Prairie Grains Magazine March (web)

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Ag Leadership Network Program Ryan Hough: Barley Advocate Cereal Leaf Beetle 101

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PUBLISHER AND CIRCULATION

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EDITORIAL

Drew Lyon, Ag Management Solutions 1020 Innovation Lane • Mankato, MN 56001 Ph: 507.388.1635 Email: dlyon@agmgmtsolutions.com

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Prairie Grains March 2024 | Issue 199

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Taming the Bulls & Bears: Plans to stay profitable

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Immersed in agriculture: Prairie Grains staff writer joins leadership program

Barley’s booster: Ryan Hough raises the stakes

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Following the trend: Northern Crops Institute looks ahead on eve of opening new facility

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.

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Beware the beetle: What growers need to know about the cereal leaf beetle

Focused on representation: SD Wheat Growers making inroads in 2024

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

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Cover Story In 2022, Minnesota exported about $13.5 million in agricultural goods to Morocco. In early 2024, farmer leader Tim Dufault joined a trade delegation to Morocco to promote U.S. wheat and continue strengthening relationships between the state and Moroccan officials. Story on page 16.

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 3

Steady as we go Clear as day, I can remember feeling overwhelmed during my first MN Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC) board meeting as a Minnesota Wheat growerleader back in 2011.

What did I get myself into? What are they talking about? Why did I let Dave Torgerson talk me into this?

Well, I soon grasped what my colleagues were discussing – all the acronyms, programs and projects that encompass both the policy and checkoff sides of the wheat industry.

Thank you, Dave! Thirteen years later, I write this column as not just a director with the MWRPC, but also the newly elected president of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) and one of MAWG’s representatives on the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG).

See what I mean with all the acronyms?

It’s occurred to me that serving on both boards is a tough row to hoe – but also a huge privilege. Serving as MAWG’s president is an especially time-consuming position; between fielding phone calls from legislators and agencies to keeping tabs on the latest policy happenings in St. Paul, this position demands focus. Now throw in on-farm duties and, oh, carving out some family time, and it can seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day.

According to the latest ag census, the average age of U.S. farmer is 58 years

Page 4 Prairie Grains • March 2024

old. We shouldn’t expect our more experienced farmers to continue carrying the leadership baton; it’s time to pass it on.

New leadership at any age helps bring fresh perspectives to our boards. And to be at my best, I need to channel my energies toward the advocacy wing of our organization (MAWG). That’s why I encourage any Minnesota wheat farmer in Area 2 (an area that stretches from west-central Minnesota across the northeast portion of the state) to consider stepping up and seeking my position on the MWRPC board. My term runs through June 2025, and my successor is free to test out the position for the rest of my MWRPC board term, rather than running for a full three-year term at the outset. Leadership brings so many rewards for those willing to put in the time and dedication. How about throwing your hat in the ring?

The MWRPC is a fantastic board that is passionate about research and directing wheat checkoff resources in inventive and prudent ways, including participating in trade missions like the one my colleague Tim Dufault joined in Morocco, which is featured in this issue’s cover story.

We also have a fantastic staff here at Minnesota Wheat. Unfortunately, we’re losing one of our key leaders:

Melissa Carlson, our vice president of research, is leaving the organization to grow her family. As you’ll read in this issue, Melissa’s connections to our organization stretch back nearly 10 years; she also helped transform the OnFarm Research Network into a top-notch program.

The On-Farm Research Summit as part of the Prairie Grains Conference each year in December has become a must-attend workshop. We wish Melissa all the best in her next pursuit and thank her for serving MWRPC with distinction.

After returning from this year’s Commodity Classic, our agenda remains full. We continue our search for Minnesota Wheat’s next executive director, while advocating for our priorities in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., and looking ahead to spring. After a historically mild winter, many of my fellow growers are a bit anxious for the growing season ahead. My philosophy remains unchanged after decades of farming: We’ll be fine. Spring will come when it comes. I’ll be ready, not overwhelmed.

Kevin Leiser farms in Fertile, Minn., and serves as president of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers. For more information about his board positions, contact him at kdl@gvtel.com.

Betsy Jensen is a Farm Business Management Instructor at Northland Community and Technical College.

Follow her on Twitter at @jensenbetsyr.

Plans to stay profitable It is still early in the 2024 crop year.

I repeat that to myself several times a week, if not several times a day. The price drop from harvest 2023 to now – and even harvest 2022 to now – has been a gut punch and it appears 2024 will be a financial challenge. But it’s early! Maybe you’re reading this article while watching NCAA March Madness.

Don’t count out the team that is down 20 points in the first half. You know there will be some great comeback stories during the tournament. The team just needs a revised game plan.

So, let’s revise our game plan for 2024. How are we going to find profits during 2024? We’ve gotten accustomed to having profitable prices available nearly all the time. We could check the markets, see a profitable price and decide we wanted a more profitable price. Now we’re hoping for a profitable price at some time.

Let’s set some ground rules for 2024. Write them down, hang them up somewhere you see frequently, and remember that feeling of gloom and doom you have today.

Rule No. 1: May lightning strike me dead if I hold any wheat above XXX price. I won’t set your drop-dead price,

but you need to create one for all your commodities. I recommend looking at a chart and your break-even prices and determining a price where every bushel will be sold. It is still early in 2024, and we may still have significant price movements. This is not a marketing plan or your first sale, but your last sale.

Load the trucks, clean the bins and collect the check.

Rule No. 2: No birthday crops. There have been very few instances where it has been profitable to hold crops in the bin for more than a year. Crops should not celebrate birthdays on your farm. It has been tried many times for low and high-protein wheat and has rarely worked. It did work once for low falling number wheat.

Even if protein discounts do ease, make sure you’re doing the math with your line of credit interest rate. We had difficult financial years starting around 2014, but interest rates were around three to four percent. It is much different at eight, nine and ten percent. The birthday cake is much more expensive today than it was ten years ago.

Rule No. 3: Create a backup plan. I want my first sale of wheat to be at least $8. I have a feeling that is not going to

happen. Time deadlines are the best backup plan. Set a deadline to have something on your first day of seeding or maybe your kid’s birthday. Just pick a spring date. We do have seasonal highs during April and May, so even if you don’t like the price, it is typically a good time to sell.

You may have to hold your nose and make the sale, but if your marketing plan works, this will be the lowest price you receive. There are more bushels to sell as the market goes higher.

Last Rule: Know your contract.

There are many specialty contracts, put and call options, methods to try and squeeze an extra quarter for your bushels. Some may work well, but you must fully understand what you are signing. Some contracts have a “double up” provision where your 5,000-bushel sale becomes 10,000. Other contracts may increase your risk exposure instead of minimizing it. It is OK to get a second opinion on a contract recommendation.

Ensure your contract protects what you need and does not expose you to bigger risks.

There is hope for 2024. It is still early.

Have a plan that will keep you on track when the markets begin their big moves.

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 5

National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Directors Mike Gunderson (left) and Kevin Leiser (middle) talk with Tate Petry following NAWG’s Annual Meeting at Commodity Classic in Houston. Petry, a director with the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, sits on NAWG’s Environment and Policy Committee and its Budget Committee.

