North Dakota

Farm Groups Call On Trump and Congress to Include Farmer Aid in Military Funding Package

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:56:43 GMT

As Congress considers a military funding package, relief for farmers might become a key component of the legislative equation. More than 50 farmer groups are asking President Trump and Congress to include aid in the package. The letter sites severe weather conditions, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and sustained market pressure as their reasons for additional funding.

The farm groups also ask for strong Renewable Volume Obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard, year-round E-15 and opportunities for farmers in the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. Republican lawmakers are reportedly debating a plan to include $15 billion in relief for producers to mitigate impacts stemming from the conflict in Iran. The proposal, first reported by Politico, appears to be gaining traction in the federal government.

“We appreciate your longstanding commitment to rural America. Now is the time to ensure that American agriculture can weather this period of extraordinary strain. Without timely assistance, continued losses risk accelerating farm closures, reducing domestic production capacity and weakening the ability of farmers and ranchers across this great nation to provide food, clothes and fuel for the American people,” the letter said.

USDA Evaluating Implementation Strategies

Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, says members of Congress reached out to the department about a month ago to seek technical advice on implementing additional assistance.

“We do hear some signals that there is a desire to offer some additional assistance,” Fordyce said on “AgriTalk” recently. “When I say technical assistance it would be Congress, either the Senate or the House, actually proactively reaching out to us and asking us questions about what would be the best way to implement this.”

For quick dispersal, Fordyce says USDA suggests Congress should model new payments after the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program.

“We’ve had those conversations. I don’t know where they are at this point, but I do hear signals that there’s still a desire to do something. I just don’t know what that number would look like,” he expains.

Economic Concerns Over Ad Hoc Assistance

While the potential for aid is welcomed by many in the industry, some agricultural leaders express caution regarding the long-term effects of ad hoc payments.

Matt Perdue, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, says he supports additional aid because many farmers require the funds to survive the current year. However, he remains concerned about how payments influence the broader agricultural economy.

“I think long-term we have to look at the ways in which ad hoc assistance and the farm safety net are really fueling higher land prices, really fueling higher input costs,” Perdue says.

Perdue notes while farmers are currently battling immediate financial pressures that aid could alleviate, the industry must eventually address these underlying long-term challenges.

“Short-term, the problem is how do we make sure producers have the money they need to get through 2026. The long-term problem is how do we make sure we have a safety net that really reflects the reality that is 2026, 2027 and the years ahead?” Perdue says. “I think both of those are important questions, and we’re wrestling with both at the same time.”

Status of Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Payments

Fordyce says USDA has received close to 400,000 applications for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. Of that about an eighth were submitted electronically.

“We’re getting close to $9 billion obligated in that program out of a total of $11 billion,” he adds.

Deadline to apply for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program: April 17.

The Arthur Companies Acquires Minnesota Ag Retailer and North Dakota Ag Aviation Company

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:02:16 GMT

Today, The Arthur Companies announced it has purchased the assets of AgriMax and Right Way Ag Aerial Spraying.

AgriMax is an independent agronomy-based ag retail business with two locations—Fisher and Fertile, MN. It was founded in 1998 and had a merger with Ross Seed Company in 2009. Its footprint covers the Red River valley serving hundreds of customers with seed, crop protection, custom application and seed conditioning.

“AgriMax is a great fit for The Arthur Companies because its culture and how they’ve served growers,” says James Burgum, CEO of The Arthur Companies. “We are two independent businesses that have competed to earn growers’ business and trust—first and foremost.”

This acquisition expands the company’s geographic footprint into Minnesota.

“This is a grower base we’re excited to work with,” Burgum says. “It’s new territory for us in Minnesota, but we’ve had our eyes on it for some time. We believe we can provide competitive alternatives for growers.”

Burgum is referring to Arthur’s bid to buy West Central Ag, which was acquired by CHS in 2024.

Right Way Ag Aerial Spraying is based in Casselton, North Dakota. Founded in 2019 by Matt Hovdenes, who will continue as chief pilot, its service geography spans the Red River Valley. Its aerial application services will be paired with retail business provided by AgriMax. Both companies will be rebranded. AgriMax as The Arthur Companies, and Right Way Ag Aerial Spraying will become Arthur Aviation.

“We’ve made the decision to grow. And growth is a choice,” Burgum says. “This is about growing into markets where we want to be a competitor, and competition is good for growers.”

While the AgriMax acquisition doesn’t include grain, which has been a foundational division of The Arthur Company’s business–Burgum says there are natural overlaps in the agronomy business, seed conditioning, and wheat breeding/research divisions.

“Arthur Companies is continuing to look for growth and bring our model of local decision making, family values, local empowerment to other parts of the northern tier,” Burgum says. “We’ve consistently invested back into our business—through good times and bad. We’ve learned through our 120 year history, for us, we need to invest through all the cycles. And we’ll come through this in a stronger position together. We aren’t going to take our foot off the gas.”

Put the Corn in The Bag: How Grain Bagging Can Smooth Out Harvest Bottlenecks

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:06:35 GMT

If you’re planning out your harvest logistics and stumped on where you’re going to store all the harvested grain, grain bagging just might be the solution you’re looking for.

Shannon McComas, vice president of sales and marketing at Loftness Specialized Equipment, is seeing a huge increase in demand for grain bagging equipment.

He says a record crop in 2023 followed by a record corn yield in 2024 that will likely be surpassed this fall has left rural communities with no room in grain bin storage.

McComas says if you have a tractor with a PTO rated at 50HP to 150HP — and most row crop farmers do — you just need a grain bagger and unloader to extract the grain from the bags back into a grain cart or truck.

If you bag your grain you will also need a specialized implement to remove the grain from the bag when its sold.

(Loftness Specialized Equipment)

The bags commonly come in three different sizes, 250', 300' and 500', with diameters of 9', 10' or 12'. He says most farmers opt for the 10' or 12' bags that best suit their storage needs.

“Some guys, they come into fall harvest, and the bin is already full of last year’s crop. They need to take that out of the bin and put it into a bag because it’s dried down,” McComas explains. “Then, they can put higher-moisture grain from the new crop in their bins where they have fans to move air and dry it down.”

Cost-wise, grain bagging makes a ton of sense (pardon the bad pun).

“You’re talking about pennies per bushel of storage cost versus multiple dollars per bushel for permanent storage,” he says.

As far as the bags themselves, they are built to withstand a Midwest fall and winter pounding from rain, sleet, wind and snow.

“You need to keep an eye on it through the winter, because sometimes you’ll get a puncture from deer or other animals walking on the bags — or the occasional hailstorm. If you cover those small punctures, the grain will come out in as good a condition as it went in,” he says.

The Investment

(Loftness Specialized Equipment)

Craig Fisher farms 15,000 acres of fertile ground 75 miles east of Bismark, N.D. A lot of his ground is rented, and that’s his main motivation for using grain bags.

“We didn’t want to build big grain bins on land we rent, because you never know if you’re going to lose it,” he says. “The bags we use hold about 40 semi loads of grain, and they only cost us about 7¢ per bushel.”

There are, however, significant upfront costs for the bagging equipment. Fischer’s initial investment rang in just under $100,000 for his bagger and the extraction implement.

“You can spend anywhere from $100,000, like we did, up to $300,000 for a top of the line 12' system,” he says. “I have over 25 million bushels of crop run through my bagger. We just have to change the auger flighting, and that’s a cheap fix. It’s such a simple design.”

Top Notch Convenience

Fisher is also a fan of the flexibility grain bags give him in grain marketing. In this area, once you deliver to the local cooperative, you’re locked into their pricing, he says.

“You can’t sell it to CHS after you’ve delivered to ADM. Once they have your grain, you’re stuck,” Fischer adds. “But if you have the grain bagged on your land, you can take it to another elevator, or even to another state if all of the sudden South Dakota is paying big money for protein.”

He also believes the bags help him smooth out annoying bottlenecks in the harvest cycle.

He could be in the middle of harvest and need to get his crop off as soon as possible, but the semi driver isn’t back from dumping yet, his bins are full and the auger isn’t running. That’s not a great feeling for any farmer, especially one calling the shots on a 15,000-acre harvesting operation.

“With a bagger out there in the field, I can have 13 combines running and that one bagger can handle all 13 of those combines,” Fisher adds.

