The Land - March 15, 2024

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

418

Mankato,

Vol.

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NASS numbers

Back before the era of social media, when someone would relate the minutia of their personal lives, people would throw up their hands exclaiming, “TMI … TMI!”

Of course, in today’s world of Facebook, TikTok, Instagram et al, there is no such thing as too much information (TMI). People are all too willing to share what they’re eating for dinner, how cute their children/pets are, 57 photos of their vacation in Florida, and the details of grandchildren going deep in the local midget hockey tournament.

By Paul Malchow

So it’s hard to accuse the U.S. Department of Agriculture of TMI — but it’s tempting.

Last month the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The report, weighing in at 757 pages in length, contains more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them — right down to the state and county level.

The very first census was conducted in 1840 and NASS has had the responsibility of acquiring data since 1997. The report is released every five years, so the previous report contained information from 2017. New to the 2022 data includes statistics involving the topics of hemp, precision agriculture and internet access.

On the national level, the census doesn’t reveal much that we didn’t already know. There are 7 percent fewer farms and ranches in America than there were five years ago. The average size of those farms is 463 acres (up 5 percent). NASS reports 880 million acres of farmland (down 2 percent) which is 39 percent of all U.S. land.

The average age all farmers was 58.1, up 0.6 years from 2017. There were just over 1 million farmers with 10 or fewer years of experience, an increase in the number of beginning farmers from 2017 of 11 percent. Beginning farmers don’t necessarily translate to young farmers, however. The average age of those considered to be beginning farmers is 47.1. The number of farmers in the entire country under age 35 was 296,480, comprising 9 percent of all producers. In 2022, 1.2 million females accounted for 36 percent of all farmers. Fifty-eight percent of all farms had at least one female decision maker.

Despite much political crowing (and spending) on internet access, there was only a 4 percent increase in farms with internet access over the last five years. A total of 153,101 farms and ranches used renewable energy producing systems compared to 133,176 farms in 2017, a 15 percent increase. The majority of farms (76 percent) with renewable energy systems reported using solar panels.

There are 105,384 farms in the United States (6 percent) with sales of $1 million or more. This 6 percent accounts for 31 percent of all farmland in the

nation and they sold more than threefourths of all agricultural products. The 1.4 million farms with sales of $50,000 or less accounted for a mere 2 percent of sales.

The total number of Iowa farms are up slightly from 2017 but have remained relatively stable over the past three censuses. The data also show a rise in the number of new and beginning (operating 10 or fewer years on any farm) as well as young (under the age of 35) producers in Iowa.

There were 86,911 farms and ranches in Iowa (up 1 percent from 2017) with an average size of 345 acres (down 3 percent) on 30 million acres of farmland (down 2 percent).

Iowa farms and ranches produced $43.9 billion in agricultural products in 2022, up from $29 billion in 2017. Iowa ranked second nationally for total value of agricultural products sold as well as total value of crop sales and total value of livestock sales in 2022.

Iowa farms with internet access increased a paltry 2 percent, although 82 percent of the farms have access. A total of 8,471 Iowa farms and ranches used renewable energy producing systems compared to 7,057 farms in 2017, a 20 percent increase. The majority of Iowa farms (45 percent) with renewable energy systems reported using geothermal/geoexchange systems.

Minnesota farms continue to disappear from a high of 80,992 in 2007. The state lost over 6,000 farms between 2007 and 2012 and nearly the same amount between 2012 and 2017. Diminishing numbers slowed to 65,531 in the 2022 census. There were 3,644 dairy farms in Minnesota in 2017 compared to 2,185 in 2022. The number of hog farms in the state also decreased from 3,562 in 2017 to 3,352. Egg layers, however, increased in numbers over the same five-year period by 900 farms.

The census report states fewer Minnesotan farmers actually live on the farm they operate. In 2017, 83,850 reported living on the farm they operate. That number dropped to 79,195 over the next five years. 35,673 reported living off the farm they operate in comparison to 27,910 in 2017.

NASS reports there were 29,586 farmers in Minnesota classified as new and beginning compared to 23,347 in 2017. 10,330 of those are women. However, 21,886 new and beginning farmers report “other” as their primary occupation.

“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.” This famous quote has been attributed to Mark Twain, who himself attributed it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli … who might never have said it in the first place. No one is accusing NASS of lying, but its data contains so many variables it is difficult to obtain an absolute picture of farming in America.

Experience running the Iditarod without leaving home

There aren’t many things worse than unintentionally sliding on the ice.

You know it’s going to happen before it does, and that makes it worse. You slip, recombobulate, whirl your arms and adjust … then boom, down you go anyhow.

Slipping on ice is not fun, never mind driving on it — unless, of course your ride doesn’t glide on gasoline. Unless, as in the new book “Four Thousand Paws” by Lee Morgan, it runs on salmon and dog chow.

THE BOOKWORM SEZ

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Four Thousand Paws: Caring for the Dogs of the Iditarod, a Veterinarian’s Story

by Lee Morgan

We take travel for granted. It’s easy to jump in a car and go, forgetting that for centuries, Alaska’s Indigenous people used sleds to travel across what would become our 49th state’s terrain. We rarely consider that — until 1973 — their trail was just a trail.

c.2024, Liveright $27.99

That was when the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially began.

Basically following ancient trade routes, and said to be longer than 1,000 miles (but actually shorter), the first Iditarod race itself was rough — making explorers out of the inaugural 34 teams. The man who won the first Iditarod completed it in 20 days. Today’s mushers finish the race in roughly half that, days of physical and mental endurance, brutal weather, and beautiful terrain.

Knowing that, how could a long-time veterinarian who loved dogs possibly skip a chance to care for the musher’s teams? In 2012, Morgan applied for the gig because it was a natural match: he was an outdoorsman and adventurer, and volunteering in the remote Alaskan outback seemed like a good time. Plus... dogs

Hundreds of dogs, huskies at 45 pounds each or less, goofy dogs that Morgan swears were smiling at him, patients that knew the drill and were impatient with him when he dared to

do a required, regular-stop examination out of order.

The dogs, he says, should be considered as elite as any other high-level athletes. They undertake a challenge that seems like fun. The dogs are eager to run, Morgan says, and up to 14 of them do their jobs well. It’s exciting and hard. And sometimes, it›s dangerous...

Before you start reading “Four Thousand Paws,” compare and consider this: your vehicle is pretty great; but when did your car ever give you a wet, sloppy kiss?

Likely never; but since you also probably won’t ever get to the grocer by dogsled, you can be glad that someone will tell you about it.

Author Lee Morgan shares a journey that is, like many, from the back of a sled, from a freezing tent, and neck-deep in snow; but it›s also about a ten-year love affair with the land, the Iditarod, the mushers that run it, and the dogs that make it happen. His front-of-the-line perspective is different, and the raceto-dog balance of the tale is just right.

Don’t expect to see much “Mush!” in this book. Morgan says mushers don’t say that. They yell, “Go!” and they’re off — just as you should be, too.

If you’re the adventurous type or you love dogs, “Four Thousand Paws” is a book that’s easy to slide into.

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

WTO slides into a vacuum, EU slides into nationalism

On March 2, the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial ended like most previous ministerials. After its 164 member-ministers discussed the burning need to change two key international trade rules, everyone went home without changing any key international trade rules.

This actionless talkfest, however, carried a steeper price than previous gassy gatherings. This one left the WTO, the world’s biggest trade rules-enforcing body, badly weakened and in danger of slipping into irrelevancy.

FARM

By Alan Guebert

OPINION

Putting a pretty face on their ugly failure, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the meeting had “achieved some important things and we have not managed to complete others.” But, she added, “the glass is half full.”

Nice try … but the Abu Dhabi meeting achieved little, managed nothing, and the metaphorical glass, half full or half empty, holds only hemlock.

The outcome wasn’t unexpected. In fact, it would have been breaking news had the ministers agreed on any new rules, let alone the two they gathered to debate, changes in ag trade and overfishing. Both have been huge stumbling blocks since the group called the first WTO ministerial to order in Marrakech, Morocco in 1995.

Despite a generation of continuous bickering, the rise and eventual embrace of the WTO’s neoliberal trade regime (lower or fewer tariffs, integrated regional and global markets, more standardized food safety rules, and meaningful reforms to domestic farm subsidies) did fuel decades of expanded international ag trade.

Now, however, the WTO’s stumbling progress toward freer markets is running out of steam. One cause is the rise in nationalism as exemplified by India’s demand to wall off its domestic stockpiles of food from cheaper American and South American ag imports and the protectionism it breeds.

Another cause, and one that no global organization even talked about in 1995, are the increasing number of individual efforts around the world to tackle ag’s sizable role in climate change. These highly detailed, increasingly strict programs are focusing most nations’ ag interests locally and regionally — rather than globally — as farmers adapt, argue, and fight over the implementation and effect of these changes.

Arguing and fighting is exactly where many European farmers find themselves in the current, months-long protests over the European Union’s new “green” regulations to counter today’s quickly changing climate.

Most protesters see red, not green, when analyzing the new programs. First, they say, new farming

Colin King of Long Prairie, Minn. was doing sheep chores one cold January morning when these sun dogs came up with the sun. “Very cold,” he wrote. “Very beautiful.”

rules that slash pesticide use and impose fertilizer limits will cut farm profits. Second, the new regulations are an engraved invitation for low-cost competitors, not burdened by “green” costs, to flood EU markets.

Political leaders see a different worry: rising nationalism. Right wing politicians in France, Italy and The Netherlands, they claim, already are exploiting rural anger (Sound familiar?) over the new regulations in hopes of expanding their clout through European Parliament elections in June.

To head off that possibility, European “lawmakers have rushed to make concessions to appease farmers,” Foreign Policy reported Feb. 24. In the “sharpest reversal” so far, it explained, “the EU abandoned its major proposal to slash pesticide use by 50 percent…”

In the meantime, few are looking for the WTO to muscle-up and reassert its presence in international markets. For that to happen, trade analysts explain, the WTO needs to stop bleeding authority. For example, just prior to the February ministerial, delegates could not “even agree to ‘formalize’ the talks… to revive the WTO’s top appeals court… which has been idle since 2019…”

After five years of idleness, it’s a safe bet it’s not that the WTO can’t restart the appeals court so much as key members won’t allow the WTO to restart it. Similarly, the just again-failed ag and overfishing overhaul are more about “won’t” than “can’t.”

The result is a weaker WTO and stronger nationalism, and that’s a bad trade by any measure.

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

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Lessons learned while caring for Grandpa’s trees

More than 40 years ago, my grandfather, Harold Sanken, acquired hundreds of coniferous and deciduous saplings. The singlestemmed, delicate trees required back-breaking work for several years.

Grandpa went to great lengths to plant each tree and protect them from harsh winter elements. He carried and poured thousands of five-gallon buckets of water on each tree, ensuring they had enough moisture. He was a dead-eye with his .22 rifle, keeping away rabbits who would have loved to feast on the tender trees. Grandpa Sanken was proud of his trees!

By Whitney Nesse

After the saplings got off to a good start, they finally took root and began thriving independently. They no longer needed such close care, and the only things that were a real threat to the growing trees were the lawn mower in the summer months and the snowblower in the winter. Occasionally, if the livestock escaped, Grandpa would harshly scold them for nibbling on his precious trees.

Grandpa’s trees provided incredible fun for all grandchildren as the years progressed. The taller, deciduous trees created a tunnel with overlapping canopies in the summer. The grandkids (myself included) would race down the tunnel afoot or riding an overloaded three-wheeler. Other times, us grandchildren would pull Grandma Sanken’s little blue wagon through the tunnel of trees — stopping here and there to climb the limbs, chase after barn kittens, or stop for a picnic of

chocolate chip cookies and orange pop.

