Building Opportunities by Association
MWRPC candidate introductions
Minnesota’s storied flour milling history
Port of Duluth finishes 2024 on high note
Soy-based, PFAS-free firefighting foam
Visit mnsoybean.org/soyfoam for more information.
Prairie Grains Prairie Grains
March 2025 | Issue 205
Cover Story
2 1 3 4 5 05 06 08 10 24
Once upon a time, Minnesota’s flour mills grinded over 14 percent of the nation’s grain and while less than four percent of America’s flour mills were in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, they produced almost a quarter of the nation’s wheat flour. Today, Minnesota remains home to several flour mills that are vital to Minnesota’s wheat producers. Learn more about a few of the important mills in the Prairie Grains region, starting on page 16.
*Cover photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
PUBLISHER AND CIRCULATION
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers
2600 Wheat Drive • Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
218.253.4311 • Email: mnwheat@mnwheat.com Web: www.mnwheat.org
EDITORIAL
Doug Monson, Sr. Director of Integrated Marketing
Ag Management Solutions
1020 Innovation Lane • Mankato, MN 56001
Ph. 507.995.7534
Email: dmonson@agmgmtsolutions.com
Sydney Harris, Managing Editor
Ag Management Solutions
Ph: 218.689.5091
Email: sharris@agmgmtsolutions.com
CONTENT EDITORS
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Ag Management Solutions
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Email: dlyon@agmgmtsolutions.com
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ABOUT PRAIRIE GRAINS
Prairie Grains magazine is published six times annually and delivered free of charge to members of these grower associations, and to spring wheat and barley producers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. To subscribe or change address, please write or call our circulation department.
Taming the Bulls & Bears: The long winter
Difference makers: MAWG makes its mark during Day on the Hill
Casting the ballot
Taking temperature: Annual Best of the Best has all research corners covered The bread basket: Collaboration is key to solving digestibility issues
OUR PARTNERS
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council 2600 Wheat Drive • Red Lake Falls, MN 56750 218.253.4311 • Email: mnwheat@mnwheat.com Web: www.mnwheat.org
North Dakota Grain Growers Association 2401 46th Ave SE , Suite 204 • Mandan, ND 58554 701.222.2216 • Email: danw@ndgga.com Web: www.ndgga.com
South Dakota Wheat Growers Association 116 N. Euclid, Box 667 • Pierre, SD 58501 605.224.4418 • Email: wheatinc@midco.net
Montana Grain Growers Association P.O. Box 1165 • Great Falls, MT 59403 • 406.761.4596
Email: erobinson@mgga.org • Web: www.mgga.org
Northland Community and Technical College 1101 Highway One East • Thief River Falls, MN 56701 218.683.8800 • Email: ron.dvergsten@northlandcollege.edu Web: www.northlandcollege.edu
Raising our voice
Sometimes, it’s fair to wonder: As farmer advocates, are we making a difference when sharing our story and highlighting our concerns and priorities with lawmakers, regulatory leaders and media outlets? Is our voice being heard?
Yes, indeed, we are making a positive impact; and, absolutely, I assure you, our words carry weight with legislative leaders and agency officials. They depend on us for our insights on agriculture, and when we raise concerns, we capture their attention. As a group representing an industry that accounts for less than 2% of the U.S. population – yet feed 100% – farmer advocates punch above their weight class.
Case in point: In February, the Trump administration announced it was terminating positions in USDA’s Cereal Disease Lab in St. Paul. This public sector lab conducts critical research on breeding disease resistant wheat varieties and screens for pathogens, ultimately ensuring a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. Our team rang the alarm on the potential effects of losing this position: Higher prices for consumers. Executive Director Brian Sorenson spoke with ag media and non-ag media, underscoring how both farmers and consumers would be affected by this downsizing. Within a week or so, our concerns
were, at least for the time being, alleviated after USDA announced these positions would remain available. By being a strong voice for our farmers and industry colleagues, we played an active role in protecting our producers, customers and partners. We appreciate the USDA recognizing the importance of public research across our country.
In late February, I joined over 18 Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) colleagues and fellow farmers in traveling to the Capitol in St. Paul for our annual Wheat Day on the Hill. During visits with lawmakers and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, our messages of deregulation, freedom to farm and business-friendly policies carried the day. As a biennial budget is crafted this spring, I’m confident the priorities of MAWG and our farm advocacy partners will be heard. But we can only achieve our goals by strengthening our membership. Join the voice for our state’s wheat growers and join MAWG today by visiting mnwheat.org and help our voice grow even louder.
Spring is in the air across our region. Today, at my home in Fertile, the
temperature is well above freezing, a rare occurrence for February.. I know I’m not the only producer in the region itching to get out in the field this spring to plant another crop. While there are myriad economic and market challenges facing our industry, I’m feeling optimistic heading into the planting season. Prices are rebounding, much-needed economic assistance is arriving from Washington, D.C., and our organization is on the right track and building momentum. We’re excited to welcome new directors to both MAWG and the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council. For the first time in a long while, we have no vacancies on either board, and that’s a refreshing prospect. New voices bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and help mold the next generation of wheat leaders.
As you’ll read in this issue of Prairie Grains, our region’s rich milling history helped build economies across the Northern Plains. Wheat continues to play a vital role in both rural and urban economies. As advocates, the future is in our hands to speak up for producers and build a better tomorrow. In times of uncertainty, it’s comforting to know there are folks out there listening.
The Long Winter
My favorite Laura Ingalls Wilder book is “The Long Winter.” There was so much snow the trains stopped running and the towns were running out of food and coal for heat. Of course I read all the books in elementary school, but this one stands out to me as an adult because they had to hide wheat in the walls. Wheat was so expensive and hard to find, that Almanzo and his brother built a false wall and hid their valuable wheat. Sixty bushels of wheat saved people from starving.
I will remember 2025 because this is my long winter as a farm business management instructor. I have done this for 20 years, and this is my worst year ever. Despite many of my producers having record yields in 2024, low prices and low quality had created significant cash shortfalls.
If a farmer owned a significant amount of 2023 crop, those prices declined, and that cash never materialized. The average Minnesota and North Dakota farm had a decline in working capital at the beginning of 2024. If we plugged in their actual crop sales, the decline would have been even larger.
Farmers have been turned away for their 2025 operating loans and for most we are still looking for new lenders.
Betsy Jensen is a Farm Business Management Instructor at Northland Community and Technical College. Follow her on X at @jensenbetsyr.
Others decided not to farm in 2025. Input suppliers are sending letters about their payment terms and options for alternative financing. Input suppliers still have accounts due from 2024, and with low prices it looks like 2025 could be just as tight.