The bags also maintain moisture levels well, Fisher says, and he sees more of his farmer neighbors getting into grain bagging.

“They used to kind of cross their eyes. But now, pretty much everyone is doing it,” he says. “The one thing I tell everyone is, you have to keep it temporary. You don’t want it in there for more than a year, because you can end up paying a big price if wildlife — the deer, coyotes, even pheasants — start getting into it and ripping it open.”

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Why Used, Late-Model Equipment Is Surprisingly Strong, and Get Ready for a Packed Fall Auction Season

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:08:43 GMT

Casey Seymour and Machinery Pete say late-model, low-hour equipment values are stabilizing and even trending up as we get close to kicking off the used equipment auction busy season.

Pete says a few recent auction transactions display the value “firmness” bubbling up on like-new machines:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a dealer auction in North Dakota this week, a 2023 New Holland T8.410 tractor (521 hours) went for $237,000. That’s a record-high auction price, according to MachineryPete.com historical data.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At the same North Dakota auction, a 2023 New Holland L334 skid steer with only 227 hours sold for $49,000. That’s another record-high auction price.

At a Steffes Auction Group sale in West Fargo, N.D., a 2023 John Deere 9RX 640 tractor sold for $477,278. The average auction price for that machine sits at $488,250. Taking into account low commodity prices, Pete says that’s not a bad price given the uncertainty in the farm economy.

“There’s different ways to see things,” Pete says. “That average auction price has remained flat, but if you look back two years the average auction price was about $597,000. So last year was the humongous drop down to $488,250, and then so far this year its kind of holding.”

Besides tracking used equipment values, Pete likes to look at land values and what he calls “the toy factor,” which are sales of vintage, unique show tractors that farmers love to collect.

Meanwhile, Seymour is anticipating a fall auction season with “big activity” as usual, but he thinks it will look a little different once we get into the thick of it.

“You’re going to see the same level of consignment dealership sale activity, but it’s going to be heavily mixed in with farm and retirement auctions,” he says.

Seymour and Peterson agree auction companies must continue to step their marketing and social media games up. There will be so many auctions taking place this fall that grabbing buyer attention will be absolutely critical for auctioneers.

“I guess that’s what keeps us on our toes, things don’t stay the same, they keep changing, even in our business,” Pete adds. “I mean, yeah, bring it on. That’s always been my — I try to keep that mindset despite being the gray-haired, grumpy old guy on the front porch.”

The Rest of the Episode

Aaron Fintel, used equipment specialist with 21^st Century Equipment and founder of High Plains Wholesale, tells Seymour many farmers put off upgrading the combine for the last two years. Now it seems like everyone in his area is looking for a used combine.

“We’re getting to that point where guys haven’t done anything, and now they kind of have to,” Fintel says. “Combines are hot; combines $450K-plus are an absolute iceberg waiting for a big white boat to hit them. But $450K and under? You’re getting some action.”

He also is seeing more farmers buying based on model year over engine hours, which is a shift in buying behavior.

Shawn Hackett, president and CEO, Hackett Financial, gives an update on the price of corn, which is down in the sub-$4 range currently. He says we are in the middle of the third rainiest growing season over the past 50 years.

“You would think that we would get record yields and a record crop, and that’s what everyone is going with, but I wish it were that simple,” Hackett says. “It’s not that simple.”

And John Deere’s Bergen Nelson, go-to market manager – harvesting equipment, shared what he is seeing in the world of harvesting machinery and technology.

Head over to YouTube to watch the full episode. Hit the “Thumbs Up” button to “Like” the video and click on the “Subscribe” button to get a notification when a new episode drops.

Your Next Read: Used Equipment Values Have Stabilized in 2025, But the Surprising Trend Might Not Last

Be Prepared: Intense Storm Cluster With 75+ MPH Winds Working Through Upper Midwest Monday Evening

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:51:00 GMT

A powerful cluster of storms is forming in the Upper Midwest with a chance for crop-damaging winds and potential tornados in central South and North Dakota as well as southwestern Minnesota, warns The National Weather Service and meteorologist Bret Walts with BAMWX.com.

Walts expects the cluster will release a lot of wind energy this afternoon and this evening as it gathers steam moving east through the upper Great Plains. It could even intensify into a rare derecho storm with hurricane force winds.

UPDATE: The Weather Channel is now reporting a “derecho is likely to strike the Northern Plains.”

“We’ve got a stronger (atmospheric) jet stream moving in with a lot of instability in place still with the heat and humidity across parts of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota,” he says.

Walts is paying close attention to how quickly the individual storm cells merge together. He says the faster that formation occurs the more intense the storm has the potential to become.

7/28/25: Intense severe storms are expected to form this afternoon in SD and spread southeastward into MN and IA through tonight. Swaths of damaging winds, potentially 75-90 mph, are the main concern. Be prepared to take action if watches and warnings are issued for your area. pic.twitter.com/wf2rH7eUdD
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) July 28, 2025

Walts forecasts the timing as 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT for parts of South and North Dakota, while 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. would be the time frame for the most intense winds in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.

“If that initial cell to the north shoots out of a lot of boundaries it could lead to the setup becoming a little bit messier,” Walts says. “We’ll know by five or six o’clock that if this thing is not getting organized, then we have an idea it is not going to be that intense. But I don’t anticipate that happening because the environment is very, very unstable and there’s a lot of wind energy. That combination this time of the year normally is not a good thing.”

NOAA says it expects these storms will move very quickly, and it is important to take action when warnings are issued locally. Do not wait until you see or hear signs of a strong storm because by that time it might be too late.

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From Skyfall to Stable Growth: Why Used Equipment Sales Are Poised for a Breakout Into 2026

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:00:33 GMT

Recent used farm equipment auction activity shows a market gaining momentum and stability with harvest and the fall auction busy season just over the horizon.

Machinery Pete witnessed that renewed energy and enthusiasm from farmer-buyers in person at Freddie Berger’s farm estate auction on July 14 in Mandan, N.D. The sale featured a huge fleet of used machinery — more than 10 Bobcat skid steers, 12 UTVs, a row of wheel loaders and feed trucks — and there were strong prices across the board.

Yet, it was a gently-used hauler truck (pictured below) that has stuck in Pete’s craw a few days later.

(Ulmer Auctions. )

“The one that got me was a 2023 Peterbilt 537 truck with a Sioux Automation 4600 box — only had about 2,300 miles on it, so it was going to be high — it came in at $181,475,” Pete says. “Pretty much across the board everything was strong: the hay equipment, loader tractors, all of it.”

Speaking of loader tractors, those machines have been red-hot on the auction circuit, Machinery Pete adds.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a sale in Rogers, Ohio, last week, a pair of low-hour John Deere 6M loader tractors also caught his attention. A 2023 6120M with 65 hours (pictured above) sold for $122,500, beating the previous auction record high for that model by $2,500.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A 2023 6140M with 252 hours and no loader sold for $112,500. Machinery Pete says that’s the second-highest auction price all time for that year/model.

Taking stock of used machine supplies across the auction market, Casey Seymour is seeing “tractors trend line down, planters trend line down and sprayers trend line down.” At the same time he is also seeing “combines peak up; we kind of expect that because a lot of those machines are coming on for fall harvest. But for the most part it feels like inventory is contracting.”

One market force that has taken Seymour and Pete somewhat by surprise is the ongoing downturn in used high horsepower row crop tractor demand. Normally, the guys expect those machines to be moving steadily right now while utility tractor activity settles down, but that trend has flipped.

In the months ahead, Machinery Pete says a handful of ag lenders and industry insiders he’s met with are bracing for a large wave of farm estate auctions. It’s an unfortunate but direct result of the low profitability, high operating expense environment grain farmers have been mired in for two years now, he admits.

“I think that last quarter of the year, and especially in those last couple weeks in November, I really feel like we’re going to start seeing a lot of positive (auction) movement that will carry over into ’26,” Seymour says. “Now, that said, we’re going to need to see some movement on commodity prices.”

You can head over to YouTube to watch the full episode of Moving Iron. Go ahead and give it a “thumbs up” if you like the show and hit the “Subscribe” button with the bell next to it so you get every new episode as soon as it drops.

Pete's Pick: Used Equipment Trio Turns Heads

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:31:09 GMT

This week’s “Pete’s Pick of the Week” is a trio of used farm machines that sold at two separate auctions in the Dakotas.

