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Farm news
Minnesota planting
ahead of average
May 14, 2012
SAINT PAUL - Minnesota farmers continue to make
progress on planting corn and soybeans, thanks to warm, dry weather.
According to the USDA's weekly crop-weather report for Minnesota,
corn planting jumped to 88 percent planted, with 45 percent of the
crop emerged. Soybeans are 44 percent planted, compared with seven
percent last year and 29 percent for the five-year average. Three
percent of soybeans have emerged.
Small grains are rated in good to excellent condition.
Most areas reported below average rainfall for the week ending
Sunday. Rain is still needed in northwestern Minnesota. In southern
Minnesota, heavy rains the previous week improved topsoil moisture
but kept farmers out of the fields early in the week.
Topsoil moisture is rated two percent very short, 10 percent short,
77 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.
Iowa farmers making progress on corn
crop
May 14, 2012
DES MOINES - Iowa farmers are almost finished
planting this year's corn crop and are making inroads in getting the
soybeans in the ground.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday's report that
farmers took advantage of last week's dry weather and have planted
90 percent of the corn crop The five-year average is 79 percent.
Fifty-five percent of the corn has emerged, which is six days ahead
of normal.
Thirty-nine percent of the soybean crop has been planted. The
average is 30 percent.
The report says Iowa had a much drier week with near seasonal
temperatures and no severe storms. The statewide average
precipitation was .43 inches, below the normal of about an inch.
Topsoil moisture is 91 percent adequate or surplus, with subsoil
moisture at 80 percent adequate or surplus.
Rain
slows Minnesota fieldwork
May 8, 2012
SAINT PAUL - Rain and thunderstorms slowed fieldwork
in some parts of Minnesota this past week.
In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture says only 11 percent of the state is now short or
very short on topsoil moisture, compared with 20 percent a week
earlier. But 18 percent of the state now has a topsoil moisture
surplus, compared with 3 percent the previous week.
Corn planting is 73 percent complete, compared with 20 percent at
this point last year and 53 percent for the five-year average.
Nineteen percent of soybeans were planted, compared with 4 percent
last year and a 13 percent average. Sugarbeet planting is nearly
complete at 98 percent compared with a 53 percent average.
Statewide, 3.4 days were suitable for fieldwork last week.
By The Associated Press
Iowa
planting progresses despite rain
May 8, 2012
DES MOINES - Iowa farmers are making good progress
on planting the corn and soybean crops, even with all the storms.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday's weekly report
that corn planting is now 64 percent complete. That's ahead of last
year's 52 percent and the five-year average of 58 percent.
Seven percent of the soybeans have been planted, which is about the
same as last year but behind the five-year average of 11 percent.
Rain totals last week ranged from .4 in Dubuque to over 5 inches in
Washington. The statewide average was 1.5 inches.
All the rain has improved Iowa's soil moisture levels, with topsoil
at 97 percent adequate or surplus. Subsoil moisture is 81 percent
adequate or surplus.
By The Associated Press
Policy bill signed
into law
May 5, 2012
SAINT PAUL - Gov. Mark Dayton signed the 2012 Omnibus Agriculture
Policy bill into law Thursday.
The legislation, which received bipartisan support, streamlines and
modernizes statutes covering food safety enforcement, grain trade
and renewable fuels.
The changes bring greater uniformity to MDA's statutes and make it
easier for individuals and businesses to understand what the state
requires of them, said Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson.
"The Agriculture Department has a wide range of regulatory
responsibilities," Frederickson said. "These duties were assigned by
different pieces of legislation over the decades, and the result was
often cumbersome and confusing. This bill modernizes our statutes to
make them easier to understand and follow without jeopardizing our
strong record on food safety."
The bill also extends Minnesota's E20 mandate for two years and
directs agencies to develop recommendations for incorporating
biofuels other than ethanol into the mandate.
It also creates a new loan progam to address a credit gap that has
been a roadblock for some immigrant and minority populations seeking
to get into the farm and food sector or to expand their farm. The
loans will be available for working capital, the purchase of feed or
supplies, or the purchase of machinery or equipment.
Minnesota corn planting nearly half done
May 1, 2012
SAINT PAUL - Minnesota farmer's continued planting crops ahead of
the average — and Minnesota's corn crop is nearly half planted.
