Last month, as I took my seat at the media table for a Farmfest forum, I wondered if there would be any ag acronyms that would thwart me. But instead, I was thrown off by a call to prayer.
The majority of the panelists stood from their positions, while the others remained seated with heads bowed. Audience members followed suit as we were led in a prayer addressed to a heavenly father. I found myself contemplating if anyone was feeling the same way I was.
Have you ever been in a situation that just doesn’t sit well with you? And have you, maybe out of surprise or in an effort to keep things nice, normal, and neat, ended up going with the status quo despite the sounding of your inner alarm?
was pushed on any visiting schools that didn’t have a similar affiliation. Prior to basketball games, my high school coach led our team in prayer, but did so in the locker room, not in the presence of our opponents, teams from tribal and public schools. (I’ll admit, prayer in this situation was also questionable to me, but only because of its knack to wipe out my competitive spirit just before I was expected to b-e aggressive for four quarters.)
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Not all situations call for dramatic defiance, and I don’t think this one did either. I just wish I hadn’t bowed my head.
To me, prayer gives the impression that religion is somehow part of agriculture’s mission statement. While faith is often a priority that seems to go hand in hand with farming, it’s not an absolute, and Christianity is not the only practiced religion.
The absence of public prayer never has to equal an absence in any person’s faith, but rather a presence in respect for all in attendance.
Not long after that forum, I attended another ag event. I wasn’t invited to pray; I was prompted to. This time I politely did not.
I’m actually a pretty spiritual person, and I pray often. For a little background, I was raised Lutheran and attended Lutheran schools from preschool through college. I even lived out of state during the school year beginning after eighth grade to continue a Christian education. While religion was a huge part of our daily lives, I can’t recall a time that it
I’ve mentioned before that my dad’s dad was a farmer. My mom’s dad was a pastor, who fully retired when he was 92 years old. In the ‘70s, he served as chairman of his town’s bicentennial committee, and was asked to deliver the invocation at the event. The mayor likely thought he was the perfect fit, both a preacher and a history enthusiast. He offered instead to announce a moment for silent thanksgiving. The consideration shown was at the heart of my grandpa’s beliefs. After all — from I Corinthians — even greater than faith, is love.
The ag industry has sent a loud and clear message that it needs more people to grow food and be responsible stewards of the land. We know the average age of the farmer is increasing and that Americans are steadily becoming more removed from the farm. I hear so often there’s room at the table, leaves can be added; just please pull up a chair.
In my opinion, Christian prayer at ag events gives the impression that it’s a certain type of farmer the industry wants more of, and I hope that’s not the message anyone wants to send. Farming is for anyone with the capability and courage, and I’d love to see future events more thoroughly reflect that.
Laura Cole is the staff writer of The Land. She may be reached at lcole@TheLandOnline.com. ❖
The pictures are terrifying and heartbreaking. That’s no cozy fire in any of them. No, the photos you see makes you want to flee.
If a wildfire happens in your area, what do you do? How do you keep your family safe? Reach for these great books and start learning...
c.2023,
$27.00 - $32.50 varied page counts
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Humans wouldn’t be where we are without harnessing fire millennia ago. We need fire, but not like this. In “Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World” (Knopf, $32.50), author John Vaillant tells the tale of a 2018 wildfire in the center of Canada’s oil industry, and how nearly 90,000 people had to run for their lives in that ultra-flammable area.
But that’s only part of the story Vaillant tells. The other part is that it could happen again...
Indeed, says author Jeff Goodell in “The Heat Will Kill You First” (Little, Brown, $29.00), we live in a world that’s different now than it was even just a few decades ago. The seasons are skewed, he says, temperatures are higher, crops are affected, pests seem to be taking advantage of it, and it’s only going to get worse.
What is it like to be someone who battles a fire? In “Burnt: A Memoir of Fighting Fire” by Clare Frank (Abrams Press, $27.00), you’ll read about being a female firefighter in what was traditionally a man’s world. Author Frank lives in Northern California and has been battling blazes since she was 17 years old. This book will take you from a spark of
idea to a passion and a job she loves. It’s a story of risk and responsibility, of enormous amounts of courage, and you’ll love it.
Finally, how can you be sure that you, your family, and your home are safe from fire? “This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat” by Nick Mott and Justin Angle, illustrated by Jessy Stevenson (Bloomsbury, $27.99) is a great way to begin, with solid ideas you can implement now and explanations for things you may not quite understand. Learn the history of fighting wildfires, what happens when a fire is spotted, how to lower risks of wildfires and keep your home safe, and how to understand the jargon used by professionals. What happens when you need to leave quickly and what might you face when you’re allowed to go back to your home-site again?
No matter where you live — country or city, dry area or one that’s green — this book is a great, and almost absolutely mandatory, reference source.
And if you need even more, head for your local bookstore or library and ask for help from the knowledgeable person there. Your librarian or bookseller will figure out what you need, and they’ll put the right book directly in your hands, so you know what to do
this fire season.
Then just picture yourself being safe.
Look for the reviewed books at a bookstore or a library near you. You may also find the book at online book retailers.
The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives in Wisconsin with three dogs and 10,000 books. v
Sept. 26 — Virtual Forum: What to Expect From the 2023 Farm Bill Now
— Online — This Forum will provide an updated forecast into the current factors influencing how the next farm bill is being shaped and the likely policy outcomes will be. For more information, please visit farmfoundation.org.
Sept. 27 — National Mastitis
Council Webinar — Online — The webinar will feature a review of the evidence for using anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of mastitis. There will also be discussion about a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug solution for control of fever associated with acute mastitis in lactating dairy cows. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/NMCWebSept27.
Sept. 28 — Strip Tillage Field Day — Waverly, Minn. — This event will include discussion on agronomics of soil health practices, demonstration of strip tillage equipment, and an in-depth dive into soil structure above and below the surface. Contact Taylor Herbert at therbert@umn.edu or (612) 394-5229.
Oct. 4 — Farm Transition and Estate Planning Webinars — Online — The University of Minnesota Extension is presenting four webinars on introductory farm transition and estate planning. This session will focus on developing farm transition goals and assembling a “team.” Please visit https://z.umn.edu/ farm-transition-and-estate-planning23 for more information.
Oct. 11 — Farm Transition and Estate Planning Webinars— Online — The University of Minnesota
Extension is presenting four webinars on introductory farm transition and estate planning. This session will focus on all things tax: gifting, selling, and transferring. Please visit https://z.umn. edu/farm-transition-and-estate-planning23 for more information.
Oct. 19 — 2023 Agricultural Tax Issues Course — St. Cloud, Minn. — Offered in-person and online, this course targets income tax professionals that work with farmers, but is also suitable for agricultural professionals such as agricultural lenders and farm management instructors. For more information, please visit https://extension.umn. edu/event/agricultural-tax-issues-stcloud.
Oct. 19 — Land Stewardship Project Pasture Walk — Lake City, Minn. — See and discuss managing pasture and feeding strategies during drought with inconsistent weather. For more information, please visit https://landstewardshipproject.org/upcoming-events/.
Oct. 25 — Farm Transition and Estate Planning Webinars — Online — The University of Minnesota Extension is presenting four webinars on introductory farm transition and estate planning. This session will focus on wills, trusts, ownership titling. Visit https://z.umn.edu/farm-transition-andestate-planning23 for more information.
Nov. 1 — Land Stewardship Project Pasture Walk — Dover, Minn. — See and discuss winter grazing summer annuals. For more information, please visit https://landstewardshipproject.org/ upcoming-events/.
It’s been years since this weekly effort has used any time, muscle or brain cells to write — or, frankly, even care about — any of the 21 costly, largely ineffective, and virtually bulletproof federal commodity checkoff programs.
The reason is simple: In three decades of reporting on congressionally-chartered, federal checkoffs (oftentimes documenting illegal use of farmer and rancher money for lavish travel, spying on fellow farm groups, and funding outlawed political activities) rare is the checkoff, checkoff employee or checkoff farmer-director held accountable for any of the questionable activities or the checkoffs’ rock-bottom performances since the late-1980s.
By Alan Guebertmotion money from 1987 to 1996 even as “U.S. milk and dairy product consumption dropped a solid 4 percent.”
The column went on to outline how U.S. cattle producers had “dumped $874 million into their beef checkoff” between 1986 and 1996 as American “per capita beef consumption dropped by 5.4 pounds and consumers cut beef expenditures by $8 billion.”
It also showed how the pork checkoff and its “The Other White Meat” campaign had spent $417 million in nonrefundable checkoff cash to raise per capita pork consumption a tiny 0.4 pounds — from 45.6 pounds in 1986 to 46 pounds in 1997.
tion of chicken increased from 56.6 pounds in 1987 to an estimated 101.8 pounds in 2023, or nearly double over the same period.
And here’s the too-funny-to-be-funny part about the rise of the all-conquering chicken: it became “what’s for dinner” not by spending checkoff billions to tell Americans it was “the original white meat” or ask if they “got” chicken.
In fact, chicken didn’t put even one of its eggs in any costly, producerfunded checkoff basket because chicken doesn’t have a state or federal checkoff. Instead, it seized the American dinner plate by investing in quality and convenience while avoiding every checkoff fight.
Now a long-overdue, new checkoff reform effort is underway in Congress. It’s led by Utah Republican Mike Lee
and Democrat (and vegan) Cory Booker of New Jersey, who say reform is needed because of the “unlawful use of checkoff program funds (that) benefit some agricultural producers while harming others.”
