The Land - April 14, 2023

COLUMNS

A positive for electricity

Earlier this year, the Democratic controlled Minnesota Legislature passed a bill requiring that 100 percent of Minnesota’s electricity be produced from carbon free sources by 2040. Not surprisingly, Governor Walz signed the legislation into law. And, not surprisingly, Republicans squawked.

Why, I wondered, is climate chaos with its mega-droughts and mega-storms controversial and partisan?

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LAND MINDS

By Tim King

For the last decade or so Republicans have been saying wind and solar electric just aren’t reliable enough to go to 100 percent renewables. “What happens if it’s not windy or sunny” they repeated over and over again as the years passed and the storms got worse. While the nay-sayers were frozen in time, the clock was ticking for those living in reality. Between 2015 and today, 22 states, along with Puerto Rico and Washington DC, pledged to be 100 percent carbon free by 2050 or earlier. Little Rhode Island is shooting for 2033. A couple of the country’s most populous states, Illinois and New York, are shooting for 2040, just like Minnesota. California is planning for 2045.

OPINION

It’s the iron-air battery.

“I’m an electrical engineer and we had a presentation on the air - iron battery to managers at a GRE meeting,” Haman said. “I think it looks promising. I like that the materials are not rare materials.”

Reliability is all about batteries. Batteries need to store electricity to make it available when renewables aren’t working — when it’s cloudy or the wind isn’t blowing.

The batteries being used now are lithium-ion batteries. They are like giant cell phone batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are good for cell phones and even electric cars. But they aren’t very good at storing a lot of energy for very long. In fact, the big utility scale lithium-ion batteries are currently good for only about four hours.

That’s a reliability problem. The Republicans were right!

The Republicans were short sighted!

All of these states are counting on electrical power that will be reliable for retail and wholesale customers while they are heading toward their goals and when they get to them.

I’m partisan and my knee is generally set on autojerk when it comes to positions taken by the Minnesota GOP. To get beyond my partisanship, I decided to call the CEO of Runestone Electric Association. REA has been my electrical co-op for the past 35 years and I’m proud to say that.

I’d never spoken to Al Haman before, but I trusted that whatever he told me would be based not on party politics, but what was good for REA patrons. We chatted a bit about last summer’s storms which caused significant multi-day power outages in a large swath of REA’s service area.

Then I asked Haman what he thought of Minnesota’s new renewable energy mandate.

“We are responsible to assure the continued supply of electricity for our patrons,” he said. “Intermittency is our big concern with that legislation right now.”

Getting your electricity intermittently, of course, means your electrical system is unreliable. But, REA is one of 27 co-operatives which get their electricity from Great River Energy, or GRE. GRE had a potential solution to the reliability-intermittency problem on the drawing board six months before the Minnesota Legislature voted in the 100 percent by 2040 law.

In the 1960s NASA, the moon-shot people, developed some metal - air batteries. There were zincair batteries, aluminum batteries, and iron - air batteries. The research was dropped. Then, in the last decade, Form Energy improved on the technology of the iron - air battery. The iron - air battery now will stay charged for 100 hours. That, ladies and gentleman, will take care of the reliability issue.

In September of last year, Great River Energy announced it would be the first utility in the United States to install an iron - air battery storage module.

“The Cambridge Energy Storage Project will be a 1.5-megawatt, grid-connected storage system capable of delivering its rated power continuously for 100 hours — far longer than the four-hour usage period available from utility-scale lithium-ion batteries today,” GRE announced in its Sept. 15 press release.

“While this project will be a relatively small resource on the grid, it is a leap forward for longduration storage,” said GRE Vice President and Chief Power Supply Officer Jon Brekke. “We are optimistic that this type of resource could be very valuable as the electric system continues to evolve.”

In addition to holding a charge 17 times longer, the iron - air battery is expected to be 20 times less expensive than the lithium - ion battery. That’s because, as Haman pointed out, iron is not scarce. Lithium is.

In late January, Xcel Energy — Minnesota’s largest utility — followed GRE and announced it too would be installing a Form Energy iron - air battery

Cover photo by Paul Malchow

When lawmakers make water policy through lawsuits

It takes guts to spend almost 50 years fighting the federal government’s Clean Water Act and then claim its failure to overcome your decades-long foot-dragging and legal maneuvering has hurt your members.

Yet that’s exactly what Zippy Duvall, the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, claimed in a late March letter to President Joe Biden.

FARM & FOOD FILE

By Alan Guebert

OPINION

“Continual revisions, remands and reintroductions of WOTUS” — the Waters of the U.S. rule — “...only sow confusion and ultimately dissuade future investment in climate-smart agriculture,” Duvall lectured Biden without one hint of AFBF’s large role in all the revising, remanding and reintroducing.

Duvall ended by covering his zesty spice cake with layers of lily-white farm group frosting: “America’s farmers and ranchers need a clear, consistent WOTUS rule so they can continue to protect our natural resources, operate with certainty, and create jobs in their communities.”

Exactly, but what he failed to acknowledge is that since Congress won’t write a workable WOTUS rule, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency have written multiple versions only to see their efforts to enact this key element of the 1972 Clean Water Act languish in federal courts for decades.

That’s right; in the 51 years since the Clean Water Act passed, neither Congress nor the courts have successfully defined what “waters of the U.S.” — or WOTUS — fall under the Act’s jurisdiction. Attempt after attempt has been shot down by either political, legal, or economic forces aligned against it.

The latest attempted sinking occurred March 29 when the U.S. Senate passed a “joint resolution of disapproval” (by a 53-43 vote) to reject another WOTUS version — this one just two months old. The U.S. House approved the “disapproval resolution” March 9.

The Biden Administration vowed to veto the Congressional action and since neither legislative chamber has the votes to override it, the Biden WOTUS version will stand (for the time being).

Still, the vote showcases just how hard compromise is with any WOTUS rule. In fact, according to the National Association of Counties, the Biden rule is a joint Corps/EPA effort “to walk the line between the Obama administration’s expansive Clean Water Rule and the Trump administration’s more narrow 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule.”

But even that middle ground is political quick-

sand, said Congress, which means more federal civil lawsuits and more years of more dirty water.

In fact, WOTUS is the focal point of three active federal lawsuits now, according Brigit Rollins, a staff attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas.

All, she explains in a recent online webinar, raise constitutional issues which could either empower

the EPA and Corps to finally fully implement the Clean Water Act under the Biden rule or, depending on the case, limit or even strip all federal agencies of the power to enforce any part of WOTUS and the Clean Water Act.

On March 19, one day before the Biden rule was to go into effect, a Texas federal judge issued a pre-

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LJS MARK DOMINO 2207 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44344458 — Calved: 3/18/2022 — Tattoo: LE 2207

Sire: LJS MARK DOMINO 2012 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

Dam: LJS MS MARK DOMINO 2029 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

CE 7.4; BW 3.3; WW 60; YW 97; DMI 0.9; SC 1.4; SCF 10.6; MM 43; M&G 74; MCE 9.6; MCW 58; UDDR 1.60; TEAT 1.70; CW 82; FAT 0.070; REA 0.82; MARB 0.50; BMI$ 291; BII$ 388; CHB$ 154

BW 99 lb., WW 795 lb., scurred.

• Big time growth, maternal and carcass here. He’s the first calf for both parents and sets the bar high. His pedigree is a cross of two of our strongest cow families.

LJS MARK DOMINO 2213 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44344467 — Calved: 3/22/2022 — Tattoo: LE 2213

Sire: LJS MARK DOMINO 1954 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

LJS MARK DOMINO 2216

44344473 — Calved: 3/23/2022 — Tattoo: LE 2216

Sire: LJS MARK DOMINO 1954 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

Dam: LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1508 {DLF,HYF,IEF}

CE 7.8; BW 1.9; WW 48; YW 81; DMI 0.4; SC 1.1; SCF 8.0; MM 37; M&G 61; MCE 8.2; MCW 60; UDDR 1.50; TEAT 1.40; CW 76; FAT 0.010; REA 0.63; MARB 0.37; BMI$ 248; BII$ 323; CHB$ 148

• BW 83 lb., WW 765 lb., dehorned.

Another 1954 son from an elite 0945 daughter that never misses. We’re getting our first calves from her 2021 bull calf.

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& John Schafer

New WOTUS rule needed

GUEBERT, from pg. 3

liminary injunction against the rule’s implementation in one of the three cases. That ruling, however, applies to just two states, not the entire nation.

So, yeah, complicated.

But an even bigger court challenge, one that Rollins calls a “ticking time bomb”, is hanging fire in the U.S. Supreme Court. That case, known as Sackett v EPA, was heard last October by the court and reexamines a narrow, 2006 court decision now used by EPA and the Corps to determine what is — and, equally important to farmers and ranchers, what isn’t — a “navigable waters” under WOTUS.

“This isn’t a challenge to the new [Biden] rule,” says the NALC attorney, but “it’s very likely that this ruling,” when announced, “is going to have a huge impact” on it. Huge, as in–again–toss WOTUS on the farm scrap pile.

All might be averted if, after 51 years, Congress accepts its responsibility to write a WOTUS rule to, as Zippy hopes, “protect our natural resources, operate with certainty, and create jobs in their communities.”

And not just lawsuits, that is.

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.

Long duration storage possible

LAND MINDS, from pg. 2

storage system.

Haman says scaling up Form Energy’s system to commercial scale is a big step; and time will tell if it will work as forecasted. Haman, and the leaders at GRE and Xcel, are moving forward to respond to climate chaos.

Life on the Farm: Readers’ Photos

Rose Wurtzberger of New Ulm, Minn. found her farm was in the fly zone for hundreds of geese earlier this month. “Well, here’s a sign of spring!” she writes. “We haven’t seen so many geese hanging around in quite a while. They must be waiting for it to warm up further north! Have a good day!”

One hopes the Republicans will start moving forward as well.