When I was elementaryaged, I can recall the coniferous trees being small enough to hurdle while running through the yard. The rows of conifers were straight and perfectly parallel, making them excellent racing lanes. Other times, the trees were used as bases in rowdy games of kickball or baseball. However, using the trees as hiding spots for night games was more fun than anything!

With time progressing still, the trees continued to grow. I once asked Grandpa if he would ever cut one down to use as a Christmas tree. A man of few words, he chuckled and shook his head no. In the early 2000s, the rows of conifer trees began touching, and Grandpa knew that would not be good for them. With help from my father, Grandpa hired a tree-moving service. He moved nearly every other tree, selling a few and donating others to the then-newly constructed Stevens Seminary Stadium.

In 2013, Karl and I purchased Grandpa Sanken’s farm site. By then, the rows of deciduous trees were choking each other out. That year, we cut down and removed 30 trees from the property. We fenced in the same area the following year and began allowing cattle to graze — hoping they would help keep down the underbrush. A few years later, we removed another dozen conifer trees, beefed up our fencing, and allowed goats to browse the area. This month, we have spent countless

Much can be found in report

A ten-acre CSA and a 5,000-acre grain operation are both considered “farms,” so the average farm size of 463 acres can be easily skewed. Almost two-thirds of Minnesota farms owned by new or beginning farmers are less than 179 acres in size. Eighty-three percent are smaller than 500 acres. So while the number of new farmers is encouraging, very little equity is being passed on to the upcoming generations.

Still, if you have the patience, there are plenty of interesting nuggets to be found in the census report. There could be three llama farms in your county and you wouldn’t even know it!

The full Census of Agriculture report can be found at nass.usda.gov/ AgCensus.

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

hours trimming trees, removing brush, and deciding which trees must be removed next. Although we still have numerous trees left from the original hundreds that were planted, there is one common reason the trees were either plucked up and moved or cut down: they were simply not trimmed and thinned out enough as they grew. As we trim and remove trees, things look a little ugly to begin with, but in the long run, it supports beautiful new growth!

Grandpa planted the trees close together because they worked together to protect one another when they were young saplings. But as they grew and became more independent, they needed space to stretch and grow without running into the tree next to them. Had the trees been appropriately thinned all along, we would have the most beautiful grove imaginable! Now,

as we remove trees and plan ahead to plant more, we are planting and planning for growth.

I wonder if this is a good analogy for life. We all need ample room to grow and mature. In the process of growth and maturation, trimming is often necessary. Jesus himself said in John 15 that we all need to be pruned in order to produce. Initially, it might be a little ugly, but it is necessary for long-term, beautiful growth!

My challenge for us is to accept being pruned and trimmed. Without it, we will choke each other out. Also, can we remember to give ourselves and others room to grow and mature? The results will be spectacular!

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

LAND MINDS, from pg. 2

DEEP ROOTS

Find out how healthy is your garden’s soil?

One step that gardeners can take to prepare for spring is to do a soil test.

The web site soiltest.cfans. umn.edu has detailed instructions on how to take a sample and submit it to the University of Minnesota’s Soil testing Laboratory. The web page extension.umn.edu/how/ manage-soil-nutrients is also helpful.

GREEN AND GROWING

By Linda G. Tenneson

What is in our soil? Minerals which are broken up pieces of rock make up half of our soil. Slightly less than the other half of soil is water and air. A much smaller percentage of the soil is organic matter. After the large pieces of rock and gravel are sifted out of soil, the remaining particles are categorized as sand, silt, and clay. Sand particles are big enough to see without magnification. Silt particles are smaller and clay particles are even smaller. One writer described the difference as sand particles being like basketballs, silt particles the size of baseballs and clay particles the size of a marble.

Each type of soil holds or drains

water at different rates. Determining the amount of each can be done by filling a glass jar half full of soil. Mark the level on the outside of the jar. Then fill the jar two-thirds full of water and shake it vigorously. Let the soil settle after marking its level on the jar. Wait three minutes and mark the top level of soil again. At this point, clear layers should be visible. Sand will be at the bottom because it is heavier. Silt is lighter and will be seen at the upper layer. Because clay particles are so much lighter, they will remain suspended in the top layer of the water for a long time. Observing the depth of these layers allows an estimate to be made as to the percentage of each particle that exists in the soil.

Many reference books show a triangle with estimated amounts of sand, clay and silt. The ideal soil is approximately 50 percent sand, 80 percent silt, with 20 percent clay and is referred to as loam. Sand provides channels for drainage, while clay holds on to water and nutrients.

USDA expands nursery insurance option

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding crop insurance tailored for nursery producers to all counties in all states. Nursery Value Select is a pilot program that enables nursery producers to select the dollar amount of coverage that best fits their risk management needs.

NVS provides similar but improved coverage to the longstanding Nursery Field Grown and Container program.

NVS also covers field grown and containerized nursery plants and offers coverage levels between catastrophic and 75 percent.

The sales closing date for the 2025 crop year is May 1, or Sept. 1 as provided in the actuarial documents.

This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v

Gardeners may have to choose which plants they will grow depending on their soil characteristics. Adding organic matter to soil may help to grow plants in soil that is not an ideal loam.

Organic matter includes tiny living things like worms, insects, and nematodes. There are also dead roots of previous plants, leaves, and plant debris. As they biodegrade, they become nutrients and provide spaces for air and water to move in the soil. Worms also create air channels as they move, and their manure or castings also become organic matter. Dead plant material slowly biodegrades into smaller and smaller particles and needs to be replaced with new material.

Living soil is one where decomposition is always occurring. This soil has a sweet earthly smell and leaves a

stain on fingers when rubbed between them. This comes from the bacteria that is working on organic material. Gardeners are advised to return dead leaves, roots, stems, etc., to the soil to become useful organic matter. Additional fertilizer is only needed when there is insufficient organic matter to provide the nutrients that feed healthy plants.

More information can be found in reference books. “Building soil, A Down-to-Earth Approach” by Elizabeth Murphy (2015, Quarto Publishing Group USA, Minneapolis), and “Teaming with Nutrients” by Jeff Lowenfels (2013, Timber Press, Oregon), were sources used in this column.

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

2023 Extension seed trial winners announced

The University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners have been running a flower and vegetable varietal trial since 1982. Extension Master Gardeners around the state devote some of their garden space to the selected varietals and keep records throughout the growing season. The results are then collected, analyzed and shared with the public.

Seeds that have previously been tested include heirlooms, generationally saved seeds, promised high yielding seeds, easy growing, space saving, and beautiful. The University selects five to six vegetable varietals, up to one herb, and two flower varietals each year.

Winners and recommendations are based on flavor; disease and insect tolerance; productivity; and germination rate. This year, Master Gardeners from 56 Minnesota counties conducted trials seeking the best varieties in flowers and vegetables, growing hundreds of plants to find the top performing mustard greens, sauce tomatoes, pink cleomes, purple/red basil, small watermelons and green pole beans, in addition to red carrots and butter daisies. Participating gardeners do not know the identity of the varieties they’re growing.

The 2023 green pole bean winner was the “Seychelles” variety; “Blue Lake FM-1” was the runner-up. “Malbec” was the red carrot winner, followed by “Dragon.” The top mustard greens variety was “Mizuna,” with “Gian Southern Curled” as runner-up. “Cipolla’s Pride” came away as the top variety for paste and sauce tomatoes. “Orange Banana” was second. The small watermelon winner was the aptly-named “Mini Love,” with the equally aptly-named “Mini Pool” as runner-up. “Amethyst Improved” was the top purple basil variety; “Crimson King” was second. Melampodium, a member of the aster family, was won by “Derby;” with “Showstart” named runner-up. A couple of queens were named the best pink cleome varieties. “Mauve Queen” was the winner with “Rose Queen” the runner-up.

To learn more about this seed trial and to see the other varietals in the trial visit www.extension.umn.edu and search seed trials. As you flip through seed catalogs and shop nurseries this spring consider adding these varietals to your garden. You never know when you might find your new favorite!

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

How to manage garden plants that break dormancy early

HAMPTON, Iowa — Recent warm temperatures across Iowa have many gardeners concerned as they see buds on trees and shrubs swell and break, and foliage of perennials and spring bulbs emerge in February, much sooner than they normally would. This puts plants at higher risk of damage if below-freezing temperatures return in March or April.

Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offer advice on what to do in your garden when plants break dormancy earlier than expected.

Garden plants enter dormancy in the fall in response to day length and temperature. As temperatures cool and nights get longer, hormones within the plant change, causing plants to gradually acclimate to cold winter temperatures and go dormant. Plants will remain dormant until specific temperature requirements (measured using “chilling hours” and “degree days”) are met. This relatively complicated (and not yet fully understood) system helps prevent plants from coming out of dormancy too early during a mid-winter warm-up.

The foliage of spring bulbs, such as these daffodils, can tolerate cold temperatures. If below-freezing temperatures return after the foliage emerges, no extra protection is typically needed.

straw or pine needles, can be applied around the base of the emerging plants to help protect flower buds and slow further growth by insulating the soil and regulating temperature fluctuations. Remove the mulch once normal temperatures return.

When below-freezing temperatures occur after a warm winter period, the extent of plant damage depends on temperature, plant species, exposure and stage of plant growth. Many perennials will see little to no damage to foliage — especially early-emerging, cold-tolerant perennials such as bleeding heart, daylily, catmint and columbine. If temperatures get too cold, damage may occur, causing leaf tips, edges or entire leaves to turn white, brown and/or collapse.

If temperatures are predicted to drop into the mid-20s or teens, perennials can be protected with a layer of organic mulch, such as wood mulch, straw or pine needles, spread several inches thick. Mulch will help insulate the soil, regulate temperature fluctuations, slow growth and prevent frost heaving. Watering if the soil is dry and unfrozen will also be beneficial.

warm temperatures may be disfigured or destroyed when cold temperatures return. This is particularly true for early flowering species like magnolia, forsythia, rhododendrons and azaleas.

Foliage that emerges early is also susceptible to freeze damage. Symptoms include shriveling and browning or blackening of leaf tissue. Damaged growth often becomes limp and eventually drops from the tree or shrub. Damage appears to be more severe on species such as Japanese maple, hackberry, ginkgo, hydrangea, oaks and black locust.

Thankfully, below-freezing temperatures will have no long-term damage to the overall health of a healthy tree or shrub. The loss of flowers for the season is unfortunate; but provided the weather is not abnormal again, blooms can be enjoyed next year. Trees and shrubs can leaf out again if the initial growth is damaged or destroyed, and new growth will emerge later in the spring when normal temperatures return. Good care during the remainder of the year, such as watering during dry periods, should aid the recovery of woody plants planted within the past three to five years. Fertilizer is not recommended to aid in recovery from cold damage.

Unseasonably warm temperatures early in the growing season can cause premature bud swelling, flowering or leaf emergence in fruit trees, especially

Each plant species has its own chilling requirement which must be met before it will break dormancy. A mild winter can allow plants to meet their dormancy requirements earlier than usual. This makes them more likely to break bud sooner when abnormally warm temperatures occur in February or March, leading to a higher likelihood that they will experience cold damage.

Tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs typically begin emerging from the ground early in the growing season. Mild winter weather can encourage even earlier emergence of these plants. This early emergence is most often seen in areas warmer than the rest of the yard, such as on the south and west sides of homes.

While premature emergence of foliage is undesirable, the danger is not as great as it may seem. The foliage of spring bulbs can tolerate cold temperatures. If below-freezing temperatures return after the foliage emerges, no extra protection is typically needed. Cold temperatures will delay growth and leaves usually have little to no damage. If leaves are damaged, it is often no more than a few brown tips and leaf edges, which is unsightly but not a problem for overall plant health. A blanket of snow is especially helpful in protecting leaves from extreme cold.

