AgriCulture Fall 2014

Cover crops in vogue Wegner Seed keeps it in the family Agriguardian’s success

Friday, August 29, 2014

Page 2 | Agriculture | Friday, August 29, 2014

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Friday, August 29, 2014 | Agriculture | Page 3

Late spring puts Minn. wild rice crop behind schedule MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s wild rice crop is behind schedule this year because of the late spring.

Wild rice harvesting opened last weekend, but most rice stands are not ripe yet, reports said.

Beth Nelson, executive director for the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council, said harvesting is usually complete by Labor Day but this year it will likely be mid-September before it’s done, as long as the weather remains mild.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said people who harvest rice

may want to scout areas because some stands that were abundant last year may not have any harvestable rice.

“Early and sustained high water levels this year have hurt some rice beds,” said David Kanz, DNR assistant wildlife manager in Aitkin. “As water levels continue to come down, we’ll have to watch how the rice responds and see if there is enough growing season left for it to recover.”

More than 1,200 lakes and rivers in 54 counties contain wild rice, with the largest concentrations in north-central Minnesota.

New program makes organic certification more affordable Rebates available to farms and handlers ST. PAUL – Minnesota organic farmers and processors can apply for a rebate of up to 75 percent of the cost of their organic certification. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Minnesota Organic Cost Share Program from now until Oct. 31.

Organic certification is a third-party verification system assuring consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow National Organic Standards and are monitored through review of their records and on-site inspections at least once a year.

“This program is designed to make organic certification more affordable,” said program administrator Meg Moynihan.

“The last time we offered it, 526 organic operations received rebates. There are now many more organic farms and handlers in Minnesota, so we hope to receive

an even larger number of applications this year,” she added.

Funds for the cost share program come from a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture. Operations that received certification (or had ongoing certification) between Oct. 1, 2013, and Sept. 30, 2014, are eligible for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification-related costs with a maximum of $750 per category (crop, livestock, processing/handling, wild harvest).

To qualify, applicants must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agency. The MDA has already mailed application packets to more than 1,000 certified organic operations in the state. Any certified organic farmer or processor who did not receive a packet can obtain all the program details and necessary materials on the MDA’s website www.mda.state.mn.us/organic or by calling 651-201-6012.

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Minnesota and California are the only states that cultivate wild rice as a crop, Nelson said, and last year Minnesota produced about 9 million pounds, slightly less than California.

“I’m told that this year looks like a relatively good crop but not a bumper crop,” she said.

Wild rice is actually the seed of an aquatic grass that is the only cereal grain native to North America. It reproduces each year from seed dropped the previous fall, and typically grows in water 1 to 3 feet deep.

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Page 4 | Agriculture | Friday, August 29, 2014

MDA launches campaign to protect the pollinators of Minnesota Campaign includes guidelines for reducing impacts on pollinator populations ST. PAUL — ­ The Minnesota Department of Agriculture launched a new public awareness campaign to protect pollinating insects in yards and gardens, along roadsides and on farms on Aug. 11.

Protect Minnesota Pollinators is designed to help the public understand the importance of insect pollinators, not only to our food chain, but also to a healthy environment overall. Pollinator populations, including bees, butterflies, flies, wasps, beetles, moths, etc., are threatened by significant stresses that include a loss of habitat for nesting and foraging, pesticide use, parasites and disease, and other factors.

“Insect pollinators are in trouble and their populations are declining,” said Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson, who announced the campaign in the Agriculture/Horticulture Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Aug. 21.

“More than one third of all plants or plant products that we consume are directly or indirectly dependent on insects for pollination, and a decline in pollinators negatively affects us all.”

The MDA has developed best management practices, which urge farmers,

landowners and homeowners to “look at our landscapes differently” by reducing negative impacts of pesticides, improving existing landscapes and creating new habitat. These practices have been developed for yards and gardens, as well as agricultural landscapes; best management practices for roadsides are currently under development.

“It isn’t like Minnesotans to not take action,” said Frederickson. “Whether you live in the city, on a farm, or manage a roadside — we all have a part to play in protecting insect pollinators.”

Help the pollinators: • Plant more flowers in the yard or on the balcony • Let early dandelions flower — they have nectar!

• Leave areas of the lawn unmowed • Reduce pesticide use • Find pollinator protection info on pesticide labels • Set out water bowls and birdbaths for pollinators to drink • Let clover grow and flower • Start a beehive

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Friday, August 29, 2014 | Agriculture | Page 5

Farm Rescue nonprofit reaches Founder selected as “Money” hero milestone with 300th family BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Farm Rescue nonprofit in the Upper Midwest is approaching another milestone — it will help its 300th farm family in the region by the end of the year.