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

Letter: Minnesota legislators poised for next farm bill

To the Editor,

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C. with our Farm Bureau members, we had the opportunity to meet with our state legislators as they begin working on the Farm Bill. With the bill is set to be renewed this year, Minnesotans who rely on its programming can be assured their concerns will be heard and represented by our leaders in a variety of roles.

There is a strong bipartisan desire to see this bill get passed to give our country the food security it needs to feed the growing population, and the Minnesota delegation is ideally positioned to provide guidance from both sides of the aisle as legislation moves forward.

We are one of two states to have both senators sit on the Senate Agriculture Committee. And as a his-

torically bipartisan bill, we are fortunate to have both Rep. Angie Craig and Rep. Brad Finstad on the House Agriculture Committee, giving our state representation from both parties.

Beyond the agriculture committees, Rep. Tom Emmer serves as the majority whip in the House of Representatives, helping to guide action on the floor. And our other representatives hold key roles on other powerful committees including the Rules, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, Small Business, Budget and more.

This is an exciting time for the agriculture community in Minnesota, and our leaders in D.C. are poised to influence legislation benefitting those of us in the field and beyond.

Dan Glessing Waverly, Minn.

McKelvey sees the importance in the most mundane tasks

A few months ago on social media, I stumbled across a liturgy written by Douglass Kaine McKelvey. Immediately, I fell in love and searched my way across the internet — looking to get my hands on more of his writing, and ordered it as quickly as possible.

DEEP ROOTS

By Whitney Nesse

I received volume one of his liturgy book hours before a latenight departure to visit my sister. I tucked it in my backpack, excited to read it during travel.

After being seated and snugly tucked in for a flight, the lights dimmed, and my neighbors snoozed. So I grabbed my new treasure, excited for what I might find. As I began reading, the tears began to flow. How could the author put words to the cries of my heart? I sobbed as I read through “A Liturgy for Changing Diapers” and “For Laundering” — two of the most mundane tasks, yet at their core is a cry to be seen!

The name El-Roi is Hebrew for “the God who sees me.” It is a name of God first used by Hagar in Genesis 16. So often, the tasks we undertake seem ordinary or mundane, but we serve El-Roi, the God who sees you and me in our everyday tasks. So as we embark on another season of planting, let’s remember the God who sees even the most overlooked duties of greasing the planter, preparing meals, checking seed depth, taking care of little ones, or rock picking, and choose to make those moments holy.

This prayer is an adaptation of “A Liturgy for Gardening” by Douglas Kaine McKelvey in Every Moment Holy.

O Lord God, Creator, who calls forth life, May this ground, and our labors here invested, yield good provision for the nourishing of both body and soul.

Alden farmer is sweepstakes winner

said crop land is split about evenly between corn and soybeans. “We used to raise some beef cattle,” he said, “but we turned that over to my brother’s grandson.”

Mathiason added crop yields were good in 2022. “We’ve actually had two or three good years,” he admitted. “We’re very fortunate. We weren’t affected by drought … in fact we might have had too much rain. The soil is heavy around here.”

Bob and his wife Cindy have been married 40 years and have two grown daughters who live out of state. “They like to come back,” Bob said. “They like the farm.”

As we work the soil of this plot of land, furrowing, planting, waiting, and harvesting may such acts become to us a living parable, a prayer acted out rather than spoken. As we co-labor with you and with your creation to produce a beneficial harvest, may we find in such toil a kind of rest. May this plot of ground become a hallowed space and these hours a sacred time for reflection, for conversation with neighbors, friends, and family, and for fellowship with you, O Lord. Through our tending of the land, renew our tired hopes. As we cultivate gentle order, planting, tending, and protecting, so cultivate and train our wayward hearts,

O Lord, that rooted in you the forms of our lives might spread in winsome witness, maturing to bear the good fruit of grace expressed in acts of compassionate love.

Walk with us now, O Lord, in the stillness of this tilled and quiet space, that when we venture again into the still fertile land of your world, we might be prepared to offer our lives as a true and nourishing provision to all who hunger for mercy and hope and meaning, a true and nourishing provision to all who hunger for you, O God. Lord, let our labors in these fields be fruitful.

Lord, let our labors in these fields be blessed. Amen.

Douglas Kaine McKelvey is a poet, lyricist, author and screenwriter who lives in Tennessee. He has written hundreds of lyrics for artists such as Kenny Rogers and Switchfoot. In addition, he has written several liturgy books to encourage the body of Christ to practice the awareness of the presence of God in ordinary places.

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

Mathiason

Pictured with Mathiason accepting his prize is The Land General Manager Deb Petterson.

Robert (Bob) Mathiason of Alden, Minn. (right) is the winner of the $400 prize for The Land’s 2023 subscription card contest. The drawing was held March 3.

has operated the family farm with his brother for 49 years. Corn, soybeans and pasture take up about 450 acres. Bob

The State of Ag: Connecting the dots in 2023

Eyes are on the Midwest. At least in my memory, there has not been another year where the world is paying such close attention to our region — specifically looking at those who grow, process, transport and sell food, feed, fiber, and fuel.

TALENT IN THE GREENSEAM

By Sam Ziegler

We produced a crop; we have an economy on solid footing; and the world needs us. We are not a fly-over country. We are the place families need. Ag is everywhere and has an impact well beyond Minnesota. The world of agriculture is an industry which touches us all, which many do not truly understand.

Acute food insecurity globally continues to escalate. According to the recently published Global Report on Food Crisis 2022 mid-year update, up to 205 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity and will need urgent assistance in 45 countries.

In 2022, food prices in the United States increased by 9.9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.

Drought and abnormal dryness affected 28 percent of the Midwest in early September, growing in coverage to 73 percent of the Midwest affected by late November, and 215.2 million acres of crops in United States are

experiencing drought conditions the week of March 15, 2023.

Feb. 24, 2023 marked one year since Russia invaded Ukraine — bringing farmers to their knees and limiting exports to some of the countries in most need of food and fertilizer.

GreenSeam has spent the last several years shedding light on the important topic of agriculture and the State of Ag report is just one of the many tools used to gather and analyze data to set the stage for future goals. This important undertaking is not a oneperson job. It is up to all of us to work together to make changes in agriculture for future generations.

Each year we have individuals eager to get involved to help with research, manage focus groups, create survey questions, and so much more. I want to thank each of you who took the time to share your real-world examples and share knowledge of the direction of your business; it would not have been possible without you. It is inspiring to see the involvement of all sectors of our economy which connect to ag in Minnesota. We are incredibly proud to have completed the fourth year of The State of Agriculture report.

In this report, you will find the survey responses and an in-depth look at

key themes of the eleven-focus group that represented education, research, manufacturing, and processing, just to name a few. The groups insights and individual survey responses provide a look into the challenges we can face together to improve human capital, supply chain, housing and infrastructure, regulation, policies, access to capital and sustainability.

This year we added a specialty section diving deeper into internships and I am proud to say we had over 75 businesses respond.

In 2023, 80 percent of survey respondents agree the state of agriculture in the region is moving in the right direction, compared to 82 percent last year.

Seventy-four percent have an optimistic attitude about the economic prospects of their community in the next 2-3 years, compared to 79 percent a year ago.

While agriculture is the shining light, we don’t want to dismiss the challenges. This is where you come into play. We need each community, each business, and each person to step up to find solutions for the challenges we have. Together we can build bridges to strengthen our future ag leaders. We need to engage those who have been here for generations and embrace those who are looking to start a new and better life here.

I challenge you to expand your idea of what agriculture is, dig deeper, think bigger, and share your story. Our state is driven by people and businesses who are key to the success of agriculture.

Ag proud.

Sam Ziegler, GreenSeam Director, can be reached via email at sziegler@ greenseam.org v

Hemp license applications due April 30

ST. PAUL — Those wanting to grow and process hemp in Minnesota in 2023 must apply for a license with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture by April 30.

The online application for growers and processors can be found on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/ industrialhemp. Along with the online form, first-time applicants need to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check.

Growers and processors need to be aware the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) testing fee per grower sample will cost $100.

Penalties may be assessed to growers that do not submit planting and harvest report forms.

Growers are required to complete a Farm Service Agency 578 form for all hemp varieties and locations planted. If a grower fails to submit this data to FSA in the required time, the MDA will not be allowed to sample and test those fields, nor issue a Fit for Commerce

Certificate for those hemp lots. A grower license starts at $400. The minimum cost of a processor license is $500.

Anyone growing on tribal lands within a reservation’s boundaries or other lands under tribal jurisdiction (e.g., trust lands off-reservation) must obtain a license from the tribe or the U.S. Department of Agriculture if the tribe does not have an approved hemp production plan.

To date, over 160 people have applied for an MDA license.

This is the eighth year of the state’s Hemp Program. Last year, 293 people held licenses to grow or process hemp. Over 375 acres and 122,040 indoor square feet were planted in Minnesota in 2022.

Questions about the MDA’s Hemp Program should be sent to hemp.mda@ state.mn.us or (651) 201-6600.

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

2022 Extension Seed Trials results released

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Whether by starting by seeds or purchasing plants, you may want to consider some of the tried-and-true verities the Extension Master Gardeners have tested this past year.

Two-hundred and thirty-three Master Gardener volunteers from 50 Minnesota counties around the state announced their favorites for Minnesota gardeners after growing and observing six kinds of vegetables and two flowers last summer. These annual top picks effort goes back to 1982, and more than 200 plants are on the list.

In a blind test, Master Gardeners monitor half a dozen varieties of each plant for disease and insect tolerance, growth, and germination rate. They rate flowers for their bloom color, size, and fragrance; vegetables are rated for taste and flavor, as well as productivity. These results help narrow down some of the varieties which grow well in our climate. “Because of our short growing season and harsh conditions, very few of the seeds you find at a garden center or catalog come from Minnesota,” said Sue Schiess, a Hennepin County Master Gardener who has overseen the volunteer seed trials for about 10 years.

