THE LAND ~ January 28, 2022 ~ Northern Edition

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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. XLI ❖ 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 Cooking With Kristin Green & Growing Marketing Farm Programs Mielke Market Weekly Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing Back Roads

2-4 4 5 5 6 7 14 15 16 20-23 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”

24

TOP 10 FINISHES

IN 2021 UNIV. OF MINNESOTA CORN GRAIN FIELD CROP TRIALS

BRAND

TRIAL

RANK

YIELD

PLOT AVG ADVANTAGE

DS-3727AM™

Central Early Morris

1 of 29

259

227

32

DS-4510Q™

Central Late Hutchinson

1 of 37

248

212

36

DS-4917AM™

Southern Late Rochester

2 of 33

303

273

30

DS-4510Q™

Central Late 2-Location Average

2 of 37

246

220

26

DS-4878Q™

Southern Late Waseca

3 of 33

289

256

33

DS-3727AM™

Central Early 2-Location Average

3 of 29

233

215

18

DS-3162Q™

Northern Rothsay

3 of 38

305

261

44

DS-3727AM™

Southern Early Lamberton

4 of 37

184

163

21

DS-3550AM™

Northern 3-Location Average

4 of 38

206

191

15

DS-3550AM™

Northern Rothsay

4 of 38

302

261

41

DS-4014Q™

Southern Early Lamberton

5 of 37

181

163

18

DS-4910AML™

Southern Late Waseca

5 of 33

284

256

28

DS-3550AM™

Northern Crookston

5 of 38

142

122

20

DS-3959Q™

Southern Early Lamberton

6 of 37

175

163

12

DS-4917AM™

Southern Late 3-Location Average

6 of 33

250

232

18

DS-4878Q™

Southern Late Lamberton

6 of 33

183

166

17

DS-3959Q™

Southern Early 3-Location Average

7 of 37

239

228

11

DS-3959Q™

Southern Early Waseca

7 of 37

259

244

15

DS-3366AM™

Central Early Morris

7 of 29

235

227

8

DS-3162Q™

Northern 3-Location Average

9 of 38

201

191

10

DS-3727AM™

Southern Early 3-Location Average

10 of 37

236

228

8

DS-4878Q™

Southern Late 3-Location Average

10 of 33

246

232

14

DS-3550AM™

Central Early Morris

10 of 29

231

227

4

DS-4510Q™

Central Late Morris

10 of 37

244

228

16

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Data based on 2021 University of Minnesota corn grain field crop trials. ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2022 Corteva.

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

The new agriculture alchemy: Gold from gas The biggest gold rush in U.S. history is and Tom Vilsack, also a former Iowa govabout to hit rural America — and it won’t ernor and current U.S. secretary of agriinvolve corn or cattle or even gold. culture.

Instead, the big money will be in pipe(In mid-December, Branstad wrote a lines. blistering letter, on Summit letterhead, That’s right, pipelines — pressurized which attacked pipeline critics as “not carbon dioxide pipelines designed to friends of Iowa or its farmers.” On Jan. carry CO2 from Midwestern ethanol 5, Mother Jones reported that Secretary plants to “sequestration” sites in either FARM & FOOD FILE Vilsack’s son, “veteran corporate lawyer North Dakota or Illinois.

Jess Vilsack, took a job with an Iowa

By Alan Guebert outfit [Summit] that could cash in from” Itchy investors are already lining up to his father’s influence on White House tap these veins of climate-changing climate change policies.)

CO2. Amazingly, three multi-billiondollar pipelines have been proposed to Each builder claims its pipeline will cross Iowa to carry CO2 from more create “permanent” jobs; but as if to than 40 ethanol plants in five states (Illinois, Iowa, showcase just how fluid the underlying math is to Nebraska, North and South Dakota, and Minnesota) any “carbon capture and sequestration” scheme is, to sequestration sites. those numbers vary from as small as 50 to as many as 460.

All will be expensive. One pipeline proposal, called Navigator CO2 Ventures, will cost an estimatAn even bigger question is what pipeline builders ed $2 billion to bury 1,300 miles of pipe to carry 15 will do with their carbon once it is transported to its million tons of CO2 per year from the Midwest to sequestration site. All, like Summit, say the CO2 North Dakota. will be “permanently and safely stored underground in deep geologic storage rooms.”

Another, announced Jan. 11 by Archer Daniels Midland, will run 350 miles to connect ADM’s Iowa Not so, believe pipeline opponents like Iowa’s and Illinois ethanol plants and terminate in Sierra Club, who say much of the pipeline CO2 will Decatur, Ill. where it will deliver 12 million tons of be “used for Enhanced Oil Recovery” — a “process of CO2 per year to be stored almost 8,000 feet underpumping CO2 into dwindling oil fields to get the last ground. bit of oil out of the ground.” The proof is that two of the Iowa-crossing pipelines terminate in North The third, and most controversial, is planned by Dakota — a large ‘frac’ oil producer —explains the Summit Carbon Solutions, an Iowa company with nonprofit environmental organization. deep ties to former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who is also the recent U.S. ambassador to China; If true, any carbon sequestration claim (at times

OPINION

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.”

2022 ROCK NOBLES

CATTLEMAN ANNUAL BANQUET Monday, February 7, 2022

Tickets Available at door $25/Plate

Social Hour 6pm, Steak Dinner 6:30pm Followed by Humorist & Entertainer, Lyndy Phillips New Location: Big Top Tents & Events 321 W. Hatting St., Luverne, MN 56156

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.”

calculated as the equivalent of “removing 2.6 million cars per year” or sequestering “three times Des Moines carbon footprint” per year) is, like CO2 itself, just a whole lot of gas.

More importantly, the real money in CO2 arrives courtesy of the federal “Section 45Q Tax Credit for Carbon Sequestration.” Currently, that credit is $31.77 per ton for “geologically sequestered CO2” and $20.22 per ton if used in oil recovery.

This means the anticipated tax benefits that, in all likelihood, will be resold on secondary carbon markets, would be worth at least $400 million per year to any of the three Iowa pipeline projects if used to permanently store CO2 and one-third less if used in oil recovery.

In 2026, however, that federal credit rises to $50 per ton for stored CO2 and $35 per ton for oil-recovery CO2, effectively doubling the companies’ annual take. Over the course of 20 years then, those benefits — even if they don’t grow — will run into the billions for any pipeline builder.

And that massive cost, borne mostly by taxpayers and reaped mostly by well-connected insiders, completely bypasses any debate over not producing the CO2 in the first place; by far the best, most effective CO2 mitigation program.

As such, this new gold rush, like most, will end with the very few grabbing all the riches and everyone else paying for it.

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 “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.

