The Land - October 28, 2022

418

by Paul Malchow

COLUMNS

Opinion

Mielke

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Making a new home north

The numbers coming out of the Long Prairie - Grey Eagle School District last fall weren’t surprising. After all, immigrants had been arriving in the town for decades. But the numbers were remarkable.

As of last October, according to the Minnesota Department of Education, 57 percent of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle stu dents identified as Hispanic or Latino. In the same month, as a sort of celebratory acknowledgement of the statistics, Itzel Salazar Cervantes was chosen as the school’s first Mexican-American home coming queen.

LAND MINDS

By Tim King

OPINION

According to the same set of statistics, just 38 per cent of the school’s students identified as white, with the balance being other races — including a substantial group of Pacific Islanders. Among the 480 Hispanic students are many Spanish-speaking Afro-Caribbean students.

Without trying too hard, I located amongst the state’s statistics four other rural Minnesota commu nities with similar demographics: Worthington, in Nobles County, has a student body that is 59 percent Hispanic and about 25 percent white; St. James, in Watonwan County, has a 53/46 split; Pelican Rapids, of Otter Tail County, is at 30/53, and Melrose, in Stearns County, is catching up with a 25/73 split.

At Long Prairie High School, in 1967, the district hadn’t yet consolidated and the only person of color in the district (that I was aware of) was a quiet young Native American boy in my class named Mike. I assume Worthingon and other towns had pretty much the same demographics at that time.

But I’ll stick with what I know.

In 1967, Long Prairie’s downtown was a vibrant and bustling commercial center. (I was employed as a grocery carry-out boy.) There were three grocery stores, two hardware store, three clothing stores, two dime stores, three cafes, a pool hall, two auto deal ers, three barbers, a number of lawyers, two drug stores, a creamery, two meat markets, a jewelry store, an on and off-sale municipal liquor store, two hotels, two lumber yards, and probably some busi nesses - I have forgotten. All of this was contained in four blocks and was, of course, white owned.

At the time, something called a shopping mall had just been built in St. Cloud, 60 miles away.

Like many 1967 high school graduates from small town high schools, I left my home town that year with no particular plans to return. I went to school, had some jobs, started a family, bought a house, and, in 1984 I did return home. I had a small child and a pointless desk job as did my wife. We had both graduated from Long Prairie in ’67 and our parents were still alive; so we figured raising a child was best done with grandparents nearby.

When we returned, the downtown business dis trict was largely shuttered. Although a few lawyers and insurance agents hung on, most of the familyowned stores had closed — leaving the big two-story

buildings, built nearly 100 year earlier, empty. A few larger corporate-owned stores had migrated to a strip on the highway and replaced the farm imple ment dealers who had served the dwin dling number of farms.

For the next decade, the Central Avenue business district stubbornly resisted attempts by various citizen groups to revitalize it. There were video stores, tanning parlors, used clothing and furniture stores, and boutiques. All started with high hopes and then fiz zled. There was one great success. One of the hotels, which had most recently been owned by an enterprising slum lord, was reha bilitated into good quality low income housing by the publicly-owned housing authority.

The interesting thing is, when Itzel’s mom was a girl she lived with some relatives in that old rundown hotel before the housing authority took over the building. Those former hotel dwellers all own their own homes now.

In the late 1990s, young Mexican immigrants (like Itzels relatives) began to show up in town. They were employed by the food processing plants who couldn’t find other workers because of very low unemployment. Some immigrants had bigger visions than working in a factory, though.

One of the first signs that new immigrants might succeed at business district revitalization was the opening of a small grocery store, in a former hard ware store, by Carlos Mejia. Actually, Mr. Mejia’s niece ran the store while he and his wife ran a res taurant and grocery in Melrose. Carlos, like so many immigrants, worked very hard.

Carlos soon moved into a larger space — the old video store — and started a restaurant and grocery store. He rented a corner to Jose Garcia for a cloth ing store. Meanwhile, the Lopez family opened a bakery and the Chavez family opened a restaurant (and, later, an event center). Then another Lopez family opened a second grocery, the Montane family opened a third grocery, and the Hernandez family opened a clothing store.

This first wave of revitalizing immigrants was of Mexican origin. Twenty years later, the Puerto Ricans and Dominicans arrived. They too had dreams. First came a restaurant. Then two barbers, a nail salon, and an auto repair shop.

All of these families had children and those kids filled the schools and the downtown area of my childhood is once again active with children hanging out and adults conducting their business.

Immigrants have served as the best revitalization committee a little town could have.

Tim King has been a contributor to The Land since 1985. He also co-founded the community newspaper La Voz Libre and served as its publisher and editor from 2004 to 2014. He farms with his family near Long Prairie, Minn.

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Mother Nature has a population plan, too

A scientist friend recently noted that at today’s rate of consumption, the world is environmentally and economically sus tainable for roughly 1 billion people. “That means with the world’s population of 8 billion,” he half-joked, “you’re a goner.”

Right, just not right now; let nature take its course, eh?

Recent population trends, however, show that nature might already be winnowing us a bit faster (still too slow for my friend, but winnowing nonetheless).

By Alan Guebert

OPINION

For example, at a recent conference on the U.S. economy, the discussion quickly diverted from the more normal short-term economic outlook to the rarely discussed longer-term view with demography, the science of populations, as the key yardstick.

In fact, wrote Bloomberg columnist Niall Ferguson, the “main event” at the Aspen Economic Strategy Group conference, “turned out to be a series of disquieting papers on the U.S. demograph ic trends and their implications. These turn out to be,” judged Ferguson, a senior fellow at Stanford University, “a big deal; and, at first sight, a rather bad one.”

Bad for the nation’s quickly-aging population because America’s steadily falling birth rates will, he notes citing research, “‘lead to slower population growth, which in turn [will] cause slower economic growth and present fiscal challenges” like Social Security “which is banking” on a growing popula tion “to keep its actuarial deficit manageable…”

Still, adds Ferguson, the United Nations estimates if the U.S. birth rate returns to pre-1980s levels (slim chance) and the country reopens its immigration doors (even slimmer chance), its popula tion could rise to 394 million by 2100, or 17 percent more than today.

If, however, the American birth rate remains historically low and the country continues to limit immigration, the U.S. population will drop to 280 million in 80 years, or 16 percent less than today.

The numbers are far more certain if the focus is China, America’s biggest ag importer.

“By contrast,” Ferguson explains, “the UN offers no scenario in which China’s population does not decline. Best case, it falls by a fifth. Base case” — essentially the median — “it declines by 46%, to 771 million,” from today’s 1.4 billion. “Worst case, it falls by nearly two thirds, to 494 million.”

Think what 1 billion less people in China means to both the world and world markets. And think fast because, according to the Bloomberg writer, “The Chinese government has stopped denying it has a demographic problem.” Last month China “admitted that its population” would start to shrink before 2025.

But that’s only if China’s current population num bers are true. Recent reports strongly suggest that China’s infamous one-child policy which limited families to one child from 1979 until 2016, actually trimmed today’s overall population to 1.2 billion, substantially less than its official count of 1.41 billion.

Despite these projected declines, the UN still sees global population at 10 billion by 2059, then enter ing a generation-long leveling off period. Overall population decline is estimated to begin around 2086.

Ninety-five percent of all the population growth until then, says the UN, will occur in the relatively young, relatively poor sub-Saharan nations of Africa.

Strikingly, that means that in less than 40 years — or about the average length of an American farm er’s career — sub-Saharan Africa will have two bil lion more people to feed, clothe, and shelter; China might have one billion less; and rural America will be emptier than it is today.

Another massive shift already in the cards is, again, in China where its recently reappointed lead er, Xi Jinping, continues to push farmers to “divert resources from profitable agribusinesses to basic staples” so the nation will be less dependent on the “hostile” west “led by the U.S.,” according to the Financial Times

If that shift proves successful, China’s impact on U.S. ag markets (now a $36 billion-a-year customer) will change long before its shrinking population shrinks its collective stomach.

That is if Mother Nature and her increasingly intense floods, droughts, hurricanes, rising seas, melting glaciers, and other climate-forged scythes don’t winnow most of us first.

The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. Past col umns, events and contact information are posted at www.farmandfoodfile.com. v

Be wary of over-grazing pastures

Throughout the summer and early fall, farmers have been utilizing designated pastures or marginal land to graze their livestock. However, one trend which needs to be addressed is over-grazing.

Overgrazing leads to a reduction in desirable plant species and an increase in less desirable plants. Having a thin pasture stand leads to reduced water infiltration, reduced water holding capacity and

increased erosion potential. In addition, the soil will have less nutrient holding capacity and can lead to compaction issues.

It’s important to know the types of grasses and legumes in your pasture — each species’ unique growth, persistence and quality characteristics. Not all plants grow the same with changes in the weath er, soil quality and grazing management (or lack thereof). Implementing a rotational grazing plan will help improve pasture productivity over time.

Weeds on the noxious weeds list and that may cause harm to livestock need to be managed. Many require a combination approach of mowing, hand-pulling and herbicide application to be limited. If you have weeds in your pasture that have gone to seed, do not mow them as the seed will be dispersed and get estab lished in a larger area of pasture. Take note of the weed species this fall and create an action plan on how to manage the weeds in the next growing season.

This article was submitted by Karen Johnson, University of Minnesota Extension.

This book is as hard to resist as a puppy

You do not need a dog.

You can tick off the rea sons: you don’t have time or money for a dog; there is no room in your house; you don’t have a yard; you already have a dog (or two).

You do not need another; but once you’ve read “The Year of the Puppy” by Alexandra Horowitz, you’ll see there’s a chasm of dif ference between “need” and “want.”

A dog was not originally in the cards.

There were two canines in the household already and, as the founder of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard

THE BOOKWORM SEZ

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

ting hand.”

And, says Horowitz, “That is the magic bit.”

