A most interesting stop during an over night stay in Sac County, Iowa was a visit to the one-room country school museum in Odebolt. Built in 1883, this was the first school of our host farmer, Jim Meyer. A retired Sac County farmer, Meyer also served three terms as an Iowa State Representative.
Carol Raasch serves as director of this historical gem and favored me with a brief interview on Sept. 20.
“This school was Richland #1,” Raasch explained. “The State of Iowa laid out schools in sequential numbers every two miles in those days so the children didn’t need to walk more than two miles to school. However, this school operated its first three years in a farm home before this school was built. So the heritage of Richland #1 dates back to 1880.”
1,100), reading manuals, writing dis plays, etc. This museum is indeed a gath ering of how teaching, writing, arithme tic, drawing and arts were taught in those good old days of rural schools in Iowa.
Where did all of these items originate?
Raasch commented, “We had several members who had connections. Our cura tor, Sandy Host, had a collection of school desks, lunch boxes, drinking cups, chil dren’s toys. We try to collect things from the 1883 to 1951 time frame. Her father, being a farmer, did not throw anything away — so we also have a full supply of farm tools dating back into the horse-drawn farming era. So lots of donations from many folks.”
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“When opened in 1883, it housed children from grades kindergarten through eighth grade — all taught by one teacher. This continued until 1951, when it closed and children were then bussed into town. So it sat empty until 1959; but operated as a voting center, a community center, various 4-H events, several county extension meetings, even family reunion picnic gatherings. Soon a key group decided a historical museum depicting this unique educational history would be a better use of Richland #1. And here we are.”
I was amazed at the viewing. School desks were either single seat to two-seat versions. Chalk boards covered one wall. Pull-down maps (state, national and a world map) conveniently hung on one of the walls. Displayed on the front wall were framed pic tures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The American flag was proudly on display. (Yes, standing and pledging allegiance to the flag was a daily ritual by every student.)
Catching my eye was a handsome pump organ with crafted wood and a keyboard with 10 pullouts for added tune value; and significant-sized candle holders on either side of the organ. (Electricity wasn’t yet available in those days.)
There were also scads of different text books (over
Raasch briefed me also on the two-seat and threeseat desks on display. “Students used to seat on a bench on one side of the table,” she said. “But teach ers soon decided individual student desks with seats that fold up was a better learning situation. So when teacher asked a question, students would raise their arms to be recognized and that particu lar student would stand before answering back to the teacher.”
So how about discipline issues for these one-teach er country schools? Herself a teacher for 23 years, Raasch warmly smiled, “Discipline is always an issue in education. A ‘smitting stick’ was sometimes used by male teachers. The lady teachers favored kinder disciplines — like offenders having to stand backwards in a corner of the classroom; or wrapping a hanky around their eyes and standing in front of the other students for the duration of the class. Or writing on the blackboard 100 times what they had done wrong.”
Raasch added it was probably even more difficult to explain to their parents what they had done wrong because parental punishment was generally much more difficult.
Summer season for this remarkable museum at Odebolt opens on Memorial Day, then every
Most of American agricul ture sees Africa as one vast nation and one vast market. It is, of course, neither.
Africa, in fact, has more nations (54), more languag es (over 2,000), and more cultures (3,000-plus), than any other continent on Earth. It’s also the world’s second largest and second most populous continent with three times the pop ulation and twice the area as North America.
By Alan GuebertMoreover, Africa is a shrinking mar ket for U.S. ag exports. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, the “average compound growth” of U.S. ag sales to sub-Saharan Africa (all the African nations that do not touch the Mediterranean Sea) was a negative 1.5 percent from 2012 through 2021.
That means the three-year average U.S. export value to sub-Saharan nations fell from $2.4 billion in 2012 to $2.1 billion in 2021.
So, yes, most in American agricul ture are mostly wrong on most things African.
Which begs the question, given our broad ignorance of Africa, why do we still think we know what’s best for this culturally rich, incredibly diverse, enormous continent’s farm and food sectors?
It’s a question asked at the most recent Africa Green Revolution Forum in Kigali, Uganda. The Forum, backed by AGRA (one of Africa’s largest ag organizations that hopes to build a “resilient agri-food system” through out central Africa) had its longstand ing advocacy of Western-style agricul
ture questioned by both African and Western farm and food policy leaders.
And for good reason: A week before the meeting, a story in Nation, the largest circulated, independent newspaper in Kenya, spot lighted AGRA’s policy record. It showed that over the last 17 years AGRA had spent $1 billion trying to double crop yields and farm incomes for “smallscale” farmers in 13 African countries.
But its biggest achievement, accord ing to the story’s author, Timothy Wise, a senior research fellow at Tufts University’s Global Development and Environmental Institute, was “a 30 percent increase in hunger” across those same 13 nations where AGRA’s Western solutions had been imple mented.
AGRA’s biggest problem, according to Wise, who also serves as a senior advisor at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, was its retreaded 1960s version of the “Green Revolution,” that he called “an import ed, top-down approach reliant on imported fertilizers and other inputs” that work against “small-scale farmers.”
Much of the blame was directed at America — the wellspring of good intentions, much certainty, and many billionaires. Specifically targeted was Bill Gates, the super-rich monopolist who sees Africa’s inherent, multifacet ed farm and food woes mostly as a technology shortfall.
But Africa is not North America and its central food producing region is not
the U.S. Midwest. As such, it should be plain that American ag monocul ture — capital-driven, carbon-inten sive, and techno-industrial — can never take root in deeply impover ished (yet richly diverse) Africa — despite decades of patronizing effort.
Even Gates’ hometown newspaper, the Seattle Times, can read that hand writing on the GMO seed bag. In a remarkably candid, Sept. 8 assess ment of the Gates Foundation multi year effort “to deliver on promises to radically reduce [African] hunger and increase farm productivity,” the news paper quoted one African expert to label the effort as nothing more than “...the second phase of colonization.”
Gates returned fire Sept. 12, to say the solution to today’s “global hunger crisis” (a reference to the Covid pan demic and Ukrainian war) is what he called “magic seeds” —crops that are “engineered to adapt to climate
change and resist agricultural pests.”
Which sounds like an updated ver sion of the same 20-year, $1 billion prescription that dramatically grew hunger across much of Africa.
On top of that, Gates’ general plan to “use more pesticides and fossil fuelbased fertilizer that add to climate change” is the opposite direction most Western governments, farm groups, and farmers are now headed as they decarbonize their food economies as quickly as possible.
Which just goes to again show you what the West doesn’t know about Africa: its culture, and its agriculture would kill an increasingly rare ele phant.
The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. Past columns, events and con tact information are posted at www. farmandfoodfile.com. v
The theme for the 2023 GROWMARK Essay Contest is: “How can ag coopera tives stay relevant to future genera tions?” The contest is open to all high school FFA members in the United States.
This is the 30th year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues affecting agriculture, and under stand the unique role of cooperatives. Essays should be submitted online at www.bit.ly/GMKEssay2023.
The deadline for all submissions is
midnight Central time on Oct. 28. Additional program details have been sent to agriculture teachers and are online at www.growmark.com.
One national winner will receive a $1000 award, and their FFA chapter will receive $750. Four national runners-up will each receive $500, and their chapters will receive $300. States with at least 25 essays submitted will also have a state winner selected. Each school may submit one essay.
This article was submitted by GROWMARK — an agricultural coop erative serving almost 400,000 custom ers across North America. v
For the last six years I’ve known the day would come when my baby would board the school bus and head off to kindergarten. For the last six months it has been on my mind more frequent ly as I remind myself that he is more than ready to go to school.
For the last six weeks I have been praying about what is next for me as I move into a new season of life with all five of our children in school full time.
By Whitney Nesseand off while I have waited for him to get home. I have cried each time one of my kids started kindergarten. I am not sure if it’s the recog nition of time that’s gone by, or watching my little ones become independent, or maybe it’s a combination that gets me.
haul manure, organize the barn, build a new goat pen — and this is only a start.
For the last six days, I have been trying to fuel my son’s excitement for school by making sure he eats all of his food, like a kindergartener or gets dressed on his own, like a kindergar tener.
The day finally came. Jordy excitedly boarded the school bus with his broth er, smiling from ear to ear. He could not wait to get to school.
For the last six hours I have cried on
For 13 years, my primary role has been a stay-athome mother. It has been one of the most physically and emotionally gruel ing tasks I have ever had — and it has also been the most wonderful and ful filling.
In no way, shape or form is my job as a mother now over; it is just taking on an entirely new look as another school year begins. I do not doubt that my days will quickly fill. With harvest season just around the corner, there will not be a lack of things to do. I have already started a list of tasks I want to complete while the kids are at school: bring in another crop of hay,
What I am grieving however, is that I no longer have a little buddy to ride along with me in the tractor, no one to drink secret Coke-a-Cola’s with, no one to be my sidekick during chores or to watch gates or keep me company. For the first time in 13 years, I will spend my work days alone. Of course there will always be sick days when my kids are home or days that I care for my nieces and nephews or neigh bors; but for the most part I will be alone. That thought is more than a lit tle intimidating for me. Loneliness is one of my greatest fears.
I can recall days longing to have a mere five minutes to myself without a constant tag-along; and now, I would turn the clock back in an instant just to experience five minutes with my kids as toddlers. How quickly the tables have turned. So many times, when my kids were completely depen dent on me, older and wiser mothers
would encourage me to love every minute of having little ones because they grow up quickly. As a sleepdeprived, 30-year-old mother of five small children, time moved about as fast as molasses in January. Now, as a well-rested, nearly 37-year-old mother of five fairly self-sufficient kids and pre-teens, I understand what they were saying.
As I allow myself to grieve growing out of what had become so familiar … life with a little one glued to my side, I am looking forward to the next sea son of raising children. Although I am still unsure of where the Lord will guide me next, I will choose to recog nize there is a season for everything. No matter how grueling many of the days gone by were, I am grateful for the opportunity to have had 13 years at home with my children.
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
LAND MINDS, from pg. 2
Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends from 2 to 4 p.m. Yes, it is air conditioned and heated too. “Our season extends through September. Some families make this a special ‘Country School’ outing here at the museum. They even bring sack lunch es for this a four-hour learning adven ture. And for the eighth graders and grandparents, we even provide eighthgrade tests to check their educational progress”, chuckled Raasch.
But that pipe organ amazed me. Raasch said pipe organs were frequent in these one-room country schools. “They were light weight and trans ported conveniently across the prairies in covered wagons. And a pump organ doesn’t require electricity … just strong legs of the person doing the pumping. This one is very functional. It has beautiful base notes. We play it regularly, so it’s a real delight. It was taken out of the building at one time because the teacher couldn’t play and it was a natural home for mice. So it got stored away for a period of time until the building and its contents were moved onto this site here in
Odebolt.”
Yes, this was indeed ‘simultaneous learning’. With the teacher at the front of classroom, and teaching a subject to just maybe only one student, the entire school was “tuned in” each and every day. Raasch added, “One student commented, ‘I heard eight years of math here, so I learned it pretty well.’”
