The Land - Sept. 1, 2023

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The dirty dozen (Prop 12)

It seems that ever since Jerry Brown took over the reins as California’s governor from Ronald Regan in 1975, Midwesterners have been shaking their heads over “those crazy Californians.” Brown was extremely fiscally conservative, slashing state budget sacred cows. He championed gay rights, appointing several openly gay people to high positions in the courts. He was a progressive environmentalist long before such a thing was a political asset or liability. Rather than riding as a passenger in a chauffeured limousine as previous governors had done, Brown walked to work and drove a Plymouth.

By Paul Malchow

Almost 50 years later, the crazy Californians are raising the ire of Midwesterners again. In 2018 voters passed Proposition 12 — self-titled the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act. The proposition establishes new minimum requirements on farmers to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs, and calves raised for veal. California businesses will be banned from selling eggs or uncooked pork or veal that came from animals housed in ways that did not meet these requirements. The ballot measure aimed to build upon and strengthen the requirements of the 2008 California Proposition 2, which prohibited battery cages and gestation crates for animals in California, and required that pigs, hens, and calves be able to spread their wings or limbs and turn around.

Aside from being championed by animal rights activists, the proposed Proposition garnered mostly eye rolling from the ag arena. Deemed unrealistically restrictive and far-reaching by just about every livestock organization, the measure’s passage was never taken very seriously.

Proposition 12 passed by a vote of about 63 percent in favor.

The National Pork Producers Council filed suit against the new California law and the case went up the judicial ladder to the U.S. Supreme Court. In May of this year, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold Proposition 12.

Some of the big players in the pork industry seemed resigned to deal with the legislation. Major pork producers like Hormel and Tyson Foods — who initially opposed Prop 12 — say they have been preparing to fully comply with at least parts of the law. Hormel says many of its products are already Prop 12 compliant.

Smaller hog operations are probably the least impacted by Proposition 12. Their animals stay closer to home and the meat doesn’t make it into California. Many do not utilize confined animal practices in the first place; and if they do, retooling their operation is less prohibitive because of their smaller scale.

But big guns in the ag industry have enough clout in Washington, D.C. to try to neutralize Proposition 12. Enter the EATS Act.

The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act is a bill co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Iowan Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson. Simply put, the EATS Act negates state laws that impact other states’ agriculture operations. The impact of EATS goes far beyond Proposition 12 as there are already several laws in different states involving invasive pests, infectious diseases, food safety and seed standards.

Marshall, Hinson and 30 House Republicans are pushing to include the EATS Act in the 2023 Farm Bill. Their efforts are throwing salt into an already contentious fight for the bill which is estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $1.5 trillion.

It is said, “too many cooks spoil the soup,” and the myriad of special interests is hampering the progress of passing the Farm Bill. Aside from the usual partisan posturing between Democrats and Republicans, this edition of the Farm Bill carries a definite urban vs. rural tone. Nutrition programs make up roughly 80 percent of the bill’s expenditures and these programs are heavily utilized by city dwellers. The very make-up of the U.S. House and Senate has shifted dramatically over the last half century. Few legislators hail from an agriculture background.

On top of it all, promises were made to fiscally conservative representatives in order to get their votes on increasing the national debt limit earlier this summer. Eligibility criteria for SNAP and WIC programs is being examined — meaning fewer people would qualify for assistance. Not only would this impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, but lessen the demand for U.S. agriculture products as well.

How steadfast proponents of the EATS Act will remain in their position is difficult to judge at this point. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glen “GT” Thompson said at Farmfest last month he would look at using the Farm Bill to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision on Proposition 12. Can a Farm Bill come out of the ag committee without the EATS Act? Can a Farm Bill pass the House or Senate with the EATS Act intact?

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Protect the Harvest have both come out publicly in support of the EATS Act. As of Aug. 24, the National Pork Producers Council had not issued a statement on the matter. The American Farm Bureau Association has remained mum on the EATS Act, but a number of state Farm Bureau organizations have supported it.

A month ago there was a fair amount of optimism a Farm Bill would be signed by Sept. 30 when the current Farm Bill expires. That sentiment is dwindling; and in light of current events, seems darn

Crops and cows are showing signs of heat

Corey Hanson Gary, Minn. Aug. 25

Corey Hanson is nearly finished with his wheat harvest. He stated on Aug. 25 the yields are widely variable, ranging from 35 to 60 bushels per acre. With protein levels averaging 15.5 to 16 percent, he commented, “I don’t have the bushels, but I have the protein.”

Around Aug. 18, Hanson sprayed his beans for spider mites, cloverworm and loopers. He said the plants are looking better, but are still short on moisture.

His farm received almost an inch and a half of rain over the course of four days, but he compared it to a small bandaid. He commented it’s no longer a matter of increasing yields, but preserving them.

2023 From The Fields

Due to the impact of drought, Hanson has been providing his cattle with a supplement of hay. He previously averaged a round bale a day, but has recently increased to a bale and a half.

Hanson’s corn is not showing as much stress as his beans. He stated the corn is dented and the cobs are about seven to eight inches long, not real thick in diameter.

Looking ahead to harvest, his priority is that everyone has a safe season. “The crop will be what it will be.” v

Though Aug. 24 and the days prior brought extremely hot and humid conditions, Nick Pooch gladly welcomed 1.9 inches of rain earlier on Aug. 14. “That set us up real good,”

he stated. He commented the recent mornings have been foggy and there hasn’t been much for drying weather.

More calves have joined the operation since Pooch’s last report, and they are doing well.

Along with the satisfactory state of his corn, Pooch added his soybeans

have improved in looks and there’s now a good control established with the aphids. “I’d like to see more pods,” he remarked, but overall he expects an average crop.

Hard at work in his wheat fields, Pooch is happy with a test weight of 61 pounds. With approximately 20 acres to go with baling, he’s averaging three big round bales per acre.

Pooch recently completed his second cutting of grass and his third cutting of alfalfa, reporting that both looked good. “All the rain really helped.”

Once baling is done, Pooch plans to start on silage. He estimates he’s about 14 to 21 days away from that task. He’ll also set time aside to start getting his machinery ready for harvest. v

From the evening of Aug. 20 to the morning of Aug. 24, David Tauer cut and harvested oats he bought off a neighbor’s field. With a couple days of a 110-degree heat index, he stated on Aug. 25, “Everything takes a little longer when it’s hot.”

There hasn’t been additional rainfall since Tauer’s

last report, but he stated with the humidity, it hasn’t been drying out as quickly. His alfalfa looks really well, which he said benefited from those earlier rains.

Despite previous concerns with rootworm, Tauer shared the corn is holding up. He plans to be working on silage the last week of August. A recent sample showed 73 percent moisture, and so he expects it will hit his 66 to 68 percent goal by that point. He will chop his millet at the same time, and stated he will take what he can get with that crop.

With the higher temps, the cows’ production went down six pounds per cow per day. Their intakes have since gone up, and so Tauer expects their supply will soon pick back up.

Manure was recently stockpiled and will be spread once the end of the month fieldwork is completed.

“It’s getting dry,” Jim Hagen remarked on Aug. 24. The farm has been without rain, and the 99-degree weather over the recent days didn’t help. Hagen reported

the forecast for the following five days wasn’t looking promising either. The beans’ leaves are curling, and he commented, “Crops are starting to show stress pretty good now.”

With concerns of losing test weight, Hagen stated he may be entering break even mode. However little comfort it may be, Hagen noted it’s too dry for field pests.

Hagen expects to complete work on the new tile mains this week, and will start on the laterals after the crops are out. Finished clearing trees, he continues to have the tedious job of picking up sticks.

Perhaps not the best place to catch cooler temperatures, Hagen still managed to have a good time attending the Iowa State Fair as well as a couple of county fairs. He also has a long weekend set aside to visit family in Kansas.

In the coming weeks, Hagen will be going through machinery for the upcoming harvest and will also start maintenance on the corn dryer and bins. v

Compiled by Laura Cole, The Land Staff Writer

Nick Pooch Farwell, Minn. Aug. 24

David Tauer Hanska, Minn. Aug. 25

Jim Hagen Lake Mills, Iowa Aug. 24

Anti-work, anti-freedom Congress needs more work, more freedom

Even before Congress returns from its five-week, no-work period to its usual three-day weeks of little work, Republicans in both chambers are already signaling to global markets, the White House, and Congressional colleagues that their return will bring no 2023 Farm Bill and no 2024 federal budget by the two laws’ drop-dead date of Sept. 30.

It’s not news that both efforts were bumping against hard deadlines. It is news, however, that any attempt at either has been preemptively rejected six solid weeks before both expire.

FARM & FOOD FILE

By Alan Guebert

OPINION

In short, this Congress isn’t saying it might not do its job on time; it’s saying it won’t do its job at all.

To be fair, it’s not both chambers. Senate budget boss Patty Murray, the Washington Democrat, pushed all 12 spending bills through her Appropriations Committee by July 27. The House, on the other hand, approved just one.

Worse (if it’s possible to have a “worse” at this late date) neither chamber has a draft Farm Bill before their respective Ag Committee, let alone a Committee-approved one anywhere. With those high hurdles still ahead, an even higher hurdle — an approved joint Senate-House version of the bill — lays somewhere in the distant mist.

The mist grew thicker Aug. 21 when the fractious, deeply divided House Freedom Caucus announced “its members will not support a stopgap funding bill to keep the government running past the end of next month,” reported the Washington Post, “... unless several conservative policy priorities… are attached.”

Sept. 30 is looming

LAND MINDS, from pg. 2 near impossible.

Farm Bill veterans point out other missed Farm Bill deadlines, saying this is nothing new and a resolution will be found. But other Farm Bills which missed the deadline involved minor tweaking of allocations. Entire farming practices are now up for grabs in this one and neither side shows any inclination of backing down.

