August 19, 2024

MCPR seeking candidates for annual Board of Directors election

The Minnesota Crop Production Retailers Association (MCPR) will soon begin seeking nominations for candidates for the 2025 Board of Directors Election. Serving on the board will provide individuals with the opportunity to advocate on behalf of agriculture and the issues that are important to our members.

There are five seats up for election in 2025, including District 2 Director, District 4 Director, Custom Applicator, Technology Rep and at At-large position. Elected leaders would serve a three-year term.

The seats are currently held by the following individuals:

• District 2 Director – Dale Johnson
• District 4 Director – Andy Oeding
• Custom Applicator – Brian Meyer
• Technology Rep – Kyle Kraska
• At-large – Scott Barnes

“Serving on the MCPR Board of Directors is a great opportunity to build your network of professional contacts and be informed on the latest developments affecting the ag sector,” said Arnie Sinclair, MCPR vice chair and Nominations Committee chair.

The nomination period for candidates begins Oct. 1, 2024, and ends on Nov. 1, 2024. Ballots will be emailed to MCPR members on Nov. 15, 2024, with ballots due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.

Please contact Arnie Sinclair by email at arnie.sinclair@titanmachinery.com if you are interested in running for the board or if you would like to make a nomination.

Save the date!

The 2024 CPM Short Course and MCPR Trade Show will be held Dec. 10-12 at the Minneapolis Hilton hotel. 2023 trade show exhibitors recently received exhibitor information. Further details and registration will be released after Labor Day.

AFREC shares research, tours refinery at August meetings 

The Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) met at the University o Minnesota (UMN) Landscape Arboretum – “Farm at the Arb” – on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 at UMN’s UMore Park. As part of the agenda, several AFREC researchers shared updates on their research projects and discussed the data and findings. 

AFREC Coordinator Bruce Montgomery reviewed the legislative session and discussed the changes to AFREC’s membership and the amended priorities. The Minnesota Crop Production Retailers (MCPR) have two designated seats on the Council but, due to the legislative changes, will now have just one. Thfe Council will add representatives from the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture commission will appoint members with expertise in public health and water quality. The Council will make these changes in February to facilitate onboarding for the new members.   

AFREC anticipates about $1.2 million will be available for allocation as part of its next funding round. Given the number of long-term research projects underway, the Council anticipated a limited amount of funding for new projects. MCPR recommended funding for an ag retailer survey to gather statewide data on farm practices, including cover crop implementation, commercial nitrogen and phosphorus applications, implementation and manure practices similar to the surveys conducted in Iowa and Illinois. 

The group also toured the “Farm at the Arb” and learned more about their educational outreach, including an overview of production agriculture demonstration plots and examples of emerging precision ag tools and technologies.  

As part of the meeting agenda at UMore Park in Rosemount, the Council was able to walk through several of the research plots and see how the research trials are progressing with crops in the field. The group also toured the Flint Hills Refinery and learned about the production of ammonium thiosulfate (ATS). Both tours were informative and provided great opportunities to see connections between fertilizer production and the benefits for crop health and productivity.

So much rides on the farm bill

From Star Tribune Editorial Board

This story may require a subscription to read.

Here’s what’s on the table in Washington this time around and how it touches on all of our lives.

Full story.

From Agri-Pulse: Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, NCGA's Harold Wolle and NFU's Rob Larew at Farmfest  AgriPulse interviewed Minnesota farmers, senators and farm group leaders at Farmfest about Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, and senators about their farm bill outlook with the election a few short months away.

View video.

Vilsack optimistic on 45Z guidance getting completed

From Brownfield

The U.S. Ag Secretary says work continues to develop guidance for sustainable aviation fuel tax credits. Tom Vilsack says he’s optimistic the Department of Treasury can identify practices that result in guidance for the 45Z tax credit that works better for U.S. producers.

Full story.

Facing push from restless conservatives, speaker mulls March CR 

From Roll Call

Government spending will be at the top of Congress’ to-do list in September, before members head back out to the campaign trail in October. With the end of the fiscal year arriving Sept. 30 and slim odds of any full-year spending bills being signed by then, Johnson, R-La., is looking at a continuing resolution that would go into March, avoiding a Christmas pileup of unfinished legislation and potentially giving Republicans more leverage over the final outcome.

Full story.

Bank of America CEO says research team ‘does not have any recession predicted anymore’ 

From The Hill

The CEO of Bank of America, Brian Moynihan, said that the financial giant no longer believes a recession is on the horizon for the American economy, hinting that the Biden administration and Federal Reserve have achieved a “soft landing” after inflation troubles in recent years.

