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July 15, 2024
In this Edition

Less than a Month until the 2024 MCPR Annual Golf Outing!

MCPR Update

Capitol Corner - Federal
  • What Is Project 2025? GOP Plan Raises Retirement Age, Ends Overtime Pay, More 
  • Jim Jordan’s Latest Hearing Was A Frightening Look At American Authoritarianism 

Industry Related News
  • Inflation Cools Again In June In Another Positive Sign For U.S. Economy
  • CHS: Global Trade Winds Continue Shifting Away From American Farmers And Cooperatives 
  • Final Rule on Chlorpyrifos Is In With These Important Exceptions 
  • In Today’s Ag Economy, Who Pays for Sustainable Food Production? No one. 
  • Cargill and University of Minnesota Partner on Winter Camelina and Pennycress Research
  • Tar Spot Disease Pressure Is In the Forecast Now
  • 5 Ways To Set Yourself Up for Spraying Success 
  • Why a ‘Just-in-Case’ Inventory Strategy Is the New Normal for Ag Retailers 
  • Openai Says There Are 5 'Levels' For AI To Reach Human Intelligence — It's Already Almost At Level 2 

Partner News/Announcements  
  • U of MN Extension – MN Crop News 
  • MDA: No Need to Go it Alone 
  • High Acetochlor in MN Surface Water
Less than a Month until the 2024 MCPR Annual Golf Outing!
Wednesday, August 7th 2024

The 2024 MCPR Annual Golf outing will be held Wednesday, August 7th at The Wilds Golf Club, located in Prior Lake, MN.

Registration and lunch at the The Wilds Golf Club will begin at 10 AM. After lunch the shot gun start will take place at 11 AM. Dinner and awards will conclude the days event.

Pricing:

Single Registration: $220 per golfer includes: golf, cart, lunch, dinner, refreshment ticket and raffle ticket.

Foursome Registration: $880. Includes same as above for each golfer.
Interested in Sponsoring? 
Sponsorships will go fast!

2024 Sponsorship Opportunities

DINNER SPONSOR - $1800 – ONLY 1 STILL AVAILABLE!
Includes: signage in clubhouse, signage at sponsored hole with company logo, opportunity to host game/contest at sponsored hole, recognition in the onsite handout, linked large logo on the MCPR website, and foursome.

LUNCH SPONSOR - $1500  ONLY 1 STILL AVAILABLE!
Includes: signage in clubhouse, signage at sponsored hole with company logo, opportunity to host game/contest at sponsored hole, recognition in the onsite handout, linked medium logo on the MCPR website, and foursome.

SNACK & BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR - $1200 – ONLY 1 STILL AVAILABLE!
Includes: signage in clubhouse, signage at sponsored hole with company logo, opportunity to host game/contest at sponsored hole, recognition in the onsite handout, linked small logo on the MCPR website, and foursome.

HOLE SPONSOR WITH FOURSOME - $1000
Includes: signage at sponsored hole with company logo, recognition in the program, company name on MCPR website, opportunity to host game/contest at sponsored hole, and foursome.

HOLE SPONSOR - $500
Includes: signage at sponsored hole with company logo, recognition in the onsite handout, company name on MCPR website and opportunity to host game/contest at sponsored hole.
MCPR Update
We are super excited about our upcoming golf event at the Wilds Golf Course. It looks like a beautiful course. The event should provide great opportunities for networking and connecting with friends. Some of us are even taking time to hit the driving range to work on our game.  