If the flower buds emerge early, they can be damaged or destroyed if temperatures are colder than the low 20s Fahrenheit. A layer of organic mulch, such as

Most well-established perennials damaged by freezing temperatures should survive with no long-term damage. Plants with light damage will continue to grow, and the damage will be masked or can be trimmed out. The roots and crowns of severely damaged perennials will send up a second flush of growth, but plants will be smaller than usual this summer. Good care this spring and summer (for example, watering weekly during dry weather) should help plants recover.

There are no practical or effective efforts home gardeners can take to prevent freeze damage to early emerging flowers or foliage on woody plants. It is impossible to prevent plants from “waking up” too early. Flower buds that begin to swell or flowers that emerge earlier than normal due to unseasonably

Diet and proper medication can help lower cholesterol

Cholesterol is a health topic of interest as elevated cholesterol levels are correlated with the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Let’s look at some facts and some misconceptions about cholesterol.

HEALTHCARE FOCUS

Cholesterol is an essential component of the cell wall. If your cholesterol level were zero, you would not exist. The cells of the body make cholesterol. People on zero cholesterol diets do have cholesterol in their cell walls and circulating in their blood. An individual’s cholesterol level is determined by their bodies biochemistry and by the amount of cholesterol in their diet. Some people who have high cholesterol levels are on sensible low cholesterol diets, but have internal biochemistry which produces too much cholesterol.

By Mark Brakke

In 2024 there is rarely a good reason to not have a healthy cholesterol level. The first step is always to be on a sensible diet (lots of vegetables and fruit, light on the foods with lots of cholesterol). If a proper diet does not keep the cholesterol in a sensible range, there are prescription medications.

The first really effective cholesterol lowering drug, lovastatin (brand name Mevacor), was approved in 1987. Atorvastatin (Lipitor), possibly the best-known statin, was approved in 1996. The statins do a nice job of lowering cholesterol for most people who need drug treatment and do not cause side effects for most people. Unfortunately, there are always some people who are intolerant of a medication.

detailed information on a drug and read the side effects list, you will find such a long list of side-effects you will be reluctant to take the drug.

Thankfully, there is a bright side. If one gives an empty capsule (a placebo) to 10,000 people who think they are taking an experimental drug for a month, 50 to 70 percent of them will report side effects and 8 to 10 percent will report the side effects were so bad they had to stop the drug. The side effects reported will include pretty much every symptom a human being can experience. The side effects listed for drugs are those reported by the people in the studies and include symptoms which are not caused by the study drug. Most side effects listed for most drugs do not exceed the rate of placebo side effects.

If there are any dangerous side effects of a drug I make sure the patient is aware of those (thankfully most drugs are very safe). Otherwise, I simply make sure the patient is instructed to let me know if he/she has any problems taking the medication. If I tell a patient there is a significant risk of headaches with a drug, there will be a lot more people reporting the drug caused them to have headaches. It is tricky.

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

www.TheLandOnline.com

How can cholesterol levels be changed? Proper diet may help. A class of medications called statins often work very well to lower the cholesterol level and lower the risk of health attack and stroke.

Current guidelines suggest checking a cholesterol level around age 10. If it is ok at age 10, the next check can be around age 20. Subsequent testing frequency can be recommended by your doctor — based on the initial results and your family history. Discuss the topic with your physician or go to the American Heart Association web page.

The way I like to see a statin prescribed is to start with a low dose and recheck the cholesterol in four weeks. People have widely varying internal biochemistry. Just as people’s cholesterol levels vary widely on similar diets, so do their responses vary widely to statin treatment. Each patient’s dose should be adjusted to get the desired result on the lowest possible dose of medication. If that requires three or four visits to adjust the dose, it is time well spent. This approach minimizes side effects and cost.

Let us take a few lines to address the issue of medication side effects. If you go to a drug manufacturers

Frozen fruit tree buds may harm crop, but trees should be okay

apricots and peaches, which bloom earlier than apples, pears and tart cherries. As flower buds swell, they become increasingly vulnerable to cold temperatures. They are most susceptible just before, during and after bloom.

If freezing temperatures return after a warm winter period, the amount of damage depends on the amount of premature growth. The colder the temperature and the further developed the buds and blooms are, the more likely they will be damaged or destroyed. If flowers are damaged, this year’s fruit crop may be smaller than usual. However, the trees themselves should not be seriously harmed.

There are no practical efforts home gardeners can take to prevent freeze damage. (Commercial fruit growers may use wind turbines or spray water to prevent frost damage, but these efforts are not practical for home gardeners.)

While the loss of most of the fruit crop for the year is disappointing, good care during the remainder of the year

will help trees recover and potentially produce a bountiful harvest the following growing season.

In a year with more typical weather conditions, February and early March (late dormant season) is an ideal time to prune. Even with warm temperatures, plants can still be pruned until bud break. However, as trees and shrubs show signs of breaking dormancy, such as swollen buds, emerging foliage, or flowering, pruning should be delayed until new growth has fully expanded (mid- to late-May). Late spring/summer pruning is perfectly acceptable in all cases except for oaks, which should only be pruned during the dormant season.

In rare cases, late cold snaps can damage branch tips. Dead branches can be removed once they are noticed, but be sure they are dead (i.e., dry and brittle) before making any pruning decisions.

This article was submitted by Missy Crawford, Master Gardener Coordinator, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. v

Harvestable cover crops can bring extra income

By PAUL MALCHOW

The Land Managing Editor

Employing cover crops to build soil health and combat erosion is nothing new, but the practice does require additional time, effort and expense. But what if that ground cover could provide an extra crop each growing season? Farmer Willie Hughes says the options are out there, but be prepared to do some homework. “You have to look for opportunities,” Hughes said. “It’s not just one phone call. It takes a lot of effort.”

to build soil health and prevent runoff into the Rock River. In recent years, Willie has dedicated a handful of small-acre plots to test different plant species with the goal of having a harvestable cover crop which will provide ground cover over the winter and early spring while allowing him to plant his normal corn or soybean crop for the fall.

to ten pounds of seed per acre broadcast. “I think it’s best planted after a small grain crop, dry beans, early soybeans or silage corn,” he said.

The emerged seedlings form rosettes in the autumn and cover the soil surface prior to entering winter dormancy. As rosettes, they protect the soil surface from erosion caused by high winds, intense rains, and/or snow melt. Additionally, these rosettes absorb nearly all labile soil nutrients, like nitrates, in autumn and spring, thereby almost completely eliminating nitrate and phosphorus contamination of ground and surface waters.

Willie shared his knowledge and experience at the Marbleseed Organic Conference in LaCrosse, Wis. on Feb. 23.

The Hughes family has been farming in the Janesville, Wis. area since 1848 and began incorporating organics since 1990. “Organic can be more profitable,” Hughes said, “but understand there is more risk. We have a wide variety of soil types: sandy to rocky to clay. Organics don’t always perform well in certain soils. I’d say we’re about 50 percent organic.”

Cover crops play a big part in the Hughes operation

One of the crops Hughes has been experimenting with is winter camelina. Camelina seeds contain about 36 to 45 percent oil with very high levels of a-linolenic acid, which is a heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid, and tocopherol (i.e., vitamin E) that adds nutritive value. The oil is available for human consumption as well as for pet food and animal feed. The oil is also being researched for industrial biofuel and bioplastic products. The seed meal remaining after oil processing is a nutritious FDA-approved livestock feed that is rich in protein, essential fatty acids, and fiber.

In 2022, Hughes planted winter camelina on Oct. 17 after the soybean harvest. He said it took six to eight pounds of seed per acre drill planting vs. eight

In spring, as the rosettes form flowering stems, summer crops like soybean can be interseeded into the camelina crop. The camelina plants continue to mature and flower as the soybean germinates and emerges. Camelina flowers throughout the month of May in Minnesota, providing large quantities of nectar and pollen to pollinators in early spring when little else is in bloom. Winter camelina seeds are harvested in June while the understory soybean plants are still short enough not to be damaged by the cutting bar of a conventional combine. The soybean continues growth after the camelina harvest and matures at the normal time in September.

Hughes harvested his camelina on June 25. After the seed was cleaned, he estimated a yield of 330

Whilden David (Willie) Hughes

Improving market makes kernza an attractive option

pounds per acre. “It’s hard to find a market, but Cargill offers pressing,” he admitted. “The seed spoils quickly and needs about 8 or 9 percent moisture. We were delayed a little planting soybeans, but the weed control was excellent. Camelina is not a real money maker, but requires no additional inputs.”

Drawbacks to incorporating winter camelina into crop rotations are drill-planted camelina does not emerge well through residue and broadcast planting requires more seed. Camelina does not perform well in saturated soils and plant stems are too sharp to be used for animal bedding.

Rye is a popular choice for a cover crop, although in many cases the rye is terminated and not grown to maturity. Planting in the fall, Hughes harvested his hybrid winter rye on July 22. A cereal grain, hybrid winter rye is commonly used for pig feed or distillery. “You’ll probably have to travel some distance to market,” he said.

On the plus side, Hughes said his rye yields were good — around 80 to 100 bushels per acre. The crop has good standability, is disease tolerant and produces a good straw crop. Drawbacks to hybrid winter rye is since it is a hybrid, the seed cannot be saved. It needs to be fertilized. Ideal crop moisture is 9.8 percent.

Hughes said winter barley also has its pros and cons. A cereal grain, winter barley has the earliest small grain maturity. The malting industry is the most lucrative market, but winter barley can also be used for livestock feed. Hughes said he was recently surprised by the value of barley straw. Barley straw is used to control algae in water gardens and ornamental ponds which are becoming common landscape features for homeowners. “I had someone offer me $7 a bale for my straw,” Hughes chuckled, “and I thought, ‘Wow! Great!’ Then I looked it up on the internet and saw it selling for over $100 a bale! That’s okay, though. I was happy to get $7.”

Hughes planted his barley after his sweet corn harvest and said planting after small grain or dry bean crops would also work well. His planting target date is Labor Day and said mid-September is ideal for the

barley to be well established for the winter season. Winter barley has to be planted deeper and still has limited winter hardiness — especially if there is a lack of snow cover. A June harvest allows soybeans to be planted behind the barley. Last year Hughes harvested barley the third week in June.

Hughes added high yield potential and a readilyavailable feed market makes it worth the risk of a

barley crop surviving the winter.

Growing kernza doesn’t allow for the growing of a second crop, but Hughes said it could be planted with a small grain for forage. Kernza can be grazed in early spring and still be harvested in the fall. A perennial, kernza takes a year to establish before a crop can be harvested. Hughes said he gets 250 to 300 pounds per acre (cleaned). “Demand is increasing,” he said. “We sell to Long Table Pancake Mix and that has been a good partnership for us.”

Hughes said kernza is attractive because of the low workload (aside from adding sulfur) and the crop produces lots of straw and even what Hughes calls “palatable hay.” He did admit perennial weeds can linger in fields and need to be managed.

Hughes said he enjoys experimenting with different crop combinations and pushing the envelope for seeding and harvesting dates. “I’m learning something all the time — either on purpose or by accident. The bottom line for us is, we’re building healthier soil, keeping that soil in the field and out of the river, and making a little extra money on top of it.” v

Comments sought for NOSB spring meeting

The public comment period and oral comment registration are now open for the National Organic Standards Board’s Spring 2024 Meeting. Interested parties are encouraged to review the online meeting materials and provide feedback on topics included on the agenda.

Meeting materials are now available online. They include the tentative agenda, proposals, and discussion documents. Individual proposal documents are posted on the subcommittee web pages and as a single combined PDF on the NOSB Spring 2024 meeting

webpage (www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organicstandards-board-nosb-meeting-milwaukee-wi).

