The Land - January 19, 2024

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Januar y 19, 2024

The importance of mental health

2024 PFR INSIGHT MEETINGS...

LOCAL AGRONOMISTS. PFR EXPERTS. INNOVATIVE INSIGHTS.

FFA chapters are spreading the word: Everyone belongs INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Whitney Nesse’s not-so-Olympic skiing event; Taking water for granted?; Milker’s Message, Curiosi-tea ... and more!

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

2024 priorities 418 South Second St. Mankato, MN 56001 (800) 657-4665 Vol. XLVIII ❖ No. 2 24 pages, 1 section plus supplements

www.TheLandOnline.com facebook.com/TheLandOnline twitter.com/TheLandOnline

Cover photo by Rose Wurtzberger

COLUMNS Opinion Readers’ Photos: Life on the Farm Farm and Food File Deep Roots The Bookworm Sez Green & Growing Healthcare Focus Mielke Market Weekly Talent in the GreenSeam Calendar of Events Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing Back Roads

2, 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 16 18-23 23 24

STAFF

Publisher: Steve Jameson: sjameson@mankatofreepress.com General Manager: Deb Petterson: dpetterson@TheLandOnline.com Managing Editor: Paul Malchow: editor@TheLandOnline.com Staff Writer: Laura Cole: lcole@TheLandOnline.com Staff Writer Emeritus: Dick Hagen: rdhagen35@gmail.com Advertising Representatives: Dan McCargar: (507) 344-6379, dmccargar@thelandonline.com Deb Petterson: dpetterson@TheLandOnline.com Office/Advertising Assistants: Joan Compart: theland@TheLandOnline.com Lyuda Shevtsov: auctions@thelandonline.com For Customer Service Concerns: (507) 345-4523, (800) 657-4665, theland@TheLandOnline.com Fax: (507) 345-1027 For Editorial Concerns or Story Ideas: (507) 344-6342, (800) 657-4665, editor@TheLandOnline.com Because of the nature of articles appearing in The Land, product or business names may be included to provide clarity. This does not constitute an endorsement of any product or business. Opinions and viewpoints expressed in editorials or by news sources are not necessarily those of the management.

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I often spent Saturdays at my grandThe bookends of every year are standard ma’s farm. It was just an hour away, so times for recaps and resolutions. How we’d visit just for the day. But this parwere your past 365 days in a nutshell? ticular time, one of my brothers and I And what do you hope for most in 2024? were going to stay overnight.

If Minnesota wrote an annual Ecstatic wouldn’t explain how I felt. I Christmas letter, maybe 2023’s would loved my grandma’s farm, and having begin with an anecdote about our nojust one sibling come along considerably snow holidays before sharing the new decreased the amount of time I’d spend updates on marijuana, the flag, and LAND MINDS waiting for my turn — always a plus in Taylor Swift. my book at that age. My brother rode in By Laura Cole And now 2024 has arrived. Waking up the front seat on the drive there with to just another day is familiar, old hat. the promise from my dad that I would But once we say it’s a New Year? Well, ride shotgun on the way home. we can be good at adding pressure to We spent the weekend doing all the usual farm anything. things, and my Uncle Bill drove us into town in his January is perhaps mostly about perspective. The pickup truck the next morning so he could shoot the beauty and/or uncertainty of new beginnings. How breeze with his pals at The Three Straw Cafe. My exactly do you look at a fresh layer of snow? brother and I sat with all the farmers and drank Personally, my goals don’t shift as drastically from our pop – kind of listening to the conversation, and January to December as they do from morning to kind of not. evening each day.

Even despite a small bout of nighttime homesickOnce I’ve committed to being awake and upright, ness; and a brief rebuke from my grandma when I my plans most often begin big, bright, well-intentossed my shoes down the stairs to see how much tioned. By 8 p.m. on a weekend — well, 6 p.m. in the momentum they could get (it was the first and only winter (okay, 4 p.m. when I’m being honest) — my time my grandma scolded me, as well as the first expectations have dwindled considerably. The to-do and only time I threw my shoes down stairs); the list is tossed aside, and I just want a blanket, a trip was magic, as all those childhood farm visits book, and a pause button on obligations. were.

My two cats seem to share a similar thought proOn the way home, in the prized front seat, I rested cess. Not long post-breakfast, they’ve settled back my head against the window — not minding the into a favorite spot, and reacquainted themselves soft bumps against the glass as my dad drove down with slumber. the country roads. I had the best time at the farm and was on my way to the familiar comforts of my Depending on religious affiliation, you may be home. Perfect bookends. familiar with Advent and Lent, periods of preparation for Christmas and Easter. One of my cats very About to fall fast asleep for the rest of the ride staunchly participates in vent season, the extensive home, I tried counting railroad cars as we drove period before spring. The timeframe actually lasts alongside; but at some point gave up. Closing my throughout Advent and sometimes Lent, beginning eyes, I felt the sunshine, a warm, orange glow as soon as she deems it too cold to linger near door- against my eyelids. ways and lasts until just after the spring’s last trick I can’t imagine even the most complete to-do list of snowfall. She has her favorite locations. However, could ever bring that kind of joy and contentment. she’ll hover over any vent so long as it provides her The Sunday dreads can be real, especially when some extra warmth over the winter months. we haven’t accomplished the things we wanted to On one of the last days of 2023, I sat across from throughout the weekend. Year-end dreads, life-end that cat on her most beloved vent, and took a little dreads – it seems those could creep up without time to think about the next 12 months. I found proper perspective. myself writing out the usual list. Sort through storBut the joy of a quiet sunrise. Laughing. Being the age totes, paint a hallway, actually drop off the bags reason behind someone’s most true from-the-belly of donation items without first giving them endless laugh. Driving home in the sunshine with people tours through town in my car. Not necessarily things that bring me joy, but things that have to get who love you. Those are all worthy contributions to a life well-lived, too — and hopefully what you’ll done. reflect on at a later time in life.

I set my pen down, stretched, cracked my knuckTo-do and to-remember, both valuable lists to les. When I closed my eyes for the moment, the sunmake this year. shine from the nearby window hit just right, and against the back of my eyelids I felt a familiar Laura Cole is the staff writer of The Land. She warm, orange glow that took me to a moment of may be reached at lcole@TheLandOnline.com. v total contentment, long before a to-do list came with each day.

OPINION

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

Life on the Farm: Readers’ Photos Mary Crawford from Beaver Creek, Minn. shared this photo of a hunting expedition west of Ramsey, Minn. Grandsons Jaxon (left) and Gavin Brandt (right) were joined by their friends Rian and Jack — taking advantage of a vacation day from school.

ON THE COVER: Rose Wurtzberger of New Ulm, Minn. sent a photo she took of an old barn on a tour of the township.

Mary Lonergan-Cullum sent a note along with this photo: “I’m submitting this photo on behalf of my parents, Dave and Elsie Lonergan of Donnelly, Minn.,” Mary writes. “This is a picture of the original farmhouse on the family farm, taken on Thanksgiving morning, just as the sun was rising a little before 7 a.m. We were letting the dogs out, and we paused to experience the beauty of the morning. A reminder of the peace and awe that gratitude and love bring at the holidays.”

Al Batt of Hartland, Minn. shares his photos of birds one might not commonly see. “The American Ornithological Society is changing all English-language names of birds within its geographic jurisdiction that are named after people (eponyms) and other names deemed offensive and exclusionary,” Batt writes. “It will be interesting to see what name this Steller’s jay ends up with.”

Keep the photos coming!

E-mail your Life on the Farm photos to editor@thelandonline.com.

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“We’ve got a wide range of educational offerings, new grower workshops, and a mix of expert speakers and farmer panelists at the expo,” said MFVGA President Terry Nennich of Ter-Lee Gardens.

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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

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Moreover, it added, just like in the The pain I felt late Sunday, Jan. 7, was United States, the “results… for many, will hard to pinpoint until I realized exactly prove consequential for years to come…” when it struck: just moments after news of a tentative, 2024 budget deal between Some of the most affected nations Senate and House negotiators had been include the world’s most populous counannounced. As such, it soon became try, India, and its neighbors Bangladesh apparent the pain wasn’t physical; most and Pakistan. Other countries holding likely it was emotional. national elections are the United What, though? Anxiety? Bewilderment? FARM & FOOD FILE Kingdom, Mexico, Iran, Cambodia, Jordan, and — incredibly — both Russia Sorrow? and its battlefield opponent, Ukraine.

By Alan Guebert That was it … sorrow — for Kevin All make 2024, Time adds, “not just McCarthy, now in early retirement an election year” but “perhaps the because the Jan. 7 deal was almost the election year.” same as the one he had struck with the White House last October. That deal inflamed This year could also be the Farm Bill-writing year enough House Republicans to make him a former for at least two reasons: it’s a year late already; and Speaker and a former House member. the Dems may be running out time to influence any final bill.

Poor old Kevin, I thought, gone and forgotten because he woke up one day wanting to legislate, The delay is typical of recent Farm Bill fights. not bloviate. Silly pragmatist, said the House Deep differences between the Republican-controlled Knucklehead Caucus, and within hours McCarthy House Ag Committee and the Dem-controlled was tossed aside only to have his deal resurrected Senate Ag Committee over food assistance have weeks later. delayed past Farm Bills.

Alas, my McCarthy sorrow passed and by nightfall Stark differences remain for the now-2024 bill and my cranky old self had reemerged. no one in either party or chamber returned from the Congress, too, seems to have returned to its insti- holiday break in a charitable, let’s-get-this-done mood. In fact, remarkably little news emerged from tutional senses (at least temporarily) to ensure it doesn’t allow the fringe elements of either party See GUEBERT, pg. 7 into a la la land abyss of foolish — even stupid — policies most of the nation abhors. Daringly, the first task its leaders took on was a budget deal.

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

Gliding through a history of raising livestock

This fall, we had an calves. I was in junior high exceptionally long break when they started raising from owning cattle. From cattle, which continued mid-September until until shortly after I graduJanuary, our feedlot was ated from high school. empty.