In its weekly crop report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture says the state's corn crop is 48 percent complete.
That's compared with just one percent last year and 31 percent for
the five-year average.
Spring wheat planting is also well ahead of the average pace. The
crop is 93 percent complete, compared with the average of 28
percent. Potato planting is 63 percent complete, and sugar beet
planting advanced to 93 percent planted.
Precipitation amounts last week were below normal. Statewide, 4.4
days were rated suitable for fieldwork.
Iowa farmers
making good progress
May 1, 2012
DES MOINES - Iowa farmers are making good progress on getting the
corn crop in the ground.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers took advantage of
dry weather early last week and now have planted 50 percent of the
crop. That's up from just nine percent the previous week. The
five-year average is 32 percent.
The USDA says in Monday's weekly report that five percent of the
corn has emerged, which is 10 days ahead of normal.
Farmers have planted three percent of the soybean crop.
The week ended with rain and cooler weather from Friday afternoon to
Sunday, which put planting on hold.
The statewide average rainfall for last week was .83 inch. The rain
helped soil moisture, with topsoil at 92 percent adequate or
surplus.
Discovery of mad
cow was stroke of luck
April 25, 2012
HANFORD, Calif. - A non-descript building in the heart of
California's dairy country has become the focus of intense scrutiny
now that mad cow disease has been discovered in a dead dairy cow.
The finding marks the first reported new case of the disease in the
U.S. since 2006 — and the fact that the discovery was made at all
was a stroke of luck. Tests are performed on only a small portion of
dead animals brought to the transfer facility near Hanford.
The cow had died at one of the region's hundreds of dairies, but
hadn't exhibited outward symptoms of the disease: unsteadiness,
incoordination, a drastic change in behavior or low milk production,
officials said. But when the animal arrived at the facility with a
truckload of other dead cows on April 18, its 30-month-plus age and
fresh corpse made her eligible for USDA testing.
Federal agriculture officials say the animal had atypical BSE. That
means it didn't get the disease from eating infected cattle feed.
The director of the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
at Cornell University, Bruce Akey, says it was a rare mutation that
caused the disease.
The disease cannot be transmitted by contact among cows, and experts
say it's unclear whether this rare type of BSE ever has been
transmitted from a cow to a human by eating meat.
By The Associated Press
Burger King makes cage-free promise
April 25, 2012
The movement by U.S. food corporations toward more
humane treatment of animals has won a whopper of a shift. That's
because Burger King has announced that all of its eggs and pork will
come from cage-free chickens and pigs by 2017.
The decision by the world's second-biggest fast-food restaurant
raises the bar for other companies seeking to appeal to the rising
consumer demand for more humanely produced fare.
Burger King uses hundreds of millions of eggs and tens of millions
of pounds of pork annually. The decision could represent a
game-change in the egg and pork supply business as a huge new market
has opened up for humanely raised food animals. Already 9 percent of
the company's eggs and 20 percent of its pork are cage-free.
Earlier this year, McDonalds and Wendy's announced that they have
asked their pork suppliers to outline their plans for elimination of
gestation crates without setting a timetable.
The issue of the treatment of pigs raised for pork has recently
developed. This year, Smithfield Farms and Hormel committed to
ending the use of gestation crates by 2017.
By The Associated Press
Soil moisture
supplies improve in Minnesota
April 24, 2012
SAINT PAUL - Above-average precipitation has improved soil
moisture supplies across Minnesota's farm country.
In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture said Monday that topsoil moisture was rated four percent
very short, 21 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and six percent
surplus as of Sunday.
That compares with 14 percent very short, 34
percent short, 49 percent adequate, and three percent surplus a week
earlier.
Spring wheat planting is 84 percent complete, compared with zero
percent at this point last year when the state had a soggy spring,
and 17 percent for the five-year average.
Eleven percent of corn is planted, compared with none last year and
a 12 percent average. Sugarbeet planting is 45 percent complete,
compared with zero last year and a 13 percent average.
By The Associated Press
Wet
weather hampers corn planting in Iowa
April 24, 2012
DES MOINES - Iowa farmers are off to slow start in
planting corn as cool, wet weather hampers the progress.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says nine percent of Iowa's corn
crop is now planted, behind the five-year average of 16 percent.
Less than one percent of the soybean crop is in the ground.
