In this Edition
Capitol Corner - Federal
- USDA Invests $83 Million in Boosting Fertilizer Availability
Industry Related News
- Minnesota Drought-free for the First Time in 2 Years
- Harvesting Insights: How AI Crop Scouting Is Driving Decisions
- Should You Apply Supplemental Nitrogen Fertilizer this Year?
- Mitigating Agricultural Nitrate Losses
- What Keeps The Fertilizer Market Interesting
- Growmark Acquires Chemical Manufacturer AgraForm
- As Farmers Look to Cut Costs for 2025, Machinery and Technology Could Take the Biggest Hit
- John Deere Layoffs: What We Know So Far
- Judge Cuts Bayer $2.25 Billion Roundup Verdict to $400 Million
Partner News/Announcements
- NEW Field Day Workshops for Pesticide License Recertification
- U of MN Extension – Minnesota Crop News
- ResponsibleAg Launches Newly Redesigned Website
- Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy Revision Kickoff Event
- Register for EPA’s Webinar on Mitigation Menu Website to Protect Nontarget Species from Pesticide Exposure
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USDA Invests $83 Million in Boosting Fertilizer Availability
Significant federal dollars are going toward fertilizer as grants are being awarded through USDA’s Fertilizer Production and Expansion Program (FPAP). According to USDA, the grants are intended to boost domestic fertilizer production, strengthen competition and lower costs for U.S. farmers.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to bolstering the economy and increasing competition for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and small business owners,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The investments, made possible through the Commodity Credit Corporation, will increase domestic fertilizer production and strengthen our supply chain, all while creating good-paying jobs that will benefit everyone.”
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Minnesota Drought-free for the First Time in 2 Years
Most of Minnesota has been running major rainfall surpluses this spring, eliminating drought for the first time since June 2022. It was the wettest spring in five years for many.
Drought has vanished in Minnesota
What a difference a spring can make. In mid-March, nearly 75 percent of the state was in at least moderate drought. Now, nowhere in the state is classified in drought. A sliver of north-central Minnesota remains abnormally dry.
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Harvesting Insights: How AI Crop Scouting Is Driving Decisions
Artificial intelligence (AI) remains light years away from displacing the farmer or agronomist in the agronomic decision-making process, but when it comes to crop scouting, AI is proving to be useful.
Today there are a handful of mobile-based crop monitoring programs that use AI and machine-learning algorithms to convert data sets into actionable insights — and there’s more on the way.
Last year, Ethan Noll’s team at Ag Partners Cooperative, a retailer in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, alerted its growers to potential yield robbing sulfur deficiencies in corn. They also used weed mapping to direct spot-applied herbicide treatments based on weed type.
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Should You Apply Supplemental Nitrogen Fertilizer this Year?
By: Brad Carlson, Extension educator
Recent wet weather has led many farmers to question the fate of applied nitrogen and whether they need to apply supplemental N fertilizer. For most farmers, some N has been lost, however, probably not enough to warrant an additional application. Understanding the processes involved is key to understanding whether you need to add supplemental N.
Once applied and incorporated, the loss processes of N are water based. These processes depend on the N being in the nitrate (NO3) form. Nitrogen in the soil converts to nitrate through a biological process that is dependent on temperature and time. In most cases the majority of applied N is now in the nitrate form (the exception being anhydrous ammonia applied later in the spring). The two loss processes of concern are:
- Leaching: where nitrate travels with water as it drains to the bottom of the soil profile.
- Denitrification: another biological process where the N is converted back to N2 gas and lost to the atmosphere.
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Mitigating Agricultural Nitrate Losses
Ag Water Stewardship: This complex issue has multiple options for producers.
Reducing nitrogen losses from cropland is often a conversation filled with blame, demands and broader agendas. But if we stick to the basics, don’t we all agree that it is a good idea? For farmers, it may be solely an economic goal, striving to save money on fertilizer. Others may be concerned about drinking water or the seasonal hypoxic area in the Gulf of Mexico.
Research underway across the Midwest makes it clear that there is no single answer to reducing nitrate losses from agriculture, but research is helping identify a list of practices that can contribute. Basic nutrient management practices in the field make a difference. Cover crops, dual cropping and perennials can be effective at changing nitrogen cycling. Beyond the field, nitrate can be removed through engineered water treatment practices.
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What Keeps The Fertilizer Market Interesting
Veronica Nigh, senior economist at The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), shares the indexes she’s watching to gauge the direction of the global fertilizer markets. TFI represents more than 200 companies across the fertilizer industry.
