Rooted in local agriculture by West Central Tribune

MARCH | 2020

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TRACTOR MUSEUM, TALKING AG AND MUCH MORE INSIDE

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Table of Contents Tractor, truck museum.....................................................5 Dual roles of farming........................................................9 Telling agriculture story..................................................11 Improved turkey growth................................................14 Backyard chickens...........................................................16 Farm loans & finances .................................................. 17 Legacy planning................................................................ 17 Farmers using drones................................................... 23 Veterinary education...................................................... 25 Young farmer safety....................................................... 29 Myths of rural America.................................................30 Perennial farming ........................................................... 32 Rental rates.........................................................................34 Water conservation......................................................... 37 PUBLISHER: Steve Ammermann EDITOR: Kelly Boldan MAGAZINE EDITOR: Sharon Bomstad AD MANAGER: Christie Steffel MAGAZINE DESIGNER: Jamie Hoyem

A publication of West Central Tribune, March 2020 2208 W. Trott Ave, Willmar MN | www.wctrib.com 320.235.1150

Content from West Central Tribune staff, Forum News Service, Green Shoot Media, Metro Creative Connection and submitted articles.

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Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune The Schwanke Car, Tractor and Truck Museum in Willmar has vehicles on display that are decades, sometimes even a century, old.

FROM SALVAGE TO SALVATION One-of-a-kind exhibits make Schwanke Car, Tractor & Truck Museum a must-see in west central Minnesota

By Carolyn Lange | clange@wctrib.com

pare parts for farm equipment line the walls and shelves at Schwanke Tractor and Truck Inc. in Willmar. There are solid sounds of tools being used to loosen or tighten components of a tractor and there is the unmistakable smell of rubber belts and hoses that can be comforting to those who grew up watching their farmer-father fix equipment in the middle of harvest. It’s busy at Schwanke’s. But if you walk past the parts counter, you’ll see a gift shop that features farm toys, kitschy barn decor and parking signs that restrict space only for John Deere owners. This nook is a teaser to the jaw-dropping display that’s behind the door that leads to Schwanke’s Car, Tractor and Truck Museum. Located in three large metal Quonset buildings at 3310 First Street South in Willmar, right next to Menards, the museum houses a truly unique collection of large and small farm equipment. Continued on page 6

Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune Old tractors are on display at the the Schwanke Car, Tractor and Truck Museum.

West Central Tribune – March 2020 – Page 5

Continued from page 5

Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune The Minneapolis Threshing Machine is one of the largest vehicles on display at the the Schwanke Car, Tractor and Truck Museum in Willmar.

Page 6 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

All told there are 175 tractors, 85 cars and 24 trucks, including eight fire trucks, and numerous engines, gas pumps and museum oddities. The top picks include a rare fully restored 1917 International Harvester motor cultivator that was short-lived in the ag world because it was expensive, cumbersome and had a tendency to tip over on hills. There is a one-of-a kind luxury automobile from 1923 called an Anderson Touring car that was made briefly in South Carolina and featured the first electronic convertible roof and floor dimmer lights. It’s believed there are just a handful of either of these in existence. The museum is also home to a massive steam engine that was the source of controversy and numerous newspaper articles during World War II as Kandiyohi County residents debated whether the 1910, nonfunctioning machine should be donated to the war effort’s metal collection campaign or if it was a piece of history that should be preserved. History won out in the case of the steam engine, as well as the hundreds of items on display at the museum. Closed during the winter months because the Quonsets are not heated, the museum is typically open from midMay through September, but the doors will open for special guests, like the two Frenchmen who traveled to

Schwanke’s recently to buy a tractor that they shipped back home. The museum attracts those with an interest in antique farm equipment and cars but museum manager Tom Conway said even people who come to the museum as a tag-along are overwhelmed by the size of the total collection and the uniqueness and condition of the individual items. “Most people are just wowed,” said Steve Youngberg, who maintains the collection. No one has ever left saying they were disappointed, he said. “Nobody walks out of here wishing they hadn’t spent the time,” said Conway.

From salvage to salvation

Collecting antique farm equipment and vehicles came natural to the late Virgil Schwanke, who started a salvage business in 1957, selling new and refurbished tractor, truck and combine parts and equipment. Schwanke, who died in 2017, traveled all over the country picking up equipment at auctions for his business. But he also had an eye for rare and unique items he felt were too good to scrap for parts, said Conway, who has worked at the shop since 1998. “When Virgil saw a rusty old, crusty old beat up old tractor, it was just in his nature to restore it or junk it out for parts,” he said. Schwanke refurbished his favorites and tucked them into the back of a Quonset on the property. “He built the first Quonset and when that got full he built another one and when that got full he built the next one. It was all stuff he’d fixed up and restored,” Conway said.

Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune Manager Tom Conway, left, and employee Steve Youngberg share a smile while talking about the Schwanke Car, Tractor and Truck Museum in Willmar.

“It was pretty much packed full … You couldn’t walk through it.” When Schwanke decided to make his collection available to the public in 1999, a modest storefront museum entrance and gift shop was built onto one end of the shop. Conway’s job was to haul out each piece of equipment, wash it and organize the pieces in a way that made sense – grouping vehicles by makes or models or the era they were built. Everything was in running order when it was put into the museum, but other than a handful of items that are brought out for events like the Atwater Threshing Show, most likely won’t ever come out of the museum, Conway said. That’s certainly the case for a giant 1922 Moline tractor that weighs 12 tons and is now too big to fit out the door that was made smaller after the museum entrance was built.

Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune An old Ford tractor is on display at the the Schwanke Car, Tractor and Truck Museum in Willmar.

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Worth saving

The collection at Schwanke’s includes big and small items; equipment that advanced the ag and automotive industry, and items that were a total flop. The oldest item in the collection is a large 1899 stationary engine that was likely used to power equipment, like a threshing machine, feed mill or water pump. The oldest car on display is a 1910 Runabout Model 120 Hupmobile. According to Conway, Hupmobiles had been used by the Greyhound bus company to ferry miners from town-totown on the northern Minnesota Iron Range. There are a couple newer – very odd – cars in the museum including a tiny one-cylinder, one-passenger high-mileage car called a Freeway that was built in Burnsville between 1979 and 1982. “It was basically a three-wheeled motorcycle with a cab on it,” said Youngberg. About 700 were made. After the Freeway was discontinued, the company was sold to a manufacturer in St. Cloud who made a similar small car called a Minikin that had two seats. There were only 17 of these produced between 1983 and 1986.

The museum has a 1985 model. “It was not at all successful,” Youngberg said of the Minikin. The elegant Anderson Touring car on display is one of a dozen still around from the 6,000 originally made at the South Carolina facility. “Ours is one of the nicest,” Conway said. The Anderson vehicles were highquality, but expensive, costing about $1,200 compared to the $300 people were paying for a Model T at that time. It’s motto was: “A little higher in price but made in Dixie.” The museum is at near capacity and there’s no room to build another Quonset, but Conway is currently refurbishing a 1954 Case DC Orchard tractor that will be squeezed in. He said he’ll continue to keep an eye out for new items to add to the museum. He said it’s important to preserve Schwanke’s collection and to preserve an important part of American ag and automotive history. Conway said even though Virgil Schwanke is no longer there to lead the team, the Schwanke family is committed to keeping the museum open. For more information about the Schwanke Car, Tractor and Truck Museum go to www.schwanketractor.com/museum.

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Page 8 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

The first sugarbeets in the U.S. were planted near Philadelphia in 1836

The growing season lasts for roughly 5 months weighing 3-5 lbs. when harvested

The first successful U.S. sugarbeet factory was established in Alvarado, CA in 1870

Sugarbeets contain ~16% sucrose

Sucrose is the simple carbohydrate we know and love that is produced naturally in all plants, including fruits, vegetables and even nuts. Carbohydrates provide the body with energy; they are the preferred energy source because the majority contain glucose. Glucose is the fuel your brain, organs and muscles need to function and engage in everyday activities.