Some highlights about the Minnesota winners for 2022: “Brandywine” tomatoes, one of the most popular heirloom varieties, was best. Most gardeners reported very little insect damage, but a majority reported some disease present in all the tested varieties. Daikon radish varieties had little difference in growth, germination, size, and insect damage between the six varieties tested. The biggest differences were in flavor. Most tasters ate this vegetable raw with “KN-Bravo” being the clear winner. China Asters had most participants enjoying growing these flowers; but they proved to be tasty to both deer and rabbits. All but one variety required staking, as the stems could not support the large flowers as they grew. As predicted, the flowers lasted a long time in the vase.

What’s on the 2023’s list? Volunteers will test varieties of green pole beans, red carrots, mustard greens, paste/sauce tomatoes, small watermelon, purple/red basil, melampodium, and pink cleome.

To read the full Minnesota Master Gardener Seed Trials results, go to https://conservancy.umn.edu/ handle/11299/250688

This article was submitted by Quincy Sadowski, University of Minnesota Extension. v

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Ensure success for years to come by properly planting trees

If you are looking to plant a tree for the upcoming Arbor Day or anytime this year, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.

The most common mistake when planting trees today is planting too deep. Many purchased trees have the root flare buried in the root ball or pot. The root flare is the area where the roots meet the trunk commonly identified by a flaring of the trunk. If this excess soil is not removed, the root flare “suffocates” from excess soil resulting in a disruption of water and nutrient uptake, starting a downward spiral for the tree. It can also result in the tree roots wrapping around the trunk and eventually girdling the tree.

To ensure your tree is not planted too deep, do not plant the tree at the same soil level it currently has. Instead, remove the soil until you find the flare. You may need to remove 6-9 inches of soil. Then, make sure the bottom of the collar is above ground level.

When digging the hole for your tree, dig the hole only as deep as the root ball, after finding the root flare, and no deeper so the soil under the root ball is undisturbed. This will prevent the tree from settling. Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball. This will allow roots to grow more easily outwards. Do not add soil amendments. Simply use the soil removed from the hole as backfill.

Watering a newly planted tree is extremely important to ensure it establishes and stays healthy for years to come. Newly-planted trees need to be watered daily for the first two weeks, three days a week for the next 12 weeks and once a week until the roots are established. You can figure out how long it will take for the roots to establish and how much water your tree needs at each watering by measuring the trunk caliper. For a tree with a caliper less than 4 inches, take the measurement at 6 inches above the ground. For a tree whose trunk caliper is greater than 4 inches, measure at 12 inches above the ground. For each inch of trunk caliper your tree will take one-and-a-half years to establish and six quarts of water at each watering.

You may want to add some wood chips or other mulch around the base of your tree to make mowing easier. Mulch should not contact the trunk; meaning it should not look like a volcano at the bottom of your tree. Mulch helps to conserve soil moisture and eliminates competition from turf. However, if it is mounded up and in contact with the trunk it will ultimately cause more issues than it fixes. Avoid using rock, landscape block and landscape fabric around your tree.

Do not wrap trees during the growing season. Wrap can hold moisture next to the trunk and serve as a

home for insects. Some wraps can also cause sun damage to the trunk of the tree which is harmful. Wraps can be used in the winter to protect from deer and other wildlife damage.

Finally, be sure to consider the tree’s mature height and breadth when choosing its planting location. You would hate to need to remove your tree in a few years because it is planted too close to your house or growing into a power line.

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

Calendar of Events

Visit

April 17 — Spring Gardening Seminar — Sauk Rapids, Minn. — This event will include horticulture topics, and is open to all gardening enthusiasts. The workshop will include two sessions: “Soil, starting from the ground up” and “Going ‘No-Till’ with your garden 2.0.” Visit http://z.umn.edu/SpringSeminar2023 for more information.

April 19 — Prepping For This Year’s Alfalfa Webinar — Online — This webinar presented by Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will focus on this year’s alfalfa season. Mike Rankin will share what he sees in the hay and alfalfa market plus what things are looking like out in the field. Contact Fred Hall at fredhall@iastate.edu or (712) 737-4230.

April 21 — Strategies to keep your woods healthy and resilient — Online — Join University of Minnesota Extension foresters to discuss a key issue facing woodland owners in Minnesota. Contact Gary Wyatt at wyatt@umn.edu.

April 28 — 2023 Participatory Science: Spotted Lanternfly, Mock Strawberry, Garlic Mustard Aphids — Online — Join University of Minnesota Extension foresters to discuss woodland topics. Contact Gary Wyatt at wyatt@umn.edu.

April 29 — Land Access: Are You Ready? Workshop — Rosemount, Minn. — Attendees of this Land Stewardship Project workshop will engage in participatory activities as well as hear directly from local farmers about the creative land access methods they have used to secure land tenure. There will also be resource people on hand to provide guidance and understanding about a variety of related topics. Contact Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org or (507) 458-0349.

April 29 — Minnesota River Valley Master Gardeners Spring Workshop — Mankato, Minn. — Sessions include Tips for Growing Tomatoes, Trees and Shrubs for a Changing Climate, and Discovering the Beauty of Usefulness of Native Plants. Contact U of M Extension Office for Blue Earth County at (507) 304-4325.

Straw bale gardening book is certainly complete

By TIM KING The Land Correspondent

I’ve known about straw bale gardens for a number of years and have generally held a poor opinion of the idea. I admit my opinion was based mostly on ignorance and is grounded in 35 years of vegetable farming in the soil.

It was, therefore, surprising to me when the editor of The Land asked me to review Joel Karsten’s most recent edition of his highly popular book on the subject. This 2019 edition, published by Quarto, is called “Straw Bale Gardens Complete” and includes quite a bit of new information including a chapter on growing edible mushrooms on small bales.

I’ve read most of the book and I haven’t entirely changed my opinion about straw bale gardening - at least for my own purposes. I can report, however, that Karsten’s book is one of the most well written, highly organized, and thoughtful self-help gardening books I’ve ever read.

For example, my brother has experimented with straw bale gardening as a way to avoid disease in his tomatoes and eggplant. It’s worked for eggplant; but, he said, as the bales begin to decompose at the end of the summer the twine strings rot and the bales fall open.

“You’re left with plants at a fortyfive degree angle,” he said.

Karsten acknowledges that problem exists for those who use compostable twine string . . . and he has a fix for it.

My brother also pointed that at the end of the season straw bale gardeners are left with a pile of semi-decomposed straw to deal with. He has his bales in his larger garden so that’s not a problem. It is a problem for straw bale gardeners who have their bales in their manicured lawns or on their paved driveways.

Karsten has two responses to that. “Straw Bale Gardens Complete” has simple-to-follow instructions for building a compost bin for old straw and other

Spring road safety reminders

Springtime brings more farm equipment on the road. Whether you’re operating the equipment or sharing the road with it, safety is paramount.

Farm equipment cannot travel above 30 miles per hour; which means as soon as you see a farmer up ahead on the road you should begin slowing down. Farmers will have their tractors equipped with slow moving vehicle signs and flashing lights to help with visibility.

As a farmer, before operating farm equipment, understand how to do so safely. Read the operations manual and pay attention to any safety or warning decals on the equipment. Before operation, inspect the equipment for any safety hazards. During inspection, also identify all safety hazards including mov-

ing parts, pinch points, crush points, pull-in areas, and free-wheeling areas. Be sure anyone who is going to be using the equipment is aware of these areas as well. Make sure that all SMV signs are visible and all lights are in working order before leaving the farm site. You may also consider using a follow vehicle when moving large pieces of equipment — especially at night. Proper safety precautions on the roads keep not only you, but the other people using the road, safe.

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

organic matter. And, since Karsten is his own one man research and development department, he’s invented a baler for converting semi-composted material into bales for next season. He’s got lots of nice photographs, and easy-to-follow written instructions which will show you how to build your own hand-operated baler and how to make your own bales using it.

The Karsten R and D department also has developed a straw bale cold frame, a plastic insulated straw bale hoop garden, and an early-season straw bale greenhouse. He’s got a raft of photos and wellwritten text which will be your guide if you choose to make any of these straw bale do-it-yourself projects.

But the heart of “Straw Bale Gardens Complete” is a seven-chapter section which takes the reader through everything they need to know about straw bales and possible alternatives, to harvesting their crop. In between there are chapters on planning the garden and how to (and how not to) construct your garden along with a trellis and an irrigation system. There is a detailed discussion on fertilizers and a day-by-day guide for conditioning your bales so they will be ready for planting. There are sample garden layouts and guides for planting seeds and transplants. There is also a section on the care of a growing garden and the harvest section even has a nice section on putting up your harvest.

It’s all there. Karsten has done all of this on his own and he’s a good teacher. He’s listened to the problems of other straw bale gardeners and come up with solutions for them. “Straw Bale Gardens Complete” is a top notch how-to guide for beginning straw bale gardeners and even those with some experience.

But if you think growing some vegetables in a straw bale garden is going to save you some money, stop right now. Straw bale gardening is input intensive. From the bales to the fertilizer to the potting soil, along with various long-lived infrastructure costs, these are going to be expensive vegetables. Straw bale gardening looks like a rewarding hobby. But I’m a farmer and I plan on continuing to grow my vegetables in the soil. v

Seriously! Karsten thinks of everything … and, in many ways, caused me to set aside my ignorant opinions.

Organic rye is finding a home with hogs

The University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris, Minn., is home to many research projects which evaluate non-conventional ag production practices. The University’s organic dairy herd, organic swine herd, and several innovative alternative energy facilities operate at the site.

Swine scientists Yuzhi Li and Lee Johnston are currently collaborating with a variety of University subject matter experts to learn how to substitute organic hybrid rye into a conventional corn-soy diet for organic pigs and how the rye affects pigs’ growth efficiency and the taste of the meat harvested from them.

In addition, U of M Extension Nutrient Management specialist Melissa Wilson is studying the value of swine manure by conducting adjacent field trials.

This experiment is fairly unique in that it’s evaluating the full cycle — from hybrid rye, to feed and bedding, to animals, to manure, and back to hybrid rye. The full experiment will be repeated again this year.

Hybrid

Rye

Hybrid rye is a small grain that’s gotten a lot of attention lately as an option to expand a conventional crop rotation or as a cover crop. U of M Small Grains Specialist Jochum Wiersma discussed hybrid rye’s value across Minnesota this winter during his small grains update meetings.

