The Land - August 18, 2023

COLUMNS

Who owns the Mississippi River? Just about anybody that lives in its vast 1,245,000 square mile watershed uses it. The water (when there is any) from my farm flows into a river which feeds another river which joins the Mississippi.

The Mississippi basin, or watershed, drains 40 percent of the United States like that — from hillside to no-named stream to named stream to the Mighty River. Most of us reading this newspaper, who live in that 40 percent, are thus deeply affected by the tug and flow of its waters. We can’t live without its water.

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LAND MINDS

By Tim King

River rights OPINION

The group, led by the Great Plain Action Society, wants to grant the River legal standing — the same as a corporation or a human.

“The river has rights, just like human rights,” Glenda Guster, one of the walkers, was quoted by St. Louis Public Radio as saying. “Nature has rights, and it’s up to us to preserve these rights.”

The idea that a river, or a place, has rights isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.

So, since we all use it, it must be that we all own a piece of the Great River. As common owners, we should all take responsibility for caring for it. There are other large parts of the country which we own in common: city, state and national parks, for example. We seem to do an adequate job of caring for most of those.

But we’re not doing a good job of caring for the Mississippi. Take these statements from the State of the River Report released by the National Park Service and the Friends of the Mississippi River back in 2016:

“The river is impaired by excess sediment, bacteria and phosphorus, degrading aquatic habitat and recreation. Fish consumption guidelines are in place throughout the river due to elevated levels of contaminants like PFOS and mercury,” the report’s Executive Summary states. (PFOS is a synthetic chemical used to make products resistant to stains, grease, soil, and water.

“River flows have multiplied to worrisome levels, destabilizing the river system and delivering large amounts of pollution. Nitrate concentrations have increased substantially. Invasive carp continue to move upstream, with potentially devastating consequences to aquatic life and recreation,” the report continues.

Of course, all this leads to a vast dead zone where our River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. So, maybe our River is just too big for us to take care of. Maybe there’s another way to care for the Mississippi River. Maybe the solution is to give it the same rights you and I have.

That was the idea, back on May 13, when about 100 people walked over the Centennial Bridge which spans the River and connects the Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa.

Thomas Linzey, a lawyer and founder of The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, wrote the first law in the world which transformed nature from being treated as a thing, to being recognized as a living entity with legal rights of its own.

The language and ideas from that law found their way into Ecuador’s new constitution, which was adopted in 2008.

Articles 10 and 71–74 of the Ecuadorian Constitution recognize the inalienable rights of ecosystems to exist and flourish, give people the authority to petition on the behalf of nature, and requires the government to remedy violations of these rights.

By 2016, inspired by the Ecuadorians, approximately 200 municipalities in the United States had passed ordinances which granted rights to nature in some manner, according to an article in the 2016 Willamette Environmental Law Journal.

Ecuadorians were able to stop a destructive mining project because of the rights of nature granted under their new constitution; and in Tamaqua, a small town in Pennsylvania, residents were able to stop the dumping of sewage sludge in their community because an ordinance had given their town Natural Rights.

So, why not the Mississippi River?

“It may be a radical concept, or it was 20 years ago, but we’re rapidly coming to a place where without this kind of new system of environmental law, we’re all kind of done … we’re kind of cooked,” St. Louis Public Radio quoted Linzey following a walk across the Mississippi’s Centennial Bridge.

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

Cover photo by Paul Malchow

Letter: Seek the truth on climate change

To the Editor,

OPINION

How frustrating to read Alan Guebert’s article in the July 21 issue of The Land newspaper addressing the climate deniers. Just like the Covid pandemic, those of us that are critical thinkers and source more than left wing propaganda are told to shut up and just follow the crowd.

One of the most insulting lines from Guebert is “The Securities and Exchange Commission has already done the critical thinking here.” How comforting that I can put my brain in neutral and just trust the government.

Look out, here comes a little common sense critical thinking. Why is it that every single doomsday prediction since the 80’s hasn’t come true? Since then we’ve been told every ten years that the earth will cease to exist if we don’t act now. New York City was supposed to be under water 15 years ago. Last I checked, the streets were still dry. Al Gore, the inventor of climate change, the one who has profited most from climate change, and has a bigger carbon footprint than the state of Minnesota, emphatically declared just recently that the oceans are boiling. Ocean

which do affect our climate but have stayed consistent for the last 100 years. You’re only off by 150 degrees Al! And these are the people I’m supposed to believe?

Does climate change? Yes, I believe it does. I wouldn’t be farming in southern Minnesota if the glaciers hadn’t receded hundreds of years ago. I don’t think it was the SUVs or cow flatulence that caused temperatures to rise enough to melt glaciers.

Just like I was told that I was responsible for Covid deaths because I wouldn’t take an experimental shot that has been proven to be non effective against catching or transmitting Covid (after I was told it was 94 percent effective), now I’m being told if I disagree with the government implementing overreaching policies that are based not on science but emotion, I’m a denier and the world will once again end.

As a Christian, I’m called to challenge authority as Jesus did, to seek the truth. “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”. Matthew 10:16.

Chip Callister Cannon Falls, Minn.

temperatures change slightly

Photo by Paul Malchow

This is what is left of a soybean field in Sibley County after hail and heavy weather cruised through the area last week. E-mail your Life on the Farm photos to editor@thelandonline.com.

The Land’s “From The Fields” reporter Corey Hanson of Gary, Minn. sent in this photo taken as he was opening his wheat field on Aug. 10.

Randy Larsen of Sleepy Eye, Minn. sent in this photo of his flower garden of lillys growing on an Oliver plow. “Nature always finds a way,” he writes.

Here’s the latest contribution from New Ulm’s Rose Wurtzberger. “While at a neighborhood block party, I got some shots of this cooperative peacock,” she writes. “He liked showing off for me.”

War is expensive both on and off the battlefield

When asked to describe war, Union General William T. Sherman noted, “War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it.” Later, in a speech, Sherman did refine his easily forgettable dictum to the much shorter, impossible-to-forget: “War is hell.”

Others thought war to be “...politics by other means,” (Clausewitz) or “...a wanton waste of projectiles,” (Twain.)

However you describe it, war is expensive. World War II, in 2020 dollars, cost $4 trillion and devoured 40 percent of U.S. GDP in 1945. To date, estimates of the total U.S. military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since its February 2022 invasion by Russia range from $75-110 billion.

By Alan Guebert

OPINION

It’s extremely profitable, too. In 2023, Brown University estimated that the almost generationlong war in Afghanistan cost U.S. taxpayers $14 trillion, “with one-third to one-half of that total going to military contractors.”

Shooting wars aren’t the only type of warfare that’s costly, deadly, and often without a winner. In January 2022, the International Monetary Fund estimated the total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic would be at least $12.5 trillion.

The human side of that coin is just as large. On Aug. 2, the United Nations World Health Organization estimated total Covid-19 deaths worldwide now stand at 7 million.

Covid has other, less visible victims. In 2021 alone, the U.N. calculated the pandemic more than doubled the number of “people experiencing acute food insecurity” around the world from 135 million to 345 million.

Then, with global food aid programs already reeling under Covid, the Russian invasion of Ukraine struck another blow. U.S. wheat futures prices rocketed nearly 50 percent higher, from $7.50 per bushel to $11 per bushel, as shipping and boycott threats ricocheted through global markets.

But even after the invasion-shaken markets settled into a less volatile, more predictable pattern, the number of foodthreatened nations remained high and access to supplies continued to be threatened.

However, throughout the pandemic and Russian-Ukrainian war, one area of the global food system remained — and remains — well-fed and fat. According to a Greenpeace International February 2023 report, “The world’s biggest agribusiness corporations made more in billion-dollar profits since 2020 than the amount that the U.N. estimates could cover the basic needs of the world’s most vulnerable…”

That math, Greenpeace explains, shows “The 20 corporations — the biggest in the sectors of grain, fertilizer, meat and dairy — delivered $53.5 billion to shareholders in the financial years 2020 and 2021, while the U.N. estimates a smaller figure, $51.5 billion, would be enough to provide food, shelter and lifesaving support for the world’s 230 million most vulnerable people.”

Recent financial reports from three of the biggest of the bigs (Cargill, Bunge and Archer-DanielsMidland) show the trend not only continues, but it’s getting even more profitable. For example, on Aug. 3, Reuters reported, “Global commodities trader Cargill Inc. reported… its fiscal year 2023 revenue increased 7 percent from a year earlier to $177 billion, the highest ever for the 158-year-old company.”

Since Cargill is a privately-held company, it doesn’t share all its financial data such as quarterly or annual profit. Competitors like ADM and Bunge, however, are publicly held so they must post their financial results. “Both,” says Reuters, have “reported solid earnings…” and have “raised their profit outlooks for 2023.”

The key reason for the increased profits is as old as war itself: “Global supply disruptions, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine… have generated increased

profit margins for grain merchants” and, no surprise, “concurrently opened up opportunities for firms like Cargill to step in…” explained BNN, an online global news service, Aug. 3.

Equally unsurprising, prices for ag imports and services have also soared during Covid/Ukrainian war years. According to a November 2022 report by the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, the world’s 20 most industrialized nations “paid almost twice as much for key fertilizer imports in 2021 compared to 2020 and (were) on course to spend three times as much in 2022…”

So, yes, war is a cruel, unrefined hell where everyone, even the winners, are losers.

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

41st Annual ALL BREED SWINE AUCTION

17th Annual Semen Sale

Wed. Evening, August 30th @6:10 PM

Location: Swine Bar natthe Minnesota State Fairgrounds

•Duroc

•Hampshire

•Yorkshire

•Spots

•Berkshire •Poland China

•JUDGING •

•Chester White •Landrace

Monday,August 28th

5:00 pm: Jr.BarrowShowmanship

Tuesday,August 29th

8:00 am Yorkshire, All Other Breeds (AOB), Berkshire, Chester White,Duroc,Hampshire, Hereford, Poland China, Spotted Hogs, Champions &Awards

8:30 am Jr.BarrowSkill-a-thon

1:30 pm Jr.BarrowClassic -Prospect Barrows

2:00 pm Jr.BarrowClassic -Crossbred Breeding Gilts

4:30 pm Jr.BarrowJudging Contest

Wednesday,August 30th

8:00 am MN Jr.BarrowClassic

9:00 am Open BarrowShow

6:10 pm MPSBA All Breed Swine Auction

Topplacements (boars and gilts) bornfrom December through March in eachbreed will be sold at auction. Up to 100 Head! This is excellent opportunity to obtain some of the top genetics available in the Midwest. Heardhealth is a#1priority for the exhibitors. Payment must be made at the auction. Hogs purchased may be removed from the State Fair Grounds immediately following the sale.Help is available for loading out. If not taken that evening,they must wait until Thur.August 31st from 1-5.