The volunteer-based organization headquartered in North Dakota helped its 100th farm family in 2009 and its 200th in 2012.

“Three hundred families in the Upper Midwest are able to continue supporting their communities and feeding America,” founder Bill Gross said. “These families are friends, neighbors and customers. They’re the rural community.”

Farm Rescue plants and harvests crops for farmers in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and eastern Montana who have experienced an illness, injury or natural disaster. It’s been operating since 2006, supported by donations, business sponsors and about 1,000 volunteers.

“I appreciate the work they did for me; it helped quite a bit,” said Dan Dotzenrod, who became the 200th farmer to get help after he broke his neck in a fall on his southeastern North Dakota farm. “I’m mostly recovered — 90 to 95 percent. Still farming.”

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Gross said Farm Rescue, which operates on an annual cash budget of about $450,000, will help about 50 farmers annually for another year or two.

“We need to build more support for the organization financially to expand beyond that level,” he said. “We are moving in that direction. Then, if we expand geographically in a few years, that number might grow.”

Farm Rescue has gotten a big boost in recent years from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, which has contributed nearly $1 million since 2008. Fargo-based RDO Equipment Co., which owns and operates more than 60 dealerships in nine states, has supplied critical equipment, according to Gross.

Keith Kreps, an RDO executive vice president, estimated the company has invested more than $1 million in the partnership.

“Bill approached us with a way to give to the large community that we do business in, and directly affect the farmers and the industry that we make our living in,” Kreps said. “We just thought it was the perfect fit.”

JAMESTOWN, N.D — Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides planting, harvesting and haying assistance free of charge to farm families who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster, received recognition for the volunteer work that founder, Bill Gross, has done to help farmers during times of unexpected crises in the upper Midwest.

“I am honored to be chosen as a recipient of this award,” said Bill Gross, founder and president of Farm Rescue.

“Farmers have always been the backbone of America, providing commodities that are used to produce everything from clothes to nutritious food. They are often the unsung heroes of our nation. We are honored to assist these farm families when crisis strikes unexpectedly, and in doing such, help maintain viable operations for future generations. Agribusiness affects the finances of everyone in America through the food, clothing and fuel we purchase, as well as job creation in thousands of towns across our nation.”

What does it take to be a “Money” hero?

“Hard work, a little financial savvy, and a lot of desire to help others…We sought out a hero from each state and the District of Columbia, taking nominations from past honorees, leaders of nonprofit

groups, community-service coordinators at for-profit firms, and you, our readers,” said the “Money” editors. “The result is a remarkable lineup of people doing good works all across the United States.”

About Farm Rescue

Farm Rescue was founded in 2006 and has helped more than 285 families since its inception. The organization’s mission is to help farmers who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster by providing the necessary equipment and volunteer manpower to plant, harvest or hay their crop. Farm Rescue helps farm families in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2014 haying and harvesting seasons, which can be obtained at 701-252-2017 or www.farmrescue.org.

About “Money” Heroes

In 2012, “Money” started their search for heroes making extraordinary efforts to improve the personal finances of others. The 2014 “Money” Heroes list is titled “50 Heroes, 50 States,” and includes one hero from each state and the District of Columbia. The list is presented in the July issue of “Money” Magazine.

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Page 6 | Agriculture | Friday, August 29, 2014

The vogue of farming

Bags of seed grain sit in the warehouse of the Albert Lea Seed House. Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune

For farmers, planting cover crops is in, classic field days are out

By Hannah Dillon

hannah.dillon@albertleatribune.com

In years past, field days used to be a big thing for farmers.

Farmers would flock to look at different hybrids of crops, listen to speakers and eat a little lunch, too.

However, in this day and age, the classic field day isn’t as popular, according to Tom Ehrhardt, vice president of operations at the Albert Lea Seed House.

There are still some farmers who do field days, but for the most part, this data is collected privately and distributed, Ehrhardt said.

However, Ehrhardt said that field signs can still act as a type of public data: when a farmer has signs in front of his field along the highway listing the brand and hybrid of his crop, it’s like a type of advertising and marketing for that hybrid. Ehrhardt said it’s almost like putting a political sign in your front yard.

Despite this shift away from field

days, the Albert Lea Seed House has a somewhat modern field day in the form of an open house: a two day event featuring speakers, food and discussion of all things seed and agriculture.