Rye grows well in our upper Midwest climate, has delivered excellent grain yields, and produces abundant top-quality straw. Rye has to be planted following a legume like soybeans; but can also be chopped early and used as a forage for cattle feed.

As a substitute feed ingredient for pigs, rye provides 92 percent of the energy of corn, which is higher than barley (87 percent) and oats (71 percent). In comparison, wheat does better with 97 percent of the energy of corn. Rye also contains intrinsic phytase, which increase the digestibility of phosphorus and therefore reduces the amount of phosphorus in manure.

The organic hybrid rye selected for this study was Tayo winter rye, chosen for its high yield potential and hardiness. In late September 2021, 17 acres of rye were planted at WCROC at a seeding rate of 800,000 seeds per acre. That crop was harvested in late July of 2022, and yielded 104 bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture. The straw yielded 1.8 tons per acre; organic bedding for the project pigs and more.

Organic pigs were born in July and September of 2022, and have grown through the study and been harvested. The organic rye was substituted 50 percent for corn in a conventional corn-soy grow-finish diet. Current results show no difference in growth performance between the rye diets and corn-soybean meal diets.

UniversityofMinnesota EXTENSION

SWINE&U

The nutrient story from Melissa Wilson

As one part of the larger study, we’re growing hybrid rye using swine manure as the primary nutrient source.

SWINE & U

By Diane DeWitte

In the first year of the study, the use of liquid swine manure tended to produce higher grain yields than solid or composted swine manure

Application rates of 60 to 120 pounds per acre of first year available nitrogen optimized yield without significantly over-applying phosphorus and potassium.

Hybrid rye grain and straw produced for the larger study will be tested as an alternative feed and bedding source for organic swine production

Hybrid rye is being grown in Minnesota as an alternative to traditional winter rye varieties. In organic production systems, the grain may be used as an alternative feed for livestock while the straw can be used for bedding. A new research project is evaluating hybrid rye for swine production, so we wanted to know if various types of swine manure (liquid, solid, or composted) could be used as a primary nutrient source.

In fall 2021, we started a field trial at the WCROC. We applied five different rates of each type of manure in early September to supply zero to 240 pounds of first-year available nitrogen per acre. We assumed 75 percent of the total nitrogen would be available the first year for the liquid and solid swine manure and 40 percent would be available from the composted swine manure. After application, we incorporated the manure within 12 hours and planted hybrid rye within the next few days. The following summer, we harvested the rye and analyzed the grain for crude protein.

The first of this two-year study has been completed. We found that use of liquid swine manure resulted in the highest grain yield (around 100 bushels per acre) compared with solid and composted swine manure, which produced around 80 bushels per acre each at the highest application rates. Interestingly, the crude protein was not affected by nutrient source, suggesting that nitrogen may not have been the primary reason for the decreased yield with the solid and composted swine manure. In general, crude protein increased with increasing application rate, regardless of the nutrient source. Hybrid rye yield was not significantly increased when liquid swine manure was applied above 120 pounds of first-year available N per acre (about

5,000 gallons per acre). This is in line with fertilizer recommendations for conventionally managed hybrid rye (110-150 pounds of N per acre depending on previous crop). For solid and composted manure, yield was not significantly increased above 60 pounds of first year available nitrogen per acre (about 4 to 5 tons per acre). Higher rates improved yield slightly, but significantly overapplied phosphorus and potassium (anywhere from 60 to 400 pounds of phosphorus and 115 to 480 pounds of potassium!). When working with manure, there is always a balance between optimizing the use of nitrogen while preventing buildup of soil phosphorus to very high levels.

U of M Researcher Joel Tallaksen and Professor Bill Lazarus will be evaluating the economics and impacts of the entire system. Their goal is to see if integrating winter hybrid rye into pig production is viable for organic farmers and whether it can improve environmental outcomes by increasing crop diversity compared with a typical crop rotation. As far as the field trials, manure was applied again last fall in a new field and hybrid rye was planted. As the snow melts and temperatures rise, the team is anxious to determine if the winter of 2022-23 caused any stand loss.

Save the date

WCROC and the research team will host an Organic Swine and Dairy Field Day on June 22 at the Research and Outreach Center (46352 MN-329, Morris, Minn.). The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Morning speakers will cover the details of substituting hybrid rye in a traditional corn-soy swine diet, feeding and grazing organic dairy cows, and more. Lunch will include pork loin from both the conventionally-fed pigs and the organic rye-fed pigs. After lunch attendees can take a pasture walk to evaluate the progress of the 2023 hybrid rye crop and the dairy graze.

The event is free of charge but RSVP is requested. Participants can register by calling the WROC at (320) 589-1711, or email Diane DeWitte at stouf002@umn.edu.

This project is supported by the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agricultural.

Portions of this article were originally published in the Stevens County Times and has been republished here with permission. Melissa Wilson is the U of M Extension nutrient management specialist and can be reached at wilso984@umn.edu. Diane DeWitte is a U of M Extension swine educator who can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu. v

Help recover from winter damage on deciduous shrubs

You have to be tough to be a plant in Minnesota to endure cold, heat, humidity, flooding, drought, insects and weather extremes like hard-driving rainstorms and wind.

But even the toughest plants can be damaged by winter with its fluctuating temperatures, intense winter sun, and desiccating wind.

Here are two types of the common types of winter damage and what you can do to protect your plants and help them recover.

Sunscald — Sunscald is characterized by elongated, sunken, dried or cracked areas of dead bark usually on the south-southwest side of a tree with thin bark. It occurs when intense winter sun heats up tree bark and stimulates cell activity within the tree trunk or branch. When a cloud, hill or building blocks the sun, the bark temperature drops rapidly and the active cells in plant tissue are killed and the bark cracks forming a frost crack.

Trees susceptible to sunscald are younger trees and newly planted trees, and thin-barked trees such as cherry, crabapple, honey locust, linden, maple, mountain ash and plum. Older trees have thicker bark that insulates and keeps tissue dormant and cold hardy.

Trees which have been pruned to raise the lower branches or transplanted from a shady to a sunny location (the lower trunk no longer shaded) are also susceptible to sunscald.

The good news is that trees typically heal themselves by producing new growth of the inner bark or along edges of the split.

If you need to repair sunscald damage, use a sterilized sharp knife to

remove dead bark to reveal live tissue. Leave the wound uncovered and spray fungicide if the tree is known to be susceptible to fungal diseases.

To prevent sunscald, wrap the trunks of young and thin-barked trees with white guards or wrap. White reflects the sun and keeps bark temperature constant. Wrap or install guards on newly-planted trees for two winters or longer; on thin-barked species for five winters or longer.

Wrap your trees in the fall and remove the guards in spring after the last frost. Don’t use dark tree wrap or dark colored tree guards as they absorb heat from the sun and warm up the tree’s tissues — increasing cell activity.

Winter dieback — Winter dieback is the loss of stems, shoots, buds and sometimes entire branches of trees and shrubs due to winter cold and winds. Most common are shoots and buds of deciduous shrubs with flower buds being the most susceptible winter inju-

ry. Some plants, like some Forsythia, have cold hardy stems and leaf buds; but their flower buds are killed by cold winter temperatures. Other plants may lose entire branches to winter dieback.

Because Minnesota’s winter temperatures and conditions vary, there is not much that can be done to protect trees and shrubs from dieback. However, you can take management steps to reducing dieback.

Choose hardy plants with growing requirements that match your site conditions. Study your landscape and select plants that will grow well in your existing soil,

light, space and exposure. In doing so, this reduces plant stress and speeds up establishment after transplanting. It also reduces plant maintenance and improves plant performance and longevity.

Locate marginally hardy plants in locations protected from winter sun and winds.

Avoid pruning, fertilizing and overwatering in late summer. Pruning and fertilizing late in the season promote new growth that will not have time to acclimate to the winter ahead. While regular watering is important to plant health, overwatering in fall can stress plants. This can reduce winter survival and increase dieback.

This article was submitted by Julie Weisenhorn, University of Minnesota Extension horticulture educator. v

Photo submitted

Forsythia flower buds above the snowline did not survive winter temperatures. The buds that are blooming were covered with snow and protected from dieback.

As SACE director, Megan Roberts’ ag career evolves

By LAURA COLE

The Land Staff Writer

Dr. Megan Roberts recently finished her first year as the Executive Director for the Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence (SACE). The position has proven to be an optimal setting for Roberts to utilize her agricultural background and experience in education to serve the ag industry throughout southern Minnesota.

Although Roberts joined SACE in March of 2022, she has been indirectly involved with the program since it began. Roberts previously taught at South Central College from 2012-2017. SCC is SACE’s campus home.

With a steadfast commitment to agriculture, Roberts always knew she’d be involved in the industry. She grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota’s Stearns County, and was involved in both FFA and 4-H. She commented it was her involvement in those organizations — especially as a state 4-H ambassador — that guided her career pathway in agriculture and education.

Regarding her education, Roberts stated, “It’s a journey!” After she received her Bachelor of Science

degree in Plant Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Roberts moved to her husband Dan’s family hog and crop farm located near Madelia, Minn. She worked at an offfarm job for a year.

“Since I took my first economics course my junior year at the University of Minnesota, I became really fascinated with the way agriculture, economics, and policies interact and affect agribusinesses, farm families, and rural communities,” Roberts stated. Even after graduating, she continued to take additional economics courses (“for fun!”) because she knew she wanted to emphasize agricultural policy and economics during her master’s program.

Roberts went back to the U of M-Twin Cities to attend grad school full-time on a fellowship, commuting from Madelia to Minneapolis. With a goal of working in higher education, she received her Master of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy.

Upon completion of this degree, Roberts accepted a position at South Central College — teaching courses such as ag economics, commodity marketing, and

agribusiness transfer and law. “While at SCC, I started on my doctorate of education in agricultural education, which is a joint program of Texas A&M and Texas Tech Universities,” Roberts said. “I worked full-time teaching agribusiness while I did that degree, taking classes online and traveling to Texas occasionally for in-person programs.”