The MCPR short course planning team is actively developing content and recruiting presenters for the 2024 CPM SHORT COURSE and MCPR TRADE SHOW, held December 10th—12th at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel. We will have keynote presentations on global trends that impact agriculture, leadership and change management, technology in ag, and emerging trends in ag retail services. We encourage member organizations to send their leadership teams and those emerging leaders looking to grow in their profession. We are confident that attendees will gain valuable insights from industry experts and benefit from networking. We are also updating our sponsorship package and offerings. The team at the Hilton shared several creative opportunities for sponsors to have visibility and connect with attendees.   
Capitol Corner
FEDERAL
What Is Project 2025? GOP Plan Raises Retirement Age, Ends Overtime Pay, More 
By Stephanie Raymond, WWJ Newsradio 950, July 9, 2024, 3:04 pm 
There's a plan to drastically reshape the federal government to benefit the political brand of Donald Trump, created by people closely allied with his campaign and funded by the influential Heritage Foundation. 

Project 2025 outlines a comprehensive plan for a government-in-waiting that aims to reshape the federal bureaucracy and implement a vision aligned with Trump-era conservatism. The plan involves crisscrossing America to recruit thousands of individuals and create a pool of talent that are ready on day one to execute goals outlined in the guide. 

The handbook from the conservative Heritage Foundation and more than 100 like-minded groups looks to strengthen the power of the White House and limit the independence of federal agencies.  

[Read More
Jim Jordan’s Latest Hearing Was A Frightening Look At American Authoritarianism 
The Ohio Republican invited executives before the House Judiciary Committee and then pressured them to spend more on advertising on far-right media platforms. 

At a hearing Wednesday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan gave American businesses yet another preview of the authoritarian rule they can expect to run rampant if Donald Trump is elected president. 

Ever since Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, the Ohio Republican has used his leadership position to press private businesses to bend to conservatives’ will. Under the guise of opposing government weaponization against conservatives, Jordan has weaponized his role as Judiciary chair to lean on social media companies to try to prevent them from stopping the spread of hate speech and disinformation online — efforts that Jordan and his allies revealingly paint as anti-Republican attacks. And as an extension of that crusade, they’ve targeted corporations that they dubiously claim have avoided advertising with conservatives. 

[Read More
Industry Related News
Inflation Cools Again In June In Another Positive Sign For U.S. Economy 
The Consumer Price Index fell 0.1% in June and the measure that strips out energy and food costs rose by the same amount, the Labor Department said on Thursday. 

Why it matters: The new data shows price hikes slowed sharply last month — offering relief to American consumers and bolstering the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. 

By the numbers: CPI rose 3% in the 12 months through June, compared to the 3.3% in May. 

The core measure that excludes volatile energy and food prices rose 3.3% in the past year—the smallest 12-month increase since April 2021. 

In May, overall CPI was flat for the month, while core CPI rose 0.2%. 

[Read More
CHS: Global Trade Winds Continue Shifting Away From American Farmers And Cooperatives 
Inver Grove Heights-based CHS warned Wednesday that exports face "strong competition." 

American farmers and cooperatives are facing more competition in vital export markets around the world, the nation's leading ag cooperative wrote in a filing Wednesday. 

Inver Grove Heights-based CHS said its profits were squeezed this spring amid "waning demand for U.S. grain and oilseed as global trade flows continue to shift away from the U.S. and to other markets around the world." 

"Currently, there is strong agricultural production around the world," said John Griffith, executive vice president of agriculture at CHS. "The increased supply of grain and oilseed has led to strong competition for demand globally; buyers truly have a variety of options for where they source these commodities, not just from the U.S." 

[Read More
Final Rule on Chlorpyrifos Is In With These Important Exceptions 
The EPA recently announced changes to several chlorpyrifos products. The organization has issued a final cancellation order for: 
  • Corteva’s Dursban 50W in Water Soluble Packets 
  • Three Gharda chlorpyrifos products 

An amendment to the existing stocks provisions will also go into effect for: 
  • Two Liberty chlorpyrifos end-use products 
  • Three Winfield chlorpyrifos end-use products 

Chlorpyrifos has been in use as a pesticide since 1965 but has undergone review several times over the past couple of decades. Certain uses of it have been phased out over time, buffer zones have been increased and worker safety requirements have been enhanced. 