If you have any questions, Call Steve Resler -(507) 456-7746

FARM & FOOD FILE

Three Little Words mean so much to the woman on the farm

Every woman knows them: those three little words she longs to hear.

Those three little words can change everything.

But for the farm woman, it’s those three OTHER little words she tends to actually hear so often — maybe even more often than she hears those first famed three little words.

And they change things, too.

TABLE TALK

By Karen Schwaller

Those words are, “In the field.”

I remember those days of trying to choose a wedding date with my (then) fiancé. I had always longed for a September wedding, but that thought was met with bulldozer blade-like stopping power and wide eyes that rebuked such a thought.

“We can’t get married in September! What if we’re in the field?” he asked incredulously.

And so it began for me, and for all other women who would dare to spend their earthly time with someone who spends their days planting seeds and loading the manure spreader.

It’s always interesting to plan our lives around our farmer counterparts in marriage. Spring vacations and other piddly sabbaticals are out of the question because they will be “in the field” planting. Those “lazy days of summer” are just a phantom folly around here, and there is even less time to point the boat in the direction of any sort of get-away waters because

— more often than not — the tractor and swather are back “in the field,” or the sprayer and water truck are headed to the field in an allout effort to beat the weeds and fungi to our crops.

When September arrives, the telltale signs are all around us as the crops mature. There is no going anywhere for anyone except for “in the field,” because no one is exempt from helping reap what we have sown.

And yet, we can mostly only plan things for “rainy days,” whenever they might happen.

Farmers are among those who rejoice (usually) if they have to do chores or run their errands in the rain, because — let’s face it — usually it’s needed. Besides, once you’ve been covered in manure due to work-related responsibilities or an unfortunate household septic tank task gone wrong, getting a little wet from rain seems like little to complain about.

I was recently asked to pick a young woman’s green beans from her garden while she was away. Temperatures called for hot and very humid conditions on the day I was to pluck the goods from her own little bean field.

My husband said, “I hope you have to wear your rain boots to do that,” as he was hoping for rain in this droughtlike year.

Turns out, picking green beans while hoping for rain (which didn’t come) is

like washing windows and hoping for no rain (which almost always comes).

I ‘watered’ her bean rows quite profusely from my face that morning as I stood on my head and made good on my promise to help — all while her dog lay in the shade sipping water, pulling rank on me, and not sweating even a bit.

Winter holidays and birthdays keep us all close to home, as does February/ March lambing and calving. Those months give us other things to do; followed immediately by preparations in earnest for spring planting.

Those preparations can only mean one thing: soon we’ll be hearing those three little words that sprout up in

the midst of most commentary and analysis that every farm woman hears so many times, “We’ll be in the field pretty soon.”

Those words lie at the heart of the farm couple’s wedding vows. They (along with those more famous three) tend to make the farm marriage run.

Even when that marriage is fueled largely by ham sandwiches and soda pop during those very busy days in the field.

And antacids. Don’t forget the antacids.

Karen Schwaller writes from her grain and livestock farm near Milford, IA. She can be reached at kschwaller@ evertek.net. v

Funding to improve soil health

ST. PAUL — Applications are now open for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Grants.

These grants are available to individual producers, producer groups, and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. Grant awards will provide up to 50 percent costshare, with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $50,000. The 2023 Legislature appropriated $2.375 million for this round of grants.

Examples of eligible new or used equipment include, but are not limited to, no-till drills, air seeders, retrofit projects to allow no-till planting, and more. Parts and materials used to retrofit existing equipment are also eligible.

The Request for Proposals and application link can be found at www.mda. state.mn.us/soil-health-grant . Applications are due Sept. 15. Awards will be announced by Jan. 1, 2024.

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

Apply now for ‘Lawns to Legumes’ funds

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources is accepting applications for Spring 2024 Lawns to Legumes pollinator habitat projects. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30. Any applications submitted on Aug. 22 or later and were not previously awarded a grant will remain in consideration for Spring 2024 funding, and do not need to be resubmitted.

Lawns to Legumes aims to increase habitat for at-risk pollinators in residential settings across the state by providing people with cost-share funding, workshops, coaching and gardening resources. Anyone who lives in Minnesota and has a yard, deck, or other outdoor space for planting can

apply to be reimbursed for up to $400 in costs associated with establishing new pollinator habitat in their yards. The program is available to both homeowners and renters.

The program makes online resources such as gardening templates, habitat guides and advice about selecting native plants available to all Minnesotans.

Apply online at Blue Thumb’s website https//bluethumb.org/lawns-tolegumes/apply/. For more information on Lawns to Legumes, visit BWSR’s website at https://bwsr.state. mn.us/.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

Dr. “do-little” this summer? Read an animal book!

Shorts and flip-flops.

An iced drink and a spot that’s shady. That’s how you’ll keep cool this summer, so why not share a little of your shade with a book? Check out these great releases about creatures who wear fur and feathers year ‘round...

At first glance, “Can’t Get Enough Dog Stuff” from the National Geographic Kids staff (National Geographic, $14.99) looks like it might be just for children — but it’s not. Even grown-ups can enjoy learning more about their dog and other breeds; the different jobs a dog can have; pages about wild dogs; and the record-breakers in the dog world. C’mon, really … even grown-ups will groan at the dog jokes inside here. Yes, it might be meant for kids ages 8- 13, but much bigger kids will like this book, too.

THE BOOKWORM SEZ

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Got eggs? If you’ve got backyard chickens, you might, which means you’ll also want to read “Under the Henfluence” by Tove Danovich (Agate, $27.00).

Do your friends think you’re clucking nuts because you’ve got mini-dinosaurs in a coop behind the house? You’re not alone, and Danovich proves it by taking flight around the country to places where chickens thrive with love; and that includes a roost-

Books about Animals by various authors

c.2023,

various publishers

$14.99 - $29.99 various page counts

tahs, rhinos, meerkats, and more, then this is a book you’ll be wild over. And finally, for readers who want a bit of danger in their wildlife encounters, “The Deadly Balance: Predators and People in a Crowded World” by Adam Hart (Bloomsbury Sigma, $28.00) is the book to get your claws on. er rescue where quiet is just a dream, and a chicken show where being peckish is a good thing. Along the way, we meet fowl friends and Danovich’s own flock, making this a hentirely important book for fans.

If wild animals are more your type, or if you want to know more about wildlife, then look for “The Elephants of Thula Thula” by Françoise MalbyAnthony (St. Martin’s Press, $29.99). For years now, Malby-Anthony has owned a game reserve in South Africa, where a large family of elephants lives. That includes the herd’s matriarch, Frankie, who is the one who really runs the sanctuary (wink, wink). It’s she who becomes sick, and that sets off a crisis at the sanctuary, Thula Thula, threatening the conservation work that Malby-Anthony worked so hard to do. If you love elephants especially, but also chee-

Calendar of Events

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

Aug. 24 — Cover Crop Field Day: Plant It, Grow It, Profit — Spring Hill, Minn. — Industry experts will discuss economics, planting green, manure management in cover crops, managing compaction and tillage featuring a soils pit, and exploring and examining infiltration rates on various soil types with different tillage techniques. There will also be equipment demonstrations. Contact Stearns County SWCD at info@ StearnsCountySWCD.net or (320) 251-7800 ext. 3.

Aug. 26 — Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day — Buffalo Center, Iowa — The topic will be The Secrets of Stock Cropping and will be hosted by Zack Smith. For more information, please visit practicalfarmers.org/field-days.

Aug. 26-27 — 57th Annual Threshing Bee — Donnelly, Minn. — This event will feature John Deere tractors and equipment. Contact Harry Kruize at chkruize@runestone.net or (320) 246-3337 or (320) 288-1298.

Sept. 6 — Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day — Spirit Lake, Iowa — The topic will be Microgreens and Marketing to Build a Food System in Northwest Iowa. The event will be hosted by Calvin & Krissy Thiessen. For more information, please visit practi-

calfarmers.org/field-days.

Sept. 7 — UMN Extension Soil Solutions Field Day — Morris, Minn. — A range of sessions will be offered throughout the day, covering various topics such as tillage choices in different soil conditions, water management through cover crops, planting green during dry years, and the detrimental impact of soil erosion on crop productivity. Contact Jodi DeJongHughes at dejon003@umn.edu or (320) 815-4112.

Sept. 8 — Foraging Workshop — Houston, Minn. — University of Minnesota Extension Educators will discuss basic foraging techniques and practices. Contact (507) 725-5807 or (507) 765-3896.

Sept. 8 — Making Soil Health Work — Austin, Minn. — At this field day, farmers and soil health experts will talk about assessing soil health, the Haney test, cover crops, setting up equipment for soil health, and moisture infiltration research. Contact Tim at (612) 600-4872.

Sept. 8 — Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day — Belmond, Iowa — The topic will be Creating Space for Conservation and Regenerative Practices With Supportive Landowners. The event will be hosted by Josh Nelson & Family, Paul Thompson, and Elena Meyer. For more information, please visit practicalfarmers.org/field-days.

We like to think we’re the Alpha creature on earth, but guess what...? It’s “complex”: we are, but not entirely We are both predator, and prey to more creatures than we’d like to think about. This book looks at the science behind living with predators safely, how to know what’s truth and what’s myth, and how to stay alive when human life encroaches on that of a predator. Bonus: real-life stories!

If these books aren’t enough for your time in a shady spot, then be sure to ask your favorite librarian or bookseller for more. They’ve got access to millions of books on all kinds of animals for every age group. And they’ve got air conditioning, too...

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

‘Hospital at home’ not as simple as it sounds

This month I am going to write about the “hospital-at-home” concept. According to the American Hospital Association, “As hospitals reconsider how and where they deliver care to patients, many are seeing the hospital-at-home model as a promising approach to improve value. Hospital-at-home enables some patients who need acute-level care to receive care in their homes, rather than in a hospital.”

