within a given field. Today’s high-tech corn planters can even adjust application rates on the go if you provide proper input data. The Land: Are farmers guilty of excessive tillage — especially in seedbed preparations for their corn? Hefty: Tillage is often a big discussion. What works great for one guy isn’t necessarily the same recipe for another. I just think that for anything we do in our
fields there has to be a purpose; there has to be a goal. Conventional tillage, strip tillage, even zero tillage can work. Obviously your own skills, your equipment, your relationship with your weatherman, all impact the choices you make. It boils down to making the decisions that have the biggest benefits on your fields. The Land: Especially because of fertilizer costs, some are predicting corn acres to be the big loser for the 2022 season. What’s your take? Hefty: It’s a huge debate as to where acres will fall in 2022. With fertilizer prices so high it makes it more difficult for younger farmers — especially on rented ground. However, as I travel Iowa and Minnesota, more farmers are telling me they’ll stay with the same acreage mixture between the two crops because prices and situations may change as they get into 2022 cropping season. So unless they’ve already locked in fall prices for their crops, most farmers are telling me they’ll stick with their rotations. The Land: You guys are so good at ‘pre-planning’ your chemical inventory needs, but do you think there will be supply shortage issues as this new season starts up? Hefty: With ag chemicals, outside of Liberty and See HEFTY, pg. 14
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center Mankato, Minnesota
JANUARY 19 & 20 Schedule of Events WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m...................................................... Registration 8 a.m. – noon.......MSGA Delegate Session and Annual Meeting (Banquet Hall) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m..........................Trade Show Open (Grand Hall) 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.................Beck’s Hybrids Learning Session (Meeting Room 245) “Carbon: Not Just A Credit” What is your understanding of carbon and how it can impact your farming operation? Carbon is a buzzword flying around agriculture today and possibly creating some confusion. This presentation will provide a clear understanding between the carbon that is associated with the “carbon credits” and the carbon that is proven to be an agronomic benefit for your farm’s profitability. Nate will explore years of research and understanding of the carbon molecule and its place in agronomy, sharing data from Beck’s Practical Farm Research to guide your decision making for 2022.
Noon......................Boxed Lunch sponsored by Minnesota Pork 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.................Blue Horizon Learning Session (Trade Show Stage) “Spot the Difference: Understanding Quality in Solar Projects” with Hal Kimball and Griffin Dooling. With the farm implements you use every season, you know how to spot the difference between manufacturers and the quality of their products. But if you’ve never worked with a solar developer before, how can tell if the project will stand the test of time? In truth, not all solar is created equal and sometimes the more affordable estimates can end up costing you the most in the long run. Griffin and Hal of Blue Horizon Energy are here to help you gain a discerning eye for quality. We’ll break down individual solar array components (like solar panels, racking systems, warranty, service guarantees, etc) into tiers based on price points and the pros and cons of each. In the end, you’ll be able to better evaluate a solar project proposal, allowing you to pick the solar developer that’s best suited for your farm.
2 p.m. - 3:00 p.m............ Afternoon Keynote — Amanda Radke (Trade Show Stage) “Shifting our mindset and shaping new opportunities in challenging times” The pandemic has impacted both the health and economies of countries around the world. As producers and consumers alike grapple with the ramifications of this global crisis, at home on the farm, food producers are finding hope for the future. South Dakota cattle rancher and BEEF Daily blogger, Amanda Radke, challenges audiences to change their outlook in the face of great uncertainties, to look for new business opportunities where it appears none exist, and to pivot in creative and innovative directions in order to add value to their operations while serving as a high-quality supplier of safe, affordable food for consumers.
4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m............... MCGA Reception and Silent Auction (Reception Hall) 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.. Dinner featuring comedian Todd Andrews (Banquet Hall)
Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers Association
7 p.m. -11 p.m...................... MSGA Carnival Fundraiser Night** (Loose Moose)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20 7 a.m. – 3 p.m................................................ Registration Open 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m............................. MCGA PAC Breakfast*** (Reception Hall) 8 a.m. – 3 p.m................................................ Trade Show Open (Grand Hall) 8:15 a.m. – 9 a.m............Ag Economic Outlook with Kent Thisse (Trade Show Stage) Join Kent Thiesse to review current trends in the in the farm economy and ag industry, including Federal ag policy issues, a summary of ag-related carbon sequestration programs, as well as an overview of future opportunities and challenges in the ag industry. Sponsored by Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.
9 a.m. – noon...... MCGA Delegate Session and Annual Meeting (Banquet Hall) 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m........................... Strip-Till Learning Session (Meeting Room 245) Join University of Minnesota Researcher Jodi DeJong Hughes along with farmer Brian Ryberg for on-farm lessons and applications of strip-till in corn and soybean crop rotations.
12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m........................................................... Lunch “Food for Thought” featuring Jack Zimmerman (Banquet Hall) “Five Minutes 300 Seconds That Changed My Life”
Sponsored by Profinium Program times and speakers are subject to change without notice **All are welcome. Tickets are $25 and available at the door. Includes drinks, appetizers and games. ***Must be a Minnesota Corn Growers member to attend.
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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MN Ag Expo returns to Mankato Jan. 19 and 20 MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota’s premier indoor agriculture trade show is returning to an in-person event in 2022. After a virtual pivot in 2021, the MN Ag Expo will take place Jan. 19-20 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato. “We are thrilled to reunite with our fellow farmers and the agriculture community,” said Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President and Beltrami farmer Mike Skaug. “MN Ag Expo is always a mustattend for growers throughout our state. After the trials and tribulations of the past couple years, we’re definitely not taking the 2022 Expo for granted.” MSGA and Expo co-sponsors, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, will hold their annual meetings and finalize their 2022 policy resolutions on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, respectively. MCGA and MSGA have once again compiled a diverse list of keynote speakers and breakout sessions. South Dakota rancher and advocate Amanda Radke will serve as the afternoon keynote, and Army Veteran Jack Zimmerman will share his inspiring story during
Thursday’s “Food for Thought” luncheon. Farm management expert Kent Thiesse is set to deliver the Morning Ag Economic Outlook presentation. “Audiences are so excited to be back together,” Radke said. “The ag community is so close knit, and we’ve missed that fellowship and camaraderie.” MCGA’s Reception and Silent Auction takes place on Jan. 19, highlighting the work of MCGA’s 52 county corn organizations. It will be followed by entertainment from comedian Todd Andrews during the dinner banquet. While at the Expo, be sure to stop by the MCGA booth on the trade show floor to learn the many ways the state’s corn farmers are building a brighter future for Minnesota agriculture. Connect with old friends, look for giveaways, learn how your corn check-off funds are working for you, and explore the benefits of membership. «Minnesota Corn is proud to co-sponsor MN Ag Expo and other events that allow farmers to network,
hear from industry leaders and explore the latest trends in agriculture,” MCGA President Bryan Biegler said. “We’re looking forward to celebrating and highlighting our grassroots membership and can’t wait to get together.” MSGA will also be holding its annual carnival fundraiser on Jan. 19 at the Loose Moose Salon to support MSGA’s grassroots advocacy mission in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. Attendance at MN Ag Expo is free, but registration is required. Register online at https://mnagexpo.com/ register. “Our members and sponsors have been driving our mission since 1962, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to once again visit as an agriculture community,” MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek said. “There’s going to be something for everyone at this year’s Ag Expo.” This article was submitted by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. v
MN Ag Expo featured speakers Jack Zimmerman was raised in a small town in Minnesota and shortly after graduating high school, joined the U.S. Army. After months of training, Zimmerman became an airborne infantryman. He deployed in 2010 with the legendary 101st Airborne Division. After spending nine months in heavy combat, Zimmerman, while on a foot patrol, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and suffered catastrophic injuries. As he lie there on the battlefield, his entire life flashed before his eyes. All the while his teammates were continuing to take heavy fire and fight the enemy while the field medic worked to save Jack’s life. Zimmerman was not expected to survive that day, but 20 surgeries and two years later, he left the San Antonio Military Medical Center and medically retired from the U.S. Army. Back home, his friends, family and community rallied around him to offer their support. Zimmerman tackled many hurdles during his first months home and struggled to find his purpose after leaving the military. Through many opportunities to serve, both personally and professionally, Zimmerman found his passion in speaking to others and inspiring through his unique and valued perspective. Today, Zimmerman is a devoted husband and father and is a strong part of his community. Todd Andrews began his comedy career in the Boston area (where he grew up), but eventually moved to his wife’s hometown in western Wisconsin. Todd’s performances are wonderfully woven stories about the observations and trials of a “Boston Boy Lost in Wisconsin” — focusing on his “fish out of water” experiences, his wife and family, and other odd life events.
