Noem Begins SD Session With SOTS
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem delivered her last State of the State address before joining the Trump cabinet. Noem offered a ‘top ten’ list, touting why South Dakota is an example for the rest of the country. Agriculture was part…
Report Released on Foreign Farmland Ownership
Nearly 46 million acres of U.S. farmland are owned by foreign entities. Canadian owners represent the largest portion of that. USDA also cites the land owned by the combination of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia and it represents less…
New Leadership, Same Challenges
With a new Congress and administration, the ag industry is poised for a big shakeup in 2025. Rural Community Insurance Services Assistant Vice President of Federal Affairs Jeff Sands said there’s still a lot of work to be done to…
Farm Bill Will Happen in ’25
Texas A&M Extension Economist Joe Outlaw believes this is the year that Congress delivers and finally passes a new farm bill. “I do farm bill policy; this is what I do for a living,” Outlaw told RRFN. “I’ve been doing…
Bipartisan Hopes Rise for New Farm Bill
2025 began with a farm bill that was three years old and farmers’ patience with Congress is wearing thin. Veteran Washington analyst Jim Wiesemeyer said he is optimistic that it will finally get done in this congress, “Now you have…
Ways and Means Committee to Review Trump Tax Cuts
The House Ways and Means Committee will meet Tuesday to make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent. Pay-fors will be needed to offset the tax cuts. Minnesota Representative Michelle Fischbach said President-Elect Donald Trump’s planned Department of Government Efficiency is seen…
Powersharing Agreement Made in the MN Senate
The Minnesota legislative session begins Tuesday. With the death of former DFL Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, the Senate is tied with Republicans and DFL’ers having 33 seats. Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson says the two parties have found a…
MFBF Minute
In this week’s edition of the MFBF Minute, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Leadership Coordinator Rachael Peterson talks about the LEAP Conference. Click here to listen.
Noem Begins SD Session With SOTS
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem delivered her last State of the State address before joining the Trump cabinet. Noem offered a ‘top ten’ list, touting why South Dakota is an example for the rest of the country. Agriculture was part…
Missed Opportunities
Looking back on 2024, Northland Farm Business Management Instructor Ron Dvergsten said there were a lot of missed opportunities. “The lack of timely marketing of carryover inventory of the 2023 crop cost many producers a fair amount of working capital just…
MN Beef Update
Whitney Pittman Visser raises cattle and is in the Minnesota Beef Top-of-the-Class program. The program participants were in Colorado earlier this month. This report is made possible by the Minnesota Beef Council and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. Click here…
A Decent Growing Season Forecast
Once the Northern Midwest/Northern Plains pushes past the surge of cold weather and the jet stream shifts in the spring, World Weather Incorporated Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Drew Lerner sees the potential for a wetter-bias. “We do see some potential for…
Regulatory Approval for Bunge-Viterra Deal
The Canadian government has approved Bunge’s merger with Viterra. This regulatory approval depends on Bunge’s sale of six grain elevators in Western Canada. Bunge has also agreed to invest the U.S. equivalent of $362 million in Canada within the next…
Deere Expands Self-Repair Options
John Deere is expanding the customers’ ability to maintain and repair their own equipment. Deere’s suite of digital solutions will allow farmers and independent repair technicians to reprogram the company-manufactured electronic controllers. The new options are being integrated into the…
China’s Central Bank Pumps Money Into the Economy
China’s central bank has pumped a near record amount of liquidity into the banking system through its seven-day reverse repurchase agreements. The amount approaches the U.S. equivalent of $131 billion. This move happens at a time when the Chinese government…
Farm Bill Will Happen in ’25
Texas A&M Extension Economist Joe Outlaw believes this is the year that Congress delivers and finally passes a new farm bill. “I do farm bill policy; this is what I do for a living,” Outlaw told RRFN. “I’ve been doing…
Hoping for a Beer Market Rebound
One of the biggest negative impacts on the barley industry in recent years has been the decline in beer sales. Steven Edwardson, executive administrator, North Dakota Barley Council, said that has been concerning. “Less demand for malt and less demand…
Promoting the Value of Research
Wheat growers will converge in Washington D.C. this week for their annual meetings. Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council Chairman Mark Jossund is part of the state delegation. “We’re always keeping our eye on promotion and research so when we…
What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets
In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson cited record prices seen in cash cattle and the cattle futures market. “That’s a market that continues to be on fire.”…
Potato Industry ‘In a Good Place’
The U.S. potato market is in a good place. “In the Red River Valley, the red and yellow market is very strong and demand is good,” said Mark Klompien, president/CEO, United Potato Growers of America. During Potato Expo, Klompien said…
Trump White House to Make Final 45Z Decisions
The Treasury Department has released its long-awaited preliminary guidance for its new 45Z clean fuel production credit. This punts the final decisions to the incoming Trump Administration. In the words of Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, the announcement “left farmers with…
MFBF Minute
In this week’s edition of the MFBF Minute, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Leadership Coordinator Rachael Peterson talks about the LEAP Conference. Click here to listen.