Most of the groups that have been deeply enriched by federal checkoffs — like the soybean gang, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Milk Producers Federation, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association — are fighting all reforms. Why? Because commodity checkoffs are really about gravy, and this gravy train has been running for 35 years. 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
In fact, the third column I ever wrote, way back in June 1993, outlined how an audit of the not-yet-completely-in-place federal soybean checkoff discovered “$405,219 of ‘questioned costs’ which the ASA” (its main contractor, the American Soybean Association) “had charged USB,” the newly-formed checkoff’s United Soybean Board.
And, I added, “... the sum could be larger” because the “...audit traced only 60 percent of USB’s money at ASA...”
Those two observations — disputed costs and incomplete audits — would become themes of many columns over the next 30 years. Another favorite was the clear failure of most checkoffs to boost consumer demand, the key selling point that every checkoff-pusher swore would raise farm prices.
For example, a May 1998 column revealed the federal dairy checkoff had spent “about $2.5 billion” in dairy pro-
That rounding-error increase in pork consumption cost rural America more than checkoff millions, though. During that same decade, “60 percent of producers, or more than 200,000, left the pork industry.”
Given this early, awful performance of federally-chartered checkoffs, the following facts won’t come as breaking news: Over the subsequent 25 years, federal checkoffs spending an estimated $900 million to $1 billion a year on generic commodity advertising, were even less effective.
For example, after an estimated $30 to $35 billion (that’s billion with a “b”) in collective ag commodity checkoff spending since 1987, American per capita consumption of fluid milk is one-half today what it was 40 years ago; beef has fallen from 73.7 pounds per year to 57.4 pounds; and pork remains flat — 48.8 pounds in 1987 and now only 50 pounds.
Meanwhile, U.S. per capita consump-
I often hear Americans compare Canadian healthcare with U.S. healthcare. What do we actually know?
First, a bit of history. Canada has 10 provinces and three territories. In 1962, the province of Saskatchewan passed legislation to establish a universal health insurance plan for the province of Saskatchewan which would be paid for with tax revenues. In 1966 the Canadian federal government passed national legislation tasking each province to create a health insurance plan which would be funded through a combination of provincial and federal revenues. Consequently, there are some differences in the health insurance structure from one province to another.
By Mark Brakke
at 0 percent. Germany has universal health insurance; so long wait times are not an inherent feature of universal health insurance.
It is instructive to look at two main aspects of Canadian healthcare: cost and results.
Cost — In 2022, the average expenditure per person per year in the United States was $12,555. In Canada, the expenditure was $6,319. Over a lifetime that is a very large difference.
Results — There are a number of statistics which can be used to measure the health of a population. Life expectancy is a reasonable place to start.
A number of organizations publish life expectancy data. Due to variations in the way the data is collected and evaluated, the numbers often vary a bit from one organization to the next. It turns out the CIA reports this data. The 2022 CIA World Fact Book reports Canada to be number six in the world at 83.8 years and the United States to be number 72 in the world at 78.38.
If one looks at infant mortality or maternal mortality statistics, one finds a similar situation. In the case of maternal mortality (deaths per 100,000 births), the 2020 data show the United States at 21 and Canada at 11. Infant mortality (deaths per 1,000 live births) has the United States at 5.3 and Canada at 4.3
What about patient satisfaction? The most common criticism I hear about Canadian healthcare is waiting times. The decent life expectancy, infant mortality and maternal mortality numbers lead one to conclude that waiting times for life threatening problems is not an issue in Canada. It is true that Canadians often wait longer for an appointment to see a specialist than we do in the United States.
Wait times for elective surgery vary widely from country to country. One data set from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for waiting times of more than four months for elective surgery shows Canada at 18 percent, the UK at 12 percent, Australia at 8 percent, the United States at 4 percent and Germany
What about overall patient satisfaction? The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study on March 13, 2018 which looked at 10 modern high income countries (France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Japan, Denmark, UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden and the United States). It looks at cost, access, outcomes, system structure, and satisfaction — among other things. When citizens were asked if their healthcare system work well, the results ranged from 60 percent affirmative in Germany to 19 percent in the United States. Canada landed at 35 percent.
Let us look at some basic differences between healthcare in the United States and other modern, high income countries. In the United States, we have an unplanned situation in which a variety of providers (hospitals, clinics, individual doctors, pharmaceutical companies and suppliers of medical products) all strive to make as much money as possible from the business of healthcare. The patient or potential patient (we are all patients sooner or later) has zero bargaining power in this market and consequently U.S. healthcare costs are the highest in the world to the tune of several thousand dollars per person per year. The other modern, high-income countries have decided that every citizen should have affordable healthcare and they have designed a variety of systems to reach that goal. Not one of those countries has produced a system which every citizen likes; but they have all designed systems which produce good health outcomes at a manageable cost and with better citizen satisfaction than in the United States.
I will close with a personal musing. In the United States we have access to the same computers, cars and other modern conveniences which are available in other countries at a cost which is similar to if not less than in other countries. Why is it we have been willing to live with the most expensive, least equitable health care in the modern world?
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).
To people who have never lived the farm life, agriculture tends to look like a simple, calm, slower way of life.
After all, the baler runs slowly through the hay field; planters and combines glide unhurriedly as they work; cows amble slowly wherever they are going (unless there is a farmer’s wife chasing after them — or being chased by one); pigs wallow in the … well, you know what they wallow in; sheep mostly stand around modeling their winter coat fashions all year, seeking style points; and goats just love play dates.
There are a lot of moving parts to agriculture — literally and figuratively. The moving parts might look like they’re running slowly and carefree; but farming is like seeing a duck swimming in a pond. They seem calm on top, but they’re paddling like nobody’s business underneath.
There are lots of layers to the job that make the farmer ‘paddle’ — especially if their work involves livestock.
Someone once told me, “Anyone can raise livestock, but it takes a real manager to run a farrowto-finish operation because of the work of managing a breeding calendar.”
I had never thought about it like that before, nor the load my husband carried in keeping just that one part of our (then) farrow-to-finish hog farming operation going.
I remember those days when he also held down a full-time job in town, had gotten his first quarter of land to farm, and had a stay-home wife and three very small children at home. He worked — as he
still does — from sunup until long after it went down.
You can’t place sleep at the top of your priority list if you really want to farm. Some farmers might raise chickens; but all farmers play chicken when it comes to the weather, markets, and whatever new directives come out of legislation that they have to follow — whether they make sense or not. Those things can test even the strongest of wills — especially when family land is at stake, input costs are high and laborers are few.
The work comes whether the farmer is ready or not. Time waits for no one, and Mother Nature goes on a real bender every now and then. In worst case scenarios it can beckon the whiskey glasses from out of the cupboard dust and make the farmer go on a bender, too.
One morning, during a frustratingly wet spring, I visited with a woman who asked me how we were coming with our planting, given that she knew nerves were beginning to fray in the farm community. More rain had been predicted for the night before, and she had been out late that evening and saw the planters moving slowly through the fields at 11 p.m. with lightning illuminating the process as farmers were trying again to plant what they could before the rain.
“You could almost feel the tension,” she said.
Farmers know it’s not a sprint; but that slower marathon pace can sometimes be agonizing. They want to be the hare, but have to be the tortious more often than not.
Farmers teach their young kids to run farm equip-
ST. PAUL — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency reminds Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance for fall-planted crops, such as cultivated wild rice, forage production, grass seed, mint, rye, and wheat, is Sept. 30 for the 2024 crop year. Current policyholders also have until the Sept. 30 sales closing date to make changes to their existing coverage.
As a reminder, some options and endorsements, like Yield Exclusion, also have a Sept. 30 sales closing date. The Yield Exclusion option allows producers to exclude yields of eligible crop years when RMA determines the county per planted acre yield was at least 50 percent below the simple average of the per planted acre yield for the crop in the county for the previous 10 consecutive crop years. Policyholders should consult with their crop insurance agent.
New changes for rye will be effective beginning in the 2024 crop year. Revenue Protection will now be available for all program counties in the St. Paul
Region. Additionally, hybrid rye acreage planted to the approved high yielding varieties (Bono, Serafino, Tayo, Receptor, and Brasetto) may be insurable under the winter type or producers may request a higher yield by submitting a type/practice type written agreement under a new high yielding type.
For the 2025 crop year moving forward, all approved high yielding varieties will transition to the high yielding type and be insurable only by written agreement. Written agreement requests must contain documentation of the high yielding variety(ies) the producer is planting such as seed purchase receipts.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.
This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ment. Mothers usually have to keep an airsick bag close by as she watches them take those first slow routes — because she only forgets “so much” about that time in the delivery room. Both parents have much invested.
Yet, it doesn’t guarantee kids will want to farm when they get old enough. More worries. And when estate planning comes, so does indecision. Who will carry it forward?
All business owners know it’s easy to become hyper-focused when you have so much on your mind. Pile operating heavy equipment onto that stress, and it can be a stick of wet dynamite. Farmers understand how quick costly things can happen and the terrible fragility of life — physically and emotionally. Accidents happen when good people become overloaded.
The road might be long and the load heavy; but as brothers in agriculture, we all carry each other through whatever sunshine and storms our lives bring — in every sense of the word.
But for the day, we all just keep paddling like nobody’s business underneath as we smile and wave at each other … and pass by calmly on the pond.