I hope many of you reading this have no idea things are so tough on some farms. For others experiencing financial stress, you are not alone.
Farms are experiencing financial stress for many reasons. Since I talk about crop marketing, let’s admit that poor marketing can be a problem. Spring wheat futures neared $8 in May 2024 but add some falling number and protein discounts and you still didn’t make money. You could have sold all your wheat at the highest price available, had incredible yields and still lost money. Sometimes farms just overextend themselves on capital purchases. You cannot afford to buy the land, but you cannot afford to not buy it. You have been farming it for years, it is close to your other land, and when the owner called to say it was for sale, you could not afford to say no. Those loan payments are often double the rent payment. It takes cash to make land payments.
Whatever the reasons for financial distress, I keep reminding my farmers that it is too early to condemn the 2025 crop year. Wheat prices rebounded in May 2024, and we know prices are going to fluctuate and give us some sales opportunities. Corn and soybeans are going to rally, drop, rally, drop, several times during the year. When they rally, we will be ready.
I have colleagues throughout the region who can work with you. Farm management does not have to happen alone. Whenever I transfer my accounting into the Finpack analysis program I find errors, and they are my books! Reviewing your accounts and taking another look at expenses, debt and income can reveal areas to improve.
I hope next fall we are selling our beans in the teens. I can look back at my long winter and forget about how many cash flows and loan packages I created. I will have some regret about my $10 forward contract bean sales, but $13 beans take away some of the pain.
Never celebrate a bumper crop and record prices until it is sold, and don’t despair over a gloomy cash flow. There is still time, and don’t miss your opportunity.
By Sydney Harris
MAWG makes
its mark during Day on the Hill
Minnesota’s amber waves of grain descended upon St. Paul Feb. 25 for the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers’ (MAWG) Wheat Day on the Hill.
“It’s important to tell our personal stories of how their policies affect us,” MAWG President Kevin Leiser said. “And not only is Wheat Day on the Hill an opportunity to meet with our lawmakers, but it’s also a good way to meet other people in the wheat industry and get their viewpoints on different things.”
Farmers represent a small portion of the population (less than 2%), making farmer-led Hill visits invaluable. This year, MAWG moved up its trip to February to offer input before committee deadlines.
“Our lawmakers have a lot of laws on their books and often, they don’t fully understand the consequences of the policies they’re voting on,” Leiser said. “So, it’s important that we meet with them and explain how some of these laws
have adverse effects. When we let them know, they can try to tweak it so it isn’t so bad or say, ‘Yeah, this wasn’t a good idea. We should get rid of it.’”
No wasted moments
With limited time to converse with legislators about agenda topics during meetings., the MAWG delegation was selective about the topics on the agenda during meetings. One of the main topics discussed during the Hill visits was funding for the Ag Special within the University of Minnesota’s budget, which has been flat at $42.922 million per year since 2011 while total appropriations to the University have gone up almost 20% during the same period.
“The University of Minnesota Extension Service and Experiment Stations are vital to not only the wheat industry, but the agriculture industry as a whole,” said Austen Germolus, MAWG vice president. “It’s important that they get the funding they need to be able to continue working on agriculture’s behalf.”
Private pesticide licensing was also a hot topic.
In 2024, Minnesota Legislature adopted a bill that was designed to come into compliance with federal EPA laws regarding pesticide applicator’s licenses. Farmers who apply restricted-use pesticides are required to have an applicator’s license, but the adopted change requires anyone assisting the licensed applicator with mixing, handling or loading pesticide products to have the same license – even if they aren’t applying the pesticide.
MAWG advocates explained to lawmakers and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture the bill’s impracticality.
“Now, if I’m five gallons short and I call my wife to ask her
MAWG Secretary/Treasurer Tate Petry (far right), wheat farmer Mark Jossund (second from right) and MN Wheat VP of Operations Coreen Berdahl snap a selfie with Rep. Cal Warwas (left).
to run and get it for me quick so I can finish spraying, she’d have to have a private pesticide license to go even pick it up and transport it,” Leiser said. “The way it’s written, basically everybody that works on the farm that might drive the water truck or do anything with the sprayer would have to have a license. We’re trying to explain, ‘Well, what’s the difference, as long as the guy that has the license is loading the sprayer and spraying it?’”
Unintended consequences
Many lawmakers haven’t experienced a typical day on the farm, so it’s difficult for them to understand the reverberations of this legislation. That’s when MAWG steps up to the plate.
“It’s another example of when legislators push a law through and don’t really realize the consequences of what they’re passing,” Leiser said. “We have to explain the ripple effect of this legislation.”
Like the entirety of Minnesota’s agriculture industry, MAWG is concerned with the language of the Earned Safe and Sick time law, which mandates that employers provide up to 80 hours of fully paid time off to each employee. Under the bill, employees can earn one hour of fully paid time off for every 30 hours worked, with a cap of 80 hours. Because of the agriculture industry’s unique and seasonal nature, the recordkeeping and compliance with this law is challenging for family farms. That’s why MAWG supports SF-310 (Sen. Gene Dornick) and HF-1057 (Rep. Paul Anderson) exempting family farms with five or fewer employees from the law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
“The last main point we talked about was seeing if we could get some kind of ag exemption or seasonal worker exemption for safe and sick time,” Leiser said. “They rushed it out and had no idea how it was going to work and it’s just a nightmare.”
Agriculture has distinct differences from corporate America, making Earned Safe and Sick time’s “one-size-fits-all” approach impractical.
“Small towns are almost like family,” Leiser said. “If there is something major happening, like an illness or birth of a child, we’ll find a way to make it work while they take care of what they need to do, and they’ll be welcomed with open arms when they come back.”
With a strong delegation of over 18 wheat growers, MAWG’s 2025 Wheat Day on the Hill was nothing short of successful.
“MAWG works on behalf of Minnesota wheat growers yearround, but when farmers take time out of their schedules, it makes all the difference,” Germolus said.
MAWG Directors Erik Younggren (left), Kristin Hamre (second from right) and Jeff Larson (right) met with Sen. Bruce Anderson to highlight MAWG’s policy priorities.
The time has come to cast your vote in the 2025 Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC) Board of Directors election. The MWRPC board is made up of nine members who are elected to direct Minnesota wheat checkoff dollars for wheat promotion and research activities.