HEALTHCARE FOCUS

The basic idea behind the concept is some patients will be sent home instead of being in the hospital, a nursing home or a transitional care facility. In order to do this, the patient will have some types of electronic monitoring as well as scheduled nurse and doctor visits. Some of these visits may be via video rather than in person. This idea has been around for a long time. There are articles written about the concept dating back to the 1990s. Let us look at the practical issues involved.

By Mark Brakke

and electronic monitoring. This is not the same thing as taking a patient who is unstable and needs close monitoring and sending them home with an electronic nurse.

Before writing this column I searched in “Google Scholar” for articles on the “hospital-at-home” concept. The idea has been looked at from a variety of perspectives: the patient; the at-home caregivers; satisfaction and outcomes. The articles generally conclude that patients prefer being at home to being in a hospital (no surprise there). The articles also show that with thoughtfully chosen patients, the concept is reasonably safe (because reasonably chosen patients are quite stable.). There are concerns that family care givers may be quite stressed.

see the concept would be more correctly called something like, “Discharge to home care with electronic monitoring and scheduled medical staff visits.”

I practiced medicine for 41 years with time in a clinic, a hospital, a nursing home and a transitional care facility. A hospital has highly-trained nurses on the premises. It also has one or more doctors in the hospital. (The bigger hospitals have a number of doctors in the hospital — even at 3 a.m.). There is also a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist in the hospital; so if the patient needs to be intubated (put on a ventilator) that can be done promptly. Obviously, this cannot occur in one’s home — unless one has the resources of Bill Gates (one of the founders of Microsoft).

There are several companies in the United States who are enthusiastic about this concept. One of these companies says on its webpage, “Recreating facility-level care requires an orchestration of clinical, technology, operational, and supply chain assets. We believe in bringing all of this to our health system customers along with the managed care contracting capabilities that will be required to sustainably offer this important service to your patients.”

I think most of us would see this is a paragraph written by a marketing person. The “hospital-at -home” idea is seriously mislabeled and seriously mis-marketed. Any of you reading this column can

Minnesota’s rural communities are currently challenged with the loss of some community hospitals and clinics. Commuting distances for health care are increasing for many in rural Minnesota. This does require that we in Minnesota plan thoughtfully to make health care work well for rural Minnesotans. Hospital-at-home can help with a few situations where patients are reasonably stable but would benefit from some close monitoring for an additional week or so. “Hospital-at-home” is not a substitute for patients who need the monitoring and quick response which are available in the hospital. We should all talk to our legislators and also email the governor to let them know we want and need a statewide process to plan the location of medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics and ambulance services. Letting these crucial decisions rely solely on the issue of financial returns is not satisfactory and clearly not healthy.

Mark Brakke is a retired family practice physician. He cared for patients in Coon Rapids, Minn. for 41 years during which time he was on the boards of directors of two health insurance companies. He currently is on the board of the educational non profit Health Care for All Minnesota (HCA-MN.org). v

Please read attached email

A “hospital-at home” consists of electronic monitoring with scheduled nurse visits and possibly other scheduled help. If the electronic monitors show something going wrong, an alert is created for a nurse visit or an ambulance or a clinic follow-up — depending on the alert. Clearly the response time for an emergency is vastly different between a hospital and a home. The type of staff available to respond is also very different.

Who would be an appropriate patient for at home care? In some cases, patients who are stable can be reasonably safely sent home with nurse follow-up

MDA livestock investment grants open

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant. This annual grant opportunity is open to Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers looking to improve their operations.

The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $1.5 million in fiscal year 2024 for Livestock Investment Grants using a competitive review process. Grant funds are available for equipment purchases and physical improvements used to help start, improve, or expand livestock operations in Minnesota. Reimbursable investments include but are not limited to buildings or facilities for producing livestock, watering systems, fencing, feed equipment, and waste management equipment used for raising livestock.

All principal operators of livestock farms in Minnesota are invited to apply, including those who have received grants in the past. Only one applica-

tion will be accepted per farm. Preference will be given to applicants or farms that have not previously been awarded a grant.

Applicants may apply for up to 10 percent of their project’s total cost, with a minimum expense of $4,000 and a maximum expense of $250,000. Grant awards can range in size from $400 to $25,000. Only expenses incurred after the grant contract has been signed by all parties are eligible for reimbursement.

The MDA expects to have contracts to grantees by early 2024.

Applications for the grant will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Oct. 12. Applications are available online at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/

Additional information can be found on the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant webpage, https://www. mda.state.mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/agrilivestock-investment-grant.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

MILKER’S MESSAGE

Butter output plunges, cream supplies are tight

This column was written for the marketing week ending Aug. 11.

You’ll recall June milk production was down 4 million pounds or 0.2 percent from June 2022.However, strong component levels offset the small decline and resulted in good product output, according to the June Dairy Products report.

Cheese production totaled 1.169 billion pounds, down 2.8 percent from May but 0.4 percent above June 2022. This ends three months of output being below a year ago, but was less than the typical build of 1.3 percent, according to HighGround Dairy Cheese output in the first half of the year totaled 7.1 billion pounds, up 0.5 percent from 2022.

Wisconsin cheese heads produced 295.3 million pounds of the total, down 2.4 percent from May and 0.7 percent below a year ago. California, at 205.6 million pounds, was down 5.2 percent from May, but 0.5 percent above a year ago. Idaho vats, with 87.2 million pounds, was up 16.2 percent from May and 3.6 percent above a year ago. New Mexico, at 83.1 million, was down 10.1 percent from May but 4.6 percent more than a year ago.

Italian cheese totaled 479.4 million pounds, down 0.6 percent from May and 1.3 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date output, at 2.9 billion pounds, was down 0.8 percent from 2022.

American output fell to 478.4 million pounds, down 6.2 percent from May but up 2.7 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, American stands at 2.9 billion pounds, up 2.8 percent.

Mozzarella totaled 380.5 million pounds, down 1.6 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date at 2.3 billion pounds, up 0.2 percent.

Cheddar output fell to 337.9 million pounds, down 18.7 million or 5.2 percent from the May number which was revised up 1.7 million pounds, and was down 3.7 million pounds, or 1.1 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, cheddar output was at 2.1 billion pounds, up 3.3 percent from 2022.

The Aug. 4 Daily Dairy Report says the dip in June set the stage for a shortage of cheddar less than 30 days old for sale at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which drove prices higher.

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

Butter output plunged to 162.6 million pounds, down 32 million pounds or 16.4 percent from May, but was up 3.6 million pounds or 2.3 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, butter production stood at 1.15 billion pounds, up 4.2 percent from a year ago. The drop from May points to weaker milk production in butter-heavy places like California, says HighGround Dairy, where butter volumes dropped yearover-year and from May to June.

Yogurt production totaled 395.5 million pounds, up 1.1 percent from a year ago. Hard ice cream output, at 67.1 million pounds, was up 0.3 percent from 2022.

Dry whey production totaled 83.5 million pounds, up 1.7 million pounds or 2.1 percent from May, and up 3.4 million pounds or 4.3 percent from year ago. Year-to-date, whey stood at 466 million pounds, up 1.8 percent. Stocks grew to 82.1 million pounds, up 4 million pounds or 5.1 percent from May and up 10.5 million or 14.7 percent from a year ago.

Nonfat dry milk output dropped to 182.5 million pounds, down 26.3 million or 12.6 percent from May but up 13.5 million or 8 percent above a year ago. Stocks slipped to 296.5 million pounds, down 3.8 million pounds, or 1.3 percent from May, and were down 12.3 million pounds or 4 percent from a year ago.

Skim milk powder production crept to 37.4 million pounds, up 2.7 million pounds or 7.9 percent from May, but down 17 million or 31.2 percent from a year ago.

CME cheddar blocks were unchanged for three sessions, then inched up a quarter-cent Aug.10, and added 2.25 cents the next day to close at $1.99 per pound. This is up 2.5 cents on the week (the sixth consecu-

tive week of gain), the highest price since March 28, and 14.5 cents above a year ago.

The barrels finished at $1.825, 5 cents higher on the week, but 6.25 cents below a year ago, and 16.5 cents below the blocks. There were four sales of each reported on the week at the CME.

Spot milk offers have diminished, according to Midwest cheesemakers, and offers and trades were at or slightly over the Class III price, reports Dairy Market News. Throughout the year, and even into the last weeks of 2022, spot milk prices were regularly reported at doubledigits below Class III. Milk output slides in the region and loads moving into southern states have thinned the supply. Cheese demand was steady to slower as customers tried to get ahead of the bullish market, but have begun to press the brakes.

Domestic cheese demand is strong to steady in the West, says Dairy Market News. Industry sources indicated block cheese held more demand than barrel. Export demand is moderate to light, with less hesitation to purchase from Mexican buyers versus others. The lighter demand from international purchasers is reportedly resulting in barrel cheese moving to the CME. Milk and cream volumes are tighter, but Class III milk is available for cheese makers to run steady schedules.

StoneX stated in the Aug. 9 “Early

Morning Update,” “Cheese prices have flipped the 2023 script in short order leaving market participants wrestling with the wide-spread availability of aged cheddar against the rather acute tightness on fresh cheddar. Due to this disparity between aged and fresh, and given the bearish mindset many traders developed during the first six months of the year, there remains a reluctance to believe that spot cheese prices can stay up here.”

Butter resumed its climb after falling 6 cents the previous week and closed Aug. 11 at $2.69. This is 7 cents higher on the week and 24.5 cents below a year ago with 18 loads exchanging hands.

Midwest butter makers report that for the past two weeks, spot cream is beyond their fiscal grasp. They are bidding, but the bids are well below current market figures. Processors say they are still churning but using contractual cream. Butter demand is steady, but availability is noted as “light to very limited” in the region. Traders are looking to western suppliers for any extra loads, says Dairy Market News.

Cream is more available in northern parts of the West, compared to the southern parts. That said, cream is on the tight side throughout the West. Butter output is strong to steady as cream prices are economical for churning. Many butter manufacturers are working to build inventories for the

New bill will improve dairy benefits in SNAP program

MIELKE, from pg. 9

remainder of the year and prep for the holiday season ahead. Retail demand is steady, while food service demand is strong to steady. Exports are light as domestic prices are uncompetitive with international price points, says Dairy Market News.

