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2024 CPM Short Course building company culture
Erin Mies, co-founder of People Spark Consulting, is a firm believer that businesses do not need more complicated processes, but instead need help uncovering the root issues to find the solutions to their problems.
Through her 20 years of experience coaching and consulting executives and leaders, she’s earned a reputation for understanding a business’ needs and finding creative and practical solutions that allow them to move forward. Mies will bring that straightforward and respectful approach to the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers’ 2024 Short Course and Trade Show plenary sessions.
Full story.
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Scholarship applications due Nov. 1
The MCPR Board of Directors will award their annual scholarship at the CPM Short Course and MCPR Trade Show Dec. 10-12. Applicants must be Minnesota residents and entering their second, third, or fourth year of a four-year institution of higher learning or, the second year of a two-year institution of higher learning. Completed 2024 applications must be postmarked by Nov. 1, 2024.
View the application here.
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Ag groups hit the Hill
From Politico
A number of influential agriculture groups recently held fly-ins and launched ad campaigns to remind lawmakers — and their constituents — of the need for a new farm bill this year.
Full story.
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Harris won the debate — and it wasn’t close
From Politico
Kamala Harris showed up — and then some. The vice president’s performance against Donald Trump, in which she repeatedly baited him and knocked him off balance, was a far cry from President Joe Biden’s disastrous June debate. And it gave Democrats the role reversal they had hoped for after their switch at the top of the ticket.
Full story.
Related News: CNN Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Harris outperformed Trump onstage
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Speaker Johnson pulls stopgap funding plan over widespread GOP opposition
From The Hill
House GOP leadership scrapped plans for a Wednesday vote on the party’s stopgap funding plan, as its chances of passage sank in recent days amid opposition from defense hawks, hard-line conservatives and moderates.
Full story.
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Special Counsel Smith files new indictment in Trump’s Jan. 6 case
From Minnesota Reformer
Adjusting for the U.S. Supreme Court’s sweeping presidential immunity decision last month, U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a fresh federal indictment alleging former President Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election in his favor. Smith emphasized the private nature of Trump and his co-conspirators’ alleged conduct and omitted allegations that Trump pressured Department of Justice officials to overturn election results.
Full story.
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MN Department of Revenue clarifies retail delivery fee
On July 1, a retail delivery fee of 50 cents took effect on certain transactions involving retail delivery in Minnesota. MCPR reached out to the Department of Revenue for clarification on the fee.
The retail delivery fee imposed by chapter 168E applies to transactions involving retail delivery in Minnesota where charges for tangible personal property subject to sales tax and charges for clothing (clothing is not subject to sales tax) equal to or exceeding $100. Note there are also a number of exemptions provided by Minn. Stat. § 168E.05.
Because a retail delivery, as defined by Minn. Stat. § 168E.01, subd. 12, is limited to tangible personal property subject to sales tax and clothing, charges for chemicals exempt under the materials consumed in agricultural production exemption provided by Minn. Stat. § 297A.69, subd. 2, would not be included when determining whether the transaction equals or exceeds the $100 threshold.
For more information, view guidance from the Sales and Use Tax Division here.
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EPA responds to industry concerns with risk assessment methodologies
From The Daily Scoop
Toward the end of July, ARA joined an agricultural industry coalition letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlining concerns with the agency’s process for assessing potential risks that pose to endangered species and their critical habitats. EPA has now responded to the letter, agreeing that “there is always room to improve every type of risk assessment.”
Full story.
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Crop nutrition: The outlook for fall fertility remains strong
From CropLife
For ag retailers counting on crop nutrition application, it’s almost an annual rite of passage. Usually going into the spring season, there’s cautious optimism that market conditions will be just positive enough to spur strong demand among grower-customers. In the end, most ag retailers take a “middle of the road” attitude towards their fertilizer application outlook.
Full story.
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Sustainable aviation fuel facility coming to Rosemount
From Twin Cities Business
A new sustainable aviation fuel facility in Rosemount is expected to be completed by the end of next year, a group of Minnesota business leaders announced last week.
It’s being built at Flint Hills Resources’ existing Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount. The company, which is owned by Koch Industries, is working with Delta Air Lines to develop the facility.
Full story.
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Vilsack addresses biofuels tax credit concerns at Growth Energy Summit
From Brownfield
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says he’d like to see guidance from his agency on the 45Z tax credit issued before the end of December.
During the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit, Vilsack said he’s pressing his agency to finish its standards for what qualifies in the credit as soon as possible.