Amanda Radke is a fifth generation rancher from Mitchell, S.D., who has dedicated her career to serving as a voice for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Since 2008, Radke has tackled industry issues on the BEEF Daily blog for BEEF Magazine, where she provides tools and strategies for producers to effectively engage with consumers and counter negative media articles on social media. When she’s not blogging or speaking, Radke is penning agriculturally-accurate children’s books to help promote agricultural literacy in schools. Her titles include, “Levi’s Lost Calf,” “Can-Do Cowkids,” “ A Home Run For Peanuts” and “The Soil Quilt.” Radke is determined to teach kids about where their food comes from to help the upcoming generation of consumers be both informed and empowered at the grocery store. Kent Thiesse Kent Thiesse is a farm management analyst and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Ag Loan Officer for MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. In 2003, Kent retired from the University of Minnesota Extension Service, after a 28-year career as an Extension Educator in agriculture. He has a Masters and Bachelors degree in Agriculture from the University of Minnesota. Kent writes a weekly column titled “Focus On Ag” which is distributed to several Midwest agriculture publications and web sites, as well as to a large weekly e-mail list. He also writes the “Ag Outlook” column for the MN Valley Business Magazine each month, as well as writing regular articles for The Land magazine and other publications on agriculture related topics. Nate Firle of Gibbon, Minn. designated small acres to strip trial replicated research to gain an
understanding of not just how a product performs, but why. Nate is currently Regional Agronomy Manager for Beck’s Hybrids. Griffin Dooling has led Blue Horizon Energy’s team of nearly 50 energy professionals through significant growth as they develop energy projects for businesses, farms and communities across the upper Midwest. Hal Kimball joined the Blue Horizon Energy team in 2016. Since then he has risen to the role of sales manager — playing a vital role in the development of large-scale commercial, agricultural and notfor-profit solar projects across the upper Midwest. Jodi DeJong-Hughes has been a regional educator with the University of Minnesota Extension for over 25 years. Her area of specialization includes tillage systems, soil compaction, and improving soil health. Jodi’s work focuses on reducing soil erosion and building soil health to improve the grower’s bottom line and to reduce the movement of soil and nutrients to our natural waterways.
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EXHIBITORS 1-2-3
360 Yield Center.......................................................55 40 Square Cooperative Solutions..............................43
A Archer Daniels Midland Company ............................49 Ag Focus..................................................................12 Ag Solutions ..............................................................2 Ag Spray Equipment.................................................60 AgroEcoPower..........................................................15 AGXplore International..............................................21 American Lung Association.......................................46 American Pressure Inc. ............................................20 AURI.........................................................................64
B BASF........................................................................40 Big Iron Auctions......................................................62 Beck’s Hybrids..........................................................45 Blue Horizon Energy.................................................30
1999 International 9200
410 HP, ISM Cummins , 10 Spd manual. Just in, clean, jake, cruise, air slide, brakes & drums at 80%, 1,539,284 miles
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2013 Freightliner Cascadia 125
Detroit, 450HP, 10 speed manual, just in, air ride, wet kit, jake, cruise, clean, steers are half, front drives at 60%, rear drives at 80%, brakes at 80%
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1987 Allied Tanker
45 foot all aluminum tandem axle, spring suspension with 5 compartments, tires at 70-80%, brakes at 70%, top or bottom load, was used for oil
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1975 International Loadstar
250 HP, 392 International. Just in, clean, frontier box 18.5x96x60” sides, twin cylinder scissor hoist, tilt hood, 70% steers, drives at 90%, brakes and drums at 90%, 154,571 miles
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2011 CASE IH Magnum 290
7,378 hours, rear PTO, rear remote hydraulics=4, MFWD, 19 forward speeds, clean, good shape, power beyond, accelerator pedal
For Sale Price: $75,000
2018 Flexi-Coil S65
80’, 1000-gallon tank, walking tandems, hydraulic pump, foam markers, wind screen, hydraulic fold, Raven SCS 440 motor, auto rate control
For Sale Price: $4,000
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
C Central Farm Service.............................. 24 Champion Seed...................................... 65 CHS........................................................ 10 Country Enterprises............................ 41
D Dekalb Asgrow Seeds........................ 47
E Ellingson............................................... 9 Environmental Tillage Systems........... 34
F Far[MN].............................................. 44 Farm Bureau....................................... 50 Farmer Law PC / Ag Work Force......... 32
G Gold Country Seed.............................. 53 Green Energy Products....................... 51 GreenSeam......................................... 19
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Ground Works..................................... 73 Minnesota Corn Growers Association................... 38 H Heads Up Plant Protectants................ 52 Minnesota Farmers Union..................... 6 Hefty Seed Company.......................... 58 Minnesota FFA Foundation.................. 48 Hertz Farm Management.................... 31 Minnesota Propane Association.......... 17 Hodgman Drainage............................. 29 Minnesota Soil Health Coalition............. 5 Houston Engineering........................... 27 Minnesota Soybean Growers Association/ Minnesota Soybean Research I & Promotion Council........................... 11 ISG..................................................... 61 Minnesota State Southern Agricultural L Center of Excellence........................... 14 LandProz Real Estate 59 Minnesota State University Mankato... 13 LeafFilter Gutter Protection 35 Mustang Seed.................................... 16 Litzau Farm Drainage Inc. 57 N M Natural Resources Conservation Service – USDA............................................... 74 Minnesota Ag in the Classroom 33 Northern Soy Marketing........................ 3 Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL).................... 39 Novozymes BioAg............................... 66 Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality P Certification Program.......................... 22 Pioneer Hi-Bred International ............. 37 Minnesota Agricultural Prinsco............................................... 69 Water Resource Center....................... 42 Profinium............................................. 8
R Renk Seed Co. ..................................... 4 Rinke Noonan..................................... 54 Rob-See-Co........................................ 18
S Sackett Waconia................................. 67 SB&B Foods........................................ 72 Schultz Welding.................................. 70 Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance..... 28 Steffes Group Inc................................ 25
T The Land Magazine............................ 71 Timpte, Inc.......................................... 23 Titan Pro............................................ 68
U University of Minnesota...................... 36 U.S. Meat Export Federation................. 7
V Vive Crop Protection........................... 26
Z Ziegler Ag Equipment ........................ 56
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
Cover crops need to be part of any soil building strategy HEFTY, from pg. 9 Roundup, it looks like supplies will be adequate to do all the pest management that we need to do. However, there may be individual products that sell out this year. And this could mean some farmers may need to go to their second or third option The other challenge farmers are seeing is that prices on some products are up considerably while competitive products didn’t go up nearly as much. I encourage every farmer to spend a little extra time with their agronomist this winter figuring out which program will be most costeffective for them and which products are going to be in tight supply. At the mention of agronomists, Hefty and I were joined by Hefty agronomist Matt Thompson, so I directed a couple of questions his way. The Land: We’re soon just 90 days from the 2022 planting season. What’s your advice on what farmers should be doing? Thompson: The big buzz word going into this next season is “nitrogen fixing bacteria.” There’s lots of skepticism in the market place right now … farmers calling this a ”snake oil” or “foo-foo dust.” Is this stuff really going to work? Lots of investment going into the nitrogen fixing market these days because they’re trying to clean up the carbon emission’s footprint created in the making of nitrogen. We’re concerned that growers are going down the road expecting a living microbe that physically can replace nitrogen on a consistent basis. But so far, based on research that we’ve done, we just don’t see living microbes replacing units of nitrogen. So our suggestion is look at this as a supplemental type of a pass, and not a replacement answer for your nitrogen concerns. This could be the next wave. We’re not denying that possibility. But we need a better understanding as to how we manage this type of technology in this market. There’s a tremendous amount of carryover nitrogen in our soils from the 2021 season because of how hot and dry our 2021 growing season was. So if growers really want to measure how much nitrogen their crops used this past season, it’s a lot cheaper to invest in a nitrate test that determines the amount of available nitrogen still remaining in the soils as opposed to trying to replace that nitrogen with a particular microbe. The Land: Is there any particular cover crop that works best at correcting some of these deficiencies? Thompson: Great question … the reality is that we live in a monoculture type world. We raise corn from late April into early October, then we have barren ground until the next season. A lot of the biology that a plant needs requires a food source of that plant. And the more active growing plants we can provide in that environment, the better off those plants will be. If you look at the bio-activity in pasture ground or a CRP piece, it’s going to be signifi-