How does education today compare with teaching in these one-room coun try schools of earlier generations? “The country school students had lots more civics and county and government information,” Raasch responded. “One question on our eighth grade tests was, ‘Who are our county supervisors?’ I doubt students today could answer that question. Yes, civics and patrio tism were always stressed. And that included the daily Pledge of Allegiance … weather permitting, always out doors at the base of the flag pole. So this was teaching every student regardless.”
An eye-catching marble statue of Hansel and Gretta stands out front of the Odebolt museum. Raasch explained, “It was designed by a medi cal doctor — who in his retirement
went back to his first love of being an artist. And his grandchildren were the models for Hansel and Gretta. The lit tle girl is pulling on her brother’s sus penders while he knelt down looking at a frog in a little pond. She was wanting to get to school; he was more interested in that little frog.”
Raasch closed with this reminder of the annual Iowa Country School Preservation Contest: “This brings people from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and elsewhere. One year, one of our speakers came from Montana; two from Austrialia. Last year, we hosted it here in Odebolt. We had great weather — so a full day of
presentations about preserving coun try schools and other historical build ings and artifacts in our rural commu nities.“
Yes, very likely, several states across America have restored one-room coun try schools on display. My first eight years of schooling was Brookfield #4, a one-room country school in Worth County, Iowa. And indeed, this visit to the remarkable Country School Museum in Odebolt, Iowa was a sig nificant trip down memory lane for this aging Norwegian.
Dick Hagen is the staff writer emeri tus of The Land. He may be reached at rdhagen35@gmail.com. v
Did you experience a perpetual sense of cabin fever during the pandemic? I sure did. All I wanted to do was travel and socialize with friends and family; but my options were limited. Borders and restaurants closed their doors; concerts and sporting events were can celled; and weddings were down sized or postponed.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, a new form of tourism has grown like a weed: agritourism and agritainment. Minnesotans were hungry for activities and the outdoors were open for business.
By Garrett LieffringAgritainment includes — but is not limited to — wineries, breweries, farm-to-table diners, farmer’s markets, Christmas tree farms, sunflower fields, orchards, strawberry picking, pumpkin patches, pet ting zoos, breakfast on the farm, barn weddings, glamping, farm tours, and more.
Over the last two years, I have had the opportuni ty to experience agritainment first hand. I attended a wedding at a family farm in a barn near Red Wing, Minn. and another at a winery near Alexandria, Minn. I found a few new favorite brew eries in Madelia, Minn. and Annandale, Minn. I admired the beauty of a sunflower field in bloom near Mankato and cut down my first Christmas tree near St. Peter — learning the important les son: it is not about the destination, but the journey — as you spend more time picking out the perfect tree than cutting it down.
Strained supply chains led to restaurants sourc ing local foods. Others created outdoor food experi ences like the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm in Waseca, Minn. where you can enjoy great food, admire a beautiful landscape, and interact with animals like llamas, alpaca and goats.
Sunflowers were in bloom for most of August at Guentzel Family Farms just outside of Mankato,
Minn. This was the family’s first year growing sunflowers. Angela Guentzel estimated about 400 peo ple came out to their farm to admire the fields, take pictures, and get a hayride — all for free. The family farm plans to grow sunflowers again in 2023. Breweries are popping up across the state. David Gullixson, a busi ness banker with Pioneer Bank, has a particular interest in the brewing industry. When asked about the impact breweries have on a community and region, Gullixson shared, “breweries have a big impact on communities by bringing people together in good times and bad. They are always supporting a local charity or fundraiser and giving back to the communities they are in.”
These businesses are hiring, and they offer an immense amount of flexibility. Whether you are looking for a part-time, morning or afternoon shift, seasonal, volunteer experience, or meaningful work during retirement, there is a place in agritourism for you in Minnesota’s small towns.
Agritourism joined the spotlight during the Covid-19 pandemic, but its impact on rural communities is here to stay. Not only is agritourism grow ing across Minnesota, but the nation. People are seeking experiences outside of the city, shaping new identities for small communities and leading to immense business growth since the beginning of the pandemic.
What are you waiting for? Get out of the city and experience what small towns and agritourism has to offer.
Talent in the GreenSeam focuses on developing talent and promoting careers in agriculture and food. Garrett Lieffring can be reached via email at glieffring@greenseam.org v
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is conducting a statewide audience assessment.
“As technology continues to evolve, we want to learn how Iowans prefer to access, receive and engage with extension education – both in person and virtually,” said John Lawrence, Iowa State’s vice president for extension and outreach.
Through this survey, Iowans can tell ISU Extension and Outreach about the technology they prefer to use, the topics they want to learn more about and the
issues they think will be important to the people in their communities over the next two years.
The survey is available online at www.extension. iastate.edu/survey and will remain open through late October. Iowans may contact their ISU Extension and Outreach county office for more information.
This article was submitted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. v
Houseplants placed out doors during the summer should be moved indoors as the nighttime temperatures decrease. Very sensitive plants may be injured by nighttime temperatures of 45 to 50 F.
Plants should be segregat ed from those which have been indoors all summer for a week or so. Plants brought indoors may have insect pests and diseases. Spray large plants in a shower or sink to knock those insects and pathogens off; or use mild dishwashing soap and water to wipe the leaves and stems to remove them. There are insects such as aphids, mealybugs, white flies, etc. that are not a major problem to plants while they are outdoors, but do become a problem when the plant is brought indoors. The warm indoor atmosphere
encourages the insects to multiply and move to other locations. Gardeners may inspect a plant for insects or give them a bath by soaking the plant in warm water and dishwashing soap if the plant is small enough to manage. Remember to wash the outsides of the pots also. Soaking the top layer of soil or removing and replacing it will eliminate insect eggs which may have been deposited there.
The process of bringing plants indoors is the same as acclimating them to outdoor conditions in the spring. The shock of being moving indoors may cause yellow leaves, wilt ing, dieback, or the death of the plant. If possible, bring the plant indoors for a short period of time each day and lengthening the period until the plant
remains indoors for the season. Try to duplicate the lighting conditions indoors the plant was used to outdoors. Or adjust to lower light conditions slowly, as in moving from a very sunny location to a less sunny one for a short time each day until the plant appears acclimated to its winter location.
This is also a good time repot the plant into a larger container if needed and/or to prune irregular or unwanted growth. Plants that have grown new plants along side of the parent plant may need to be removed and placed in their own containers. An alternative to bringing the entire plant indoors is to take a cutting, place it in a rooting medium, and later into soil when roots have developed. This is especially use ful for geraniums which produce a new plant without the woody stem of an existing plant. Coleus, begonias and impatiens are other candidates for
propagation by cuttings.
If circumstances prevent overwinter ing plants indoors, collect seeds from the plant and store them for use the following year. Seeds need to by com pletely dry before storage and kept in dry and cool locations. If the seeds are in a glass jar or other sealed container, they may be kept in the refrigerator. Be sure to label the plant name, vari ety if known and collection year. This is useful because some seeds remain viable for several years and may not be all used in the following spring. Hybrid plants, however, may revert to the grandparent or previous genera tion varieties used in their creation. Choose seeds from healthy plants with no disease symptoms so that diseases are not introduced to the new plants.
To avoid unnecessary waste of this season’s garden crop, it is important to understand proper storing options for root vegetables. It is important to keep in mind only healthy, disease-free pro duce should be stored.
The length of time and efforts to store these vegetables varies. The first stor age category is cold, moist storage. Cold moist storage is defined as 32-40 F with 90-95 percent relative humidity. Beets will store up to five months (be sure to store without tops). Carrots will store up to eight months and should be stored without tops. Parsnips will store up to four months. Do not wax, and they have best sweetness after two-week storage at 32 F. Potatoes will store up to six months, and should be cured at 50-60 F or for 14 days before storage. Rutabaga will store up to four months, do not wax, and will give off odors. Turnips will store up to four months, can be waxed, and will give off odors.
Cole crops should also be stored in cold, moist storage. Broccoli will store up to two weeks. Cabbage will store up to five months, but it is not recom mended to store in the basement because the smell will spread throughout the house. Cauliflower will store up to three weeks. Kohlrabi will store up to two months and should be stored without tops.
The next storage category is cool, dry storage which is defined as 50-60 F and 60 percent relative humidity. Pumpkins will store up to two months and are very sensitive to temperatures below 45 F. Winter squash will store for two to six months depending on variety. Field curing is the best option.
Finally, there is cold, dry storage — which is 32-40 F and 65 percent rela tive humidity. Onions cure at room temperature for two to four weeks before storage. Onions should not be stored near apples or potatoes as the
Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v apples and potatoes will absorb the onion flavor.
In general, store root crops in layers of moist sand, peat or sphagnum moss or in a plastic perforated bag. This helps provide essential air movement to prevent condensation and helps pre vent shriveling and prolongs shelf-life. Of course, it is then important to ensure there is good ventilation and the pro duce is stored in an area where it will not sustain rodent damage.
To obtain ideal temperatures, you may want to consider using straw, hay
or wood shavings to insulate the bags of produce in areas where the tempera tures would dip too low and cause loss.
In general, expect the shelf-life to be shortened by 25 percent for every 10-degree increase in temperature.
Finally, be sure to check on your pro duce to ensure they haven’t started to mold or go bad. Discard any that show signs before it impacts others.
This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
By DICK HAGEN
The Land Staff Writer Emeritus
BOONE, Iowa — Catch a University of Nebraska ag engineer at a farm show and my attention always sparks just a bit. At the recent National Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, my good fortune was Santosh Pita. Pita is with the engi neering department of the University of Nebraska. He was talking about robotic tractors. Dr. Pita is a native of India and possesses graduate degrees from three universities in the United States.
“You’re looking at a 60 horsepower, robotic tractor … all-wheel speed and all-wheel drive,” Pita said. “And we can do multiple operations with this. We’re looking at row-crop planting, also cover crop drilling so this machine can follow a combine and immediately drill the cover crop seed. We’re set up for a two-row operation right now, but if horsepower is stepped up it could do more rows.”
See & Spray Ultimate uses 36 cameras mounted every 3.28 feet across the 120-foot carbon fiber truss-style boom.
size, but our price projections are a range of $80,000 to $200,000.”
tractor. Yep, appears to me robotic trac tors are inevitable. Cotton farmers in the ‘Deep South’ might be the quickest to gin up to robotic power. But as soon as a reli able robotic power supplier springs up here in the northern prairies, there’s likely to be an explosion of robotic power across the Midwest.
Another technological advancement which has changed how we live is today’s cameras and image-capturing. High resolution cameras are now in our phones and our doorbells; and are a mandatory accessory on police uniforms. But cam eras and field sprayers?
Called the “See & Spray” system, this remarkable technology was on display at the National Farm Progress event in Boone, Iowa. The contraption does exact ly what its name says: It only sprays when it sees a weed!
“This is a research proto-type;” Pita went on to say, “but even so, a few farmers are already asking if they might purchase such a machine. So that is why myself and a graduate student are doing a start-up company called Plains Technology. Depending upon
“We’re thinking maybe six to seven years might be its useful life span,” Pita admitted. “Then something simply better likely will be available — if not from us, then from others who see a healthy future for robotic tractors.”