Full story.
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Minnesota Department of Agriculture expands weather data network
From FarmProgress
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the North Dakota Ag Weather Network, has begun the installation of weather stations across the agricultural regions of the state to provide local, real-time weather information.
The data provided is intended to help farmers with tasks such as irrigation management, pesticide application, manure and fertilizer application, and other practices. Weather data including rainfall, temperature, wind and humidity are provided, along with disease risk assessments, growing degree days, daily estimates of crop water use and air temperature inversions.
Full story.
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How nitrogen fertilizers react with the soil
From No-Till Farmer
Anhydrous ammonia (82% N) is applied as a gas from high pressure tanks through tubes and anhydrous knives that inject ammonia (NH3+) six to eight inches below the surface to minimize (NH3+) escape into the air. Ammonia reacts quickly with water in the soil and changes to ammonium (NH4+) form. As a positively charged ion it bonds with negatively charged clay and organic matter. Ammonium is not subject to movement with water.
However, as a gas at normal temperatures, some anhydrous ammonia can be lost during and after application. Soil physical conditions affect the amount of loss. If a soil is hard or full of clods or too wet the slot behind the applicator blade will not seal allowing some ammonia loss to the atmosphere. This loss is often observed as white puffs as the applicator is being pulled by a tractor across the field. In no till conditions, sealing wings or closing disks are often added to the anhydrous applicator knives to help seal the anhydrous slot created by the knife to prevent the loss of N.
Full story.
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Farmer’s common sense + artificial intelligence = big potential
From AgWeb
Using artificial intelligence (AI) as an assistant to answer questions has the potential to increase your impact, but to get there, you must separate potential from unrealistic promises.
At this point, large language models (LLMs) and other machine learning are simply prediction machines based on training neural network models (think hand-held calculator). The prominent LLMs, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta, have used public information to build continual feedback loops and predict the next word in a sentence, the next action based on a question or how to reorganize information. They’re highly dependent on public information and detailed instructions. Like a calculator, you won’t get the right answer if you don’t put in exactly the right query.
Full story.
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Jury rules in favor of Bayer's Monsanto in Philadelphia trial over Roundup
From Reuters
Bayer's Monsanto unit said on Wednesday that a Philadelphia Court jury reached a verdict in the Young Roundup product liability trial in their favor.
Bayer bought Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018, and has faced extensive and costly litigation over whether Monsanto's Roundup weed killer causes cancer.
Full story.
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MCPR promotes safe handling and storage of treated seed during harvest
As harvest begins across the country, MCPR reminds farmers to take the proper steps to ensure treated seed does not enter the grain supply. It’s always important to completely remove, and properly dispose of, all treated seed from containers and equipment used to handle harvested grain.
For educational resources on treated seed stewardship, including videos, graphics, one-pagers and FAQs, visit: seed-treatment-guide.com/.
Learn more about treated seed benefits and safety at www.betterseed.org/treated-seeds/.
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ARA: Take action on California Advanced Clean Fleets waiver request
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is calling on you to send a message to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to underscore the negative impact that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) waiver request for its Advanced Clean Fleets regulations would have on agricultural retailers and other industries operating heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Why? Because it would mandate them to replace their entire fleet with zero emission vehicles by 2035!
Click here to use ARA's grassroots advocacy tool to send your message with a customized line about why this issue is important to your business and farmer customers. It only takes a few minutes to make your voice heard by federal regulators.
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2024 Policy Papers
View policy papers from CropLife America and the Ag CEO Council at the links below. The CropLife America paper outlines the organization's specific issues, including ESA, PRIA, and defends the EPA risk assessment process for pesticides, while the Ag CEO Council outlines a wide range of agricultural issues, including pesticides, and how the next administration can ensure a vibrant agricultural economy.
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MN Corn Growers Association submits ethanol letter to the editor
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) has responded to an inaccurate Minnesota Star Tribune piece by columnist Karen Tolkkinen that says it’s time to “rethink ethanol.” (“The time is ripe to rethink ethanol,” Sept. 1).
Ethanol has positive impacts in greater Minnesota, MCGA Government Relations Committee Chairman Richard Syverson wrote in a letter to the editor, offering well-paying jobs and a valuable market for locally grown corn. Additionally, Syverson wrote, Minnesota corn farmers have become more efficient over the past 20 years, significantly increasing yields even though acreage planted to corn has held relatively flat.
Full story.
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Minnesota Crop Production Retailers
1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001
(763) 235-6466
mcpr-cca.org
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