cantly higher than where we have a row crop environment; and that is because of the greater variety of crops. Any type of cereal rye and oat crop, even if you add some legume species to create that additional diversity, you are replenishing the soil health of your fields. Soil Health is the big word in today’s agriculture. We’re understanding it more on a daily basis. But my mind is that to really get serious about rebuilding soil health, cover crops need to be part of your strategy. The Land: Are cover crops with a tap root even
more significant? Thompson: If you have serious compaction issues, or soils with high magnesium, or really tight soils with drainage issues, I suggest a turnip-type crop with tap root capabilities. This tends to loosen these soils. My only concern with these cover crops is that we sometimes see a higher play of seedling diseases because of the fungal species that it takes to break down those crops. So including a cover crop into the mix requires some other adjustments into your overall cropping rotation. 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. Jan. 17 — Small Grain Workshop — Morris, Minn. — Workshop will focus on production agronomics, variety selection and economics. Also includes an open forum discussion on related topics and on-farm experiences. Contact Jared Goplen at (507) 829-0614. Jan. 19 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops — Online — Management of corn for grain and silage: Corn agronomist Joe Lauer and ruminant nutritionist Luiz Ferraretto of University of Wisconsin - Madison will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming. Jan. 20 & 27; Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24 — Annie’s Project - Education for Farm Women — Clearwater, Minn. — Registrants should plan to attend all six sessions. Topics include financial reporting, human resources, legal issues, market risk and production metrics. Contact Katie Drewitz at (320) 255-6169. Jan. 25 — Preparing for Lambing and Kidding Season — Online — Webinar will focus on small ruminant lamb/kid birthing, beginning rations, and overall lamb and kid health. Instructor will walk through a “tool kit” of items to have on hand for lambing and kidding birthing. Contact Brenda Miller at nels4220@ umn.edu Jan. 26 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops — Online — New findings with sulfur fertility: U of M nutrient management specialists and researchers will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming. Jan. 26 — Minnesota Tour de Forage — Melrose, Minn. — Topics include feeding high-forage diets, alternative forages, applying manure into alfalfa, annual weed management, high forage dairy rations, and aspects of sustainable dairy production. Contact Nathan Drewitz at ndrewitz@umn.edu or (608) 5154414.
Jan. 27 — Livestock Webinar: Bison — Online — Farmers will discuss the production model they utilize, the pros and cons of that, as well as the processing and marketing opportunities and challenges. Contact Katie Feterl at info@sfa-mn.org Jan. 27 — Women in Dairy: Creating value-added opportunities — Hutchinson, Minn. — Program will feature a panel of three businesses that have explored alternative business strategies outside of traditional day-to-day dairy farming. Contact U of M Extension at (320) 484-4334. Jan. 27 — Irrigation Systems for Specialty Crop Growers — Online — Webinar format will include a video interview with an LSP member farmer followed by a live Q&A session. There will also be an opportunity for peer-to-peer dialogue. Contact Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org Feb. 2 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops — Online — Strategies for effective weed management: U of M weed scientists and researchers will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming. Feb. 3 & 4 — Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Expo — Roseville, Minn. — Expo features exhibit hall, round tables and educational sessions with ample opportunity for networking. Contact mfvga@mfvga.org Feb. 3 — Feb. 4 & 5 — Farm Couple Retreat — St. Cloud, Minn. — Learn about creative communication skills, personality differences, and resources to help each couple reach their goals and attain better management of the stresses of farming and family relationships. Learn how to communicate with your partner and children more effectively and enjoy a mini-vacation as a couple from the farm. Contact Leah M Bischof at leahbischof@gmail.com or (320) 429-0611. Feb. 9 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops — Online — Cover crops - Termination timing and planting green: U of M sustainable cropping systems specialist Axel Garcia y Garcia and state soil health specialist Anna Cates will provide information. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
PAGE 15
Like it or not, prepare for snow on the farm We’ve had some snow this winter, and in most cases folks have found a place to put it all. In the event that we find ourselves in the midst of heavy snows, it’s good to have a plan to prepare for snow effects on farm buildings and to know and plan for where it will go when it melts. University of Minnesota engineers Chuck Clanton, Erin Cortus, Kevin Janni and Extension specialist Krishona Martinson collaborated to help farmers address snow handling issues on the buildings and in the barnyard. Their assessments and advice are found below. Snow loads on the roof The excessive amount of ice and snow this past month has livestock owners concerned about snow load and potential roof collapse. The design roof snow load for residential buildings in Minnesota is set by state statutes and is 42 pounds per square foot in northern Minnesota and 35 pounds/sq. foot in southern Minnesota. However, many agricultural buildings are built using a 20 pounds/sq. foot snow load which would be expected to handle six feet of dry, fluffy snow or one foot of wet, heavy snow. Estimating the weight of snow and ice on a roof is difficult because snow density can range from 3 pounds per cubic foot for light, fluffy snow to 21 pounds/cubic foot for wet, heavy snow. Ice density is around 57 pounds/cubic foot. One way to estimate snow load on a roof is to go to an area on the ground nearby the shed or barn. Collect and weigh 1 cubic foot of snow (1 foot high by 1 foot wide by 1 foot long). Then estimate or measure snow depth on the roof. If your cubic foot of snow weighs 11 pounds and you have two feet of snow on the roof, then you have about 22 pounds/sq. foot of snow load on your roof. This method is based on the idea that the snow on the roof is similar to the snow on the ground and that the snow is evenly distributed on the roof. Use caution to avoid falls if you attempt to climb on a roof by using a fall arrest harness and the buddy system. Do you know the snow load capacity of your barn or shed? Snow load capacity is determined by the truss capabilities. Building manufacturers should supply truss certificates as they erect the building.
UniversityofMinnesota
EXTENSION
SWINE &U
Shelterbelts Extension agricultural engineer Kevin Janni suggests the installation of snow fences and or tree shelterbelts upwind of farmsteads and agricultural buildings as SWINE & U additional ways to prevent By Diane DeWitte excess snow buildup on building roofs. Proper snow fence design and location is important for protecting a building or farmstead. Some building roofs have failed in the past because the buildings were located too close to shelterbelts or windbreaks, which resulted in large snow drifts on top of these buildings. Remember when placing a 50 percent solid snow fence or tree windbreak that snow will be deposited downwind a distance of up to 10 times the shelter belt or snow fence height. An 85 percent solid fence deposits the snow within a distance of about four times the fence height. Porous snow fences distribute the snow more evenly and give better protection downwind than a solid fence. Leaving an area for snow to accumulate is very important when locating a machine shed or livestock building downwind from a shelterbelt. If the building is too close, it will be within this snow drop area. If too far from the windbreak, it will be outside of the wind “protection” zone. Moving snow around the farmstead After a winter of heavy snow and ice, livestock owners should consider where the snowmelt will go and how it could make farm operations difficult in the spring. Kevin Janni emphasizes that early snowmelt and spring rains can run across frozen ground, gather in low spots and create flooded areas. Melting snow can flood buildings, feed and bedding storage areas in low areas, which can dam-
Extension internships available ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Each summer, University of Minnesota Extension welcomes undergraduate students interested in crops, livestock, horticulture, natural resources or communicating science to gain experience through internships. In this paid internship program, interns work closely with Extension educators to learn how Extension translates sciencebased knowledge for use across Minnesota. The internships are held each summer for 10 to 12 weeks. Applications are now open for Summer 2022.