Grade A nonfat dry milk climbed to $1.13 per pound Aug. 9, but closed Aug. 11 1.5 cents lower at $1.11 — 40.75 cents below a year ago on 27 sales.

Whey hit 27.5 cents per pound on Aug. 7 (the highest since June 13), but closed at 27 cents per pound. This is down a quarter-cent on the week and 17.5 cents below a year ago. There were 17 sales on the week.

June U.S. dairy exports looked pretty sad as global demand remains depressed. Milk equivalent exports were down 14.1 percent and the only bright spot was nonfat skim milk powder which was up 2.1 percent, although down 10.2 percent from May.

The gain from a year ago was thanks to recordsetting purchases from Mexico, up 21 percent according to HighGround Dairy economist Betty Berning. Speaking in the Aug. 14 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, Berning reported Mexico has posted record imports of powder every month this year. Vietnam and the Philippines also increased purchases, she said. However, exports to China, Indonesia and Malaysia were down 76.5 percent, 28.7 percent, and 34.4 percent respectively.

Total cheese exports were down 19 percent, with cheddar plummeting 38 percent. HighGround Dairy says, “The last time cheese sales dropped this much annually was in 2020.”

Exports to South Korea, the U.S. number-two international cheese market, were down 46.7 percent, according to HighGround Dairy. China, surprisingly, upped its purchases and shipments to Mexico continued and even set a June volume record, although cheddar shipments there were down 39 percent from a year ago.

Butter exports were down 60.3 percent from a year ago and down 37.8 percent year to date.

Whey shipments were down 33.7 percent.

HighGround Dairy says the United States moved 32.5 percent of its June whey production abroad, the lowest percent export share since October 2019, and a far cry from the five-year average of 49.3 percent. Smaller purchases from China to the tune of 32 percent were the main driver, according to HighGround Dairy, along with smaller purchases from Southeast Asia and Canada.

June U.S. imports of cheese were down 17.6 percent. Butter was down 11.5 percent — although butter imports year-to-date were up 38.2 percent as high prices acted like a magnet. Anhydrous milkfat imports were down 46.5 percent in June and down 8 percent year-to-date.

Aug. 8’s Global Dairy Trade Pulse auction saw just under 2.2 million pounds of Fonterra whole milk powder sold at $2,775 per metric ton. This is down $225 from the last Pulse and the lowest Pulse price ever, and down $20 from the Aug. 1 GDT.

HighGround Dairy warned, “With SGX futures trading below the Pulse auction settlement, it appears the market expects further downward price movement in the coming weeks.”

Furthermore, StoneX warns, “Fonterra’s forecasted volume on offer over the next 12 months was changed for both whole milk and skim milk powder. Whole milk powder volume offerings were increased by 44.1 million pounds, “a result of movements in market demand.” Skim milk powder offer quantity was increased by 11 million pounds.

Cooperatives Working Together member cooperatives accepted four offers of export assistance this week that helped them capture sales contracts for 710,000 pounds of American-type cheese. The product is going to customers in Asia and Oceania through September and raised CWT’s 2023 exports to 28.3 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 809,000 pounds of butter, 24,000 pounds of anhydrous milkfat, 31.4 million pounds of whole milk powder and 5.9 million pounds of cream cheese. The products are going to 24 countries in five regions and are the equivalent of 555.5 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Checking the fields, the week’s Crop Progress rIn politics, the International Dairy Foods Association had praise for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans which highlights that 90 percent of Americans do not consume enough milk and other nutritious dairy products.

“Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House and Senate seeks to address this significant gap by increasing access to nutritious dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt and other cultured dairy products among participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,” says the IDFA.

“The Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act of 2023 (H.R.5099), introduced by U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), would provide SNAP participants a dollar-for-dollar match for the purchase of dairy products.”

“The Senate version (S.1474) was introduced in May by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). The dairy incentive program would expand the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive projects, a 2018 Farm Bill program currently testing best practices for incentivizing milk purchases among SNAP beneficiaries, to include whole and reduced-fat milk as well as additional nutritious dairy products like cheese and yogurt,” according to the IDFA.

IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes stated, “In this time of chronic food insecurity, it is critical that we find new ways to improve access to foods that nourish and promote good health and wellbeing — particularly for our nation’s most food-insecure individuals. Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are nutritional powerhouses, packing essential nutrients that promote healthy immune function, hydration, cognition, mental health, bone health, and lower the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

In another issue facing dairy, the National Milk Producers Federation warned, “While the Food and Drug Administration’s draft guidance on plantbased beverages acknowledges the public health concern regarding nutritional confusion, it falls woefully short of ending the decades-old problem of misleading plant-based labeling using dairy terminology.”

In comments submitted to the agency this week, NMPF emphasized, “The importance of transparent product labeling to ensure consumer understanding and informed purchasing decisions, and urged FDA to take prompt enforcement action against misbranded non-dairy beverages that resemble milk.”

«For far too long, plant-based beverage manufacturers have blurred well-defined standards of identity to inappropriately and unfairly capitalize on dairy’s nutritional benefits while FDA has ignored its enforcement obligations,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF president and CEO.

“FDA’s draft guidance is an encouraging first step toward promoting labeling transparency in the marketplace, but it’s not enough. Our comments outline a solution to the misleading labeling practices existing in the marketplace today, and provide clear, truthful labeling options for marketers of plantbased beverages,” Mulhern said.

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

Will rain be in time to rescue the soybean crop?

Corey Hanson

Gary, Minn.

Aug. 11

A half inch of rain on Aug. 10 was the first significant rainfall at Corey Hanson’s farm since mid-July. There was a light drizzle during his report on Aug. 11; he expected it would produce no more than a tenth of an inch.

David

Noteworthy rainfall finally returned to David Tauer’s farm. He reported on Aug. 11 receiving an inch and three quarters overnight. Another inch and a quarter on Aug. 6 impacted their church festival, but he remarked no one seemed too bothered.

Due to the drought, Hanson’s beans stopped flower-

2023 From The Fields

Compiled by Laura Cole, The Land Staff Writer

Hanson began combining wheat on Aug. 10 and he expects that will keep him busy for at least 10 days. The first truckload was 40 bushels, and he reported moisture at 13.8 percent. “Fifteen to 20 miles can make a difference in your bushels right now,” he commented in reference to the varied rainfall received. Of his primary crops, Hanson added wheat is not as much of a money maker, but he likes to

Nick Pooch Farwell, Minn. Aug. 10

Nick Pooch’s farm received half an inch of rain on Aug. 1. “It sure helped the crop,” he remarked, and also added it made the fairgrounds muddy for the county fair. Pooch’s

nine-year-old son, Blake, along with his two cousins and neighbor, all received champion or reserve champion honors for showing their animals.

Blake’s work with his beef steer earned him the opportunity to compete in the junior round robin. Pooch explained participants show animals they aren’t familiar with and are also tested on general livestock knowledge. Blake earned reserve champion; Congrats!

On Aug. 10, Pooch reported the crops are bright green and though his corn isn’t the best he’s had, it’s looking “darn good.” His soybeans are doing well, though they have fewer pods than he’d like. He sprayed for aphids on Aug. 8.

Pooch’s hay is about two weeks away from its third cutting. Having a cattle operation, he harvests his wheat for straw and expects that he’s about a week out.

Earlier than his usual, Pooch bought the first 25 calves of the season on Aug. 9, and has been busy with feedings and vaccinations. He stated this group is mainly Hereford and Black Angus with a few Charolais, and are light — about 250 to 300 pounds. At a higher risk for sickness and death loss, they’re watched closely, and Pooch credits his wife, Kris, for her education and expertise on cattle health. v

County Fair’s American Dairy Association malt stand. The week before he completed his third cutting of alfalfa. “The yield was good again,” he commented. He also cut the new seeding, which totals 42 acres. That crop initially hadn’t done much, rather there were mostly oats that had grown back. He reported now the alfalfa is looking good.

On Aug. 10, Tauer was busy helping at the Brown ing earlier than usual. He stated the pods on the bottom third of the plants are looking okay, better than the top. He sprayed for aphids at the very beginning of August and a few other pests have since emerged, namely cloverworm and spider mites. Barely hitting threshold levels currently, he’ll evaluate if it will be economical to spray for them.

Tauer’s corn is also progressing and is starting to dent. After spraying for rootworm, he stated, “They seem to be under control.” He is noticing some issues with root strength, so he may be chopping corn in the next couple of weeks.

The millet is making some progress, but remains in a state of “to be determined.” Since it rained, Tauer has noticed more plants, but the field still looks thin. It was planted to make up for the rye crop they didn’t get, so Tauer will monitor and determine his plan for next year.

Jim Hagen gave his latest update on Aug. 10, a muggy day in Worth County, Iowa. “I don’t know what the crops are living on — it’s dry,” he stated. Fortunately his farm

received half an inch of rain the previous weekend, arriving in an all-day drizzle. He stated the rainfall throughout the area varied quite a bit. With a chance for more later in the day, he’s hoping it makes its appearance.

Despite the lack of moisture, Hagen stated the crops continue to look good. While he’s not expecting bin buster quality, he believes his corn will yield a good average crop. The fields are still clean, and he commented if disease were to show, it would have to be really bad for him to spray at this point.

The beans are full of pods, but now need to fill out. “They’re still pretty flat,” Hagen remarked. Having already sprayed, he stated he’s done spending money on them for the year and now will wait and see how they do. Hagen also shared their recently purchased acres will start the first rotation with soybeans next year.