NEW FRONTIERS, SAME GOALS

Wheat growers make presence felt at Commodity Classic

By Drew Lyon The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), along with the entire agricultural advocacy community, have some remaining business left on the policy table in 2024: Passing a new Farm Bill. It’s certainly not from a lack of trying.

Throughout 2023 and into 2024, NAWG has advocated with legislators across both chambers, along with agency officials, to promote Farm Bill priorities, including: • Enhancing the farm safety net; • Supporting voluntary conservation; • Developing market opportunities through increases in Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program.

NAWG President Brent Cheyne highlighted the challenge of passing a new Farm Bill through a Congressional body with hundreds of members who have never previously voted on the massive piece of legislation.

“We want a really good crop insurance program made better than it already is,,” Cheyne said following NAWG’s Annual Meeting in Houston. “That’s the centerpiece of the farm safety net. … But this is a really challenging time.”

In his role as president of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) and a NAWG director, Fertile, Minn., farmer Kevin Leiser said protecting and adjusting the crop insurance program is a necessity.

Page 6 Prairie Grains • March 2024

“We have to look at the different options on how to do crop insurance,” Leiser said. “Some states want to keep ARC/PLC and that’s what they want to get rid of if we go to the 85 percent insurance level.”

All parties involved in Farm Bill negotiations are aware that the clock is ticking.

“If it doesn’t happen in the next few months, by around June, we get into election season, which is going to be a crazy time this year,” Leiser said. “It will probably be pushed to next year, and we’d just have an extension.”

During the meeting, NAWG also discussed and approved its policy resolutions, along with amending its bylaws to move its next annual meeting to an earlier date in 2025.

“Our NAWG staff does a great job arranging these meetings and making sure we’re all prepared as directors,” said Leiser, who, along with Mike Gunderson, represents MAWG on the national board.

Complications vs collaborations Robert Bonnie, USDA’s undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, addressed the board.

He highlighted USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program.

“We’re really excited about that effort. We’ve got a lot of buy-in from folks in agriculture and forestry,” he said. “I want

to reiterate that what you’re going to see from us on climate is voluntary and incentive-based. It’s about partnership and collaboration.”

Bonnie said that while bipartisanship still exists on agriculture policy, he also stressed how potential government shutdowns – even when they don’t come to fruition – limit USDA’s ability to implement its programs and put the next Farm Bill in limbo.

“Preparing for a government shutdown is incredibly complicated and costly to taxpayers,” he said.

NAWG CEO Chandler Goule urged the undersecretary to support including wheat in USDA’s cover crop credit programs in the next Farm Bill.

“We can’t write programs for corn and soybeans that will not work for wheat, because we grow year-round,” Goule said.

“It’s unfair to leave the third-largest commodity out cold in these programs.”

‘Day in the sun’ NAWG, which was founded in 1950, is also interviewing candidates for its next communications director.

“We’re a small staff with a huge footprint,” Goule said.

Montana farmer Nathan Keane, who serves on the Montana Grain Growers Association, was elected NAWG’s next secretary. The annual meeting also marked past President Nicole Berg’s last meeting on the board.

Cheyne, who farms in Oregon, also reflected on his year as president. Vice President Oklahoma farmer Keeff Felty will transition to president later in 2024.

“It’s been the highlight of my leadership career to serve as NAWG president,” Cheyne said. “Everybody’s had their day in the sun, and I’ve had mine.”

Showtime Everything really is bigger in Texas.

The 2024 Commodity Classic once again set an attendance record, attracting more than 11,000 farm families and industry stakeholders. This year’s Classic, entitled “New Frontiers in Agriculture,” featured over 30 educational sessions and more than 430 exhibitors. Established in 1996,

Commodity Classic is presented annually by NAWG and other commodity groups and equipment manufacturers.

For Leiser, walking the trade show floor – which covered two floors at the George R. Brown Convention Center – allowed an up-close look at agriculture’s latest and greatest innovations.

“I’ve come here quite a few times and when you’re not in meetings, it’s always fun to see the new equipment that’s out there,” Leiser said. “It’s a farm show that helps you see new experiences and new things you might want to try on your operation.”

During Friday’s General Session, Cheyne’s dry wit had the capacity crowd in stitches while bantering with emcee Ross Shafer during the Q&A portion.

“Don’t miss Brent, he’s opening in Las Vegas at the Riveria,” Shafer said to laughter. “You’re much funnier than people suspect.”

On a serious note, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the administration’s efforts to increase domestic production of fertilizer.

“We are cognizant of the challenges you face there,” he said. “To date, we’ve funded 40 projects in 25 states to expand access to fertilizer supply and to also create alternates to provide the technology to help farmers better understand what needs to be fertilizer and how much.”

EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s appearance marked the first time the head of EPA had attended Commodity Classic. Regan announced he was creating an Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to be led by Agriculture Advisor Rod Snyder.

“We will ensure ag and rural stakeholders will have a seat at the table,’ Regan said.

Cheyne said NAWG continues to work with EPA to protect crop inputs.

“We need the EPA to have the label fair and equitable and available and timely, so when you go buy that product to put it on, you can put it on – not get it bought and find out 20, 30 days later that it’s not legal to use,” he said.

To end the General Session, Goule hosted a “fireside chat” with both agency leaders.

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 7

Prairie Grains staff writer finds her calling

By Sydney Harris I was the little girl who swore that she’d never work in agriculture.

Eleven-year-old Sydney tended to develop an attitude when she had to bail on hanging out with her friends because the wheat was ready to be combined. But then she grew up. Now that little girl not only works in agriculture – including a role as a staff writer in this very magazine – but as a participant in the Ag Leadership Network (ALN).

Page 8 Prairie Grains • March 2024

Prairie Grains staff writer Sydney Harris (far right) is participating in the Ag Leadership Network alongside industry professionals, including Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council Director Peter Hvidsten (not pictured).

The American Crystal Sugar Factory in Moorhead has been in operation since 1948.

Sponsored by Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) and Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (Director Peter Hvidsten is an ALN participant), Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), ALN aims to provide training to increase leadership and advocacy skills at the state and national level, with a focus on northwest Minnesota and the Red River Valley region. In early February, ALN held its second meeting in conjunction with MFBF’s Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Promotion (LEAP) Conference in Fargo, N.D. “The Ag Leadership Network is a great program of Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers that helps cultivate future leaders within the ag industry,” said Coreen Berdahl, Minnesota Wheat interim executive director. “The individuals in the program will gain experience and it is our hope that they will join leadership on commodity boards, township boards and the like.”

After hearing from Emma Wielinski, MFBF communications specialist, and Pierce Bennet, MFBF director of public policy, the ALN group spent the afternoon touring local ag facilities. First, we ventured to the AnheuserBusch Barley Moorhead Malt Plant. I’ve spent my whole life driving by the plant, but the closest I’ve ever gotten is the Menard’s parking lot next door. Little did I know that the Moorhead malt plant processes around 8 million bushels of barley a year, which is used to make about 2 billion bottles of beer; the company produces a total of 11 billion bottles yearly. During the tour, we saw two out of the three steps in the malting process: steeping and germination. Unsurprisingly, no one objected to skipping a visit to the third step, kilning, where we heard that it’s 180 degrees inside.

“The Moorhead Malt Plant was originally developed in 1977 and had its first production in 1978,” said Paul Bolin, director of Midwest malt operations. “In 1989, we doubled the size of our elevator; however, at the same time, barley kept moving farther and farther west. So, we had a big effort to bring tworow barley back to the Midwest and now we’re 100% two-row.”