Throw in the fact a number of politicians are up for election in 2024 and would like to keep their jobs. Plus another government shutdown is lurking in the wings. Like it or not, both of these things will take precedence over the Farm Bill unless major concessions are made in a hurry.

Meanwhile, the crazy Californians are standing pat.

Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline.com. v

Some of those “policy priorities” aren’t so much conservative as they are burnthe-barn-down revolutionary. Defund the “weaponized” Department of Justice and reform the “woke” Pentagon are two of the big changes sought by the Freedom flamethrowers.

While neither is remotely doable, say observers, both are gear-grinding monkey wrenches that the 36-or-so-member caucus will use to make September’s mustpass legislative effort a 24/7, monthlong nightmare for Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

That’s a self-inflicted disaster, however, because McCarthy gave the revolutionaries an unlimited supply of monkey wrenches when he traded key House committee seats for member votes in his ugly intraparty fight for the Speaker’s post.

That deal continues to cost McCarthy dearly. With a wafer-thin, five-vote majority, his legislative successes (and, since January, mostly failures) swing on keeping almost every House Republican in line … a difficult task in good times. With 36 Freedom Caucus members acting as independent contractors for a puritanical political hit squad, though, it’s downright impossible.

The ag side of the House is just as tied up by the GOP’s monkey wrenchers as the budget side. In early June, House Ag Chair Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, let it be known he would have no trouble if the House voted “to strip the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) spending for climatefriendly agriculture practices” from any new Farm Bill.

But, Thompson noted, his plan would only apply to “... the dollars [that] have been authorized but the checks haven’t been written yet...”

That brief whiff of budgetary blood was sniffed out by the Freedom Caucus almost immediately and they began to bay for repeal of the entire $19.5 billion IRA.

“A lot of the IRA green energy stuff that we sought to repeal (earlier)... probably wouldn’t be spared” in any new Farm Bill claimed non-farm, non-ranch, and non-environmental standard bearer Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Freedom Caucus member to the Washington Post.

What might be spared, however, is a GOP plan to use the Farm Bill to overrule 15 states that have instituted local “public health, food safety, and humane standards for the in-state production and sale of products from egg-laying chickens, veal calves, and mother pigs.”

The effort, coming mostly from Senate Republicans, is a reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s May decision that allowed California’s “humane” pork law to stand. The GOP sponsors say the ruling allows “liberal” states to undermine the much-needed industrial model of food production.

Baloney, say small farm advocates and more than 90 House members; the GOP effort is anti-family, anti-farmer, and anti-local control.

All, you’d think, that anyone or any group who truly believes in “freedom” would oppose.

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

Our farm produces berries for every season

With each passing day, I am feeling my posture is becoming a bit more stooped. Standing straight and tall … well, the latter descriptive word is probably just my opinion. If all goes as it has in the past, this bent over position shall soon pass.

And so will the glories of summer. I am quite aware I have a very beary grouchy attitude when household duties and the weather keeps me from being outdoors — especially during berry season which began in late May and continues until frost.

FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

By Renae B. Vander Schaaf

The raspberries started in June. Last year my farmer had plowed out most of the old black raspberry patch. He left just a few plants to regrow and to compare to the new variety we planted last summer. Though the land area allotted to these berries is quite small (therefore a patch), we were harvesting enough berries for us to enjoy … that is until the birds found tasty black raspberry patches.

up again in late summer. One of my daughters tells me that she is growing a yellow raspberry. I’m scouting for a location for adding those to our gardens. It will probably taste good on ice cream, too.

All this berry production is making me berry glad!

soil in the next; so it caved in. It was hot — one of those days with temperatures in the nineties plus an elevated heat index. I hated to go out to tell them about the problem. They were probably wishing that all they had to do was sit on the porch shelling peas. I wasn’t trading places.

I don’t know if it is just me, but I thought the gooseberries started ripening a bit early this year. The raspberries may have thorns, but the gooseberry thorns seem more vicious. Who cares as the berries are sure worth the few scratches which result from the careful harvesting from the gooseberry bushes.

The look on their faces was priceless when I told them of my problem. They looked at each other, then down at the newly-dug trench. Guilty, as I suspected.

the birds.

The honeyberries were the first to ripen. These interesting, surprisingly tasty berries are almost hidden to the casual passerby — but not to the birds. Their keen eyes can spot these berries and it’s become the popular fly-in breakfast for many bird species on my farm.

One bird even built her nest home in the bushes. Whenever I went out with my bucket to pick these treasures, she flew threatening close to my head. Oh my, did I ever receive a scolding.

The strawberries usually start about mid picking time on the honeyberries; but because of the drought, they did not live up to their potential. In fact, other than the weeds — which managed to thrive despite the lack of rain — the strawberries have been ignored.

I know for certain the birds are the thieves as they leave evidence in two ways. There are no more ripe berries to harvest. The real evidence which solves the mystery and convicts the birds are the colorful splotches on the sidewalk and our vehicles’ windows.

The birds seem to prefer the black over the red raspberries. I am still harvesting those from the old patch and the new patch begun last year. In the old patch, an elderberry bush is blooming. Its fragrant blossoms make picking those berries even more delightful. The birds and I both enjoy elderberries too when they ripen. It’s a challenge to get them picked before the birds. Just like the raccoons in the sweet corn, they seem to sense when the fruit is just ready to harvest.

We have both the summer and fall bearing raspberry varieties, so after a lull in raspberry picking, it will start

The last gooseberry pie of the season will probably disappear today. Oh well, I shouldn’t have to wait a whole year for another gooseberry pie. I washed and froze the gooseberries which were picked the hot afternoon before. We do enjoy gooseberries in a cobbler or pie with our pea soup this winter.

Speaking of peas, the pea season only lasts for a short time. It is a very intense, time consuming vegetable. Overall, it was a good year for peas. I hope it also was for the pea farmers who grow for the canneries.

My farmer and I will spend several mornings harvesting the peas, then long afternoons on the porch shelling the peas from the pods before the peas are finally blanched and put in the freezer.

One afternoon, he was too busy to help; so shelling peas became my own responsibility. That was fine. It was a lovely day for sitting in my enclosed porch. I planned to make the chore a bit more interesting by watching gardening videos while shelling peas. You know, sometimes it does work to multi-task. Or so I thought. Just as I had the computer set up, the electricity went off suddenly … so no internet.

My investigation revealed my farmer had been working with a professional trench digger on the farm and their day hadn’t been going well. Too much underground water in the first section (despite the drought), then too dry of

I doubt the internet outage was planned, but the project list for my farmer grows as I watch these videos. They present wonderful, beautiful ideas which often require energy, time and money.

Of course, when the bill came for repairing the wire, it did cross my mind of all the plants which could have been purchased with that money. Several years ago we planted Josta berries. They are pretty bushes — especially when I keep the purslane and pigweeds away from them. The leaves often look wet.

This year was the first year they have really produced berries. They were in limited supply, just enough to snack on when working in the nearby flower bed.

It’s hard to describe the flavor of the Josta berry. The plant is a cross between a gooseberry and black current. One can taste undercurrents of each in the berries.

The strawberries are blooming again. They look promising, so maybe we will enjoy strawberry shortcake yet this year. It’s always a hard decision of which topping to choose: freshly whipped cream or ice cream. Both work well.

The blackberries we planted last year are also blooming. They are a new berry for us to be growing. I suspect they will taste good on ice cream too … one of the treats of summer!

If I remember right, the Aronia

Photos by Renae B. Vander Schaaf We share the new black raspberry patch with

Gooseberry pie is worth the scratches received while picking them.

Lilies are easy to grow, but need plenty of sun

Lily is a name for many plants, not all of which belong to the genus or botanical name Lilium. Water lilies, Lily of the Valley, and Daylilies are from other families. Members of the Lilium family include Asiatic lilies which as revealed by their name are natives of Asia.

Martagon or Turk’s cap lilies are difficult to grow and may be prized for their rarity. Candidum lilies from the Balkans and Middle East, are also known as Madonna lilies. Longiflorum or Easter lilies are familiar plants native to Japan and Taiwan and may be planted in the garden after the Easter season. They may or may not survive. Trumpet lilies are hybrids with some Chinese ancestry. They grow best just south of here in zone 5 or more. Oriental lilies are similar to Asiatic lilies but are fragrant. Stargazer is a popular Oriental Lily that blooms slightly later than other varieties.

GREEN AND GROWING

By Linda G. Tenneson

lilies. LA hybrids are a cross between Easter and oriental lilies.

Lilies are best planted in groups. Once the blooms have died off, allow the plant to continue growing so that it can store food in the bulb for next year’s flowering.

True lilies have six long oval leaves that extend from the center with stamens and anthers. The blooms appear at the top of single stems that have long, narrow leaves extending from them. The blooms may have widespread petals or be in the familiar trumpet shape seen on Easter lilies. Lily blooms may hang down, face up towards the sun, or curl back on themselves.

while others produce multiple blooms. Colors range from white to pink, orange, purple and deep red, but not blue, and in single or multiple combinations and patterns.

Lily bulbs remain in the ground over winter. They may be dug up in the fall to separate and replant any baby bulbs that may have developed. If grown in containers, the container should be eighteen or more inches deep to allow for the roots to fully develop. Lilies may also be propagated by breaking off scales on the outside of a lily bulb, or by allowing a bloom to develop into a seed pod. Saved seeds should be well dried and need to be stored in below freezing temperatures for several weeks before being planted in soil.