Internships are full time, but there is flexibility based on interns’ school schedules. There are several locations throughout Minnesota. To apply for one of the summer internship opportunities available through Extension, undergraduate students must complete the online application. If you have questions about the internship, please contact your local Extension educator. This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
age feeds, bedding or equipment. Feedlot runoff needs to be managed properly to prevent contaminating surface waters. It is also important to prevent snowmelt from entering in-ground manure storage pits or basins. When moving snow, producers must plan for spring thaw. See SWINE & U, pg. 19
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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MARKETING
Grain Outlook Market keeps an eye on South America The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Jan. 7. CORN — Happy New Year! We wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous, and safe 2022! Commodity markets shot into a new calendar year with fireworks all around! The ever-changing South American weather forecast was the biggest contributor to the volatility, followed closely by money entering the market for the new year. Corn rang in the new year with an outside trading day ending with a small loss. However, the next day prices surged over 20 cents higher! The balance of the PHYLLIS NYSTROM week was a seesaw as March CHS Hedging Inc. corn traded within the Jan. 4 St. Paul range. March corn did manage to stay above $6.00, but was unable to reach December highs despite rocketing soybean and meal markets. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange kept their Argentina corn production at a lofty 57 million metric tons vs. the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 54.5 mmt outlook. Their corn planting as of Jan. 5 was pegged at 77 percent complete vs. 87 percent on average. They rated Argentina’s corn crop at 40 percent good/excellent which was an 18 percent decline week-to-week. Weekly export sales were the second-lowest of the marketing year at a measly 10.1 million bushels. Canada was the largest buyer. This brings total commitments to 1.614 billion bushels which are down 7 percent from last year. We need to average 24.7 million bushels of sales per week to hit the current USDA projection of 2.5 billion bushels which is down 9.2 percent from last year. China has 393.7 million bushels of unshipped corn purchases on the books compared to 256 million bushels left last year on this date. The export category on the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report is expected to be unchanged this month. Weekly ethanol production was as expected with a decrease of 11,000 barrels per day to 1.05 million bpd. Ethanol stocks were much higher than expected with an increase of 683,000 barrels to 21.4 million barrels; and at its highest since mid-August. Gasoline demand fell 1.55 million bpd to 8.17 million bpd. Net ethanol margins plunged 28 cents to a positive 32 cents per gallon.
Cash Grain Markets corn/change* St. Cloud $5.91 -.04 Madison $5.85 -.04 Redwood Falls $5.94 -.04 Fergus Falls $5.81 -.04 Morris $5.83 -.04 Tracy $5.89 -.04 Average:
soybeans/change* $13.52 $13.62 $13.47 $13.47 $13.51 $13.44
+.22 +.27 +.08 +.26 +.18 +.18
$5.87
$13.51
Year Ago Average: $4.19
$11.91
Grain prices are effective cash close on Jan. 11. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.
traded to their highest since early June. The upward thrust continued throughout the week with little pause. The March contract finally pierced the $14.00 ceiling going into the weekend on a surging meal market and rumored index rebalancing. March meal made a new contract high at $431.80 per ton. The November soybean contract pushed to a new contract high at $13.22.5 per bushel as it followed the old crop higher. Soy products also provided support with soyoil trending to its highest since November and palm oil setting consecutive contract highs. The market direction was focused on varying South American weather forecasts. I think you can find a forecast to support whatever your market opinion is. Current conditions in southern Brazil and Argentina would support a shrinking crop, but forecasts for the last half of January look more favorable. AgRural slashed their Brazilian soybean production estimate 11.4 mmt to 133.4 from 144.7 mmt. Brazil produced a record crop last year of 138 mmt. Conab will update its projection on Jan. 11. With 87 percent of their soybeans in the ground as of Jan. 5 vs. 95 percent on average, the BAGE left their Argentine soybean production outlook at 44 mmt vs. USDA at 49.5 mmt. They rated Argentina’s soybean crop at just 48 percent good/excellent which was an 8 percent drop from the previous week. Constantly changing South American weather forecasts kept the market in flux. It seems that whatever your market opinion, you can find a forecast to back it up. As of Jan. 5, soybeans in Brazil’s Parana province were rated 31 percent poor and their corn 25 percent poor. Weekly export sales were another marketing year low at a dismal 14.1 million bushels and our window for export opportunities is nearly closed. Total export commitments are 1.532 billion bushels which are down 24 percent from last year. The USDA is predicting a 9.5 percent yearly export decline. It will not be surprising to find a smaller export number on the WASDE report, but they may wait for subsequent reports to make a change. We need to average 15 million bushels of weekly sales to achieve the USDA’s 2.05 billion bushel target. We saw two daily export flash sales for new crop totaling 9.25 million bushels sold to unknown destinations for the 2022-23 marketing year and another for 3.75 million bushels of old crop soybeans to Mexico (routine business). China’s total commitments this year are 874.5 million bushels compared to 1.2 billion bushels last year. China has 154.3 million bushels of unshipped purchases left vs. 202 million bushels left last year on this date. The average trade estimates for the Jan. 12 WASDE report: U.S. yield 51.3 bu./acre with production at 4.433 billion bushels and ending stocks at 348 million bushels. U.S. quarterly stocks are projected at 3.129 billion bushels. World ending soybean stocks are estimated at 99.93 mmt. Argentina’s soybean crop is pegged at 48.11 mmt and Brazil’s at 141.62 mmt.
The average trade estimates for the U.S. 2021-22 crop are: U.S. yield 177 bushels per acre with production at 15.069 billion bushels and ending stocks at 1.472 billion bushels. U.S. quarterly stocks are projected at 11.6 billion bushels. World ending corn stocks are estimated at 304 mmt..Argentina’s corn crop is pegged at 53.59 mmt and Brazil’s at 116.17 mmt. Outlook: March corn still feels comfortable between $5.90 to $6.15 per bushel until we see the January WASDE report; but South American weather will be the near-term driver and it is constantly changing. The strong close at the end of the week in both old crop and new crop may set the stage for another leg higher if a hot, dry South American forecast verifies. The Brazilian safrinha corn crop accounts for twothirds to three-quarters of their total corn crop and planting is just beginning, following their soybean harvest. We have a long way to go before that crop is set, but uncertainty is friendly to prices. If we break to the upside, the next target in March corn will be the $6.33 to $6.40.5 per bushel area. Short-term support will lie from $6.00 to $5.90 per bushel. The December contract continues inside its sideways $5.40 to $5.60 range but may be poised for a step higher. For the week, March corn rallied 13.5 cents to $6.06.75, July was 11 cents higher at $6.04.5, and December up 11.75 cents at $5.57.75 per bushel. January report price history: in seven of the last nine years, whichever direction March corn closes on January report day, it followed that direction the day after. In March soybeans it occurred in six of the last nine years. In Chicago March wheat it’s a toss-up with it occurring in four of the last nine years. The grain markets will be closed Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. SOYBEANS — The soybean market ushered in 2022 with a decent Jan. 3 uptick, followed on Jan. 4 by the biggest one-day rally since August! March soybeans jumped 34.5 cents on Jan. 4 which made up the lion’s portion of the 71-cent rally for the week and See NYSTROM, pg. 18
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.
