The Land - December 9, 2022

418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56001 (800) 657-4665

Vol. XLVI ❖ No. 25 32 pages, 1 section plus supplements

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Cover art is taken from the painting, “The Home Place” by Bonnie Mohr.

COLUMNS

Opinion 2-4

Farm and Food File 4

From My Farmhouse Kitchen 6 The Bookworm Sez 8 Table Talk 8

Healthcare Focus 10 Calendar of Events 18 Swine & U 20 Mielke Market Weekly 21 Marketing 22 Auctions/Classifieds 26-31 Advertiser Listing 31 Back Roads 32

STAFF

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‘And so this is Christmas’

If we’re not careful, the holidays can be a time when perfection gets the best of us. I know social media has created some unattainable standards; but don’t forget, before Instagram there were community cookbooks trying to convince us that an attractive salad was a mold of lemon Jell-O with grated carrots and maraschino cherries, adorned with intricately rolled bologna and served with a homemade mayonnaise dressing. Just a can of green beans for me, thanks.

man was ill or even dying, and what would the rest of his Christmas be like. I didn’t think it could be good. I had witnessed the real truth that strong men eventually become weak. Young become old. The realization that Christmas does not live in a snow globe.

LAND MINDS

By Laura Cole

As a kid, my ideas of Christmas were a little like the inside of a snow globe scene. Everything just so and even if I shook that little orb, the objects inside stayed as they should. The little girl continued to smile. The snowman didn’t melt. The puppy would always have his bone with a bright red bow tied around it. And in my mind, my family’s holiday traditions were thousands of years old. Concrete, cemented in place.

OPINION

This moment turned out to be a beginning lesson in accepting that life can be one thing and also another. Good, but with sadness. Joyful among misfortune.

For about six years in my twenties, I worked with individuals with developmental disabilities. Holiday shifts were sometimes hard to fill and one year I found myself with the Christmas Eve evening shift.

The first day of Christmas break must have been Dec. 23, but it seems like that afternoon and the following lasted an eternity. All of the neighborhood kids spent the whole time outside: sledding down Freedom Hill, building elaborate snow forts, knocking off the biggest icicles from the gutters for sword fights. As the afternoon sun from Christmas Eve shifted into its golden hour, the fun of the day warmed into something more peaceful, serene and sentimental.

There was an unspoken rule that all five of us kids got along on holidays. Fighting would not exist. We toasted each other with real smiles on our faces. We ate our meals with the good dishes and said please pass the gravy. We didn’t try to leave the table before the ending prayer was said. For the day, we were perfect children.

The first time I felt an infringement on Christmas magic was when I was about 10 years old or so. Even in a conservative German Lutheran church, there was a lot of energy inside the brick and stained glass. After the service and waiting to hear “It’s time to go”, I was racing down the stairs from balcony to basement with a friend. As we rounded the end of a bannister, we slowed down as a young woman was helping a much older man down the stairs. I remember he was taller than I thought an old man could be, and he wore a medical mask (during a time when that was definitely more rare). As he took the last step to leave the church, his foot caught the rug and he tripped falling to his knees. With one hand on the ground, he struggled to stand, and was unable.

Another man came to help the woman get him back on his feet. I remember continuing to run down the stairs and the combination of what just happened alongside the smell of church basement coffee, the echoing sounds of continued conversation, and the smile on my friend’s face that I no longer matched made me want to stop. I wondered if the

At the time, I had a toddler at home, and I was a little heartbroken to be missing out on witnessing the magic of Christmas Eve through her eyes. Driving to my 2-10 p.m. shift, I felt weighted down. My daughter would be fast asleep by the time I would be home, and I would never have that one specific Christmas Eve with her. And if I’m being honest, I was also worried that my husband was going to take this opportunity to knock out my family tradition of chili before the Christmas Eve service with his family’s tradition of lasagna. Traditions are serious.

As I pulled into the group home’s driveway, I remembered the age-old reminder within that line of work: Leave your personal at their doorstep.

I was expecting it to be a good shift, that there would be some smiles and laughs. I would be taking one of the more elderly ladies to a Christmas Eve service, and she was looking forward to it. She had the personality any public speaker would love to have in attendance. When the pastor told a joke and only got a couple of smiles from everyone else, she was the ultimate congregant and responded with a long laugh. Her laughter was heartwarming and encouraging, and you couldn’t help but join in. She knew every Christmas song, and words really can’t describe how it felt to be at that candlelit service, sitting next to this lovely lady with her hands clasped, eyes closed, and singing “Silent Night.” The words she didn’t know, she hummed along to, and once she was familiar again, she picked right back up.

There’s a reserved tranquility that accompanies leaving an evening church service. As I carefully guided the wheelchair through the snowy sidewalk, I felt inspired and renewed.

Until I set off the alarm on the van.

It was not a beep that lasted a second or two. It was a horrendous non-stop blaring. If the cattle lowing couldn’t make baby Jesus cry, this would have done the trick (not that Mary was asking). In my panic to make it all stop, I began pushing every button on the remote as many times as I could. The

House’s new ag boss doesn’t offer much that’s new

While his Republican House colleagues were fighting for votes and party majority a week after the Nov. 8 midterm election, Pennsylvania incumbent Glenn Thompson, the ranking GOP member of the House Ag Committee, was basking in the glow of another blowout re-election.

His hammering, 40-point win wasn’t his biggest. That came in 2020 when he won his sixth term by a crushing 47 points. Even then-President Donald J. Trump, running for reelection, couldn’t top that; Trump won Thompson’s district by “just” 43 points.

FARM & FOOD FILE

By Alan Guebert

OPINION

That empowering victory, and the fact that Thompson represents one of the largest, reddest rural districts east of the Mississippi, should tell every farmer and rancher west of the Ohio where he stands on most ag issues when he assumes the House Ag Committee chairmanship in January.

For starters, Thompson hates WOTUS, the Waters of the U.S. rule. Additionally, he believes SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, needs “work and job training” requirements “for certain beneficiaries.”

Yes, that old “no work, no SNAP” idea, rejected in the 2018 Farm Bill debate, will likely see its reprise under Thompson.

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He’s no fan of new ideas, either. He openly opposes any proposed Securities and Exchange Commission rule which requires publicly-traded companies to disclose their climate change impact. That’s especially true for companies involved in agriculture.

To say he’s a rock-ribbed conservative slanders both rocks and conservatives: Thompson is a tough, outspoken Republican critic of both the Biden White House and its Department of Agriculture leaders and he makes no apologies for it.

That’s especially so when it comes to the White House’s recent push to acknowledge agriculture’s role in climate change. In September, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced almost $3 billion of new funding for “climate-smart commodity” research projects. Thompson blasted the spending because, he claimed, it “endangered the bipartisan support” for “traditional Farm Bill conservation” spending.

It’s a novel argument: USDA shouldn’t fund new research on how to protect critical natural resources during climate change because it will harm ongoing research on how to protect critical resources during climate change.

To ensure House Dems got his meaning, Thompson then upped the ante in an interview two days before his reelection.

Speaking to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonprofit, nonpartisan website which covers Keystone State politics, Thompson said he didn’t “feel bound by any amount of funding or the specific program allocation passed in the partisan IRA bill,” the White House’s Inflation Reduction Act, passed last summer, that aims to cut U.S. carbon emissions 40 percent by 2030.

Sure, he said, “I have been leaning into the climate discussion, but I will not have us suddenly

incorporate buzzwords like regenerative agriculture in the Farm Bill or overemphasize climate.”

As new chairman of the House Ag Committee, Thompson now has the muscle to push all Farm Bill talk on climate change onto any of his subcommittees’ back burners. That doesn’t mean, however, that climate change programs — and their buzzwords — won’t be incorporated into the Senate draft Farm Bill.

In fact, Thompson’s pre-Farm Bill pronouncements sound eerily similar to the partisan markers the GOP laid down during the contentious, two-yearlong 2018 Farm Bill fight.

Back then, like in 2023, the GOP ran the House. Unlike next year’s wafer-thin GOP majority, however, its 2018 majority was rock solid. Even at that, none of the GOP’s most conservative proposals for the bill — especially any work requirements for SNAP benefits — made it into law because GOP leaders couldn’t corral their members.

And too, holding fast against any new SNAP work requirements then was the Dem leader of the Senate Ag Committee, Michigander Debbie Stabenow. Since Democrats held their Senate majority Nov. 8, guess who’s still chair of Senate Ag?

As such, the 2018 Farm Bill fight might be a good blueprint for the upcoming 2023 fight: House Republicans pass tough Farm Bill “reforms” while defunding climate change; Senate Dems do neither but watch the clock; House Repubs finally concede and a “no one-is-happy” 2018-looking Farm Bill struggles over the finish line.

In short, if the recipe stays the same, the sausage will too.

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

10 year old remembers something more

LAND MINDS, from pg. 2

woman I was with initially groaned at the total disruption, and I could not stop apologizing to her as I continued to fumble. At some point, she began laughing and eventually I was able to join her amidst the chaos.

I 100 percent ruined the mood of that peaceful Christmas Eve. But maybe there was a 10 year old sitting in a nearby pew that night who remembers something more. Along with the honest singing of that woman, did she also hear the persistent and, at times, pained coughing and sadly realize life is still life on Christmas? But maybe she also witnessed the commotion in the parking lot and had a laugh over that frantic twentysomething trying her best.

Did the disruption of the van alarm truly take away the holiday spirit? Or maybe (I can only hope) it brought an understanding that life is struggle and it’s joy.

Sometimes, even inside a snow globe, the objects inside dull. The glue holding the characters down may lift. The globe itself can chip or break. If you see the magic in every corner of December, how amazing. If you see some of the murk alongside the marvel, how right you are. As Frank sings, “…we’ll have to muddle through somehow.

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”

Laura Cole is the staff writer of The Land. She may be reached at lcole@TheLandOnline.com.

Good or bad, Christmas memories center around our Lord

Christmas is a time for making new memories or remembering celebrations of years ago. Many of our childhood memories involve a special gift we received (or didn’t). For those of us who are older, we remember paging through the toy catalogs which came in the mail. If just one of those items from the wish catalog came, we knew Christmas would be good.

Christmas is a time of joy and merriment. But the Christmas which keeps surfacing to my mind this year was one that was not especially cheery. The year was 1986. The farm crisis was in full swing. Commodity prices just seemed to only know one way of movement, which was down. The opposite was true for interest rates. They kept rising. Sadly, many farmers were forced to sell their farms. It was not a good time for most people in rural or urban areas.

FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

By Renae B. Vander Schaaf

Just a month a later, a deadly tornado wiped out the farm I grew up on. It was devastating — not one of the buildings was salvageable. Most of the livestock, too, was gone. All but one bull was accounted for in the final count. The bull was too wild now, so left alone.

Worse yet, and the hardest to bear, the storm claimed the life of my precious niece, Joni Marie DeBoer.

She was just four years old. A sweet, dark haired little girl with a pixie way of smiling.

That day Joni had colored a picture of an angel before going to her grandparent’s farm. It is the first thing my brother and his wife saw as they came home from the hospital knowing that their young daughter was now singing hymns with the angels.

Times were tough. Our emotions were all awry. The glitter and tinsel of the holiday seemed so harsh and callous. It was completely opposite of our heavy hearts.

I was nine and one half months pregnant with our third child. A time which usually is one of great anticipation and joy.

My parents, younger brothers and sisters, had moved to a different farm place. It wasn’t home. The house was unfamiliar, the gravel road had people living on it that I didn’t know. They were not the neighbors I remembered. The farm place did have nice evergreens, though, which were pretty with the snow on the needles and on the ground.

Dad and mom, despite their busyness on the farm, had always made sure that there was some type of Christmas celebration. That year was no different, as they welcomed us to their temporary home. They must have realized that we needed each other more than ever.

In February of 1986, my grandma, Louise Cassens Reemstma died, just two days before her 77th birthday and one day before their wedding anniversary.

The Crocus flowers I always looked for on the south side of her house were blooming. They always bloomed so much earlier than mine. This fall I planted more Crocus bulbs … just because.

Grandma was the first of my grandparents to die. She was my mother’s mom; and like her, Grandma was a farmer’s wife with a listening heart and a strong faith in God. We knew she often mentioned our names in her prayers and would ask us about our salvation.

A month later, my “opa,” Jacob Marten DeBoer died. He was 91 years old. He was a man who enjoyed farming. When he retired to the edge of Little Rock, he kept a handful of cattle for many years there in a pasture.