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

PAGE 5

Seeking solitude as we enter a new year I have been struggling for the last and fear for me. Comfort in knowing the month or so to find a healthy balance in Messiah knows the deepest parts of my my life. Balancing work, family, play, heart and chooses to see me anyway — relationships and rest is delicate. It only and fear by the same token. Perhaps the takes the drifting of one for everything to more time spent in reverent solitude, crumble like a house of cards, leaving me comfort becomes the antidote for fear. On feeling downtrodden, depleted, disapthe other hand, Proverbs reminds us that pointed, and disconnected. I have recogthe fear of the Lord is the foundation of nized that the latest fault for me has wisdom. Knowing that God sees the DEEP ROOTS been that I have drifted from solitude. depths of our hearts could be the catalyst for cultivating a lifestyle of solitude and By Whitney Nesse What I have found to be true for myself prayer. is that I generally do not drift toward anything good. In my drift from solitude, I have No matter the reason, my resolve for this new drifted into busy-ness. I am going to give myself a sprinkle of grace, recognizing that the wonderful interruption of the Christmas season is not far in the rearview mirror. I also know that if I am not intentionally cultivating periods of solitude into my Visit www.TheLandOnline.com to view our complete daily routine, drifting is imminent. calendar and enter your own events, or send an e-mail For me, solitude is a quiet time specifically set with your event’s details to editor@thelandonline.com. aside for prayer, reflection and reading. It usually

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

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 birds who visit my bird feeders and sip my morning coffee. My heart longs for that place of solitude just thinking about it.

I am beginning the new year by studying the book of John. Interestingly, in John chapter one we find the account of Jesus calling Nathanael. Verses 47 and 48 read; “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Isrealite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Phillip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’”

From a glance, this verse seems insignificant; but once I began to dig deeper, this is what I found: Jesus points out that Nathanael was an Israelite, that he was honest and that he had been under a fig tree. Israelites were devout people who took very seriously the Laws of Moses. They cultivated regular times of prayer, confession and reflection. Often, these times of solitude for an Israelite took place in a garden, under the shade of a tree where they could be alone and unseen.

What is so spectacular about this brief passage is that upon seeing Nathanael, Jesus said of him, “Here is an honest Israelite!” Jesus knew what was in Nathanael’s heart because Jesus heard his prayers. Nathanael, obviously taken aback, wonders out loud, “How do you know me?” And Jesus replies that he saw him under the fig tree. Immediately Nathanael knows that Jesus is the promised Messiah. How? Because Nathanael, a devout Isreaelite, knew that only the Messiah could have seen and heard him in his place of solitude.

Could it be true that in periods of solitude, repentance and reflection, when we feel the most unseen, we are seen the most? That thought brings comfort

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. 9 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops — Online — Cover crops - Termination timing and planting green: U of M sustainable cropping systems specialist Axel Garcia y Garcia and state soil health specialist Anna Cates will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Feb. 9 — Industrial Hemp Forum — Online — Topics include updates on MDA’s hemp licensing requirements, new inspection requirements, and opportunities in fiber production. Register at www. mda.state.mn.us/hempforum2022 Feb. 10 — Alternative Land Access 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. 10 — Livestock Webinar: Chickens — 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 Feb. 11 & 12 — Farm Couple Retreat — Thief River Falls, 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. 12 — Gardening Knowledge for Free — St. Cloud, Minn. — Sessions include native orchids, growing flowers for pollinators, favorite sun perennials, seed starting, and culinary herbs. Contact Stearns County Extension Master Gardeners at z.umn.edu/ GKFF or (320) 255-6169.

Feb. 14 — Small Grain Workshop — New Prague, Minn., Rochester, Minn. — Workshop will focus on production agronomics, variety selection and economics. Also includes an open forum discussion on related topics and on-farm experiences. Contact Shane Bugeja at (515) 708-3486.

Feb. 15 & 16 — 2022 Minnesota Pork Congress — Mankato, Minn. — The state’s largest swine-specific trade show features exhibits, seminars and networking. Contact Lauren at lauren@mnpork.com.

Feb. 16 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops — Online — Tar spot of corn - status and options: Plant pathologists Dean Malvick and Nathan Kleczewski 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. 18 — Small Grain Workshop — Cold Spring, Minn. — Workshop will focus on production agronomics, variety selection and economics. Also includes an open forum discussion on related topics and on-farm experiences. Contact Nathan Drewitz at (608) 5154414

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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

n

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 To the Editor,

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

Letter: ‘Difficult times’ likely to continue

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.

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.

OPINION

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.

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

PAGE 7

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

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.

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.

In Chisago County, the proposed delisting of School Lake, one of 20 in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes, reflects increased communitywide awareness and independent lake stewardship activities — a cumulative effect of years-long outreach efforts on the part of Chisago SWCD and its partners — including the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, cities and lake associations.

School Lake’s proposed delisting is not tied to a specific restoration effort.

Chisago SWCD Water Resource Specialist Casey Thiel said few grant-funded projects were completed directly on School Lake. Communitywide projects have included increased street sweeping and improved stormwater control.

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.

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. Thirty-four 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. A free weekly summer music series attracts thousands. For two decades, the Stearns County SWCD and city of

St. Cloud have worked together to improve water quality and clarity of the nutrient-impaired 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.

Cumulative work by the SWCD and city of St. Cloud contributed to improved water clarity, from 5.8 feet in 2010 to nearly 10 feet in 2021.

Lily Lake, a picturesque 41-acre lake in Stillwater bordered by a small city park with a fishing pier, boat launch, ballfields and an indoor ice arena, achieved the phosphorus reductions necessary for delisting after a regional filtration basin was installed and a subsequent alum treatment completed this fall.

Previous projects included commercial and residential stormwater retrofits, gully stabilizations and residential rain gardens. Combined, they’ll reduce annual phosphorus-loading to the lake by about 145 pounds. Throughout the subwatershed Clean Water Funds have supported 19 rain gardens, three regional filtration basins, a gully stabilization, irrigation reuse project and the alum treatment.

Sunfish Lake, a 47-acre water body in the small city of the same name, saw an estimated 80 percent reduction in internal phosphorus-loading, the result of an in-lake alum treatment supported by a $196,000 Clean Water Fund grant.

The MPCA’s Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies identified internal loading as the numberone source of phosphorus-loading, and identified the treatment. The WMO hired a contractor and kept residents informed. A few residents went door-todoor to contact fellow lakeshore property owners.

From the Grant County line near Ashby, the delisted segment of Pelican Creek flows south and then west, skirting Pelican Lake and meandering across farmland on its way to the Pomme de Terre River.

The creek was listed as impaired for aquatic life in 2012, based on benthic macroinvertebrate bioassessments.

“Essentially that is an indicator of everything upstream, and some of our biggest recreational lakes in the county are there, Pelican Lake being one.

That’s an indicator of what’s going on in that lake,” said Jared House, Grant SWCD administrative manager. “Additionally, this creek is a conduit to the Pomme de Terre River, which is a huge recreational river for fishing and kayaking.”

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. v

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Your input needed in State of Ag survey Getting together with others for lators and businesses. a cup of coffee at the local café can “The importance of this report is produce quite the conversations. to represent our businesses and Weather, politics, and the local tell the story of what topics are sports teams are always mainstay holding our businesses back or topics. The good-humored banter what the growth of our region look which goes back and forth leaves like in the next year,” GreenSeam everyone feeling good as they go Director Sam Ziegler said. “Why let about the rest of their day. others or small pieces of informaBut there are other things haption tell our story. By all pitching TALENT IN THE GREENSEAM pening as a result of those converin we can do a much better job of sations that most people do not sharing this important informaBy Shane Bowyer even realize is actually going on. tion.”

