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LFN FIELD TALK PODCAST
Volunteers play an integral role in making communities work. The agricultural community is no different. In this episode of Field Talk, Robin Kinney with the Minnesota Farm Bureau joins to talk about value of volunteers.
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LFN VIDEO
Seed treatments have become an important tool that many farmers rely upon to get corn and soybean plants off to a good start. With increased attention on the use of many crop protection products, stewardship of treated seed involves the careful use and disposal of those products. Lynn Ketelsen has more.
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PLANTING PROGRESS THWARTED
Above normal temperatures last week kicked planting activity into gear for parts of Minnesota, but that progress stalled quickly as rain, snow and cold temperatures halted nearly all field work across Minnesota. Additional rain on Wednesday also had an effect on planting progress. According to the USDA,8% of the nation's corn crop is planted whilewhile soybeans are at 4% planted. Less than 1% of Minnesota's corn and soybeans are planted.
DROUGHT MONITOR
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, precipitation for the past 6-month period (October 2022-March 2023), was above normal across the Midwest, including in Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, with Minnesota logging its 7th wettest winter period on record. Just over 9% of Minnesota is considered in moderate drought. Those areas are located primarily Minnesota. 48% of the state is still considered abnormally dry, however, that status is likely to change as rain fell Wednesday and more rainy weather is expected for many parts of Minnesota for the remainder of the week.
EARLY CORN CONCERNS
Pioneer Agronomy Manager Matt Essick says that farmers who were able to get corn planted before the cold and snow returned should monitor those fields for emergence issues. However, he does expect most of what was planted to be fine since the soil was warm and not overly saturated at planting time. Listen
EARLY SOYBEAN PLANTING?
Maximizing the amount of time crops have to grow and mature means early planting is often encouraged. University of Minnesota Extension Soybean Agronomist Seth Naeve says there are pros and cons to planting soybeans early. Given the wet conditions many areas of the state are experiencing this spring, it's likely beneficial to be ready to plant when fields that are intended for soybean production are fit. Listen
NO MAJOR WHEAT CONCERNS
The majority of Minnesota's wheat crop is grown in western and northwestern Minnesota. Both areas remain wet and cold. Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Executive Director Charlie Vogel says he's still optimistic that the wheat crop will get planted in the optimal window. Listen
FOLIAR FERTILIZER FOR SOYBEANS
A recent study conducted by agronomists from 16 U.S. states shows that the use of foliar-applied nutrient products on soybean crops does not consistently increase yield. The study, which was conducted over the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, tested six foliar nutrient treatments on soybean grain yield and composition at 46 different sites.
Results showed that soybean grain yield and composition differed among sites but not among foliar fertilizer treatments. The study concludes that the prophylactic use of foliar fertilizers is likely to decrease the profitability of soybean production. As such, foliar fertilizer products tested in this study and similar products should not be recommended to U.S. soybean farmers in the absence of visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency. Read more about the study on the University of Minnesota Extension Crop News here.
PORK ECONOMIC UPDATE
The National Pork Producers Council has released its second-quarter economic update. Holly Cook, staff economist with the NPPC, says the quarterly reports provide an up-to-the-minute picture of the industry’s health, including a loot at pork production levels, retail price spreads, exports, labor market trends, and they examine the factors that could impact producer margins for the remainder of the year. Listen
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SENATE PASSES OMNIBUS AGRICULTURE BILL
The Minnesota Senate late last week passed the omnibus agriculture, broadband and rural development finance bill on a vote of 58-7. Sponsored by Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, the budget measure provides $100 million in the next biennium for broadband expansion, creates a grain indemnity fund and offers myriad grants and investments to support farmers, innovators, researchers and processors in the state’s agriculture industries. The House is expected to take up their version in the coming days.
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will deliver his annual state of the state address tonight. It will be the first address of his second term as governor. The address takes place tonight on the House floor.
PREPPING FOR EVs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week released its proposed tailpipe emissions standards for 2027 and beyond. The proposals could lead to three-quarters of light-duty vehicles being electric by 2032.Scott Lambert, chair of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association says it is going to be difficult to achieve the goals put forward. Lambert says at the recent Minneapolis Auto Show, there was interest by consumers in electric vehicles (EVs), but the challenges of cold weather and insufficient infrastructure remain. Lambert says dealers will also have to make substantial investments to be able to service EVs. Listen
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the EPA and the Biden Administration missed an opportunity. Skor says EPA’s proposed standards show a lack of imagination and ignore the reality that even by the most aggressive estimates, internal combustion engines will still occupy more than half of the light duty vehicle marketplace by 2040. Skor says biofuels will be needed to reach emissions goals and biofuels can add benefits immediately. Listen
MN SOY IN THE NETHERLANDS
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Joe Smentek is accompanying USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor’s delegation during USDA’s first-ever regional agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands this week. Taylor is heading a diverse group with more than 50 business, trade associations and state government leaders seeking to grow U.S. agricultural exports to the Netherlands and beyond.
Smentek, who spoke with the Linder Farm Network from the Netherlands, will also promote Minnesota’s conservation and production practices, the high quality of Minnesota soybeans and efforts to increase grain exports via the Port of Duluth. Listen
MEXICO GMO ISSUE LINGERS
Resolution of Mexico's proposed ban on imports of U.S. genetically modified (GM) corn is still elusive. Mexico has created a working group to study the impacts of imported GM corn on tortillas made from corn flour. Meanwhile, the U.S. has taken steps toward challenging the ban, but has not yet filed a formal complaint through the U.S., Mexico, Canada trade agreement. Brian Kuehl, executive director of Farmers for Free Trade says that appears to be the direction that the issue is headed. He says a resolution won't come quickly. Listen
GAS PRICES ON THE RISE
Gas prices have been on the increase over the past several weeks. Patrick Dehaan with GasBuddy says the national average for gasoline is $3.65 while Minnesota's average is $3.61 per gallon. Dehaan says a lot of the increase is seasonal in nature as refineries shift to producing summer gas. Dehaan does expect to see some lowering of prices in the coming weeks. Listen
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Upcoming Events
April 19 Governor's State of the State Address, 7 p.m.
April 22 Earth Day
April 23-25 Minnesota FFA Convention, St. Paul
April 28 Arbor Day
May 23-25 U.S. Meat Export Federation Spring Conference, Minneapolis
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Farm Fun Fact
In 2022, Faribault County led Minnesota in soybean production with 11.1 million bushels produced, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Renville County was the top corn producer with 52.9 million bushels and Polk was the top spring wheat producer at 17.3 million bushels.
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