The USDA says last week's weather was unfavorable for planting, and
farmers are waiting for fields to dry out. However, the rain
improved soil moisture, with topsoil at 88 percent adequate or
surplus. Subsoil moisture also improved.
Temperatures ranged from the upper 20s to the 70s The report says
normal rainfall during the week, just shy of an inch, was exceeded
in the northern half of Iowa and came up short in the southern half.
By The Associated Press
Farmers could soon be planting corn
April 21, 2012
RICE - Agronomists say this year features the earliest
opportunity in recorded history for corn planting.
Farmers have been itching to plant and if the weather favors them it
could help make up for last year. According to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, corn produced on average 21 fewer bushels per
harvested acre in 2011 than in 2010.
University of Minnesota Extension agriculture expert Dan Martens
urged farmers to wait until at least this past Wednesday before
planting.
Bruce Olson plans to soon plant 500 acres of corn and another 100 of
soybeans on his farm near Rice. He's never had his corn in the
ground earlier. He tells the St. Cloud Times he had a "super
crop" two years ago when he was done planting in April.
By The Associated Press
Fertilizer plant to clean up chemical spill
April 18, 2012
WASHINGTON, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says
a fertilizer plant in Washington is cleaning up after releasing
herbicides and farm chemicals into a creek.
The DNR said Wednesday an employee of the Liqui-Grow plant was
rinsing out totes that contained chemicals in an area designed to
hold runoff. When the storage area filled, the DNR says the employee
pumped the contaminated water to the ground and it ended up in a
storm sewer that empties into a tributary of a creek.
The company estimates at least 400 gallons reached the tributary.
Employees flushed the storm sewer with clean water Wednesday and
collected contaminated rinse water.
The problem came to the DNR's attention after a resident reported a
strong chemical odor and milky white color in his neighborhood
stream Tuesday evening.
By The Associated Press
Minnesota
farmers continue planting at rapid rate
April 18, 2012
SAINT PAUL - Minnesota farmers continue spring planting at a
torrid pace, despite a temperature cool-down last week.
According to the USDA's Minnesota crop-weather report Tuesday,
spring wheat planting is 56 percent complete, well ahead of the
five-year average of 6 percent.
Oats planted were 77 percent complete. That compares with 3 percent
last year and 14 percent average. Nineteen percent of the state's
oats already have emerged.
Barley planting is 35 percent complete, with 8 percent of the
state's barley emerged.
Farmers already are 27 complete preparing land for corn, with 7
percent of corn planted. Sugar beet planting is 24 percent complete.
Temperatures last week fell well below freezing in several areas of
the state for the first time since early March. Statewide, five days
were suitable for fieldwork.
By The Associated Press
Meat plant owner defends horse slaughter plan
April 15,
2012
ROSWELL, N.M. - The owner of a Roswell, N.M., slaughterhouse is
defending his plan to become the first plant in the nation since
2007 to handle horses after an outcry from politicians and animal
activists.
In interviews with the Roswell Daily Record and the
Albuquerque Journal on Friday, Valley Meat Co. owner Rick De Los
Santos says he's trying to revive his failing business and that what
he proposing is legal.
De Los Santos says the horses he plans to process are being
slaughtered anyway in Mexico and his operation would be overseen by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and meet much higher standards.
The company's application for federal inspections triggered an
outcry when it became public Friday, with New Mexico Gov. Susana
Martinez calling on the USDA to deny his application.
Organic farmers hope for boost with rivals' labels
April 14,
2012
HARTFORD, Conn. - Many organic farmers are pushing for state laws
that require labeling of genetically modified food from industrial
producers because it could help the farmers' sales.
Eighteen states are considering such legislation, even though no
study says genetically modified food is unhealthy or unsafe. Many
legislators say labeling would simply give consumers more
information about what they're eating.
Several organic growers say their business benefits from increased
consumer scrutiny of agribusiness and rising demand for locally
grown food. They say labeling would establish a bright line between
their products and those of big growers.
Connecticut lawmakers were the first to advance a measure out of a
committee last month, but avoided taking sides in the argument about
whether genetically modified food has an impact on health.
Legislators say they want to provide more consumer information.