And stay with us until the end as Machinery Pete has a line on two upcoming auctions that you need to check out if you’re in the market for some nice, late-model equipment.

Pete’s Pick of the Week for July 7, 2025

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Last Wednesday, the team at Big Iron Auctions held a sale in Flandreau, S.D., where a “very sharp” 2020 Kubota M6141 tractor with a loader attachment (shown above) and just 846 hours on it sold for $85,000. According to Machinery Pete, that’s the third highest price all-time for that make/model of tractor on the used auction market.

“It’s kind of interesting,” Pete says. “The only two higher (prices) were both from back in ‘22, which as we have talked about often, that was clearly the highest watermark I’ve ever seen in the used farm equipment market.”

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Another item that caught Pete’s eye in that same auction is a 2023 Schaffer 6680 T telescoping wheel loader (237 hours) that sold for $81,000.

And in a Steffes Group auction near Williston, N.D., that took place last Monday, a 2005 John Deere 8320 tractor (3,561 hours) sold for $122,000, which is the highest auction price on that make/model of tractor in 2025 thus far.

“I’ll be really interested to see (auction prices) from July and on,” Pete says. “I don’t think we’re going to see quite the heavy volume (we saw in 2024), but there are definitely some dealer auctions with more volume starting to appear.”

Bonus Video: Looking for a used combine for harvest this fall and want to find the price “sweet spot”? Check out this recent AgDay segment where Machinery Pete breaks down three harvester transactions:

Upcoming Auctions To Watch
On July 14, Machinery Pete will be making the drive out to Mandan, N.D., for the Burger Cattle Company/Freddie Burger Estate Auction. Brent Ulmer and Ulmer Auctions will be handling the bidding there. A quick video preview is available below if you’re interested:

“I’m sure many of you knew Fred. He passed away in January. He was only 67, but Fred had an amazing life,” Pete says. “Fred was well known throughout the country in the cattle sector and also in bull riding. I think he had been inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, last year.”

You can check out the auction docket and get registered for online bidding on that sale here.

The Adam Marshall Land & Auction Company is also holding its statewide sale loaded with used farm equipment pulled out of farms and dealer lots across Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. That is a no buyer premium/fees, no reserves auction, Pete adds.

You can check out the details on that online sale here.

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Red, White and Tractors: Machinery Pete’s Fourth of July Farm Equipment Highlights

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:59:16 GMT

Get ready to wave that flag, wave it wide and high!

It’s the official midway point of the summer growing season. The week of the Fourth of July is finally here, and Machinery Pete is feeling the USA Pride. He’s high-steppin’ like Uncle Sam with four “Picks of the Week” to share after a busy end of June on the used farm equipment auction market.

The first “Pick of the Week” comes to us from the Donald Bergquist farm retirement auction in Edmor, N.D. Pete recently talked about the high auction prices that well-maintained, pre-DEF equipment will often garner at retirement auctions, and this particular transaction set a new high for 2025.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Donald Bergquists’ 2011 John Deere 9770 STS combine (above) in “beautiful condition” with only 446 hours sold for $187,500. That’s the third-highest auction price of all time on a 2011 9770 STS, and the top result for that make/model over the last six months.

“You expect that to sell high, and of course that’s pre-DEF,” Pete says. “I’ve been writing and talking a lot for the last year or so about how late-model combines have been adjusting downwards pretty aggressively for a couple years now, yet despite that fact these older pre-DEF combines in good condition, wow, they are really hot.”

Pete says the “sparks were flying on that one” because the combine sparked a fiery debate among his Facebook followers. Some used equipment aficionados claim it is a bargain because many farmers today prefer the 10-to-15-year-old used combines in good condition versus newer, harder-to-DIY models. Others claim old machines that haven’t been used much of late are “problematic to put back in use.”

Pete’s second “Pick of the Week” set a new all-time record, and it came off a consignment auction in Dalton, Minn.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

There, a one-owner 1982 Case IH 2290 tractor with 2,576 hours from the Glesne Farms retirement auction line out of Underwood, Minn., sold for $27,500. The previous record high for a Case IH 2290 was $26,250 set in 2023.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Pete’s third “Pick of the Week” also generated a lot of discussion on social media. On Saturday, in Huntertown, Ind., a 2003 John Deere 7810 mechanical FWD tractor with 12,110 hours on it sold for $137,000. That’s the seventh-highest auction price of all time on a 7810 mechanical FWD, Pete says.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And last but not least, Pete’s fourth Pick of the Week is a bit of a curve ball. At a Lake Benton, Minn., auction a unique, three-legged John Deere “Farm Implements” sign sold for $8,500.

Want more Machinery Pete? Check out the video segment above from “AgDay.” Pete highlights a pair of pre-DEF, used loader tractors he finds interesting.

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No, John Deere is Not Freezing Production or Stepping Away From its U.S. Factories

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:48:43 GMT

An online report last week claimed John Deere is shutting down ALL manufacturing in response to the ongoing tariff situation in the U.S.

But we looked into it, and we’re here to tell you: don’t take the bait — or, as the kids say, feed the trolls — because it’s simply not true.

An article authored by Kieran Schalkwyk and titled “John Deere Freezes U.S. Manufacturing in Unprecedented Shutdown” appeared on MSN.com and was aggregated by Google News feeds last week, claiming the manufacturer is “making a radical move that some might think is ‘un-American.’”

John Deere shared the following LinkedIn post Friday afternoon. You can also visit Deere.com for more information on the company’s U.S. manufacturing presence.

The MSN.com post has since been taken down and brings up an error page:

MSN.com screenshot

(MSN.com)

It’s somewhat bewildering timing for this particular misinformation ploy.

John Deere recently put out a blog post outlining its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The statement says John Deere will invest $20 billion into its U.S. footprint over the next decade, which includes major expansion projects in Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Today, the company has 60 manufacturing facilities in more than 16 U.S. states and employs over 30,000 American workers.

What is true is over the past 18 months, the company has been forced to lay off some employees , and it strategically slowed manufacturing at some production facilities in Iowa in response to depressed farmer demand for new tractors and combines.

Of course, John Deere is not alone navigating a treacherous global farm economy. Machinery rivals AGCO and CNH also made the tough choice to layoff factory workers over the past 12 months. CNH even completely shutdown its overseas machinery imports during the first few days of the tariff policy rollout, although that pause was only temporary.

In February, we updated our popular “Who Makes What Where” feature showing where major farm equipment is manufactured around the world.

Our analysis of John Deere’s global factory network shows that of the 60 John Deere machines relevant to U.S. farmers, 50 of them (83%) are manufactured here in North America. Of all the major farm equipment manufacturers we polled, John Deere has the largest U.S.-based manufacturing footprint other than Canadian-based Buhler Industries, which is 100% North America based.

So, it feels safe to say we can put this rumor to bed once and for all: No, John Deere is not shutting down its factories. Myth Busted. Shutdown the rumor mill.

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Crop Protection Lawsuits Refocused: What This New State Law Means

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:43:03 GMT

Earlier this month, Bayer officials said progress on controlling its Roundup liability litigation was a top priority, and in the next six months something had to develop to mark progress otherwise they’d stop being the only domestic manufacturer of glyphosate.

Today, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong became the first to sign into law a bill reasserting federally approved pesticide labels are the law, and companies can not be subject to litigation when those laws are followed.

“This new law is crucial for providing the tools North Dakota’s farmers rely on to produce America’s food supply,” says Brian Naber, president, crop science North America and Australia/ New Zealand region. “Without crop protection tools, America’s consumers could face higher costs to provide for their families and put food on the table. By signing HB 1318, Governor Armstrong is supporting North Dakota’s farmers, America’s consumers and the decades of innovation that underpin the state’s proud agricultural history and vibrant economy.”

Read more: Roundup at a Crossroads: Bayer Lays Out Short-Term Window for Finding a Way Forward with Glyphosate

Starting last year, Bayer has worked at the state level with legislators to introduce legislation to put a focus around pesticide labels and liability. In 2024, Bayer focused the policy efforts in three states: Idaho, Iowa and Missouri. This legislative cycle, they’ve expanded to 10, which includes: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and others.

In North Dakota, HB 1318 details any pesticide registered with EPA and sold under a label consistent with EPA’s own determinations is sufficient to satisfy state label warning requirements for health and safety.