The learning taken from each The “State of Ag” research provides other during those conversations helps data to see year-over-year trends and people gain knowledge and form opinions new aspects in the agriculture realm that — such as which seed is best, or what tilcould possibly be addressed by stakeholding company is better; what regulations ers. The survey data and focus group disare coming down the pipeline that will cussions from the 2021 “State of Ag” affect the farms’ bottom line, or how to brought to the forefront barriers concernplan for next year with current commodiing talent, policy, mental health and ty prices. There is a lot of informal educaCovid-19 businesses face every day. In Scan this QR code tion happening every day. addition, opportunities were highlighted to take the 2022 The ability to capture all those converaround entrepreneurship, business develState of Ag survey. sations which take place in the cafés and opment, commodity prices and advancing local bars amongst the farmers and peotechnology. ple in agriculture would be priceless. Just think about the impact of how the combined knowledge of 2021 State of Ag – Question #8. Which of the following all these individuals could have on the region, makissues threaten your business’ ability to grow the most? ing it a much more productive and stronger agriculture economy.

This is what GreenSeam is working to do.

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 statewide as well. The data and comments are analyzed and summarized, then shared with the public, legis-

Intern in the Jalen Heintz Polk City, Iowa School: Iowa State University Major: Double majoring in agronomy and agricultural studies Internship company name: Crystal Valley

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 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

As an example, the 2021 “State of Ag” report found there were three dominant issues which threaten businesses’ ability to grow the most.

Regulations/policy was the top concern while employment issues came in second and taxes third.

The results were different than the previous year as the data was collected prior to the pandemic. The concern about regulations/policy was still first, but significantly increased in 2021 with more Covid-19 restrictions and increasing supply chain issues. Not unexpected, employment also had a big increase — jumping 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 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

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

PAGE 11

Greater Minnesota adapts in the face of Covid-19

Adaptation and resilience are key concepts in nered to create an emergency halal food supply to sustainability and help us navigate, adjust and serve low-income Somali families. Store custombounce back from challenges – which include cliers were provided the opportunity to donate to the mate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. in-store emergency halal food supply in an effort to sustain or grow the program.

As ripple effects from these challenges continue to impact communities across the state, we asked Zins noted that this project’s success was due in leaders from the University of Minnesota large part to its inclusivity and how it met the Extension Regional Sustainable Development community being served where they were, delivPartnerships (RSDP) to share some of the lessons ering culturally appropriate food to those in need. learned in their regions since the early days of the “Flexibility and adaptability are not only key, pandemic to today and what gives them hope for but essential. From project work plans to meeting the future. agendas to daily tasks, exercising a nimble Digital tools help keep communities conresponse to the circumstances at hand is vital for nected long-term efficacy and success,” Zins said, about One of the first lessons learned expressed by the rapid response work in her region.

RSDP leadership is that communities have As part of the rapid response projects supported embraced new technologies and digital forms of

by Northeast RSDP, Abazs shared how the region communication which have helped keep projects engaged new partners and saw a record number moving forward. of proposals compared with previous years. One of “Meeting and collaborating virtually works the funded proposals was a Yurt Village project quite well in many ways,” said Molly Zins, execuhelping those experiencing homelessness in tive director of Central RSDP. “In addition to Duluth. To address the unprecedented numbers of increasing access for some and reducing the time Many RSDP projects, such as Northeast RSDP’s Forest Assisted Migra- people facing housing insecurity, this project is and expense for travel, we found that virtual tion Project, adjusted plans during the pandemic. Pictured is a tree helping bring the community together to provide meetings have a pretty quick learning curve and seedling planting at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.

24/7 warming and hygiene facilities and raise can provide an engaging, interactive experience.” awareness about the urgent action needed to keep Rapid response projects all our neighbors safe this winter.

Similar observations were shared across all of the Another important lesson and impact across regions. For example, Northeast RSDP’s board and Another project supported by Southwest RSDP Greater Minnesota came from the work done to supwork groups successfully adapted to a distanced, virlifted up the ways cultural and creative elements can port communities in need. In addition to the regular tual process for their work, creating new ways to help us navigate and understand moments of crisis RSDP idea brief and project application process, each discuss projects, track work and priorities, and even and imagine new ways of moving forward. This projregion awarded rapid response projects to communivote on which projects to support. ect, called the Dakota Community Artist in Residence ty groups to address urgent needs resulting from the Anne Dybsetter, executive director of Southwest Covid-19 pandemic. These projects highlighted the project, helped produce and share videos about local RSDP, summed up a key question about these digital inclusivity, innovation and ingenuity of Minnesotans artists including Talon Cavender-Wilson and Fern approaches that will continue being explored in each working to address short- and long-term sustainabil- Cloud who shared more about their approaches and artwork that they created as part of the residency. region moving forward. ity challenges in their regions.

“Organizations, communities and leaders shifted “What new partnerships are possible if the barrier For example, one of the rapid response projects supgears and rapidly made changes that we otherwise of distance is eliminated due to virtual communica- ported by Central RSDP was a project called never could have imagined — so now we know it’s tion?” Dybsetter asked.

“Emergency Halal Food Supply Hub” in St. Cloud. possible,” Dybsetter said.

Community groups and Somali grocery stores partHope for in-person connections Supporting and learning from community As conditions shifted with the pandemic this resilience summer and fall, RSDP regional executive direcRegional leaders looked forward to ongoing tors worked closely with their boards to deterpartnership with and learning from communities mine their meeting preferences. Some regional across the state as they continue to navigate the boards identified outdoor meeting locations while COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. others preferred to continue meeting virtually at this time.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to learn from and be inspired by the profound resilience Andi Sutton, executive director of Southeast and innovation we’re seeing in communities RSDP, said, “Though I do still think that in-peracross the state,” Zins said. son meetings play a strong role in relationship — and trust-building for the long term.”

This article was submitted by Marie Donahue and Caryn Mohr, University of Minnesota Sutton expressed how seeing and working with Extension. v partners in person will be critical to building a strong sense of community among board, work group and project partners. These in-person connections will also help as she continues learning RSDP’s five regional executive directors: David Abazs (Northeast), Andi about the region and the various sustainability Sutton (Southeast), Molly Zins (Central), Linda Kingery (Northwest) and challenges and successes facing communities.

Anne Dybsetter (Southwest).

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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 farm-

ers 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 See BAUMGARTNER, pg. 13

USDA announces new insurance option 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.

PACE is offered in select counties in 11 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. It is available as supplemental coverage for Yield Protection, Revenue Protection,

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

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 ser-

vice 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

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

PAGE 13

Corn bred with larger root systems handle drought better plant’ … rather than more plants per acre to produce BAUMGARTNER, from pg. 12 hybrids do if they aren’t fed so well? And I think we’ll more bushels. So I suggest to farmers, look for plants be surprised. We may find these new products don’t with more flex so you can reduce both planting rates need as much nitrogen as we’ve been led to believe. I’ve and nitrogen rates also. This is based on lots of plots been watching yields continue to go up with differences and field data results over the past decade. And the in methodology rates and lower application rates. The overall soil health and economic squeeze of today’s days of spring application of all your nitrogen I think agriculture makes this all much more relevant today.