To be considered during the Spring 2024 meeting, written comments and requests for oral comment speaking slots must be received by 10:59 p.m. on April 3.

Details on how to comment are available on the NOSB Spring 2024 Meeting webpage. This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v

MDA grants aid in weather resilience

ST. PAUL — Recognizing the risks posed by extreme weather, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering a new grant opportunity to help eligible producers make their operations more resilient to drought, flooding, and severe weather events like storms, tornadoes, and straight-line

winds.

The Preparing for Extreme Weather Grant, also referred to as the Prepare Grant, offers one-time competitive grants of up to $10,000 for Minnesota livestock and specialty crop producers to buy and install supplies and equipment for weather event preparation. It requires a 50 percent match.

Eligible projects include — but are not limited to — water tanks, pipelines, and wagons/trailers; wells (new improvements, fixes, replacement pumps); irrigation equipment (including drip irrigation); fans; misters; livestock shade systems; and windbreaks.

Applications will be accepted through 4 p.m. on April 23. Full grant details and the request for proposals can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/preparing-extreme-weather-prepare-grant.

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

This aerial view of the Hughes farm shows one of the small plots the family uses to test harvestable cover crop options.

Calendar of Events

March 16 — Women in Agriculture — Managing

Your Land: Expert Advice for Women Producers & Landowners meeting — Faribault, Minn. — Martha McFarland will share her experience with her family’s farm transition and land management considerations that affect farm families. Contact Teresa DeMars at teresa.demars@riceswcd.org or (507) 332-5408.

March 18 — Gardening Seminar — Sauk Rapids, Minn. — All gardening enthusiasts are welcome to attend this evening event that will include two sessions focused on best tree planting practices and winter shrub pruning. For more information, visit https://z. umn.edu/SpringSeminar2024.

Wednesdays, March 20 – 27 — Strategic Farming:

Let’s Talk Crops Webinar — Online — This live, online program will provide up-to-date, researchbased information in order to help optimize crop management strategies for 2024. For more information, visit https://z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Remaining Dates and Topics:

March 20: Fungicides for corn and soybean diseases

March 27: Emerging corn and soybean diseases

March 21 — Dairy Beef Short Course — Sioux Falls, S.D. — This course through I-29 Moo University will be part of the finale for the Central Plains Dairy Expo. The focus of this year’s program is economics, marketing opportunities and genetics. Contact Fred Hall at fredhall@iastate.edu or (712) 737-4230.

March 21 — Gardener’s Gala — Litchfield, Minn.

— The annual event hosted by the Meeker County Extension Master Gardeners will include sessions on the core of growing apples in Minnesota and creating a drought-tolerant home landscape. Contact the Meeker County Extension office at (320) 693-5275.

March 23 — Spring Days — Maple Lake, Minn. — This annual event offered by the Wright County Extension Master Gardeners will feature educational gardening-related speaker sessions. Attendees can also shop vendor booths offering gardening products and services. Contact Tarah Huston at sand0671@ umn.edu or (763) 682-7394.

April 6 — Gardening in the Driftless — Houston, Minn. — Houston County Extension Master Gardener volunteers present their 12th annual garden workshop. Sessions include: Incorporating wildflowers in landscapes, Cooking with root vegetables, Winter sowing, and a garden entrepreneurs panel. Contact: (507) 7255807.

April 9 — Online Beef Quality Assurance Training

— Online — Producers in attendance will receive their three-year BQA certification. Contact the UMN BQA Team by email at bqa@umn.edu.

April 10 — Horticulture Day — Lamberton, Minn.

— Session topics include: Managing Sweet Corn (Or Choosing Not To), Climate-Ready Trees and Edible Landscapes, and Backyard Birds: Welcomed Guests at Our Gardens and Feeders. Contact Southwest Research & Outreach Center at (507) 752-7372.

April 17–19 — PEAK 2024 — Minneapolis, Minn.

— This poultry-focused trade show will have exhibits and opportunities for education and networking. For more information, email info@midwestpoultry.com or call (763) 284-6763.

April 23 — Garden Magic — Hutchinson, Minn.

— Formerly known as McLeod County Horticulture Education Day, this event will include discussions on container gardening through the seasons and coordinating perennials to ensure color throughout the seasons. Contact the McLeod County Extension office at (320) 484-4302.

DNR seeks comments on endangered, threatened species

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments through May 17 on possible changes to Minnesota’s list of endangered, threatened and special concern species.

The DNR regularly evaluates the list, which is contained in state rule, to determine the need to conduct rulemaking to add any species, change the protection status of any species, or remove any species based on current status. The DNR has not yet drafted possible amendments.

Under this potential rulemaking action, resource managers, interested organizations and individuals can provide information that may lead to changes to the list. The DNR is seeking any information on the risk of extinction of any native species in the state, in particular their rarity, trends and threats. The DNR will carefully consider comments received at this time in deciding whether to propose changes to the list. If the DNR announces an intention to adopt proposed changes to the list, there will be another public comment opportunity.

Written comments must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. May 17. Comments should be submitted to the attention of Bridget Henning-Randa, Endangered

Species Consultant, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road., Box 25, St. Paul, MN 55155 or via email at Endangered.Species. List.Revision.DNR@state.mn.us.

The List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species (files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_ resources/ets/endlist.pdf) is codified as Minnesota Rules, Chapter 6134. These rules designate animal or plant species as endangered, if the species is threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, threatened, if the species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and species of special concern if, although the species is not endangered or threatened, it is extremely uncommon in this state or has unique or highly

specific habitat requirements and deserves careful monitoring of its status.

Minnesota’s Endangered Species Statute (Minnesota Statutes, Section 84.0895) and the associated Rules (Minnesota Rule 6212.1800 to 6212.2300) impose a variety of restrictions, permits and exemptions to protect threatened or endangered species.

Additional details are available at mndnr.gov/ input/rules/amendment-endangered-threatened-special-concern-species-list.html.

All information submitted as part of a public comment is public data, including name and contact information.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. v

Warm winter changed things at Jirik’s maple syrup operation

By ASHLEY HANLEY

The Land Correspondent

As their name implies, the Jirik Family Farms is a family affair. But unlike other farms, they have a product you might not think of when it comes to Minnesota: maple syrup.

For over 25 years, Joe and his father, Jim Jirik have been making syrup. Ten years ago they upgraded the equipment and increased production by installing a new vacuum pump and tubing system.

Along with the father/son duo, they also get help from family and friends during the busiest times, when they are getting the woods ready and during collection and evaporation.

They produce about 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of finished maple syrup a season. (That’s a lot of pancakes to consume if you ask me.) If you break it down even further, the Jiriks said when they have everything set up and running smoothly, they can produce about 15 to 20 gallons of syrup per hour.

It all takes place at their sugar house on the south side of Shield’s Lake, which is about 12 miles west of Faribault.

“We sell at farmers markets, local meat markets, some restaurants, our website and off the farm,” Joe Jirik said.

Now curiosity got the best of me, and I wanted to know more about how exactly this whole process work? Like how do you get so much syrup?

“Trees are tapped and sap is collected

using a network of tubing that is connected to a vacuum pump that pulls sap through the lines and also pulls sap out of the trees,” Joe explained. “The sap is then processed through a Reverse Osmosis Machine and twothirds of the water is removed. It is then cooked in a wood-fired evaporator, filtered and put into a barrel for storage. During the year we re-heat, filter again and put in smaller bottles for consumers. We manage about 3,000 taps of our own and cook for an additional 2,000 taps from other people who collect sap from their woods but do not have cooking equipment.”

For the Jiriks, the business of maple syrup has a long and storied history.

“Our home farm has maple woods that my great grandfather purchased,”

said Joe. “The woods was flagged to be logged, but he saw more value in keeping the trees and woods intact. We started to learn about syrup and slowly built up to tapping the entire 40-acre woods and we now rent another 25-acre woods.”

The history and expansion have all contributed to a labor of love for Joe.

“Being out in the woods, preparing lines and collecting sap is my favorite part of the job. My dad enjoys the cooking part of it.”

The most challenging part Joe said, is the preparation and finding the leaks to seal up the system.

What is maybe surprising to some, is that Minnesota and her unpredictable climate actually make for a good place to produce the syrup. But like any farming operation, syrup season is weather dependent.

“The temperatures need to be above freezing for the sap to run and below freezing at night to keep the flow going. When the temperature stays above freezing for too many days in a row, the tree begins to bud out and the season is over. The season usually starts in early to mid-March and runs until early to mid-April,” said Joe.

As one would imagine, this year has been irregular due to the ups and downs of the weather.

“The unseasonably warm temperatures have producers all over the board as to what we should be doing. Some people have tapped and collected sap and made syrup, others are waiting until normal spring time in relation to the calendar. In a bucket/bag setup, tapping too early can cause the tap

hole to heal before the true run for the season. On tubing systems with vacuum pumps, the tap holes are not exposed to the open air and do not heal as fast which allows more flexibility for tapping. We plan to tap our trees in the middle of February, which would be tied for the earliest we have ever done it. That year we made syrup on Feb. 27 — the first time we had ever made syrup in February,” Joe commented.

While Jiriks use a vacuum pump and tubing system to collect sap, many collectors employ a tap and bag/bucket option. Tapping trees too early can cause tap holes to heal before the sap run starts.

“Our sugar content is good and we produce great syrup — although we are not a top producing state,” Joe said. “A guy from Minnesota won the Best Maple Syrup award at the national syrup maker’s conference this year.”

So the next time you sit down with a hearty plate of flapjacks and get ready to watch the maple syrup ooze out, take some time and think about the long, drawn out and even sticky situation (yes, pun intended), that brings each and every drop to your table. And maybe you’ll even thank a farmer like Joe Jirik for the goodness and sweetness of Minnesota-made maple syrup.v

Meat labeling reform enacted

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced a new policy mandating that all meat products sold with the “Product of U.S.A.” label must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S.

This rule addresses a loophole created by the repeal of mandatory country

of origin labeling in 2015: Multinational meatpacking corporations began placing a “Product of U.S.A.” label on imported meat repackaged in the United States.

This article was submitted by Farm Action — a farmer-led organization fighting corporate monopolies in agriculture. v

Photos submitted

Some of Joe Jirik’s maple trees date back to his great grandfather.

Kurzawski: Cheese demand ‘worse than we thought’

This column was written for the marketing week ending March 8.

You’ll recall January milk production was down 1.1 percent from a year ago and the January Dairy Products report shows that milk was directed away from the vat to the churn.

StoneX points out, however, that higher solids and continued declines in fluid milk sales meant about 1.1 percent more solids were available for processors.

Cheese production totaled 1.19 billion pounds, down 0.5 percent from December and 1.2 percent below January 2023. It is the second month in a row to be below a year ago, and the December total was revised 12 million pounds lower.

The Daily Dairy Report says the cheese decline was unexpected in light of the nation’s growing cheese production capacity.

Italian cheese production totaled 503.4 million pounds, down 1.1 percent from December but 0.7 percent above a year ago.

American output fell to 471.2 million pounds, down 1.9 percent from December and 5.5 percent below a year ago.

Mozzarella totaled 393.3 million pounds, unchanged from a year ago.

Cheddar output fell to 326.1 million pounds, down 4.9 million pounds or 1.5 percent from the December level, which was revised down 5.5 million pounds, and was down 27.8 million pounds or 7.9 percent from a year ago.

Butter production shot up to 214.2 million pounds, up 20.4 million or 10.5 percent from December’s total which was revised 2.5 million pounds lower, and was up 12.9 million pounds or 6.4 percent from a year ago. The record for butter output is 215.7 million pounds in April, 2020.

Yogurt production totaled 391.0 million pounds, down 0.2 percent from a year ago. Hard ice cream, at 49.6 million pounds, was down 6.3 percent from 2022.