Flex-Row is the name for this soon to be robotic
Explained Franklin Peitz, John Deere’s Marketing Manager for JD Sprayers, “Yes, essentially we’ve got two sprayers in one system. We’ve got a split tank with independent plumbing all the way down the boom going down to two different nozzle bodies with two dif ferent nozzle tips. So you can be spraying a residual while simultaneously spraying a non-residual. Or spraying a fungicide while spraying a herbicide.”
Talk about technolo gy, get this: See & Spray Ultimate uses 36 cameras mounted every 3.28 feet across the 120-foot carbon fiber truss-style boom. These cameras are networked together, scanning more than 2,100 square feet per second and capturing 40 images in a blink of an eye as the sprayer moves through the field.
The University of Nebraska brought their prototype 60-horse power, robotic tractor to the Farm Progress Show.
So the inevitable question: Does it miss a few weeds?
Peitz said, “The ‘hit rate’ with this unit is compa rable to broadcast spraying. We’re not seeing any more misses than you would in a regular sprayer.”
JD literature suggests the unit can reduce nonresidual herbicide use by more than two-thirds! This enables operators to spray more acres per load while reducing the environmental impact.
Peitz indicated See & Spray systems will be distrib uted to John Deere dealers across the Midwest by spring. The factory-installed system will be available for model year 2023 John Deere 410R, 412R and 612 sprayers. JD’s Ankeny, Iowa manufacturing facility is the source of this equipment. v
On average, nearly two dozen people are killed each year in the United States in grain entrapment inci dents. Flowing grain is dangerous and behaves much like quicksand. In four seconds, a full grown adult can sink knee deep from the suction of flowing grain. In just 20 seconds, they can be completely buried. The pressure of the grain usually hinders self-escape, and can even make assisted escape near impossible. A person buried to the waist in grain requires a force equivalent to their own body weight plus 600 pounds to free them. The force required to remove a person buried under grain can exceed 2,000 pounds.
Here are some grain handling scenarios which are incredibly dangerous and could result in an accident or even death.
The first is flowing grain. Around 80 percent of reported entrapment involves a person inside a bin when grain-unloading equipment is running. Entrapment in flowing grain can also occur in outdoor storage piles, grain wagons, rail cars, and semi-trail ers that unload from the bottom. As grain is unloaded through the bottom outlet, a funnel-shaped flow devel ops on the surface of the grain. Anyone standing on the surface while grain is being removed from below is at risk of being rapidly pulled down toward the outlet with the flowing grain. If grain unloading equipment is not shut off, victims can be pulled down into the unloading conveyor, auger, or sump.
Another dangerous scenario is bridged grain. Spoiled grain clumps together and can develop a crust on the top surface. This crust appears solid, but it is unstable and may hide open voids below. Bridged grain can collapse under a person’s weight, resulting in the victim being buried by falling and shifting grain. If unloading equipment is running at the time
this occurs, the victim can be rapidly pulled down toward the bottom of the bin.
An additional risk is a vertical grain wall ava lanche. Spoiled grain can form a clumped mass which adheres to the vertical wall of a bin. Entering a bin to dislodge a vertical wall of grain higher than the victim is dangerous because the grain wall can sud denly break loose and fall like an avalanche, burying or injuring the victim.
There is also a high risk when using grain vacuums to remove grain from bins. When the grain vacuum nozzle is placed below the grain surface, a funnel flow of grain develops. An operator can be pulled into the downward flow of grain if this nozzle is released or becomes buried below the grain surface near the operator’s feet. Maneuvering the vacuum tube can be awkward, increasing the operator’s risk of slipping or losing balance as he or she tries to reposition the hose in flowing grain. If the operator falls or strug gles for position, his or her movements can trigger an avalanche of grain if the slope of grain is steep.
Some safety precautions to prevent grain-related incidents include managing grain to prevent spoil age. The most common reason people enter bins is to address problems associated with spoiled grain. To reduce the chance of grain spoilage, maintain aera tion equipment in working order and check the struc ture to identify and fix roof leaks. Also, store grain at the correct moisture content and temperature to prevent conditions favorable for grain to spoil.
Second, work from outside the bin. If clumps or crusts develop in the grain, use a pole from outside the bin to probe or knock the clump free. Restrict access to bins, storage structures, and outdoor grain
Minnesota organic farmers and processors can apply for a rebate of up to 50 percent of the cost of their organic certification. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Minnesota Organic Certification Cost Share Program from now until Nov. 1.
Organic certification is a third-party verification system. It assures consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow National Organic Standards and are monitored through review of their records and on-site inspec tions at least once a year.
“The yearly cost of certification can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars,” Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey said. “This program provides some relief.”
Funds for the cost share program are available first-come, first-served and come from a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.
Operations which received certification (or had ongoing certification) between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022 are eligible for reimbursement of up to 50 percent of certification-related expenses, with a maximum of $500 per category (crop, livestock, pro cessing/handling, wild harvest).
MDA also offers a similar cost share program for transitioning a farm to organic.
To qualify, applicants must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agency. There is an online application process. Certified organic farmers or processors can obtain all the program details and necessary materials on the MDA’s website (www. mda.state.mn.us) or by calling (651) 201-6134. Applicants who do not wish to apply with MDA may apply through their local FSA Office.
Additional funding for up to 25 percent of allowable certification costs is available through FSA. That application deadline is Oct. 31.
This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
storage piles. Post signage and lock access doors so unauthorized persons, bystanders, and youth cannot enter. Also, post signage at all entry points to bins, outdoor storage piles, and other storage structures that warn of potential for entrapment and require any entry to be done by trained workers following safe procedures.
Third, provide training to all employees on the dangers of grain handling and what the safety pre cautions are. Have an emergency rescue plan in place and make sure all employees know what it is and what they need to do if it is put into action. Shut down and lock out all grain handling equipment and turn off all power sources when not in use.
Fourth, if you absolutely have to enter a bin or other grain storage area, take proper safety precau tions. Always visually inspect the grain bin or stor age area before entering it. Never enter alone. Have at least one other person in a safe position watching you and there to help in case something goes wrong. Also, use fall restraint equipment and make sure it is properly anchored. These systems consist of a full body harness attached to an anchored line, which limits the distance the entrant can drop or fall. Most importantly, don’t allow someone who has not been trained to enter a bin with you or with anyone else.
This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v
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Nick Schiltz • 507-402-6175 nick.schiltz@riverland.edu
There are a number of factors to consider when try ing to determine the price of corn silage: the cost of fertilizer and field operations, the moisture and corn content of the silage and markets (grains, straw, mild, and silage). This can make obtaining a fair price hard to come by.
Farmers have priced silage using the rule of thumb that silage value per ton is 8 to 10 times the price of a bushel for corn. The factor of 8 has typically been used when pricing standing corn silage; the factor of 10 is used when corn silage is already in storage. However, this rule of thumb may need adjusting as
the current corn and input prices have changed. It’s more likely that the corn silage standing in the field is worth 6 to 8 times the price of corn grain.
Environment may also play a role in the amount of grain in a silage sample. Testing samples for mois ture and feed quality is one way to help decide what the silage is worth and can help eliminate some of the questions around quality. Also, remember that storage and labor costs are tied up in the price of grain. If you are not the one doing the work, make sure to properly adjust the price based on the harvest costs which would have occurred in harvesting the
grain.
There are many different ways to price corn silage other than the old rule of thumb. Many of these options are easily found online and free to use. Penn State, Iowa State, and Wisconsin all have their own versions of corn silage pricing calculators and can all be found using a simple internet search. Each one takes a slightly different approach to pricing corn silage, so make sure to experiment with them to decide which one best fits your needs and situation.
This article was submitted by Karen Johnson, University of Minnesota Extension. v
Mud can make horse chores a challenging mess. Additionally, prolonged exposure to mud can affect horse health and lead to problems such as scratches or thrush.
The best way to manage mud on horse farms is to prevent (or limit) mud accumulation in the first place. While mud season is not here yet, dry condi tions are the ideal time to consider and implement drainage solutions. Here are several tips you can take now to help reduce mud during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt.
Routinely clean dry lots. Organic matter such as manure and hay waste holds water and can signifi cantly contribute to mud formation in dry lots. In addition to reducing mud, removing organic matter
can also help protect surface waters from nutrient runoff. You can minimize hay waste in your dry lot by using a round-bale feeder or small-square bale feed er.
Install roof gutters and downspouts on buildings to direct water away from horse areas, especially dry lots, manure piles, and high traffic sites. Water com ing off building roofs is clean and should be directed to vegetation to avoid runoff. Be sure to clean and repair gutters and downspouts as needed.
Create a plan for piling snow. Designate an area to pile snow, where snowmelt will not drain through buildings, dry lots, lanes, or barnyards. Be sure to consider the potential for ice formation around the snow pile as it thaws and refreezes. Do not pile snow
near manure piles or incorporate manure into snow piles, which can lead to nutrient runoff.
Construct a high traffic pad in an area of your dry lot that is prone to mud such as a feeding site, shel ter, or gate. High traffic pads consist of multiple lay ers of geotextile fabric and stones that promote drainage. As a result, a high traffic pad can provide your horse relief from mud elsewhere in the dry lot. Routinely pick manure off your high traffic pad and rake and refresh stones as needed to maintain a level surface.
This article was submitted by Hannah Lochner, University of Minnesota Extension. v
ST. CLOUD Minn. — There has been a long-stand ing debate on whether manure or chemical fertilizer is better for crop production. While both can be ben eficial there are some differences that should be considered when you are deciding which to use.
Available nutrients from manure and chemical fertilizers can affect what practice operations use. Chemical fertilizers have a precise amount of nutri ents which can be offered in a variety of nutrient levels to meet your specific needs. This will also make nutrients available to plants immediately. However, most chemical fertilizers do not contain
micronutrients. They also can release nutrients too quickly which can lead to leaching and nutrient run off due to high solubility. Manure can offer nutrients and micronutrients as a slow release. However, nutri ent levels can vary based on the animals’ diet and storage practices. In addition, release of nutrients can vary and are affected by soil temperature and microorganism concentrations.
Both manure and chemical fertilizers have differ ent effects on soil health. Chemical fertilizers gener ally do not benefit soil health because the fertilizer applied is formulated to benefit only the crops grow ing in the field. They do not provide any organic mat ter for the soil and don’t support microorganisms in the soil. Manure, on the other hand, can greatly benefit soil health. It supports the microorganisms in the soil which help to convert nutrients into available
forms and break down organic matter added by manure. Manure improves the soil structure and water infiltration and retention. It also improves the cation exchange capacity of the soil.
In terms of yield between manure and chemical fertilizers, there is no significant difference between them. There may be some difference between them if manure has a significantly low amount of available nutrients.
Manure and chemical fertilizer differ between cost and availability, storage, and application process.
Determining which to use on your fields can only be determined by your operations capability and goals.
This article was submitted by Kaitlyn Czeck, University of Minnesota Extension. v
When Sam Ripley was 13 years old, he started to raise pumpkins and sell them from a hayrack (with orange wheels) at a gas station in Montevideo, Minn.; but he already had bigger ideas in mind.
