South Dakota

New High-Yield, High-Protein Winter Wheat Variety Set for Farms in the Northern Plains

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:33:53 GMT

Winter wheat harvest — with its amber waves and sun-bleached grains — is a fixture in the Plains states of America. That iconic activity may peak as the combines pass each summer, but the work for big yields began a decade ago.

“Every variety that is made, this is the place where it starts from,” explains Sunish Sehgal , a professor and winter wheat breeder at South Dakota State University, as he points to parent wheat plants growing in a campus greenhouse. “To develop a new variety, we start by crossing two parents.”

Winter Wheat breeder Sunish Seghal checks a field of SD Vivian.

(Clinton Griffiths)

For the last decade, Sehgal has been working to launch next-generation winter wheat varieties for South Dakota farmers. Whether in the greenhouse or in the field, he makes 800 of these genetic crosses every year — hoping to make elite varieties even better.

“We have to continuously make new varieties in order to increase the profitability of our farmers and also to meet the challenges the farmer faces in today’s environment,” Sehgal says.

A Challenging Environment

In South Dakota’s temperamental weather, those challenges are seemingly endless. Sehgal points to new races of stripe rust constantly emerging, issues with head blight, tan spot and insect pressure like hessian fly — just to name a few. Add a variable climate on top, and it makes for a difficult puzzle to solve.

“We face drought every four out of five years,” Sehgal adds. “I need to look at all of these aspects to identify an individual [variety] which will actually survive in this environment, and thrive in this environment, while being profitable for the producers.”

After testing thousands of varieties and a decade of trials, a new variety is on its way. Next season, in 2026, South Dakota producers will be able to plant SD Vivan – a high-yielding, high-protein winter wheat with strong resistance to the state’s agronomic challenges.

“Usually, when the varieties are high-yielding, they tend to have lower protein,” Sehgal explains. “The unique thing about SD Vivian is that it is able to maintain its protein content, even at a higher yield.”

Growing the Future

He made his first crosses for this variety back in the greenhouse in 2015. Today, he’s investigating how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning might speed up his variety selection process. Until then, it’s a labor of love and determination to make a difference for farmers.

Sehgal makes 800 crosses a year in this greenhouse on SDSU campus.

(Clinton Griffiths)

“I’m honored to be able to be the part of the story where farmers, through their checkoff, fund the wheat breeding program,” Sehgal explains. “I am able to contribute and return them something back in the form of advanced genetics, which will make their farm more profitable and more sustainable.”

SD State University Brings Vets Back to the State Through New Program

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:32:04 GMT

The shortage of large animal veterinarians in the U.S. has been well documented and continues to border on crisis level in the livestock industry. In a call to action, land-grant colleges, such as South Dakota State University (SDSU), have developed programs to attract more students to the profession.

SDSU has teamed up with the University of Minnesota to develop the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (PPVM), which helped new veterinarian Renea Burggraff launch her career.

Burggraff has always loved animals, so being a veterinarian was a natural fit. Several months ago, she joined the Twin Lakes Animal Clinic in Madison, S.D., and has since worked with small animals, horses and other large animals.

While Burggraff enjoys working with animals, the same can be said for the producers she serves.

“It makes it special when you have that relationship, you’re working with them and you know they are starting to trust you as a new vet,” she says.

PPVM Program Paves the Way

For Burggraff, earning a vet degree would not have been possible without SDSU’s program. She spent her first two years at SDSU before transitioning to the University of Minnesota in St. Paul for additional classwork and clinicals. She also received the veterinary tuition assistance program scholarship, which for Burggraff was around $75,000 per year while attending SDSU and the University of Minnesota,” Burggraff explains.

“The only stipulation is you have to work in South Dakota for four years, every year that you received the scholarship essentially, so it worked out really well,” she says. “It paid for a good chunk of schooling, so it just made sense to go to SDSU.”

Without the scholarship, she’s not sure where she would have been able to go to vet school due to the high cost of tuition.

Burggraff was one of 18 in the first class of PPVM students that graduated in May. She had no problem finding a job at Twin Lake Animal Clinic.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

For Burgraff, SDSU’s PPVM program was the chance of a lifetime and led to realizing her dream.

“You get to know your professors. You’re not a number, you’re a name,” she says. “We have other opportunities that maybe some of the bigger schools don’t get.”

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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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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Agriculture in the Bull's-Eye: Raids Reportedly Resume on Farms, Meatpacking Plants

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:40:22 GMT

After President Donald Trump reportedly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) to pause raids on farms and meatpacking plants last week, new reports say the administration is reversing course again. The on-again, off-again reports regarding ICE raids is sowing confusion for those who rely on immigrant labor and already causing labor shortages due to employees not showing up for work.

There was an update again late Friday, with President Trump saying he’s looking at new immigration policy steps that would allow farms to take responsibility for people they hire.

The Washington Post first reported Monday that ICE officials told leaders representing field offices across the country they must continue to conduct raids at worksite locations, which is a reversal from guidance issued just days earlier.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wouldn’t confirm the Washington Post’s report, but an agricultural association told Farm Journal the article is accurate based on their discussions with the administration.

Instead, DHS told us this:

“The president has been incredibly clear. There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts,” says DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safe guard public safety, national security and economic stability. These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets and expose critical infrastructure to exploitation.”

By Friday, there was another update. Reuters reported President Trump said he was looking at immigration policy steps that would allow farms to take responsibility for people they hire.

“We’re looking at doing something where, in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire and let them have responsibility, because we can’t put the farms out of business,” Trump told reporters. “And at the same time we don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals.”

According to Farm Journal’s Michelle Rook, the recent ICE raids are already creating absenteeism and labor shortages that could severally disrupt the U.S. food supply. Ag groups are again calling for immigration reform with hopes the issue will finally come to a head.

Ripple Effect of Immigration Crackdown

Joe Del Bosque, owner of Del Bosque Farms in Firebaugh, Calif., is experiencing the rollercoaster with labor, saying the shifting policy strikes fear in farmers and workers.

“There’s so much uncertainty as to what the administration’s going to do,” Del Bosque told Rook on AgriTalk this week.

Del Bosque says the raids on California produce farms are disrupting the harvest of perishable produce.

“They haven’t been really huge sweeps. They’re usually picking up a few people. But it creates a lot of fear, and people don’t show up to work. That’s just as bad as if they were taken away,” he says.

According to an exclusive report by Farm Journal’s The Packer , the ripple effect of Trump’s immigration crackdown on agriculture could be far-reaching — if the administration revives its focus on ag.

Kevin Kelly is the CEO of Emerald Packaging — the largest flexible packaging supplier to the leafy greens industry. Based in Union City, Calif., the company has been in the packaging business for 62 years. Kelly says the immigrant workforce in California is feeling uncertain and afraid.

“We’ve certainly heard folks aren’t turning up to work in the fields, and we’ve seen it in our facility. We verify everybody, so we know everybody in our facility is documented and can legally work in the United States,” Kelly tells Jennifer Strailey, editor of The Packer. “In our case, it’s brothers and sisters being deported, and other family members being afraid. Our employees are staying home to help their family members move, to take care of them or to take them to see an attorney — that kind of thing.”

Dairy operations in several states have also been raided recently. Dairy producers say they rely on immigrant labor to provide a stable year-round work force and to keep the U.S. food supply stable.

“We need these people to take care of our animals so we can produce food. Without animal care, we won’t have milk, cheese, butter — nothing,” Greg Moes, MoDak Dairy in Goodwin, S.D., told Rook.

