THE LAND ~ January 21, 2022 ~ Southern Edition by The Land

“Since 1976, Where Farm and Family Meet” 2022 PFR INSIGHT MEETINGS

418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001 • (800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com • theland@TheLandOnline.com

Januar y 21, 2022 Januar y 28, 2022

AGRONOMIC INVESTMENTS TO DRIVE PROFITABILITY Join Virtually on Feb. 1 and 2. Details at BecksHybrids.com/PFR-Insight-Meetings

No beef with the weather... Most farms are seeing some much-needed winter moisture.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Ed Baumgartner talks corn; Kent Thiesse gives farm program help; and Kristin Kveno says, “Eat your veggies!”

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Welcoming the white stuff

418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56001 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XLVI ❖ No. 2 24 pages, 1 section plus supplements

www.TheLandOnline.com facebook.com/TheLandOnline twitter.com/TheLandOnline

Cover photo by Paul Malchow

COLUMNS Opinion Farm and Food File Deep Roots Calendar of Events Green & Growing Cooking With Kristin Mielke Market Weekly Marketing Farm Programs Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing Back Roads

2-5 5 6 6 7 8 12 14 16 18-23 23 24

STAFF

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 © 2021 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.

Most of The Land area recently n received a hefty dose of snow. After a The year 2021 marked 45 years since I year which featured a fair amount of landed my first newspaper job at the drought, the importance of a white winnow-defunct Olivia Times-Journal. ter has never been more pronounced. Throughout those years I have champiSure, snow can be a pain … especially oned the importance of letters to the edilarge amounts of it over a short period of tor. In fact, I penned my first letter to the time. One of the less attractive aspects of editor (to The Hutchinson Leader) when I a big snow event is they are usually folwas in junior high school. LAND MINDS lowed by days of bone-chilling cold. When Perhaps today, in the age of Facebook, the snow squeaks when you walk on it By Paul Malchow Twitter et al, letters to the editor are an and the snot freezes inside your nose, old-fashioned practice. With multithe winter wonderland takes on less of megabyte speed, anyone with internet a Currier and Ives vibe. Toss in a 20 access can send out their message to mile-per-hour wind out of the norththe masses — spelling, punctuation or clarity of west and hibernation starts looking better and betthought be damned. I myself have difficulty giving ter. credence to the opinions of anyone who can’t tell the Blowing snow makes cleaning out an extra chaldifference between there, their and they’re (but lenge “out in the country.” No sooner is the driveway maybe that’s just me). cleared when it drifts shut again. People I know I still hold value to a well-crafted, thought out letwith very long driveways can literally spend days ter which takes more effort than 280 characters and digging out. clicking “send.” And that is why — on behalf of The My dad’s farm featured a relatively short driveLand — I welcome letters to the editor. But in the way which was lined on either side by large pine last couple of years the quality of the letters we trees. Nevertheless, where the driveway met the receive is lagging. Because of this I offer some township road, the snow drifted mightily. That, plus insights and “Letters to the Editor” guidelines. the snow left behind when they plowed the road, I believe public officials are fair game, but I will required numerous attempts to keep the way clear. I not tolerate personal attacks on fellow letter writrecall many times when the driveway had to be ers. Name calling and questioning the personal opened quickly in order for the milk truck to pick character of ordinary citizens will get you no furup the cans. (I also recall times when we were down ther than the bottom of my wastebasket. Support to the last empty cans and the relief when the milk your case by building it up rather than tearing truck appeared with a fresh batch of empties.) another person down. Snow removal on my dad’s farm fell to a Farmall Could we talk a little more about agriculture? “H” with a bucket on the front. The bucket stayed With all of the issues and challenges farmers face, on the tractor year-round and served many funcit surprises me how few letters we receive which tions — from scooping manure to acting as a platactually have to do with farming! form lift to reach high places. We had a Concord 2022 is an election year and I expect letters which grape vine which trellised up an old utility pole and support or decry candidates for public office. I only the “H” was perfect for reaching the highest grapes. ask writers to go beyond accusations and praise. If The “H” was a reliable starter in the cold. someone is a bum, tell us why. If a candidate is the Sometimes we’d bring the battery indoors overnight best thing since sliced bread, tell us why. It makes to stay warm, but the “H” always started and ran for more interesting reading for the rest of us. like a champ. The tractor had a canvas cover with a All that being said, there is really only one true plastic windshield which helped shelter from the and fast rule for letters to The Land: Include a wind; but there was no cab. phone number so we can call to verify the identity It was many years before I fully appreciated the of the author. We never publish the phone number, planning required for clearing a farmstead of snow. or even your mailing address. Outbuildings and corn cribs needed to be accessible Sharing ideas only makes those ideas better; and and you needed plenty of room for the milk truck to a letter to the editor is a pretty simple and inexpenmaneuver around the barn. Not only that, but the sive way to do that. It doesn’t even have to cost you big piles of snow made by the “H” could remain into a stamp. Letters can be sent to editor@thelandonthe month of May — so location was critical. line.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Extreme weather events aren’t so rare these days Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. and maybe we’ll see bigger snow storms this winter. He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com.v Heavy blankets of snow will delay spring planting, but we need the moisture. Let’s hope the thaw is gradual to minimize any flooding. The “H” didn’t float.

OPINION

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

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

DS-4510Q™

Central Late Hutchinson

1 of 37

248

212

DS-4917AM™

Southern Late Rochester

2 of 33

303

273

DS-4510Q™

Central Late 2-Location Average

2 of 37

246

220

DS-4878Q™

Southern Late Waseca

3 of 33

289

256

DS-3727AM™

Central Early 2-Location Average

3 of 29

233

215

DS-3162Q™

Northern Rothsay

3 of 38

305

261

DS-3727AM™

Southern Early Lamberton

4 of 37

184

163

DS-3550AM™

Northern 3-Location Average

4 of 38

206

191

DS-3550AM™

Northern Rothsay

4 of 38

302

261

DS-4014Q™

Southern Early Lamberton

5 of 37

181

163

DS-4910AML™

Southern Late Waseca

5 of 33

284

256

DS-3550AM™

Northern Crookston

5 of 38

142

122

DS-3959Q™

Southern Early Lamberton

6 of 37

175

163

DS-4917AM™

Southern Late 3-Location Average

6 of 33

250

232

DS-4878Q™

Southern Late Lamberton

6 of 33

183

166

DS-3959Q™

Southern Early 3-Location Average

7 of 37

239

228

DS-3959Q™

Southern Early Waseca

7 of 37

259

244

DS-3366AM™

Central Early Morris

7 of 29

235

227

DS-3162Q™

Northern 3-Location Average

9 of 38

201

191

DS-3727AM™

Southern Early 3-Location Average

10 of 37

236

228

DS-4878Q™

Southern Late 3-Location Average

10 of 33

246

232

DS-3550AM™

Central Early Morris

10 of 29

231

227

DS-4510Q™

Central Late Morris

10 of 37

244

228

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

Life on the Farm: Readers’ Photos

Al Batt of Hartland sent this photo a few days ago. “I just heard a chickadee singing it’s fee-bee song,” he wrote. ‘“Spring’s here,’ it whistled. I love the tiny bird’s optimism.”

A long-time contributor to “Life on the Farm,” Rose Wurtzberger of New Ulm, Minn. was kind enough to send a note and this photo taken on a “beautiful frosty morning.”

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022 “I toss peanuts to squirrels in the front yard,” writes Richard Siemers of Tyler Minn, a contributor to The Land. Richard has shown many times he is talented in writing and photography. He sent this photo of two squirrels having a snack.

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E-mail your Life on the Farm photos to editor@ thelandonline. com.

Letter: ‘Difficult times’ likely to continue To the Editor, The letter from Greg Rendahl in the Dec. 24/31 issue of The Land was about the “difficult times” we live in which were the fault of the Trump administration. Evidently leaving billions of dollars of “used” military hardware in Afghanistan was no big deal. We can make more to keep all those jobs in the 50 states going. These items (night vision ware, choppers, weapons, drones, planes) were immediately picked up by Russia and China to copy. We also armed thousands of the enemy forces while leaving our own citizens to face death, etc. He also feels that women “need to control their own bodies” which to me means murdering unborn babies. He also likely voted for Tina Smith who headed up Planned Parenthood in Minnesota and North Dakota before her political career. Lastly, white males are not the only ones fearing the loss of our “democracy” to socialism/Marxism. Over 62 percent of U.S. citizens in general are giving President (Biden) low marks over his leadership skills. Are you ready for $4 to $7 gasoline? It is coming! Don Buck Zumbrota, Minn.

OPINION

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

Illinois winters in the heat of the night Of all the daily chores my father perwhile my sister smiled warmly from the formed on the southern Illinois dairy sunnier southern room. farm of my youth, the most vital to me The only problem with the new each winter morning was his rekindling arrangement was, despite clear evidence of the banked fire in the tall, round wood that the new furnace’s ductwork did stove that dominated my mother’s kitchindeed reach the rooms, there was no evien 60 years ago. dence whatsoever that any of the furThe stove was, no kidding, a Warm nace’s heat ever did. Winter, for my Morning model. It was as tall as me then, FARM & FOOD FILE brothers and me, was the season of flanand more round than my great Uncle nel sheets and layers and layers of toeBy Alan Guebert Honey. Somehow Dad, despite his city curling woolen quilts. upbringing, knew how to manage this The farm’s two principal hired men, iron maiden for maximum effect in herdsman Howard and his field hand minimum time. In fact, the stove usubrother Jackie, had no such problem ally radiated heat before the water for his first cup because they had no such furnace. Their living room of morning coffee boiled. stove, our old kitchen stove, glowed invitingly hot in But rekindling the fire was only the final heattheir farm-provided house until they moved to promising chore in a whole series of high-heat another place in the late 1970s. chores that led to it. There was wood sawing, splitHoward was its main attendant and his favorite ting, hauling, stacking, hauling into the house, light- fuel was southern Illinois coal. Early each winter, a ing and, finally, hauling the ashes — in our case, to local trucker (after delivering a load of cull cattle the garden. from our farm to the stockyards) would backhaul Dad, and Mom, too, couldn’t wait until the town’s five or so tons of coal and dump it near Howard and “furnace man” installed a whole-house, thermostati- Jackie’s backdoor. Each winter day, Howard filled a cally-controlled “furnace” that burned what they five-gallon bucket with softball-sized chunks to burn called coal oil — fed to it by a copper line from a in the brick-lined Warm Morning. smelly fuel tank in our side yard. Sometimes, the ever-impatient Jackie would top That upgrade brought our farmhouse’s two the red-glowing coal with what he called “a chug” of unheated and, until then, unused upstairs bedrooms split pecan wood. The wood, almost as dense and into the lives of my three brothers and sister. We BTU-bearing as the bituminous coal, could make four boys were assigned the colder northern room the stove glow pink at night.

