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LFN FIELD TALK PODCAST
Ethanol leaders remain committed to getting a year-round waiver for the sales of E15. Biofuels groups and farm organizations are pressing the Biden administration to once again offer an emergency waiver for the summer driving season. Troy Bredenkamp with the Renewable Fuels Association joins the LFN to update the situation and the long-term goals for E15 use.
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LFN VIDEO
A rapid warmup across Minnesota has quickly raised expectations of when farmers across parts of the state will get into the field. Snow cover over much of the state is shrinking rapidly and for areas in the south where fields are bare, it won't be long before spring field work kicks into high gear. Lynn Ketelsen has more on the situation in this week's LFN video.
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SPRINGING AHEAD
Unseasonably warm weather has farmers in some parts of the state on the verge of spring field work. Tom Hoverstad with the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca says soil temperatures have risen over 20 degrees since last week at the SROC. Hoverstad expects manure and fertilizer applications to start with some early corn planting not out of the question. Listen
PLANTING IN S.E. MINNESOTA
Van Larson with Agronomy Services Plus in Rochester expects some farmers in his part of the state will be out in the field before this week is out. Listen
MANY AREAS STILL WET
While parts of Southern Minnesota may be fit for field work, other parts of the state will have to wait. Warm temperatures are quickly melting the snow pack, but ponding as well as cold and wet soils will likely keep many growers out of the field for a couple more weeks. Curt Burns with CB Agronomics of Stewart says even with temperatures reaching into the 80s, there is a lot of water to move through the system before any field work can begin. Listen
A QUESTION OF MATURITY
With planting delayed already in many areas of the state, University of Minnesota Extension Corn Agronomist Jeff Coulter says its still too early to worry too much about changing maturity on seed corn. Coulter says growers can usually stick with their intended hybrid and maturities until late May before seriously considering a shorter maturing hybrid. Listen
BEET PLANTING DELAYED
Todd Geselius, Vice President of Agriculture for the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative says beet planting is about two weeks behind schedule. However, with the unseasonably warm temperatures and a relatively shallow frost, Geselius expects conditions to change rapidly in the coming days. Listen
BIDEN VETOES RESOLUTION
As expected, President Biden has vetoed a resolution to repeal the new Waters of the U.S.(WOTUS) rule. Both the House and Senate had passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval that overturned the administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval had previously passed both the Senate and House of Representatives, calling the WOTUS rule an overreach.
FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS WOTUS IN 24 STATES
The U.S. District Court of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration from implementing its final rule redefining the Waters of the United States in 24 states, including Iowa and the Dakotas, but does not include Minnesota. A previous court ruling halted the WOTUS implementation in Texas and Idaho.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall calls the second U.S. District Court ruling to halt the rule a win for farmers. “This isn’t just a philosophical dispute: farmers and ranchers in the remaining states are left with no clear way to determine where federal jurisdiction begins and ends on their own property. The rule creates a fuzzy, subjective assessment that’s unfair to landowners," Duvall said.
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HAAG ON CORN ISSUES
Eden Valley farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag says there hasn't been much movement from Mexico on their proposed ban on imports of U.S. genetically modified corn in 2024. Haag says having no resolution on this issue is problematic because farmers will soon be planting the crop that will be exported in the fall and winter.
Haag says NCGA and others continue to press the Biden administration on a waiver for year-round E15 use. A waiver was granted last year which Haag says couldn't have gone much better for both farmers and consumers, which is why many biofuels supporters don't understand why and E15 waiver has yet to be granted for 2023. Listen
EPA TAILPIPE EMISSIONS PROPOSED
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed tailpipe emissions standards for 2027 and beyond. The Biden EPA is proposing the toughest auto emission rules ever to accelerate the transformation of the U.S. auto industry and drastically impacting biofuels. The proposals, starting with the 2027 model year, could lead to three-quarters of light-duty vehicles being electric by 2032.
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) head Geoff Cooper accuses the Biden EPA of ‘picking winners and losers.' Cooper argues for a technology-neutral, science-based approach to reducing carbon emissions. RFA points out that a flex fuel vehicle running on E85 made from certain forms of ethanol would provide similar or even lower carbon emissions at a far lower cost. Listen
NPPC PRESSES LABOR ISSUES
Members of the National Pork Producers Council continue to press Congress on labor issues. NPPC President Elect Lori Stevermer from Easton says labor is a challenge in rural areas, and it should be considered an agricultural issue. Listen
NPB HIRES SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
The National Pork Board has hired Jamie Burr as its first Chief Sustainability Officer. Burr brings over 20 years of experience to help the pork industry meet sustainability goals in his new role. “Jamie’s input has been invaluable to several key producer-funded initiatives for over a decade,” said Bill Even, National Pork Board CEO. “He’s served on and chaired several Pork Board environmental and sustainability committees and task forces, so his leadership has already helped shape the industry’s sustainability vision.” Even also says establishing a CSO position and adding Burr to the team continues to demonstrate the industry’s strong commitment to advancing pork sustainability.
FINSTAD ON CARBON CREDITS
First District Congressman Brad Finstad there are a lot of discussions happening surrounding carbon credits and how those credits could potentially be traded. Con. Finstad says there needs to be some uniformity in how credits are counted and any system that's established can't be harmful to farmers. Listen
NEW USES FORUM
The 5th annual AURI New Uses Forum was held in Minneapolis this week. The Forum features expert speakers from the finance, food, bio-industrial and agriculture industries. AURI Executive Director Shannon Schlecht says the focus of the event was on investment in innovation. Listen
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Upcoming Events
April 22 Earth Day
April 23-25 Minnesota FFA Convention, St. Paul
April 28 Arbor Day
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Farm Fun Fact
Temperatures across Minnesota jumped from below normal last week to over 90 degrees today. According to the Minnesota DNR, the largest 24 hour temperature change in Minnesota was 71 degrees on April 3, 1982 in Lamberton. The high temperature was 78 degrees and a vigorous cold front dropped the temperature to 7 degrees.
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