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Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune Angela Leahey, left, Kerri Mattson and Nada Carter from the Pope County Farm Bureau showcased their awardwinning agriculture career day program during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national convention and trade show in mid-January in Austin, Texas.

FARMING AND TALKING ABOUT FARMING ARE NECESSARY DUAL ROLES By Carolyn Lange | clange@wctrib.com

t used to be that farmers raised crops and livestock and consumers knew how their food got to the kitchen table. That’s not necessarily the case anymore. Farmers now have the added job of being storytellers to consumers who may have little-to-no-knowledge about how food and fiber is raised by their farmer-neighbors. That art of that storytelling was in full force at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention and trade show Jan. 17-22 in Austin, Texas. I attended the convention as a guest of the Minnesota

Farm Bureau after being named the 2019 Minnesota Ag Communicator of the Year. I spent three days with nearly 6,000 farmers – including about 60 from Minnesota. Despite several years of low market prices, inclement growing conditions and uncertain trade relations with international partners, the mood in the trade show exhibit hall was upbeat as new ag technology, new products made from ag products and new ways of telling the story of today’s farmers were showcased. Continued on page 10

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One group of storytellers came from Minnesota’s Pope County. Three women representing the Pope County Farm Bureau told me they were shocked to realize how few kids – even ones who live in the heart of west central Minnesota farm country – actually have a real connection to agriculture. “We thought everyone in a rural community had that base already, so it surprised us that as we go in there and we talk to these kids, they don’t have the knowledge that we assume they did,” said Kerri Mattson, president of the Pope County Farm Bureau. Even kids whose parents farm for a living don’t necessarily live on the farm and may not be involved with after-school farm chores, Mattson said. Kids who don’t have a connection to agriculture also don’t know how many careers there are in agriculture, said Nada Carter, secretary of Pope County Farm Bureau. That’s why they launched an agriculture career day for 7th- and 8th-grade students as part of their promotions and education committee. This will be the third year they’ve offered the program in the Minnewaska Area School District near Glenwood. One year they did the program at West Central Area School in Kensington. Each year eight to 10 professionals from a wide variety of sectors, such as technology, marketing, animal nutrition, diesel mechanics and producers – including an appearance by the popular “Millennial Farmer” whose

RAPID DRAIN

YouTube videos about life on the farm have reportedly generated more revenue than his farm operation has – to talk to students about jobs in agriculture that go beyond just working on a farm. “We want them to get more excited about agriculture,” said Mattson. “We want them to see the opportunities they have for the future.” “It’s just kind of planting a seed in those kids’ minds,” said Carter. “Hopefully they will like something and see that there’s a place in agriculture for them.” The program has been well-received by students, teachers and the ag professionals, she said. It was also well-received at the national level of Farm Bureau, which selected Pope County as one of their 24 top County Activities of Excellence programs for 2019.

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As part of their award they, and the other winning counties, set up booths at the national trade show to talk about how they are educating their communities about agriculture. The top ideas for getting the ag story out included activities for kids, adults and politicians.

FIGHTING FEAR WITH FACTS IS PART OF TELLING AGRICULTURE’S STORY

▶ The Kansas Farm Bureau hosted a farm-to-table event and farm tours for urban legislators. Getting legislators’ boots on the ground in farm country was used as a way to talk to the people who make laws affecting agriculture, said Steven Tuttle. “It’s getting to be a lot of legislators that are two and three generations removed from the farm. So they don’t know the daily activities and what we have to do,” Tuttle said. “We just want to present a positive message to them, to know them and to have a good interaction between us,” he said. “All of us in agriculture need to keep our message out,” Tuttle said. “We are approximately just 2% of the population, so we have a large hurdle to overcome to get our message out.” ▶ The Highland County Farm Bureau in Ohio held a ladies night out with ag-related bingo, raffles and vendors selling locally-produced products. “We wanted to do something to bring women out, get them engaged, let them learn about agriculture,” said Heather Utter. “It showed people, that typically wouldn’t be tied to agriculture, what was available to them in their own backyard.” ▶ The Farm Bureau chapter near Springfield, Illinois, interviewed nearly 50 people between the age of 60 and 99 about how agriculture “used to be back in the day,” said Lynn Curry. The result was a reader’s theater play called “Lilacs, Land and Long-Necked Chickens” that was performed multiple times as part of the organization’s 100th anniversary. Proceeds were donated for ag in the classroom materials and student scholarships. Continued on page 12

By Carolyn Lange | clange@wctrib.com

hen Kim Bremmer goes to the grocery store, she’s quick to spot labels that use marketing tactics she said can generate fear about the food people eat and the farmers who raised that food. For example, the chicken with the big, bright label Bremmer declaring the meat to be hormone-free isn’t worth the extra price, said Bremmer. All poultry in the U.S. – and most international countries – are raised without additional hormones. It’s been illegal here since the 1950s. Bremmer has equal concerns about inaccurate information about farm animals she’s seen on the popular animal-friendly website called, The Dodo, which reaches 33 million viewers each month, and she grimaces when talking about phrases from TV doctors who encourage people not to eat food comprised of things they “can’t pronounce” because, she said, even fruits contain components that are difficult to pronounce. These messages, along with the reality that most Americans have never been on a farm and don’t know anyone who farms, can sway consumer’s views of farming and food and affect their purchasing decisions, said Bremmer, a former dairy nutritionist who now spends time speaking about agriculture with her Wisconsin-based business, Ag Inspirations LLC. But Bremmer doesn’t blame consumers. She said people are inundated with fear-based marketing tactics at grocery stores and social media which can create negative views of agriculture. When people hear things enough times “it becomes truth,” she said. “That’s where the other side beats us, because we don’t repeat ourselves enough.” Facts continued page 12

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Facts continued from page 11

Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune Lynn Curry, from the Pie-Scott County Farm Bureau unit from Springfield, Illinois, talks about the stories gleaned from area farmers, stories used to create a reader’s theater performance. The event was one of 24 award-winning education and promotion programs on display during the AFBF’s national convention in January in Austin, Texas. Continued from page 11

▶ In Illinois, the urban, Chicago-based Cook County Farm Bureau held a food pantry challenge by asking residents to vote for their favorite community food pantry on social media sites as a way to raise awareness about the food shelves and farming. “Chicago tends to forget that we have any type of agriculture,” said Karen Biernacki. “We keep trying, though.” The event generated awareness about Farm Bureau, which donated money to all 14 food community pantries. “So everybody won,” Biernacki said.

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Bremmer, who was the keynote speaker at the fifth annual Women in Ag Network conference Feb. 4 in Willmar, said farmers and ag advocates need to listen to consumers’ questions and have conversations that contain facts to fight fears about agriculture and the food farmers raise. “You need to acknowledge all consumer concerns are valid, whether we agree with them or not,” said Bremmer. The next step, she said, is for farmers to provide their perspective about how they care for their animals and the land, and tell the story about more food being raised more efficiently with fewer resources than in the past. According to Bremmer, in the 1920s it took five acres of land to grow enough food to feed one person. Now it takes less than one-third of an acre. She said because of genetics and nutrition it takes half as many cows now as compared to the 1940s to fill dairy needs in the U.S., resulting in a significant decrease in the total carbon footprint. She said conservation practices like no-till farming has resulted in a reduction in soil erosion and precision agriculture has resulted in fewer chemicals being used to raise crops. Bremmer said farmers are out-numbered 99-to-1 in the general population. “That’s why it’s important you’re always speaking up,” she said. With an increasing number of women actively farming and involved with agriculture, Bremmer said women are in the best position to deliver that message.