OPINION

After my father installed a furnace in the dairy barn in the late 1960s however, neither brother was in any hurry to return to their piles of split pecan and lumpy coal. All the heat they ever wanted was, literally, at their dial-turning fingertips in the dairy barn. My siblings and I had a similar revelation when we became aware of electric blankets. Our comfort — nay, our very survival — depended on electricity and our parents, downstairs and warm, had given us coal oil? Oh, the cries that went up! Soon three electric blankets — one for Richard and David’s bed, one for Perry and my bed, and one for Miss Sunshine Across the Hall’s bed — appeared. From then on, our biggest worry each evening was who among us would brave the arctic upstairs to switch on the three life-sustaining blankets. Of no concern at any time, however, was being immolated in a roaring fire started by extension cords plugged into extension cords that ran from our toasty blankets under several rugs to each room’s only electrical outlet in a makeshift closet. Should we have worried? Of course, but I don’t remember worrying about anything once tucked into our pre-warmed nests of flannel, wool and innocence. The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. Past columns, events and contact information are posted at www.farmandfoodfile.com. v

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 All letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) to verify authenticity.

GROWMARK offers ag scholarship The GROWMARK Foundation is once again offering a $1,500 scholarship program for students pursuing two- or four-year degrees or trade school certification in an agriculture-related field. “As our business has grown and evolved, we saw a need toprovide a scholarship to students throughout the United States and Ontario, in addition to the scholarship programs already established in our core geography,” said Amy Bradford, GROWMARK corporate communications manager and GROWMARK Foundation manager. “GROWMARK and the FS member cooperatives are strong supporters of youth leadership education and this is one more way we can contribute to the future of agriculture.” Applicants must complete an online application which includes academic information, community

service and leadership activities, and essay questions regarding agriculture and cooperatives. Applications will be judged by a panel of agribusiness professionals. High school seniors or students at any level of higher education may complete the application, which can be found at https://www.growmark.com/ about-us/corporate-commitments. Applications are due by midnight on April 14 and recipients will be notified by July 1. The GROWMARK Foundation is focused on programs and activities which support the vitality of the industry of agriculture; education and consumer understanding of agriculture’s contributions to society and the economy; and leadership development. This article was submitted by AgPR. 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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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Seeking solitude as we enter a new year I have been struggling for the last that upon seeing Nathanael, Jesus said month or so to find a healthy balance in of him, “Here is an honest Israelite!” my life. Balancing work, family, play, Jesus knew what was in Nathanael’s relationships and rest is delicate. It only heart because Jesus heard his prayers. takes the drifting of one for everything to Nathanael, obviously taken aback, woncrumble like a house of cards, leaving me ders out loud, “How do you know me?” feeling downtrodden, depleted, disapAnd Jesus replies that he saw him under pointed, and disconnected. I have recogthe fig tree. Immediately Nathanael nized that the latest fault for me has knows that Jesus is the promised DEEP ROOTS been that I have drifted from solitude. Messiah. How? Because Nathanael, a devout Isreaelite, knew that only the By Whitney Nesse What I have found to be true for myself Messiah could have seen and heard him is that I generally do not drift toward in his place of solitude. anything good. In my drift from solitude, I have drifted into busy-ness. I am going to give myself a Could it be true that in periods of solitude, repensprinkle of grace, recognizing that the wonderful tance and reflection, when we feel the most unseen, interruption of the Christmas season is not far in we are seen the most? That thought brings comfort the rearview mirror. I also know that if I am not and fear for me. Comfort in knowing the Messiah intentionally cultivating periods of solitude into my knows the deepest parts of my heart and chooses to daily routine, drifting is imminent. see me anyway — and fear by the same token. For me, solitude is a quiet time specifically set aside for prayer, reflection and reading. It usually happens in the early morning hours, when everyone else in my house is asleep and lasts for about 20 minutes. As I sit, read, pray and reflect, I watch the Visit www.TheLandOnline.com to view our complete birds who visit my bird feeders and sip my morning calendar and enter your own events, or send an e-mail coffee. My heart longs for that place of solitude just with your event’s details to editor@thelandonline.com. thinking about it. I am beginning the new year by studying the book Jan. 25 — Preparing for Lambing and Kidding of John. Interestingly, in John chapter one we find Season — Online — Webinar will focus on small the account of Jesus calling Nathanael. Verses 47 ruminant lamb/kid birthing, beginning rations, and and 48 read; “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward overall lamb and kid health. Instructor will walk him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Isrealite indeed, in through a “tool kit” of items to have on hand for lambwhom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to him, ing and kidding birthing. Contact Brenda Miller at ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before nels4220@umn.edu Phillip called you, when you were under the fig tree, Jan. 26 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops I saw you.’” — Online — New findings with sulfur fertility: U of M From a glance, this verse seems insignificant; but nutrient management specialists and researchers will once I began to dig deeper, this is what I found: provide information based on up-to-date research to Jesus points out that Nathanael was an Israelite, help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. that he was honest and that he had been under a Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming. fig tree. Israelites were devout people who took very Jan. 26 — Cover Crops 101 — Blooming Prairie, seriously the Laws of Moses. They cultivated reguMinn. — Session will share experiences of cover crop lar times of prayer, confession and reflection. Often, users and will discuss cover crop seed origination; these times of solitude for an Israelite took place in species and species mixes; step-by-step production; a garden, under the shade of a tree where they and the value of cover crop technology. Contact Tim could be alone and unseen. Ruzek at tim@mowerdistrict.org or (507) 460-4577. What is so spectacular about this brief passage is 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

Perhaps the more time spent in reverent solitude, comfort becomes the antidote for fear. On the other hand, Proverbs reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowing that God sees the depths of our hearts could be the catalyst for cultivating a lifestyle of solitude and prayer. No matter the reason, my resolve for this new year is to earnestly put my hand to the plow; and like Nathanael, cultivate a lifestyle that includes solitude. I no longer wish to have the balance of my life as fragile as a house of cards. On the contrary, I want a correct balance of life built on the foundation of wisdom that is found in a healthy fear of the Lord. I want to continue to find comfort in knowing that the Lord sees even the shaded parts of my heart and will not look away. Whitney Nesse is a sixth-generation livestock farmer who is deeply rooted in her faith and family. She writes from her central Minnesota farm. v

Calendar of Events

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 minivacation as a couple from the farm. Contact Leah M Bischof at leahbischof@gmail.com or (320) 429-0611. Feb. 8 — Dairy Day: Profitable Dairy Practices — Orange City, Iowa — Program will explore methods of euthanasia, composting mortalities, farm personalities, transition cow nutrition, milk marketing and industry updates. Contact Fred Hall at fredhall@ Jan. 27 — Women in Dairy: Creating value-added iastate.edu or (712) 737-4230

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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Be aware of salt damage to trees and shrubs Salt is often used to melt ice from our treated road. Salt may also cause leaves sidewalks and driveways and is then to appear later than usual in the spring. flushed into adjacent lawns and flower Evergreens are particularly susceptible beds — causing damage. The salt enters to salt damage and their needles may be plant cells or the spaces between the cells brown instead of green starting at the and causes them to lose their cold harditips of the needles and progressing ness. Salt also desiccates the plant by through the summer months. Several drying out bud scales which exposes tenGREEN AND years of salt accumulation may result in der tissues underneath the scales and GROWING smaller leaves, flowers or fruit. The reduces potential blossoms in the spring. leaves appear burnt or brown starting at By Linda G. Tenneson The sodium in sodium chloride can the outer edges and progressing towards reduce the root’s ability to absorb potasthe middle. Leaves may turn color earlier in the fall sium, calcium and magnesium. and an entire tree may appear stunted. Some salt may be flushed away from plant roots, Snow fences or barriers such as burlap wrapping but this is likely to also remove these desired nutri- will help keep salt away from sensitive plants. ents. Fertilizer is then needed to replace these Planting a variety of salt-tolerant trees from differnutrients and mulch to prevent further moisture ent species reduces the possibility that a pathogen, loss. or insect that attacks one species, would be able to Coarse sand is an alternative to provide traction on ice. Calcium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate do less damage, but are more expensive to purchase. ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Salt may accumulate over several winters making Agriculture is asking produce farmers to fill out the the soil less habitable to plants. Trees may lose annual Grower Questionnaire which will help farmers their tolerance to salt as they mature. Plants growidentify the federal food safety requirements which ing next to high traffic streets are more likely to apply to their operations. Data from the questionnaire receive salt spray than those near residential also provides the MDA with a more accurate assessstreets. Salt spray trucks can send salt solution up ment of Minnesota’s produce farming sector. to 60 feet from the edge of a road. The side of the “The Grower Questionnaire is an important tool to tree or shrub nearest the street will have more help Minnesota’s produce farmers navigate the feddamage than the opposite side. eral produce safety requirements,” said Alexandra No tree is insensitive to salt damage; but while Cortes, MDA Produce Safety Program Outreach some can tolerate the spray, they cannot tolerate an Analyst. accumulation of salt in the soil. Trees which are The Grower Questionnaire should be filled out once covered with snow will have less salt damage. And branches growing above the height of the salt spray per year, per produce farm. Participation is voluntary. Farm contact and location information is classiwill not be damaged. fied as private and not made public. Produce growers Salt damage may not be noticeable until spring. who opt out of the questionnaire will be contacted by Tuft-like growths, sometimes called “witchesthe MDA Produce Safety Program to determine any brooms,” may appear on branches closest to a salt inspection requirements.

spread to different tree species as well as reducing losses from salt. White pines, roses, rhododendrons and yews are especially susceptible to salt damage. The web site “cues.cfans.umn.edu/old/ extpubs/1413salt/DD1413.html” from the University of Minnesota contains a list of trees evaluated into three categories of sensitive, intermediate or tolerant to salt spray and soil salt damage. The Soil Testing Laboratory, which is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences, will test soil for salt content. Go to “soiltest.cfans.umn.edu” for details and submission forms. Publication SP610 from the Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Tennessee also has information on treating salt affected soil. Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v

Farmers asked to complete questionnaire Data gleaned from previous questionnaires has found that 41 percent of Minnesota fruit and vegetable farmers are growing more than five crops – with some growing up to 80 fruit and vegetable crops in a season. Tomatoes and apples are the top crops grown by produce farmers. More than half the produce farms are under 10 acres in size The most current data is available in the 2020 Produce Safety Program Report. The 2022 MDA Grower Questionnaire is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ProduceSafety. Farmers can contact the MDA Produce Safety Program at (651) 539-3648 or email producesafety. mda@state.mn.us to request a paper copy of the questionnaire, or for more information. This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. v

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Make your Mom proud: Eat your veggies!

New year, new goals. One of those for me is to eat more vegetables. I love a nicely-prepared veggie, so I looked high and low to find these tasty dishes. Each one offers the healthy benefits of vegetables, but with the bonus of lots of lovely flavors.

Broccolini is a vegetable with a funny name and excellent taste. The dish mingles this veggie with capers for a unique way to get your greens!