“That’s how we started selling the first few years,” Sam said. “It worked really good. When we got to last year I decided it would be cool to try a new venture, so we started having the peo ple come to the farm.”
While the pumpkins are his business, he says “we” a lot because of all the support and physical help from his parents, Scott and Jana.
But, “This is his doing,” Jana said. “He’s made money to fund this.” In fact, she said, his first customer-based enterprise was in Middle School when he had a small flock of hens and sold eggs.
His father said Sam has had ideas since he could walk — always recreat ing at their farm site events he had attended.
“He’d been to pumpkin patches and saw this as something we could pull off here,” Scott said. “It’s all him. The ideas and every dollar put into it is his. He’s earned money doing other things. He got going by raising and selling the pumpkins in town.”
Now a senior in high school and thinking of studying business adminis
tration next year in college, Sam is in the second year of his expanded busi ness venture — hosting people at the farm where buying a pumpkin is only one of the many activities.
Sam got into the pumpkin business the way he does most of his ventures: by just doing it. (He is also a selftaught auctioneer — something he grew to like attending auctions with his dad.) He did not expend time by researching how to grow pumpkins.
“I just read the seed packet,” he said.
His dad let Sam till about one-half of an acre from a pasture he rents to a farmer. He did it with a walk-behind tiller. Last year, the first year for host ing customers, he added another acre up the hill from the original patch. For
that he hired it done with a tractor-mounted tiller.
Sam has his own approach based on his own experi ence, which isn’t always orthodox. He plants his hills six feet apart, using 5-6 seeds rather than the rec ommended 3-4 seeds per hill. And once they germi nate, he does not thin them out as recommended.
“Once they’re growing, I just let them grow,” he said. That’s worked for him in the past, so he kept it up this year.
The growing conditions the plants like are sun and rain. He got about 100 per cent germination in his sunny pumpkin patches, except for two hills in the shade of a borderline tree. This year the rain came when needed; but not last year when it was very dry.
“Last year I actually watered it all by
hand,” Sam said. He purchased hun dreds of feet of garden hose to stretch from a hydrant near the buildings all the way to the back of the one-acre patch. It paid off with a good crop.
The only pests he has encountered also came last year — the cucumber beetle. The beetles came when the plants were just starting to bush out. He hand-sprayed the patch to elimi nate the beetles and the plants recov ered for an excellent crop.
Weeds are easiest to deal with when the plants are small, he said. The hills are spaced six feet apart so the man hired to till the soil in the spring with his five-foot tiller can come back and tilled out the weeds. When the plants begin to bush out, Sam has to switch to hoeing.
“I actually worked construction this summer, so my dad helped me out a lot [with the hoeing],” he said. “Once the vines take over, the weeding is over.”
His new patch is very productive, the older one less so. He figures it is time to
See PUMPKINS, pg. 16
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CHANHASSEN, Minn. — When Degler Farm stopped milking cows in 2002, it was the end of dairy production in Chanhassen, Minn., as they were the last dairy left. It wasn’t the end of Degler farm, though. Gayle and Lois Degler continued to grow corn, soy beans and wheat. But, eventually, rais ing crops alone wasn’t enough for this family of educators.
Gayle was a teacher in southwestern Minnesota for six years. He was also involved in the family farm in Chanhassen. The opportunity arose for Gayle and Lois to purchase the farm next door to his home farm. Gayle then farmed full time, and he and Lois raised four children: Beth, Todd, Wade and Ellen. All the children (except for Todd) went into the teaching field. Todd went on to become an engineer.
so they were looking for something that would allow them to generate addi tional income on the farm during the weekend. The idea of opening the farm up to visitors to experience agriculture firsthand with their families was born in 2018.
“We want to keep the farm look and setting,” Todd said. The farm experi ence is geared toward ages 14 and below, “because they probably know the least about agriculture.”
The Deglers find that the children who visit have a keen interest in what goes on in a working farm. “They (the kids) appreciate the education,” Ellen said.
Both those professions led the Deglers to look at what their farm’s future could be. The family wanted the farm to be a place to educate the public about production agriculture while having a lot of fun at the same time. The farm has always been a place that welcomes visitors. While the dairy was still operating, the Deglers hosted school groups for 35 years. The stu dents had the opportunity to tour a working dairy and better understand the work that goes into milk production.
The Deglers all have day jobs (in addition to the Degler kids, Gayle is a Carver County commissioner and Lois manages the bookkeeping for the farm and babysits grandkids when needed);
Four years ago, the family opened the Degler farm up on the week ends in the fall. That year, they offered hay rides, a corn pit, pumpkins for sale and a corn maze which was less than an acre.
“It was a big hit,” Todd said.
It took the farm one and a half years working with the city to get
two tractors pulling the wagons. “It’s a big family event. It’s been all family runs, tours and hayrides,” Todd said.
The family works together to bring their dream of opening an agritourism destination to fruition. Gayle, Lois, Wade, Todd, Ellen and families can be seen at the farm throughout the fall season. Sister, Beth lives in Wisconsin.
In 2020, people were looking for something to do outside, close to home. Degler Farm was the perfect fit. “What really propelled this was Covid,” Todd said. That year he used his engineering skills to make a trebuchet to catapult pumpkins. The trebuchet was a big hit and taught visitors principles of phys ics in addition to it being just plain fun to watch.
the permits for agritourism. “There really are only a few agritourism farms in the metro,” Todd said. The farm had to coordinate with Chanhassen on parking plans and conditional permits. The Degler farm is the only agritour ism site in Chanhassen, so the city had to develop how they would handle this type of business in town. Now that the Degler Farm has been up and running for agritourism for many years, they have a clear understanding of how best to work with the city to ensure all per mits and conditions are met.
“It turned into a natural transition,” Todd said. The first year they did about three hay rides a day. The Deglers saw interest in the farm expe rience and knew this would be suc cessful. With agritourism, it’s not one size fits all. “There’s no cookie-cut ter way to do it,” Todd said. The first year the farm did 20 hay rides the whole season.
In 2021 there were 20 hay rides given each day, with
“The views and smells are free. You pay for what you want to do,” Todd said. That includes the slide, hayride, pump kins and corn maze. “We greet people when coming in, pay when you go,” Todd said.
“Education has always been really close to my family,” Todd said. The 25-minute hayride around the farm allows Gayle to drive the tractor while also sharing the farm’s history and the history of agriculture in Carver County. There’s old machinery located in the Deglers’ woods; Gayle explains to visi tors how those relics aided farmers in planting and harvesting. “We compare and contrast our farm with other farm ing techniques,” Todd said.
Todd has a sawmill outside of the barn where he cuts a large piece of wood for projects around the farm, such as the top of the benches on the hay wagon. He also sells lumber. Near the
This column was written for the mar keting week ending Sept. 23.
First indications are that U.S. milk production saw a pretty good jump in August, thanks to big increases in out put per cow and cow numbers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest data shows output at 19.02 billion pounds, up 1.6 percent from August 2021. The 24-state total came in at 18.2 billion pounds, up 1.7 percent.
By Lee Mielke
It is only the second monthly increase since October 2021, but is measured against last year’s small 0.6 percent gain from August 2020. USDA has also lowered its estimates in the recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. However, revisions raised the 50-state July estimate 53 million pounds to 19.2 billion, up 0.5 percent from 2021 instead of the 0.2 percent increase originally reported.
But the 1.6 percent increase should not be ignored. August cow numbers totaled 9.427 million,
highest since August 2021, up 8,000 from July numbers which were revised up 3,000 head. The August herd was only down 11,000 head from July 2021 but is up 60,000 head from January.
Output per cow averaged 2,018 pounds, up 34 pounds or 1.7 percent from August 2021. July out put per cow was revised up five pounds, to 2,038 pounds.
StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski, speaking in the Sept. 26 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, said the take away from the report is “In the midst of the high costs of operating a dairy today, dairy farmers have been fairly resilient.” He said there was a “knee-jerk
reaction” in the futures market; but “Does it really change my world view of milk supply, both in the U.S. and globally, and the answer is no. There’s still a mountain of challenges dairy farmers face. The milk supply is still under duress and one report showing output above a year ago, while it has a bearish tone, I don’t think it’s much to worry about.”
Demand is still in the driver’s seat, Kurzawski said, and the United States is in a good position to take market share from Europe over the next few months. Add that to holiday demand here at home, and market prices should stay strong — even if but
ter comes down from its $3 high.
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The latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC., says, “Dairy margins improved over the first half of September on stronger milk prices while feed input costs were largely steady but remain firm.”
The Margin Watch detailed the August Milk Production report, stat ing, “Although the U.S. dairy herd appears to be stabilizing and showing modest growth, tight margins and labor conditions, high input costs, lim ited processing capacity and increased regulations will deter significant expansion. Strength in dairy product exports is helping to support milk pric es, as U.S. prices remain competitive on the world market despite strength in the U.S. dollar. U.S. dairy exports in July rose to 467.4 million pounds, up 4.5 percent from last year with cheese, butter and whey all increasing export volumes compared to 2021.”
The Margin Watch cited crop details from the September WASDE which “confirmed lower yield and production forecasts for corn and soybeans. Both harvested area and yield projections were lowered for corn and soybeans, reducing the production forecasts by 415 million and 152 million bushels, respectively, from August. A hot, dry finish to the summer along with an ongoing drop in crop condition ratings is helping to retain risk premium in the market ahead of harvest, particu larly for the soy complex.”
Dairy cow culling took a jump in August. An estimated 266,100 head were sent to slaughter under federal inspection, according to the latest Livestock Slaughter report, up 36,000 head from July and 4,700 or 1.8 percent above August 2021.
Dairy culling has been tracking below last year’s level — so expansion is likely occurring, according to StoneX. “Producer margins have gotten much tighter in recent months so we will have to see if the increase in production is enough to keep cows in the herd or will
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Meanwhile, the USDA’s latest Dairy Outlook, issued Sept. 16, stated, “The 2023 forecast for the average number of milk cows was lowered by 20,000 head to 9.415 million, as the rate of growth in cow numbers is expected to slow in 2023. The 2023 forecast for milk per cow remained at 24,300 pounds.
U.S. butter and cheese stocks fell in August as consumers chewed through the inventory. The USDA’s latest Cold Storage report shows the Aug. 31 but ter inventory at 282.6 million pounds, down 32.5 million pounds or 10.3 per cent from July, and down a hefty 80.1 million pounds or 22.1 percent below a year ago, the 11th consecutive month stocks were below the previous year.
American-type cheese stocks fell to 842.4 million pounds, down 17.6 mil lion pounds or 2.1 percent from July, but were 15.3 million or 1.8 percent above a year ago.
The “other” cheese category fell to 620.3 million pounds, down 19.1 mil lion or 3 percent from July, but had 37 million pounds or 6.3 percent more than a year ago.
The total cheese inventory added up to 1.48 billion pounds (the lowest since April but a record high for August) according to the Daily Dairy Report. It was down 38 million pounds or 2.5 percent from July, but still 51 million or 3.6 percent above a year ago.