The bill had strong support in the North Dakota house and senate. Groups supporting the legislation included Modern Ag Alliance, North Dakota Corn Growers Association, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, North Dakota Farm Bureau, North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, Northern Canola Growers Association, Northern Pulse Growers Association.

Another state-level bill has passed in the Georgia house and senate and is awaiting action by Governor Brian Kemp.

In its statement, Bayer said: “The enactment of HB 1318 makes North Dakota the first state to reinforce the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) science-based rulings that crop protection products are safe when used as directed.

“Crop protection products have transformed modern farming by enabling effective and safe weed management. Glyphosate has undergone rigorous testing and oversight, with the EPA and leading regulatory authorities worldwide consistently affirming its safety when used as directed. When the EPA makes its science-based conclusions around a product label, this new law ensures that stands.

“Bayer hopes the courts will begin applying this legislation to provide the legal certainty regarding claims about the health and safety warning labels on crop protection products.”

Farmers Watch As Next-Generation Biofuels Chase Market Growth In 2025

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:39:44 GMT

Optimism remains high that growth in the biofuels industry will continue under the new Trump administration. In late February, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced year-round E15 sales in eight Midwest states.

“Today’s decision underscores EPA’s commitment to consumer access to E15 while ensuring a smooth transition for fuel suppliers and refiners,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin in a press release .

In Congress, permanent E15 bills with broad bi-partisan support have been reintroduced in both chambers. A permanent E15 rule would increase ethanol demand by 5 to 7 billion gallons a year.

“The President has been, I believe, fairly unequivocal in stating his support for the importance of biofuels in the larger energy independence picture, and he also understands how important it is to our farmers and our ranchers who produce it,” said U.S. agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins during Top Producer Summit.

While the industry is watching the administration closely, green fuel mandates around the globe and those implemented during the Biden administration helped spark a flurry of investment in the renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) markets.

Farmdoc Daily at the University of Illinois counted 23 renewable diesel plants in operation by the end of 2026 with a total capacity of 5.261 billion gallons.

“I do believe U.S. agriculture’s future is in green diesel and green fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel. That’s where our demand growth is going forward,” says Dan Basse, president and CEO of AgResource. “It takes policy and it takes someone at the helm with a budget to make sure that it happens.”

As those investments mature and as a compliment to renewable diesel, manufacturers are also looking to grow the SAF market. In 2021, the Biden Administration set a goal of 3 billion gallons of SAF by the year 2030. Farmdoc Daily estimates that in 2025, there will be six plants online with a capacity to produce 834 million gallons.

(U.S. Energy Information Administration)

“Just in the U.S. alone, there’s about 30 billion gallons of conventional jet fuel used every year,” says Jeff Davidman, the vice president of state and local government affairs at Delta Airlines. “The U.S. airline industry has made a commitment as an industry to replace 10% of their conventional jet fuel with SAF by 2030. That’s 3 billion gallons. In 2022, there were 25 million gallons made.”

This means the industry can scale quickly to meet those targets as long as the demand for these fuels continues. Delta isn’t alone - other airlines like Southwest touted SAF usage in 2024. The airline is reportedly cutting staff, and looking to pull back on sustainable targets.

However, investments in these “green” fuels continue to be announced. On Feb. 3, 2025, Gevo, Inc. announced the acquisition of Red Tail Energy’s ethanol production plant in Richardton, N.D., where it will focus on SAF.

“We’re primarily focused on sustainable aviation fuel and commercializing essentially a brand new industry,” says Kent Hartwig, director of state government affairs at Gevo. “We’ve been able to utilize ag products for renewable fuels for four decades now. As we see changes in fuel usage, that’s going to mean potential changes in ethanol production. How do we continue to sustain this industry? It’s through new markets. Having a new outlet, like sustainable aviation fuel, is an important market driver to keep farm profitability high.”

Even as a new administration takes over in Washington, Hartwig remains bullish despite the vocal calls to increase domestic oil production.

“The president has been crystal clear on his administration’s desire to see domestic energy dominance,” Hartwig says. “We’ve seen multiple executive orders that have laid out his plan for how we continue to be dominant in that area and in both he specifically calls out biofuels. So, while ‘drill, baby, drill’ is what the President has been saying, I also think he means ‘grow, baby, grow’.”

Ag secretary Rollins echoed those same sentiments during a fireside chat at Top Producer Summit in February.

“Remember during his first primary election, President Trump was the first major candidate to support biofuels, and I think that carried him through Iowa in many ways,” Rollins says. “He hasn’t forgotten that.”

“I think what you see in the policy space is the need to have these fuels available in the future,” says Cory-Ann Wind, director of state regulatory affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America .

Her organization focuses on advancing biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF policies.

“I think as long as the regulations or the policies evolve, you’re going to see more and more innovation in this industry,” Wind says.

Wind says regardless of what happens in Washington, state mandates and private industry goals are helping keep the momentum going.

“We’re looking at any mode of transportation that uses diesel,” Wind says. “We’re talking about trucks, ag equipment, construction equipment, long-haul semis and even marine.”

As global demand for these new-era biofuels continues to rise, it’s building a domestic market with the potential to improve prices on the farm.

“In 1979, the U.S. accounted for 62% of world agricultural trade and today that number’s down to 12%,” Basse says. “We now need to find another demand driver for U.S. agriculture.”

In 2024, the U.S. exported a record 1.9 million gallons of ethanol around the globe. CoBank put out a report that says those exports are the key to that industry’s growth. It says exports could top 2 billion gallons in 2025 and 2026.

“This is a real opportunity for the Midwest and Midwest farmer to lead in this space,” Davidman says. “This isn’t just U.S. or Delta demand. This is global demand.”

Tractor Tales: Rediscover Classics from John Deere and International Harvester

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:31:23 GMT

If you love antique and unique farm tractors, then Machinery Pete’s Tractor Tales segment is right up your alley. You can find the videos on YouTube. The segments are also featured each weekend on U.S. Farm Report.

Here’s a roundup of some of the latest Tractor Tales videos.

John Deere Tractor Tales

Ohio farmer Chris Durham has one of only 39 John Deere 435 diesel tractors on his McClure, Ohio, farm. Making this tractor even more special is the original engine Deere planned to use for this model was swapped out for a General Motors 253 hp “Detroit Diesel” two stroke engine. Durham said that Deere did not like how the engine sounded or its rough starts in cold weather, so large-scale production was scrapped.

Manlius, Ill., farmer Kim Sanden and a couple buddies took the time to painstakingly restore this 1970 John Deere 4070 diesel tractor, which Sanden purchased from a lady in Springfield, Ill. The old workhorse tractor was pretty beat up when Sanden and his friends first got to wrenching on it, but you’d never be able to tell looking at it today. That is one sweet, sweet looking restored John Deere tractor.

Colorado farmer Tyson Hanson and his family have restored a John Deere GP tractor that has been in the family for over 50 years. It’s the first tractor Hanson ever drove as a kid growing up on the farm, and it’s not one you’d easily forget due to the unique clickity-clackity-sputtering cadence of its engine. It was owned by Hanson’s great-grandfather, who owned 200-plus two-cylinder tractors during his life. Apparently, the old tractor is still a beast when it comes to tractor pulls: The Hansons have only lost a handful of pulls with the GP.

Fun with Farmall

You’re going to start picking up on a theme with these: Farmers love to go back and buy the first tractor they ever drove, and that’s exactly the case with Saint Mary’s, Kan., farmer Dan Kennedy and his candy-apple red Farmall BN tractor.

Kennedy purchased the tractor from a farm in Shanksville, Penn., that was right next to the field where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on 9/11. Kennedy says he still gets choked up even today talking about this special tractor. That’s one farmer who will truly never forget.

Adrian, N.D., farmer Lee Miller has a beautifully restored 1949 M-D Diesel that also takes unleaded gasoline. He says the diesel engine is more powerful than the gasoline combustion engine, so most farmers would take the tractor to a local machine shop and have them widen the original rims a few inches so they could use wider footprint tires to take advantage of that additional torque to the ground.

Northfield, Minn., farmer Jeremy Sevcik bought and restored a 1946 H Series tractor as part of a 4-H project during high school. He fixed a broken gear box, sandblasted all the sheet metal and gave it a fresh coat of paint. It turned out to be a pretty solid school project: Sevcik bought the tractor off his Dad last fall, and he uses it for pulling trailers and moving around hay racks.