Broiled Broccolini and Capers https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/ a33943545/broiled-broccolini-and-capers/

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with the oil, salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Add the seasonal florets to the baking sheet. Spread them out, facing as many of the flatter edges onto the baking sheet so that they brown nicely. COOKING WITH KRISTIN

Think spring. This recipe makes that easy to do with carrots, fresh mint, almonds and parsley. The unique combination brings a hint of spring to the table even amid these cold winter months.

Roasted Carrots with Spring Pesto https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/ a35904732/roasted-carrots-with-spring-pesto-recipe/

Roast until the edges are crisp and brown and the insides are tender, 20 to 35 minutes, give the cauliflower a stir to promote even browning. Serve topped with scallion and a squeeze of lime juice.

1/2 cup raw almonds 3 pounds carrots, peeled, cut into 2-3 inch pieces and quartered lengthwise By Kristin Kveno 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil n 2-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt On a nice summer day, corn on the cob is hard to beat. This 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste comes close to that freshness. Frozen corn can be used in this cup fresh mint recipe during this time of year. This light salad has a zip thanks to 1 cup fresh parsley the charred corn, jalapenos and cilantro. 1 lemon

2 bunches broccolini 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon capers, drained Charred and Raw Corn Salad 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional Charred and Raw Corn Salad Recipe | Bon Appétit (bonappetit. kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper com) 1 tablespoon, red wine vinegar Heat broiler to high with oven rack 4 inches from heat. Toss 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided together broccolini, garlic, oil, capers and red pepper (if desired) 6 ears of corn, husked, kernels cut from the cob on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and black pepper. 1 small shallot, cut into rings Broil until lightly charred, three to four minutes. Toss with vinegar. 1 red chili (such as a Fresno or red jalapeno), slice into rings 5 tablespoons fresh lime juice n kosher salt Cauliflower is a versatile veggie, but it can NEVER be a bowl of 3 tablespoons whole-milk Greek yogurt rice, pizza or mashed potatoes. So, let’s celebrate this veggie in its 1 once finely grated Parmesan (about 3 tablespoons), plus more proper form. Roasting it brings out the flavor, and chili and lime for serving 1/2 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems, coarsely chopped, add some sass. divided Chili Lime Roasted Cauliflower Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet, preferably cast iron, https://www.inspiredtaste.net/42872/chili-roasted-cauliflower/ over medium-high. Add one-third of corn kernels and cook, undis1 medium head cauliflower (about 1 ¼ pound), cut into small flo- turbed, until lightly charred underneath, 1-2 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, occasionally tossing, until lightly charred all over, rets 2-3 minutes longer. 2 tablespoons olive oil, grape seed oil or neutral-flavored oil Meanwhile, mix shallot, chili, lime juice and the remaining 3 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt tablespoons oil in a medium bowl: season with salt. Let sit at least 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder 5 minutes or up to 1 hour to let the shallots soften slightly. Add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika charred corn, remaining corn kernels, yogurt, 1 ounce Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and half of the cilantro; season with salt. Toss to combine. 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 scallion, ends trimmed and finely sliced 2 to 3 lime or lemon wedges Corn farmers who “split-apply” nitrogen now have another option for insurance coverage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency recently announced the details of its Post Application Coverage Endorsement for non-irrigated corn. PACE provides payments for the projected yield lost when producers are unable to apply the post nitrogen application during the V3-V10 corn growth stages due to field conditions created by weather. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE! PACE is offered in select counties in 11 states, ACT NOW TO RECEIVE A $300 SPECIAL OFFER!* including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, (877) 381-3059 Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. It is available as supplemen*Offer value when purchased at retail. Solar panels sold separately. tal coverage for Yield Protection, Revenue Protection,

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Spread the almonds in a small ovenproof skillet or on a small baking sheet and roast, stirring once, until toasted, about 7 minutes. Let cool completely. Divide the carrots between 2 baking sheets. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper to each baking sheet and toss. Roast, stirring once or twice, until the carrots are tender and browned around the edges, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, put the toasted almonds in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add the mint and parsley; with the motor running, drizzle in the remaining ½ cup olive oil and process until fairly smooth. Grate the lemon zest into the food processor, then pulse to combine. Season with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Transfer the carrots to a large platter. Add the pesto and toss well. Squeeze the lemon juice over the carrots and toss. Let’s make eating your vegetables not only cool but delicious in 2022 with these delectable recipes! Kristin Kveno scours the internet, pours over old family recipes and searches everywhere in between to find interesting food ideas for feeding your crew. Do you have a recipe you want to share? You can reach Kristin at kkveno@thelandonline.com. v

USDA announces new insurance option

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and Revenue Protection with Harvest Price Exclusion policies. The first sales closing date to purchase insurance is March 15. To “split-apply” nitrogen, growers make multiple fertilizer applications during the growing season rather than providing all the crop’s nitrogen requirements with a single treatment before or during planting. This practice can lead to lower input costs and helps prevent runoff and leaching of nutrients into waterways and groundwater. To learn more about PACE, visit https://rma.usda. gov/en/Topics/Conservation. This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v

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Baumgartner: farmers could likely get by with half the nitrogen By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus OLIVIA, Minn. — With nearly 30 years of friendship here in Minnesota’s corn capitol, Ed Baumgartner and I are indeed ‘old fixtures’ in this exciting world of agriculture. Baumgartner left the corporate seed industry world in Ed Baumgartner 2005 to pursue the development of 3rd Millennium Genetics. In 2013, Baumgartner Agricultural Science and Service was formed and in 2017 BASS Hybrids were introduced. In 2019, BASS moved into its current facility to begin operations as a stand-alone business: treating, packaging and warehousing their own seed. It’s now Dec. 21 and its cold (like about 14 F) and windy — 20 mph west/northwesterlys whipping across our prairies as I chat with Baumgartner in his Olivia office. The Land: You’ve created markets in the Dakotas, Minnesota, western Iowa and Nebraska … plus overseas in Kazakhstan. Where do you see 3MG in the future world of corn? Baumgartner: Most exciting is our growth into U.S. markets — against the odds I would say. Lots of very competitive GMO seed firms out there these days and here we are, a non-GMO seed company, and making progress. Plus, price-wise, we’re a better option. Changing 25 years of mind set is what we’re actually doing. It’s exciting! We talk Durayield traits … naturally occurring traits selected from within the corn genome. Durayield traits are additive, so each generation will be better. Durayield products can be grown at lower plant populations per acre and more efficiently use available water and nutrients. Cost-conscience corn farmers certainly can relate here. Consider this: A 200 bushel per acre crop uses about 600,000 gallons of water per acre. One acre of corn releases approximately 4,000 gallons of water per day in evaporation. Corn uses nearly 3,000 gallons of water for each bushel of yield. It takes 27,154 gallons of water to irrigate one acre of land with one inch of water. And 200 bushel per acre corn requires around 22 inches of water during the growing season. The Land: So is durability a key ingredient in the genetic progress of BASS hybrids? Baumgartner: Absolutely. The ability to survive under difficult conditions is always paramount. I got a terrific reminder this fall when I attended a dealer/ customer meeting. This customer said to me, ‘Ed, I need to apologize because I didn’t believe what you told us your products would give us five more days waiting for a rain compared with other products. You gave me seven days and I caught the rain. And I had a corn crop this year whereas my neighbor didn’t.’ Talk about motivation to go back out and keep working! And this farmer was emotional when he shared

his comments … something you seldom see in farmers these days. The Land: What develops durability in your corn hybrids? Baumgartner: It comes from specialized plant breeding methods including managed stress environments with lots of time looking at individual corn plants. This also enables us to measure levels of tolerance to biotic and/or abiotic stresses occurring during the growing season. In my early years I would throw away test locations that didn’t give us certain parameters of statistical analyses, and I would ask myself why? This hot, droughty season we had two North Dakota test plot locations right in the middle of the darkest red (most intense drought) areas: Rugby and Minot. And I wondered, what now? However, when I combined our Rugby and Minot plot data together, I could see the data was very tight. They mirrored each other as to which products did well. And that tells me good products are good products. Plus, this correlated with field notes made when checking those plots during the growing season. The Land:So was this extremely droughty season a continued learning experience — even for you research guys? Baumgartner: Most certainly. It tells us we’re on the right track. Even with all these doom-sayers saying climate change will disrupt the ability of American crop farmers to feed the world, I don’t believe it for a minute. We just have to get smarter and keep working. Climate has been changing since we started keeping track of it. How do we know if it’s better today or worse? We really have no idea. We’ve had ice ages; we’ve had ages warmer than we’re heading right now. What spot in time are we right now? No one can say. The problem with we humans is we don’t like change. The Land: Because of the extreme costs of fertilizer, will there be less corn planted in 2022? Baumgartner: We’ll likely see farmers trying some things they normally wouldn’t do. We’ve been brought up that nitrogen and corn are ‘symbiotic’ … the more nitrogen, the more corn. So now we’re asking — and our customers are asking — What can these new hybrids do if they aren’t fed so well? And I think we’ll be surprised. We may find these new products don’t need as much nitrogen as we’ve been led to believe. I’ve been watching yields continue to go up with differences in methodology rates and lower application rates. The days of spring application of all your nitrogen I think are history. That would be better for the environment too. Yes, I would like to see more farmers feeding that crop only when needed. If that were to happen, I think we could likely get by with half the nitrogen we currently use with corn. Yes, this could mean spoon feeding three to five times. Yes, application costs and equipment will factor in here. But don’t ignore the basic fact that these newer hybrids just don’t need the heavy feeding we’ve accustomed ourselves into believing!