In 2017, Roberts began working for University of Minnesota Extension as an educator with a focus on farm transition and estate planning. She remained in this role until 2022.

Roberts is also an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University-Mankato where she teaches two agribusiness courses. She brings to her positions a dedication to the region of southern Minnesota and excitement for the ag industry.

A career highlight of Roberts is the opportunity she received to travel to Peru with a group of her SCC students. They were able to learn about agriculture in a different country and also visit Machu Picchu. “It’s amazing to look back at pictures,” Roberts said. She added a student who was a part of that trip and is now farming stated the class had changed his life.

For Roberts, the most meaningful parts of her career have been working in areas she feels she can best give back. She remarked the work that fills her cup has been with college students, as well as with farm families regarding transition and estate planning. Having grown up in ag production and being married to full-time farmer, Roberts is able to use firsthand knowledge when having conversations with families about topics such as evaluating the need for off-farm employment and determining the viability of bringing family members back in to the business.

In her free time, Roberts enjoys simply reading for fun, “fluffy fiction” or something aside from the usual text of academia. She and her husband have a fouryear-old son, Evan, who loves any opportunity he can get to see steers and cows and “loves, loves, loves tractors.” With a laugh, Roberts said she intentionally introduced Evan at an early age to a variety of different kinds of toys. But at the end of the day, he is a farm boy through and through; very enthusiastic about John Deere tractors and very into wearing green. Roberts admitted spending time with her husband and son is “always number-one on my list.” v

Photo submitted

Along with her achievements in the academic world, Megan Roberts stays grounded in agriculture on her and her husband’s farm.

SACE connects students to agriculture industry

By LAURA COLE The Land Staff Writer

It’s a busy time of year for the Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence (SACE). The Center collaborates with the ag industry and educators to ensure students are equipped to succeed in their future careers. SACE’s Executive Director, Dr. Megan Roberts, recently spoke about the program and their current work.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

operate eight Centers of Excellence. The Centers stemmed from an initiative of then Governor Tim Pawlenty. According to SACE’s website, the first four were established in 2006 and the following four in 2013. The Minnesota State Centers of Excellence aim to “help students gain access to the latest technologies and work-based learning opportunities, and facilitate education and training for business partners to meet their workforce needs today and into the future.”

Each Center focuses on one of the following industries: agriculture, energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and engineering, and transportation. The agriculture industry has two Centers: one for the northern region and the other for the southern region. Each Center has a campus home; SACE’s is located at South Central College in North Mankato, Minn. While Roberts stated SACE and its counterpart, Minnesota State Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence (AgCentric), have very similar missions, the nature of their geography leads them to differ in such areas as industry partnerships and educational initiatives.

Roberts’ focus at SACE is in direct alignment with Minnesota State’s three-part mission of engaging industry, enhancing education, and inspiring students.

“A high priority area for SACE right now includes making connections between community college programs and university programs, so students can experience successful transfer between two-year and four-year degree programs in Minnesota,” Robert stated.

“We are also really focused on making sure college ag students have access to high-tech modern agricultural equipment and curriculum. Partnering with private industry will be key in attaining new investments to support our collegiate agricultural programs.”

Roberts was recently a part of GreenSeam’s State of Ag report as one of the educational faculty members. Such involvement helps her to have “a pulse on what’s going on in our region.” She also values interactions with the ag workforce, as well as with students at career fairs. She states those conversations are one of many aspects that help her in determining how to best execute SACE’s mission.

“We are here to serve,” she emphasized.

One of SACE’s biggest events, Career Connections, is coming up on April 24 at the Minnesota State FFA Convention. Roberts explained that SACE, AgCentric and the FFA Foundation hold the annual career and college fair expo for FFA students. She commented, “Last year, 4,000 students attended the event, and we are hopeful we will reach as many in 2023.”

Providing a quality service is of high value to Roberts. She stressed the importance of meeting students where their needs are and of providing courses and resources that will help them navigate their path. One program geared toward that goal is Farm Business Management (FBM), which is offered at seven colleges in Minnesota.

“At the farmer level, SACE works to

A high priority area for SACE right now includes making connections between community college programs and university programs, so students can experience successful transfer between two-year and four-year degree programs in Minnesota.

— Megan Roberts

Spring can bring snow mold to your home’s yard

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — As this year’s snow seems to linger, winter stress in our lawns can be more prevalent. One way that stress manifests is snow mold.

There are two different types of snow mold: pink snow mold and gray snow mold — each caused by a different fungus. Snow mold is caused by three types of pathogens: Typhula spp. and Microdochium nivale. Either of the snow mold fungi typically appears within the home lawn as circular strawcolored patches of grass. These patches usually appear matted and are often covered by white, pink, or gray fungal growth, which has a webby appearance. Pink snow mold produces pink colored spores and pinkish colored fuzzy mycelium while gray snow mold produces sclerotia which appear as dark colored hard bee-bee shaped bodies on the grass blades.

The fungi that cause snow mold to develop become active at temperatures near freezing, and typically develop under a blanket of snow on unfrozen ground. Snow mold fungi may continue to infect home lawns after the snow melts, as long as conditions are cool and wet. As the temperature begins to rise and the lawns begin to dry, snow mold fungi become inactive. Therefore, there is no need for chemical controls — unless there is an area on the lawn where the snow mold appears every year. In

severe cases, a preventative application of thiophanate methyl in October or early November may be helpful.

Although the damage from snow mold is seldom serious, there have been years where large areas of lawns are killed. Generally, infected areas are just a little slower to green up. In areas with low mud, gently rake affected areas of the lawn to promote drying and prevent further fungal growth.

To minimize snow mold damage, avoid excessive applications of nitrogen in the fall. If snow mold is

common in your lawn, skip the fall fertilizer application. Continue to mow the lawn at the recommended height until it is no longer actively growing. The taller the grass, the more likely it will mat and encourage snow mold.

Do not, however, cut the grass shorter than 2 inches. Grass that is cut too short will be subject to winter injury in the event of a cold, open winter.

This article was submitted by Quincy Sadowski, University of Minnesota Extension. v

Preparing pastures for spring grazing

While it is tempting to open the pasture gate at the sight of green grass, there are several items to consider beforehand.

Take soil samples every three years to determine pH and fertilizer needs. Soil sampling can occur as soon as the frost is out and the ground is dry. You can collect one soil sample per 20 acres of pasture if the management, topography, soil type, and plant species are similar. Sampling should occur from multiples sites within the pasture. You can obtain soil testing kits from your County Extension Office.

Fertilize your pastures. When applying fertilizer, it is best to apply half of the amount in early spring and the other half in the middle of June. The ideal time to fertilize is right before a gentle, soaking rain. Keep horses off the pasture until you can no longer see the fertilizer pellets.

Spring is also a good time to control annual weeds. Mowing is usually sufficient for annual weed control, but you may need to use a herbicide. Always follow the directions and grazing restrictions listed on the herbicide label.

Keep the horses off pastures until the ground is firm and the grass has grown to 6 to 8 inches. Once the grass has reached this height, start acclimating the horses to the pasture in 15-minute, daily increments (15 minutes the first day, 30 minutes the second day, etc.) until you reach five hours of grazing. After that, unrestricted grazing can occur. This gradual transition provides enough time for the horse’s microbial populations to adjust, which reduces the chance of laminitis and colic.

Grazing requires flexibility to respond to plant growth, which depends on weather conditions. Having a dry lot, multiple pastures, and practicing rotational grazing can help buffer adverse weather conditions. Rotational grazing also makes resting, mowing, fertilizing, controlling weeds, and dragging pastures more manageable.

This article was submitted by Krishona Martinson, University of Minnesota Extension. v

Record U.S. cheese output is hurting exports

This column was written for the marketing week ending April 7.

The March Federal order Class III benchmark milk price crept higher this week, propelled by higher cheese, butter, and dry whey prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the price at $18.10 per hundredweight, up 32 cents from February, but $4.35 below March 2022. The first quarter average stands at $18.44, down from $21.25 a year ago, and compares to $15.98 in 2021.

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

lion pounds, down 9.1% from January but up 2.4 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date at 951.8 million pounds, up 4.1 percent. Mozzarella totaled 365 million pounds, down 7.1 percent from January, but up 1.6 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, at 758.1 million, was up 0.5 percent.

MARKETING

At mid-morning on April 6, Class futures portended an April price at $18.61; May, $17.77; June, $18.08; and July at $18.62, with a peak of $19.60 in October.

The Class IV price is $18.38, down 48 cents from February, $6.44 below a year ago, and the lowest since December 2021. Its three-month average is at $19.08, down from $23.97 a year ago, and compares to $13.71 in 2021.

We have plenty of product to sell, despite February milk production only being up 0.8 percent from 2022. The Dairy Products report shows cheese production totaled 1.109 billion pounds, down 7.9 percent from January output which was revised down 4 million pounds, and was up just 0.4 percent from February 2022. Output for the two months totaled 2.3 billion pounds, up 1.6 percent from the same period a year ago.

Italian cheese totaled 460 million pounds, down 8 percent from January and 1.4 percent less than a year ago. American output slipped to 453.1 mil-

Cheddar production, the cheese traded at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, fell to 325.4 million pounds, down 28.5 million pounds or 8.1 percent from January’s count, which was revised down 2.2 million pounds; but was up 17.3 million pounds, or 5.6 percent, from February 2022. Year-to-date cheddar stood at 679.3 million pounds, up 6.1 percent from 2022.

Butter output dipped to 186.4 million pounds, down 14.9 million pounds or 7.4 percent from January, but was up 2.9 million pounds or 1.6 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date butter output was at 387.7 million pounds, up 2.7 percent from a year ago.

Yogurt production totaled 401.3 million pounds, up 7.4 percent from a year ago, and hard ice cream output hit 59.1 million pounds, up 7.7 percent from a year ago.