The recent ICE arrests at Glenn Valley Foods of Omaha, Neb. have also led to absenteeism at meat processing plants.

“At the beginning of the Trump administration, we had this same worry with the crackdown — whether this was going to impact absenteeism and things like that,” says Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek in Sioux Center, Iowa. “So, hopefully we can put that in our rearview mirror.”

By the Numbers: A Heavy Reliance on Immigrant Labor
The news this week of the Trump administration putting a pause on raids of farms and meat processors is welcome news for those in agriculture. From dairies and produce farms, to meatpacking plants across the U.S., these sectors rely heavily on immigrant labor.

Immigrant labor makes up a substantial portion of the meat processing workforce, with estimates ranging from 37% to over 50%. However, states like South Dakota and Nebraska have even higher concentrations of immigrant workers in meat processing — reaching 58% and 66%, according to the nonprofit Migration Policy Institute.

And a large portion of U.S. dairy farms rely on immigrant labor, with estimates indicating that over half of all dairy workers are immigrants. Specifically, these workers account for 51% of the total dairy workforce and are responsible for producing 79% of the U.S. milk supply.

Farmworker Justice estimates 70% of the produce industry’s farmworkers are immigrants. USDA’s estimates are lower — closer to 60%.

Vintage Vibes: 4 Old Tractors Make Pete's Pick Of The Week

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:53:07 GMT

The vintage trend is hot in 2025, but who knew it goes for farm tractors, too?

Well, Machinery Pete knew, that’s who!

For this week’s “Pete’s Pick of the Week”, Machinery Pete highlighted a handful of vintage tractors as living proof that old machinery is still in high demand — especially when the price is right.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

First up is a 1968 Oliver 1950T mechanical front-wheel drive tractor (shown above) with 5,040 hours that sold last week for $35,000 in a Steffes Group farm estate auction for farmer Bob Donowski. Pete says that is the highest auction price ever on a Oliver 1950T. The previous record high was $26,000.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Pete was also intrigued by a 1989 White 185 mechanical front-wheel drive tractor with 38,163 hours that brought $21,750.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And a 1984 White 2-155 2WD tractor with 31,181 hours that sold for $16,750.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Rounding out the Steffes Group auction was a 1997 White 6085 mechanical front wheel drive tractor with 21,135 hours that sold for $16,250.

And finally, at a Union, Iowa, auction helmed by Mid Iowa Auction Company, a 1972 John Deere 4020 front-wheel drive power shift tractor (above) sold for $45,500.

Auctions This Week
On Tuesday, June 10, Pete says it might be worth checking out the Adam Marshall Land and Auction no reserve, online equipment auction. The Nebraska-wide sale will also pull in used machinery from Kansas and Colorado.

Specifically, Pete is watching a 1987 Case IH 2594 2WD tractor with 44,145 hours on it in that sale.

Another promising sale on Tuesday is the Weiman Land & Auction Company annual summer farmers and dealers consignment sale. Pete says there are some nice, low-hour items as well as some interesting, hard-to-find machines in that sale — like a 1980 Big Bud tractor he says is “really sharp.”

There is also a retirement auction in Mapleton, Iowa, for Al Bruhn on Saturday, June 21, that Pete says you don’t want to miss. Iowa Machinery Man is handling the bidding for that sale.

And on the same day, a farm estate auction in Lime Springs, Iowa, for Harry and Lola Blackburn features low-hour John Deere equipment, including a 2009 Gold Key-certified, one owner JD 7230 tractor. Joel’s Tractor & Auction will handle the bidding there.

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This South Dakota Rancher Is Prepared To Seize Each Opportunity

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:30:00 GMT

South Dakota farmer and rancher Christine Hamilton doesn’t point to one person or one particular event that has brought Christiansen Land and Cattle (CLC) success. But rather, she credits systems for outfitting her team to be prepared to seize each opportunity.

“Everything is a system with lots of moving parts. We try to find leverage in the system to make things better. I believe in choosing the right people and empowering them because talented people appreciate the opportunity to make the daily decisions to move forward on a task,” Hamilton says.

Rooted in her on-farm upbringing alongside a strong entrepreneurial streak passed from generation to generation, Hamilton constantly surveys the landscape and prepares her farm and ranch for its next plateau of success. Due to her achievements in farm management and excellence in leadership, Christiansen Land and Cattle was recognized as the 2024 Top Producer of the Year, an award sponsored by BASF, Case IH and Rabo AgriFinance.

With an unassuming pursuit of excellence, Hamilton leads the team driven by the pursuit of doing things in a better way but not for the sake of being the best.

While she has taken on a number of leadership roles on and off the farm, Hamilton says some of her greatest sense of achievement comes from leading from the background and not being the one in front. In that way, she’s a bit of a reluctant Top Producer of the Year — instead she wants the spotlight on what the team has achieved together.

Today, the core team includes her husband Eddie Hamilton; Shawn Reis, livestock manager; Matt Huizenga, crops manager; and Christie Rasmussen, accounting manager.

“Personally, I’ve learned I don’t have to have a big family in the business in order to have a work family,” she says. “Our team effort is the result of values created by the work family, striving for excellence and acting with integrity. They show up every day and do the work to make us successful; they aim for the fences and they value the process of improving.”

She says there is an important detail in the success at CLC — it’s not the job that is done but rather how that job is done.

“Each of our decision time frames is straight forward — planting, weed control, harvesting, purchasing. When a team has the latitude within those decisions to do it their way, the best way, it’s more fulfilling,” she says.

As leader, she says the greatest achievement is in the relationships among the team and the extended relationships out into the community. For her role, she aims to be an enabler of such success. Hamilton has offered her time as a mentor and encourages her team to step up to expand their own opportunities as well.

“We tend to think of businesses as task oriented,” she says. “People would be surprised to learn how much time I spend talking with other people.”

2024 Top Producer of the Year Christine Hamilton

(Alexis Nicole Photography)

Journey Back Home
“I always knew the business was larger than any one person,” she says.

Hamilton has had her own trajectory from learning tasks to being given responsibility to taking on stewardship. As a child, she worked alongside her parents and at 8 years old would help by pushing the button to start the leg at the grain elevator. Then she’d ride on horseback with her father twice a day to sort and check cows. At the age of 21, her parents gifted her some property to manage.

Hamilton left the farm first to attend boarding school for high school. She stayed on the East Coast to complete her degree in philosophy from Smith College, which was then followed up with an MBA focused on entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona. After her father passed away, and when her mother needed more hands-on help managing the business, she returned 20 years later full time. As their only child, Hamilton was the sole heir after her mother’s passing in 2001, which began an eight-year process of settling the estate in courts.

“The agricultural land we owned had appreciated significantly during the time my parents had owned it, which resulted in estate tax challenges,” Hamilton says. “It was imperative we find a way to assimilate the estate taxes in order to continue the business. Among other tools, the 6166 tax provision was used to spread out the payments.”

She also worked with a team to direct efforts to sell, buy and therefore rearrange land holdings better suited for the operation.

“After my mother passed away, my immediate goals for the farm and ranch were personal,” Hamilton says. “It was about succeeding with the transition in management and ownership from my mother to me, one generation to the next. I was afraid of failure — and probably success, too.”

She says the duration and intensity of this series of events began to intertwine her personal and work identities.

“From 1993 onward, the farm and ranch became a core part of my work and identity, as those of us who are in agriculture as a lifestyle business know all too well,” she says. “My goals for the farm and ranch evolved, as well. I began to see that the farm and ranch continuity depended on more than just me.”

