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FIELD TALK

FIELD TALK PODCAST


A farmer-led program called Rural Investment to Protect our Environment (RIPE) is taking a novel approach to carbon sequestration and other environmental practices that have public benefit. In this episode of the Linder Farm Network Field Talk podcast, we talk to a former USDA official and a Minnesota dairy farmer who are helping lead the way in the development of the RIPE100 program.    
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Conditions haven't been favorable for getting crops planted. Lynn Ketelsen has more on spring preparations and what growers are watching.  
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Farm News

April 20, 2022
WALZ, KLOBUCHAR AND SMITH ADDRESS AVIAN INFLUENZA
Governor Tim Walz and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith joined state agriculture officials in Willmar Tuesday to discuss impacts of the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. To date nearly 2 million birds have been euthanized to stem the outbreak which was spread by migratory waterfowl. Most officials agree that farmers, the state and the turkey industry were better prepared for the outbreak this year than in 2015 when an outbreak swept the country. However, Klobuchar says that preparations doesn't lessen the painful impacts to the farmers and workers who are affected. Listen

NEW MEMBER, OFFICERS ON BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH
Erica Sawatzke was selected to serve as the new Minnesota Board of Animal Health president, succeeding Nicollet farmer Dean Compart. Dr. Peggy Anne Hawkins will serve as vice president. Prior Lake cattle farmer Alex Stade is the newest member of the board. The Board of Animal Health is to protect the health of the state’s domestic animals through education and cooperation with veterinarians, producers, owners and communities. 

SUPPLEMENTAL AG BUDGET
State Senator Torrey Westrom of Elbow Lake says work continues at the Minnesota state capitol on a supplemental ag budget. Westrom says the $5 million supplemental bill includes support for rural meat processors, increased meat processing career training as well as support for deer farmers. There is also discussion on utilization of federal funds designated for rural broadband. 

LAND VALUES HOLDING STRONG
Farmland values are gaining ground. Daryl Highland with Hertz Farm Management in Mankato says land value are up about 30% from a year ago and are 10-15% higher than the beginning of 2022. Highland says the strong prices make Minnesota farmland attractive to investors from other states. Highland also says rising interest rates, which are now in the 4.75% to 5% range are encouraging both sellers and buyers to act now. Listen


MARL APPLICATION DEADLINE
The deadline for applying for Class 12 of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program is April 29. Information and application materials are available at marlprogram.org
HAY PRICES REMAIN HIGH
Randy Kath with the Steffes Group says hay prices experienced a lull in March but have increased again in April. Kath says hay and bedding quality coming in to auction has been good, but supplies have come from a greater distance. Kath says the Dakotas are frequent hay and bedding suppliers, this year farmers and ranchers is those areas are the buyers. With fuel prices and transportation issues, Kath says whoever is buying hay is paying the price. Listen

FIELD PROGRESS MINIMAL
Cold and wet conditions are keeping farm implements on the sidelines across Minnesota. Many areas of the state have picked up some welcome moisture over the past weeks, but now farmers are anxious for some higher temperatures to warm the soil. Curt Burns with CB Agronomics in Meeker, Renville, Sibley and McLeod Counties says it's unlikely farmers will get much corn planted in his area until at least the first week of May. Listen

WEATHER CONCERNS IMPACTING GRAIN MARKETS
Weather is slowing planting progress across much of the country upper Midwest and parts of the Corn Belt. Shawn Hackett of Hackett Financial Advisors says the slow start to planting and potential smaller South American second corn crop has grain buyers anxious that supplies may get tighter. Listen


HOUSE BILL A CONCERN FOR FARMERS
Some Minnesota farmers and ag groups are concerned with House File 4274, which would require the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to establish and maintain a drainage registry information portal for drainage projects, and appropriate money for establishing the portal. Wheaton farmer Jamie Beyer serves on the American Soybean Association, and she also works at her local watershed office. She says the bill would insert another new process into drainage proceedings, including repairs to judicial or county ditches. Beyer says the bill would mean that prior to improvements being made to the drainage system, this information would need to be uploaded to the portal. If the information isn't uploaded, needed repairs may be delayed. Beyer says that is a concern for landowners who need to see ditches working properly, it's also a concern for drainage authorities, counties and watersheds that want to make sure roads and other infrastructure stays safe because ditches are important tools for mitigating damage from flood events. Beyer says landowners are already the ones with most at risk and this bill could make things worse. Listen 

Upcoming Events

April 24-26   Minnesota State FFA Convention
April 29:        MARL Program application deadline
May 20:         Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year nomination deadline

Farm Fun Fact

According to WorldAtlas, the biggest farm in the world, in terms of acreage, is the Mudanjiang City Mega Farm in Heilongjiang, China. This  farm encompassess 22,500,000 acres. The Mudanjiang City Mega Farm specializes in dairy and has around 100,000 cows.