The bed is no longer yours. Neither is the sofa, the kitchen, the bathroom, or the car. Happily, you share them with another species, and “The Year of the Puppy” reminds you why.

DONATE GRAIN

College, dogs constantly circled through Alexandra Horowitz’s life. Still, the word “puppy” kept surfacing in her early-pandemic mind, until she finally gave in to it. If she could find a puppy, and study it from birth forward, that would be research, right?

And so Horowitz found someone who was fostering a very pregnant mother dog, and she was able to witness the birth of eleven squirming little “sweet potatoes” with big heads and tiny feet.

About two weeks later, she noted the puppies’ eyes were opening and she could tell they were starting to hear (puppies’ ears are plugged at birth).

She watched the litter as they went from fat little blobs to actual baby dogs, as each showed its burgeoning personality, and as they learned how to be dogs.

So how do you pick one puppy from eleven that you’ve come to know? It wasn’t science for this scientist; the foster “matched” pups with prospective parents — including Horowitz. In the end, after an overnight debate on names, Quid came to live with her new family.

Her presence was a challenge at first.Quid was a handful, always chew ing, always into things, a typical puppy, a hurricane on four legs. But Horowitz could see Quid was learning and, more importantly, she could see how. Things would take time. Love would come with affection “via the pet

It’s hard, in fact, to keep a goofy grin off your face while you’re reading this book because puppies just do that to people — author Alexandra Horowitz includ ed. And yet (though it had to be tempting), Horowitz doesn’t go com pletely twitterpated; the litter she studied and the pup she ultimately chose were observed carefully and their behaviors are explained in talksthe-talk language that dog lovers will appreciate. Adding to the charm: Horowitz offers many delightful com parisons between human infants and canine babies, and between Horowitz’ own human pre-adolescent and her growing furry one.

Even for rescue parents who haven’t had a puppy in years, this book will make sense in the data about develop ment and canine adulthood in a way you’ll like. For dog lovers of every stripe and spot, “The Year of the Puppy” is the book you need.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives in Wisconsin with three dogs and 10,000 books.

of

in

be reported as

“The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves”

by Alexandra Horowitz c.2022, Viking $28.00

Forgiveness is never beyond our reach

It was Sunday evening, Karl and I had been working outside. We came into a warm, quiet, relaxed, untidy house. The kids were winding down from a fun-filled weekend by watching something on tele vision. There — on the counter, amidst a mountain of dirty dishes — I saw it: a note from one of my children’s teachers. You might know the kind — scarlet red ink, rigid and angular lettering, no smi ley faces or stars. It was a note informing Karl and I of an incident of misbehavior.

By Whitney Nesse

There was something peculiar about this note. It wasn’t just the lack of stars and exclamations, it was the jagged edged at the bottom of the page. Not only was the bottom of the page jagged, there was

some tape and extra paper that appeared to be covering the line titled “Parent Signature.” Upon further inspection of the paper, I saw the protruding squiggles on the backside of the paper that appeared to be a forgery of my signature. “Creative!” I thought to myself. It was a pretty good patch job for a youngster.

Calling my child to me, I was met with a downcast face and a quivering lip. I asked what was the matter, to which I heard the reply, “I didn’t want to show you because I was afraid I would get into trouble!”

“Of course not!” I replied. “Let’s talk about it.”

We sat down and I heard the whole story from my child’s perspective in which innocence was firmly declared. I then read the note out loud to my child to present the teacher’s point of view. Being I was not there, I was trying to act as a neutral party and pick out similarities in both stories. I also told my child I did not believe the teacher’s story was luna cy; because I had been seeing a few of the same behaviors at home. In fact, that morning we had a discussion regarding the very behavior the teacher had pointed out in her note.

Flooding down the cheeks of a remorseful child came the tears. I held my child, reminding over and over that I was not mad. Once settled enough to breathe easy, I cupped the face of my child in my hands, looked them in the eye and said, “I am on your team. I am not angry with you and you need to bring these things to me rather than trying to hide them.” An apology was issued as well as an exchange of hugs, kisses and “I love you’s.” We prayed together and on went our evening.

This week I have been ruminating on Isaiah 1:18 which reads, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” My child’s wrongdoing was written down in crimson red ink. Although innocence was declared, we reasoned — back and forth, through open, two-way conversation. Together, we came to a conclusion, wrongdoing was admitted and a genuine apology was offered.

How many times has the Lord done this very thing with me?! I try to cover wrongs, excuse poor behavior, suppress feelings of guilt when I am actu ally guilty. On and on my list goes! And every time, the Lord beacons me, “Come now, let us reason together.”

God is not unreasonable! When I honestly reflect on the condition of my heart, my sins are like red ink on paper. Like the good Father that he is, the Lord reasons with me, allowing me to speak, hear ing me plead my cause. And when I settle enough to breathe easy, the Lord has a way of pricking my heart and at the same time lets me know that he is on my team. He offers me forgiveness for even the worst of offences.

I am so thankful for a God of justice, a God who hears my plea even when I am wrong. In the same way that I desire my children to come to me, God desires me to go to him. May I never forget his invi tation - come let us reason together.

Whitney Nesse is a sixth-generation livestock farm er who is deeply rooted in her faith and family. She writes from her central Minnesota farm. v

Remember 4Rs when applying manure

For many, Fall is the time for manure application to fields. Manure is a valuable fertilizer. In order to get the most value for next year’s crop, and avoid runoff and leaching, we need to remember the 4Rs: Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place.

When it comes to fertilizer, more is not better. Apply the appropriate rate that allows the correct amount of nutrients for your crop without over applying. Over application is bad for your bottom line and the environment.

Check out the current guidelines for manure appli cation rates on the University of Minnesota Extension website or contact your local Extension educator to help you determine the nitrogen and phosphorous rates for your crop. This includes your soil test results and manure nutrient analysis. Finally, be sure to calibrate your spreader to apply your deter mined rate.

When the weather is changing and storage units are filling, right timing can be one of the more chal lenging 4Rs. To avoid nitrification and other nutrient

loss, we recommend applying manure when soils are 50 F or cooler. This is especially important for liquid or slurry manures which have a higher proportion of inorganic nitrogen that is more easily nitrified. Note that nitrification is not halted at cool temperature, just slowed. Even around freezing, the process con tinues very slowly.

Finally, ensure you are applying in the right place. Record keeping is an important aspect of farm man agement and your nutrient plan is no exception. Again, over-application does not benefit your crop, field, bottom line or the environment. You will want to prioritize fields that can benefit from all of the nutrients in manure, not just the nitrogen.

Having a manure management plan in place for your entire operation can be beneficial to help you get the nutrients to the fields where they are needed.

Then you can plan for additional commercial fertil izers as needed to balance everything out.

This article was submitted by Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v

Read between the lines in hand-me-down cookbooks

In a way, cookbooks are time capsules. They are a tangible connection to years of family food history, and if you’re lucky, they can talk to you.

Book geeks have a word for the notes, handwriting, doodles, and scribbles: marginalia. For me, marginalia in cook books makes the recipes come alive, and this is especially true in copies of wellworn family, church, and community cookbooks. These notes are both testa ment and memorial to the love and skill of all those who prepare and enjoy the treasured recipes these cookbooks contain.

KITCHEN CLASSICS

By Diane Lochner

Growing up, my mom’s community and church recipe collections were just as important, and just as used, as the various Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens compilations. If a recipe was particularly notable, it got a “v.g.” notation in pencil, for “very good.” On other pages, there might be cor rections or adjustments to ingredient lists (“omit salt”), or amounts (“double vanilla”), or instructions (350 oven not 400).

After decades of use, these cookbooks are showing their age. Bindings are gone, pages are torn, drips, drops, dust, and crumbs add aroma and texture, and butter spots have made the paper translucent.

My mom told me recently she found and pur chased for me an original copy of her much-loved community bicentennial cookbook. She said there is some writing, notes, and newspaper clippings in it; that it was used, but not heavily. I’m grateful for her thoughtfulness, but what I really want is her copy, with all its notes, handwriting, doodles, and scribbles.

Here are a menu’s worth of “v.g” recipes from the Rothsay Community Bicentennial Cookbook, “regional cookbook representing seven churches in the Rothsay, Fergus Falls, Breckenridge, Barnesville, and Pelican Rapids area.” I don’t know if it was a bestseller, but the cover proudly announces over 6,000 in print.

And, just in time for spooky season, an easy, freezable pumpkin bar favorite.

Acini-De-Pepe Salad

Half box or 1-1/4 cup acini-de-pepe pasta

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook 8 minutes and drain and cool

Cook the following until thick, and cool: 3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup pineapple juice (from drained pineapple)

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 eggs, beaten

Add:

1 can crushed pineapple, drained

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

Half package miniature marshmallows

1 cup heavy cream, whipped

Mix all and let stand in refrigerator for at least 12 hours before serving

Potato Dumplings

5 medium potatoes, grated

1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon minced onion

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 eggs, beaten

1 tablespoon milk

Flour enough to hold together. Form into balls and drop in boiling water with a little salt. Simmer 15 minutes.

Peachy Pork Chops

6 pork chops

2 tablespoons oil (for browning chops)

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

16 ounce can of peaches (halves or sliced)

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ginger

Brown chops in oil. Pour off drippings. Season chops with salt and pepper. Drain peaches, reserving 1/2 cup liquid. Combine this with honey, lemon juice, cinnamon and ginger. Pour over chops. Cover tightly and cook slowly 45 minutes to 1 hour or until done (160°). Add peaches and cook until they are heated through. Remove peaches and chops. Serve chops with peaches at the side. Can thicken liquid with flour for gravy.

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs

1 cup salad oil

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cloves

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

15 ounce can of pumpkin

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

For the topping:

3 ounces cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 stick butter

3 to 4 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon cream or milk

Mix the eggs, oil, sugar, and pumpkin in a large bowl. Add the sifted dry ingredients and mix. Pour into a greased and floured 12x18 inch pan and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Frost with the topping ingredients as above. These freeze well.