Most lilies bloom in July. Hybridizing has been done between various lily species. Orientpets, for example, are a cross between oriental and trumpet

The bulbs should be planted six to eight inches deep and four to six inches apart. They are classified as herbaceous perennials and the bulbs should reappear for several years. They need full sun, meaning six or more hours of light each day. The height ranges from dwarf varieties to five feet tall. The taller versions may need some protection from the wind. Some may have a single bloom per stem

Kuball crowned 70th Princess Kay

ST. PAUL — Emma Kuball, a 19-year-old college student from Waterville, Minn., was crowned the 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony Aug. 23 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Kuball is the daughter of Nate and Shannon Kuball and attends the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Ten county dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Makenzie Alberts of Pine Island, and Megan Ratka of Cold Spring were selected as runners-up.

Alberts, Kuball and Ratka were also named scholarship winners. Gracie Ash of Milaca was named Miss Congeniality.

Throughout her year-long reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Kuball will make public appearances

to help connect consumers to Minnesota’s 1,850 Minnesota dairy farm families. Her first official duty as Princess Kay was to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building (located at the corner of Judson Avenue and Underwood Street) to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter. Minnesota artist and butter sculptor Gerry Kulzer will be carving Princess Kay and the finalists.

Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills and enthusiasm for dairy. Midwest Dairy sponsors the Princess Kay program, which is funded by dairy farmers through their promotion checkoff.

This article was submitted by Bellmont Partners Public Relations. v

There are native lilies in this area, such as the Tiger lilies, with their bright orange blooms with black seed pods along the stem that may appear in our gardens without being planted. Wood lilies are also common in this state.

Lilies may suffer from viruses, appearing as twisted leaves, stunted growth, or unusual streaks on the blooms. However, insects other than an occasional slug do not bother lilies. Rabbits may eat the young shoots in the spring.

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

Temperamental animals are not to be trifled with

We would all agree that farm life is better when gates close, trailers load nicely, and the sheriff keeps driving by. However, that is not always the case, and I am no exception. On several occasions, I have had less-than-pleasant encounters with farm animals (and only a few that involved the sheriff).

As a teenager, I recall being jolted from a deep sleep by my father, who ran through the house yelling for everyone to “Wake up! The cattle are loose!”

DEEP ROOTS

By Whitney Nesse

There was no time to spare in a moment like this! It was all hands on deck in whatever clothing you pulled on the fastest. Everyone would pile in the nearest vehicle, take the mile drive to my grandparents, where our cattle were kept, and the rodeo would ensue. Usually, my grandma was standing guard by her treasured lilac bushes in her housecoat and curlers, spitting mad because the steers ate the leaves off. Cuss words would fly as we searched for cattle in the middle of the night; but in a few short days, the fury would simmer and we could all chuckle about it.

We had a pig once that was dubbed “Houdini.” He always found his way out of his pen and wandered around the yard at night, rooting up everything — including the bunny hutch. Thumper, the bunny, and the Houdini pig must have been in cahoots. We

never saw Thumper after the pig tipped over the hutch during his midnight stroll.

In college, I worked on a commercial dairy farm. The owner had his heifers raised by a grower, and we would go fetch the ones close to calving once a month or so. On one occasion, a heifer had calved early, so we needed to pick up her and her calf, and she was not happy to see us. The owner picked up the calf and we began walking out — hoping the heifer would follow, and follow she did. She took after us with her head down, and the owner handed the calf off to me and yelled, “Run!” To this day, I do not know how on earth I had the strength to carry that calf and run as fast as I did!

Another time while working on the same dairy in college, a nasty heifer pinned me up against a feed wagon. As she backed up to pick up speed so that she could crush me, I flung myself to safety inside the wagon. Even after that heifer calved, she attacked every person who worked on that farm!

A couple of years ago, I woke up to mooing outside my bedroom window. The sun was just peaking up over the horizon, and I thought the sounds were awfully close to the house. And I was right. I looked out the window just in time to catch a glimpse of dust and tails. Who needs coffee on a morning like that?

Our trailer was unloaded on our first (and only) go-round with lambs, and the barn was full. I took our kids into the house to nap, only to get interrupted by a call from the sheriff’s office asking if I was missing a herd of sheep. “How can that be?” I thought. “We just unloaded them!”

But sure enough, as I went and checked the barn, I found it empty. A half mile away, a white blob was moving across the road and into a field. I learned that day that all I needed to do was shake a pail of grain, and the whole lot of them followed me all the way back home and right back into the pen, no chasing needed!

The first time I tried loading pigs as an adult was the kind of scene one would imagine hell to be like. It was so awful, I could not write about it in a family-friendly publication. Suffice it to say, when we butcher pigs now we do so on the farm, no loading necessary.

We could all swap stories for a spell about our less-than-fond memories of farm life. I would love to hear some of yours. And here is a friendly reminder: go check your gates!

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

Labor shortage hampers the agri-food supply chain

The agricultural supply chain is an impressive feat of logistics operating off a vast arsenal of talent. Constrained by perishability and the simple fact that everyone eats, food producers, processors, transporters, and their supporting services are under constant pressure to keep grocery store shelves and restaurant menus fully supplied year-round.

“Here in the GreenSeam, we continue to be the source of food, fiber and fuel for more and more people around the world,” says GreenSeam Director Sam Ziegler. “We also have the opportunity to be a global source of solutions that keep the whole system moving.”

TALENT IN THE GREENSEAM

By Holly Callaghan

In response to an executive order following multiple supply chain failures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the 2022 Agri-Food Supply Chain Assessment, examining vulnerabilities in the American food system. Labor was found to be the second most critical vulnerability with the concentration and consolidation of several industry segments taking priority.

The GreenSeam region is no stranger to the talent shortage.

In southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, the largest looming workforce gaps happen to be in the

food supply chain. Truck driver and order fillers and stockers constitute 6,000 vacancies or 8 percent of all active job postings in this region as of August 2023. When including retail, restaurant, and repair positions, that number increases to 15,000 — or one in five job vacancies.

Steve Formaneck, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of management at Minnesota State University, Mankato’s College of Business. He has consulted on and taught supply chain management around the world. Among other factors like training, pay, and work-life balance, Dr. Formaneck attributes this worker shortage to “the lack of immigration to the U.S. that was first brought on by the pandemic and affected by changing immigration policies.

Agriculture is a major employer of immigrants.”

Shoring up existing workforce gaps will be important to ensure economic resilience in the face of another pandemic; but it will take the widespread adoption of innovative supply chain management practices to ensure sustainable growth in the longterm. It starts by addressing challenges unique to the food supply chain. “Just look at a ripe banana,” says Formaneck. “It can last three days in room temperature. Even though we have many technologies that help extend the life of food that travels around the globe, it is still estimated that around

Beck’s root research will aid farmers with seed selection

By LAURA COLE

The Land Staff Writer

GIBBON, Minn. — For Beck’s Hybrids, innovation has been a longstanding value. The company’s recent research with plant roots is leading them to characterize their products in an even more beneficial way for farmers.

“When we describe a product, we do it with numbers. When we characterize it, we think of the visuals,” explained Beck’s Regional Business Manager Nate Firle. While discussing the variety of management decisions farmers must make, as well as the operational limitations they may be faced with, Firle said, “How do we make sure the hybrids they’re placing in those environments are the best for that situation? It’s done through the character-

ization cycle, the actionable insights.”

At an Aug. 15 field event held near Gibbon, Minn., Beck’s team members displayed work concentrating on studying corn roots. They filled two tote structures with Diamond Dry, and strung them with fishing line. (Diamond Dry is an all natural, biodegradable product made from corn cobs commonly used for absorbing water on athletic fields.) Two different hybrid seeds with known performance were selected and planted. The structures were then shrink-wrapped and OSB sheets were also used to secure it.

hybrids, in a completely new and more extensive manner.

The idea for this set-up came from Dr. Chris Topp with the Danforth Center.

Jim Schwartz, Beck’s Director of Research, explained that while Topp’s work focuses on gene discovery, it led them to think about how they could use a similar model to ultimately benefit farmers with product selection.

because of the amount of roots that it had growing straight down that were just sitting in water and didn’t have an opportunity to dry out.”

This trial has led the team members to think about such matters as banding fertility and tillage systems as they may relate to root architecture. While Beck’s has studied roots via plant digs and digging root pits, they haven’t previously been able to study the architecture in its full entirety. “What we’re learning is we have a lot to learn,” Schwartz stated. He also noted that genetic advancement impacts hybrid life cycles. “As these life cycles have gotten shorter, let’s not let the farmer be the guinea pig anymore; let us learn.”

Schwartz spoke about a hybrid studied a number of years ago and how its root structure impacted yields in differing populations. The original guidance given regarding this specific hybrid was that it did not respond with higher populations and so planting over 28,000 an acre was not recommended.

Nate Firle demonstrated that a root dig also provides helpful information.

The plants were fed and watered, and once the plants reached tassel stage, Beck’s added water and waited an additional two weeks to dry. When they removed the sheets and cut the shrink wrap, most of the material flowed out. What they were left with was a full root structure to examine. The set-up allowed researchers to better study roots, and therefore characterize their

The two hybrids they chose, 6485 and 6414, had some noticeable differences. Schwartz pointed out that 6485 had more robust node 3 and node 4 roots and a larger percentage of the roots were up higher than 6414’s. 6414 had more roots directly underneath the plant.

Doug Clouser, Beck’s Product Lead, detailed his previous experience with 6414 in wet fields. “It explained to me pretty quickly why 6414 did not like saturated soils, the one on the right,

However, when they planted in the 36,000 to 42,000 range, they had repeat success hitting 400 bushels. Schwartz believes what made the difference was that they planted in 10 inch rows, rather than 30 inch rows. Schwartz explained that when roots touch, they communicate, and begin responding to being crowded.