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Recovery continued in the Sept. 20 Global Dairy Trade auction which saw the weighted average rise 2 percent, following the 4.9 percent jump on Sept. 6, reversing five consecutive declines. Traders brought 57.6 million pounds of product to market, down from 59.8 million on Sept. 6, and the average metric ton price inched up to $4,072 U.S., up from $4,007.
Anhydrous milkfat led the way, up 4 percent after leading the gains last time with a 13.9 percent rise. Butter inched 0.2 percent lower after a 3.3 percent rise. Whole milk powder was up 3.7 percent following a 5.1 percent gain, and GDT cheddar was up 2.1 percent after rising 1 percent. Skim milk powder was down 0.7 percent fol lowing a 1.5 percent rise in the last event.
StoneX says the GDT 80 percent but terfat butter price equates to $2.37 per pound U.S., virtually unchanged from the last event, and compares to Chicago Mercantile Exchange butter which closed Sept. 23 at a pricey $3.1325. GDT cheddar, at $2.3346, was up 4.6 cents, and compares to Sept. 23’s CME block cheddar at a bargain $1.96.
GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.6089 per pound, down from $1.6215, and whole milk powder averaged $1.6931 per pound, up from $1.6374. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Sept. 23 at $1.58 per pound.
StoneX adds, “Overall concerns about New Zealand milk production likely drove the stronger results. North Asia market share, which includes China, bounced back from abysmal levels at the previous event. North Asia’s share of purchases was down slightly from last year, but volume was up. South East Asia lost share compared to the last event, but was similar to last year. Middle East share was up, Africa’s was down,” says Nate Donnay, Director of Dairy Market Insight.
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Speaking of China, August dairy imports sadly trailed year-ago percent ages. Whole milk powder totaled 66 million pounds, down 59.5 percent from August 2021, though year to date is only down 15.8 percent. New Zealand felt that the most.
Skim milk powder imports amount ed to 72.7 million pounds, down 2.4 percent and down 24.8 percent yearto-date.
Dry whey imports were up 1.2 per cent, totaling 138.5 million pounds, and broke a 10-month streak of weak ness, according to HighGround Dairy, but whey imports are down 30 percent year-to-date. HighGround Dairy says August was the largest monthly vol ume from the United States of any month since May 2018, with a 53 per cent market share vs. 40 percent a year ago.
Butter imports were also up, showing a 32 percent rise, but only totaled 15.9 million pounds. Cheese totaled 31.1 million pounds, down 10 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date down 19.5 percent.
By KRISTIN KVENO
The Land Staff Writer
Sometimes the best plans pop up when spending time with friends. That’s precise ly what happened to life long pals Zach Schumacher and Isaac Fest. “Isaac always has ideas,” Schumacher said. It was on a trip to Okoboji a few years ago that Fest first came up with the popcorn-growing business venture.
Schumacher and Fest have been friends since they were in daycare togeth er in Heron Lake, Minn. Both were raised on farms. They wanted to start a business that utilized their experience in growing crops.
“I grew up on a straw berry farm and tree nurs ery. We have some row-crop farming,” Schumacher said. He graduated high school in 2014 and went to the University of Minnesota. He lives in Heron Lake with his wife, Logan and son, Beau and remains part of the family business, Schumacher’s Nursery & Berry Farm.
Fest had an interest in agriculture which began on the family farm. After graduating from Heron LakeOkabena High School in 2015, he went to South Dakota State University, where he received his undergraduate degree in agronomy. He came back to the area, now resides in Worthington, Minn. with his wife, Kailey, and has a seed busi ness, farms with his dad and works part-time at his father-in-law’s drainage tile company.
Both guys have experience farm ing. They thought field corn and popcorn were similar in how to grow it, but they were wrong. “It was a challenge to figure out how to do it.” They learned that you have to plant popcorn earlier and harvest later than field corn. They used a drill to plant. “Not ideal,” Schumacher said. The guys utilize family equipment for planting and harvest, so they have to do both when the equipment is available.
Two Dudes hope the October harvest will be in the neighborhood of 67 pounds of popcorn per bushel, or 6,700 pounds per acre.
This is the second year they have grown popcorn. They planted two acres of popcorn this spring. “We did put it all on the heavier ground this year. We thought it looked really good today,” Fest said. They grow butterfly-style pop corn that offers a light and crispy texture.
“We try and sell it to the schools for concessions,” Schumacher said. The Heron Lake-Okabena, Fulda, Worthington school districts and Minnesota West Community and Technical College all pur chase Two Dudes Popcorn for their concession stands.
The popcorn currently comes in 50-pound and twopound bags, as well as an eight-ounce size packaged with two ounces of coconut oil for popping.
The popcorn is sold at Fest’s wife Kailey’s shop, Hers & Mine Boutique in Worthington and on their website. It is also sold at a couple of other local area shops.
“I think we’re going to keep going and expand each year,” Schumacher said. The demand is there, with other schools and organizations interested in buying popcorn from Two Dudes. They are excited to roll out a new product geared towards kids: the popcorn still on the cob. You put the cob in the microwave and have the popcorn ready to eat in just a few minutes.
The success they have found thus far has been humbling. “The com munity support and the power of social media,” Fest said. “Not too many people don’t like popcorn.”
The best part of being in the pop corn business? “Hanging out with friends,” Schumacher said. “Just the chatter that was created around us. It’s cool when everyone’s eating your popcorn,” Fest said.
corn. If they could average 67 pounds of popcorn per bushel, that would be 6,700 pounds per acre, which would be ideal.
After it’s harvested, it’s cleaned. Fest and Schumacher recheck the kernels for any remaining debris before its bagged. Though it can be a long, tedious process, perfection takes time. That’s no dif ferent when you’re producing popcorn.
The name Two Dudes Popcorn was Fest’s wife, Kailey’s idea; it’s simple and straightforward. Schumacher and Fest loved the name immediately. From friends to business partners, things are pop ping for Fest and Schumacher. Not to sound too corny, but Two Dudes Popcorn is doing a-maize-ingly well. v
“A lot of manual labor goes into growing popcorn. We also bag it all ourselves,” Schumacher said.
“Popcorn is really picky with moisture,” Fest said. He found a good variety out of Indiana which seems perfect for southern Minnesota’s growing climate.
Because Fest and Schumacher have day jobs, fit ting in time to be popcorn growers, packagers and marketers get tricky. That means they work on the popcorn business in the evenings and on weekends.
Popcorn harvest is expected at the end of October this year. The guys are excited to see what the yields will be. “We should have a good crop,” Fest said. The average for popcorn is about half the yield of field
rotate that one to a different spot.
Sam began with seed from Jung Seed, but for his main plot he purchases seed from a commercial pumpkin seed company. He buys mostly for orange pumpkins, but also white — which has become a popular decorating pumpkin and sold out last year. He also plants the colored pumpkins decorators like, such as pink, blue, green, striped, and warty-skinned varieties.
The commercial seed company requires purchase of a minimum quantity, which he can meet because he orders a larger number of seeds than he expects to use. (He has saved some seed in case he ran out, but has not needed it.)
“The goal is to have a lot of pumpkins left at the end of the year,” he said, “more than you want to sell because those last weekends you don’t want it to look bad out there.”
He wants the people who come the last weekend to have as good of an experience as those who come earlier. The leftovers don’t go to waste. A farmer up
the road comes to load his huge manure spreader and spread the extras on his fields for compost. Ripley gives them to the farmer in what he calls a “win-win” situation: the farmer gets compost and he gets the patch cleared off for next year.
A promoter as well as a business man, Ripley has solicited financial support from area businesses. He’s looking forward to another busy season. Almost 5,000 people came last year. His schedule for school tours is full, and he has a scheduled visit by a home bringing folks in wheelchairs. Hospitality is part of his entrepreneur ship.
“I liked the whole idea of doing this,” he said. “I wanted [a business] I could have all these extra activities with.”
With the pumpkin picking (some folks pick wheel barrows full for decorating, he said), there is a field full of activities for kids and adults, a petting zoo, concession stand, gift shop, hayrides, and this year, to
honor veterans, a flyover by WWII planes from Fagen Fighters in Granite Falls. (The flyover was not sched uled when this story was written. Check his Facebook page.)
It’s a lot of work, a lot of coordinating, a lot of bring ing an idea to reality, and Sam Ripley seems to be having a good time. In a sense, it’s on-the-job train ing.
“I’m getting a lot of first-hand experience with the business world,” he said.
Sam’s Pumpkin Patch is open Saturdays and Sundays (and Thursday/Friday during MEA week end) through Oct. 30 — Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays noon – 5 p.m. A $5 admission fee for age two and up includes all activities (except Gemstone Mining and Laser Tag).
Sam’s Pumpkin Patch is at 4425 186th Street, just south of Montevideo.
Check SamPumpkinPatch on Facebook, or the web site samspumpkinpatch.weebly.com. v
sawmill are The University of Minnesota honey bee boxes, which have been at the farm for six to seven years. “They (U of M) were looking for places in the metro,” Todd said. The bees are another talking point in the hayride, explaining that a farm is a great place for bees to inhabit as there are plenty of pollinating options.
Just beyond the barn, you’ll find the three-acre corn maze. A new design is created each year.
“We math teachers map out our grids,” Ellen said. Once the design is mapped out, it takes dedication all growing season to keep the design in the field free of corn and weeds.
New this year is a tube slide. Riders go down while sitting on a gunny sack. The slide is on the hillside overlooking the farm; the view is impres sive, and the ride down is exhilarating.
“We have an old gravity box with a basketball hoop on it,” Todd said. Shooting hoops gets the conversa tion going with the visitors about how a gravity box works.
The pumpkin patch is across the street from the farm on two and a half acres. A local youth group picks the pumpkins and helps load them on the trailer for the ride over the farm, where they’re displayed for visitors to choose just the right one. This year’s pumpkin crop is impres sive. The lack of rainfall didn’t seem to slow the pumpkins down. “Pumpkins like drier weather,” Gayle said.
Creating an on-farm experience for visitors while maintaining a working farm is no easy task. However, ingenuity, hard work and a dedi cation to preserving agriculture in Chanhassen for not only the Deglers, but for their community, is the goal now and for future generations. With the Degler family raising the fifth generation, the hope is that it continues to be a family-run farm steeped in history and an unending passion for sharing that history with visitors. “Our niche is the small-town farm feel. We’re rooted in edu cation and promoting agriculture,” Todd said.
The Degler Farm is open on weekends through Oct. 30. For more information, visit https://deglerfarm. business.site/. v
Fertile, Minn.
Sept. 23
Feed for the cattle is top on Matt Erickson’s agenda right now. He spoke with The Land on Sept. 23, saying, “things look pretty decent.”
A crew just finished chopping silage. “Not a huge crop, but decent,” Erickson admitted. He’s still making hay off of prevent planting acres and the cows are “doing well” on pasture.
“There’s still a lot of harvest to go,” Erickson said. “We need a halfdecent September. We’ve had frost warnings, but I haven’t noticed anything. We don’t need to start winter chores quite yet!”