Your Next Read: Casey Seymour and Machinery Pete Join Forces on the Moving Iron Podcast

From Guiding Hunters to Brewing Beer, These North Dakota Ranchers Run a Diversified Operation

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:05:15 GMT

After attending college, brothers Jeremy, Jayce and Jay Doan made their way back to the family ranch in central North Dakota. Black Leg Ranch is a big spread, nearly 20,000 acres, but supporting multiple families demanded additional revenue streams.

When Jeremy returned to work on the ranch, he started Rolling Plains Adventures, which offers hunting packages that have won the North Dakota Governor’s Travel and Tourism Award. Guests are picked up at the Bismarck airport, fed, lodged and guided throughout the ranch, where wildlife is plentiful.

“It was a struggle at first,” Jeremy says on the latest episode of Grow Getters , a podcast showcasing ag producers who have created side businesses. “People told me it was a dumb idea. But I’ve always loved hunting and the outdoors, and I felt like I was living a dream. I just had to make that dream a reality. It has had its hiccups, but it’s been a very worthwhile business.”

The outfitting operation has expanded to include guided ranch tours, collectively drawing visitors from all 50 states and 65 countries. The brothers have also created a direct-to-consumer business, selling cuts of their grass-fed and grass-finished beef and bison meat.

And then there’s the Copper Jewel Barn, a 13,000-square-foot event space where they regularly host weddings and corporate functions. Having transformed old buildings on the property into handsome lodges, they can host groups of up to 25 people for overnight stays on the ranch. “It’s a neat space with a lot of character,” Jay says. “We’re proud of it.”

To echo the classic infomercial mantra — but wait, there’s more. They’ve also opened Black Leg Brewery, which produces a variety of craft brews that are distributed throughout the state and in parts of Minnesota. The brewery has recently partnered with North Dakota State University to offer two additional brands, Bison Light and Bison Bock. “It fits really well into our operation,” Jays says, “and it tastes good.”

As far as advice to other ag producers considering a side business, Jay says, “Everybody has some competitive advantage. You just have to find it.” He adds that one of their ranch’s advantage is its location — a 20-minute drive to the airport. “That’s huge for tourism, and that has really helped us,” he says. The brothers agree that part of their success is due to “thinking outside the fence.”

“People think we’re nuts sometimes,” Jay says. “Who has a brewery on a ranch?”

Watch the full Grow Getters interview

Visit the Black Leg Ranch website: https://www.blacklegranch.com/

Can A Last-Minute Campaign Derail An Ag Retail Merger?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:38:10 GMT

There’s another vote this week getting attention in farm country across Minnesota.

As announced in May, CHS and West Central Ag Services have signed a nonbinding letter of intent for acquisition. The farmer member vote is Thursday, Nov. 6.

“We believe strongly in the value of the cooperative system and think CHS is a great home for West Central Ag Services. CHS is a farmer-owned cooperative that connects farmers to a global supply chain while providing patronage back to owners,” says Rick Dusek, EVP, ag retail, distribution and transportation at CHS.

However, on Nov. 4, The Arthur Companies disclosed they had put in an unsolicited bid for West Central acquisition in April. When the details of the merger with CHS were revealed in the voting paperwork received by farmers, Arthur Companies’ CEO James Burgum launched an unprecedented outreach effort.

“We know, after reviewing the proposal, that our alternative proposal is a stronger proposal for growers’ bottom line,” he says. “We wanted them to make sure as they go in to vote this Thursday and make a decision about the future of their cooperative, they have all the information and all the facts about The Arthur Company’s proposal about who we are and why we’re excited and interested to put ourselves in front of the patrons as an alternative path.”

Three things make this unique in the ag retail business:

This represents a family-owned business looking to acquire a cooperative
Typically, when a company does not get chosen as the winning bid, they don’t reveal themselves
Not only is Arthur Companies making it known they sought to acquire West Central, they are actively asking farmers to reconsider a resubmitted indication of interest

As detailed on ArthurAdvantage.com , the company outlines what is different about the proposals and posts the letter Burgum sent to West Central farmer members, which includes his contact information for direct outreach, and he says there has been a lot of inbound calls.

“This is important that they know there are still alternatives for them as they think about the future of their cooperative,” he says.

West Central Ag Services was founded in 2000, is headquartered in Ulen, Minnesota and has 14 locations.

A State To Eliminate Property Taxes? Ballot Initiative in North Dakota

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:28:22 GMT

North Dakota voters are facing a significant decision this fall regarding property taxes and state funding.

A constitutional initiative on North Dakota’s November 2024 ballot proposes to eliminate property taxes based on assessed value, the Associated Press and others report.

If passed, this measure would:
• Prohibit political subdivisions from levying taxes on the assessed value of real or personal property, except for paying bonded indebtedness incurred through a certain date.
• Require the state government to replace property tax revenue to local governments, equal to the amount of tax revenue collected in 2024.

The potential financial impact of this measure is substantial. A top legislative panel estimated the cost of replacing lost property tax revenue at $3.15 billion every two years. This is a significant amount considering North Dakota’s 2023 two-year general fund budget was $6.1 billion.

A similar measure was on the ballot in 2012 but was defeated, with 76.54% of voters opposing it. However, some expect this year’s vote to be closer due to increased frustration and political changes in North Dakota since then.

Supporters argue:

Property tax is viewed by some as an immoral tax that infringes on private property rights.
North Dakota’s strong financial position, including oil and sales tax revenues, could potentially cover the lost revenue.

Opponents contend:

The measure could lead to drastic cuts in various state services.
It may result in a loss of local control over spending decisions.
There are concerns about potential chaos in the legislative and appropriations process.

If the measure passes, several areas could be affected:

Government Services: Funding for Medicaid expansion, hospitals, nursing homes, and education programs might face cuts.
Infrastructure: Money for infrastructure projects could be at risk.
Local Governance: Cities and counties may lose a significant portion of their budgets. For example, property taxes make up about one-third of Fargo’s budget.
Tax Structure: The state might need to increase other taxes or create new fees to compensate for the lost revenue.

North Dakota has recently implemented tax reforms. In 2023, the legislature passed a package of income tax cuts and property tax credits estimated at $515 million. The 2024-2025 budget includes $358 million in income tax relief and $157 million in property tax relief.

New Survey Shows Labor is Serious Challenge for Ag Industry

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:00:19 GMT

A new survey from the Minneapolis Fed found ag bankers rank labor availability as a top concern for their farm clients.

The survey, which was conducted with ag bankers from the ninth district (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), found the issue is viewed as a “serious challenge” for 63% of respondents and a minor challenge for the majority of the remaining 37%.

“It’s becoming more and more difficult to obtain the labor needed to operate,” a Minnesota-based banker told the Minneapolis Fed.

The availability of livestock workers was seen as more limited than crop workers and those surveyed also shared that finding long-term help is more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

As far as how this compares to past conditions, 39% of respondents said labor availability has gotten “much worse” over the past five years and 44% said it’s “a little worse”.

The Minneapolis Fed attributes this challenge to the region’s low influx of migrant workers and aging workforce.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 10% of animal production employees in the area are foreign born, compared to 18% nationally. The number is even lower for crop production with just 5% of workers being foreign born, compared to 32% nationally.

The region also has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

At the same time, the median age of workers in the region rose from 51 to 56 in 2021. The number of workers between 45 to 54 has declined over the past decade with a small increase of those between the ages of 25 to 44 and a large increase of those over 55.

Three Midwestern Farm Credit Associations Announce Collaboration

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 15:26:50 GMT

AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Frontier Farm Credit and Farm Credit Services of America announced they have signed a collaboration contract. The three boards will share leadership, planning and technology responsibilities, while local boards, offices and programs will be retained.

“Continual improvement is vital to the long-term success of any farm or ranch,” said Shane Tiffany, chair of the Frontier Farm Credit board. “Our financial cooperatives are no different. As agriculture gets more complicated and our risks and costs as producers increase, we need to know we can count on our lender. This collaboration better positions us for the future.”

Combined, the organizations have a reach of over 85,000 producers in eight states: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“There are many examples of successful collaborations in the Farm Credit System,” said Nick Jorgensen, chair of the FCSAmerica Board. “This one is unique in allowing each association to share functions where it makes sense, yet retain the local experience we all have come to value from our individual cooperatives and financial teams.”