The Land: With lower plant populations, does that are history. That would be better for the environment too. Yes, I would like to see more farmers feeding that induce your corn plants into multi-eared tendencies? crop only when needBaumgartner: ed. If that were to Initially we selected happen, I think we away from inbred The industry continues to promote more could likely get by lines with two-eared plants per acre — which of course leads with half the nitrogen tendencies because to buying more of their seed products we currently use with they would tend to go corn. Yes, this could too. But understand that as you keep barren under stress. mean spoon feeding increasing the size of your factory, you’re But with our research three to five times. also increasing the needs for more fertil- methods today, we’re Yes, application costs izer, more water. We say go less. noting the more stress and equipment will — Ed Baumgartner you put under a corn factor in here. But plant, the more likely don’t ignore the basic multi-eared plants also. So then the effort becomes fact that these newer hybrids just don’t need the heavy let’s see if we can increase the size of those ears. feeding we’ve accustomed ourselves into believing!

Bigger ears per plant certainly is a yield bumper also.

Also, application costs aren’t nearly as expensive as Tropical corns grow much taller and frequently the fertilizer itself. Yes, it may take a leap of faith have multiple ears. But super-tall corn just doesn’t from farmers. Figuring costs for that extra 10 to 12 work these days … plus Mother Nature still has that pounds of nitrogen with each ‘spoon feeding’ vs. total occasional tendency with super wind storms too. So costs on a spring only ‘half-as-much’ application is strong stalks girded with a heavy and deep root mass the debate. just simply works that much better. And now we see The Land:So might this also nourish a reduction value in fewer plants per acre … in essence, having a ‘smaller factory’ on each acre while also cutting costs in planting rates?

Baumgartner: Our philosophy is contrary to the in fertilizer and minimizing a water crunch in a rest of the seed industry. The industry continues to droughty season.

The Land: Why is creating drought tolerant corn promote more plants per acre — which of course leads to buying more of their seed products too. But important? understand that as you keep increasing the size of Baumgartner: First, we believe farmers should your factory, you’re also increasing the needs for have corn hybrids that can get through dry periods more fertilizer, more water. We say go less. We say, without yield loss. And the best mechanism to achieve ‘Let’s make those plants produce more bushels per this is with a much larger root mass to extract water;

To blanket or not to blanket horses

Blanketing remains a heated debate within the horse industry. Recent surveys of North American and Scandinavian horse owners showed about half of owners chose to blanket their horses while the other half did not, and that beliefs regarding blanket use, or non-use, were deeply held.

Regardless of personal beliefs, blanketing a horse is recommended to reduce the effects of cold or inclement weather when no shelter is available during turnout periods and the temperatures or wind chill drop below 5 F; there is a chance the horse will become wet; the horse has had its winter coat clipped; the horse is very young or very old; he horse isn’t acclimated to the cold; or the horse has a body condition score of three or less.

If owners choose to blanket, they should ensure proper fit since poorly fitted blankets can cause sores

and rub marks along the straps. Blankets should be removed daily, inspected for damage, and repositioned. Owners should make sure the blanket stays dry and blankets not be put a wet horse. Owners should wait until the horse is dry before blanketing.

Remember, a horse will continue to develop a natural winter coat until Dec. 22 (winter solstice). Horses begin to lose their winter coat and start forming their summer coat when the days become longer.

Blanketing before Dec. 22 will decrease the horse’s natural winter coat.

For more information on winter horse care, visit https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/caring-your-horse-winter.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

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

PAGE 14

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

MARKETING

Grain Outlook Corn languishes during short week The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Jan. 21.

CORN — Corn’s action paled when compared to the soy complex and wheat markets this week.

Despite better chances of rain in Argentina for the last week of January, corn continued to climb higher as money was drawn into the agricultural sector.

The tensions between Ukraine and Russia don’t seem to be improving. Comments from President Biden this week had to be backpedaled after the Ukrainian president questioned President Biden’s comment that a “minor incursion” by Russia into Ukraine may not be met with severe sanctions.

PHYLLIS NYSTROM CHS Hedging Inc. March corn closed higher every St. Paul day of the holiday-shortened trading week. March corn took out the December high and traded to its highest since June. December corn made a new contract high at $5.66.25 per bushel.

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange rated Argentina’s corn at 22 percent good/excellent vs. 23 percent last week and 37 percent poor/very poor vs.

36 percent last week. Argentina’s corn is 87 percent planted vs. 96 percent last year and 92 percent on average. However, recent and forecasted rains in Argentina should cap crop losses for now. It may take time for any stabilization to be figured into crop updates.

Weekly exports were very good at 43 million bushels. China now has 374 million bushels of unshipped purchases. Total commitments of 1.675 billion bushels are down 9 percent from a year ago. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is anticipating year-onyear exports to be down 12 percent. We need to average 22.1 million bushels of sales per week to reach the USDA’s 2.425 billion bushels target.

Weekly ethanol production was up 47,000 barrels per day to 1.05 million bpd. Stocks were up 681,000 barrels at 23.6 million barrels to its highest since February 2021.

Gasoline demand was 4 percent higher on the week at 8.224 million bpd. Net ethanol crush margins improved 9 cents to 16 cents per gallon.

Cash Grain Markets corn/change* St. Cloud $6.10 +.19 Madison $6.00 +.15 Redwood Falls $6.10 +.16 Fergus Falls $6.00 +.19 Morris $6.04 +.21 Tracy $6.06 +.17 Average:

soybeans/change* $13.62 $13.82 $13.63 $13.67 $13.72 $13.55

+.10 +.20 +.13 +.20 +.21 +.11

$6.05

$13.67

Year Ago Average: $4.74

$13.53

Grain prices are effective cash close on Jan. 25. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

Farm Futures magazine’s acreage survey taken in December projected U.S. corn acres to fall 3.2 percent in 2022 to 90.388 million acres his would be a decline of nearly 3 million acres year-on-year. Using a yield of 181 bushels per acre, production is expected at 14.924 billion bushels. For soybean acres, the survey showed a year-on-year increase of 5.9 percent or 5.182 million acres to 92.377 million acres. Using a 51.5 bu./acre yield, production would be 4.701 billion bushels.

Snarled logistics are being dealt with on the Illinois River due to the cold temperatures. Low water and ice problems around the locks are slowing north and southbound traffic.

Outlook: Corn was a follower this week and will need fresh news to kick into a leg higher. Further consolidation may be experienced for the balance of the month unless South American weather returns to hotter, drier conditions. The situation in Ukraine should be a focal point also. Ukraine is the thirdlargest corn exporter and the fourth-largest wheat exporter.

For the week, March corn gained 20 cents at $6.16.25, July followed with a 15-cent rally to $6.08.5, and December finished 7 cents higher at $5.65.25 per bushel.

SOYBEANS — March soybeans rallied to their highest price since early June in a lively trading week. March soybeans traded as high as $14.29.5 per bushel. November soybeans set a new contract high at $13.25 per bushel this week.

South American weather, export interest, and fund buying were the main drivers of the jump. The

BAGE cut Argentina’s soybean rating in the good/ excellent category 1 percent from last week to 30 percent good/excellent with 27 percent rated poor/ very poor vs. 29 percent last week. Argentina’s soybean planting is 97 percent complete vs. 99 percent last year and 98 percent on average. The USDA attaché in Brazil pegs their soybean crop at 136 million metric tons compared to the USDA at 139 mmt. A lingering question is how much damage was done to the crops in southern Brazil and Argentina before the weather began to improve.

Money also seemed to be coming into the agricultural sector from the stock market this week.

Palm oil was supportive to soyoil and soybeans as its prices ran to record levels on chatter there may be a plan in the works to restrict palm oil exports by as much as 20 percent. Indonesian government officials are denying the rumor.