Also, application costs aren’t nearly as expensive as the fertilizer itself. Yes, it may take a leap of faith from farmers. Figuring costs for that extra 10 to 12 pounds of nitrogen with each ‘spoon feeding’ vs. total costs on a spring only ‘half-as-much’ application is the debate. The Land:So might this also nourish a reduction in planting rates? Baumgartner: Our philosophy is contrary to the rest of the seed industry. The industry continues to promote more plants per acre — which of course leads to buying more of their seed products too. But understand that as you keep increasing the size of your factory, you’re also increasing the needs for See BAUMGARTNER, pg. 11

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Your input needed in State of Ag survey Getting together with others for our region look like in the next a cup of coffee at the local café can year,” GreenSeam Director Sam produce quite the conversations. Ziegler said. “Why let others or Weather, politics, and the local small pieces of information tell our sports teams are always mainstay story. By all pitching in we can do topics. The good-humored banter a much better job of sharing this which goes back and forth leaves important information.” everyone feeling good as they go The “State of Ag” research proabout the rest of their day. vides data to see year-over-year But there are other things haptrends and new aspects in the agriTALENT IN THE GREENSEAM pening as a result of those converculture realm that could possibly sations that most people do not be addressed by stakeholders. The By Shane Bowyer even realize is actually going on. survey data and focus group disThe learning taken from each cussions from the 2021 “State of other during those conversations helps Ag” brought to the forefront barriers conpeople gain knowledge and form opinions cerning talent, policy, mental health and — such as which seed is best, or what tilCovid-19 businesses face every day. In ing company is better; what regulations addition, opportunities were highlighted are coming down the pipeline that will around entrepreneurship, business develaffect the farms’ bottom line, or how to opment, commodity prices and advancing plan for next year with current commoditechnology. ty prices. There is a lot of informal educaAs an example, the 2021 “State of Ag” Scan this QR code tion happening every day. report found there were three dominant to take the 2022 The ability to capture all those converissues which threaten businesses’ ability State of Ag survey. sations which take place in the cafés and to grow the most. Regulations/policy was local bars amongst the farmers and peothe top concern while employment issues ple in agriculture would be priceless. Just think came in second and taxes third. The results were about the impact of how the combined knowledge of different than the previous year as the data was colall these individuals could have on the region, mak- lected prior to the pandemic. The concern about reging it a much more productive and stronger agricul- ulations/policy was still first, but significantly ture economy. increased in 2021 with more Covid-19 restrictions and increasing supply chain issues. Not unexpected, This is what GreenSeam is working to do. employment also had a big increase — jumping The ringing in of the new year brings the kickoff of GreenSeam’s “State of Ag” report. Three years ago, GreenSeam identified a gap in information and data as it pertains to the agriculture sector. Thus, it developed an annual report to address the gap called the “State of Ag.” The report consists of two parts: focus groups with participants from across the state and a survey which is distributed stateJalen Heintz wide as well. The data and comments are analyzed and summarized, then shared with the public, legisPolk City, Iowa lators and businesses. School: Iowa State University “The importance of this report is to represent our Major: Double majoring in businesses and tell the story of what topics are agronomy and agricultural studholding our businesses back or what the growth of ies Internship company name: Crystal Valley 2022 ROCK NOBLES

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How did you learn about your internship? I learned about Crystal Valley’s internship program through Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences career fair. I was lucky enough to be selected for an interview and was hired on as an agronomy sales intern. Have you always wanted a career in agriculture? I originally started my collegiate academic career in nursing

from fourth to second. Securing a skilled workforce has been an issue in the agriculture industry for a number of years. However, once again the current state of the pandemic further increased the need. GreenSeam and researchers from Minnesota State University, Mankato started collecting data for the next “State of Ag” data at the MN AgExpo and would be grateful if you would help by sharing your thoughts on the current ag issues and opinions. If you would like to participate in a focus group at a selected time and location, please contact either Sam Ziegler at GreenSeam or Shane Bowyer at Minnesota State Mankato. To take the survey now, please enter this link in an internet browser: https://greenseam.org/survey “We need to show the picture of all businesses involved in ag. The farmer, processors, supply chain, professional services and more,” Ziegler said. “Agriculture ripples through our entire community and our goal is to capture the opportunities and challenges our industry faces. Talent in the GreenSeam focuses on developing talent and promoting careers in agriculture and food. Dr. Shane Bowyer is the Director of AgriBusiness and Food Innovation in the College of Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato and is on the GreenSeam Talent Committee. He can be reached for comments or talent ideas at shane. bowyer@mnsu.edu. Sam Ziegler can be reached at sziegler@greenseam.org. v

school. I quickly realized that my passion for helping others was not fit for the medical field. I grew up showing livestock and have always had a passion for agriculture — especially the preservation and education of the public about it. I decided to switch my major and attend Iowa State to study agronomy, where one day I hope to be an agronomist where I will help area growers. I have chosen to stay in the ag field because there are no other job sectors that come close to the community that the ag sector holds. The community aspect grants many opportunities for people to learn from others. This connection is what draws me into the ag sector of the workforce. My driving factor and passion is for agriculture and everything in it, and I would not want to be in any other field of work. The ag field is a constant learning environment giving me the opportunity to grow every day to help growers make the best decisions that they can make. What is your favorite animal? 1.cattle; 2. dog; 3. sea turtle What is your favorite food? Prime rib; 2. potatoes; 3. blueberry muffins Who is your favorite musical artist/band? Pecos and the Rooftops; 2. Koe Wetzel; 3. Read Southall Band

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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PAGE 11

Corn bred with larger root systems handle drought better BAUMGARTNER, from pg. 9 more fertilizer, more water. We say go less. We say, ‘Let’s make those plants produce more bushels per plant’ … rather than more plants per acre to produce more bushels. So I suggest to farmers, look for plants with more flex so you can reduce both planting rates and nitrogen rates also. This is based on lots of plots and field data results over the past decade. And the overall soil health and economic squeeze of today’s agriculture makes this all much more relevant today. The Land: With lower plant populations, does that induce your corn plants into multi-eared tendencies?

Baumgartner: Initially we selected away from inbred lines with two-eared tendencies because they would tend to go barren under stress. But with our research methods today, we’re noting the more stress you put under a corn plant, the more likely multi-eared plants also. So then the effort becomes let’s see if we can increase the size of those ears. Bigger ears per plant certainly is a yield bumper also. Tropical corns grow much taller and frequently have multiple ears. But super-tall corn just doesn’t work these days … plus Mother Nature still has that occasional tendency with super wind storms too. So strong stalks girded with a heavy and deep root mass

just simply works that much better. And now we see value in fewer plants per acre … in essence, having a ‘smaller factory’ on each acre while also cutting costs in fertilizer and minimizing a water crunch in a droughty season. The Land: Why is creating drought tolerant corn important? Baumgartner: First, we believe farmers should have corn hybrids that can get through dry periods without yield loss. And the best mechanism to achieve this is with a much larger root mass to extract water; which also leads to more soil nutrients being pulled into the plant. And that’s why drought tolerant corn has a tendency to yield more.

Second, even though the current school of thought is that the corn plant cannot be made more water use efficient, we think it can because we have seen it happen. And when a plant is more efficient in water use, it is also more efficient with nutrient use. Third, we have learned that rolling corn is drying corn. The old school of thinking is this is the plant protecting itself. This is false. The most heat and drought resistant hybrids do not roll very easily. Instead, they tend to grey and maybe wilt a bit, but not roll. The longer a plant goes without rolling, the more heat and drought tolerant it will be. v

Clean Water Funds linked to lake, stream improvements Clean Water Funds from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources supported conservation work which contributed to some lakes, rivers and streams earning a spot on the list of waters slated to be removed from the state’s impaired waters list in 2022. Fifty-three lakes, and segments of rivers and streams, are proposed for delisting. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval finalizes that status. The MPCA draft noted 13 of the 53 could be directly tied to a particular restoration effort. Following are a few examples where Clean Water Funds from BWSR played a direct role in restoration work. Clean Water Fund grants require a match. Total project costs may draw from local, state and federal funding sources. Pope Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Holly Kovarik, who serves on the Clean Water Council, considered the bigger picture that might unfold as more projects targeting impaired waters are implemented across the state. “The goal is to move that needle of progress towards improvement in our resources, and this is what we may see in the future, on a grander scale,” Kovarik said. In Chisago County, the proposed delisting of School Lake, one of 20 in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes, is not tied to a specific restoration effort. Chisago SWCD Water Resource

Specialist Casey Thiel said few grantfunded projects were completed directly on School Lake. Communitywide projects have included increased street sweeping and improved stormwater control. “It’s more mindset and behavior changes is what I think is happening there,” Thiel said. “All of the lakes that we’re actively working in are seeing improved water quality. That’s kind of as good as it gets. It’s a little bit better each year.” Birch Lake, a 150-acre lake with a township boat launch and swimming beach northeast of Big Lake, saw water quality improve as a result of five targeted stormwater retrofits installed from 2016 through 2018. A $70,005 Clean Water Fund grant Sherburne SWCD received from BWSR in 2016 supported the Big Lake Township project, which keeps an estimated 10 pounds of phosphorus and 3,000 pounds of sediment out of the lake annually. “It doesn’t have a tremendous amount of development on it, so you enter the lake and you kind of get this sense of it being out in the middle of nature. The shoreline is in a very natural condition all the way around the lake,” said Dan Cibulka, Sherburne SWCD senior water resource specialist. Listed in 2006 as nutrient-impaired for aquatic recreation, Birch Lake had experienced occasional late-summer algae blooms. But it was close to meeting water quality standards. The SWCD

used local capacity dollars from BWSR to fund additional shoreline restorations. Outlet Creek, which flows from Lake Minnewaska across rolling farmland and glacial hills to Lake Emily southwest of Starbuck, was listed in 2012 as impaired for aquatic life. The creek lies within the Lake Emily watershed, the focus of four Clean Water Fund grants from BWSR. A $38,160 Clean Water Fund grant award in 2015 supported water quality assessment and project prioritization. Implementation grants followed in each of the next three years. Thirtyfour of the 54 erosion control practices — most of them water and sediment control basins — backed by a $287,500 grant in 2016 directly affected Outlet Creek. All 27 water and sediment control basins backed by a $162,500 grant in 2017 affect Outlet Creek. Those projects combined keep an estimated 2,237 tons of sediment and 2,565 pounds of

phosphorus out of the creek annually. Situated in downtown St. Cloud, surrounded by a park and encircled by a paved walking path, 8.5-acre Lake George draws paddlers and ice skaters. For two decades, the Stearns County SWCD and city of St. Cloud have worked together to improve water quality and clarity of the nutrientimpaired lake. Early projects included 2002’s shoreline naturalization and stabilization. The most recent, backed by a $697,000 Clean Water Fund grant the SWCD received in 2019, constructed an underground regional stormwater management structure in 2020. Designed to trap and remove sediment and nutrients from runoff before it enters the lake, it targets a 47-acre drainage area and will reduce phosphorus by an estimated 27 pounds and sediment by 7 tons a year. This article was submitted by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. v