A man of strong convictions, he lived his life in accordance with his German Bible that he read from several times daily. Before he died, he had a dream that my dad’s farm would be destroyed. Only one of my dad’s many cattle or cows would survive.

Earlier that day, when my sister-in-law talked with her daughter, she had a record playing by Bill and Gloria Gaither. The song playing was “Jesus, I Heard You Had A Big House.”

Jesus, I heard you had a big house, Where I could have a room of my own. And Jesus, I heard you had a big yard, Big enough to let a kid roam.

I heard you had clothes in your closet, Just the right size that I wear, And Jesus, I heard if I give you my heart, Then you would let me go there.

Jesus, I heard about meal time, When all your children come to eat, I heard you got a great big table Where every kid can have his own seat.

Jesus, they said there will be plenty Of good things to children to share, And Jesus, I’d just like to tell you I sure would like to go there.

Jesus, I heard that in your big house There’s plenty of love to go ‘round. I heard there’s always singing and laughter To fill the place with happy sounds.

And I’ve been thinking that a friend Who would give me all that he’s got Before I had even met him Well, he sure must love me a lot.

And Jesus, I’d just want to tell you, I sure do love you a lot!

Jesus, we just want to tell you, We sure do love you a lot!

When Christmas came, I hardly felt like celebrating and I suspect we all had similar thoughts.

It was also their way to remind us of the real reason of Christmas — that Emmanuel has come.

Matthew 1:23 tells us, ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” ‘God with us’, oh, how we needed that assurance and reminder.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on this verse, wrote: “Herein consists the salvation He wrought out, in the bringing of God and man together; this was what He designed, to bring God to be with us, which is our great happiness, and to bring us to be with God, which is our great duty.”

We need to confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior, because we have all sinned. Sin separates us from God. God is just and holy, we need a mediator to undo the work of Satan.

Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, is the promised deliverer and mediator. We can trust Him fully.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3: 16 and 17.

Through good or bad times, Emmanuel is here. He is the creator of this universe. Just to think of God’s glory and majesty causes me to tremble. He is our Redeemer and our Emmanuel (God with us). The very thought of this restored us that year and still does.

Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com.

Put a page-turner under the tree this year

The tree looks magnificent.

Your kids did a great job decorating the parts you assigned to them; you took pictures this year because they really outdid themselves. So you’re ready (almost) for the holidays — except for those few tricky gifts that you just can’t seem to figure out.

How about books? Easy to wrap, happy to get … why not look for these great books?

Fiction

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

For the giftee who likes novels with a twist, wrap up “The Storyteller’s Death” by Ann Davila Cardinal. It’s the tale of a girl who learns, at age 18, that she’s a “storyteller,” which is something that’s passed down through the women of her family. But this blessing turns out to be a curse when she “sees” a murder that happened long ago. Pair it up with “The Strange Inheritance of Leah Fern” by Rita Zoey Chin, also a story of a young “fortune teller” and a vision she may or may not have wanted.

The person on your list who loves to people-watch and connect with, well, everybody will want “Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting” by Clare Pooley. It’s the story of an advice columnist who amuses herself during her commute by watching the other people on the train – until the day something happens and commuters suddenly become something more. Pair it with “Has Anyone Seen My Toes?” by Christopher Buckley, a hilarious novel about life during a the pandemic when one’s health is the least of one’s worries.

The reader on your list who loves to laugh will thoroughly enjoy “Random” by Penn Jillette. It’s the story of an almost-twenty-one-year-old who inherits a pile of debt from his horrible father, and it’s due to the (even more horrible) loan shark when the guy turns 21. Will a roll of the dice eliminate all his problems? Lucky is the person who gets this book, to find out.

Mystery

The person on your list who is Of a Certain Age will absolutely love getting “Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Raybourn. It’s a thriller-mystery about four women who’ve worked as assassins for decades but suddenly, everyone thinks their methods are outdated. They’re sent “on vacation” but it’s really no vacation. How do they get out alive?

Lovers of short mysteries will love to find “Reader, I Buried Them and Other Stories” by Peter Lovesey. This book, in celebration of Lovesey’s more-than-fifty years of mystery-writing, is full of mayhem, murder, and you know your giftee will want it. General nonfiction

If you’re looking for something unusual for your science-minded giftee, then find “The Handy Engineering Answer Book by DeLean Tolbert Smith, PhD; Aishwary Pawar; Nicole Pitterson, PhD; and

Debra-Ann C. Butler, PhD. It’s perfect for anyone who works in or dabbles with any kind of engineering today; it’s also the kind of book your dedicated science fan needs.

For the person who always embraces the good in life, “Inciting Joy” by Ross Gay will be a welcome gift. It’s a collection of essays on the things that make us happy, that cause us to count our blessings, smile, and that gather us together. Wrap it up with “Happier Hour” by Cssie Holmes, PhD, and help someone decide what’s worth their joy.

There’s just no way your animal-loving giftee won’t want a copy of “Possums Are Not Cute!” by Ally Burguieres. It’s filled with adorable photos of possums of all ages, in cute poses and just living their best lives. Bonus: possum facts and trivia!

For your media-obsesssed giftee, “It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO” by Felix Gillette and John Koblin is a nice eye-opener and a look at how we watch television, even in an age of streaming. Pair it with a book that reads like a movie: “Same Ground” by Russell Wangersky, a book about a journey across America, in search of a family story.

Won’t your reader enjoy “Great Short Books” by Kenneth C. Davis this holiday? The answer is “yes”: this book is about books – specifically, more than fifty short novels by authors you know and don’t know. Wrap it up with a gift certificate to your favorite bookstore.

For the person who is obsessed with current events, “Adrift” by Scott Galloway could be THE gift this year. It’s a book of charts: where America’s been, where we seem to be heading, and how our leaders are leading. Pair it up with “Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and Lies about Our Past,” edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer. Together, these books are both eyeopeners, for sure.

The historian on your gift list will whoop when the wrapping comes off “The Escape Artist” by Jonathan Freedland. It’s the story of a man who actually broke out of Auschwitz and lived to tell the world what was going on. It’s a true story that reads like a deadly thriller.

Memoir

The music lover on your gift list will absolutely want “Loud” by Tana Douglas. It’s a memoir of rock & roll, working with the band (Douglas was the rock world’s first female roadie) and yep, there’s plenty of behind-the-scenes. Your giftee won’t be able to resist. Another adventure to find: “Life on the Mississippi: An Epic American Adventure” by Rinker Buck. The author built an old-time wooden flatboat and sailed it down the Miss. You can’t miss what happened then...

Business

What do you give the businessperson who’s also a “people person”? You wrap up “The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People” by Maurio Porcini. This book shows why it’s best for a business to put people first, always, and unapologetically. Readers who want to know where

See BOOKWORM, pg. 25

THE BOOKWORM SEZ

Why the manger was not decorated for Christmas

There may be no other more beautiful and decorative season of the year than Christmas. It has also been argued that with enough spiked eggnog, persons of varying degrees of loveliness can appear beautiful, too — especially in the soft light of the Christmas tree.

I’m not sure that as much effort is put into beautification as happens at Christmas time. We have a stairway banister in the living room that switches from beautiful orange leaf garland and lights in the fall, to subtle lighted roping at Christmas. I guess that means our banister is lit from September through January — not unlike old Uncle Whatsisface.

TABLE TALK

By Karen Schwaller

of his unrelenting (if not flawed) faith in my ability to not to dump him out of the bucket.

And I guess if you can do a job by hand, you can find a way to put a motor on it.

n

I later opened a card from my aunt and uncle in California and she wrote, “We sure enjoyed your Christmas card, even though it wasn’t signed and there was no letter.”

Good Lord, I wondered how many cards I had sent out that way that year.

n

There are many tales to be told about holiday decorating.

A couple of Christmases ago I was hanging Christmas cards around doorways. My mom was settled in and cozy in the recliner with two sweaters on, working on a crossword puzzle as the Christmas music played and the chocolate on my Christmas candy was melting — all in the name of keeping my mother warm while I was experiencing hot flashes from the thermostat.

Apparently, in my zest to finish the job before everyone got here, I soon found the step stool was lying sideways and my head was hitting the floor.

I peered up from my point of view to see if I had frightened my mother; but she neither looked up nor seemed concerned. She asked, “Are you okay?” I said I was, and laid there for a minute while I probed for goose eggs and tried to figure out what had just occurred. Mom continued on with her puzzle. She goes by her mantra that if there is no poop, blood or visible fires, all is calm and all is bright.

n

My husband enjoys having lots of Christmas lights up. Last year it had snowed and gotten cold before we could get the outdoor lights on the house. That meant saying “no” to the step ladder, so he fetched the skid loader and scooped a path all around the lighting areas. I drove it — both forward and backwards — with him in the bucket as he shoved the light clips under the shingles. It speaks

There is probably no more irritating job than securing a real tree into a tree stand. My husband has lost more language doing that single task than any other job on the farm; and because of it, he fabricated a tree stand which could not be matched by any amount of German engineering. It’s as heavy as the failed shortcake I baked one year (which, when I accidentally dropped it, hit the floor with an embarrassing thud and never even cracked).

Once we get the tree stand dragged upstairs; and if no toes have been broken or severed in the process; we can proceed with the simple job of putting up the tree. For my husband, the carol, “O Christmas Tree” can lose its luster when he’s literally wrestling with that most sacred of Christmas icons.

n

I have always enjoyed writing out Christmas cards. We moved a mile to our new home in December 2013 (admittedly an ill-timed move) and I hurried through writing cards that year.

Finally, what man doesn’t have a pile of lifeless Christmas lights somewhere, waiting to be resurrected? As cheap as lights are anymore I would just hold a memorial service and bury them alongside the hamsters — just to end the torment — but my husband loves a good challenge.

“I don’t know why you put yourself through that,” I said to him recently as he was working on strings of lights and profanities. He muttered something about it being the principle of the matter, adding that their willy-nilly whims of working defy all scientific reasoning.

Christmas lights alone may cause my husband to sport his own holiday red nose as he copes with some corn-based elixir following those particularly tedious and unyielding resuscitation sieges. Some nights around here are not all that silent … at least until the Christmas lighting is finished.

Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. ❖

Program available to upgrade irrigation systems

The second round of a cost-share for irrigation system upgrades and associated practices is now available to producers in 19 Minnesota counties. This cost-share is available through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The program is available to producers with irrigation systems located within Becker, Benton, Cass, Dakota, Douglas, East Otter Tail, Grant, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wadena, Washington, and West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 16 and are available through the 20 local SWCD offices.

The program provides financial and technical support to irrigators looking to adopt and integrate proven precision irrigation technology and nitrogen management practices to help optimize irrigation system operation. This will help address groundwater quality and quantity issues under irrigated cropland.

The cost-share is available for practices such as installing soil moisture sensors for irrigation scheduling, upgrades of sprinkler packages, conversion to variable rate application, advanced irrigation water management, and fertigation retrofits. The costshare amount varies; applicants should contact their local SWCD for more information.

Acres receiving cost-share for irrigation practices are also eligible for cost-share money for cover crops, residue and tillage management, and nutrient management.

In addition to providing the cost-share, a limited number of irrigators will receive a stipend to participate in the AgCentric Farm Business Management Program to provide an annual financial analysis of their operation.