Weekly export sales were a 14-week high and the second-highest of the marketing year at 24.7 million bushels — but were below expectations. China has 132.3 million bushels of unshipped purchases on the books. Total sales commitments are 1.584 billion bushels and are down 25 percent from last year. The USDA’s balance sheet numbers reflect a 9.5 percent year-on-year decline in exports. We need to average 14.4 million bushels of sales per week to make the USDA’s forecast of 2.05 billion bushels. New crop sales were a big 19.4 million bushels this week, bringing sales to 36.5 million bushels vs. 75.3 million new crop sold last year by this date.

The December National Oilseed Processors Association Soybean Crush was a record for any month at 186.4 million bushels and higher than the 185 million bushel estimate. Soyoil stocks were bearish at 2.03 billion pounds vs. 1.89 billion estimated and the largest in nine years.

Outlook: There’s still a lot of changing weather forecasts for South America to trade before we’ll have a better idea of their crop size. Record crush numbers and decent export demand should provide some underlying support. Political events in the Black Sea region and inflation fears will add to the mix and add volatility to prices.

For the week, March soybeans regained all last week’s losses and were up 44.5 cents at $14.14.25, July rallied 41.25 cents to $14.27.25, and November soybeans were 23.25 cents higher at $13.16.25 per bushel.

Weekly price changes in March wheat for the week ended Jan. 21: Chicago wheat up 38.5 cents at $7.80, Kansas City rallied 48.25 cents to $7.93.25, and Minneapolis jumped 57.75 cents to $9.36 per bushel. v

For marketing news between issues ... visit www.TheLandOnline.com

Information in the above columns is the writer’s opinion. It is no way guaranteed and should not be interpreted as buy/sell advice. Futures trading always involves a certain degree of risk.

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

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

PAGE 15

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. 19 percent of crop base acres, while ARC-IC payments are paid on only 65 percent of base acres.

2022 Farm Program Decision Table

MARKETING

PAGE 16

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

China’s need for whey is waning

This column was written for the marketing week ending Jan. 21.

If there was any doubt about strength in the global dairy market, it was erased in the second Global Dairy Trade auction of 2022 (its 300th trading event). The weighted average jumped 4.6 percent (the News and information for Minnesota and Northern Iowa dairy producers biggest increase since March 2) and followed the 0.3 percent rise on Jan. 4, and StoneX, which was stronger than the the week at the CME and two of barrel.

MIELKE MARKET the 1.5 percent fall on Dec. 21. minus-1.3 percent they forecast. “Exports WEEKLY StoneX says it hears continued reports of tight to China are still rather weak, seeing a Traders brought 67.6 million pounds of butter and nonfat dry milk, but not cheese. “Cheese

By Lee Mielke month-to-month decrease of 23 percent,” product to market, with the average price demand is likely strong,” StoneX stated, “but we says StoneX, “but other countries such as have cheese out there to meet that demand. That climbing to $4,463 U.S. — the highest Indonesia, Nigeria, Philippines and the United since March 2014. seems to be the narrative developing this week and States are making up for that. Shipments to spot prices are reflecting that narrative.”

All products offered were in the black; led by Indonesia rose 57 percent month-to-month and up whole milk powder, up 5.6 percent after holding Traders await the December Milk Production and 38 percent year-on-year. Some of the largest monthsteady on Jan. 4. Skim milk powder was up 5 perCold Storage reports which were issued after this to-month gains were butter, yogurt and whey procent following a 1 percent increase, and butter was writing — Jan. 24. tein isolates. Liquid milk exports were down from up 5 percent after inching 0.3 percent higher. the previous month but are still strong on a yearDairy Market News reports that milk availability Anhydrous milkfat was up 0.6 percent after slipping on-year basis.” varied in the Midwest. Plants running fully staffed 0.7 percent last time. Cheddar was up 1.1 percent operations say milk is available; but the discounted n following a 4.9 percent jump. prices of $3 and $4 under Class are no longer being Dairy prices here at home strengthened (except StoneX Dairy Group says the GDT 80 percent butoffered. Still, there are plants running lighter lines, for cheese) during the Martin Luther King holiday- as employees are short due to Covid-related absencterfat butter price equates to $2.7252 per pound shortened week. The cheddar blocks closed Jan. 21 U.S. This is up 12.8 cents and compares to Chicago es. Cheese sales were slowing, according to some, as Mercantile Exchange butter which closed Jan. 21 at at $1.8075 per pound. This is down 11.25 cents on prices rose and “market tones are lacking the bravathe week (the lowest since Nov. 18) 24.5 cents below do of prior weeks.” $2.935. GDT cheddar, at $2.5157, was up 2.7 cents its Jan. 12 peak, but 19.75 cents above a year ago and compares to Jan. 21’s CME block cheddar at a Retail cheese demand is steady to lower in the when they fell 11 cents to $1.61. real bargain $1.8075. GDT skim milk powder averWest while food service is mixed. Contacts note that aged $1.7977 per pound, up from $1.7114. Whole The barrels, after peaking at $1.96 on Jan. 14, rising Covid cases in the region have caused a milk powder averaged $1.8517 per pound, up from closed this week at $1.8125 which is down 14.75 decline in sales. Food service mozzarella sales are, $1.7536. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Jan. cents, 42 cents above a year ago, and a half-cent See MIELKE, pg. 17 21 at $1.815 per pound. above the blocks. There were four sales of block on StoneX’s Dustin Winston says North Asia (which includes China) buyers continue to seem hesitant.

Market share was up just slightly from the last event, but remain well below last year’s levels. The Middle East picked up a large share of whole milk powder, according to Winston. n ST. CLOUD, Minn. — With the howling winds, components in the structure of a building. Insects Speaking of China, December dairy imports fell a enthusiastic snowfall, and bone-rattling cold from can also cause significant damage throughout the combined 13.4 percent from December 2020, accord- these past several weeks, many livestock producers facility. These kinds of relatively minor repairs don’t ing to HighGround Dairy’s analysis; but adds the are evaluating their facilities. All producers strive for necessarily warrant a brand spanking new building; caveat, “While there is a lot of red on the table, it is the optimal environment, but many of us adapt our but do deserve repair and a fix-it date on the schedimportant to remember the data is compared to a facilities to meet our needs — picking and choosing ule soon. If damage is severe, it may not be worth record December in 2020 — with December 2021 renovating. our battles. the second-highest ever observed despite the yearNext on any evaluation checklist is seeing if the Here are some key areas to evaluate in your dairy over-year losses.” cattle barn to determine if your facilities are provid- facility provides a clean and comfortable resting Whole milk powder imports took the biggest hit, area, with free access to feed and water, as well as ing the best environment for your top producers. says HighGround Dairy, down 38 percent. Skim Naturally, before moving on to new shiny facilities proper ventilation. Bank and two-story barn styles milk powder was down 21.6 percent, and whey prodwith all the bells and whistles, it is best to evaluate can make it difficult (or impossible) to deliver feed in ucts were down 31.9 percent — a 20-month low. what facilities are already on-site. Dairy producers a TMR wagon (easing feed delivery with herd expanBloomberg reports China’s hog herd has rebound- should first ensure that the barn is structurally sion). This feature of older barns limits access, added and is now at a six-year high of 449 million. So sound. Barns in central Minnesota that are solid as a ing labor and complicating animal access to feed and with the country no longer aggressively building rock, made to stand the test of time, may suffer dam- water. These styles are not typically easy renovatheir herd, there has been a slowdown in whey age from continually high moisture levels, poor ven- tions; but adjustments can be made (usually limited demand for piglets. tilation, or the perpetually leaky roof. This could by the second-story floor joist system).