By The Associated Press
Small grain planting advances in Minnesota
April 10,
2012
SAINT PAUL - Small grain planting is advancing at a strong
pace in Minnesota, aided by warm, dry weather.
In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture reported Monday that spring wheat advanced 22
percentage points to 25 percent planted, compared with none last
year and one percent for the five-year average.
Oats advanced 31
points to 49 percent planted, compared with none last year and a
five
percent average. Barley advanced 12 points to 18 percent planted,
compared with none last year and a two percent average.
Four percent of Minnesota's oats have emerged, while one percent of
the state's barley has emerged.
Statewide average temperatures were 9.7 degrees above normal last
week. Weekly rainfall ranged from 0.36 inches in east-central areas
to none in the southwest.
By The Associated Press
Guilty plea entered to stealing steers
April 6,
2012
MONTEVIDEO - A Montevideo man has pleaded guilty to stealing
steers from a Madison feedlot.
A total of 23 steers were taken from Robert Ludvigson's farm on
Jan. 29.
Richard Kenneth Nelson pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing
stolen property.
Investigators found the missing cattle, worth about $40,000, at
livestock auctions in Pipestone and Benson, with Nelson's name
listed as the seller. When confronted, authorities said Nelson
admitted to selling the animals, but said they were his.
Nelson faces up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
By The Associated Press
Some processors label beef containing 'pink slime'
April 5,
2012
DES MOINES - Some beef processors plan on labeling beef
containing the meat product commonly called "pink slime."
The USDA says it has received applications for such labeling for the
first time and plans on granting approval after it checks labels for
accuracy.
The USDA says the labeling is a voluntary initiative by companies
who want to inform consumers.
Some processors who provide the ammonia treated trimmings plan to
identify ground beef containing the product with a label that says:
"Contains Lean Finely Textured Beef" or a similar statement.
Tyson Foods, which buys it and uses it in some products, says
controversy surrounding the product has increased demand for beef
without it.
A spokesman says more people also have recently expressed interest
in buying ground beef with the product in it.
By The Associated Press
Early planting starts in parts of Minnesota
April 3,
2012
SAINT PAUL - Some farmers already are planting in central and
southern Minnesota, thanks to the mild, dry winter and record warmth
in March.
In its first weekly crop-weather report for Minnesota this season,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers expect full-scale
fieldwork to begin on April 12. That's seven days ahead of average.
Spring wheat was three percent planted as of Sunday, oats were 18
percent planted and barley was six percent planted. That compares
with zero percent for those crops last year and for the five-year
average.
Three percent of land was prepared for corn and one percent was
prepared for soybeans.
Statewide average temperatures were 10 degrees above normal last
week. Rain helped replenish some soil moisture, but the southern
third of Minnesota continues to undergo a severe drought.
By The Associated Press
Corn, soybean farmers worried about dryness
April 2,
2012
ROCHESTER - Minnesota corn and soybean farmers are preparing to
seed their fields, even as concerns mount over whether the unusually
warm weather left enough moisture to yield a decent crop.
The Post-Bulletin of Rochester says a number of counties
are dealing with abnormally dry conditions. Farmers in those areas
are wondering whether the soil has retained enough moisture.
Bruce Schmoll grows corn and soybean near Claremont, in Dodge
County. He says his area got little major rainfall since last summer
and little snow this winter. He says he's concerned about dry
subsoil.
Fritz Breitenbach is with the University of Minnesota Extension.
He says it's hard to predict how the summer will shape up. He says
history doesn't provide consistent clues about summer moisture
following a dry spring.
Beef firm donated to candidates
April 2,
2012
DES MOINES - The main producer of the lean beef trimmings
that critics call "pink slime" has donated more than $800,000 to
state and federal political candidates over the past decade.
On Sunday, the Des Moines Register detailed
the donations that Beef Products Inc. has made.
The company's product made from beef trimmings is under scrutiny
because of public concerns about the ammonium hydroxide it uses to
treat the meat, which the company says kills bacteria.
Executives and employees at BPI have given at least $546,500 to
candidates for state office in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota
and Texas. And the company's owners Eldon and Regina Roth have given
$274,250 to congressional and presidential candidates since 2008.
Nearly all of that $820,750 — except for $28,400 — went to
Republicans.