More information is available at https://agcentric. org/rcpp-precision-irrigation/ . Contact your local SWCD for more information about the program and how to apply.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

1 of 72 DS-3900AM™ 256.7 212.5 44.2 Minnesota Southwest - Early Truman, MN

1 of 42 DS-4510Q™ 276.5 258.8 17.7 Minnesota Southeast - Full Cannon Falls, MN 2 of 32 DS-2919AM™ 222.6 203.9 18.7 Red River Central - Full Felton, MN

2 of 30 DS-3550AM™ 272.6 246.6 26.0 Minnesota Southeast - Ultra Early Cannon Falls, MN

2 of 30 DS-3550AM™ 248.1 228.5 19.6 Minnesota Southeast - Ultra Early Summary

2 of 45 DS-3601AM™ 205.1 192.6 12.5 Minnesota West Central - Early Summary

2 of 45 DS-3727AM™ 218.9 194.4 24.5 Minnesota West Central - Early Lester Prairie, MN

2 of 72 DS-3900AM™ 244.0 214.6 29.4 Minnesota Southeast - Early Dexter, MN

2 of 72 DS-3900AM™ 267.4 222.9 44.5 Minnesota Southwest - Early Easton, MN

2 of 41 DS-4018AM™ 232.6 207.5 25.1 Minnesota West Central - Full Kerkhoven, MN

2 of 72 DS-4219AM™ 266.6 235.6 31.0 Minnesota Southwest - Early Jackson, MN

2 of 72 DS-4219AM™ 215.2 187.3 27.9 Minnesota Southwest - Early Lamberton, MN

2 of 72 DS-4219AM™ 236.5 210.9 25.6 Minnesota Southwest - Early Summary

2 of 41 DS-4219AM™ 230.7 215.0 15.7 Minnesota West Central - Full Montevideo, MN

3 of 40 DS-2531AM™ 186.4 167.4 19.0 Red River Central - Early East Grand Forks, MN 3 of 32 DS-3022AM™ 220.1 203.9 16.2 Red River Central - Full Felton, MN 3 of 30 DS-3203AM™ 236.8 214.9 21.9 Minnesota Southeast - Ultra Early Dexter, MN 3 of 30 DS-3203AM™ 245.5 226.6 18.9 Minnesota Southeast - Ultra Early Eyota, MN 3 of 30 DS-3550AM™ 247.7 229.9 17.8 Minnesota Southeast - Ultra Early Kasson, MN 3 of 30 DS-3550AM™ 244.6 224.3 20.3 Minnesota Southeast - Ultra Early New Richland, MN 3 of 45 DS-3550AM™ 212.0 194.8 17.2 Minnesota West Central - Early Belgrade, MN 3 of 45 DS-3601AM™ 215.8 199.0 16.8 Minnesota West Central - Early Clinton, MN 3 of 41 DS-3959Q™ 227.8 207.5 20.3 Minnesota West Central - Full Kerkhoven, MN 3 of 72 DS-4219AM™ 262.4 240.5 21.9 Minnesota Southeast - Early Kasson, MN

BLUE EARTH CO.

Letcher Farm Supply Inc (507) 549-3168

CARVER CO.

Dave Richter, DSM (320) 248-1794

DODGE CO. Aaron Laumann (507) 251-7221

DOUGLAS CO. Bruce Wussow (320) 766-8548

FREEBORN CO. Nielsen Seed (507) 473-0108

GRANT CO.

Bruce Wussow (320) 766-8548

HOUSTON CO.

Irv Schansberg (507) 724-2445 (507) 450-9463

JACKSON CO. Ackermann Farms, Jacob (507) 840-0112

LE SUEUR CO. Howie Mack Whitewater Creek Grain & Feed Inc (507) 362-4777

Tye Scott, DSM (605) 824-0559

LINCOLN CO. Enemark Seeds (507) 828-3695

LYON CO. Enemark Seeds (507) 828-3695

MARSHALL CO. Northland Ag (218) 779-2711

MCLEOD CO.

Tom Maiers Seed (320) 583-4564

MOWER CO. Aaron Laumann (507) 251-7221

Nielsen Seed (507) 473-0108

NICOLLET CO. Mark Legare (507) 276-8115

Voges Seeds (507) 766-0202

Zimmerman Seeds (507) 217-7066

OLMSTED CO. Aaron Laumann (507) 251-7221

OTTER TAIL CO. Bruce Wussow (320) 766-8548

POLK CO. Northland Ag (218) 779-2711

REDWOOD CO. Hoffman Seed (320) 579-0936

Kirk Engen, DSM (507) 240-0034

Swanson Seed Center (507) 828-0698

RENVILLE CO. Dale Filzen (320) 894-7480

Hoffman Seed (320) 579-0936

RICE CO. Howie Mack Whitewater Creek Grain & Feed Inc (507) 362-4777

SIBLEY CO. Mark Legare (507) 276-8115 Merlin Schwecke (507) 276-6900

STEELE CO. Karl Steckelberg, DSM (507) 475-0365

TODD CO. Bruce Wussow (320) 766-8548

TRAVERSE CO. Chad Birchem, DSM (320) 815-8980

WASECA CO. Howie Mack Whitewater Creek Grain & Feed Inc (507) 362-4777

WILKIN CO. Minn-kota Ag Products (218) 643-6130

WRIGHT CO. Austin Benzing, DSM (763) 312-0743

YELLOW MEDICINE CO. Hoffman Seed (320) 579-0936

Data based on 2022 F.I.R.S.T. (Farmers’ Independent Research of Seed Technologies) corn grain trials. No product recommendation by F.I.R.S.T. is implied.

TM ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2022 Corteva.

Think twice before enrolling in Medicare Advantage program

It is timely to think about “Medicare Advantage” as this is the season when folks of Medicare age decide what to do with their insurance for the next year. Medicare Advantage is misnamed as it is not really an advantage nor is it original Medicare.

A bit of history is in order. After Medicare was started in 1966, it became apparent the original Medicare had some significant gaps which should be fixed — for example, significant copays for hospital stays; no coverage for vision, hearing and dental problems; and no out of pocket maximum.

HEALTHCARE FOCUS

By Mark Brakke

The logical thing (logical from the patient’s point of view) would have been to expand Medicare to cover these gaps. The U.S. insurance industry convinced legislators to allow the sale of policies to cover some parts of this gap with additional profit to the insurance companies if less money was spent on care.

The term “Medicare Advantage” was introduced in 2003. How does Medicare Advantage work? The Providers (doctors, clinics, hospitals) bill the insurance companies for the services provided to the patients and the insurance companies have complex contracts with the providers and Medicare.

The first obvious problem with this approach is the introduction of another party in the insurance plan. With original Medicare, the doctor or hospital billed Medicare and Medicare paid based on a set fee schedule. With Medicare Advantage, the hospital or doctor billed the insurance company which got paid by Medicare based on a complex formula and the insurance company paid the provider. This is obviously inefficient due to inserting another business into the billing/payment process.

The next problem involves incentives. The contracts between the insurance companies and Medicare encourage the insurance companies to spend less caring for the patients. That kind of incentive causes the insurance companies to sometimes deny needed care.

Unfortunately, there is another major problem. Many of the insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage insurance manipulated the information

about how sick their patients were. This resulted in Medicare being overcharged. Our tax money funds Medicare, so when Medicare is overcharged we the taxpayer are defrauded. It is estimated 2020 overcharges by Medicare Advantage were between $12 and $25 billion. (For a bit of perspective, the budget for NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency, was $21.5 billion). The Center for Medicare Services has been ineffective at eliminating this problem.

I am sure those of you in the Medicare age range have noticed the flood of advertising for Medicare Advantage plans every fall. That should give you a clue as to how profitable the Medicare Advantage programs are for the insurance companies. Remember your tax money is paying for all that advertising. You may have also noticed it is quite difficult to pick a Medicare Advantage plan due to the myriad different deductions, copays, incentives, etc. offered.

A word of caution: If you are starting Medicare or if you are in Medicare with a supplemental insurance policy (not Medicare Advantage) think twice about getting a Medicare Advantage policy. The rules make it nearly impossible to switch from Medicare Advantage back to original Medicare with a supplemental (Medigap) policy (the insurance companies have the option of denying you that change ….and they usually do deny the change.) When you are in Medicare Advantage, the insurance company is involved in approving the care your doctor thinks is necessary. Who should determine your

care, your doctor or an insurance company? Joining a Medicare Advantage plan puts you in a network. The doctor you wish to see, the doctor who is most experienced taking care of your problem, may not be in the network you join.

Some of you reading this column may wonder if I am exaggerating. I am not. A good place to learn more is the PNHP.org webpage where they have an extensive set of information on Medicare Advantage.

On Oct. 8 the New York Times published, “The Cash Cow Was Insatiable, How Insurers Exploited Medicare Advantage”. You can also simply google “problems with medicare advantage” and find many well documented articles. When you read or listen to discussions of this subject, always ask yourself who is speaking. The insurance industry clearly does not have an unbiased perspective. (Chicken farmers will tell you: Do not let the fox design the chicken coop.)

There really is no good reason for our Medicare insurance being complicated and subject to fraud and administrative inefficiency. Original Medicare is administratively efficient and should have been left that way.

As a tax payer I think we should do away with Medicare Advantage and replace it with an improved version of the original Medicare. We all need to remember we live in a democracy. If we want government policy to change we need to communicate regularly with our elected representatives.

Mark Brakke is retired after caring for patients in Coon Rapids, Minn. for 41 years. He has served on boards of two HMOs. Questions relating to health care can be sent to editor@thelandonline.com. ❖

New crop insurance resources for small and organic producers

Two new resources from the Center for Rural Affairs describe coverage options available for small and organic operations: the Micro Farm program and Contract Price Option.

The Micro Farm program insures the expected revenue of an agricultural operation, and is designed with small ones in mind. The coverage protects against loss of revenue from commodities grown or purchased for resale during the insurance period.

Operations eligible for Micro Farm must make less than $350,000 in approved annual revenue, with no more than 50 percent of total revenue coming from commodities purchased for resale.

For producers growing or transitioning to organic crops, the Contract Price Option can be used to better

cover a crop’s value.

The Contract Price Option is only available for acres under contract. Acres with and without contracts can still be insured under the same policy, but those acres not under contract will be factored into a weighted average at the price established by RMA.

To learn more about these programs, visit cfra.org/ publications.

Farmers with questions about crop insurance are invited to reach out to the Center for Rural Affairs for one-on-one support. Contact Kate Hansen at kateh@cfra.org or (515) 215-1294.

This article was submitted by the Center for Rural Affairs.

Mohr’s dairy production is with brush on canvas

By RICHARD SIEMERS The Land Correspondent

It would be difficult to find a time when dairy cattle were not a part of Bonnie Mohr’s life. She grew up on a dairy farm near Gibbon, Minn. with her seven siblings, doing farm chores including milking cows. She also showed cattle and was on a dairy judging team.

Mohr attended college at the University of Minnesota - Waseca, majoring in dairy production and agricultural communications. Married and living in Minneapolis after graduation, she worked for Holstein World in communications, sales and marketing. Her husband, John, who grew up on a dairy farm near Hanska, Minn., also had a job in sales. In the 1980s they took the opportunity to buy a farm near Glencoe, Minn. and went into the dairy business. (You can read about the farm, Glenmark Genetics, at www.glenmarkgenetics.com)

“I felt strongly that I would end up somewhere in the field of agriculture and, more importantly, in a dairy company where I could use my background,” Bonnie said. “I always kind of laugh and say, ironically, I

did end up in dairy communications, but in a way that I never expected.”

You see, Bonnie Mohr communicates about dairy farming with a paintbrush. For years, her prime subjects were dairy cattle.

“Very shortly into the early part of my career I realized that I could paint cows well because I used to judge them. I was on the judging team so I knew anatomy and bone structure and the like.”

Still, painting was not a career she expected to be in at all. The closest she came to formal training was at the age of 12. While she wasn’t turning out paintings, her parents saw an interest in design and drawing and enrolled her in a class with a local artist as a Christmas gift. She loved art class in high school but felt she was an average student.

Living in the Twin Cities gave her access to art shows and galleries.

“There was this gnawing level of curiosity and interest in pursuing my art,” she said. “I really can’t explain it.”

She didn’t just go to art shows. She used them to learn.

“I would seek out artists that I thought were the best and go to their booths, study their art, ask questions,” she said. “It was a whale of an opportunity to talk in person, one-on-one. I always said the quickest way to advance in anything in life is to surround yourself with other successful and intelligent people that you can learn from. So basically I’m self-taught, and the way I got started was by talking to other artists who were successful.”

While she may have considered herself to be an “average” student in art, she discovered she had a God-given talent and began to develop it.

“I was learning a sideline career in art while I had a full-time job, and waiting for the time when I had enough courage to think I could actually make a living at art,” Bonnie explained. “My husband was very supportive, my biggest fan, and he encouraged me to do that.”

In the early 1980s, the popular art was western and

Photo by Richard Siemers

Bonnie Mohr holds a print of her painting “The Beautiful Cow.” It is one of her favorites and one of her most popular works. The cows and pasture are on Bonnie and John’s farm.

Photo submitted Bonnie and her husband John farm near Glencoe, Minn.

Mohr creates 15 to 30 works of art annually

wildlife — Terry Redlin, Les Kouba, Robert Bateman. That wasn’t her interest. She loved cows, she knew cows, she was comfortable with cows…and nobody was painting cows.

“I started painting cows,” she said. “I found a niche in the marketplace. People were liking my work, buying my work, so I took the leap of faith. I was young at the time and I thought if it doesn’t work out, I can get a job anywhere.”