At the end of 2022, AgCountry, based in Fargo, ND, had a reported loan volume of $11.6 billion. Frontier Farm Credit, based in Manhattan, Kan., had a volume of $2.6 billion and FCS America, based in Omaha, Neb., reported $38.3 billion.

“Our three boards are comprised mostly of farmers and ranchers. We were elected by our fellow member-owners to make decisions ensuring our associations fulfill their mission to current and future producers,” said Lynn Pietig, chair of AgCountry’s board of directors. “Each association enters this collaboration in a financially strong position. By working together, we can achieve benefits of scale that make us even stronger.”

The collaboration is expected to take effect no later than April 1, 2024.

US Treasury Dept. Moves to Limit Foreign Land Purchases Near Military Bases

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:20:32 GMT

By now, you’ve likely heard of the Chinese balloons that made their way across the U.S. in late January and early February and were eventually shot down. The spy balloons, coupled with a Chinese-owned company purchasing land 12 miles from a U.S. Air Force base in North Dakota, have sounded alarms on both state and federal levels.

To limit further foreign activity on U.S. lands, particularly the sale of land, the Treasury Department’s Office of Investment Security proposed a rule on Friday that would require foreign entities to garner U.S. government approval before they are able to purchase land within 100 miles of eight military bases.

Related story: Out-of-Country Farmland Investors: Here’s What The Numbers Show

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed news of the proposed rule, which could have blocked the North Dakota land sale to the Fufeng Group.

“This is a good first step to bolster reviews and mitigate threats similar to what we saw with Fufeng,” Cramer said in a statement on Thursday.

The Office of Investment Security is responsible for screening foreign business dealings in the U.S. and has the authority to block or force term changes in sales in order to protect national security.

Backstory on Fufeng Group’s North Dakota Purchase

Fufeng Group says it plans to use the land to build a $700 million corn milling plant, which would create at least 200 jobs, as well as residual opportunities for logistics, trucking and other services.

Many North Dakotans made their sentiments on the sale known, which led to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. However, the committee’s review found no issue with the sale.

Related story: China’s Latest Land Purchase Could Pose Major U.S. Security Risk

“More needs to be done to ensure the U.S. food supply chain is secure and independent,” says Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). “If we do not prevent these land grabs, we are failing to protect our farmers, our families and our country.”

In September, Newhouse, along with 50 other members of Congress, asked USDA and other agencies to take effective action in addressing the potential national security risks that appear to arise from this transaction.

Instead of waiting on the government, some states are taking legislative action on their own.

Missouri Puts Up a Foreign Land Ownership Wall

The Missouri Senate made moves on the issue in April when it backed a plan to amend the state’s foreign land ownership threshold from 1% to 0.5%. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries — including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

“We’re not going to allow for foreign ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Rick Brattin (R-31). “We have to draw a line in the sand today. It protects our sovereignty as a nation.”

Related story: Missouri Moves to Tighten Reins On Foreign Land Ownership

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, foreign land ownership in Missouri accounts for 0.36%, just shy of the 0.5% proposed limit. In total, the department says China owns roughly 42,596 acres in Missouri.

USDA Confirms Planters Have Started Rolling in Every State Except North Dakota, South Dakota

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:11:59 GMT

Corn and soybean planting is now underway in every state except North Dakota and South Dakota. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress Report shows while farmers in Missouri and Tennessee are planting at a rapid pace, those in the upper Midwest are already behind.

USDA says, as of Sunday, April 23, 14% of the nation’s corn crop is now in the ground— double the amount of corn planted a year ago . At 14% planted, corn planting is 3 percentage points ahead of average, and a 6-point bump in a week .

Other highlights from this week’s corn planting report compared to average include:

Missouri farmers gained another 28 points in planting pace at 58% planted vs. 18% for five-year average
Tennessee is 49% planted vs. 29% for the average pace
Illinois is 18% planted vs. 11% average
Iowa is on pace with average at 10% planted
Indiana is 9% planted vs. 6 % average

There are some states lagging in corn. Here’s a rundown of who’s already running behind:

Minnesota farmers have 1% of their corn planted vs. 8% average pace
Wisconsin is 1% planted vs. 3%
South Dakota hasn’t started planting corn, and the average for this time of year is 2%
North Dakota is 0% planted vs. 1% for the average pace.

Planting pace and emergence seem to be two different issues, as well. USDA reports 3% of the corn crop is now emerged, which is 1 percentage point ahead of average.

Soybean planting is also progressing, with 9% of the nation’s soybeans now planted. This year’s pace is 6 percentage points ahead of the same time last year and 5 points faster than the average planting pace.

There are several states ahead of the curve this season:

Arkansas is 34% planted, double the average pace
Tennessee is 16% planted vs. 3% average
Mississippi farmers have 34% of their crop planted, compared to 25% for the five-year average.
Illinois has 15% of the soybean crop planted, vs. 6% for the average pace

Tale of Two Planting Stories

We asked the U.S. Farm Report Facebook page for any planting progress updates. The responses reiterated what UDSA’s latest progress report shows: Little to nothing is planted in the upper Midwest and Northern Plains, whereas the western Corn Belt continues to making major headway in planting this year.

Matthew Trefz farms in Winchester, Ohio, and he says they’ve finished planting soybeans already. He says as soon as conditions get dry enough again, they will start planting corn.

Allen Ippensen farms near Quincy, Ill., and planting has progressed nicely in his area. Ippensen says he’s planted 100% of his corn, and 40% is emerged. He says 80% of his soybean crop is now in the ground, with 0% emerged.

Steve Clark is located in northwest Oklahoma. He says it’s too dry to plant, and if the rains do come to fruition over the next five days, he may switch to milo to plant. He says it looks like his drought-stricken area of Oklahoma should get a decent rain later this week.

In northeast Georgia, Anita Anderson Spangler says they are getting ready to plant alfalfa for their Angus cattle. A lush landscape shows the ample amount of moisture received this year.

Corey Gross farms in southern Tama County, Iowa. He says they only have 85 acres of corn in the ground and 340 acres of soybean. He says they put planting on pause due to the cold weather, and he thinks it could be another week before they get back in the field. Gross says the ground temperature dropped 20 degrees in three days.

Farther north, Micah Peterson is on the northern Iowa and southern Minnesota border. He planted some of his crops during the warm weather two weeks ago, but since then, he’s seen snowfall three times, and below freezing temperatures five times. Their area also saw rain. He says the forecasts don’t show temperatures above 57 degrees for at least 10 more days. Now, some in the area think they’ll have to possibly replant.

Kevin Wolsky is still staring at snow in his area. He lives in Carrington, North Dakota, where he says it was 31 degrees this morning.

Similarly, Rob Ruff is in the south central part of North Dakota. He thinks it could be mid-May before anything is planted around him. He says last year, they started planting May 15.

How’s planting progressing in your area? Share your photos and comments below.

Farmers in the Northern Plains Gambled Big with Planting Last Year, 2023 Likely Won't Be A Repeat

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 19:57:08 GMT

The crop progress report from USDA on Monday should show an increase in the overall planting progress pace for several states across the Corn Belt. As the market balances its focus between more farmers getting the opportunity to plant, and the reality of saturated soils and more chances of rain and snow in the northern tier of states, farmers decisions on what and when to plant this year are much different than 2022.

It’s hard to forget last year’s planting debacle in North Dakota and South Dakota . Continued rain pushed the start of planting back to late May. Last year, farmers had every incentive to plant, even if that meant to go past crop insurance dates and take on added risk. Tommy Grisafi of Advance Trading says that’s because commodity prices last year encouraged more farmers to plant.

“Last year at this time, we were $7 December corn on our way to $8 December corn, so those farmers planting on June 6 in North Dakota last year, were planting corn hoping and praying that they had a nice fall, and they did, but that’s not always normal in North Dakota,” says Grisafi. “So for how expensive this crop is in the northern plains, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota up in Canada, are they willing to put the highest price crop they’ve ever planted into the ground very late and a lot of things have to go right for that to go well?

Grisafi says last year, farmers planted everything but corn, since the price of soybeans, canola, sunflowers and a host of other crops were so strong.