Karen Schwaller writes from her grain and livestock farm near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net v
By LAURA COLE
The Land Staff Writer
What began with a 4-H project and a heifer calf named Princess has turned into a lengthy career for Dave Neil. He raises registered Herefords through his business, Neilyne Genetics, and August marked his 53rd year as a member of the Hereford Association.
Neil grew up on a 280-acre farm near Northfield, Minn. His family raised beef cattle and hogs, and his dad also had a trucking business. “When I was 10 years old, my dad had some unregistered beef cows, and one of them was a Hereford,” Neil stated. The Hereford had a heifer calf; and Neil, a new 4-Her, was given the calf to show.
“She got a blue ribbon for me at the county fair,” Neil said of his calf, Princess. “And she raised a bull calf that we made into a steer, and I actually had the Reserve Grand Champion at the Dakota County Fair when I was 16 or 17 years old with one of her calves. She was a pretty good little cow; she just didn’t have registration papers, so we couldn’t take her and her offspring to any of the open class shows.”
In the spring of 1970, Neil acquired his first registered calf; and that August, at the of 13, he joined the Hereford Association as a junior member. The summer after his junior year in high school, the Hereford Association held their first Junior National Hereford Heifer Show in Nashville,
Tenn. Neil recalled he really wanted to go.
“I found a heifer calf to buy and I found a Minnesota breeder that had just bought a pickup and gooseneck trailer — that was a brand new thing back in the early 70s,” Neil stated. The breeder’s son was also making the trip to show and they had room for Neil and his calf.
Until he aged out four years later, Neil was able to show in every National. “I got hooked on it,” he said. “I love the cattle, but it’s mainly because of the cattle people.”
Describing Herefords as a more docile breed, Neil likes that they’re easy to work with and are a hardy breed.
“When I started there were three breeds of beef cattle: Shorthorn, Angus and Hereford,” he commented. He found that other breeds later introduced were not as easygoing. Neil also appreciates that the Hereford breed can be outside in the winter and they don’t require a lot of shelter.
Neil married his wife, Ann, in 1981. He continued raising Herefords; and in 1986 began milking Holsteins. Years before, Neil’s uncle had registered Holsteins under the prefix Neilyne.
Neil contacted the Holstein Association and learned Neilyne was available. He used it for his Holstein business, and decided to use it with his Herefords, as well.
After 20 years, Neil stopped milking cows, and the business was later named Neilyne Genetics as he explained they
aim to raise superior genetics as seedstock for other breeders.
Neil has lived in the Pine Island area since 1996. He and his wife are parents to four children and grandparents to five. He credits his family as playing an important piece in his continued involvement in the Hereford business.
Besides working as a production supervisor at Land O’Lakes, his son, Jeff, helps with a lot of the labor. “He’s the one who helps get the cattle ready for the long shows,” Neil stated.
The two have been showing at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. just about every January since 2014. “Ever since I joined the Hereford Association at age 13, I’ve wanted to show at the National Hereford Show in Denver,” Neil stated.
about Herefords is the Hereford people are darn good people.”
There are currently about 15 head of mother cows at the Neil farm along with the young stock. He stated they mostly raise polled Herefords, but on occasion they may market a horned calf if it’s deemed genetically worthy and could improve somebody’s herd. Neil has sold to farmers and ranchers from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming.
The farm’s pasture land is split into three different paddocks, and the cattle are moved to a different section every seven days. When the land needs to rest, they supplement with hay.
Besides his work with Herefords, Neil drives a bus route during the school year, a charter bus during the summer, and is a certified lay minister at Mazeppa United Methodist Church. He initially started as a certified lay speaker, so that he could fill in for the pastor at his home church when needed. Six months later, he became qualified to cover at other churches.
In 2005, Neil was encouraged to minister a congregation full-time upon a pastor’s retirement. With a laugh, he recalled running the idea by his wife.
As a teen paging through the association’s newsletter, Neil’s dream was to one day win a banner for his birthday, which is also in January.
In 2017, one of their bulls was named Reserve Intermediate Champion; and a couple of years later, the title was earned again. “That’s something I’m really proud of — that we’ve been able to get two of those banners from the National Western Stock Show.”
Neil commented that the experience is more than whether he wins or loses in the ring. “We’re usually showing against people that I consider friends,” he stated. “What’s important to me
“She being an English teacher in the Rochester school district and a speech coach thought that me having to write a speech every weekend was a really good idea.” Eighteen years later, Neil is still preaching on Sundays.
The summer bus trips have taken Neil across the United States, and as free time allows, he likes to find ways to work agriculture into his visits. He’s had the opportunity to tour New Holland’s factory in Pennsylvania to watch balers being made. And of course, he’s also used his time to meet up with other Hereford breeders.
For more information about Neil’s Hereford business, visit their Facebook page: Neilyne Genetics. v
Corey Hanson is back in the rush of harvest time. Due to high temperatures and terribly dry conditions, schedules have been pushed up by a couple of weeks. On Sept. 8, he reported hauling wheat, so he can have his bins ready for beans and the corn to follow.
Hanson chopped corn on Sept. 5, and finished the following afternoon. As he worked on the silage, he also layered in four semi-loads of beet pulp. This is his second time using this method as a supplemental energy source for his cattle, noting his first trial went well.
Combining soybeans is next on the docket. It may keep Hanson from attending the Big Iron Farm Show in Fargo, N.D., though he hopes to make it for one day. He stated the bean crop has transitioned from yellow to brown over the last four days. “Pods are down,” he remarked. He hasn’t seen any four-bean pods in his fields. “A lot of ones and twos.”
“I don’t have much green left in my corn,” Hanson added. With long harvest hours in mind, he emphasized, “Remember, safety first.” v
After an uncharacteristic 100 degree day on Sept. 4, Nick Pooch stated on Sept. 9, “It feels like fall.” The recent nights have been in the low 50s and the expected
temperature for the day was in the 70s.
Pooch’s middle child, Brady, just started preschool. He’s having a good time with friends, and also noted the classroom’s toy combine was the wrong color.
Pooch noted the hot, dry and windy conditions have rapidly matured
the crop. “I’m thinking 10 days to two weeks we’ll be going on beans,” he commented.
Chopping silage started on Sept. 8. Pooch’s preference at this step is 2/3 milkline, but because the stalks are drying faster, he is working with 1/2 milkline. About half of his acres of corn are chopped for either silage or earlage. After silage is completed, he’ll continue with earlage.
Impressed with his corn’s current kernel count and cob size, Pooch credits the timely rains received at his farm over the last couple of months. He added they are going to need more rain to recharge the soil as it’s still very dry.
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Silage harvest is underway at Tauer Dairy. On Sept. 7, David Tauer reported they started on Aug. 28 and are expecting to finish the earlier corn crop on the 8th. The results are better than he expected with 4,000 tons harvested so far. The adjusted yield is 183 to 230 bushels an acre.
While last year’s range was 220 to 250, he stated, “With the weather conditions, I’m still very satisfied.” Tauer expects his later planting of corn to be about two weeks out yet.
From the third of this month through the fifth, Tauer worked on his fourth and final cutting of alfalfa. Remarking it was probably one of the best fourth cuttings they’ve had, he plans to finish baling on Sept. 9.
The only recent rainfall the farm has received is three and a half tenths of an inch on the morning of the 6th. Tauer stated it helped settle the dust, but wasn’t enough to keep them out of the field.
Tauer’s wife, Angie, is a teacher, and is now fully back to her school year routine, along with their two children. v
September 8 was the third day in a row Jim Hagen was able to enjoy temperatures in the 70s. “Hopefully we’re done with the 90 degree stuff,” he stated.
Getting just a tenth of an inch of rain in the last couple of weeks, he reported “dry, dry, dry” is still the story at his farm.
“The soybeans are more yellow than green now,” Hagen remarked. He stated the pods look alright, but he has noticed a few spots of white mold popping up throughout the crop.
A few of Hagen’s corn fields are brown. He stated the later planted corn looks better than the earlier crop. He expects this year’s yields to be about 20 percent less than last year’s, but added that happened to be a really good crop.
Looking ahead, another 10 days is the earliest Hagen expects to be in the field, so he plans to fit in a final county fair in Spencer one of Iowa’s last for the year. He also has a few sporting events scheduled with his charter bus gig before things pick back up at the farm. v
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2014 VOLVO VNL64T630 740,694 mi., Plastic bumper, aluminum rims, origional tires, steers are 11R22.5’s with 60-70% remaining and drives are LP22.5’s with 50% remaining. Air brakes, jake, cruise, air dump, air ride seats, exterior is clean but a few cracks on bottom fairing.
WASECA, Minn. — Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center’s Executive Director Warren Formo values in-field learning. He is involved with a large-scale Discovery Farms Minnesota project aiming to evaluate control drainage systems as a conservation practice as compared to conventional drainage systems. The project is located at Farmamerica, near Waseca, Minn. A field day was held on Aug. 16 to discuss the undertaking and introduce the site to attendees.
The project has been years in the making. Formo recalled things really got started during a conversation with State Conservationist Troy Daniell in December 2019. Formo and Daniell envisioned a demonstration project with control structures to allow the landowner to raise and lower the water table throughout the year. “We talked about how that could be a place where we could gather data, and we could let people come and actually look at how these tile systems perform,” Formo stated.