The state is divided into three areas with representation in each. Five board members represent Area 1; Area 2, three board members; and Area 3 has one board member. This year, two seats from Area 1 and one seat from Area 2 are up for election. On the ballot, which will be mailed out to wheat producers on March 20, are three new names to MWRPC’s board of directors: Jeffrey Larson, Sydney Balstad and Dalton Harris.
Let’s get to know the candidates!
Jeffrey Larson Casting the ballot
Meet the candidates vying for spots on MWRPC Area
Wheat is the specialty on Jeffrey Larson’s farm that he operates in the Red River Valley alongside his brother and cousin. He’s in charge of preparing, planting, harvesting and marketing the wheat crop. By putting his name on the ballot for MWRPC, he also hopes to help wisely dedicate wheat checkoff funding toward research and promotion.
“One of my goals if elected is to help allocate the wheat checkoff funds in Minnesota to further the work the University of Minnesota does on our behalf and to promote the quality product we raise right here in the Red River Valley,” said Larson.
Larson farms in the region between East Grand Forks and Warren. Along with wheat, they grow sugarbeets, corn and soybeans. He first became interested in being more involved with Minnesota Wheat after attending a bus trip that the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers organized to the state Capitol a few years ago, which allowed him to connect with farmers involved in the organization.
“I was impressed with them and what they do,” he said, “and it seemed like a group that I wanted to be a part of.”
One of Larson’s goals is to help make wheat become a stable part of the crop rotation, continue research on pests and other agronomic challenges and strengthen and expand current market opportunities.
“I think we all have a common goal, and I look forward to learning from others and their expertise,” he said.
Larson has farmed full time with his family since graduating from North Dakota State University in 2007 and has a wife and three kids, ages 12, nine and five. He takes full advantage of the winter months to enjoy ice fishing, curling and attending hockey games.
Sydney Balstad
Area
1
Following her studies at North Dakota State University, where she graduated with a degree in management information systems and a minor in general agriculture, Sydney Balstad had a brief stint in the crop insurance world before returning to work at the family farm near Fosston.
“I came to the conclusion that if I was going to get into farming that I needed to do it now,” Balstad said, “so I made that transition this past year and so far, everything has gone well.”
Alongside her dad and her two uncles, Balstad farms a diverse crop rotation of corn, wheat, soybeans, dry beans, peas, sugarbeets and potatoes. Her dad, Scott Balstad, is a member of the Minnesota Wheat Research Committee, which helped jump-start her interest in wheat research and led to her running for MWRPC.
“I’ve went along to the Prairie Grains Conference the past couple years and I really enjoyed learning more about the research side of things,” said Balstad. “Specifically, how we can improve wheat and soybean production in our area through public research.”
If elected, Balstad looks forward to taking a deep dive into some of the ongoing wheat research projects and getting to know more of the farmers in the area. When not farming, she enjoys baking, traveling and spending even more quality time with her family.
For over a century, the Harris family has farmed alongside the Buffalo River near Georgetown, Minn., only a couple of miles from where the Buffalo meets the Red River. Farming alongside his father, Dalton Harris began farming full time following college at North Dakota State University and two years as an ag teacher. Together they farm wheat, soybeans and sugarbeets. Harris noted that he appreciates wheat not just for its value in the rotation for sugarbeets, but also its rich history in the valley.
“It’s the most natural of the crops we grow, and it’s been grown here since the settlers first moved here and started farming back in the day,” Harris said.
Harris notes that what he loves most about farming is the reward for the hard work that he’s involved with.
“During the farming season, I get to see every sunrise in the morning and every sunset in the evening.”
And while Harris has spent most of his life on the production end of farming, he’s running for the Council to gain an even better understanding of the wheat industry, including research and promotion.
“A lot of my mentors over the year, such as my dad, my grandpa and my high school ag teacher, all taught me that if you care about something, you should learn more about it,” he said, “and the best way to do that is to get involved.”
Area 2
Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council ballots must be returned with a postmark no later than April 4, 2025.
By Mark Askelson
Annual Best of the Best has all research corners covered
For more than two decades, the latest cutting-edge research has been unveiled during the Best of the Best in Wheat and Soybean Research. This year’s Best of the Best, held Feb 5-6 in Grand Forks, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., featured the latest on small grains diseases, pests, changing weather patterns, regulations and more.
“It’s an opportunity for us to share some of the most recent research results and information with producers in our area,” said Brian Sorenson, executive director of Best of the Best co-sponsor Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council. “It’s also a great opportunity to interact with producers with spring planting not far away and hear from them about what they’re faced with this coming year.”
Small grains diseases
With North Dakota and Minnesota wheat growers seeing more disease in 2024 than the past five years, North Dakota State University Plant Pathologist Andrew Friskop touched on some of those disease issues during his Best of the Best presentation. Some of those diseases include tan spot, which was prevalent in 22% of fields but with minimal severity; bacterial leaf streak, which was prevalent in 9% of fields, and Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), which was found in 34% of wheat fields throughout eastern North Dakota.
“I think we had a bigger yield hit than people realize,” Friskop said. “We had some great looking wheat this year, but I think we could have had even better yields if it wasn’t for scab.”
Worries of FHB, or scab, initially began after the rain events in June, but winds that came after those events helped dry out the canopy and lowered that risk. However, as the summer went on, the humidity picked up, as did the scab risk.
Producers can reduce their scab risk by selecting a variety that is more resistant, but the more resistant the variety, typically the lower the yield. Friskop said it’s acceptable to pick a variety that has middle-of-the-road resistance and yield.
“We tested varieties in both high and moderate disease areas and in both cases, we saw very little yield drop off with the average disease resistance,” he said. “From a yield perspective, average is OK!”
NDSU’s Andrew Friskop walks Best of the Best attendees through the latest small grains disease research updates.
Not your father’s weather
Weather patterns have continued to evolve throughout the years and that means how farmers operate today may not be the same as previous generations. Dr. Dennis Todey, director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub, shared details on how the changing climate is impacting agriculture and what it means for farmers.
“Climate impacts are here and they’re worsening and there’s no denying it,” Todey said. “Agriculture is going to have deal with that.”
Todey noted that since 1989, North Dakota has been paid out $12.7 billion in RMA crop insurance indemnity payments, the second most in the country behind only Texas. Drought makes up the largest sum of indemnity payments with wetness being the most consistent. While dry areas are getting drier, wet areas are also getting wetter. One example Todey shared was that since data collection began in 1895, northwest Minnesota has seen a steady increase in fall precipitation over time, approximately .10” increase per decade. Also, larger rainfall events are occurring more often.
