In this Edition
2024 MCPR Annual Golf Outing Registration Open!
MCPR Board Update
Capitol Corner- State
- Rep. Rick Hansen – Legislative Update / In the News
Capitol Corner - Federal
Industry Related News
- White Earth Nation Pauses Some Water Permitting Enforcement
- CropLife 100 Mid-Year Report: Gauging the ‘Hits’ and ‘Misses’ So Far in 2024 for Ag Retailers
- What Does The Future of Ag Retail Look Like?
- Nutrien Ag Solutions Sees Transformation Afoot For Ag Retail
- ‘Precision Ag’ Promised A Farming Revolution. What's Taking So Long?
- Sentera Launches Precision Weed Management Solution
- Digital Acreage Reporting is Here
- How To Capitalize On Carbon Credits: Avoid Possible Pitfalls And Mine Opportunities For A Potentially Lucrative New Revenue Stream
- Bayer's First Carbon Credits Are Issued, More On The Way: The Initial Results From The Bayer Carbon Program Are In – And They’re Significant
- Syngenta Opens Rights to Genome-Editing and Breeding Technologies to Boost Agricultural Innovation
- Climate-smart Constraints Could Dampen Sustainable Aviation Fuel Growth
- Why Farmers are Swapping Some Soybeans for Canola
Partner News/Announcements
- U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News
- New Round Of Funding Available For Continuous Living Cover Grants
|
|
|
|
2024 MCPR Annual Golf Outing Registration Open! |
|
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 2 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.
|
|
The MCPR Board of Directors held their annual board retreat and meeting at Breezy Point on June 12 & 13. The weather was great while we golfed with some passing storms in the evening. The board members enjoyed the Deacon’s Lodge Course.
The Board Meeting on June 13 was productive and provided a great opportunity for the board to plan for the year ahead. MCPR Fiscal Year runs June 1 to May 31. The board reviewed the FY 2023-2024 Financial Reports, which show a healthy positive balance due to great membership renewal, good short course attendance, and strong sponsor support. Building on that success the board reviewed and approved the FY 2024-2025 budget. The budget includes a few adjustments with modest increases for the retailer and associate member dues, and a slight increase in exhibit booth sponsorship cost. The budget also recognizes increased event costs for the golf event and the short course/trade show. The budget reflects the transition to the new association management company (Ag Management Solutions). Overall, MCPR is in a good financial position and the board remains committed to the ongoing stewardship of the organization.
The board reviewed and approved MCPR applying to USDA-NRCS seeking grant funding to expand capacity for MCPR programs. The grant request would provide funding to conduct an ag retailer survey to gather data on farming and conservation practices, advance the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification program, and enhance efforts to recruit and retain Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) in Minnesota.
The Nominations Committee provided an update on the board seats up for election and the board discussed the process of using an electronic ballot to elect board members. The board reviewed the bylaws and discussed the process for allowing ample opportunity to nominate candidates and cast ballots. Each member organization is allowed one vote. In the coming weeks staff will send out an email requesting that members identify who will be completing the ballot. Please note multi-location retail members will need to identify a different individual to cast their vote for each location.
The events committee provided updates on the MCPR golf event and the Short Course/Trade Show. The golf event is planned for August 7 at the Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake. Registration opens at 10:00 am with a shotgun start at 11:00 am. The dinner and awards program are at the clubhouse at 4:00 pm. The MCPR Short Course/Trade Show planning is well under way. The program committee has identified topics including leadership, technology/AI, soil health/conservation programs, and global trends affecting production agriculture. Keep an eye on your email for more information about keynote speakers and registration coming shortly after the Labor Day holiday.
|
|
MCPR Board Member Networking at the Dockside by Pelican Lake |
|
MCPR Board Golf Outing at Deacon’s Lodge, Breezy Point |
|
“Glad we’re playing best ball.”
-MCPR Executive Director Helgen
|
|
Rep. Rick Hansen – Legislative Update / In the News
I also spent some time speaking to reporters at MinnPost about environmental and agricultural issues last week. I reiterated my support for a nitrogen fertilizer fee that would ensure that the polluters pay for the damage they cause to our soil and water. Though that bill didn’t pass this session, I will continue to advocate for a fairer model to deal with this issue.
As long as the general public pays for the cleanup, we’re never going to have changes in the practices and behavior of fertilizer over-application that are needed to reduce pollution and keep our drinking water safe.
I also spoke to MinnPost about the importance of avoiding “regulatory capture” in our agencies, where corporate and industry stakeholders hold influence on regulatory bodies through advisory committees and task forces. That’s been the Minnesota model over many years, the solution is to remember we work for the public, not the stakeholders.
|
|
Farm Bill Battles
NEW PLANS INCOMING: As we reported last week, Senate Ag Republicans are preparing to unveil their own farm bill plans in the coming days. They’re set to release that framework this week, according to two people familiar with the plans who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.