2024 Top Producer of the Year Christine Hamilton and team

(Alexis Nicole Photography)

Key Performance Metrics
With the farm and ranch structure ironed out, Hamilton set to work to refine its operation and optimize its performance.

When Hamilton met her future husband, he was serving on the Farm Financial Standards Council (FFSC), and this organization not only was a gathering of bankers, accountants, academia and consultants but was also a key driver to bring activity-based accounting guidelines for production agriculture.

To build a firm foundation of understanding the business of the farm, Hamilton brought in Steve Hofing of Centrec, who became a valued team member and mentor.

“Centrec has been a part of the management team since 1999, acting as our CFO and performing many tasks from risk analysis, assisting in capital purchases, to modeling various scenarios and other services,” Hamilton says.

CLC became an early adopter of activity-based accounting, a practice they continue to expand on the farm today in the decision-making process.

“We collaborated with the software company Centerpoint, now owned by Red Wing, and we have incorporated it into the way we operate and measure our results,” she says. “We have developed cost and activity centers with monthly meetings with managers to know our direct costs. We farm on the land we enjoy the appreciation of, but the challenge is to get returns on the operation.”

2024 Top Producer of the Year Christine Hamilton

(Alexis Nicole Photography)

A Pioneer Spirit
With the processes in place to ensure CLC performance tracking and reaching goals, Hamilton has been able to turn her attention to interests off the farm.

Her entrepreneurial spirit can not be tamped down. It could be a credit to a lineage of strong female business owners going back to her grandmother who took on ownership of a general store in the wake of her own brother’s murder by cattle rustlers.

Any stumblings have stoked the fire in her to continue to try to help build something else in a better way. Hamilton shares an example of a seed treatment business she invested in and mortgaged part of her farm holdings to become involved.

“I clearly remember getting to the end of the funds available and not being any closer in any way to pay them back — I had a pit in my stomach about wasting that money,” she says. “It motivated me to get my MBA.”

While she says it might have been her biggest failure in business, it refocused her efforts to become a better entrepreneur. She went on to start four companies: a gourmet meat store, a hay production company, a dairy development startup and a wholesale meat company.

The wholesale meat company is still in operation today: Dakota Packing, Inc., based in Las Vegas.

Hamilton believes diversification is a way to spread risk, grow the whole business and take lessons learned from one area and be able to apply them to another.

She helped start South Dakota Ag Producer Ventures, which was an investment entity for producers to invest in startup projects.

“Diversification definitely brings something to the table — ag asset portfolios can be improved with some diversification,” she says. “My husband, Eddie, and I also have additional business interests.”

As a couple, the Hamiltons helped start SAB Bio, a publicly traded biotech company based in South Dakota. Its technology aims to address infectious diseases, diabetes and some oncology targets by creating human polyclonal antibodies in bovine blood using genetic manipulation.

“We’re fortunate to be able to build on the foundation of Christiansen Land and Cattle to explore innovation in biotech and in a wholesale beef business in Las Vegas,” she says. “Several boards we serve on provide a window into innovations and the challenges of additional businesses and nonprofits. We find that diverse interests inform our values and enable us to gain insights into our own business.”

Hamilton currently serves on a second board for a publicly traded company, Titan Machinery, the largest Case IH dealership network. She currently sits on the boards of the Farm Foundation and Padlock Ranch Board. In the past, she’s served on the board for South Dakota State University Foundation, Federal Reserve Bank of the Ninth District, and the South Dakota State Game, Fish and Parks Department Commission.

In The Community
One of the business goals for Christine Hamilton is for Christiansen Land and Cattle to be engaged in its community. As such, CLC supports several local area food banks and volunteer fire departments, along with school fundraisers.

“We have also asked each of our CLC team to recommend a local nonprofit, and we have donated to the chosen organizations in their individual names,” Hamilton says.

In 2001, Hamilton created a 501(c)(3) organization. Named for her family last names: the Matson Halverson Christiansen Hamilton Foundation focuses on creating opportunities and supporting economic development and community vitality in rural South Dakota. The first initiative supported non-traditional students as they pursued their RN degrees.

“The thinking was that healthcare is an economic driver in rural areas, and local residents who want to pursue additional education can have the choice to pursue nursing,” Hamilton says. “That choice will enable them to work locally and also elevates the quality of opportunities in the area.”

2024 Top Producer of the Year Christine Hamilton

(Alexis Nicole Photography)

Continuous Improvement
With her various roles on and off the farm, no week is the same as the next. However, her intentionality in helping her team always remains the same.

“My goals now for CLC are around how CLC can be an example of thoughtful management that contributes positively to the people who work here, the soil/land health and the community, all while being a solid business with reasonable and consistent returns,” she says.

In 2015, she started the process to develop a sustainability management plan, which took a full look at the business with agronomy and livestock management consultants.

“Through a series of annual meetings that involve the entire management team, we have created a living document that represents the goals and considerations of all the stakeholders of the business,” she says. “This includes the community perspective and thinking about how CLC gives back to the community.”

The team just completed its meeting for 2024, but they don’t call it the sustainability management plan any more — now it’s the continuous improvement plan.

“Of course, there has to be sustainability in everything,” Hamilton contends. “Continuous improvement says it better.”

The meeting includes all business division managers as well as Ag To Go, which are the farm’s agronomic consultants. The meeting lasts about a day and a half, and they go over areas of improvement for the next year. As such, 2025’s list includes: riparian buffers, tree plantings, nutrient management inefficiencies, and soil erosion and control programs.

Hamilton says the biggest motivator for her in business is seeking out the potential for continuous improvement — it helps serve her natural sense of curiosity.

“What we’ve built and how we’ve found success have been offshoots of curiosity and momentum,” she says.

No one knows better than you that the future of your farm depends on balancing practices and profits that sustain your land, resources and family . The stakes are evolving based on weather patterns, technology, market demand and more. What actions are you taking to remain resilient?

Why John Thune's Election as Senate Majority Leader is Considered Beneficial for U.S. Agriculture

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:50:44 GMT

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) wins Majority Leader race. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) was eliminated on the first ballot. And Thune beat Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) 29-24 on the second ballot.

The Thune selection is good for the U.S. ag sector. He has one of the best staff in Congress.

The leadership race unfolded in two rounds of voting: 

In the first ballot, Scott was eliminated. 
In the second and final ballot, Thune secured 29 votes, defeating Cornyn, who received 24 votes.

Donald Trump stayed out of the contest but did make public demands that the incoming majority leader allow him to make recess appointments to his Cabinet. All three men quickly agreed.

Thune’s election as Majority Leader is considered beneficial for the U.S. ag sector for several reasons: 

Agricultural background: Thune has a deep background in ag policy and is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. 
Farm bill experience: He has been involved in writing several farm bills, demonstrating his expertise in agricultural legislation. 
Conservation programs: Thune is an avid supporter of conservation title programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program and Conservation Reserve Program.
Bipartisan approach: He is a skilled negotiator, working for the benefit of all.
Constituency focus: Coming from South Dakota, an agriculture-based state, Thune is likely to keep agricultural interests at the forefront of his agenda.  • Experienced staff: Thune has one of the best staffs in Congress, which can be crucial for effective policymaking and implementation.

Of note: This leadership change marks the end of Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) 18-year tenure as the Senate’s Republican leader. Thune will assume the role of Majority Leader for the next two years, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. While Thune has had differences with Trump in the past, he has recently worked to improve their relationship and has pledged to advance Trump’s legislative agenda.