Most recently, in August 2021, EPA issued a final rule revoking all tolerances of the chemical – effective Feb. 28, 2022. This stopped the use of chlorpyrifos on all food and animal feed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit then issued a ruling in Nov. 2023 that reinstated tolerances. 

At this time, all the chlorpyrifos tolerances have been reinstated and are currently in effect, however, EPA expects to issue a proposed rule this year to revoke the tolerances associated with the chemical – though there will be 11 exceptions. 

[Read More
In Today’s Ag Economy, Who Pays for Sustainable Food Production? No one. 
It’s no secret that today’s $4 corn coupled with higher food prices are shaping investment decisions made at the kitchen table and in the board room. While U.S. agriculture aims to reverse the impact of climate change and defend its leadership position on the global market, analysts predict that margins will win when pitted against ESG commitments across the food supply chain. So, who will pay for the innovation we need to address climate change impacts? 

If we look to farmers, they frankly can’t afford to bet the farm on sustainable alternatives relying on poorly established market mechanisms to capture promised value. Alternatively, consumers speak first with their checkbook and only secondarily with their conscience: cheaper wins over greener. According to Nielson IQ, “global warming and the environment” are among the top ten concerns of U.S. consumers, however rising food prices still holds first place. Access to healthier food is vastly lower in the middle and eastern parts of the U.S. where “food deserts” have become quite common, even in top producing states. 

[Read More
Cargill and University of Minnesota Partner on Winter Camelina and Pennycress Research 
Cargill and the Forever Green Initiative, a research platform in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota, are partnering to study winter camelina and domesticated pennycress. The collaboration will focus on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper Midwest. 

Cargill will bring expertise in crop improvement — including trait discovery, high throughput genotyping, genomic selection, trait development and cellular biology — to rapidly advance the diverse genetics from the University of Minnesota. The application of these technologies will accelerate the development and commercial release of improved varieties of camelina and pennycress. 

[Read More
Tar Spot Disease Pressure Is In the Forecast Now 
As farm country heads into pollination season, weather conditions have Ken Ferrie concerned about tar spot erupting into a significant yield robber this season. He says he is fielding a lot of grower calls from across the Midwest on the topic. 

“Farmers are asking, ‘Is it here, should we spray, when should we spray?’” Ferrie says. “My response is, ‘Do you see tar spot in your fields.’ Finding it is where you need to start.” 

As you scout and think you've found the disease, an easy way to confirm what you’re dealing with is to take your hand and try to wipe the tar spots off the corn plants (gloves are recommended). If it’s truly tar spot, it won’t wipe off the plants. If you can remove the spots, you’re likely dealing with insect poo. 

[Read More
5 Ways To Set Yourself Up for Spraying Success 
A successful spraying season can be one of the star players of a bumper crop year. To get the most out of your spraying window, Mark Duffing, application product manager at Ziegler Ag Equipment, shares five practices to employ. 
  1. Preseason preparation 
  2. Daily maintenance 
  3. Tips and nozzles 
  4. Chemical control 
  5. Seek out additional resources 

[Read More
Why a ‘Just-in-Case’ Inventory Strategy Is the New Normal for Ag Retailers 
Talk with anyone who regularly follows agriculture, and they are likely to point out that fundamental shifts in the way business is conducted tends not to change all that radically from year to year. For the most part, ag retailers and their grower-customers take their time, slowly implementing these kinds of changes. 

Except now, that is. Visiting and talking with agricultural companies recently, I see a definite market alteration in the works, from just-in-time to just-in-case. 

[Read More
Openai Says There Are 5 'Levels' For AI To Reach Human Intelligence — It's Already Almost At Level 2 
The ChatGPT maker believes it's on the first level, which is conversational AI 

OpenAI is undoubtedly one of the leaders in the race to reach human-level artificial intelligence — and it’s reportedly four steps away from getting there. 