“When we moved to 10 inch rows, now we moved those plants apart, and that umbrella root structure responded completely differently,” Schwartz stated. He continued that this was an “a-ha moment,”

See BECK’S, pg. 11

Photos by Laura Cole

Jim Schwartz (left) and Nate Firle display two root boxes and an example of the root mass they previously studied..

Grain Outlook Corn sees modest rebound

The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Aug. 25.

CORN — Weather was the feature this week with extreme heat uncomfortable for both man and plant.

Corn gapped higher when trading resumed Sunday night on the forecast and reports of Russian drone attacks on grain facilities along the Danube River in Ukraine. The attack on the port of Izmail reportedly cut the port’s capacity by 15 percent. According to UkrAgroConsult, 60 percent of Ukraine’s grain exports are now using river channels with the rest moving by rail and truck.

However, the market couldn’t hold and posted a key reversal lower on Aug. 21 before moving into consolidation-type trade for the balance of the week. After the short-lived heat-induced rally on Aug. 21 didn’t hold, corn trading the balance of the week most relatively quiet. Corn walked a line between a rallying soybean market and a down-trending wheat market.

During the week, the annual Midwest Crop Tour was roaming through Nebraska, parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Their final yield and production numbers were released after trading closed on Aug. 25. Their numbers are a combination of what the tour samples indicated, as well as weather, history and crop maturity.

Tour figures showed estimated U.S. corn yield was 172 bushels per acre with a crop of 14.96 billion bushels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s July World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report used a 175.1 bu./acre yield for a crop of 15.11 billion bushels.

The overall result shouldn’t be a big surprise as the tour’s final corn yield has been below the USDA’s final yield in nine of the last 14 years. The tour estimated Minnesota’s corn yield at 175 bu./acre vs. 183 bu./acre USDA; Iowa at 197 bu./acre vs. 203 bu./acre; and Illinois at 203 bu./acre vs. USDA at 201 bu./acre.

Weekly corn exports were net cancelations for old crop of 900,000 bushels. This lowered total commitments to 1.595 billion bushels vs. the USDA outlook for 1.625 billion bushels. Export sales for 2023-24 were 26.5 million bushels. New crop total commitments at 289.4 million bushels are the lowest since

Cash Grain Markets

$4.70.75 and the December contract dropped a nickel to $4.88 per bushel.

SOYBEANS — November soybeans started the week with a bang on the soaring temperatures which would have a larger effect on soybeans at this stage than corn. The gains were given back into the middle of the week, but November soybeans bounced back and closed higher in seven of the last eight trading sessions to increase the risk premium for yield uncertainty. Beyond the weather, a surging meal market and ultimately firm soyoil market provided support to soybean prices.

The Midwest Crop Tour estimated U.S. soybean yield at 49.7 bu./acre vs. the July WASDE forecast of 50.9 bu./acre. The tour’s soybean production outlook was 4.11 billion bushels compared to the July USDA 4.205 billion bushel forecast.

2019 for this time of year. Last year we had sold 367.1 million bushels for new crop. For the week, the USDA announced new sales of 4.4 million bushels for each of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 crop years.

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange is predicting Argentine corn acres up 2.8 percent this year at 7.3 million hectares. Dry conditions may delay their planting, but El Niño should bring rain for their summer. The Rosario Grain Exchange is projecting Argentina’s corn acreage at 8.5 million hectares for a crop of 56 million metric tons in 2023-24.

Weekly ethanol production was down 21,000 barrels per day to 1.048 million bpd. Ethanol stocks fell 600,000 barrels to a six-week low at 22.8 million barrels. Gasoline demand increased by 59,000 bpd to 910,000 bpd. Ethanol margins were down 3 cents at 54 cents per gallon. Gasoline demand was unchanged at 8.9 million bpd.

December oats this week jumped ahead of corn prices! What do oats know? December oats rocketed 40 cents higher to close at $5.01.25 per bushel.

Outlook: Corn carries on the board continued to widen this week, setting new levels as prices fell and barge freight strengthened on the Illinois River. Low water levels on the Mississippi River are restricting drafts and a pick-up in demand sent freight higher. The CU/CZ traded out to 17.5 cents carry and the CZ/CH traded to a 15-cent carry. December corn has traded a range from $4.73.5 to $5.24.5 since July 31 when it left a downward gap from $5.25.5 to $5.24.5 per bushel.

Finishing weather as harvest begins, Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian grain facilities, and influence from soybean price direction will be trading themes moving forward.

For the week, September corn fell 8.75 cents to

The tour results are in line with history. The tour’s final soybean yield has been below the USDA’s final soybean yield in 10 of the last 14 years. The tour estimated Minnesota’s soybean yield at 46 bu./acre compared to USDA at 49 bu./acre; Iowa at 55 bu./acre vs. USDA at 58 bu./acre; and Illinois the same as the USDA at 62 bu./acre.

Weekly export sales for old crop were 13.4 million bushels, bringing total commitments to 1.96 billion bushels. The USDA’s export forecast at 1.98 billion bushels is virtually completed. New crop sales were 44.8 million bushels. 2023-24 total export sales are 434 million bushels, trailing last year’s 683.8 million bushels. New crop sales are the lowest in four years.

During the week, the USDA announced the sale of 4.5 million bushels of new crop soybeans to China and 5.8 million bushels to unknown, in addition to 100,000 metric tons of meal. The vice-president of China’s Wellhope Foods Co. expects China will import 100 mmt of soybeans in 2023 compared to USDA’s 98 mmt estimate. He expects that number to be relatively stable for the next five years as a younger population prefers chicken to pork.

A southwest Georgia farmer harvested a record soybean yield of 206.79 bu./acre on 10 acres in a 60-acre field in a yield contest. The yield was verified by a contest official.

Outlook: Risk-premium for questionable finishing weather in soybeans and strength in the soy product market will provide underlying support, but if rain pops up in the forecast that could change quickly.

November soybeans have rallied 98.25 cents per bushel from the $12.82.25 low on Aug. 8 to the $13.90.5 per bushel high on Aug. 25. Soybeans over the long term will need to balance a tight U.S. balance sheet and expanding production in South America.

For the week, November soybeans rallied 34.5 cents to $13.87.75, December meal soared $26 to $415 per ton, and December soyoil tumbled 73 ticks

University program provides hands-on experience

GREENSEAM, from pg. 8

one-third of that food is wasted each year.”

Managing food waste will be essential to longterm sustainability. According to the USDA, 1.3 billion people were food insecure in 2022 — a 10 percent increase from the previous year. To feed those people and the additional 2 billion who will be added to the population by 2050 will require innovative solutions that increase output and transport efficiencies while reducing waste.

Formaneck observes, “The skills that are in the shortest supply yet the highest demand are those revolving around harnessing and managing innovation and technology.” He anticipates future competitiveness in the ag supply chain will rely on “having an understanding of how automation and artificial

intelligence should be implemented to enhance efficiency in operations throughout various parts of the supply chain,” allowing for meaningful data gathering which leads to better-informed decision making and risk management.

Because the American food system uniquely straddles the line between public and private sectors, the federal government also sees a need for technologies which enable data transparency. In its 2022 supply chain report, the USDA expresses a need for “an interconnected, dynamic food supply chain monitoring platform where multiple government data sets, and potentially external data sets, could be integrated, analyzed, and monitored in real time to better understand potential challenges, dependencies, and projections.” Data-oriented initiatives like this prom-

Plots provide 24 different data points

BECK’S, from pg. 9

and led them to realize the need to better study and understand root architecture and root volume.

This discovery aligned with studies that were completed a couple years ago by Dr. Scott Foxhoven.

According to Schwartz, Foxhoven found that root architecture and root volume can make as much as a 50 bushel difference in yields.

With this information, combined with advancements in precision applications, Schwartz foresees that in the future, farmers will move away from farming the current average of 43,560 square feet per acre and move toward farming 8 inch bands which totals 11,700 square feet per acre.

While there are plans to conduct more studies with root boxes, Clouser anticipates there will be ground penetrating types of technology which will allow for aboveground root studies. In the meantime, he’d like to add obstructions to the boxes to see how different hybrids perform in less desirable circumstances.

In addition to the root boxes, extensive research is currently underway at Firle’s farm outside of Gibbon. He explained four hybrids were selected for the trial

Soy products keep price afloat

to 63.36 cents per pound. The next upside target for November soybeans is the July high at $14.35 per bushel.

Weekly price changes in December wheat for the week ended Aug. 25: Chicago slid 17.25 cents lower to $6.21.75, Kansas City managed a 3.75 cent gain to $7.64.5, and Minneapolis dropped 15.75 cents to $8.02 per bushel. v

and 0.7 acres were dedicated to each one. Each hybrid was planted at three different population rates: 28,000, 34,000, and 40,000 plants per acre. The fields were then split into eight ranges with varying nitrogen rates, nitrogen sources and timing, as well as fungicide applications. Each range was also replicated four times to better ensure accuracy. This will provide Firle with 24 datapoints per hybrid.

“We believe the dataset that we’re going to learn from this is really going to help us characterize that product and help those farmers make better decisions,” Firle stated.

To that end, Beck’s also utilizes advancements in technology to improve efficiency when possible. Drones are used to measure plant height, and they also have a camera that can sit on a combine and measure ear height, drastically speeding up both of those processes.

Firle also developed a prototype for a camera cart, which will allow Beck’s to bring the field to the customer via their website. The cart has an adjustable stand for a 360 camera to capture images of plants. Customers can zoom in and out as they’d like in order to see exactly how a certain hybrid is performing at a certain population and with specific applications.

As Schwartz remarked, “Seeing is believing, right?”

ise faster identification and mitigation of weak points in the food supply chain, underscoring the need for technical skillsets in STEM and management disciplines with an emphasis on agribusiness.

Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Business is preparing its students to respond to these national and global challenges with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and Food Innovation program. Formaneck says, “we provide students with hands-on industry experiences throughout our courses where they connect with various players connected to the food and ag industry to learn about the challenges they face and to develop analytical and problem-solving skills that are required to overcome them.”

The GreenSeam region’s influence in the global food supply chain is only growing as foreign conflicts and climate change highlight our hub’s history of reliable growth. It is fitting for local industry stakeholders to prepare their future leaders to address these long-term and widespread challenges. “We are grateful that MNSUM has stepped up and built this program for our industry,” says GreenSeam’s Sam Ziegler. “Our entire region will benefit as this program develops the future leaders of the food supply chain.”

Holly Callaghan, Economic Development Coordinator, can be reached via email at hcallaghan@greenseam.org. v

Syrup is ‘berry good’

FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, from pg. 6

berry is one of the last berries to ripen in the fall. One of my granddaughters always requests the syrup I make from those berries on her breakfast French toast or waffles. Some of the berries end up in the freezer. They taste very good when added to a cinnamon oatmeal cookie recipe.

I’m thankful that the Lord has provided me with the time and privilege to work in the garden this year. “O taste and see that Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8.

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

Cheese and butter inventories down from 2022

This column was written for the marketing week ending Aug. 25.

Americans chewed through July butter and cheese inventories. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Cold Storage report shows butter holdings on July 31 at 331.6 million pounds, down a bullish 18.2 million or 5.2 percent from the June inventory, which was revised up 2.3 million pounds. But, stocks were 16.5 million pounds, or 5.2 percent above those in July 2022.

American cheese stocks fell to 838.2 million pounds, down 15.3 million pounds or 1.8 percent from June, and 21.8 million or 2.5 percent below a year ago.

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

butter prices. “That doesn’t underpin the market going forward, but justifies what has happened” he said, adding it’s a similar scenario on cheese and justifies the higher prices.

When asked about the USDA hearing which got underway this week on market order milk pricing, Kurzawski said, “It’s a very significant process.” The industry told USDA that we need to restructure the way we price milk in this country, he explained, and said over 20 organizations will make their proposals.

MARKETING

The “other” cheese category slipped to 627.8 million pounds, down 6.4 million pounds or 1 percent from June, and down 11.5 million or 1.8 percent below a year ago.

The total cheese inventory stood at 1.49 billion pounds, down 21.7 million or 1.4 percent from the June total, and down 33.2 million or 2.2 percent below a year ago.

StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski said in the Aug. 28 “Dairy Radio Now” program the report came in under expectations. However, it justified the high

The National Milk Producers Federation called the hearing “a critical moment for dairy’s future,” and “Following USDA’s initial presentations, the hearing will launch into discussions of specific issues including milk composition; surveyed commodity products; Class III and Class IV formula factors; the Base Class I skim milk price; and Class I and Class II price differentials.”

After the hearing’s conclusion, entities involved will have time to respond to the testimony, followed by a USDA draft decision, then more discussion, and ultimately a vote by farmers on a final proposal — likely in the second half of 2024.

Cash cheese prices weakened this week as the cheddar blocks fell to $1.89 per pound on Aug. 23 (the lowest since July 27), but closed Aug. 25 at $1.945. This is down 8.25 cents on the week and 20.5 cents above a year ago.

The barrels finished at $1.80, three-quarter cents lower, 8.25 cents below a year ago, and 14.5 cents below the blocks. Sales totaled four cars of block and nine of barrel.

Cheesemakers tell Dairy Market News that demand is on par with previous years in mid to late August. Orders are average and inventories are balanced, but moving smoothly. Spot milk at mid-week was at Class III to 50 cents over. A number said they had not been offered any extra milk the past few weeks.

Butter closed the week at $2.67 per pound, down 3 cents on the week and 41.25 cents below a year ago when it sat at $3.0825. There were 70 sales on the week. By the way, the highest butter price ever was $3.2675 on Oct. 6, 2022.

High summer temperatures are permeating a lot of the country, says Dairy Market News, but butter plants in the Midwest say cream became more available this week. School milk cream spinoff and lighter demand from Class II processors added to the supply and some processors were taking cream from the West. Cream handlers said Labor Day related preparations have already begun.

Grade A nonfat dry milk closed at $1.105 per pound, unchanged on the week, but 45.5 cents below a year ago. There were nine sales on the week.

Dry whey saw its Aug. 25 finish at 28 cents per pound, up a penny on the week, highest since June 13, but 19 cents below a year ago, on 11 sales for the week.

China’s July dairy import data looked a little more positive, but no one is breaking out the champagne. Whole milk powder imports were up 23.9 percent from July 2022; but HighGround Dairy says that’s against a backdrop of relatively weak import volumes the previous year and only two-thirds of those in 2021.

HighGround Dairy notes that New Zealand dominated the market with an 88 percent market share, “displacing every other region — a sign of how much of a discount New Zealand whole milk powder exporters have been offering to move volumes.”

HighGround Dairy says, “Trade with the United States dropped below prior year levels for the second consecutive month, a result of reduced demand for whey, but also skim milk powder. Whey imports from the United States fell 30 percent from prior year, dragging overall volumes lower.

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.

Merge Impact aims to supply biodiversity data

By TIM KING

The Land Correspondent

MORRISON, Ill. — Loss of biodiversity is the second-most urgent environmental concern after climate change, according to the Swiss nonprofit association Union for Ethical Biotrade.

“For the 2022 UEBT Biodiversity Barometer, consumer research was conducted in Brazil, China, France, Germany, UK and USA,” the organization, founded in 2007, writes on its web site. “Across all countries, climate change is ranked as the first concern for 35 percent of respondents, while loss of biodiversity ranks first for 21 percent.”

That growing concern regarding biodiversity can prove to be an opportunity for farmers using regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices, according Merge Impact, an environmental and agricultural data management firm based in this farming community in northwestern Illinois.

“Using a variety of indicators, including crop diversity, avian and invertebrate species proliferation, and regulating services, Merge can quantify biodiversity on farm landscapes associated with field boundaries in our database,” Beth Robertson-Martin, a company co-founder said upon the launching of the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Evaluation (BEE) tool in June.

Merge Impact was founded in January of this year and, prior to launching BEE, had launched a joint venture with Earth Optics, of Arlington, Va., to measure health and map soil data. In March, prior to the Earth Optics joint venture, they also launched MINT, a system to measure nutritional value in foods.

The BEE tool will build upon the soil

health and nutritional data collected on a farm to give potential customers a clear picture of the sustainability of the farm. Neither BEE, or the other two databases, are a certification program. Robertson-Martin says BEE goes beyond organic certification and could actually be used to help achieve organic certification on a farm.

“Merge Impact will work with farmers to quantify and measure their biodiversity so that it can be improved upon, therefore setting each farm up for success for any other sustainability metric or certification they choose to pursue,” she said. “Regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program, they only focus on biodiversity in the crop rotation, and the standards are typically only to include more than one crop in the rotation. BEE is focused on the biodiversity of the farm ecosystem, not just crop rotations.”

While organic certification just focuses on crop diversity, BEE collects data about plant, invertebrate, and bird species, along with habitat quality measurements, according RobertsonMartin.

That ability to quantify biological diversity attracted Luke Peterson of A-Frame Farm, near Madison, Minn., to be the first client of Merge Impact’s BEE measurement tool. A-Frame Farm, founded by Sally and Carmen Fernholz, was a pioneer in developing state and national organic certification standards.

“The more diverse a farm ecosystem is, the better chance it has to survive,” Peterson was quoted as saying in a Merge Impact press release.

“Biodiversity creates opportunities, where the lack of creates scarcity.”

Peterson was unavailable for an interview.

Peterson and Robertson-Martin, believe some of those opportunities will likely be created by establishing a monetary value to the data reflecting the

existing and increasing biological diversity of A-Frame Farm.

Robertson-Martin points out that A-Frame Farm already supplies ingredients to food brands such as Simple Mills and Lil Bucks. Both companies go to great lengths to show customers the depth of their commitment to biodiversity, soil health, a regenerative agriculture.

“At Simple Mills, we think about regenerative agriculture as an approach to farming that builds ecosystem resilience through principles that consider the holistic context of the farm system,” Simple Mills says on its web site home page.

These companies’ marketing rhetoric makes it apparent they are aware of the consumer research done by the Union for Ethical Biotrade. Having made the claims about the farms that their product comes from, the companies — and their brands — want the data to back those claims up. Merge Impact plans to be in a position to sell it to them.

“We don’t charge a farmer anything,”

said Robertson-Martin. “Merge aligns the services with a contract for a brand to purchase the impact data as a premium on production. So for wheat, they pay for the wheat like normal, but they will pay an additional amount per unit. For example, wheat may cost $10 per bushel and Merge Biodiversity data costs an additional 25 cents per bushel.”

“Additionally,” she continued, “if Luke’s farming practices create any credit opportunities for ecosystem service, he can market those through Merge Impact’s marketplace.”

Merge Impact charges companies a premium for soil health and nutritional data as well.