Her folks had taught her that with hard work and common sense, she could succeed at anything. That “leap of faith” landed her in a new career. Her love of dairy cattle was shared by others. Much of her clientele were dairy farmers, and she could paint any breed.

About the time she quit her job and started painting, the Mohrs started their dairy farm and started a family which eventually totaled five children. The next years “were a blur,” Bonnie said. She was helping in the barn, having babies, raising children, painting, answering phones, packing orders.

When the third child came along, she told John, “Either I milk cows or I paint them, but I can’t do both.” He agreed. He hired help with the dairy. She focused on being a mom and developing her business. The business developed to where they built a gallery, store, and studio next to their house on the farm. Two full-time employees assist in having the gallery open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as with social media and other details.

Bonnie paints in oil, creating around 15-30 new works annually, depending on her schedule, and the size and detail of the paintings. She sells the original paintings, as well as Giclée (reproductions on canvas), prints and cards, both at her gallery and on-line.

She painted cows exclusively for 15 to 20 years. She had come close to saturating the market — especially since the dairy industry and her customer base were shrinking. It was time to move beyond her “comfort zone”. She broadened her subject matter to general agriculture and rural America, and about ten years ago added “inspirational art and paintings with a message. Some have words, some don’t.”

She reflected, “I was pleasantly surprised to find that I’m really loving painting other things [than cows] and I’m feeling more purposeful, that God has a bigger calling for me than to paint pretty pictures of cows. I think combining art with a joyful or strong or powerful message makes it more than art. It makes it a statement of how to live life. That’s where I see my art going now and that’s what I hope my future will be, and I’m very excited about that.”

Bonnie loves to paint, but it is more than a way to make a living. The world is changing and she wants to change with it. She said the way to grow is to explore and try new things, and she chooses not to paint just for the sake of painting. She feels that her painting has a two-fold purpose: One is to allow God to work through her, the other is to serve the people around her.

“I’ve always said that you’re not given anything to keep it or to have it. You’re given it to share it, to make the world a better place,” she said.

See MOHR, pg. 15

Photo submitted

Photo by Richard Siemers

Next to Bonnie and John’s farmhouse is Bonnie’s gallery, store and studio.

Photo submitted

Merry Little Farm features Sankens’ love of the holiday

By WHITNEY NESSE

The Land Correspondent

BROWNTON, Minn. — Over the Buffalo Creek and through the town of Brownton, Minn., to the Merry Little Farm we go!

This may be the tune you were singing if you were on your way to Merry Little Farm the weekend after Thanksgiving; when husband and wife team, Sam and Josie Sanken, opened up their Christmas shop for local artists to sell their work. The goal, Josie said, is to provide a local establishment for rural artists to showcase and sell their work without having to drive to the metro area. What’s more is that Merry Little Farm offers an opportunity for folks to visit a working farm! This year marks the third season for Merry Little Farm.

Both Sam and Josie are actively working in production agriculture. Sam, along with his father and brother, raise corn and soybeans on the family’s sixth generation farm. Sam and Josie are in their pilot year of raising and finishing meat goats and broiler chickens. On top of that, they have two small children: Winne, who is four years old and Waylon who is two years old. “Winnie is very excited to be part of Merry Little Farm this year!” relayed Josie.

For Josie, painting, creating, sculpting and music have been lifelong passions of hers. At the age of 14 she began selling some of her artwork. “They were called ‘Promise Ponies’,” Josie recalled. “I would take clay and blend it together to make a really cool rainbow pattern of color and sculpt them into ponies.”

As a teenager, Josie’s “Promise Ponies” were sold in a local coffee shop near her hometown of Almelund,

Minn.

Raising animals has been a lifelong hobby of Josie’s as well. During her growing up years, her family owned a hobby farm where they raised horses, chickens, steers and rabbits. She was also very active in 4-H as a youngster, showing many of the animals they raised at the county fair. Josie is still an avid horse lover, owning two horses. She has thoroughly enjoyed sharing that hobby with their children.

Sam’s agricultural background looks slightly different. “I grew up on a farm. My dad raised hogs until 1996. [My dad] has been a crop farmer ever since then — except for a few batches of Holstein steers that he finished,” said Sam. “I am actively farming with my dad and brother now.”

Sam, his dad and brother grow corn and soybeans and also have a seed dealership called Sanken Seeds. “I always had an interest in the farm,” he said. Once he was old enough to drive a tractor, he has been helping on the farm. “I have fond memories of

skipping school in fourth grade to haul round bales!” he shared.

Although Sam, his dad and his brother all share the daily duties of the farm, Sam is specifically in charge of the bookkeeping. Josie is willing to hop onto a tractor whenever she is needed during spring and fall field work. “I’m mostly the meal delivery gal!” she laughed.

“Meal delivery and most importantly, emergency seed runs and parts runs,” added Sam. Josie fills in wherever she can around the farm.

In talking about the agricultural production side of the Sankens’ ventures, they shared this year went surprisingly well. Josie said that the goat herd expanded nicely this year.

“We have some wethers that will be going to market in early December,” she said. As far as crop production, Sam said that yields were rather surprising once the combine was rolling. “After getting the crop in the ground late this spring and wet, cool conditions the first half of June followed by hardly any rain through July and August, we were very impressed with the yields,” Sam said. “Both corn and soybeans outyielded our expectations. We were very, very pleased with that.”

The idea of opening up a holiday shop came around in 2018. “I cooked up the idea of wanting to have a holiday event. I’ve always been big into Christmas and wanted to start something!” said Josie. “I’m an entrepreneur and Christmas is my kryptonite!”

2019 was the opening year of Merry Little Farm where there were only four other vendors, Josie said.

“We sold handmade items like crafts and art,” she said. The first year went quite well considering there was an ice and snow storm that blew through the weekend of the sale.

Sam said they decided to open a second weekend that year because of the unfavorable weather.

Now, Josie said, she is shifting gears from crafts to art, pottery, photography and hand-painted pictures in order to make Merry Little Farm more of an art gallery and boutique. “I want to keep it different. I want art. I am a passionate artist and I don’t think there are many opportunities for people [who are artists] to locally showcase their art. I want to support

Photos by Whitney Nesse Winnie, Waylon, Sam and Josie Sanken.

Winnie lends a hand helping mom set up displays at the Merry Little Farm.

Conservation Partnership Program signup ends Dec. 16

WAITE PARK, Minn. — Applications

from Conservation-Minded Landowners for the Fiscal Year 2023 NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) are due by Dec. 16.

Farmers and landowners are encouraged to apply for financial assistance to implement conservation activities under four Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects in Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Agriculture

— Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Project #2129. Covers all of Minnesota.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture — Irrigation Partnership to Protect Groundwater Project #2365. Counties: Becker, Benton, Cass, Dakota, Douglas, East Otter Tail, Grant, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wadena, West Otter Tail and Washington.

Farm a venue for local artists

LITTLE FARM, from pg. 14

local artists,” Josie offered.

When asked what his involvement in Merry Little Farm is, Sam laughed and said, “I hang Christmas lights!” He also added he does wood cutting, shop projects and assembling things. “Typically, Josie spends evenings during harvest in the shop creating,” Sam said. “The weekend of the shop, I keep the kids happy and the bonfire lit.”

“I love Christmas!” Josie announced. “We’re celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior!” As a child, Josie’s family would have multiple Christmas celebrations that she has fond memories of. “There is always something so special about Christmas. To me, it means tradition. I saw Merry Little Farm as a way to start a tradition — not just for family, but our community,” Josie shared. “I love opening our doors for people in our community. It gives people the opportunity to meet their neighbors.”

The future of Merry Little Farm is indeed merry and bright! Josie and Sam want to add Christmas trees for sale next year, they said. The Sankens’ want to offer more opportunities for folks to add to their family traditions. “Tradition is something you can count on. It’s memorable,” Josie said. Creating

Along with growing corn and soybeans, the Sankens have expanded their goat herd in 2022.

a space for families to make happy memories, start traditions and appreciate local art as well as experience firsthand a working farm is what Merry Little Farm is all about!

Merry Little Farm is located on Page Avenue a few miles north of Brownton, Minn. ❖

American Bird Conservancy — Improving Forest Health for Wildlife Resources Project #2245. Counties: Beltrami, Itasca, St. Louis, Cass, Becker, Hubbard, Crow Wing, Carlton, Pine, Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Clearwater, Wadena, Roseau, Lake, Kanabec, Morrison, Koochiching, Aitkin and Mahnomen.

Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District — Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape Project #2677. Counties: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, and Todd RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to

address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to coinvest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address.

For more information visit the NRCS Minnesota RCPP webpage at www. nrcs.usda.gov.

This article was submitted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. ❖

Mohr has no plans to retire

MOHR, from pg. 13

Bonnie is 60 and retirement is not even in her vocabulary.

“I truly love what I do, and I truly have a passion for it,” Bonnie said. “I’m truly grateful that God gave me this job. I hope that my best art is still coming. I hope that God’s going to take everything I’ve learned about art and all the life experiences I’ve had as a wife and a mom and a business owner and do something really awesome with it. I’m at a point now that I want to take everything I’ve learned and give back.”

Lest the cows are feeling neglected, she assures that she will always paint some cows. They may even see her in the barn. She still helps with milking on occasion.

“We have a working dairy,” she emphasized. “People come [to the farm] not only to see the art but the cows as well, and bring kids and grandkids.”

Yes, she will always paint some cows, “but I want to transition into more inspirational and general art with positive and uplifting messages, just because I think our world needs it right now.”

You can see what she is talking about at her website, www.bonniemohr.com, where you can also find directions to the farm, or find her on Facebook and Instagram @bonniemohrstudio. The studio on the farm is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Check the website for events or tours. ❖

MERRY

Calendar of Events

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

Dec. 9-10 — Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show — Willmar, Minn. — The 2022 convention will feature MSCA’s annual Cattlemen’s College series with timely topics and speakers. Other highlights include MSCA and MN Cattlewomen annual meetings, live & silent auctions, setting 2022 legislative priorities, and networking opportunities. For more information, visit www.mnsca. org/events/convention.

Dec. 10 — Dairy Goat Management Seminar — Orange City, Iowa — This year’s focus is on goat health, feeding, and milk marketing. Contact Fred Hall at (712) 737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu

Dec. 15 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement — Willmar, Minn. — Attendees will receive several informative worksheets and factsheets that will help to determine what a fair 2023 farmland rental rate is. For more information, please visit https://z.umn.edu/ landrentworkshops

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. 5-6 — Minnesota Organic Conference — St. Cloud, Minn. — The conference will include two keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and an 80-booth trade show. For more information, visit https://www. mda.state.mn.us/environment-sustainability/minnesota-organic-conference

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

Jan. 12 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement —Online — Attendees will receive several informative worksheets and factsheets that will help to determine what a fair 2023 farmland rental rate is. For more information, please visit https://z.umn.edu/landrentworkshops

Jan. 18-19 — MN Ag Expo — Mankato, Minn. — Learn what researchers are discovering about new uses for corn. The Expo will also include learning sessions focused on carbon credits, nitrogen, state regulations, and the 2023 farm bill. Contact MN Ag Expohttp:// mnagexpo.com

Jan. 19 — Planning Your Dairy Farm Future — Paynesville, Minn. — Session is “Who’s the Boss?” (Leadership and Communication). Learn about family member personality and communication and how it affects your farm’s performance. Contact Dana Adams at adam1744@umn.edu or (320) 255-6169, ext. 3.

what a fair 2023 farmland rental rate is. For more information, please visit https://z.umn.edu/landrentworkshops.

Jan. 26, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, and Mar. 2 — Annie’s Project - Education for Farm Women — St. Cloud, Minn. — Course topics will include financial reporting, human resources, legal, market risk, and production metrics. Contact Anthony A. or Dana Adams at (320) 255-6169.

Jan. 31-Feb. 2 — Pollinator Habitat Webinar Series — Online — This three-part series covers how to create a pollinator-friendly garden, bee lawn & prairie planting. Contact your local Extension office with questions and/or for help with registration. Contact for residents of Stearns, Benton, Morrison and Sherburne counties: quincy@umn.edu or (320) 255-6169 x 1.

Feb. 2 — Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course — Hampton, Iowa — Topics to be covered include: Personal protective equipment, Safe handling, Storage of pesticides, and Pests, pest management and pesticides. Contact Traci Kloetzer at tkloetze@iastate.edu or (641) 456-4811.