Dry whey production climbed to 78 million pounds, up 5.4 million pounds or 7.6 percent from December, and 1.3 million pounds or 1.7 percent above a year ago. Stocks slipped to 67.5 million pounds, down 1.8 million or 2.6 percent from December and 900,000

MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY

By Lee Mielke

pounds or 1.4 percent below a year ago.

The Daily Dairy Report says whey processors continued to funnel large volumes of whey into high-protein concentrates and isolates.

Nonfat dry milk output fell to 139.2 million pounds, down 8.5 million or 5.8 percent from December and down 35.8 million or 20.4 percent from a year ago. Stocks climbed to 212.3 million pounds, up 9.1 million pounds, or 4.5 percent from December but were down 58.2 million pounds or 21.5 percent from a year ago.

Skim milk powder production inched up to 56.9 million pounds, up 2.5 million pounds or 4.6 percent from December, and 12.3 million or 27.7 percent above a year ago.

Analyzing the report in the March 11 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast, StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski said the weak cheddar production was a big surprise and hard to believe that prices were where they were at in January. The last time Cheddar output was down that much, he said, was December 2009, down 8 percent.

The weak cheese production moved some fat and protein to butter and powder production, he said, which was higher than expected. The cheddar data tells him that cheese demand was “worse than we thought.”

”Exports may have helped a little,” Kurzawski surmised, “but domestic demand must have been awful.”

If demand returns, he warned, we won’t have an overhang in the market and it could mean tremendous volatility. “U.S. cheese manufacturers are doing a great job of not over producing, with demand being lackluster the past few months.” That may have kept prices higher than were they otherwise would have been, he said, and “If demand returns this market is going to rock.” n

The U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its 2024 milk production estimate for the fifth consecutive month in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report issued March 8, citing a smaller dairy cow inventory and slower growth in output per cow.

Class III milk prices were projected higher based on higher cheese prices, while Class IV prices were lowered, as the lower expected nonfat dry milk price more than offset the higher butter price.

The week ending Feb. 24 saw 60,200 dairy cows go to slaughter, up 900 from the previous week, but 5,100 or 7.6 percent below a year ago. Year to date, 456,900 head have been culled, down 82,300 or 15.3 percent from a year ago.

n

Cash dairy prices were lower the first full week of March except for butter. The cheddar blocks fell to a March 8 close at $1.46 per pound (the lowest since Jan. 19) losing 9 cents on the week and 32 cents below a year ago.

The barrels finished at $1.4875, 16.25 cents lower (the lowest since Jan. 26) and 28.25 cents below a year ago, but still 2.75 cents above the blocks. Sales totaled 18 loads of block on the week at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and 13 of barrel.

Cheese demand has been quiet for a number of cheesemakers through most of February, according to Dairy Market News. Barrel makers have been the exception, but even that has cooled in recent weeks. Demand is slowly picking back up ahead of the spring holidays. Some expect strong sales by the end of March. Production has been somewhat busy, but more cheese plants were down this week for scheduled maintenance. This created a growth in milk availability. Spot prices as low as $3.50 under Class III were reported this week. By comparison, last year’s range was $12 to $4 under Class.

Western cheese sales are steady. Retail demand is flat and food service demand is steady to moderate. International purchasers are booking second quarter buys. The availability of Class III spot milk ranges from tighter to looser in the region. Demand for milk by cheese makers is strong to steady. Manufacturers relay strong to steady schedules. Plenty of cheese is available for buyers, says Dairy Market News

n

CME butter recovered some of the previous week’s 9.25 cent loss, climbing to $2.85 per pound on March 6, then gave back 8.25 cents the next day, only to regain 3.5 cents on March

Class 3 milk prices are barely covering producer’s overhead

MIELKE, from pg. 13

8 and close at $2.8025. This is up 4.5 cents on the week and 47 cents above a year ago. There were 13 CME sales on the week.

Some butter makers shifted gears this week, slowing their churns, though they “have not lost their cream appetite. Spot cream bids at a 1.15 multiple or thereabouts will provide all they need,” says Dairy Market News

Butter remains available but at steady/higher pricing. Retail demand is seasonally moderate, despite bullish price directions. Butter makers generally have somewhat bullish near-term expectations, says Dairy Market News, despite ample cream and active churning schedules.

Cream is readily available throughout most of the West, but some say it has started to be tighter than in recent weeks. Butter makers continue to run busy schedules to ensure supplies for later in the year and during summer maintenance projects. Retail demand is strong to steady. Some manufacturers say private label sales are more active than branded sales. Food service demand is steady to lighter. Canadian demand is reported to be steady, while demand from most other international purchasers is moderate, according to Dairy Market News.

Grade A nonfat dry milk, thanks in large part to the weeks Global Dairy Trade auction, fell to $1.1475 on March 7 (the lowest since Sept. 20) but was bid up March 8 to $1.17. This is down 2.75 cents on the week and a half-cent below a year ago on seven sales for the week.

Dry whey, after dropping almost a dime the previous week, suffered an additional cent-and-a-half cent loss this week, closing at 41 cents per pound. This is the lowest since Jan. 18 and 3.25 cents below a year ago. There were no sales reported on the week. n

Class III futures are under pressure and dairy margins were relatively flat over the last half of February as projected feed costs continued to decline to new lows while milk prices were steady to slightly weaker, according to the latest Margin Watch from Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging LLC.

“CME Class 4 milk futures are trading at elevated levels due to less milk going to driers,” says the Margin Watch, “as new cheese plants absorb an increasing share of the nation’s milk supply, Class 3 prices are barely covering producers’ overhead even with shrinking feed bills. Whey prices climbed 8.5 cents in January which added about 51 cents to the Class 3 milk price, with the rally continuing in February as whey added another 6 cents although that trend reversed over the second half of the month as whey declined 10 cents. Whey powder production has been lower than the prior year in every

month since September as poor demand from Asia and strength in the U.S. dollar has hurt exports.”

The Margin Watch detailed the January Milk Production report and highlights from 2023 milk output, stating that 2023 output was down 0.04 percent from 2022, the first year since 2009 that U.S. milk production shrunk on an annual basis. The dairy herd contracted almost 50,000 head in 2023 and dropped another 23,000 head from December to January, with January’s milking cow herd estimated at 9.325 million head, down 76,000 from 2023 and the smallest milking herd since August, 2019.

Meanwhile, January’s U.S. dairy exports had the

Cash Grain Markets

proverbial good news and bad. Milk equivalent exports were down 4.8 percent from a year ago. The good news was that cheese sailings topped those a year ago for the third month in a row, and with a double-digit percentage growth, first time since January 2023, according to HighGround Dairy.

January also set a new record for the month at 84.4 million pounds, breaking the previous by 9.4 million, and up 12.6 percent. Cheddar exports however were down 41.2 percent, the 12th consecutive month to be below a year ago. Cheese shipments to Mexico were up 39 percent. Cheese imports were up 1.6 percent.

Nonfat and skim milk powder exports, at 129.3 million pounds, were down 14 percent, as international demand is poor. HighGround Dairy says the biggest losses were due to reduced demand from Mexico, down 21.7 percent, followed by smaller purchases from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Columbia and China.

Butter exports totaled just 5 million pounds, down 33.1 percent from a year ago. No surprise there, considering the high U.S. price. Sales to Canada were up 8.2 percent, however, and made up almost 70 percent of the United States’ butter exports. Butter imports were up 30.9 percent, as the high U.S. price was a strong attraction.

Dry whey exports climbed to 29.8 million pounds, up 2.9 percent, and demand for whey protein concentrates and isolates were robust, says HighGround Dairy. Shipments to China plunged 23 percent, but the Daily Dairy Report points out that the decline was more than offset by greater exports to Mexico, Curacao and Japan.

Grain prices are effective cash close on March 12. *Cash grain price change represents a two-week period.

The expected fall came March 5 in the Global

See MIELKE, pg. 16

Apply now for livestock investment grants

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is once again accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant. Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers looking to make improvements to their operations are encouraged to apply.

Livestock Investment Grant funds can be used for equipment purchases and physical improvements to help start, improve, or expand livestock operations in Minnesota. Examples of reimbursable investments include — but are not limited to — the construction or improvement of buildings or facilities for producing livestock, watering systems, fencing, feed equipment, and livestock waste management equipment.

The MDA will award up to $650,000 in this round of Livestock Investment Grants using a competitive review process. Applicants may apply for up to 10 percent of their project’s total cost, with a maximum grant award of $25,000. Only expenses incurred after the grant contract has been signed by all parties are

eligible for reimbursement.

All principal operators of livestock farms in Minnesota are invited to apply, including those who have received Livestock Investment Grants in the past. However, preference will be given to applicants or farms that have not previously been awarded a grant. Only one application will be accepted per farm.

For the purposes of this program, livestock includes beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry, goats, mules, bison, sheep, horses, farmed cervids (deer, elk), ratites (flightless birds including emu), and llamas.

Applications for the grant will be accepted until 4 p.m. on May 2. To access the full request for proposals and for further eligibility details, visit www.mda. state.mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/agri-livestock-investment-grant.

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

U.S. farm income in 2024 is expected to decline

Based on the data in the latest 2024 Farm Income Forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service in February, U.S. net farm income is expected to decrease by nearly $40 billion or 25 percent below 2023 levels; as well as trail the record 2022 U.S, net farm income by nearly 38 percent. The 2024 net farm income is now estimated at $116.1 billion, which would be the lowest net farm income since 2020 and is 1.7 percent below the 20-year (2003-2022) average net farm income of $118.1 billion. In the recent farm income report, USDA estimated total U.S. net cash income for 2024 at $121.7 billion, which is a decrease of $38.7 billion or 24 percent from a year earlier.

By Kent Thiesse

$1.5 billion; turkey receipts by $1.4 billion; chicken and egg receipts by $1.7 billion; and dairy product receipts by $900 million. Receipts from hog production is expected to remain steady in 2024, while receipts from broilers are expected to increase slightly.

MARKETING

Net cash income includes cash receipts from all farm-related income — including government payments — minus cash expenses for the year. Net farm income is accrual-based, which includes adjustments in the cash income for changes in inventories, depreciation and rental income. Generally, net farm income is a truer measure of overall profitability in the farm sector.

Here are some highlights from the latest USDA 2024 Farm Income Report:

Overall, 2024 cash receipts for all commodities on U.S. farms are estimated at $485.5 billion, which is a decline of $21.7 billion or 4.2 percent compared to 2023.

Total 2024 crop receipts are estimated at $245.7 billion, representing an expected decrease of $16.7 billion or 6.4 percent below 2023 levels. The decline in crop receipts is primarily due to an anticipated decrease in cash receipts from corn and soybeans in 2024, which are expected to decline by $11.6 billion for corn and by $5.9 billion for soybeans from year earlier. This decline is largely due to the significant drop in commodity prices in the past 6 to 12 months.

Receipts from other crops in 2024 are expected to remain fairly steady, with only minor adjustments from 2023 levels.

Total cash receipts from livestock production in 2024 are estimated at near $239.8 billion and are expected to decline by $4.6 billion or 1.9 percent from a year earlier. This is due to lower projected total receipts from cattle, milk, turkeys and poultry production as compared to a year earlier. Receipts from cattle sales in 2024 are expected to decline by

The significance of government payments on net farm income and net cash income levels is expected to decline for the fourth straight year in 2024 and would be at the lowest total estimated amount in the past 20 years. The estimated direct government payments to be paid to farmers in 2024 was listed at $10.2 billion, which would be a decrease of $1.9 billion or a 16 percent from 2023 levels. Approximately 40 percent of the total payments are ongoing conservation payments to landowners and farm operators. Projected 2024 government payments are less than one-fourth of the highest level of government support in recent decades, which was $45.6 billion in 2020 resulting from large ad hoc support payments due to Covid and the China trade war. The projected government payments do not include receipts from crop insurance indemnity payments or marketing assistance loans on grain.