This article was submitted by Dana Adams, easily contribute to the deterioration of wood strucStaying in the global market, EU November v exports were up 1.7 percent from 2020, according to tural components and iron-based fasteners — key University of Minnesota Extension.

Where to look when evaluating dairy facilities

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

PAGE 17

Butter price highest since September 2015 MIELKE, from pg. 16 reportedly, increasing as strong demand is present for pizza making, thanks to football playoffs.

International cheese demand remains strong but transportation issues caused by a shortage of truck drivers and port congestion continue to cause delays. Cheesemakers say milk is available, but delayed deliveries and labor shortages are causing some plants to run reduced schedules, according to Dairy Market News. Continuing port woes are likely hurting U.S. exports of cheese despite our competitive prices.

Butter was firing on all cylinders, shooting to a $2.935 per pound finish on Jan. 21. This is up 21 cents (the highest since Sept. 28, 2015) and $1.5325 above a year ago. Thirty-two sales transpired on the week. Butter’s CME record is $3.135 per pound on Sept. 25, 2015. The U.S. price, while above the GDT, is below European levels.

Midwest churners are calling for cream and have been very active since before the holidays. Freight

Freudenthal

Per-capita dairy consumption in the United States has been growing and is at the highest levels since 1960.

Exports in 2021 are on pace for a record and now, with last year’s retail sales data available, we can see that 2020’s gains in grocery-store purchases weren’t just a rechanneling of lost school and restaurant business toward at-home consumption.

— National Milk Producers Federation

faced delays from bad weather and a shortage of truck drivers. Butter demand is strong in domestic and international markets and inventories are tight. Butter makers are running below capacity due to labor shortages and delayed deliveries of production supplies, according to Dairy Market News.

Grade A nonfat dry milk climbed to $1.85 per pound on Jan. 18 (the highest since June 12, 2014) but closed Jan. 21 at $1.815. The price went unchanged on the week, but 64.25 cents above a year ago, on seven sales for the week.

Dry whey closed at another new record high — 80 cents per pound, up 3 cents on the week and 26 cents above a year ago, with two sales reported at the CME. n The good news keeps coming. Per-capita dairy consumption in the United States has been growing and is at the highest levels since 1960, according to

continues to be the biggest hurdle — particularly moving cream from Idaho and the mountain states.

Butter sales have begun to settle. The holidays were very busy, but prices have caused buyer hesitancy.

Western cream demand is unchanged. Loads of cream are heading to the Midwest — though some See MIELKE, pg. 18

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THE LAND — JANUARY 21/JANUARY 28, 2022

Declining global production, demand is boosting U.S. dairy MIELKE, from pg. 18

price was announced by the USDA at $21.64 per hundredweight. This is up $1.93 from January, the National Milk Producers Federation. “Exports $6.10 above February 2021, and the highest Class I in 2021 are on pace for a record,” says NMPF, “and price since December 2014. It equates to $1.86 per now, with last year’s retail sales data available, we gallon, up from $1.69 in January and $1.34 a year can see that 2020’s gains in grocery-store purchases ago. weren’t just a rechanneling of lost school and resThe latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based taurant business toward at-home consumption. By Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC., says, comparing 2021 with 2019, we can see that dairy’s gains are built to last, according to data from indus- “Dairy margins strengthened sharply to start the year as a continued surge in milk prices combined try researcher IRI.” with a mild correction in the feed markets to boost Commercial disappearance remained strong in projected profitability.”

November, according to U.S. Department of “The milk market has caught fire from a perfect Agriculture data. Cheese totaled 1.18 billion storm of declining global production at the same pounds, up 5.2 percent from November 2020, toptime as demand for dairy products soar,” the Margin ping the year-ago level for the second consecutive Watch stated. “USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service month, and the largest year-over-year gain of any reported record November monthly exports, with month since April, according to HighGround Dairy.

492.1 million pounds of dairy product shipped dur“This was the strongest cheese disappearance on a ing the month, up 17.3 percent from 2020 and 60 volume basis of any month on record.” million above the previous November record set in Butter disappearance totaled 232.1 million 2017. Nonfat dry milk exports of 168.5 million pounds, up 3.4 percent, and topped that of a year pounds were up 24.7 percent from 2020, with strong ago for the fifth consecutive month. Nonfat and demand from Mexico, the Philippines, Colombia and skim milk powder totaled 211.3 million pounds, up Vietnam pacing gains. Nonfat dry milk stocks have 1.9 percent, thanks primarily to exports — though been declining after reaching a high of 349 million domestic demand was weaker. pounds in June, dropping to 196.5 million pounds in HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess, speaking in the November.”

Jan. 24 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, said Class III “More milk being diverted away for cheese has and Class IV futures curves look very good for caused nonfat dry milk production to decline since farmer returns this year but cautioned that demand mid-2021, trailing 2020 by 54 million pounds destruction could occur due to the rising prices. between July and November. November’s production “If we do get too expensive, there could be some of 155.4 million pounds was down 2.4 percent from buyers around the world that take a step back and 2020. This helped support Class IV prices, with the maybe hesitate to purchase U.S. dairy,” he warned, USDA announced price in December of $19.88 per “But in the time being, we don’t see that happening cwt. up $6.46 from 2020 and the highest announced as the world remains short on protein and continprice in seven years.” ues to pay up — even at these purchase levels.”

“Class IV futures are trading above $22 per hunn dredweight in each of the next four months,” according to the Margin Watch, “and Fonterra is now foreUnfortunately, inflation continues to soar in the United States. The consumer price index for all food casting their highest pay price ever as production declines in New Zealand. Feed prices meanwhile was 287.0, up 6.3 percent in December from 2020, have corrected as much-needed rain is forecast for according to Dairy Market News. The dairy prodparched areas of Argentina and Southern Brazil ucts index, at 235.4, was up 1.6 percent. Fresh while the USDA’s January World Agriculture whole milk was up 4.9 percent; cheese, down 0.6 Supply and Demand Estimates report was considpercent; and butter was up 0.8 percent. ered neutral for corn and soybeans.”

The February Federal order Class I base milk n Meanwhile, the National Milk Producers Federation says the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program will provide up to $350 million in pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers early this year. “This initiative will partially reimburse producers for unanticipated losses created during the Covid-19 pandemic when federal dairy

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food box purchases weighted heavily toward cheese, combined with a change to the Class I mover formula created the unintended consequence of significant financial losses.”

“Payments will reimburse qualified dairy farmers for 80 percent of the revenue difference per month on up to 5 million pounds of milk marketed and on fluid milk sales from July through December 2020.

The payment rate will vary by region based on actual losses on pooled milk related to price volatility. As part of the program handlers also will provide virtual or in-person education to dairy farmers.”

More details are posted at the NMPF website.

Dairy cow culling increased from the previous month, but fell below that of a year ago in December, according to USDA’s latest Livestock Slaughter report.

An estimated 267,800 head were sent to slaughter under federal inspection in December. This is up 22,500 from November, but 5,700 head or 2.1 percent below December 2020. Culling for the year totaled 3.1 million, up 42,900 or 1.4 percent from a year ago.

