SOYBEAN THE MAGAZINE FOR MINNESOTA’S SOYBEAN GROWERS
November - December - 2023 - VOLUME XXI - ISSUE 5
B U S I N E S S
INSIDE AIC Holds Grand Opening POTUS Meets MSGA Member NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023 - Soybean Business - 1 Emerging Markets
MINNESOTA SOYBEAN 1020 INNOVATION LANE, MANKATO, MN
MN
CONTENTS
SOYBEAN P.6 P.10 P.14 P.30 P.38
For the second year in a row, MSGA leaders visited the nation’s capital for a quick round of Hill Visits with Minnesota’s congressional delegation and addressed several policies and projects critical to Minnesota farmers.
MSGA member Robert Kluver had to take a break from the 2023 harvest to host a special guest at his Northfield farm. It was worth every second.
This fall, the Ag Innovation Campus gathered farmers, industry partners and lawmakers for a special grand opening ceremony. The AIC team is now turning to the second and third phases of the building project. After taking a much-earned break, Bill Gordon is back promoting Minnesota soybeans. The Worthington farmer discussed his takeaways from a recent Egyptian trade mission.
With harvest wrapped up, it’s time to consider running for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. Five seats are up for election in 2024.
ABOUT THE COVER When the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) was introduced in 2014, few could’ve envisioned the day when the program would celebrate 1 million certified acres. Thanks to a partnership between farmers, stakeholders and legislative leaders, the million-acre moment has arrived. Take a bow, Minnesota farmers!
Read on Page 22
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MISSION STATEMENT Tell the compelling stories behind Minnesota’s soybean farmers and their industry, from the field to Capitol Hill to international markets – and everywhere in between.
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Officers and ASA Directors: COUNTY DIRECTORS OFFICERS Bob Worth President Lake Benton, MN Lincoln County Darin Johnson Vice President Wells, MN Faribault County Rose Wendinger Secretary St. James, MN Watonwan County Ryan Mackenthun Treasurer Brownton, MN McLeod County
ASA DIRECTORS Jamie Beyer Wheaton, MN Traverse County
George Goblish Vesta, MN Redwood County Adam Guetter Wabasso, MN Redwood County Christopher Hill Brewster, MN Jackson County Jim Kukowski Strathcona, MN Roseau-LOW Counties Michael Petefish Claremont, MN Dodge County Joel Schreurs (term ends in Dec.) Tyler, MN Lincoln County
Trevore Brekken Crookston, MN Polk County
Robert Nelsen Westbrook, MN Murray County
Mark Brown St. James, MN Watonwan County
Tim Nelson New Richland, MN Waseca County
Steve Brusven Cottonwood, MN Yellow Medicine County
Lucas Peters Luverne, MN Rock County
Jason Cadieux Hallock, MN Kittson County
Nathan Potucek Warren, MN Marshall County
Brian Fruechte Verdi, MN Lincoln County
Andy Pulk Wannaska, MN Roseau-LOW Counties
William Gordon Worthington, MN Nobles County
Matt Purfeerst Faribault, MN Dakota-Rice Counties
Tom Grundman Osakis, MN Douglas County
Tim Rasmussen Rothsay, MN Otter Tail-Grant Counties
Corey Hanson Gary, MN Norman County
Justin Remus* New Ulm, MN Brown County
Matt Heers Owatonna, MN Steele County
Gary Schoenfeld Waseca, MN Waseca County
Ray Hewitt Le Sueur, MN Le Sueur-Scott Counties
Mike Skaug Beltrami, MN Polk County
Brad Hovel Cannon Falls, MN Goodhue County
Cal Spronk Edgerton, MN Pipestone County
Jim Jirava Ogema, MN Becker-Mahnomen Counties
Jamie Seitzer St Peter, MN Nicollet-Sibley Counties
Kyle Jore Jeff Sorenson (term begins in Dec.) Thief River Falls, MN Pennington-Red Lake Counties Morgan, MN Redwood County Bob Lindemann Brownton, MN ASA YOUNG LEADERS McLeod County Parker Revier & Gabby Carmichael Morton, MN Paul Mesner Renville County Chandler, MN Murray County
Lawrence Sukalski Fairmont, MN Martin County Jeremy Tischer Breckenridge, MN Clay-Wilkin Counties Doug Toreen Bird Island, MN Renville County
Bruce Nelsen Rose Creek, MN Mower County
Earl Ziegler Good Thunder, MN Blue Earth County
Keith Nelsen Westbrook, MN Cottonwood County
*2023-2024 Young Leader
EDITORIAL STAFF:
MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek Minnesota Soybean Growers Association 888-896-9678 jsmentek@mnsoybean.com Art Director Doug Monson Sr. Director of Integrated Marketing Ag Management Solutions 888-896-9678 dmonson@agmgmtsolutions.com Managing Editor Drew Lyon Sr. Manager of Communications Ag Management Solutions 888-896-9678 dlyon@agmgmtsolutions.com Layout Editors Alex Troska atroska@agmgmtsolutions.com Kaelyn Rahe krahe@agmgmtsolutions.com
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023 - Soybean Business - 3
Letter from the President Water World The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association prides ourselves on moving soy forward, whether we’re helping to create a biodiesel market for our product, developing new markets or advocating for a new Farm Bill. In recent years, we’ve partnered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and conservation stakeholders to promote MDA’s Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). MSGA directors and our lobbying team have worked the halls of the Capitol in St. Paul to explain to legislators how farmers do our fair share to improve water quality without unnecessary laws and regulations. This program has been a huge success story and one that has earned strong bipartisan support, from Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to GOP Rep. Paul Anderson (who’s also Water Quality Certified on his farm). We are proud to congratulate MDA on reaching their millionacre mark and are excited for what awaits this program as it strives toward enrolling the next million acres – and beyond. We also appreciate MAWQCP’s longtime presence in Soybean Business: It’s a partnership we value! I’m proud to be one of the over 1,400 farmers certified across Minnesota and was honored to host Commissioner Thom Petersen, Rep. Michelle Fischbach, Sen. Bill Weber and assorted leaders this past August at our family farm in Lake Benton to highlight MAWQCP’s impact. As you’ll read throughout this issue, water quality is a big priority for Minnesota farmers, and we are proud to continue promoting this one-of-a-kind voluntary program. Diversifying soy exports and supply chains are also core priorities that we’re working to promote with stakeholders and our friends at the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. In just the span of a few weeks this fall, Minnesota farmer-leaders visited Germany and Egypt and met with Uzbekistan officials in Washington, D.C., to promote high-quality Minnesota soybeans. By the time this issue lands in mailboxes, I’ll have completed a business development trade mission to Australia alongside MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek and leaders from across several industries. Closer to home, Vice President Darin Johnson recently hosted a bipartisan group of legislators, including Senate Ag Chair Aric Putnam, at his farm. But wait – there’s more! In November, one of our members, Robert Kluver, hosted President Joe Biden at his family farm in Northfield. As you’ll read in our interview, the Kluver’s 4 - Soybean Business - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023
maximized this once-ina-lifetime opportunity. We can’t achieve any of these local and international efforts without membership support. Visit our website, mnsoybean.org/msga, and join today! Suffice it to say, with another harvest behind us, we are keeping busy and working on behalf of our members. We’re also gearing up for the 2024 MN Ag Expo with keynote speaker P.J. Fleck. Let’s row the boat! But first things first, MSGA is holding our Pre-Resolutions Meeting in Mankato on Dec. 11. Now, I might be a bit bias, but as someone who’s passionate about farm policy, this is a special time for MSGA, a chance for us to debate county-level issues as we prepare for our Jan. 17 Annual Meeting and vote on our 2024 policy priorities. It’s also an opportunity for us to engage with our county board members. I hope to see some new and familiar faces this year at both our Pre-Resolutions meeting and MN Ag Expo. There’s plenty we can’t control in life, from the weather to D.C. politics, but when we gather as a group, we can help improve our land, our markets, our livelihood – all while enjoying each other’s company. Sincerely,
Bob Worth, President, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE
MSGA’s Delegate Session & Annual Meeting When: Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 9 a.m. Where: Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato during MN Ag Expo All active MSGA members are invited to attend
DEPARTMENT DISPATCH ONE MILLION ACRES FOR WATER QUALITY
COMMISSIONER
This column is a series in Soybean Business featuring leaders from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Life is a series of goals – both personally and professionally. We have many goals at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. However, there’s one target we’ve reached – thanks to your help. It’s improving our water quality while also enhancing our ag economy. As you’ll read in the cover story of Soybean Business, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) has crossed the one-million-acre threshold. It’s a goal we set in 2020. Thanks to Minnesota Soybean leaders, including MSGA President Bob Worth, we’ve been able to hit that milestone while improving Minnesota’s water resources across the state. Since the program’s inception in 2014, farmers have implemented over 2,700 new conservation practices that mitigate risks to water quality. For instance, to ensure his land could be certified this past summer, Bob adjusted his soil sampling program to ensure the right amount of fertilizer would be applied and reduced his phosphorous rates slightly to hit the best management practice rates. He also agreed to split apply nitrogen to mitigate challenges on a field that was assessed as having a higher water quality risk due to its inherent soil properties. Bob worked with his local Soil and Water Conservation District office where the Southwest Minnesota certification specialist, Danielle Evers (who is profiled on page 43 as one of the “Faces of MSGA”), helped him make those adjustments. Bob and thousands of other farmers across the state have recognized the importance of protecting our water and soil so future generations can continue to farm the land, and they took the necessary steps to achieve certification. How does the Ag Water Quality Certification Program also enhance our ag economy? Farmers enrolled in the Ag Water Quality Certification Program have higher profits than non-certified farms. According to studies by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence, four years of data show that the average income for MAWQCP farms is $16,000-$40,000 higher. Other key
THOM PETERSEN
financial metrics are also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP, such as debt-to-asset ratios and operating expense ratios. These better economic outcomes are on top of the known environmental benefits, and this data serves as an indicator of a positive return on investment for whole-farm conservation management that farmers implement to become certified. We knew our one-million-acre goal was a lofty one. But we reached it by working together, and our land and water are better off for it. Thank you to Bob Worth and all the soybean farmers already enrolled in the program. You are leaders in conservation and agriculture. Help us to continue to spread the word so we can hit that second million acres. There are many advantages to the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program on top of the benefits to water quality and farm finances, and I encourage all farmers and landowners to look into certifying their land. Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com.
Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
THOM PETERSEN FARMS IN PINE CITY AND HAS SERVED AS MDA COMMISSIONER SINCE 2019. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER AT @THOMMYPETERSEN
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Farmers make most of D.C. fly-in By Sydney Harris Just as the 2023 soybean harvest approached, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) officer team headed to Washington, D.C., in September, to meet with legislators and drive home MSGA’s federal policy priorities. MSGA President Bob Worth, Vice President
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Darin Johnson, Treasurer Ryan Mackenthun and Secretary Rose Wendinger all attended the jampacked, 48-hour visit to the nation’s capital. The group wasted no time pounding the pavement. Before beginning official visits with members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation – which included meetings with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Brad Finstad, Pete Stauber, Tom Emmer and Sen. Tina Smith, respectively – Rep. Finstad guided the group on an evening tour of the Capitol building. “This place is so impressive, especially at night,” Worth said. “It gives me goosebumps for sure.” The status of the next Farm Bill was the bigticket item during conversations with legislators. In the next Farm Bill, MSGA is encouraging lawmakers to not only protect crop insurance but strengthen it. “Crop insurance is so important for us,” Worth told Rep. Finstad, who farms in New Ulm. “It’s good. Let’s make it great.” In past years, Congress has authorized ad hoc disaster assistance programs for growers hit hard by natural disasters. But these programs often take one to three years to pay out and aren’t guaranteed. “Young producers can’t absorb the loss of waiting two years for the ad hoc money,” Mackenthun said. “We need young people in farming and crop insurance minimizes the risk for young farmers.” By replacing ad hoc programs with stronger
Advocacy in Action and more affordable crop insurance, growers will be better prepared for curveballs thrown their way. “As farmers, we deal with a lot of inconsistencies,” Johnson said. “Crop insurance provides us with consistency.” Above all, MSGA officers emphasized the importance of passing a sound and timely Farm Bill. And time wasn’t on Congress’ side: The existing Farm Bill expired Sept. 30, but optimism remains that a new one will be crafted by year’s end. Worth hopes the final legislation is sculpted to benefit – and protect – farmers. “We don’t want to pass a Farm Bill just to pass a Farm Bill,” Worth said. Defending the checkoff MSGA also showed its steadfast support of the soybean checkoff. The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) act, introduced by Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Mike Lee, threatens the checkoff program by failing to recognize the existing oversight of USDA and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, growers said. “The soybean checkoff is working, and we want everyone to know that,” Johnson said in a conversation with Rep. Fischbach. “For every dollar invested in the soy checkoff, growers see a $12.34 return on investment.” Results from the last checkoff referendum showed that a mere 700 soybean farmers among over 500,000 soybean growers nationwide wanted to terminate the soy checkoff, far below the required threshold. “If there is a problem with a specific checkoff, target that checkoff,” Worth said. “We don’t need a blanket act.” In the weeks following MSGA’s visit, an anti-checkoff amendment in the House was soundly defeated by a 37749 bipartisan margin. “We joined our soy partners across the country in urging our legislators
to defeat the legislation,” Worth said, “and those efforts obviously worked in our favor.” Biodiesel was another topic of frequent discussion. As the first state to pass a biodiesel mandate in 2002, Minnesota remains an industry leader. Worth, who first served as MSGA president when B2 was implemented nearly 20 years ago, continues to promote biodiesel, which helps clean Minnesota’s air and boost the state’s economy. “We want this product used forever,” Worth said. “We know electric cars are coming, but don’t forget about biodiesel. Electric cars aren’t practical in every situation and biodiesel is an environmentally friendly option that is working now.” A smooth process Joining the officer team was acting Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) CEO Tom Slunecka, who advocated for additional funding for the next phases of the crush plant. “The impact of what we’re going to be doing (at the AIC) has national and international scope,” Slunecka told Rep. Finstad. “If we can get that up and running, we’ll be able to bring new technologies to agriculture and consumers. It’s going to serve the public.” Not only did MSGA meet with legislators, but they also visited the Japanese and Vietnamese embassies, along with the US-China Business Council. Conversations with these entities centered around
Minnesota soybean farmers’ dedication to growing a high-quality, sustainable product. “Our soybeans are of high quality – they have the lowest foreign material content in the nation and have an excellent amino acid profile,” Worth said. “And our farmers are natural stewards of the land. Buying our products means that you receive a high-quality product that is sustainably grown.” MSGA rounded out the Hill Visits with a trip to United States Department of Agriculture – National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS). Considered a pain by many Minnesota growers, NASS leaders stressed that the surveys are a valuable tool. “The biggest thing you can do is convince your neighbors, friends and family to take a few moments to fill out the survey,,” said Lance Honing, NASS Chief of U.S. Crops Branch. “Information is power, and if we stop, the big players are going to keep doing it. We’re the only objective entity doing this work.” After MSGA’s Hill Visit, an expected government shutdown at the end of September never came to fruition, with Congress passing a bill that funded the government through mid-November. Worth said he felt MSGA’s trip made an impact not just on legislators, but on MSGA leaders. “I’m so impressed with our officer team,” he said. “They’re really, really good, and we work well together. The whole D.C. experience went very smoothly.”
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A West African Poultry Farmer Prefers Your U.S. Soybean Meal
WISHH “I prefer U.S. Soy because I learned about its quality through WISHH,” says Mathew Bonso who founded Harimat farms in 2018 in the West African country of Ghana. Bonso soon began working with WISHH through its U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress Project. He credits WISHH’s feed quality training, egg nutrition campaign and more as key to the management and profitability of his 50,000-bird flock. Today, WISHH continues to work with Bonso as he expands into broiler production.
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WISHH graduates entrepreneurs from global training for high-quality foods and feeds.
ASA/WISHH
Connect with WISHH wishh.org
WISHH is a program of the American Soybean Association and is funded in part by the United Soybean Board and state soybean board checkoff programs.
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023 - Soybean Business - 9
By Drew Lyon Minnesota farm in nearly 20 years. Sunday, rumors began spreading around Northfield farmer Robert “Rusty” The Kluvers didn’t have much advance the Northfield area after the advance Kluver didn’t believe his son Bradley notice. The president’s event and security team conducted a practice flight in the when he told his father that the team evidently sought out the Kluvers Kluvers’ hayfield. The locals sensed leader of the free world might visit because of Brad Kluver’s affiliation something was happening. their small, third-generation farm. with Minnesota Farmers Union. The “People were wondering why “I kind of thought he was full of family was informed about the potential there were so many cars and traffic (it),” said Kluver, a longtime in the area,” Robert Kluver President Joe Biden visits with Northfield farmer Bradley Kluver member of the Minnesota said. “Once they blew those at Dutch Creek Farms. Kluver’s father, Robert, is a longtime Soybean Growers helicopters down here, there MSGA member. Association (MSGA). “It got was chatter and we knew it to be a little more real when was going to happen.” last week, a couple people The Kluvers complied with showed up, introduced a request to clean out their themselves and they wanted sheds. But they didn’t prepare to look the place over for a rare October snow to make sure this could accumulation the day before actually happen here.” the president’s arrival. Turns It did happen. Yes, on out, the snow and cold temps Nov. 1, 2023, President Joe were no match for the Secret Biden toured Dutch Creek Service. Farms in rural Northfield. One of the logistical Biden’s appearance marked the first visit about 10 days prior and told to managers behind the event has helped time a sitting president had visited a keep the news under their hat. But by coordinate Super Bowl Halftime 10 - Soybean Business - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023
shows. By the morning of the visit, Kluver’s shed was adorned with American flags, generators, snacks, portable restrooms and enough seating to hold a few hundred people. “They knew what they were doing,” Kluver said. “Security was over the top, and I can guess why. I never imagined the event would be this big.” Not messing around The morning of the president’s event, the Secret Service, with dogs in tow, canvassed the operation several times. “You’re not going to mess with those guys,” Kluver said. Finally, after the premise was fully secured, President Biden arrived in the early afternoon. The Kluvers were first in line to shake hands with the 46th president, alongside Gov. Tim Walz and several local and state dignitaries. Following the meet-and-greet, the Kluvers held a roundtable conversation with the president and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It was a very pleasant meeting with him,” Kluver said. “When we met for that first photo, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there he is.’” Biden landed in Minnesota to begin a “barnstorming tour” of rural America and promote his administration’s highlight investments in farming communities. During his Minnesota appearance, the president announced $5 billion in new investments from his Investing in America agenda to advance rural prosperity, economic development, competition and sustainability. “Rural communities have been left behind for far too long,” Biden said. “Because of these investments we’re making, family farms are going to stay in the family.” Robert Kluver farms with his wife, Nancy, Bradley and another son,
Robby. Together, the Kluvers grow soybeans and corn and raise hogs. Robert has lived on the farm his entire life. The first time he ever flew on an airplane happened about a decade ago, when he participated in a Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council-led See For Yourself Mission to China. “I thank Minnesota Soybean for that,” Kluvers said. “I got to meet a lot of great people who I still stay in contact with. It was a lifetime event.” ‘Overjoyed’ During another once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, the Kluvers had a chance to articulate some of their primary farm-related concerns to the president: health care costs; transparency in the livestock market; consolidation in agriculture; soil health practices and the importance of uplifting the next generation of farmers. “We talked about our reduced tillage practices and how it’s important,” Kluver said. “And one thing we said is, we want to make it easy so our kids can inherit the farm. It’s got to be easier for young farmers to get started into these smaller farms. I told him, ‘I want my grandkids out here farming and we do everything we can to take care of our soil.’” The Kluvers had a front row seat during Biden’s address. Bradley gave an introduction, which left his father misty-eyed. The president later gave him a shoutout from the lectern. “President Biden has helped to bridge those (definitions of sustainability) with his investments into rural America and climatesmart ag,” Bradley Kluver said. “He has
incentivized family farms like ours to innovate and adapt the way we farm to be more efficient and environmentally friendly while also expanding markets.” MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek also attended the event alongside ag leaders and met the president. Following the speech, the president thanked the Kluvers and complimented the family on their operation. For their part, the Kluvers told the president he’s welcome to return. “We’re pretty small farmers and don’t have the latest and greatest equipment out here,” Robert Kluver said. “We’re just hard workers trying to make a living.” It was all a bit surreal, Kluver told Soybean Business. “Anytime you get a chance to meet a sitting president – I never thought that would happen,” he said. “We were overjoyed about that. … It was amazing. He was happy to be here.” After the president was whisked away in his motorcade and media frenzy died down, the Kluvers exhaled. When the sun rose the next morning, it was time to finish the 2023 harvest. “We’re way behind on that,” Kluver said. “As we’re talking here, I’m trying to clean the yard up.”