“That presents a different set of issues especially as it pertains to our soils,” Todey said. “That is one of our
With changes to pesticide registration and regulation on the horizon, U of M Extension’s Linda Johns briefed participants on what to expect.
biggest concerns when it comes to increased precipitation. Bigger rainfall events on uncovered or unprotected soils mean nutrient loss.”
From a temperature perspective, Minnesota and North Dakota are seeing some of the largest warming impacts in the Lower 48 over time, but what’s most interesting to officials like Todey is when that warming is occurring.
“Most of the warming is occurring during the wintertime and not as much in the summer,” Today said. “Areas like Minnesota aren’t as cold and snowy as they once used to be.”
In addition, while summertime highs remain consistent, the overnight lows are trending warmer with higher dew points and more humidity.
With the warming temps, however, comes more growing degree days and extended growing seasons.
“Farmers can look at the data and start asking themselves, ‘Can I take advantage of the longer season? Can I do more cover crops? What can I do from a management perspective with a longer growing season?” Todey said.
Todey reported there are some secondary issues to be concerned with, including disease, weeds and pests, which might thrive with warmer temps, increased moisture and more humidity.
Navigating pesticide regulations
During her presentation on anticipated changes to pesticide registration and regulations moving forward, Dr. Linda Johns, director of pesticide safety and environmental education with University of Minnesota Extension, also shared information on how the Endangered Species Act will impact pesticide use and labeling in the future.
“It’s actually always been in the federal law that there was supposed to be endangered species language and protection on all of your pesticide products. EPA just never got around to it,” Johns said. “They’re facing a lot of lawsuits so they can longer avoid compliance with the Endangered Species Act, so it’s happening now and there’s going to be a lot of changes,” she added.
Under the new restrictions, producers who farm in areas with known endangered species will have to implement land management strategies, such as reducing runoff and preventing drift, in order to use the product as directed on the label, unless they are already enrolled in a conservation program.
“I encourage producers during the off months to check out the EPA’s ESA toolbox and start looking some of the information up and save yourself the headaches later,” Johns said.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
The Best of the Best in Wheat and Soybean Research was sponsored by the North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota Extension, along with the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Grain Growers Association and North Dakota Wheat Commission.
By Deanna Kanne
A Grain of Knowledge
Small Grains Pest Survey
As spring comes around, it’s important to be ready for potential threats to your crop. Anthony Hanson and the University of Minnesota Extension are bringing back the Small Grains Pest Survey to help farmers combat these threats. The survey, now in its 14th year, is a joint effort with the North Dakota Integrated Pest Management program, focusing on pests and diseases hitting farmers in Minnesota and North Dakota.
The Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council and the wheat checkoff directly support this program.
How it works
Using grant money, three crop scouts are employed during the summer across western Minnesota in Crookston, Moorhead and Morris. Each scout will have about an hour radius, covering most of western Minnesota. The Morris scout will extend into central Minnesota so most of the wheat growing regions in the state are covered. They will be out in the wheat fields starting in late May through about the beginning of July. An additional check will be done in the first week of August to check for wheat head diseases. Dr. Angie Peltier, also with U of M Extension, organizes an additional component of this survey work where the scouts also cover soybean fields with support from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.
The survey is based on farmer volunteers from wheat growing areas across the state. There are some gaps in their survey, specifically in Otter Tail, Clay and Stearns counties. Hanson would like to get additional fields signed up around his base of Morris in addition to more fields in Northwest Minnesota. For
more information, or to volunteer your wheat field, view the at the end of the story.
Be on the lookout
The biggest pest scouts are looking for is the cereal leaf beetle. This invasive beetle was first found in northwestern Minnesota in 2023 and seemed to spread in 2024.
“This can be a pretty serious economic pest,” Hanson said. “It takes three of these larvae on a plant in vegetative stages to cause to cause economic damage that’s worth treating for.”
Once wheat reaches the flag leaf stage, it only takes one larva feeding on it to cause economic damage.
Cereal leaf beetle is characterized by its slug-like appearance. The larvae carry their frass (i.e., feces) on their backs as a defense mechanism, leading to the spotty-looking appearance and slimy texture.
Two cereal leaf beetle larvae under a microscope
“It’s worse than walking through a soybean field with soybean aphid,” Hanson said. “This one is just slimy when you have a heavily infested field.”
The survey doesn’t just cover insects, but diseases as well.
“Some of our diseases were getting pretty rampant last year,” Hanson said.
Wheat tan spot was one fungal disease noted quite a bit in North Dakota but was spottier in Minnesota. The fungus did well during rainy conditions in May and June. One field near Marshall had up to 78% of plants infected by far the worst incidence noted in 2024.
Sign your field up
Hanson is actively looking for farmers to sign up for this survey. If interested, you can sign up via the QR code or email him directly. Farmers who sign up for this program are sent a weekly email update listing any insect or disease issues showing up in their wheat fields.
Anthony Hanson is an entomologist and Assistant Extension Professor & Regional Educator in Integrated Pest Management for field crops with the University of Minnesota Extension, based out of Morris, MN. He can be reached at hans4022@umn.edu.
Sign up your field here
Map showing historic cereal leaf beetle detections compared to current finds.
A conservation farmer: How Glenn Hjelle excels at production
Enrolling in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) makes sense for producers, but what one west-central Minnesota farmer noticed is that the certification also made literal cents, too.
“When we started reducing our tillage, it saved us a lot of money and time,” said Glenn Hjelle, who farms near Elbow Lake. “We have limited help on the farm and it’s much easier to get stuff done when you have less tillage to worry about.”
MAWQCP is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect Minnesota’s water, such as cover crops, reduced tillage or no-till and buffer strips. For the already conservation-minded Hjelle, who enrolled in 2021, the certification was seamless.
“The only thing I had to do was put in a couple buffer strips along some ditches, which I was already planning to do anyway,” said Hjelle, a director with the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council. “For me those headlands were always getting packed down anyways, so I was able to plant some pollinator grasses, still park my vehicles there and get something in return through the CRP program also.”
Since the program’s statewide launch a decade ago 1,590 producers totaling over 1.16 million acres have been certified across Minnesota. Those farms have added 9,352 new conservation practices. New practices are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 54,000 metric tons annually and have kept more than 57,000 tons of sediment out of Minnesota rivers while saving 170,000 tons of soil and
73,000 pounds of phosphorous on farms each year.
Through the MAWQCP, certified producers receive regulatory certainty, recognition and priority for technical assistance. The regulatory certainty was a major selling point for Hjelle when he was considering enlisting in the program. Under the program, certified producers are deemed to be in compliance with any new water quality rules or laws during the period of certification, which is 10 years.