Tim Radatz with MAWRC and the coordinator for Discovery Farms further explained how controlled drainage is typically implemented. “If we’re thinking throughout the year, usually prior to planting we want to lower that water table, so that we can get in to plant. After planting, we typically raise the boards up to try to hold some water back for that crop. And then when we get into the fall of harvest season, lower those boards again and then
after the crop is harvested, raise the boards back up to try to hold some more water over the winter time.”
While Discovery Farms has monitored conventional systems over the past 13 years, this is their first project dealing with controlled drainage. Formo explained the project has involvement from many partners. “Funding for the project includes a grant from NRCS, tile donation from Prinsco, partial tile installation donation from Ellingsons, partial donation of water control equipment from Agridrain, monitoring equipment and expertise provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and funds from the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council.”
Work began at the site in the fall of 2022. There are four different zones over the nearly 120 acres. Currently, they are not controlling drainage as they are in the initial process of gathering baseline date. “If we have some baseline data on how they react when they’re managed the same, when we make those changes in the future, we can have a good comparison of what that controlled drainage is doing for water quality, amount of water, and yield, and how that’s affecting the crop in the field,” Radatz stated. Once they are ready for the next step, they will control two of the areas and compare
water levels and flow rates, as well as to collect flow-proportional water samples to calculate loads of sediment, phosphorous, and nitrogen.
results to the other two that are conventionally drained.
At each zone there is a monitoring station. Scott Matteson with MDA completes the monitoring for Discovery Farms. Equipment is used to measure
various conditions and determine water levels and flow rates, as well as to collect flowproportional water samples to calculate loads of sediment, phosphorous, and nitrogen.
Matteston stated Discovery Farms utilizes Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratory located in New Ulm, Minn. for all of their sites.
Another conservation measure which was previously put into place on the Farmamerica property is a water-holding pond. The goal for the pond is to reduce peak flows, and Radatz stated they will also monitor the flow in and out, as well as take samples to determine how the pond also impacts water.
Each year’s set of data runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. At the conclusion of this month, calculations will be compiled. Project members will analyze both economics and water quality. While Formo stated the primary focus is on water data, they will also look at crop yields — especially since this project will compare two different practices.
Current information from the studies can be viewed online. The website is mda.onerain. com. By selecting “Dashboards” and then “FARMAMERICA Discovery Farms Minnesota,” visitors can see current site data including rainfall summaries, nitrate concentration, water levels, subsurface tile water temperatures, and soil temperature and moisture. v
Sand County Foundation is now accepting applications from high school teachers for pollinator habitat grants.
Successful applications will receive native seeds and seedlings, consultation, and $1,000 to support project expenses. The application deadline is Nov. 17. To apply, visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/SchoolGrants
“Students will germinate and grow native plants over the winter, and plant them outside in the spring,” said Haley Diem, Sand County Foundation school grant program coordinator.
In addition to the grant program, teachers can access a Pollinator Habitat Curriculum Guide. The guide’s activities engage students in planning, establishing, managing, and monitoring prairie habitat. The guide is available for free download at https://bit. ly/2JHdq1u.
Sand County Foundation is a national non-profit that champions voluntary conservation practices by farmers and ranchers.
This article was submitted by the Sand County Foundation. v
For many farmers, this year’s harvest won’t be their first. With experience comes knowledge, but it may also bring a degree of inattentiveness. Nick Schindele, a sales manager with Ziegler Ag, recently provided important safety reminders to help ensure everyone has a safe harvest season.
Employed by Ziegler Ag for the last 15 years, Schindele is based out of Minneapolis and works from within the metro area to Canada, providing product support and customer service. He has been farming since his youth; and like many, has seen a lot of changes over the years — including increased safety measures.
While improvements in technology have resulted in better monitoring systems allowing farmers to see rises in temperatures, Schindele noted it can be a double-edged sword, as he explained automation can cause complacency. If the farmer is not being an advocate for the machine, safety and maintenance concerns may result.
Prevention is a huge emphasis for Schindele. “At Ziegler, we’ve got a lot of resources to help whether it’s pre-harvest inspection or questions you have on the machine.” He recommends everyone reference the manuals for their machines and use them as a maintenance checklist, regardless if they’ve owned the equipment for a long period of time.
As dry as it’s been, Schindele stated it’s important to have the right fire prevention mode in place. Extinguishers should be inspected to verify they are full and operable. “You’re never going to have an extinguisher that’s big enough in the case of a major fire,” he said, but it should be big enough to cover hot spots such as the engine compartment, transmission area, and hydraulic pump area.
Schindele recommends having an air source, such as an air compressor or leaf blower, either at the headland or kept on the machine to ensure equipment is regularly blown clean of debris. Taking breaks throughout the long harvest days is a good idea to not only recharge physically and mentally, but also to do a full walk-around and make sure any dust accumulation is taken care of right away. Schindele also uses a temperature gun to establish a baseline for typically hot areas, and then can keep an eye on them throughout the day. If he sees any abnormalities, he can proactively deal with it.
At the end of each day’s work, Schindele stated the equipment should be cleaned. He added that the reality is wind blows more than it doesn’t, and it’s important to ensure the machine is dust-free.
Before getting back in the field the following day, he advises farmers do one more walk-around should they have missed a few spots the night prior and also take care of any maintenance needs. “Make sure you’re hitting your grease points to help that cooling effect and keep those bearings good and manageable.”
If smoldering begins, Schindele stated sometimes debris may initially suppress the smoke. Also, a farmer might not notice a fire right away due to the equipment running behind them. Depending on the wind, smell may not even be an early indicator. These are all reasons why prevention is so important. He stressed that if a farmer is on the fence about calling
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Emerging Farmers’ Working Group has openings for eight volunteer members for twoyear terms. Minnesotans interested in making it easier for new and emerging farmers to create or sustain an agricultural business are encouraged to apply now through Sept. 23.
“The work of the Emerging Farmers’ Working Group is critically important in helping identify barriers to entering the field of agriculture and creating resources to support new and emerging farmers in our state,” said Assistant MDA Commissioner Patrice Bailey. “It will become even more so in the coming years, as we staff up our Emerging Farmers Office and build out the MDA’s emerging farmers programs.”
MDA encourages interested parties to become a member of the 2024-2025 Emerging Farmers’ Working Group. Everyone is welcome to apply. The MDA is particularly interested in the perspectives from women, veterans, people with a disability/disabilities, American Indian/Alaska natives, members of a community of color, LGBTQIA+, people age 35 years old and under, and residents in cities with over 5,000 population.
The deadline to apply for EFWG membership is Sept. 23 at 11:59 p.m. More information and applications are available at www.mda.state.mn.us.
Email your questions to the Emerging Farmer Office at mda.emerging.farmers@state.mn.us.
This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
911, it’s always better to get the call in earlier than later — even if it turns out the help isn’t needed.
Road safety is also important. Schindele noted that specific to his area the October sugar beet harvest brings some safety concerns due to the increased amount of trucks on the road as well as buses with the return of school and sporting events. Besides the annual reminder to the public to be mindful of farm equipment on the road, Schindele’s message to farmers is, “Don’t ever assume that the car sees you.” He discussed that distracted driving can be a problem during all times of the day, and even when the farmer is pulled over to the side with hazards on, a driver may not notice.
The importance of taking precautions is paramount even when farmers are on the road for a few miles. “We’ve seen some bad things happen in those short instances,” he stated. “Taking the extra precaution is always going to feel better in the end.” An example he gave is taking time to remove the header from the combine, even if the destination is just a mile down the road.
Other areas Schindele emphasized is the importance of continued communication with others on the operation, as well as maintaining spatial awareness and being aware of fixed hazards, such as ditches, culverts, etc.
Prioritizing safety is a way, as Schindele stated, “to make sure everybody who comes to work in the morning is able to go home to their families at night.”
He added farmers can contact their area salesperson to learn what Ziegler could offer them, including on-hand training. “Whatever we can do to help customers in their operation, in any aspect of it, we’re always there to help.” v
This column was written for the marketing week ending Sept. 8.
You’ll recall July milk production was down a half of a percent from July 2022 and July’s Dairy Products report shows the result. Cheese production totaled 1.162 billion pounds, down 0.7 percent from June and down 0.7 percent from July 2022. Output in the first seven months of 2023 totaled 8.2 billion pounds, up just 0.3 percent from 2022.
Italian cheese output totaled 481.6 million pounds, up 0.2 percent from June but 1.5 percent below a year ago. American output, at 475.2 million pounds, was up 0.3 percent from the June count which was revised down 4.8 million pounds, and was up 0.2 percent from a year ago. To date, American output stood at 3.4 billion pounds, up 2.3 percent. Mozzarella totaled 382.2 million pounds, down 2.6 percent from a year ago.
By Lee MielkeSkim milk powder production jumped to 62.6 million pounds, up 25.2 million pounds or 67.3 percent from June, and up 1.6 million or 2.6 percent from a year ago. The report is viewed as bullish for cheese and powder and bearish on butter.
Cheddar output slipped to 331.5 million pounds, down 6.5 million pounds or 1.9 percent from June, and down 8.7 million or 2.6 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, cheddar was at 2.4 billion pounds, up 2.5 percent from 2022.
Butter production fell to 157 million pounds, down 5.1 million pounds or 3.1 percent from June, but was up 5.2 million pounds or 3.5 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, butter stood at 1.3 billion pounds, up 4 percent from a year ago.
Yogurt production totaled 396.2 million pounds, up 4.3 percent from a year ago.