Feb. 7 — Nitrogen Conference — Mankato, Minn. — Current topics in crop production and environmental stewardship will be discussed. For more information, please visit https://mawrc.org/events

INSTRUCTIONS Please read attached email

Jan. 3 — Crop Advantage Series — Sheldon, Iowa — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists will provide updated management options and recommendations on crop production issues. Meeting will also include continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisers and pesticide applicator recertification. Contact ANR Program Services at anr@iastate.edu or (515) 294-6429.

Jan. 19-21 — Practical Farmers of Iowa Conference — Ames, Iowa — This year, the conference invites attendees to consider the many places where common ground exists in our lives, farms, ideas and shared aspirations. Contact Tamsyn Jones at tamsyn.jones @practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661.

Feb. 8 — Dry Manure Applicator Certification Workshops — Kamrar, Iowa — This workshop meets manure applicator certification requirements for both confinement site manure applicators and commercial manure applicators who primarily apply dry or solid manure. Contact 515-832-9597.

Other Dates and Locations:

Feb. 9 — Clarion, Iowa Contact 515-532-3453.

Other Dates and Locations:

Jan. 4 — Storm Lake, Iowa

Jan. 10 — Okoboji, Iowa

Jan. 11 — Webster City, Iowa

Jan. 12 — Cedar Falls, Iowa

NAMES ALREADY ON AD THE LAND 3.417 x2” The Land

Jan. 13 — Mason City, Iowa

Jan. 24 — Le Mars, Iowa

Jan. 26 — Planning Your Dairy Farm Future — Little Falls, Minn. —Session is “How Do I Get from Here to There” (Goal Setting and Business Planning). Begin thinking about your farm’s goals and plan for future farm success. Contact Dana Adams at adam1744@umn.edu or (320) 255-6169, ext. 3.

Jan. 26 — What is a Fair Farm Rental Agreement —Online — Attendees will receive several informative worksheets and factsheets that will help to determine

Feb. 10 — Greenfield, Iowa Contact 641-7438412.

Feb. 14 — Washington, Iowa Contact 319-6534811.

Feb. 15 — Storm Lake, Iowa Contact 712-7325056.

Feb. 16 — Orange City, Iowa Contact 712-7374230.

Plan now this winter for spring windbreak planting

Ever walk in the wintertime with the wind biting at your face and then all of a sudden the wind just... stops?

Something stopped it. It could have been a building or even a tree. A single tree won’t stop the wind much, but a tree windbreak of a whole row or multiple rows of trees? Now that’s a conservation practice that can stop a lot of wind and snow too.

In order for a windbreak to function properly, it first needs to be designed and implemented with a few factors in mind. These factors include wind direction, space, and types of trees desired by the landowner. Other factors to consider are snow dumping load and odor control.

A windbreak can be made up of one row, all the way up to five or more rows. If one row is planted, that row should consist of conifer trees. Conifer trees keep their needles all year, and thus they will block the wind all year long.

If you are planning a two-row windbreak, a shrub row should be planted along with the conifer row. Shrubs add fast-growing protection from the wind at the ground level and also catch snowfall. Additional rows after this can be either conifer trees or deciduous trees.

The windbreak should be planted perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction. That means if you have wind coming directly from the north, you would plant the windbreak going from east to west on the

north side of where you want to protect from the wind. The rows don’t need to be in a completely straight line and can curve to fit the space and prevailing wind direction. The shrub row should always be on the outside of the windbreak, meaning it is the first line of defense against the wind.

When trees are planted, usually they are small. This can lead to wanting to plant them close together so there are little to no gaps. It can be hard to remember that those little trees do not stay little for long.

If the trees are planted too close together, they will eventually choke each other out a few years down the road. Shrubs should be planted five feet apart, deciduous trees 15-20 feet apart, and conifers 20-25 feet apart. This will allow for adequate space to grow, but close enough together to trap the wind effectively.

According to the University of Minnesota, windbreaks can reduce energy costs to rural residences by 10 to 20 percent. Windbreaks also have other benefits. They can also reduce odor caused by livestock and can reduce stress on farm animals.

Windbreaks also have great benefits for wildlife. Conifers provide valuable winter habitat for many species of birds that stay here during the winter like chickadees and nuthatches. Choosing a shrub species like highbush cranberry or juneberry can also provide a great, natural food source for birds. The blossoms and leaves of many hardwood tree species are

Census of agriculture now underway

DES MOINES — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers in Iowa with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts.usda.gov.

The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. By completing the survey, producers across the nation can tell their story and help generate impactful opportunities that better serve them and future generations of producers.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases, with paper questionnaires following in midDecember. Producers need only respond once, whether securely online or by mail. All responses are due Feb. 6. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the ag census.

Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840 and now conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture is a complete picture of American agriculture today. It highlights land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other topics.

Between ag census years, NASS considers revisions to the questionnaire to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes to the 2022 questionnaire include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to internet access questions.

Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the ag census in early 2024.

To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus. On the website, producers and other data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, special study information, and more.

For highlights of these and the latest information, follow USDA NASS on twitter @usda_nass.

important for many species of moths and butterflies while their nuts and seeds also provide a food source for wildlife.

If you are thinking you would like to install a windbreak, restore your woodlot, or want to create woodland habitat for wildlife or birds, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District office for assistance with planning and implementation. District staff with backgrounds in forestry are available to answer any questions you may have regarding species selection and can help you make the right choice of trees and shrubs.

This article was submitted by Emmie Scheffler, District Technician with the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District. ❖

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

❖

Minnesota pig farmers invited to improve on-farm sustainability

In today’s culture we hear the term sustainability used in many different contexts — from concerns about the environment and food production to fashion and cosmetics. In basic terms, sustainability relates to a method of using a resource so that it is not depleted or permanently damaged.

In agriculture, producers with an eye to continuous improvement and retaining productivity have long operated in a sustainable manner. It’s always been important to farmers to not « mine the farm », to ensure that nutrients are returned to the soil after a crop is harvested. Livestock farmers are uniquely situated to maintain soil fertility through application of manure.

PQA+ and We Care

In the pig business, producers have been participating in the Pork Quality Assurance program since 1989. At that time, PQA was established through the industry’s producer-led group, the National Pork Board, and offered an education/assessment program to help pig farmers ensure the pork they delivered to the consumer was free from medication residues. In the following years, animal handling and animal welfare components were added to PQA, and now it is a certification process for all swine farmers called Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA+). PQA+ certification is good for three years, and it is updated and improved with continuing research data every three years.

In 2008, National Pork Board delegates approved the We Care ethical principles for U.S. pig farmers. We Care is an overarching philosophy and commitment grounded in the six ethical principles which guide America’s pig farmers in all that they do. These six ethical principles have been incorporated into the content of the PQA+ certification, and tie together the importance of ethical practices in producing safe pork for U.S. meat consumers.

The six elements of We Care include pig farmers’ commitment to food safety, animal well-being, the environment, public health, the people who work with pigs, and the communities in which farmers operate.

These elements encompass appropriate use of medications and raising healthy pigs; meticulous pig care and handling; protection of natural resourc-

SWINE & U

By Diane DeWitte

UniversityofMinnesota EXTENSION

SWINE&U

es; ensuring safe pork for consumers; creating a positive workplace for pig caretakers; and providing transparency to the community about the farm, and contributing to a better quality of life for the community

Back to sustainability

As pig industry leadership began to address questions about sustainability, they realized that in We Care they already had the structure in place on which to develop an industrywide sustainability plan. The National Pork Board has been measuring pig farms’ environmental footprint for nearly 10 years.

In 2008, National Pork Board delegates approved the We Care ethical principles for U.S. pig farmers. We Care is an overarching philosophy and commitment grounded in the six ethical principles which guide America’s pig farmers in all that they do.

One of the We Care ethical principles is management of the environment. This includes the use of manure as a valuable resource in a manner that safeguards air and water quality, includes air quality from production facilities to minimize the impact on neighbors and the community, and includes managing operations to protect the quality of natural resources.

In 2019 the National Pork Board first piloted the On-Farm Sustainability project to quantify the impact of actual pig farm practices. Collecting data from pig farmers could assist the individual farmer to first benchmark the farm’s water, energy and nutrient usage; and then, with annual additions to the report, help the producer improve those practices. From the national perspective, the aggregation of many farms’ data could help the industry tell the sustainability story to consumers and supply chain partners. The national goal has been to embrace the principles, apply the practices, provide the proof, and develop public trust.

After a successful pilot year, NPB rolled out the project to swine producers across the country. Sustainability goals were set, and the project joined with Sustainable Environmental Consultants to collect the raw data and turn it into usable informa-

tion for the farmer and in aggregate, for the industry. One of the overarching goals of the project is to gather industry sustainability information to better answer questions from supply chain partners.

In Minnesota, several swine producers served as early” guinea pigs” in the project, first providing their farm data, then reviewing the results, setting further farm goals, and in a second year in the project, measuring improvements made.

NPB recently offered an afternoon workshop of participants at the University of Minnesota’s Leman Swine Conference. Discussion surrounded the ongoing ability of farmers to evaluate their farm from the perspective of energy and water usage, environmental impact, and size of their carbon footprint. Pig farmers who also grow crops have a special advantage in working with SEC to make specific fertility decisions and improve their effectiveness in putting the nutrients exactly where they are needed.

One Minnesota pig farmer who joined the project at the beginning said he used the electricity use data from the project to make the decision to add solar panels to the farm, and mentioned that returning electricity to the power company was a way to diversify his farming operation. In addition, he has incorporated cover crops and no-till practices into the crop side of his farm, and is on the verge of adding water meters to better quantify the farm’s water usage.

The On-Farm Sustainability Project uses a twopronged approach: Data-collection from farm records plus interview-style recording of farm practices. The project is focused on data quality, so it uses a verification process by comparing to U.S. Department of Agriculture Land-Grant data to help double-check the results.

The On-Farm Reports include a Sustainable Continuous Improvement Plan — offering recommendations for producers to improve sustainability on their operations. This can include manure data with application, agronomic rates; water data on both quality and amount used; and community outreach including donations and service hours

After a year of data collection, NPB reports that within the economics of manure usage, 112 farms realized a $5.9 million dollar synthetic fertilizer savings. Currently there are 330 farms across the country participating with in impact of 200,000 acres and 2 million pigs.

Holiday orders filled, cheese demand is slacking

This column was written for the marketing week ending Dec. 2.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the November Federal order Class III benchmark milk price at $21.01 per hundredweight. This is down 80 cents from October, but $2.98 above November 2021. That put the 11-month average at $22.09, up from $16.96 at this time a year ago and $18.39 in 2020.

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

The November Class IV price is $23.30 per cwt., down $1.66 from October, $4.51 above a year ago, and the lowest Class IV since January. Its average now stands at $24.68, up from $15.74 a year ago and $13.50 in 2020.

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MARKETING

Dec. 2’s late morning Class III futures had December at $20.20, which would result in a 2022 average of $21.93, up from $17.08 in 2021 and $18.16 in 2020.

Looking ahead, the January contract was at $19.91; February, $19.86; and March was at $20.00, with a peak at $20.42 in September.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange cheddar blocks fell to $2.065 per pound on Nov. 30, but closed the first Friday in December at $2.10. This is down a nickel on the week, but still 24.25 cents above a year ago. They also ended November 10.5 cents higher than where they started the month at.

After dropping 24.50 cents the previous two weeks, the barrels slipped to $1.80 per pound on Nov. 29 (the lowest since Aug. 8), but rallied to finished on

Data supplied is anonymous

Time commitment

Anonymity and cost

The data collected from each farmer is kept anonymously, and for an annual industry report, the data is aggregated. Because Sustainable Environmental Consultants is a privately held company, individual farm information is private and not obtainable by outside groups. SEC provides individual farm sustainability reports to the specific farmer. This enables the producer to evaluate farm practices and make management decisions which can improve sustainability in the next season and beyond.

The blinded, aggregated data will be used at the state and national level to share real data on producers’ commitment to sustainability. Using these reports will allow the pork industry to continue to build trust in modern pig farming, while protecting pig farmers’ freedom to operate.

The On-Farm Sustainability project is available to any pig producer who sells pigs and pays check-off dollars to the National Pork Checkoff. Currently, the pig checkoff is 40 cents per every $100 of pork sold, and is automatically collected at the sale site.

On average, participation takes 2 to 4 hours. Participants have an initial interview and provide data collection for the previous growing seasons’ data (depending on farm size, each of these steps lasts about an hour). Any records work — either paper or digital. Farm data is confidential and the specific operation and data will not be shared. Results of all on-farm reports are kept in an aggregate of state and national reports to help learn and share the industry’s sustainability story.