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Harsh weather, high beef prices leading to culling of herds News and information for Minnesota and Northern Iowa dairy producers This column was written for the marketat $2.7250. This is down 1.75 cents on the ing week ending Jan. 14. week, but $1.4350 above a year ago. Twenty-eight sales were reported. After lowering estimates for 2021 and 2022 milk production for six consecutive Central butter churning is busy despite months, the U.S. Department of Covid-related worker issues — even as Agriculture left its latest projection cream supplies slowly tighten. Cream unchanged in the Jan. 12 World prices are slowly edging higher after the Agricultural Supply and Demand seasonal holiday abundance. Bulk butter Estimates report. is tight and end users are paying for it. MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY Meanwhile, in the week ending Jan.1, Retail demand is keeping butter mak2022, 52,400 dairy cows were sent to ers busy and market tones are “resolutely By Lee Mielke slaughter, up 4,900 from the previous bullish,” says Dairy Market News. week and 300 head or 0.6 percent above a International butterfat values are also year ago. The four-week average was up 1.08 perclimbing. Contacts expect market tones will sustain cent from a year ago. this pressure for longer than just the near term. Dairy prices were mixed the second week of 2022. n The cheddar blocks climbed to $2.0525 per pound on Grade A nonfat dry milk shot up to a Jan. 14 finJan. 12 (the highest since Nov. 12, 2020) but dropped ish at $1.815 per pound. This is up 10.5 cents on the from there to a Jan. 14 close at $1.92. This is down week (the highest since June 25, 2014) and 61.5 7.5 cents on the week and 9 cents above a year ago. cents above a year ago. Thirteen sales transpired on The barrels finished at $1.96, 9.5 cents higher on the week. The record Chicago Mercantile Exchange the week, the fourth week of gain and highest since price high is $2.16 per pound on Dec. 5, 2007. Nov. 11, 2020, 38.75 cents above a year ago, and 4 CME dry whey kept creeping higher and closed on cents above the blocks. There were four sales of Jan. 14 at a new record-high 77 cents per pound. block on the week and seven of barrel. This is up 1.25 cents on the week and 24 cents above Spot milk availability for cheesemakers varies in a year ago, with three sales reported for the week. the Central region, according to Dairy Market News. Dairy analyst and editor of the Dairy and Food Some say milk offers are quiet and there is a gener- Market Analyst newsletter, Matt Gould, said in the al sense of balanced supplies. Still, holiday level dis- Jan. 17 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast these higher counts were being offered in other parts. In some dairy prices will likely be around for a while. He cases, the discounts were due to neighboring plants said Covid has kept new plants from being built; so being shorthanded. Bottling was also starting to we won’t have an increase in supply of cheese or affect milk availability as a growing number of whey products. cheesemakers say they were being asked to resell Gould added that feed prices have been high and milk into Class I. margins very challenging, so “There is no wall of Reported higher culling rates are being blamed on milk in the dairy universe right now. Milk is tight harsh winter conditions and stronger beef prices, in the U.S., milk is tight in Europe and in New according to Dairy Market News, and there are Zealand, and that’s a recipe for high prices.” expectations that milk accessibility will begin to When asked if the resulting high milk prices will decrease. Cheesemakers report mixed demand, but find their way to the farm and not be derailed like markets are strong despite the wide gap between what happened in 2020 (due to de-pooling and high blocks and barrels. High market prices may slow producer price differentials), Gould answered, “This overall demand, warned Dairy Market News, but time around, farmers are definitely going to benecontacts suggest “the short term picture is being fit.” While he admitted there is a lag before they painted with a bullish brush.” show up in the milk check, “The first half of 2022 is Butter climbed to $2.8425 per pound Jan. 11 (the going to have pretty solid margins.” highest since Dec. 7, 2015) but the rising star See MIELKE, pg. 15 reversed direction the next day and closed Jan. 14

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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MARKETING

Grain Outlook USDA forecasts corn export decline The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Jan. 14. CORN — Corn got off to a weak start on an improved last half January weather outlook for South America and as traders positioned themselves ahead of the menu of Jan. 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture reports. The reports didn’t hold any big surprises for corn and March corn failed to close above $6.00 per bushel in post-report trading. Attention refocused on South American weather which was showing better chances for rain for the last half of January. Corn prices retreated to their lowest level since Jan. 3. They managed to close above the 50-day moving PHYLLIS NYSTROM average support at $5.88, but CHS Hedging Inc. below $6.00 per bushel resistance. St. Paul Dec. 1 stocks were 11.647 billion bushels compared to 11.602 billion estimated and 11.294 billion a year ago. On-farm stocks as of Dec. 1 were up 3 percent from last year at 7.23 billion bushels. Off-farm stocks of 4.41 billion bushels were up 4 percent from 2020. World ending stocks were neutral at 303.1 million metric tons vs. 304.1 mmt estimated and 305.5 mmt last month, but much larger than last year’s 292.2 mmt. Brazil’s corn production was chopped 3 mmt to 115 mmt vs. 116.2 mmt estimated. It is extremely early to draw hard conclusions about Brazil’s corn crop since 70 percent of their corn production comes from the safrinha corn crop — which gets planted after the soybean harvest. For comparison, Brazil’s safrinha corn yields last year were near 80 bu./acre, the first corn crop around 90 bu./acre, and Argentina’s corn around 120 bu./acre. Argentina’s corn production was reduced by .5 mmt to 54 mmt and 53.6 mmt estimated. The Rosario Grain Exchange in Argentina is forecasting their corn crop at 48 mmt and the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange is at 57 mmt — very different outlooks. Conab’s Brazilian corn estimate is 112.9 mmt. China reduced its corn demand for 2021-22 by 3 mmt to 287.7 mmt, which is still up 5.5 mmt from last year. They kept its 2021-22 corn import projection at 20 mmt. The USDA left its forecast at 26 mmt on the January report. The weekly ethanol report was bearish with production down 42,000 barrels per day at 1.01 million bpd. This was the largest weekly drop in the last 30

Cash Grain Markets corn/change* Stewartville Edgerton Jackson Hope Cannon Falls Sleepy Eye Average:

$5.75 +.01 $5.88 -.12 $5.94 -.10 $5.73 -.10 $5.78 -.09 $5.89 -.09

soybeans/change* $13.27 $13.01 $12.97 $12.88 $13.38 $13.15

-.08 -.39 -.49 -.49 -.23 -.40

$5.83

$13.11

Year Ago Average: $4.84

$13.19

Grain prices are effective cash close on Jan. 18. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

weeks and the lowest production in 14 weeks. Ethanol stocks were up 1.55 million barrels at 22.9 million barrels. This was the largest single-week increase in 93 weeks! Margins crumbled 25 cents to 7 cents per gallon. Weekly export sales were below the lowest estimate at 18 million bushels. Total export commitments at 1.6 billion bushels are down 9 percent from last year. The USDA is forecasting a 12 percent decline in yearon-year exports. China has 385.8 million bushels of unshipped corn sales left on the books compared with 236.2 million bushels last year on this date. In other news, supply chain issues are cropping up again with 10 percent of dockworkers at Los Angeles ports are out due to Covid-related issues. Beginning Jan. 22, foreign truck drivers entering the United States will have to show proof of inoculation to enter the country which may further snarl issues. Increasing cases of Covid in port cities in China are slowing the moving of goods. The Climate Prediction Center gives La Niña a 67 percent chance of continuing into the Northern Hemisphere this spring. Talk about this spring’s planted acres will gain traction with high fertilizer prices (with significant deterioration noted this week) and high commodity prices. Outlook: March corn continues to trend sideways from $5.85 to $6.10 per bushel. December corn is testing the upper end of its $5.40 to $5.60 trading range with the contract high at $5.65 per bushel within reach. Fertilizer prices have been receding, and with the uncertainty surrounding Brazil’s safrinha corn crop, the December corn contract may garner as much attention as old crop months. In addition, soft red winter wheat acres are projected to increase to 7.07 million acres compared to 6.648 million in 2021 which may cut into 2022 corn acres. South American weather forecasts will cast a long shadow over the direction of both corn and soybean prices for the time being until something changes significantly to push prices out of their ranges. For the week, March corn dropped 10.5 cents to $5.96.25, July corn gave back all the previous week’s

gains to close 11 cents lower at $5.93.5, and the December corn gained a half-cent to settle at $5.58.25 per bushel. SOYBEANS — Soybeans retraced about half of the previous week’s gains when traders returned from the weekend as South American forecasts were more optimistic for rain in the next two weeks. Hot temperatures in Argentina during the week raised speculation about the prospects for irreversible damage. The Jan. 12 crop reports were supportive, but overall, generally mild. The USDA surprised us by slashing Brazil’s soybean crop 5 mmt to 139 mmt vs. estimates for 141.6 mmt and last month’s 144 mmt forecast. Argentina’s soybean crop was cut 3 mmt to 46.5 mmt compared to 48.1 mmt expected. Both Brazil’s and Argentina’s corn and soybean crops are still bigger than last year. World ending stocks were bullish at 95.2 mmt compared to 99.9 estimated and 102 mmt in December. Last year’s global ending stocks were 99.9 mmt. The two grain exchanges in Argentina have very different crop estimates. The Rosario Grain Exchange has Argentina’s bean crop at 40 mmt and the BAGE is carrying it at 44 mmt. AgroConsult cut their Brazilian soybean outlook 5 mmt to 134.2 mmt. Conab’s Brazilian soybean estimate is 140.5 mmt and Safras and Mercado is using 132.3 mmt. China announced they plan to increase their soybean crop by 40 percent by 2025. Their current production is 16.4 mmt and they propose an increase to 23 mmt. On the U.S. balance sheet, the yield was increased by .2 bu./acre to the second-highest ever at 51.4 bu./ acre. Record yields were noted in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio, plus various other states. Production was a record 4.435 billion bushels, very close to the average trade guess and 10 million bushels higher than last month. There were no changes to exports or crush. Ending stocks were 10 million bushels higher than last month at 350 million bushels and close to the 348 million bushel estimate. The stocks-to-use ratio was little changed at 8 percent, but the average farm price was increased 50 cents to $12.60 per bushel. Low water levels on the Parana River in Argentina continue to plague shipping logistics. The Parana River carries approximately 80 percent of Argentina’s farm exports. U.S. weekly export sales were 27 million bushels and within expectations. Total commitments are 1.56 billion bushels and 23 percent behind a year ago. The USDA is predicting year-on-year exports to be down 9.5 percent. Outlook: March soybeans failed to close above $14.00 per bushel in post-World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates trading as South American weather forecasts for the last half of January were leaning more favorable for crop development. Export demand is disappointing, but crushers continue to have positive margins. Headlines will center on crop See NYSTROM, pg. 17

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.