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Checkoff Feature
By Mark Askelson Disclaimer: The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, funded by state checkoff dollars by Minnesota soybean farmers, engages in research, promotion and education, while the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is a nonprofit, farmer-led advocacy organization focused on policy issues. The hard work and determination of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) to continue collaborating to improve the future of agriculture was on display during the recent Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) grand opening. “A little over five years ago, farmer-leaders from around the state asked the questions, ‘What can we do to increase profitability for soybean producers? What can be done to help solve problems in the industry and bring new and emerging technologies to the market faster?’” Council Chair Tom Frisch said during his prepared remarks. “We believe the Ag Innovation Campus is the answer.” Community members, local and regional dignitaries, area farmers and media earned their first look at the new cutting-edge oilseed crush facility in Crookston on Sept. 14, with an open house, tours and remarks from AIC officials and those involved in the creation of the facility. For the leaders who helped bring the AIC to reality, the grand opening was a triumphant moment and signaled huge opportunities for the region’s ag economy. “This facility is going to change agriculture as a whole,” said acting AIC CEO Tom Slunecka. “I know that’s a bold statement, but when you see all the partners who are already involved in this facility and those who want to be a part of it, you can see we have built something special. We are building it at the right time and the right
place. AIC is going to be something special, not just for Crookston, not just for Minnesota – but for all of the United States.” The grand opening ceremony, which was made possible by the United Soybean Board, MSR&PC and the soy checkoff, took place in the AIC’s loading bay. Roughly 200 attendees from around the region were excited to learn more about this one-of-a-kind facility, perhaps none more so than Crookston Mayor Dale Stainbrook, who spoke as a guest of the AIC. “The city of Crookston is honored to be the home of AIC, its staff and all of the unique, forward-thinking agricultural products we expect to come from this facility,” said Mayor Stainbrook.
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Crookston
After nearly five years of planning and construction, the AIC facility itself is complete, but is awaiting a few final components before launching formal operations during the fall. Unfinished business Once running, this not-for-profit facility will produce an estimated 240 tons of soybean meal daily, equaling a grand total of 62,400 tons of soybean meal per year. With three independently operated mechanic crush systems, the AIC will be able to crush organic, nonGMO and GMO soybeans. The AIC was conceived thanks to support from the soy checkoff, including a feasibility study that determined Crookston as the ideal location. “Each and every soybean producer in Minnesota can be proud of this facility and the investments the soybean checkoff has made in the long-term success of the Ag Innovation Campus,” said Frisch, who also serves as AIC treasurer. From an educational perspective, MSR&PC looks
forward to engaging a wide variety of audiences. With checkoff dollars, the AIC will host the next generation of crushing plant operators and managers, private and public researchers, the general public, as well as foreign trade groups already here to tour U.S. farms. It’s an ideal destination for learning about the life cycle of a soybean. Separately, thanks to the efforts of MSGA leaders spanning the state, from Wannaska to Wells, a key component in the launch of the AIC was a $5.75 million grant with bipartisan support from the Minnesota Legislature. “I am very proud that MSGA got to work to get some funding to start this facility, and I thank our state legislators for their support,” said MSGA President Bob Worth. “However, our work is far from over, as we will soon turn our efforts towards getting support for the next two phases of this project.” Phase two will feature an office complex and research labs. Phase three consists of rentable discovery bays that will be available for short to midterm use. Companies can then use the space to prove their designs at full production scale. The “Crushwalk” will also allow visitors to view the processing facility in a safe and bio secure manner. A big supporter of the AIC has been Minnesota District 1B Rep. Deb Kiel, who MSGA regularly engages. Kiel’s family farms soybeans, sugar beets and wheat in the Crookston area. “Northwestern Minnesota is very innovative and works hard to advance agriculture, and AIC is just another prime example of this,” said Rep. Kiel. “Thank you to MSGA for reaching out to me to assist with Continued on Page 16
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Phase one funding, and I look forward to continuing my support for Phase two and three as well.” But MSGA and the AIC hope to aim beyond the state level for the next phases, eyeing up U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar – soon to be the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Ag Committee – and the Minnesota’s entire congressional delegation for support. Just days after the event, Slunecka traveled to D.C. to visit with federal legislators and their aides to advocate for federal funding on behalf of MSGA. “As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, I will continue to strongly advocate for expanded biofuels availability for consumers and opportunities for industry,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “We know the value more biofuel options brings to the marketplace and the Ag Innovation Campus will play a key role to advance the growth of biofuels in the region and state, while contributing to our nation’s energy independence and the future of our energy economy.” Invited by MSGA, Thom Petersen, who’s the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner, shared his excitement for AIC and agriculture during a keynote address at the grand opening event. Since Commissioner Petersen was appointed ag commissioner by Gov. Walz in 2019, the Pine City farmer has been a steadfast champion of the facility. “The next 10 years for agriculture are going to be the
most exciting time,” said Commissioner Petersen. “The investments that are being made, the technologies that we know are coming, and not to mention a facility such as AIC that is going to be put in the driver’s seat for innovation in agriculture.” Other dignitaries sharing remarks during the AIC grand opening included AIC Board Chair Mike Skaug, State Sen. Mark Johnson (invited by MSGA), Crookston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janelle Wald, National FFA Central Region Vice President Karstyn Cantrell and Agricultural Utilization Research Institute Executive Director Shannon Schlecht. For a day, at least, Minnesota Soybean and the AIC team could exhale and celebrate a job well done. “Getting to this point was no easy task,” said Skaug, who served as MSGA president from 2021-22. “That makes this moment all the more rewarding. It’s also rewarding to know that farmer-led advocacy was crucial in putting the AIC in a position to succeed.” In addition to the grant from the Minnesota Legislature, and funding from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, United Soybean Board and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, additional support for the Ag Innovation Campus included the U.S. Soybean Export Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, Iowa Soybean Association and South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.
AIC Acting CEO Tom Slunecka serves as emcee during the facility’s grand opening ceremony on Sept. 14, 2023.
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Amazing Possibilities: Profinium Earns Position on Top 20 Ag Lender List Among ag-focused banking institutions, Profinium has reached rarified air. But don’t just take their word for it: The industry has taken notice. The Independent Community Bankers Association recently awarded Profinium – which has built a nearly 150-year presence working alongside farmers – as one of the nation’s Top 20 Ag Lenders of 2023. “To be positioned on this is a massive honor,” says Ian Bents, President of Profinium’s Martin County branches. “It didn’t happen overnight – it was a number of years of high-end effort and collaboration among our team on many levels.” The national recognition reflects Profinium’s hard-earned reputation over decades as a trusted bank that prides itself on proactive relationship-building. Fittingly, Bents uses an agricultural metaphor to explain Profinium’s banking philosophy. “We’ve been planting seeds for many years in our connections and then cultivating and watering those seeds to grow relationships over time,” says Bents, who offers over 20 years of banking experience. “It’s grown organically to achieve that full financial opportunity to offer our clients.” Along with Bents, Profinium supports a diverse roster of ag banking professionals stationed throughout the organization’s branches in farm-rich Martin, Steele and Blue Earth counties. “There’s a good reason why we’re in those locations,” says Vice President of Business Development Veronica Bruckhoff. “Those are some of the highest porkproducing counties in the state, which shows the impact of where a lot of corn and soybeans go.” “We are founded in ag,” Bents said. “We live in ag and ag is our future as well. We’re here to stay.”
Throughout its leadership ranks, Profinium’s ag lenders practice the farming language they preach. “We grew up on family farms. We understand ag and we’re connected heavily,” Bruckhoff says. “Many of us still go out and help in the field and are active in our family’s operations.” Relationships, not transactions, are firmly at the core of Profinium’s model, along with staying mindful of economic trends. Beyond ag lending, Profinium also supports farm families with personal and business accounts, insurance, mortgage, trust, and investment services. “Whatever you’re going through in your operation, we’ve seen multiple ways how to handle those situations,” says David Thamert, Senior Vice President of Ag Banking. Though economic challenges are always looming, so too are opportunities. As one of the nation’s premier ag lenders, Profinium is a steady hand to guide farmers during the peaks and valleys. “Our customers depend on us to be consistent,” Thamert says. “We’re here to finance farming operations through the ups and the downs.”