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▶ The Washtenaw County Farm Bureau in Michigan hosted a “Treat of Agriculture” at the fairgrounds on Halloween. It was like a trunk-or-treat event but instead of candy, different ag-based goodies were given out to represent different types of farming.

There were cheese sticks, pretzels, apples, small ornamental pumpkins, dried cherries, soy nuts and animal crackers (representing livestock) as well as a straw maze, crafts, photo booth and educational materials. “It was really a great time and the kids loved it, and the parents even loved it more,” said Renee Luckhardt. ▶ Besides the volunteer efforts of county Farm Bureau chapters, the national organization has its own book publishing company called Feeding Minds Press that strives to provide accurate ag education to children, said Alix Ambriz, an education specialist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. Their first book, called “Right This Very Minute” about how food on the table started out on a farm, was published last year. Their second book, “Dairy Godmother,” is expected to be published sometime this month. “We’re really trying to make that connection, whether students are familiar with agriculture or not, that all of their food, their fiber, what they’re wearing on their bodies comes from farmers and ranchers,” Ambriz said. You won’t find any talking animals in these books or brown cows producing chocolate milk. “Animals can’t talk,” she said. “We just want to be sure that the information that’s being portrayed is accurate to our hard working farmers and ranchers.”

Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune Carolyn Lange is an agricultural and features writer Alix Ambriz, an education specialist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, holds the first book published by the AFMF’s new Feeding Minds Press. with the West Central Tribune in Willmar.

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NEW FEED SYSTEM COULD IMPROVE TURKEY GROWTH AT REDUCED COST By Carolyn Lange | clange@wctrib.com

new system for blending and loading poultry feed that was implemented late last year at the Farm Service Elevator in Willmar has already reduced time and increased nutrition options. Research is now underway to determine if the projected growth and rate of gain for commercial turkey flocks is realized. If it is, it could be a game-changer for the Willmar Poultry Company – which raises commercial turkeys and owns and operates the Farm Service Elevator – and other poultry farms which purchase feed from the elevator. “The results look promising,” said Tom Scholten, business integration manager for Farm Service Elevator. Located just off U.S. Highway 12 on the west side of Willmar, the elevator made a $4 million upgrade to its feed mill facilities in 2019. Twenty steel bins with a 600-ton total capacity to store finished poultry feed were replaced with a precast cement structure with six bins with a total capacity of 1,300 tons. The new, unique system allows the elevator more flexibility in blending different poultry rations to better fit the nutritional needs of turkeys during their different growth periods, Scholten said.

Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune Mike Heideman, left, feed mill supervisor, and Tom Scholten, business integration manager, at Farm Service Elevator in Willmar stand in the new load-out system that automatically fills trucks with rations blended for specific barns of commercial turkeys to maximize health and growth of birds while decreasing feed costs.

Page 14 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune The new load-out system at Farm Service Elevator in Willmar automatically fills trucks with rations blended for specific barns of commercial turkeys to maximize health and growth of birds while decreasing feed costs.

As turkeys age they are fed diets which gradually decrease in protein levels and increase in energy levels. Typically, every time a change is made in an animal’s diet there’s a stressful adjustment period that can cause them to eat and drink less – which can slow down growth and result in birds being fed longer to reach market weight. In the past the feed mill had eight different types of feeds that had different rations of protein and energy that were fed to poultry at different times of their growth. Now they have 16. Having more combinations of feed means there are smaller incremental steps in the diet, the change is less drastic for the birds and animals are “healthier and happier,” said Scholten. In theory, the improved food conversion means the growth cycle won’t be interrupted, birds are fed for fewer days to reach market weight and less food is wasted, which creates savings for farmers. With slim profit margins in the turkey industry, the savings could be significant for companies that raise millions of birds each year.

Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune A new system of blending and loading feed for commercial poultry operations went online late last fall at the Farm Service Elevator in Willmar. The company is tracking the health and growth of turkey flocks to determine if the new system is fulfilling expectations that market weight can be obtained faster and cheaper with the finetuned blend of feed.

In December, Peggy Frederick, feed formulation supervisor for the elevator, began tracking the weight, growth and health of turkeys in the company’s barns to see if the theory is proven. Scholten said by January of 2021 they hope to have enough data to determine the full results. “We’re hoping we can help the farmers be successful, because if they’re successful – we are,” said Frederick. “If they aren’t, we won’t be.”

The elevator also sells feed for egglaying chickens and breeder turkeys but those diets are typically not changed for adult birds. The new system is also saving time for feed mill operators who can make and store large quantities of pelleted rations Frederick rather than juggling to fill and empty numerous small bins. Different amounts of the rations are blended to create specific diets for the birds. The fun feature of the new system is how the feed is loaded into trucks that transport it to area turkey barns. Trucks are given GPS units that track where they are on the route and what time they’ll be coming to the elevator to pick up another load. The operator gauges the arrival time – and the specific type of feed that hauler needs will be blended and waiting in the hopper for the load out. Each truck has a radio frequency identification so the automated system, which is equipped with a laser, knows exactly where to position the funnel as feed is poured into different compartments in the truck. There was a learning curve to using the system and there were a few loads of spilled feed, said Mike Heideman, feed mill superintendent. But after a month in operation it’s now going well and the load-out time has gone from 12 minutes to about 5 to 6 minutes. With 260 trucks loaded each week, those extra minutes add up, said Heideman.

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ARE BACKYARD CHICKENS RIGHT FOR YOU?

aising backyard chickens has been a growing phenomenon for several years. Many cities have passed laws legalizing backyard chickens, encouraging many to raise chickens as a rewarding hobby. One of the biggest benefits to raising backyard chickens is that their eggs are fresher and often tastier than storebought varieties. Hens can lay one egg per day. Multiply that egg per hen, and breakfast is always available. Another benefit to chickens is they produce a natural fertilizer that can be used in gardens. “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” says chicken manure can be composted, aged and eventually added to the garden. In about six months, a person will accumulate about one cubic foot of manure per chicken. Egg shells and other compostable material can be added to create an even richer formula.

Chickens also can help control bugs around the yard, offers the experts at Tractor Supply Company. Before investing in backyard chickens, people should determine if chickens will fit with their lifestyle. Costs and care are a big consideration. Each chick will cost anywhere between $3 to $5 a bird. Then there’s feed to consider. The most expensive item will likely be the coop. The experts at The Happy Chicken Coop, a resource for raising chickens and starting coops, says handy men and women can build homemade coops, but ready-made ones will cost a few hundred dollars. Continued on page 19

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BE PREPARED TO BE IN THE ‘HOT SEAT’ WHEN SEEKING FARM LOANS By Carolyn Lange | clange@wctrib.com

sking for money from a banker is never easy. It can be especially stressful for farmers during financially challenging years when adverse weather throws a double punch to the gut. Farmers traditionally obtain operating loans every year to plant crops that could set record yields or totally fail. Loans for capital expenditures, like new equipment, land or livestock adds another layer of stress as farmers justify the expense and expected returns to a lender who may have never been on a farm before. The key to convincing a lender that a farm venture is worth the risk relies on preparation, said Tina LeBrun, a farm business management instructor for South Central College in Mankato. LeBrun, who works hand-in-hand with farmers on their finances and often serves as a link between farmers and lenders, spoke about ways to be prepared during a workshop at the annual Women in Ag Networking conference Feb. 4 in Willmar. With more women actively owning and working on farms – either independently or in partnership with a spouse or other family members – LeBrun stressed the need for communication between all involved family members and preparation of financial records before sitting “in the hot seat” with a lender. Part of that preparation, she said, is educating the lender about agriculture and individual farming operations. “It’s your job to teach them about your farm,” she said. LeBrun works in multiple counties in three states and said she’s seeing a trend in lenders retiring and being replaced by people who don’t have a history of farming. Continued on page 18