“You’re not bound by future regulations, which is important because you never know how those are going to change,” Hjelle said. “You have some consistency there.”
There are additional benefits to participating in MAWQCP, such as increased presence of wildlife who enjoy foraging on his cover crops, something Hjelle’s neighbors, who hunt his property certainly enjoy, and a bigger net profit at the end of the year.
“We actually were part of a study with the local farm management team, and it showed that our no-till fields were more profitable by 10-15%,” Hjelle said. “You don’t have to have a bumper crop to be profitable because your inputs are down.”
By implementing cover crops, Hjelle also noticed both better water retention and drainage as well.
“Once you get good soil health, your water infiltrates better so you have less ponding in your low spots and it holds moisture better for when it gets dry,” Hjelle said. “Last year when we had the wet spring, I was actually able to get into my fields earlier than most and when the water shut off, the fields held more moisture so my crops could finish up before burning out,” he added.
To enroll in MAWQCP, Glenn worked with his Area Certification Specialist, Jim Lahn, who works out of the East Ottertail Soil & Water Conservation District. The process includes filing out an application, a meeting with your certifying agent and a field visit.
MAWQCP also has five potential endorsements that go along with the certification, including Climate Smart Farm, Soil Health, Integrated Pest Management, Irrigation Water Management and Wildlife.
Hjelle has all but one endorsement.
“Glenn was great to work with all throughout the process,” Lahn said. “He is a great example of a conservation farmer. Being productive and protecting natural resources is a central part to his farming operation.”
Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council Director Glenn Hjelle, second from right, receives a MAWQCP plaque to display on his Elbow Lake farm.
By Sydney Harris
A Rich Legacy A Rich Legacy
New York has the Rockefellers, Minnesota has the Pillsburys.
Minnesota’s history might not be as flashy as New York’s, but there is no denying its tremendous impact on American history, especially the flour milling industry. Once upon a time, Minnesota’s mills were grinding over 14 percent of the nation’s grain and while less than four percent of America’s flour mills were in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, they produced almost a quarter of the nation’s wheat flour.
“A number of converging factors contributed to Minnesota becoming a flour milling leader in the 19th century,” said Dave Stevens, Mill City Museum site manager. “The rich prairie soils of Minnesota, the Dakotas and Montana were ideal for wheat growing. At the same time, Minnesota flour millers developed new technologies for milling spring wheat that transformed
its flour from an inferior product to some of the best bread flour on the market.”
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Minneapolis was iconically known as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World,” or simply, “Mill City.” With more than 20 flour mills lining the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, the city’s natural landscape – the raw power from St. Anthony Falls –skyrocketed it past Budapest by 1884 to become the world’s leading flour miller. The city boomed, and its population rose by over 150,000 in a mere 20 years.
Flour milling revolution
What did a prosperous flour milling industry mean for Minnesota wheat producers? Easy and affordable access to vital market opportunities. But the milling industry was also deeply dependent on the wheat industry – the two evolved together.
Wheat flour helped build Minneapolis
“The flour milling revolution created a new market for the spring wheat of the Upper Midwest, which led to a boom in wheat production,” Stevens said. “On the flat lands of the Red River Valley, entrepreneurs developed ‘bonanza’ wheat farms, which was the world’s first industrial-scale agriculture, with hundreds of horses and workers farming thousands of acres at a time.”
Minneapolis flour milling reached its peak of 18.5 million barrels in 1916 but several developments around the turn of the century led to its demise, with the shutdown of mills beginning in the 1920s. Though there aren’t any working mills left in Minneapolis, the symbolic Washburn A Mill remains as Mill City Museum, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
“The advantages held by Minneapolis of cheap
energy, competitive transportation rates and a near monopoly on hard wheat eroded in the 1910s and 1920s,” Stevens said. “Changes in tariff and transportation rates made it cheaper to mill wheat closer to eastern markets and seaports (Buffalo, N.Y.) or near hard winter wheat sources (Kansas City). The cheap energy from St. Anthony Falls was surpassed by these increased costs, and the lack of available land next to the falls discouraged expansion and new investment.”
The impact of Minnesota’s flour milling legacy still reverberates today. It’s easy to forget about the pivotal role Minnesota’s flour mills played in history, but Minnesota wheat growers haven’t forgotten. The state may not boast the same volume of flour produced as in its “glory” days, but the Prairie Grains region remains home to essential flour mills.
By Sydney Harris
It all began in Hastings.
Minnesota’s storied history of flour milling began at the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers with the power of Vermillion River Falls.
“The Hastings Mill was built in 1853 and was the first operating mill in Minnesota, as well as the first all-roller mill facility in the U.S.,” said Ryan Baker, plant manager for Ardent Mills-Hastings.
The Hastings Mill was initially established to process locally grown wheat into flour and pioneered the use of roller milling, introduced the purifier and patent barrel and implemented magnets to remove metal contaminants from wheat. Today, the mill has evolved significantly, focusing on producing a wide range of wheat and rye products used in products like bread, buns, pizza crusts, tortillas, pasta, cereal bars and snack foods.
“While the mill’s core purpose remains flour milling, its scale, technology and product diversity have transformed significantly from its early days,” Baker said. “The facility has five milling units and four packaging lines that operate 24/7, with a team of over 120 members, contributing to the nourishment of over seven million people each day.”
The first step in producing a quality product is starting with quality inputs – like the wheat grown in the Prairie Grains region. Wheat sourced to meet production demands of the Hastings Mill is grown on local and regional farms in the Dakotas and Canada.
“A mill like Hastings plays a crucial role for farmers in the region, directly impacting their markets, profitability and long-term stability,” Baker said. “Having a large, highcapacity and diversified mill in their region helps farmers reduce costs, stabilize income and access premium markets, ultimately strengthening their profitability and resilience in a competitive, dynamic industry.”
Flour flexibility
After more than 170 years of operation, it’s taken a lot more than luck for the Hastings Mill to still be running strong. Supplying high-quality flour to a diverse range of customers – including commercial bakeries, food manufacturers, food service providers and distributors – the mill has a daily milling capacity of 27,500
MN’s first operating mill continues adapting
hundredweights of flour.
“The mill’s success can be attributed to several factors,” Baker said. “Its strategic advantages, commitment to innovation and strong community ties have contributed to its resilience and success in a challenging industry landscape.”
Like Minnesota’s wheat farmers experience each year, the challenging industry landscape is an obstacle that must be diligently navigated.