“Now, the price of all of those things, edible beans, barley and everything, have calmed down tremendously. There’s not as much motivation to put in a crop and it not go well. And so financially, it could be a disaster,” says Grisafi.

Kristi Van Ahn-Kjeseth, COO at Van Ahn & Co, says farmers in the northern plains aren’t getting excited about planting crops like spring wheat due to current prices. She says for wheat, as well as corn and soybeans, there are a couple major price levels that farmers need to watch.

“Right now, we’re focusing in on this $5.50 level for December corn. It’s a level that needs to hold,” she says. “You look at recent lows just below it, and so that’s going to be a watch point for us to see if we can stabilize here. We know we generated a good crop insurance price, but that only covers so much when you look at it.

She says the key line to watch for soybean price levels is $13.

“We’ve came down and tested it multiple times, and it just seems to be holding pretty strong. So, we’re going to trust that level.”

Van Ahn-Kjeseth points out it’s a different story for spring wheat since there’s currently not a lot of potential for profitability with spring wheat this year. And if the wet weather pattern continues, spring wheat acreage could drop even further.

“Last year, they did have a really, really late spring. And they took a gamble on it, put it in because spring white spring wheat was so high priced. It actually worked out for them. They had great yields when you look at spring wheat, but this year is a little bit different. The profitability is not so much there. And I think you’re going to look at a producer saying where is the profitability? And I think you’re going to see those farmers start on that corn and see what they can get in for corn first.”

She says the prevent plant rules also changes, where farmers can now graze it. She thinks that may play a big role in more farmers possibly utilizing the prevent plant option, since they can rent that ground out for cattle grazing.

What’s Wrong with the Current Waters of the U.S. Rule?

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 18:26:01 GMT

The latest Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) definition—put into motion by the Biden administration on March 20—was met with a wave of backlash from the ag industry for its “overreaching” jurisdiction.

That opposition was validated on Wednesday when a U.S. District Court Judge, Daniel Hovland, granted an injunction that blocks enforcement of the WOTUS rule in 24 states.

“An injunction at this early stage can avoid the massive waste of resources and delayed projects in pursuit of permits that may soon be legally irrelevant,” Judge Daniel Hovland wrote in his ruling.

Related story: What Bodies of Water are Considered WOTUS?

Hovland’s decision follows a similar injunction that was filed in Texas on March 20, which effectively blocked WOTUS enforcement in Texas and Idaho. He says the EPA’s final WOTUS rule was premature, as the pending U.S. Supreme Court WOTUS case will settle the dispute in all affected states.

So, what makes EPA’s final WOTUS rule “unlawful” and worthy of an injunction? Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs at NCBA, says it comes down to bureaucracy.

What’s Wrong with WOTUS?

Under the current rule, the following bodies of water are considered WOTUS and therefore subject to federal regulation:

• Traditional navigable waters
• Tributaries that contribute perennial or intermittent flow to such waters
• Certain ditches that meet specific criteria related to flow and function
• Certain lakes and ponds
• Impoundments of otherwise jurisdictional waters
• Wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters

Lane says the EPA’s WOTUS “patchwork” in words like “certain lakes and ponds” has carved-out room for discretion. He says this discretion will rob policymakers and landowners of time and money.

“As I understand it, this rule says EPA is going to determine jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis—that just blows me away,” Lane says. “This is never the way you want a bureaucracy to interact with your private businesses.”

Richard Gupton, senior vice president of public policy and counsel at the Ag Retailers Association, echoed Lane.

“Rushing the new rule out only served to increase uncertainty for the ag retail industry while eroding [landowners] trust in the EPA’s deliberations and stakeholder consultations.”

The remedy, according to Lane, is for EPA to define exactly what the land and water “safe harbors” are and remove any room for opinion. And Lane isn’t alone in that thought.

“This isn’t just a philosophical dispute: farmers and ranchers in the remaining states are left with no clear way to determine where federal jurisdiction begins and ends on their own property,” said Zippy Duvall, Farm Bureau president, in a press release . “With the rule now on hold in more than half the country, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps should do the right thing by listening to our legitimate concerns and rewriting the rule to draw a bright line of jurisdiction.”

Prevent Plant Concerns Heat Up As the Upper Midwest Could See the Worst Winter Storm of the Year

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 18:23:34 GMT

Two to three feet of snow is forecast to fall over parts of South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota this week. The area is already seeing historic snowpack, and with another storm on the way, some market watchers are beginning to question if 92 million acres of corn can actually get planted this year.

It’s been a long winter for those in the upper Midwest, and this week’s forecast could bring the biggest winter storm yet. The storm is also bringing 40 to 50 mph winds, which will make it tough for ranchers and cattle producers in the middle of calving season. Blizzard warnings have been issued for six states, including Wyoming, northeast Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.

A significant April snowstorm is set to begin across the Intermountain West, central Rockies, and parts of the central High Plains today before spreading into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest on Tuesday. See the latest Key Messages for more information. pic.twitter.com/C6n9iS5ij5
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) April 3, 2023

⚠️ STORM UPDATE FOR MONDAY NIGHT - WEDNESDAY

- Travel impacts are expected, worsening further north and west where a blizzard is possible.
- The heaviest snow has shifted northwest, but 40-50+ mph gusts are expected!

Continue to monitor the forecast for updates! pic.twitter.com/mdvjZLekni
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) April 2, 2023

The late winter storm comes on the heels of USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report on Friday. USDA’s March plantings report showed farmers plan to plant more corn than soybeans this year.

Corn: 91.9 million, up 4% from 2022
Soybeans: 87.51 million, up slightly from 2022
All Wheat: 49.9 million, up 9% from 2022
Cotton: 11.3 million, down 18% from 2022

USDA also projects 318.1 million acres of principle crops to be planted this year. That’s 6 million more acres than in 2022 and nearly 1 million more acres than farmers planted in 2021.

A powerful snowstorm will evolve into a dangerous blizzard and drop more than 2 feet of snow across parts of the north-central US this week: https://t.co/T4WCyYiDMz pic.twitter.com/ESQlcbmsq0
— Breaking Weather by AccuWeather (@breakingweather) April 3, 2023

Peter Meyer of S&P Global Commodity Insights says the thing to watch is where farmers plan to plant more corn, especially in the northern tier of states that are facing historic snowfall and winter moisture, with another winter storm on the way.

“It’s where the corn acres sit, 1.3 million acres in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, which from all indications farmers will not be able to get into the field to plant until mid-April when the temperature breaks,” Meyer says. “They’re looking at record snowpack with more cold temperatures coming. But USDA’s report does makes sense, because economically speaking, farmers should be planting corn.”

USDA shows North Dakota’s corn acres could be up a whopping 27% from last year.

It’s still early in the year, but with the latest winter storm forecast, along with flood forecasts already pointing to an elevated risk of flooding this year in parts of the Midwest, conversations about possible prevent plant are also surfacing.

Tregg Cronin, a farmer and market analyst in South Dakota, says it’s too early to talk about prevent plant, but he points out conditions are ripe for planting delays across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“If we’re experiencing the same weather conditions three weeks from now, I don’t think it’s going to be a stretch, and we will have some prevent plant this year. That’s almost a certainty in some regions,” Cronin said two weeks ago on U.S. Farm Report. “The other thing to remember is a lot of our area ended the year fairly empty on soil moisture. A lot of what we’ve seen this winter has gone in the ground, so I think we’re going to see a nice recharge of soil profiles.”

MORE Snow in the Northern US? + Crude Rally https://t.co/Tz9pdaIjgf via @YouTube #corn #soybeans #wheat #crudeoil #USDA pic.twitter.com/hB17Pjdd4w
— Joe Vaclavik (@StandardGrain) April 3, 2023

As a farmer in an area of South Dakota that was plagued with drought conditions in 2022, Cronin says he’s more concerned about recharging the moisture in his soils than he is about getting into the field at this point in the season. However, there’s a caveat.

“If these forecasts don’t change, and we’re into the middle of April and still looking at below-normal temperatures and snow to melt, then prevent plant discussions are really going to ramp up, which will be interesting with acres already so tight for everything from specialties to corn to soybeans to wheat,” Cronin says. “Everybody needs acres this year. If it does play out over the next few weeks, you’re going to start to see markets get a little bit jumpy, I think.”