Coming up, Hagen hopes to check out a few fairs and is looking at both Iowa and Minnesota locations. He’s also glad to have more of his family closer as his son and daughter-in-law recently moved from Florida to Kansas, a traveling difference of 14 hours. v

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2005 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA120

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2017 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA 113

Just in, very cleaninside andout,steersare LP22.5 at 50%, drivesare 445/50 22.5 fronts are 90% rearsare 60%, disc brakes, jakescruise. ForSale Price$41,000

2001 VOLVOVNL64T630

595,769 miles, jake,cruise, heated mirrors, airridecab, airslide 5th, airrideseats, 3:73ratio,aluminum rims,LP22.5, 70% steers, 40% drives, airbrakes, 50%brakes, 40% drums, interior good,rustonbackofcab andbottom of sleeper, needs1fueltankstrap,driveshaft,windshield

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2020 INTERNATIONAL LT DAY CAB TRUCK

Just in, very clean exterior and interior, 1/4 fenders, auto trans, air ride, jake, cruise, air slide 5th, steers are 95% and drives are 90%, 719,596 miles. CUMMINS 450 HP Automatic 12 Speed Eaton Autoshift Transmission Price: USD $43,500

1992 WABASH 53-ft.x 102-in. Steelrims, LP 22.5 caps 60-70% remaining, airbrakes,exterioris good,sides areclean but have acouple of patchesonthe passenger side.Oak floors areingood shape,plywood lined walls. ForSale Price$9,500

See TAUER, pg. 13

People have their say at Farmfest’s Farm Bill forums

By LAURA COLE

The Land Staff Writer

MORGAN, Minn. — The Farm Bill has been a pressing topic in 2023, and two of the forums at this year’s Farmfest focused primarily on the subject.

The new Farm Bill and USDA ag policy issues

The Aug. 1 forum began with an introduction by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. a senior member of the Senate Ag Committee with experience working on previous Farm Bills. She discussed the need to be unified on the importance of rural America to ensure the Farm Bill gets done this year.

A top priority for Klobuchar is ensuring the crop insurance system remains in place. She added, “Senator Thune and I are working to include in the Farm Bill a provision to make it easier for young and beginning farmers to get and afford crop insurance and we’re looking for other changes, as well.”

Other items Klobuchar mentioned included AM radio in vehicles and yearround E15. She talked about previous work with Senator Cornyn from Texas on a disease preparedness bill and additional changes and upgrades they’d like to make to the program. She also discussed the need for high speed broadband in rural areas, noting how important it is for precision agriculture. “If they can have high speed internet next to volcanoes that are spewing lava in Iceland, I think we can have it here,” she stated.

The forum’s panelists included U.S. Department of Agriculture Under

state’s economy.

Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Robert Bonnie. Joining Bonnie on the panel were Scott VanderWal, Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation; Rob Larew, National Farmers Union President; Tom Haag, president of the National Corn Growers Association; Lori Stevermer, president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council; and Bob Worth, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President.

“My job is to support all of you,” Bonnie began. In terms of environmental issues he stated, “An interesting thing about climate change is that a lot of the things that are good for the climate, are also good for production agriculture: soil health, enhanced productivity, improved nutrient management, in the west reducing the wildfire threat in our national forests, biofuels.” He stated farmers will see a voluntary, incentivebased approach from the USDA to reward producers for farming practices

they can do, as well as for the things they already have done.

Regarding Title 1 specifics, Bonnie commented that reference prices haven’t kept up with crop and input prices over time. He noted the present spirit of bipartisanship and stated, “At the end of the day, we’ve got to go find money to support our priorities.” He anticipates part of that conversation will include reference prices and farm loans.

VanderWal, who is also a farmer in South Dakota, said he hopes to see improvements to Title 1 to take into account the challenges in production agriculture.

Larew emphasized the importance of not just getting the farm bill done, but getting the right farm bill done. For Larew, that would include a fair bill that levels the playing field for farmers and promotes competition.

Haag mentioned crop insurance and MAP (Market Access Program) and

See FORUMS, pg. 17

Photo by Laura Cole Jason Culotta with Midwest Food Products Association took his turn at the microphone at the Farm Bill listening session on Aug. 2.

Photo by Paul Malchow Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is used to taking plenty of heat, but usually of a different nature. Walz prefaced Farmfest’s forum, “Perspectives on Minnesota Ag and Rural Policy Issues” with praise for farmers’ contributions to the

83-year-old Alma Kubat of Owatonna, Minn. was chosen at the 2023 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year. After losing her husband in 1984, Alma continued running the family farm operation.

Photos by Paul Malchow Minnesota’s Ag Commissioner Thom Peterson made the rounds, here visiting the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council booth.

A challenging growing season didn’t prevent crop plots from looking good at Farmfest.

State ag forum held few surprises … or proposals

By PAUL MALCHOW

The Land Managing Editor

Folks with weak hearts had little to worry about while watching the Farmfest forum

“Perspectives on Minnesota Ag and Rural Policy Issues” on Aug. 2. No shocking news, no bombshells fell over the 90-minute discussion featuring Minnesota department and ag committee heavyweights.

Ag politico and radio

Taking part in the “Perspectives on Minnesota Ag and Rural Policy Issues” forum were (left to right): moderator Blois Olson; Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Peterson; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen; Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenburger; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Deputy Commissioner Peter Tester; Rep. Samantha Vang, Chair of the Minnesota House Ag Committee; Sen. Aric Putnam, Chair of the Minnesota Senate Ag Committee; Rep. Paul Anderson, Minnesota House Ag Committee; and Sen. Torrey Westrom, Minnesota Senate Ag Committee.

personality Blois Olson moderated the eight-person panel made up of Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Peterson; Sarah Strommen, head of the Minnesota Department of Resources; Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger; Peter Tester of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Representative Samantha Vang, who chairs the House Ag Committee; House Ag minority leader Representative Paul Anderson; Senator Aric Putnam who chairs the Senate Ag Committee; and Senate Ag minority leader Torrey Westrom.

Each commissioner took their turn extoling the

importance of their department to agriculture. The Democrats had bragging rights for a busy 2023 session during which they held a voting majority. The Republicans stoked the smoldering fear that Democrats and government regulation are going to bury the family farm. Each panel member pointed out how many farmers they meet and listen to. I think Sen. Putnam was the winner with a claim of 300 people at a Pierz, Minn. listening session.

Any public official can tell you it’s important to know your audience; but the panel shared little that the audience didn’t already know … not to mention

living. There were plenty of statements like, “People need resources to start farming,” “Drought is in the minds of many farmers;” and “We have got to preserve the way of life of farming.” No arguments there. No one clutching their chest and falling to their knees.

Peterson and Daubenberger tried to quell the impact of an electric vehicle mandate and the subsequent drop in demand for ethanol and biodiesel. “Biofuels will be around for a long time,” Peterson reassured the crowd. Sen. Westrom used the topic to take a shot at the Dems: “Show what you can do next year to commit to biofuels,” he challenged. “We have ban after ban after ban … proposals need to be more rational.”

(This statement earned Westrom the only applause heard during the forum.)

Land use continued to be a tricky little mine field for most of the panel. The call for clean power and attractive lease rates have resulted in a steady growth of solar arrays. While “marginal” crop land has been the choice for most solar development, the definition of “marginal” is becoming more blurred.

Commodity organizations are concerned about a reduction in planted acreage. No one seems to know how to tell farmers what they can and cannot do with their land.

Westrom expressed concern for the increase in solar and wind farms and the tax breaks available for their construction. “We don’t want tax subsidies driving up land prices,” he said.

Peterson suggested there were alternate uses for solar arrays such as grazing and pollinator habitat. He seemed more concerned with a continuing urban sprawl developing productive farm land. “I worry about the finite availability of land,” he admitted.

Anderson was more direct. “It’s short-sighted in taking thousands of acres of land out of production!”

A member of the audience asked the panel to weigh in on investors buying farm land. “There are a lot of things we can do to have farms stay with families,” Vang said. She did not go into detail as to what those things might be.

According to the Minnesota DNR website, on average, the DNR acquires about 9,000 acres of land per year, statewide and sells 508 acres of land per year, statewide. Strommen was at her diplomatic best. “Conservation land and productive land can coexist,” she said. “It’s not a matter of competing.” She reminded the audience that 85 percent of the parcel officers in southern Minnesota do not get approved

Photo by Paul Malchow

Crop insurance is too expensive if available at all

FMD (Foreign Market Development) funding as two priorities for the next Farm Bill.

Stevermer stated, “We want to continue to see comprehensive trade agreements being made and maintaining the markets we have.” Ongoing funding for animal disease prevention and preparedness is important to her industry, and she also discussed her concerns with Prop 12.

Worth urged that improvements be made to the farm bill to keep young farmers in agriculture and ensure the continuation of family farms.

Some of the questions from the audience covered climate smart practices, and also outcome and data measurements for those practices. Other topics mentioned included competitive markets in reference to the Packers and Stockyards Act; the potential for other

bills to offset farm bill spending; Dairy Margin Coverage payments; and The Farm Program Integrity Act.

U.S. House Ag Committee Farm Bill listening session

Another opportunity for the public to be heard came the following day as a panel of U.S. Representatives gathered to hear from Farmfest attendees. The session was hosted by G.T. Thompson, Chair of the U.S. House Ag Committee, and the panel included Brad Finstad, Angie Craig, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fishbach and Pete Stauber, all from Minnesota, as well as Ag Committee members Randy Feenstra (Iowa) and Max Miller (Ohio).

In his opening remarks Emmer stated, “This is the type of listening session that’s going to make a huge difference for us when we get back, and we have to make sure that we get this bill across the finish line.”

Stauber added, “I couldn’t be more proud to be here with you and fight for that farm bill that’s going to be written by you and for you and it’s going to make a difference.”

The panel heard from 41 individuals, each allowed two minutes to speak. A variety of topics were discussed, and crop insurance was again a priority. Howard Olson with Ag Country Farm Credit Services made a few specific requests regarding the topic. “The 85 percent coverage level is used considerably in southern Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and so on, but is too expensive in other parts of the country where farmers are purchasing at the 75 percent and lower levels,” Olson said. He requested an increase in the premium support of the 80 and 85 percent coverage levels. He also asked that limits of specific FSA programs be increased, as well as for the experience requirement to be updated from three years to one in order to better support young and beginning farmers.

Peter Connor, a forest landowner from Wisconsin, spoke on behalf of the Forest Landowners Association. “Forest landowners, like many

other agricultural businesses, are land rich and cash poor. This liquidity issue is worsened when natural disaster strikes,” he commented, adding they don’t have crop insurance or a tax code that enables them to recover and reforest. He gave his personal account of losing 430 acres of timberland due to a tornado in 2019, and asked for the Disaster Reforestation Act to be included in the farm bill.