By The Associated Press
Minnesota farmers to plant record corn acres
March 31,
2012
SAINT PAUL - Minnesota farmers intend to plant a record number of
acres of corn this spring.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Minnesota farmers intend to plant an
estimated 8.7 million acres of corn, up seven percent from last year. Nationally,
corn acreage is projected to be the highest since 1937.
Minnesota farmers appear to be switching acres to corn from soybeans and wheat
to take advantage of corn's higher profitability. They plan to plant 6.9 million
acres of soybeans, down 3 percent from last year, and 1.4 million acres of
spring wheat, down 10 percent.
Coupled with news of tightening grain supplies, Friday's national Prospective
Plantings report sent corn, wheat and soybean prices soaring. The report is the
season's first official survey of what farmers intend to plant in the spring.
By The Associated Press
Raw
milk quarantine lifted
March 31,
2012
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A statewide quarantine on raw milk products from a
Northern California dairy is over, though state health officials are still
investigating.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture on Thursday lifted the ban on
products from Claravale Farm of San Benito County, one of two raw milk dairies
in the state.
The company voluntarily stopped distributing its products March 19 after tests
showed campylobacter bacteria in its cream.
The bacteria can cause cramping and diarrhea. To date no illnesses have been
attributed to the dairy's products; however, the state Department of Public
Health is still testing to see whether reported clusters of campylobacter
illnesses are tied to the non-pasteurized milk.
Tests recently conducted at the dairy show it meets state sanitation
requirements to resume production and bottling.
By The Associated Press
AgStar offers grants to support education
March 30,
2012
MANKATO - The AgStar Fund for Rural America, a corporate giving
program of AgStar Financial Services, is proud to once again offer
grants to support the purchase of equipment for agriculture
classrooms. A total of $30,000 is available to schools in our 69
county service area in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.
Schools can receive up to $2,500 to fund equipment for high school
agriculture education programs. “Offering this grant program to ag
classrooms is important to AgStar because we believe that education
is the first step to helping students realize the vitality of
agriculture in the world,” said John Monson, Chair of the Fund for
Rural America. “Schools are especially strapped for funding in this
area and we at AgStar want to help in every way possible to make
sure the next generation is being educated about a topic so close to
our hearts.”
Applications considered for funding must be
submitted online. Applications
are accepted during the month of April. High school agriculture
programs located in one of the 69 counties within AgStar’s local
service area are eligible to apply if they have not received a grant
from AgStar in the past two years.
Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than
$3 million to organizations working to improve the future of rural
America. Support must align with the Fund’s mission of “enhancing
life in agriculture and rural America.”
Governors tour plant to see
'pink slime'
March 30,
2012
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. - Governors of three states toured a
Nebraska plant that makes "pink slime" in a bid to persuade
grossed-out consumers to accept the processed beef trimmings as
safe.
The governors of Texas, Iowa, and Kansas — and lieutenant governors
in Nebraska and South Dakota — toured the main Beef Products Inc.
plant to see how the textured beef product is made.
The politicians spent about 20 minutes witnessing the production in
a separate room. Then they donned hair nets and goggles for a
walking tour of the South Sioux City, Neb., plant. They did not
taste the product.
The company suspended operations at plants in three states this week
amid criticism that the product is an unappetizing example of
industrialized food production.
The product meets federal food safety standards.
By The Associated Press
Minnesota farmers had record profits in 2011
March 29,
2012
SAINT PAUL - A new report finds Minnesota farmers enjoyed record
profits last year.
The survey of nearly 2,400 Minnesota farms finds median net farm
income reached a record $123,000 last year, up 1 percent.
According to the report, higher grain prices and more profitable
livestock operations helped improve the 2011 numbers. But stressful
weather and lower crop yields limited the gains
Dairy farmers reported median net farm income of $91,000, up from
$68,000 the year before. The median is the midpoint, where half the
farm incomes in the survey were higher and half were lower.
The numbers were compiled by the University of Minnesota and the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
The annual report was released Wednesday.
Governors to tour plant where 'pink slime' is made
March 28,
2012
SIOUX FALLS - Governors and lieutenant governors from at least
four states are planning to tour the lone remaining Beef Products
Inc. plant in operation as a sign of support for the company.
Beef Products Inc. announced Monday that it was suspending
operations at three of its four plants around the country amid a
public outcry over concerns about the low-cost beef filler that has
become known as "pink slime."