There were many long days of vaccinating, implanting, In September, I was lookand loading cattle in blazing forward to a break. I ing temperatures. knew several upkeep projDEEP ROOTS ects needed to be completFor a short time, my dad

By Whitney Nesse filled both the barn at my ed: loads of manure needed to be hauled, water foungrandpa’s farm site and an tains needed repair, gates needed to be old hog barn at ours. That summer, I replaced or repaired, and so on. With a must have been 11 or 12 years old; so laundry list of things to do, a long I was old enough to know better and break was just what the doctor dumb enough to try anything. One ordered. day, after a significant amount of rain fell and left the open lot a slimy mess, In my lifetime, I can only recall a few short seasons where my family or my sister and I thought it would be fun to grab the tail of a calf and see I did not own livestock or work for how far he could pull us. Looking someone who did. Growing up, my back, that was a horrible idea, but we parents and grandparents owned and operated a farrow-to-finish hog facility. sure had fun! We dubbed our stunt I remember going out to the barn with “poop-skiing,” but with less approprimy dad as a toddler, and he would lift ate lingo. My dad thought it was hilarme into a farrowing crate to play with ious; Mom, not so much — especially the piglets or keep warm on the heat- since she was the one who generally took care of the clothes washing. ing mats in the bitter cold of winter.

After my second year in college, As I got older, my dad would still lift which offered me time away from the me into farrowing crates, but this farm, I experienced enough life to realtime, my job was to catch piglets for ize that I wanted to continue working him as he vaccinated, castrated, and in agriculture. I packed up my apartclipped tails and teeth. As I got even ment and moved home for the sumolder, my siblings and I would help mer. I was scared to death to tell my move pigs from the farrowing barn to parents I wanted to farm, but I told the nursery and from the nursery to them with my soon-to-be husband by feeder pens. my side. Shortly after that, my dad After my parents and grandparents took me to the bank, helped me take sold the pigs, they jumped directly out my first ag loan, and I bought 12 into raising feeder cattle. At the time, feeder calves. they were buying Holstein feeder

I raised those calves over the summer of 2006 and sold them before returning to school. By then, I found myself a job working at a dairy farm near my college; and since then, I have not gone more than a few weeks without actively working with livestock.

The night before our cattle arrived, I could hardly sleep. The following day, my eyes were fixed on the eastern horizon, waiting to see the cattle truck rattle down the road. I breathed a sigh of relief once the cattle were all safely

unloaded and settling into their new surroundings.

Someday, I may tire of raising livestock and the hassles that can accompany the territory. But for now, I will continue to enjoy the task and the challenge. I will not, however, find myself “skiing” in the slop anytime soon.

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

Compeer offers scholarships The Fund for Rural America, Compeer Financial’s corporate giving program, is offering 123 scholarships to students this year. Graduating high school seniors with an agriculture or rural background, or those planning to major in an agriculture-related field at a community college, university or technical school are encouraged to apply between now and March 15.

Each scholarship recipient will receive $1,500 for educational tuition expenses. Qualified applicants must be graduating seniors residing in Compeer

Financial’s 144-county territory with a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

Recipients will be selected based on a combination of academic achievement, agricultural, community and youth organization involvement, and essays.

Students can find more information and the scholarship application at www.compeer.com/scholarships. All applications must be submitted through the online platform.

This article was submitted by Compeer Financial. v

‘Meet Your Pollinators’ series University of Minnesota Extension educators are presenting a three-part series on how to help pollinators, pollinator insect identification, and integrated pest management practices to keep pollinators safe. The free webinars take place Jan. 30, 31, and Feb. 1 from 1:00-2:30 pm each afternoon.

Jan. 30 — “Actions to help pollinators” led by Elise Bernstein, outreach specialist and researcher with the University of Minnesota Bee Squad.

Learn about Minnesota pollinators and discuss action steps to take to support pollinator health and diversity. By following four action steps, you can create a haven for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Jan. 31 — “Pollinator ID” presented

by Dr. Elaine Evans, U of M Extension professor and researcher in native pollinators. Learn to recognize common insect flower visitors found in your pollinator garden — including miner bees, mason bees, and bumble bees, as well as flies, wasps, and butterflies. Participants will also learn to identify some bumble

bees to species — including the endangered rusty patched bumble bee.

Feb. 1 — “Integrated Pest Management and Pollinators” presented by Marissa Schuh, U of M Extension horticulture integrated pest management Extension educator. Bees are often only one of many priorities in our outdoor spaces. This session will cover how an integrated pest management framework can help us balance our sometimes competing garden goals.

To join all or one of these webinars, go to z.umn.edu/BeeSeries to register. You only need to register once to receive access to each topic. The Zoom link will be emailed to you immediately after you register. If you are unable to attend the live sessions, you will receive the recording via email on Feb. 2.

If you have questions about the webinar series or need assistance with registration, call your local Extension office.

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 7

‘Day After ...’ provides support for dealing with dementia Sometimes, Mom talks a lot of nonsense.

“The Day After Yesterday: She talks in random syllables, halfResilience in the Face of Dementia” jokes, thoughts that come out of her mouth backwards or mixed up. You try,

by Joe Wallace she laughs, you laugh, pretending that c.2023, The MIT Press you understand … but you don’t. $34.95 Mom has dementia and there’s nothing 157 pages that’ll fix it; but you can read “The Day and be honest about THE BOOKWORM After Yesterday” by Joe Wallace and what’s going on. You SEZ change the conversation. can’t change the

By Terri Schlichenmeyer diagnosis, but you Talk about your awkward encounters. can change your Well into his twenties, Joe Wallace was attitude toward it. asked to sit with his “Granddaddy Joe” while Dementia is called The Wallace’s mother and grandmother ran errands. His grandfather was once a vibrant man, and he’d been Long Goodbye for reason. And yet, your loved one with dementia is still Wallace’s “hero.” But Alzheimer’s had put a curtain on this side of the sod and you know there’s still of sorts between them and Wallace was “so frightsome there there. In “The Day After Yesterday,” ened to be left alone with him.” you’ll get a new point-of-view … for both of you.

That day, it didn’t take long for Wallace to realize In his introduction interview, Wallace explains his grandfather was full of stories and it was “magical.” He applied the same kind of patience when his how he came to understand, “we could all do so much better” for those with cognitive disabilities — grandmother began to experience dementia, too. including Alzheimer’s — and why eliminating fear This all spurred Wallace to tell a story of his own with his camera.

The portraits he captured eventually became an exhibit, and this book.

“In the United States,” Wallace says, “one in three GUEBERT, from pg. 5 seniors suffers with Alzheimer’s or another demeneither camp in the last six weeks. tia at the time of their death.” Nearly $700 billion Looming over any bipartisan, bicameral comprodollars annually is spent caring for people with mise is the pending retirement of Michigan Sen. dementia. Alzheimer’s, as one of Wallace’s subjects Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic leader of the points out, affects Black seniors more often than it upper chamber’s Ag Committee and the key figure does whites. For that matter, people with dementia in passing the year-delayed 2018 Farm Bill. need not be seniors: early-onset Alzheimer’s can Stabenow has vowed to fight proposed House GOP affect someone in their early 20s. cuts to food assistance and to protect the Biden Listen, Wallace’s subjects almost always say, and Administration’s long-term “green” ag spending. don’t hide a diagnosis of dementia. There’s no Still, her planned November retirement hangs shame in it. Reach out to others who’ve received the over any deal-making this year. Continued delays diagnosis. Ask for help. Watch for suicidal thoughts by House Ag Republicans, combined with the probaand depression. Ask for stories, before they’re lost,

and awkwardness is essential. Readers will be quite taken by the then-and-now pictures, and by the conversations Wallace captured.

But beware: this isn’t a book on caregiving or advice-giving. It’s a delightful, heartbreaking, tearful, surprising collection of profiles of everyday people in their own words, people who go with the flow and deal with tomorrow when it comes.

Yes, you’ll find advice here, but it pales in comparison to the presence that Wallace’s subjects and their families exhibit.

This powerful book is great for someone with a new dementia diagnosis; it proves that life’s not over yet. It’s likewise great for a caregiver, gently ushering them toward grace.

Get “The Day After Yesterday.” It’s time for a talk.

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

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

Senate retirements will impact farm bill

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ble retaking of the Senate by the GOP in November would be a blow to both Stabenow and any hope for a bipartisan Farm Bill.

First, however, Congress needs to pass the 2024 federal budget. Can this year’s renewed sense of institutional urgency move members to work through their personal and political differences to complete this straightforward responsibility?

Only time and the Speaker-chucking Knucklehead Caucus will tell.

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

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PAGE 8

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

Think about adding these to your garden tool chest There are useful garden tools besides of the baby plants are not disturbed the usual hoes, shovels, rakes, etc. when the block is moved. The theory is Moisture meters are useful to prevent that the soil block tends to “prune” the over or under-watering plants. The meters plant roots when they reach the open air have a long metal probe which is pushed on the sides of the block. The roots will into the soil. Water conducts electricity so then grow dense inside the block and be the probe can measure the moisture level ready to expand into neighboring soil in the soil. High moisture is indicated by once they are placed in a permanent GREEN AND higher electrical currents. These meters location.