Strengthened some by the report, Chicago Mercantile Exchange block cheddar climbed to $1.9625 per pound on Sept. 6, but closed the second Friday of September at $1.925. This is down 2.5 cents on the Labor Day holiday shortened week and three-quarter cents above a year ago.
The barrels saw a Sept. 8 finish at $1.8275. This is 4.25 cents lower on the week, 10.5 cents below a year ago, and 9.75 cents below the blocks. There were only three loads of block traded on the week at the CME and two of barrel.
Aged cheese is abundant, says StoneX Dairy, but fresh cheese remains tight and the futures market seems to know that. At some point, presumably,
there will be more fresh cheese available; but we don’t appear to be at that place yet.”
Milk availability continues to tighten in the Midwest, according to Dairy Market News. Cheesemakers say several milk handlers have “gone silent on offers.”
Spot loads at mid-week were reportedly $1 over Class III or higher.
Cheesemakers are growingly concerned about meeting demand — particularly mozzarella and pizza cheesemakers. Excessively available milk throughout the winter and spring kept cheesemakers very busy; but that’s not the case currently. Exports are moderate. Class III milk demand is strong by most cheese manufacturers and milk is in good balance with processing capacities. Cheese production is strong to steady but slipping farm level milk output may soon change that.
Butter climbed to $2.73 per pound on Sept. 7, but closed the next day at $2.68. This is up 2 cents and
See MIELKE, pg. 16
WAITE PARK, Minn. — With Fall and the changing of the seasons, manure management can easily become a secondary and rushed task. When planning your harvest to-do list, it’s important your operation understands the risks of manure handling systems. Farm staff should be trained on dealing with manure handling systems, know the appropriate safety gear, and be provided instruction on using the equipment.
Please read attached email
Dry whey production totaled 88.2 million pounds, up 2.7 million pounds or 3.1 percent from June, and up 2.9 million or 3.4 percent from year ago. Year-todate, whey stands at 554.2 million pounds, up 2.3 percent. Stocks grew to 86.9 million pounds, up 3.2 million pounds or 3.9 percent from June and up 14.8 million or 20.6 percent from a year ago.
ALREADY ON AD THE LAND 3.417 x2”
Nonfat dry milk output dropped to 134.9 million pounds, down 43.1 million pounds or 24.2 percent from June and down 30.8 million or 18.6 percent from a year ago. Stocks fell to 283.3 million pounds, down 15.4 million pounds, or 5.2 percent from June, and down 49.8 million or 15 percent from a year ago.
Manure pits and manure lagoons go through the process of anaerobic digestive fermentation and produce an array of toxic gases.
Methane is an odorless gas that is flammable or explosive at concentrations of 5 to 15 percent of air, typically found near the top of the pit and at high enough concentration to cause suffocation.
Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas with a smell of “rotten eggs” at low concentrations. It is heavier than air and often settles towards the bottom of the manure pit. At low concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can cause dizziness, headache and respiratory tract irritation. At high concentrations it can cause unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and death within minutes.
Carbon dioxide is an odorless gas, heavier than air which can cause labored breathing, drowsiness and headaches at low concentrations. At high concentrations it can displace enough air to cause death via suffocation.
Finally, ammonia has a sharp odor which can irritate eyes and the respiratory tract. At high concentrations, ammonia can be fatal.
Manure pits and all enclosed manure storage struc-
tures should be equipped with ventilation systems. Keep manure pits ventilated and fans working properly. Keep manure pits covered with appropriately ventilated grating. Post hazard signs near all manure pit entry points and do not enter manure pits unless absolutely necessary — and only when proper safeguards are used. Never enter a manure pit unless someone is standing by and maintaining constant contact. The person standing watch should be able to lift an unconscious person wearing a safety harness attached to a lifeline. They should never enter the pit to rescue a person and should communicate information in case of an emergency 911 call. Always wear a safety harness attached to a mechanical device (winch, hoist or pully), which will be attached to a lifeline. A person should standing by who must stay in constant contact with the person in the pit.
Manure lagoons are very common in central Minnesota. They also produce toxic gases which can cause health hazards in localized layers — especially on hot humid days with minimal breeze. Gases are readily released when lagoons are agitated.
Open air lagoons should be fenced off around the perimeter, having locked access gates. Hazard signs should be posted at entry points warning of toxic gases and drowning dangers. Wear a safety harness attached to a lifeline with someone on the other end. Rescue equipment like flotation devices should be at every manure pump. No smoking or open flames should be allowed near agitation or pumping areas.
This article was submitted by Dana Adams, University of Minnesota Extension. v
The following marketing analysis is for the week ending Sept. 8.
CORN — The extreme heat we had to end the summer was extinguished this week as cooler “falltype” temperatures moved into the Midwest. Rain events popped up but have not been significant. The damage has been done and now we wait for yield reports from the field.
Corn didn’t have much news of its own to trade during the week with mostly neutral weekly export sales and ethanol reports during the holiday-shortened trading week. Prices moved higher when traders returned from the long, hot weekend; and then headed sideways.
The US dollar index pushed to a six-month high helping limit any upside momentum. Traders are now biding their time to see where the U.S. Department of Agriculture sets the yield on the Sept. 12 World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report. December corn has maintained its $4.73.5 to $5.07.5 trading since Aug. 3 with the last two weeks only ranging from $4.76.75 to $4.99.5. This week’s trading range was entirely within last week’s, staying within a narrow 11.75cent range from $4.78.5 to $4.90.25 per bushel.
Russia stepped up its drone attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure in the past week. They reportedly damaged grain silos, administration buildings, and port infrastructure in the port of Izmail on the Danube River. How or if this will affect shipping has not been reported. Ukraine expanded its shipping routes and is now shipping grain through Croatian ports on the Danube River and Adriatic Sea. Both Ukraine and Russia seem to find a way to keep the grain flowing out of the region.
The average trade guesses for the September WASDE for the 2023-24 crop are a yield of 173.5 bushels per acre, production at 15.008 billion bushels, and ending stocks at 2.14 billion bushels. The USDA in August used a yield of 175.1 bu./acre, production at 15.111 billion bushels, and ending stocks of 2.202 billion bushels. The USDA has lowered the corn yield in the last two USDA reports. The last time they cut it three times in a row was in the drought year of 2012. World ending stocks for 202324 are estimated at 310.12 million metric tons vs. 311.05 mmt in August.
tributes to larger cash carries along the system. Late in the week, groundings were reported on the Ohio River and south of Cairo. There are also back-ups at the Panama Canal due to low water.
Outlook: The uncertainty over the upcoming September WASDE report, a surging U.S. dollar, and early yield reports kept the corn within its recent trading range. Without fresh friendly inputs, it will be difficult for corn to climb above $5.00 per bushel with harvest staring us in the face. However, corn is expected to be stored this fall and there’s plenty of available on-farm space; so prices may drift for the time being. The numbers on the USDA report will be important; but more important will be how traders actually trade them.
For the week, December corn was 2.25 cents higher at $4.83.75 per bushel.
Grain prices are effective cash close on Sept. 12. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.
For the last week of the marketing year, old crop weekly export sales were near the high end of expectations, but still with net cancelations of 600,000 bushels. Total sales for the 2022-23 crop year were 1.597 billion bushels compared to the August WASDE estimate of 1.625 billion bushels. We should see a decline on the balance sheet next week. For new crop, sales were 37.4 million bushels to bring total commitments to 365.9 million bushels. China’s purchases for 2023-24 total just 15.4 million bushels compared to 133.85 million bushels purchased by this date last year.
Weekly ethanol production was up 5,000 barrels per day at 1.012 million bpd and within expectations. Ethanol stocks increased by 12,000 barrels to 21.6 million barrels and higher than expected. Net margins improved by 8 cents to 70 cents per gallon. Gasoline demand was at a nine-week high at 9.321 million bpd. The U.S. government is delaying a decision until December on whether ethanol-based sustainable aviation fuel is eligible for subsidies.
U.S. corn conditions fell 3 percent to 53 percent good/excellent and the lowest since 2012 for this week. Illinois and South Dakota posted 10 percent declines, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin all down 5 percent. Corn was 18 percent mature vs. 16 percent on average.
The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange is forecasting Argentina’s 2023-24 corn crop at 55 mmt, up from this year’s 34 mmt crop. Conab is estimating Brazil’s 2022-23 corn crop at a record 131.8 mmt, up 1.9 mmt from their previous outlook. Their corn export outlook is 50 mmt, 6 mmt below the USDA’s August forecast.
Low water levels on the U.S. river system have driven barge freight prices higher. Low water limits draft and usually extends transit times which con-
SOYBEANS — Soybeans tried to rally at midweek after crop conditions unexpectedly dropped more than expected, but those gains were subsequently given back when soyoil plunged lower. The 50-day moving average near $13.55 per bushel held as a technical support level. Relatively speaking, this week’s trading range in November soybeans was narrow with a range from $13.58 to $13.84.75 per bushel.
There were reports this week of China purchasing several October/November soybean cargoes from Brazil. Will China have much of an appetite for U.S. soybeans this fall? If yes, we should be the source as Brazil’s supplies and port capacities dwindle. The wait time to load vessels is 50 days.
China’s August soybean imports were up 31 percent from last year at 9.36 mmt. Their soybean imports from January through August were up 18 percent year-on-year.
As in corn, soybeans didn’t provide much nourishment for the bull, but there was a 9.22 million bushel sale to unknown announced after the weekend and 4.5 million bushels sold to China just before the weekend.