Just a wee bit of snow in the field 😂❄️ pic.twitter.com/p3uyyEJ01l
— 👣 Barefoot’n Farmer 👣 🇺🇸🚤🇺🇸 (@LouieDN) April 1, 2023

Dan Bosse of Bolt Marketing also resides in South Dakota, an area that was concerned about planting issues even before this week’s storm.

“With the snowpack up here, and a possibly colder start to the spring, that really puts into question spring wheat acres, and the market’s job might be to make sure those acres get planted. Usually that means higher prices,” Bosse says. “But to Tregg’s point, we are a little early to talk about planting delays. We don’t usually see a rally until the May timeframe when the progress reports come out and they show we’re behind.”

There have been reports of farmers who increased their prevent plant coverage, which could be another sign farmers in the northern Corn Belt are worried about planting issues this spring.

NOAA’s spring flood outlook says snow water equivalent values (SWE) across the upper Mississippi River are the biggest factor leading to their projection of possible flooding this year due to spring melt.

As of March 20, 2023, the SWE amounts across northern and central Minnesota were between 5 and 7 inches. In Wisconsin, that amount is between 6 to 8 inches.

“These values are in the top 10% to 20% of the historical record and are the primary driver of the above-normal chance of flooding along the Mississippi River,” NOAA said in its outlook. “SWE values significantly drop along a line from roughly Austin, Minn. to Wausau, Wis.”

Soil Moisture in Good Shape in North Dakota as Spring Nears

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 07:43:23 GMT

Soil moistures supplies in North Dakota appear to be in decent shape as spring planting season nears.

The federal Agriculture Department says in its monthly crop report that 80 percent of subsoil moisture supplies and 89 percent of topsoil moistures supplies are rated adequate to surplus.

Stock water supplies in the state are rated 83 percent adequate to surplus.

About two-thirds of North Dakota’s winter wheat crop is rated in good condition. Cattle and calf conditions are about the same, with the death loss mostly average to light.

Farmer Writes Political Messages into Harvested Fields

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:46:07 GMT

Lots of red states are in the middle of what’s sometimes called “Fly Over Country.” Airline travelers going from coast to coast are used to seeing fields of sunflowers and wheat.

One creative North Dakotan, Gene Hanson of Ellendale, is giving people with window seats something else to discuss. Hanson lets his tractor do the talking while carving words of wisdom to farm fields.

“I’m trying to send a message,” says Hanson. “It works best in a harvested bean field where you can count the rows.”

When spelling out what’s on his mind, he doesn’t need to be guided by GPS satellites. Gene tapes slogans to the hood of his tractor and just cranks them out.

“I’m eyeballing it,” says Hanson. “If you let your disc down too soon, or not soon enough, you screw up the whole thing, and sometimes when you’re almost done you’ve got to move to another part of the field and start all over.”

Folks who fly over at 20 or 30,000 feet have no trouble figuring out where Gene is coming from.

“I’ve always been conservative,” says Hanson. “I think Trump has done a good job for our country, and I look forward to voting for him again in 2020.”

With a canvas as big as the prairie, you can bet Gene will have a lot more to say before the next election. You don’t have to buy a plane ticket to read his work. He usually puts it on Facebook.

Watch his story by KFYR reporter Cliff Naylor.

Major Flooding Possible After Exceptional Drought in North Dakota

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 15:34:53 GMT

If you are wondering how a location can move from an exceptional drought to a major flood in a short period of time, you might want to watch the Red River Valley between North Dakota and Minnesota.

North Dakota suffered from a major drought in 2021 with an exceptional drought or a category four drought (D4) based on a scale from D0 to D4 with D4 being the most intense drought. All the counties in eastern North Dakota along the Red River Valley were rated at least D3 (or extreme drought) based on the drought monitor map published on August 24, 2021.

“Cass, Traill and Grand Forks counties were even in worse conditions with D4 or exceptional drought,” says Adnan Akyuz, state climatologist and professor of climatological practices at North Dakota State University (NDSU).

The 2021 drought was a record-breaking drought in many aspects. For instance, none of the counties mentioned above were in D4 prior to 2021. In fact, more than 17% of the state was suffering from an exceptional drought in 2021. It was the most extensive drought coverage in such intensity on record, and it was also the most extensive drought coverage in D3, D2 and D1 intensities on record.

“100% of the state was in drought 11 weeks in a row from June 15 through August 24,” says Akyuz.

The economic impact of the drought to the state was estimated between $2 billion to $5 billion based on the National Centers for Environmental Information.

“The weather patterns changed in August along the southern Valley,” says Akyuz.

October was unusually wet, not only along the Red River, but all across the state, which was a welcome change. However, it was too late to reverse the severe agricultural impact. It was also too early to foresee what might be in for the Red River Valley.

“Fargo’s climate data in fall and winter are good analogs to judge the flood potential in the southern valley” says Akyuz.

“Fargo received 7.31 inches of rain in fall, the 22nd wettest fall on record. Fargo also received 46.2 inches of snow so far in winter, which is the 20th snowiest winter on record, and the winter is not over in ND yet,” says Akyuz.

Based on the National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center’s latest forecast, there is a 90% chance that the Red River will exceed the major flood stage this spring. The probability for exceeding the major flood stage in Grand Forks is only 25%.

“North Dakota climate has consistently demonstrated that extremes can occur in a very short period,” says Akyuz.

Drones Give North Dakota Farmers a New Tool to Grow Crops

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 04:56:07 GMT

Drone technology is helping some farmers in North Dakota keep tabs on their livelihood like never before by giving them an aerial perspective on field conditions and crops.

Jeremy Wilson has been planting corn, soybeans and wheat in the Fargo area for nearly two decades and has seen his share of advancements in technology.

“Neat seeing things that work and how it works. And some things that don’t work that well but was a valiant effort,” said Wilson. The drones have provided a new vantage point for farmers, saving them time and money.

“Pretty cheap, simple and fast,” Wilson told WDAY-TV .

Agricultural companies, including Peterson Farms Seed, are also exploring the ways drones can be used in crop development.

Rather than walking into a field or taking a look from a pickup truck, drones provide a whole new perspective on field conditions, said Peterson spokesman Nolan Berg.

"(They’re) really opening some farmers’ eyes to things they normally couldn’t see,’ Berg said. “You can see stand issues, whether there are wet spots in your field or fertility issues.”

Berg said it’s another tool for farmers in their collection of agricultural resources.

“It’s not an end-all situation. But it does help us get better at what we’re already doing within the field,” said Berg.

North Dakota Farmers Union To Intervene In Challenge To Corporate Ban

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:15:19 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Farmers Union will be allowed to file legal documents defending the constitutionality of the state’s Depression-era ban on corporate farming.

The decision filed Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland means Farmers Union will side with the state against North Dakota Farm Bureau, which sued last summer to do away with the law that voters approved in 1932 to protect the state’s family farming heritage. The two organizations are the state’s largest general farm groups, together representing 72,000 farm families.

Farm Bureau contends the law limits farmers’ business options and interferes with interstate commerce by barring out-of-state corporations from owning farming operations.

The farmers union maintains family farming is the backbone of North Dakota agriculture. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who is defending the law on behalf of the state, maintains it isn’t discriminatory. He’s asked Hovland to dismiss the lawsuit.

In its arguments to intervene, the farmers union said it led the fight to create the law, has supported it through the years and has records that could help resolve the case. Hovland agreed that the group has a legitimate interest and should be heard.

“This analysis will require considering information which Farmers Union and its members have a deep knowledge of and decades of experience defending,” Hovland wrote.

The 2015 Legislature decided to allow non-family corporations to own hog and dairy operations to boost those dying industries in the state, but voters last June overwhelmingly rejected those exemptions. Farmers Union President Mark Watne said Hovland’s ruling will enable the group to help “make sure the will of the people is honored.”

Farm Bureau attorney Claire Smith didn’t immediately comment Thursday on the ruling. She told The Associated Press earlier that she didn’t think intervention by Farmers Union would have any impact because she expects Farm Bureau to prevail on the merits of the case.

Hovland also is letting the Dakota Resource Council environmental group help defend the law. The group that works to protect rural areas and the land maintained it has an interest in part because its 1,000 members - more than half of whom are farmers and ranchers - could be harmed should large corporations become a part of the state’s agricultural landscape.

“Like Farmers Union, the DRC has unique interests which arguably cannot be adequately represented by the state,” Hovland said.