Concerns about the dairy industry were discussed. In reference to Dairy Margin Coverage, Bruce Maas, with Associated Milk Producers Inc., asked that more current production history be considered, a change be made from the current 5 million pound cap that is more representative of the family farm, and for a raise from the current $9.50 margin cap.

Two specific requests were made by Adam Ulbricht with Minnesota Bison Association and the National Bison Association. He noted a disease which affects bison is malignant catarrhal fever, and there is current work being done for a vaccine. He requested the

project be included under the research title of the farm bill. He also explained that water buffalo imports are being labeled simply as buffalo, which leads to confusion. He asked for support of Representative Carol Miller’s bill, The Truth in Buffalo Labeling Act, which would ensure clear labeling.

Representative Finstad noted that 82 percent of the current Farm Bill funding is put towards nutrition. Colleen Moriarty, with Hunger Solutions of Minnesota, discussed the partnership between the nutrition and agriculture communities, remarking it has yielded a stronger nation. Speaking to both the panel and also turning to the audience, she thanked everyone for their support.

In his concluding remarks, Chairman Thompson stated Prop 12 would be further addressed, as well as the modernization of the dairy margin coverage. He thanked everyone for their input and said this listening session was his 51st that he’s attended around the country, with a few more still to go.

The big machinery on display is always popular with the children.

Photos by Paul Malchow

How to properly apply a tourniquet was one of the demonstrations taking place in the UMASH Wellness and Safety Pavilion.

Grain Outlook High carry out limits corn opportunities

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Aug. 11.

CORN — Corn action was lackluster in the sessions leading up to the August World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report on Aug. 11. Trading was considered consolidating in a sideways fashion. There were fresh export sales announcements this week of 15.5 million bushels of new crop to Mexico.

The crop condition report showed a 2 percent improvement week-on-week as of Aug. 6 to 57 percent good/excellent and weather forecasts were nonthreatening to a maturing corn crop. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop was in the dough stage compared to 46 percent on average. Corn under drought conditions in the United States fell by 8 percent this week to 49 percent. The action changed in post-report trading with September and December corn posting key reversals lower to end the week. The WASDE report was termed neutral for U.S. corn and slightly bullish for world corn.

The August WASDE report is based on surveys and not actual field tests. The September WASDE report will include feet-on-the-ground information. The 2022-23 balance sheet raised imports by 10 million bushels, cut the food sustainability index by 20 million, and slashed exports by 25 million bushels to 1.625 billion bushels. This resulted in a 55 million bushels increase in ending stocks at 1.457 billion bushels to carry over to the 2023-24 supply/demand sheet. The trade estimate was 1.41 billion bushels for carryout.

The U.S. 2023-24 balance sheet dropped the corn yield by 2.4 bushels per acre to 175.1 bu./acre and was lower than the 175.5 bu./acre pre-report trade estimate. Production was pegged at 15.111 billion bushels (the second-highest on record) which was down 209 million from last month and compared to 15.135 billion bushels estimated. Feed/residual was cut by 25 million, food sustainability index down 20 million and exports lowered by 50 million to 2.05 billion bushels. Ending stocks were 2.202 billion bushels, down 60 million from July vs. a 2.168 billion bushel trade forecast. The average farm price increased a dime to $4.90 per bushel. Indiana is anticipated to have a record corn yield this year at

Cash Grain Markets

Ukraine has announced plans for a “humanitarian corridor” to allow cargo ships stuck at Ukrainian ports to sail into the Black Sea. Reportedly this would apply to container ships, but it’s unclear whether any ships will participate unless Russia would commit to not attacking those ships.

This week’s Chinese Consumer Price Index fell in annual terms for the first time in two years. Their July CPI fell 0.3 percent vs. last year and the first year-on-year decrease since February 2021. This raises concerns about their demand and economic growth.

195 bu./acre with Minnesota at 183 bu./acre, Iowa at 203 bu./acre, and Illinois at 201 bu./acre.

The 2023-24 world corn ending stocks were 311.1 million metric tons vs. 313.83 mmt estimated and 314.1 mmt last month. Despite heavy flooding recently in the high production regions in China, China left their own corn production estimate unchanged at 282.3 mmt vs. the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 280 mmt outlook. Trade estimates floated this week of Chinese corn losses of anywhere from 4-5 mmt up to 10-12 mmt. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange has Argentina’s corn production at 34 mmt.

On the 2022-23 world balance sheet, Brazil’s corn production was raised by 2 mmt to 135 mmt, but exports were unchanged at 56 mmt. Argentina’s corn production was unchanged at 34 mmt as was Ukraine’s at 27 mmt. The Rosario Grain Exchange is forecasting Argentina’s corn production for 2023-24 at 56 mmt vs. 34 mmt this year.

Weekly export sales were at the low end of estimates for old crop and exceeded estimates for new crop. Old crop sales were 5.9 million bushels to keep total commitments of 1.587 billion bushels 34 percent behind last year. New crop sales were 29.9 million bushels to bring total commitments to 235.2 million bushels vs. 316.8 million bushels last year. South American origins are cheaper than U.S. origins for October. New crop corn export commitments are the fourth-lowest for this time of year in the last 13 years. China has only purchased 272,000 metric tons of new crop U.S. corn vs. 3 mmt last year.

Weekly ethanol production was down 44,000 barrels per day at 1.02 million bpd. Stocks increased by 20,000 barrels to 22.9 million barrels. Gasoline demand was up 464,000 bpd to 9.3 million bpd. Net margins were up a penny at 55 cents per gallon.

Outlook: December corn’s first support is the $4.81 per bushel low from July 13. December corn closed the week with its second-lowest close of the calendar year. It was down a dime for the week at $4.87.25 per bushel. December corn has tumbled 89.25 cents from its recent high on July 24 at $5.72.25 to the low on Aug. 11 at $4.83 per bushel. September corn traded to its lowest in July 2021 in post-report trading! It closed down 9 ¾ cents for the week at $4.74.5 per bushel. Corn carries from December forward widened this week with a better outlook for the crop size.

Corn was unable to rally on a neutral, friendly WASDE report. Weather, early yield reports from the southern United States, and events in Ukraine will remain in the headlines and drive prices. Rallies may likely be limited with a 2.2 billion bushel carryout and a lack of significant export demand.

SOYBEANS — November soybeans were mixed ahead of the monthly WASDE report with a sharply lower start to the week followed by a rally into the report. However, they finished the week with an outside, lower session and a loss for the week. November beans were able to remain above their 100-day moving average support at $12.90 per bushel on a closing basis. Weather was the headline for the beans this week with rain events capping the upside but demand limiting the downside. In the end, the WASDE report was mostly neutral for U.S. and world soybeans.

The U.S. 2022-23 balance sheet was updated with the only change of a 5 million bushel increase in imports. Ending stocks at 260 million bushels were above the 251 million bushel estimate.

The 2023-24 balance sheet showed a cut in yield of 1.1 bu./acre to 50.9 bu./acre and lower than the 51.3 bu./acre trade outlook. Soybean production dropped 95 million from last month at 4.205 billion bushels compared to 4.246 billion estimated. Exports were lowered by 25 million bushels to 1.825 million bushels and imports were increased by 10 million bushels. The final result was a decline in ending stocks of 55 million bushels to 245 million bushels. This was lower than the 267 million bushel trade prediction. The average farm price rose 30 cents to $12.70 per bushel.

Farm Bill priorities discussed during lengthy Farmfest forum

In early August, Farmfest hosted one of several U.S. House Agriculture Committee listening sessions which are currently being held across the United States. The event was hosted by Committee Chairman and Pennsylvanian Republican Glenn (GT) Thompson, together with Minnesota Republican Congress members Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad. Other members of Congress who participated in the Farm Bill Listening Session were Minnesota Democrat Congresswoman Angie Craig and her Republican Minnesota colleagues Congressman Tom Emmer and Congressman Pete Stauber, Iowa Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra, and Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller. The committee members listened to over 40 two-minute presentations from farmers, ag leaders, conservation supporters, feed bank advocates, and others during the listening session.

FARM PROGRAMS

By Kent Thiesse

culty in some instances for new and beginning farmers to establish base acres and farm program yields. Some presenters also expressed the desire to increase the number of commodity crops eligible for farm program benefits. Of course, most of these proposals would involve extra funding to achieve these goals, which may be difficult — given the current federal budget deficit concerns.

MARKETING

Following is a summary of some of the main issues discussed during U.S. House Ag Committee Listening session at Farmfest:

Crop Insurance — Many farm operators and farm organization leaders spoke about the importance of keeping a strong federal crop insurance program, which several pointed to as the best risk management tool available to crop producers. The federal government currently covers approximately 60 percent of the premium cost paid by farmers for most common levels of crop insurance coverage.

Crop insurance has been a “financial lifesaver” in recent years for crop producers in many areas of the United States that have suffered crop losses due to natural disasters and poor crop growing conditions.

Some ideas to enhance the crop insurance program offered during the forum included the addition of a 90 or 95 percent coverage option on individual farms vs. the current maximum coverage level of 85 percent. Adding higher coverage options could provide an extra “safety-net” to help offset higher crop input and land costs in the event of natural disasters or very low commodity prices. It could also reduce the need for the “ad hoc” crop disaster programs, which have become quite prevalent in recent years. There was also some discussion regarding more support through crop insurance for new and beginning farmers.

Commodity Programs — Most farm operators have a pretty good understanding of the provisions and calculations in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Ag Risk Coverage (ARC) farm program options in the current Farm Bill. Most ag groups favor keeping a choice between the revenue-based ARC program and the price-only PLC program. There was some support expressed for allowing voluntary updates to crop base acres and for allowing farm operators to adjust their farm-level program yields. There was also some discussion regarding the diffi-

Dairy Margin Protection Coverage (DMC) and other livestock programs — The DMC program is a voluntary program originally developed in the 2014 Farm Bill and was enhanced in the 2018 Farm Bill. The DMC program is designed to help dairy producers offset low profit margins during difficult financial times, such as those occurring in recent months in the upper Midwest. However, there is concern the established DMC payment formulas have not kept up with today’s dairy market environment; and as a result, the DMC program is falling short to provide the necessary financial support to many family dairy farms.