Company spokesman Rich Jochum says the governor or lieutenant
governor from Iowa, Texas, South Dakota and Nebraska will tour the
South Sioux City, Neb., plant Thursday ahead of a scheduled news
conference.
The ammonia-treated additive known by the industry as "lean, finely
textured beef" has been used for years but recently became a target
of activists seeking to have it banned.
Water landscapes now, but go easy on lawns
March 27,
2012
SAINT PAUL - Homeowners still need to help their trees and lawns
make up for record soil moisture deficits to offset damage done by a
dry fall and winter.
Recent wet weather is providing needed moisture to parched soils,
but isn’t enough to pull the state out of its moderate to severe
drought classification, according to University of Minnesota
Extension climatologist Mark Seeley.
For more information,
click here.
Fast-food chain
changes treatment of animals
March 23,
2012
DUBLIN, Ohio - Fast-food chain Wendy's Co. is changing the way it treats
chickens and pigs used in its food in an effort to be more humane.
The company's animal welfare council announced Friday that one of its chicken
suppliers has started using a low-atmospheric pressure system that renders the
chickens unconscious before the birds are handled by plant workers. The process
is criticized by some animal welfare groups, but replaces the industry standard
practice of stunning chickens with electricity.
Wendy's is also working with its U.S. and Canadian pork suppliers to eliminate
the use of sow gestation stalls over time. Animal rights groups say the
tightly-packed stalls are inhumane and other fast-food chains have also reduced
their use of them.
The Dublin, Ohio-based company operates more than 6,500 restaurants around the
globe.
By The Associated Press
Iowa man cited for nor disposing of dead goats
March 22,
2012
OELWEIN, Iowa - A northeast Iowa man has been charged for not disposing of
dead goats found on his farm near Oelwein.
The Fayette County sheriff's office filed charges on Wednesday against
33-year-old Tracy Rupright.
He faces five simple misdemeanor counts of duty to dispose of dead bodies after
a complaint about dead animals and a horrible smell. An investigation showed
there were several dead goats and they had been there for some time.
Under Iowa law, a carcass has to be disposed of within 24 hours.
Officials say no animal neglect is suspected because it appears the goats died
of natural causes.
By The Associated Press
Some spring wheat planted in warm weather
March 21,
2012
MINNEAPOLIS - At least a few wheat farmers in the Upper Midwest are taking
advantage of the unusually mild and dry winter to start planting in mid-March.
While there's still a chance of a bad frost, they're taking a calculated risk
that the early start will let them reap a bigger crop this summer.
Mike Bergeron started sowing wheat on his farm near Fisher on St. Patrick's Day.
One week earlier, he was still snowmobiling. He says he and his business partner
have already planted 450 acres on their way to 1,200.
Experts say the early start is as rare as it sounds, but the gamble may pay off.
Corn and soybean farmers are still sitting tight, however. Early planting
doesn't normally benefit their crops, which are more vulnerable to frost.
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Transition and estate planning seminars scheduled
March 20,
2012
AMES - Concerned about transferring family or business assets,
drafting or updating will or trust documents, powers of attorney and
health care directives?
ISU Extension and Outreach is offering a program to answer
questions about these and other transition and estate planning
topics. The cost of the seminar is $20 per person. Pre-registration
is requested by March 22 contact the Extension Office listed with
the site.
- March 26, 9-11:30 a.m.: Boyden, Demco Community Center
Registrations to ISU Extension - O'Brien County at 712-957-5045
- March 26, 1:30-4 p.m.: Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co. Extension
Bldg Registrations to ISU Extension – Dickinson County –
712-336-3488
- March 27, 1:30-4 p.m.: Sac City, Sac Co. Extension Bldg
Registrations to ISU Extension – Sac County – 712-662-7131
- March 27, 6:30-9 p.m.: Cherokee, Cherokee Co. Extension Bldg
Registrations to ISU Extension – Cherokee County – 712-225-6196
- March 28, 9-11:30 a.m.: Emmetsburg, Palo Alto Co Extension
Bldg Registrations to ISU Extension - Palo Alto County at
712-852-2965
Presenting at this seminar is Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension
Farm and Business Management Field Specialist will present the
latest information in transition and estate planning.