LEGACY PLANNING – THE FIRST STEP

By John O. Christianson, CPA

ou and your spouse think about it periodically, but do not speak about it often. You know you need to do something, but you are not sure what to do or how to start. It concerns you that all your work over the years to build your farm to where it is today could be lost as parts may need to be sold to pay estate and income taxes after you are gone. Estate taxes are complicated and planning is required to meet your objectives for your legacy. The most difficult part of the process is to take that first step; make the call to meet with an experienced estate planner. After 35 years of working with ag producers, I can see the relief when we finish up an estate/ succession plan. I tell my clients, one of the best gifts they can give their children is an estate plan they know meets the wishes of the parents. Often, farm estate plans include on-farm heirs working in the farming business and also off-farm heirs who have not worked in the family business. When planning your estate, it is important to make your plan equitable among your heirs which may not be equal. It is important to take into consideration your sons or daughters who have worked with you on the farm for years helping you build the equity of the farm, and most of the time taking modest compensation. These on-farm siblings have invested their total professional career to make the farm successful and need additional consideration in developing the plan so they can continue their careers on the farm. Why is starting on your estate plan so important? Estate planning is complicated and time consuming. In 2020 the Federal Estate tax exemption is $11.58 million per person. The State of Minnesota Estate tax exemption is $3 million per person plus an additional $2 million exemption for qualified business property totaling $5 million per person. With proper planning, most farmers may qualify for the State of Minnesota additional business property exemption. Current law allows for the tax basis of assets to be stepped up to fair market value upon transfer to an heir through an estate. You may look at these exemption amounts and think you have no worries as your assets are under the exemption amounts, but estate assets often grow faster than you think. Without proper planning, you and your spouse may not be able to each utilize a full estate tax exemption. Legacy continued page 19

West Central Tribune – March 2020 – Page 17

Continued from page 17

“They don’t know farming. They don’t understand farming,” she said. “There’s a lot of ignorance in the lending institutions.” In order to become what she calls a “bankable customer,” LeBrun said it’s vital to have a detailed business plan that includes putting things in writing – like naming family management teams, long-term and short-term goals and complete financial records – that are “critical to telling your story” in order to “market your farm” to the lender. Know how much you need to borrow and provide explicit details on what the money is needed for, and have your “financial house in order,” she said. Have your credit score, bring in balance sheets, explain your cash-flow and provide up-to-date financials so there are “no surprises” for the banker to discover. If there’s some bad debt in the financials, she said it is better to be honest and be upfront rather than secretive. If weather, poor prices or other glitches in the business plan are causing financial issues “talk to your banker early and often,” she said. Farmers and lenders can work together as a team to resolve issues. During tough times farmers may feel like they’re alone in the financial chaos, but LeBrun said, “You’re all in it together.” Continued on page 19

Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune Tina LeBrun is a farm business management instructor for South Central College in Mankato.

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Make sure you know what you are signing. – TINA LEBURN, farm business management instructor

“But in tough times, it may seem just like you.” There’s typically considerable paperwork when obtaining farm loans, especially from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “Make sure you know what you’re signing,” LeBrun said. Loans from the FSA require farmers to participate in the farm business management program as a means of providing the extra advice and support for staying on-track financially. This program is available to all farmers and could be a valuable asset to farm success, said LeBrun. There are positive aspects to the current ag environment. LeBrun said low interest rates are “great news” and a number of tax credit programs supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture could provide opportunities for young farmers trying to get in the business. LeBrun expects more young farmer programs to emerge in response to the aging farmer population. Because women can be classified as a minority for obtaining farm loans, LeBrun said it may be advantageous for women to seek ag loans.

Chickens continued from page 16

The coop will need to offer around four square feet of space per chicken (or what’s recommended for the breed). Despite being seemingly independent birds, chickens need people to be active caregivers. They require feed and water daily. The chickens will need a caregiver while you vacation. People who are frequently away from home should reconsider chickens. Chickens also are prone to worms, parasites and lice. They need to have rear feathers trimmed to stay clean and sanitary, and they will require an area where they can “dust” and self-groom. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises not to cuddle and kiss chickens like pets because they can carry salmonella. Not every coop is completely varmintproof, and some chickens may succumb to predators. Squeamish or sentimental folks may find chickens aren’t the right fit. Chickens require commitment and care that many people can provide. It is essential to do one’s homework to ensure that backyard chickens are a sound investment.

Legacy continued from page 17

This is your opportunity to ensure your financial goals and life goals are met, and also determine your exit strategy from your business. You can develop your legacy, which may include the successful transition of the family business to the next generation or provide for charitable donations. A charitable remainder trust is also an option that could yield significant income tax advantages and benefit your favorite cause. Your succession plan is your opportunity to ensure you give your heirs the best advantage to be successful. Planning often involves multiple entities for an ag production succession plan to the next generation. One entity for operations, and a separate entity for real estate assets ownership. Depending on the size of the farming operation, you must consider if the entity structure will impact your Farm Service Agency (FSA) payment limitation. Each type of plan has the options of selling, leasing or gifting assets to the on-farm heirs during your lifetime, while protecting your retirement income. You need to make the decisions for a timeline to transfer equity in your farm and also a timeline for transferring the control and decision-making responsibility to your successors. Equity and control of your business can be transferred on differing timelines. There are multiple strategies to accomplish your desires for your legacy and they can be painless to accomplish. Three main points to consider for your succession plan 1. Start the discussion with your spouse and the next generation. It is important to set and prioritize your goals for your desired outcome. Expectations of the next generation must be discussed, so they are aligned with your plan 2. Understand that your estate and succession plan needs to be flexible and moving. Life happens and circumstances change. You need to have awareness to update your estate plan as life changes. It may be best to review your plan every two years and adjust accordingly. 3. Your plan needs to be communicated with your family. Invite your adviser to participate in the family meeting to help explain the plan and why you and your spouse made these estate and succession decisions. Every family has dynamics which impact how the plan is received. From experience, any estate or succession plan will be accepted much better if the heirs understand this is what Mom and Dad want. The goal is to ensure that everyone continues to celebrate holidays as a family. John Christianson’s farming background led him to recognize the need for a full-service accounting and consulting firm with specialized expertise in agribusiness. Under his guidance, Christianson CPAs and Consultants has grown into a nationally recognized firm with more than 30 years of experience in agricultural manufacturing, grain processing and renewable fuels.