How to participate

Here in Minnesota, Sustainability project participation is being managed by Lauren Servick, Minnesota Pork’s director of marketing and public policy engagement. Pig farmers who would like to learn more about the sustainability project can reach Servick at Lauren@mnpork.com or by calling (507) 345-8814.

Diane DeWitte is an Extension Educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension. Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn. edu

Dec. 2 at $1.8975. This is up 8 cents on the week, 29.5 cents above a year ago, and 20.25 cents below the blocks. They ended November 14.25 cents lower than their Nov. 1 perch.

Sales totaled seven cars of block for the week and eight for the month of November, down from 18 in October. Barrel sales totaled nine for the week and 28 for the month, down from 43 in October.

StoneX Nov. 30 “Early Morning Update” stated cheese demand is “Quiet right now. Buyers seem to, by and large, have what they need. On the flip side, we don’t get the sense that sellers are panicked either.”

Cheesemakers tell Dairy Market News milk was still plentiful after the Thanksgiving holiday. This week’s reported spot milk discounts were not as substantial mid-week as the previous week, but most were below Class. Some cheesemakers say current demand slowdowns have kept them from seeking extra milk. Some say it’s the seasonal slowdown, as retailers have filled their holiday pipelines

while others suggest market price declines are keeping customers on the sidelines. Cheese production is somewhat steady.

Cheese demand is steady in western retail markets while food service demand is slightly higher following Thanksgiving. Export demand is strong, though lower prices in other countries may soften this demand in the coming weeks, warns Dairy Market News. Asian purchasers continue to buy loads for second quarter 2023 and are reportedly paying a healthy premium to secure them. Barrel inventories are more ample than blocks currently. Cheese makers say milk is available in the region, allowing them to run busy schedules but they are still hindered by labor shortages and delayed deliveries of production supplies.

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CME butter fell to $2.88 per pound on Dec. 1, but closed the next day at $2.90, down 4.75 cents on the week

See MIELKE, pg. 23

Grain Outlook EPA announcement sinks grain prices

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Dec. 2.

CORN — Markets were fairly volatile to start in the week after the Thanksgiving holiday with corn trading sideways until mid-week when it broke through support.

Various news items popped up which influenced our commodity prices. Least of all was the U.S. House’s passage of a bill to avoid a railroad strike which could have occurred on Dec. 9. The House passed a bill that will force the labor unions and the railroads to accept the tentative contract brokered in part by the White House that was reached in September. Since the tentative agreement, four labor unions had rejected the proposal with ongoing negotiations. The House also passed a separate bill that would tack on seven paid sick days. The Senate passed the first bill, but did not pass the additional paid sick time bill. How this plays out over time remains to be seen. The union is said to be unhappy about it since the sick time was not included and a strike was their bargaining chip to get it included. For now, no strike is on the horizon.

The Environmental Protection Agency released the proposed Renewable Fuels Standards this week. The announcement crashed soyoil down the daily trading limit, with soybeans, corn and wheat getting dragged along with it. For corn-based ethanol, the 2023 mandate would be unchanged from previous years at 15 billion gallons and increased to 15.25 billion gallons in 2024 and 2025. Cellulosic biofuel showed the largest increase from 630 million gallons this year to 2.13 billion by 2025! The breakdown would be 720 million gallons in 2023, 1.42 billion in 2024, and 2.13 billion in 2025. Is this realistic? There are naysayers. And for the first time, the EPA is proposing allowing electricity produced from renewable biomass to qualify for Renewable Identification Numbers. The credits would be divided between electricity producers and electric vehicle manufacturers.

There was one new export sales flash this week of 4.5 million bushels to Mexico. Weekly export sales were unexciting at 23.7 million bushels. Total export commitments at 722.5 million bushels are 48 percent behind last year. We need 34.7 million bushels of sales per week to hit the U.S. Department of

MARKETING

Cash Grain Markets

corn/change* soybeans/change*

Stewartville $6.04 -.22 $14.22 +.24

Edgerton $6.65 -.21 $14.40 -.12

Jackson $6.49 -.19 $14.52 +.18

Hope $6.41 -.06 $14.23 +.08

Cannon Falls $6.03 -.21 $14.10 +.13

Sleepy Eye $6.37 -.22 $14.50 +.18

St. Cloud $6.02 -.28 $14.35 +.18

Madison $6.23 -.22 $14.50 +.18

Redwood Falls $6.42 -.18 $14.55 +.28

Fergus Falls $6.12 -.18 $14.20 +.18

Morris $6.22 -.22 $14.45 +.18

Tracy $6.39 -.26 $14.45 +.18

Average: $6.28 $14.38

Year Ago Average: $5.59 $12.02

Grain prices are effective cash close on Dec. 6. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

Agriculture’s target of 2.15 billion bushels. Weekly inspections of 11.9 million bushels were the secondlowest of the marketing year and cumulative exports are nearly 33 percent behind last year. We need to average close to 45 million bushels of inspections per week to reach the USDA’s projection. The USDA should begin to cut the export outlook on the next World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report.

The December WASDE report will be released on Dec. 9 and is expected to finally show a cut to exports, a possible increase in yield, and result in higher ending stocks.

For the week, March corn crashed 25 cents to $6.46.25, July tumbled 20.25 cents to $6.44.25, and December 2023 was 12.75 cents lower at $5.98 per bushel.

SOYBEANS — Soybeans jumpstarted the week with a key reversal higher that extended for a couple of days on news China would ease their Covid restrictions after citizens protested in the streets. The easing included allowing people with Covid to quarantine at home and less mass Covid testing. Then the other shoe dropped.

The biggest price impact came from the newly new proposed Renewable Fuels Standards by the EPA. Soyoil closed down its daily trading limit in response to the news and pulled soybean, corn and wheat lower with it. These levels are proposals and will be open to public comment. The final figures are expected by mid-June. The biodiesel mandate for this year was 2.76 billion gallons. For 2023 it’s proposed to increase to just 2.82 billion gallons, to 2.89 billion in 2024, and 2.95 billion gallons in 2025. This year’s biodiesel production is expected to be above 3 billion gallons, so maybe economics vs. mandates will drive the production.

Weekly ethanol production was down 23,000 barrels per day to 1.02 million bpd. Stocks rose 100,000 barrels to 22.9 million barrels. Net margins fell 12 cents to 8 cents per gallon. Gasoline demand was 10,000 bpd lower at 8.32 million bpd.

USDA Secretary Vilsack met with Mexico’s President Obrador this week to discuss Mexico’s ban on GMO corn beginning in 2024. Nothing fresh came out of the meeting; but Mexico reiterated the ban is on GMO corn for human consumption, not corn headed for feed. The United States has threatened legal action if the ban violates the USMCA pact.

Outlook: March corn broke technical support at $6.50 per bushel this week with eyes now on the gap left in August from $6.38 to $6.38.5 per bushel. It closed below its 100-day moving average support for the first time since Sept. 8 when the soy complex crumbled. On the weekly chart, March corn posted a key reversal lower.

Adding to the soy complex woes was Argentine’s decision to reinstate the special soybean exchange rate. Farmer sales rose after the government made the announcement on Nov. 28 and the rate will run through the end of the year. The new exchange rate is 230 pesos per dollar compared to the official rate of 165 pesos per dollar. The announcement appears to be having the desired effect of prompting grower sales. It’s estimated farmers sold over 44 million bushels this week and China buying six to seven Argentine soybean cargoes for December/January shipment. The government also cut meal and soyoil export taxes by 2 percent to 31 percent vs. the soybean export tax of 33 percent.

South American crops benefited from recent rain events, but heat and dry conditions are forecasted to return to Argentina in the coming week. There has been talk Argentine farmers may switch some soybean acres to later-planted corn due to dry conditions. Brazil’s weather has been favorable, but timely rains will need to continue with high producing areas on the edge of dryness. Mudslides in Brazil closed the road into the port of Paranagua for a couple of days, but it has since reopened without major disruptions to shipping.

Weekly export sales were within expectations at 25.5 million bushels and are at the same level of total commitments as last year. We need to average nearly 18 million bushels of sales per week to reach the USDA’s 2.045 billion bushel export forecast. We

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

PHYLLIS NYSTROM CHS Hedging inC St. Paul

The December WASDE report will be released on Dec. 9 and is expected to finally show a cut to exports, a possible increase in yield, and result in higher ending stocks.

Milk fat produced at farm level didn’t show up in products

MIELKE, from pg. 21

but 89.75 cents above a year ago. There were six sales on the week and 63 for November, up from 58 in October.

Holiday-related cream access continues to keep Midwest butter churning active, says Dairy Market News, and plants were turning away cream offers because they were at capacity. Demand remains despite prices over $2.90 per pound and the late timeframe in regards to the holiday season. Market tones continue to maintain support and contacts view the markets as stable, if not slightly bullish.

Western cream is becoming more available as milk production is improving in the region. Cream availability is outpacing strong demand and contributing to lower cream multiples. Some processors say tanker and labor shortages are making it difficult to obtain and process increased volumes of cream. Butter makers say they are actively churning but labor shortages are preventing some from operating full schedules. Butter demand is strong in the West from both food service and retail. Inventories are available but some tightness persists. Contacts note they are booking loads of butter to ship into first and second quarter 2023.

Grade A nonfat dry milk fell to $1.3475 per pound on Dec. 1 (the lowest since Sept. 16, 2021), but finished Dec. 2 at $1.36. This is 3.75 cents lower on the week and 20.25 cents below a year ago. Sales totaled 10 for the week and 41 for the month, up from 29 in October.

Dry whey saw its Dec. 2 finish at 45 cents per pound, up a penny on the week but 24.75 cents below a year ago. There were two sales on the week and 16 for the month of November, up from six in October.

The October Dairy Products report was issued on Dec. 2 after the markets finished trading for the week. StoneX reminded us that a lot of milkfat went “missing” in August and September and, while it was produced at the farm level, it didn’t show up in the major dairy products.

“We are assuming some of that fat found its way back into the major dairy products in October,” says StoneX, “but may have continued to move directly into retail and foodservice.”

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The Global Dairy Trade’s Pulse auction on Nov. 29 saw 2.2 million pounds of Fonterra whole milk powder sold, up from 2.1 million in the Nov. 22

Crashing soyoil market erases gains

NYSTROM, from pg. 22

saw 9 million bushels of new export sales flashes this week split between China and unknown. Weekly export inspections were over 73 million bushels for the fifth straight week with 74 percent of this week’s shipments headed to China. Overall export inspections are 10 percent behind last year.

The October National Agricultural Statistics Service Oilseed Crush report showed 197 million bushels of soybeans were crushed which was in line with the 196 million bushel trade estimate.

Outlook: January soybeans traded to their highest price since September this week but a crashing soyoil market

erased the rally. January soybeans are in a $14.10 to $14.80 per bushel trading range and may be setting up for some consolidation ahead of the Dec. 9 WASDE report. Monitoring Chinese demand and South American weather will take over the headlines as the railroad strike was averted.

For the week, January soybeans were 2.25 cents higher at $14.38.5, July gained 5.5 cents at $14.58.5, and November 2023 fell 1.5 cents to $13.77.75 per bushel.

Weekly price changes in December wheat for the week ended Dec. 2: Chicago wheat slid 36 cents lower to $7.61, Kansas City dove 41.25 cents to $8.70.75, and Minneapolis was 28.25 cents lower at $9.21.25 per bushel. ❖

Pulse, and at $3,280 per metric ton, down $25 or 0.8 percent from the previous Pulse.

change to be more targeted and effective.”

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Don’t look for China to come to the rescue any time soon. China’s global dairy purchases will likely remain limited for the foreseeable future as protests mounted across the country due to frustration over the government’s continuing zeroCovid policy of massive lockdowns and quarantine centers.

HighGround Dairy stated, “After whole milk powder found support at the most recent main GDT auction two weeks ago on Nov. 15, the two subsequent Pulse events have indicated slight price weakness. However, the two recent Pulse auction settlements remain higher vs. the $3,250 per metric ton whole milk powder value at the first November auction.”

Speaking in the Dec. 5 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess said demand is pretty weak around the world regarding products from New Zealand despite continuous news that milk output there is weaker this season.

Don’t look for China to come to the rescue any time soon. China’s global dairy purchases will likely remain limited for the foreseeable future as protests mounted across the country due to frustration over the government’s continuing zero-Covid policy of massive lockdowns and quarantine centers.