Key topics will include: property ownership, wills, federal estate
tax, Iowa inheritance tax, gifting, trusts, healthcare planning, and
gifting strategies.
“Families and Individuals often fail to plan properly – or not at
all – to protect assets that they have built over a lifetime of hard
work,” says O’Rourke. “This may simply be due to confusion about how
to build a plan to safeguard and transfer assets – both during
lifetime and after.” This seminar will answer questions and get you
started on putting together a plan for lifetime transitions and
estate planning. O’Rourke will also talk about how families can
start conversations about transitioning a farm or other small
business, including building a team of professionals to assist in
the process.
“While a basic will can provide a good estate plan for many
estates, a trust may be more appropriate for some families and
individuals” says O’Rourke. The meeting will highlight the current
status of estate tax law and provide information to assist
participants to work more effectively with their professional and
legal advisors.
O’Rourke earned her J.D. from the University of South Dakota School
of Law and is admitted to practice in Iowa, South Dakota and
Nebraska. Her areas of expertise include agricultural law,
employment legal issues, land and leasing issues, estate and
succession planning.
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Klobuchar's staff to hold updates on Farm Bill
March 18,
2012
SAINT PAUL - Senator Amy Klobuchar
has announced that three key members of her staff will be traveling
throughout Minnesota to hold a series of regional meetings seeking
the public’s ideas and suggestions for the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill.
|
Klobuchar serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, which
has responsibility for writing the legislation.
Tuesday-Thursday, Klobuchar’s staff will hold nine regional
meetings in southern and western Minnesota. Additional
meetings in central and northern Minnesota will take place
in the next few weeks.
“In
2008, I worked with House Agriculture Committee Chairman
Collin Peterson to pass a strong farm bill that has helped
our farmers remain the most productive in the world while
also protecting them in hard times,” said Klobuchar. “My
goal with the 2012 Farm Bill is to further strengthen
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Amy Klobuchar |
Minnesota’s
rural economy and ensure that our farmers continue to have the
support they need to thrive and succeed. I want to hear from
Minnesotans on how best to achieve this goal.”
The three members of Klobuchar’s
staff who will convene the series of meetings are: Chuck Ackman and
Andy Martin, her Minnesota-based outreach directors for agriculture
and rural issues, and Adam Durand, her Washington-based legislative
assistant specializing in agriculture and rural issues.
At each meeting, they will provide an overview on process and the
expected timeline for the 2012 Farm Bill. They will also lead a
discussion with audience members about what they would like to see
in the legislation.
Below is the itinerary for the regional meetings:
Tuesday, March 20
- 9:00 a.m. - Legion Room,
Chatfield Center for the Arts (405 Main Street South, Chatfield)
- 11:30 a.m. - Austin Public
Library (323 Fourth Avenue NE, Austin)
- 3:30 p.m. - Room E-121, South
Central Technical College (1920 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato)
Wednesday, March 21
- 8:30 a.m. - Biotechnology
Advancement Center, U of M Extension Regional Office (1527
Prairie Drive, Worthington)
- 11:00 a.m. - Marshall-Lyon
County Public Library (201 C Street, Marshall)
- 3:00 p.m. - AgCountry
Auditorium West Central Research & Outreach Center, University
of Minnesota (46352 State Highway 329, Morris)
Thursday, March 22
- 8:30 a.m. - Northern Plains
Potato Growers Association (420 Business Highway 2, East Grand
Forks)
- 11:30 a.m. - Room A-117, Oscar
Bergos Center, Moorhead State University (1900 28th Avenue
South, Moorhead)
- 3:30 p.m. - Room 209, Main
Building, Alexandria Technical & Community College (1601
Jefferson Street, Alexandria)
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Spring update to be held in Lamberton
March 18,
2012
LAMBERTON - Agriculture may be
fighting against macroeconomic headwinds over the next few years and
face several key turning points as a result.
Brian Buhr, Head of the Department
of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota and keynote
speaker will address this topic at the 2012 Spring Farm Management
Update on Wednesday, March 28 at the University of Minnesota
Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton.
Don Nitchie, UMN Extension Educator
in Agricultural Business Management will also present the financial
and production trends for the 2011 analysis of the Southwest
Minnesota Farm Business Management Association. Nitchie states,
“There are several important trends emerging in the financial
positions and cost structures of SW Minnesota farms with serious
implications for future decision-making.” This year, analysts who
assist in analyzing member farms, will also discuss issues that are
on producers minds in a panel discussion titled “Beyond the
Numbers”.