Diane Lochner is a librarian and home cook, liv ing on a century farm in rural Minnesota. Reach her at 507bookcook@gmail.com v

The Future of Agriculture Begins Here.

We build the foundation for tomorrow’s farmers, business professionals, economists, scientiests, technicians, agronomists, analysts, and more.

Contact Nick Schiltz • 507-402-6175 nick.schiltz@riverland.edu riverland.edu/ag

Having trouble hiring new talent? Get creative.

Organizations often use LinkedIn, Indeed.com, Facebook, recruiters, and other platforms to source new talent. These methods serve a purpose, but none of these options offer prospective employees a chance to see, learn, and experience your business or culture.

Eighty-one percent of organizations with 10or more employees surveyed in the 2022 State of Agriculture Report identified the talent shortage as the greatest negative impact on their business. Not only are you competing against other firms for new business, but you are also directly competing for workers.

Regardless of your business type, industry, or specialty, one way to dif ferentiate your talent pipeline is to engage with the next generation of talent: high school and college stu dents and graduates.

The GreenSeam Talent Development, Retention, and Attraction Committee, which includes business and education leaders from across the region, have been hard at work to connect high schools, colleges, and universities to industry and employers looking for talent. Nick Schiltz, committee member and Agricultural Instructor and Program Coordinator at Riverland Community College suggests, “The goal of any business is to promote their company and job positions in front of students. If it is in-person or through any virtu al program, the goal is to get in front of students and share what they do.”

Businesses may get in front of stu dents in a variety of ways. This may include company tours, job shadowing, mentorship, speaking to classes, stu dent organizations, and more. Once

TALENT IN THE GREENSEAM

By Garrett Lieffring

you get your ‘foot in the door’ you can then share more about your opportu nities available. This can be part-time and time-flexible jobs, internships, or careers upon graduation.

career expo/fair opportunities in our region. There may be volunteer oppor tunities for ag related events; and edu cation/industry partnership opportuni ties.

Recruiting strategies can be tailored to target non-traditional ag students. Ag-related career pathway resources can be made available to parents. Encourage the expansion of local edu cational institution learning facilities and local program offerings. Businesses could have access to sur vey data related to internships.

The calendar of events is a new addition and resource to educational and business leaders. Ashley Leivermann, Chair of the GreenSeam

to get involved and when time, money, and resources are limited, convenience is key for me. I love being able to see what is going on in the surrounding areas and ways I can get in front of potential candidates not only to fill crucial roles at Crystal Valley, but to promote agriculture for all of us.”

Nick Schiltz agrees, “the calendar allows Minnesota agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) pro grams to know what events, conferenc es, opportunities, and even what com panies have available for prospective students and future employees.”

Engaging the next generation of workers at the high school and colle giate level takes time, energy, and patience. Working with students should be considered a supplemental approach to your recruiting strategy with short-term and long-term goals and objectives. Short-term, students may be looking for an immediate job opportunity while the long-term approach includes skill development, industry education, and future job opportunities.

Check out the GreenSeam Talent Calendar at greenseam.org/talente vents/ to learn more about engage ment opportunities across the region. Michalia Cyphers supports these ini tiatives and may be contacted for opportunities, questions, and more at mcyphers@greenseam.org

2022 State of Ag Report page 13

One of the goals of the GreenSeam Talent Committee is to help connect employers to talent related resources, networks, and events by developing a calendar of events. These can include

Talent Committee and Chief Human Resources Officer at Crystal Valley Cooperative states, “There is an abun dance of opportunities for companies

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

ISU Extension launches survey

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 exten sion 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 top

ics 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.

Fescue for lawns requires less maintenance and mowing

Fall is a good time for seeding or reseeding lawns. In the past, Kentucky Blue Grass was often planted, but it uses a lot of water and is not the best choice for Minnesota. Fine fescues with their long narrow blades are a better choice. This category includes strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, hard fescue, and sheep fescue. These grasses require less water and less mowing during hot or dry weather.

GREEN AND GROWING

By Linda G. Tenneson

Clippings may be left on the lawn which may be mowed at two and half to four inches high or used in no-mow lawns. Fescues need less nitrogen fertil izer which is usually applied in the fall. Broad leaved fescues may be found in meadows and other non-lawn areas.

Fescues tolerate shade better than other grasses and grow well in Minnesota. All varieties have nar row leaves and slightly different shades of green. Both the strong and the slender creeping red fescue spread by rhizomes. Strong creeping red fescue is medium green in color and the slender creeping red is a slightly lighter shade of green.

The other three common varieties, Chewings, hard and sheep fescue are bunch grasses. Chewings is medium green and the best at tolerating shade.

Hard and sheep fescue are gray-green to blue-gray in color. Their tolerance to sun and shade is also slightly different and the percentage of each of these varieties used in sun or shade grass seed packages is adjusted to accommodate the seeding location.

Homeowners who want a low or nomow lawn often use a mixture of fescue grasses. These lawns do need to be mowed a couple of times per year, but the grass is allowed to grow longer than usual, and it then flops over. The appearance is a little like rip ples on a lake.

Fescue grasses require less water and prefer drier soil. They can go four weeks without rain in midsummer if needed and will go brown during droughts. However, with deep but infrequent water ing this grass will recover. The higher mowing height used in these lawns is also a good defense against weeds.

The article “turf.umn.edu/mow-no-mow” is an interesting discussion of the uses for no-mow lawns and their management. White clover and creeping thyme are often added to fescue to create bee lawns.

Fertilizing is best done in late August to early October. All the fine fescues will grow in poor soil and in a range of pH conditions.

Chewings, hard and sheep fescue have a bunchtype of root structure and develop less thatch. Slender creeping red fescue has good tolerance to salt and is good for roadside applications.

Fescue grasses will suffer from common lawn problems such as snow mold and the white grubs that are immature Japanese Beetles.

Fine fescue seeds germinate a little quicker than other grasses, usually five to 12 days after planting. Research has shown that they do not benefit from starter fertilizer which contains phosphorus. Nitrogen is the most important fertilizer element needed for these lawns.

Go to extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/ planting-and-maintaining-fine-fescue-lawn for fur ther details on fescue grasses.

Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v

Calendar of Events

Visit www.TheLandOnline.com to view our complete calendar and enter your own events, or send an e-mail with your event’s details to editor@thelandonline.com.

Nov. 10 — Long-term Dairy Supply and Demand Trends — Online — Learn about how dairy supply and demand are shifting globally and what that means for U.S. dairy. Register at https:// go.iastate.edu/O55DC7.

Nov. 28 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Owatonna, Minn. — Workshop will share examples, factsheets and worksheets to determine a farm rent price reasonable for both parties. Contact Claire LaCanne at lacanne@umn. edu or (507) 330-0447.

Nov. 28 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Faribault, Minn. — Contact Claire LaCanne at lacanne@umn.edu or (507) 330-0447.

Dec. 8 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Blooming Prairie, Minn. — Contact Claire LaCanne at lacanne@umn.edu or (507) 330-0447.

Dec. 8 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Elko New Market, Minn. — Contact Claire LaCanne at lacanne@umn.edu or (507) 330-0447

Dec. 15-16 — Soil Management Summit — St. Cloud, Minn. — Learn how heavier, colder soils aren’t necessarily the challenge they’re made out to be. Hear from long-time, reduced tillage and cover crop farmers as they share their experiences. Contact Jodi DeJong-Hughes at dejon003@umn. edu or (320) 235-0726 ext. 2006.

Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31, Feb. 7 and 14 — Annie’s Project — Owatonna, Minn. — Course topics will include financial lreporting, human resources, legal, market risk and production metrics. Contact Claire LaCanne at lacanne@umn.edu or (507) 444-7691.

Women’s role in pork organization has changed

By DICK HAGEN

The Land Staff Writer Emeritus

I’ll admit to ‘country school’ bias: both Jim Meyer and I did our first eight years of schooling in one-room country schools — his in Sac County, Iowa, I in Brookfield #4, Worth County, Iowa.

Jim went on to Iowa State College (now University); majored in Ag Education with six years as an ag teacher in Perry, Iowa public schools. However, the opportunity to take over his father’s farming operation pre vailed. Inheriting some political ambi tions from his father, Jim also decided to become a Republican candidate for state representative. Duly elected, Jim served three terms before his growing farming career convinced him farming was a full time duty job.

Jim’s wife, Madeline, is also an Iowa State graduate — earning her teaching certificate in Home Economics Education. “But I spent most of my time raising two baby sons instead of teaching. Also, Jim’s farming career included becoming an Iowa pork pro ducer and both he and I became active in the Iowa Pork Producer’s Association. Our acquaintance happened at a Wesley Methodist Church Foundation event. Perhaps because of our Christian beliefs, our friendship generated into love and marriage; then many fulfilling agricultural adventures for both of us.”

So how did Madeline become presi dent of the Iowa Porkettes? She explained, “Jim was elected to the Iowa Pork Producers Board of Directors. I traveled along with him to his meet ings while they were just trying to get the woman’s organization underway as a means of supporting the activities of the Iowa Pork Producers.”

Yes, lots of travel and pork-grilling events in those early days of the Iowa Porkettes. “We even did meat promo tions with help of the Iowa Development Board, plus a helping hand in the annual Iowa Pork Queen event. But I was really interested in developing educational formats for the Iowa pork industry. Basically any means of stim ulating more interests among house wives and others in buying more pork products. We would even have a team of Iowa pork producers, husbands and wives, travel to other states like California, Oregon, Arizona and talk

with consumer groups about the nutritional benefits of more pork in their daily diets.”

“As an officer, it was also our duty to often travel with the Iowa Pork Queen assisting as needed in her many duties. These chaperoning duties sometimes became quite intriguing. Like one of our Porkette ladies was very active in pork production on her own farm and she was doing some ‘pig skin’ style shows. So we were promoting pig skin in the form of suede leather. We found a source of tanned hides which we then provided to housewives (and some men) who could buy these tanned pig skin leath ers and design their own pig skin outfit.”