Next, we toured the American Crystal Sugar Moorhead Factory. Though I grew up on a farm that not only raised sugar beets but was only 13 miles from the Moorhead factory, the process of turning beets into the sugar I use to make chocolate chip cookies has always been a bit of an enigma. And for some of my fellow ALN participants who didn’t grow up in the sugar beet industry, it was a whole new ball game.

“Touring the American Crystal Sugar plant was a great learning experience that showed the many processes it takes to make the sugar we use every day,” said Kelly VonWahlde, an agronomic solutions advisor with BASF and fellow ALN participant. “It truly takes a lot of hard work and planning from the second the sugar beet seed goes into the ground to when the bag of sugar hits the grocery store shelves.”

After wrapping up our tours, we joined the Leadership. Education, Advocacy and Promotion (LEAP) Conference. The conference was an opportunity for attendees to take a deep dive into agriculture issues during breakout sessions and participate in leadership and professional development experiences. Because ALN has a focus on networking with influential ag figures in the region, LEAP was the perfect place for us to mingle with our peers. And, as someone who is just beginning her career, opportunities to learn from those around me are never taken for granted.

Life has a funny way of working itself out. By the end of high school, I was daydreaming about spending all day in the combine, and by college there was no going back: My future was in agriculture. Through ALN, I – along with my fellow participants – have been given the chance to grow both professionally and personally in the world of agriculture. And don’t worry, my parents make sure they build character and tease me about their daughter who was going to move to the big city but now spends her days immersed in ag. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 9

Barley’s BOOSTER

MN farmer rises in leadership ranks

Page 10 Prairie Grains • March 2024

By Drew Lyon Ryan Hough needed only a nudge to become a national advocate for barley growers. Through his position on the Minnesota Barley Research and Promotion Council, Hough was encouraged by longtime Executive Director Marv Zutz to take the leadership mantle.

“It was a ‘voluntold’ position – I was told I was going to do it by Marv,” Hough said with a chuckle. “Marv’s been pretty influential in the barley industry over the last 25 years, and I felt like there really is a lot of good that comes from serving and having representation at these meetings.”

Zutz said Hough’s extensive farming and conservation backgrounds made him an ideal candidate to make a leap in his leadership career, which led to Hough’s involvement in the National Barley Improvement Committee (NBIC) “Ryan is a well-rounded farmer, mature and knowledgeable,” Zutz said. “That’s recognized by the industry. He has a passion for cover crops, primarily for his soil, but he also understands the feed value that goes to the cows.”

Hough is a fourth-generation producer who raises barley, wheat, soybeans, corn, alfalfa, sunflowers, and cattle in Barnesville, Minn., with his brother, Michael. He’s among an industry full of emerging grower leaders who are bridging the transition from a generation of farmers nearing retirement age (the average U.S. farmer is around 58 years old.)

“Minnesota Barley is trying to keep the younger folks involved,” said Hough, who’s raising two daughters, Emery and Claire, with his wife, Heather. “There really is a lot of good that comes from these boards, especially having representation at the farmer level. We help steer some of the choices that are being made for the future of our industry.’

In 2023, Hough became NBIC vice chair. The group comprises barley researchers, scientists, plant breeders, brewers, malsters and growers from across the country to advocate for more research for barley.

“I could see that he was interested in this research,” Zutz said. “I could see he wanted to take on the project and he’s doing an excellent job.”

Hough, who also serves on the National Barley Growers Association, is a natural advocate, said NBIC Executive Secretary Ashley McFarland.

“I was fortunate enough to make multiple Congressional visits with Ryan (in 2023) as Minnesota constituents,” said McFarland, who lives in Duluth, Minn. “Our state yields quite a bit of power in Washington, especially as it relates to agricultural issues. I truly enjoyed watching Ryan

in action as he shared his perspectives as a farmer and leader in the industry.

I know he will serve NBIC well.”

Hough said engaging with legislators in Washington, D.C., has helped raise support for the industry. Sen. Tina Smith, who sits on the Senate Ag Committee, has been especially helpful in advocating for programs such as the Barley Pest Initiative.

“It’s always good when you get into those offices and help remind them of who we are and what we’re doing, fighting the good fight,” he said. “It seems to help, because we’ve been fortunate to get funding for our Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative, which has been ongoing.”

Staying involved Earlier this year, the NBIC met for its first Barley Improvement Conference since 2019. During the two-day seminar, which was hosted by the American Malting Barley Association, the NBIC and its industry affiliates highlighted market factors and

In February 2024, Ryan Hough and his brother, Michael, were awarded the Hugh Hammond Bennett Conservation Producer Award. growing and environmental conditions in 2024.

“There was a pretty big push for winter barley and trying to get the sustainability and resiliency portion of barley going, and how winter barley can fit with a lot of soil health aspects in the Northeast (U.S.) especially,” Hough said. “But I think we’re a good 10 years away from having varieties that will withstand the winters well.”

Hough’s new role with the NBIC is in addition to his current position as chairman of the Minnesota Barley Research and Promotion Council.

Hough is also enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, a voluntary initiative that helps promote soil health and gives certified farmers regulatory certainty.

Continued on page 12 March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 11

“It was very easygoing to enroll in the program,” he said. “Fortunately, we were well over and above any of the requirements; we didn’t have to change anything on our operation.”

Hough’s engagement reaches beyond the barley world: He’s involved with the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG), both as an active member and through his participation in the Ag Peer Group (now known as the Ag Leadership Network).

“We started in the barley side of things and then realized pretty quickly the good that was happening out of that side. Then we realized we should probably be supporting on the wheat side as far as becoming members,” Hough said. “The (Ag Peer Group) was a really good

Hough advocates on behalf of the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative, a national institutional research consortium designed to develop effective control measures to minimize the threat of Fusarium Head Blight (scab). The program is supported by federal funds and works with researchers across more than 30 states.

No barley, no beer.

That’s our slogan.”

- Ryan Hough

program, it got a lot of us younger farmers together for networking and opportunities.”

As part of his MAWG membership, Hough has attended the annual Prairie Grains Conference for at least the past seven years and has participated in soil health panels.

“It’s a great conference that Minnesota Wheat and the other organizations put on,” he said.

Barley=beer In 2025, Hough will move up to NBIC chair. He’ll lead the organization during a transitional time in the barley industry as growers grapple with changing consumer trends. The majority of barley grown in the U.S. is used domestically as a contracted crop.

Among the major crops grown in the U.S., barley’s impact on the brewery industry fills the cup, generating $331 million in economic impact and adding about 2 million jobs. For each dollar producers invest into the barley checkoff, growers earn about $37 in return value.

In 2023, Americans consumed the lowest amount of beer in a decade, due to younger consumers shifting toward seltzers and vodka soda-water mixes.

“This year is bringing some challenges in supply,” said Hough, who raises barley for AnheuserBusch. “From the growers’ standpoint, there’s a significant amount of malt in the system, so the maltsters and brewers don’t need a lot of barley grown for this coming season, so that’s put some pressure on acreage.”

But for the nearly 40% of Americans who enjoy beer, Hough had a friendly reminder to thank a grower.

“No barley, no beer,” he said.