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
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PAGE 17
Cash cheese, butter price jumps, then catches its breath This column was written for the marCheese output is steady to lower as keting week ending Jan. 7. delays to those supplies and ongoing staffing shortages are preventing plants The U.S. Department of Agriculture from running full schedules. announced the December Federal order Class III milk price at $18.36 per hunAfter gaining 36 cents the previous two dredweight. This is up 33 cents from weeks, CME butter soared to the highest November, $2.64 above December 2020, price it has seen since Dec. 9, 2015, closand the highest Class III since May. The ing Jan. 7 at $2.7425 per pound, up 29 December price put the year’s average at cents on the week and $1.3625 above a MIELKE MARKET $17.08, down from $18.16 in 2020, and year ago. Twenty-six cars sold on the WEEKLY compares to $16.96 in 2019. Jan. 7’s late week. The highest CME price ever was morning Class III futures portended a $3.135 per pound set on Sept. 25, 2015. By Lee Mielke January price at $20.29; February, Butter churners tell Dairy Market $21.61, and March at $21.18 per cwt. News that cream availability has The December Class IV price is slimmed down and quickly. $19.88, which is up $1.09 from Multiples have climbed roughly 10 November, $6.52 above a year ago, and the highest points week to week in some cases, and haulers are Class IV price since October 2014. The 2021 Class tight as well. Butter churning is expected to slow if IV average is $16.09, up from $13.49 in 2020, and this trend continues, which is likely while cream compares to $16.30 in 2019. cheese producers and other cream end users play catchup and siphon cream from the pool. Bulk butMeanwhile, cash cheese and butter started 2022 skyrocketing and saw some expanded trading limits, ter is very tight, says Dairy Market News, and domestic butterfat values are increasing rapidly. but then reversed gears as traders absorbed the November Dairy Products report. Cream has become more available in the West in recent weeks however some processors are having After jumping 10.75 cents the previous week, the difficulty getting it due to severe weather and a cheddar blocks marched to $2.0650 per pound on shortage of truck drivers. Demand for cream is Jan. 5 (the highest since Nov. 12, 2020), but the next increasing in the region. Butter demand is day dropped 5.5 cents and closed Jan. 7 at $1.995. unchanged in retail and food service and internaThis is up 1.5 cents on the week and 7.75 cents tional demand remains steady, despite port congesabove a year ago when they jumped 26.75 cents to tion delays. Spot availability is limited; unsalted $1.9175. butter is more difficult to obtain than salted. The barrels climbed to $1.8725 Jan. 5 (the highest Contacts cite strong demand and tight inventories since Nov. 12, 2020), but finished the first Friday of for the higher prices. Butter output is steady, though 2022 at $1.865, 15.5 cents higher on the week and some butter makers say that delayed deliveries of 21.25 cents above a year ago. They also narrowed production supplies are limiting their production. the spread to 13 cents. Sales for the week totaled Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Jan. 7 at $1.71 per five cars of block and four of barrel at the Chicago pound, up 5.50 cents on the week and 52 cents Mercantile Exchange. above a year ago, with 21 sales reported. Dairy Market News says cheese demand requests CME dry whey closed Jan. 7 at 75.75 cents per have already met contacts’ recent expectations, as pound, another new record high, up three-quarter of customers return to the fold. Midwestern cheesea cent on the week and 25.75 cents above a year makers say orders are strengthening but production ago, on one sale. rates vary from plant to plant as employee numbers range from adequate to short. Spot milk was still n priced at holiday level accessibility, and similar to Speaking in the Jan. 10 “Dairy Radio Now” broadprevious week discounts, although a number of con- cast, HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess said concern tacts expect those discounts to dissipate after this remains among traders regarding weaker milk proweek. duction here in the United States and key areas Cheese demand is steady in western retail mararound the world. He added that, when we see the kets, while food service demand is, reportedly, strength in Class IV products like nonfat dry milk, increasing. Educational institutions’ purchasing is it lends support to cheese as well. Hopefully, with picking up as schools reconvene. International Class IV prices being as strong as they are, the demand is unchanged. Port congestion and a shorthigher Class III milk prices will find their way to age of truck drivers continues to cause delays. dairy farmer pocketbooks. Severe weather in parts of the West was causing Checking production, November Cheese output further delays — both to loads of cheese and suptotaled 1.119 billion pounds, according to the plies. Milk availability is increasing in the region, USDA’s latest Dairy Products report, down 2.9 perthough some cheese makers report that snow was cent from October but 1.6 percent above November slowing delivery of production supplies. 2020 and the highest November ever. Year-to-date
MARKETING
output hit 12.5 billion pounds, up 3 percent from the same period in 2020. Wisconsin produced 278.8 million pounds of the November total, down 3.7 percent from October but 1.1 percent above a year ago. California output, at 202.3 million, was down 1.7 percent from October, but 0.8 percent above a year ago. Idaho contributed 77.4 million pounds, down 9.9 percent from October and 6.9 percent below a year ago. Italian style cheese totaled 482.9 million pounds, down 1.3 percent from October, but 6.2 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date, Italian cheese is at 5.3 billion pounds, up 3 percent. American-type cheese, at 437.8 million pounds, was down 4.6 percent from October and 2.7 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date, American was at 5.1 billion pounds, up 3.9 percent. Mozzarella totaled 373.7 million pounds, up 4.1 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date at 4.1 billion pounds, up 1.3 percent from 2020. Cheddar, the cheese traded daily at the CME, totaled 307.4 million pounds. This is down 13 million pounds or 4.1 percent from October and 14.2 million pounds or 4.4 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date, cheddar stands at 3.6 billion pounds, up 2.6 percent from 2020. Butter churns produced 156.3 million pounds, down 4.7 million pounds or 2.9 percent from October, and 16.6 million pounds or 9.6 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date, butter output stands at 1.9 billion pounds, down 2.8 percent from 2020. Yogurt output totaled 349.5 million pounds, up 7 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date at 4.3 billion pounds, up 4.1 percent. Dry whey production totaled 74.6 million pounds, down 6.9 million pounds or 8.4 percent from October, but 5.9 million pounds or 8.7 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date dry whey output was at 846.8 million pounds, down 2.6 percent from a year ago. Dry whey stocks inched up to 61.6 million pounds, up 3.5 million or 6 percent from October, but were 5.9 million pounds or 8.7 percent below those a year ago. Nonfat dry milk output totaled 132.2 million pounds, up 9 million pounds or 7.3 percent from October, but down 23.2 million or 14.9 percent below a year ago. Powder year-to-date totaled 1.8 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent. Stocks fell to 196.5 million pounds, down 29.2 million pounds or 12.9 percent from October and were down 52.4 million pounds or 21 percent below those a year ago. Skim milk powder production amounted to 49.1million pounds, down 19.6 million pounds or 28.5 percent from October’s level (which was revised up 10.4 million pounds) and was down 15.9 million See MIELKE, pg. 18
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THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
Global dairy product prices to remain elevated into 2022 The decision drew praise from the Consortium for Common Food Names, U.S. Dairy Export Council, pounds or 24.5 percent below a year ago. Year-toNational Milk Producers Federation, and others date, skim milk powder, at 527.1 million pounds, is seeking to preserve the use of generic terms. down 18.2 percent from 2020. Senior Judge T. S. Ellis III of the United States n District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia upheld the Aug. 5, 2020, precedential decision of the The first Global Dairy Trade auction of 2022 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark inched higher with the weighted average rising 0.3 Trial and Appeal Board. percent, after slipping 1.5 percent on Dec. 21 (the first decline since Aug. 3). Traders brought 67.6 mil“Not only is this a landmark victory for American lion pounds of product to market, up from 67 million dairy farmers and cheese producers who offer pounds in the last event. gruyere, this win sets a vital precedent in the much Cheddar did the heavy lifting, jumping 4.9 percent larger, ongoing battle over food names in the United States,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director after inching 0.5 percent higher on Dec. 21 — the for CCFN. “The European Union has tried for years biggest gain since Nov. 2. Buttermilk powder and to monopolize common names such as gruyere, parskim milk powder were both up 1 percent, after mesan, bologna or chateau. This verdict validates skim milk powder inched 0.6 percent higher last time. Whole milk powder was unchanged, after drop- that we’re on the right path in our fight on behalf of ping 3.3 percent. Butter was up 0.3 percent after a 1 American food and wine producers to preserve