“The Iowa Porkettes were organized in 1973. I became president in 1979 and served through 1981. Things have changed considerably in recent years however. The National Pork Producers Board now implements policy. Individual State Porkette organizations no longer exist, but females are still very active in pork promotion activities across state and regional districts.”

Madeline doesn’t talk retirement. Her volunteer spirit has slowed, but certainly hasn’t died. “We have a sec ond home in Ames conveniently close to both Hilton Arena (Iowa State Basketball Center) and the Cyclone Football Arena. So being adjacent to the Iowa State campus provides end less opportunities for interesting edu cational and political events as well,” summed up Madeline who agrees “…. there’s still lots of opportunity in agri culture for both men and women — especially in the ever-expanding world of production technologies”.

I asked Jim if it is easier being a retired farmer or was it more enjoyable being a productive farmer? He hesitated only a moment, then said, “Production was always exciting; but now I’m find ing supervising production is just as exciting.”

So why did you decide to become a candidate for state office? Jim respond ed, “My Dad was a state representative starting in 1948. I never thought about

it, but a good friend and former state senator came to our farm one day sug gesting to my wife and me that we should definitely consider the opportu

nity. And so we did … my dear wife supported me whole heartedly. It sounds like bragging, but I think I had a perfect political career. During my six years in office, the Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate, plus our Iowa gover nor was also Republican.”

Jim’s state office didn’t come with a big staff. He nodded to his wife Madeline and said, “You just inter viewed her. She was my staff and she was incredible … kept me organized and on schedule — especially to var ious community events around my district.”

Jim credits the state sena tor who convinced him to be a candidate with some early political guidance. “Never get crosswise with the Speaker of the House because he controls the agenda for what we elected officials get done.

See MEYER, pg. 19

Ha syourcombinehydro pu shed itslimits ands lugging along? Do it rightand geti t serviced now. Don't wait anylonger.

Photo by Dick Hagen

Madeline and Jim Meyer

fingers crossed to complete harvest

Farming in northern Minnesota has Matt Erickson’s harvest running behind.

a little on the late side,” he admitted on Oct. 21. “We’re behind on beans, corn

is right on. We usually do corn first.”

Erickson said he feels good being finished with the soybeans. “It seems we’ve just been pecking away at the beans.”

In the meantime, Erickson is seeding some rye cover crop. “We waited, because we wanted to see a little moisture to plant,” he said, “but you can’t wait too long.”

There’s still a long way to go and Erickson is crossing his fingers. “Let’s not talk about it” was his response when asked about breakdowns and setbacks. “My son said we got through beans without breaking down. When you talk like that, things start to happen.” v

Oct. 24

Harvest is a wrap at the Bob Roelofs farm; but there is still much work to be done before winter hits. Roelofs spoke with The Land on Oct. 24. He has begun fall tillage and is concerned with the lack of moisture. “We need rain!” he exclaimed. “It’s really dry and we’re having issues with compaction.”

Roelofs said he is having tiling installed in two different fields and is not finding any water as they dig.

“Corn was excellent!” Roelofs said, “soybeans were good too. So far, it’s been a smooth fall — no major breakdowns.” Corn was running at 19 to 23 percent moisture; a little too wet bypass drying.

Roelofs continues to move manure and plans to have that chore completed next week. He knows rain doesn’t fit into everyone’s plans, but wouldn’t mind seeing some. “A little rain would help tillage,” he said. v

year.”

“Corn is doing great!” said Leah Johnson on Oct. 21. “Harvest is pretty fun after coming off the drought stress we saw last year. It’s totally different

Johnson is at the half-way point in the corn harvest and is pleased with what she is seeing. “Our corn-on-corn was a pleasant sur prise,” she said. “We were expecting a big dip in yields. To see 200 bushels … we would never have thought that.”

In spite of two combine breakdowns, Johnson is keeping in good spirits. “The unload auger had a mechanical failure,” she explained.

“We got that fixed, then hit a tree at the edge of the field and took it out again. Of course, the combine was plump full!” she laughed.

“The tree didn’t have a scratch on it.”

Johnson said she is having trouble finding corn under 17 percent moisture. “Time to fire up the dryer.” v

Scott Winslow Fountain, Minn. Oct. 21

Scott Winslow was hoping the warmer weather in the forecast was right. “It’s pretty cold working,” he admitted on Oct. 21.

Winslow got in a new batch of pigs and says they are “doing well.”

“We finished corn yesterday,” he said. “My son is doing some tilling this morning.”

Winslow said the dry weather helped harvest go well; but machinery was providing a few problems. “We had a couple of minor things with the dryer and the combine brakes,” he explained. “But we’ve had tire problems. For one wagon we couldn’t find a tire, so we had to get new rims and new tires. We had a bulge on a combine tire. Those aren’t cheap.”

A wet spring forced Winslow to finish planting corn in June and he is less than pleased with the results. “The June corn was pretty disappointing and is a little wetter,” he admitted. “It had some frost on it and is running 18 to 20 percent moisture. If we can get it down to 15 or 16 it can go right into the bin.” v

Leah Johnson Evansville, Minn.

Erickson

Minn.

Bob Roelofs Garden City, Minn.

Create a culture of safety on your farm

Nonfatal injuries, including both lost-time and no lost-time accidents, occur to about a third of the farm population annually. It has been estimated that 80 percent of farm accidents result from care lessness or failure to deal with hazards safely. Many accidents are avoidable and having a culture of safety can help you avoid them on your farm.

When talking about creating a culture of safety on a farm, there are six components to keep in mind: hiring and training; setting an example; giving and getting feedback; making it a group effort; measur ing and rewarding success; and having a plan “just in case.”

Keep in mind this isn’t just for “big farms” with scores of employees. It’s for any farm with any num ber of people working on it.

Hiring and training employees

Try to hire employees who take safety seriously and emphasize how important it is to you through the entire hiring and training process. The more we teach people what we are looking for in our farm culture, the more likely it will become a reality.

Whatever type of training you do, talk about the kind of culture you’re going for. Describe the way you’d like things to be working. Talk about the infor mal ways in which you envision the farm being a work environment that encourages safety and takes every step to uphold that.

It’s okay to talk about what you want to change in the current culture. There’s nothing wrong with saying something like, “You may notice that a few people take shortcuts on certain jobs. We’re work ing on building a culture of safety and encourage regular equipment checks, etc. My expectation is that you will take all proper safety precautions regardless of what others may still do. I’m looking for you to help lead the way to make this cultural improvement.”

Set an example of good culture

We’ve all heard many times about setting a good example for others; and, no matter how many times you hear it, it’s still true. Farm culture isn’t about what we say, it’s about what we do. A leader’s influ ence is very strong, and that is no different on the farm. Setting an example will show everyone on your farm what the expectation is, and prove that you are no exception to the expectation.

Give and get feedback

Feedback plays a major role in any organization. It allows you to know what works and what doesn’t as you develop your farm culture.

Keep in mind that feedback is a two-way street. You should not only give feedback on performance as it relates to farm safety, but listen to feedback from others on farm safety practices that are and aren’t working. This is a great way for others on the farm to share their ideas and become truly invested in being a part of the farm culture.

SWINE&U

Make it a group effort

These tips are useful all year and in all weather patterns, both in the field and in the swine barn.

SWINE & U

By Emily Kreckelberg

Everyone is responsible for farm safety, and one individual should not be blamed for a mis take or near miss. Your farm culture should make everyone comfortable enough to correct mistakes or find solutions. How do we avoid the old saying, “If it’s everyone’s job, no one does it”? Work with everyone on your farm to under stand that if something does happen, it’s due to a failure of the whole system, not one person.

Measure and reward success

Decide how you measure an effective practice of farm safety. Is it a season without accidents? Is it no one gets hurt in the parlor? Determine as a team how you’re going to measure your success.

Then, decide how you reward effective farm safety. A bonus check for employees? A pizza party? Verbal recognition? Include everyone in deciding what reward looks like. It is important to know what motivates people and what they find most reward ing.

Have a plan “just in case”

Even on the safest farms, accidents happen. Someone could get hurt or an animal could get out of control. Disasters such as floods and tornados can happen. Having a plan in place before tragedy strikes can minimize its impact.

Having an emergency action plan will enhance the culture of safety on your farm. It shows everyone on the team that staying organized and on task — even in an emergency — is important to you because it helps keep people safe.

Make planning and encouraging safety a priority, and express it is a priority to others. Treat parents, siblings and spouses as fellow leaders in the effort to get their buy-in. If you are getting resistance, remind them that accidents are costly in more ways than one.

Fires in the fall

Farms present many fire risks; and, during har vest, especially in droughty conditions, it is critical to pay attention to these risks and take steps to mitigate them.

An awareness of potential fire hazards on your farm and having a plan to address them are key components in protecting your farm and your people.

The people in and around your farm — and their actions — may put your farm at risk for a fire.

Make sure any tasks being performed which involve open flame, high heat, or flying sparks are complet ed by people who have experience with the task.

Ensure they are doing their work away from flam mable materials in a safe, well-ventilated area — and with a fire extinguisher nearby. Discourage smoking around the farm — especially in areas with flammable materials or a lot of dust.

Farm equipment presents various fire risks. Improperly maintained equipment may send out sparks, overheat, or have an electrical malfunction. Properly maintain equipment and have a fire extin guisher in every tractor and combine to reduce fire risk. Be mindful of the conditions you are working in. Dry field material can easily ignite from heavy friction or high heat. Be aware of situations with heavy dust, which is also at risk of igniting.