Breakout sessions later in the day will offer attendees the
opportunity to select from topics such as; Planning for Your
Long-Term Care; the Big Five Input Pricing Decisions; Labor and
Employee Management; Income Tax issues; International Agriculture
and The Minnesota Ag & Rural Leadership Program; and also a PC MARS
accounting system “Hints and Tips” session.
This educational event is jointly sponsored by the Southwest
Minnesota Farm Business Management Association, University of
Minnesota Extension and the UMN Southwest Research and Outreach
Center. Pre-registration is available until March 22 for a reduced
fee. Late registration at the door is available for a higher fee.
For registration information and a detailed program agenda go to
their website. Contact Barb
Lenning at (507) 752-5094 for questions or more information.
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Corn growers seek Agvocate applicants
March 18,
2012
SHAKOPEE - The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is
currently seeking applicants for the Agvocate (Advocates for
Agriculture) program set to begin June 1.
The program is designed to create a
learning environment to encourage the development of young leaders
in Minnesota agriculture. Currently in its third year, the program
also strives to create awareness of issues facing corn farmers and
develop young leaders into skilled advocates for these issues.
Through hands-on experiences,
networking with agricultural professionals and social media avenues,
Agvocates will be given opportunities to become actively involved
with corn and agriculture, and develop communication, leadership and
advocacy skills. Among other benefits of the program, Agvocates will
receive a $3000 scholarship.
Eligible candidates must be between
the ages of 18 and 24 and be enrolled in a two-year or four-year
post-secondary education or training program. Among others,
participants will be required to attend MCGA-related events,
advocate through social media platforms and write an article for
MCGA’s Corn Talk publication.
Applications and program information
can be found online or by
calling the MCGA office at 952-460-3603. The deadline to apply is
April 20. Agvocates will be selected by May 25.
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Iowa farmland value up 11 percent
March 16,
2012
CEDAR RAPIDS - The value of Iowa farmland is up by nearly 11
percent over the last six months as commodity prices remain strong.
The Gazette of Cedar Rapids says a survey of real estate
agents shows the value of good quality farmland jumped by 10.8
percent to an average of $9,370 an acre.
The Iowa Farm and Land Chapter No. 2 of the Realtors Land Institute
released its survey on Thursday. The gains varied from 9 percent in
northeast Iowa to nearly 13 percent in southwest Iowa from Sept. 1
to March 1.
Troy Louwagie of Hertz Farm Management says several factors are
driving up values, including high commodity prices and low interest
rates. He says land sales have been strong in the last six months,
and the survey results are not surprising.
By The Associated Press
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Warm weather gums up maple syrup season
March 16, 2012
SAINT PAUL - The unseasonably warm weather is gumming up
Minnesota's maple syrup season.
Maple trees produce sap only when the weather alternates between
freezing and thawing temperatures. The sudden onset of warm weather
has disrupted that cycle.
Stu Peterson, the president of the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers
Association says he usually produces 250 gallons of syrup each
spring on his farm near Fergus Falls. But he hasn't collected any
sap this year. And it takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one
gallon of syrup.
Peterson says he's hearing similar stories from many parts of the
state.
He says he could still have a crop if he gets a freeze cycle in the
next several days. But once the tree buds bloom, the season is over.
By The Associated Press
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States oppose low-carbon fuel rule
March 14, 2012
LINCOLN, Neb. - Seven states are opposing California's effort to
enforce a state mandate that critics say discriminates against fuels
produced outside California.
A federal judge ruled in December that California's Low Carbon Fuel
Standard regulation violates the U.S. Constitution's commerce clause
by discriminating against ethanol made in the Midwest. California
has appealed and asked to be allowed to enforce the rule while its
appeal is pending.
The regulation doesn't mandate using specific fuels, but assigns
higher carbon scores to fuels made outside California. Groups
challenging the regulation say it conflicts with federal standards
and rules out fuels from other states.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning said Monday the regulation
threatens $1.3 billion in annual ethanol sales from Nebraska alone.
Also filing challenges are Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North
Dakota, and South Dakota.
By The Associated Press
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