“BEE empowers farmers to make informed decisions that benefit their operations, profitability, and the environment,” Ben Adolph, a Merge Impact co-founder, said. “We provide independent, verifiable data to tell the entire story of how a crop is grown, how sustainably it is produced, and how nutritious it is. Plus, we help the farmer articulate all that to food brands, supply chains, and the retail customers.” v

Beth Robertson-Martin

Real Estate Wanted

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

(612)328-4506

Feed Seed Hay

4x5 net round bales, leafy alfalfa, grass, some mix hay, about 940 lbs. ea. $50 - $75 ea. Rotary chopped, soybean stubble, corn stalks. (Home)320-382-6288 or (Cell) 320-905-6195

Feed Seed Hay

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

Bins & Buildings

FOR SALE: 5 bins - 18’, 21’, (2)24’ and 30’, all bins have aeration floors, w/ fans. 2 have power sweeps. Call early mornings. 320-587-9409

SILO

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Bins & Buildings

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

888-830-7757

Farm Equipment

2005 JD 893 8x30 CH w/ hydro deck plates & PTO drives, $12,900; JD 115 15’ stalk chopper, $5,750; Killbros 690 grain cart w/ 24.5x32 tires, $7,450; JD 328 small square baler w/ 40 thrower, nice, $7,950; Westfield 10x61 L.P. swing hopper auger, $3,900. 320-769-2756 or 320-361-0065

FOR SALE: Glencoe Farmhand SS7400 disc chisel, rear 5 bar drag &/or rear leveler; (2) EZ Flo 300, 12.5-15 tires, 1074 running gears; Westfield MK100-61, 540 PTO, low profile hopper, hydraulic lift; Westfield 6”x41’ auger, elec motor drive, Delux grain dryer, model 2515, 3ph, continous flow; 1979 Chevy C70, 5x2 spd transmission, box & hoist. 507-317-5966

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: DMI 530 B disc ripper; JD 11 shank chisel plow, Tru-Depth; Model 500 EZ Trail grain cart, 18.4x26, diamond tread, lite kit, 1000 PTO; Loftness stalk chopper, 4 wheels, lite pkg, 1000 PTO; 2 Feterl 8x60 augers, 1 Feterl 10x34, 1 Westfield 10x61, swing hopper. 952-649-8604

FOR SALE: 2014 Woods S20CD stalk chopper, 20’, w/ hyd cylinder, pull type, exc cond, knives turned, low acreage, $13,800/OBO. Also NH 28-60” forage blower, 540 PTO, $300/OBO. 507-381-8280

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FOR SALE: Westfield 1071 auger, $2,925; Farm King auger, $2,925; Ford A-62 payloader, $5,900; Ford 9000 single axle w/ 500 bu gravity box, $3,900. 320-894-4982

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: Stir-ator for a 24’ bin, unloading auger for a 24’ bin, stairways for grain bin, Agri speed hitch. 320-583-3131

FOR SALE: Lorenz Model 1250 Grinder/Mixer, 100 bushel, long unload auger, $6,500. 507-649-0883 Lake City, MN.

FOR SALE: Westfield Auger

WR80-26, 8”X26’ w/ 7.5 HP motor, $4,500; 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 4x4, 3812 miles, 342 hrs, $4,200. 507-317-3396

FOR SALE: Model 605 Parker gravity box, 4 wheel brakes, truck tires, always shedded. 507-276-1381

We buy Salvage Equipment

Parts Available

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

Tractors

FOR SALE: 1973 JD 4030 dsl 80HP, 8spd synchro, 2 hyd valves, 14.9x38 rear 80%, 11L14 front, new paint, approx 7,900 hrs, $17,500. 1954 JD 70 gas, $4,500. (5) gravity boxes w/ gears, 8 to 10 ton 270-300 bu, $900/ea.

763-389-5786

FOR SALE: 3 F12s for parts. $200 each. 651-686-8247

Tractors

FOR SALE: Case IH 1896, 4856 hrs, 4spd, 3spd pwr shift, Cummins eng, 1100x16 , 18.4x38 axle duals, rock box, air seat, cold a/c, dual PTO, 3pt. Case 2290, 4267 hrs, air seat 18.4x38 axle duals, rock box, 952-649-8604

FOR SALE: 1980 Allis 7080, has been overhauled, new inside tires, field ready. 507-754-5028

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Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177

14 miles So. of Sauk Centre

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NEW Massey 4710 w/loader ….......... COMING

NEW NH Boomer 45w/loader ….......… On Hand

3-New Massey GC1725 …….................. On Hand

’21 Massey 4707 w/loader …................…. $59,500

’16 Massey 4608 rops w/loader …............. $39,900

Massey 1652/cab/loader …….......………. $37,900

’21 NH T7.260 ……….............………… $169,000

’18 NH T4.75 w/loader .............................. $52,500

’17 NH T4.75 w/loader ……..................… $51,000

’12 NH T9.560 2200hrs ……..........…… $249,000

Allis 8030 PD ………………...............…. $24,500

Allis 185 …………....................…..……… $6,500

TILLAGE

DMI Tigermate II 40.5 w/3bar ….…......… $17,500

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

NEW NH L318/L320/L328 wheeled units ....... On Hand

NEW NH C327/C337/C345 track units .......... On Order

NH L228 low hours ............................................ $44,900

HAY TOOLS

New Disc Mowers - 107,108,109

New Disc Mower Cond. - 10’, 13’

New Wheel Rakes - 10,12,14

New NH Hay Tools - ON HAND

Kuhn SR112 Rake ……........................................... $6,900

16’ NH FP240 w/heads ……..................………… $69,000

PLANTERS

JD 7200 12-30 w/LF ………........................…… $21,000

White 6122 L/F .Ins 20-20 ……..........……… $14,500

Taking 2023 New Spring Orders

COMBINES

NEW Geringhoff chopping cornhead Call

18’ Gleaner S97 ..................................................... Call

’02 Gleaner R62 …...............................……… $53,500

’94 Gleaner R72 ………….......................…… $22,500

Gleaner R65 ……...................................…….. $79,500

Geringhoff

........................ Call Pre-Owned Grain Cart ................................... On Hand New Horsch Jokers ................................................ Call

To submit your classified

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

Tractors

FOR SALE: 2018 340 row

Trac, C.E.T., 926 hours, all options, 18” tracks, one 20” spacing, rented out land. Call 320-808-5723

NEW AND USED TRACTOR

PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 50 Series & newer tractors, AC-all models, Large Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage

715-673-4829

Harvesting Equip

ATTENTION FARMERS!

Looking for corn and beans to harvest this fall.

320-221-3789

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: JD 6620 Combine, 5000 HRS, field ready. 3 heads, JD 922 head, 643 head, 444 head. Retired.

507-822-2188

Harvesting Equip

FOR SALE: 2 Sukup 10hp single phase centrifugal fans w/ transitions. $1,000/ea.

651-387-2085

FOR SALE: 1020 bean head, 25’ field tracker, very good, $4,500. 320-292-4284

Grain Handling Equipment

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

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: 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

AUCTION

6 TRACTORS, 2 LATE MODEL TRAILERS, FORKLIFT, MOWING EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, MOTORCYCLE, ALUM. FISHING BOAT

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9 • 9:30 A.M.

LOCATION: 706 E. Main, Lake Mills, IA

OWNER: PEDERSON FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PLUS 3 CONSIGNORS

Due to the death of a few members of the Family Partnership, they have decided to sell personal property holdings at public auction.

For sale bill, complete details and photos visit: www.hawkeyeauction.com

641-592-2754

Livestock

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

Swine

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

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

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: 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

FOR SALE: 7 week old kittens available to good homes. (507)317-3788

Trucks & Trailers

For Sale: 1950 Reo Gold Comet call 507-720-0971

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

Did you know you can place a classified ad online?

www.TheLandOnline.com

DODGE COUNTY: Approx. 120 Acres Prime, Top Producing Farmland, 94.6 CPI, Pattern Tiled. MLS# 6370880 NEW LISTING!

MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 295.29 Acres Prime Farmland, 92 CPI, Pattern Tiled. MLS# 6407214 PENDING!

MOWER COUNTY: Approx. 34.9 Acres Good Farmland, 81.2 CPI.

MLS# 6371032 SOLD!

FILLMORE COUNTY: Approx. 113.43 Acres Good Farmland, 85.4 CPI.

MLS# 6363267 SOLD!

Full

Ensure

Management Services

Estate Auction

Saturday, September 9th- 10:00 am

26429 511th Ave. Winthrop, MN

This is a live ONLY auction.

For more information & pictures go to: magesland.com

Tractors & Equipment: Restored IH 300 gas utility tractor, wf, 4603hrs, fenders, 2pt, sng hyd to the front or back of tractor, torque amplifier, new battery, 540 pto, 13.6x28 rears; IH 574 gas tractor w/ weather sheel, approx. 3,875hrs w/ IH 2050 loader & bucket, 16.9x28 rears, 3pt, 540-1000 pto, wf, sgl hyd, new hour gage; HMD lawn tractor, no engine, w/ seat & mower; HMD chicken feeders; yard light; hose w/ hose reels, commercial; weight box; round 100 gal water tank; 2 wheel yard kart; Agrifab 38” lawn sweep; platform scales; Bull Dog farming mill w/ screens; used 14’ & 15” tires; 4x8 trailer w/ tilt bed & lights; portable 200 gal fuel barrel w/ gasboy pump; transfer pump, 5hp, hoses, valves; 2pt platform carrier; pressure washer, 1200 psi on cart; HMD portable overhead hoist on wheels; Club Car golf cart w/ top, electric, weather cover kit; HMD motorized pull type JD tiller w/ wisc. motor; IH 574 tire chains; bucket attachments; 8’ pickup topper; Shop & Tools: Portable work bench for shop; rotar table w/ rotar; portable steel welding table; table saw; mitor saw; planer; radial arm saw; metal tool box; wood & metal horse eveners; antique horse cult. no handles; battery chargers; gas cans; wrenches; hitch pins; chop saw; rope; misc. organizers; tap & dye set; hand torch; Trouble light; jacks; drill bits; elec. chain saw; air nail gun; quick grip, clamps; vise; wooden posts; T posts; lighted star; steel barrels; pull type grader; 200 gal P.U. fuel barrel no pump; 6”x10’ transfer auger w/ stand, no motor; wire cattle gates; fiberglass garage door, 18’x12’ w/ accessories; IH pto, 3pt mower; JD 495 4-row planter; ice fishing metal sled; misc. lumber; many cords of firewood; portable work benches; assortment of misc. tools; hand and power tools; K&T drill press & wall type; grinder on stand, port; variety of generators; and more!

