KFGO & Growing Harvest Ag Network’s Sarah Heinrich & Rusty Halvorson bring you the latest in agriculture news and information from the Upper Midwest.
Minnesota Soybean highlights 2023 checkoff initiatives
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is proud to highlight its continued commitments to innovation and growth in the soybean industry by releasing its 2023 Annual Report. With bold investments at both the state and international level in 2023, MSR&PC continues to blaze trails and make significant ...
17h ago
Scott Robinson / CC
USDA studies on H5N1 reaffirm the retail beef supply is safe
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is announcing results from its testing of retail ground beef. FSIS collected 30 samples of ground beef from retail outlets in the states with dairy cattle herds that had tested positive for the H5N1 influenza virus at the time of sample collection. The samples were sent to APHI...
18h ago
Wonderlane / CC
New USDA Report: Cover crops on livestock operations, potential for expansion
While cover crops can provide multiple environmental and economic benefits both on and off the farm, the net benefits of cover crops vary by region, crop/livestock system, and operation. A report issued by USDA's Economic Research Service, Cover Crops on Livestock Operations: Potential for Expansion in the United State...
23h ago
Orin Zebest / CC
Farm Bureau eager for farm bill to progress
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the House and Senate Agriculture committees releasing title-by-title overviews of the 2024 farm bill. "AFBF appreciates the House and Senate Agriculture committees' progress to enact a new, modernized farm bill this year. We're encouraged to see b...
23h ago
ahickle / CC
Five farmers earn seats on MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is pleased to announce that five grower leaders have been elected and reelected to the board of directors. Tasked with directing soybean checkoff dollars to increase profitability to Minnesota soybean farmers, MSR&PC's elected board of 15 directors are dedicate...
23h ago
United Soybean Board / CC
Culver's donating to local ag initiatives
For the tenth straight year, Culver's is offering guests a single scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard in exchange for a $1 donation to local FFA chapters and other agricultural education organizations. It's a part of the annual "Scoops of Thanks Day" that celebrates the impact of farm-fresh dairy that makes Culver'...
May 02, 2024
Wheat industry sharing the story of farm to flour on the National Mall in D.C.
U.S. Wheat Associates, North American Millers' Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and American Bakers Association are joining the "Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall" near the United States Department of Agriculture headquarters on May 6, 7, and 8, 2024. The event is spons...
May 01, 2024
Michigan takes "aggressive" steps to protect poultry and dairy from HPAI
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Dr. Tim Boring today signed a "Determination of Extraordinary Emergency, "HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order," to further protect Michigan's poultry and livestock industries from the ongoing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influe...
May 01, 2024
United Soybean Board / CC
NMPF statement on House and Senate farm bill frameworks
From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud: "Dairy farmers are heartened that today, both House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson, R-PA, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, each released documents providing an overview of their farm bill priorities and plans. Dairy far...
May 01, 2024
Upendra Kanda / CC
USDA reminds producers of climate-smart opportunities using farm loan programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency reminds agricultural producers that Farm Loan Programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices, which build on many practices that farmers and ranchers already use, like cover cropping, nutrient management and conservation tillage....
May 01, 2024
Clean Fuels welcomes §40B SAF GREET model
Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed appreciation to USDA, the U.S. Treasury, Argonne National Labs, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies for finalizing updates to the GREET model that will allow taxpayers to use it in calculating 2023-2024 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blender tax incentives (§...
May 01, 2024
United Soybean Board / CC
North Dakota cropland values up significantly while cash rents see modest gains
North Dakota cropland values increased 11.59% heading into the spring of 2024, marching upward from 2,863 per acre to 3,174 per acre, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension agricultural finance specialist. This represents the third year in a row where North Dakota cropland values have increas...
May 01, 2024
ACE reaction to new 40B GREET model for SAF tax credit
the U.S. Treasury Department released a highly anticipated update to the Department of Energy's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model, providing guidance on how feedstocks like corn ethanol could qualify for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the 40B tax credit of the In...
May 01, 2024
Agriculture Future of America appoints new board leadership
Starting a career can be daunting. Having someone build bridges for you to opportunities makes the experience smoother. Students who participate in Agriculture Future of America's (AFA) leader development programs benefit from the leadership of a board of directors who have been before them and are committed to buildin...
May 01, 2024
NDSU Sheep Unit to market Romanov sheep flock
Spring lamb prices are holding strong, and the new crop lambs are growing. As NDSU continues to evolve with the sheep research, teaching, and extension program, an opportunity exists for regional sheep producers to add quality sheep genetics to their operation. The North Dakota State University Department of Animal Sci...
Apr 30, 2024
USB CEO visits MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council in Mankato
While a soggy start to the end of April kept field equipment in park, agriculture discussions remained in drive as Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council welcomed United Soybean Board Chief Executive Officer Lucas Lentsch to its newly renovated office space in Mankato of Ag Management Solutions, the group w...
Apr 30, 2024
Lawmakers want support for American West amid drought
Senators and representatives from Western states called on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought. "Drought remains a severe risk for American farmers and ranchers and threatens farmland and local economies that rely on dwindling water resources, especially in states West...
Apr 30, 2024
Stakeholders form the SAF Coalition
Forty companies and organizations that hold a stake in the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel united to form the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition. The organization is made up of airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, te...
Apr 30, 2024
Chalabala / Depositphotos.com
Global fertilizer growth expected despite challenges
Operating costs keep getting higher while commodity prices fall at the same time. Rabobank says this combination has led to a squeeze on farmers' operating margins, which are now below the average of the past two years, making farmers more cautious about investing in their farms. "Despite these headwinds, the fert...
Apr 30, 2024
eutrophication&hypoxia / CC
Strong farmland demand remains
The agricultural economy has faced some challenges during the past year, with increased interest rates and decreased commodity prices. However, farmers are the eternal optimists. Farmers National Company reports that overall farmland demand remains extraordinarily strong and land values are holding steady in most areas...
Apr 30, 2024
CGP Grey / CC