It will include policies similar to the GOP-led House farm bill which passed out of committee last month, with an emphasis on the farm safety net.
|
|
White Earth Nation Pauses Some Water Permitting Enforcement
On June 12, White Earth Nation announced they instructed White Earth DNR to enforce its water permitting ordinance for only new wells and pumps. In addition, White Earth Nation is increasing investment in research and analysis, developing projects on aquifers and groundwater flow, and producing a final report with recommendations by 2026. Lastly, White Earth Nation also asked for a regional task force focused on the seven-county region around the reservation to identify needs, conduct research, and develop new regulatory solutions.
This development is a positive step forward and provides farmers, municipalities, and residents additional clarity and certainty. Water quality and quantity is an important issue in northwestern Minnesota and throughout the state. AgriGrowth looks forward to engaging with White Earth Nation and other tribal nations to better understand and address water concerns with common sense solutions.
|
|
CropLife 100 Mid-Year Report: Gauging the ‘Hits’ and ‘Misses’ So Far in 2024 for Ag Retailers
Each year without fail, the growing season brings its share of trends that “hit” with grower-customers and those that “miss the mark.” In 2024, CropLife® magazine is building upon this phenomenon to chronicle the findings of our 8th annual CropLife 100 Mid-Year Survey.
As we have done each year since the inception of this survey, CropLife started out by asking the nation’s top ag retailers their overall outlook on the 2024 growing season based upon the market performance through the spring field work/planting time. This was accomplished by asking respondents to rate the year so far on a scale of one to 10 – with one being “worse than expected” and 10 being “better than expected.” And overall, the market is pleased with 2024. A little more than eight out of 10 (86%) survey respondents rated the year so far between a five and a 10.
|
|
What Does The Future of Ag Retail Look Like?
Ask Garrett Asmus about his role at the family owned and led Asmus Farm Supply, Inc. (AFS), and the third generation leader will say, “I’m a fireman. People come to me, and I help fix the problems.”
The can-do, solutions-oriented attitude is part of what’s shaping the up and coming wave of leaders of ag retail. Simultaneously, as farmer needs are evolving, technology is advancing, and business dynamics change, ag retail businesses and the leaders who are behind them are responding and trying to anticipate what will lead to their future success.
|
|
Nutrien Ag Solutions Sees Transformation Afoot For Ag Retail
What does the next generation of ag retailers look like? According to Rob Clayton, Senior Vice President of Retail North America at Nutrien Ag Solutions, he says the professionals in this industry will uphold a trifecta of characteristics: be tech savvy, passionate about the role, and keep the farmer’s best interest first.
“You can’t be an agronomist today that isn’t digitally enabled,” Clayton says. “Think about drones, selective spraying, and predictive weather forecasting. You have to be someone collecting data and then using the data to feed back to the grower for the best outcomes on a risk adjustment point of view.”
|
|
‘Precision Ag’ Promised A Farming Revolution. What's Taking So Long?
The prospect of precision agriculture has existed for decades, but many of the technologies and techniques that will enable it have been slow to catch on.
For 20 years, Pablo Sobron sought a better way to learn exactly what was in the soil, rock or any other substance on Mars.
Instead of sampling and laboratory analysis — the old way of soil testing — scientists began to use lasers and sensors to get high precision data quickly. Eventually, that led Sobron to think the same type of technology could work on Earth, particularly farms.
“The idea is to do exactly what we do on Mars, which is drive and, without stopping, get real time measurements of every square inch if you want to. As small as you want,” he said.
|
|
Sentera Launches Precision Weed Management Solution
Sentera, an innovative agriculture start-up specializing in scalable precision ag solutions, has announced the launch of an Early Access Program this summer. This initiative, in partnership with major agribusinesses and farmers, aims to preview Aerial WeedScout, Sentera’s advanced precision weed management solution. The Early Access Program is a strategic move to gather valuable feedback and build momentum for the 2025 commercial release of this breakthrough technology, in collaboration with key go-to-market partners.
The Aerial WeedScout platform redefines smart, sustainable farming and transforms precision weed management by enabling farmers and their advisors to quickly detect weeds as small as 0.25 inches across their fields. Utilizing its “know before you go” approach, the platform provides detailed, plant-level insights via precise weed maps prior to making weed management decisions, allowing for optimized chemistries and volumes in spraying. This ensures more effective and targeted herbicide use.
|
|
Digital Acreage Reporting is Here
USDA Modernizes FSA, RMA Acreage Reporting by Allowing Electronic Submissions in 2024
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (DTN) -- Nebraska farmer Quentin Connealy put his crayons and field maps away for good last spring, and instead submitted crop insurance acreage planted reports electronically. This spring, he'll file his Farm Services Agency acreage reports that way, too.