GROWING take a half to a full minute to indicate a Soil blockers use a mix of peat, comBy Linda G. Tenneson reading and should be removed from the post, soil, sand, or perlite combined with soil and dried after being used. They are the right amount of water that will hold together only designed for testing soil and should not be once pressed into a block form and then ejected onto placed in any liquids. The moisture level may be indi- a tray. Blocks are watered from the bottom or with cated by a color chart ranging from wet to dry or by a misting bottles. Too much water will cause the block numerical scale. Moisture meters are useful only if to disintegrate. Traditional potting soil does not the moisture levels needed by a specific plant are have the right consistency. known. Cacti and succulents need much less water Heating mats are useful for encouraging seeds to than ferns or plants that prefer constantly wet soil. germinate — particularly when the room temperaIf the probe touches a rock or a high salt level in the ture is lower than seventy degrees. These mats are soil, the readings may be inaccurate. waterproof with enclosed wires connected to an Soil blockers are forms that are used to compact electrical cord and plug. Seed starting trays or indimoist soil into blocks ranging from three-quarters of vidual containers are placed on top of these mats. an inch to 4 inches width. Two-inch blocks the most A temperature control may be incorporated into the common size for starting seeds. A single seed is mat or attached to it as a separate item. The templaced in the middle of each block to germinate or perature control allows the heat to the raised or sprout. Once the plant has produced its second or lowered to meet the needs of specific plants. third set of leaves, the block is moved into a larger Solanaceous plants like tomatoes, peppers and container or outdoors to continue growing. The roots others may benefit from added heat. Seed contain-

Answers located in Classified Section

ers placed on these mats should be closely monitored and removed from the heat once the plants have produced their first or second set of leaves.

Germination time differs for each plant species.

Do not use heating pads designed for use on sore muscles as a substitute because they are not waterproof. Heating mats will send heat down as well as up and should only be used on flat surfaces that will not be damaged.

Plastic wrap or film is a low-cost, useful tool for creating a greenhouse atmosphere for seed germination. The film covers the top of a seed-starting tray and secured with binder clips or clothes pins. The idea is that moisture in the soil will rise, contact the film, and form droplets. The droplets will become heavy and land on the soil like rain. The moisture will circulate encouraging seeds to germinate. Seedstarting trays covered with plastic covers or film need to be monitored daily. Once the seeds have sprouted, the covers should be removed. Too much moisture may cause the growth of fungi or damping-off disease.

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

Apply for beginning farmer tax credit

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority is now accepting applications for the 2024 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

Asset owners can claim credits in one of the following categories in a given tax year for each beginning farmer they lease/sell to: cash rentals, share crop rentals, farmland sales and other sales including equipment, livestock, etc. Applications for cash rentals and share crop rentals are due July 17. Other applications are due Nov. 1.

Both the asset owners and beginning farmers must submit applications with lease and/or sale documents to be eligible for funding.

Through changes made to the program during the 2023 legislative session, parents, grandparents, and siblings are now eligible for the tax credit if they sell farmland to a direct family member. However, this does not apply to leases or non-land sales (e.g., livestock, vehicles).

Full eligibility requirements and application materials can be found at https://www.mda.state.mn.us/ bftc. Questions may be directed to Jenny Heck at Jenny.Heck@state.mn.us or (651) 201-6316.

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

PAGE 9

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

Drinking water isn’t complicated, but is necessary Water is an interesting (such as on the Mayo Clinic subject in the consideration web page or the Harvard of health. Even if you are Health web page) are based not a biologist or a physion average size people cian you know water is doing average sorts of activessential to survival. How ity with a little extra much water should we thrown in to be on the safe drink? Should we drink side. There are no studies bottled water? showing that a healthy human can be healthier by HEALTHCARE For healthy people FOCUS drinking significantly more engaged in normal activiwater than their thirst ties (not running a maraBy Mark Brakke drive suggests. That is thon or doing labor on a lucky for us as life would get way hot day) it turns out that drinking more complicated if Mother Nature what your body tells you to drink needed our help figuring out how works out just fine. You will run much we should drink. across dogmatic statements about how much water a person needs to People doing prolonged intense exerdrink. It is commonly said we should cise which causes a lot of sweating drink at least eight glasses of water will benefit by planned fluid intake to per day (the usual assumed volume avoid the lag in correction which can for “a glass” is 8 ounces). occur if one waits to feel thirsty. A small number of people who are genetIf one stops to think about this, it quickly becomes apparent our needed ically susceptible to forming kidney water intake is dependent on multiple stones benefit from larger fluid factors including: environmental tem- intakes than driven by thirst. perature, intensity of exercise, duraCan a person drink too much water? tion of exercise, size of the human, Yes. I cared for a patient who was what food is being eaten, what beverdrinking a lot of water and lemonade ages other than water are being during a hot spell, eating relatively litdrunk. tle, and she diluted her sodium and potassium, collapsed and was hospitalOn average, 20 percent of our fluid ized near death. intake comes from the food we eat.

The other 80 percent is made up of Bottled water water and many different water conWhy do Americans drink so much taining beverages including milk, tea, bottled water? The Food and Drug coffee etc. The guidelines one finds Administration has set standards for

MSCA announces summer tour

The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Summer Tour has traveled around the state of Minnesota for 50 years, this year making its way to Thief River Falls on June 25. The Northwestern Stockmen’s Association, one of 21 MSCA local affiliate associations, will host the tour highlighting cattle operations and unique businesses in northern Minnesota.

The Huck Olson Memorial Civic Center in Thief River Falls will be the home-base for tour. Tour stops include Natural Mills Trust, an organic whole grains, flours and cereals company; Didrikson Farms; Greenbush Vet Clinic; Waage Farms; Northland Community and Technical College; Hanson’s Dairy/ Ruprecht’s Herefords; Digi-Key, an electronic components distributor; and Open Trails Trophy Whitetails, an

established hunting preserve.

Summer Tour registration opens Feb. 1, and tickets are $25 per person before June 1, and student tickets are $10.

Tour details and registration information can be found by following the MSCA and NWSA on Facebook.

The MSCA is a membership-based organization representing cattle producers and individuals who are part of the Minnesota beef community. MSCA is primarily focused on addressing local, state and federal issues impacting the long-term viability of cattlemen in our state.

For more information on the MSCA, visit mnsca.org.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. v

bottled water. In general bottled water is no better than water from your home water faucet. The FDA guidelines for tap water and bottled water are very similar.

There are reasons to not drink bottled water.

People clearly have fewer dental cavities if their drinking water is treated with fluoride. If your children grow up on bottled water not treated with fluoride (some are treated, some are not, check the label) they are likely to have more dental cavities.

Bottled water is vastly more expensive than tap water. Environmental impact? Most of the plastic bottles used for bottled water do not get recycled and end up in landfills.

If you have a well — rather than municipal water — it is sensible to have the water tested occasionally; particularly for excess nitrates which are sometimes a problem in agricultural areas.

One last observation about water.

Our drinking water comes either from surface water (lakes and rivers) or

from wells which tap into underground water (aquifers). Common sense, as well as observation, tell us the amount of water we can draw from the aquifers is limited. If we pump too much water, the aquifers will be drawn down faster than they can be restored by rainfall. Digging deeper and deeper wells is like borrowing too much money. The end result can be disastrous. Minnesota is currently blessed to have a history of adequate rain and we have many lovely lakes and rivers.

We are at the head of the Great Lakes, the largest fresh water system in the world. It will be wise for us to keep our lakes, rivers and aquifers both clean and full so we can enjoy both the beauty and practical value with which we have been blessed.

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 (HCAMN.org). v

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PAGE 10

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

More milk going to cheese, less to butter

This column was written for the marketing week ending Jan. 12.

Winter weather made the headlines this week as it moved across the United States. HighGround Dairy warned, “After a green and brown December in News and information for Minnesota and Northern Iowa dairy producers the northern half of the U.S., meteorologists expect storms to increase in total ever. Cheese output in the 11 months October, and down 2 million or 2.7 percent from a January due to El Niño.”

MIELKE MARKET hit 12.9 billion pounds, up 0.3 percent from year ago.

WEEKLY The Pacific Northwest got its turn on the same period in 2022.

Nonfat dry milk output dropped to 115.7 million Jan. 12, where my thermometer read 5

By Lee Mielke Cheddar output, the daily traded cheese pounds, down 11.7 million or 9.2 percent from degrees as I wrote this, living 10 miles at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, fell to October and down 45 million or 28 percent from a south of the U.S./Canada border.

322.6 million pounds, down 6.3 million or 1.9 peryear ago. Year-to-date, powder was at 1.7 billion You’ll recall that November milk production was cent from October output, which was revised down pounds, down 3.8 percent from a year ago. Stocks down 0.6 percent from a year ago. The November 2.9 million pounds, and was down 1.2 million, or 0.4 dipped to 208.9 million pounds, down 7.7 million, or Dairy Products report shows that milk continued to percent, from a year ago.

Year-to-date, cheddar stood 3.6 percent from October and down 42.7 million move away from the churn and dryer to the cheese at 3.7 billion pounds, up 1.1 percent from 2022. pounds or 16.9 percent from a year ago. vat.

The cheddar blocks averaged $1.63 per pound in Skim milk powder production climbed to 57.9 milCheese output totaled 1.164 billion pounds, down November, down from the $2.12 per pound lion pounds, up 14.4 million pounds or 33.1 percent 2.6 percent from October, but 0.7 percent above November average in 2022. from October, and 8.8 million or 17.8 percent above November 2022. This is the third consecutive month a year ago. Year-to-date, skim milk powder was at Butter production inched up to 165.2 million to be above a year ago and the highest November 501.1 million pounds, down 15.6 percent from a year pounds, up 2.9 million pounds or 1.8 percent from ago.

October’s level which was revised up 1.7 million pounds. Output was down 6.3 million pounds or 3.7 “Nonfat dry milk volumes continued to fall on poor percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, butter stood milk production in the West,” says HighGround at 1.9 billion pounds, up 2.5 percent from a year Dairy. “However, skim milk powder output climbed, ago. indicating that export demand may have increased slightly from an abysmal showing throughout 2023.”

Butter averaged $2.72 per pound in Nov. 2023, down from $2.86 in 2022.

Quarterra says, “Domestic buyers are buying powYogurt production totaled 352.1 million pounds, up der steadily. Participants are optimistic that 2024 4.5 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date at 4.4 will bring additional interest from international buyers.” billion pounds, up 3.3 percent. n Hard ice cream, at 52.1 million pounds, was down 3.8 percent from 2022, with year-to-date output at Hopefully, that will be the case as U.S. dairy 669.9 million pounds, down 0.5 percent from a year exports remain below year ago levels. The latest ago. data shows November exports totaled 480.6 million pounds, down 7.5 percent from November 2022.