Full story.

All fertilizer prices lower for third consecutive week

From Progressive Farmer

Average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were down again during the first full week of August 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. This marks the third week in a row that prices for all fertilizers fell just slightly. DTN designates a significant price move as anything 5% or more.

Full story.

Fertility costs are in focus as farmers consider cutting back

From AgDay TV From eye-popping numbers a few years ago, fertilizer prices are now below their recent record highs. However, some products have started to push up in price and that trend may continue through fall because of lower production from some key global exporters.

Full story.

How Landus Is blazing a new path in ag retail

From The Daily Scoop

There’s a cooperative in Iowa blazing a new path and pursuing a transformative vision of tomorrow’s ag retailer. Many of the moving pieces and final details remain to be sorted out still, but the bottom line is this: Landus is viewing everything it does through the perspective of its farmer-owners.

Full story.

High capacity spray drone lands with Midwest aerial application firm

From AgWeb

Pyka has announced Heinen Brothers Agra Services as its first Pelican Spray customer in the United States.Heinen Brothers (Seneca, Kansas) is one of the largest privately owned aerial application service providers in North America. Pyka manufactures and distributes Pelican Spray, a high-capacity, autonomous electric crop protection application aircraft.

Full story.

What’s behind the expected growth in the agricultural drone market

From Global Ag Tech Initiative

The influx of subsidies, grants, and regulatory frameworks facilitating the use of agricultural drones is contributing to increased affordability for farmers. 

Full story.

Considerations for soybean aphid management

From University of Minnesota Extension

This is becoming an “interesting” year for soybean aphid management. After a couple years of limited infestations due to drought, soybean aphid infestations are widespread in 2024. As many people are considering if and how to manage this pest, we provide here some information to consider.

Full story.

Bayer wins victory in US legal battle against Roundup cancer claims

From Reuters

Bayer won a legal victory in its fight to limit liability from claims that its Roundup weed killer causes cancer, as a U.S. appeals court on Thursday said federal law shields the German company from a lawsuit by a Pennsylvania landscaper.

Full story.

Drought, war across the world hurting Minnesota farmers, agribusinesses

From Star Tribune

This story may require a subscription to read.

Low water in the Panama Canal and violence in the Red Sea join a host of other pressures on American farmers and exporters.

Full story.

Ensure your vision of operation Is 20/20 with an agronomist

From CropLife

Just like regular appointments with your optometrist often present opportunities to discuss improvements to your physical vision, seasonal calls with a trusted agronomist or equipment expert can improve your agronomic vision and reveal resource management improvements. Consider a few questions you can revisit each season when discussing zone’s prescriptions and spraying application.

Full story.

MDA notice of future rulemaking

On Aug. 8, 2024, MDA sent out a letter providing notice of rulemaking related to MN Administrative Rule 1505.1100. If you have concerns or comments that MCPR should share with MDA, please contact MCPR Executive Director Lee Helgen at lee@mcpr-cca.org.

U of MN Extension – MN Crop News 

• Weekly Digest – August 15, 2024

Reducing nutrients in waters 

Nitrate, phosphorus, and total nitrogen 

Excessive nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, pose a significant problem for Minnesota’s lakes and rivers as well as downstream waters including the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, and the Gulf of Mexico. Nutrients enter our lakes and rivers from agricultural and urban lands and in discharges from wastewater treatment facilities. When nutrient levels exceed natural conditions, they can cause excessive algae growth, low levels of oxygen, toxicity to aquatic life, and unhealthy drinking water. 

Minnesota established a statewide Nutrient Reduction Strategy in 2014 to guide our state’s efforts to reduce nutrient pollution. In 2024, the strategy is being updated with a revised strategy expected in late 2025. 

Full story.

About ARA Rising Stars 

The ARA Rising Stars program, sponsored by Atticus, empowers member companies to recognize and develop top performers with unique professional development and networking opportunities. 

This year's theme, which will guide the award program's video contest, is Empowering Leadership through the Next Frontier. 

Submit nominations using the online form by Sept. 20. 

• More than one individual from the same company may be nominated; 
• Nominee(s) must have 15 years of experience or less in the ag sector; and 
• Nominee(s) must be employed by an ARA member company in good standing. 

Submit nomination.

Minnesota Crop Production Retailers 1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001

(763) 235-6466

mcpr-cca.org