He spent an hour connecting his MyAgData account to his John Deere Operations Center last spring. He also used it to submit the required harvest reports for crop insurance last fall.
Using his actual planting and harvest data to complete the reports did more than simplify the paperwork: It improved the accuracy of his reporting, lowered his crop insurance premiums and will result in a higher, more accurate APH yield.
|
|
How To Capitalize On Carbon Credits: Avoid Possible Pitfalls And Mine Opportunities For A Potentially Lucrative New Revenue Stream
Carbon credits have been attracting fresh headlines and capturing the attention of more farmers than ever over the past year. But the history of carbon credits may be much older than you realize.
Arguably, the practice started as far back as 1988, when the World Resources Institute oversaw the first land-based carbon offset scheme as a philanthropic exercise.
It’s been a slow burn ever since, and the ag industry has been targeted in the ensuing decades as one of the best ways to offset carbon emissions through practices such as cover crops, no-till and much more.
|
|
Bayer's First Carbon Credits Are Issued, More On The Way: The Initial Results From The Bayer Carbon Program Are In – And They’re Significant
According to Nori, a carbon removal issuing program, registry and marketplace, over 125,000 regenerative tonnes from the program have been issued. These are the first credits to come from Bayer’s program and make up the largest issuance Nori has had since it was founded in 2017. The 125,000 regenerative tonnes issued are the result of these practices on 190,000 acres across the U.S.
“Being able to establish relationships like the one we have with Nori is essential to helping turn farmers’ regenerative agriculture efforts into tangible credits that can provide monetary value to these practices and further help stand up carbon markets,” said Leo Bastos, senior vice president and head of global ecosystem services at Bayer. “This squarely aligns with Bayer’s goal of scaling regenerative agriculture to help farmers produce more while helping restore the planet.”
|
|
Syngenta Opens Rights to Genome-Editing and Breeding Technologies to Boost Agricultural Innovation
Syngenta Group, one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies, will provide rights to selected genome-editing and breeding technologies for academic research globally, as part of its commitment to foster innovation and drive sustainability in agriculture. These rights are accessible through its innovation collaboration platform Shoots by Syngenta.
The rights to certain intellectual property are related to optimized CRISPR-Cas12a as well as to gene-editing enabled breeding tools. Through CRISPR gene-editing, it is possible to deliver an improved plant that does not include DNA from a different species – more quickly and efficiently than otherwise possible in nature or through conventional breeding methods.
|
|
Climate-smart Constraints Could Dampen Sustainable Aviation Fuel Growth
Corn growers looking for premiums must adopt cover crops, minimum-till and nitrogen efficiency practices to qualify.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is the best hope for decarbonizing a sector of U.S. transport that accounts for 11% of all transportation-related GHG emissions. Farmers who grow crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax credits may be eligible for premiums if they can lower their carbon intensity scores through climate-smart ag practices that include cover crops, minimum/no-till and nitrogen efficiency practices.
Ethanol plants – and the farmers who supply feedstocks – hope to cash in on new demand for SAF. But it won’t be a simple, straightforward process.
|
|
Why Farmers are Swapping Some Soybeans for Canola
Profits and soil health drive decision to plant canola over soybeans in the Midwest.
At a Glance
- Alternative crops like canola often have higher profit margins and lower inputs.
- Veteran and first-time canola growers discuss why they swapped from soybeans.
In the United States, soybeans play second fiddle to only corn. So why are some farmers swapping their soybeans in favor of untraditional canola? The answer might surprise you.
David Swenson, who farms between Caledonia, N.D., and Shelly, Minn., says the 2024 season will be the first time he swaps some soybean acres for canola. “We had some soybean fields we couldn’t get over that 30- to 35-bushel beans, and for whatever reason, we’ve been struggling,” he says. “We thought about what else we could do to get a little bit more of an income there.”
|
|
|
|
Partner News/
Announcements
|
|
U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News
|
|
New Round Of Funding Available For Continuous Living Cover Grants
Online applications are due July 15
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for a grant to develop enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous living cover crops and cropping systems in the early stage of commercial development.
Continuous living cover (CLC) refers to agricultural systems in which there are living plants and roots in the ground throughout the entire year. This can take many forms, from winter cover crops sown between summer annuals to agroforestry practices, perennial forage crops, perennial biomass crops, and perennial grain production. This includes but is not limited to regenerative poultry silvopasture systems, Kernza® perennial grain, winter camelina, and elderberry.
|
|
Follow MCPR on Social Media! |
|
Are you following MCPR on social media? Make sure you like and follow us so you don't miss out on events, what's happening with our members and the latest news impacting Minnesota’s agricultural retail sector!
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.
|
|
Minnesota Crop Production Retailers | P: 763.235.6466
www.mcpr-cca.org
1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