Dry whey production fell to 67.5 million pounds, down 6.8 million pounds or 9.2 percent from HighGround Dairy reported that shipments to October and 4.5 million pounds or 6.4 percent below Southeast Asia (excluding the Philippines), China, year ago. Year-to-date, whey stood at 856.2 million and Canada were down from November 2022 while pounds, up 1.9 percent. Stocks slipped to 71.0 milexports to Mexico grew 7.5 percent. Cheese and lion pounds, down 4.4 million or 5.8 percent from whey protein concentrate were the only commodities seeing gains.

Cheese exports totaled 85.1 million pounds, up 11.7 percent from October and up 4.1 percent from MINNESOTA’S LOW PRICED AG CHEMICAL DEALER a year ago, largest volume of any month since June 2022, according to the Daily Dairy Report.

Mexico garnered a 38 percent market share, according to HighGround Dairy economist Betty Berning in the Jan. 15 “Dairy Radio Now” broadChemicals ~ Fertilizers ~ Seeds cast. Purchases set another monthly record, she said, however sailings to South Korea, Japan, and ll for current Chemical prices Australia, three of the top five cheese export markets, saw year-on-year declines. Cheddar exports were down for the tenth month in a row, and 2023 year-to-date totals trail 2022’s record levels by 7.9 percent.

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 11

Dairy Market News: Butter output in the Midwest is ‘very busy’ MIELKE, from pg. 10 Nonfat dry milk exports, at 148.8 million pounds, were down 4.7 percent from a year ago, the lowest November since 2020, driven by lower volumes to Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. Still, the loss was not as bad as the double-digit decreases posted in September and October, according to Berning.

Dry whey exports, at 32.7 million pounds, were down 25.4 percent, down for the eighth consecutive month and have been down by 10 percent or greater since May 2023.

HighGround Dairy blamed “dismal sales to China as the primary reason, with smaller volumes to Southeast Asia and Canada also playing a role. But, whey protein concentrate 80 shipments picked up year-over-year for the fourth month in a row, with bigger demand from China, Canada, Brazil, and India.”

“Late summer’s high butter prices killed international demand,” adds HighGround Dairy, “just 3.4 million pounds were exported, down 81.9 percent from a year ago, the lowest mark since November 2020.

Through November, butter exports were less than half of January-November 2022. It seems unlikely, given the high U.S. butter prices compared to Oceania and Europe that exports will recover in 2024.”

Speaking of butter, the U.S. price acted as a magnet, with imports hitting 12.6 million pounds, up 18.8 percent from a year ago, third highest ever, according to Berning. About 90 percent of the imports are from Ireland and New Zealand.

U.S. cheese imports were up for the second month in a row, totaling 41.3 million pounds, up 1.5 percent. Italy and France were the top two suppliers, according to Berning, though their volume was actually down, but offset by import gains from the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Argentina. n CME block cheddar climbed to $1.56 per pound on Jan. 10, gave back a penny the next day, but closed the second Friday of 2024 at $1.5625. This is up 12.75 cents on the week (the highest in four weeks), but 43.75 cents below a year ago.

The barrels climbed to $1.48 on Jan. 10, but finished at $1.4450 on Jan. 12. This is up 3.5 cents on the week, 26.25 cents below a year ago, and 11.75

cents above a year ago. There were 15 sales put on the board for the week.

Spring demand preparations are underway for corn/change* soybeans/change* butter makers in the Central region, says Dairy Stewartville $4.11 -.20 $11.37 -.65 Market News. Butter output is very busy. As winter Edgerton $4.27 -.16 $11.46 -.69 weather disrupted hauling at plants through the Jackson $4.18 -.17 $11.65 -.59 region, plants were doing what they could to run as Hope $4.14 -.20 $11.46 -.64 much as possible. Cream availability — despite Cannon Falls $4.02 -.22 $11.45 -.50 multiples/prices holding above the holiday season — Sleepy Eye $4.08 -.25 $11.50 -.71 is still seasonally ample, and contacts say plants were still turning cream away as they are at capaciSt. Cloud $3.98 -.20 $11.39 -.66 ty. Bulk butter demand is steady when compared to Madison $4.06 -.20 $11.47 -.47 previous years during the first weeks of the year. As Redwood Falls $4.13 -.20 $11.54 -.62 the storms close schools and institutions from the Fergus Falls $3.87 -.21 $11.30 -.61 Upper Midwest to as far south as Texas, food service Morris $3.99 -.20 $11.52 -.47 demand was expected to take a temporary hit, Tracy $4.26 -.17 $11.46 -.67 Dairy Market News warned.

Average: $4.09 $11.47 Butter manufacturers note stronger to steady proYear Ago Average: $6.57 $14.74 duction but they are working to increase their inventories, though current levels are sufficient.

Grain prices are effective cash close on Jan. 16.

Domestic butter demand is steady to lighter as a *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period. few manufacturers relay that demand is below expectations. Production costs have reportedly cents below the blocks. Sales totaled 24 loads of increased — particularly for labor, says Dairy block on the week and 42 of barrel.

Market News. Export demand is “moderate.”

Spot milk availability remains at holiday levels, Grade A nonfat dry milk hit $1.2050 per pound on according to Dairy Market News, and prices as low Jan. 9 (the highest level since Nov. 14), but finished as $7-below Class III. Plant downtime was reported Jan. 12 at $1.185. This is 1.25 cents higher on the throughout the Midwest. Winter weather was week but 7 cents below a year ago, with 11 sales expected to add some hurdles. Cheese loads were reported on the week. reportedly moving well via steady demand. Barrel, StoneX reported a Dec. 31 fire in a dairy raw cheddar and Italian style cheesemakers relay simimaterials storage unit in the Algerian municipality lar demand notes. Contacts in the upper Midwest of Bourguiga. “The warehouse contained approxisay that inventories are not heavy, nor tight, and mately 10,000 to 12,000 tons of milk powder, accordthey expect the bolstered milk levels to keep maring to several market sources, and they wasted little ket prices in check until demand ebbs. time in what appeared to be an attempt to rebuild Retail cheese demand in the West is steady to lost inventories as a new Onil tender occurred Jan. lighter. Food service is mixed. Milk is readily avail8. “The tender included about 15,000 metric tons of able for cheese makers and spot load demand is whole milk powder and 22,000 metric tons of skim strong to steady, says Dairy Market News. A few milk powder with delivery set March-May,” accordAD COPY INSTRUCTIONS Please read attached email noted heavy pulls on Class III milk has taken some ing to StoneX. away from Class IV. Cheese makers indicate proDry whey reached 43 cents per pound on Jan. 10. duction is stronger to steady. Plenty cheese is NAMES CODEofAND REP ALREADY ON AD THE LAND 3.417 x ” It is the highest CME price since April 4, and available and domestic prices have strengthened stayed there the rest of the week. Dry whey is up buying activity from international purchasers.

1.75 cents on the week and 9.75 cents above a year Butter fell to $2.53 per pound on Jan.8 (the lowest ago. There was only two sales on the week. since Dec. 15), but closed Jan. 12 at $2.5675. This is See MIELKE, pg. 14 down three-quarter cents on the week and 14.25

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BECK'S COMMITMENT REWARDS: VALUE OR GIMMICK? “It felt gimmicky until my Beck’s dealer sat down and explained the terms of the agreement and the value it would bring to my operation. Once I understood that, signing an agreement was a no-brainer,” said Beck’s Missouri Customer Patrick Hines.

When it comes to Commitment Rewards, we’ve heard it all. “Just lower your seed cost!” “I don’t need your toy catalog.” “I refuse to drink your marketing Kool-Aid.” “What a gimmick!”

Well, if you say it’s a gimmick, then we say it’s the most valuable gimmick in the industry.

Here’s why.

LEVERAGE BUYING POWER Commitment Rewards is an equipment and financial tool that can provide your operation with a competitive advantage. The program is designed to help farmers leverage Beck’s buying power to overcome obstacles like access to working capital and increasing interest rates.

IMPROVE YOUR CASH FLOW Each year, Beck’s works with industry-leading equipment providers, placing bulk orders upfront to offer farmers the peace of mind to secure the equipment they need when they need it. By leveraging our significant buying power, we pass along equipment discounts directly to growers that would not be attainable for a single operation.

Patrick Hines, a farmer in Memphis, MO, has been a customer of Beck’s since 2021 and purchased a small amount of seed each year to try out on his farm. For 2024, he committed 100% of his acres to Beck’s and worked with his area dealer, Aaron Brewer, to sign a multi-year Level 8 agreement with

Commitment Rewards after learning more about the value the program offered.

"Part of my decision to commit 100% of my seed order this year was due to Beck’s flexibility in helping me put up a new equipment shed," said Hines. "After meeting with my dealer at Beck’s Southern Illinois Field Show and seeing the terms of the agreement, I was shocked at how much cash Commitment Rewards would free up for me."

And while Patrick’s Level 8 multi-year agreement didn't cover the entire cost, he is now paying back a minimal amount per year for three years (on an already highly discounted equipment shed) with ZERO interest, saving him roughly $23,000. Plus, he can now write off the cost of that shed as an asset on his taxes that same year and boost his savings.

REDUCE YOUR INTEREST PAYMENTS If you’re looking for innovative ways to increase your working capital, Commitment Rewards provides an interest-free payback over time. You can use your points as a “down payment” on the equipment you need and pay the rest of the cost back to Beck’s interest-free. Let’s break it down.

Say you are considering signing a Level 3 multi-year agreement at a $80,000 seed commitment. At this level, you would receive 50 total points to use, valued at $18,750 ($375 per point).

Despite not being fully sold on the program yet, you sit down with your Beck’s dealer to review the equipment and tool options available. You flip to page 76, and your eyes go straight to the Thunder Creek 900 Fuel Tender. You remember that yours broke down during planting, and you have not made it to the bank to take out a loan for a new one.

Your dealer sees the spark in your eye, so he gets to work breaking down the math for you.

MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT SCENARIOS: LEVEL 3 $80,000 Seed Commitment

50 Program Points Valued At $18,750 ($375 Per Point)

program selecting a table saw. After learning more about the value and opportunity of the program, he then went on to sign two consecutive multi-year agreements for a grain cart and then a trailer. “When it was all said and done, I paid one-fifth of what the grain cart is worth and on the grain trailer, I didn’t even have to pay one-third of what the value was,” he said.

WHAT COULD A COMMITMENT REWARDS AGREEMENT LOOK LIKE FOR ME?

Thunder Creek 900 Fuel Tender $22,500 | Beck’s Sales Price (60 points x $375) $22,500 (Fuel Tender Cost) - $18,750 (Total Point Value) = $3,750 (Remaining Cost to You) $3,750 (Remaining Cost to You) / 3 (Multi-Year Commitment) = $1,250 Final Per Year Cost to You at 0% Interest

While this sit-down scenario may seem farfetched, we can assure you that the savings and interest-free payments are not.

It’s not just about securing the tools you need for your operation you need at a heavily discounted, interest-free cost, it’s about freeing up cash that wasn’t previously available, providing you with the flexibility to purchase additional equipment that would not have been possible without the program.

Another Beck’s customer, Jerry Steimel from Waterloo, Iowa, started off in the

While a grain trailer or fuel tender might not be something you need on your farm, Beck’s has options for every farmer and every acre size, ranging from large ag equipment, trucks and trailers, shop essentials, and even home and recreation. We’ve taken two great examples (to the right) of some of our most popular Commitment Rewards items and broken down the cost/savings for you.

HELPING FARMERS SUCCEED Beck’s chooses to put more money into farmers’ pockets by passing along additional value through Commitment Rewards than they would get through a simple cash discount on seed. By expanding farmer’s cash positions and freeing up working capital through Commitment Rewards, growers can secure the tools and equipment they need, create significant tax savings opportunities, and gain more value for their operations.

It’s a value-adding, working capitalmultiplying, cash-expanding return on your seed investment.

“IT FELT GIMMICKY UNTIL MY BECK’S DEALER SAT DOWN AND EXPLAINED THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE VALUE IT WOULD BRING TO MY OPERATION. ONCE I UNDERSTOOD THAT, SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WAS A NO-BRAINER.” – Patrick Hines, Beck’s Missouri Customer

MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT SCENARIOS: LEVEL 4

MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT SCENARIOS: LEVEL 5

$120,000 Seed Commitment

$200,000 Seed Commitment

80 Program Points Valued At $30,000 ($375 Per Point)

145 Program Points Valued At $54,375 ($375 Per Point)

New Holland C337 Skid Steer $73,500 | Beck’s Sales Price (196 points x $375)

Chevrolet 2500 HD LTZ Diesel $78,000* | Beck’s Sales Price (208 points x $375)

$73,500 (Skid Steer Cost) - $30,000 (Total Point Value) = $43,500 (Remaining Cost to You)

$78,000 (Truck Cost) - $54,375 (Total Point Value) = $23,625 (Remaining Cost to You)

$43,500 (Remaining Cost to You) / 3 (Multi-Year Commitment)

$23,625 (Remaining Cost to You) / 3 (Multi-Year Commitment)

= $14,500 Final Per Year Cost to You at 0% Interest

= $7,875 Final Per Year Cost to You at 0% Interest

*Includes local sales tax

SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECK’S COMMITMENT REWARDS PROGRAM.

PAGE 14

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

Farm succession part of SACE’s commitment to ag education tools they need to craft a succession plan.

Southern Minnesota boasts impressive “They may not leave with all the educational resources for developing the answers, but they’ll at least be able to food and agriculture workforce; but many wrap their minds around what needs to residents may not know about the agribe done.” cultural education powerhouse in their backyard. The Minnesota State Southern The retreat is completely free to attend, Agricultural Center of Excellence (SACE) thanks to a Minnesota Department of has its office at South Central College in Agriculture grant, and was created in North Mankato and is a dominant force partnership with the MDA and the TALENT in serving southern Minnesota’s agriculIN THE GREENSEAM University of Minnesota Extension. tural workforce needs.

“We’ve had success with the retreats

By Holly Callaghan because they neither overwhelm the proSince its establishment in 2013, SACE ducers, nor apply the pressure that an accountant has championed ag education and aligned students or attorney might.” in the seven southern colleges and universities in the Minnesota State system with the needs of food SACE is also a cheerleader for careers in food and and ag businesses. agriculture, spreading awareness across the region to get students excited about careers in the indusMinnesota state colleges and universities have a try. “We have to ask ourselves how we can make ag wide variety of programs for every area of the education stand out in students’ minds as fewer and industry, and SACE operates as a hub for people fewer have a farming family member.” and businesses navigating their resources.

Their strategy incorporates outreach staff and Tina LeBrun became executive director of SACE experiential learning opportunities. this past October. Prior to LeBrun’s appointment, she spent 15 years as a Farm Business Shyanne Rodning and Nathan Hanel serve as the Management instructor for South Central College.

Center’s two coordinators and outreach staff. “They are doing amazing work every day,” says LeBrun.

SACE is proud to share the opportunities avail“They are rewriting perceptions of ag in our schools able to farmers through FBM’s suite of educational and cultivating a passion for agriculture in our offerings for producers. “FBM has been offered by youth.” colleges and universities throughout the state for more than 70 years, serving almost 3,000 farms Rodning and Hanel speak to students across the every year,” says LeBrun. The rest of the country is region about the many opportunities for careers in taking notice. “Ag producers from other states are agriculture, showing them how virtually every acacoming to us for FBM support because no one else demic discipline has a place in the industry. “We in the country is offering it at our level as accessibly have to be unique in how we reach our students, as we are.”

LeBrun stressed. “It’s an exciting challenge. We spend time researching where we should be with LeBrun continues to instruct over 50 FBM students at SCC while she begins her new role as direc- our outreach, what career fairs to be at, and local partnerships.” tor of the Center. She regularly provides virtual instruction to producers from outside of Minnesota The center has a combine simulator they bring to and is passionate about her work. “It’s truly about career fairs, offering a glimpse of production agriserving the producers. I work with veterans, coastal culture to students who wouldn’t otherwise be growers, and a wide array of other producers.” exposed to the industry. “We’ve even hosted a tracLeBrun is no stranger to the challenges of produc- tor pull on one of our campuses,” added LeBrun. tion. She grew up on a dairy and crop farm and curExperiences like these are designed to help sturently manages a cattle farm with her husband in dents envision themselves as members of a robust Lafayette, Minn. food and ag community.

She wants to be clear that the Center is available for producers at every stage of experience in agriculture. “The producers we work with seem to get the impression that we exist for younger students, post-secondary students, and so on; but this just MIELKE, from pg. 11 isn’t true. If one of them is facing a regulation, StoneX says, “Market participants continue to grant difficulties, Farm Service Agency program bring strong higher protein demand while Chinese issues, or they just have an idea for the new Farm demand for whey/carbohydrates wanes due to a fallBill, they can call SACE and we will escalate their ing hog herd.” concerns until we find the solutions they need.”

The week ending Dec. 30 saw 42,600 dairy cows go SACE’s expertise on ag issues enables them to to slaughter, down 13,200 from the previous week offer unbiased assistance to farms navigating the complexities of a generational transition. On Feb. 24 and 10,900 or 20.4 percent below a year ago, biggest drop since December 2021. Year-to-date, 3,047,700 and 25, SACE will host a two-day farm succession retreat at SCC designed to equip producers with the head had been retired from the dairy business, up

After 10 years of aligning educators, students, and the industry, SACE is seeing a growing appetite for their work and it’s opening doors for impact.

“Nathan and Shyanne are visiting more schools and events than ever before, and the opportunities just keep coming. Right now, Nathan is in Washington D.C. advocating for our educators, students, and businesses.”

And the same is true for the state’s FBM programs. “We continue to expand our suite of offerings to reach producers of all types and stages,” LeBrun said, “but now they can turn to FBM to help give them the tools they need to be successful in everything from managing farm finances to the technical aspects of production.”

LeBrun recalls a time when there were scant educational resources for beginning farmers and is excited about the community collaborations that have formed out of this momentum. “Working together and collaborating is really the foundation of SACE and the purpose of why we are here in southern Minnesota,” she explained. “The possibilities are endless when you can get everyone at the table with a goal to drive toward.”

The success of their partnership with MDA and the U of M Extension on the farm succession retreats has led to an extension of the program into 2025. It’s just one of many examples of SACE responding to the needs of the ag industry. “As we face a world of more regulations, we want to equip producers and our industry with the training they need,” says LeBrun.

But the legislative landscape isn’t the only one in flux. “Technologies for precision ag are coming at us fast, too,” LeBrun admitted. “To continue driving forward as an industry, we need to make these curriculums widely available through collaboration. We are here to lead that charge.”

GreenSeam believes that working together as an agricultural community will help us better navigate the workforce related challenges experienced today and attract more people to consider careers in agriculture, food and natural resources. Holly Callaghan, Economic Development Coordinator, can be reached at hcallaghan@greenseam.org. v

Whey demand in China is waning just 28,200 or 0.9 percent from a year ago. This was also the lowest market share held by dairy cows since Thanksgiving of 2022 when dairy cows accounted for 7.9 percent of total beef production that week.

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

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 15

FFA chapters step up to spotlight mental health

By LAURA COLE Health Monday” in which they “We’re really excited The Land Staff Writer set up resources and activities that we got to be a part aimed at taking away the stigof it, and we want to “Everybody’s welcome, every ma that can be associated with keep the momentum single time” is the message asking for help and support. going,” Aarsvold said.

FFA advisor Mary Hoffmann Aarsvold also stated a number She noted both the wants students to hear. In 2023, of chapters invited a survivor of teachers and students 28 FFA chapters focused on an attempted suicide to share are passionate about projects geared to support menher message and talk through this work, and the tal wellness throughout their Val Aarsvold how she got to that place, as Minnesota FFA school and communities well as how others can avoid Foundation welcomes the opportunity through the “Bend, Don’t getting to that place. to partner with a new donor so that Break” program. their work can continue.