MILKER’S MESSAGE www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

PAGE 15

Supply chains are ‘chaotic’; not limited to dairy MIELKE, from pg. 12 Lastly, the latest Covid surge has been particularly disruptive to all kinds of manufacturing plants, according to Gould, with employees calling in sick. Often entire shifts or a big part of a shift is not able to show up because of outbreaks, with some plants not even able to run due to the lack of employees. StoneX Jan. 12 “Early Morning Update” echoed the sentiment. “The trend for dairy is up. But the takeaway from conversations around dairy products and prices is summed up in one word: chaos. And this isn’t just for dairy. Supply chains are chaotic.” Store shelves are spotty, some well-stocked, others not. There are reports of better milk supply in some sheds and milk is starting to be oﬀered under class, but there has reportedly been aggressive dumping of millions of pounds of milk in the Paciﬁc Northwest due to weather, trucking and labor issues. The National Milk Producers Federation concurs with the optimism. NMPF chief economist Peter

Freudenthal

Vitaliano encouraged farmers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program, which has a deadline of Feb. 18 for 2022 assistance. “The futures markets look very good at the moment,” he concluded, “but there are many months to go. The history of dairy farmers second-guessing the markets — even based on the futures — is not very good. ” n In politics, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an adjustment in school meal reimbursements to “help schools continue to serve children healthy and nutritious meals,” according to a USDA press release. The move puts an estimated $750 million more into school meal programs across the nation this year, “making sure federal reimbursements keep pace with food and operational costs, while ensuring children continue to receive healthy meals at school.” Last of all. U.S. milk production is mixed between and within regions, according to the USDA’s weekly update. Class I demand is increasing as winter

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breaks come to an end. Spot milk availability is varied. Where available, cheesemakers are acquiring milk at from $4 under Class to $1 under. Looking down under, a wet spring in Australia has helped with feed growth, according to Dairy Market News, but more recent heavy rain has complicated harvesting feed. Higher costs for fertilizer cause some concern for profitability. Farm labor shortages persist. Cow milk yields are noted to be adversely affected by wet and cold weather. Milk output was down 2.4 percent through November from 2020. New Zealand output was down 2.9 percent. Fonterra increased its milk pay price to a record level, according to Dairy Market News, due to strong demand for milk. It also lowered its 2021-22 milk production forecast 1.6 percent due to “varied weather and challenging growing conditions.” Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in newspapers across the country and he may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Weigh the variables when making Farm Program decisions Eligible farm operators have from now until March 15 to enroll in the A guide to aide in Farm Program decisions for the 2022 crop year 2022 farm program at Reasons to Choose Reasons to Choose their local U.S. CROP PRICE LOSS COVERAGE (PLC) AG RISK COVERAGE (ARC-CO) Department of (Price only) (Yield and price using county yields) Agriculture Farm Service Agency offices. Eligible • Think that the final market year average • Think that the final market year average cops include corn, soycorn price will be below $3.70 per bushel corn price will be above $3.70 per bushel FARM PROGRAMS beans, wheat, oats, barFor 2022-23.(*) for 2022-23.(*) ley, grain sorghum, long 2021-22 USDA market year average estimate Final market year average price was $3.70 per bushel By Kent Thiesse grain rice, medium/short = $5.45 per bushel or lower from 2014 to 2019. grain rice, temperate CORN 2020-21 final market year average price = (Market year average price will likely be above $3.70 for japonica rice, seed $4.53 per bushel 2021-22) cotton, dry peas, len• Want price protection from $3.70 to $2.20 per • Price where ARC-CO payments would begin at tils, large and small chickpeas, peanuts, sunflower bushel (PLC has a higher maximum payment various percentage of county benchmark yield: seed, canola, flaxseed, mustard seed, rapeseed, safthan ARC-CO or ARC-IC) 100 percent benchmark yield = $3.18 per bushel flower, crambe, and sesame seed. • Feel that final county average yield in 2022 90 percent benchmark yield = $3.54 per bushel Producers can choose between the price-only Price will be above a 15 percent decline from the 80 percent benchmark yield = $3.98 per bushel Loss Coverage (PLC) and revenue-based Ag Risk county benchmark yield 70 percent benchmark yield = $4.55 per bushel Coverage (ARC) program choices for the 2022 crop production year. The ARC program choice includes • Think that the final market year average • Think that the final market year average soybean price both the county-yield based ARC-CO program choice soybean price will be below $8.40 per bushel will be above $8.40 per bushel for 2021. (which is most popular) and the ARC-IC program, for 2022-23.(*) which is based on farm-level yields. If no choice is 2021-22 USDA market year average estimate Final market year average price was above $8.40 per bushel made, the 2021 farm program choice will remain in = $12.10 per bushel from 2014 to 2020.(*) place for 2022. SOYBEANS Final 2020-21 market year average price = (Market year average price will likely be above $8.40 for Crop base acres for 2022 will remain at the same $10.80 per bushel 2021-22) levels as 2019-2021 for all crops on most farms. The • Want price protection from $8.40 to $6.20 • Price where ARC-CO payments would begin at only adjustments in base acres will be for crop acres per bushel (Higher maximum payment) various percentage of county benchmark yield: added via land purchases or land rental agreements • Feel that final county average yield in 2022 100 percent benchmark yield = $7.84 per bushel or acres no longer eligible for farm program paywill be above a 15 percent decline from 90 percent benchmark yield = $8.71 per bushel ments. the county benchmark yield. 80 percent benchmark yield = $9.80 per bushel The 2022 farm program yields on individual FSA 70 percent benchmark yield = $11.20 per bushel farm units, which were last updated in 2020, will be used to calculate potential PLC payments. The • Think that the final market year average • Think that the final market year average wheat price ARC-CO benchmark yields for 2022 are based on wheat price will be below $5.50 per bushel will be above $5.50 per bushel for 2021.(**) the olympic average Risk Management Agency for 2022-23.(**) Final market year average price was $5.50 per bushel county average yields for the 2016 to 2020 crop 2021-22 USDA market year average estimate or lower from 2015 to 2020. years. The national market year average price for = $7.05 per bushel (Market year average price will likely be above $5.50 those same years is averaged to calculate the 2022 WHEAT Final 2020-21 market year average price = for 2020-21.) benchmark price for the ARC-CO and ARC-IC pro$5.05 per bushel • Price where ARC-CO payments would begin grams. All potential ARC-CO payments will be • Want price protection from $5.50 to $3.38 at various percentages of county benchmark yield: based on data for the county that an FSA farm unit per bushel (higher maximum payment) 100 percent benchmark yield = $4.73 per bushel is located in. • Feel that the final county average yield in 90 percent benchmark yield = $5.26 per bushel Calculation formulas, etc. for the PLC, ARC-CO 2022 will be above a 15 percent decline 80 percent benchmark yield = $5.91 per bushel and ARC-IC programs remain the same as in previfrom the county benchmark yield. 70 percent benchmark yield = $6.76 per bushel ous years. PLC payments for 2022 will be made if the final market year average price for 2022 falls (*) 2022-23 market year average price for corn and soybeans is calculated from Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023 and finalized on Sept. 30, 2023. below the reference price for a given crop. ARC-CO (**) 2022-23 market year average price for wheat and small grains is calculated from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 and finalized on June 30, 2023. payments for 2022 will be made if the final county Reasons to choose ARC-IC (Price & Yield using Farm Yields): revenue for the year (county yield multiplied by the FSA farm units with a single crop planted in 2022 that could have very low yields in 2022, compared to 5-yr. (2016-20) average final 2022 market year average price) falls below RMA yields. the 2022 benchmark revenue for a given crop. FSA farm units with potential for low yields in 2022 in a County not likely to receive 2022 ARC-CO payments. Calculations for the ARC-IC program are the same Remember: All crops raised on an individual FSA farm unit are factored together for ARC-IC revenue calculations. as for ARC-CO, except ARC-IC uses farm-level yield All FSA farm units enrolled in ARC-IC in a State are calculated together for IRC-IC determination. data and considers all crops on a farm unit together Table developed by Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst for calculation of potential payments in a given year. PLC and ARC-CO payments are paid on 85 See THIESSE, pg. 17 percent of crop base acres, while ARC-IC payments are paid on only 65 percent of base acres.

2022 Farm Program Decision Table

MARKETING

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

PAGE 17

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PLC and ARC-CO program information is on FSA website THIESSE, from pg. 16 Key points to remember about the 2022 Farm Program decision The 2022 reference prices for the PLC program are Corn, $3.70 per bushel; Soybeans, $8.40 per bushel; and Wheat, $5.50 per bushel. The ARC-CO and ARC-IC benchmark prices for 2022 are Corn, $3.70 per bushel; Soybeans, $9.12 per bushel; and Wheat, $5.50 per bushel. Final 2022 market year average prices for corn

and soybeans will be calculated from Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023. As a result, the current upswing in crop prices may not necessarily impact final 2022 farm program payments. Final 2022 market year average prices for wheat and other small grains will be calculated from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. Calculation formulas for the PLC and ARC-CO programs are as follows: The PLC payment per crop base acre is the reference price minus the 2022 market year average price, multiplied by the FSA program yield times 85 percent. (If the final 2022

PLC and ARC-CO Farm Program Comparison Table 2022 Farm Program Sign-Up Deadline is March 15, 2022

PROGRAM DETAILS

PRICE LOSS COVERAGE (PLC)

AG RISK COVERAGE — COUNTY (ARC-CO)

Base Price

• Crop Reference Price. • Reference Prices for 2021: Corn = $3.70 per bushel Wheat = $5.50 per bushel Soybeans = $8.40 per bushel

• Benchmark Price. • Higher of the Reference Price or the 5-year “Olympic” average price. (2016-2020 final market year average price) • 2022 Benchmark Prices: Corn = $3.70 per bushel Soybeans = $9.12 per bushel\ Wheat = $5.50 per bushel

Final Price

• 12-month national market year average price for 2022-23. Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023 for corn and soybeans. June 1 to May 31 for Wheat.

• Same as for PLC. • 2021-22 market year average price estimate (as of Jan. 1, 2022) Corn = $5.45 per bushel Soybeans = $12.10 per bushel Wheat = $7.05 per bushel

Payment Yield

• Farm Unit FSA program yields. 2022 — Higher of 2014 Farm Bill yields or updated FSA yields based on 2013-2017 average farm yields.

• County Benchmark Yields. 5-year (2016-2020) rolling “Olympic” average. County RMA yield (Trend Adjusted). • Harvest yield is the final county average yield (RMA data).

Payment Revenue N/A

• Benchmark Revenue = County Benchmark Yield times Benchmark Price • Revenue Guarantee = Benchmark revenue times 86 percent

Payment Acres

• 85 percent of Base Acres for an eligible crop.

Payment Formula

• PLC Payment per Base Acre = (Reference price minus final market year average price) multiplied by FSA yield times 85 percent • If the final market year average price is higher than the reference price, there is no PLC payment for that crop.

• ARC-CO Payment per Base Acre = Revenue Guarantee minus Final County Revenue (final county yield multiplied by final market year average price times 85 percent • If the final County Revenue is higher than the Revenue Guarantee, there is no ARC-CO payment for that crop.

•(Reference Price minus National Loan Rate) multiplied by FSA yield times 85 percent

• County Benchmark Revenue multiplied by 10 percent times 85 percent

Maximum Payment (Per Crop Base Acre) Payment Limits

SCO Insurance Coverage

• $125,000 per individual or entity. • $900,000 maximum adjusted gross income on Federal Tax Return.

• Same as PLC.

• Available up to 86 percent coverage. • Must sign-up by March 15.