“That’s our slogan.”

There really is a lot of good that comes from these boards, especially having representation at the farmer level. We help steer some of the choices that are being made for the future of our industry.

- Ryan Hough

Ryan is a well-rounded farmer, mature and knowledgeable. That’s recognized by the industry. He has a passion for cover crops, primarily for his soil, but he also understands the feed value that goes to the cows.

- Marv Zutz

Page 12 Prairie Grains • March 2024

Become a MA MAWG WG Member Today!

The Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers places a high priority on legislative issues such as crop insurance, the farm bill, wheat research funds and water and other environmental issues.

By joining the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, you become an important member of an organization that is committed to providing you with the latest advancements and improvements in the wheat industry.

Choose the type of membership that is best for you and your farm operation. Call the MAWG office at 218-253-4311 to join.

Visit mnwheat.org to join today today..

‘Looking toward the future’:

MAWQCP’s Area Certification Specialists assist growers Area Certification Specialists Glen Kajewski (second to left) and Jim Lahm (far left) help certify Minnesota farmers like Mike and Ryan Skaug into MAWQCP.

When farmers begin the enrollment process for the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP), a team of Area Certification Specialists (ACS) are by their side every step of the way to help growers reach the necessary steps to become enrolled.

Glen Kajewski is an ACS with MAWQCP, based near Thief River Falls in northwest Minnesota. In total, MAWQCP supports 13 ACS across eight regions throughout Minnesota.

“Farmers want to do what’s right for the land,” said Kajewski, who grew up on a dairy operation in Waseca County. “They’re looking toward the future, and the folks that come forward and want to get certified are showing that little bit extra interest.”

When a producer volunteers to become MAWQCP certified, they’re connected with an ACS such as Kajewski. The ACS will gather information on the operation and begin an evaluation.

The assessment tool the specialists follow typically involves evaluating: • Physical field characteristics • Nutrient management factors • Tillage management factors • Pest management practices • Irrigation and tile drainage management • Conservation practices “It’s important to see those conservation practices they’re applying or using,” Kajewski said. “We’re looking at cover crops, grass waterways and those types of things that have a positive impact on water quality.”

Kajewski said he enjoys helping producers tweak and improve practices to become eligible without being intrusive.

“I try to gather as much as I can behind the scenes before and after meeting the farmer,” he said. “I try to streamline it.”

When Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Director Mike Skaug, who farms in Beltrami, wanted

Page 14 Prairie Grains • March 2024

to enroll in the MAWQCP, Kajewski and North Central ACS Jim Lahm helped guide him through the process.

“Glen and Jim really know their way around the program and helped me improve some practices on my farm,” Skaug said. “It was really a smooth process thanks to the area certification specialists.”

Since the voluntary program’s statewide launch in 2015, 1,436 producers totaling over 1,024,450 acres have been certified across Minnesota. Farms have added over 2,790 new conservation practices. Those new practices help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 50,000 metric tons each year and have kept nearly 48,000 tons of sediment out of Minnesota rivers while saving 142,000 tons of soil and 59,000 pounds of phosphorous on farms each year. The conservation practices have also reduced nitrogen loss up to 49%.

“Minnesota farmers are sending a message out to the public that we’re doing a good job, which to me is a huge positive,” Kajewski said.

Minnesota farmers can contact their local SWCD to apply for MAWQCP certification and then complete a series of steps with local certifiers using a 100% site-specific risk-assessment process. Specialists can also help farmers apply for financial assistance and MAWQCP’s Climate Smart Project.

“It’s a pretty impressive program overall,” Kajewski said, “and that extra funding support has become quite popular.”

After becoming certified, farmers receive a 10-year contract ensuring they will be considered in compliance with any new water quality laws, an official MAWQCP sign to display on their farm and other benefits.

Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified can contact their local SWCD or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com. Glen Kajewski can be reached at glen.kajewskieastpolk@gmail.com or by calling 218-689-1502.

“I really enjoy working with farmers,” Kajewski said. “I get to sit across the table from them and talk about our passion for doing the right thing for the land.”

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:

MyLandMyLegacy.com

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 15

TELLING AG’S TALE

MWRPC chair joins trade mission to Morocco

By Sydney Harris For nearly 250 years, relationships have been the building blocks of the United States.

One of the first countries to recognize the U.S. as an independent country, Morocco first opened its ports to American ships in 1777. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has blossomed and extended to include a fruitful partnership with Minnesota’s agriculture industry.

In late January, Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC) Chair Tim Dufault joined the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and a team of Minnesota commodity groups on a trade mission to Morocco.

“It’s always important to bring farmers along on these kinds of trips,” said Dufault, who farms in Crookston. “The people we’re visiting with like to meet the growers that raise the crops they’re buying. And we get to tell our own tale.”

Minnesota and Morocco’s relationship began in 1968 when King Hassan II established the Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine via royal decree stating that “emphasis be placed on techniques which are most useful to the country as well as on problems which are of immediate importance.” The University of Minnesota (UMN) became one of 38 U.S. land grant university partners.

“The premise of the program was to train faculty to go back to Morocco and increase their capacity of agriculture,” UMN Extension Dean Beverly Durgan said. “The goal was to establish a series of agriculture and forestry universities in Morocco and have the faculty of those universities be Moroccan. So, Morocco partnered with the University of Minnesota to develop a training program to train master’s and Ph.D. students that would be trained in agriculture and forestry and then they’d go back and work in Moroccan universities.”

While in Morocco, the Minnesota delegation stumbled across multiple Moroccan professionals who went through what they dub “The Minnesota Project.”

“The current Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in Morocco is an alumnus of the program; it’s a really unique partnership,” Durgan said. “It’s paying off now down the road as we’re really talking about trade, and what that looks like and the impact that could have on Minnesota agriculture. It’s one of the most successful international training programs that the United States Agency for International Development has ever funded.”

Today, the relationship remains bountiful. Morocco is Minnesota’s only U.S. Free Trade Agreement partner in Africa and in 2022 the state exported 13.5 million dollars’ worth of ag products to Morocco. And trade, of course, is a two-way street. Because Morocco holds 77% of the world’s total phosphate reserves and is the world’s largest phosphate exporter, there is potential for increasing the phosphate imports entering the U.S. through the Port of Duluth.

Page 16 Prairie Grains • March 2024

MWRPC Chair Tim Dufault gets a groundlevel view of Morocco’s agriculture industry. A lingering drought in Morocco has forced the country to import most of its bread wheat, creating an opportunity for U.S. wheat producers.

The University of Minnesota’s relationship with Morocco stretches back decades, and both groups have hosted trade teams.

UMN has trained Moroccan scientists, who later became ag higher education instructors at Moroccan institutes of agricultural research. Photo courtesy of John Vreyens/UMN. March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 17

Khalid Benabdeljelil (second to left) is the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s in-country representative in Morocco. During the trade mission with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, he served as translator and provided cultural background.

“While there, we touted the cheaper logistic and transportation costs of the Port of Duluth,” Dufault said. “Whether it’s hard red spring wheat for milling or feed, soybeans, corn or DDGS, the Port of Duluth is a good fit for Moroccan importers. And we can bring their phosphate imports into the U.S. the same way.”