Another FFA chapter, 916 As one of the Minnesota Career and Tech, took an artis“We’re committed to being an active Department of Agriculture’s tic approach.

They painted a partner in our communities, and comsub-awardees of the initiative, mural with participation from munity service is part of what we’re selected FFA chapters received every student. Aarsvold shared about,” Aarsvold concluded. varying grants up to $2,000. the concept was to instill that Funding was provided by the To discuss becoming a donor of the each person adds beauty and program, Aarsvold can be contacted United States Department of has purpose. Every student, at val.aarsvold@mnffafoundation.org.v Agriculture’s National Institute then, also has a feeling of conof Food and Agriculture and its tribution whenever they walk Farm and Ranch Stress by the completed artwork.

Assistance Program.

Along with participating in The first group of recipients the school-wide and/or commuwas announced in December nity-based events, Aarsvold 2022, and the chapters used noted a specific benefit to the their funds in an array of ways.

FFA students is having also Hoffmann is one of the three developed a deeper set of skills Photos submitted ag teachers at Sleepy Eye as they understood the roles Public School in Sleepy Eye, The Sleepy Eye FFA chapter assembled Mental Wellness Kits they play in being leaders for Minn. In her 18th year with the which were distributed to students in grades 7 through 12. their community. school and 29th year in her Aarsvold is grateful for the funds teaching career, Hoffmann emphareceived through the Minnesota sized the importance of youth knowDepartment of Agriculture.

She stating that they belong. ed, “Some of the giveaways had Sleepy Eye chapter important pieces of information on members assembled it, and those are resources that chapabout 300 Mental ters typically wouldn’t have if we Wellness Kits which didn’t have an outside supporter.” were distributed The contributions also helped to Members of the 916 Career and Tech FFA chapter took their turn working on a mural at before Thanksgiving cover various expenses such as trav- the White Bear Lake, Minn. school. break to every sevel stipends for speakers. enth through 12th The Mental Wellness Kits were distributed before grader at their Mary Hoffmann school — as well as Thanksgiving break, carrying the message, “You have value!” to their FFA students that come from a couple of sur- charge and provide an opportunity for rranty a W r ea rounding schools. students to enjoy food and each other’s 25 Y company.

“Everybody’s invited every The kits consisted of 10 items — including an uplifting quote card, a time.”

C o ld ers • C r it t stress ball, fidget keychain, lip balm, Val Aarsvold, executive director of • s ve • Lea mini plush, and an assortment of the Minnesota FFA Foundation, proD ir t R ter • a YOU W • snacks and treats. The label on the kit vided details on some of the other S ON ORS! E Snow H O INC AD D includes the message, “You have value!” “Bend, Don’t Break” FFA projects TO 2 ERHE S UP SHOP OV P ting e A & SG rock % Hoffmann discussed the chapter’s throughout the state. The Sibley East y k SEAL GARAGE S O 40 ills are service projects aim toward thinking of FFA chapter held a Farmer’s Share eat B VE UP T H dinner with a licensed professional others as well as the students within SA FFA. She added their FFA meetings serving as guest speaker to discuss Call Today 800-250-5502 and events — with the exception of mental health. or Visit snirtstopper.com overnight conferences — are free of Some chapters featured “Mental

n? i ’ n i t et em’ Out. G s t r i Sn Keep an We C

PAGE 16

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

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

Jan. 24 — I-29 Moo University Webinar — Online — As part of the 2024 Dairy Webinar Series, this webinar will feature a discussion on how inflation effects your dairy’s bottom line with Dr. Chad Hart.

Iowa contact: Fred Hall at (712) 737-4230, Minnesota contact: Jim Salfer at (320) 203-6093.

Wednesdays, Jan. 24–Mar. 27 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops Webinar — Online — This live, online program will provide up-to-date, research-based information in order to help optimize crop management strategies for 2024. For more information, visit https://z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Topics: Jan. 24: Big data and corn genomics Jan. 31: Pushing soybean maturities to the max Feb. 7: Herbicide product choices and application Feb. 14: Herbicide adjuvants Feb. 21: Insect pest management Feb. 28: Thirsty cover crops March 6: Fertilizers and maximizing ROIs March 13: Smart corn insects March 20: Fungicides for corn and soybean diseases March 27: Emerging corn and soybean diseases

Jan. 30 — Dairy Day — Sioux Center, Iowa — The day-long event aims to help dairy producers learn about current best practices supported by the latest research.

Topics include “Starting your calves on the right hoof” and “What does it cost to raise your dairy best heifer?”

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist in your area.

Jan. 30 — Defend & Grow: EAB Solutions & Smart Tree Choices Workshop — Hutchinson, Minn. and Buffalo, Minn. — This workshop will cover an overview of emerald ash borer and control options, underutilized trees on the landscape, and the Hutchinson even will include a Q&A with a certified arborist. Contact Emily Hansen at hans6005@umn.edu.

Jan. 30–Feb. 1 — Meet Your Pollinators Webinar Series — Online — This three-part series will cover how to help pollinators, pollinator insect identification, and integrated pest management practices to keep pollinators safe. For more information, contact your local Extension office.

Thursdays, Feb. 1–Mar. 7 — Farm Transition Planning Course — Online — Presenters will include other area farmers who are implementing a farm transition plan, as well as professionals representing the legal, financial, and healthcare fields as they relate to agricultural businesses. Contact Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org or (612) 767-9885.

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Feb. 6 — Women in Ag Conference — St. Cloud, Minn. — This year’s theme, “Planting Possibilities: Shaping the Future of Farming,” will provide discussions and presentations specifically geared toward farmers on the role of planning. Contact Elaine Hardy at wagne079@umn.edu or (218) 828-2276.

Feb. 7 — Minnesota Beginning Farmer Institute — Online — This four-part course uses an interactive approach to teach participants farm management topics. Each workshop will have educational handouts and presentations. Contact Nathan Hulinsky at huli0013@umn.edu or (218) 828-2680.

Additional course dates: Feb. 14, Feb. 21, Feb. 28 Feb. 19–23 — Gardening from the Ground Up Zoom Webinar Series — Online — The series will focus on maximizing efficiency in the home landscape.

For more information, contact your local Extension Educator.

Topics: Feb. 19: Boost your garden harvest: Plant selection and propagation tips Feb. 20: Don’t overapply, optimize: Tips for selecting and applying fertilizer Feb. 21: Water wisely Feb. 22: So many veggies, so little space Feb. 23: Maximizing labor efficiency in the garden

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THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

PAGE 17

Universities present ag research updates online Curious about the latest independent and unbiased research findings of your Land Grant Universities and how those findings pertain to advising your clients to best manage their crops?

University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, soil, and weed science extension faculty are going on the road to share their data, interpretations, and conclusions.

Feb. 6, 9-10:45 a.m. online — “Biology and management of two new insect pests of soybean: Soybean gall midge and soybean tentiform leafminer.” Soybean production continues to be challenged by insect pests. Recently, two new insects (soybean gall midge and soybean tentiform leafminer) have emerged as threats to this crop. Dr. Bob Koch, Extension soybean entomologist, will provide essential information on how to identify these new insects and the injury they cause. In addition, updates will be provided on the biology and management of these insects.

“Research briefs on soybean root and stem diseases and tar spot of corn.”

This session will include presentation and discussion of recent research on corn tar spot and the soybean diseases Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia root rot, sudden death syndrome, pod and stem blight, and white mold. Key items will be discussed in relation to assessing risk and planning best management options for these diseases.

“Ongoing resistance of European corn borer and corn rootworm complex in Bt corn.” Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops producing Bt proteins are the most important contribution of biotechnology to date for control of some major lepidopteran and coleopteran pests in agriculture. Like chemical insecticides, widespread adoption of Bt crops has placed a strong selection pressure on the insect populations, resulting in the evolution of insect resistance to Bt proteins. There are many factors that affect the rate of evolution of insect resistance to Bt crops, including resistance allele frequency, the concentration of Bt protein in the plants, cross-resistance, unnecessary use, and few mode of actions.

Implementation of effective insect resistance management strategies is critically important to delay insect resistance. In this presentation, Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathol-

ogist, will talk about recent studies on resistance of European corn borer and corn rootworms to Bt proteins and RNAi technologies in the U.S. Feb. 9, 9-10:45 a.m. online — “Herbicide resistance: Are we losing the battle against weeds?” The number of herbicide-resistant weeds is on the rise, reducing the efficacy of available herbicides. This presentation will include the current status of herbicideresistant waterhemp in Minnesota, the overall efficacy of herbicides available for corn and soybean growers, and an integrated management of herbicideresistant weeds.

“Mid-season application of nitrogen and sulfur for corn.” Many farmers apply all nitrogen and sulfur prior to corn planting, well in advance of the time of rapid uptake of these nutrients by corn. With new innovations such as the 360 Y-DROP system, farmers can now apply liquid fertilizers more efficiently in-season. This has potential to increase fertilizer use efficiency and corn yield, especially with later-maturity hybrids and higher plant populations.

Dr. Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist, will discuss these issues based on new research from southern Minnesota.

“Soybean management for increased yields” This presentation will focus on factors farmers can use to promote higher yields or maintain existing yield potential. Dr. Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist, will examine the opportunities to increase yields and economic returns with biological seed treatments, drainage, and tillage, Naeye will examine methods to reduce risk of loss from IDC and will also examine the critical period for yield accrual in soybean.

Feb. 15, 9-10:45 a.m. online — “Best management practices for nitrogen Part I” There is a lot of talk about nitrogen management and many that propose simple solutions to managing this expensive input. Nitrogen fertilizers are typically applied to provide corn with this nutrient, but supplying the form of nitrogen the crop needs, when it needs it, and in the amount it needs it can be challenging. Part of the challenge is that once nitrogen is applied it can undergo several different transformations and the results can range from nitrogen being highly available for uptake by the crop to completely unavailable. In this presentation, Dr. Dan Kaiser, Extension

nutrient management specialist, will focus on some of the most important tools available to help farmers manage nitrogen effectively and on how to overcome some of the challenges around nitrogen management. An update on results from ongoing research projects dealing with nitrogen management such as time, source, and soil N testing will be provided.