West Central Tribune – March 2020 – Page 19

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LET LOGIC BE YOUR GUIDE By Jenny Schlecht | Forum News Service

f you spend much time on social media or watching television, you might think you can fend off novel coronavirus by avoiding meat. You might think you can save the planet by using something other than dairy products in your Starbucks order. And you might think you can transform agriculture by purchasing a certain brand of beer. But you’d be wrong on all counts. Details are important. First up, let’s talk about the new coronavirus. This is the scary respiratory disease spreading through China, infecting people and causing deaths. (Of course, in the U.S., you’re far more likely to contract and die from influenza, but I digress.) At the end of January, news came out that the virus likely started in a “wet market” in China, where animals are butchered in front of customers. So, from that nugget of information, some people on the internet (namely animal rights activists) tried to spread the misinformation that eliminating meat from a diet will keep people from catching that strain of coronavirus. From what I noticed on Twitter, not a lot of people were falling for the scam. But it wouldn’t seem so hard to believe that someone out there made a fear-based decision to change their diet — which in all likelihood will have no effect on whether they contract a respiratory infection. Now, let’s move on to a couple marketing campaigns aimed at telling people that their food choices can save the world. Starbucks plans to push customers to choose something other than dairy products to put in their coffees. They claim dairy is a big part of their carbon footprint. I don’t know if that’s true — I would assume that shipping coffee beans from international locations, shipping products around the world and having drivethrus that keep cars running would have pretty big impacts, too. Telling customers to eliminate dairy seems to me to be more aimed at pleasing animal rights activists than on having a real impact on the environment. Another marketing campaign that you might have seen if you watched the Super Bowl was Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, an organic beer, announcing that it would help farmers transition 6 square feet of land to organic production for every six pack purchased. To some consumers, that might sound like a good Page 22 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

Katie Pinke / Forum News Service Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, an organic beer, sells for a couple dollars more than its conventional counterpart at King Soopers in Colorado.

deal — the organic industry has done a good job of making many people think that organic is better for the environment and for health. But let’s do the math. The U.S. census estimates that there were more than 328 million people in the U.S. as of July 1, 2019. About a quarter are younger than the legal drinking age of 21, and studies have shown that about 42% of Americans drink beer. That means the beer-drinking population of the U.S. is right around 103 million people. If every one of them were to buy a six pack, that would mean Michelob would pay to transition 618 million square feet to organic agriculture. An acre has 43,560 square feet. That means that in the extremely unlikely event that every beer drinker in the U.S. purchases a six-pack of Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, about 14,187 acres would be converted. I’m no expert on organic malt barley, but I’m thinking that isn’t going to do much. So, I guess what I’m saying is, there is a lot of misinformation out there, or half information or information put out just to rile people up or scare them into changing their behaviors. Before you jump on a bandwagon thinking that you’re saving your health or saving the environment, take a breath and think it through. We’d all do well to think a little more for ourselves and to be a little more based in reality. Schlecht lives on a farm and ranch in Medina, N.D., with her husband and two daughters. She can be reached at jschlecht@agweek.com or 701-595-0425.

HOW FARMERS ARE USING DRONES

he farmers of yesteryear might not be too familiar with their surroundings if they were to visit a modern farm. While the men and women who made their livings as farmers decades ago would no doubt still recognize certain farm features that have withstood the test of time, they might not understand the inner workings of the modern farm, particularly in regard to the role technology now plays within the agricultural sector. Technology has changed agriculture in myriad ways. The methods farmers employ to produce food and improve the efficiency of their operations has changed as technology has evolved. One of the more noticeable changes that’s hard to miss on modern farms is the use of agricultural drones. Drones have been around for decades. Sometimes referred to as”unmanned aerial vehicles,” or “UAVs,” drones can be utilized in ways that can save farmers money and protect the planet.

Continued on page 28

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7 REASONS TO SHOP FARMERS MARKETS

farmers market is likely coming to a field or open parking lot near you — if there isn’t already one operating nearby. The United States Department of Agriculture says that, between the years of 2008 and 2013, the number of farmers markets doubled across the country. Farmers markets will continue to thrive and expand as people increasingly realize the benefits of supporting local food providers. Buyers who are not yet familiar with farmers markets can examine the following seven reasons to break the ice.

1. Enjoy fresh, seasonal foods.

Foods at farmers markets tend to be limited to inseason offerings. Some nutritionists suggest eating seasonally available foods is better for your body, because humans ate seasonal produce for thousands of years before shipping and refrigeration changed how people received the majority of their foods. In addition, many people feel that fresh, seasonal foods taste better than the alternatives.

2. Discover new foods.

There’s always something new at a farmers market, and this can entice shoppers to expand their flavor palates. Explore interesting, locally grown items. Even children may fall in love with colorful fruits or vegetables and their refreshing tastes.

3. Embrace organic and non-GMO offerings.

Many farmers markets offer foods that are organically grown and are produced without GMOs. Farmers market retailers also tend to give firsthand accounts of where their foods come from and how they are grown or raised.

4. Indulge in nutritious foods.

The vivid colors and smells emanating from farmers markets indicate just how fresh and nutritious the offerings tend to be. Farmers who peddle their wares at farmers markets adhere to careful farming methods to ensure their foods are as nutritious as possible.

5. Learn secrets and recipes.

In addition to fresh produce, farmers markets may offer baked and other prepared goods. Page 24 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

Shopkeepers often mingle with their customers, offering trade secrets and recipe ideas. Additionally, local farm families supported by farmers markets generally offer supreme customer service to keep shoppers coming back week after week.

6. Turn the trip into a social excursion.

A farmers market can be an exciting and flavorful social gathering place for families and groups of friends, as well as a great place to meet other members of the community. Sometimes farmers also mingle with local artisans, so the market can be a one-stop-shopping locale for locally produced food and art.

7. Save money.

Farmers markets may sell organic produce at a cost comparable or even lower than other retailers. That’s because local farmers don’t have to transport their items as far as retailers whose foods were shipped from far away places. Any time of the year is perfect for grabbing a tote bag and browsing the wares at a nearby farmers market, where shoppers are bound to find something fresh, unique and delicious.

NEW DVM PROGRAM HAS GOAL OF INCREASING ANIMAL CARE

partnership between the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University will create new opportunities for students who want to be veterinarians and address a shortage of vets, especially in rural areas. Formation of the new collaborative professional program in veterinary medicine leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree was announced this winter and will be launched next year. Once students have completed their pre-veterinary requirements, the new program will allow admitted students to complete the first two years of their veterinary medicine education at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, and the final two years at the U of M’s College of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul. The first group of 20 students is expected to begin classes on the SDSU campus in Brookings within the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department in August of 2021. The new collaborative program will focus on rural practices and is expected to help address a shortage of veterinarians, create additional opportunities for South Dakota students to pursue careers in veterinary medicine and support the agriculture industry in the region, according to a new release. “This professional degree addresses the need for more veterinarians in South Dakota and adjoining states, particularly those who work with food animals,” said John Killefer, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The new program has been approved by the American

Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, which will monitor the program’s progress, said Laura Molgaard, Interim Dean of the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine. “This permission to proceed is a testament to the outstanding work of faculty and staff on both campuses plus the investments both states are making,” she said. The AVMA Council also approved an expansion of the U of M’s graduating class from 105 up to 125 students. South Dakota students participating in the new program will pay tuition based on in-state rates as part of a subsidy through the South Dakota legislature, according to Killefer. For more information about SDSU’s Professional DVM Program in Veterinary Medicine, contact Gary Gackstetter, Director of the Professional DVM Program in Veterinary Medicine, at gary.gackstetter@sdstate.edu, or Jane Hennings, Head of the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, at jane.hennings@sdstate.edu.

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GRAIN BIN RESCUE DEMONSTRATION A SOBERING REMINDER By Kevin Wallevand | Forum News Service

undreds of farmers and ranchers came to the Fargodome Feb. 4 for the 2020 Northern Corn and Soybean Expo, with many taking in a sobering safety lesson. Since last fall, 21 people across the Midwest have died in grain bin accidents. The Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team showed expo attendees how the team can rescue and save farmers who become trapped in grain bins. “We wanted to bring to everybody out here today just the awareness of how fast these incidents can occur,” Rich Schock with the rescue team told the visitors. “Once you’ve crossed the threshold of entering the (grain) bin, you’ve obviously entered into a confined space and then it just goes bad from there,” Schock said. “It’s very similar to an avalanche, I mean the way the grain would break loose and trap you.” Farmer Adam Redmann played a victim in the

demonstration. Wearing a safety harness, Redmann showed how a person can become trapped in a corn bin. Using ropes and a series of interconnecting sheets of curved metal called a cofferdam, the rescue team showed how they can get an enclosure around the trapped farmer to prevent the corn from killing him. “It crushes you and suffocates you. A lot of times autopsies that we have read, their lungs and everything are full of corn,” Schock said. There is currently a concern that this spring may make grain bins more dangerous than usual. Since corn and soybeans were stored at high moisture levels, the fear is of clumping and clogging, which is a big reason farmers end up entering a bin. Redmann described his experience of playing a victim. “The more you struggle, it is like quicksand; it gets tighter. I am pretty thankful I have not been in that situation before,” Redmann said.