their percent gain last time, while anhydrous milkfat was ability to use long-established generic names.” off 0.7 percent following a gain of 0.9 percent. n StoneX Dairy Group says the GDT 80 percent butIn politics, the United States prevailed in the first terfat butter price equates to $2.5969 per pound dispute settlement panel proceeding under the U.S.U.S., up just under a penny, and compares to CME Mexico-Canada trade agreement. The USMCA was butter which closed Jan. 7 at $2.7425. GDT cheddar, developed by the Trump Administration and at $2.4891 per pound, was up 11.2 cents and comreplaced NAFTA. pares to Jan. 7’s CME block cheddar at $1.9950. The panel agreed with the United States that GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.7114 per Canada is “unfairly restricting access to its market pound, up from $1.6986. Whole milk powder averfor U.S. dairy products by breaching its USMCA aged $1.7536 per pound, down from $1.7540. CME commitments regarding allocation of dairy tariff Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Jan. 7 at $1.71 per rate quotas (TRQs),” according to a USDA press pound. release. StoneX’s Dustin Winston reported, “North Asia Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “This rul(which includes China) buyers continue to seem hesiing is a big step for the U.S. dairy sector towards tant, market share increased just slightly from the realizing the full benefits of the USMCA and securlast event, but dropped a fair amount from last year.” ing real access to the Canadian market for additionn al high-quality American dairy products such as milk, cheese and skim milk powder.” In other trade news, U.S. dairy exports saw large gains in November. Cheese totaled 73.9 million The announcement drew praise from the NMPF pounds, up 39.9 percent from November 2020, stron- and USDEC. NMPF’s Jim Mulhern stated, “The gest November on record, according to HighGround United States and Canada negotiated specific marDairy, driven by cheese moving to a variety of coun- ket access terms covering a wide variety of dairy tries, but product to Mexico was especially impresproducts, but instead of playing by those mutually sive, up 65 percent. Butter exports totaled 7.3 million pounds, up 142.8 percent. Nonfat dry milk-skim milk powder totaled 168.5 million pounds, a record high for November, up 24.7 percent, with Mexico maintainNYSTROM, from pg. 16 ing the number one destination, up 6 percent, Outlook: After impressive gains this week, the though Mexico’s market share fell to 35.5 percent South American weather forecasts will continue to vs. 41 percent last year, says HighGround Dairy. take center stage; but index rebalancing that sugDry whey exports totaled 39.6 million pounds, up gests heavy soybean and meal buying will likely add 7.7 percent. support. If the mid-January maps turn to more favorA judicial ruling this week has determined that able conditions, the downside could come quickly. “gruyere” is a generic style of cheese that can come from anywhere. The decision reaffirms that all chee- This sounds like I’m hedging my bets and I am. Weather markets provide both risk and reward, but semakers, not just those in France or Switzerland, can continue to create and market cheese under this you still need to manage your risk either way and act accordingly. There are various tools to do this that fit common name. your strategy and opinion. Good luck. MIELKE, from pg. 17
agreed upon rules, Canada ignored its commitments. As a result, U.S. dairy farmers and exporters have been unable to make full use of USMCA’s benefits. Today’s decision is an important victory for U.S. dairy farmers and the millions of Americans whose jobs are tied to the U.S. dairy industry.” The International Dairy Foods Association, the International Cheese Council of Canada, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, and Eucolait also applauded the findings, according to a joint press release. Ending on a good note: dairy margins continued to strengthen over the second half of December with surging milk prices in both Class III and Class IV more than offsetting higher projected feed costs, according to the latest Margin Watch from Chicagobased Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC. “The milk market continues to draw support from slowing production and robust demand,” the Margin Watch stated, and cited the lower milk output of the November data, as well as the falling cow numbers, reporting that the dairy herd is now down 47,000 cows from November 2020 at a 15-month low. “Much of this loss has occurred in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest where poor weather, scarce feedstuffs, and more weight on the Class IV price in producer milk checks have combined to encourage herd liquidation.” The Margin Watch cited data from the USDA’s latest Cold Storage report showing Nov. 30 butter stocks were down 67 million pounds from October and near the average drawdown over the previous five years, though larger than both 2020 and 2019. Total cheese stocks were down 27 million or 1.9 percent from October, the Margin Watch concluded, “the largest drawdown between the two months since 2016 with most of that decline accounted for by other cheese varieties which dropped 18.2 million pounds from October to November.” 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
Weather will be main price mover Technically, March soybeans next resistance comes in at its contract high at $14.45.5 per bushel with first support in the $13.70 per bushel area. For the week, March soybeans soared 71 cents higher at $14.10.25, July surged 68.25 cents to $14.23.25, and November rallied 52.5 cents at $13.21.75 per bushel. Weekly price changes in March wheat for the week ended Jan. 7: Chicago fell 12.25 cents to $7.58.5, Kansas City plunged 26.5 cents to $7.75, and Minneapolis dropped 58.75 cents to $9.23.25 per bushel. v
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
PAGE 19
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Registration for 2022-23 SowBridge program is now open WILLMAR, Minn. — Registration is now open for SowBridge, the distance education series for people involved in managing or caring for sows, and/or their litters, and boars, including operation owners, caretakers, technicians, managers and technical service providers. New this year, the series will be provided online through Zoom, although participants will be able to use a call-in option instead if they prefer. Sarah Schieck Boelke, University of Minnesota Extension swine educator said, “Producers and others in the industry can get the information they need without the hassle of traveling or giving up a whole day to attend a meeting. Participants can take part where it works best for them whether at home, in an office or in the swine unit. And whether or not they can participate in the live session, all sessions are recorded and available to participants after each session for later use.” The SowBridge program has 12 monthly sessions throughout the year. Sessions are generally sched-
uled for the first Wednesday of the month from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., which includes time for questions. Cost for the series is $200 for the first registration from an entity and $100 for each subsequent registration from the same entity. Registration information can be found at z.umn. edu/SowBridgeRegistration. Registration is due Jan. 18 to ensure materials are received for the first session. SowBridge 2022 session dates and topics are as follows: Feb. 2 — The Impact of Non-edible Trim Loss on Cull Sow Value. March 2 — Proposition 12 Implications. April 6 — Estrus Detection and Insemination Strategies for Different Housing Systems. May 4 — Lactation Feeding Strategies.
June 1 — Global African Swine Fever Overview. July 6 — What Will Happen if ASF Comes to the United States? Aug. 3 — How Does Mass Depopulation Work? Sept. 7 — How Does PRRS 1-4-4 Compare to Other Strains? Oct. 5 — Fan Maintenance and Ventilation Settings. Nov. 2 — Body Assessment Methods. Dec. 7 — Preweaning Piglet Survival. Jan. 4, 2023 — PCAI: An Update on Adoption in the United States. For more information on the sessions or registration, contact Sarah Schieck Boelke at (320) 235-0726 ext. 2004 or schi0466@umn.edu. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
Snow is a consideration, but snow melt needs to be factored SWINE & U, from pg. 15
braces, sagging roof lines, doors or windows that no longer open, physical sounds of cracking and popPlow or scrape snow off to the side of outdoor ping, and roof collapse. If there are indications of exercise lots, feeding areas and heavy traffic lanes. building damage or failure, do not climb onto the Avoid pushing uphill of outdoor lots, feeding areas roof or enter the building. and traffic lanes. This will reduce snowmelt that is One way to remove snow from a roof is to physiin — or drains through — the lot or feeding area. cally shovel off the snow. There are numerous Avoid removing manure or wasted feed with the snow unless it will be land applied properly to crop- human safety concerns with this, including falling off the roof. One should use ladders, safety ropes land. and the buddy system. Also watch out for power Carefully consider where you place snow when lines and take other necessary precautions which you move it around the farm. Locate piles so snowmay include hiring a professional, if possible. melt will drain away from animal lots or traffic Where will the water go? lanes rather than through them. Janni concludes the snowmelt discussion with Ensure pump-out covers on deep manure pits are advice to prevent flooding in future years. properly seated so snow and roof runoff do not drain Divert drainage — In the spring, take a good look into the pit. Adding snowmelt and rain runoff to a at the overall farmstead drainage pattern. If other manure storage facility reduces manure storage parts of your property drain through the animal capacity and adds to land application costs. yards, feed storage areas, or high traffic areas, Consider the condition of your buildings regrade the slope or add shallow diversion ditches Snap, crackle, pop! A sound you want to hear so runoff water flows around the areas you want to when eating cereal, but not from your buildings in protect. the winter. Signs of building failure (or damage) include walls bulging at the top from failing knee