Nurturing connections In a tumultuous economy amid geopolitical tensions, opportunities arise. Through wise checkoff investments, MWRPC is at the forefront, working to increase the profitability of Minnesota wheat growers and expand international market opportunities.

“Morocco is in a multi-year drought,” Dufault said.

“Of course, their wheat imports go up and down with their crop. But in the last few years they’ve been importing more and more because of the drought and this year they’re going to have to import 80% of their bread wheat. And with the Russia-Ukraine war, importing wheat through the Black Sea is difficult.

So, there are opportunities for U.S. wheat exports to increase, especially Minnesota wheat.”

Quality is another factor that makes importing U.S. wheat an attractive option. Currently, most of Morocco’s wheat imports – 5 million of 6.2 million metric tons in the 2022-23 marketing year – were sourced from the European Union, mainly France.

However, purchasing U.S. wheat has its advantages.

“Morocco is a former French colony, so naturally there is a lot of trading between the two countries,” Dufault said. “But the baking quality of French wheat isn’t as good as the U.S.” Joe Smentek, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, also participated in the trade mission. He said Minnesota producers are well positioned because of their sustainable production practices, diversified crops and various modes of transportation.

Page 18 Prairie Grains • March 2024

USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program allow groups like U.S. Wheat Associates to grow emerging markets in Morocco and Europe. Farm groups, including the National Association of Wheat Growers, are advocating for increases to the program in the next Farm Bill. MAP and FMD haven’t received a boost in funding in two decades.

“What we see going on in the European Union countries, like France, which are exporters to Morocco of commodities such as wheat, is that their environmental policies could change their exports,” Smentek said. “So not only could France become an importer but somebody’s going to have to step up and fill the markets that they’re exporting to now. Duluth puts Minnesota in a great place to do that.”

At the end of the day, trade missions, like the Moroccan visit, boil down to relationships.

“Morocco is a developing country and is moving very quickly to increase its economic level,” Durgan said.

“They’re actually importing more than they probably would have because their economy is expanding. For Minnesota agriculture, this trade mission nurtured our international connection and continuing to build on those relationships just helps when you’re talking about trade.”

Minnesota wheat growers are fortunate that strong organizations are working on their behalf, promoting Minnesota-grown products, especially through checkoff investments made by MWRPC. With MDA working to strengthen the agriculture economy, trade missions across the globe are helping to build new markets for growers across the state. MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen, who led the delegation, deemed the Moroccan trade mission a success, and said a return mission is possible later in 2024.

“Trade missions are the gifts that keep on giving,” Commissioner Petersen said. “We want people to know that Minnesota is a viable option, that we want their business.”

Disease Defense

NDSU researcher offers BMPs at International Crop Expo

By Mark Askelson Wheat and Barley growers in the Prairie Grains region have a pretty firm understanding of what it takes to manage disease in recent years, as made evident by increasing yields and crop quality.

But, given the proper tools and information, could growers do even more?

Andrew Friskop, cereal crop extension plant pathologist with North Dakota State University, gave a broad overview on some of the best disease management practices as it pertains to foliar and head diseases during the 2024 International Crop Expo. While disease issues have been mostly controllable in recent years, there is always cause for concern and reasons to stay on top of the matter.

Options for growers Growers may get overwhelmed with foliar diseases such as fungal leaf spots, which can show up in a variety of different fashions in the same field or even the same plant. However, an extensive toolbox is available, according to Friskop.

“For example, in barley you might see some net blotch on one leaf and spot blotch on another,” Friskop said.

“But from a management perspective, it’s actually quite simple. What we do to manage a fungal leaf spot will manage all of them.”

The practices of crop rotation and residue management may seem like a broken record for producers in recent years, but again in the case of fungal leaf spots, it appears to be the most effective. Friskop noted that crop rotation alone can effectively suppress 50-70% of tan spot and adding residue management can bump that suppression up to 95%. Fungicides are another great tool and there are several options that growers can utilize for early season disease control. Yield impacts with early season fungicide applications are typically minimal especially when combined with crop rotation. With all those tools now being common practice, fungal leaf spot prevalence has dropped significantly over the past five years.

However, crop rotation and residue management are not effective in managing rust diseases such as leaf rust and stem rust in wheat and barley. In Photo by Emmanuel that case, choosing a Byamukama, South Dakota seed variety that is the State University, Bugwood.org least susceptible is the best defense. Rust diseases, which blow in from the south, have not been very prevalent in the Northern Plains in recent years.

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is another disease with a sizable reduction in prevalence of the last handful of years and is now the most important foliar disease. BLS is a seedborne disease, so using clean seed can prevent infections, but because of how common it is throughout North Dakota it cannot be completely prevented. The most effective (and only) tool is seeking a variety with the most resistance to avoid yield loss.

Ergot has also popped up more frequently since 2018.

Mowing grassy weeds in nearby ditches, crop rotation and tillage are also best management options.

On duty Friskop noted that growers have the tools, data and all the other resources to continue to manage disease effectively. Crop rotation, residue management and selecting a variety with genetic resistance are all great first options in prevention. The next step is doing due diligence in keeping an eye on fields and knowing when to act.

“Pay attention to mid-June. That’s when we should be on the lookout for rust and that’s when we have the most humidity and moisture that could lead to scab,” he said. “Be vigilant and use the tools when it’s time to do so.”

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 19

ALL THE

‘BEST’

NDSU Crops Economist Frayne Olson keeps the crowd captivated at the annual Best of the Best research conference.

MN, ND researchers give 2024 outlook at annual research workshop

By Sydney Harris Research is good business. And for farmers, it’s critical to their bottom lines.

Every year, growers across Minnesota and North Dakota make their way to Grand Forks, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., for the Best of the Best in Wheat and Soybean Research meetings. North Dakota State University (NDSU) 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 the North Dakota Wheat Commission collaborate to present producers with timely research information during this workshop.

“Best of the Best is a great opportunity to hear from a variety of researchers about the current studies happening in the wheat and soybean world,” Minnesota Wheat Vice President of Research Melissa Carlson said. “The meeting is only one day, so growers and agronomists from across the region get the most out of their time.”

Weeds and diseases are stubborn – but so are farmers and researchers. Dr. Andrew Friskop, with NDSU Extension, kicked off the conference discussing wheat disease management for eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. Friskop focused on tan spot, bacterial leaf streak and fusarium head blight (FHB).

“What wheat diseases are we going to face? There are a couple that I’ll put my money on every year, some that are sporadic and a few that we don’t see often,” Friskop said. “My job is trying to figure out how much we’re going to be able to break it down as far as management.”

As the most economically important wheat disease Page 20 Prairie Grains • March 2024

in the U.S., Friskop had positive updates for FHB – commonly known as scab – management practices.

“The biggest reason for a scab year is high humidity around the Fourth of July,” Friskop said. “Thankfully, we have some good fungicides on the market, and we have a seven-day application window. I’m continuing to be excited about this because when I started, I got told we had about a two-day window to make an application. Now, we’ve seen that opened up quite a bit.”

After a morning of riveting research updates with topics ranging from pigweed control to variety selection to fighting phytophthora, attendees stretched their legs during the hands-on demonstrations, a unique feature of Best of the Best. This year, demonstrations included pigweed identification, soil salinity effects, insect defoliators and cover crops.

“Participants get to see live demonstrations with real plants,” Carlson said. “It’s really helpful for growers to see things in person and not just looking at pictures on a screen.”