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Experts offer advice on 2024 soybean varieties
By Sydney Harris Purchasing soybean seed isn’t as simple as running into the grocery store for a gallon of milk. Luckily, there are experts and resources available to help soybean growers make the best decisions for their operations. Though there is a lengthy list of factors to consider when selecting varieties, there are a few key characteristics to keep in mind. ‘Know your ground’ All soil is not created equal. In some parts of Minnesota, farmers have sandy soil while other growers work with clay. And the differences don’t stop there. Differences in soil – whether drastic or minimal – impact which soybean varieties will flourish. “The first step in selecting your product is to know your ground,” said Bob Lindeman, a director with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and a seed salesman with Rob-See-Co. “You need to know your soil. Talk to a seed dealer or people that know what kind of soil you’re going to put these beans on, because they’re going to have some good recommendations.” Not only do growers from different parts of Minnesota work with different types of soil, but individual farmers may have multiple soil types on their farm. “Every piece of ground is its own island,” Minnesota Soybean Director of Research David Kee said. “It’s important to talk with your advisor about your needs
for that particular piece of ground and how that piece of ground fits into your planting and management scheme.” Battling SCN As the most destructive soybean pest in the U.S., soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a battle that farmers continually fight. Because there is no way to eliminate SCN once it’s in a field, one of the most effective management practices is planting resistant varieties. “SCN resistance is really important,” said Aaron Lorenz, a University of Minnesota soybean breeder. “A key thing with SCN resistance is that if you feel like your soybeans aren’t yielding quite as well as they should be and you’ve grown the same source of SCN resistance for many years, you may have resistance breakdown where the SCN populations in your field have slowly evolved to overcome that resistance.”
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Checkoff Research Found in 64 soybean-growing counties across Minnesota, SCN has been showing some resistance to PI 88788, which growers have widely used to combat the pest. “PI 88788 was doing a pretty good job for a number of years on SCN,” Lindeman said. “Now, companies are focusing a little bit more on Peking and that gene because there has been resistance to the old gene that we’ve been using. And some of the yields have bumped up on the Peking compared to when it was first introduced.” Rotating resistance packages is one of the best longterm SCN management practices, with crop rotation another important tool growers have in their toolbox. “As a general principle, producers should be rotating their sources of resistance,” Lorenz said. “Use some PI 88788 and then make sure you work in some Peking resistance into the rotation as well.” Combating white mold Another disease that Minnesota growers need to combat is white mold. “For Minnesota as a whole, white mold is a big concern,” said Rick Swenson, lead agronomist for Peterson Farms Seed. “There are a few factors to pay attention to when choosing a variety that will resist white mold, including plant structure, standability rating and row spacing.” Strongly affected by environmental conditions, white mold thrives in cool and moist conditions at the time of flowering. Though no soybean variety is completely resistant, there are varieties available that are partially resistant, lowering the chance of disease incidence. Additionally, canopy management is a method growers can use to mitigate the risk of white mold. “If you’re growing a big structured bean with a little bit later maturity, you can usually get by planting a little bit lighter; I’m saying go down to 120,000 or 130,000 plants per acre to battle some of the diseases like white mold,” Lindeman said. “If you thin that out and let some air move through that canopy a little more, you can combat some diseases. But if you’re growing a small-structured plant, I like to keep the plant population up a little bit, in the 140,000 range, because you don’t have as much plant filling the row.”
Mitigating IDC Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is another headache soybean growers contend with each year. “IDC has been getting worse and, in some areas, it could be a salt buildup because we’ve had so much drought and haven’t had a chance to rinse any of the salt out,” Lindeman said. “There are varieties that have salt excluders in them that would probably benefit some growers.” Keeping soil nitrate levels in mind is also important. And along with choosing a resistant variety, iron chelate products are another option that can help mitigate the effects of IDC. “Nitrate accumulation is what really caused a big problem with IDC compared to last year because we’re four years into a drought,” Kee said. Fortunately for soybean producers, the Minnesota Soybean Continued on Page 20
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Seed Selection Tips • Plan ahead. Reach out to your seed dealer as soon as possible for best selection and discounts • Find the longest-season variety that fits best for your field
Research & Promotion Council and the soy checkoff invest resources by sponsoring projects addressing these yield-robbing pests and diseases. “From pest management to genetics, the checkoff supports research that helps us make more informed decisions when we’re making those critical seed decisions for the year ahead,” Council Director Gene Stoel said. Switch it up When choosing soybean varieties for 2024, growers should avoid putting all their eggs in one basket. “You’ve got too many acres to plant just a single variety,” Kee said. While there isn’t a set recommended number of varieties to plant, selecting three to five varieties seems to be the sweet spot for many. “I recommend planting somewhere around five varieties,” said Swenson, who sits on the Otter Tail-Grant Corn and Soybean Growers board. “For beans, I don’t mind replacing two out of the five varieties just because of the crop rotation and because the life cycle might only be three to five years. But we are starting to go the other way where we are keeping varieties around a little bit longer than we have even in the last five years.” If a grower purchases seed from multiple companies, make sure to pay close attention to the variety name. Just because the brand name is different, doesn’t mean the variety is different. “You don’t want to buy two varieties from two different companies and then inadvertently be growing the same variety,” Lorenz said. Selecting soybean seed isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. When in doubt, talk to local seed dealers, agronomists and researchers to learn about the latest varieties and which issues are expected to be most prevalent during the 2024 growing season. 20 - Soybean Business - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023
• Take an inventory of your field throughout the growing season to give you a better chance to select a yield-maximizing variety for the year ahead • Spread your risk by choosing around five varieties • Be aware of red herrings such as “hypoctyl length,”“seed size”or “standability” Source: University of Minnesota Extension
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Farmers, stakeholders combine to certify 1 million acres By Drew Lyon Paul Freeman is passionate about preserving and improving the land through soil health practices. It’s no wonder why the Starbuck farmer and past president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) was an early champion of
ENROLL TODAY!
the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) following its formal launch in 2014. “It always pays to do a good job on your farm,” said Freeman, now a director with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council
(MSR&PC). “I want to do the right thing. As a farmer, I depend on clean water for my operation. I am a good steward of my land, and if being certified lets Minnesotans know farmers care and are putting in place practices that improve water quality, then I am all for it.” When Freeman became MSGA president in 2015, he urged MSGA’s lobbying team to continue putting its legislative weight behind the fledgling program, which initially struggled to grow its enrollment among farmers. “I told (our lobbyists), it’s a good program because it’s voluntary and quantifies the good things we’re doing on our farms,” said Freeman, who later served on MAWQCP’s Advisory Committee and participated in articles about the certification process in Soybean Business. “In ag, we are
To apply for MAWQCP certification, farmers can contact their local Soil & Water Conservation District to apply and complete a series of steps with local certifiers using a 100 percent site-specific, risk-assessment process. By law, all data remains private and only by signing a formal release can a farmer’s name be released publicly. After becoming certified, farmers receive a 10-year contract ensuring they are in compliance with any new water quality laws or regulations, an official MAWQCP sign to display on their farm and other benefits developed by local MAWQCP providers. “These practices are time-tested and true,” Gov. Walz said.
Checkoff Feature stewards of the land and when we get a chance to quantify how good a steward we are, that’s very important.” The backing of farm groups like MSGA didn’t go unnoticed at the time and helped the program gain legislative footing and earn funding through the Farm Bill and Clean Water Legacy Fund. “The support from (MSGA) was huge,” said former Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson, who helped lead the program’s creation. “They helped guide the development of the program. You have to have buy-in from the people who are impacted by it.” Freeman was prescient in his belief that the voluntary program would gain momentum once growers learned of its many benefits – both environmental and economical (four straight years of data now show higher profits of MAWQCP-enrolled farmers). This year, MAWQCP exceeded the goal set by Gov. Tim Walz to certify 1 million acres of
In 2021, Gov. Tim Walz set a goal of enrolling 1 million acres into MAWQCP.