How Pro Farmer's 2024 Yield Estimates Compare to USDA Expectations

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:39:45 GMT

For four days this past week, more than 100 crop scouts sampled 2,000 to 3,000 fields in seven Midwest states as part of the one-of-a-kind Pro Farmer Crop Tour . Building on the boots-on-the-ground data and observations, Pro Farmer considers crop maturity and historical differences in Crop Tour data versus USDA’s final yields to release its national production estimates.

“One of the major questions heading into Crop Tour was whether the corn and soybean crops could live up to the lofty expectations,” says Brian Grete, editor for Pro Farmer. “Of the two crops, I was more impressed with soybeans than corn, and the corn crop is stellar.”

Here are the 2024 Pro Farmer National Production Estimates.

Corn Yield Estimates

“The first two days of the tour all we did was move bushels from South Dakota and Nebraska to Ohio and Indiana compared with USDA estimates,” says Chip Flory, host of “AgriTalk.” “We had laid the groundwork for a really good crop in Iowa, but in northwest Iowa, we ran into problems, which we anticipated after too much rain during the planting season. In our final day running the routes, we’ve got a nice crop in Iowa, but Minnesota is another story.”

On the eastern side of the Corn Belt, Grete and fellow scouts found a strong corn crop.

“USDA put a record yield on corn for five of the seven states,” he says. “Ohio isn’t one of those — but if we weren’t talking about last year’s record crop in Ohio, this year would be up there. This year is comparing to last year’s gold standard.”

Indiana: Trouble spots are few and far between. The corn crop posted higher numbers across the board for ear count, grain length and the number of kernels around the cob compared to the 2023 crop.

Illinois: While scouts saw variability in Illinois, the high-yielding fields far exceeded those that fell short, and the state is holding a big crop . Plant health looks good, and even the lower leaves are still green.

Iowa: Yield potential looks promising , especially in the southeast corner, the garden spot, of the state. The corn in east-central Iowa looks good, but the variability is more noticeable in the northeast.

Minnesota: The corn crop in Minnesota doesn’t look too good from the road, and it seems to have ran out of gas . Record rainfall during planting hurt the crop out of the gate, causing drowned out spots and yellow corn, followed by a dry summer.

Nebraska: Despite hail damage and fewer ears, the Nebraska corn crop looks promising with better numbers for grain length and kernels around the cob compared with 2023. Some dryland corn looks as good as irrigated acres thanks to cooperative weather.

Ohio: Despite drought conditions this year (59% of Ohio is currently seeing some level of dryness), the corn crop is proving to be resilient .

South Dakota: Historic flooding that occurred right after Father’s Day in the southeast part of the state left its mark. Scouts found fields with fewer ears , but grain length was up compared with 2023. It’s obvious the corn crop had two very different planting dates, so there’s two very different crops growing in the state.

Soybean Yield Estimates

“Soybeans could be spectacular as long as there isn’t a weather event that derails the crop ahead of harvest,” Grete says. “Typically, there’s some concern with either the corn crop, soybean crop or both coming out of Crop Tour. There aren’t concerns this year.”

Indiana: If soybeans can get a rain or two, yields should finish strong .

Illinois: Uniformity, heavily podded plants and good soil moisture — Illinois has all the ingredients for a big yield , which is a pleasant surprise. “For beans that don’t look that impressive, they certainly have a lot of pods on them,” says crop scout Mark Bernard.

Iowa: Soybean fields are consisten t and show minimal pest and weed pressure across the state, boasting big pod increases versus last year.

Minnesota: Soybeans seem to have handled the excess water better than the corn crop, but yield will be lucky to top 50 bu. per acre .

Nebraska: More pods and pods with three and four beans are good signs.

Ohio: The pod factory is still working. Plants are heavily podded and recent rains pumped moisture into the pods. The drought seems to have had little impact on yield potential.

South Dakota: Soybeans are inconsistent and could go either way this year. The crop is still filling out and has a ton of work to do to realize its potential, Flory says. If it doesn’t get it done, then it’s probably not going to be last year’s bean crop.

Tyne Morgan, host of “ U.S. Farm Report ,” sits down with Chip Flory and Brian Grete to recap the highlights and lowlights from the 32nd Pro Farmer Crop Tour.

Your Next Read — Take Our Poll: How Are Your Yields Shaping Up This Year?

PF Crop Tour Day 1: Scouts Find Higher Pod Counts in South Dakota, Lower Corn and Soybean Estimates in Ohio

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:59:39 GMT

The 32nd Pro Farmer Crop Tour kicked off on Monday with nearly 100 scouts in South Dakota and Ohio. The results from day 1 were released Monday night , with South Dakota and Ohio’s corn yield estimate coming in lower than what scouts found last year. Ohio’s soybean pod counts were also off from last year’s record, but scouts found higher soybean pod counts in South Dakota versus 2023.

South Dakota’s Results

South Dakota’s corn data from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2024

(Lori Hayes )

In South Dakota, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts found fields with fewer ears, but grain length was up compared with 2023.

South Dakota corn yield estimate: 156.51 bu. per acre, down 0.58% from 2023
Ear count: 84.42, down 5.11% from last year
Grain length: Up 6.44% from 2023

South Dakota’s soybean data from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2024

(Lori Hayes)

South Dakota’s pod counts were 1,025.89 in a 3’x3' square, which is up 1.27% from 2023.

Ohio’s Results

Ohio corn data from day 1 of Pro Farmer Crop Tour

(Lori Hayes)

Ohio’s corn yield estimate from the 2024 tour came in slightly lower than last year’s record.

Ohio corn yield estimate: 183.29 bu. per acre, down 0.35% from 2023
Ear count: 100.37, up .66% compared with last year
Grain length: Down 2.17% from last year

Ohio’s soybean data from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2024

(Lori Hayes)

Ohio’s soybean pod counts were down 1.84% from 2023 at 1,229.93 pods in a 3’x3' square.

Chip Flory and Brian Grete React to Day 1 of the Tour

Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk, leads the western leg of Pro Farmer Crop Tour each year. He says it was another interesting year for scouting South Dakota’s crops.

“The holes in the field, the drowned out spots, the ponded out areas, that’s putting a big question in my mind about the impact on the South Dakota corn and soybean crops,” Flory says. “We saw that in a lot of places. We saw a corn crop that had two very different planting dates. So we’ve got two very different corn crops growing in South Dakota. In terms of the beans, when you look at last year, it was dry. The beans, though, were still filling out. They had done a lot of the work that they needed to do a year ago. However, this year, that bean crop has got a ton of work to do to realize its potential.”

Flory says ear counts might have been down in South Dakota this year, but the crop made up for it in grain length.

“We had longer ears, longer grain length on this year’s crop, and that’s where we made it up,” Flory says. “We’re looking at a corn crop that’s basically the same as it was a year ago. Soybeans were up only 1.27% on the pods in a 3’x3' square, but I think we’re looking at a really different bean crop this year. Last year, it was what it was and wasn’t going to get any bigger. The bean crop in South Dakota could go either way this year. It’s got a lot of work to do, and if it doesn’t get it done, then it’s probably not going to be last year’s bean crop.”

Editor of Pro Farmer Brian Grete leads the eastern leg of the tour. He says he didn’t see the same consistency across Ohio that scouts found last year.

“I don’t think this year’s Ohio crop is what it was last year, to be honest with you,” Grete says. “Chip talked about the difference in ear counts out there. We actually had higher ear counts, so there’s more ears out there, but the grain length is less, which offsets each other and you end up down four-tenths of a percent from what we found on Crop Tour last year.”