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Manage roof runoff — On some farms, water runs off the barn roof into animal lots. A shallow trench or ditch beneath the overhang can help direct this water out of the yard. Better yet, install gutters and downspouts that empty away from the animal lot. Also, grade the ground around farm buildings to slope away from the building. This helps move snowmelt and rain runoff away from the building and its contents. Raise your grade — Another long-term solution is to avoid placing buildings, feed and bedding storage in low areas. And grade animal yards and the farmstead to provide continuous drainage away from the animals, feed storage, and high traffic areas. A 4 to 6 percent slope is recommended. For more information on managing snow loads on barn and shed roofs, and handling snow around the farm, visit the University of Minnesota Extension website at https://extension.umn.edu/farm-safety Diane DeWitte is an Extension Educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension. Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn.eduv
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PAGE 20
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022 T
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ADVERTISING NOTICE: Please check your ad the first week it runs. We make every effort to avoid errors by checking all copy, but sometimes errors are missed. Therefore, we ask that you review your ad for correctness. If you find a mistake, please call (507) 345-4523 immediately so that the error can be corrected. We regret that we cannot be responsible for more than one week’s insertion if the error is not called to our attention. We cannot be liable for an amount greater than the cost of the ad. THE LAND has the right to edit, reject or properly classify any ad. Each classified line ad is separately copyrighted to THE LAND. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. USED TRACTORS NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader.. On Order NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders. On Order NEW NH 25S Workmasters……......…..On Order NEW NH T5.140….................................On Order NEW Massey Tractors ........................... On Order NEW Versatile DT610 ………......…….On Hand NEW Versatile 610 w/800LSW………..Jan. 2022 NEW Massey 4710 w/loader…………Jan. 2022 White 2-105…….........................…………$15,500 MF GC1725M w/loader…......................…$18,900 MF 5470 FWA………………......…...……$67,000
PLANTERS ’14 White 9824VE CFS loaded…..........…….$155,000 ’05 White 8222 w/liq/ins. …….................…….$29,900 White 8222 loaded……….....................………$35,000 Taking 2023 New Spring Orders COMBINES NEW Geringhoff chopping cornhead ....................Call ’11 Gleaner S67 RWA……….................….Just Trd’d ’98 Gleaner R62………........................……….$57,500 ’89 Gleaner R60 w/both heads ....................... $15,500 Gleaner R50/320,630……....................……….$13,500 Gleaner R6 w/20’…..............…...……………$12,000 Geringhoff parts & heads available
TILLAGE MISCELLANEOUS ’11 Sunflower 4412-07.................................$28,000 NEW Salford RTS Units ........................................ Call JD 2210 44.4 w/4bar…....…............………$39,500 NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders .............................. Call ’14 CIH 875 9-24w/bskt……………....…..$69,000 NEW Westfield Augers .......................................... Call ’06 CIH MRX 690………………..………$16,500 NEW REM VRX Vacs. .......................................... Call CIH 490 30’ disc……............................……$4,950 NEW Hardi Sprayers ............................................. Call NEW Riteway Rollers ........................................... Call NEW Lorenz Snowblowers ................................... Call CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT NEW Batco Conveyors ......................................... Call NEW NH L318/L320/L328 wheeled units ........ On Hand NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ....................... Call NEW NH C327/C337/C345 track units ............. On Order NEW E-Z Trail Seed Wagons ................................ Call NEW Rock Buckets & Pallet Forks ...................... Call HAY TOOLS REM 2700, Rental ................................................. Call New Disc Mowers - 107,108,109 Pre-Owned Grain Cart .................................. On Hand New Disc Mower Cond. - 10’, 13’ New Horsch Jokers ................................................ Call New Wheel Rakes - 10,12,14 New NH Hay Tools - ON HAND NOW HIRING PARTS TECHS
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
Real Estate Wanted
Feed Seed Hay
Feed Seed Hay
WANTED: Land & farms. I HAY FOR SALE: 1st, 2nd, SAVE BIG ON 2022 SEED have clients looking for 3rd, 4th & 5th crops avail- AND HERBICIDE. VISIT dairy, & cash grain opera- able, RFV 120-181, 16-25% KLEENACRES.COM for tions, as well as bare land protein. Dry hay or bale- top performing Midstate parcels from 40-1000 acres. age available in squares or Genetics seed and KleenaBoth for relocation & invest- rounds. Trucking available. cres herbicide solutions OR ments. If you have even Call or text Jim 507-254-4807 CALL 320-237-7667 “FOR A BETTER BOTTOM LINE!” thought about selling contact: Paul Krueger, Farm & OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn. Full Season clean corn unLand Specialist, Edina Re- Produces more high quali- der $20/acre! alty, 138 Main St. W., New ty silage on less acres than hybrid. $67/bushel plus ship- WANTED TO BUY... Prague, MN 55372. ping. High feed value grain. HAY: Round or square bales, paulkrueger@edinarealty.com Located at Teutopolis, IL Dairy and Beef Quality. Call (612)328-4506 217-857-3377 or 217-343-4962 or text 218-689-2696
Please support our advertisers. Tell them you saw their ad in THE LAND.
Bins & Buildings SILO take-down & clean up - Specializing in, but not limited to, silos in congested areas.
507-236-9446
Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys. 100% financing w/no liens or red tape, call Steve at Fairfax Ag for an appointment. 888-830-7757
Farm Equipment FOR SALE: Snowblower, has 2 blowers, hydraulic spout, 1000 PTO, $4,000/ excellent condition. 712-260-8003 We buy Salvage Equipment Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910
Tractors Farmall M tractor, NF, wgts, Steiner 3pt cost $1,400 new, will separate, tractor & 3pt, $1,900. Farmall A tractor, $1,600. WANTED: Ford V-8 eng, 390, 351, 400, 429, 460. 651-895-3919 FOR SALE: Pair of Firestone radial all traction 18.4x46 set-up tires, good enough for duals $225/each. 507-227-2602
THE LAND — JANUARY 7 /JANUARY 14, 2022 Tractors
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Mistakes are the proof that you are trying.
Swine
FOR SALE: Ford 6700 tractor FOR SALE: Yorkshire, recent rebuilt dsl eng, set of Hampshire, Duroc, cross front wgts, good tires, needs bred boars, gilts & 4-H pigs. repair, $3,800. 1 row pota- Top quality. Excellent herd to planter on steel wheels. health. No PRSS. Delivery working condition. $375. 651- available. 320-760-0365 895-3919 Spot, Duroc, Chester White, NEW AND USED TRACTOR Boars & Gilts available. PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, Monthly PRRS and PEDV. 55, 50 Series & newer trac- Delivery available. Steve tors, AC-all models, Large Resler. 507-456-7746 Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage Miscellaneous 715-673-4829
D FOR SALE: 3 pt mounted log T Tillage Equip splitter good condition, cylr inder in good shape. $400 or e FOR SALE: 2006 John Deere best offer. 507-230-0703 Eve2210 38’ field cultivator, al- nings after 6:00. R ways shedded. 952-955-1140 A PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS ” New pumps & parts on hand. Call Minnesota’s largest disPlanting Equip tributor HJ Olson & Company FOR SALE: 3000 Kinze 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 , 8-30” planter, w/ interplants l (15R15”) w/ no till coulters, REINKE IRRIGATION $22,500. Call 651-380-6921 or Sales & Service 651-564-0606 New & Used For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073 Harvesting Equip
FARMLAND AUCTION 241 Acres +/- in Prescott Twp., Faribault County, MN
Thursday, February 10, 2022 @ 10:00 AM
Auction to be held at Average Jo’s Bar & Grill at 115 E 6th St, Blue Earth, MN *Blizzard Date 2-14-22 @ same time
PROPERTY LOCATIONS: 5 1/2 Miles NE of Blue Earth, MN PROPERTY LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS: 81 Deeded Acres located in the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 Section 17, Township 103 North, Range 27 West, Faribault County, Minnesota. 160 Deeded Acres located in the E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 & E 1/2 of the SE 1/4 in Section 29, Township 103 North, Range 27 West, Faribault County, Minnesota
For full flyer, informational booklet and bidding details, visit www.landservicesunlimited.com! OWNERS: The Murphy Company, LLC
AUCTIONEERS AND SALES STAFF
DUSTYN HARTUNG-507-236-7629 LEAH HARTUNG 507-236-8786 KEVIN, ALLEN, RYAN & CHRIS KAHLER, DOUG WEDEL, DAN PIKE & SCOTT CHRISTOPHER
. r .
Wanted All kinds of New & Used farm equipment - disc chisels, field cults, planters, soil finishers, cornheads, feed mills, discs, balers, haybines, etc. 507438-9782
s , WANTED: Dry fertilizer cross t auger for 7200 John Deere 6 row planter; Also, 20-22’ rolling basket, pull type. 507226-5536
, , , , 8 .