“Best management practices for nitrogen - Part II” An update on results from ongoing research projects dealing with nitrogen management such as time, source, and soil N testing will be provided.

“Crop residue levels and nitrogen availability in strip-tilled sugarbeet” Strip-tillage helps keep soil in place while providing a narrow tilled area for fertilizer placement and spring planting. Although we know this practice is

good for preventing wind and water erosion, higher levels of crop residue at the ground surface can alter nitrogen availability. In 2023, we tracked nitrogen availability in strip-tilled sugarbeet plots throughout the growing season. In this presentation, Dr. Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist, will review what we saw and how that related to relative sugar yield at harvest in 2023.

You can also earn continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisors.

Direct questions about the program content or disability accommodations to Jochum Wiersma at wiers002@umn. edu. For more information on speakers, topics, and to register, go to z.umn.edu/ research-updates.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

PAGE 18

www.thelandonline.com —”Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

Real Estate

FOR SALE: 160 wooded acres on the Minnesota River. Call Wingert Land Services 507-381-9790

Your ad could be here!

507-345-4523

NOTICE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND BUILDABLE SITE SALE WASECA COUNTY NEW RICHLAND TOWNSHIP 40 DEEDED ACRES MARK QUERNA FARM

BRIEF TAX DESCRIPTION SE1/4 of NW1/4 Section 16, Twp 105. R22 PARCEL ID: 07.0160710 TERMS: The land consists of 38.2 acres of tillable land CPI is 91. The farm has been certified organic since 2005. The land is located 1/3 mile east of State Highway 13 on quiet blacktop road.

This parcel is a buildable site.

1.

Potential Buyers shall submit a sealed bid to Molly Byron, Attorney, Byron Law Office, PLLC, 122 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093. The sealed bid shall be received by 9:30 a.m. on January 24, 2024.

2.

The bids shall be opened at Byron Law Office, PLLC at 10:00 a.m. on January 24, 2024. All persons submitting a written bid will be allowed to raise their bid, by phone, after the bids have been opened.

Phone calls to bidders will be placed by Byron Law Office, phone number 507-835-3355. Bidders must be available by phone at that time.

3.

The successful bidder will be required to execute a purchase agreement and pay 10% of the purchase price as earnest money by 5:00 p.m. on January 24, 2024 at Byron Law Office. The entire remaining balance of the purchase price, without interest, will be due on or before February 24, 2024 at which time title will be conveyed by Warranty Deed. Possession of the real estate will be delivered at the time of closing.

4.

Real estate taxes of $ 1,096.00 for 2023 are paid in full. Real estate taxes and special assessments due and payable in 2024 shall be paid by the Buyer.

5.

This property is being sold in “AS IS” condition and Sellers make no representation as to acreage, tiling or condition.

6.

An abstract of title indicating marketable title in Seller’s name shall be furnished. Title shall be transferred by Warranty Deed. Possession shall be given to the successful bidder upon receipt of payment in full.

7.

The owners specifically reserve the right to reject any and all bids and waive irregularities in the bidding process. Any verbal announcement information given the day of sale takes precedence over print.

Information concerning this land sale may be obtained at Byron Law Office, PLLC, 122 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093, phone 507.835.3355.

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024 Real Estate Wanted

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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.

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PLANTERS JD 7200 12-30 w/LF ………........................…… $15,500 White 6122 L/F .Ins 20-20 ……..........……… $14,500 White 8516 CFS 16030 ………...............…… $39,900 Taking 2024 New Spring Orders COMBINES NEW Geringhoff chopping cornhead .................... Call ’18 Gleaner S97 .................................................... Call ’15 Gleaner S78 loaded ……….......…….. Just Trd.d Gleaner R65 ……...................................…….. $71,500 Geringhoff parts & heads available

Get

RESULTS Sell it

FAST! When you advertise in The Land!

MISCELLANEOUS NEW Salford RTS Units ........................................ Call NEW Unverferth Seed Tenders .............................. Call NEW Westfield Augers .......................................... Call NEW REM VRX Vacs. ........................................... Call NEW Hardi Sprayers .............................................. Call NEW Riteway Rollers ............................................ Call NEW Lorenz Snowblowers .................................... Call NEW Batco Conveyors ......................................... Call NEW Brent Wagons & Grain Carts ....................... Call NEW E-Z Trail Seed Wagons ................................. Call NEW Rock Buckets & Pallet Forks ........................ Call Pre-Owned Grain Cart ................................... On Hand New Horsch Jokers ................................................ Call

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

(507) 234-5191 (507) 625-8649 Hwy. 14, 3 miles West of Janesville, MN

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00 • Sat. 7:30-Noon

Call us today!

507 345-4523 or

800 657-4665

PAGE 20

www.thelandonline.com —”Where Farm and Family Meet”

LAND FOR SALE Upcoming Land Auction January 26 ± acres farmland in 2 parcels

FREE Classified Line Ads in The Land

Purchase one line ad at regular price and get the second one free in the same edition. Run the same ad twice or two different ads. The free ad must be of equal or lesser value.

Hurry! Offer ends soon • Offer good for private-party ads only.

Call The Land at 507-345-4523

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024 Fertilizer & Chemical

Gen Liberty totes, $18.95; FOR SALE: Rock Box off CIH Glyphosate 5.4 totes, $14.95; 94 & 96 Series tractors, like Enlist 1 totes, $45.80; Sure- new, $200. Ernie Puncochar start II $45.75; Metolachlor 320-282-2117 Maple Lake MN totes, $25.50/pkg $26.95. All Round bale Unroller, electric, tote prices include free de- $1,500; Unloader 18ft Badlivery to most everywhere. ger, VanDale, $200. Phone Please call or text for any 952-467-4006 other chemical needs.

We buy Phone 612-210-3685 Salvage Equipment Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. Bins & Buildings (507)867-4910

SILO Take-down & clean up Specializing in silos in congested areas.

FULLY INSURED mobile concrete crushing.

507-236-9446

For property brochures, contact Hertz at 507-345-LAND (5263) WWW.HERTZ.AG 151 St. Andrews Court #1310, Mankato MN 56001

Answers for Men’s Health Word Search Kubota M5-111, New Holland Workmaster, Low Hours

HM AUCTION ON GROUP PRESENTS

ONLINE ONLY FARM RETIREMENT AUCTION Auction Location: 10006 60th Ave. SW, Stewartville, MN Bidding Opens: Monday, January 29, 2024 at 8:00 a,m, BIDDING STARTS CLOSING

’16 Kubota M5-111, 2 WD, Open Station, 478 One Owner Hrs, 3pt, 2 Hyd., PTO, 8sp. Shuttle Shift 105HP, Looks New; ‘20 New Holland Workmaster 70 Series, Diesel, 2WD, 70 HP, 3pt, 2 Hyd, PTO, 8x8 Synchromesh Shuttle Shift, Canopy, 66 One Owner Hrs

Cub Cadet UTV, DR Mowers, Leaf Vacuum, Lawn Sprayer, Pressure Washer, Fuel Tanks

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 • 10:00 a.m. ’13 Cub Cadet Volunteer 4x4 AUT, EFI, 1400LBS Capacity, Soft

Cab, 85 Hrs; ’17 DR All Terrain PRO XL30 Mower, 30”, 16.5 HP; ’10 DR All Terrain Mower 26”, 16 HP; Huskee Supreme Riding WWW.HMAUCTION.COM Mower, 23HP, 46” Deck, 78 Hrs; Woodland Power Cyclone Rake Vacuum, 200 Gallon Bags; Simplicity 1150 Series 24” Snowblower, VIEWING & INSPECTION DATES: 2 Stage, 8HP; Fimco 15 Gallon Lawn Sprayer, 12 Volt Pump; DR ;O\YZKH` -YPKH` -LIY\HY` ࠮ ! H T ¶ ! W T Lawn Rake; Alkota C135T Cold Water Pressure Washer; Stihl 036 Chain Saw 24” Bar; Stihl MS210 Chain Saw 18” Bar; Lawn 2020 Chevrolet 3500HD, Aerator & Dethatcher; Lawn Fertilizer Spreader; Diesel Fuel Tank, 7894 Miles 550 Gallon Electric Pump; Gas Fuel Tank and Stand, 250 Gallon; ’20 Chevrolet 3500HD LT Reg Cab, Antique JI Case Sign, 70.5” x 30”; Picnic Table 4x4, Auto, 6.0 V8, 7894 One Owner Miles, Looks New, Long Box AUCTIONEER NOTE: The Schwankes have been well known for giving the “Best of the Case 2590 Tractor, Case 590 Backhoe, Best” Care for anything they have owned.