Grete points out scouts did find some disease in the Ohio crop this year.

“We’ll see how much of the yield potential we measured actually gets into the bin,” Grete says.

An In-Depth Look At What Scouts Found In Ohio

As Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts set out on day 1 on the eastern leg, they saw impressive corn and soybean crops in Ohio, despite the area seeing drought this year. With rains over the weekend, the soybean yields have the potential to be strong.

“We started planting our beans on April 16 and finished on the 25th,” says Michael Vallery who farms in south-central Ohio. “We started planting corn on April 26 and finished on the 30th. We’d never been done planting that early before.”

Vallery says the early start was promising, and he hopes it helps push his soybean yields higher. But the biggest concern for Ohio farmers this year has been drought.

“Our yields this year are going to be less than last year. We’ve basically had the top cut off of our crop by the fact that we’ve received about 5" less moisture than normal,” Vallery says.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, 59% of Ohio is currently seeing some level of dryness. One year ago, that number was only 11%.

“So far, the drought has affected corn more than our soybeans,” he says. “We can still benefit from a late-season rain on some of the later-planted beans.”

Crawford county Ohio #pftour24 pic.twitter.com/Md6ylfJsYi
— Mike (@BerdoMike) August 19, 2024

Vallery says Ohio farmers know they’re probably not going to see the record yields they harvested last year. Still, as Grete got into corn fields on Monday and started peeling back the ears, he uncovered an extremely resilient crop.

“In terms of what’s normal out here in Ohio over the years and what we’ve seen on crop tours in the past, this is an above-average year,” Grete says.

Early updates from the West and East legs of The @profarmer Crop Tour! Stay tuned for more crop insights throughout the week! Follow along with #pftour24 pic.twitter.com/uXfPBsDYWl
— Farm Journal (@FarmJournal) August 19, 2024

Grete has led the eastern leg of the tour for nearly 20 years. He knew after last year’s phenomenal crop in Ohio, it would be hard to beat this season. Yet, even with drought, he thinks this year’s corn yields could be in the top three for the state.

“When comparing it to last year that was the record yield in the state and the gold standard. It was just a phenomenal corn crop last year in Ohio. It’s probably not going to quite live up to those standards this year, but it’s a very good corn crop based on what we’ve seen so far,” Grete explains.

When it comes to Ohio’s soybean crop, Grete was even more impressed.

“The soybeans have been pretty consistent and, actually, they’ve been probably more consistent than corn,” he says. “The fields we stopped in are highly podded. They have soil moisture since they got rain in some of these fields overnight and yesterday. Plenty of topsoil moisture is present, so they should have the ability to finish strong.”

A heavily podded soybean crop with recent rains to help pump moisture into the pods means the pod factory is still working. That could produce some bountiful soybean yields in Ohio this year.

“A heavily podded crop that has moisture in the third week of August is probably going to yield pretty well. I think that’s what we’re looking at so far on our route,” Grete says.

Scouts Found a Consistent Corn Crop in South Dakota

Despite heavy rains and flooding early in the season in southeast South Dakota, crop scouts are finding consistent corn yields, making USDA record yield projections achievable. But soybeans might fall short of the mark, due to the high variability of pod counts.

The historic flooding that occurred right after Father’s Day in the southeast part of the state definitely left its mark.

“You can see the washed-out areas, flooded-out areas, and it seems like every field has a problem of some sort,” says Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk and western leg tour leader.

Centerville, S.D., farmer Craig Andersen received 18" of rain in 48 hours, destroying many of his fields. He wasn’t alone with that experience.

“Using the satellite information, we figured it was over 40,000 acres in this area, right alongside the Vermillion River,” he says.

Acres that weren’t zeroed out will likely see lower yields from increased weed pressure, variable maturity and reduced pod counts.

“A year ago, our pod counts in South Dakota were 1,013,” Flory says. “We started off in the 1,300 range but we’ve also been as low as 400.”

Considering he’s finding such an inconsistent soybean crop, Flory says it might be a stretch for the state to reach USDA’s 47 bu. per acre yield estimate.

“I’m not seeing anything that makes me think it’s a 47-bu. bean crop in South Dakota,” he says.

🌽Four stops in northeast Nebraska on #pftour24 (Knox, Cedar, Pierce Counties). Here's how the #corn yield has averaged (in bu/acre) on this exact route through four stops in the last four years:
2024: 161.6
2023: 158.3 (1 irrigated)
2022: 133.5 (1 irrigated)
2021: 178 pic.twitter.com/w3BcK2PyA8
— Karen Braun (@kannbwx) August 19, 2024

Western leg scout Tim Gregerson found more uniformity in the corn despite a sample that just pollinated last week.

“I’'ve seen a lot of consistent corn,” he says.

He encountered a few surprises with Southern rust and no signs of nitrogen loss from heavy rains that fell early in the season.

“So far the color of the corn is pretty good, though the holes are evident. They’re a little bit bigger than normal in this area of South Dakota than in a normal year, the drowned-out spots. But it’s amazing how tight we’ve seen the yields range, between 170 and 174 bu.,” Gregerson says.

But is it the record 162 bu. per acre yield USDA predicted for the state? That’s yet to be seen.

“The ear count has been consistent enough that it’s definitely possible,” Gregerson says.

Plus, he says the northern half of South Dakota might make up for the deficits in the southeast region.

For more than 30 years, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts have been providing the agriculture industry with insights into potential corn and soybean production, gathering scout reports from 2,000-plus fields across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.

This year’s event takes place August 19-22. Register now to attend in-person or watch results live each night at 8 p.m. Central Standard Time.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
For exclusive access to professional grade news, analysis and advice, subscribe to Pro Farmer here .

Senate Ag Committee and South Dakota Producers Want "More Farm in the Farm Bill"

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:02:16 GMT

At farm bill listening session in South Dakota members of the Senate Ag Committee expressed optimism about getting a farm bill done yet in 2024 and putting more farm in the farm bill.

Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) told attendees House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson will release the chairman’s mark in early May and has resolved the controversial SNAP changes.

“What we’d like him to do is go ahead and go first and then the minority side on the Senate is we will come through with a framework shortly after that, we’ve pretty much got that done. The idea is just to get a farm bill done this year.”

Boozman says farm bill updates are needed to reflect today’s market environment and tighter margins.

“We need a major restructuring now because of inflation, because of the fact that the last two years we’ve had the greatest drop in farm income in the last 100 years.”

That’s why he and North Dakota Senator John Hoeven introduced the FARMER Act to make crop insurance more affordable.

Boozman says, “And what we want to do is change crop insurance a little bit where it helps everyone more but also so that its more accessible to other regions of the country where they’re not able to use it successfully.”

This is something the crop insurance industry says they support because it will replace ad hoc disaster assistance.

Glenda Blindert owns Blindert Insurance Agency in Salem, South Dakota and is also a member of the National Crop Insurance Professional Agents. She says they want to get rid of ad hoc disaster assistance. “There’s been about $65 billion that’s gone out for ad hoc disaster that really didn’t help a lot of our producers. It should have. :46 What we want to see is Senator Boozman and Senator Hoeven have released legislation to potentially raise crop insurance subsidies at those higher levels.”

Senate Ag Committee member John Thune says they also need to put more farm back in the farm bill.

“The nutrition title for example, the climate issues that’s become a big priority for a lot of particularly on the Ag Committee and especially in the Senate. So, when we say that what we’re saying is those parts of the farm bill that focus on production agriculture.”