Soybean conditions as of Sept. 3 fell 5 percent to 53 percent good/excellent and the lowest since 2012. Kansas conditions plunged 12 percent, Illinois was down 10 percent, South Dakota was down 8 percent, and Nebraska was down 5 percent. Sixteen percent of the soybeans were dropping leaves vs. 13 percent on average.
The average trade estimates for the 2023-24 crop are a yield of 50.2 bu./acre, production at 4.157 billion bushels, and ending stocks at 207 million bushels. The USDA has done back-to-back yield cuts in August and September only three times in the last 15 years. World ending stocks are projected at 118.59 mmt vs. 119.4 mmt in August.
The weekly export sales were very good at 5.7 million bushels for old crop to bring total commitments
reverses two weeks of losses, but 49 cents below a year ago, with 49 sales reported for the week.
Cream availability varies but the holiday weekend provided butter plants extra product. Cream access is slowing and expected to tighten. Recent heat and humidity in the Midwest crimped milkfat output at the farm. Retail butter demand is steadily increasing and food service demand is notably improved, says Dairy Market News.
Cream tightness also eased in the West; but post-holiday volumes are slipping. Near-term cream is anticipated to be tight in the West. Spot loads are available but more limited. The tighter availability and higher spot prices are keeping buyers at bay, says Dairy Market News. Some report butter output is steady while others say churning is slower than anticipated due to less cream.
Grade A nonfat dry milk fell to $1.0575 per pound on Sept. 5 (the lowest CME price since Nov. 5, 2020), but
rallied on Sept. 6, jumping 3.25 cents, and closed Sept. 8 at $1.10. This is up 2.5 cents, but still 47.5 cents below a year ago, on 21 sales.
Dry whey hit 32 cents per pound on Sept. 5 (the highest since May 8), but closed Sept. 8 at 30.25 cents. This is down a quarter-cent on the week, and 15.5 cents below a year ago. There were 11 sales reported for the short week.
Sept. 5’s Global Dairy Trade auction saw the weighted average head up for the first time since May 2, up 2.7 percent following declines of 7.4 percent on Aug. 15 and 4.3 percent on Aug. 1. Traders brought 83.2 million pounds of product to market, up from 74 million on Aug. 15. The average metric ton price crept to $2,888 U.S., up from $2,875 on Aug. 15.
Whole milk powder led the gains, jumping 5.3 percent after leading the declines on Aug. 15 with a 10.9 percent drop. Skim milk powder was down 1.6 percent after dropping 5.2 percent last time. Anhydrous milkfat
was up 2.7 percent after dropping 5.3 percent, and butter was up 1.1 percent following a 3 percent decline. Cheddar was off 0.6 percent after jumping 5.8 percent on Aug. 15.
StoneX says the GDT 80 percent butterfat butter price equates to $2.0304 per pound U.S., up 2.2 cents from the Aug. 15 event, and compares to CME butter which closed Sept. 8 at $2.68. GDT cheddar, at $1.8608, was down 1.1 cent, and compares to Sept. 8’s CME block cheddar at $1.9250. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.0367 per pound, down from $1.0583, and whole milk powder averaged $1.2255, up from $1.1558, (7 cents). CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed on Sept. 8 at $1.10.
Analyst Dustin Winston reported, “North Asia, which includes China, was back to being the largest purchaser; but volume did move lower in this event from the last. SE Asia volume increased. Whole milk powder pur-
chases from SE Asia and the Middle East were a big part of the support in whole milk powder prices.”
HighGround Dairy points out, “Fonterra announced that it was lowering its offerings of whole milk powder and skim milk powder, shifting volumes to the Pulse platform.”
Rabo Bank analyst Lucas Fuess, speaking in the Sept. 11 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, said it remains to be seen if this was a bona fide turnaround in the GDT. Whole milk powder was up, he said, but skim milk powder was down; adding that New Zealand’s milk production season peaks in October and Fonterra has twice lowered its milk price expectations, so dairy farmers are facing a tough economic challenge.
While China’s depressed economy and purchases are on everyone’s
See MIELKE, pg. 17
NYSTROM, from pg. 15
to 1.968 billion bushels vs. USDA’s 1.96 billion bushel outlook. For new crop, sales were 65.5 million bushels. This brings total commitments to 540.8 million bushels compared to 897.9 million bushels on the books last year to start the marketing year. China has purchased 235.2 million bushels of new crop soybeans vs. 466.6 million bushels last year by this date.
Argentina is implementing a new type of “soy dollar” program aimed at crushers and exporters. They will allow grain exporters and crushers to use 25 percent of their export foreign currency income as they wish instead of first converting it to local pesos. This essentially gives exporters a more favorable exchange rate of 455 pesos per dollar on average compared to the official rate of 350 pesos per dollar. The program runs through this month and is seen as an incentive for crushers to import more beans to crush and then export the products.
The BAGE is expecting Argentina to produce a 50 mmt soybean crop in 2023-24 compared to 21 mmt this year.
Brazil said it plans to convert 98.8 million acres of degraded pasture to
crops in the next 10 years and cut its dependency on imported fertilizers. They currently import 85 percent of their fertilizer. Conab is predicting Brazil’s 2022-23 soybean production at a record 154.6 mmt vs. USDA’s August figure of 156 mmt.
Outlook: The bulls missed a few meals this week with a lack of headlines, a strong dollar, and a falling soyoil market lending pressure to soybeans throughout the week. However, uncertainty over what the USDA will release on Sept. 12, a higher meal market, and a couple of export sales announcements limited the downside. The 50-day moving average in the November contract as of Sept. 8 at $13.56.5 is providing the first support line.
It’s wait and see time until the numbers come out. For the week, November soybeans were down 6.25 cents at $13.63, October meal was 1.50 higher at 402.70, and October soyoil dropped 3.29 to 61.46.
Weekly price changes in December wheat for the week ended Sept. 8: Chicago eked out a quarter-cent gain to $5.95.75, Kansas City was 9.25 cents higher at $7.32, and Minneapolis rallied 11 cents to $7.70.75 per bushel.v
minds, Rabo Bank released its Global Quarterly, focusing in part on the milk supply — which is contracting in most key regions like the United States, European Union, and New Zealand. “That sets us up with a supply side that isn’t necessarily firm,” Fuess stated. “Any sense of a demand recovery — especially if it comes quicker than expected — could mean we have finally reached the bottom on prices.”
With China becoming the world’s third-largest milk producer, global purchases will be reduced, according to Rabo Bank. But Fuess concluded China will not be self-sufficient enough and thus remain a big buyer of dairy products.
July milk production in New Zealand was another month of decreased output, according to Dairy Market News, and yields were smaller in June and July. Things are a little better in Australia, however. “Even with poor weather conditions in most regions, which has challenged milk production over the course of the 2022-23 season, Australia’s milk output ended the season with June up 1.2 percent,” says Dairy Market News
July’s U.S. dairy exports showed a lot of declines from July 2022. Exports totaled 467.8 million pounds, down 10 percent or 51.8 million pounds. It was the fourth consecutive month of double-digit losses, according to HighGround Dairy.
Nonfat-skim milk powder exports were up 2.8 percent, thanks to hefty shipments to Mexico and Vietnam. But HighGround Dairy says, “Demand from China and other Southeast Asian nations, the
Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia fell; which was unsurprising, given the ongoing reports of weak demand in those places and declining prices at recent GDT events.”
Total cheese exports were down 1.2 percent — the fourth consecutive month of decline. but an improvement from the double-digit decreases of April to June. HighGround Dairy pointed to “feeble demand from South Korea.”
Butter was down a whopping 61.3 percent as Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, the top three destinations, purchased less product.
By the way, Canada has lost a trade dispute with New Zealand involving its long-entrenched dairy quota system, a “sacred cow” the United States has challenged as well.
U.S. dry whey exports were down a hefty 42.6 percent — the most significant year-over-year percentage drop since July 2009, according to HighGround Dairy. Volumes were the smallest since October 2019.
Dairy culling maybe slowing. The week ending Aug. 26 saw 59,200 cows go to slaughter, down 600 from the previous week and 800 or 1.3 percent less than a year ago. It is the first time since the week ending March 4 to be below a year ago. Year-to-date,
2,093,600 head have been culled, up 108,600 or 5.5 percent from a year ago.
Beef slaughter levels increased a bit over the last few weeks, but are still well below year-ago levels, says StoneX. “As a result, dairy cow slaughter continues to hold a greater volume of the beef market share compared to last year.”
“Dairy margins improved the second half of August as a continued recovery in milk prices more than offset a slight increase in projected feed costs,” says the Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC.
The report detailed July Milk Production and Cold Storage data, stating, “July saw the first yearover-year decline in milk output so far in 2023 following USDA’s upper revision to June production.”
It also reported that the drawdown in July total cheese stocks was the largest year-over-year drop since late 2019 “as inventories have tended to increase between June and July in recent years, making this year’s drop even more noteworthy.”
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
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.
NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader On Order
NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders On Order
NEW NH 25S Workmasters ...….......…. On Hand
NEW Massey Tractors ........................... On Hand
NEW Massey 4710 w/loader ….......... OnHand
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
’08 NH TD5050 w/loader ………..……… $39,000
NH T8.360 w/duals …………….......….. $169,500
Allis 8030 PD ………………...............…. $24,500
Allis 185 …………....................…..……… $6,500
’22 JD 5045E 2wd ………….....………… $21,500
TILLAGE
DMI Tigermate II 40.5 w/3bar ….…......… $17,500
Sunflower 4412-07 ……...........…………. $29,500
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
NH H6740 disc mower ………...........................…. $8,500
PLANTERS
JD 7200 12-30 w/LF ………........................…… $21,000
White 6122 L/F .Ins 20-20 ……..........……… $14,500
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
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
Alfalfa, mixed hay grass hay & wheat straw. Medium squares or round bales. Delivery available. Call or text LeRoy Ose 218-689-6675
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FOR SALE: Two Sioux 5500 bushel grain bins, 23’ diameter, 15’ tall, 6 ring, interior & exterior ladder. To be moved. Fairmount, ND (701)474-5780
SILO
Take-down & clean up
Specializing in silos in congested areas.
FULLY INSURED mobile concrete crushing. 507-236-9446
Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys. 100% financing w/no liens or red tape, call Steve at Fairfax Ag for an appointment. 888-830-7757
With one phone call, you can place your classified line ad in The Land, Farm News and Country Today.
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Call The Land for more information
507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665
2010 Case IH 1020 30’ flex head, full finger auger, exc poly, $12,900; Case IH 1083
8x30 CH, $2,450; JD 235 25’ x cushion gang disc, w/ exc blades, $6,450; Demco 750 grain cart w/ roll tarp & 30.5x32 tires, $16,500; Westfield 13x71 Plus w/ swing hopper auger, $9,750. 320769-2756 or cell 320-361-0065
FOR SALE: 60” 4000 lb clamp on forks for loader bucket, $100; 82” Grapple fork, skid steer loader attachment, $1,400; Baumalight stump grinder, model 1P24, like new, $2,300. 507-822-7707
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: 2 IH 1460 Combines, 1 with 863 cornhead, 1 with 1020 beanhead, 3 Westfield augers; 1 - 3 compartment Super B dryer. Retired. 952-873-6483
FOR SALE: Ashlund dirt scraper, 5-yd, good cond, $6,500; 14’ all steel grain box w/ hoist, $800; 23.5-32 tires on IH rims, good cond, $1,500. 612-749-9648
Thursday, September 21st - 11:00 am
Auction held at: Mages Land Co Office
55780 State Hwy 19, Winthrop, MN 55396
Directions to land: Approx. 10 miles south east of Gaylord, MN. Located on the west side of 441st Ave. Watch for signs!
This property will sell as three parcels: Location of property within Nicollet County: Section 2, New Sweden Township, Range 28
Total Farm: 253.01 deeded acres, approx. 238.82 acres tillable
PIDs: 080020305; 080020500
FOR SALE: Stir-ator for a 24’ bin, unloading auger for a 24’ bin, stairways for grain bin, Agri speed hitch. 320-583-3131
Parcel #1: 65.85 total acres
Approx. 63.69 acres tillable
Productivity Index: 93
Parcel #2: 85.03 total acres
Approx. 82.07 acres tillable
Productivity Index: 92.1
Parcel #3: 94.72 total acres
Approx. 93.06 acres tillable
Productivity Index: 94
*Note: All acres are published based on Nicollet County Online Records and FSA records. For full packet of information please contact Matt Mages
Listing Auctioneer: Matt Mages, 507-276-7002, Lic 52-23-018
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
To submit your classified
NOTE: Ad will be placed in the appropriate category if not marked.
FOR SALE: 1996 CAT 65D tractor, 6754 hours, very good condition, $38,000/OBO. 507-461-0875
Killbros 690 grain cart w/ 24.5x32 tires, $7,450; 2005 JD 893 8x30 CH w/ hyd deck plates, $11,900; 2000 JD 930F 30’ full finger flex head w/ PTO drive, $3,900; JD 610 27’ chisel plow w/ leveler, $4,750; Westfield 10x36 auger w/ elec motor, $2,750. 320-361-0065 or 320-769-2756
We buy
Salvage Equipment
Parts Available
Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910
FOR SALE: 1980 Allis 7080, has been overhauled, new inside tires, field ready.
507-754-5028
FOR SALE: JD 4440, duals, auxilary tank, 8300 hrs, $25,000. 612-380-4005
NEW AND USED TRACTOR
PARTS JD 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 50 Series & newer tractors, AC-all models, Large Inventory, We ship! Mark Heitman Tractor Salvage
715-673-4829
Tillage Equip
FOR SALE: Ford 8 ft pull type tandem disc with hydraulic cylinder, $750. Call 952-467-2722
Upcoming Land Auction
September 22
± acres farmland
Land For Sale
160 ± acres farmland $2,160,000 Norfolk Township, Renville County, MN
For property brochures, contact Hertz at 507-345-LAND (5263) WWW.HERTZ.AG
151 St. Andrews Court #1310, Mankato MN 56001
FOR SALE: JD 6620 Combine, 5000 HRS, field ready. 3 heads, JD 922 head, 643 head, 444 head. Retired. 507-822-2188
FOR SALE: 1985 JD 7720 turbo combine, over $17,000 in new parts. Best Around. 507-723-4467
FOR SALE: ‘91-’92 1640 Int’l combine, Cummins engine, 3500 hours with 1020 20’ bean table. 507-526-5591
FOR SALE: Nice 443 John Deere Low tin cornhead, oil bath w/ nice rolls. 320-760-5228 or 320-732-6280
WANTED: Good JD 443 cornhead for 4440 combine. Call 507-345-6180 evenings or leave message. Prefer Mankato Area.
FOR SALE: Brent 440 gravity box with tarp, brakes, lights, very nice condition. Phone 320-221-0851
www.thelandonline.com
Online only
Ending September 20th at 10:00 a.m
1979 International Tandem Axle Grain Truck, 20’ X 102” Steel Box, DT466 Diesel Engine, 5 x 4 Trans, 130,224 Miles, 3 Door End Gate, Roll Tarp, 11-22.5 Tire
Wanted
All kinds of New & Used farm equipment - disc chisels, field cults, planters, soil finishers, cornheads, feed mills, discs, balers, haybines, etc. 507438-9782
Looking for something special? Put a line ad in The Land and find it! Call 507-345-4523 I’m going to stand outside. So if anyone asks, I’M OUTSTANDING.
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
10-DAY ONLINE AUCTION!
Sat., Sept. 16th - Tues., Sept. 26, 2023
COMBINE – TRACTORS – FORAGE
John Deere 9500 Combine, 3506 hrs., 2157 sep hrs, CLEAN - Case IH MXM190 Pro, MFWD, pwr shift, duals, 5038 hrs - Case IH 7120, MFWD, pwr shift, duals, 9499 hrs - John Deere 2955, synchro, 5744 hrs, clean – (2) John Deere 4020, synchro - Mahindra eMax 25, loader, 60’ belly mower, 361 hrsGehl 1060 Chopper w/3 row 5710 corn head - Hesston 7155s Chopper w/3 row corn head and hay head - Miller Pro 5100 forage wagon - John Deere 444 Corn Head - And numerous sk id loader attachments
THUNDER CREEK FUEL TRAILER –TRUCKS – TRAILERS –FARM EQUIP – DAIRY EQUIP
Thunder Creek Fuel Trailer, 750 Diesel/150 DEF - ‘04 Freightliner M2 Cube Truck, Mercedes-Benz Diesel, 6 spd, sharp - ‘98 Peterbilt 379 Semi Tractor, C-12 CAT, 13 spd, wet k it - ‘12 Peterbilt 386 Semi Tractor, ISK Cummins, 13 spd - ‘05 Freightliner Columbia, sleeper, Detroit 60 series, 10 spd - 05’ Wilson Pace Setter 42’ Grain Trailer - Featherlite 20’ Stock Trailer - Meyers M350 Spreader - Brillion 15’ Stalk Chopper - Kent Disk Chisel - Tye 15’ No Till Drill - John Deere 400 Grain Car t - Gravity Wagons - DeLevel 2000 gal Bulk Tank - Pumps - Compressors, More - And so much more too numerous to mention.
TOOLCAT – RECREATIONAL – GUNS – MORE
LIKE NEW Bobcat Toolcat 5600, new sander, 756 hrs, sharp - ‘20 Polaris RZR Crew - ‘18 Polaris General Crew, cab, heat, winch - ‘17 Polaris Ranger 1000
XP Crew, cab, heat, winch, light bar - ’04 Ranger Z20 Bass Boat w/Yamaha
225 V-Max motor - Golf Car t - Dir t Bikes - Huge Collection of High-End Guns, Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns, Ammunition and More There is also a large offering of tools, shop equipment and other small items See website
Wanted
Buying and selling silver bars, silver dollars, rare coins, gold coins, gold jewelry, any gold-silver items, collector coins, currency. Kuehl’s Coins, Fairmont, MN. 507-235-3886
WANTED: Aeration floor for 36’ bin, can remove and haul. 651-387-2085
WANTED: PTO for a New Holland square baler, model 270 Hayliner. 763-442-4390
Classified
Thursday, September 28th - 9:00 am
21753 Eagle Ave. Winsted, MN
This is a 2 ring live only auction.
Numerous items not listed!