There are reports the government may back off some. HighGround Dairy reports the official newspaper of the Communist Party ran a daring opinion piece suggesting “Covid controls

Back home, the USDA announced the fluid milk portion of the solicitation of the Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. You’ll recall close to $1 billion will be spent to purchase food for emergency food providers like food banks. Because the spending is administered through the Emergency Food Assistance program, cheese and fluid milk are the only dairy products qualified for purchase.

The solicitation seeks 20.9 million gallons or nearly 180 million pounds of milk for distribution in the seven month period from March through September. Initial calculations show that this volume equates to less than 1 percent of estimated fluid milk sales during the period, according to HighGround Dairy.

Like the cheese solicitation in midNovember, HighGround Dairy stated, “It is of a disappointing volume and likely have minimal market impact. The small volume, coupled with a several month delivery period, will not pull substantial enough product from estimated supply to be bullish, though it may create plenty of noise and volatility throughout 2023.”

Fuess added however, that USDA did state it would entertain bids on products other than what USDA is requesting.

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Congress passed legislation this week to avert a national railroad strike. The President, as expected,

See MIELKE, pg. 24

Milk prices slumped in November while feed costs jumped

from pg. 23

signed the measure. Fuess said it was thought that this strike was averted a few weeks ago when the unions and railroad workers reached a tentative agreement but that was ultimately rejected.

National Milk President and CEO Jim Mulhern warned, “A rail strike would bring chaos to agricultural supply chains, as its ripple effects on trucking and other industries would complicate transport of goods everywhere from grocery stores to export markets, all the while adding another cold blast of inflation to consumer expenses this winter as products inevitably become scarce.”

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Back on the farm, the October milk feed price ratio climbed higher for the second month in a row, thanks to a higher All Milk price and lower corn and soybean prices. The USDA’s latest Ag Prices report shows the ratio at 1.92, highest since June, up from 1.74 in September, and compares to 1.84 in October 2021.

The index is based on the current milk price in relationship to feed prices for a ration consisting of 51 percent corn, 8 percent soybeans and 41 percent alfalfa hay. In other words, one pound of milk would only purchase 1.92 pounds of dairy feed of that blend.

The All Milk Price average advanced to $25.90 per hundredweight, up $1.50 from September, and $6.30 above October 2021.

California’s price climbed to $26.60 per cwt., also up $1.50 from September and $7.30 above a year ago. Wisconsin, at $24.40, was up $2.30 from September and $4.70 above a year ago.

The October national average corn price was $6.50 per bushel, down 59 cents from September, after falling 15 cents the previous month, but is still a budget busting $1.48 per bushel above October 2021.

Soybeans fell to $13.50 a bushel, down 60 cents from September, after dropping $1.20 the previous month, but are still $1.60 per bushel above

October 2021.

Alfalfa hay jumped $4 per ton after gaining $2 the previous month, and averaged $281 per ton in October, another record high, and $62 per ton above a year ago.

Looking at the cow side of the ledger, the October cull price for beef and dairy combined averaged $84.10 per cwt., down $7.10 from September, $13.50 above October 2021, and $12.50 above the 2011 base average.

Quarterly milk cow replacements averaged $1,730 per head in October, up $20 from July, and $390 above October 2021. Cows averaged $1850 per head in California, up $100 from July, and $550 above a year ago. Wisconsin’s average, at $1,840 per head, was down $30 from July, and $390 above October 2021.

Dairy economist Bill Brooks, of Stoneheart Consulting in Dearborn, Mo., says, “October’s gain in the income over feed calculation moved to the highest level since June. Income over feed costs in October were above the $8 per cwt. level needed for steady to increasing milk production for the 13th month.”

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Meanwhile, dairy margins weakened over the second half of November as milk prices slumped while feed costs were steady to higher since the middle of the month according to the latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC.

“U.S. milk production grew again in October, marking the fourth consecutive month that milk production increased from the prior year,” the Margin Watch reported. “USDA reported October Milk Production at 18.85 billion pounds, up 1.2 percent from last year with a larger dairy herd and higher yields driving the increase. USDA revised the September dairy herd up by 6,000 head, from the initial assessment of a 2,000 head decline to a 4,000 head increase. October’s dairy herd also increased 1,000 head from September to 9.418 million head. This would be 31,000 head higher than last October when producers were aggressively culling cows with margins under pressure. Yields increased in the Midwest last month due to mild

weather while they contracted along the West Coast due to unseasonably hot weather and soaring input costs. Milk production in Texas increased 7 percent in October due to both a larger dairy herd and increased milk yield, eclipsing Idaho to become the third largest milk producing state in the U.S.” n

The Margin Watch also detailed the October Cold Storage report, pointing out butter stocks saw the smallest year-over-year shortfall in the past 12 months and the draw between September and October was well below the five-year average.

The National Milk Producers Federation reported this week total domestic consumption of milk in all products returned to positive annual growth during third quarter for the first time since early this year.

“Strengthened use of all cheese was a key driver, says NMPF, while U.S. dairy export volumes backed off a bit in third quarter from their record pace in the prior quarter but kept the industry on an almost certain path to set yet another calendar year record. Year-to-date performance through the third quarter was 18 percent of total U.S. milk solids production, up from the current 17.3 percent calendar year record set in 2021.”

NMPF adds, “The United States has clearly resumed increasing milk production after many months of below year-ago levels. Despite this greater supply, dairy product prices, which had been falling in recent months, found a floor and rebounded in some cases during October. Retail price inflation for all items, the categories of food and beverages, dairy products and for most individual dairy products moderated in October from a month earlier.”

The Dairy Margin Coverage program generated a second payment for 2022, of 88 cents per cwt for Tier 1 coverage at the $9.50 per cwt level in September.

CME dairy futures and USDA’s dairy outlook currently indicate milk prices will be about $2.50 to $3.00 per cwt lower in 2023 than this year.

Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. He may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com.

the next trend is may find it here.

The entrepreneur in your life might enjoy unwrapping “Launchpad Republic: America’s Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters” by Howard Wolk and John Landry. Let them know that history agrees with their can-do spirit.

If there’s a new grad or a newlyunemployed-just-looking person on your gift list, look for “Sell Yourself” by Dr. Cindy McGovern and wrap it up. It’s all about making and promoting a personal brand that employers will find irresistible.

The business leader who enjoys looking into the future will enjoy reading “Redesigning Work: How to Transform Your Organization & Make Hybrid Work for Everyone” by Lynda Gratton, a book about how to make away-from-the-office work succeed. Wrap it up with “Competing in the New World of Work” by Keith Ferrazzi, Kian Gohar and Noel Weyrich, a book about “radical adaptability” in business today.

True crime

So your giftee is obsessed with The Godfather movies, eh? Well, then, you can’t go wrong if you wrap up “The Godmother: Murder, Vengeance, and the Bloody Struggle of Mafia Women” by Barbie Latza Nadeau. It’s the story of the women behind the men in the mob.

For the person who can appreciate a good true crime tale, “The Forever Witness” by Edward Humes. It’s the story of a double murder that happened in Seattle more than thirty years ago and the trail went cold... until the use of DNA became more common and other technology put the case front-and-center.

Sometimes, the setting of the story is everything. Case in point: “All That is Wicked” by Kate Winkler Dawson. In 1871, Edward Rulloff was awaiting execution for crimes committed – but several people wanted him released because of his intelligence. Was his brain too refined to belong to a killer? Your giftee will be glad to find out... Wrap it up with “Killer Collections: Dark Artifacts from True Crime” by Paul Gambino, a loaded-with-photos anthology of items associated with murder.

bookstore for most of these titles

Science

Someone on your gift list loves the movies, and half the fun of that is wondering if what’s on the big screen is really possible. So you wrap up “Licence to Kill: The Science of 007” by Kathryn Harkup and collect your smiles. This book looks at all the what-ifs of the Bond movies, from the POV of real science, and no armchair detective will be able to resist.

If you’ve got a gearhead on your list, “Racing Green: How Motorsport Science Can Save the World” by Kit Chapman would make a great gift. It’s the story of how new innovation in our vehicles is saving lives, taking the sting out of commutes, and helping environmental causes.

Health

For the person who hates to exercise, hates eating healthy (let’s face it) and stresses about it all, you can’t go wrong with “The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care” by Rina Raphael. Doesn’t that title say it all?

No doubt, there’s a giftee on your list who longs for total silence. That’s the person who should have “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise” by Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz. Wrap it up and watch them open their gift... quietly... It might be right to pair it with “Good Anxiety” by Dr. Wendy Suzuki, about seeing anxiety in a whole new light.

Children age 6 and under

The preschooler who loves polar bears will love getting “A Bear Far from Home” by Susan Fletcher and Rebecca Green. It’s based on the true story of a gift from Norway to England, and the meaning of home.

If you’ve got a young environmentalist on your list, “A Planet Like Ours” by Frank Murphy and Charnaie Gordon, illustrated by Kayla Harren could be a great gift. It’s a sweet, uncomplicated reminder to love the Earth we have.

Children age 6 to 9

Seriously, who doesn’t like pizza? You know your young giftee does, and they’ll also like “Pizza! A Slice of History” by Greg Pizzoli. It’s a cute, colorfully illustrated, fun book on everybody’s favorite food. Pair it with a gift certificate to... you know where...

For the kid who loves monsters,

“Mythical Beasts” by Stephanie Warren Drimmer could be the right gift to give. It’s full of information about real animals that were somehow mythologized throughout history. Facts, monsters, and it comes from the National Geographic Kids folks... what’s not to love?

If there’s a child on your list who loves legends, then “The Return of the Christmas Witch” by Dan Murphy & Aubrey Plaza, illustrations by Julia Iredale is the book to wrap. It’s the story of Kristtorn, who was Santa’s twin sister, a battle, a mystery, and a bit of Christmas darkness. (No worries. Happy Endings abound).

For the kid who’s suddenly become a big brother or sister, “The BabyChanging Station” by Rhett Miller, illustrated by Dan Santat is absolutely the gift to give. It’s the tale of a boy who isn’t happy that there’s a baby brother in the house, until he discovers a machine that changes the baby, but not in diaperish ways...

Children age 9 to 14

The young environmentalist on your list will be so happy unwrapping “Meltdown: Discover Earth’s Irreplaceable Glaciers and Learn What You Can Do To Save Them” by Anita Sanchez, illustrated by Lily Padula. It’s full ideas, information, pictures, and graphs, as well as a sense that kids really can save the world. Wrap it up with “Dinosaur Atlas” from the National Geographic Kids folks. This large-size book is all about dinos and were they lived. Your young scientist will love it.

If there’s a child who loves a good historical fiction tale, then find “The Other Side of the River” by Alda P.

Dobbs. It’s the second part of a story featuring a character based on a real girl who escaped Mexico to immigrate to the U.S. after the Mexican Revolution. If your giftee hasn’t read the first book, wrap ‘em both up.

Young adult

The social media-obsessed teen on your gift list may need to read “The Facebook Narcissist” by Lena Derhally. It’s a book that may make them think twice before posting and sharing. They’ll “LIKE” it.

If you read “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson, you know that it’s a great book. Share it with your young adult this holiday, because it’s not in a version that’s “adapted for young adults.”

Now for the housekeeping: like everything else in the world, books can change. Titles may vary, covers may vary, you might be able to find some of these books in paperback versions, so be aware when you’re making out your book-lovers gift list. If you have any questions or need other suggestions, please do lean on your favorite librarian or bookseller.

Seriously, they are like your favorite comic book superheroes, only better because they know books.

Season’s Readings!

Look for the reviewed book at a bookstore or a library near you. You may also find the book at online book retailers.

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. ❖

Copy is 5.16” x 6”

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

Land Auction

Tuesday, December 20th - 11:00 am

Auction held at: La Salle Community Center & Fire Hall 310 1st Ave, La Salle, MN

Across from the La Salle Lutheran Cemetery Watch for Signs!

Location of property within Watonwan County: Riverdale Twp, Sections 7, 18 & 19

Total of farm: 463.09 total acres, approx. 382.48 acres tillable.

This property will sell as five parcels:

Parcel #1: 75.43 total acres, approx. 74.4 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 92.1 Parcel #3: 86.98 total acres, approx. 64.8 acres tillable, Productivity Index: 82.5 approx. 14.5 acres of CRP with contracts ending in 2027 & 2030.

Parcel #2: 194.28 total acres, approx. 189.5 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 80.4 Parcel #4: 61.4 total acres, approx. 44.78 acres tillable. Productivity Index: 68.3 approx. 13.74 acres of CRP with contract ending in 2029.