The reference price increase is something the soybean association is pushing for as the current level is only $8.40 says Kevin Deinert, president of the South Dakota Soybean Association:

“Yeah, reference prices are just well below what they should be. As we’ve seen back when we’ve had trade wars or what not we’ve seen a significant decrease in the price of soybeans, we never triggered a loss in terms of those reference prices.”

Meanwhile, South Dakota Corn Growers Association President Dave Ellens told the Senators they also want crop insurance preserved, higher reference prices and updated base acres.

“Those base acres are based on data from what our grandpas used to plant and now that the corn belt has moved west and north, we need those to be reflective of what’s actually being planted out there.”

While this will cost more money the Senators are pushing for updates on reference prices and base acres.

Thune adds, “I think it’s more likely we’ll get something done on reference prices you know that’s expensive too. If we went to mandatory update base acres, I think you would get actually savings that you could apply but it’s also incredibly controversial.”

And Boozman thinks they can find the money in the CCC. “I think that’s a viable option. As there’s a lot of money being spent in the CC and a lot of money left over.”

Scott VanderWal, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, agree economic changes dictate a new bill and timing is critical before it gets caught up in politics.

“We need to get it done now because there’s so many other things coming along the tax cuts and JOBS Act expiration that’s going to happen in 2025 that’s going to be a big issue politically and we don’t want to have so many big things going on at one time.”

But with the farm bill cost estimated at $1.5 trillion over 5 years, the changes are a small cost compared to 80-percenf for nutrition programs and food security is national security.

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.

Here’s How Pro Farmer's 2023 Yield Estimates Stack Up to USDA Expectations

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 22:17:31 GMT

It’s Friday in Pro Farmer Crop Tour week, which means the highly anticipated production estimates for the 2023 U.S. corn and soybean crops are now available.

These estimates are based on Crop Tour data and observations collected this past week by more than 100 crop scouts who sampled 3,000+ fields spanning Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.

Corn yield estimates

“We built record corn yields ahead of these extreme heat-indexed days. That’s the key point as we looked across the Corn Belt as a whole this week—we got ahead on yield early-on in order to hit average after the losses to heat,” Brian Grete of Pro Farmer says.

Indiana: Corn plants in Indiana look good , but kernel counts around will take a bite out of yield. With incidences of tar spot popping up all over the state, the yield could quickly change. Without tar spot, Indiana could hit yield average.

Illinois: Wildfire smoke and overnight temperatures won’t stop Illinois corn from hitting average yield. Tar spot, however, could blow up in pockets in coming weeks, which would pack a punch in the kernels’ starch and test weights.

Iowa: Five days with 103° heat index equated to five weeks of stress on corn crops in Iowa. The crops clearly ran out of energy and will see a just-below-average yield.

Minnesota: Burn is eating up the state’s corn crop up to one leaf below the ear . Kernel depth will push the crop below average yields.

Nebraska: The Nebraska corn fields had plenty of ear s, but they are already hanging. Irrigated acres will hit average, but non-irrigated will take a hit.

Ohio: A surge of moisture saved the crop this week. Despite being behind on growing degree days, the crop is more consistent than 2022 and looks to yield above average.

South Dakota: Rain in many regions of South Dakota resulted in a 180° from 2022’s crop. There’s no tip back in the Southeast corn for the state, yet. Final weeks of the season could shrink grain depth, but with little effect.

Soybean yield estimates

“We saw extremely stressful conditions this week. Thanks to the management put on the crop, hybrid and varieties available, the ability of both the corn and soybean crops to build a yield in these conditions has been unbelievable,” Chip Flory, AgriTalk host says. “The question now is whether or not they can hold on to it.”

Indiana: Moisture deficiencies are playing out heavily in Indiana ’s soybeans. However, the plant is proving resilient with high pod and seed counts. The state will yield higher than last year.

Illinois: Months-long drought followed by a derecho caused whiplash in Illinois soybeans. But the storm caused more good than bad, resulting in short nodes and short beans, with high pod counts. The state will see slightly above-average harvest numbers.

Iowa: Dry conditions produced yellow-green marbled fields . Despite dry conditions, pod counts in Iowa will trump Illinois. But seed size and count will cause a yield penalty.

Minnesota: Heat stress and drought are throwing punches at soybean yield in Minnesota. The state is patchy, with two-bean pods spotted in the state’s Southwestern corridor while other areas will have an average-yielding crop.

Nebraska: The bean crop appeared to be dying out instead of drying out. With no chance of rain in the forecast, the crops won’t have a chance to fill.

Ohio: Rains this week in Ohio greened-up crops at a pivotal growth stage. The state’s soybean crop won’t be better than 2021, but it will be better than 2022.

South Dakota: Pod counts are above normal for what scouts would usually see in the state, thanks to late-season moisture. Yield will likely come out average, or slightly above.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: Mostly Green in Ohio and South Dakota

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 22:26:22 GMT

The 31st Pro Farmer Crop Tour kicked off on Monday, as nearly 100 crop scouts pointed their headlights toward Grand Island, Neb. and Indianapolis. Ind., this morning.

Here’s what scouts found on Day 1.

Western Leg: South Dakota to Nebraska

This time last year, more than 36% of South Dakota was covered in drought. This year, that number dropped to 14%, with very little of the state in the severe and extreme drought categories. The moisture changes in the West became apparent in Monday’s estimates.

Sherman Newlin, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scout, says many regions of South Dakota have seen a 180° turnaround from 2022.

“Last year, this region had very low yields because of drought. This year they’ve been catching a lot of rain,” Newlin says. “There’s no tip back here, yet. The dryness coming up could shrink the grain depth and have a small affect.”

July and August rains in South Dakota greened-up the state’s soybeans. Karen Braun, Pro Farmer Crop Scout, foresees South Dakota’s average hitting higher than USDA’s August prediction of 42 bu. per acre.

“Our pod counts are really strong and up from what we would normally see in this state,” Braun says. “If I continue to see these higher pod counts, I think we could come out with a bit higher estimate than USDA’s.”

After four stops in northeast Nebraska (Knox, Cedar County area), #soybeans are averaging 1295 per 3x3' plot versus 1200 on this exact route last year. One irrigated each year, so a very comparable view. #pftour23 pic.twitter.com/m0OUx7T4QO
— Karen Braun (@kannbwx) August 21, 2023

Watch AgDay’s recap of Day 1 on the western leg:

Eastern Leg: Ohio to Indiana

USDA estimates Ohio’s corn yield will hit 191 bu. per acre, but Pro Farmer scouts revealed a lower number for Ohio on Monday. The yields are still an improvement from last year.

Growing degree day units might be behind, according to locals. However, scouts saw a more consistent crop this year compared with 2022, according to Brian Grete.

“Ohio is, generally, a hit-or-miss state. There’s a good-quality corn crop here this year, and it’s looking like a hit,” Grete says.

1st stop in Van Wert county OH district 1. We found the corns. Yield check - 233. But plz send rains #PFtour23 pic.twitter.com/SHLAi84aNQ
— Ted Seifried (@TheTedSpread) August 21, 2023

The same story is told in the state’s soybeans, as Josh Yoder’s operation planted the earliest ever recorded.

“We had a nice window to get soybeans planted early,” Yoder says. “Overall, I don’t think we’re going to have a better crop than we saw in 2021, but it will be better than what we saw last year.”

While the early part of Ohio’s growing season saw dry weather, recent rainfalls in the region allowed the crops to bounce back. But fears of nutrient deficiency remain a concern.