COMPLETE DETAILS, PHOTOS & BIDDING AT:

Ford Dump Truck

’81 Cases 2590 2WD, 5421 Hrs, 18.4x38 Duals, New Hyd. Pump, All New Fluids and Filters, 170 HP, Very Clean; ’06 Case 590 Super M Extendahoe Backhoe/Loader, 4x4, Full Cab, Heat, 2355 Hours, Clean; (3) Backhoe Buckets 18”,24”,36”; ’95 Ford L9000 Tandem Axle Dump Truck, N14 Cumins, 8sp., 350 HP, 22.5 New Tires, 455,549 Miles, Runs Very Good

Lawrence & Mary Schwanke –OWNERS–

Clean Like New Farm Machinery, Flatbed Trailers

Case IH 4600 FC, 25’, 3 Bar Harrow, 7” Sweeps, Looks New; Massey Ferguson 820 Tandem Disk, 20.5, 21” Blades; Rhino TW36 72” H.D. Rotary Mower, 3pt 540 PTO, Like New; Massey Ferguson 1308 Disc Mower, 3pt 540 PTO, 8’ Cut; ’19 Metro SB870 Snowblower, 87” Double Auger, 3pt 540 PTO; Walco 7’ Field Cultivator, 13 Shanks, 3pt; Walco 6’ Landscaper Rake, 3pt; Wingfield 6’ Driveway Scraper, 3pt; Road King Tandem Axle 18’ Flatbed Trailer, 2’ Beavertail, Ramps, 12,500 GVW; Single Axle Trailer, 10’, Mesh Flip Up Ramp PAYMENT & PICKUP DATES: >LKULZKH` ;O\YZKH` -LIY\HY` ࠮ ! H T ¶ ! W T

WWW.HMAUCTION.COM HMAUCTION COM MARING AUCTION, LLC. HAMILTON AUCTION CO. PO Box 37, Kenyon, MN 55946 130 State Highway 16 507-789-5421 • 800-801-4502 Dexter, MN 55926 • 507-584-0133 Andrew Hamilton Lic# 50-128 Matt Maring Lic# 25-28 Cell: 507-438-6693 Kevin Maring Lic# 25-70 Bill Hilton • 507-279-9600 Adam Engen Lic# 25-93 Terms: Cash, Check, Credit Card, Wire Transfer. All Sales Final. All Sales Selling In As-Is Condition. All Payment For Purchases From This Auction Must Be Paid For In Full On Payment & Pickup Days.

Buyers Premium Of 10% With A Cap Of 1,000.00 Per Item.

Farm Equipment

Tractors

FOR SALE: Allis Chalmers C tractor and a John Deere tractor, gas. 320-746-2387

Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys.

100% financing w/no liens or red tape, call Steve at Fairfax Ag for an appointment.

888-830-7757

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

Farm Equipment

Tillage Equip

FOR SALE: 480 x 42” duals, FOR SALE: International 475 hub fits 3 5/8” axle. 25 shank and 480 19’ tandem disks, JD 1610 flat fold chisel plow. manual fold, asking $2,500 507-380-9374 each. 507-227-2602

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024 Tillage Equip

Harvesting Equip

PAGE 21

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

Wanted

Livestock

Swine

Miscellaneous

HFOR SALE: 2 Remlinger FOR SALE: John Deere 893 All kinds of New & Used farm FOR SALE: Black Angus bulls Spot, Duroc, Chester White, PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS e Spike harrows off 870 Case cornhead, 1998 model, has equipment - disc chisels, field also Hamp, York, & Hamp/ Boars & Gilts available. New pumps & parts on hand. r IH disk ripper, 7 shank and calmer deck plates, nice cults, planters, soil finishers, Duroc boars & gilts. Alfred Monthly PRRS and PEDV. Call Minnesota’s largest dis11 shank, both rebuilt. Case condition, Always shedded, cornheads, feed mills, discs, (Mike) Kemen 320-598-3790 Delivery available. Steve tributor balers, haybines, etc. 507Resler. 507-456-7746 HJ Olson & Company , IH 496 disc, 24’ 10” very nice. $12,500. 507-227-2602 438-9782 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336 Sell your livestock in The Land - 507-276-5733

eWANTED TO BUY: CIH TigerMate 200 or 255 field cultivator. Phone: 320-249-8556

“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

Get rid of stuff you don’t need and make some $$$.

Call The Land today!

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

SELL IT FAST

with a classified line ad!

Call us today 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665

WANTED TO BUY: 16R22, front fold, Wilrich bar w/ JD finger pickup units, for soybeans, also consider JD 1780 planter. 320-815-3495

with a line ad. 507-345-4523

Swine

Miscellaneous

FOR SALE: (2) Aluminu moldable truck ramps, suitFOR SALE: Yorkshire, Hamp- able for ATVs, $50/pr. Never WANTED TO BUY: Allis shire, Duroc, cross bred Used.

Livestock 507-625-3394 Greg Cooney Chalmers 7020 & 7045 trac- boars, and gilts. Top quality.

Equipment tors. 507-647-2122 Excellent herd health. No PRSS. Delivery available.

Looking for something special?

FOR SALE: Stainless Steel 320-760-0365 hog feeders. Albert Lea, Put a line ad in The Land and find it!

Call The Land today!

MN. 507-383-7858 507-345-4523 Please recycle this magazine.

REINKE IRRIGATION Sales & Service New & Used For your irrigation needs 888-830-7757 or 507-276-2073

Thank You Farmers!

FARMLAND AUCTION

R , e k e

3 PARCELS IN LAC QUI PARLE CO

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 1PM LAC QUI PARLE CO FARMLAND AUCTION 406.9 Total Surveyed Acres of Farmland

5 , 0

PARCEL 1: 80.49 Surveyed Acres, 76.12+/- Tillable(FSA) Acres, in Sec 11, Mehurin Twp. PARCEL 2: 161.77 Surveyed Acres, 128.53+/- Tillable (FSA) Acres, in Sec 34, Augusta Twp. PARCEL 3: 164.64 Surveyed Acres, 128.94+/- Tillable (FSA) Acres, in Sec 2, Mehurin Twp.

You May Buy One, Two or All Three Parcels LAND LOCATION: All parcels are located in close proximity to each other and are located 2-3 miles SE of Marietta.

Go to FladeboeLand.com for directions to these parcels.

Brehmer Family Trust, Owners Phone: 320-815-0460

Brian Fernholz 320-226-4504 Brian@FladeboeLand.com

HAVE AN UPCOMING AUCTION? For the best results place your auction ad in The Land!

Talk to your auctioneer or our friendly staff.

507-345-4523 or email: theland@thelandonline.com

PAGE 22

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

www.thelandonline.com —”Where Farm and Family Meet”

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Livestock, Machinery, Farmland... you name it! People will buy it when they see it in The Land!

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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.

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PAGE 23

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Indicates early deadline, 9 days prior to publication. * 418 S. Second Street • Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 507-345-4523 or 800-657-4665 Fax: 507-345-1027

Thank you for reading The Land. We appreciate it!

ADVERTISER LISTING Agri Systems/Systems West .................................................................. 9 Auctioneer Alley ................................................................................ 21 Beck's Hybrids ..........................................................................1, 12, 13 Blue Horizon Energy ............................................................ Cover Wrap Byron Law Office .............................................................................. 18 Carson Forsberg ................................................................................. 18 Erie Metal Roofs ................................................................................ 11 Fladeboe Land ............................................................................. 18, 21 Grain Millers ....................................................................................... 4 Greenwald Farm Center ...................................................................... 19 Grizzly Buildings, Inc. ....................................................................... 17 Hertz Farm Management ................................................................... 20 Hughes Auction & Real Estate ............................................................ 21 Inogen ............................................................................................... 11 Kerkhoff Auction and Real Estate ....................................................... 20 Letcher Farm Supply, Inc. .................................................................. 10 Maring Auction .................................................................................. 20 Mathiowetz Construction ...................................................................... 4 Northland Buildings, Inc. ................................................................... 11 Pioneer ............................................................................................ 3, 5 Pruess Elevator, Inc. .......................................................................... 19 Pumps Motor & Bearings LLC ............................................................. 5 Rush River Steel & Trim .................................................................... 10 Schlauderaff Implement Co. ............................................................... 16 Schweiss Doors .................................................................................. 19 Smiths Mill Implement ....................................................................... 19 SnirtStopper ....................................................................................... 15 Spanier Welding ................................................................................... 7 Wealth Enhancement Group .................................................................. 6 507-345-4523 • 800-657-4665 418 South Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001 www.thelandonline.com

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PAGE 24

www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”

THE LAND — JANUARY 19, 2024

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

T4U

O

utside of Curiosi-Tea House in North Mankato, Minn., a whimsical sign quoting Peter Pan reads “Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have our tea first?” A few more steps will bring you inside the tea house which carries typically over 150 types of loose leaf teas, as well as serves plant-based fare and sells a variety of retail items.

In the tea business since 2014, owner Heidi Wyn originally opened Curiosi-Tea House on Riverfront Drive in Mankato, Minn. In 2018, she relocated to 1745 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, Minn.

She has since added a second location in Winona, Minn., which her daughter, Kyra, manages.

It’s important to Wyn to be purposeful in providing customers with the experience that best suits them. “Both places are very eclectic,” Wyn stated.

“Tea is from all over the world, so we have things from everywhere.”

Patrons have a variety of seating options, both table and chair settings as well as arm chairs and accent tables. A cozy corner nook offers Tatami seating, in which shoes are removed prior to sitting on cushions at a lower table. There is also a small private room that can be utilized for meetings, book clubs, etc.

A posted menu displays the teas that are often offered year-round, and they also keep a seasonal listing. “We’re an agricultural product, so it changes as the seasons change — what we can get, how available things are,” Wyn explained.

North Mankato, Minn.

Customers may purchase by the cup or teapot, and there are three different teapot sizes. “I tell people if they’re not sure about tea, start with something that smells interesting to you, that you like the smell of,” Wyn stated, adding that employees are happy to go to the tea bar and let customers smell the varieties.

They also offer samples of their designated teas of the day.

Tea tastings allow customers to try a few tea varieties on an unlimited basis.

The North Mankato location currently offers this option on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, and will add Tuesdays once their winter hours conclude.

The tea house’s plant-based fare includes sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods. With a mission to be ecofriendly, Wyn purchases ingredients locally whenever possible, such as sourcing from farmers’ markets.

Wyn also offers special meal offerings and weekend breakfast specials which are advertised on Curiosi-Tea House’s social media pages. By reservation, afternoon tea experiences can also be arranged and are tailored to preferences, sensitivities, and allergies.

The retail section includes packaged teas, as well as tea accessories and other assorted items. Customers also have to-go and drivethrough options.

For more information, visit their website, curiositeahouse.net. v

Page 4 - January 19, 2024

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

January 19, 2024

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(800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com theland@TheLandOnline.com 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001

Page 2 - January 19, 2024

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

January 19, 2024 - Page 3

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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

January 19, 2024 - Page 3

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THE LAND, Advertising Supplement

January 19, 2024

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