Proper and regular maintenance of the buildings, barns and bins around the farm is crucial in reduc ing fire risk. Check electrical wiring and hookups and make necessary fixes and replacements — espe cially in older buildings. Keep storage areas for flammable materials cool and well-ventilated. Regularly clean facilities to decrease dust and other dry residues that can catch fire easily. Keep fire extinguishers nearby at several locations around the farm.

Fire extinguishers are critical on the farm to reduce fire risk. Being able to respond to a fire situ ation quickly is key to preventing the spread of flames — especially in very dry conditions.

It is crucial to have an action plan in place should a fire occur. Action plans should include emergency shut-off procedures, evacuation plans, and strategies for protecting livestock. Having a clear plan will allow you to respond quickly should a fire occur on your farm.

Lastly, being a responsible manager of your peo ple, equipment, and facilities will keep your fire risk low.

Emily Krekelberg is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator focused on farm, safety and health. She can be reached at krek0033@umn.edu v

Higher cow numbers are expected in 2023

This column was written for the mar keting week ending Oct. 21.

U.S. milk production jumped again in September, thanks to increases in cow numbers and output per cow.

But there’s more to the report than meets the eye.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest data shows output at 18.28 bil lion pounds, up 1.5 percent from Sept. 2021. The 24-state total, at 17.5 billion pounds, was up 1.6 percent. It is the third monthly increase in 2022 and revisions raised the 50-state August total by 15 million pounds to 19.03 bil lion, up 1.7 percent from a year ago.

Cow numbers were expected to rise; but the September herd totaled 9.41 million which is down 2,000 head from August numbers (which were revised 14,000 head lower). The September

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

herd was up 6,000 from a year ago — the first time since September 2021

the herd size was above a year ago — but was 8,000 fewer than the peak in May.

StoneX Dairy Group called the report “neutral to slightly bullish,” and “with only 52,000 cows added to the herd over four months, 2022 has presented the weakest herd expansion seen in the United States over the last 15 years.”

Dairy Margin Coverage enrollment underway

Dairy producers can now enroll for 2023 coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

DMC is a voluntary risk manage ment program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

DMC offers different levels of cover age, including an option that is free to producers (aside from a $100 adminis trative fee). Limited resource, begin ning, socially disadvantaged or a mili tary veteran farmers or ranchers are exempt from paying the administrative fee, if requested.

To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy oper ation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool found at https://dmc. dairymarkets.org/#/.

Supplemental DMC coverage is appli cable to calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023. Eligible dairy operations with less than 5 million pounds of estab lished production history may enroll supplemental pounds.

For producers who enrolled in

Supplemental DMC in 2022, the sup plemental coverage will automatically be added to the 2023 DMC contract that previously established a supple mental production history.

Producers who did not enroll in Supplemental DMC in 2022 can do so now. Producers should complete their Supplemental DMC enrollment before enrolling in 2023 DMC. To enroll, pro ducers will need to provide their 2019 actual milk marketings, which FSA uses to determine established produc tion history.

Additionally, FSA will continue to calculate DMC payments using updat ed feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses. These updat ed feed calculations use 100 percent premium alfalfa hay rather than 50 percent. The benefits of these feed cost adjustments were realized in the recent August 2022 margin payment as cur rent high feed and premium hay costs were considered in payment calcula tions.

This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v

Output per cow averaged 1,943 pounds, up 27 pounds or 1.4 percent from September 2021. August output was revised up four pounds, to 2,022 pounds.

Third Quarter milk output was up 1.2 percent from 2021, with cow numbers unchanged from second quarter but 29,000 less than third quarter 2021.

More dairy cows are expected in the first half of 2023 and productivity is expected to be higher. Cow numbers were increased 10,000 head to 9,425 million. Milk per cow was raised 20 pounds, to 24,320 pounds, says the USDA.

Dairy cow culling fell in September. An estimated 260,500 head were sent to slaughter under federal inspection, according to the latest Livestock Slaughter report, down 5,600 head from August and 4,100 or 1.5 percent below September 2021. Culling in the nine months totaled 2.28 million, down 59,800 or 2.6 percent from 2021.

Culling in the week ending Oct. 8, totaled 60,000 dairy cows, down 1,100 from the previous week but 600 head or 1.0% above a year ago.

Dairy cow slaughter has exceeded 2021 levels for three consecutive weeks, according to StoneX. However, “The market share of dairy cows being processed as part of the beef market has fallen from year-ago levels. Total cattle slaughter is also up and has exceeded year-ago levels for the last seven weeks.”

Feed costs and availability are blamed. “That, coupled with the strong cash price for cattle, is lending plenty of fuel to the fire to incentivize farmers to sell their cows.”

International dairy markets remain bearish. The Oct. 18 Global Dairy Trade’s weighted average dropped 4.6 percent, following the 3.5 percent decline on Oct. 4. Traders brought 64.8 million pounds of product to mar ket, down from 68 million on Oct. 4. The average metric ton price fell to $3,723 U.S., down from $3,911.

Declines were led by skim milk pow der, down 6.9 percent following a 1.6 percent slip on Oct. 4. Whole milk powder was down 4.4 percent after slipping 4 percent. Cheese was down 3.9 percent following a 3.8 percent decline. Anhydrous milkfat and butter were down 2.7 percent and 2.6 percent respectively, after anhydrous milkfat fell 1.7 percent on Oct. 4 and butter was down 7 percent.

StoneX says the GDT 80 percent butterfat butter price equates to $2.1468 per pound U.S., down 5.8 cents after dropping 16.5 cents in the last event, and compares to Chicago Mercantile Exchange butter which closed Oct. 21 at a world-high $3.20.

Cheddar, at $2.1632, was down 9 cents after losing 8.2 cents, and com pares to Oct. 21’s CME block Cheddar

See MIELKE, pg. 18

Buyers may have underestimated butter demand

MIELKE, from pg.

at $2.0575. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.4744 per pound, down from $1.5864 (11 cents). Whole milk powder averaged $1.5519 per pound, down from $1.6208 (7 cents). CME non fat closed Oct. 21 at $1.42 per pound.

The GDT is waiting on China. President Xi Jinping kicked off his Communist Party Congress Oct. 16. His zero-Covid policies remain in place, locking down major cities, which has greatly weakened China’s econo my and its purchases.

n

CME Cheddar blocks closed Oct. 21 at $2.0575 per pound, up three-quar ter-cents on the week and 24.75 cents above a year ago. The barrels climbed to $2.205 on Oct. 19, but closed two days later at $2.09. This is down 3.5 cents on the week, after losing a dime the week before, but were 22.75 cents above a year ago and just 3.25 cents atop the blocks. Only one car of block was sold all week and 13 of barrel

Midwest cheesemakers view the bar rel-block price inversion as an inhibi tor, says Dairy Market News. Barrel averages have topped the blocks since April as barrel inventories remain snug. Cheese demand, for all varieties is strong and Midwest vats are run ning as actively as cheesemakers are either keeping up or running behind orders. Milk availability has tightened despite growing output, says Dairy Market News.

Looking westward, export cheese

demand remains strong, especially from Asian buyers. Cooler weather is contributing to cow comfort and thus milk output.

Butter climbed to $3.20 per pound on Oct. 18 and stayed put — up 2.5 cents on the week and $1.365 above a year ago. There were no sales all week at the CME.

“Butter demand is exactly where contacts expected it to be in mid to late October: vigorous,” says Dairy Market News. Plants are churning or micro-fixing to their full ability to keep up with demand, but minds pon der how long the price will remain in the clouds. Cream availability contin ues to grow and contacts do not fore see a tight cream market in the nearterm, particularly as the holidays approach.

The higher milk output and result ing cream supply is a result of cooler weather out west and milk is moving steadily into Class II production. Some plants are acquiring additional cream to maximize production and meet current demand. Other plant’s schedules are limited due to labor shortages or scheduled maintenance. Some retail customers are “fervently looking for additional butter,” says Dairy Market News, “as they underes timated their fourth quarter needs.”

Grade A nonfat dry milk fell to the lowest price since Oct. 5, 2021, closing Oct. 21 at $1.42 per pound, 11.75 cents below a year ago. Thirteen cars sold on the week.

CME dry whey closed Oct. 21 at 44

cents per pound, a quarter-cent lower and 17.75 cents below a year ago, with one sale reported on the week at the CME.

nChecking demand: August total cheese utilization hit 1.2 billion pounds, up 1.9 percent from August 2021, up 1.6 percent domestically and up 5.9 percent on exports, according to HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess in the Oct. 24 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast.

“August marked the strongest year over year gain since March,” Fuess said, “driven mostly by firm demand for American-style cheese. And, while the data is delayed here in October,” he said, “it helps explain why prices have remained above $2.”

Butter disappearance totaled 185.6 million pounds, down 3.3 percent from a year ago, with domestic usage down 7.5 percent while exports were up 118.8 percent. Fuess blamed the high er prices for the domestic downturn; but the weaker butter production and declining stocks keep the price firmly supported. “The timing of the butter price downfall could come any day, as soon as end users realize that they are good on supply into the holidays and

traders become concerned over holding that last load of expensive butter, then we might tumble pretty quickly,” he warned.

Nonfat-skim milk powder totaled 221.7 million pounds, down 3 percent from a strong year-ago number. Domestic use was up 39.8 percent while exports were down 17 percent.

U.S. fluid milk sales looked a little better in August. The latest data shows sales of U.S. packaged fluid products totaled 3.6 billion pounds, down just 0.8 percent from August 2021. Conventional product sales totaled 3.4 billion, up 0.7 percent from a year ago. Organic products, at 241 million pounds, were up 2.1 percent and represented 6.6 percent of total sales for the month.

Whole milk sales totaled 1.26 billion pounds, up 3.1 percent from a year ago, up 1.2 percent year-to-date, and represented 34.2 percent of total sales year-to-date. Skim milk sales, at 186 million pounds, were down 2.8 percent from a year ago and down 8.2 percent year-to-date.