MAWQCP BY THE NUMBERS
farmland across Minnesota through conservation practices ranging from cover crops to grassed waterways to irrigation management. “This proves we don’t have to choose between environmental stewardship and production, and this program is only growing,” Gov. Walz said. “The facts are showing this program really works for Minnesotans.” In nearly every corner of Minnesota, from Hallock to Fairmont, farmerleaders from MSGA and MSR&PC have adjusted their practices to qualify for certification. “It’s such a simple and easy program,” said Council Director Rochelle Krusemark, the first Martin County farmer to become certified. “We didn’t have to change much, but becoming certified has certainly helped improve the ways we take care of the land.” Council Director Kris Folland farms nearly seven hours north of Krusemark in far northwestern Minnesota. He said that conservation transcends geography; all Minnesotans can find common ground on water quality. “We’re all in this together. This can’t be ‘us versus them,’” said Folland, • 1,400 certified producers • 1,011,004 certified acres • 2,726 new practices added to earn certification • Prevents 47,291 tons of sediment from entering Minnesota’s water each year • 141,103 tons of soil saved per year • 59,001 lbs of phosphorous loss prevented per year • 50,435 C02-equivalent metric tons of GHG prevented per year • The average certified farm saves 23 tons of sediment and sees a 49% reduction of nitrogen loss
the first Kittson County farmer to enroll in MAWQCP. “We have to work together and realize water quality is important to everyone in Minnesota.” In his role as a Council director and member of MAWQCP’s original Advisory Committee, Bill Zurn spread the word about MAWQCP’s impact to not just family and friends, but the agriculture community and general public. “For the time and effort, it’s very worthwhile,” he said. “This program is proving to the United States and the world that we’re doing good, sustainable and renewable practices here in Minnesota.” ‘A front row seat’ to soil health Brad Jordahl Redlin didn’t know he was interviewing for a job when he visited with then Commissioner Frederickson in 2012. “Brad’s the nuts-and-bolts Continued on Page 24
• Outside of deaths and land sales, 99% of all certified producers remained enrolled • The average net income of MAWQCP farms is $25,000 higher per year versus noncertified farms Endorsements (440 total) • 126 Soil Health Endorsements • 94 Integrated Pest Management Endorsements • 70 Wildlife Endorsements • 150 Climate Smart Endorsements • 4 Irrigation Endorsements
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guy of the whole program,” said Frederickson, who served as MDA commissioner from 2011-2019. Frederickson and then Deputy Commissioner Matt Wohlman had bounced around ideas with USDA and then Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White to establish new ways of managing water quality in agriculture. Eventually, the team settled on creating a new certification program. In January 2012, a memorandum of understanding to form MAWQCP was signed by Gov. Mark Dayton and USDA. “While the real work goes to the producers who stepped up, you have to give credit to Gov. Dayton,” Frederickson said. “He had good foresight and was on board from Day One. It was the right thing to do.” Conservation colleagues encouraged Jordahl Redlin to join the MAWQCP’s Advisory Committee. He visited Commissioner Frederickson – a family friend – at MDA’s St. Paul headquarters and, to his surprise,
MAWQCP THROUGH THE YEARS
left with a job offer. Jordahl Redlin accepted MDA’s newly created position to oversee the conservation program from scratch. Although he’d never worked for a state agency before, Jordahl Redlin was game for the challenge. “What’s more fun than a front row seat?” said Jordahl Redlin, who grew up on a Montana farm and had a lengthy career writing Farm Bill policy. “I get to see what these great growers are doing and what our fantastic staff is doing.” In summer 2012, Jordahl Redlin and the Advisory Committee convened for their inaugural meeting. MDA placed a high importance on bringing a coalition of groups to the committee. “The farm groups were central,” Jordahl Redlin said, “and to have MSGA as a leading voice was huge, keeping in mind their constituency.” In his committee role, Zurn pushed colleagues to factor in the diverse farming practices of Minnesota, how weather and growing patterns differ throughout the state.
Gov. Mark Dayton and USDA sign MOU to create the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
2012
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Program signed into statute
“From Rochester to Roseau, there’s a big difference here, and it’s important we understand that,” Zurn said. “It varies so much across our state, and it’s important to stress that.” The Soil and Water Conservation District and NRCS professionals were – and remain – a crucial resource to guide producers through the enrollment steps. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without their partnership,” Stearns County farmer Dan Janski said. “It’s been a great relationship.” Janski Farms tapped into MAWQCP as a resource when their operation wanted to experiment with its production practices. By taking advantage of the program’s technical and financial assistance, Janski found a safety net that gave his operation peace of mind. “One of the main reasons we went through the MAWQCP was because we were very nervous about experimenting with multi-species cover crops,” Janski said. Jordahl Redlin credited a small but
Pilot program begins
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MAWQCP launches statewide
dedicated staff – including longtime Operations Coordinator Danielle Isaacson – who have always kept their eyes on the soil health prize. “What we do is earn our keep every day,” he said. “It’s been the great work of the people in the field who make this succeed. … The citizens out there are supportive of the program, and it’s resulted in the support of governors and the Legislature and other officials.” ‘Growing and growing’ For over seven years, the MAWQCP’s success story has been told in each issue of Soybean Business, helping to deliver the sustainability message to the publication’s over 20,000 subscribers. Jordahl Redlin said the partnership has helped expand MAWQCP’s reach – from the halls of the Minnesota Legislature to farm events like Farmfest or MN Ag Expo. “I’ve seen it in so many settings,” he said. “There’s no better place to be than one that’s communicating
directly with growers, and there’s not a lot of states that have as respected of a magazine as Soybean Business.” Minnesota Soybean does its part to communicate the MAWQCP’s guidelines during legislative visits and international trade missions in countries where sustainability is a primary topic of conversation. “We are so fortunate to have an ag certainty program like ours, because there’s nothing else like it in the country,” said Smentek, who represents MSGA on the current Advisory Committee. “When we’re having meetings with international leaders, we’re always highlighting the program and how our farmers are taking extra steps to improve water quality and soil health.” Since the beginning, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has endorsed the program – while wishing his home state of Iowa followed Minnesota’s lead. “Secretary Vilsack used to tell me, ‘I wanted this in Iowa but couldn’t get it through,’” Frederickson said. “He’s
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Data shows that certified farms report greater profitability on their operations and higher yields when compared to their peers
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always been very supportive and positive about it.” The MAWQCP isn’t resting on its laurels. In many ways, the first million certified acres signifies the start of the program’s potential — Minnesota’s roughly 73,000 farmers operate on about 25 million acres. “On water quality issues, you do it an acre, a watershed, a township at a time,” Frederickson said. “You do it individually across the state. … If we could get all the farmers in the state into the program, what a difference we could make.” Current MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen chuckled while recalling the initial difficulties enrolling farmers during his previous position with Minnesota Farmers Union. Thanks to a positive word of mouth among farmers and a team approach at MDA, those days are a distant memory. “For a while we had like five farmers (enrolled). And then we had 20,” he said. “It’s kept growing and growing, and it’s been very exciting to see.”
1 Million
2019
MSGA President Bob Worth enrolls; MAWQCP crosses million-acre threshold
2021
2023
500,000 Gov. Walz and Commissioner Petersen celebrate half-million certified acres
After enrolling nearly 1,000 farmers, MAWQCP announces million-acre certification goal
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‘Leaders lead’: MSGA president promotes MDA’s Water Quality Program Although he’d already adopted best management practices on his Lake Benton family farm, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) President Bob Worth hadn’t seriously considered joining the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). “I had heard about it through Farmfest and Soybean Business, but never knew much about the program,” Worth said. That all changed when Worth visited the European Union Delegation in Washington, D.C., with his fellow MSGA directors. Worth learned how becoming certified would mean he was doing his part toward making Minnesota’s high-quality soybeans more attractive to European buyers. Becoming MAWQCP certified also meant Worth could play a role in dispelling myths about modern farming production practices. “There was so much misinformation on what we do, and it opened my eyes,” Worth said. During an event inside his farm shop, Worth – alongside Rep. Michelle Fischbach, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Commissioner Thom Petersen, Minnesota State Sen. Bill Weber and assorted officials and fellow farmers – spoke about the “simple process” of enrolling. The event was
hosted by MAWQCP Program Manager Brad Jordahl Redlin. “Leaders lead, and people like Bob lead by example and it makes our job easier,” said Troy Daniell, Minnesotastate director with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Rep. Fischbach, who represents Worth’s district, commended Minnesota farmers for their proactive measures to improve soil health. “Farmers are the first conservationists,” she said. “They’ll do what’s right and take care of their farm and their land.” By becoming certified, Worth is encouraging other growers to follow his lead. “This is something we need to really have all of us do in Minnesota,” said Worth, who farms with his son, Jon, and wife, Gail. “And if I don’t do it, how can I expect other members to do it?” Commissioner Petersen said the program has blossomed, thanks in part to farmers and stakeholders working together to spread the message about the myriad benefits of enrolling. “It’s really a partnership,” he said. “A lot of the money that supports this program comes from the Farm Bill and the Legacy funds that Sen. Weber works with. NRCS is our host agency, and our Soil and Water Districts are key partners.” ‘Ahead of the curve’ The MAWQCP connects growers with local conservation district experts to identify and mitigate any risks their farm poses to water quality on a field-by-field basis. Farmers enrolled in the MAWQCP enjoy higher profits than non-certified farms, according to a recent study by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence. The 101 MAWQCP farms in the study reported 2022 net farm income an average of more than $23,500 or 7.5% higher than non-certified farms. Over four years of data, the average income for MAWQCP farms was $16,000-$40,000 higher. “The economic sustainability is impressive,” Daniell said. “That ensures that level of stewardship will sustain producers.” Worth said MSGA is committed to continue supporting the MAWQCP. “This program is going to help the whole state of Minnesota for agriculture,” he said. “We’re going to keep moving this program along and we’ll get all the farmers certified. And once we get them all certified, we want them to join MSGA.”