Dry whey production totaled 66.5 million pounds, down 10.2 million pounds or 13.3 percent from January and down 3.8 million pounds or 5.7 percent from a year ago. Stocks grew to 69.4 million pounds, up 6.4 million or 10.2 percent from a year ago.

Nonfat dry milk output climbed to 178.5 million pounds, up 3.5 million pounds or 2 percent from January and up 7.7 million or 4.5 percent above a

year ago. Stocks jumped to 310 million pounds, up 39.5 million pounds, or 14.6 percent from January, and up 21.6 million pounds or 7.5 percent from a year ago.

Skim milk powder production totaled 38.2 million pounds, down 6.4 million or 14.4 percent from January, but 8.6 million pounds or 28.9 percent above a year ago.

StoneX says the more-than-expected surge in cheese is “bearish in and of itself, but when considered in the context of lighter-than-expected inventories from the February Cold Storage report, we surmise that cheese disappearance — both domestic as well as export — was likely quite strong in February.”

The report is bearish on butter, says StoneX, “But like with cheese, inventories of butter in February were lower than expected and implies better-thanexpected demand. It would seem fair to suggest that the staying power of late in the $2.30s is the result of good demand at budget price levels.” “The report also likely underscores dismal domestic and export demand of nonfat dry milk.”

The March 21 Global Dairy Trade auction removed hopes of things turning around. The weighted average dropped 4.7 percent (the biggest loss since October 2022) and followed a 2.6 percent drop March 21, 0.7 percent on March 7, and 1.5 percent decline on Feb. 21.

Traders brought 52.5 million pounds of product to market, down from 59.1 million on Mar. 21, and the average metric ton price fell to $3,227 U.S.,

down from $3,361.00 on March 21.

Anhydrous milkfat led the declines, down 7.2 percent after falling 3.8 percent on March 21. Whole milk powder followed, down 5.2 percent after a 1.5 percent descent. Butter was down 3.3 percent after falling 3 percent last time, and buttermilk powder was down 3.3 percent. Skim milk powder was down 2.5 percent after falling 3.5 percent on March 21.

Cheese was the only positive, up 3.8 percent after leading the declines last time with a 10.2 percent drop, and that after dropping 10.2 percent on March 7.

GDT 80 percent butterfat butter equates to $2.0333 per pound U.S., down 6.8 cents after losing 6.7 cents on March 21, and compares to CME butter which closed April 6 at $2.3175. GDT cheddar, at $1.8902, was up 5.2 cents after dropping 20.7 cents last time and 26.2 cents the time before that. April 6’s CME block cheddar closed at $1.83. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.1699 per pound, down from $1.2012, and whole milk powder averaged $1.3846 per pound, down from $1.4641. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed at $1.125.

HighGround Dairy says, “Even though the direction of the result was expected, the scale of the price slide is a surprise. As has been the trend in 2023 so far, GDT values continue to correct lower, with light demand the headline driver. With a poor macroeconomic outlook still in play, it would be remiss to assume this is the bottom of the market.”

Adding to the woes, February U.S.

Grain Outlook Corn unlikely to see early planting

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending April 7.

CORN — The holiday-shortened week got off to a strong start when OPEC plus unexpectedly announced over the weekend they would cut crude oil production by 1.16 million barrels per day beginning in May. This seemed to counter their earlier assurances they would keep reductions at their current level in the fight against global inflation.

There was also spillover support from the March 31 U.S. Department of Agriculture reports and extreme weather patterns around the United States with blizzards, tornados, high winds and rain.

It was also reported Louis Dreyfus would be the third major grain company to stop exporting Russian grain as of July 1. According to Russia’s Union of Grain Exporters, these three companies (LDC, Cargill, Viterra) account for less than 15 percent of total Russian grain exports.

In the first crop progress report of the year, corn was 2 percent planted — which was spot-on with the average and last year. There was no planting progress reported in Illinois, Missouri, and north, but Kansas was 1 percent complete. Texas had the most in the ground with planting at 57 percent complete. Over the last 10 years, U.S. corn planting is 28 percent complete by the end of April; and over the last 5 years, 26 percent of the corn is planted by April 30. In the last 10 years, 50 percent of the corn was planted by May 10.

Safras and Mercado raised its Brazilian corn estimate to 130.3 million metric tons from 125.3 mmt previously. Conab is at 124.7 mmt and the USDA is at 125 mmt. AgRural put Brazil’s first corn crop harvest at 60 percent complete vs. 62 percent on average. Their safrinha corn crop was 99 percent planted; right on average. Argentina’s corn harvest was estimated at 10 percent complete with 7 percent of the crop rated good/excellent.

There were two daily export sales flashes this week that included nearly 6 million bushels of new crop 2023-24 corn sold to Mexico and 5 million bushels of old crop corn sold to unknown. The weekly export sales report included part of the recent heavy buying

Cash Grain Markets

Outlook meeting. The reports were viewed as neutral to slightly bearish for corn.

Outlook: A warmer forecast for the Midwest limited the upside in new crop corn this week. I don’t believe we’ll see “early” planting this year, but it’s too early to say that planting will be “late.” U.S. planting weather will be a daily headline and demand attention. The April WASDE report will be watched to see if exports are increased and/or corn for ethanol is reduced.

For the week, May corn slid 17 cents lower to $6.43.5, July dropped 16.25 cents to $6.19.75, and December fell 9.75 cents to $5.56.75 per bushel.

The April WASDE report will be published on April 11. The first official supply/demand sheets for 202324 will be released on the May 12 WASDE report.

Grain prices are effective cash close on April 11. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

by China. This week’s sales were 49.1 million bushels, bringing total commitments to 1.464 billion bushels but still down 32 percent from last year. The USDA is predicting a 25 percent decline in year-onyear exports. We need to average 14.5 million bushels of sales per week to hit the USDA’s 1.85 billion bushel export target.

Weekly ethanol production was unchanged at 1 million barrels per day. Ethanol stocks fell by 391,000 bpd to 25.1 million bpd, a larger draw than the trade expected and the third weekly draw in a row. Net ethanol margins improved by 6 cents to 41 cents per gallon. Gasoline demand was seasonally higher, up 150,000 bpd to 9.3 million bpd, which was a 14-week high and 8.6 percent above the same week last year.

Finland joined NATO this week as the 31st member. Russian President Putin is not happy since this doubles Russia’s border with NATO members. According to Bloomberg data, the yuan surpassed the dollar as the most traded currency in Russia in the last two months.

The average trade guess for U.S. corn ending stocks for the April World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report is 1.319 billion bushels vs. 1.342 billion last month. World corn ending stocks are expected to be 295.01 mmt compared to 296.46 mmt in March. Brazil’s corn crop is estimated at 126.08 mmt vs. 125 mmt in March and Argentina’s corn crop is estimated at 37.12 mmt compared to 40 mmt last month.

From March 31: Corn stocks as of March 1 were about as expected at 7.401 billion bushels vs. 7.47 billion bushels estimated and 7.758 billion bushels last year. Corn acres for 2023 were bigger than expected, up 3.4 million from last year at 91.996 million acres vs. 90.88 million estimated, 88.579 million last year, and 91 million at the USDA’s February

SOYBEANS — Soybeans gapped higher to begin the week on many of the same factors that supported the corn market. The March 31 USDA reports were friendly to soybeans. Argentina published their “soy dollar” exchange rate of 300 pesos per dollar which will be in effect from April 8 through May 24. The official exchange rate is 211 pesos per dollar. Traders interpreted this as negative for U.S. soybean prices and are banking on heavy Argentine sales as we saw in the last two soy dollar exchange rate programs. In my opinion, this may occur; but it may be at a later date since Argentine farmers are facing possibly the smallest soybean crop since 2000 and inflation is running at 100 percent. Is this enough to entice them to sell and give up their hedge against further inflation? Argentina’s Secretary of Agriculture said only 5.5 mmt of this year’s soybeans have been sold vs. 12 mmt last year by this date.

We saw 10 million bushels of U.S. old crop soybeans sold to unknown announced in this week’s daily export sales flashes and 20,000 metric tons of soyoil to unknown. Soybean planting in the United States was not reported; but Louisiana reported their soybean planting at 11 percent complete vs. 5 percent on average. Arkansas and Mississippi each reported 2 percent complete compared to 2-3 percent on average.

The Rosario Grain Exchange in Argentina expects Brazil to surpass Argentina as the leading global meal exporter this year for the first time in 25 years due to Argentina’s short crop. They are estimating Argentina’s meal exports at 20 mmt, down from 23.5 mmt last year, the lowest since 2003, but would still represent 29 percent of global supply. Brazil’s meal exports could be as high as 21-23 mmt. The USDA is predicting Argentina’s meal exports at 24.9 mmt. Conab has Brazil’s meal exports at 20 mmt and Abiove is pegging them at 20.7 mmt. As of March 31, AgRural put Brazil’s soybean harvest at 74 percent complete vs. 76 percent on average. Safras and Mercado raised Brazil’s soybean production to 155 mmt from 152.4 mmt. It’s estimated Brazilian farm-

PHYLLIS NYSTROM CHS Hedging inC. St. Paul

Prices dip during Easter-shortened trading week

MIELKE, from pg. 15

dairy exports fell below a year ago for the first time since January 2022. While the second largest February ever, the total, at 458.5 million pounds, was down 0.3 percent, according to the USDA’s latest data.

HighGround Dairy cited, “Higher dairy product prices at the end of 2022, when these exports were booked, and weaker international dairy demand, which slowed sales. Shipments to Mexico, the top dairy export market with nearly 30 percent share, grew again in February compared to prior year lev-

els. Exports to China also increased year-over-year. However, dairy products sailing to other Asian markets, such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines, fell.”

Cheese exports totaled 72.5 million pounds, down 0.2 percent from February 2022, but up 6.8 percent year-to-date. Butter totaled 7.6 million pounds, down 31.8 percent from a year ago and down 21 percent year-to-date. Nonfat-skim milk powder totaled 139 million pounds, off 0.5 percent from a year ago, but 6.5 percent ahead year-to-date. There was 35.6 million pounds of dry whey exported, up 9.4 percent from a year ago, and up 9.1 percent year-to-date.