Packaged fluid sales for the eight

See MIELKE, pg. 19

Funds available to update livestock operations

Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers seeking to improve their oper ation are encouraged to apply for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant program.

Applications for the grant will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Nov. 15. A sec ond round will open only if the MDA does not receive enough quality appli cations in this first round. The MDA will issue a second RFP if there are any remaining funds by spring 2023. Unsuccessful applicants for this round will be able to reapply if a second round is offered.

All principal operators of livestock farms in Minnesota are invited to apply, including those who have received grants in the past. Only one application will be accepted per farm. Preference will be given to applicants/farms that

have not previously been awarded a grant.

Grant funds are available for equip ment purchases, physical improve ments, and acquisition of facilities used to start, improve, or expand livestock operations in the state of Minnesota.

Applicants may apply for up to 10 percent of their project’s total expense, with a minimum expense of $4,000 and a maximum expense of $250,000. Grant awards can range in size from $400 to $25,000. Only expenses incurred after the grant contract has been signed by all parties are eligible for reimburse ment. The MDA expects to have con tracts to grantees by early 2023.

Applications can be found on MDA’s website.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.v

Plant-based brands are having financial issues

example.

n

months totaled 28.6 billion pounds, down 2.2 per cent from 2021. Conventional product sales totaled 26.6 billion, down 2.3 percent. Organic products, at 1.9 billion, were down 1.5 percent and represented 6.7 percent of total sales.

nThe November Federal order Class I base milk price was announced at $24.09 per hundredweight, up $1.38 from October, $6.11 above November 2021, and the highest November price ever, topping to the November 2014 high by 3 cents. It also equates to $2.07 per gallon, up from $1.55 a year ago. The 11-month average stands at $23.76, up from $16.61 a year ago, and $16.64 in 2020.

Fluid consumption used to utilize over a third of U.S. milk output; but those days are long gone. The Sept. 28 Daily Dairy Report stated fluid use in the first six months of 2022 only accounted for 18.5 per cent of U.S. total output, down from 18.9 percent in 2021, but compares to 25.3 percent in 2012, for

As I pointed out last week, Coca-Cola’s Fairlife product is making a gallant attempt to bring milk drinkers back. It has reportedly seen double-digit growth this year, according to the Sept. 26 Dairy Industry SmartBrief.

The Oct. 7 Dairy and Food Market Analyst says plant-based brands are embracing dairy because “The plant-based category is no longer growing and many companies are finding themselves in trouble. For example, compared to its peak, Beyond Meat’s stock price has decreased by 94 percent.”

“Similarly, oat milk producer Oatly’s stock has decreased by 92 percent compared to its peak and the Very Good Company, a Canadian plant-based cheese and meat brand, is down 98 percent from its high. Though not to the same extreme, Danone, the owner of plant-based milk company Whitewave Foods, has seen its stock price struggle. Since announcing the purchase of Whitewave on July 16, the company’s stock has decreased by nearly one-

third,” the Analyst stated.

n

Down on the farm, margins continued to decline the first half of October on weaker milk prices and steady to higher cost feed, according to the latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC.

USDA’s October World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report confirmed lower yield and production estimates for corn and soybean crops which reduced forecasted ending stocks,” the Margin Watch reported. “This along with a slowerthan-normal start to planting in Argentina due to abnormal dryness has helped to maintain a firm tone in the markets. Although milk prices have declined recently, they remain elevated from a his torical perspective, supported by strong exports and butter prices.”

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

Late legislative session put farm work on hold

the governor would come down and join us.”

Also, never provide negative chatter to the press people because they buy ink by the barrel. Also, if you want to get elected in rural Iowa you need to press the flesh. That means lots of community meetings, door to door visits … simply meet as many people as you can without being intrusive.”

Jim also mentioned, “My wife was my social direc tor on weekends. I represented Sac County, Ida County and two-thirds of Woodbury County. But I also credit my brother (Clyde) who lived in Monona and Woodbury County area and did lots of farm visits in his farm management work. When I told farmers I was Clyde’s brother, that was a positive asset.”

Jim winked and then told me about their special conveyance when attending community parades. “We pedaled a two-seater bicycle so I would tell folks, ‘If you vote for me, you’re getting two for the price of one.”

“If you want to get things done as an elected offi cial, you have to build coalitions. Sometime you’ve got to hold your nose and vote for things the party caucus wants even though you’re not completely sold on the idea. Then you can lean on them and say ‘Alright, I voted for you on that particular issue; now can I lean on you to support this issue I’m now intro ducing?’ And that’s how I got some agricultural issues passed. I was Vice Chairman of the Ag Committee at that time. We passed the most signifi cant Livestock Regulation Bill in the history of the State of Iowa. Terry Branstad was our governor. When the day’s work was done we’d often adjourn downstairs to the cafeteria of the capitol. Sometimes

But Jim and his wife usually made it home to the farm every weekend. “We’d usually get out Thursday night or Friday noon and we didn’t gavel in until after dinner (noon time) on Monday. We were still trying to be the primary decision maker on our farm; so pretty important that we were there to touch bases as needed.”

The Meyers were farming about 800 acres when Jim was first elected. “I remember the first year I was in the state capitol in Des Moines — it was a late session. I didn’t get home till the first of June. I had hog pits full of manure; I still had crop to plant. We planted beans on June 1 and we raised 60-bushel beans — mainly because of that nice helping of hog manure on that ground before we planted the beans. I learned early at Iowa State that it takes a strong soil structure to raise a healthy crop. And we’re still improving on that issue. Right now, son Kent and I are farming this home quarter. He’s planting 33,000 seeds per acre of 10-foot-tall corn which gets disked into the soil each fall; then field cultivates in the spring and plants again. We’ve now increased the organic matter of this farm up to nearly 5 percent.”

Jim added last season that field, planted in 36-inch rows with a corn planter Jim bought new in 1975, produced an amazing 275-bushel yields! “Our beans also made 75 bushels. The best crop we have ever raised.”

Being a strong Christian, Jim Meyer credits the good Lord with much of that abundance! But he acknowledges Mother Nature was doing a good job with timely rains as the season progressed. And most

important: that annual application of hog manure on each acre of their corn fields. “We’re high in phos phorous; we’re high in potassium; and we’re very adequate in nitrogen. There’s got to be many micronutrients in that hog manure we probably don’t even know about. And over the years I’ve often a better yield bonus on soybeans than corn. Soybeans will make their own nitrogen if they have to, but if you give it to them with your hog manure they appar ently spend that extra effort making yield.”

So this closing question for my long-time college friend (and fraternity brother): What’s ahead for U.S. agriculture? His one-word answer: “Great.” v

THE LAND EARLY DEADLINES for November 25

Display ads Friday, Nov. 15th at noon.

Classified line ads Monday, Nov. 21st at noon.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday THE LAND office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 24th & Friday, Nov. 25th.

Grain Outlook

Harvest keeping market activity low

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Oct. 21.

CORN — Corn began the week softer on a lack of demand, as harvest picked up steam, and a general lack of food for the bulls. The early setback came despite a plunging U.S. dollar index and mixed energy markets. By midweek, the dollar and crude oil were erasing losses, but corn couldn’t entirely recover and closed the week with modest losses. Harvest activity and a lack of export demand limited buying interest.

U.S. corn harvest was 45 per cent complete as of Oct. 16 com pared to 40 percent on average and 50 percent complete as of this date last year. As of Oct. 18, 82 percent of the United States was under at least abnormal dry ness/drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

PHYLLIS

Cash Grain Markets

Stewartville $6.41 +.06 $13.16 +.20

Edgerton $6.91 +.03 $13.82 +.36 Jackson $6.70 +.03 $13.43 +.06 Hope $6.66 +.03 $13.22 +.06

Cannon Falls $6.32 -.51 $13.07 +.20

Sleepy Eye $6.66 +.08 $13.57 +.26 St. Cloud $6.51 -.02 $13.47 +.21 Madison $6.66 +.03 $13.48 +.06

Redwood Falls $6.66 +.01 $13.62 +.15

Fergus Falls $6.51 +.06 $13.42 +.12 Morris $6.58 .00 $13.52 +.06 Tracy $6.76 -.02 $13.67 +.14

favorable weather.

Outlook: December corn closed lower for four con secutive days before finding support in the last half of the week while it remained in its $6.70 to $7.00 per bushel trading range. Corn’s balance sheet indi cates tight ending stocks and farmer selling has been light. On the negative side are harvest progress and the possibility of the extension of the Black Sea agreement. The slide in the Japanese yen vs. the U.S. dollar to 32-year lows is not conducive for our exports. Same old news topics of Russia/Ukraine, inflation fears, harvest progress, drought conditions in the United States and Argentina, and money flow influenced by macroeconomics. Watch outside influ ences for direction as they are having as much sway as fundamentals on prices.

Grain

Going into the weekend, there were indications some on the Federal Reserve may be leaning toward slowing the rate of interest rate increases. The U.S. dollar shot lower on the news and equity markets moved higher.

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure increased this week. Russian President Putin declared martial law in the four Ukrainian regions he annexed. He urged Russians to exit the city of Kherson. The drone attacks have reportedly destroyed 30 percent of Ukraine’s power stations. Will the Black Sea grain corridor agreement be extended past Nov. 22? Russia’s envoy to the United Nations said he was not optimistic about an exten sion and other Russian officials have signaled they need to see progress on their grain and fertilizer shipments for this to be considered. They said the United States is preventing/making it difficult for them to do business due to sanctions enacted on them since the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine. Russia also stated it may reconsider its cooperation with the UN if the UN sends experts to Ukraine to inspect downed Russian drones suspected to have been made in Iran. Heading into the weekend, Turkey’s President said he sees no obstacles to extending the Black Sea grain corridor beyond the Nov.r 22 end date.