Market matters To round out a packed agenda, Frayne Olson, a crops economist and NDSU professor, gave a commodity market update. Growers know that there are myriad factors affecting prices and it’s easy to spend all day discussing the minutiae of the markets. Though Olson only had an hour, he briefed the crowd and hit the highlights.

As the largest soybean importer in the world, China’s buying habits largely influence prices and production.

Olson pointed out that total Chinese soy purchases are starting to flatten.

“China is still increasing purchases, but the growth rate is slowing,” Olson said. “Two factors contribute to this: Their economy is beginning to slow, and their hog industry isn’t growing quickly.”

Olson went on to explain the impact China’s purchases will have on Brazil’s production.

“I do think we will see the Brazilian production flatten out over time,” Olson said.

There’s also been recent concern over the size of crop in Paraná, a southern state that raises about 15% of Brazil’s soybean production and has been plagued by drought conditions.

“We’re not done trying to figure out how big this crop is,” Olson said. “The USDA is saying it’s still going to be pretty large, but a lot of private forecasters are looking at much, much smaller amounts.”

On the wheat side of the market, Olson used a metaphor to describe how spring wheat prices are tied to winter wheat prices.

“Think of winter wheat as a brick and spring wheat as a rubber band that’s tied around the brick,” Olson said.

“Because spring wheat is a blend used to enhance flour characteristics, prices can only stretch to a certain point before the price difference between hard red winter and hard red spring gets too big and they switch out of it and don’t use spring wheat.”

Olson went on to explain that spring wheat’s market isn’t as big as winter wheat’s market.

“So, once the rubber band reaches its maximum,” Olson said, “it’s not strong enough to lift the rest of the market. The prices are tied to this dead weight of the winter wheat market.”

All global and meteorological factors considered, Olson reminds growers to keep their ears open and keep up with what’s happening in the market to be able to seize any opportunities that may arise.

“Our inventories are comfortable,” Olson said.

“Keep in mind, the only major buyer we have that actually has been growing demand for spring wheat is Mexico. Everyone else has a pretty flat rate. The question is, ‘What’s going to put the lift into the spring wheat market?’”

The agriculture industry is complex, but with programs like Best of the Best, attendees are able to take home applicable knowledge to help succeed in their business in 2024.

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AgCountry.com FarmCreditMandan.com March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 21

A RESEARCHER

REFLECTS

Melissa Carlson leaves legacy at MN Wheat

By Sydney Harris All good things must come to an end.

The Minnesota Wheat family is saying goodbye to Vice President of Research Melissa Carlson, who has helped oversee the On-Farm Research Network (OFRN) since 2018 and stepped aside from her position in March 2024.

“Missy’s connection with growers was a huge value to the success of the OFRN over the past five years,” said Coreen Berdahl, Minnesota Wheat’s interim executive director. “She was the right person to lead the OFRN; her passion for research and ‘can-do’ attitude will be greatly missed at MN Wheat and with the growers who participated in the program.”

“ Page 22 Prairie Grains • March 2024

I am grateful to Lauren Proulx and Dave Torgerson for all the great work that they did before I came on board. It’s easy to come in, pick it up and stand on the shoulders of the people that came before – they did an excellent job. And a big thank you to all of the farmers and consultants that work with us because they really are the ones that make everything happen.

Originally from Waconia, Minn., Carlson earned a Bachelor of Science in agronomy from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2014, where she discovered her passion for research, before completing her master’s in Plant Science at North Dakota State University with Joel Ransom.

“I always knew that I wanted to be in agriculture, I just didn’t quite know what,” Carlson said. “Initially, I was thinking I wanted to go into breeding because I really liked genetics. But then I realized that I really liked the applied research side of things – solving problems and puzzles and learning about things.”

Upon graduation from Crookston, Carlson worked temporarily for Minnesota Wheat before heading to South America for a year in January 2015 to complete the World Race.

“That’s when I figured out that I like this on-farm, applied research a lot more than being in the lab,” Carlson said. “I like being outside and working on practical things that I can share with farmers.”

Since then, Carlson’s dedication to serving Minnesota Wheat growers has shown through her coordination of the OFRN, which conducts producerfunded, producer-driven research that investigates producer-selected research topics in a large plot environment.

“Melissa is going to be missed,” Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council Chair Tim Dufault said. “She brought an inquisitive personality to Minnesota Wheat. She’s constantly asking why or what if, a true researcher, and was always willing to help a grower design a research plot for an idea they had. Then, she’d go ahead and do the work for that research plot. That kind of attitude and concern for the growers is why the On-Farm Research Network has been so successful.”

The OFRN has flourished under Carlson’s guidance.

“This job has allowed me some liberty to take the research and expand the program under the direction of farmers and the board,” Carlson said.

“We’re always making sure that we’re doing what the farmers want to do.”

Lessons learned, memories made The research world is vast and throughout her years at Minnesota Wheat and OFRN, Carlson has worked on numerous projects from liquid copper

applications to the value of volunteer wheat and everything in-between. Still, certain endeavors stick out in her memory, such as a recent project on Johnson-Su composting bioreactors.

“Last year was fun with the bioreactors because it was just such a different kind of project,” Carlson said. “We were trying to bootstrap something from scratch with the compost extract and doing the composting and applying it to the field. It was different putting together a regular a fertilizer trial or spraying a chemical.”

A multi-year project, the Johnson-Su bioreactor project still has one year left. Carlson will help see it to completion, even after she’s officially stepped down from her role.

Research projects aren’t a one-man-band show and Carlson knows she couldn’t have done it alone.

“I am grateful to Lauren Proulx and Dave Torgerson for all the great work that they did before I came on board,” Carlson said. “It’s easy to come in, pick it up and stand on the shoulders of the people that came before – they did an excellent job. And a big thank you to all of the farmers and consultants that work with us because they really are the ones that make everything happen.”

After several years of building relationships with the Minnesota Wheat community, Carlson – who is expecting her first child with her husband, Steven – is preparing for the next chapter, planning to be a stay-at-home mom and eventually home-school.

“I learned a lot from my time at Minnesota Wheat, especially from the farmers,” Carlson said.

“I learned how farming actually works versus what you read about or learn about in school from a book. Textbook knowledge only gets you so far. The boots on the ground work is where your actual training is.”

Goodbyes aren’t easy. Though research project results that Minnesota wheat growers can apply to their operations is the focus of OFRN, at the heart of it all are the people and lifelong relationships that develop after long days in the field together.

“A lot of my favorite memories are riding in the combine or other equipment with growers and just talking with them, getting to know them and becoming friends,” Carlson said. “It was my favorite part of the job.”

Following Carlson’s departure, Minnesota Wheat’s Research Committee has decided to temporarily pause new On-Farm Research trials for the 2024 growing season. The organization will hire Carlson’s successor following the announcement of its next executive director, with plans to resume the popular program in 2025.

To view research reports dating back to 2014, visit mnwheat.org/council/farm-research-network/ March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 23

This spring, Northern Crop Institute is moving into the state-of-the-art Peltier Complex, a three-story, 160,000-square foot facility located on the North Dakota State University campus.