Weather in Erickson’s neighborhood has been “off and on.”
“It’s better than last year when we were so dry,” Erickson said. “It seems like lately we have to get our morning drizzle in.” v
Garden City, Minn.
Sept. 26
“I’m pretty excited,” Bob Roelofs reported on Sept. 26. “The beans are better than I thought!” Roelofs expects to complete combining the first batch of soybeans this week. “The second planting is pretty green,” he said. Yields are coming in at 65 to 70 bushels per acre and Roelofs is “happy with that.”
Corn harvest is still a good two weeks out, but Roelofs expects yields to be good there as well.
“The manure pits are getting full,” Roelofs admitted, “so we’ve got to get an application for next year’s corn.” v
Sept. 23
“Rain seemed to miss us — that’s the title of this chapter!” Leah Johnson is readying for harvest and expects to be combining beans next week. “There are
so many variables,” she exclaimed. “We had torrential rainfall in May, so we have some drown-outs … the higher fields of corn are baked.”
Johnson said within 20 miles of her farm there is eight inches of difference in rainfall. “Some farms received eight inches of rain all
year — and four inches of that came in May! This was a different type of drought from last year,” she admitted. “There’s more potential for a crop this year.”
“Everyone is managing expectations,” Johnson added. “We’re looking at anywhere from 30 to 60 bushels per acre (for soybeans). We didn’t get those August rains this year. The top pods aren’t there and that will take five to seven bushels off the yield. We won’t really know until we get out there.”
Johnson said there is a lot of road construction in her area and moving equipment on those roads is a real challenge. “Just be patient out there,” she advised. “Put your phone down and watch for tractors — especially at dusk.” v
“We’re finding some surprises out there … not all good!” That was Scott Winslow’s assessment of his fields on Sept. 23. Winslow is seeing sudden death syn drome in some of his beans and added other farms in the area have tar spot.
High winds earlier this summer knocked down corn and areas of mold are being reported — despite it being very dry over the last two weeks. Winslow expects corn planted in May will be ready to combine any day now. “The dryer will be humming pretty soon,” he said. Corn which was planted in June is a little farther behind. “The June corn is about half to three-quarter dented.”
Winslow’s beans are losing their leaves and could be ready to combine next week. “We’re ready to roll,” he said, “just a few loose ends.”
Outside the fields, Winslow has been selling pigs every week to prepare for a new batch arriving mid to late October. The farmhouse and outbuildings which suffered damage in December are being repaired and wiring was just completed on a new machine shed. “We’ve got new roofs on the grain bins and finished the damage to the house,” Winslow added, “so I can check that off my list.” v
Russell Bathke, age 77 of Wells, Minn., will likely rank as one of my more inter esting farmer acquaintances.
Gladie and I met Russell and his delightful wife Rita on July 21 at about 9 a.m. at Market Fresh coffee shop, adjacent to Diamond Joe’s Casino on Interstate 35. I had a telephone chat with Russell two days previously — arranging this I-35 linkup. We’re recent arrivals to our new retirement home in Northwood, Iowa. Russell and Rita were enroute to Mason City for the start of a two-day tractor ride of 60 miles with an anticipated 200 tractors.
I asked Russell, ‘Why do you do these tractor rides?’ Russell quickly responded, “Because of the quality of people you meet. We’re 99 percent farmers on these rides and that’s what makes them the best tractor rides in America. This is our sixth ride this season … we intend to do three more before we wrap up the year.”
Russell said the ‘tractor ride fever’ bit him in 2016 when he completed restoration of his John Deere 4020. Sure, like farmers everywhere, a little ‘hot air’ about your tractor is always in order. Russ pur chased his 4020 in 1971. It was his third 4020 since he started in his farming career. It’s now a spit and
polished tractor with AC cab and 3-point hitch which comfortably cradles his bride’s ride each day.
His first ride originated in Grinell, Iowa and was sponsored by WHO Radio in Des Moines. Russell said this was the 20th ride sponsored by this radio station with coverage across the entire state. “I think we had 560 tractors … very likely the biggest tractor ride in America. And in those days we didn’t always have hard-surfaced highways — so lots of miles on gravel roads too. Today, we’re almost always paved or blacktop highways.”
end. My 4020 can cruise at 18-20 mph.
I had it completely refurbished; so it now looks better than when it came off the showroom floor. I even used it four years ago at my neighbor’s funeral.
We pulled his casket in a trailer to the cemetery hitched behind my 4020. He was a farmer with three 4020s which he was still using when he passed away. Yep, it was a memorable event for all of us.”
So back to today’s upcoming ride starting just out side Mason City: where does his bride Rita ride?
“She’s only about 6 feet behind me, comfortably perched in ‘The Farm House.’ We’re close enough so we can yell back and forth to each other as needed. In the six years I’ve been going on these tractor rides, I’ve lost a lot of friends. The advent of Covid seems to be accelerating these loses.”
Start-up time each day for these tractor warriors is “usually by 8 o’clock (a.m.) with intentions of being back each evening by 4:30 (p.m.) or so. Rides are planned to be about 60 miles each day. With some of these older tractors, 10 miles per hour is probably top
Rita says she enjoys seeing the sights from “The Farm House.”
“Mostly fun,” she admitted, “except when he hits a bump or makes a sudden swerve almost knocking me off my seat.”
Russell confided he was a high school wrestler. Does he credit some of his vigor to his high school wrestling carreer? “No, I would say mostly working like a dog; but doing what I like best and that’s farm ing. Sure, some genetic tutelage from my parents I suspect, but working in today’s exciting world of agri culture is for me the best work in life. And these occasional tractor rides with other farming friends just adds a special touch.”
I asked wife Rita, “What’s your take chasing around on these tractor rides?” She coyly responded, “Mostly fun — except when he hits a bump or makes a sud den swerve almost knocking me off my seat. I look at the scenery across our Iowa and Minnesota country sides … so many wonderful views. So when we make our stops we usually have good chatter about what we’ve just experienced.”
Back home, CME block cheddar closed the fourth Friday of September at $1.96 per pound, down a dime on the week, following gains of 14.25 cents the previous week and 15.25 cents the week before that. The blocks were still up 25.25 cents from a year ago, but headed lower.
The cheddar barrels climbed to $2.19 per pound on Sept. 22 (the highest since July 1) but finished the next day at $2.185. This is 9.5 cents higher after gaining 15.75 cents the previous week. They were 58.5 cents above a year ago and 22.5 cents above the blocks, as the spread widened. There were 12 cars of each sold on the week.
Milk availability to upper Midwestern cheesemak ers has slipped, according to Dairy Market News. Class I demand has drawn more milk as cheese makers seek to increase output due to strong mar ket prices. Spot milk offers have become rare, says Dairy Market News, as some are selling loads at Class to just over Class III. With the rise in recent demand, cheese producers are cutting back on orders, simply to keep up. Barrels especially are tight as holiday demand builds.
Looking westward, retail cheese demand is declin ing as the higher prices take a toll. Food service demand is steady, with mozzarella makers noting
strong purchasing from pizza makers. Internationally, cheese is priced at a premium to U.S. product and contributing to increased global interest. Demand for barrels is outpacing supplies. Milk volumes are tight ening but are sufficient to run steady production, though plants in the region say labor shortages and delayed deliveries of supplies continues to prevent them from running at or near capacity.
CME butter fell to $3.1075 per pound on Sept. 21 but closed Sept. 23 at $3.1325, unchanged on the week, but $1.405 above a year ago, with 13 sales reported.
Midwest butter producers tell Dairy Market News cream is unavailable on the spot market, or nearly unattainable. Churning is lighter, as micro-fixing continues to trend higher. Butter demand in the upper Midwest is outpacing supplies and “As long as cream availability remains snug at the onset of strengthened fall demand, butter markets are expected to remain in rarefied air,” says Dairy Market News.
Cream demand is mixed in the West. Interest from ice cream makers is declining but demand is strong from butter makers. Declining milk produc tion is not helping. Retail and food service demand for butter is steady. Purchasers are wary of current prices and are limiting their orders to near-term
needs. Inventories are tight and unsalted butter is more difficult to obtain than salted.
The Sept. 20 Daily Dairy Report points out that U.S. exports of butter and milkfat to Canada in the first seven months of this year totaled 40.9 million pounds, more than double those in 2021. The Daily Dairy Report said Canada has accounted for more than 40 percent of U.S. butter and milkfat exports so far,.
Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Sept. 23 at $1.58 per pound, up a penny on the week, and 22 cents above a year ago, with three sales reported on the week.
Dry whey finished the week at 45 cents per pound, down a penny, and 12.25 cents below a year ago, on four sales for the week at the CME.
The USDA announced the October Federal order Class I base milk price at $22.71 per hundred weight, down 91 cents from September, but $5.63 above October 2021 and the lowest Class I since March. It equates to $1.95 per gallon, up from $1.47 a year ago. The 10-month Class I average stands at $23.73, up from $16.48 at this time a year ago and $16.50 in 2020.
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
TRACTOR RIDE, from pg. 18
I asked Rita if her husband was always this crazy when they first started dating? Russell quickly interjected, “I think I was even worse.” And Rita agreed. ”Yes,” she admitted, “when he was younger he was very likely even worse.”
Russell related there weren’t many conversations with non-farmers on these various tractor rides. Very little, suggested Russell, because outside of their overnight stops, a convenient mix with non-farmers just doesn’t occur. “But it does occasionally happen. A couple years back, when we parked here at Diamond Joe’s for a noon lunch, I happened to be standing alongside my tractor when this couple from the Twin Cities stopped. We talked for maybe 15 minutes, then he grinned and said, ‘Dang, this sounds like great fun. You might have just talked me into buying a tractor and joining in on one of these country tractor rides.’“ Russell, brag if you wish, but does the John Deere color predominate in these tractor rides? He politely answered, “I used to think there wasn’t any other brand. But I’ve since learned to just keep my mouth shut and see the other colors. Like today we have these two orange Case-IH rigs — one an air-cooled engine without a radiator, but rigged with a special air cooler to suck air in. And in the Albert Lea ride last week, I noticed two guys with International rigs with an American flag bolted to their drawbar. I told
them, ‘Looks good; but if you have to pull me, you’d have to take your flag mount down.’”
How about gasoline refills on these rides? “These guys with 8N Fords might have to carry extra gaso line, but we’re okay with our rigs.”
And seldom is weather an issue. Russell explained, “Most rides are set up to go rain or shine. But last year at New Hampton, Iowa, we pulled in with our rig just as it started lightning, then heavy rains. When we got to the fairgrounds we got stuck with our trailer and tractor rig before we even got unloaded. They had breakfast for us there at the fairgrounds. We were supposed to leave at 8 o’clock; but it was still lightning and raining. Then a 9 o’clock start was announced, but soon the deputy sheriff who was to escort us out of town simply said there wouldn’t be a ride. So we reloaded our rigs and headed home.”
As you might imagine, these rides require lots of work by each community hosting the event. At the North Iowa event, drivers took part in an evening meal and drivers safety meeting before departing the next day. Goodie bags distributed to ride participants included T-shirts, tractor signage and gifts from a variety of sponsors. All of this makes Russell reluctant to quit taking these tractor rides. “Not until I die!” he exclaimed.