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Council plants for future through market growth exports total around $2.4 billion. On By Soybean Business Staff average, about over 3.8 million metric Think of the soybean checkoff as tons of soybean meal and 181 million a three-legged stool. The program, bushels of whole soybeans are shipped established over decades, is designed from Minnesota via the Pacific to increase farmer profitability by focusing on three key areas: Research; Northwest and Gulf Coast ports. Soybeans are Minnesota’s top creating new, value-added uses; and agricultural export, accounting for last, but certainly not least, market more than 25% of all the state’s ag development. Each faction is equally critical to setting a firm foundation for exports. About 70% of those beans a strong ag economy. But with a global ride the rails to the Pacific Northwest, commodity like soybeans, exports and most of which are bound for China (roughly one out of three soybeans in emerging markets are increasingly Minnesota go to China). About 30% giving producers a leg to stand on of the remaining Minnesota soybeans – along with a rapid expansion of are shipped via barge down the soybean crush facilities through the Mississippi River to Gulf Coast ports Midwest and United States. for end use in Europe and South “From supporting meat exports America. But given the continued low in countries like Japan to building markets in North Africa, the Council water levels of the Mississippi River, there’s a third route via the Great looks far beyond Minnesota to Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System improve our bottom lines,” Council Director Ben Storm said. “At the same that the Council has prioritized in recent years and will continue time, our domestic crush capacity promoting in 2024. could reach over 8 million bushels per day by 2026, so there are many Tech savvy opportunities for producers both at As a component of the Council’s home and internationally.” interactive “Planting for the Future” Each year, Minnesota soybean 28 28 -- Soybean Soybean Business Business -- NOVEMBER NOVEMBER -- DECEMBER DECEMBER -- 2023 2023
campaign, farmers and industry professionals are learning through augmented reality (AR) how past and present soy checkoff projects are making impacts for tomorrow through growing new markets, including Uzbekistan, Morocco and European countries. Through engagements with future farmers Paul and Sandy, the Council is showcasing these investments and engaging with producers by using interactive technology. “Year after year, the Council brainstorms new and innovative ways to talk about the checkoff, its investments and overall impact,” said MSR&PC Director of Marketing Kristeena Thisius. “We see AR utilized across many industries – from entertainment like Snapchat to online retail shopping. There’s no doubt this type of technology is becoming more and more popular, especially with the younger generation, so it only made sense to find a way to utilize AR to showcase current checkoff-funded projects and its impact on tomorrow’s farmers.
Checkoff Innovations What better way than to create a persona of two future farmers to tell that story?” This AR technology is a longterm investment that will be used in multiple settings throughout the years ahead. Minnesota’s organized soybean counties can access the digital tool at local events, such as county fairs, annual meetings and plot days. MSR&PC first unveiled the technology at Farmfest and Big Iron and will continue promoting the technology at the 2024 MN Ag Expo.
During domestic and international visits in 2024, the Council will be tasked with finding bulk cargo products (fertilizers, for example) that are needed in the state of Minnesota and engaging relevant exporters in those countries to work together with Minnesota entities to sell and export those bulk products to the Port of Duluth-Superior. Accomplishing this mission will help ensure an adequate amount of empty bulk cargo ships in the Port of Duluth-Superior to carry Minnesota-origin soybeans – both
commodity soybeans and value-added varieties – from Duluth to overseas market segments in Europe seeking soy shipments. “We are looking to quantify the pre-identified particular overseas market segments that need Minnesota-origin soy,” said Kim Nill, MSR&PC’s director of market development. “Some of the particular market segments identified thus far are within the countries of Scotland, Poland and The Netherlands.”
U.S. soybean crush capacity continues to increase at a breakneck pace. Over 30 new or expanded crush plants, including the Ag Innovation Campus, have the potential to increase the nation’s crush capacity by 34% within the next few years. Step into AR:
• Scan the QR code • Allow camera access • Turn on the sound and push play • Meet Sandy! Sandy is a future farmer whose profitability increases thanks to soy checkoff investments that increase market access.
NOVEMBER NOVEMBER -- DECEMBER DECEMBER -- 2023 2023 -- Soybean Soybean Business Business -- 29 29
Checkoff Trade Mission
Egypt Emerging
Northeast Africa finds preference for US soy By Drew Lyon In U.S. Soy’s long-term efforts in building new markets and relationships through checkoff investments, Egypt stands out as a success story. In just a few short years, Egypt has transformed into one of the largest consumers of U.S. soybean meal. Before the Soy Excellence Center was founded in 2019, Egypt purchased barely any U.S. soybean meal. Within a few years, its consumption of U.S. soy soared by 75%. And according to the 2023 Soy Stats, Egypt bought 400 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans, equating to $2.4 billion, making the northeast African country the world’s third-largest consumer of U.S. whole soybeans. “That’s attributed to the partnerships we’ve built and the people in Egypt who are participating
in our training courses,” said Worthington farmer Bill Gordon, who in September attended a U.S. Soybean Export Council-led (USSEC) trip on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC). “They’re buying U.S. soy and taking that valuable information (from the courses) and telling their bosses to buy soy.” The Soy Excellence Center transforms emerging markets into stories of economic success by building capacity and market potential of food and agriculture businesses. Its goal is to build soy’s global reputation as a vector for change. The U.S. delegation, which comprised USSEC leaders and leaders from several state soybean boards, spent nearly a week in Egypt. During his visit to the country, which links
northeast Africa to the Middle East, Gordon met with buyers, attended seminars at Cairo University and visited several Egyptian aquaculture facilities. The trade mission coincided with the center’s fourth anniversary and its 100th classes, which have taught over 20,000 individuals the value of U.S. soy. Against the jaw-dropping backdrop of iconic Egyptian pyramids, the trade mission represented an excellent opportunity to collaborate and engage with stakeholders in this key market. “It was a cool opportunity to experience the region and see their need for growing demand for food,” said Gordon, a former president of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and past vice president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
Bill Gordon (far right, gray suit) discusses the superior quality of U.S. soybeans during a meeting with Egyptian leaders as part of a checkoff-funded trade mission with the Soy Excellence Center.
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Egypt is aiming to increase its fish population to 3 million metric tons by 2025, underscoring its growing demand for U.S. soymeal.
‘Quality’ conversations The goal of the trade mission – which took place prior to the Israel-Hamas war – was to better understand the ongoing efforts and opportunities for U.S. Soy in Egypt’s animal and aquaculture industries. The Egyptian poultry industry has faced headwinds because of global inflation, currency turmoil and increasing feed costs. Nevertheless, Egypt’s poultry producers have achieved 100% self-sufficiency and are exporting to several other countries. There is an opportunity for strong and continued growth in poultry and dairy production, driven mainly by poultry and dairy consumption in the region. Meanwhile, aquaculture in Egypt has seen significant growth due to a variety of reasons including development of inland fisheries, expansion of fish farming projects and growth of hatcheries. Egypt’s aquaculture sector, which is a leader in Africa and ranks
sixth globally, is projected to see a 46% increase in feed demand by 2025. More opportunity is on the horizon with in-pond raceway systems to improve aquaculture profits and water use. Egypt’s preference for U.S. soy over Brazil is a matter of quality and logistical ease in obtaining the commodity. “What’s cool about the U.S. soy market in Egypt is they talk about price with everything but soybeans,” Gordon said. “Soybeans is the one commodity they go to the U.S. because they need the quality.” Gordon also used the visit to promote high-quality, Minnesota-grown soybeans and diversifying shipping routes via the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. “We talked about options for buying northern soybeans for the amino acid content and using those ‘salties’ out on the St. Lawrence Seaway,” Gordon said. When Gordon was appointed to the Soy Excellence Center’s Steering Committee by MSR&PC, he was
assigned to the Southeast Asian region and visited Thailand. He’s since become one of the organization’s representatives in the Middle East. “The Middle East market has been a tough nut to crack because of political government issues,” Gordon said, “so being able to help these people feed more people with protein and making it more reasonable by using U.S. soy is so crucial, and seeing them become No. 3 is awesome.” After taking a step away from ag leadership after serving as ASA chair to focus on his farming operation and spend more time with family, Gordon said he’s reenergized to return to soy promotion and advocacy. “Egypt is a growing market and I wanted to be part of that and help develop that market,” he said. “It was nice to take a break and realize I do enjoy it, and it was fun to go and see people again and talk soybeans.” The Soy Excellence Center contributed to this article
Egypt: a growing market
Egypt supports a population of 106 million people, which is expected to increase to 160 million by 2050. The country boasts a large soy crush industry and has a strong relationship with user industry. It has increasing rates of poultry consumption and have made considerable efforts to improve aquaculture profits and water use. The U.S. soybean industry first started establishing relationships with Egypt in 1988. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023 - Soybean Business - 31
Growing Markets
SOY STRIDES
Council continues efforts to grow Uzbekistan market By Drew Lyon Building trade relationships requires multiple visits across years. Playing the long game, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) Chair Tom Frisch and CEO Tom Slunecka visited the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., to promote Minnesota soybeans and encourage the growth of Uzbekistan’s soy crushing capabilities. The engagement came about a year after Council leaders visited Uzbekistan following the historic, firstever shipment of 700 metric tons of U.S. soymeal to the landlocked country. While in the nation’s capital, Frisch and Slunecka visited with Laziz Sh. Kudratov, minister of investment, industry and trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Council leaders highlighted the high-quality appeal and trade opportunities with Minnesota-grown soybeans. “They were very receptive and appreciated the investments we’ve made in growing this market for our soybeans,” Frisch said. “They’re excited, as we are.” Since 2020, MSR&PC has invested checkoff dollars in projects in Uzbekistan to identify the country’s needs for U.S. soy. The Council also commissioned a feasibility study focusing on the viability of soybean meal crush capabilities and future development of livestock facilities in Uzbekistan. The study underscores U.S. soy’s unique opportunity for Uzbek importers. “There’s plenty of potential growth that exists for us to help them to purchase high-quality Minnesota soybeans, and this checkoff-supported study provided great insight for them,” Slunecka said. The Council also explained how shipping soybeans via the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is an attractive option for both parties. “That route really provides linkage between two markets due to smaller size vessels on both sides of the ocean,” Slunecka said.