Weekly export sales were as expected at 16.1 mil lion bushels. This brings total commitments to

544.5 million bushels which lag last year by 52 percent. Just two weeks ago we were 50 percent behind last year, so the gap is widening during har vest! We need to average 34 million bushels of sales per week to achieve the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s outlook for 2.15 billion bushels. China has purchased 133.8 million bushels of U.S. corn for this marketing year compared to 468.5 million bushels by this date last year. Weekly export inspections were disappointing at 17.7 million bushels. We need to average 40.7 million bushels of inspections per week to hit the USDA’s export tar get of 2.15 billion bushels.

Weekly ethanol production increased more than expected with a jump of 84,000 barrels per day to 1.02 million bpd. This was the highest production in 10 weeks, but was down 7.3 percent compared to a year ago and below what is needed on a per week average.

Ethanol stocks fell by 19,000 barrels to 21.8 mil lion barrels. This is up 8.8 percent vs. last year. Stocks were the highest in three years for this week and the third highest increase on record over the last 13 years. Margins improved by 6 cents to 27 cents per gallon. Gasoline demand rose 402,000 bpd to 8.7 million bpd, but is down 9.9 percent from a year ago.

A well-respected consultancy in the southern United States estimates 2023 corn acres to climb to 91.9 million acres, a 3.3 million acre increase from 2022’s 88.6 million acres. Their 2023 soybean acre age is forecasted at 88.5 million acres, a 1.1 million acre increase from 2022.

Argentina’s corn planting is 17 percent complete and well below the 31 percent average due to dry conditions. Brazil’s first corn planting is 56 percent complete vs. 50 percent on average as they have had

For the week, December corn fell 5.5 cents to $6.84.25, July dropped 7.25 cents to $6.83.5, and December 2023 was 4.5 cents lower at $6.24.5 per bushel. The December 2022 contract continues to trade inside the recent $6.70 to $7.00 per bushel trading range. The November WASDE report will be released on Nov. 9.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange will reset daily trading limits effective Nov. 1 (they do this twice a year). The corn daily limit will fall a nickel to 45 cents, beans will decrease 15 cents to $1.00, and Chicago and Kansas City wheat will drop a nickel to 65 cents.

SOYBEANS — Soybeans consolidated as traders returned from the weekend with harvest moving over the halfway point and a strong soyoil market. Soyoil gained strength from lower-than-expected soyoil stocks on the September National Oilseed Processors Association Crush report, a diving U.S. dollar, and firmer energies. A lack of fresh export sales announcements was also a negative, but in the latter half of the week, the USDA announced the sale of 7.4 million bushels of soybeans to China and 4.8 million bushels sold to unknown. Limiting early week gains in soybeans was the lower-than-antici pated soybean crush on the NOPA report at 158.1 million bushels vs. 161.6 million bushels expected. Soyoil stocks were 1.46 billion pounds compared to the 1.52 billion estimated. South American soybeans are the cheapest on the world stage. U.S. soybean harvest was 63 percent complete vs. 52 percent on average and 58 percent complete last year. Soybean crush margins rallied to fresh contract highs several days this week. Soybeans ended the week with decent gains.

Logistical problems on the U.S. river system con tinue to plague grain movement to the Gulf. Dredging efforts are underway; but the need seems to outweigh the capacity. One large barge company said labor shortages, in combination with the low water, have added one to two days of delays. Chinese importers estimate that 3 million metric tons of soy

Plasma Blue research goes beyond biodiesel

By TIM KING

The Land Correspondent, MANKATO, Minn. — Plasma Blue, the biodiesel process developed by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and research scien tists at the University of Minnesota, will begin turning a profit within a year or less, according to Tom Slunecka, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Research and Promotion Council as well as the CEO of Plasma Blue.

Plasma Blue reactors are currently operating at biodiesel plants in Iowa and Michigan and have previously been at the Integrity Biofuels plant of Morristown, Ind. The Indiana plant closed in October 2019 due to inaction on biodiesel by the Trump administration, according to a report from Biodiesel Magazine in November 2019.

The results from that Plasma Blue reactor in Indiana, along with the ongo ing results from the Michigan and Iowa reactors, have actually been better than research suggested they would be, Slunecka said.

“Compared to the conventional bio diesel process, the Plasma Blue reactor has reduced energy consumption by four cents per gallon,” he said. “Plasma uses only a fraction of the energy needed to drive the transesterification pro cess, The process can be scaled to any size; but a one million gallon annual production rate plasma reactor only requires the same amount of power needed to run two 60-watt light bulbs.”

The pumps required to move the bio diesel do require some additional ener gy, Slunecka points out, but the whole thing can be powered by a small solar array.

In addition to reduced energy, the plasma reactors use a less expensive catalyst than conventional reactors. That has created an additional five cents per gallon savings with reactors operating in the field.

The chemical reaction which turns soy oil into biodiesel, known as trans esterification, is faster and more effi cient with the plasma reactor than with the conventional reactor, accord ing to Slunecka, so there’s an another savings of three cents, for a total of 12 cents per gallon in savings for plant operators.

That savings in efficiency is realized because the creation of out-of-spec product is dramatically reduced or almost eliminated with this technology, according to Plasma Blue literature.

“Traditional reactors use heat; but plasma uses electricity,” Slunecka said. “Electricity is more powerful and more controlled and the reaction occurs extremely quickly. Plasma drives the trans process to be started and com pleted within a millisecond.”

The plasma reactors being used in Iowa and Michigan are 1.5 million gal lon per year reactors which measure about five by seven feet and are small enough to be hauled by a trailer.

Plasma Blue started out as a research and development project at the University of Minnesota and was fund ed with farmers’ soybean check-off money. To turn the process into a prod uct that could be commercialized, the Research and Promotion Council has converted it into a for-profit corpora tion.

“We have several research projects that look promising for commercializa tion, so we set up a for-profit corpora tion to seek private investors to do that,” Slunecka said. “Soybean check off dollars are great for doing research; but if we’re only going to write a research white paper, we would not be serving farmers as well as we could.”

The Plasma Blue bio diesel reaction system is now looking for investorpartners to help expand the business.

says research on the Plasma Blue’s biodiesel

process is largely complete. The

reactor has other applications as well, however, and research into those processes is ongoing.

is the combining

chemicals that naturally are attract ed to one another — so when they are mixed, they come together and make

chemicals,” Slunecka said. “Plasma is a completely new way of how to com bine the chemicals. While the finished product can be standard biodiesel, because the way the chemicals are combined, the Plasma Blue reaction is far more complete. This results in a better quality product and the ability to make other types of chemicals with the same system.”

With that in mind, research at the University of Minnesota is continuing on what other chemicals could be pro duced at biodoesel plants. Having the capacity to switch between two or three chemical products, depending on mar ket conditions, would give biodiesel

BLU PLASMA, pg.

Photo submitted

Tom Slunecka, on the right, explains Plasma Blue to a visitor.

soybean export sales were strong

NYSTROM, from pg. 20

imports will be delayed 15-20 days beyond their scheduled dates. Water levels on the Mississippi River are the lowest since at least 1988. Barge freight is scoring record high levels for this time of year and basis values haven’t kept pace, pushing a carry into the cash markets. Shipments of soybeans have increased from the Pacific Northwest with half of the weekly exports exiting through the Pacific Northwest and only 35 percent from the Gulf. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s extended forecast calls for below average rainfall in November from southern Iowa through Missouri, and areas west. Average rainfall is forecast for the eastern Midwest.

And adding to logistical woes, the railroads this week rejected track maintenance workers’ demands to add sick time to the last contract proposal. Six of the 12 unions have approved the contract, but all need to approve it to avoid a strike. The threat of a strike was previously kicked down the road to midNovember. Negotiations are ongoing, but if one union strikes, the others will likely not cross a picket line.

Domestic demand has been strong with harvest on the back side of 50 percent complete. Contracts were filled, on-farm storage was next in line for bushels, and growers then were favoring delayed price or commercial storage. There are some bushels getting sold across the scale, but it hasn’t been overwhelm ing with most growers not needing cash.

Argentina’s weather continues to be very dry with 75 percent of the crop areas experiencing some level of drought and little relief in sight. Their corn plant ing is the slowest in six years, according to the Rosario Grains Exchange. The exchange kept their corn production estimate at 56 mmt this week vs. the USDA forecast for 55 mmt.

Argentine grain inspectors are threatening a strike. Argentine farmer selling has dwindled to a trickle of the pace in September when the special soy exchange rate was in effect. The USDA attaché in Brazil raised its 2022-23 Brazilian soybean pro duction forecast from 144 mmt to 148.5 mmt. This is below the official USDA estimate of 152 mmt. Brazil’s soybean planting is 19 percent complete vs.

15 percent on average and 21 percent last year. Weather conditions have been favorable for Brazil’s planting.

China’s President Xi spoke at the every five years Communist Party Congress this past week. He said, “complete reunification of our country must and will be realized.” U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said the United States will honor its commitment to help in Taiwan’s defense if the need arises. President Xi is expected to win a third term as party leader.

Weekly export sales were a marketing year high, the highest in a year, and within expectations at 85.8 million bushels. Total commitments stand at 1.12 billion bushels which is now only 5 percent ahead of last year. Two weeks ago, we were 9 per cent ahead of last year. We need to average 21 mil lion bushels of sales per week to hit the USDA’s 2.045 billion bushel export projection. China has purchased approximately 610 million bushels of U.S. soybeans for this marketing year compared to 551.2 million bushels by this date last year. Meal export sales are worth mentioning this week as they were at the top of expectations at 542,000 metric tons with the Philippines as the largest buyer. Yearto-date, total commitments are down 15 percent from last year, but last week we were 24 percent behind.

Weekly soybean export inspections were the high est of the marketing year at 69.2 million bushels. We need to average 39.5 million bushels per week to reach the USDA’s export outlook of 2.045 billion bushels.