Missed Opportunities
Looking back on 2024, Northland Farm Business Management Instructor Ron Dvergsten said there were a lot of missed opportunities. “The lack of timely marketing of carryover inventory of the 2023 crop cost many producers a fair amount of working capital just…
MN Beef Update
Whitney Pittman Visser raises cattle and is in the Minnesota Beef Top-of-the-Class program. The program participants were in Colorado earlier this month. This report is made possible by the Minnesota Beef Council and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. Click here…
Regulatory Approval for Bunge-Viterra Deal
The Canadian government has approved Bunge’s merger with Viterra. This regulatory approval depends on Bunge’s sale of six grain elevators in Western Canada. Bunge has also agreed to invest the U.S. equivalent of $362 million in Canada within the next…
Deere Expands Self-Repair Options
John Deere is expanding the customers’ ability to maintain and repair their own equipment. Deere’s suite of digital solutions will allow farmers and independent repair technicians to reprogram the company-manufactured electronic controllers. The new options are being integrated into the…
UM Receives OILSEED Grant
The University of Minnesota has been awarded a $10 million grant for the federal Oilseed Crops to Sustain the Environment and Meet Energy Demand or OILSEED project. This is one of six projects selected nationwide to promote the production of…
Food Labeling Changes Proposed
The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a change in food labeling to make it easier for consumers to make healthier choices. Under this proposal, a simple nutrition information box would be placed on the front of the food packaging.…
A Decent Growing Season Forecast
Once the Northern Midwest/Northern Plains pushes past the surge of cold weather and the jet stream shifts in the spring, World Weather Incorporated Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Drew Lerner sees the potential for a wetter-bias. “We do see some potential for…
UM Receives OILSEED Grant
The University of Minnesota has been awarded a $10 million grant for the federal Oilseed Crops to Sustain the Environment and Meet Energy Demand or OILSEED project. This is one of six projects selected nationwide to promote the production of…
New Leadership, Same Challenges
With a new Congress and administration, the ag industry is poised for a big shakeup in 2025. Rural Community Insurance Services Assistant Vice President of Federal Affairs Jeff Sands said there’s still a lot of work to be done to…
Farm Bill Will Happen in ’25
Texas A&M Extension Economist Joe Outlaw believes this is the year that Congress delivers and finally passes a new farm bill. “I do farm bill policy; this is what I do for a living,” Outlaw told RRFN. “I’ve been doing…
Hoping for a Beer Market Rebound
One of the biggest negative impacts on the barley industry in recent years has been the decline in beer sales. Steven Edwardson, executive administrator, North Dakota Barley Council, said that has been concerning. “Less demand for malt and less demand…
Start Your Season on the Rise
Bayer CropScience unveiled a new potato program at Potato Expo. Senior Technical Sales Representative John Martin said the 75-day program focuses on integrated potato management pre-plant through harvest. “We want to get a good foundation in the beginning so we…
Good Seed Potato Crop Expected
North Dakota State Seed Department Commissioner Ken Bertsch is expecting a good seed potato crop. “With really dry weather this year so we’re probably looking at some quality issues, but I think overall things are going to go just fine,” said…
MN Beef Update
Whitney Pittman Visser raises cattle and is in the Minnesota Beef Top-of-the-Class program. The program participants were in Colorado earlier this month. This report is made possible by the Minnesota Beef Council and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. Click here…
New Leadership, Same Challenges
With a new Congress and administration, the ag industry is poised for a big shakeup in 2025. Rural Community Insurance Services Assistant Vice President of Federal Affairs Jeff Sands said there’s still a lot of work to be done to…
Farm Bill Will Happen in ’25
Texas A&M Extension Economist Joe Outlaw believes this is the year that Congress delivers and finally passes a new farm bill. “I do farm bill policy; this is what I do for a living,” Outlaw told RRFN. “I’ve been doing…
P&S Act Transparency
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the third installment in a series of regulatory reforms under the Packers and Stockyards Act. This rule will inform chicken farmers about the company’s payment rates and provide information on the capital improvements required…
A Promotion for Grace Simpson
Grace Simpson is the new manager of membership and communications for the Animal Agriculture Alliance. Simpson was a coordinator in this department for the past three years.
MN Added to H5N1 Testing Strategy
USDA has added 15 more states, including Minnesota, to its National Milk Testing Strategy for avian influenza. Twenty-eight states are being tested, representing 65 percent of U.S. milk production. The testing protocol does not include South Dakota and North Dakota…
NPPC Praises Line Speeds Decision
USDA”s Food Safety and Inspection Service has extended the New Swine Inspection System’s increased line speed trials through mid-May of this year. The National Pork Producers Council called this a win. “Pork producers appreciate USDA’s thoughtful and thorough approach to…
Noem Begins SD Session With SOTS
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem delivered her last State of the State address before joining the Trump cabinet. Noem offered a ‘top ten’ list, touting why South Dakota is an example for the rest of the country. Agriculture was part…
Food Labeling Changes Proposed
The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a change in food labeling to make it easier for consumers to make healthier choices. Under this proposal, a simple nutrition information box would be placed on the front of the food packaging.…
Report Released on Foreign Farmland Ownership
Nearly 46 million acres of U.S. farmland are owned by foreign entities. Canadian owners represent the largest portion of that. USDA also cites the land owned by the combination of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia and it represents less…
New Leadership, Same Challenges
With a new Congress and administration, the ag industry is poised for a big shakeup in 2025. Rural Community Insurance Services Assistant Vice President of Federal Affairs Jeff Sands said there’s still a lot of work to be done to…
Farm Bill Will Happen in ’25
Texas A&M Extension Economist Joe Outlaw believes this is the year that Congress delivers and finally passes a new farm bill. “I do farm bill policy; this is what I do for a living,” Outlaw told RRFN. “I’ve been doing…
Bipartisan Hopes Rise for New Farm Bill
2025 began with a farm bill that was three years old and farmers’ patience with Congress is wearing thin. Veteran Washington analyst Jim Wiesemeyer said he is optimistic that it will finally get done in this congress, “Now you have…
On the Hill
The National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates are in Washington, D.C. this week for their winter conference. Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers President Kevin Leiser will spend time on Capitol Hill. “We’ll be meeting with (Minnesota Representative)…