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AG CONDITIONS BETTER NOW THAN THE 1980S By Jonathan Knutson | Forum News Service

he overall U.S. agricultural economy has slumped in recent years, but several key measurements show that current conditions are better in important ways than they were in the rocky ag sector during the 1980s, a federal government report says. Relatively low interest rates and the rising value of farm assets, particularly farmland, help to prop up today’s ag economy, according to “Financial Conditions in the U.S. Agricultural Sector: Historical Comparisons,” a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, or ERS. Andrew Swenson, a veteran farm management specialist with North Dakota State University Extension, agreed that current conditions are better than they were four decades ago. “We’ve seen some farmers go out of business (recently), but overall, things aren’t as bad as they were in the 1980s,” he said. The ERS report notes that the ag sector’s

financial health has declined since the sector’s multi-year run of prosperity from 2008 to 2012. But the report also finds that, put in historical perspective, current conditions aren’t particularly bad: ▶ From 2012 to 2017, the farm sector saw the largest multi -year decline in net cash income in percentage terms since the 1970s. But farm income in 2012 had been at a near-record level, so, even with the large drop, inflation-adjusted income remains close to its long-term average ▶ Farm sector debt has risen to nearly the same high levels as four decades ago. Even so, interest expenses remain below the long-run average level because of historically low interest rates ▶ Though land values have fallen in some areas and caused farmers’ debt-to-asset ratio to rise since 2012 that ratio is still low compared to the 1970-2017 average. Low interest rates definitely help today’s farmers by holding down the interest they pay out, Swenson said. A hypothetical example: Say that a producer borrows $100,000 to buy farmland and promises to repay the money over 15 years. With an interest rate of 15%, which was common in the mid-1980s, the monthly payment is roughly $1,400, with $1,250 of that amount interest in the first month. With an interest rate of 5%, the monthly payment is $790, with $417 of that amount interest in the first month. Continued on page 28

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Drones continued from page 23

Monitor crops: according to senseFly, the commercial drone subsidiary of Parrot Group, drones can help farmers effectively monitor their crops. With a drone flying overhead, farmers can spot and quickly identify issues affecting their crops before those issues escalate into something larger. Soil analysis: another potential benefit of agricultural drones highlights their role in analyzing soil. Agricultural drones utilize complex mapping functions to gather data about the soil, including areas where it might be stressed. That enables farmers to develop accurate soil samples that can be used to guide decisions in regard to irrigation and fertilization.

Reduce waste: senseFly notes that data gathered by drones can help farmers determine the vigor of their crops at various stages of growth. Such information can prevent overfertilization and overwatering, thereby reducing waste and runoff, benefitting the planet as a result. Planning: Drones can be used to collect data on crop growth and health at various times throughout the growing season. That can help farmers develop accurate predictions regarding harvest quality and crop yield, making it easier for them to plan ahead. Agricultural drones are one of the many examples that illustrate how technology has changed and will continue to change the ways modern farmers conduct business.

Conditions continued from page 27

Ag boomed in the mid-1970s, which led many farmers to expand and take on debt, eventually causing them to struggle in the 1980s when crop prices and land values slumped. The latter reduced farmers’ assets, hurting their ability to borrow and inflicting heavy losses if they were forced to sell land at much lower prices than what they paid. Today’s relatively stable land values hold up farmers’ assets, improving their financial situation, he said.

Other factors are helping current ag conditions, too, Swenson said. Modern farmers generally were more prudent with their spending after the 2008-2012 boom than their predecessors were after the mid-1970s prosperity, he said. And modern ag lenders overall are shrewder and more disciplined, helping them to avoid many of the eventually onerous loans made in the late 1970s and 1980s.

To read the report: www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=95237.

Legacy Planning Taking the First Steps...

March 24th, 2020 from 7:30 - 9:30 am at the Willmar Conference Center

Join us on March 24th, 2020 from 7:30 - 9:30 am at the Willmar Conference Center for a morning of information and story telling to better understand the options, resources, and steps to transferring your farm operation, including: • Succession Planning for Next Generation Farmers • Why have a succession plan • How to create one • What to include • Estate planning including generational differences Registration $10 and includes coffee and a light breakfast. To Register: Contact the WLACC at 320-235-0300 or email Chamber@WillmarAreaChamber.com Page 28 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG FARMERS

eople who live in cities, exurbs or suburbs may not come across farms very frequently. But millions of people, including children, still live on farms. In fact, in 2009 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that more than one million children under the age of 20 lived, worked or had a regular presence on farms in the United States. Protecting children from injury on farms, especially those who perform work on farms, is of paramount importance. The American Society of Safety Engineers offers the following safety tips to parents of children who will be spending time on farms. ▶ Know and obey the laws. Various state and federal laws are in place to protect young children from farmrelated accidents and injuries. Age requirements dictate which jobs children can perform on a farm, and parents should adhere to those requirements. Asking children to do more than they’re physically capable of can lead to accident, injury or even death. ▶ Review equipment operation instructions. Before assigning children a task on the farm, parents should review the equipment operation instructions. Doing so can help parents reacquaint themselves with tools and equipment they may not have used in awhile, and that can make it easier for them to teach kids how to use such equipment. In addition, reviewing equipment instructions may provide insight to parents unsure if their children are old enough to use certain tools. ▶ Inspect equipment. Before children perform any tasks on the farm, parents should inspect the equipment their children are likely to use to make sure each tool is safe. Make sure tools are in proper working order, as

broken or poorly working equipment increases the risk of accident or injury. ▶ Enroll children in farm safety camps. The ASSE recommends that parents contact their local Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau offices to enroll children in farm safety camps. Such camps can teach kids safe farming techniques and the proper ways to use ageappropriate tools. ▶ Set a positive example. Another way for parents to protect their children on the farm is to set a positive example. Parents can do so in various ways. Using equipment properly, removing tractor keys from ignitions when tractors are not in use and exercising caution when using hazardous materials shows kids the importance of caution when working on farms. ▶ Hundreds of thousands of children perform jobs on farms across the country. Parents who want to teach their kids to farm should always do so with safety in mind.

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MYTHS ABOUT RURAL AMERICA THAT MUDDLE THE POLITICAL REALITIES By Christopher Ingraham | The Washington Post

n political, media and academic circles, the Trump era has sparked renewed interest in rural America - the supposedly “forgotten” areas of the country where white, non-college-educated voters gave the president the electoral edge he needed to prevail in 2016. The near-singular focus on Donald Trump has yielded a body of discourse that views rural Americans primarily through a white, conservative Republican lens. This is somewhat understandable as a matter of raw numbers its residents do tend to be whiter and more conservative than people living in more densely populated areas. But that focus also has perpetuated a number of myths, blurring out much of the messiness and complexity of rural life. As a Washington Post reporter who has resided

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in a northwest Minnesota farming community since 2016 I wrote a book about it - I’ve had the opportunity to watch those perceptions solidify in real time, as well as compare them to the on-the-ground reality. As the 2020 campaign season gets underway in earnest, here are a few myths to keep in mind when you read sweeping pronouncements about rural America. Myth: ‘Rural’ is synonymous with ‘Midwestern’ Earlier this year, New York Times politics editor Jonathan Weisman provided a particularly clumsy example of this common conflation, suggesting that U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who represent densely populated urban districts in their states, weren’t really “Midwestern.” This is nonsense, of