U.S. Net Farm Income (2015-2024)

side, fertilizer expenses decreased by $6.5 billion from 2022 to 2023 and are only expected to increase slightly for 2024 and fuel costs are projected to be lower in 2024.

“Working Capital,” which measures the cash available after all farm expenses have been paid and all annual debt payments have been made is expected to decrease by 16.6 percent by the end of 2024. Deterioration of working capital was a major concern in many farm businesses during the tight farm profit years on 2014-2020. The “current ratio” and the “debt service coverage” ratio are also expected to deteriorate in 2024. The current ratio measures the value of current assets which have not been sold to cover unpaid expenses and current-year debt obligations. The DSC ratio measures the ability of net farm receipts after farm expenses to cover required annual principal and interest payments on farm loans.

The nominal value of all U.S. farm assets is expected to increase by 4.7 percent or $45.5 billion in 2024, raising the total value of U.S. farm assets to approximately $4.28 trillion. Eighty-four percent, or $3.6 trillion, of the total assets come the value of farm real estate, which has increased dramatically in some portions of the United States in recent years. Farm real estate values in the United States increased by nearly 8 percent in 2023 and are expected to increase another 5.6 percent in 2024.

Even though total U.S. farm debt is relatively low, it should be noted that total farm debt in 2024 is expected to increase by 5.2 percent or about $16.6 billion — raising the total U.S. farm debt to $547.6 billion. Of that debt total, 69 percent is made up of real estate debt, with the balance from other farm loans.

Total farm expenses are estimated at $455.1 billion in 2024, which is an increase of $16.7 billion or 4.7 percent from 2023. This follows an increase of $9.8 billion in 2023 as compared to a year earlier. The 2024 total farm expenses for feed, labor, livestock purchases, and interest paid are projected to show the largest increases. Interest expense in 2024 is expected to increase by $10.1 billion or 42 percent above the 2022 interest expenditures. Smaller expense increases for seed, pesticides and property taxes are also expected in 2024. On the positive

The overall farm sector debtto-asset ratio is projected to remain relatively low at 12.78 percent at the end of 2024. However, this is a small increase from 12.73 percent at the end of 2023. The debt-toequity ratio at the end of 2023 was 14.59 percent, which was at the lowest level since 2015. However, the ratio is expected increase slightly on 2024. Current debt-to-equity ratios are still well below the record high ratio of 22.2 percent in 1985.

While the U.S. net farm income projections do show some dramatic declines in 2024 as compared to the previous three years (2021-2023), the estimated 2024 net farm income still exceeds farm income levels from 2014-2020. The very high net

Profit levels are expected to decline in 2024

THIESSE, from pg. 15

farm income levels from 2021 to 2023 were primarily driven by some of the highest crop prices in the past decade, along with very manageable farm production expenses and low interest rates. Total receipts from crop and livestock sales for 2024 on U.S. farms are projected at $485.5 billion, which is 9.5 percent lower than $536.6 billion in 2022. Total cash expenses on U.S. farms in 2024 are projected $428 billion, which is 6.4 percent higher than the total expenses of $402.2 billion in 2022.

If no other sources of farm income are accounted for, the margin between total U.S. crop and livestock receipts in 2024 and total farm expenses is estimated at $57.5 billion. This compares to a margin of $134.4 billion in 2022, which was more than double the expected margin in 2024. Back in 2017, the

margin between cash receipts and cash expenses was $58.5 billion and the final U.S. net farm income for the year was only $75.1 billion, which was the lowest in the past seven years (2017-2023).

Government farm program payments can help make up some of the farm income deficit in the margin between total cash receipts and farm expenses. Government payments are expected to total $10.2 billion in 2024 and account for 8.7 percent of net farm income. This compares to government payments accounting for 8.4 percent of farm income in 2022 and 15.3 percent in 2017. The highest level in recent years was in 2020 with 47.5 percent of the net farm income resulting from government payments.

There are some certainly some yellow caution flags in net farm income and profitability levels

revealed in the latest USDA farm income report for the U.S. farm sector. However, it will be interesting to see how much profit levels decline in 2024. A big key going forward will be if we see some improvement in crop and livestock prices during 2024. This will likely depend on the level of U.S. demand and consumption, as well as the strength of U.S. export markets to China and other countries. Another key to farm profitability in 2024 will be what happens to farm production expenses, land costs, and interest rates during the coming year. Of course, the threat of drought and other weather events are always a big wild card in final U.S. net farm income figures from year-to-year.

Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst, Lake Crystal, MN. He can be reached at (507) 381-7960 or kentthiesse@gmail.com. v

Traders see Global Dairy Trade Auction slump continue

MIELKE, from pg. 14

Dairy Trade Auction, ending six consecutive gains. The weighted average dropped 2.3 percent following the 0.5 percent increase on Feb. 20 and 4.2 percent rise on Feb. 6.

Traders brought 46.8 million pounds of product to market, down from 53.6 million on Feb. 6, and the

lowest since June 20. The average metric ton price slipped to $3,630 U.S., down from $3,664 on Feb. 20.

Powder led the declines. Skim milk powder was down 5.2 percent after rising 1.3 percent on Feb. 20. Whole milk powder was down 2.8 percent after falling 1.8 percent. Butter was down 1 percent after inching up 0.1 percent, while anhydrous milkfat was up 1.4 percent after leading the gains last time

with an 8.6 percent rise. Buttermilk powder was up 3.7 percent and lactose was up 4.8 percent. Cheddar was up 4 percent after dropping 7.6 percent, and Mozzarella was off 0.4 percent.

StoneX says the GDT 80 percent butterfat butter price equates to $2.8590 per pound U.S., down 2.9 cents from Feb. 20, and compares to CME butter which closed March 8 at $2.8025. GDT cheddar, at $1.9399, was up 6.1 cents after losing 14.8 cents last time, and compares to March 8’s CME block cheddar at $1.46. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.1974 per pound, down from $1.2648, and whole milk powder averaged $1.4903 per pound, down from $1.5369. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed March 8 at $1.17 per pound.

n

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service issued its 2023 Cold Storage summary on Feb. 29. Butter stocks hit their highest level in May, at 367.9 million pounds. The lowest butter inventory was 199.5 million pounds in December. The highpoint in 2022 was in June, with 330.8 million pounds in storage. The low point was in November, with 199.8 million in the cooler.

American cheese stocks peaked at 857.1 million pounds in May and the low point was in February at 809.2 million pounds. The other cheese inventory peaked at 634.2 million pounds in June, with the low point at 583.7 million in December.

The highest total inventory of cheese in 2023 occurred in June with 1.510 billion pounds. The low point was in February, at 1.438 billion. The highest total in 2022 occurred in July, with 1.522 billion pounds tucked away. The lowest level was in November with 1.431 billion pounds.

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

Enrollment open for Walk-In Access program

Enrollment is open for Minnesota’s 2024 Walk-In Access program, which pays landowners to allow public hunting on private lands.

Since 2011, the Walk-In Access program has enrolled parcels of 40 acres or larger with high-quality natural cover. Land enrolled in conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program or Reinvest in Minnesota is preferred, but is not a requirement. The program is currently ten thousand acres under its cap, so there is room to grow within counties that are eligible.

Contact your local soil and water conservation district office to see if your county is in the program or could be added. This year, landowners can receive $18 per acre enrolled. For more information about what land is eligible for this program, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website at mndnr.gov/walkin/enroll.html.

A $3 validation fee paid when purchasing a hunting license allows a hunter to access enrolled parcels, which are marked with highly visible

signs posted by Minnesota DNR staff.

Participating hunters can access Walk-In Access parcels Sept. 1 through May 31. Hunting laws are enforced by Minnesota DNR conservation officers. Landowners aren’t required to purchase additional liability insurance since enrolled lands are covered by recreational use laws under Minnesota state statute.

This program is primarily funded through a Voluntary Public Access grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additional funding sources come through a $5 surcharge on all nonresident hunting licenses, Walk-In Access validations, and donations made by hunters purchasing deer and small game licenses.

Landowners can sign up for the program at their local soil and water conservation district office or by contacting Amber Knutson at (507) 706-6172. More information is available at mndnr.gov/walkin.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. v

Mini-grants for produce growers available

ST. PAUL — Minnesota produce farmers who improve their on-farm food safety systems may be eligible to reimburse those expenses through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s 2024 Produce Safety Mini-Grant, which is now accepting applications.

The Produce Safety Mini-Grant will distribute a total of approximately $33,600. Awardees will receive up to $800 per farm. No matching funds are required.

To be eligible, applicants must be produce growers farming in Minnesota, who grow and sell one or more of the following crops: leafy greens, apples, berries, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, herbs, melons, microgreens, mushrooms, onions, peppers, sprouts, summer squash/zucchini, or tomatoes.

Applicants must also have completed the Minnesota Department of

Agriculture Produce Safety Program Grower Questionnaire at least once between 2021-2024.

Expenses must occur on or after Oct. 1, 2023 or be planned to take place before Aug. 2, 2024. Examples of eligible expenses include supplies to build or purchase a portable handwashing station; harvest totes or collection tools; water testing for generic coli; consultation fees for developing an on-farm food safety plan; or waxed boxes and market containers.

Additional information and the online application are available at www.mda. state.mn.us/.

Farmers can contact the MDA Produce Safety Program at (651) 5393648 to request a paper copy. Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on March 30.

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

Real Estate Wanted

HOBBY FARM - 44.85

Acres, 5 Bed/2 Bath, South of Kerkhoven MN. $675K.

Contact - Shelley

320-905-0260

WANTED: Land & farms. I have clients looking for dairy, & cash grain operations, as well as bare land parcels from 40-1000 acres. Both for relocation & investments. If you have even thought about selling contact: Paul Krueger, Farm & Land Specialist, Edina Realty, 138 Main St. W., New Prague, MN 55372. paulkrueger@edinarealty.com (612)328-4506

TRACTORS

NEW NH T4.75, T4.90, T4.120 w/loader .... Coming

NEW NH Workmaster 60, 50, 35’s/loaders ....Coming

NEW NH 25S Workmasters ...….......…. On Hand

NEW Massey 2850M & 2860M ............. On Hand

NEW Massey 4710 & 4707 ….............. On Hand

New Massey GC1725M …….................. On Hand

’16 Massey 4608 rops w/loader …............. $36,900

’21 NH T7.260 ……….............………… $164,000

’18 NH T4.75 w/loader .............................. $49,900

’16 NH T8.380 w/2000 hrs Coming

’15 NH T8.410 Smartrax ………..........… $219,000

’12 NH T9.560 2200hrs ……..........…… $239,000

IH 666 nice …….................................……. $8,900

Oliver 1850 w/loader ………………….….. $9,750

Ford 5000 …………...........................……. $6,500

TILLAGE

Sunflower 4412-07 ……...........…………. $29,500

’21 Wil-rich 2530 37’ Chisel ….....………. $67,000

’21 Kuhn 8010-25 ……............……....….. $79,500

Sunflower 1434 33’ Disc ……........……… $16,500

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

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

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

’18 NH L234 425hrs ………........…….. $53,000

’19 NH L228 725hrs …..................…….. $42,000

HAY TOOLS

New Disc Mowers - 107,108,109 ............ On Hand

New Disc Mower Cond. - 10’, 13’ ........... On Hand

New Wheel Rakes - 10,12,14 .................. On Hand

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

NH H6740 disc mower ……….................... $8,500

NH 488 ................................................... On Hand

’13 NH H7230 ………..................………. $22,500

’15 NH H7230 ......................................... On Hand

Feed Seed Hay

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

FOR SALE: Grass hay small squares, very good quality, no rain, stored inslde, near Courtland. $4 per bale firm. 507-359-2790

Feed Seed Hay

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

Fertilizer & Chemical

Gen Liberty totes, $19.50; Glyphosate 5.4 totes, $14.25; Enlist 1 totes, $46.95; Gen Surestart $45.35; Metolachlor totes, $29.50. All tote prices include free delivery to most areas. Please call or text for any other chemical needs.