The Council will continue its efforts in growing the Uzbekistan market, which has a population of nearly 35 million. “We’re continuing to look forward and make those next important steps,” Frisch said. ‘A huge resource’ A week after the Council’s meeting in D.C., trade relations between the United States and Uzbekistan continued strengthening. This fall, a 10-person Uzbekistan agricultural group arrived in Manhattan, Kan., to begin a two-week-long, USDA-supported animal nutrition fellowship. The agricultural trade mission to the United States was the first of its kind for Uzbekistan. Per a USDA request, MSR&PC’s in-country representative, Chris Andrew, recruited and nominated the attendees for this trip because USDA does not have any employees stationed in Uzbekistan. “This trip wouldn’t have occurred if we hadn’t invested checkoff resources into on-ground representation in Uzbekistan,” MSR&PC Director of Market Development Kim Nill said. “Chris Andrew is a huge resource for both the Council and USDA.” In October, a second Uzbek trade delegation met with leaders from the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board as part of a regional effort to increase soy exports to Uzbekistan, which has strong dairy and poultry industries. In addition, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the president of Uzbekistan, met at the United Nations Building with President Biden to discuss U.S.-Uzbekistan trade, investment and economic development of Uzbekistan. Today, 300 American companies, including John Deere, operate in Uzbekistan, a number that’s more than doubled since 2017. “Uzbekistan is a country that is growing rapidly,” said Council Director Gene Stoel, who visited Uzbekistan last September alongside Nill and fellow Director Patrick O’Leary. “There’s a lot of potential there for U.S. soy to fill their needs.”
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Growing Markets
NEW APPROACH During EU visit, MN farmer gets glimpse into new deforestation rule
By Drew Lyon As an unabashed political wonk, Wheaton farmer Jamie Beyer didn’t quite know what to expect when she represented the soybean industry during a trade mission to Germany and Poland alongside the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). She returned home with plenty of news to share with her fellow farmers. “For me, who likes working on policy, it was a unique trip and a glance into how the (European Union) functions, which is a patchwork,” said Beyer, who represents the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) on the American Soybean Association. Beyer joined North Carolina farmer Reggie Strickland to promote U.S. Soy at the 63rd annual European Commodities Exchange Conference in Warsaw, Poland. While attendance reached around 3,000, Beyer said many conversations centered around concerns following Cargill’s recent sale of its Barcelona soybean crush facility. “That really was sending a shock wave through the EU,” Beyer said. “Was it because of energy prices or this (deforestation) rule or they know the U.S. will have more meal? Nobody really had a clear answer.” Beyer and Strickland were pressed on how they intend to comply with the EU’s deforestation rule, which is set to begin in January 2025. Beyer declared the deforestation rules, which require strict levels of crop segregation and traceability across six different commodities (including soybeans) as confounding and unrealistic, adding uncertainty to the marketplace. However, she added that officials she met with understand that the deforestation issue isn’t a United States problem.
“Our consolidated transportation system is how our crop remains competitive,” Beyer said. “To dismantle that through this rule is going to increase costs. I felt my role there was to explain as a farmer the impossibility of what they’re asking for the U.S. crop.” MSGA’s collective efforts with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council to increase soy shipments via the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is attractive to EU customers, along with the sustainability efforts shown through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. “Our approach to using the Port of Duluth and using this on a small scale is exactly what they’re looking for,” Beyer said. The USSEC delegation was concerned by one prediction calling for the end of German’s livestock industry and possibly the entire EU because of the deforestation rule. “It was alarming to me that people feel that’s a viable option,” she said “There’s no level of calories that we can produce to replace meat.” Other visits on the tour included meetings with Bunge and ADM. Beyer was amazed at the spotless conditions of a German feed mill, along with learning the country mixes up to 2,000 individual recipes for their livestock farmers – and offers same-day delivery. “Germany had the cleanest feed mills I’ve ever been in,” she said, “and they don’t use augers – they use air pressure to transport all their products, even on the farm, which I’d love to see.” Following the visit, Beyer was back on the farm, tending to the 2023 harvest. “It wasn’t an ideal time,” she said, “but I think it was important.”
Germany & soy: Crunching the numbers Germany is the world’s sixth-largest soybean meal exporter and third largest importer of soybean meal. In 2022, the U.S. exported about 1.5 million metric tons of soybeans to Germany, equating to $911 million. U.S. soy exports to Germany have increased by 26% in the past decade. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023 - Soybean Business - 33
( Y OU ) You’re where the rubber meets the road. And the engine. And the interior. All soybean farmers, including you, are busy replacing petroleum with your soy oil. How? By pooling your resources through your soy checkoff. Learn how your soy checkoff is bringing tangible returns back to you and your operation at unitedsoybean.org/hopper.
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Moving Soy Forward. Moving You Forward. ©2021 United Soybean Board [61133-1 7/21] MN
unitedsoybean.org
HELPING YOU DELIVER ON DEMAND
Whether it’s improving soybean meal to outperform the competition or promoting the sustainability of U.S. soy, the soy checkoff has been working behind the scenes to help farmers satisfy their customers’ needs. We’re looking inside the bean, beyond the bushel and around the world to keep preference for U.S. soy strong. And for U.S. soybean farmers like you, the impact is invaluable. See more ways the soy checkoff is maximizing profit opportunities for farmers at unitedsoybean.org
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Checkoff Promotion
A win- win Workhorse Clay-Wilkin farmers drive aid for farm families
By Mark Askelson Soybean farmers in Clay and Wilkin counties put the rubber to the road (and row) by helping local farmers in times of crisis, while promoting the diverse uses of soybeans at the same time. The Clay-Wilkin Corn & Soybean Growers showed their steadfast support toward Farm Rescue by supplying two of their fleet trucks with a new set of soy-based Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse HT tires as an extension of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s Driving Soy campaign. “Farm Rescue racks up tons of miles helping hundreds of farm families all across the Midwest during times of need, so what better way to help them than to make sure they have a couple sets of tires of reliable soy-based Goodyear tires to get them to their next destination?,” said Jeremy Tischer, board president and a director with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Farm Rescue is a nonprofit based in Horace, N.D., that provides planting, haying, harvesting, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance to farm and ranch families who have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster. Since its inception in 2005, Farm Rescue has assisted over 1,000 farm and ranch families through times of crisis. “We are beyond grateful for these soy-based tires. Through this donation, it’s helping us get up and down the road helping farm families during difficult times,” said
Farm Rescue Executive Director Tim Sullivan. “Thanks to the Clay-Wilkin Corn & Soybean Growers for thinking of us and we hope to continue our relationship in the future.” For the county board, it’s important that local farmers support organizations like Farm Rescue should the need for help arise. “Many farms in our area are on their fourth, fifth or even sixth generation, and Farm Rescue is there to help families ensure they have a crop in the ground or the bin during times of crisis and can pass the farm on to the next generation,” said Tischer, who farms in Breckenridge. “Farm Rescue supports farmers, and these soy-based tires support farmers as well. It’s a winwin for everyone.” Since 2017, Goodyear, supported by United Soybean Board checkoff investments, has released eight lines of tires with soybean oil compounds: Assurance WeatherReady, Eagle Enforcer All Weather, Wrangler Workhorse HT, Eagle Exhilarate, Endurance WHA, Metro Miler and Assurance Comfort Drive. The Akron, Ohio-based company has increased its use of soybeans by 73% since 2018. In 2023, Goodyear released a tire made with 90% renewable materials and has pledged to fully replace all its petroleum-driven oils with soybean oil by 2040. Since the Driving Soy campaign hit the road in 2021, county boards throughout Minnesota have donated hundreds of soy-based tires to law enforcement departments and nonprofit organizations.
Farm Rescue provides assistance to farm and ranch families in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
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BELIEVE YOU CAN. FOR WE LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. II CORINTHIANS 5 : 7
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Checkoff Election
elin ine im t m i n io t o c i e l e 4 2 nounces 20 n a C P & R S M By Sydney Harris As a farmer-led, elected board, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) depends on growers from across the state to help guide the wise checkoff investments made to increase Minnesota soybean farmer profitability. The Council is calling any and all Minnesota soybean growers interested in serving their fellow farmers and the soybean industry as an MSR&PC board member to apply for a three-year term, which will begin July 1, 2024. “Since joining the board, my eyes have been opened to how much the Council does, not just in Minnesota but on a global scale, too,” MSR&PC Director and Election Chair Gail Donkers said. “I wholeheartedly encourage anyone with an interest in soybean marketing, or enhancing rural Minnesota, really, to apply to be an MSR&PC director.” With five open seats in Districts 1, 2 & 3; 4; 7; 8; and 9, there are opportunities across the state for growers to make an impact on soybean profitability. Board member benefits include the opportunity to attend one national United
Soybean Board board meeting per year, chances to develop and enrich strategic business management skills and provide input into the investment of Minnesota soybean checkoff dollars. “It’s a great responsibility and privilege to represent Minnesota soybean farmers and their checkoff dollars via the MSR&PC board,” MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka said. “Nothing brings profitability back to the farmer as quickly as strong demand and high prices, which is what the Council is all about.” Candidates must be 18 years of age and a soybean producer who directly shares in the risk or loss from soybean production. Interested candidates must fill out a candidate certification form and a candidate biography form and email completed forms to Melinda Roberts at melinda@mnsoybean. com or mail completed forms to the Minnesota Soybean office no later than Jan. 22, 2024. Ballots will be mailed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on March 15, and all ballots must be postmarked by April 1. Candidate forms are available at mnsoybean.org/council.
2024 MN SOYBEAN RESEARCH & PROMOTION COUNCIL ELECTIONS The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, holds commodity council elections each spring. In 2024, five Council positions are up for election. Interested candidates need to fill out a candidate biography form and a candidate certification form and return to Minnesota Soybean by Jan. 22, 2024. Dates to Remmber: • Ballot requests and candidate forms are due to melinda@mnsoybean.com by Monday, Jan. 22 • Ballots will be mailed by MDA Friday, March 15 • Ballots must be postmarked by Monday, April 1
MSR&PC Directors
as of July 1, 2023
1 4 7
2 5 8
3 6 9
For MSR&PC candidate forms or to request a ballot, visit https://mnsoybean.org/msrpc/board-members/#elections-and-voting .