WANTED TO BUY... HAY: Round or square bales, Dairy and Beef Quality. Call or text 218-689-2696
Your ad could be here! 507-345-4523
Livestock
e FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls 6 also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ r Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred (Mike) Kemen 320-598-3790
Steffes Auction Calendar 2022 For more info, call: 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com
Opening January 12 & Closing January 19 at 10AM City of Fargo Street Sweeper Auction, Fargo, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening January 21 & Closing January 26 Online Steffes Auction – 1/26, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening January 26 & Closing February 1 at 10AM Roger & Gary Pic Chevrolet Motor Parts Auction, Mansfield, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 4 & Closing February 9 Online Steffes Auction – 2/9, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening February 8 & Closing February 15 at 10AM Brocket, ND American Legion Real Estate Auction, Brocket, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 14 & Closing February 22 at 12PM Larry & Susan Richard Farm Retirement Auction, Horace, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 14 & Closing February 24 at 7PM Zavoral Family Farmland/Recreational Land Auction - 160± Acres, McLeod County, MN, Timed Online Opening February 15 & Closing February 24 at 7PM Darwin Manufacturing & Turbo Service Liquidation Auction, Darwin, MN, Timed Online Auction
n Please recycle this magazine. t FOR SALE: 2013 Case IH 3412 n cornhead 12R30” AHHC, $24,500. 507-383-3447 Leave Message
PAGE 21
Land Auction
Tuesday, January 25th - 11:00 am Auction held at: New Ulm Event Center 301 20th St S., New Ulm, MN
Check out this amazing chance to own productive farm land in the heart of Nicollet County on either side of Klossner. Do not miss this opportunity! Location of property within Nicollet County: Lafayette Township, Sections 3 & 4, Range 30
This property will sell as two parcels:
Parcel #1: 66.26 total acres, approx. 64.97 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 94.6 PID: 06.104.0305 The wooded area on this PID has been surveyed off. Parcel #2: 91.03 total acres, approx. 82.87 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 90 PID: 06.103.2100 The farm site that on this PID has been surveyed off.
No Buyer’s Premium! For complete terms or viewing, contact Matt Mages ~ 507-276-7002 *Note: All acres are published based on Nicollet County Online Records and FSA records.
Eisenbacher Farm
Listing Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002, Lic 52-21-018
Auctioneers: Matt Mages, Lar r y Mages, J oe Wer sal, J oe Maidl, J ohn Goelz, & Ryan Fr oehlich Broker/ Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Ser vice, LLC. Not r esponsible for accidents at auction or during inspection. Everything sold “AS IS”. Everything to be settled immediately after the auction. For full terms go to magesland.com.
magesland.com
Opening February 23 & Closing March 2 at 7PM Darrell & Linda Bassen Farm Retirement Auction, Lamoure, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 28 & Closing March 9 at 7PM Dennis Jones Farm Retirement Auction, Bath SD, Timed Online Auction Opening March 2 & Closing March 9 at 7PM Randy & Lisa Hajek Farm Retirement Auction, Davenport, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening March 3 & Closing March 10 at 7PM Mark and Noreen Fahsholz Farm Retirement Auction, Walcott, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening March 7 & Closing March 15 at 10AM Kenny and Julie Hendricks Retirement Auction, Beardsley, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 8 & Closing March 15 at 10:30AM Terry Anderson Retirement Auction, Mitchell, SD, Timed Online Auction Opening March 9 & Closing March 16 at 10:30AM Delbert Nightingale Retirement Auction, White Lake, SD, Timed Online Auction Opening March 10 & Closing March 17 at 1PM Markus Mueller Farm Estate Auction, Wimbledon, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening March 14 & Closing March 23 at 7PM Tyler Slinden Farm Equipment Auction, Atwater, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 15 & Closing March 22 at 10AM DeBoer Inventory Reduction Auction, Mitchell, SD, Timed Online Auction
PAGE 22
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GREENWALD FARM CENTER Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177 14 miles So. of Sauk Centre
ADVERTISER LISTING Auctioneer Alley ........................................................... 21 Beck's Hybrids ...................................................... 1, 9, 13 Classic Car Auction ....................................................... 11 Dairyland Seed Co., Inc. ................................................. 3 Generac ........................................................................ 19 Greenwald Farm Center ................................................. 23 Kannegiesser Truck ....................................................... 12 Kerkhoff Auction .......................................................... 20 Mages Auction Service .................................................. 21 Mealman Wendy .............................................................. 7 MN Soybean ................................................... Cover Wrap Pruess Elevator, Inc. ..................................................... 22 Rush River Steel & Trim ............................................... 15 Schweiss Doors ............................................................. 22 Smiths Mill Implement, Inc. .......................................... 20 Steffes Group ................................................................ 21 Strategic Farm Marketing ................................................ 4 507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 418 South Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001 www.thelandonline.com
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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — JANUARY 7/JANUARY 14, 2022
This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Richard Siemers.
Nature is child’s play
W
hether you prefer your n a t u r e indoors or outdoors, Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji, Iowa can accommodate you. Outdoors is the natural place to get in touch with nature, and the Nature Center manages 70 acres of prairie, wetlands, oak savannah, a glacial kame, and even an 18-hole disc golf course — all part of Kenue Park within which the Nature Center is located. There are mowed paths to walk, and paved biking and hiking trails that are part of the Dickinson County trail system. One trail passes by an osprey nest. The nest had been empty a couple of years, but in 2021 a pair of osprey returned. The Nature Playscape is a large area where children (and adults, if not self-conscious) can make their own fun, much as kids did on the farm without playground equipment. This nature-focused playground has logs to climb, rope and wood swings, other objects for climbing and crawling through tunnels. There is even a noise maker section with a drum, a sheet of metal with a drumstick, and a box that when you put dirt in it, it sounds like falling water. Inside the large lodgelike Center, every nook and cranny is filled with something to discover and experience. “We’re very focused on learning through interacting with things,” said Community Relations Coordinator Daria Mather. The noise and excitement of children attests that it is working.
Okoboji, Iowa
The largest display room is designated the Pollinator Paradise. Kids can crawl inside an oversized honeycomb, view a working beehive, and learn everything you want to know about pollinators. Pollination is visualized by yellow balls shot from tubes by air and bouncing among “apple trees.” That is only the largest feature. There’s a bat cave children can enter, a Rainbow Nook about the colors in nature, and live Ambassador Animals that are used in educational programs: a bunny, snakes, a tarantula, turtles, salamanders, a hedgehog and more. Many taxidermy mounts have been donated and are on display, most of which are wildlife native to Iowa. One of the newer exhibits is a fascinating topography sandbox in which you manipulate the fine sand to create landscapes while overhead projection shows the topography lines of hills and valleys. Rivers and lakes take on a blue color. You can even make the “water” flow and learn about watersheds. The Nature Center has a full programing schedule from Day Camps to Family Nature Nights. It is located just off of Highway 71 in Okoboji at 22785 Nature Center Road. It is open Tuesday through Saturday yearround from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For program schedule, brief videos, and other information visit https:// dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/nature-center/. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. v
MN mn AG ag Expo expo january 19-20, 2022
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It takes a trustworthy champion with the flexibility and skill to build bridges, collaborate and conquer challenges, year after year. That’s advocacy. That’s the
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
We’re stronger with you. Join us. Visit our booth at MN Ag EXPO. mncorn.org
‘Minnesota Corn’
‘Minnesota Corn’
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MN AG Expo mn ag expo january 19-20, 2022 mayo clinic health system event center = mankato, mn 2022 FEATURED Speakers speakers
Amanda Radke Afternoon Keynote Wednesday, January 19th
Comedian Todd Andrews Dinner Wednesday, January 19th
Jack Zimmerman Food for Thought Thursday, January 20th
MN AG EXPO is back in 2022 with the latest in soybean and corn research, top notch speakers and a variety of agriculture exhibitors to improve your farm's profitability, strengthen your knowledge and challenge the way you do business. For the latest news on MN AG EXPO, visit www.mnagexpo.com.
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