Phone 612-210-3685

Bins & Buildings

FOR SALE: Uni-Rib used steel 36” x 20’ 66 sheets, also 27’x 7” 68 sheets, light brown, screwed, $1.50 a linear ft, or best offer. Cologne, MN. 952-466-5538

FOR SALE: 3 18x24 6000 bu bins, floors, 18” aeration fan, 8” unload auger, w/ 3HP motor. GSI 4000 bu cone bottom wet corn bin. 952-649-8604

SILO

PLANTERS

NEW White 9936VE .................................... On Hand

NEW White 9924VE ..................................... On Hand

NEW Massey 9816VE .................................. On Hand

NEW Massey 9812VE .................................. On Hand

NEW Massey 9222VE .................................. On Hand

JD 7200 12-30 w/LF ……….........................…… $15,500

White 6186 16-30 w/ins …….............……….. $12,500

White 8516 CFS 16030 …….…...............…… $39,900

Taking 2024 New Spring Orders

COMBINES

NEW Gleaner S97 Coming

NEW Gleaner S96 ........................................... Coming

’18 Gleaner S97 ............................................ $339,000

’15 Gleaner S78 loaded …….….........…......

Take-down & clean up Specializing in silos in congested areas. FULLY INSURED mobile concrete crushing. 507-236-9446

Stormor Bins & EZ-Drys.

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

888-830-7757

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: 2- 9’x16’ bale throw racks w/ JD running gear; 20’ JD tandem disk w/ spring fold wings; Clay barn cleaner Model F w/ 5HP motor; 250’ HD clockwise chain; Bou-matic vacuum pump & milking equipment; 28’ bale elevator w/ electric motor. 507-441-5016

FOR SALE: 4 Smidley hog feeders, top adjust, 8 holes per side, lids, no roof. JD 400 15’ rotary hoe. Morehouse rock picker, 11L15 implement tires, HD cyls. Lindsey 22’ coil tine drag w/ cart. Westfield drill fill. White 256 14’ disk w/ 2 bar harrow, tandem wheels, hyd lift. 952-649-8604

FOR SALE: 40’ Wil-rich field cultivator, Model #3400, 4 bar drag, low acre machine. 42’ Berbac soil conditioner, Danish tine teeth, 2 rows of rolling baskets. 320-808-5723

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: Firestone radials; 380/90R50, rims and hubs (triple taken off Case IH); Case IH 1830 12R30” row cultivator; Case IH 24’ tandem grain drill; Case IH 14’ grain drill w/ grass feeder; Buckeye tiling machine, 3pt fork lift. 507-240-0294

FOR SALE: Fast 9420, 90’ boom, 1,250 gal tank, triple nozzle bodies, 450 Raven rate controller, hyd boom height control, always shedded. Call Doug 507-642-8564 PM hours

FOR SALE: NH 570 baler, 72 thrower, elec distance control, always shedded. 15.5/38 band duals. Wanted: Brillion or Kuhn 16’ roller packer on transport wheels. 612-229-2566

FOR SALE: 3 Cherokee wagon hoists; 3 Stir-a-tor motors for grain bin. 320-583-3131

Farm Equipment

FOR SALE: Kinze 3600 planter, 16/31, KPM2 monitor, liquid fertilizer, air clutcher, mechanical or hydraulic drive, $22,000. Marietta MN, 320-226-3837

FOR SALE: Axle mount duals for 5088 IHC tractor. 507-429-8990

FOR SALE: JD 1209 haybine, $1,800. 612-380-4005

Tractors

‘95 JD 8200 2WD with 18.4R46 rear tires and duals (70%), 7757 hours, front weights, 1000 PTO, 3 hyd. Remotes, quick hitch. Very nice one owner tractor. Asking $49,900. 507-789-6049

NEW AND USED TRACTOR

Tillage Equip

FOR SALE: Case IH 30‘ field cult, exc cond, walking tamdens on main frame & wings, $9,000 spent on rebuild, approx 3000 acres ago. Repaired bushings, shanks, harrow teeth, walking tandem bearings, tires good, $5,500. 507-339-1986

FOR SALE: IH 475 and 480 20’ tandem disks, manual fold, always shedded, nice condition, $2,500/each. 507-227-2602

We buy Salvage Equipment Parts Available Hammell Equip., Inc. (507)867-4910

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

1996 Kinze 2600 16R30 lift & turn fold planter. Precision Finger meters, Kinze brush meters, Keaton seed firmers, & liquid fertilizer. We are second owner & have owned for 18 years. Row cleaners & No-Till coulters available. Excellent mechanical condition. Asking $24,500 OBO. Call 507-789-6049

FOR SALE: JD MaxEmerge 2 conservation planter, 8R30” dry fertilizer, insecticide, trash whippers, no-till vacuum, $12,025. 507-533-4620

Gehl R220 Loader & Attachments

ONGROUPPRESENT S

HM AUCTION GROUP PRESENTS LIVE & ON-LINE FARM RETIREMENT AUCTION

Auction Location: 9368 SE 18th Street, Claremont, MN 55924; From Claremont, MN go North on 120th Avenue to County Road G, West on County Road G for 2.5 miles. Watch for signs

Saturday, March 30, 2024 • 9:30 a.m.

COMPLETE DETAILS, PHOTOS & BIDDING AT:

INSPECTION DATES:

Agco Allis 9695 & 9745, Allis Chalmers 200

’94

Agco Allis 9695 MFWD, 5100 Hrs., 18.4x42, 18 Sp. PS, 3 Hyd, 3pt. 1000 PTO; Agco Allis 9745 2WD, 7921 Hrs, 2200 Hrs On Overhaul, 480/80R42, 540/1000 PTO, 3 Hyd, 3pt., Originally

An Agco-White 8410 And Was Reconditioned By Dealer To 9745 2WD; Allis Chalmers 200, Dsl, 3 Pt., 540/1000, 2 Hyd., 18.4x38, 4672 Hrs Showing

Kubota M6S-111D & Case IH-JX95

’17 Kubota M6S-111D MFWD, Cab, 2420 Hrs, 3 Pt., 2 Hyd, 540/1000, 12 Sp. Trans., LH Reverser, LA-1944 Hyd Loader, 460/85R30, 105 Hp; CIH- JX95 MFWD, Cab, 4783 Hrs, 3pt., 540PTO, 2 Hyd, 12 Sp Trans., 18.4x34

Brillion Seeder, Kinze Planter, Tillage

Brillion SS-10 Seeder, Dual Compartment, Hyd. Lift, Looks New; Kinze 16R30” Tool Bar W/JD 7000 Planter Units, Row Cleaners, Seed Firmers, Corn Units, Monitor; Brillion Land Commander, 5 Shank Ripper ; CIH 720 Plow, 6x18’s, 3pt.; JD 27 Stalk Shredder, 15’ 1000 PTO; JD Cuti-Packer 16’ Hyd. Lift; Wil-Rich 24’ Field Cultivator, Harrow; IHC 12’ 3 Pt. Field Cultivator; Lindsay 5 Section Spike Tooth Drag, Cart; JD 825 Row Crop Cultivator, 8R30”; Feterl 10”X60’ Swing Hopper Auger, Hyd Lift; Kewanee 20’ Tandem Disk; 3 Pt. Post Hole Auger; Gravity Boxes W/Gear

Gehl R220 Skid Loader, 3808 Hrs, Quick Tach, Aux. Hyd., Cab, Heat, ISO Controls, 2sp; Woodchuck Bedding Spreader, Skid Plate (Used On Sawdust); Hoof Trimming Table, Hyd Tilt, Skid Plate; Stinger RK 66” Rock Bucket, Skid Plate; 4 Tine Bale Fork; Pallet Forks 48”; Manure Scraper

Ford Pickups, Livestock Trailer, Flatbed Trailer ’10 Pacesetter Aluminum/Steel Gooseneck 24’ Livestock Tlr, 2 Gates, Rubber Floor, Tandem Axle; ’03 S&S Dura-Line 24’ Gooseneck Flatbed Tandem Axle Trailer, 10,000 Lb. Axle Duals, Beavertail, Ramps; ’04 Ford F350 4x4 Reg Cab, 6.0 Dsl, 6 Sp., 74,500 Miles, Gooseneck Ball; ’05 Ford Ranger 4x4 Ext. Cab, 6 Cylinder, 87,600 Miles

New Holland Forage Harvester, H&S Chopper

Boxes, Kuhn Discbine, Livestock Machinery

NH FP230 Harvester, Metal Alert III, 1000PTO, Processor, Electric Controls, Tandem Axle, Always Shedded; NH 27P Hay Head 7.5’; NH 3PN 3R30” Corn Head; (3) H&S HD Twin Auger 17’ Forage Chopper Boxes, 12 Ton Tandem Gear, Always Shedded; Kuhn FC 4060 TCR Discbine, Center Pivot, 1000 PTO, Rubber Rolls, Approx. 350 Acres, Very Good; Case IH 600 Forage Blower; New Idea 8’ Disc Mower, 3 Pt.; Katolight 40 KW Generator, 540 PTO; Kewanee 16’ Bale Rack On 8T Gear; (2) H&S 430 Tandem Axle Manure Spreaders, Slop Gate, Poly Floor; Penta 2400 TMR, New Liner, Scale, 540 PTO, RH Discharge; H&S 12 Wheel V Rake; (87) Locking Headgate Fenceline Feeders; 8’x12’ Super Hutch; (3) Bulk Feed Bins, (2) 20 Ton & 3 Ton; Richie 10’ Water Fountain; Bunk Line Feeder; (90) Free Stalls W/Mattresses; (7) J&D 48” Barn Fans; (20) Calf-Tel Calf Hutches W/Panels, Pails, And Poly Bottles; Round Bale Feeders; Corral Panels; Steel Livestock Gates

Glenn & Debra Johnson, Sellers

To submit your classified ad use one of the following options:

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

Mail to: The Land Classifieds, 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56002

Fax to: 507-345-1027

Email: theland@TheLandOnline.com / Online at: www.thelandonline.com

DEADLINE: 7 days prior to publication.

Plus! Look for your classified ad in the e-edition.

PAPER(S) ADDED (circle all options you want):

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 Photo  Border $10.00 each, per edition. Runs in The Land only

Spraying Equipment

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 Free & Give Away

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 Sheep

 Goats

 Horses & Tack

 Exotic Animals

 Pets & Supplies

 Cars & Pickups

 Industrial & Construction

 Trucks & Trailers

 Recreational Vehicles

 Miscellaneous

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

Planting Equip

FOR SALE: Kinze 3600 planter, 16/31, KPM2 monitor, liquid fertilizer, air clutcher, mechanical or hydraulic drive, $22,000. Marietta MN, 320-226-3837

Spraying Equip

FOR SALE: Fast 9420, 90’ boom, 1,250 gal tank, triple nozzle bodies, 450 Raven rate controller, hyd boom height control, always shedded. Call Doug 507-642-8564

PM hours

Hay & Forage Equipment

FOR SALE: JD 1209 haybine, $1,800. 612-380-4005

Livestock Equipment

FOR SALE: Hog Equipment: gestation stalls, farrowing crates, stainless steel troughs, and heat lamps. 320-583-9877

Wanted

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

Livestock

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

Cattle

FOR SALE: Registered Polled Hereford yearling bulls for sale. Have had all shots, poured and semen tested. Halter broke. Fantastic growth E.P.Ds. Will deliver. Klages Herefords. Ortonville MN. 320-273-2163 (H) 605-880-0521(C)

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

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

Miscellaneous

FOR SALE: Uni-Rib used steel 36” x 20’ 66 sheets, also 27’x 7” 68 sheets, light brown, screwed, $1.50 a linear ft, or best offer. Cologne, MN. 952-466-5538

PARMA DRAINAGE PUMPS

New pumps & parts on hand. Call Minnesota’s largest distributor HJ Olson & Company 320-974-8990 Cell - 320-212-5336

REINKE IRRIGATION

Sales & Service New & Used

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

LAKE HENRY-BELGRADE MN AREA RETIREMENT FARM AUCTION

Located at 21353 343rd Ave, Belgrade, MN

SATURDAY, March 23rd 10:30 AM

Live Onsite w/ Online Bidding on Major Items About 12 Noon

PREVIEW: Saturday, March 16th 10AM to 3PM

Most items in very good to excellent condition & under cover.