President Biden announced plans to sell the last 15 million barrels of the 180 million Strategic Patroleum Reserve crude oil barrel release announced in March. More barrels may be released if needed. He said the plan is to refill the SPR when crude oil prices fall below $70 per barrel. Nearby crude oil was around $85 per barrel on the board on Oct. 21. He urged oil companies to increase production and investment and offer consumers appropriate prices. Diesel supplies are at the lowest seasonal level ever.

Outlook: November soybeans flirted with the down side gap from $13.49.25 to $13.50 per bushel but managed to stay above it. The board crush margin edged to new contract highs throughout the week with soyoil trading to its highest since late June. It felt like we just rehashed the same news this week with the one bright spot being China’s return to the export arena, but gains were hampered by difficult river shipping.

For the week, November beans gained 11.75 cents to close at $13.95.5, July was 9.5 cents higher at $14.22.5, and November 2023 was 5.25 cents better at $13.61 per bushel. The downside gap in the November contract continues to provide support at $13.49.25 to $13.50 per bushel with resistance on a closing basis at $14.00 per bushel.

Weekly price changes in December wheat for the week ended Oct. 21: Chicago wheat fell 9 cents to $8.50.75, Kansas City was 4 cents weaker at $9.48.25, and Minneapolis rallied 7.25 cents to settle at $9.61.5 per bushel. v

Reactor could be used to clean water

other pathogens; so a Plasma Blue reactor could be used to clean water from tile discharge lines or, for example, for cleaning food processing waste water,” Slunecka said.

The principle scientist research ing additional uses for the plasma reaction at this time is Shaobo Deng at the University’s Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering in Waseca.

“Our long term goal is to help small farmer inves tors of biodiesel plants become drivers of their local economies and to help Midwestern farmers be profit able,” he said.

Slunecka also envisions the Plasma Blue reactor being useful in parts of the world where clean drink ing isn’t available. v

Tom Slunecka

Real Estate Wanted

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

Feed Seed Hay

Alfalfa, mixed hay grass hay & wheat straw. Medium squares or round bales. Delivery available. Call or text LeRoy Ose 218-689-6675

Bins & Buildings

Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys. 100% financing w/no liens or red tape, call Steve at Fair fax Ag for an appointment. 888-830-7757

Farm Equipment

Bourgault #5200 2 compart ment Air Cart; 30’ B&H Folding Bar w/ 12 Ausher man Dry Fertilizer Coulters; 20’ Rigid Bar w/ 8 Ausher man Dry Fertilizer Coulters; Ag Leader Direct Command Monitor. 507-456-1164

Case IH 3162 flex draper 30’ bean head, re-built & up graded, 200 acres, field ready, off 7120 combine, $32,900. Call David at Wanamingo, 612-374-1933

Bins & Buildings

CIH 530B ripper, extra parts, good condition, $16,500. Kill bros 385 gravity box, 12 ton gear, brakes; Killbros 350 gravity box, John Deere gear. 320-395-2635

FOR SALE: 54” zero turn country clipper mower, little over 100 hrs, like new con dition, $3,900 w/ extra set of new blades and belts. Call Gregg at 320-808-0937

Redwood

Opening

Lender

Opening

JK

Opening

Opening

EJM

Timed Online Auctions

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

Mcleod County, MN Land Auction - 44± Acres, Silver Lake, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening November 15 & Closing November 23 at 1PM

Mcleod County, MN Land Auction – 366+/- Acres, Hutchinson, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening November 18 & Closing November 22 at 12PM

Online Hay Auction – Quality Tested, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening November 18 & Closing November 23 at 10AM

Online Steffes Auction 11/23, Upper & Central Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction

Opening November 21 & Closing November 30 at 12PM

Kevin & Candace Lunde Farm Retirement Auction, Lake Park, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening November 21 & Closing November

BRR Farm Equipment Auction,

Opening November 21

November

Mike & Cindy Portner Farm Retirement Auction, New Ulm, MN, Timed

Opening November 22

November

Spurley Dairy Farm Retirement Equipment Auction, Linden, WI, Timed Online

Opening November 22

November

Adrian Farms Equipment Auction, Mountain Lake, MN, Timed

Opening November 22

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: JD 610 19’ flat fold chisel plow, tru-depth shanks, $7,900; IH 720 3pt onland plow, excellent cond, $2,450; CIH model 14 7 shank V ripper, 3pt or pull type, $4,500; JD 220 20’ stalk chopper, $5,750; Lorenz 8001 8’ snowblower, 540 PTO, like new, used once, $6,750. 320769-2756 or 320-361-0065 (c)

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: 2014 Woods Allo way S20CD, 20’ stalk chop per, pull type, 1000 PTO, works great; 2004 6420 JD tractor, 114HP, new fuel in jectors & PTO. Call for more information. 507-381-8280

FOR SALE: 1996 Hagie 284 sprayer, 60’ boom, good con dition. Also, slab weights and brackets for JD 40 series tractors. 507-427-3484

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: Fuerst chain har row w/ cart, 36’, $4,000/OBO. Power chip for CIH 6130 combine, 30% boost, $1,700. Estes concaves for CIH 6130 combine, less than 250 hrs, $8,000/OBO. 507-391-3775

FOR SALE: JD bean head model 216; JD cornhead, model 444, 4RW; Mayrath Auger, 8”x30’, PTO on trans port; Int‘l 1066 tractor w/ 3600 hrs. 952-758-3578 or 952-215-5128

FOR SALE: Lorenz 885 snow blower, 8’ wide, hyd spout and hyd deflector, 540 RPM, 3 pt, rated up to 150 HP. Call 507-877-2036

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: TEBBEN 9 shank 30” mounted deep till w/ cov er boards, works great in dry hard ground. Wil-Rich 25’ flail stalk chopper. Both in very good condition. 320-630-1777

FOR SALE: MF 1359 discbine, 9’, $15,000; JD 1209 9’ hay bine, $2,000; Parker grain box, JD 1065A gear, $2,000; Hub Spacer 8 bolt. 320-286-5931

FOR SALE: 20’ belt convey or, on wheels. Belt conveyor unload hopper for elevator. 507-378-2410

Thank

MN Lic. #79-06 Wi. Lic. #639-052

AUCTION BROCHURE

December 1 at 1PM

Les Rolfson Farm Retirement Auction, Pine Island, MN, Timed

Opening November 23

November

Richard & Wendy Jones Parts & Inventory Auction, Brownsdale, MN, Timed Online

Opening November 23

November

buyer’s fee will be added on to final bid price to achieve full contract purchase price on each parcel. Buyer(s) shall have all financing, secured before bidding on this auction as there will be no buyer contingencies accepted within this auction. Real Estate taxes due and payable in the year of 2022 are $3,992.00 and will be paid by seller At the conclusion of the auction buyer and seller shall enter into a standard MN purchase agreement drafted by TMRA and buyer shall deposit non-refundable earnest money as time is of the essence. Earnest money deposited shall be parcel #1 $50,000, parcel #2 $100,000 and parcel #3 $10,000 respectfully Closing on all parcels shall be on or before Friday, December 23, 2022. All 3 parcels are being sold with a certified survey with full legal description and property pins in place. The septic system on the building site is non-compliant and buyer will accept all therein. Again, all earnest money shall be non-refundable if seller produces good marketable title at closing and buyer fails to close. See website for all details. Seller TMRA and all representatives of before mentioned are making no warranties or guarantees other than that stipulated in the warranty deed.

John & Lynn Labat Farm

Opening November 26

Loren & Susan Kohls

Retirement

Milroy, MN, Timed

REGISTRATION: All interested bidders will be required to pre-register with TMRA at www.tmracompany.com to bid on this auction. The farm will be offered in 3 parcels and all registered bidders will be able to bid on any or all parcels. See website for full Terms & Conditions.

Edward & Lorraine Tesmer Owner

Brad: 507-421-0232

John: 507-932-4656

Tony: 507-259-7502

Trucks & Trailers

Trucks & Trailers

9000, cab

3176

needs

to

880, 477

$3,500; ‘73

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Plywood and paint

TheSauk Centre, Minnesota Area Historical Society, along with area artists, have created an outdoor drive-by art gallery on U.S. Hwy. 71 on the north end of downtown. The gallery consists of a dozen paintings done by area citizen-artists. The art is installed on the tall, boarded-up windows of a large red brick building which most recently housed the Main Street Dairy — the bottler of Pride of Main Street milk.

The building’s lower half will celebrate its centennial next year. The upper half was built by its first owner, Blue Valley Corporation of Chicago, in 1924. Blue Valley’s Sauk Centre Creamery was part of a network of creameries which became one of the country’s largest butter-making operations. The creamery had many lives in addition to Blue Valley (including as one of the country’s few kefir bottlers) before it was gifted to the Historical Society in 2016.

The Historical Society plans to renovate the building and move its museum (now located in the basement of the town’s Carnegie public library) to the creamery’s second story. The renovated and expanded museum will share office space with the Sinclair Lewis Foundation. The first floor is destined to be a restaurant, according to a sign affixed to the building’s outer wall.

Recognizing that a renovation is a large project and the Historical Society is a small organization, its directors have decided to put its outside wall to good use by creating the drive-by gallery. The gallery will be moved inside when the renovation is complete.

The wide range of subjects of the paintings reflects the possibilities 12 dif ferent artists can have — even though they all put their creations on win dow-sized plywood. There is a painting of a 4-H youngster with her prize winning cow. That certainly fits with the creamery theme. One of the tal ented artists used wonderfully vibrant colors to create a red-winged black bird taking flight from a cattail marsh. Another created an icy blue dream world where an ordinary house cat is transformed into a ferocious lion. (Or is the lion transformed into a well fed pussy cat?) You get to decide. Another painting features the fierce eye, prominent nose, and bushy mustache of what probably is a cranky curmudgeon.

The Blue Valley Creamery paintings add further depth to a remarkable array of murals and public paintings throughout Sauk Centre’s downtown district. Beware, however! The highway noise at the Creamery can be deaf ening. v

Sauk Centre, Minn.