Yard, Household, & Misc: 2003 Yamaha 4-wheeler 350cc, 1100 miles, 4x4; portable ice fishing house; variety of fishing items; saws; sledge hammers; dehorner; overhead 200gal fuel barrel; grader blades; small garden tiller; cargo carrier on 2 wheel trailer; shelving; stools; Maytag ringer washer; raised garden box; Pro-Form xp pedal bike; china sets; Correlle sets; FireKing bowls; common dishes; serving platers; many glasses; pitchers serving bowls; shot glasses; records; turn-table w/ speakers; radio; S&P sets; totes; sewing items; ironing board; suitcases; Christmas items; flat screen TV w/ remote; cassette & 8-track tapes; Lift Asst. chair; wall desk w/ roll top; picnic table; various furniture items & cabinets; adjustable bedroom set; upright armoire; glider rocker; desk; cedar chest; card table, chairs; bells; microwave stand; medical walking aid devices Antique depression glass; Carnival glass pitcher & bowl; Redwing #2 crocks & other misc. crocks; Gaylord Feedmill bean pot; cast iron pot w/ holding iron; grind stone in stand; retro table and chairs; 1969 16 magazines; wooden standing Klondike incubator; cookie jars; United Accordion w/ case & book; many more misc. items!

Elmer & Elsie Schulz Estate

Listing Auctioneers: Joe Maidl ~ 507-276-7749 & Ryan Froehlich ~ 507-380-9256

Auctioneers: Matt Mages, New Ulm Lic 52-22-018; Larry Mages, Lafayette; Joe Wersal, Winthrop; Joe Maidl, Lafayette; John Goelz, Franklin; Ryan Froehlich, Winthrop; Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Service, LLC. Terms: Read all terms online before bidding. No buyers premium. Note: All buyers of large equipment bring a letter of approval from your bank.

magesland.com

Retirement Auction

Tuesday, September 12th- 10:30 am

521 Lake Ave. S Balaton MN 56115

This is a live & online simulcast auction. For more information & pictures go to: magesland.com

Few small items, be on time!

Combine & Tractors: JD 9660 Combine, 2315 eng hrs, 1510 sep hrs, dual, flat fold hopper, 2WD, rear float tires, SN: H09660S712322; JD 893 corn head, 8 row, 30”; JD 630F bean head; head trailer; Case IH 2294 tractor, 7643 hrs, triple hyd, hub duals, 540 & 1000 pto, rock box, one owner; JD 8440 tractor, 8429 hrs, 3pt pto, 3 hyd, 50 series engine, hub duals, rock box; JD 4020 tractor w/ JD158 loader, diesel, 2 hyd, powershift, Hiniker cab, new rear tires and rims, overhaul done 400 hrs ago;

Machinery & Misc: JD 1760 planter, 12 row, 30”, folding wings, one owner; Krause 4927A tandem disk, 25’, flex wing, one owner; JD 120 stalk chopper, 20’, pull type, one owner; JD 85 cultivator, 12 row, 30”, flat fold; JD 2500 plow, 7 bottom, 18”; 300 gal sprayer, 3 pt, 55 gal drum; New Holland 456 sickle mower; JD digger, 10’, 3pt; 7500 & 3500 gal diesel fuel storage system w/ elect pump; tractor wheel weight; tailgate seed tender; track wacker; air compressor, high volume; high volume & pressure power washer, gas, 360 hp; truck tool box; misc parts for machinery, tractors, shop items & more;

Grain Trailers & Vehicles: 2005 Freightliner Semi, 450 hp Mercedes, 13 speed, AWD, aluminum wheels, 70” sleeper cab; 1993 Kenworth 600 Semi, 400 hp cat 3406, 13 speed, AWD, aluminum wheels, 400,000 on overhaul; 2016 Wilson Pacesetter grain trailer, 43’x66”, elect roll trap, aluminum wheels, air ride suspension, less than 10,000 miles, one owner;2012 Wilson Commander grain trailer, 43’x66”, elect roll trap, aluminum wheels, aluminum surface, air ride suspension; 2007 Wilson Pacesetter grain trailer, 43’x66”, elect roll trap, aluminum wheels, air ride suspension, one owner; 93 Hobbs 28’ single axel van trailer, sells w/ 1500 & 1300 gal tanks, chemical induction cone, & 5 hp transfer motor; homemade 20’ flat top gooseneck tandem trailer; 1985 IH S2500 dump truck, diesel, single axel, w/ snow plow; 1997 Chevy S10, 136,800 miles, 5 speed, tow bar hitch;

Cr aig & Ann Gifford

For More information on specific items, contact Craig at 507 -530-6701

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

Auctioneers: Matt Mages, New Ulm Lic 52-22-018; Larry Mages, Lafayette; Joe Wersal, Winthrop; Joe Maidl, Lafayette; John Goelz, Franklin; Ryan Froehlich, Winthrop;

Clerk: Mages Land Co. & Auction Service, LLC. Terms: Read all terms online before bidding. No buyers premium. Note: All buyers of large equipment bring a letter of approval from your bank. magesland.com

is 5.16” x 6” “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

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

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

PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS

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

HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

REINKE IRRIGATION

Sales & Service

New & Used

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

Looking for something special?

Why not place a “want” ad in The Land classifieds?

Call The Land today!

507-345-4523 or 1-800-657-4665

Wingert

Land ServiceS

LE SUEUR COUNTY FARM LAND FOR SALE

120 ACRES MORE OR LESS VERNON AND LORETTA SCHWARTZ FARM LAND

Sealed bids will be received up to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at Schmidt Law Office, Ltd., Robert E. Schmidt, Attorney at Law, 104 - 10th Avenue SE, P.O. Box 502, Waseca, MN 56093 for the sale of the Vernon and Loretta Schwartz Farm, being offered by the children of Vernon and Loretta Schwartz, located in Section 24 and Section 13 of Water ville Township, Le Sueur County, MN. The 120-acre farm with 4-bedroom, 2-bath home and double garage and buildings will be sold as one unit. The land is generally described below, with actual legal description to govern:

The Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (NE1/4 of NW), Section Twenty-four (24), Township One Hundred Nine (109) North, Range Twenty-three (23) West; and the East Half of the Southwest Quarter (E1/2 of SW), Section Thirteen (13), Township One Hundred Nine (109) North, Range Twenty-three (23) West, all in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.

Land Specialists and

novotony reaL eState

LAND AUCTION

Thursday, Sept. 14 Aldondale Farms

467.5 Acres (offered in 5 parcels) Springfield Community Center, Springfield, MN

For property brochures call Chuck Wingert, Wingert Land Services, 507-381-9790 Wayne Novotny, Novotny Real Estate, 507-920-6793 or visit www.wingertlandservices.com

AVOCA SPRAY SERVICE

INVENTORY REDUCTION AUCTION

Sunday, September 10th, 2023

Online Only

*Avoca Spray Service will be selling a large selection of augers, sprayers, grain vacs & snow blowers. Over 100 augers of different makes & sizes with many commercial grade augers available. Also, 25 pull-type sprayers, stalk choppers & grain vacs.

Bidding Opens: Saturday, Sept. 2nd @ 10:00 a.m.

Auction Starts Closing: Sunday, Sept. 10th @ 5:00 p.m.

Preview Dates: Friday. Sept. 8th Noon – 4:00 p.m & Saturday, Sept. 9th 8:00 a.m. – Noon.

On-Site Payment & Pickup: Monday, Sept. 11th 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. & Tuesday, Sept. 12th 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Address: 1511 Hwy 59 NW Slayton, MN 56172

All bids received will be opened at 1:30 p.m. at the Water ville Event Center (formerly Main Street Lounge), 120 East Main Street, Water ville, MN on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Each bid must state the full amount offered for the entire 120 acres. Only persons submitting a written bid shall be allowed to be present and to bid on the property up for sale and raise their bid in writing after the bids have been opened. The sale shall be for cash.

The real estate above described is not subject to any lease for 2024 and is available for the 2024 crop year.

All of the above property is being sold “AS IS” subject to all easements, agreements, and restrictions of record. Land information and Sale Procedure Information is available by contacting Schmidt Law Office, Ltd., Robert E. Schmidt, P. O. Box 502, Waseca, MN 56093; Telephone 507/835-4884.

18928 Jasmine Rd Mankato, MN 5600l wingertlandservices.com

ANNUAL LABOR DAY 2023

2 DAY AUCTION

For Complete, Up-To-Date Listings: Please visit www.hamiltonauctioncompany.com

Sunday, Sept. 3rd, 2023

- ONLINE ONLY

Hobby & Antique Farm Equipment, Attachments, Shop Tools, Misc. Farm Items, Lumber & More

Bidding Opens: Friday, August 25th, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m. • Starts Closing: Sunday, Sept. 3rd @ Noon

Monday, September 4th, 2023 - LIVE/ONLINE

Farm Equipment, Trucks, Trailers, Grain Carts, Construction Equipment & Vehicles

Bidding Opens: Friday, August 25th, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m. • Live Auction Starts: Monday, Sept. 4th, 2023 @ 9:00 a.m.