“Market volatility is something the industry is always considering, as wheat crops change from year to year,” Baker said. “We’re also continually monitoring for shifts in consumer preferences so that we can stay ahead and adapt to changes. What’s great about being a part of Ardent Mills is that we have a broad network of facilities and team members that we can lean on throughout any challenges, ultimately allowing us to be more flexible and adapt quickly.”
The Hastings Mill paved the way for not only Minnesota’s flour milling industry, but the nation’s milling industry.
“Hastings stands out due to its rich history, innovative contributions to the milling industry, and ongoing
1853: Mill established by Harrison H. Graham.
1885: Under Charles Espenschied’s management, the mill saw innovations such as the use of magnets to extract metal contaminants from wheat and enhancements for flour storage.
1928: The Peavey Company of Minneapolis took ownership, focusing on durum flour production for pasta.
1982: The Peavey Company merged with Conagra, integrating the mill into a larger network of milling operations.
1863: Stephen Gardner acquired the mill and was credited with many inventions. Most notably, the construction of a reel sifter with a fan blast to remove light density bran from middlings stock which resulted in a clean, desirable “patent flour,” becoming the standard for the baking industry.
1912: The facility was renamed the King Midas Mill after its purchase by Fred Shane, George Shane and W.J. Wilson, producing the well-known King Midas brand flour.
1969: Durum flour production returned to Hastings with the addition of a semolina and pasta flour unit.
2014: Conagra, Cargill and CHS combined their milling businesses to form Ardent Mills, bringing the Hastings facility under its current ownership.
By Sydney Harris
Winona Mill offers value, local pride
There is power in flour.
And Minnesota certainly has flour power.
Amid the state’s flour milling boom in the late 1800s and early 1900s emerged Bay State Milling. Located in Winona on the banks of the Mississippi River, the company’s flagship mill was purchased just before the turn of the 20th century and remains committed to its original purpose.
“An Irish immigrant from Boston, Bernard J. Rothwell bought the Winona Mill in 1899,” said Dustin Sanborn, plant manager at Bay State Milling, based in Winona. “He sought out the purchase of the Winona Mill in an effort to closely control the quality and consistency of the flour being delivered to his customers and 125 years later, that still holds true.”
In 2024, Bay State celebrated 125 years of family ownership. The Winona Mill was originally built to process spring wheat, but today, the facility has expanded to produce conventional and organic winter and spring wheats, rye, custom blends and HealthSense High-Fiber Wheat Flour. Each day, the facility unloads tens of thousands of bushels and produces millions of pounds of flour.
“The grains milled at Winona go all over the country to food manufacturers, large and small-scale bakeries, pizzerias and more,” Sanborn said. “Locally, there is a pride within the Winona community to use Bay State Milling grains at area restaurants, pizza chains and other eateries.”
Local pride has played a significant role in the Winona Mill’s prosperous history.
“The mill has been such a big presence in the small Winona community, making it a special part of the town,” Sanborn said. “There are multi-generations of families that have worked in the mill, so it’s a family affair with a lot of local pride. Employees and the community at large want to see the mill succeed and be around for the next generation.”
Employing about 115 people, the Winona Mill is one of the largest and longest running employers in Winona. And it’s a good community partner, donating to many local charities, events and schools.
“Bay State Milling is an integral part of Winona, given its physical presence on Main Street,” Sanborn said. “It’s always been a priority to ensure the plant is well maintained and an asset to the community.”
Despite the highs and lows that have punctuated the last 125 years, Bay State Milling has remained a steadfast pillar in the Winona community.
“Bay State Milling is committed to maintaining a good partnership with Winona,” Sanborn said. “As a longstanding presence, the company has worked hard to serve as an economic hub and ensure new and changing facilities continue to be an integral part of the community. Building on substantial capital investments in previous years, Bay State Milling Winona’s roots will serve it well for generations to come.”
A family affair benefiting growers
The majority of the grain that arrives at the Winona Mill comes from its surrounding states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas, a majority of which is delivered by rail. For Minnesota wheat producers, having the Winona Mill in their backyard is advantageous.
“Growers in our region are fortunate to have the Winona Mill, which produces high-quality products for consumers across the country, so close to their fields,” said Brian Sorenson, executive director of Minnesota Wheat. “When producers see a positive return on investment, which is certainly true with Bay State Milling, they benefit immensely.”
Because of its proximity to Minnesota’s high-quality wheat, the Winona Mill is strategically poised to produce superior products.
“The Winona Mill is centrally located, making it easy to accept inbound shipments of top-notch wheat,” Sanborn said. “In addition, Bay State Milling’s focus on responsibly sourced and expertly milled ingredients results in a high-quality, reliable product that keeps customers coming back.”
One hundred twenty five years is a long time. Bay State Milling has seen a lot of progress since its inception and now boasts 11 facilities across the U.S. and Canada. And the company isn’t done yet – it’s continuing to adapt with the industry to remain competitive.
“Bay State Milling is now in its fifth generation of family ownership, which is exceptionally rare in the business world,” Sanborn said. “The extended Rothwell family has continued to invest in the Winona community and the mill itself, including diversifying with new and innovative products and adding the latest manufacturing technologies to thrive in this competitive industry.”
Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
was the largest
Flour Milling
In 1928, the Washburn-Crosby Company merged with 28 other mills and was renamed General Mills. In 2001, General Mills bought Pillsbury, uniting Minnesota’s two largest flour manufacturers. Photo has been edited from its original version.
Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
Pillsbury’s A Mill in Minneapolis
flour mill in the world for forty years. It was the last riverfront mill to shut down in 2003.
Photo has been edited from its original version.
Flour Facts
In the industry’s early days, almost all sales were of “family flour” and sold in 196-pound barrels. It wasn’t until later that the barrels were replaced by 100-, 50- and 25-pound cotton or jute sacks.
Milling
In 1887, Cadwallader C. Washburn and John Crosby joined forces to form the Washburn-Crosby Company, best known for its Gold Medal Flour brand.
At peak production, Minnesota’s mills produced enough flour to bake 12 million loaves of bread daily.
It’s estimated that the wheat demanded daily for Minneapolis mills required 266 railcars, which rounds out to about 1.75 miles in length.
By Bailey Grubish
THE BREAD BASKET
Collaboration is key to solving digestibility issues
Wheat is a key component in many products passed around the dinner table.
For some consumers, this means taking a dinner roll; for others it means passing the dish along because their bodies can’t process wheat.
Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine brought on by eating foods containing gluten; many more suffer from gluten sensitivity or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). All these conditions are triggered by gut health.
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), in partnership with the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC), the University of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and its Regional Sustainable Development Partnership and Back When Foods, Inc. have teamed up on a grant for a solution.