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Kris Folland Dist. 1,2, & 3* Bill Zurn Dist. 1,2, & 3 Dist. 4* Paul Freeman Patrick O’Leary Dist. 4 Tom Frisch Dist. 4 Joe Serbus Dist. 5 & 6 Pat Sullivan Dist. 5 & 6 Dist. 7 Gene Stoel Jim Willers Dist. 7* Ron Obermoller Dist. 7 Cole Trebesch Dist. 8* Dist. 8 Rochelle Krusemark Gail Donkers Dist. 8 Glen Groth Dist. 9 Ben Storm Dist. 9* *MSR&PC Expiring Director Terms, 2024
MINNESOTA SOIL FERTILITY UMN Extension Nutrient Management The University of Minnesota conducts research on everything from N-P-K, sulfur, and micronutrient fertilizer management for various cropping systems to soil health, cover crops, and manure and irrigation management.
Minnesota Crop News
UMN Extension Nutrient Management
Youtube
z.umn.edu/NMvideos
@UMNnutrientMGMT
Podcast
z.umn.edu/NMpod
z.umn.edu/NMlinks UMN Extension Nutrient Management handout (PDF)
AFREC The Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) is a farmer-led program to advance soil fertility research, technology development, and education.
MNsoilFertility.com
Follow UMN Extension Nutrient Management and AFREC online to stay up-to-date on the latest Minnesota soil fertility research and recommendations.
Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council - AFREC
@MNsoilFertility
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Checkoff News
Anti-checkoff House amendment fails The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) joined the American Soybean Association and its affiliated state soybean associations by commending the U.S. House of Representatives for soundly defeating Rep. Victoria Spartz’s (R-IN) anti-checkoff amendment by a vote of 49 to 377. The amendment to the House Ag appropriations bill proposed eliminating funding for USDA to administer national ag promotion programs. ASA and state affiliates joined scores of other ag groups in a letter to House leadership in which they vehemently opposed the amendment. Soy leaders also contacted their state representatives through ASA’s Soy Action Center and phone calls to urge lawmakers to reject the amendment. “As we explained to legislators during our recent visit in September to D.C., the soy checkoff continues to bring substantial value to our operations,” said MSGA Vice President Darin Johnson, who farms in Wells. “We were very pleased to see our members use ASA’s Soy Action Center to urge our elected officials in D.C. to protect the checkoff program by voting against this bill and encourage them to continue using this method of digital advocacy.” In place since the early 1990s, the soy checkoff provides U.S. soybean farmers $12.34 in added value at the national level for every dollar they invest in the soy checkoff. MSGA encourages advocates to continue using the Soy Action Center at soygrowers.com to urge senators to oppose the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act as an amendment to the Senate “minibus” appropriations package, which includes the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill. MSGA executive director joins legislators, ag leaders in Japan Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Joe Smentek participated in a Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)-led business development mission to celebrate the rich history of trade and investment between Minnesota and Japan and identify new opportunities for growth in the agriculture industry. The delegation engaged with Japanese agricultural businesses and met with USDA Agricultural Trade Office
and Foreign Ag Service personnel. “This was a great opportunity to represent Minnesota Soybean and our ag community and talk about how production practices can lead to expanded agricultural trade opportunities between Minnesota and Japan,” Smentek said. During the trip, Smentek and colleagues also visited with a Japanese green nitrogen company with hopes for collaborating with Minnesota Corn, Minnesota Farmers
Union and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute on projects to turn wastewater into carbon-free N fertilizer made in Minnesota. “We had a chance to talk about how Minnesotagrown products are produced through environmentally friendly practices,” Smentek said. Japan is Minnesota’s fourth largest export market, representing 8% of Minnesota’s food and agricultural exports (2021), or $752 million. The country is also the fourth-largest consumer of whole U.S. soybeans: In 2022, Japan purchased about $1.6 billion worth of whole soybeans. In November, Smentek and MSGA President Bob
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Worth joined the governor and Minnesota business leaders on a trade mission to Australia.
“They crafted an extraordinary event, lots of good people participated and had conversations.” The 2023 Honor the Harvest Forum brought together 145 organizations representing 100% of the food and ag value chain. The soybean industry was well-represented. Along with Krusemark, Mac Marshall, vice president of market intelligence with the United Soybean Board, and several other national soy leaders were also present. “There was a good presence about using farmers’ data to help companies understand the data,” Krusemark said. “I was encouraged by the conversations about developing partnerships and collaborating on how we can approach some of the big issues and challenges facing agriculture.” During his remarks, U.S. Ambassador Kip Tom highlighted soybeans as a global protein solution in feeding the world. “That was a really good plug,” Krusemark said. “The whole event left me feeling energized. USFRA is a diverse set of collaborators and partners, and that’s exciting.”
MSGA member named National Corn Growers president In October, Madelia farmer Harold Wolle was named president of the National Corn Growers Association. Wolle replaced Eden Valley farmer Tom Haag, marking the first time Minnesota has had NCGA presidents in consecutive years. Wolle bring decades of leadership and advocacy experience to the role, having served as the president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and NCGA Corn Board member for the last six years. Harold is also a longtime member of MSGA and a director with the Watonwan County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. Potential research study harmful to farmers The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has commissioned University of Minnesota scientists to conduct a “fishing expedition” to determine if PFOS/ PFAS chemicals are being found in crops from sites that have received wastewater sludge within the last three years. There are multiple opportunities for experimental/ experimenter error in a study of this nature. Thus, the risk of false positives is high and grower rewards are essentially nonexistent. Given these risks, and the potential penalties, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council does not recommend crop growers participate in this study. If you have been approached by MPCA or UMN scientists, you do not have to let them sample your fields. If you have questions regarding this program, reach out to MSR&PC Director of Research David Kee at david@ mnsoybean.com.
THE VOICE Of MANKATO
Council director attends Honor the Harvest Forum U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) held its fifth annual Honor the Harvest Forum in Texas. The multi-day convening on a local ranch gathered leaders from across the food and agriculture value chain to hold a dialogue centered on co-creating sustainable food systems of the future. The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is a longtime supporter of USFRA. Martin County farmer Rochelle Krusemark, a director with MSR&PC, attended the Honor the Harvest Forum in her role as a USFRA board member. “It was really good, the best one yet,” Krusemark said. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - 2023 - Soybean Business - 41
FACES OFMSGA
The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) is the nation’s premier soybean association because farmers and agri-businesses recognize the value their investment in MSGA brings. Here are two examples of MSGA members who actively promote Minnesota’s soybean industry. By Bailey Grubish
Danielle Evers
Growing up in town didn’t stop from working on her family farm in Cottonwood County or staying connected to the ag industry. Her parents, Kay and Dale Evers, have been involved with their local Cottonwood Corn & Soybean Growers Association for as long as she can remember. This is how Evers learned of an ambassadorship with Minnesota Soybean. “I was in college and looking for internships within the ag industry, but I found out about the ambassador program and that was something that really interested me because I’ve always liked the idea of promoting ag in some way,” Evers said. “I thought that it’d be a good experience seeing what Minnesota Soybean really does.” She worked at events like Farmfest and parades during her Minnesota Soybean internship. “Learning how to network was a huge thing,” Evers said. “It jump-started me in the ag career I ended up choosing.” Evers received her bachelor’s degree in agronomy from South Dakota State University (SDSU). She currently works as a southwest Minnesota certification specialist with the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). Her journey came full circle in August 2023 when she attended an event honoring MSGA President Bob Worth for his water quality certification. “I don’t know that I would necessarily keep on my membership if I hadn’t gone through the experience and realized this has a real benefit to our whole community,” Evers said. Playing a part in the ag world looks different for everyone. MSGA member grew up on a farm in Tyler and attended the University of St. Thomas. During college, she found education and policy as her niche in agriculture. “I started to hear all these misconceptions about agriculture, and it rubbed me the wrong way,” Schreurs said. “I realized there was a role for me to play in helping to educate my peers about where their food and fuel came from.” She soon started looking for opportunities to support agriculture and found the Minnesota Soybean ambassador role in 2014. “I really enjoyed it because it was an opportunity to talk to both producers and consumers around the state about soybeans on a range of topics,” Schreurs said. The ambassador position was funded by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and included educating people on how MSGA advocacy benefits the state’s soybean industry. “Being an ambassador gave me a front row seat to the role that Minnesota Soybean plays in agricultural advocacy and on the national scale with the American Soybean Association (ASA),” said Schreurs, whose father, Joel, is a longtime ASA and MSGA director. She continues supporting MSGA through her membership while working on ag policy in Washington, D.C. “Public policy is something that affects every single person, every day of their lives,” Schreurs said. “I think it’s important to play your part in influencing policymakers so that your way of life is preserved and supported. I encourage all members of farm families to be members of MSGA.”
Morgan Schreurs
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A Soy Salute to Our Members! The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association thanks the nearly 30 members who joined MSGA since August 2023. We also extend our gratitude to the over 125 members who renewed their support of MSGA over the past few months. Together, we’re protecting farming’s interests by advocating on your behalf in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. To join the nation’s longest-running state soybean association, visit mnsoybean.org/msga/invest. Membership levels start at just $20 for students, and a 3-year membership costs less than a quarter per day!
All MSGA members receive the following benefits and discounts: • Clean Fuels Alliance America Vehicle Discount • Cabela’s discount (10%) • Commodity Classic Registration - $100 Savings • American Soybean Association (ASA) Membership • $5,000 College Scholarship Opportunity
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IT’S NOT JUST YOUR LAND. IT’S YOUR LEGACY. The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program rewards farmers like you for what you do best, taking care of your land and its natural resources. To get started and learn more, contact your local soil and water conservation district or go to:
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