“We’ve seen some potassium deficiency flash on our soybeans early in the season. As the next few weeks play out, we’ll find out what kind of impact that lack of moisture really had,” Yoder says.

Growers in Ohio look to retain these projected yields in the last stretch of the growing season through any means necessary, including last-minute fungicide applications put on mere weeks ago.

Watch AgDay’s recap of Day 1 on the eastern leg:

For exclusive access to professional grade news, analysis and advice, subscribe to Pro Farmer here .

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.

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.”

Tight on Bin Space this Harvest? USDA Wants to Help

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 21:46:08 GMT

Feeling tight on bin space this harvest? Natural disasters, including tornadoes and derechos, struck down rural communities in recent years, leaving producers with fewer tools than they need to carryout operations.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Tuesday that the department will offer $20 million to producers in Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota and surrounding areas to rebuild grain storage facilities affected by 2021 and 2022 natural disasters.

“Over the past two years, weather events in several states caused catastrophic losses to grain storage facilities on family farms as well as a large, commercial grain elevator,” Vilsack says. “USDA heard from congressional leaders, including Minority Leader McConnell, who identified a gap in our disaster assistance toolkit, and we went to work designing a new program to deliver direct assistance to producers who are struggling to meet their on-farm storage capacity needs in the wake of disasters.”

USDA’s Grain Storage Contribution

With funds made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the program will be primarily focused on supporting producers or groups of producers in their efforts to build new storage capacity in areas experiencing a shortage of bin space.

According to the announcement, USDA estimates the $20 million will cover 75% of “eligible expenses associated with building grain storage capacity or purchasing equipment.”

Funding eligibility maps have been released to show who qualifies:

While extensive funding details are yet to be released, farmers have another storage avenue to pursue now.

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL)

The FSFL was put into motion in May 2000 with the goal of providing low-interest financing options to producers. Regardless of inflation, USDA has maintained its low-cost financing goal with current rates ranging from 2.875% (12-year loan) to 3.125% (3-year loan).

Facilities and equipment covered under the program include:
• Grain bins
• Hay barns
• Bulk tanks
• Cold storage
• Drying and handling storage
• Storage and handlings trucks

More than 33,000 loans have been issued through the program, which has increased U.S. producers’ storage capacity 900 million bushels.

Producers interested in the loan can apply through USDA . Other USDA disaster assistance can be found here .

More on ag policy:
USDA Is Now Sending Out $500 Million to Fight High Fertilizer Prices in the U.S.
How Biden’s 5 Pillars of Hunger Strategy Will Show Up on Your Operation
EPA: Glyphosate Can Still be Used Through 2026

Keystone XL Pipeline Gets Enough Shipper Pledges to Proceed

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:17 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- TransCanada Corp. has secured enough shipper interest to go forward with the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline.

The Calgary-based company now has “approximately 500,000 barrels per day of firm, 20-year commitments,” according to a statement on Thursday. The pipeline operator will continue to secure additional volumes.

The announcement marks yet another hurdle overcome for the project, first proposed in 2008. In November, TransCanada received state approval in Nebraska to construct the project there using an alternate route, a decision that may spur added legal action by foes who say the new path hasn’t received the same review as the original plan.

Meanwhile, the company said in its statement it is working with landowners along the new path to obtain the necessary easements. Construction preparation has begun, the company said, with primary work potentially coming in 2019.

“Over the last 12 months, the Keystone XL project has achieved several milestones that move us significantly closer to constructing this critical energy infrastructure for North America,” Russ Girling, TransCanada’s chief executive officer, said in the statement.

Keystone XL would be a victory for Canadian oil sands producers who are facing transportation bottlenecks getting their crude to market.

The pipeline would ship 830,000 barrels of crude a day from Hardisty, Alberta, through Montana and South Dakota to Nebraska, where it would connect to TransCanada’s existing Keystone system that carries crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast hub of refineries and export terminals.

The statement didn’t say that a final decision has been made by the company to proceed and Terry Cunha, a spokesman for TransCanada, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Keystone XL drew fierce opposition from environmentalists concerned about climate change and landowners along the path in Nebraska. Former President Barack Obama rejected TransCanada’s application in 2015, saying that it wasn’t in the national interest. That decision was reversed by the Trump administration.

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.

Egg Producer Rembrandt Foods to Build New Cage-free Farm

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 05:35:14 GMT

One of the nation’s largest egg producers says it plans to build a new cage-free farm in eastern South Dakota that will house 3 million egg-laying hens.

Spirit Lake, Iowa-based Rembrandt Foods supplies egg products to food manufacturers, food service providers, restaurant chains and retail grocers. It announced plans to increase the number of hens housed in cage-free barns last year.

Rembrandt president Dave Rettig says growing consumer demand for cage-free eggs has pushed more than 100 food companies, including Wal-Mart and McDonalds, to switch to cage-free eggs in the next decade.

Rembrandt Foods will build the facility in Lake Preston, South Dakota. Construction is expected to begin this year and it will be ready for hens next year.

Rembrandt already has facilities in Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Alabama.

Drought Stricken Crops You Didn't See In South Dakota

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:18:11 GMT

A big reason data from the Farm Journal Midwest Crop Tour is comparable to previous years is because of consistency. Scouts always travel the same routes, but pick fields at random.

In South Dakota, scouts only take samples in the southeast corner of the state. But this year, the western and central portions of the state are facing drought.

A tough year doesn’t even describe what this growing season has been like for western South Dakota producers.

“I can’t remember a year like this,” said Dennis Stanley, a farmer from Presho, South Dakota.

A dry winter and a hot, rainless summer shut some plants down.

“Some of these ears that are blistering, I don’t know if they’re going to make it,” said Stanley.

Two-thirds of the state is in a moderate drought, nearly half is in a severe drought, and Stanley is in the middle of it.

The area received some rain earlier in the month, and many wonder if it came out of time.

“It came too late for the row crop, but it does give us hope,” said Stanley. “If our corn could do 70 bushels per acre, we’d all be thrilled at this point. If I had cattle, I’d cut be cutting all of it for silage.”

Many did, baling thousands of acres of wheat. Sorghum may be next.

“Does it have any chance of making it?” said Stanley. “There’s no way this is going to make seed. It doesn’t look like there’s a lot of feed value here because it’s so short. [However], people are so desperate for hay this year and for feed, I’m sure [this farmer] will bale it.”

25 miles east, the farmers say the corn is still behind in maturity but they’re pleased with how it looks.

“Yep, it’s phenomenal with the shortage of rain,” said Thad Schindler, a farmer from Reliance, South Dakota. “This has filled out almost completely to the end. This will make corn.”

Schindler says August rains helped and luckily those showers found him. Miles down the road, they didn’t receive much rain.

In fact, it completely changed his plans to chop the crop for silage.

“What we thought we were going to cut for silage is going to make corn now,” said Schindler. “All through June, it was all over 100 degree days and just no rain. It’s phenomenal how the crop came out of it. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Schindler says the soybeans are even holding up well for what it’s been though.

Both producers say this drought in their area is worse than 2012.That’s partly, because they didn’t have much moisture coming into the spring of 2017.

“Even though 2012 was a drought year, it was a good year for us,” said Schindler. “The year 2012 and 2013 and the other good years we had, we’ll have to dip into that right now.”

A worse year for conditions, but the economics are not the same.

“Our crop insurance prices were set close to $6,” said Stanley. “We’re not going to be $4 this year. We’re not going to have anywhere close to our guarantees.”