Snow may lessen Dakota soybean acres

ers have sold 44 percent of this year’s soybean crop compared to 59.6 percent on average.

Weekly export sales were a disappointment at just 5.7 million bushels for the old crop and net cancellations of 1.8 million bushels for new crop. Old crop total commitments are 1.834 billion bushels and are down 11 percent from last year. The USDA is predicting export sales to be down 6.6 percent year-on-year. We need to average 6.6 million bushels of sales per week to achieve the USDA’s forecast for 2.015 billion bushels of exports. New crop total commitments stand at 62.5 million bushels compared to 311 million bushels by this date last year.

The February National Agricultural Statistics Service Oilseed Crush was reported at a new monthly record at 176.9 million bushels, slightly higher than the 175.7 million estimate. Soyoil stocks were modestly higher than the trade estimate at 2.362 billion pounds versus the 2.339 billion pounds estimated.

The average trade guess for U.S. ending soybean stocks is 198 million bushels vs. 210 million bushels last month. World soybean ending stocks are expected at 98.56 mmt vs. 100.01 mmt last month. Brazil’s soybean crop is estimated at 153.67 mmt compared to 153.0 mmt in March. Argentina’s soybean crop is expected at 29.3 mmt vs. 33 mmt last month.

From March 31: Soybean stocks on March 1 were lower than expected at 1.685 billion bushels compared to 1.742 billion bushels estimated and 1.932 billion bushels last year. This was the lowest stocks number in six years. Soybean acres for 2023 were also lower than expected at 87.5 million acres vs. 88.242 million estimated, 87.45 million last year, and 87.5 million at the USDA’s February Outlook conference. The acreage number was barely inside the 87.4 to 89.6-million-acre range of estimates.

Outlook: Heavy snow in the Dakotas this week will keep their weather in the headlines. Remember a sizable portion of the increase in soybeans acres this year is expected to come from North Dakota with an 850,000 acre increase in soybeans and an 800,000

acre increase in corn. U.S. planting weather in general will continue to attract attention as well as Argentina’s farmers› reaction to the new soy dollar exchange rate. Also important in the coming week will be where the USDA puts the soybean ending stocks number. Is the market prepared for ending stocks below 200 million bushels?

For the week, May and July soybeans each fell 13 cents to $14.92.5 and $14.62.5 respectively, and November was a dime lower at $13.09.75 per bushel.

Weekly price changes in May wheat for the week ended April 6: Chicago wheat tumbled 16.75 cents to $6.75.5, Kansas City was 13.25 cents lower at $8.64.5, and Minneapolis crashed 23.75 cents to $8.72 per bushel.

Cheese imports were up 16.1 percent from a year ago and up 10 percent year-to-date, and butter imports were up 68.9 percent from a year ago and up 59 percent year-to-date.

Ron O’Brien, president of New Zealand-based Nui Markets North America, cited some contributing factors for the depressed GDT and lower exports in the April 10 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast. They included interest rate hikes in New Zealand, additional whole milk powder being added to the offerings, and farmers selling futures. O’Brien said the weakening price situation in Oceania is due to buyers “sitting on their hands.”

Mexican exports have been a bright spot, O’Brien admitted. However, “With Mexican currency trends higher vs. the dollar, and interest rates discouraging Mexico from building inventory, Mexican demand will not outpace a growing U.S. supply.” n

The week’s GDT, February Dairy Products report and export data impacted CME dairy markets in the Good Friday holiday-shortened week. The cheddar blocks fell to $1.8125 per pound April 5 (the lowest CME price since March 13), but they closed the next day at $1.83. This is down 2 cents on the week after plunging 25 cents the previous week, and were 49 cents below that week a year ago.

The barrels finished at $1.72, 8.75 cents lower, after dropping 15.5 cents the previous week (the lowest since March 8), 64.75 cents below a year ago,

SACE formed veterans coalition

SACE, from pg. 13

support FBM across southern Minnesota and also support education in specific high need FBM topics, such as farm transition and estate planning,” Roberts stated. “We just finished hosting two weekend retreats on multi-generational farm transition, with 95 attendees.”

Another area of importance to SACE is working with veterans and connecting them to opportunities available in agriculture. SACE assisted with the formation of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Minnesota

and aids in the area of logistics. Roberts shared she is honored to help serve the Coalition.

Service is a constant consideration for Roberts. “I am always thinking about what is the most impactful and meaningful work we can do in southern Minnesota,” she said of her role.

Looking to SACE’s future, her goals are to continue doing the work of supporting farmers most efficiently and effectively, leveraging partnerships, and making meaningful change.

NYSTROM, from pg. 16 See MIELKE, pg. 18

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MIELKE, from pg. 17

and 11 cents below the blocks. There were 16 sales of block on the week and 15 of barrel.

Midwestern cheese producers were still taking on spot milk as low as $11 under Class III this week, according to Dairy Market News, but cheese demand was holding its own, according to a number of cheesemakers within the region.

Butter finished the week at $2.3175 per pound, down 8 cents, lowest CME price since Jan. 31, and 46.5 cents below a year ago, on seven sales for the week.

Cream availability increased noticeably for Midwest butter makers this week and has incrementally grown for two weeks. Many are now turning offers away.

Grade nonfat dry milk saw its April 6 finish at $1.125 per pound, down 3.5 cents on the week, the lowest CME powder since Feb. 25, 2021, and a whopping 69.75 cents below a year ago. There were only two sales on the week.

Dry whey climbed to 46 cents per pound April 3, but then headed lower and closed April 6 at 36.5 cents per pound, down 8.25 cents on the week and 27 cents below a year ago, with 17 sales put on the CME board.

Dairy farm profitability continues to struggle. The latest Ag Prices report shows the February milk feed price ratio fell to 1.58, down from 1.73 in January, lowest since August 2021, and compares to 2.06 in February 2022.

The All Milk Price average fell for the fourth consecutive month, dipping to $21.60 per hundredweight, down $1.50 from December, after losing $1.60 the month before, and is $3.10 below February 2021.

The national corn price averaged $6.80 per bushel, up 16 cents from January, after jumping 6 cents the month before, and is 71 cents above February 2022.

Soybeans climbed to a record $15.10 per bushel, up 60 cents, after gaining a dime the previous month, and were 40 cents per bushel above February 2022.

Alfalfa hay averaged a record

$266.00 per ton, up $3 after dropping $6 the month before, and is $46 per ton above a year ago.

The February cull price for beef and dairy combined continued to strengthen, averaging $89.50 per cwt., up $7.80 from January, after gaining $4.80 the month before, $11.60 above February 2022, and $17.90 above the 2011 base average.

Dairy economist Bill Brooks, of Stoneheart Consulting in Dearborn, Mo., says, “The gain in feed costs offset the third highest February All-Milk price and dropped the income over feed from the previous month. Income over feed costs in February were just below the $8 per cwt. level needed for steady to increasing milk production for the first time since September 2021.”

Feed costs were the highest ever for the month of February, according to Brooks, and the seventh-highest all time. The All-Milk price was just inside the top 40 at the 38th-highest recorded.

Looking at 2023, milk income over feed costs, using March 31 CME settling futures prices for Class III milk, corn and soybeans, plus the Stoneheart forecast for alfalfa hay, are expected to be $8.49 per cwt., predicts Brooks. a gain of 22 cents per cwt. vs. last month’s estimate. “2023 income over feed would be close to the level needed to maintain or grow milk production,” he concludes, “but down $3.72 per cwt. from 2022’s level.”

Meanwhile, the latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC says, “Dairy margins were relatively flat over the last half of March, with limited price movement in either milk futures or feed markets.”

The Margin Watch analyzed the February Milk Production and Cold Storage reports, stating, “With plentiful cheap supplies of spot milk available to processors, the fact that cheese stocks did not build would indicate strong domestic and international demand. Demand will continue to be a big focus for the market as milk output expands with the spring flush.”

Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in newspapers across the country and he may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v

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Feed Seed Hay

OPEN Pollinated Seed Corn. Produces more high quality silage on less acres than hybrid. $67/bushel plus shipping. High feed value grain. borriesopenpollinatedseedcorn.com 217-857-3377 or 217-343-4962

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Glyphosate 5.4 totes, $19.95 Gen Liberty totes, $44.95; Enlist 1 totes, $46.95. Surestart 2 totes, $44.95. We ship most everywhere & all tote prices include Free Delivery to your farm or business. Please call or text for any other chemical needs. Phone 612-210-3685

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FOR SALE: JD 7000 planter, 8R w/ bean cups, w/ JD monitor 200 Series; Century Hiniker sprayer, 45’ hyd fold boom, w/ Hiniker 8160 monitor & foam markers; Hiniker 1000 8R cult; JD 960 field cult, 23 1/2 ft. 507-317-5966

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Sp ring Consign ment Auction