LOCAL CONSIGNERS

COMBINES/CHOPPERS: ‘15 JD S680 Combine; ‘14 JD S680 Combine; ‘14 JD S670 Combine; ‘01 JD 9550 Combine; ‘00 JD 9650 STS Combine; Int’l 1460 Combine; ‘80 Case IH 1440 Combine; JD 9610 Maximizer Combine; Int’l 1420 Axial Combine; JD 4420 Combine

HEADS & HEAD CARTS: ‘09 JD 608C CH; ‘08 Case IH 2608 CH; ‘12 Case IH 2608 8R30” CH; Case IH 3412 CH;, JD 220 Bean Head; 1063 6R30” CH; JD 925 Bean Head; Case IH 863 CH; Case IH 25ft 1020 Bean Head; JD 608C 8R CH; JD 930 30ft Bean Head; JD 930F Bean Head w/ Cary Air Reel. TRACTORS: ‘13 JD 9560RT; ‘13 Case IH 85C w/Ldr; JD 4955 MFD Tractor; ‘04 Case IH MX255; ‘76 JD 4230 Tractor; ‘64

JD 3020; ‘73 JD 4430 Tractor; ‘90 JD 4955 Tractor; Int’l 986 Tractor; Int’l 966 Tractor w/IH 2350 Ldr; JD 60 Tractor; JD 401A Industrial A Ldr

Tractor; IH 856 Custom; Case IH 2096 2WD Tractor w/Cab. FARM EQUIPMENT: Ag Systems Nitro Master 8500 NH3 Bar; ‘15 Blu-Jet AT 6020 Applicator Bar; ‘14 McFarlane QT215F Quadra-Till; ‘13 McFarlane QT215F Quadra-Till; ‘10 Case IH Tiger Mate 200; ‘17 Amity 3350 Air Delivery Cart; Krause 8200 36ft Rock Flex Disc; Unverferth 130 Zone Builder; Sunflower 4530 Disc Chisel; Krause 4800 Disc Chisel; DMI 730 Disc Ripper; DMI 530C Disc Ripper; JD 2700 5 Shank 30” w/Rear Buster Bar; Int’l 14ft Chisel Plow; NH3 Bar; DMI 730B Econo Ripper 7 Shank; Riteway Rock Picker; JD 3710 8 Bottom Variable Width Moldboard Plow; ‘19 Land Pride 3pt Rear Mount Quick Tach 7ft Cutter; Int’l 710 5 Bottom 18” Plow; DMI Tiger Mate II Field Cultivator; Brillion Land Commander; Krause Kuhn 4850 Dominator; Heston 2000 150 Chopper w/ 2R CH 30”; DMI Coulter Champ 2 Chisel Plow; Int’l 710 Moldboard Plow; (10) 1,000-gal Anhydrous Tanks on Gears, 8ft Rock Rake. SPRAYERS: Hardi 7000 Pull-Type Sprayer; Rogator 1194 Sprayer; Bestway 500-gal Pull-Type Sprayer. PLANTERS & DRILLS: (2) JD 750 20ft No-Till Drills; JD 7000 Planter; ‘00 Kinze 3600 16R30” Planter; JD 7000 12R Corn Planter; JD 7000 Planter; Kinze 2600 32R Planter; JD 7000 Planter 8R30”; ‘05 Geringhoff Rota Disc. SEMIS & TRUCKS: ‘14 Freightliner Columbia 112 Day Cab Semi; ‘12 Volvo Day Cab Semi D13 Engine; ‘13 Volvo Day Cab D13; ‘06 Sterling A9500; ‘01 Int’l 910; ‘09 Peterbilt 386; ‘02 Freightliner FL80 Flatbed Roll Back Truck; ‘98 Int’l 4900 Roll Back Truck; ‘70 Chevy Tandem w/18ft Box; ‘89 GMC C6500 Electric Service Truck; ‘74 GMC Straight Truck; ‘85 Chevy C70 Grain Truck. TRAILERS: ‘11 Timpte 42ft Hopper Bottom Trailer; ‘15 TMAN 18ft + 2ft Tail Trailer; ‘17 PJ 35ft Gooseneck Tandem Axle Trailer; ‘01 Load-Star 26ft Gooseneck Trailer; ‘00 Wilson Commander Grain Trailer; ‘13 Air Tow Drop Deck Trailer; ‘09 Road King 18ft; (2) 7000 Axles w/ Ramps; ‘84 Burro Gooseneck Livestock Trailer; ‘94 Wells Cargo 36ft Gooseneck Trailer; ‘04 Gooseneck 20ft Livestock Trailer; ‘79 Blaine Livestock Trailer; ‘08 Royal Cargo 7X16 Enclosed Trailer; ‘95 Better Built Gooseneck Trailer; ‘75 Traileze 36ft Flatbed Trailer; ‘99 Load Trail Trailer

HAY EQUIPMENT: ‘14 Vermeer 504 Pro Round Baler; NH 1411 Discbine; ‘01 Victor/Oybo 245 Hay Merger; NH 790 Chopper w/Hay Head; New Idea Hay Rake; (2) 16ft Hay Racks on Gears; EZ Trail 8 Bale Hay Wagon; JD Mower Conditioner 820; Heston Hay Processor/Grinder; JD 1209 Haybine. LIVESTOCK: Better Built 4250 Liquid Manure Spreader; Balzar 2600 Magnum Honey Wagon; Husky 4000 Gallon Manure Tank. WAGONS: (2) J&M 350 Wagons on 13-Ton Gears; Kinze 440 Auger Wagon; Gehl 980 Chopper Box on Tandem H&S Gear; Kilbros 1175 Grain Cart w/Tarp; Parker 4800 Gravity Wagon; H&S 500 Silage Wagon; Gehl 970 Wagon; Brent 675 Grain Cart; Brent 674bu Grain Cart; Gehl 970 14ft Wagon; BB 1175 Grain Cart;  Parker 350bu Gravity Wagon & Gear; JD 1210A Grain Cart. AUGERS: Westfield MKX 100-73 Swing Hopper Auger; Mayrath 10”x70ft PTO auger; Feterl 8”x65ft Auger w/Electric Motor Mount. MOWERS: Land Pride AFM4214 14ft Grooming Mower w/Extra Parts; ‘15 JD CX 15ft Batwing Mower. RECREATIONAL: ‘23 Club Car Tempo Golf Cart; ‘20 Club Car Tempo Golf Cart; EZ-GO Golf Cart w/Work Bed; ‘78 Coachman 5th Wheel Camper; ‘07 Forest River Cherokee 18’ Bumper Pull Camper; ‘05 MC Trailers Motorcycle Trailer; ‘14 Artic Cat 500 Prowler HDX; ‘10 Aluma Aluminum Trike Trailer, 5 ½ X 10; ‘99 Terry 5th Wheel Camper. SKID LOADERS/ BACKHOES/CONSTRUCTION: ‘00 NH 675E Backhoe; ‘04 NH LS125 Skid Loader; ‘19 Bobcat S740; ‘13 NH 225 Skid Steer; Stone AVR 4000 Dual Roller; Aquablast Man Lift; ‘89 Gehl 883 Dynalift Telehandler; ‘04 JD 270C LC Excavator. VEHICLES: ‘10 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup; ‘06 Chevy 1-Ton Dually; ‘01 Cadillac Deville Car; ‘93 Volkswagen Handicap Van w/ Lift; ‘03 Chevy Silverado 1500; ‘06 Ford F250 6 Liter Power Stroke Diesel; ‘02 Dodge Ram 2500; ‘93 Ford F350 Dually w/Flatbed & Hidden 5th Wheel Ball; ‘00 Ford Super Duty Crew Cab; ‘79 Camero Z28 w/T-Tops; ‘03 Chevy Blazer; ‘98 Dodge 3500 Dually (Single Wheel); ‘03 Chevy 2500HD; ‘08 Ford F150 XL; 1960 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88.

130 State Hwy. 16

Dexter, MN 55926 • Phone: 507-584-0133

Do you have an upcoming

507-345-4523

800-657-4665 TheLandOnline.com

Watch for the Corn and Soybean Seed Guides

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This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Managing Editor Paul Malchow.

...and nary a vampire in sight.

Can you devote three buildings and a couple of city blocks to something as small as a clove of garlic? Welcome to the Minnesota Garlic Festival.

Located at the McLeod County fairgrounds, the festival marked its 16th year on Aug. 12 in Hutchinson, Minn. It is a production of the Crow River Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association with participants and growers from throughout the state.

Of course it wouldn’t be called a garlic festival without garlic and visitors could find more bulbs than a movie theatre marquee. Sixteen growers were on hand to sell their hard-earned bounty. Bins and racks are filled with a myriad of varieties — each with their own distinctive name and characteristics. “Purple Glazer” is purple, of course; “Georgian Fire” might not be for the Minnesotan bland; while other variety titles are more mysterious. One vendor had a crate of garlic bulbs simply labeled “Leah.”

The festival awards prizes for the biggest and the best garlic. Farmers share their expertise in a variety of garlic growing tips and the Chef Demo Stage provided the audience with recipes to try. There was even a booth with garlic growing experts to offer advice to novices looking to create their own crop.

And man does not live by garlic alone. Vendors in the commercial building featured fresh produce, olive oils, home canned goods and mushrooms. There

was clothing, kitchen items and a beverage pavilion with local wines, craft beer and garlic Bloody Marys.

Those looking for a bite to eat could choose from a dozen stands offering a wide variety of fare including pasties with roasted garlic butter topping, garlic kettle corn, and even garlic soft-serve ice cream.

But while garlic reigns front and center, the event has the festival element as well. Musicians performed at various locations. There was a tent with children’s activities including a workshop where kids could build and decorate their own kite. A large area behind the tent was available for builders to test-fly their creations.

The one-day event takes place on the second Saturday of August from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 and parking is free. For more information, visit the event’s website at www.mngarlicfest.com and find them on Facebook. v Hutchinson,