Page 24 Prairie Grains • March 2024

NCI stays the course after longtime leader exits

By Mark Askelson There is a lot on the plate these days for the Northern Crops Institute (NCI): putting the finishing touches on a new facility, hiring a new executive director and always staying on top of providing technical assistance and education on the latest trends and needs for agriculture.

Whether it’s meeting the needs of expanding global demands or assisting in the development for a local market, NCI is continuing to follow its vision of establishing northern-grown U.S. crops as the world’s premier choice for food, feed and value-added applications.

Currently leading the way for NCI is the talented tandem of Program Development Manager Casey Peterson and Technical Manager David Boehm, who together are serving as co-interim executive directors after Mark Jirik departed from NCI in February.

The organization knows it will have to regroup following the departure of Jirik, who left after six years to pursue new career opportunities. But when one door closes, another opens.

“Those are some big shoes to fill for sure. Mark brought creativity, energy and passion to push things forward

and try new things, all while meeting the needs of our mission,” said Boehm. “We hope to continue to do that moving forward and it’s what we are looking for in the next director as well.”

The Northern Crops Council, the NCI’s governing body, will be tasked with hiring the new director, and is currently led by Tim Dufault, also chair of the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council.

Staying on top As the trends in the food industries change, NCI continues to stay on top of the demands through both technical assistance and new course offerings. As new commodities and products are introduced into the marketplace, NCI works closely with the related industries to start testing those products. According to Boehm, the last few years have seen a shift toward higher protein.

“We’re putting higher protein into everything: pasta, baked goods, snack foods and you name it,” Boehm said. “Whatever those trends are we have a fit in our marketplace and we work with companies to help develop those products.”

Continued on page 26 March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 25

A complete list of NCI courses and webinars is available at northern-crops. com/courses.

NCI is also expanding its reach within the soy foods industry. This includes recognizable products such as soy milk or tofu, but also products that are familiar across the globe – including natto, tempe and miso – that are becoming more important to growers in this market who grow identity preserved (IP) or food-grade soybeans.

On the education side, NCI is teaming up with the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) to offer a course specifically on the value of the northern-grown soy with a focus on their essential amino acids profile and how that can be beneficial to customers overseas. On a similar note, NCI also recently hosted a program for the first time called Oils University for the National Institute of Oilseed Processors (NIOP).

“That was very interesting because for the first time we discussed food and fuel at the same time,” Peterson said.

“We plan to do it again in October.”

Peterson also highlighted a new IP food grade procurement course that NCI is now offering. While they’ve hosted small grains procurement courses for over 40 years, this is the first time the course has been soy-specific.

A better fit All the technical assistance and education that NCI provides is a tight fit in their current facility squeezed into the NDSU campus, but they will be getting a little more room to

breathe when they move into the Peltier Complex, which is scheduled for completion in late April or early May. The much larger facility means no more shared labs and spaces and plenty of room for growth and new offerings.

“Where we’re at now all we have is our auditorium and labs, but in the new Peltier Complex we’ll have five or six different types of spaces that we can utilize,” said Peterson. “That will mean more active engagements, active learning and all-around better outcomes in all of the programs.”

The labs in the new Peltier Complex will also be food grade, which Boehm says will provide clients a higher degree of confidence when they receive samples of the new products they are testing. Peterson also notes that the larger space will provide the opportunity to have multiple programs going on at once without worry of overlap. And in addition to the Peltier Complex, NCI’s feed mill will see approximately $4 million in much-needed upgrades over the next two years.

NCI Technical Manager David Boehm (far back) is serving as co-interim executive director as the organization seeks a permanent replacement for Mark Jirik.

Page 26 Prairie Grains • March 2024

Moving forward with more space and more opportunities, NCI will have the ability to be more proactive in their offerings, especially when it comes to emerging crops such as new and expanding cereal grains and oilseeds that are still establishing a market.

“We want to make sure we are working with those commodities to get them established and into the marketplace, whether that’s with risk management or crop quality,” Boehm said. “That’ll be a big focus moving forward.”

Peterson also cited a recent trend toward domestic and local foods.

One example of how NCI is staying on top of that is by now offering a stone milling course, which has the potential to provide a boost to the local markets.

Brace for Impact (Analysis)!

Over the next year, NCI will compile its next Impact Analysis study, which is conducted every other year to better understand the organization’s effectiveness and their impact on the commodity groups and food industry businesses they collaborate with.

NCI’s last Impact Analysis Study was completed in 2023.

“We always ask evaluation questions right after each course but doing it again every other year to those same participants gives a chance to monitor actual behavior,” said Peterson. “Once they’ve left here, what do they do?

What happens? Seeing those results is really quite powerful for us.”

Beware the

Beetle

Invasive insect sightings in ND and MN could lead to potential yield loss

By Cassidy Strommen The cereal leaf beetle is an invasive insect of small grains that is finding its way into new parts of Minnesota after almost 13 years without notice.

But this is no ordinary beetle.

The cereal leaf beetle originates from Europe but was originally found near Michigan in the 1960s, according to Dr. Anthony Hanson, regional extension educator from the University of Minnesota (UMN). Up to 2010, Minnesota populations had been documented in the southeastern corner of the state. For more than a decade, not many sightings occurred in Minnesota – that is, until the pests started appearing in northwestern counties in 2023. Cereal leaf beetles were found in Clay, Mahnomen, Norman and Red Lake counties.

The range of sightings has baffled Minnesota entomologists, as they are unsure whether small populations made their way across the state from the southeast or if they crossed the border from North Dakota.

Sightings were also confirmed in North Dakota’s McIntosh County in 2023, causing substantial yield loss in some wheat fields. A few fields in the area reported 25-33% of plants were infested with leaf-eating larvae.

“This is something we really haven’t had to deal with too much in Minnesota,” Hanson said. “We’re just starting to see what could happen with this pest in northwest Minnesota.”

‘Weird insect’ The larvae have a rather foul feature: The insect carries its frass (the term for insect feces) on its mucus covered back as a defense against predators. At a distance, the mucus makes the larvae look slug-like. Farmers or scouts who walk through a heavily infested wheat field wind up covered in slime.

“This is a really weird insect, even for us entomologists,” Hanson said. “There’s a lot of nastiness to it.”

The larvae cause the most damage to the plant by feeding on the leaves. Scouts look for a trailing feeding pattern, which can make leaves have a frosted appearance and

Growers should check their entire field when scouting for cereal leaf beetle. Photo courtesy of UMN IPM Scout Amelia Landsverk.

can make a field appear white. While it isn’t known to directly transmit disease, feeding may increase the risk of opportunistic diseases.

“If there is damage to the leaves, that tells you to take a closer look at what might be causing it,” Hanson said. “Not too many insects here feed directly on the small grains leaves besides grasshoppers.”

In wheat, this feeding is particularly alarming prior to and just after the boot stage. When new leaves pop out, it’s important for them to collect as much sunlight as they can, but damage to the leaf caused by the cereal leaf beetle can limit sunlight intake. Most damage is seen around mid-June.

“There is definitely potential for significant yield loss that can be up to 30-50% in severe infestations,” Hanson said.

Hanson advises against preventative pesticide sprays, which might give low-level beetle populations an opportunity to gain insecticide resistance. Waiting to spray until the three beetles are present per flag leaf will also help protect yield. This threshold decreases to one beetle after boot stage.