The company shared a five-level system it developed to track its artificial general intelligence, or AGI, progress with employees this week, an OpenAI spokesperson told Bloomberg. The levels go from the currently available conversational AI to AI that can perform the same amount of work as an organization. OpenAI will reportedly share the levels with investors and people outside the company. 

[Read More
Partner News/
Announcements  
U of MN Extension – MN Crop News 
MDA: No Need to Go it Alone 
Around the MDA: Counselors, resources available to help farmers through tough times. 
In Minnesota, we understand the hard work and sacrifices it takes to be a farmer, and we appreciate our family, friends and neighbors who help feed us and the world. 

While farming is a deeply rewarding career and way of life, we also know that farming can be incredibly stressful at times. Ag producers deal with flooding, drought, unpredictable markets, livestock disease, isolation and many other pressures. Our farmers deserve the best care there is, and I’m grateful to have two of the highest-caliber mental health professionals serving their needs. 
Ted Matthews and Monica McConkey are experienced, ag-focused mental health providers. Together, they have helped hundreds of Minnesota farmers and farm family members and are available to you. 

Matthews recently received a Minnesota Rural Health Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in providing mental health support to farmers across the state at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference in June. McConkey was named Rural Mental Health Provider of the Year by the Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University-Mankato. 

The MDA cares about you, your farms and your families; we are here to support you in any way we can. Learn more about all the resources that are available to help in times of stress, or contact the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FARMSTRESS” to 898211. 

High Acetochlor in MN Surface Water
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) monitors rivers and streams throughout the state for many different pesticides. One pesticide that we have recently been detecting at elevated concentrations in rivers and streams is the herbicide acetochlor. Acetochlor products like Tripleflex, SureStart, Warrant, and Harness are commonly used in Minnesota to control weeds in crops like corn, soybeans, and sugarbeets. We’re reaching out to share our findings and to request your assistance to raise awareness about acetochlor water quality concerns and promote the MDA’s Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Acetochlor.

The MDA has recently been detecting acetochlor at concentrations near or above the Minnesota chronic water quality standard of 3,600 ng/L (≈ 3.6 ppb) across south central and southwestern Minnesota (see attached watershed map). The detection of acetochlor above the standard is a concern due to toxicity to aquatic organisms, including aquatic plants. These elevated levels, primarily observed during May and June, coincide generally with pre-planting or pre-crop emergence acetochlor applications and a corresponding rain event that generates surface runoff. If acetochlor levels exceed time-weighted state chronic standards multiple times, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency may designate the waterbody as impaired, triggering the development of a response plan to promote responsible pesticide use and possibly impose use restrictions. Currently, Silver Creek in Carver County is the only impaired waterway in the state for acetochlor.

We recognize the importance of acetochlor and want to preserve its availability for future use. The main things we are advocating for, to help keep acetochlor out of Minnesota surface water, are:
  1. Adopt water quality BMPs for acetochlor and general agricultural herbicide BMPs ;
  2. Consider using alternative herbicide active ingredients, especially early in the season when peak acetochlor runoff takes place. Examples of alternative active ingredients may include s-metolachlor (dual magnum), dimethenamid-P (outlook) and pyroxasulfone (zidua) ;
  3. Consider using acetochlor later in the season as a residual herbicide with post-crop emergence application instead of pre-plant or pre-emergence application. Acetochlor herbicides have specific growth stage/height restrictions for post-crop emergence applications. For example, Warrant can be applied until the 8-leaf stage in sugarbeets and before the R2 stage in soybeans, whereas Harness can be applied until corn reaches 11 inches in height, and
  4. Soil-incorporate pre-plant acetochlor applications to the label-recommended depth. This could include moving a pre-crop emergence surface application to pre-plant incorporated application.

For more information about acetochlor monitoring and detections in Minnesota surface waters, please consult the Water Monitoring Reports and Resources. 
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Minnesota Crop Production Retailers | P: 763.235.6466
www.mcpr-cca.org
1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001