N/A

Details on market year average prices, benchmark prices and yields, etc. are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc Table developed by Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst

market year average price is higher than the reference price, there is no PLC payment. ARC-CO benchmark revenue guarantee per acre is the county benchmark yield multiplied by the benchmark price times 85 percent. The final 2022 ARC-CO revenue per acre is determined by multiplying the final 2022 county yield by the final 2022 market year average price. The ARC-CO payment per base acre is the benchmark revenue guarantee minus 2022 final revenue, times 85 percent. If the final revenue is higher than the benchmark revenue, there is no 2022 ARC-CO payment. Here are some good Farm Program web-based decision tools to assist producers: https://www.ag. ndsu.edu/farmmanagement/farm-bill (North Dakota State University); http://www.agmanager.info/agpolicy/2018-farm-bill (Kansas State University); https://extension.umn.edu/business/farm-bill (University of Minnesota Extension); and https:// farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/category/areas/agriculturalpolicy/farm-bill (University of Illinois). Kent Thiesse is a government farm programs analyst and a vice president at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. He may be reached at (507) 726-2137 or kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. v

Soybean prices dive NYSTROM, from pg. 14

conditions in Brazil and Argentina for the foreseeable future, but bulls need to be fed and without fresh bullish news we could drift from current levels. For the week, March soybeans gave back over half of last week’s rally with July plunging 40.5 cents to close at $13.69.75, July crumbling 37.25 cents to $13.86, and November fell 28.75 cents to $12.93 per bushel. Weekly price changes in March wheat for the week ended Jan. 14: Chicago down 17 cents at $7.41.5, Kansas City dropped 30 cents to $7.45, and Minneapolis collapsed 45 cents to $8.78.25 per bushel. All winter wheat seedings were up 749,000 acres from last year at 34.4 million acres compared to 34.25 million estimated. v

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PAGE 18

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022 T

Real Estate Wanted

WANTED

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 5470 FWA………………......…...……$67,000

PLANTERS ’14 White 9824VE CFS loaded…..............…….SOLD ’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….......……..................….SOLD ’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 ’11 Sunflower 4412-07.................................$28,000 MISCELLANEOUS JD 2210 44.4 w/4bar…..…...............………SOLD NEW Salford RTS Units ........................................ Call ’14 CIH 875 9-24w/bskt……………....…..$69,000 NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders .............................. Call ’06 CIH MRX 690………………..………$16,500 NEW Westfield Augers .......................................... Call CIH 490 30’ disc……............................……$4,950 NEW REM VRX Vacs. .......................................... Call NEW Hardi Sprayers ............................................. Call NEW Riteway Rollers ........................................... Call CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT NEW Lorenz Snowblowers ................................... Call NEW NH L318/L320/L328 wheeled units ........ On Hand NEW Batco Conveyors ......................................... Call NEW NH C327/C337/C345 track units ............. On Order NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ....................... Call NH L228 low hours………..............………….Just Trd’ed 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!

DAMAGED GRAIN STATEWIDE

We pay top dollar for your damaged grain. We are experienced handlers of your wet, dry, burnt and mixed grains. Trucks and vacs available. Immediate response anywhere. CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY

PRUESS ELEV., INC. 1-800-828-6642

Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon

Looking for something special? Put a line ad in The Land and find it! Call The Land today! 507-345-4523

Please recycle this magazine.

• 5/8” drum roller wall thickness • 42” drum diameter wall thickness • 4”x8” frame tubing 3/8” thick • Auto fold

MANDAKO 12’-60’ LONG ROLLERS

(507) 234-5191 (507) 625-8649

WANTED: Land & farms. I have clients looking for dairy, & cash grain operations, as well as bare land parcels from 40-1000 acres. Both for relocation & investments. If you have even thought about selling contact: Paul Krueger, Farm & Land Specialist, Edina Realty, 138 Main St. W., New Prague, MN 55372. paulkrueger@edinarealty.com (612)328-4506

FOR THE BEST DEAL ORDER NOW!

GREENWALD FARM CENTER Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177 14 miles So. of Sauk Centre

HAVE AN UPCOMING AUCTION? For the best results place your auction ad in The Land! Talk to your auctioneer or our friendly staff. 507-345-4523 or email: theland@thelandonline.com

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022 Feed Seed Hay

Feed Seed Hay

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

Feed Seed Hay

PAGE 19

Farm Equipment

HAY FOR SALE: 1st, 2nd, SAVE BIG ON 2022 SEED WANTED TO BUY... FOR SALE: Gleaner 525 bean 3rd, 4th & 5th crops avail- AND HERBICIDE. VISIT HAY: Round or square bales, head, 25’ SCH sickle, new able, RFV 120-181, 16-25% KLEENACRES.COM for Dairy and Beef Quality. Call auger pan. New Idea 5408 8 ft disc mower. 507-327-0535 protein. Dry hay or bale- top performing Midstate or text 218-689-2696 age available in squares or Genetics seed and KleenaFOR SALE: Snowblower, has rounds. Trucking available. cres herbicide solutions OR 2 blowers, hydraulic spout, Bins & Buildings Call or text Jim 507-254-4807 CALL 320-237-7667 “FOR A 1000 PTO, $4,000/ excellent BETTER BOTTOM LINE!” condition. 712-260-8003 OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn. Full Season clean corn unSILO take-down & clean Produces more high quali- der $20/acre! up - Specializing in, but We buy ty silage on less acres than not limited to, silos in Salvage Equipment hybrid. $67/bushel plus shipWanted: Damaged Corn congested areas. Parts Available ping. High feed value grain. Buying damaged corn in 507-236-9446 Hammell Equip., Inc. Located at Teutopolis, IL southern MN. Looking for (507)867-4910 217-857-3377 or 217-343-4962 larger quantities. Have Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys. grain vac and hoppers 100% financing w/no liens or I available. Pay on dependred tape, call Steve at Fairr PLANNING AN ing on the quality of grain. fax Ag for an appointment. AUCTION? Your ad OBO (or best offer) (507) 888-830-7757 d Get the best results 327-8851 could be here! . when you advertise in Sell your farm equipment THE LAND 507-345-4523 in The Land with a line ad. n 507-345-4523 507-345-4523 & - ADVERTISING NOTICE: Please check your ad the first week it runs. We w make every effort to avoid errors by checking all copy, but sometimes errors

Thank You Farmers!

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.

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

NOTICE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND BUILDING SITE SALE WASECA COUNTY IOSCO TOWNSHIP 128.32 ACRES

ALLEN EICHHORST FARM BRIEF TAX DESCRIPTION Sec-25 Twp-108 Range-023 SE1/4 of Sec 25 E of Centerline of Abandon RR PARCEL ID: 05.025.0500 TERMS:

1. Potential Buyers shall submit a sealed Bid to Molly Byron, Byron Law Office, PLLC, 122 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093. The sealed bid shall be received by 9:00 a.m. on February 10, 2022. 2. The bids shall be opened at Byron Law Office, PLLC at 10:00 a.m. on February 10, 2022. All persons submitting a written bid will be allowed to raise their bid, by phone, after the bids have been opened. Phone calls to bidders will be places by Byron Law Office, phone number 507-835-3355. Bidders must be available by phone at that time. 3. The successful bidder will be required to execute a purchase agreement and pay 10% of the purchase price as earnest money by 5:00 pm on February 10, 2022 at Byron Law Office. The entire remaining balance of the purchase price, without interest, will be due on or before March 15, 2022 at which time title will be conveyed by Warranty Deed. Possession of the real estate will be delivered at the time of closing. 4. The purchase agreement shall be subject to a right of first refusal. 5. Real estate taxes for 2022 shall be paid by Buyer. The 2021 real estate taxes were $7,508.00 and are paid in full. 6. This contains a building site with a house and outbuildings. The land and the building site are being sold in “AS IS’ condition and Sellers make no representation as to acreage, tiling or condition. The buyer shall be responsible to bring the septic system into compliance to meet Waseca County codes. 7. Sellers agree to furnish Buyer with an abstract certified to date. 8. The owners specifically reserve the right to reject any and all bids and waive irregularities in the bidding process. Any verbal announcement made the day of sale takes precedence over print. 9. CPI Weighed Average (all land) = 83 CPI Tillable land only = 89 Information concerning this land sale may be obtained at Byron Law Office, PLLC, 122 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093, phone 507.835.3355

PAGE 20

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

Did you know you can place a classified ad online?

TIMED ONLINE ONLY REAL ESTATE AUCTION MATT MARING

www.TheLandOnline.com CO.

We Sell the Earth & Everything On It. 169.58 Acres in Section 26, Aurora Township, Steele Co. MN – 160.6 Tillable Acres, 90 CPI, Drain Tile in Place Auction Location: 44241 70th Ave, Kenyon, MN 55946 Bidding Begins: Thursday, January 20 at 8:00 a.m. BIDDING STARTS TO END:

GRAND MEADOW $600,000 Beautiful turn-key acreage with 4 BR 3BA Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 • 3:00 p.m. rambler, 5 sheds, abundant fencing and pasture on approx. 18.7 ac.

FOR BIDDING AND INFORMATIONAL PACKET GO TO NEW LISTING! MLS#5718863

www.maringauction.com

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022 T Tractors

Tillage Equip

Farmall M tractor, NF, wgts, FOR SALE: 2006 John Deere Steiner 3pt cost $1,400 new, 2210 38’ field cultivator, alwill separate, tractor & 3pt, ways shedded. 952-955-1140 $1,900. Farmall A tractor, $1,600. WANTED: Ford V-8 WANTED: Front Lift axle eng, 390, 351, 400, 429, 460. for CIH 700 onland pull type moldboard plow. Consider 651-895-3919 entire plow for parts. Phone FOR SALE: Ford 6700 tractor 507-276-6830 Lafayette MN recent rebuilt dsl eng, set of front wgts, good tires, needs repair, $3,800. 1 row potaPlanting Equip to planter on steel wheels. working condition. $375. 651FOR SALE: 3000 Kinze 895-3919 8-30” planter, w/ interplants FOR SALE: Pair of Firestone (15R15”) w/ no till coulters, radial all traction 18.4x46 $22,500. Call 651-380-6921 or set-up tires, good enough for 651-564-0606 duals $225/each. 507-227-2602