Another preventative measure growers can take is volunteering wheat fields for the scouting program, which is supported by the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council.

“If anyone has a wheat field in western Minnesota, they could submit a form,” Hanson said. “We’re definitely looking for sites so we can take a look out there.”

To participate in the scouting program, visit z.umn.edu/ wheatipm2024 or contact Hanson at hans4022@umn.edu.

“Be careful about this one,” said Hanson, “but don’t jump the gun before you know your field has a problem.”

March 2024 • Prairie Grains Page 27

Focused on representation SD Wheat Growers making inroads in 2024

By Drew Lyon Through education and outreach efforts, the South Dakota Wheat Growers Association (SDWGA) is playing its part in uplifting the next crop of farmer leaders.

“We have a real rollover,” SDWGA Executive Director Caren Assman said. “Our longstanding members are retiring, and we have a whole new group of producers coming into the field.”

The organization, which advocates at the capitols in Pierre and Washington, D.C., on behalf of the state’s wheat industry, is set on delivering to producers a message promoting the economic and environmental advantages of incorporating wheat into

a four-crop rotation.

“We are focused on representation in wheat,” Assman said. “I always say it’s representation, education and communication. That’s what we work on.”

In 2024, SWDGA is holding a strategic planning session to highlight the myriad benefits of a four-crop rotation, especially in the eastern part of the state.

“The benefits to the soil, improved yield in the next crop and chemical reduction are all reasons to include wheat in your rotation,” Assman said. “Now we are working on how to get that message out to producers.”

South Dakota, led by President Doug Simons, worked on all the above during the National

The South Dakota Wheat Growers Association has strong relationships with its federal delegation, including Sen. John Thune (far right).

Page 28 Prairie Grains • March 2024

Association of Wheat Growers’ (NAWG) winter meeting.

Advocates met with federal leaders, including South Dakota Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds, who continue to support SDWGA’s policy priorities.

“We have great relationships with our congressional team,” Assman said. “But there are also so many more senators and representatives that have different agendas for the Farm Bill.”

During meetings with legislative aids and Sen. Debbie Stabenow – the retiring chair of the Senate Ag Committee – and Sen. John Boozman, growers received an unwelcomed mix of predictions on the next Farm Bill’s status. A little clarity and action would go a long way.

“I heard everything from something may get done this April to possible sometime in 2025,” Assman said. “The uncertainty in Washington, D.C., is problematic and discouraging for wheat producers.”

Simons, who’s serving his fourth year as president, represents SDWGA on NAWG and attended NAWG’s annual meeting at Commodity Classic in Houston, Tex., where growers passed their 2024 policy resolutions. In 2023, NAWG honored South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson for his advocacy in his role on the House Ag Committee.

Keeping tabs on policy, precipitation Closer to home, SDWGA was busy in early 2024 lobbying during the state’s legislative session, which lasts just 40 days. The state’s commodity groups stay on the same page,

even when they don’t agree on all issues, by holding weekly meetings at SDWGA’s office in Pierre. To that end, ag groups, including SDWGA, reached common ground with Gov. Kristi Noem on the Foreign Ownership of Ag Land bill, after language was tweaked to allow for leased land, which eases the concern for research and livestock concerns.

“Current language on the books has protected South Dakota agriculture for over sixty years,” Assman said, “and passage of the additional bill will add even more security.

We have to be able to work with the companies that are already here and foreign owned when it comes to research and land needed for livestock.”

Landowner rights is another major issue during the legislative session. Several bills have been drafted to give farmers additional protections by addressing upfront contacts and financial payment before permission is granted to survey and length of lease (50 years) for the contract.

“The surveying done. … for the carbon pipeline has led to the increase legislation,” Assman said. “The bills introduced will give farmers additional protections in the future.”

South Dakota faced an unusual winter, marked by higherthan-average temperatures, foggy days and plenty of rain (by early February, snow was nowhere to be found across South Dakota).

“We are concerned about a wet planting season,” Assman said. “It’s just been hit or miss, but we’ll just hope for the best.”

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ACROSS THE PRAIRIE

By Prairie Grains Magazine staff

Minnesota Wheat leader earns Premier Seed Grower Award Benson, Minn., farmer Scott Lee was honored in January during the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association’s (MCIA) Annual Awards.

Lee, who represents Area 3 for the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC), raises certified wheat and oats to be conditioned and sold to local farmers. He also grows soybean seed and corn. Lee’s Seed Farm has been an active seed producer and MCIA member since it was established by Scott’s father, Wallace, in 1969. The operation includes a seed cleaning plant. In addition to his role with MWRPC, Lee has been involved in many local, regional and national agriculture organizations. Lee’s Seed Farm has been the location and host of the University of Minnesota small grains research plots for many years.

Each year since 1928, MCIA has presented this award to recognize individuals or partners involved in quality seed production, active in MCIA and who provide excellent service to the seed industry.

NAWG President Brent Cheyne (right) presents Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson with the 2023 Wheat Leader of the Year Award.

Page 30 Prairie Grains • March 2024

MWRPC Secretary Scott Lee hosts small grain research plots on his Benson, Minn., farm.

NAWG names House AG Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson as 2023 Wheat Leader of the Year National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) awarded Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson with its 2023 Wheat Leader of the Year Award for his work as chair of the House Agriculture Committee. NAWG President and Oregon wheat farmer, Brent Cheyne, presented the award to Chairman Thompson during a recent visit to Washington, D.C. “On behalf of NAWG, I thank Chairman Thompson for the work he has done on behalf of wheat growers nationwide,” said President Cheyne. “The 2023 Wheat Leader of the Year Award is the highest honor wheat growers can use to recognize legislators, and it finds the most deserving recipient in Chairman Thompson.”

The Wheat Leader of the Year is the wheat industry’s highest legislative award and is given annually by NAWG to one member of Congress whose commitment and support to the wheat industry goes above and beyond. NAWG also presented 19 members of Congress, including Montana Sen. Jon Tester and South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson, with its Wheat Advocate Awards for their exceptional support of the wheat industry during 2023.

Montana ag groups announce scholarships for 2024-2025 school year The Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) and the Montana Grains Foundation (MGF) are each offering scholarships to be used for the 2024-2025 school year.

MGGA will award (2) $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing an agricultural related degree at the college of their choice. Applicants or their parents, grandparents or legal guardian must be a current producer member of MGGA. MGF will award a pair of $2,500 scholarships to Montana State University graduate students. Applications must be received no later than April 1, 2024, and the winners will be announced by May 1. More information and application forms are available by calling the MGGA office at 406-761-4596 or online at mgga.org.

Register today for 2024 SDSU Extension Energize conference Registration is open for the sixth annual South Dakota State University Extension Community Vitality Energize Conference on May 22 and 23, 2024, in Hot Springs.

Energize is a two-day event exploring innovative rural communities and includes speakers, breakout groups and social events highlighting the host community’s resources and rural community success stories. Participants can choose from sessions led by South Dakota’s leaders with success stories from rural areas and a nationally known keynote speaker Michael Perry.

Early registration for adults 21 and older is $95 per person by April 1, or $55 for those under 21.

After April 1, tickets range from $60 to $115 until the day of the event. Registration at the door is $150, if space is available. Group discounts are available, allowing three or more people from the same community who register at the same time to receive a discounted rate. To register, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “energize.”

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