Producers say the hard year may be nearly over. They’ll keep 2017 as a memory in these fields but hope it doesn’t repeat again.

“Where I farm, I’d say it’s about over,” said Stanley. “If we go another month without rain, it’s probably back again.”

Spring Wheat Harvest gets Underway in Dry South Dakota

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:41:25 GMT

The spring wheat harvest has gotten underway in South Dakota as the winter wheat and oats harvests progress.

The weekly crop report from the federal Agriculture Department says dry conditions in the state continue to stress crops, rangeland and livestock.

Topsoil moisture supplies statewide are rated 85 percent short or very short. Subsoil moisture is 79 percent in those categories.

In the ranching community, pasture and range conditions are rated 68 percent poor or very poor. Stock water supplies are 57 percent in those categories.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows nearly 11 percent of South Dakota in extreme drought and roughly 31 percent of the state in severe drought.

South Dakota's Soybean Crop Expected to be Record-size

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:02:03 GMT

South Dakota’s soybean crop is expected to set a record, but corn production in the state this year is forecast to be down.

The Agriculture Department in its latest forecast projects the state’s soybean crop at 248 million bushels, up more than 5 percent from last year, and the corn crop at 771 million bushels, down 4 percent.

Sorghum production is forecast at 17.6 million bushels, down 3 percent from 2015.

Ethanol plant near Mitchell to celebrate decade of operation

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:01:53 GMT

LOOMIS, S.D. (AP) — In the past 10 years, an ethanol plant in the Mitchell area has produced 650 million gallons of ethanol and 1.8 million tons of animal feed.

The Poet ethanol plant plans to celebrate its first decade in operation on Wednesday, The Daily Republic reported.

In 2012, the company started extracting corn oil from its feed, producing more than 45,000 tons of high-protein feed rather than high-fat. Becky Pitz, the plant’s general manager, said the plant has purchased 200 million bushels of corn and paid more than $1 billion to 1,640 farmers and 65 elevators. The company employs 45 people in Mitchell and 10 of those employees have been with the company since it opened.

“It’s pretty awesome we’ve been here for 10 years and made such a big impact on the local economy,” said Pitz.

Pitz said the demand for wet animal feed is higher in Mitchell than any other Poet location.

“When economic times are good, you want to produce as much as you can,” Pitz said. “We’re in probably the top tier of the plants (by production).”

The facility just north of Loomis is the second westernmost plant in Poet’s 27-plant network.

While the plant made some changes in 2006 by expanding its rail line and adding equipment storage, Pitz doesn’t anticipate any more changes happening any time soon.

“On my radar right now, no, there isn’t,” she said. “But ask me in six months, there could be.”

Meet the One Farmer Who Grows for South Dakota's Famous Corn Palace

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 02:56:33 GMT

As a way to attract settlers to the rolling plains of the Dakotas in the late 1800s, town leaders in Mitchell, S.D., decided to build a unique structure to tout the rich soil and farming potential. Covered with a mish-mash of patterns and designs, the Mitchell Corn Palace Still beckons to weary travelers driving along Interstate 90.

Standing tall in the heart of Mitchell, S.D., is The World’s Only Corn Palace. True to its name, the building is decorated with corn inside and out.

“All of our decorating is done with colored corn, rye grass and even sour dock, which is a weed which we dry out for the outside of the palace,” said Dan Sabers, the former director of the Corn Palace.

The Palace has quite a history. It was first built in 1892, constructed as a way to compete with surrounding towns. The hope was to attract travelers and settlers. It even brought in major entertainment at the time, like John Phillips Sousa. The structure has been built and rebuilt three different times, but the corn detail changes year after year.

“Looking back at that history in 1892, there was a lot more straw vegetation and less corn. The palace was made out of wood back then, not brick,” said Sabers.

Behind a palace so colorful and rich in history is one lone grower.

“Yep, I’m it. I’m the only one who grows the corn for the Corn Palace,” said Mitchell farmer Wade Strand.

Watch the AgDay story on the Corn Palace here. (Additional video credit: “The Story of…The Corn Palace” (Finley-Holiday Films))

Just outside of town, Wade Strand grows almost a dozen varieties of colored corn for the palace. He even supplies the rye. He got the job after a family member approached him to help.

“We plant it after our regular corn is planted, just because we don’t want to take the chance of it freezing off. It’s not as hardy unlike new varieties with cold tolerance. We want it to pop up and grow fairly quickly once it does grow,” said Strand.

For this corn, it’s ideal to have a higher moisture content. That way, the kernels don’t break on the building. “You can tell this is the right moisture. If it gets below 20% moisture content, it will shatter when they saw and nail it,” said Strand.

The corn for the Corn Palace is planted in five-acre patches and harvested with an old-school corn picker, but not every ear is guaranteed to make the palace.

“Probably one out of ten of the ears are usable for the Corn Palace,” said Strand. Some may be damaged or just not the right shade.

As Strand harvests the crop, the ears are separated and taken to the Corn Palace to be stapled onto black tar paper to be installed. The process, handled by two people, will take several months.

As the murals change with the seasons, the efforts of one farmer, and his many helping hands, keep this South Dakota piece of history attached to the fabric of its future.

Have you visited South Dakota’s Corn Palace? Let us know in the comments.

Any Alfalfa Damage After Lower Temperatures This Weekend?

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:29:10 GMT

By: Karla Hernandez and Laura Edwards, South Dakota State University Extension

Cold and moist weather ended last week, as temperatures across South Dakota plummeted below freezing. The mornings on May 13-15 were near to below freezing across much of South Dakota. The map below shows the temperatures (minimum in blue, maximum in green) for May 14, 2016 at the SD Mesonet sites (Figure 2). Many sites in the west and north were below freezing for more than a few hours.

Figure 2. Temperatures at the SD Mesonet sites on May 14, 2016 .

As we enter this growing season, alfalfa fields are showing great potential for good tonnage production. Alfalfa can withstand temperatures as low as 20° F. However, several hours of 25 to 27° F or lower temperatures could damage leaf tissue and the alfalfa growing points.

Management Suggestions

Newly Seeded Alfalfa
Seedlings between the 2 and 5 trifoliate leaf stage are susceptible to being killed if exposed to 26° F for four or more hours. Using companion crops (oats and orchardgrass) can help seedlings survive cooler temperatures for longer periods of time. Seedlings from emergence to the second trifoliate leaf stage tend to be more cold tolerant (Undersander et al., 2011). Re-seeding with a drill into the damaged areas may be warranted.

Established Alfalfa (2 years)
A light freeze where temperatures do not go below 27° F is likely to freeze several sets of trifoliate leaves on alfalfa tops and terminal buds, but plants will grow out of it with warmer temperatures. A moderate freeze where temperatures go between 26 to 27° F is likely to damage the upper part of the stem and can kill terminal buds. Usually, growth and first cutting will be delayed. However, if producers are approaching their first cutting and there is damage, they should consider harvesting as soon as possible.

A hard freeze where temperatures go below 26° F is likely to damage and kill leaves, buds, and stem tissue. Plants will regrow from crown buds. Compared to a moderate freeze, first cutting will be delayed and significant yield losses might be expected.

What to Expect After this Event

Forage producers should start monitoring their fields and look for any possible damage since temperatures are warming up. If there is no significant harm, go ahead and scout for possible insects and proceed to harvest on your normal schedule. If there is 20-30% damage in the stems and leaves consider harvesting as soon as possible to avoid sacrificing yield and quality.