“There’s a lot of people who can’t eat bread and it’s not because they’re Celiacs, it’s because they have some intolerance to the way the bread was made,” said Harold Stanislawski, business and industry development director for AURI. “When you ferment it correctly, they can go to Europe and eat the bread and go, ‘Hey, I had no problem eating bread in Europe and as soon as I get back here, I get a stomachache.’ That’s all due to fermentation. It’s called the sourdough fermentation process.”
The project investigated the level of amylasetrypsin inhibitors (ATI) and fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols and fermentable sugars (FODMAP) present in current and past Minnesota wheat varieties, as well as their anti-nutrient levels, and the effects of fermentation on FODMAPs and ATIs after processing the wheat into a sourdough.
According to the wheat digestibility research project, a study from 2019 suggested that ATI may kill or suppress good bacteria and enhance the bad bacteria in some people, leading to imbalances in the gut. It’s also noted that for some with healthy gastrointestinal tracts, fructans, a component of FODMAPS, can serve as a prebiotic and promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
Insights from research have shown that the human microbiome, bacteria, fungi and other microbes in the digestive track all play a critical role in maintaining health.
The researchers acquired the Agricultural Growth, Research, & Innovation (AGRI) Crop Research Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to fund a
two-year study on gluten sensitivity in 2021.
With the preface of working to make wheat more digestible, the researchers collaborated on the effects of the sourdough fermentation process and the effects of the levels of ATI and FODMAPs in wheat varieties.
“It’s really important to fund wheat research for the sole fact that wheat is a changing crop when it comes to new varieties and dealing with new challenges,” Brian Sorenson, executive director of the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, said.
Results
Dr. George Annor, UMN Assistant Professor, Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, Brian LaPlante, owner of Back When Foods and University of Minnesota Wheat Breeder Dr. Jim Anderson conducted the research with AURI.
Results found that sourdough fermentation reduces levels of fructans during bread-making to a level that likely improves tolerance of wheat and rye bread.
With this research grant, the bread dough was tested for these properties. The research team hopes to continue the research in phase 2 to test the baked bread after the sourdough fermentation process and additional research.
The project also found that there are wheat varieties naturally low in FODMAP and ATI.
Outlook
Continued work with wheat varieties is a proposed part of phase 2 for more than just improved digestibility but to also have higher amylose and resistant starch (fiber) for a lower glycemic index and improved gut health.
Phase 2 would also continue to work toward securing a processed verified label from USDA for bakeries to give credibility behind the sourdough fermentation process.
“The consumers have spoken on (the digestibility of bread),” Stanislawski said. “There has been less and less bread consumption for quite some time already, so there is more work to be done.”
This research is just the start to understanding the impact of sourdough fermentation and a look into the levels of ATI and FODMAP in Minnesota wheat varieties.
For Stanislawski, the issue is personal: He wants to add value for his state’s wheat producers.
“I grew up in northwest Minnesota in wheat country and now the wheat acreage is getting less and less,” Stanislawski said. “Part of that is people are sensitive to carbs now in their diet, but there’s this issue of they just have a lot of stomach issues with this bread. If we don’t fix this as an industry, I don’t think we’re ever going to grow the market for bread.”
By Drew Lyon
Farmers know that it’s not always how you start; it’s how you finish. After a sluggish start to the 2024 shipping season, grain tonnage via the Port of Duluth-Superior made a mad dash for the finish line to close out the year. The fourth-quarter comeback brought grain tonnage for the year to nearly 800,000 short tons, the most since 2021. Fittingly, the last oceangoing departure of the 2024 season carried durum wheat destined for North Africa.
While the port isn’t as active shipping grain as Moorhead farmer Mark Jossund remembers growing up in the Red River Valley, the chair of the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council said the boost in tonnage in 2024 is an encouraging sign for farmers across the Northern Plains.
“The port has shrunk in volume over the years when it comes to spring wheat – a lot goes by rail now – but it’s still a very important part of shipping wheat out to our customers,” Jossund said. “Anything we can do to help them grow is helping our industry.”
Spring wheat was primarily responsible for the 31 percent increase in overall export tonnage: In 2024, spring wheat increased its 2023 tonnage by 300%.
“The port is a crucial part of keeping our wheat industry vital,” Jossund said. “It’s great that they’re increasing their volume, and we hope to see those numbers continue in 2025.”
In total, despite total tonnage dropping four percent from the five-year average, 58 oceangoing ships called at North America’s farthest inland seaport, an eight percent jump over the previous season. Iron ore continues to rank as the most popular material exported from the Port of Duluth-Superior, although taconite totals fell from a 28-season high in 2023 to 19.4 million tons in 2024. Duluth Cargo Connect freight tonnage (sea, road and rail) exceeded 500,000 tons, the highest total since 2020, and linked to 29 countries.
Valued partners
The year ahead marks a transition for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. Executive Director Deb DeLuca, who has been in her post since 2018, is retiring in May 2025.
“This role has been the highlight of my career,” said DeLuca, who first joined the Port Authority in 2014 as its government and environmental affairs director. “It has been an honor, a privilege and lots of fun working with the Port Authority staff, board and partners. The Port Authority team is in race shape, strategic in nature and not afraid
of hard work or tough tasks. I’m proud of all we have accomplished together, and I’ll be eager to watch where the organization goes from here. Opportunities abound, and as always, selecting the best path forward involves analysis, strategy, careful use of capital, flexibility and effective partnerships.”
During her tenure, DeLuca marshalled resources to initiate more than $35 million in port-related capital projects, greatly increasing the port’s freight transport capacity and efficiency. Upgrades to Duluth’s multimodal logistics hub – the Clure Public Marine Terminal – helped produce four straight years of increased general cargo tonnage totals, including a nearly 40-year high in 2022.
Under DeLuca’s leadership, the port also saw the HansenMueller Company acquire General Mills’ Duluth Elevator A, bringing a welcomed return to the historic grainhandling facility after it closed in 2015.
The facility can store over 3 million bushels of grain and supports a nearly 2,000-foot dock and on-dock rail service from BNSF Railway. Hansen-Mueller can ship small grains from the United States and Canada to domestic and international destinations.
“Hansen-Mueller is the right match for us,” said Kate Ferguson, director of trade and business development at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “The great thing about Hansen-Mueller is they’ll handle their own but will also take anyone’s grain on throughput.”
Jossund applauded the port and Ferguson, who often attends the Prairie Grains Conference and has joined Minnesota Wheat on trade missions, for continuing to prioritize grain shipments.