This year’s open house will be Nov. 20 and 21, but Ehrhardt wasn’t exactly sure who would be speaking at the event yet.

The first day of the open house is usually designated for corn and soybeans, while the second day is for organic and cover crops.

Cover crops are annual crops planted in the fall to help hold the soil of a field, reduce erosion and scavenge for nutrients.

Ehrhardt said there is a big push recently for planting cover crops by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the USDA Farm Service Agency. Farmers participating in the cover crop program can get paid a certain amount per acre of cover crops, depending on a few variables, he said.

Albert Lea Seed House sells a wide variety of seed, from conventional crops to organic seed to cover crops.

Friday, August 29, 2014 | Agriculture | Page 7

Seeds pass through a system of machines in the Albert Lea Seed House warehouse before being bagged for sale.

Despite the move away from field days, which are becoming a thing of the past, Ehrhardt said that planting cover crops is coming back into “vogue.” Planting cover crops before winter was common in years past, but due to the recent push by the NRCS and FSA, it’s coming back.

Another program being pushed by the NRCS and FSA is planting pollinator mixtures. Originally it was thought that just honeybees were in danger, but many pollinators are facing issues due to lack of habitat, insecticide and predators, Ehrhardt said.

Albert Lea Seed House sells both cover crops and pollinator mixtures.

A common cover crop is cereal rye,

or the grain used to make rye wheat.

A pollinator mixture, such as the Midwest native mix, sold at the seed house, usually contains native grasses and flowers, such as coneflower, gaillardia, clover, evening primrose, milkweed, aster and sunflower.

Ehrhardt said milkweed is included in the mix because it is essential to the growth of monarch butterflies, which are starting to face issues due to habitat destruction.

While these programs are both fairly new, Ehrhardt believes that the Albert Lea Seed House has a leg up because it has processed cover crops from the beginning, unlike other places that just process corn, soybeans and other main crops.

Midwest Native Mix, sold at Albert Lea Seed House • 21.18%: Coneflower, purple • 15.06%: Gaillardia, annual • 14.36%: Coreopsis, lance leaved • 6.86%: Prairie clover, purple • 6.84%: Evening primrose, dwarf • 5.13%: Coneflower, clasping • 4.11%: Coneflower, yellow • 3.42%: Milkweed, butterfly • 3.42%: Coneflower, greyheaded • 3.42%: Spiderwort, Ohio

• 2.47%: Aster, prairie • 1.71%: Sunflower, ox-eye • 1.71%: Black-eyed Susan • 1.71%: Black-eyed Susan, sweet • 1.67%: Gayfeather, thickspike • 1.37%: Coreopsis, plains • 0.86%: Aster, New England • 0.86%: Aster, white upland • 0.41%: Hyssop, lavender • 0.01%: Ironweed, prairie

A bag of winter rye, a cover crop, is filled in a filling station at the Albert Lea Seed House warehouse.

Page 8 | Agriculture | Friday, August 29, 2014

USDA forecasts record-high corn, soybean production in 2014 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. soybean producers are expected to produce a record 3.82 billion bushels in 2014, up 16 percent from last year according to the Crop Production report issued Aug. 12 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Growing conditions were conducive for corn growers who are also expected to produce a record-high crop at 14.0 billion bushels of corn, up 1 percent from 2013 which was also a record at the time.

The report also included the first production forecast for U.S. cotton.

NASS forecasts all cotton production at 17.5 million 480-pound bales, up 36 percent from last year’s 12.9 million bales. Wheat production is forecast up 2 percent from the July forecast but down 5 percent from 2013.

NASS surveyed nearly 25,000 producers across the country in preparation for this report. The agency also conducted field and lab measurements on corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton in the major producing states, which usually account for about 75 percent of the U.S. production.

Corn

most soybean-producing areas of the country brought on strong percentages of the crop being rated good to excellent and the record forecast. The largest decline in condition rating was in Kentucky where dry conditions this year resulted in 61 percent of the crop rated as good to excellent, a drop of 26 percentage points.

If realized, the forecasted yield will be a record high in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 91.6 million acres, unchanged from the June estimate but down 4 percent from 2013 Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.8 million acres, down 4 percent from last year Aug. 1 objective yield data indicate the greatest number of ears on record for the combined 10 objective yield states, including Minnesota.

Despite a late winter season delay in planting, more favorable spring conditions arrived allowing quick planting and largely favorable growing conditions that encouraged the record high production forecast.