*JD 9330 4 Wheel Drive Tractor, 2297 Hrs. *JD 7830 MFWD Tractor, 2,837 Hrs. *JD 7210R MFWD Tractor, 2,497 Hrs. *JD S660 Combine,1,262 Sep. Hrs. *Geringhoff Rota-

Disc 8-30 Corn Head *JD 630 Hydra Flex Head w/Crary Air System *Gehl 5240 Turbo E Series Skidloader, 2,450 Hrs. *JD 1770NT 16 Row 30” Corn Planter, CCS Seed Delivery, Liquid Fert. *JD 680 25’ Chisel Plow *JD 2210 45’ Field Cultivator *JD 2700 7 Shank Mulch Ripper *JD 230 25’ Disk *JD 220 8 -30 Stalk Chopper *JD 9300 20’ Tandem DD Grain Drill with Press Wheels *JD 567 Silage Special Round Baler *JD 825I Gator *JD 212 Pickup Head *Redball 570 1200 Gal. Crop Sprayer, 80’/90’ Boom *IH 700 7 -18 Spring Reset Plow *Degelman 7645 45’ Land Roller *Brent 644 Gravity Box & Brent Gear *(2) Unverferth 630 Gravity Boxes & Unverferth Gears *(2) J&M 385 Gravity Boxes & J&M Gears *J&M 250-7 Gravity Box & J&M Gear *Westfield MK 100-61 Pto Grain Auger with Swing Hopper *Westfield TF80-36 Grain Auger with 7.5 H.P. Electric Motor *Unverferth 120 30’ 12” Belt Conveyor w/5 H.P. Electric Motor *Versatile 4400 Windrower, 14’ Draper Head *Allied 9620

2 Stage 3 Pt. Snow Blower *PJ Tandem Axle 7’x18’ Flatbed Trailer *H&H 76” x 10’ Aluminum Trailer *JD 2630 Display *JD RT6000 *JD 3000 Receivers *1000 Gal. Poly Tank on Tandems with Transfer Pump & Gas Engine *2000

April 17, 2024

58.29 ± Acres Farmland

Adjacent to Gopher Hills Golf Course

Includes Two Building Rights

Douglas Twp, Dakota Co, MN

Land For Sale

80.10 ± Acres Farmland

Convenient Drainage Outlet to Echo Creek

Located NE of Belview, MN

Swedes Forest Twp, Redwood Co, MN

John Deere 4640, Cab, Quad, 5,813 Hrs. weights, 3pt. 3Hyd, PTO, 20.8-42 axle mnt duals, very nice tractor –1988 White 160 MFWD, cab, 4,080 second owner Hrs. weights, 3pt. 3Hyd, PTO, 18.4R-42, 420/85R-28 Frt., very nice –White 2-105 cab, 4,037 Hrs. weights, 3pt. dual Hyd, 18.4-38, very clean –Farmall 460 gas, fast hitch w/White 1610 Hyd loader –Erickson Little Eric, gasskid loader.4’bucket

JOHN DEERE SIDEHILL COMBINE &HEADS

1997 John Deere 9550 Sidehill, 2,699 Sept. Hrs. 3,920 Eng. Hrs. chopper.30.5L-32 tires, SN#H09550H685752 –2000 John Deere 693, 6R corn head, Hyd deck plates, poly –John Deere 920, 20 Ft. bean head, poly –John Deere 12 Ft. dummy head w/4 belt pickup –

GRAIN TRUCKS &TRAILERS

2003 Int. 4300 single axle truck, 467,203 miles, DT466, Eaton 6Sp. 16’ steel box &hoist, Very sharp truck –1979 Chevy C70 single axle truck, 32,690 miles showing, 16’ wooden box &hoist, very clean truck –1970’sInt. 1600 Load Star single axle truck, 13’ steel box &hoist –2022 Forest River22’ Alum tandem flatbed trailer,ramp gate, likenew –2013 S&S Dura Line 16’ Livestock Trl. tandem axle –

VERYNICE PLANTING &TILLAGE EQUIPMENT

John Deere 1750 Conservation 6R Max Emerge Plus Vacu Meter planter,dry Fert w/box extensions, trash whips, JD 250 monitor,very nice –John Deere 450, 12’ grain drill, Hyd lift, grass seeder,rubber press wheels, double disc –John Deere 8200, 12’ grain drill, Hyd lift, grass seeder,double disc -Krause 1928, 24’ disc, 3bar harrow–Kewanee 370, 24’ field cult. walking tandems, Hyd wings, 3bar harrow –Brillion 9shank disc chisel –5Section drag on cart –JD400, 15’ rotary hoe –Case IH 181, 15’ rotary hoe –Brillion 15’ culti packer –Oliver588 5×18’splow

MC DRYER, AIR SYSTEM, GRAIN BINS, AUGERS

MC Infinity Series CF320 dryer,1,881 Hrs. very nice dryer –Trans-Fer grain Handling System, air system w/4” tubing to 3bins –Conrad American 10,400-bushel grain bin, Sukup auger &fan, aeration floor –Dakon 6,300-bushel grain bin, Westgo unload auger,Sukup fan, aeration floor –Chicago 4,800 bushel grain bin, unload auger,aeration floor,Stir Ators –Westfield MK100-61, 10” x61’ auger,Hyd swing hopper –Cenex8”x61’ auger,Hyd swing hopper –Feterel 8” x51’ auger –Westgo 6” x30’ auger,elect motor –6”x30’ auger,elect motor –(2) Bin sweeps

HAYING, CHOPPING, LIVESTOCK &FARM MACHINERY

Case IH 8610 bale processor –H&S tandem manure spreader,Hyd end gate –Brillion 15’ stalk chopper,4wheel, likenew –Minnesota 450 gravity wagon w/MN 15 ton gear –FlowEzgravity wagon w/Ez Trail gear –LindseyHinson 812 grain cart –Vicon BP1210 round baler –John Deere 336 baler w/thrower,nice –Hesston 2000-150 chopper w2R corn head, hay head –NH479 haybine –NH144 Inverter –JD640 rake– AC rake–Badger BN950, 16’ chopper box w/tandem gear –Miller Pro 5100, 16’ chopper box, w/tandem gear –Badger blower –H&S 9’ x16’ metal bale wagon –(3) 8’ x16’ wooden flat bale wagons –Brush Hog 287, 8’ 3pt. rotary mower –1000 Gal poly tank –Gopher poisoner –Neco screener,elect motor –IH300, 8’ fast hitch back blade –Wind Power 35KW generator –Old wooden JD manure spreader –30’ Bale conveyor –3Pt. bale mover

ATV, BULK BIN, TOOLS, FARM RELATED

Bombardier Outlander Rotex350, 5,635 miles –Yamaha Terra Pro ATV–3pt. seeder/fertilizer spreader –25Gal lawn sprayer,booms –Schuld 4ton bulk bin (newer) –Hog feeders –Hog crates –Hobart stick welder –Hobart wire feed welder –Lincoln wire feed welder –Earthquaketiller –Pollution 446 Pro tree trimmer –48” Barn fan– Wireless fencer –Hyd jacks –3/4” Socket set –3/4” Air impact –DeWalt miter saw–Brute pressure washer –Small torch set –Hand tools –New filters –

Mike Serres Estate

151 St. Andrews Court #1310, Mankato MN 56001

LOCATED:

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This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Renae B. Vander Schaaf.

The Book Bank

It took plenty of gumption and determination for the early settlers on the untamed prairies of Iowa to persevere. It still takes plenty of resolve and ingenuity for small rural towns to thrive.

When the Toledo (Chicago) and Northwestern Railroad Company broke prairie sod for laying railroad tracks in the fall of 1881, a town site was chosen and platted.

Ten years later, on May 28, 1891, the settlement was legally incorporated as a town. The town was named Maurice in honor of Count Maurice of Nassau, the son of William of Orange, who was the Netherland’s George Washington.

Churches were built, businesses began coming to town including grain elevators, merchandise stores, a blacksmith, brickyard, and a lumberyard. There was even an opera house.

With these came the need for a place to deposit money or borrow funds. The “Maurice Centennial Book” indicated that as early as 1885, Ben Thompson and Steele organized a banking business. In 1899, a new brick building was completed and furnished at a cost of over $3,000.

Over the years the bank had three robberies. In 1923, burglars failed to blow open a vault door, but ransacked the safety deposit boxes. At 2 a.m. on Jan. 5, 1924, Sheriff Hugo Synhorst and Deputy Harry Dykstra found a getaway car parked outside the bank. The lookout man spotted the officers and commenced to shooting. After 30 minutes, the wounded lawmen ran out of ammunition, but damaged the getaway car enough where the thieves were

apprehended. On July 28, 1931, minutes after the bank opened, bandits entered, forced two bank employees and a customer into the vault, gathered up $900 and escaped. The perpetrators were never captured.

The bank ceased its operations in 2013 and the Maurice First Reformed Church rented the building. After a few years, the more than century-old brick building was once again empty.

Marissa Maassen, a school teacher married to a dairy farmer, decided Maurice needed a library. The Book Bank opened its doors in June of 2020 and is fully staffed by volunteers. It’s a gathering place for both young and old.

Once inside the door, anyone will soon realize that this is more than just a library. On the walls are photos and displays which depict the history of Maurice. The bank vault door opens into a room where the safe now holds digital media instead of money.

A model train operates on an overhead track as a reminder of how important the railroad once was to the town’s birth and development.

Maurice, Iowa

Deposits are still made in to the overnight bank deposit; only instead of money, it is books. Hometowners often gather at their library for a cup of coffee and popcorn. There are plenty of planned family activities.

The Book Bank is located at 210 Main St. It is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m.; Mondays through Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. v

"Since 1972"

Scott Litzau 320-905-1857

Scott Litzau 320-905-1857

Noah Johnson 320-905-6725

Noah Johnson 320-905-6725

Mike Litzau 320-905-8645

Mike Litzau 320-905-8645

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS: To Serve The Farming Community

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS: To Serve The Farming Community

Litzaufarmdrainage.com

Litzaufarmdrainage.com

FarmFest,August 6th-8thB

Meeker

Meeker County Fair,July31st- August 4th

Sibley County Fair,July31st- August 4th

Renville

Renville County Fair,August 7th-9th

KandiyohiC

KandiyohiC

BrownC

August 7th-10th

McLeod

McLeod

BigIron,

FARM DRAINAGE

Since

FARM DRAINAGE

Since

•Water

•Water

•Tiling

•Tiling

•Roads

•Roads

•3”-24”

•3”-24”

•Dig

•Dig

•Best

•Best

•Repair

•Repair

•Boring

•Ongrade

•

•