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course - the Midwest is a region, not a population density - but it’s emblematic of the way many influential people in politics and the media start fudging definitions when they talk about people who live outside of New York or Washington. In reality, any place outside of an urban area or urban population cluster should be considered “rural,” according to the U.S. Census. Rural areas comprise well over 90 percent of the country’s land area. They’re everywhere. The American rural experience ranges far beyond the confines of the Rust Belt. You can, in fact, find rural areas just outside of any major city, including in New York, California and Massachusetts - places often positioned in opposition to “rural” America. Myth: ‘Rural’ is synonymous with ‘white’ One of the most regrettable Trump era trends in political reporting is the diner safari, in which a big-city reporter is parachuted into a small town in the middle of the country in search of the secret wisdom of diner patrons in overalls and trucker caps (full disclosure: I’ve done one of these, too). Such patrons tend to be, almost without exception, white. The unfortunate effect of such stories is that they don’t reflect the fact that a fairly large and growing share of rural Americans are, in fact, nonwhite: about 22 percent as of 2018, or more than 10 million people. Such residents often have political beliefs that are considerably different from those of their white neighbors. In contested national elections with razor-thin margins, support of rural minorities could make all the difference in a battleground state such as Pennsylvania or Wisconsin. Such statistics raise more specific questions: What are black voters in the rural Southeast looking for in 2020? What do Native American voters in Midwestern battlegrounds make of the impeachment process so far? What are rural Hispanics in Western states looking for in a Democratic candidate? We don’t have great answers to these questions, in part because we’ve spent so much time talking to rural whites. Myth: ‘Rural’ is synonymous with ‘conservative’ Those media diner excursions also give the impression that the swath of country between New York City and Los Angeles is populated chiefly by staunch Republicans, leavened with a conservative Democrat here and there. Here’s the reality: In 2016, nearly 1 in 3 voters living in

nonmetropolitan counties voted for Hillary Clinton. “Nonmetropolitan” doesn’t mean exactly the same thing as “rural” - some metros contain rural areas within their borders, for instance. But there’s enough overlap that demographers often use the categories as proxies for one another. In all, well over 6 million people voted for the Democratic presidential nominee outside of America’s major metropolitan regions in 2016. I found out as much on my own diner excursion that year, when I ambled up to a table full of veterans and ex-farmers at my local gas station to find, to my surprise, that all of them had pulled the lever for Clinton. Farming and progressive politics went hand in hand in parts of the country for much of the 20th century, to the extent that in Minnesota, the official name of the state Democratic Party remains the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party to this day. Despite this history, and despite millions of rural Democratic votes in 2016, “rural Democrat” and “rural progressive” are categories that are largely absent from today’s political debate. Indeed, in 2019, some media outlets are still convening all-Republican panels of smalltown voters and presenting them as representative of attitudes “outside the Beltway.” Myth: Rural Americans don’t care about the news Reporters and politicians have often characterized rural Americans as indifferent to political news or “Beltway intrigue,” which they set up in opposition to more “authentic” concerns such as grain prices, local tax burdens and small-town governance. This reinforces a damaging stereotype that people in small towns are simple folks, living simple lives set apart from the rhythms of life in big cities. But actual data on rural news consumption paints a very different picture. In 2012, for instance, a Pew Research Center survey found very little difference in news consumption habits between people in rural areas and those living elsewhere. Crucially, the study showed rural Americans were no different from people in other communities when it came to their interest in such major news topics as politics, crime and breaking news. My own experience in northwest Minnesota confirms this. The arcana of the 24-hour news cycle - Anonymous, Sharpiegate, the Steele dossier - are discussed just as obsessively in small-town bars as they are at D.C. cocktail parties. This shouldn’t come as a surprise: People up here watch the same cable TV talk shows and read the same national news websites as people anywhere else. But there’s a lot to love about life just about anywhere in America. There are as many different modes of being an American as there are towns, or families, or individuals living in this country. The mantle of “real American” - and all the scrutiny, assumptions and mythmaking that come with it - is a burden that none of us should have to bear alone, but rather is one that we can all share. West Central Tribune – March 2020 – Page 31

FARMING PERENNIALLY

Kernza among sustainable options taking root in Goodhue County

By Rachel Fergus | Forum News Service

f humans want to continue eating we need to continue farming. But many farming practices that have become common in the 21st century result in pollution and harm to local environments. So people and organizations are working to find creative solutions to the puzzle of eating while maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The use of perennial crops is one emerging idea. There are already many perennial crops that can be found in grocery stores: apples, raspberries, asparagus and strawberries are some of the most common examples. Organizations like The Land Institute, based in Kansas, are working to increase the number of perennial products that are available for humans and animals to eat. The Land Institute explains on its website: “Perennial grains, legumes and oilseed varieties

represent a paradigm shift in modern agriculture and hold great potential for truly sustainable production systems.” There are a variety of perennial grains being studied and used to experiment. One of the more well-known locally is Kernza perennial grain. Alan Kraus, a conservation program manager with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership, explained that Kernza “is just a brand name, a trade name, that the Land Institute has given to this intermediate wheatgrass that they developed.” The value of Kernza perennial grain is that it only has to be planted once and then will continue to grow back each year. Kraus explained the timeline for the crop: The seed is planted in August and comes up and turns

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WHERE TO FIND KERNZA PERENNIAL GRAIN

The Land Institute photo A farmer can sow Kernza perennial grain in August of one year and the crop is ready for harvest in the August of the following year. Here, the perennial is close to waist high in July. There is no need to sow again because the cycle continues.

green that fall. Then, the grain grows again in the spring. By August it is waist high and is cut and harvested. The portion of the plant that is not grain can be used as feed and/or bedding for animals. By October the crop will begin to grow back and farmers can either harvest it for feed/bedding or have cattle graze on the crop. This process begins again the following year. Kernza perennial grain is very new in farming. According to Colin Cureton with University of Minnesota, there are just over 500 acres of the crop being grown in Minnesota. Kraus shared that one farmer is in Goodhue and another is in Dundas. Worldwide there are 2,000 acres. Other perennial wheat grasses are being tested in and around Minnesota, including one that the University of Minnesota named Minnesota Clear Water. Research has shown that planting perennials has numerous benefits for the environment and farmers. An MIT article laid out some of the reasons to switch to perennial grains, including: ▶ A reduction in chemical runoff because perennial roots are deeper and more complex than annual roots so they can absorb more of the chemicals used on farm land. ▶ Perennials reduce water usage as annuals lose up to five times more water than perennial substitutes. ▶ Less fossil fuel is required because fields are not tilled and replanted annually. Now, it should be noted that perennials are useless if there is no market for them. Luckily, there are already companies and individuals using grains like Kernza perennial grain in consumer goods. “The grain that’s harvested can be used in both brewing and distilling as well as in baking, just like lots of other grains that we have,” Kraus explained.

erennial grains like Kernza are becoming more common in foods and beverages. There are a variety of businesses and products that feature the grain in Minnesota and across the county. The Land Use Institute lists numerous uses for Kernza perennial grain on its website: • Patagonia created “Long Root Pale Ale,” the first beer to be distributed that is made with Kernza. Patagonia describes the ale as “crafted grapefruit hop flavor” with a “balanced maltiness” and a “dry, crisp finish.” • Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis features “Kernza Karamelitas,” a dessert bar. • Bang Brewing in St. Paul makes and serves beverages with Kernza.