In the week ending Jan. 8, 63,000 dairy cows were sent to slaughter, up 10,600 from the previous week, but 4,500 head or 6.7 percent below a year ago.

The USDA’s latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook, issued Jan. 19, mirrored milk price and production projections in the Jan. 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.

The Outlook also reported that the number of milk cows is projected to continue decreasing in the first part of 2022. For the first half of the year, milk cows are projected to average 9.38 million head.

However, in the second half of the year, they are projected to increase to 9.385 million. The estimated number of cows for the year 2022 is 9.385 million, unchanged from last month’s projection. Average yield per cow is projected to be 24,265 pounds, unchanged from last month’s projection.

The December publication of “Dairy: World Markets and Trade,” by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, projects milk production for the top five major exporters will total 647.1 billion pounds in 2022, a modest increase of 0.7 percent from the total expected for 2021. Milk production totals for the European Union and New Zealand are expected to grow by 0.7 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, says USDA. 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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PLC and ARC-CO program information is on FSA website THIESSE, from pg. 15 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.

• 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).

Refer to the adjoining tables, “PLC and ARC-CO Farm Program Comparison Table” and “2022 Farm Program Decision Table” for key points the regarding 2022 farm decision for corn, soybeans and wheat for the 2022 crop year.

For information on PLC and ARC-CO programs, and other farm program details, go to the FSA farm program website at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc 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

For more news briefs, visit the “Nuts and Bolts” section at www.TheLandOnline.com Blazing Fast Internet!

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ADVERTISING NOTICE: Please check your ad the first week it runs.

We make every effort to avoid errors by checking all copy, but sometimes errors are missed. Therefore, we ask that you review your ad for correctness. If you find a mistake, please call (507) 345-4523 immediately so that the error can be corrected. We regret that we cannot be responsible for more than one week’s insertion if the error is not called to our attention. We cannot be liable for an amount greater than the cost of the ad. THE LAND has the right to edit, reject or properly classify any ad. Each classified line ad is separately copyrighted to THE LAND. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

USED TRACTORS NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader.. On Order NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders. On Order NEW NH 25S Workmasters……......…..On Order NEW NH T5.140….................................On Order NEW Massey Tractors ........................... On Order NEW Versatile DT610 ………......…….On Hand NEW Versatile 610 w/800LSW………..Jan. 2022 NEW Massey 4710 w/loader…………Jan. 2022 White 2-105…….........................…………$15,500 MF 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!

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

Real Estate Wanted

Feed Seed Hay

WANTED: Land & farms. I Wanted: Damaged Corn FOR SALE: Massey Harris self propelled corn picker; have clients looking for Buying damaged corn in Massey Ferguson #37 hay dairy, & cash grain operasouthern MN. Looking for rake; Massey Harris #6 mations, as well as bare land larger quantities. Have nure loader. Phone 952-873parcels from 40-1000 acres. grain vac and hoppers 6496 Both for relocation & investavailable. Pay on dependments. If you have even ing on the quality of grain. FOR SALE: Three 10x16.5 - 8 thought about selling conOBO (or best offer) (507) bolt pattern implement rims tact: Paul Krueger, Farm & 327-8851 with mounted 12x16.5 road Land Specialist, Edina Retires; also, 3 extra 12x16.5 alty, 138 Main St. W., New WANTED TO BUY... road tires. 507-673-2458 Prague, MN 55372.

HAY: Round or square bales, paulkrueger@edinarealty.com Dairy and Beef Quality. Call FOR SALE: Gleaner 525 bean (612)328-4506 head, 25’ SCH sickle, new or text 218-689-2696 auger pan. New Idea 5408 8 Classified Line Ads ft disc mower. 507-327-0535

Feed Seed Hay

HAY FOR SALE: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th crops available, RFV 120-181, 16-25% protein. Dry hay or baleage available in squares or rounds. Trucking available.

Call or text Jim 507-254-4807

WORK!

FOR SALE: Snowblower, has 2 blowers, hydraulic spout, 1000 PTO, $4,000/ excellent condition. 712-260-8003

Bins & Buildings

FOR SALE: Four tires and rims for Bobcat 10 ply, about half thread. 507-317-2817

Call 507-345-4523

SILO take-down & clean up - Specializing in, but not limited to, silos in congested areas.

We buy OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn.

Salvage Equipment Produces more high qualiParts Available ty silage on less acres than 507-236-9446 Hammell Equip., Inc. hybrid. $67/bushel plus ship(507)867-4910 ping. High feed value grain.

Located at Teutopolis, IL Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys.

100% financing w/no liens or 217-857-3377 or 217-343-4962 Tractors red tape, call Steve at Fairfax Ag for an appointment.

888-830-7757 FOR SALE: Pair of Firestone radial all traction 18.4x46 set-up tires, good enough for duals $225/each. 507-227-2602

Thank You Farmers!

WANTED

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

Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon

Farm Equipment

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

FOR SALE: John Deere 8310 original lights, $125. 507-2272602 NEW AND USED TRACTOR PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 50 Series & newer tractors, AC-all models, Large Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage 715-673-4829

Tillage Equip FOR SALE: 2006 John Deere 2210 38’ field cultivator, always shedded. 952-955-1140

Please recycle this magazine.

THE LAND — JANUARY 21 /JANUARY 28, 2022 Tillage Equip

Planting Equip

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

Harvesting Equip

Wanted

WANTED: Front Lift axle John Deere 290 planter w/ FOR SALE: 2013 Case IH 3412 All kinds of New & Used farm for CIH 700 onland pull type markers, greased, ready cornhead 12R30” AHHC, equipment - disc chisels, field moldboard plow. Consider to go, $925; Horse sprayer, $24,500. 507-383-3447 Leave cults, planters, soil finishers, cornheads, feed mills, discs, entire plow for parts. Phone steel wheels, wood barrel Message balers, haybines, etc. 507507-276-6830 Lafayette MN tank, $500; Planter plates, $5; John Deere cast planter FOR SALE: John Deere 9510 438-9782 original cab lights and side lids, $100. 320-583-1613 WANTED: Dry fertilizer cross lights, $125. 507-227-2602 Planting Equip auger for 7200 John Deere www.thelandonline.com 6 row planter; Also, 20-22’ 2001 White 6000 series 24R22”. rolling basket, pull type. 507Martin row cleaners. TruYour ad Harvesting Equip 226-5536 Count air clutches. Tubelar could be here!

WANTED TO BUY... in furrow starters. Hydrau507-345-4523 HAY: Round or square bales, lic driven starter and seed 1975 IH 915 combine with Dairy and Beef Quality. Call population. Stored in heated 1020 20’ bean head, hydro air mudhog rear axle, 1300 or text 218-689-2696 s buildings. 320-583-5324 hours on rebuilt DT436 en; yFOR SALE: 3000 Kinze gine Vesco header control, - 8-30” planter, w/ interplants $7,000. 507-365-8625 - (15R15”) w/ no till coulters, $22,500. Call 651-380-6921 or 1998 Parker 510 grain cart.