Winter wheat

Soybeans

Production is forecast at 1.40 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the July 1 forecast, but down 9 percent from 2013.

Based on Aug. 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 43.1 bushels per acre, up 0.9 from last month but down 4.3 bushels from last year.

Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed is 32.4 million acres, up slightly from last year

Area for harvest is forecast at a record 84.1 million acres, unchanged from June but up 11 percent from 2013.

Despite a slow planting start, by June 1 50 percent of the soybean crop had emerged, 21 percentage points ahead of last year’s pace and 5 percentage points ahead of normal. Positive conditions in

Cotton

Area planted to Upland cotton is

estimated at 11.2 million acres, up 10 percent from last year.

Harvested Upland cotton area is expected to total 10.1 million acres, up 37 percent from 2013.

Expected harvested area of Pima cotton at 175,900 acres is down 12 percent from last year.

As of Aug. 3, NASS rated 53 percent of all cotton acreage to be in good to excellent condition compared with 45 percent at this time last year.

Record yields are expected in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma.

With this report, NASS resumes apple, peach, pear and grape forecasts in the monthly Crop Production report. Numbers for these crops were not published last year due to sequestration.

NASS is gearing up to conduct its September Agricultural Survey, which will focus on wheat, barley, oats and rye growers. That survey will take place during the first two weeks of September.

The Crop Production report is published monthly and is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.

Farmers spent over $367 billion in agricultural production in 2013 conducted annually by NASS. The entire Farm Production Expenditures 2013 summary is available online at http:// bit.ly/FarmExpenditures.

Farm land values maintain upward climb

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. farmers spent $367.3 billion on agricultural production in 2013, a 2.0 percent increase from 2012, according to the Farm Production Expenditures report, published Aug. 1 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Per farm, the average expenditures total $175,270 compared with $171,309 in 2012, up 2.3 percent. Crop farms account for the majority of production expenditures in 2013. The average expenditure per crop farm totals $211,659 compared to $143,521 per livestock farm.

Regionally, the largest increase in production expenditures was in the

Midwest, which already accounted for nearly all farm production expenditures in the United States. In that region, expenditures rose by $3.7 billion from 2012.

For 2013, total expenditures by region are: Midwest: $118.5 billion Plains: $87.6 billion West: $76.9 billion Atlantic: $45.5 billion South: $38.8 billion The Farm Production Expenditures summary provides the official estimates for production input costs on U.S. farms and ranches. These estimates are based on the results of the nationwide Agricultural Resource Management Survey,

Farm land values climb up

Also on Aug. 1 NASS released the 2014 Land Values report, which includes estimates based on interviews with approximately 11,000 farmers. This report looks at the U.S. farm real estate value, which measures the value of all land and buildings on farms.

In 2014, U.S. farm real estate value averaged $2,950 per acre for 2014, up 8.1 percent from 2013. Regional changes in the average value of farm real estate ranged from a 16.3 percent increase in the Northern Plains region L / LAKE

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to 1.1 percent increase in the Southeast region. The highest farm real estate values were in the Corn Belt region at $6,370 per acre. The Mountain region had the lowest farm real estate value at $1,070 per acre.

The United States pasture value increased to $1,300 per acre, or 11.1 percent above 2013. The Southeast region had the smallest percentage increase in pasture value, 0.5 percent above 2013.

The Northern Plains had the highest increase at 26.5 percent. At the state level, the value of 2014 pasture land ranged from $360 per acre in New Mexico to $13,500 in New Jersey.

Land Values and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass. usda.gov.

Friday, August 29, 2014 | Agriculture | Page 9

Agriguardian has been in Albert Lea for about five years now, providing a multitude of services to farmers in the area. Pictured from left is office manager Diane Staloch, owner Casey Staloch and shop manager Scott Breamer. Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune

The brochure for Agriguardian’s Micro Mix includes graphs, charts and countless information about what the product can do. Staloch said this is due to his partner, who has a Ph.D. in plant nutrition.

a Successful year for agriguardian

By Hannah Dillon

hannah.dillon@albertleatribune.com

It’s been year after successful year for Casey Staloch and Agriguardian.

Agriguardian, a business that sells a variety of agriculture essentials, has been in business for 10 years. Five of those years have been in Albert Lea. Staloch, owner of Agriguardian, started his business in Lakota, Iowa, but is from Minnesota Lake.

The business started when Staloch was doing soil and tissue analyses to see what the soil was lacking for nutrients. When he looked for products to put those nutrients back in the soil, he couldn’t find what he was looking for. So, he decided to make a product himself.

