October 7, 2024

Navigating unstable markets: MCPR Trade Show to feature ag finance expert

Amid a challenging and dynamic period in the agricultural sector, there’s no better time to strategize how to weather the input market storm. That’s why the 2024 Crop Pest Management (CPM) Short Course and Minnesota Crop Production Retailers (MCPR) Trade Show is welcoming agribusiness expert Erik Hoegemeyer to its Dec. 10-12, 2024, event at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel.

“I could not be more excited to be a part of the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers annual conference,” Hoegemeyer said. “This outstanding event will be a great chance to discuss how the ever-changing global events and dynamics may affect the agricultural input sector.”

Full story.

MCPR board director nomination period now open

MCPR is seeking candidates to run for the board of directors.

Serving on the MCPR Board is not just a responsibility, but a rewarding opportunity to advocate on behalf of agriculture and the issues that are important to MCPR members. It's a chance to be part of key discussions about the future of ag retail in Minnesota and to expand your network of professional contacts. 

There are five seats up for election in 2025, including District 2 Director, District 4 Director, Custom Applicator, Technology Rep and an at At-large position. Elected leaders would serve a three-year term. If you are interested in a District 2 & 4 seat, view the district map to determine which zone best fits based on your coop’s location.

Interested individuals must complete the candidate questionnaire by Nov. 1: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/23KXDF6

Elections will be completed by electronic voting. Ballots will be emailed to MCPR members on Nov. 15, with ballots due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. The key contacts in our database for each member organization will receive a ballot form they can use to cast their votes. If your coop has multiple locations, each location with a paid membership will be eligible to vote.

Please contact Nominations Committee Chair Arnie Sinclair at arnie.sinclair@titanmachinery.com with questions on running for the board.

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.

MCPR connecting peers through special interest groups

It’s about who you know, not what you know – at least to an extent. 

To build a stronger industry and facilitate networking, the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers (MCPR) is hosting special interest groups (SIG) during the 2024 CPM Short Course and MCPR Trade Show.  

“The real value of any of these ag conferences is the networking and so we’re trying to create some additional networking opportunities,” MCPR Executive Director Lee Helgen said.  

The purpose of SIGs is to allow people to connect with colleagues from different agriculture retailers and share experiences. With four SIGs to select from – Women in Ag, Emerging Leaders, Sales Agronomists and Conservation Programs – there is an option for everyone. And MCPR is open to additional SIG topics; if you have topic suggestions, please contact Helgen at lee@mcpr-cca.org. Each SIG will be led by an experienced professional, who will facilitate conversation and connections.  

Full story.

Farm bill discussion moves to lame duck session

From Brownfield

A Democratic member of the U.S. House Ag Committee says she’s disappointed farm bill negotiations are being pushed to the lame duck session of Congress.

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13th) tells Brownfield…

“I know that was a bipartisan agreement to punt this until after the election.” She says, “The farmers in my district, the working families in my district, deserve more leadership, I think, in that we need to get a farm bill done, a bipartisan farm bill.”

Full story.

Judge releases prosecutors' evidence against Donald Trump in Jan. 6 case

From Yahoo

The federal judge overseeing the election interference case against Donald Trump has released prosecutors' 165-page motion detailing a trove of evidence against the former president.

Full story.

ADM to idle Iowa soy facility during record US harvest

From Reuters

ADM's facility in Des Moines will close for maintenance work from mid-October through November, the company said in response to a query by Reuters this week.

"We forecasted for this project and have plans in place to ensure we can meet customer needs throughout this time frame."

The facility in the No. 2 U.S. soybean state crushes about 5 million bushels of soybeans a month on average, brokers said. That figure would represent about 12% of Iowa's monthly soybean crush, according to U.S. government data.

Full story.

Biden-⁠Harris Administration sparing no resource to support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, the Administration continues to mobilize a robust, intensive, and whole-of-government response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. As life-saving response efforts continue in heavily impacted areas, the Administration is also working to ensure communities across the Southeast have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.

Full story.

• Related Article:Farm Bureau website with resources and how you can help

Federal assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors surpasses $137 million as Biden-Harris Administration continues response and recovery efforts in Southeast and closely monitors storm in the Gulf

FEMA continues its robust response and recovery efforts in the Southeast following the devastation caused by Helene. Federal assistance for survivors has now surpassed $137 million, with FEMA’s mission remaining steadfast in helping communities recover and rebuild. 

Full story. 

Port workers return to work

From FarmFutures

Striking longshoremen at Gulf and East Coast ports are returning to work. On Thursday night, The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance announced a tentative deal on wages. The two sides agreed to extend their master agreement until Jan. 15, 2025. Over the next three month, both parties plan on returning to the bargaining table and negotiate the remaining outstanding issues.

Full story. 

The Scoop Podcast: Unlocking conservation agriculture: Retailer's role at the ground level

From The Daily Scoop

New research from Syngenta, in partnership with America’s Conservation Ag Movement, outlines the key obstacles in adopting conservation agriculture practices, and how the path of least resistance forward is via ag retail.



Dayna Gross, manager of programs and partnership for sustainable and responsible business team at Syngenta, discusses how the company’s goal is to make changes as easy as possible for the grower. And she shares why the retailer is a critical part in engaging farmers to make whatever their next step is.

Full story.

Enhanced application accuracy, focus on plant health among key growth drivers for micronutrients market

In Hollywood, the popular actress of the day is called the “It Girl.” Translate that to crops and the focus on micronutrients could be considered the “It Product.” As the understanding surrounding these plant health products grows, the ag community shines its spotlight on micronutrients.

Full story.

U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News 

• Weekly Digest - October 1, 2024 

EPA proposes to expand public access to information on PFAS "Forever Chemicals" 

From Morning AgClips 

On Oct. 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add 16 individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories representing more than 100 individual PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). It would also designate them as chemicals of special concern so they must meet more robust reporting requirements, including reporting even for small concentrations. This proposed expansion of TRI would advance the commitments of the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to address the health and environmental impacts of PFAS by promoting pollution prevention, and informing the public about environmental releases of these so called “forever chemicals.” 

Full story.

MDA Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division announcements 

Notice of submission of rules proposed for adoption without a public hearing to the office of administrative hearings 

Adoption of rules governing restricted use pesticide display; Sales and distribution; Record keeping, Minnesota administrative rules, 1505.1100 

Minnesota Crop Production Retailers

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