Diamond tread tires. Well 651-564-0606 80+/- Deeded Acres, 61.20+/- Tillable Acres, maintained and stored in8 side. 320-583-5324 s 13.47 CRP Acres; CPI=94.7 d 5 N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Sec 14, Twp 114, Range 43,

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Farmland Auction in Yellow Medicine County Auction in March of 2022

Farmland Auction in Sherburne County Auction in March of 2022

160+/- Deeded Acres; 140+/- Irrigated Acres The NE 1/4 of Section 26, Twp 34, Range 26, Livonia Twp, Sherburne Co. Holcombe Family, Owners Visit FladeboeLand.com for more details & drone video to be coming soon!

Kristine Fladeboe Duininck 320-212-9379 Kristine@FladeboeLand.com Dale Fladeboe, Lic 34-12 Award Winning Auctioneers

Burton Twp., Yellow Medicine Co. Radel Family, Owners Visit FladeboeLand.com for more details & drone video to be coming soon!

Kristine Fladeboe Duininck 320-212-9379 Kristine@FladeboeLand.com Dale Fladeboe, Lic 34-12 Award Winning Auctioneers

FARMLAND AUCTION 160 Acres +/- in Rome Twp., Faribault County, MN

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 @ 10:00 AM

PAGE 21

Steffes Auction Calendar 2022 For more info, call: 1-800-726-8609 or visit our website: SteffesGroup.com

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 8 at 12PM Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 4 & Closing February 9 Online Steffes Auction – 2/9, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening February 8 & Closing February 15 at 10AM Brocket, ND American Legion Real Estate Auction, Brocket, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 9 & Closing February 17 at 1PM Erickson/Anderson Farm Equipment Auction, Glenville, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 14 & Closing February 21 at 12PM Weckerly Farms Equipment Update Auction, Hurdsfield, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 14 & Closing February 22 at 12PM Larry & Susan Richard Farm Retirement Auction, Horace, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening February 14 & Closing February 24 at 7PM Zavoral Family Farmland/Recreational Land Auction - 160± Acres, McLeod County, MN, Timed Online Opening February 15 & Closing February 24 at 7PM Darwin Manufacturing & Turbo Service Liquidation Auction, Darwin, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 18 & Closing February 22 at 12PM Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening February 18 & Closing February 23 at 10AM Online Steffes Auction – 2/23, Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction Opening February 23 & Closing March 2 at 7PM Darrell & Linda Bassen Farm Retirement Auction, Lamoure, ND, Timed Online Auction

Auction to be held at Average Jo’s Bar & Grill at 115 E 6th St, Blue Earth, MN *Blizzard Date 2-25-22 @ same time

Opening February 28 & Closing March 8 at 1PM Grain Storage & Handling Auction, Atwater, MN & Lakefield, MN, Timed Online Auction

PROPERTY LOCATION: From Blue Earth, MN: Go 6 miles South on Hwy-169 to 40th Street then 7 miles East to 460th Avenue then 2 miles South. From Buffalo Center, IA: Go 9 miles North on R20 to 20th St then West 1/2 mile.

Opening February 28 & Closing March 9 at 6:30PM Dennis Jones Farm Retirement Auction, Bath SD, Timed Online Auction

PROPERTY LEGAL DESCRIPTION: 160 Deeded Acres located in the NW 1/4 in Section 34, Township 101 North, Range 26 West, Faribault County, Minnesota.

For full flyer, informational booklet and bidding details, visit www.landservicesunlimited.com!

OWNER: STENZEL FAMILY AUCTIONEERS AND SALES STAFF DUSTYN HARTUNG-507-236-7629 LEAH HARTUNG 507-236-8786 KEVIN, ALLEN, RYAN & CHRIS KAHLER, DOUG WEDEL & SCOTT CHRISTOPHER

Opening March 1 & Closing March 8 at 12PM Walsh & Ramsey County, ND Land Auction 406± Acres, Lawton, ND, Timed Online Auction Opening March 2 & Closing March 9 at 6:30PM 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 4 & Closing March 8 at 12PM Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction Opening March 4 & Closing March 14 at 12PM Kibble Equipment Auction, Steffes Group Facility, Sioux Falls, Timed Online Auction

PAGE 22

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Livestock FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred (Mike) Kemen 320-598-3790

Cattle FOR SALE: Thirty (30) mixed age stock cows. 507-639-2974

Swine FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hampshire, Duroc, cross bred boars, gilts & 4-H pigs.

Top quality. Excellent herd health. Delivery available.

320-760-0365 Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Boars & Gilts available.

Monthly PRRS and PEDV. Delivery available. Steve Resler. 507-456-7746

Pets & Supplies

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Trucks & Trailers FOR SALE: Gooseneck ball mount and 5th wheel mount for pickup. 507-525-2270 Parting Out. ‘97 & ‘02 Ford 7.3 diesels, 74K & 37K miles. Installation available. 320-5830881

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oto (THE LAND only) $10.00 per run:

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FOR SALE: 5 purebred collie puppies, 1 female, 4 males, asking $200/OBO, 12 weeks old, make great farm dogs.

507-822-2111

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CHECK We do not issue refunds.

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.

FOR SALE: 3 pt mounted log splitter good condition, cylinder in good shape. $400 or best offer. 507-230-0703 Evenings after 6:00.

PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS New pumps & parts on hand.

Call Minnesota’s largest distributor HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 We pay for Harvestor Silos.

We charge to take down cement staves. Neisen Silo Demo 952-292-5255 REINKE IRRIGATION Sales & Service New & Used For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073

THE LAND — JANUARY 21 /JANUARY 28, 2022

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

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

MANDAKO 12’-60’ LONG ROLLERS

FOR THE BEST DEAL ORDER NOW!

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

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Our dream is adopt a baby .... happily married couple hoping to bring a newborn into our home that’s filled with happiness and love! Please contact us by phone or text: 1-347-480-9505. View our profile at www.paulandvaladopt. com (mcn)

CLASS A TRUCK DRIVER. North Central region. Could earn over $80,000. No touch freight. Good benefits. All miles paid. Nice equipment.

Experience needed. Call 507-437-9905.

Apply on-line WWW.MCFGTL.COM (mcn)

ADOPTION. California family promises baby loving home, secure future, full time mom. Educational opportunities, devoted grandparents, gentle dog. Generous living/relocation expenses paid. Natalie and Carl 1(949)371-6310 or attorney 1(310)6633467.(mcn)

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Great for backaches, arthritis, muscle aches & more. Get pain relief exactly where you need it most. Use code: PAIN to get three FREE gifts! Visit http:// greencbdtoday.com/midwest (mcn)

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All conditions accepted. Free pickup.

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ADVERTISER LISTING Auctioneer Alley ........................................................... 21 Beck's Hybrids ................................................................ 1 Blue Horizon Energy ....................................... Cover Wrap Dairyland Seed Co., Inc. ................................................. 3 Dish TV ........................................................................ 19 Fladeboe Land ........................................................ 20, 21 Freudenthal Dairy ......................................................... 17 Generac ........................................................................ 18 Greenwald Farm Center ................................................. 23 Pioneer ....................................................................... 8, 9 Pruess Elevator, Inc. ..................................................... 20 Rock Nobles Cattlemen's Association .............................. 4 Rush River Steel & Trim ............................................... 13 Schweiss Doors ............................................................. 21 Smiths Mill Implement, Inc. .......................................... 20 Spanier Welding .............................................................. 7 Steffes Group ................................................................ 21 507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 418 South Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001 www.thelandonline.com

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PAGE 23

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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

R

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