On the morning of July 22, the Tractor Ride began rolling out with the slowest group leaving first. Morning drive included a tour through North Iowa
Area Community College; then north on Hwy. 65 about nine miles to Manly, Iowa — where the Women’s Group of Bethlehem United Church wel comed them with a delicious noon luncheon feed.
From there, riders travelled west seven miles on Hwy. 9 to Hanlontown to view the huge POET etha nol processing center; then back 26 miles to the North Iowa Events Center to park for the evening. Riders and families were encouraged to explore the Mason City and Clear Lake area.
After Saturday morning breakfast, the riders herded their rigs about 18 miles west to Clear Lake. That included a lovely eight-mile lake shore drive (and, if you wished, a stop at the Buddy Holly Memorial site, Surf Ballroom). Noon lunch at Ventura City Park proceeded a loop back to the North Iowa Events Center for the evening wrap-up.
Spectators are welcome to join the riders for lunch, along the route, or just check out the tractors at their overnight parking campground.
Our visit with Russell and Rita was a great educa tion about tractor rides across our beautiful Iowa and Minnesota countryside. Yes, a variety of interesting agricultural business stops along the way. Also, lots of fine eating and scads of farmers politely willing to share lots of farmer logic too! Now you better under stand why Russell Bathke ain’t stopping his tractor rides until he dies! v
The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Sept. 23.
corn/change* soybeans/change*
a lowly 3.6 million bushels compared to 13.1 million bushels last year.
Stewartville
Edgerton
$6.80 -.16 $13.32 -1.86
$6.98 -.85 $13.73 -.71
Jackson $6.32 -.26 $13.59 -.71
Hope $6.34 .94 $13.43 -1.30
Cannon Falls $6.67 -.27 $13.38 -1.51
Sleepy Eye $6.67 -.56 $13.68 -1.11
St. Cloud $6.28 -.25 $13.58 -.66
Madison $6.43 -.70 $13.74 -.70
Redwood Falls $6.78 -.55 $13.70 -1.08
Fergus Falls $6.28 -.54 $13.53 -.91
Morris $6.32 -.51 $13.68 -.81
Tracy $6.43 -.87 $13.60 -.71
Average: $6.53 $13.58
Year Ago Average: $5.11 $12.38
Grain prices are effective cash close on Sept. 27. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.
Weekly ethanol production was down 62,000 bar rels per day to 901,000 bpd which was a larger decline than expected and the lowest production since February 2020. On a same-week basis, it was the lowest in eight years. Ethanol stocks fell 342,000 barrels to 22.5 million barrels. This was also a larg er-than-expected drop and the lowest stocks number of the year. Net margins fell 18 cents to 4 cents per gallon. Gasoline demand at 8.3 million bpd is down 6.5 percent from a year ago. On a four-week average basis, demand is the smallest since 1998.
Where are we with the railroad strike possibility? While the railroad strike was averted on Sept. 16, unions still need to ratify the agreement. One union has already rejected it, but put strike plans on hold until the end of the month to allow other unions a chance to vote on it. The can has been kicked down the road with nothing settled.
CORN — News and action were slow to start this week; but that changed as news from Russia and Ukraine shook the market. Prices edged higher through the middle of the week on uncertainty in that region, but a pre-weekend sell-off ensued when macro elements took charge and spilled into the agricultural sec tor. The U.S. dollar hit fresh 20-year highs and crude oil trad ed below $80 per barrel for the first time since mid-January and to pre-invasion levels. Technically, December corn has been unable to punch through $7.00 per bush el, but the 100-day moving aver age support level has held as support.
CHS Hedging inC. St. Paul
Ukraine went on the offensive a week ago and reclaimed terri tory that was held by Russia. President Putin, in response, announced four regions of Ukraine that Russia holds will vote on annexation by Russia. Voting is to take place from Sept. 23-27. The land involved equates to 15 percent of Ukraine. The areas include Donetsk and Luhansk which Russia recog nized as independent at the start of all this. The other two partially-controlled regions are Kherson and Zaporizhia. Most other nations are calling these “sham” referendums which will not be recognized as legitimate.
President Putin also authorized the first military mobilization in Russia since World War II. Reportedly, 300,000 reservists will be activated of the 25 million available. If the annexations pass, any fighting in those areas will be considered an attack against Russia. He also did not rule out using nuclear weap ons to protect Russia.
China made statements that Russia should move to negotiate — their first solid comments on the invasion. Just when we thought it was safe to go back into the water…
What this situation will mean for the Black Sea safe grain corridor is uncertain. Trade chatter believes the agreement will remain in place through the Nov. 22 end date, but will likely not be extended.
The 75-basis point interest rate increase announced by the Federal Reserve at mid-week was expected. The benchmark federal fund rate rises to 3 to 3.25 percent and is the highest since 2008. Another
in the above
increase in November is anticipated with rates by the end of the year expected to reach 4.4 percent and 4.6 percent in 2023. Federal Reserve Chair Powell indicated they will continue to take steps to get infla tion down to its 2 percent target, even if it leads to economic recession.
Traders are keeping their eyes peeled on social media for any harvest pictures, but it’s too early to draw any conclusions. The U.S. corn harvest was 7 percent complete as of Sept. 18 vs. 8 percent on aver age; 87 percent dented vs. 88 percent on average; and 40 percent mature vs. 45 percent on average.
The International Grain Council cut world corn production by 11 million metric tons to 1168 mmt — mostly on a smaller U.S. crop. Brazil’s first corn crop is 22 percent planted and 3 percent ahead of the average. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange put Argentina’s corn planting at 3 percent complete and 5 percent behind the average. The Rosario Grains Exchange cut Argentina’s corn crop by 2 mmt to 56 mmt with the switching of acres from corn to beans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s last Argentine forecast was 55 mmt.
Weekly export sales are back on their regular schedule. Corn sales for the week ended Sept. 15 were a measly 7.2 million bushels and well below the lowest trade estimate. Cumulative sales at 491.5 million bushels are running 50 percent behind last year. We need to average 34.8 million bushels of weekly sales to ring the USDA bell of 2.275 billion bushels. China only has 122 million bushels of pur chases on the books vs. 464.5 million bushels a year ago. At just 122 million bushels sold, this is the fifthlowest figure in the last 14 years by this date in the marketing year. China reported they imported 20.4 mmt of corn from all origins from October 2021 through August 2022 vs. 26 mmt the previous year. Cumulative sales for the 2023-24 marketing year are
Outlook: December corn once again failed to test the $7.00 per bushel level. It missed it by one-half cent in post-World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates trading and it missed it by 1.5 cents this week. The U.S. dollar index soared to fresh 20-year highs on a couple of days this week, which is not helpful for our exports. Gains into harvest may be limited by the high dollar, harvest pressure, reces sionary worries, and a lack of new export demand. Losses, however, will be limited by uncertainty in the Black Sea region and what early U.S. corn yield esti mates say. Volatility will stay high and big swings may become more common.
For the week, December corn declined a modest half-cent at $6.76.75 per bushel and March corn fell 1.25 cents to $6.81.75 per bushel. The next support in the December contract is the 100-day moving average at $6.66 per bushel as of the close on Sept. 23.
The Grain Stocks as of Sept. 1 report will be released on Sept. 30 at 11:00 a.m. Trade estimates have not yet been reported.
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange is changing the trading hours for mini contracts beginning Oct. 2. The mini contract’s new closing time will be 1:20 p.m. vs. the current 1:45 p.m. closing time.
SOYBEANS — Soybeans were without headlines of their own in what turned out to be a soft week. Harvest is quickly approaching and a lack of export demand kept a lid on the upside. Argentine farmers have taken advantage of the special soybean exchange rate with sales of this year’s crop estimat ed at 66 percent compared to 65 percent sold last year by this date. China has been the big buyer. It’s estimated China has purchased 3 mmt of Argentine soybeans since the special exchange rate went into effect compared to buying 3.75 mmt of Argentine soybeans all of last year. This situation narrows the
window for U.S. exports, but it’s diffi cult to put a number on it, and it’s not likely we’ll be able to recapture those bushels later. November soybeans have been stymied at the $15.00 per bushel level and this week couldn’t get past $14.90 per bushel. Selling into the weekend pressured prices to tease the 50-day moving average at $14.15.25 per bushel.
Weekly export sales were a disap pointment at 16.4 million bushels. Total commitments are up 11 percent from last year at 945.3 million bushels. China so far has purchased 493.7 mil lion bushels of U.S. soybeans for 202223 (including 5 million bushels announced this week) compared to 404.2 million bushels last year. We need to average 23.6 million bushels of weekly sales to achieve the USDA tar get of 2.085 billion bushels. China’s August soybean imports from Brazil were 6.25 mmt vs. 9 mmt last year with total August bean imports the lowest since 2014 at 7.2 mmt. From January through August, China imported 40.9 mmt of Brazilian soybeans and 18.2 mmt of U.S. soybeans. The International Grains Council lowered its world soy bean estimate by 2 mmt to 387 mmt; but it’s still a record crop.
Brazil has begun soybean planting under mostly favorable conditions. A 149 mmt plus crop on the low side is expected in the coming year. Argentina
needs rain. The Rosario Grains Exchange increased Argentina’s soy bean production outlook by 1 mmt to 48 mmt. The USDA is at 51 mmt. The Climate Prediction Center is giving the chances of La Niña through January at 80 percent and Argentina will be the first to feel the effects. U.S. soybean harvest was 3 percent complete as of Sept. 18 compared to 5 percent on aver age. Soybeans dropping leaves was 42 percent vs. 47 percent on average.
Outlook: November soybeans topped out the week at $14.88.75 per bushel. New contract highs were set in meal contracts this week but late week pres sure from macroeconomics and favorable harvest weather cut the gains. Early yield results and world events including economics will be closely watched as we move into harvest.
For the week, November soybeans were down 22.75 cents at $14.25.75 per bushel as macroeconomics beat a tight balance sheet. The January soybeans fell 23.5 cents at $14.31.75 per bushel. First support in the November contract moves down to the 50-day moving aver age at $14.15.25 per bushel as of the close on Sept. 23, then the low for the month at $13.73 per bushel.