For more information & pictures go to: magesland.com
Tractors & Accessories: IH 1486 tractor, 2132 hrs; IH 1086 tractor, 4244 hrs; Steiger Cougar; Steiger Bearcat; Case 1270 Agri King tractor; 60+ antique tractors including: JDs, Farmalls, Allis Chalmers, and more!, some tractors include loaders, belly mowers, or sickle mowers, multiple pallets of farm primitives, weights, fenders, & other tractor parts; tractor conditions vary, contact auctioneers or owners for more info;
Farm Machinery: Full line of farm equipment including JD, Massey, NH, Case, IH, Allis Chalmers, and more! large selection of tires; Pink Ringer wash Surgomatic; IH Refrigerator; 2 - 1000 gal diesel fuel barrels, no pumps; 1000 gal LP tank;
Commercial Equipment: Clark Forklift C500Y80, not running; Allis Chalmer 4 -19 bulldozer w/ Garwood 9.5’ blade, not running; Hy-Hoe Industrial Backhoe, loader, Detroit Diesel, 7’ bucket, 30” hoe bucket, not running;
Vehicles, Trailers, & Campers: EZ-GO golf cart, gas; Bush Hog 4430; VersaDump 16’ dump trailer, hyd lift, hyd jack, ramps; Chevy 1961 ¾ ton Apache 20 pickup truck; 1980 Ford Ranger F250, 4wd; Ford F-700 sng axle truck; 1978 Ford C-700 sng axle truck; 60’s Chevy 2 ton truck; Chevy c/60 school bus; Wards SeaKing 14ft boat w/ trailer; Polaris charger snowmobile; 50’s Chevy truck flatbed & hoist; H&H 18ft deck trailer; 5x8 trailer; gravel dump sng axle; 11ft steel bed on MN running gear; 2 Implement trailers; 2 wheel trailer; portable Hobart welder/generator w/ Detroit diesel; 14ft Span America boat & trailer, run about, fiberglass, w/ mercury 35hp motor; 16’ Alumacraft boat w/ Snow Bird trailer & Gale 35hp motor; Chevy 50, 18ft box & hoist, sng axle box w/ hoist, gas, 4x2 manual trans; 1993 Winnebago Chieftain motorhome, 43276 miles, Chevy chassis 454; 1977 Winnebago Elandan 11 motorhome, 80505 miles, Dodge chassis 440; 1994 Ford F -250 XLT pickup truck, 118,731 miles; 2004 Ford F-350 Lariat super duty, 35,227miles; 1988 Cadillac Brougham, 89,550 miles; 1999 Chevy Suburban LS1500, 182,109 miles; 2003 Chevy Suburban, 196,710 miles; 2004 GMC Top Kick truck; 2010 Raptor 5th wheel camper toy hauler model RP361 Lev; 2009 Jayco Recon ZX 5th wheel Camper toy hauler; Ford conversion van, Econoline 150 day cruiser; 1974 Ford F-750 fire truck; 1975 Pontiac Grandville Brougham convertible, 33,665 miles;
Guns: Stevens 410ga. Model 940, sng shot, 3in; Marlin 22 Model 42, semi -auto, long; Savage Sporter 22 bolt action; 2- Sears 16ga. Model 105-20 bolt; New England Arms 12ga. Model SB-1, 3in; Mauser sn: 4279 Model 1918; Mauser sn: 8673 Model 1912-6; Marlin 30-30 Model 336, scope; New England 20ga. Model SB 3in; Mossberg 16ga. Model 190 2 3/4in; Remington Wingmaster 20ga. Model 870; musket gun; Ruger 357 Mag; large assortment of ammo;
Listing Auctioneers: Joe Maidl 507 -276-7749 & Joe Wersal 507-220-5561
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: No Buyer ’s Premium on live bidding
Note: All buyers of large equipment bring a letter of approval from your bank. magesland.com
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
Please
FOR SALE: Purebred collie puppies: Both males and females. All sable and white. Make excellent farm dogs. 7 weeks old. 507-822-2111
1976 Pontiac Firebird Esprit Low mileage project car. Call (507) 720-0971
Trucks & Trailers
Cast Air model C516-VA8 air compressor, 5HP, 60 gal tank, pump rpm 960, 18.3csm @ 100 psi, 230 volt, 22amps. $1,050/OBO (or best offer). 612-384-7770
For Sale:
1950 Reo Gold Comet call 507-720-0971
FOR SALE: 2007 Int’l 8600 Day Cab, C13 Cat eng, 10spd trans, air ride cab & suspension, 10 virgin tires on alum whls, 560,000 miles, last year for pre-admission motors. Asking $24,500. 507-621-1599
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
Bidding Opens: Friday, Sept. 15th @ 10:00 a.m.
Lots Start Closing: Wednesday, Sept. 27th @ 10:00 a.m.
Preview Dates: Saturday, Sept. 23rd 8:00-12:00 & Tuesday, Sept. 26th Noon –5:00
Pickup Dates: Wednesday, Sept. 27th 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. (after sale ends) & Thursday, Sept. 28th 10:00 – 4:00 or by appt.
Location: 7401 100th St SW Stewartville, MN 55976
TRACTORS: John Deere 6430 MFD Premium, 619 Hours, 3 Hyds., 3pt, 1000/540 PTO, John Deere 4640, 6,347 Actual Hours, 20.8x38” Tires & Duals, Quad Trans., 1,000 PTO, 2 Hyds., 2nd Owner, Allis Chalmers 7020, 8,864 Hours, 18.4x38, 2 Hyds., Small 1,000 PTO, 3pt, International 706, Gas, WF, Cab, Project Tractor – Needs Work EQUIPMENT: John Deere 7000 Planter, 6 Row 30”, Dry Fert., Monitor, Insecticide, Cross Auger, Allis Chalmers Disc, 21ft, Rigid Gang, Brady 1680 Stock Chopper, Deutz-Allis Conger-Till, 9 Shank w/Hyd. Front Disc, White 350-gal Pull-Type Sprayer & Boom, Huskee 165 Gravity Wagon & Gear, 2-Wheel Trailer, (2) Barge Boxes w/Gear & Hoist, 6” Auger w/1 ½ hp Elect. Motor, Aeration Flooring for 30ft Grain Bin, 1,500-gal Poly Tank CONSTRUCTION: CAT D6D, 9ft Blade w/Hyd. Tilt, Rear Winch, 4,965 Hours, Case 580CK Backhoe, Gas, 4 Cylinder, Parson Crawler, w/Trencher Attachment & Tiling Boot, GM 353 Diesel Motor, Front Winch LAWN MOWERS: John Deere 2665 Zero Turn, 60” Deck, 27hp, Gas, John Deere X390, 54” Deck, 22hp, Gas, John Deere 345, 54” Deck, 18hp, Gas 3 Hayracks & Some Misc. Items
130 State Hwy. 16
Dexter, MN 55926 • Phone: 507-584-0133
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Switch to DISH and get up to a $300 gift card! Plus get the Multisport pack included for a limited time! Hurry, call for details: 1-855-4340020. (mcn)
Cow Production Sale: Saturday, September 30th, 1:00 PM at Mill Coulee Angus Farm! 31636 State Hwy. 35, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Call Tracy Pedretti at 608-412-0004. (mcn)
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BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months!
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LONG DISTANCE MOVING: Call today for a FREE QUOTE from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a Relocation Specialist, call 877-327-0795. (mcn)
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Walking the grounds of the Atwater Threshing Days on Sept. 9, one could see a variety of engines and machines of all sizes with one thing in common: a good belt. Huge belts, connected to tractors, were sawing logs, chopping corn stalks, grinding sorghum and threshing grain. A crew was grinding wheat supplied by an Olivia, Minn. farmer into flour. But the stars of the show were the dozens (and dozens) of smaller engines performing various functions with the assistance of … you guessed it … a good belt.
Chugging and puffing and popping, the engines pumped water, powered fountains, churned butter and generally delighted their appreciative audience. Engine owners stood by their machines, eager to display their treasures and answer questions.
Atwater Threshing Days take place each year the weekend after Labor Day on property which doubles as the city’s yard waste disposal site. Large mature trees provide plenty of shade for visitors and the variety of gaspowered engines strutting their stuff.
The event showcases a particular make of tractor each year and this year the featured star was Case. Tractors from the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s and beyond were on display — including a large collection of Case lawn tractors. But if yellow isn’t your favorite brand color, there were plenty of John Deeres, Farmalls and Molines for your viewing pleasure. There were even a number of antique cars on display.
A tractor parade takes place on both days at 1 p.m.
But if antique power isn’t your thing, there is still plenty to see at Atwater Threshing Days. The Prairie House was full of craftspeople displaying time-honored activities like quilting, weaving, lace making and embroidery. There was a demonstration area where folks made jelly, baked bread and made butter. A crew happened to be making lefse accompanied by its inviting smell.
There is a working print shop on the grounds, a blacksmith working his forge, and various other buildings showcasing antique toys. The Case enthusiasts had memorabilia and related products on display. Visitors could view an authentic oldtime gas station, a chapel, and a one-room schoolhouse from District #75. The grounds also features a large play area for children. Many were delighted feeding cobs of corn into the hand-cranked shellers. Musical entertainment takes place on a large stage throughout the event. The Cedar Creek Gospel Band happened to be performing during my visit. The local Lions Club provides many good things to eat.
The Atwater Threshing Days show grounds are located 1 mile east of Atwater on Highway 12, then a quarter mile south on Kandi-Meeker Road (1100 Kandi-Meeker Rd, Atwater, MN 56209).
Admission for adults is $8.00, those age 12 and under are free. The hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The buildings open at 8 a.m.
Atwater Threshing Days has a website at https:// www.atwaterthreshingdays.com/ and can also be found on Facebook. v
