*|MC:SUBJECT|*

FIELD TALK

LFN FIELD TALK PODCAST


Compeer Financial's John Monson and Ron Ziegler with Economic Development Associates join Lynn Ketelsen to discuss a new partnership effort to enhance rural vitality. 
LISTEN NOW

FOLLOW LFN HERE

LFN on F A C E B O O K LFN on F A C E B O O K
Twitter Twitter
LFN on YouTube LFN on YouTube
Spotify Spotify

Farm News

February 1, 2023

CLEAN ELECTRICITY BILL PASSES
The Minnesota House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would require utilities in the state to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The Senate is working on a similar clean electricity bill. Darrick Moe, CEO of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association says there are also some performance metrics that have to be met by 2030 and 2035. Moe says the MREA continues to have concerns with the bill, but they were pleased that some adjustments have been made to the bill. Listen

Moe says primary concerns with the carbon-free requirement is reliability and affordability for rural electric customers. 

SUPPORT FOR 'SHIP IT' ACT
The Shippers Coalition, which represents many of the nation's companies and trade associations in the food, beverage, manufacturing and agribusiness industries is supporting the Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act or "SHIP IT” Act. The legislation looks to modernize the trucking industry, retain truck drivers to bolster the workforce, and assist with truck parking difficulties.

Shippers Coalition Vice President of Government Affairs Matt Mika says the nation is about 80,000 truck drivers short and median age of drivers in the country is 51-53 years of age. He says trucking concerns are contributing to the nation's supply chain issues. Listen

DURENBERGER PASSES
Former Minnesota Senator Dave Durenberger passed away Jan. 31 at the age of 88. Durenberger served in the U.S. Senate from 1978 to 1995. 

SENATE AG CHAIR PRIORITIES
Senate Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development Committee Chair Aric Putnam is in his second term in the Minnesota Senate, and his first on the Ag Committee. Putnam, who grew up in California and now represents the St. Cloud area, has been in Minnesota for 30 years, teaching at St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict. Putnam says one of his priorities is to make sure committee members listen to the needs of Minnesota farmers. Listen

Putnam calls renewable fuels like ethanol transitional fuels as society moves towards greater use of electric vehicles. 


STRONG SOYBEAN MARKETS
Prices for soybean products have surged in the past week, according to Roy Abbott, of Abbott Futures. Abbott says since last Wednesday, soybeans are up about 60 cents a bushel, while meal is up about $34 a ton. Abbott says tight U.S. supplies and drought in Argentina are contributing to those price rallies. Argentina is the world's leading exporter of soybean meal. Listen

PROJECTED CROP INSURANCE PRICE SURVEY IN FEBRUARY
Projected spring crop insurance prices will be determined during February by using the monthly average new-crop futures prices for corn and soybeans. USDA's Risk Management Agency recalibrates crop insurance protection based on expected commodity prices and risk in the market. Jim Emter of Van Ahn and Company says the highest historic spring corn price was $6.01 in 2011 while the historic high soybean price was set last year at $14.33. 

NO COMPROMISE ON GMO BAN
U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip and U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor recently met with Mexican government officials about that country's proposed ban on GMO corn. National Corn Growers Association NCGA)  President Tom Haag from Eden Valley says NCGA was pleased that the U.S. trade officials have said there would be no compromise and that the proposed by by Mexico is a violation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Listen

Mexico's president issued a decree banning the import of GMO corn by 2024. 

MINNESOTA PORK CONGRESS RETURNS TO MANKATO
Minnesota's premier pork industry event returns to Mankato Feb. 21 & 22 at the Mayo Clinic Event Center. Minnesota Pork Director of Events and Promotions Pam Voelkel says there will be over 180 exhibitors at the show to go along with educational seminars that are scheduled for both days.

MILD, WET JANUARY
January was a mild month with above normal temperatures and moisture, according to Minnesota Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay. January was a generally cloudy month with several rain and snow events which has left much of Minnesota with robust snow cover. Listen

THOMPSON ASSUMES CATTLEMENS PRESIDENT ROLE
Jake Thompson of Barnesville will be stepping into the role of Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association President. Thompson  will fill in while Mark Pankonin of Lamberton, who was elected president in December, is taking a leave of absence for health reasons. Thompson farms with his brother, producing crops and running a cow-calf operation.

RURAL ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack  this week announced a $2.7 billion investment to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities. The funding from the Department of Agriculture will help the cooperatives expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security. 

CHALLENGE TO CANADA'S DAIRY POLICY
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced that the United States is establishing a dispute settlement panel under the United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA) regarding Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocation measures. In this new panel proceeding, the United States is challenging Canada’s revised dairy TRQ allocation measures that use a market-share approach for determining TRQ allocations, and impose new conditions effectively prohibiting retailers, food service operators, and other types of importers from utilizing TRQ allocations. U.S. trade representatives contend the measures undermine the market access it agreed to provide in the USMCA.


AGs PUSH YEAR ROUND E15
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is leading a bipartisan coalition of seven Attorneys General urging the Biden Administration to follow the law and allow the sale of year-round E-15. Federal law permits Governors to request that the EPA issue the regulations allowing E15 and requires the EPA to issue the regulations within 90 days. The sale of E15 has been restricted during the summer peak-driving months due to an outdated provision of the Clean Air Act. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds led a bipartisan coalition of Governors making the request on April 22, 2022, but the EPA still has not issued the regulation as required by law. Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison also signed the letter to the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency.

IOWA LAND VALUES STRONG
The Iowa Ag Expo is underway in Des Moines. The Linder Farm Network has been reporting from the show. 

Nate Larson with the Steffes Group talked with Lynn Ketelsen about land values. Areas of the state with large livestock operations and large seed corn production had land sell for nearly $30,000 per acre, according to Larson. Rising interest rates and fears of lower crop prices are holding down sale prices in other areas. Listen 

CENTURY FARM APPLICATION DATE NEARS
Applications for farms to be recognized as Century Farms are due March 6. The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and the Minnesota State Fair work in conjunction to operate Century Farm program which recognizes operating farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more. More information on the program and the application form can be found here. 

DEADLINE FOR STATE OF AG SURVEY NEARS
GreenSeam and its partners are looking for information on how businesses, organizations, and leaders view the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture in Minnesota in 2023 and beyond. The State of Ag survey seeks ways to better understand, serve, and support the workforce, businesses, organizations, and communities. The survey deadline is February 17.
 
The 2023 State of Ag survey provides deeper insight into the future of agriculture. The results of the survey, along with the findings from a series of focus groups, will be published in a comprehensive 2023 State of Ag report, to be released on National Ag Day, Tuesday, March 21. Take the survey here.
 

Upcoming Events


Feb. 1-2             Iowa Ag Expo, Des Moines

Feb. 7                 Nitrogen Conference, Mankato

Feb. 7                 Women in Ag Network Conference, Willmar

Feb. 21-22          Minnesota Pork Congress, Mankato

Feb. 27               Soybean Gall Midge Research Update webinar

Mar. 9-11            Commodity Classic, Orlando

Farm Fun Fact

Since the Century Farm program began in 1976, nearly 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.