There was also support expressed to enhance the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program for beef and hog producers, as well as to increase educational efforts regarding the LRP programs. Hog producers also expressed concern over implementation of the new Proposition 12 law in California, which dictates how hogs are raised in the Midwest for pork sold in California.

Conservation Programs — One topic at the Listening Session which seemed to unite ag organizations, environmental groups, and wildlife supporters alike was continued support for conservation programs. Much of the discussion surrounded the support for the so-called “climate-smart” agriculture practices included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed by Congress in late 2022. The IRA act included adding considerable funding to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), as well as to the Conservation Security Program (CSP), both of which focus on voluntary efforts to implement practices for working farm and ranch operations. Both the EQIP and CSP programs are also part of the Conservation Title of the current Farm Bill, which has raised questions as to whether the IRA funding for those programs should be kept separate or be rolled in with Farm Bill conservation funding targets.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which has been the cornerstone of U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation efforts since the late 1980’s, received only limited attention during the Listening Session. Almost no one was calling for any increases in the current maximum CRP level of 27 million acres in the current Farm Bill. Most groups would like to see the CRP program continue to tar-

get the most environmentally sensitive land. There was some support for having managed CRP lands that can be used for some haying and grazing and other targeted efforts to enhance carbon sequestration. Some presenters expressed concern that CRP rental rates are unfairly competing with ongoing cropland cash rental rates in some areas, thus encouraging landowners to put farmland into CRP rather than renting crop land to younger farm operators.

Support for Beginning Farmers — There was a lot of discussion regarding more added support through USDA for new and beginning farmers, whether it be through the direct and guaranteed Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans or through incentives in the federal crop insurance and commodity programs. The need to increase maximum loan amounts for beginning farmers in the FSA direct and guaranteed loan programs was expressed frequently by those that made comments.

SNAP Program — Several leaders of local food banks and food shelves commented on the significance of the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill, which funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program to assist qualifying families with their food needs. Several farm leaders also pointed out the importance of the Nutrition Title as part of a comprehensive Farm Bill. The Nutrition Title will account for over 80 percent of the funds expended under the next Farm Bill. For many decades Farm Bills have contained both the Commodity and Nutrition Titles. Experienced ag policy experts warn that efforts to separate farm programs from the Nutrition Title may make passing a Farm Bill very difficult.

Organic production and newer crops — Some presenters made comments during the Listening Session regarding the need for a stronger “safety net” program and more support for organic crops and other newer crops, as well as for specialized livestock production in the next Farm Bill. Producers want added risk protection in order to secure adequate funding and the capital needs required to initiate a newer or more innovative ag business venture.

Ag research — There were also comments at the Listening Session on enhancing support for agriculture research and extension programs through the Land-Grant University system and at local Soil and Water Conservation Districts — especially related to the so-called “climate-smart” agricultural practices.

One overriding theme for farm organizations at the Listening Session seemed to be the importance of maintaining strong “safety net’ programs for crop and livestock producers through federal crop insurance and the crop and livestock commodity programs. The other overriding issues with farm families and rural residents were protecting our envi-

U.S. soybean acres under drought dropped eight percent

NYSTROM, from pg. 18

Record soybean yields are expected in Indiana at 60 bu./acre, Ohio at 57 bu./acre as well as Arkansas, Mississippi, and North and South Carolina. Illinois yield is pegged at 62 bu./acre, Iowa at 58 bu./acre, and Minnesota at 49 bu./acre.

The world 2023-24 world soybean carryout was 119.4 mmt vs. 120 mmt forecasted and 121 mmt in July. No changes were made to Brazilian or Argentine production numbers at 163 mmt and 48 mmt respectively. The Rosario Grain Exchange put Argentina’s

2023-24 soybean production at 48 mmt compared to 28 mmt this year, partly by increasing acreage by 6.3 percent year-on-year. Planting will begin in October.

On the world 2022-23 balance sheet, China’s soybean imports increased by 1 mmt to 100 mmt. Brazil’s bean production was unchanged at 156 mmt and Argentina’s at 25 mmt.

Weekly export sales were above the highest estimate for old crop and very good for new crop. Old crop sales were 14.9 million bushels bringing total commitments to 1.95 billion bushels. The USDA

Visiting is nice, listening would be better

RURAL POLICY, from pg. 16

by the DNR. “The DNR does not purchase land at auctions,” she added.

Daubenberger and MPCA’s Peter Tester had little to say during the forum. Both agreed the state needs to take advantage of available federal dollars. Daubenberger reminded everyone wants good roads and to be able to get their product to market.

Much like the revenuers during prohibition days, MPCA officials are not exactly warmly embraced by farmers. Tester had to be somewhat relieved to fly under the radar … so to speak. However, Tester was the one panel member who gave the audience some concrete goals and objectives. “We have to concentrate on what we need — and not what would be nice,” he said. “We need to devote more people in permitting — improving timelines, removing bottlenecks and expedite permits.

Applications have to be understandable.”

“We are working for the people,” Anderson reminded his fellow panel-mates. “We could be more courteous and friendly.” He added with Covid at a lull there should be less state work done at home. “Get back in the office and man the phones!” he urged.

In comparison to last year’s Farmfest forum featuring Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Republican challenger Scott Jensen, which packed the Wicks Building to the rafters, the forum crowd was pretty small. Olson’s questions were fair and timely; but few people obtain high levels in government by candidly answering questions.

Hopefully the members of the panel will continue to “talk to a lot of farmers.” Hope more they listen to what is being said. v

didn’t change the 1.98 billion bushel forecast with just a few weeks remaining in the marketing year. We need just 1.7 million bushels of sales per week to reach the target. New crop sales were 40.3 million bushels. Total new crop commitments are 337.5 million bushels vs. 578.4 million bushels last year. For early August, new crop sales are the third lowest in the last 15 years. China accounts for 3.8 mmt of our new crop sales vs. 8.9 mmt last year on this date. The 14 million bushels of new crop soybean sales to China announced this week will be included in next week’s report.

Outlook: For the week, November soybeans were down 25.75 cents at $13.07.5 per bushel. They posted an outside, lower session to end the week with the next support their 100-day moving average at $12.90 per bushel. November soybeans, from the recent high on July 24 at $14.35 to this week’s low of $12.82.25, have crashed $1.52.75 per bushel. Weather is still the driving factor unless we see a turn up in demand. U.S. soybeans under drought dropped by 8 percent this week to 43 percent. As of Aug. 6, U.S. soybean conditions improved by 2 percent to 54 percent good/ excellent. Sixty-six percent of the soybeans were setting pods vs. 63 percent on average.

September meal fell 12.30 for the week to 410.30 and September soyoil was down 1.26 at 64.13. Soybean carries November forward were sideways this week despite the improving weather.

Weekly price changes in September wheat for the week ended Aug. 11: Chicago fell 6.25 cents to $6.26.75, Kansas City gained 3.25 cents to $7.55.75, and Minneapolis dropped 7.25 cents to $8.15 per bushel. A Polish wheat cargo is being held up from unloading in Houston due to levels of corn in the wheat. v

12

titles make up the Farm Bill

THIESSE, from pg. 19

ronment through conservation programs and having access to affordable and nutritious food choices.

There are a total of 12 titles in the current Farm Bill, which includes Trade, Energy, Rural Development and Forestry, in addition to the titles and programs mentioned earlier. The U.S. House and Senate, together with the Biden Administration, will now need to find a balance between the many needs and priorities for the next Farm Bill and the growing Federal budget deficit, in order to finalize a new Farm bill in a timely fashion.

Kent Thiesse is a government farm programs analyst and a vice president at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. He may be reached at (507) 726-2137 or kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. v

Photo by Paul Malchow

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NOTE: Ad will be placed in the appropriate category if not marked.

FOR SALE: Westfield MKX 130-74 swing hopper, very good, $17,000, Shop built header trailer, 25’ or 30’, new tires, painted, shedded, extra sickle holder, $2,000. Farwell MN. 320-760-4210 or 320-424-0246

FOR SALE: New Idea Uni 801 w/ 858 sheller & 6RN cornhead, asking $10,000. Also, 801 w/ 819 combine asking $6,000. Both shedded and well maintained.

507-632-4519 Leave message.

FOR SALE: 1985 JD turbo combine, over $17,000 in new parts. Best Around. 507-723-4467

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

John Deere 55 Corn Special, ‘68, two row cornhead. Reduced price. Low hours excellent runner. Good machine, new seat. Well maintained, $2,800. 320-260-9112

Grain Handling Equipment

FOR SALE: 2 Brent 744 wagons, always shedded, $18,500 each or Best Offer.

507-318-9645

Grain Handling Equipment

FOR SALE: 1-8”x61’ Westfield auger, PTO drive, like new, $4,825; 1 - 7”x54’ Westfield auger w/ electric overdrive, motor included, $950/OBO; 8”x48’ Feterl auger, electric motor drive, no motor. $825/ OBO. 651-503-5087

FOR SALE: 2010 Westfield

10” x 61’ swing hopper auger, like new, always shedded, used on wet corn only, $7,000. Also right angle drive off from 13”x64’ Westfield auger, like new, $1,750. Montevideo. 320-226-4334

FOR SALE: Dakon 300 bushel gravity wagon, extra big tires, nice condition. Asking $3,000. 507-227-2602

FOR SALE: 10 inch 31 ft Westfield auger, like new, only $6,500. Call 507-640-1432

for something special?

Livestock Equipment

FOR SALE: 2020 S&S stock trailer, 16’ bumper pull, excellent condition, $7,500. 507-249-3240

FOR SALE: 3 ton & 5 ton bulk feed bins, flex auger feed system. 507-460-9372

Tuff Built calving pen, good condition, $3,995.00. Tuffbuiltag.com for pics. Adam Helman 715-573-2430

Wanted

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

Wanted

WANTED: 2 row or 4 row Brady or Lundell stalk chopper in working order.

320-587-9149

WANTED: 726 John Deere soil finisher, 30’; Flexicoil 75 30’ packer. 320-232-0556

Livestock

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

Swine

Put

WANTED TO BUY: Used box type manure spreader - medium to large size. 320-510-0597

Online Estat e Auction

Inspection Date: August 24th, 9:30am -5:30pm

First lots start closing: August 24th 5:30pm

Pick-up Date: August 25th, 9:30am -5:30pm

239 Co Rd 22, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085

This is an ONLINE ONLY auction!