Saturday, April 29th - 9:30 am

Mages Auction Site

55780 St Hwy 19, Winthrop, MN

Ring 1 - Live & Online Simulcast - Machinery, Vehicles & Guns

Saturday, April 29th - 9:30 am

Tractors, Farm Mach. & Equip.: ‘91 JD 9400 combine, 2589 eng hrs, 1922 sep hrs; ‘83 IH 1440 combine, 4425 hrs, turbo eng, straw chopper, rock trap, LED lights, overhauled in ‘11; JD 920 bean head; IH 683 corn head, 6-row; IH 843 corn head, 4-row, 30” rows, poly dividers, tall corn shields; Case 1835B skid loader, diesel, needs repairs, mat bucket; JD 3020, gas, NF, syncro, cab, hole in eng block; ‘98 Bobcat 963, diesel, aux hyd, needs work; New Idea 3632 spreader; H&S 310 spreader, tandem axle, hyd end gate; NH 67 baler; ‘89 Hesston Stak Hand 10 forage stacker; NH 489 Haybine; JD 950 cultipacker, 15’; Glencoe 12-row cultivator; JD 960 cultivator, 36’; White rowcrop cultivator, 12r x 30”; Case IH 183 cultivator, 12r x 30”; Lilliston 6 rw cultivator; Kewaunee 1020 disk, folding 20”; IH 490 disk, 20’ w/ hyd wings; IH 475 disk; IH 720 7-bt high clearance plow; DMI 13’ chisel plow; Melroe 7- sec drag, 40’; Allied 85-SB-96 snow blower 3pt attach, 85”; Kuhn GA6000 rake; Parker 2600 wagons, 400 bu, rocking bolsters; Parker 250 bu gravity box; Killbros 180 bu gravity wagons; Case 8 1/2’ x 20’ wagon; Lundell 8 1/2’ x 22 1/2’ wagon; Boats, Vehicles, Cycle & Gator: ‘01 Odyssey Pontoon, 21’ w/ Yamaha 100 HP 4-stroke, 24V trolling, rated for 13 ppl, full of features, tandem axle bunk trailer; ‘53 Chevy 2-ton flatbed truck w/ hoist; ‘06 Chevy Silverado HD, 112k mi, ext cab, 4x4, toolbox, newer tires; ‘02 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, 209k mi, 6.0L eng, gas, 4x4; ‘07 Jeep Gran Cherokee Laredo, 204k mi, 160k on eng, 3.7L AWD, new tires; ‘04 Cadillac Escalade, 188k mi, AWD; ‘06 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic, 4364 mi, saddle bags; ‘94 JD Gator, 6x4, 2390 hrs; 14’ Lund boat w/ trailer, no motor; Ice House & Trailers: Ice fishing house, 18’, 7-hole, insulated, steel siding/roof, heater, TV, antenna, stereo, LED lights; ‘01 Maclander 24’ flatbed trailer, tandem dually axle, ramps; 7’ x 12’ utility trailer w/ ramp; 6 1/2’ x 8’ utility trailer w/ tilt-bed; 5’ x 8’ utility trailer; Mowers: Cub Cadet 1811 lawn tractor, 24 HP Kohler eng, hydro, no deck; Cub Cadet 122 lawn tractor, 12 HP Kohler eng, no deck; Dixon zero-turn mower, 32” deck, 13.5 HP eng, w/bags; Snapper SR1028 riding mower, 10HP, 28” deck; Ring 2 - Online-Only - All Other Items

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Recreation: Vintage go-kart frame w/ Indy Car -style fiberglass body; GP -small military tent, 17’ dia, water repellant, arctic liner & storage crate; Strike master auger; 17” leather saddle w/ tooling, chest strap, cinch; 16” saddle, like new; Mongoose 7-speed bike; leather jacket; Yard, Shop & Tools: Campbell Hausfeld upright 60 gal air compressor; Snapper 26” snow blower, elect start; Coleman Powermate 1750 generator; Berko HUHAA elect shop heater; Cook 195 SQN fan blower, 3 HP; MTD tiller; Craftsman push mower; Bostitch flooring nailer; Apollo HVLP spray gun; bench grinder; vise; Tradesman drill press, 8”, 5-speed; Buffalo drill press; King electric heater, 1500 watt; Dewalt hose reel; battery charger; scroll saw; air compressors; 110V elect motors; B&S kick start motor; Wayne shallow well pump; tool boxes; parts washer; saws; pneumatic drill; angle grinder; flood lights; ladders; yard tools; woodworking tools; large assortment of hand tools; 75+ Guns, Ammo, Coins, Stamps, Appliances, Furniture, Toys, Antiques & More! see magesland.com for complete terms & details.

Area Neighbors

Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002 Lic: 52-23-018

Auctioneers: Larry Mages, Lafayette; Joe Maidl, Lafayette; Joe Wersal, Winthrop; John Goelz, Franklin; Ryan Froehlich, Winthrop.

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Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: 2013 Kubota

F3080 front mount lawn mower, 3 cyl. 30HP dsl, 4WD, hydro, 1479 hrs, 60” tilt up fabricated deck, steering wheel steer, bought new, nice!! $10,750. 507-440-1990

FOR SALE: 3 cross augers, 2 are 6” x 32’ and 1 is 8” x 27 1/2’, $1,400ea/OBO. Spray bander, 12R hyd fold, factory built, $200/OBO. Z375R lawn mower, 39 hrs, $3,000/OBO.

507-340-4903

FOR SALE: 1980 8820 combine with dual wheels, tires like new, with rear wheel assist, last 5 yrs $12,000 on repairs. asking $10,000.

507-391-5127

We buy Salvage Equipment

Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910

Farm Equipment

White 6122 12R30” liquid $8,500; HD 10’ Sovema 3pt tiller, $6,500; Older Dagelman rock picker, $900; 6-JD 10” ripper points at 75%, $450/all; 4 front disc, complete assemblies for JD 2700 ripper; $300/ea. 952-212-3328

Tractors

’95 JD 8200 2WD with 18.4R46 rear tires and duals (70%), 7757 hours, front weights, 1000 PTO, 3 hyd. Remotes, quick hitch. Very nice one owner tractor. Asking $54,900. 507-789-6049

Tractors

FOR SALE: 7080 ALLIS black belly, like new, inside tires, has been overhauled. 507-754-5028

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

Tillage Equip

FOR SALE: IH 470 disk, 16’ wide, tandem wheels & cylinder. 507-236-9339

Planting Equip

FOR SALE: GREAT PLAINS 24’ front fold grain drill, w/ markers & press wheels & extra press wheels, nice, $18,000. 952-201-1176

Spraying Equip

FOR SALE: 2006 Rogator 1074 SP sprayer, 3900 hrs, 1100 gal S/S tank, 80/90’ booms, 3 way nozzles, Raven SCS 4000 monitor, 5 shutoffs, JD ATU, very nice, $45,000. Road Boss 24’ triple axle trailer w/ 2000 gal tank, pump, inductor & chemical tanks. Both always shedded. Must see. Lamberton MN 507-828-1963

Hay & Forage Equipment

FOR SALE: 3 - 4516 Meyer forage boxes w/ tandem running gear, good condition, always shedded. Near Altura, MN. 507-208-8310

Livestock Equipment

FOR SALE: Stainless steel fence line dry hog feeders, many sizes. 507-383-7858 Albert Lea, MN

Wanted

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WANTED: Late model FarmFans or Super B 12’ AB/CF dryer, w/ low hours/LP. 763-301-4245 please leave message.

Wanted

WANTED: 38’ or 40’ aluminum Jet grain trailer, will consider Wilson, Timpte or Dakota. 507-276-5733

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Livestock

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

Cattle

Registered Polled Hereford yearling bulls for sale. Have had all shots, poured and semen tested. Halter broke and broke to lead. Fantastic growth EPD’s! Will deliver. Klages Herefords, Ortonville, MN. 320-273-2163(H) 605-8800521(C)

Swine

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

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This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Tim King. Photos by Jan King. Barn (or not) quilts

As of last summer there were 130 barn quilts on the central Minnesota barn quilt trail.

Lisa Kajer, one of the trails founders, told Lakeland Public Television last summer that might be good enough for a one county trail; but it is not good enough for a four county trail.

The central Minnesota trail is in Todd, Wadena, Morrison and Cass counties. It’s divided into five sub-trails including the Staples area, Motley area, South (Browerville and Long Prairie), Southwest (Eagle Bend, Bertha, Wadena), and Northwest (Sebeka, Verndale, Aldrich).

The quilts are on barns and farm outbuildings throughout these trails; but they are also in parks, on homes and churches, businesses, and even a fire department. In Staples, you’ll find two four-by-four-foot quilts at the Amtrak depot, which also houses the Staples - Motley Area Chamber of Commerce and the Staples Historical Society. The two quilts are named “Prosperity” and “Railroad Crossing.”

The depot is a good place to start your tour of any part of the trail since you can find a brochure with a map locating the quilts inside.

We visited a section of the Staples area trail which is in the downtown area. The community has warmly embraced the project and there are

colorful quilts everywhere. Just across the street from the depot is a red, white and blue quilt called “Peace and Plenty” — proudly mounted on the First International Bank and Trust. “Broken Star” is a colorful 4 x 4 quilt mounted on the outside wall of Step On In Thrift Store not far from the bank.

Although barn quilts in rural areas are often best viewed from an automobile window, we think a quilt tour of downtown Staples is best done on foot. So, we walked down Fourth Street, passing Tower Pizza’s pizza themed quilt, looking for “Pinwheel Around the World,” located at the Staples World newspaper. Created by StaplesMotley Area Schools art instructor Jill Schneider, this remarkable work of art won an award at the Minnesota State High School League art show.

Directly across the street from the World is a quilt named “A Cup Shared with Friends.” This quilt’s unique design was created by Jill Schneider’s art students, as were other quilts on the trail. It’s hosted by the Stomping Grounds Coffee Shop. Within a short walk from there are the Methodist and Congregationalist churches. Both host lovely quilts. And there are more!

This wealth of color and design was created from a wide range of individual artists as well as FFA and art students. You can learn more, and see pictures, at https://barnquiltsmn.org. You’ll find a map there, also. v

REPAIR VS. REPLACE

Why would you spend money to replace an existing metal roof when it can be rejuvenated to look and perform like new?

HOW IT WORKS:

1. The roof is thoroughly cleaned.

2. Fasteners are tightened. Missing fasteners are replaced. Sealant is applied to any fasteners that are no longer watertight.

3. Seams and flashing are treated with sealants, reinforcements and fabrics.

4. If needed, a primer is applied to increase adhesion.

5. The elastomeric basecoat is applied.

6. The elastomeric topcoats are applied.

ADDED BENEFITS OF METAL ROOF RESTORATION:

• Restoring the roof is less expensive and less disruptive than replacing the roof

• Seals deteriorated fasteners

• Restores wind resistance

• Treats and controls rust

• Seals seams and flashings

• Improves building aesthetics

• Reduces metal roof movement

• Repairs hail or mechanical damage

• Limits tear-off and waste generation

• Can be recoated in the future

SHOPS BARNS SHEDS HOMES

SPRAY