Weekly price changes in December wheat for the week ended Sept. 23: Chicago wheat gained 20.75 cents at $8.80.5, Kansas City rallied 15.25 cents to $9.50.5 and Minneapolis was 10.5 cents higher at $9.49.25 per bushel. v
Oct. 4 — Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Walk — Canton, Minn. — Late fall and early winter feeding strategies for a dairy herd. Harvesting Kura clover seed. Contact Cynthia Olmstead at http://www.kicka poograzinginitiative.com
Oct. 8 — Creating a Diverse Silvopasture Farm — Clemons, Iowa
— Learn how farmer is turning 11 acres of tilled land into newly-established tree and shrub silvopasture sys tem to support fruit and nut production
and provide grazing space for goats. Contact Debra at debra@practi calfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661
Oct. 11-12 — National AgriMarketing Association Fall Conference — Minneapolis, Minn. — Learn the latest and most effective ways to connect with customers, build your brand and grow revenue at infor mative educational sessions. Contact the National Agri-Marketing Association at info@nama.org or (913) 491-6500
WANTED: Land & farms. I have clients looking for dairy, & cash grain opera tions, as well as bare land parcels from 40-1000 acres. Both for relocation & invest ments. If you have even thought about selling con tact: Paul Krueger, Farm & Land Specialist, Edina Re alty, 138 Main St. W., New Prague, MN 55372. paulkrueger@edinarealty.com (612)328-4506
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Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910
Sell your farm equipment in The Land with a line ad. 507-345-4523
FOR SALE: JD bean head model 216, JD cornhead, model 444, 4RW, Mayrath Auger, 8”x30’, PTO on trans port; International stalk chopper, model 50, 1000 PTO. 952-758-3578
FOR SALE: 2006 275 Case Magnum, 1 owner, 2700 act hrs; 2388 Case combine, 2800 sep hrs, 0 hrs on 30k rebuild; ‘08 bean & cornheads on trailers. 320-808-5723
FOR SALE: 770 Oliver; A-62 payloader; 71 & 32 Westfield and Farm King augers; 320 J dryer; ‘84 IH truck. 320-894-4982
JD 693 6x30 cornhead, exc cond, $8,900; JD 930 flex head w/ full finger auger, $3,750; Unverferth 8200 850 bu grain cart w/ tarp, $12,750; JD 220 20’ stalk chopper, $5,750; Case IH 5800 31’ chisel plow, w/ Sum mers harrow, $8,900; 10”x60’ Feterl PTO auger, $1,900. 320-769-2756 or 320-361-0065
FOR SALE: CIH 7130 2WD, 18.4x42 axle mount duals, 3 remotes, dual PTO, rock box, 6,235 hrs, always shed ded, VG condition. 952-649-8604
FOR SALE: (7) - F12 tractors, $300-$600. 651-686-8247
John Deere Tractor 8100 Diesel. 6206 hours. Big 1000 PTO. Used for planting, spraying and rock picking. Excellent condition. Duals. Front wheel assist. Always shedded. $73,500 (320) 699-0295
Opening October 3 & Closing October 11 at 7PM
Stuedemann Brothers Equipment Auction, Plato, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 6 & Closing October 13 at 10AM
Maury Floden Estate Farm Equipment Auction, Wendell, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 6 & Closing October 13 at 12PM
Matt Buttke Excess Equipment Auction, Fingal, ND, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 6 & Closing October 13 at 2PM
Hauck & Buchholz Drywall Retirement Auction, Fargo, ND, Timed Online Auction
Friday, October 7 at 10AM
Todd County, MN Land, Home and Lakeshore Auction - 354± Acres, Long Prairie, MN
Friday, October 7 at 11AM
Peyton Family Farm Estate Auction, Long Prairie, MN
Opening October 7 & Closing October 11 at 12PM
Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 7 & Closing October 12 at 10AM
Online Steffes Auction 10/12, Upper & Central Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 10 & Closing October 19 at 7PM
Northern Lights Specialized Shop Equipment & Auto Parts Auction, Staples, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 12 & Closing October 19 at 10AM
XS Dakota Snow Removal & Concrete Auction, Minot, ND, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 13 & Closing October 20 at 10AM
Lance Lenton Reduction Auction, Norwich, ND, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 13 & Closing October 20 at 2PM
Fischer Farm Realignment Auction, Grenora, ND, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 18 & Closing October 25 at 10AM
Fessenden, ND Commercial Land Auction, Fessenden, ND, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 21 & Closing October 25 at 12PM
Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 21 & Closing October 26 at 10AM
Online Steffes Auction 10/26, Upper & Central Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 25 & Closing November 1 at 1PM
Spurley Dairy Farm Retirement Cattle Auction – Part 1, Linden, WI, Timed Online Auction
Opening October 27 & Closing November 3 at 10AM
Redwood County, MN Land Auction - 160± Acres, Morgan, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening November 1 & Closing November 9 at 7PM
Snow Equipment Inventory Reduction Auction, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening November 4 & Closing November 8 at 12PM
Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction
Opening November 4 & Closing November 9 at 10AM
Online Steffes Auction 11/9, Upper & Central Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction
Opening November 8 & Closing November 15 at 1PM
Spurley Dairy Farm Retirement Cattle Auction – Part 2, Linden, WI, Timed Online Auction
Opening November 8 & Closing November 16 at 1PM
equal full purchase contract price. Broker: Maring Auction
Mcleod County, MN Land Auction - 44± Acres, Silver Lake, MN, Timed Online Auction
NEW AND USED TRACTOR
PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 50 Series & newer trac tors, AC-all models, Large Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage 715-673-4829
Retired. FOR SALE: Sharp 51G JD, power steering & new rubber; also Sharp 1951A JD, new rubber & live hyds; also 1951B JD w/ good rubber, no fluid in any of the tires. Sell separate or $10,000 for all three. 507-831-1308
FOR SALE: 28’ John Deere 960 field cultivator with 3 bar harrow, extra shovels & harrow teeth, $4,500. Gibbon MN 320-583-5010
FOR SALE: JD model 3600 7 bottom onland plow, spring reset, works good, $2,500. 507-276-1381
FOR SALE: 3 - 5’ Great Plains crumblers, like new, $1,250. 952-201-1176
FOR SALE: IH 285 disc, 20’ heavy duty, $1,200. 507-276-8345
FOR SALE: Krause Domina tor, 4850-15, (2009), $16,500/ OBO. 612-749-9314
GEHL 2480 Round Baler. Very good condition, $4,800. 715-317-0645
FOR SALE: ‘97 JD 9400 com bine, 10 Series updates, 2738 eng, 1947 sep hrs, 30.5x32, Greenstar yield & moisture monitor, DAS, DAM topper, JD 920F beanhead, for aft & pipe reel, JD 693 CH, poly all shedded. VG condition. 952-649-8604
FOR SALE: JD 115 stalk chop per, low acres, CV joints, intrans, Kilbros 400 bottom dump gravity box, EZ Trail 1074 gear. Always shedded. Excellent cond. 320-583-5808
FOR SALE:Feterl 8”x60’ grain auger w/ hydraulic swing hopper, runs great, $1,300. 507-327-6430
All kinds of New & Used farm equipment - disc chisels, field cults, planters, soil finishers, cornheads, feed mills, discs, balers, haybines, etc. 507438-9782
FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred (Mike) Kemen 320-598-3790
FOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hamp shire, Duroc, cross bred boars, and gilts. Top quality.
Excellent herd health. No PRSS. Delivery available. 320-760-0365
Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Boars & Gilts available. Monthly PRRS and PEDV. Delivery available. Steve Resler. 507-456-7746
FOR SALE: 17 head of Polypay and Hampshire ewe lambs.
Mike Haubrich, Danube MN. 320-826-2526 or 320-522-2389
FOR SALE: Sheep for sale, Polypay ewe and ram lambs, and Suffolk rams. 507-445-3317 Leave message. 507-822-3398
Sell your livestock in The Land with a line ad. 507-345-4523
New pumps & parts on hand.
Call Minnesota’s largest dis tributor
HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336
Sales & Service
New & Used
For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073
Tree trimming, cutting and removal.
Boom Truck & Insured. Call or Text Josh Linder 507-995-7081
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For Sale: 1950 Reo Gold Comet call 507-720-0971
FOR SALE: 1978 Fruehauf aluminum fuel tanker, 8600 gallon, only had fuel in it, great storage, $9,000. 507-381-3840
FOR SALE: 1990 Volvo triaxle, white GMC, Cummins engine, 9spd, 22’ aluminum box, roll tarp, 146,000 miles. 218-437-8120
FOR SALE: Chicken Plucker $125.0 0; Richardson Root Beer Barrel $450.0 0; An tique Gas Large Copp er Kettle Candy Cooker $2,5 00.0 0. Call Sharon at 507- 388-3302, leave message.
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regret that we cannot be respon sible 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.
be corrected.
For Sale: 6100 White 22” 12 row planter on a White 2-135, also a 12 row 22” Agco corn head with Case IH adaptor. Call 920-344-0968. (mcn)
Fall Whitetail Classic Sport Show & Auction Thurs.-Sun., Oct. 6-9; Jackson Co. Fairgrounds, Maquoketa, IA. The Great Iowa Antler Auction; Taxidermy, Decor, Over 200 Pieces of Stoneware, Antiques, Boats, ATVs, Native American & Old West Collectibles and More! Online Bidding Available www.circlemauctions. com (mcn)
CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 1-866-258-6720. (mcn)
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Minority ownership in land development projects in the Carolinas available immediately, inquire to info@ broadstreetglobalfund.com email, for further information. (mcn)
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Dakotaland Transportation Inc. is in search of cabinet haulers that are willing to travel the great USA and be home weekly. – Must have a Class A CDL. We have great benefits: health, dental, vision, life, supplementary, simple iras. Come join this great big happy family. dlt@dtisf. com. www.dakotalandtransportation.com. Call 800-822-2703 (mcn)
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Aspengren is the Master Distiller at the Little Round Still on Jefferson Ave. in downtown Wadena, Minn. Aspengren — who distills rum, vodka, whiskey, and bourbon in small batches for the distillery — listens to the customers who visit the tasting room.
Take Rhuberry vodka, for exam ple. Aspengren admits he doesn’t particularly favor vodka; and if it had been up to him he might have added another rum to the distill eries line of White Rum, Crooked Dock spiced rum, or the Oakie Dokie rum flavored by Minnesota grown charred white oak chips.
Instead, he made a small batch of vodka infused with rhubarb grown on a nearby farm and offered it to his customers. They liked it; and a couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary at the distillery chose the name.
“It’s now one of our best sellers,” said Aspengren, who points out Little Round Still’s products are now in over 200 liquor stores.
The Little Round Still is a large two-story repurposed JC Penny retail store. The still itself is made up of a half dozen gleaming copper sills and a series of former dairy farm stain less steel bulk tanks for cooking the mash. This bright, well-lit space is enclosed by glass and faces the Mural Room, a large seating area with tables for pizza or
food from the occasional food truck which sets up shop on weekends when there is live music. Visitors can also play pool, competitive darts, or try an arcade game.
The mural, rescued from a gro cery store, is on the wall opposite the actual distillery. It is a massive floor-to-ceiling painting portraying the history of Wadena in the faces of its residents. There are hundreds of faces.
“People come in here to see if they can find them selves in the mural,” Cristilyn Hutterer, one of the distillery’s business partners, said. “You can get lost looking at all the faces.”
The Mural room is paneled with large sheets of burnished but gently rusted steel. The Little Round Still likes to repurpose things which may have been headed for the scrap heap. The steel was headed for an auto factory when it fell off a truck. Nobody wanted it as it lay around rusting, so Cristilyn and her partners put it to good use.
Beyond the Mural Room is the tasting room and a small bar.
For all its classy décor, the key to the Still’s success is quality.
“The big distilleries cut corners for mass production,” Matt says. “We don’t.” v