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DESPITE PRICES, WEATHER, RENTAL RATES APPEAR STABLE

By Jonathan Knutson | Forum News Service

t may seem obvious: Crop prices are poor, profit margins are tight and much of the Upper Midwest suffered through horrible harvest conditions in the fall of 2019. So area farmers naturally will pay less to rent cropland in 2020, right? But that’s not what’s happening, area farmers, agricultural bankers, real estate agents and Extension officials say. With most 2020-crop year negotiations completed, in progress or set to begin soon, rates generally are holding steady, ag officials say. “There may be some localized areas (with particularly poor 2019 crop seasons) where rates will fall, but most (rates) will be stable,” says Nate Franzen, president of the Agri-Business Division of First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, S.D. Bryon Parman, the North Dakota State University Extension agriculture finance specialist, agrees. “I don’t see them (rates) going up in the short term, but I don’t see them falling, either,” he says. The same is true in Montana, said Kate Binzen Fuller, Montana State University assistant professor. “Generally, rates continue to tick up marginally each year. The increase from last year just about keeps up with inflation, so we aren’t seeing any real increase, but we aren’t seeing a decline, either,” she said. None of that should be a big surprise, given relevant federal statistics.

This summer, two reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, found that North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana generally had higher average 2019 rental rates, although rates fell slightly in Minnesota from 2018 to 2019. The Minnesota decline apparently reflected, at least in part, difficult conditions for the dairy industry in a major dairy state. Another consideration in Minnesota: Fewer farmers now are willing to pay very high rental rates, which pulls down the average rate, said Noah Hultgren, a Willmar, Minn., farmer and real estate broker. “We’re not seeing as many of those Hultgren high-end contracts that have you scratching your head about how they can pencil out (show a profit for the renter),” he said, a trend that appears to be true elsewhere in the area, too. The NASS reports were based on numbers collected before the difficult 2019 harvest — which, at least for now, seems to be having little impact on new 2020 rental rates. Ag officials give a number of reasons for that, including: ▶ Interest rates, already low, have fallen a bit lower. That reduces borrowing costs, which potentially gives farmers the ability to pay a little more to rent land than they otherwise could. ▶ There’s an inherent connection between rental rates

Mikkel Pates / Forum News Service Crop prices are poor, profit margins are tight and much of the Upper Midwest suffered through horrible harvest conditions in the fall of 2019. Some farmers were forced to leave 60% to 80% of their corn in the field, like this field show Jan. 14 near Hazelton, N.D. But rental rates aren’t expected to go down except in very specific situations.

Page 34 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

and land values, or the price for which land sells. Land values generally aren’t falling, so that helps to prop up rental rates. ▶ Some farmers remain in relatively good financial shape, maintaining both demand to rent land and the ability to do so. Demand may not be strong as it was a few years ago, but it’s still there. ▶ The so-called safety net has provided many hardpressed farmers with income they otherwise wouldn’t have had “Crop insurance and government payments have helped,” Franzen said. ▶ Renting additional land can spread expenses over more acres, reducing per-acre production costs and potentially creating higher profits. ▶ Farmers in general are becoming more efficient, thanks to improved tools and new research, helping them to pay rents that they otherwise might be unable or unwilling to pay. ▶ Rental rates across much of the country soared during the 2008-2013 agricultural boom. Rates in the Upper Midwest generally rose much more modestly, making them less likely to decline now. ▶ Not all area farmers suffered through a tough 2019 crop season. In Montana, Fuller said, farmers “had a great year for overall grain yield,” though bad weather hurt spring wheat and durum in the northeast part of the state. Continued on page 36

TIPS ON NEGOTIATIONS

egotiating farmland rental rates can be complicated or contentious or both. Adding to the potential difficulty is the growing number of landowners with no direct ties to agriculture: they’ve inherited or purchased land, but lack first-hand farming knowledge that could smooth negotiations. Whatever the situation, experts offer these tips and suggestions. If landlords don’t have the skill, knowledge or desire to negotiate themselves, hiring a farm management company to handle the job is an option. Utilizing reliable, impartial statistics and expertise can be crucial. Veteran agricultural bankers and Extension officials are good places to start. Consider flexible rates, or ones that are adjusted to reflect crop prices or yields or both. Flex rates give landlords more money in good years and also allow farmers to pay less in bad years. The adage, “There are two sides to every story” applies here: Both the farmer’s side and the landlord’s side are important and need to be reflected in the final agreement. Neither party should get everything it wants. Economics may not be the only consideration. For example, a farmer who keeps a retired neighbor’s rural road open during the winter might get a reduced rate on cropland that the farmer rents from the neighbor.

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Continued from page 35

There’s a lot of uncertainty (among farmers). – BRYON PARMAN, North Dakota State University extension agriculture finance specialist

And from the landlord’s perspective: Property taxes on area farmland overall have risen in recent years, making farmland owners less willing to accept lower rental rates and helping to hold up rates.

Other trends

Typically, rental contracts are for one, two or three years. One-year contracts negotiated for the 2019 crop season, twoyear contracts covering 2018 and 2019, and three-year contracts for 2017, 2018 and 2019 need to be renegotiated, or the Parman land will be rented to another farmer. Though firm numbers are hard to come by, it appears that one-year contracts may be more common than usual in 2020. Given poor crop prices, still-muddy trade issues and the strong possibility of a late start to planting this spring, “There’s a lot of uncertainty (among farmers). That could cause them to be less willing to be tied to longer

Page 36 – March 2020 – West Central Tribune

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leases and lead to more interest in one-year leases,” Parman says. Keep in mind that one-year leases are poorly suited to some situations. For example, sugar beets typically are grown in a multiyear rotation with other crops. So a farmer who plans to raise beets on rental land most likely will want a multiyear rental agreement. The uncertainty also could lead to greater interest in socalled flexible leases, ag officials say. Currently, cash rent — a fixed amount of money per acre paid by a renter/farmer — is the norm in area agriculture.

WATER CONSERVATION TIPS

Sprinkler irrigation for watering cultivated field.

griculture uses an estimated 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals globally and 40 percent of freshwater withdrawals in the United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This consistent pull on water — along with severe droughts and freshwater shortages across the country — makes water conservation a top-of-mind issue for many farmers and natural resource advocacy groups. Fortunately, technology and awareness have opened the door for many water conservation tools, methodologies and equipment. These innovations make it easy to integrate a new mindset into your farm’s operations, one that is focused on preserving our most valuable natural resource. Here are four water conservation tips to get you started:

Irrigation equipment

Water conservation can be catalyzed by first taking care of problem-plants that consume significant quantities of water. Phreatophytes fall into this category and include Russian Olive, tamarisk, willows and cottonwood. According to Colorado State University, phreatophytes can reduce “the availability of water to a cropping system and its users.” Proper irrigation can take water away from these plants. You can also remove them through safe chemical or mechanical means.

Irrigation scheduling

Speaking of irrigation, smart scheduling can

dramatically decrease water use while improving yields. For the tech-savvy, software programs can gather weather data including local temperature, rainfall and humidity to provide targeted recommendations for optimal irrigation scheduling. Reach out to your local county agriculture extension for tips on irrigation scheduling. The University of Minnesota provides an extensive guide on irrigation scheduling using the checkbook method.

Laser leveling

A relatively new integration into the farm operation, laser leveling can reduce water use by up to 30 percent and increase crop yields by up to 20 percent, according to the Texas Water Development Board. This sophisticated land leveling equipment can create ideal field slopes depending on the type of irrigation used. A level field conserves water by reducing runoff and allowing uniform distribution of water.

Rainwater catchment

If you’re looking to harness more rainwater, Iowa State University’s website describes the process of installing a catchment system to collect rainwater. This 30-foot-by96-foot hoop house can collect up to 28,000 gallons of water per season, according to the university. No matter your method, now is the time to make an impact on water conservation. Talk to your local extension to see what is financially viable for your operation and make the decision to get involved today. West Central Tribune – March 2020 – Page 37

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