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

Sell your livestock in The Land with a line ad. 507-345-4523

Sheep

Dorset & Hampshire rams, ewes & yearlings for sale. Lambs, large framed w/fast growth that will put extra lbs on your lambs. I can deliver.

Gene Sanford (507)645-4989

FOR SALE: Ram Lambs: Registered Dorset, Dorset Advantage, and Hampcross. Located at Wabasso MN. Call 507-829-7627

FOR SALE: Sheep for sale, Suffolk and Polypay ewes lambs. also 2 yr old Suffolk rams. 507-445-3317 Leave message. 507-822-3398

Pets & Supplies

FOR SALE: Purebred collie puppies: Both males and females. All sable and white. Make excellent farm dogs. 7 weeks old. 507-822-2111

Trucks & Trailers

FOR SALE: 1980 Ford Twin Screw truck, 18’ steel box; FOR SALE: 1991 Ford Twin Screw truck; 20’ box. Call 507-271-0799

Please recycle this magazine.

Classified line addeadline is noon on Monday

For more information, bidding, & pictures go to: magesland.com

Tractors & Farm Equipment: IH 1486 Turbo, cab, rock box, hub duals, 3pt, 3hyd; IH Farmall Super C, nf w/ Woods L 306 belly mower; Farmall M, nf; IH 4600 Vibra Shank, 3 bar harrow, walking tandem; Lindsay 5 sec. spike tooth drag on cart; IH 183 8x36 Cult, flat fold; IH 153 4x30 Cult; IH 710 auto 5bt plow; IH 50 two row silage chopper; IH Harvester Seed Drill; IH 5500 Chisel Plow; IH 475 Field Disc, tandem disk; JD 27 Stock Chopper; IH 710 four bottom plow; Snowco 8x50 Grain Auger; cultivators; drag sections; Moline seeder; Anthony wagon;

Vehicles & Tools: Chevrolet Loadmaster truck, single ax, wood box w/ hoist; 1976 Buick LeSabre custom, 4 door; 1966 Buick LeSabre, 4 door; 1986 Buick LeSabre, 4 door; 1997 Ford Mustang; Honda motorcycle; truck bed tool box; Ford truck grill; variety of hub cabs; 2 gallon industrial air contractor; Ferrex electric chainsaw, Torelli tools 9"electric string trimmer; Milwaukee Sawzall; Powermate Vx 3in1 tools; Black & Decker drill, Black & Decker jigsaw, misc electrical; Coleman air wrenches; tire machine & balancer; car wash vacuum; PK tank sprayer; torch tank; parts washing bin; 5 - 70 gallon oil tender tank; Ruud Achiever furnace, series Super Quiet 80; assorted wrenches socket sets & many hand & power tools!

Household & Misc: Large variety of beer lights & signs; Coca-Cola cooler; Coca-Cola wooden box; antique deacon bench w/ hooks & mirror; stainless steel table; small table w/ 4 chairs; end tables; dressers; heavy duty metal shelf ; bar table & stools; chest; buffet; asst kitchen ware & appliances; sewing machines; yard décor; Bearcat Scanner; Grundig field radio; Schmidt football shaped grill; Budweiser limited edition bottles; Redwing crock; jukebox; asst. crocks; coolers; clocks; antique radios; scales; flap books; variety of toys & games;

Vernard Haala Estate

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

Auctioneers: Matt Mages, Larry Mages, Joe Wersal, Joe Maidl, John Goelz, & Ryan Froehlich Broker/ Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Service, LLC. Not responsible for accidents at auction or during inspection.

Please support our advertisers. Tell them you saw their ad in THE LAND.

ESTATE FARM EQUIPMENT AUCTION

Located 5 miles East of Renwick, IA from Hwy 17 on C26 to Franklin Ave, 5 miles North to 1111 Franklin Ave

Wednesday August 30, 2023 11 AM • Lunch on grounds

TRACTORS, SPRAYER • ’16 8245R JD MFWD, 46” duals, 2094 hrs. • ‘92 CIH 9230 4WD, 3 pt, 1000 PTO, quick coupler, 6980 hrs. • ‘96 8100 JD MFWD 42’ duals, 5970 hrs. • 6000 JD sprayer, 60’ boom, 230 Raven, hitch, single front wheel & wide front attach., 9906 miles • COMBINE, HEADS • ‘92 JD 9600 combine w/duals, 9610 updates, Ag Leader, chaff spreader, 2320 hrs. 1593 roto hrs. now showing • ‘97 893 JD poly 8-30 corn hd • 30’ • 1998 930 JD head w/Crary air reel • 2 home-built head trailers • TILLAGE EQUIPMENT, STALK CUTTER • 42’ JD 960 field cult • 28’ Hiniker field cult

• M&W model 1165 5 shk auto reset ripper • #14 IH 5 shank 3 pt. V Rip • 20’ Artsway stalk cutter

• PLANTER, ROTARY HOE • 8-30 JD 1700 3 pt. Vac planter, Precision corn meters, trash whips •

30’ JD 400 Rotary hoe w/trcks • PARKER TRAILERS • 6250 & 625 Parker Grain Chariot, trk tires • 2-5500, trk tires • 2-2 door • SPRAYERS, LOADERS, MOWER • Fast 1000 on pull cart w/detach 60’ boom • Ag Chem 440 gal S.S. pull sprayer • Ag Chem 500 gal S.S. sprayer w/bander • 46A JD loader • DuAl loader • Stanhoist arch frame loader • 7’ NH pull mower • AUGERS, GNUSE BUCKET • 8X31 Hutchinson PTO auger • 10”X71’ Westfield auger, swing hopper • 12’ Gnuse 3 pt. Bucket • COLLECTION OF 12 NON RUNNING TRACTORS including 2 Case 2870 4WD OLD SNOWMOBILES & COMBINE FOR PARTS • Pile of discarded old snowmobiles & parts • 4420 JD combine for parts.

PICTURES ON THE WEB

TERMS: Cash or good check. Picture ID required. Not responsible for accidents, thefts, or any warranties. Everything sold AS IS.

Announcements day of sale take precedence over printed material.

OWNER JAMES HARLE ESTATE

For info call Tony Harle 641-430-8266

AUCTIONEERS:

Eugene & Michael Ryerson • 515-448-3079

Gene’s cell 515-689-3714

Eagle Grove, IA

Land Auction

Tuesday, August 29th - 11:00 am

Auction held at: American Legion in Clements, MN. 361 1st St. Clements, MN

Directions to land: Just east of Clements, MN on the south side of Co Rd 16. Watch for signs!

This property will sell as one parcel: Location of property within Redwood County: Section 34, Three Lakes Township, Range 35 Total of farm: 75.27 total acres, approx. 70.44 acres tillable.

Productivity Index: 90.8

PID: 69-034-2030

2022 Taxes: $3,174

*Note: All acres are published based on Redwood County Online Records and FSA records. Ber an Brot hers Estate

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

Auctioneers: Matt Mages, Larry Mages, Joe Wersal, Joe Maidl, John Goelz, & Ryan Froehlich Broker/ Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Service, LLC. Not responsible for accidents at auction or during inspection. Everything sold “AS IS”. magesland.com

Trucks & Trailers

FOR SALE: 1995 Freightliner

FLD120 small flat top sleeper, 10spd, N14 Cummins, 400HP, 515,500 Mi, 11R22.5, full fenders, jake brake, air ride, sup, cab, seats, 5th wheel, & dump. DIFF lock alum whls, cold a/c, headache rack. 952-649-8604

Looking for something special?

Put a line ad in The Land and find it! Call 507-345-4523

Recreational Vehicles

FOR SALE: 1987 Lund Rebel

Boat, 2 trolling motors and trailer, 25HP Mariner motor, $2,000. Bob 507-995-2239

Miscellaneous

FOR SALE: Dyna Winco 9500 watt portable generator, 18HP Honda gas engine, electric start, 2 wheel dolly kit, 1-4 prong 30amp outlet, and 4-15 amp outlets. 60’ 600 volt water resistant 500 watt carol cable. 30 amp outlet to connect to electrical service.

320-765-8842

FOR SALE: 2 stage chicken crates, (3) 5” x 10’ posts. 507-342-5410

PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS

New pumps & parts on hand. Call Minnesota’s largest distributor HJ Olson & Company

320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

Miscellaneous

REINKE IRRIGATION

Sales & Service

New & Used

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

Wild Black Walnut wood, kiln dried, special sawmill operator rough cut or finished. 785547-7555. Call or text. Email Doug@grimmsgardens.com

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This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Staff Writer Laura Cole.

Flora, fauna and functionality

Williams Nature Center joins Cliffs Notes and mini golf courses as proof that sometimes condensed can be just as good or better. Located on Highway 68 outside of Mankato, Minn., the center provides its visitors with 1.4 miles of scenic nature trails. Patches of purple coneflowers, a wide array of birds, and even a turkey with her young were all welcomed sights during a recent visit.

Dedicated in 1985, Williams Nature Park is part of the Blue Earth County Park System. The land was donated by Williams Pipeline Company, and the center also recognizes the Mankato Area Foundation and citizens of the Greater Mankato area for their contributions.

The paved trails are a beneficial feature for many — including individuals

utilizing wheelchairs or using strollers.

The shorter distances are optimal for a variety of circumstances as well as temperature conditions. Numerous benches are staggered throughout for rest and to take in the peaceful surroundings.

There are two outlook platforms, and the design of the trails gives the option to experience either or both.

Lloyd Vollmer Trail Loop leads the way to the North

Overlook and Perry Wood Trail Loop takes sightseers to the South Overlook. According to the Mankato Area Foundation, Vollmer and Wood were two of the individuals who played important roles in ensuring the center’s existence.

Six signs are stationed on the paths that provide educational information. Topics include native wildlife and vegetation, the nearby Minnesota River, and the history of the center, as well as the land itself. At each of these sites, there is a smaller sign which gives detail on how to access an audio tour.

The center also has an outdoor classroom, as well as a building which can be used for meetings and other events. A phone number is posted to make arrangements for the building.

Williams Nature Center is located at 54988 State Highway 68, Mankato, Minn. Pets, bikes, skateboards, and motorized vehicles are not allowed. The center is open daily from sunrise to dusk. v