While TFI does not collect pricing information from members, she watches the industry via the indexes and industry reports to discuss a short-term outlook for products as well as some things to watch in the long-term. Here are five takeaways from her recent interview on The Scoop podcast:
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Growmark Acquires Chemical Manufacturer AgraForm (Press Release)
Growmark has signed a letter of intent to acquire AgraForm, an agrichemical manufacturing company located in St. Louis.
"AgraForm employs a talented team and is a very well-run operation with strong commitments to safety, environmental responsibility, and customer service. Growmark is pleased to be part of continuing their legacy of success,” said Growmark COO Wade Mittelstadt.
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As Farmers Look to Cut Costs for 2025, Machinery and Technology Could Take the Biggest Hit
In the past month, commodity prices experienced a bit of a rebound. Nevertheless, ag economists think net farm income could fall more than expected — and tighter margins often mean farmers scale back on certain purchases. From using generic products to slowing technology upgrades, here's where ag economists think farmers will look to save.
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John Deere Layoffs: What We Know So Far
Farm Journal has learned via public records from the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) that nearly 60 salaried Intelligent Solutions Group (ISG) employees based out of the Urbandale, Iowa, office will be laid off in the first week of August. John Deere reported the initial number of ISG layoffs at 58 employees.
John Deere ISG leads the design and manufacture of custom, integrated electronic solutions for Original Equipment Manufacturers. The division was created in 1987 and was based in Fargo, North Dakota, before moving to Urbandale.
Additionally, John Deere has confirmed with News 8 WQAD in Moline that over 120 production workers in Moline will be placed on indefinite layoff effective June 28.
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Judge Cuts Bayer $2.25 Billion Roundup Verdict to $400 Million
NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters) - A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday slashed a $2.25 billion U.S. verdict against Bayer (BAYGn.DE), opens new tab to $400 million for a Pennsylvania man who said he developed cancer from exposure to the company's Roundup weedkiller.
A jury in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas found that John McKivison's non-Hodgkins lymphoma was the result of using Roundup for yard work at his house for several years, and it ordered Bayer to pay $250 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages.
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Partner News/
Announcements
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NEW Field Day Workshops for Pesticide License Recertification
Do you need to recertify in 2024 for categories C or H? UMN PSEE has a new opportunity for you that doesn't involve sitting in a classroom!
Our agenda includes a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities:
- Equipment calibration and application techniques
- Drift management
- Mixing, loading and safety systems
- Storage and container cleaning
- Integrated Pest Management and pollinator protection
- Pest identification and management tools
- Chemical updates
- Safety scavenger hunt and demonstrations
- Drone application technology
- Seed Treatment demonstrations and safety
Date: July 10,2024
Location: UMN Southern ROC in Waseca, MN
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U of MN Extension – Minnesota Crop News
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ResponsibleAg Launches Newly Redesigned Website
“The website redesign creates a user-friendly browsing experience that enables visitors to quickly learn about ResponsibleAg and its value to a variety of agriculture businesses,” says ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock about the recently re-launched ResponsibleAg website.
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Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy Revision Kickoff Event
State leaders, Q & A, public participation
Monday, June 10th
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Virtual
We are committed to including the public in the update process, beginning with this event where leaders from multiple state agencies will share how their organizations are contributing to the update.
The revision and update process will take more than 1 year to complete. We will keep you updated through web postings, emails, and informal information sessions like this event. The public will be invited to submit comments on the draft revision during the second half of 2025.
Minnesota established a statewide Nutrient Reduction Strategy in 2014 to guide our state’s efforts to reduce nutrient pollution.
Who should attend: Anyone interested in the state’s efforts to reduce nutrients in our waters, including partners from agricultural, business, wastewater operators, environmental communities, and the general public.
Format: Information session with Q&A.
How to register: No advance registration required. Join via Zoom link.
Please share this announcement with others who might be interested.
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Register for EPA’s Webinar on Mitigation Menu Website to Protect Nontarget Species from Pesticide Exposure
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public webinar on June 18, 2024, from 1-2 PM ET to provide an overview of its mitigation menu website that will describe mitigation options for reducing pesticide exposure to nontarget species from agricultural crop uses.
In November 2022, EPA issued an update to its Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan. The update included a plan to develop a menu of mitigation measures that the Agency would propose to include on pesticide product labeling, if needed, to reduce pesticide exposures from runoff and erosion. The Workplan Update, which details steps EPA is taking to better protect non-target species earlier in processes for Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) actions, explained that including the menu on pesticide labeling will improve flexibility for pesticide users to choose mitigations that work best for their situation, while still achieving an appropriate level of mitigation.
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Does your organization or company have news or a press release that you would like to share with the MCPR’s membership? If so, please contact MCPR - lee@mcpr-cca.org.
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Minnesota Crop Production Retailers | P: 763.235.6466
www.mcpr-cca.org
1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001
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