Parcel #5: 45 ac total acres, wooded land and approx. 18 acres of CRP with contracts ending in 2027 & 2030. Will own the existing field road along the south -west side of the parcel up to the point in which it turns straight north.

*Note: All acres are published based on Watonwan County Online Records and FSA records. In case of severe weather, listen to 860 AM KNUJ & 107.3 FM SAM, 8:30 the morning of the auction for postponement & rescheduling info. Blizzard Date is December 22nd ~ 11:00 am

Listing

Alan Lantz Estate

Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002, Lic 52-22-018

Auctioneers: Matt Mages, Larry Mages, Joe Wersal, Joe Maidl, John Goelz, & Ryan Froehlich Broker/ Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Service, LLC. Not responsible for accidents at auction or during inspection. Everything sold “AS IS”. Everything to be settled immediately after the auction. For all full terms go to magesland.com.

magesland.com

Real Estate Wanted

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

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

FOR SALE: Large round bales baleage, fairly dry, 1st through 4th crop, feed test and delivery available. Jim Vermilya, 507-254-4807 or 507-951-3201 Dover MN.

Bins & Buildings

SILO

Take-down & clean up Specializing in silos in congested areas. FULLY INSURED 507-236-9446

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

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: Wil-Rich 3400 Series 32’ field cultivator w/ 4 bar Nobles harrow. Case IH 7500 Series 6 bottom variwidth onland hitch plow. JD 400 15’ rotary hoe. MM 12’ grain drill on rubber. All in excellent condition. 507-360-8610

FOR SALE: 600 bu Kinze grain cart with new tires on it 2 years ago, in real good shape, $12,000. 507-391-5127

We buy Salvage Equipment Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910

Tractors

NEW AND USED TRACTOR PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 50 Series & newer tractors, AC-all models, Large Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage 715-673-4829

Planting Equip

FOR SALE: KINZE 3200 late model 12R30” planter w/ trash whippers, very low acres, very nice condition, asking $43,000. 507-227-2602

FOR SALE: Case IH 900 8R30” planter, pull type w/ insecticide, nice condition, asking $5,000. 507-227-2602

2014 JOHN DEERE 640FD 40 ft Flex Draper, Dual Knife Drive, Flip Over Reel $55,000 (320) 510-0468

FOR SALE: 1991 Case IH 1680, 7,200 hrs, $10,000. 2008 25’ Case IH 1020 header w/ trailer, excellent condition, $14,000. 507-383-3447 Leave message

FOR SALE: 2014 John Deere 612C cornhead, 12R22”, $74,000. 320-221-3789

Livestock Equipment

Calf Jackets, Heavy Duty, Waterproof, Washable, 2 Sizes, With 2” velcro in front $34; With 2” buckle in front $35. 10 or more is free shipping. Call for more information. Millers Canvas Shop 920-787-1994

Livestock Equipment

Lou Hog feeders, 8’, 10 hole, 7 1/2” holes, Stainless Steel. Also, Tractor chains, 18-4-34, like new. 507-380-4856

Wanted

All kinds of New & Used farm equipment - disc chisels, field cults, planters, soil finishers, cornheads, feed mills, discs, balers, haybines, etc. 507438-9782

WANTED: 365 to 750 bushel gravity boxes. JD 115 stalk chopper. All good condition. 320-266-6878

Works!

Opening November 28 & Closing December 13 at 7PM

Princeton Area Grain Handling Equipment Auction, Princeton, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 5 & Closing December 12 at 12PM

Adam Schiller Farm Retirement Auction, Crookston, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 5 & Closing December 13 at 7PM

1-D Ranch Bred Beef Cow Auction, Dassel, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 5 & Closing December 14 at 7PM

George Mastey Construction Auction, Foley, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 6 & Closing December 13 at 1PM

Mark & Mandy Westrom Grain Handling Equipment Auction, Elbow Lake, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 6 & Closing December 13 at 2PM

Dennis A. Bauer Estate Auction, Bowbells, ND, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 7 & Closing December 14 at 10AM

Steffes Construction Consignment Auction, Upper Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 7 & Closing December 15 at 10AM

Janesville, WI Area Farm Equipment Consignment Auction, Multiple Locations, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 8 & Closing December 15 at 10AM

Corey Grochowski & Brain Dahl Sugarbeet Equipment Auction, Kennedy, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 12 & Closing December 20 at 1PM

1-D Ranch Retirement Auction, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 12 & Closing December 21 at 7PM

Central Equipment Sales Auction, Litchfield, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 14 & Closing December 21 at 10AM

R&R Farms Inventory Reduction Auction, Hoffman, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 15 & Closing December 22 at 7PM

Hegg Grain Bin Auction, Canby, MN, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 16 & Closing December 21 at 10AM

Online Steffes Auction – 12/21, Upper & Central Midwest Locations, Timed Online Auction

Opening December 19 & December 28 at 11AM

Dvorachek Farm & Industry Equipment Auction, Brillion, WI, Timed Online Auction

Thursday, December 22 at 10AM

Steffes

SULLIVAN AUCTIONEERS’ HAMILTON, ILLINOIS FACILITY: 1066 US Hwy 136 E | Hamilton, IL 62341

Contact: Maverick Woodside (309) 313-2275 Maverick@SullivanAuctioneers.com

SULLIVAN AUCTIONEERS’ HUNTINGTON, INDIANA FACILITY: 11996 N Goshen Rd | Huntington, IN 46750

Contact: (217) 847-2160 Sold@SullivanAuctioneers.com

SULLIVAN AUCTIONEERS’ BIRD ISLAND, MINNESOTA FACILITY: 101 Hwy 212 Ave | Bird Island, MN 55310

Contact: Allen Henslin (320) 979-1808 Ahenslin@SullivanAuctioneers.com

Livestock

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

Swine

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

Spot, Duroc, Chester White, Boars & Gilts available. Monthly PRRS and PEDV. Delivery available. Steve Resler. 507-456-7746

Pets & Supplies

English Shepherd Puppies. Great w/ kids & animals. Born Oct 6. Puppies are being raised outside so will be used to cold weather. $250/ ea. 507-362-4567 for more details & to request photos.

Rat terrier puppies for sale, born 10/11/22. Make great pets and good mouse and rat dogs. 3 males and 3 females. 952-292-8347

Miscellaneous

PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS

New pumps & parts on hand. Call Minnesota’s largest distributor HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

REINKE IRRIGATION

Sales & Service New & Used

For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073

Miscellaneous

Tree trimming, cutting and removal.

Boom Truck & Insured. Call or Text Josh Linder 507-995-7081

One Call Does It All!

With one phone call, you can place your classified line ad in The Land, Farm News and Country Today.

Call The Land for more information

507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665

mower; Alloway 25’ 3-pt. stalk chopper; Letourneau 17 yd. dirt scraper; 14’ semi mount grader; 60’ 2-bar drag harrow; 16’ yard drag; Land Pride RBT6012 12’ 3-pt. blade; 500 gal. 3-pt. sprayer; 2007 Polaris Ranger 700 EFI 6x6 UTV, 5,545 mi.; 2013 Polaris Ranger 800 ERFI 6x6 UTV; Westfield MK130-111 13”x111’ swing away auger; Westfield WR100-41 10”x41’ truck auger; Westfield WR100-31 10”x31’ truck auger; Feterl 10”x15’ auger; Batco drive over pit; Caterpillar T50 LP forklift, 2,750 hrs; Ferris 5100 zero turn lawn mower, 1,137 hrs; Ferris 5100 zero turn lawn mower, 1,252 hrs; 24’ van trailer storage body; 24’ van trailer storage body; 14’ van trailer storage body on dually frame; 18,000 gal. 2-compartment fuel barrel; 500 gal. fuel barrel; 500 gal. LP tank; 2,000 gal. tank on single axle running gear; 1,900 gal. tank on 14’ tandem axle trailer; 1,000 gal. poly tank on tandem axle trailer; 100 gal. poly tank on single axle trailer; 55 gal. ATV sprayer; Many other additional support items!

VIRTUAL ONLINE

RENVILLE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

LAND AUCTION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022 AT 10:00 AMCT

155.23 SURVEYED ACRES • 1 TRACT

The Kubesh farm is located 2.5 miles northeast of Renville, MN a short distance north of the Sugar Beet Coop. The farm is further described as being located in Section 27, T116NR36W, Crooks Township, Renville County, MN. Land represents productive tillable farmland with a CPI Rating of 90!

TERI KUBESH

Representing Attorney: Sene Zupke | Kraft Walser Law Office

107 N 9th Steet | Olivia, MN 56277 | (320) 523-1322

Auction Manager: Allen Henslin (320) 979-1808

RENVILLE COUNTY, MINNESOTA LAND AUCTION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 AT 10:00 AMCT

75 ACRES± • 1 TRACT

The Penke farm is located a short distance south of Olivia, MN along 810th Ave. & 330th St. The farm is further described as being located in Section 24, T115N - R35W, Troy Township, Renville County, MN. This tract represents productive, tillable cropland which boasts a Productivity Index Rating of 88 and sells free & clear for the 2023 crop year! Please see website for county & private tile maps!

JOEL & JACKIE PENKE

Representing Attorney: Chris Kleiman | Kraft Walser Law Office

131 Main St. South | Hutchinson, MN | (320) 587-8150

Auction Manager: Allen Henslin (320) 979-1808

To submit your classified ad use one of the following options: Phone: 507-345-4523 or 1-800-657-4665

Mail to: The Land Classifieds 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001 Fax to: 507-345-1027 Email: theland@TheLandOnline.com Online at: www.thelandonline.com

3-New Massey GC1725

Agri Systems/Systems West

Beck's Hybrids 1, 16, 17

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres 10

Crystal Valley Coop

Dairyland Seed Co., Inc.

Greenwald Farm Center

Hertz Farm Management 29

Kannegiesser Truck 13

Land Resource Management 29

Letcher Farms

Mages Auction Service

Mathiowetz Construction Co.

Meister Cheese 20

Mike's Collision & Repair Center 7

Northland Buildings 18

Pioneer

Pruess Elevator, Inc.

Ranch & Farm Auctions

Riverland Community College 4

Rush River Steel & Trim

Schweiss Doors

Smiths Mill Implement, Inc.

Snirt Stopper, LLC

Southwest MN K-Fence

Steffes Group

Sullivan Auctioneers

Syngenta

Christmas during the war

The young Charles Lindbergh favored his mother Evangeline’s

Swedish Party Cakes during the holiday season. You know who I mean; the Charles Lindbergh who flew the first non-stop transatlantic flight, New York to Paris, in May, 1927.

Charles spent his boyhood and teen years living in a handsome farm house on a farm just outside of Little Falls, Minn. His teen years coincided with America’s participation in World War I. Although the U.S. did not have actual rationing at the time, the U.S. Food Administration used advertising and peer pressure to greatly reduce food consumption.

That’s where Charle’s favorite cookies come in, according to an interpreter at the Lindbergh farm house which is now managed by the Minnesota Historical Society.

“Each person,” she said holding up a sugar jar, “was confined to using only six cups of sugar monthly.”

Then, handing out Evangeline’s recipe which has one cup of sugar, she tells visitors that people in those days were good at sharing.

“At the end of the month, when sugar was low, neighbors sometimes would pool their sugar to make a cake. Then they’d share the cake.”

The annual holiday tour of the Lindbergh house this year included a Christmas tree like the Lindbergh family might have had during the war. It featured hand-made paper chains (which visitors were encouraged to make at a craft table), strings of popcorn and cranberries, and cut out snow flakes.

Little Falls, Minn.

“Before the war,” explained another interpreter, “people often put mercury glass ornaments on their Christmas trees. But, because it was made in Germany, they didn’t put it on war-time trees. They thought it was disloyal.”

In another room in the house, which was built in the early 20th century, an interpreter is knitting. She tells visitors about the American Red Cross program “Knit Your Bit” where experienced knitters made socks, scarves and caps for “Our Boys.” Charles probably didn’t do any knitting in that room, which was intended to be the dining room. He did operate a chicken hatchery in the room, explains the interpreter, and he slept in the adjacent porch.

“Charles didn’t write much about cleaning,” the interpreter says when asked who cleaned the dining room. “He did burn the floor once with the incubator,” she says, pointing to the burn marks in the flooring.

The Lindbergh House employs five part time interpreters, site manager Kayla Stielow said. It is closed until Memorial Day — although special tours can be arranged. The home is adjacent to the interactive Lindbergh Museum and across the road from Lindbergh State Park.

More can be learned at www.mnhs.org/lindbergh.

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