That product was Micro Mix, a combination of micronutrients that, according to research from the University of Missouri, is the only mixture of micronutrients that can be combined with Roundup without diminishing the effectiveness of the herbicide.

Besides selling Micro Mix, Agriguardian sells biostimulants, seed inoculants, seed and fertilizer. On the seed side, the business specializes in conventional corn and soybeans.

The company deals in about 40 states, Staloch said, and also does business internationally.

Besides the Albert Lea office,

Agriguardian has offices in Jefferson City, Mo., and Athens, Ga. Staloch said he also has wings in Canada, Africa and other countries.

Last year was Agriguardian’s best year, Staloch said. The year before that was his previous best year. Besides working on a new website, Staloch said he is always looking to expand as the business looks to the future.

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Page 10 | Agriculture | Friday, August 29, 2014

Wegner Seed Inc. is truly a family business. Pictured from left is Britt Wegner, Mike Wegner, Eric Wegner, Ron Wegner and Blair Wegner. Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune

Wegner Seed Inc. keeps business in the family for 4 generations

By Hannah Dillon

hannah.dillon@albertleatribune.com

For those at Wegner Seed Inc., it truly is a family operation.

Mike and Ron Wegner are the owners of Wegner Seed Inc. in Wells. Britt Wegner, Blair Wegner and Eric Wegner work there as well. Mike Wegner’s wife, Marlene Wegner, does bookkeeping.

The Wegners have been in the agriculture business for over 60 years. Specifically, the Wegners are seed dealers — they get corn and soybeans from Monsanto and Mycogen and distribute them to farmers

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around the area.

Mike Wegner said their customer base has 30 to 40 mile radius, but one customer is over 100 miles away.

At Wegner Seed Inc., the Wegners are also able to treat soybeans. Britt Wegner said that the soybean seeds are treated with pesticides and fungicides to help keep the soybean plant safe from pests, including the soybean cyst nematode.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension Office, soybean cyst nematodes are the number one yield robber of soybeans and have infested more than 50 percent of fields in the state.

The seeds are also treated with growth promoters, micronutrients and inoculants to help the plants grow, Britt Wegner said.

Soybean roots have nodules on them that capture nitrogen to help the plants grow.

Inoculants can activate these nodules

sooner and produce more yield.

“Everything is driven off trying to produce more yield and reduce risk,” Britt Wegner said.

About 90 to 95 percent of customers buy treated soybeans, but it is possible to buy the seeds untreated. As for corn, 100 percent of the stock the Wegners receive is already treated by Monsanto or Mycogen.

One reason corn is pre-treated is because the more corn is handled, the germination of the seed goes down, Ron Wegner said.

For a unit of seed, which is 48 to 54 pounds and approximately fills a five-gallon bucket, three ounces of treatment is needed. A unit is approximately an acre of crop.

This treatment is done with the help of large treatment systems. The Wegners

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During the treatment process, the seed rides up a conveyor to a hopper where it is then funneled into the seed treater, where it is coated with treatment before going out to farmers.

After being treated, the seeds must be planted or destroyed. Seed companies won’t take the seed back if it is not used.

Blair Wegner also mentioned there is a shelf life on the seed treatments, such as a limit before the inoculants stop working.

Britt Wegner stressed that the treatments are all approved by the EPA, FDA and USDA. He also explained that seed dealers must have licenses and be certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as well as continue their education as the industry develops.

Have you sign up for Albert Lea’s only publication featuring the area’s business and industry?

Contact your sales representative today to be a part of this exciting annual feature!

Deadline: September 3rd | Publishes: September 26th

Friday, August 29, 2014 | Agriculture | Page 11

Seeds will ride up this conveyor belt during the treating process at Wegner Seed Inc.

Soybean Cyst Nematode • No. 1 yield robber of soybeans • Infested more than 50 percent of Minnesota fields • First found in North Carolina in 1954 • First detected in Minnesota in Faribault County in 1978 • By 2010, had infested 64 soybean growing counties • Estimated loss of $1 billion throughout the country annually • Can be present in fields without showing above ground symptoms • Spreads through soil movement • Can infest dry and snap beans • Is not deterred by the cold and is moving farther north Information courtesy of the 2011 University of Minnesota Extension soybean nematode management guide

Be an

informed citizen when you cast your vote. read the triBune daily.

A large drum sits underneath a hopper, waiting to catch seeds to be treated.

Page 12 | Agriculture | Friday, August 29, 2014

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