STEWARTVILLE: $549,900 locationturn-key 4 BRrambler 2 BA picturesque rambler STEWARTVILLE: $575,000. Great location 4 BR Great 2 BABeautiful picturesque GRAND MEADOW $600,000 acreage with 4 BR 3BA on MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 32 Ac. MLS#6107695 PENDING! on approx. 24 acres.approx. Oversized stall garage with2 2fencing storage sheds 24 25acres. Oversized stall garage withjust 2 storage sheds justac. minutes to rambler, sheds, abundant and pasture on approx. 18.7 Directions to Farm from Owatonna, MN: Go south on MN State Hwy 218, minutes to Rochester!Rochester! MLS# 5716953 NEW Approx. LISTING! MLS# 5716983 PRICE 135 REDUCED! MLS#5718863 LISTING! MOWER COUNTY: Ac. MLS# 6093275 SOLD! to SE 98th Street, go east on SE 98th Street to Austin Road, go north on STEWARTVILLE: $575,000. Great location 4 BR 2 BA with picturesque rambler GRAND MEADOW $600,000 Beautiful turn-key acreage 4 BR 3BA rambler RACINE: $299,000. 3BR, 1BA, on 10-acres. MLS# 5701169 PENDING Austin Road to SE 93rd Street, farm is on south side of 93rd Street and on approx. 24 acres. Oversized 2 stall with 2 storage 5 sheds, abundant fencing and pasture ongarage approx. 18.7 ac. sheds just MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 193-acres. MLS# 5695397 PENDING NEW AND USED TRACTOR Harvesting Equip runs along SE 74th Ave., Watch for signs, just northeast of Bixby, MN. minutes to Rochester! MLS# 5716953 NEW LISTING! MLS# 5718863 PENDING! PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 120-acres. MLS# 5705409 SOLD RACINE: $299,000. 3BR, 1BA, on 10-acres. MLS# 5701169 PENDING RACINE: $299,000. 3BR, 1BA, onSOLD 10-acres. MLS# 5701169 PENDING 55, 50 Series & newer tracincluding RentalMLS# Rates, Government Programs & Environmental Issues MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 108-acres. 5705429 tors, AC-all models, Large FOR SALE: 2013 Case IH 3412 MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 193-acres. MLS# 5695397 PENDING RACINE: 10,000 sq. ft. building on “Need 2.12-acres. Multiple uses! MLS#qualified 5247299 buyers!” listings! We have Inventory, We ship! Mark cornhead 12R30” AHHC, MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 80 Ac. MLS# 6093197 SOLD! MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 120-acres. MLS# 5705409 SOLD Heitman Tractor Salvage $24,500. 507-383-3447 Leave MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 193-acres. MLS# 5695397 PENDING MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 108-acres. MLS# 5705429 SOLD Full Farm Management Services Message 715-673-4829 MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 80 Acres MLS# 6117469 SOLD! MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 120-acres. MLS# 5705409 RACINE: 10,000Programs sq. ft. building on 2.12-acres. MultipleSOLD uses! MLS# 5247299 including Rental Rates, Government & Environmental Issues MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 108-acres. MLS# 5705429 SOLD Randy Queensland •“Ne 507-273-3890 • randy@lrmrealestate.com RACINE: 10,000 sq.tings ft. building on ha 2.12-acres. Multiple uses! MLS#5247299 lis !W ed Full Farm Management Services e ve qualif ed buyers!” Ryan Queensland •including 507-273-3000 • ryan@lrmrealestate.com Rental Rates, Government Programs & Environmental Talk to your auctioneer or call our friendly staff Full Farm Management Services Issues Grand Meadow, MNRates, • 800-658-2340 including Rental Government Programs & Environmental Issues at 800-657-4665 Randy Queensland • 507-273-3890 • randy@lrmrealestate.com Randy Queensland • 507-273-3890 • randy@Irmrealestate.com to place your auction in The Land Ryan Queensland • 507-273-3000 •ryan@lrmrealestate.com ryan@Irmrealstate.com Randy Queensland 507-273-3890 ••randy@Irmrealestate.com Ryan Queensland •• 507-273-3000 Grand Meadow, MN • 800-658-2340 theland@thelandonline.com or www.thelandonline.com Ryan Queensland • 507-273-3000 Grand Meadow, MN •• ryan@Irmrealstate.com 800-658-2340 Grand Meadow, MN • 800-658-2340

Full Farm Management Services

Have an upcoming Auction?

CLASS A CROP LAND – CENTURY FARM

*** PID: 04-026-3000, Taxes For 2022, $8,746.00 *** Address: 95XX 75th Ave SE, Blooming Prairie, MN, Located In Section 26, Aurora Township, Steele County, MN *** Total Acres: 169.58 Acres, Surveyed Nov. 2018 *** Tillable Acres: 160.9 Acres *** Crop Productivity Index: 90 CPI Average, Over 95 Acres at 94 CPI *** Drain Tile In Place, Approximately 55,706 Feet of 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 & 12 Inch Drain Tile, Installed By Hodgeman *** Farm To Be Sold 169.59 Acres Time The Amount Bid *** No Lease in Place, Buyer Can Operate in 2022 Growing Year Terms: $50,000 Down the day of the auction, which is non-refundable if buyer(s) fail to close. The balance is due and payable in full to the sellers on or before March 15, 2022, at which time the buyer(s) shall receive possession and a clear marketable title. All real estate taxes due in the year of 2022 shall be pro-rated to the date of closing. All real estate is selling in as-is condition with no warranties or guarantees expressed or implied by the seller or any of their agents. All bidders and buyers must have their finances in order prior to registering. No buyer’s fee.

Finne/Kruckeberg Family Farm MATT MARING CO.

We Sell the Earth & Everything On It.

MATT MARING AUCTION CO. INC.

PO Box 37, Kenyon, MN 55946 507-789-5421 800-801-4502

Matt Maring, Lic. #25-28 507-951-8354 Broker: Maring Auction & Realty Inc., Lic# 40241191

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022 Wanted

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

Steffes Auction Calendar 2022

Swine

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

eAll kinds of New & Used farm Spot, Duroc, Chester White, - equipment - disc chisels, field Boars & Gilts available. cults, planters, soil finishers, Monthly PRRS and PEDV. cornheads, feed mills, discs, Delivery available. Steve e balers, haybines, etc. 507- Resler. 507-456-7746 e 438-9782 r Trucks & eWANTED: Dry fertilizer cross Trailers auger for 7200 John Deere 6 row planter; Also, 20-22’ FOR SALE: Gooseneck ball rolling basket, pull type. 507mount and 5th wheel mount 226-5536 for pickup. 507-525-2270

WANTED TO BUY... e HAY: Round or square bales, Miscellaneous s Dairy and Beef Quality. Call , or text 218-689-2696 r FOR SALE: 3 pt mounted log splitter good condition, cylLivestock inder in good shape. $400 or best offer. 507-230-0703 Evenings after 6:00. FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS 2 Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred New pumps & parts on hand. , (Mike) Kemen 320-598-3790 Call Minnesota’s largest dise tributor Sell your livestock in The Land HJ Olson & Company with a line ad. 507-345-4523 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

Swine FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hampshire, Duroc, cross bred boars, gilts & 4-H pigs. Top quality. Excellent herd health. No PRSS. Delivery available. 320-760-0365

REINKE IRRIGATION Sales & Service New & Used For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073 Looking for something special? Put a line ad in The Land and find it! Call The Land today! 507-345-4523

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

PAGE 21

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

is now

Upcoming Sealed Bid Land Auctions February 9, 2022 • 151.44 ± acres Traverse/Oshawa Townships, Nicollet County, MN

February 11, 2022 • 144.91 ± acres Medo Township, Blue Earth County, MN March 3, 2022 • 134.30 ± acres Minnesota Lake Township, Faribault County, MN Only registered bidders may attend

For property brochures, contact Hertz at 507-345-LAND (5263) WWW.HERTZ.AG 151 St. Andrews Court #1310, Mankato MN 56001

#07-53

Opening February 8 & Closing February 15 at 10AM Brocket, ND American Legion Real Estate Auction, Brocket, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 9 & Closing February 17 at 1PM Erickson/Anderson Farm Equipment Auction, Glenville, MN, 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 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 Opening March 23 & Closing March 30 at 10AM Steffes Construction Consignment Auction, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction

PAGE 22

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022 T

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

irst Your F or f Choice ds! ie Classif

Place d Your A Today!

Livestock, Machinery, Farmland... you name it! People will buy it when they see it in The Land! To submit your classified ad use one of the following options: Phone: 507-345-4523 or 1-800-657-4665 Mail to: The Land Classifieds, 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001 Fax to: 507-345-1027 • Email: theland@TheLandOnline.com Online at: www.thelandonline.com DEADLINE: Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the following Friday edition. Plus! Look for your classified ad in the e-edition.

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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.

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

PAGE 23

If you’re having a Farm Auction, let other Farmers know it! Upcoming Issues of THE LAND Southern MN/ Northern IA February 4, 2022 February 18, 2022 March 4, 2022

Northern MN January 28, 2022 February 11, 2022 February 25, 2022 March 11, 2022

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

418 South Second Street • Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665 Fax: 507-345-1027 Website: www.TheLandOnline.com e-mail: theland@TheLandOnline.com Ask Your Auctioneer to Place Your Auction in The Land!

ADVERTISER LISTING

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PAGE 24

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Tim King. Photos by Jan King.

Short on parishioners, long on history

ichard Klein has been attending St. Nicholas parish, near unincorporated Belle River in Douglas County, Minnesota, for nearly a half century. He was young when he and his wife joined; but now he worries the large country church won’t have enough parishioners to keep operating in 10 years. “We did get 35 young people this year,” he says hopefully. Richard is the church custodian now days. Even though it’s painful to stand for long and he’s hard of hearing, he’s offered to give us a tour. He explains that the church secretary, who was smitten by Covid and hospitalized for a month, is just back at work and recovering. Sitting in one of the shiny oak pews which date back to the church’s construction in 1916, Richard explains how he repaired a few pew backs. Then he points to the cream-colored ceiling far overhead and explains that although the new LED lighting may last longer and use less electricity, it doesn’t light parts of the church as well as he’d like. Talk of light bulbs leads to talk of how to change them. To replace a bulb requires going into the choir loft, climbing a ladder into the attic leading to the steeple, and walking out over the ceiling. Richard apparently doesn’t have acrophobia.

Douglas County

The lightening does illuminate the stations of the cross along the walls. Richard is proud of St. Nicholas’ large statues for the stations. Most churches have smaller statues, he says. “When they ordered these statues they came on the train,” he says. “When they unpacked the crates they saw how big they were and thought, “We didn’t order these big statues. We can’t afford them.” They contacted the company and asked to return them. The company said it was too expensive to ship them back and that the parish should keep them.” So, the handsome statues have graced the church walls for a century. Having been given such a fine gift, the parishioners of St. Nicholas have always been generous and thankful. Richard points to a new roof for the beautifully maintained church and parish house. Then there’s new carpeting and an elevator — all donated by the congregation. Richard says he’s had trouble with the elevator, but shows us how to operate it. We survive the descent and the elevator door opens onto a bright spacious basement with new tables and chairs and a remodeled kitchen. Richard is proud that the congregation has kept the church up to date. But, as we leave, he points out the solid oak paneling placed on the wall by the original craftsmen. Both the new and the old are treasured. v

Power your farm with solar energy. You can. It’s time. To get started, talk to a Solar Expert: Call (507) 424-0001 or visit bluehorizonenergy.com

These solar arrays will save this farmer at least $426,318 in utility expenses. Here’s what they had to say about adding solar to the farm:

This farm had the first Dual-Axis Trackers in Minnesota, saving this farmer at least $213,321. Here’s why he made the decision when he did:

“After doing my research I decided to start by installing a smaller system on one of my grain bin sites. We watched the performance of that system for a year and were very, very satisfied. Then we decided to add two larger systems to our primary grain bin sites. We are very happy with our decision to go solar and believe this is the future of agriculture. Blue Horizon Energy did a great job on all of our projects and we highly recommend their services.”

“I believe my Blue Horizon Energy solar system has matched my expectations. I wanted to make a long-term investment that would not only benefit our farm but also our three children in the future and I am thankful we chose Blue Horizon Energy to work with. The whole process, from beginning to end, has been easy and I would recommend their services to anyone!”

To get started, talk to a Solar Expert: Call (507) 424-0001 or visit bluehorizonenergy.com

THE LAND ~ January 21, 2022 ~ Southern Edition

Articles inside

Back Roads

Cooking With Kristin

Marketing

Farm Programs

Mielke Market Weekly

Green & Growing