“We appreciate that they still handle spring wheat and work with our customers really well to get cargoes out there,” he said. “It’s a partnership we value.”
The 2025 navigation season at the Port of Duluth-Superior, which marks its 155th year as a commercial port, is expected to begin in late March or early April.
NATIONAL CATCH UP
While the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers is busy working at the state level to ensure farm-friendly policies are passed in St. Paul, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is representing the interests of wheat growers nationwide. NAWG works in Washington, D.C., to ensure a better future for America’s growers, the industry and the general public. As 2025 ramps up, NAWG has kept busy with various activities to continue driving the wheat industry forward.
In February, NAWG Government Relations Representative Jack Long participated in the FIFRA 101 Hill Visits, which NAWG joined alongside CropLife America, Corteva and American Hort to advocate on behalf of crop protection tools. The group met with legislative offices, where they highlighted the importance of crop protection tools and discussed how registrant groups and Congress can work together to strengthen and advocate for the future of crop protection, too.
Managed by NAWG staff, the National Wheat Yield Contest website will be open for 2025 contest entries beginning on March 1. This year, the contest is launching a Pilot Digital
Yield category and growers in dryland winter wheat in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming can enter this category, along with spring wheat dryland growers in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. NAWG also held its annual National Wheat Contest Reception during Commodity Classic in Denver. Grower leaders from across the U.S. attended America’s premier agriculture trade show to attend meetings, visit with industry partners and celebrate NAWG’s 75th anniversary.
On Feb. 11, USDA released the January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report. The report stated that U.S. wheat saw an increase in food use by 4 million bushels to 970 million. Projected ending stocks have decreased 4 million bushels to 794 million but are up 14% above last year. NAWG is also eagerly anticipating news on the dispersing of about $31 billion in disaster and direct economic assistance or producers. USDA is expected to announce details on releasing the funds in March.
To stay up to date with what’s happening at the national level, visit wheatworld.org.
PLANT NORTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED
ACROSS THE PRAIRIE
By Prairie Grains Magazine staff
NAWG congratulates USDA Secretary
On Feb. 13, the U.S. Senate confirmed Brook Rollins as its next Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule responded with the following statement.
Brooke Rollins
“Congratulations Secretary Brooke Rollins. I appreciate Mrs. Rollins committing to getting the much-needed economic assistance for wheat producers rolled out during her confirmation hearing, as well as her interest in getting a long-term, meaningful Farm Bill signed into law this year that strengthens the farm safety net. NAWG looks forward to working with you to deliver real results for wheat growers and rural America.”
USW celebrates 45 years of service
On January 12, 1980, wheat farmer leaders with Great Plains Wheat and Western Wheat Associates voted to officially merge into one organization, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), to focus on building overseas demand for U.S. wheat.
In its 45th year, USW will recognize and celebrate the people who produce the wheat and their enduring partnerships with their state commissions, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, wheat buyers and wheat food processors around the world. This anniversary provides a platform for USW to reinforce its unique value to customers – that behind the world’s most reliable supply of wheat are the world’s most dependable people. That, despite the different roles or distances, all the people in USW’s story share a connection through shared
values of growth, hard work, stewardship and family.
So, throughout 2025, USW will revisit stories of commitment from farmers and the important partnerships that are a unique and valuable part of importing U.S. wheat – and look ahead to the ways we can continue building this legacy of success.
Minnesota Wheat networks with producers at International Crop Expo
Temperatures may have been frigid Feb. 19-20 during the International Crop Expo in Grand Forks, N.D. but Minnesota Wheat kept warm from the plethora of networking opportunities that occurred in booth 243. Every year, the International Crop Expo boasts educational seminars for bean, potato and small grain farmers. Additionally, attendees can browse equipment and learn from experts.
For Minnesota Wheat, it was the perfect venue to spread awareness of the unique roles the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) and the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC) play in Minnesota’s agriculture industry.
“Minnesota Wheat is committed to serving the wheat growers of Minnesota, whether that be through wise
MWRPC checkoff investments or MAWG advocating for farm-friendly policy that is possible due to membership funding,” said Brian Sorenson, executive director of Minnesota Wheat. “Our booth at the International Crop Expo was an excellent chance for us to hear directly from those producers about what is important to them, as well as explain our organization’s goals. At the end of the day, it’s always a good day when we get to talk to growers one-on-one.”
MGGA launches 2025 scholarship program
The Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) has launched its 2025 scholarship program. All applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2025, and recipients will be announced by May 1, 2025. From fundraising and generous industry partner pledges, MGGA is thrilled to offer three levels of scholarships: $500, $1,000 and $5,000.
MGGA is dedicated to growing tomorrow’s agricultural leaders. As a board, it feels charged to support the next generation of Montanans by offering post-secondary education scholarships. Over time, MGGA plans to grow the quantity and quality of the program. Over the years, MGGA has realized scholarships are needed for more than traditional college but for trades too.
MGGA is a commodity specific organization that represents the interests of the Montana wheat and barley growers. MGGA is passionate about improving the lives of Montana producers through collaboration, innovation and influencing agricultural policy.
For more information, visit https://www.mgga.org/ mgga-scholarships/.
MDA accepting applications for grain storage safety equipment
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant helps Minnesota farmers buy and install eligible safety equipment for on-farm
grain bins or silos. For FY25, there is approximately $75,000 available, along with the Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Rebate programs.
Farmers may request up to 75% of eligible expenses up to $400 per bin or silo with a limit of $2,400 per farm per fiscal year and a maximum of six bins or silos per farm per fiscal year. Farms may submit only one application per fiscal year and payments are issued on a reimbursement basis, not in advance.
Eligible equipment must be purchased and paid for between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2026. Eligible equipment types include, but are not limited to:
• Fall protection systems
• Installing guardrail systems on existing ladders, roofs and platforms
• Engineering controls to prevent contact with an auger or other moving parts
• Dust collection systems to minimize explosion hazards
• Personal protective equipment to increase survivability in the event of a grain-binrelated emergency
• Grain silo air quality monitoring equipment
• Grain bin level gauges/indicators to reduce the need to climb bins
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in and around grain bins and silos, such as NIOSH-approved respirators and hearing protection
• Other grain storage facility safety equipment with prior approval from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2025, or until funds run out. Visit MDA’s website for more information.
While farmers farm, MAWG is in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., protecting producers from harmful policies and advocating for farm-friendly legislation.
Because checko dollars cannot be used for advocacy, MAWG depends on our members’ support to ensure that Minnesota wheat growers have a voice at the legislative table.
Join the wheat family today – become a MAWG member!
