Prairie Grains Prairie Grains
September 2025 | Issue 207
Cover Story
2 1 3 4 5 06 08 12 22 28
The technology used on a day-to-day basis by farmers has come a long way since John Froelich built the first gas-powered tractor in 1892. Today, tractors drive themselves, drones fly overhead and yield monitors give growers a play-by-play as a field is harvested. With agriculture technology rapidly advancing, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the latest and greatest. Read pages 16-18 to hear from two university researchers who are paving the way in precision agriculture.
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
Sydney Harris, Managing Editor
Ag Management Solutions
Ph: 218.689.5091
Email: sharris@agmgmtsolutions.com
CONTENT EDITORS
Drew Lyon, News Editor
Ag Management Solutions
Ph: 507.388.1635
Email: dlyon@agmgmtsolutions.com
Katelyn Engquist
Ag Management Solutions
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Email: kengquist@agmgmtsolutions.com
ART DIRECTOR
Alex Troska
Ag Management Solutions
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LHM & Co
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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 agriculture producers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. To subscribe or change address, please write or call our circulation department.
Advancing agriculture: MAWG marks legislative wins
Advocacy impact: Lobbying is hard, but necessary, work
Learning curve: MWRPC sprouts three new directors
Making change: Nick Sinner brings experience and familiarity to NDGGA
Opening doors: U.S. wheat farmers win when trade policy makes room for market development
OUR COLLABORATORS
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers 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
Wheat’s next chapter: An update from MWRPC
It’s hard to believe that the sun is already setting on another wheat growing season in Minnesota. I mean, wasn’t it just yesterday that we were waking our planters up from winter hibernation?
As harvest progressed and I watched as the grain left the field, I couldn’t help but think about the countless ways that the Minnesota wheat checkoff is benefiting producers. As chair of the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, the organization that oversees wheat checkoff investments, I have the pleasure of getting an inside, in-depth look at the many ways MWRPC is working to increase farmer profitability. Between expanding export markets and funding research, the Council understands the value of the state’s two cents per bushel checkoff and we don’t take our role lightly. Investment decisions are carefully considered and thoroughly discussed before funds are allocated.
And MWRPC is as busy as ever. We’re committed to on-farm research and are pursuing an opportunity to partner with NDSU to revamp our On-Farm Research Network. After we approved the FY26 budget during the June board meeting, we discussed the future direction of the Wheat Foods Council, of which MWRPC is a member, as they move through a reorganization phase. As fall progresses, we are excited to hear updates on the various research projects that MWRPC funded this growing season. Our goal, as always, is to search for applicable
solutions that farmers across the state can implement on their operations. It’s important to acknowledge the volunteer farmer leaders who spearhead MWRPC. Without the guidance of our nine board members, MWRPC wouldn’t be the powerhouse that it is. During our June board meeting, we bid farewell to three board members – Kevin Leiser, Tony Brateng and Tim Dufault – who have dedicated countless years to the wheat checkoff. Their insights and knowledge have benefited growers across the wheat growing region and I am grateful to each one of them for their contributions and their readiness to strengthen our industry. When one chapter ends, another begins. We are excited to welcome three new directors to the board: Jeffrey Larson and Sydney Balstad will represent producers in District 1, while Dalton Harris will represent District 2. Wheat operations look different across the state, so it’s vital to have a variety of voices on the board who offer unique perspectives and ensure that decisions are made with all wheat growers in mind. Elected by Minnesota wheat farmers, I have no doubt that these three individuals will be assets to our organization, and I look forward to gaining their insight.
Our regional partners are also invaluable to MWRPC. After over four decades at North Dakota Wheat Commission, Administrator Neal Fisher is retiring. We’ve always had a close relationship with our counterparts in North Dakota, and we wish him nothing but the best in retirement.
On the national front, we continue to work closely with U.S. Wheat Associates to promote the reliability, quality and value of U.S. wheat to countries around the world. Since 2017, USW has been fortunate to be led by President/CEO Vince Peterson and after eight dedicated years, he retired at the end of June. But not to worry, we are in good hands as Mike Spier took over the reins effective July 1. Previously serving as USW vice president of overseas operations, Spier is perfectly positioned to guide the organization, and we look forward to working with him. Vince isn’t the only friend at USW who has recently retired – USW Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer retired as of July 1. Steve has done a tremendous job communicating for wheat farmers and was a great asset to the industry. We wish both Vince and Steve a happy retirement.
There is never a dull moment at MWRPC, and I am grateful to be able to lead such a wonderful organization.
Mark Jossund farms near Moorhead and serves as chair of MWRPC.
Mark Jossund
Betsy Jensen is a Farm Business Management Instructor at Northland Community and Technical College. Follow her on X at @jensenbetsyr.
No Bias Here
Not a day goes by without hearing something about the left- and right-wing media. This newspaper is liberal, this TV station is conservative, everyone is lying and distorting the truth.
There is certainly some truth to media bias, but is it really lying? You can just cherry pick the stories to report, and they can be the ones that favor your beliefs. The price of eggs is up, but the price of gas is down. Which story should you report?
Now instead of politics, substitute your grain marketing information. Do you want to hear the stories of problem crops in this state, or listen to stories of bumper crops in other states?
Farmers, you are the original biased media consumers. I have a much better day when I listen to reports that confirm prices are likely to rise and ignore the headlines that indicate the market will likely drop. Huge, unexpected export sales? Wonderful and I cannot wait for higher prices. Reports of bumper crops? In my head I only hear something that sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Reports of bad and good crops are accurate and factual. Every year there are bumper crops and disaster areas. Our decision to pay more attention to the reports that we like and confirm our beliefs is what skews our marketing plans. And if you have a bad crop in your
immediate area, your price bias is nearly impossible to overcome. Of course, prices must go higher, just look out the window.
When I give marketing presentations, I always cross my fingers that prices are higher that day. No one wants to talk marketing when wheat is down ten cents that day. If the market is higher, I can be the hero that talks about the wonderful commodity markets.
The market can drop for two weeks in a row, but if we finally get a move higher it makes everyone smile and believe the trend has turned. As farmers we are wired to believe better prices are just ahead of us.
When you are placing orders and setting targets, be mindful of your bias. Of course, I believe prices are going higher, but I may need to lower my targets if they remain unfilled for too long.
We have some non-bias indicators to help us create marketing plans. Seasonality and technicals are general indicators that give guidelines without bias. The bad news about technicals is that if we try hard enough, we can find one to tell us prices are going higher.
My favorite nonbiased marketing aid is the carrying charge. I preach this to all my farmers, in every presentation, and this fall it is even more important. Even soybeans have a carrying charge this year, and that is rare. Today we can sell 2026
crops at higher prices than 2025. The market is rewarding farmers who plan ahead, even a year in advance. That does not help us with 2025 marketing, but it may be a small nudge for making some small 2026 sales.
If you have a target of $7 wheat or $11 soybean futures, look to fall 2026 and those prices may be attainable.
If you have storage for your 2025 crop, you can get a better price by contracting for delivery later in 2025 or into spring 2026. There are calculators to help you factor storage expenses like interest and grain drying. This year the carry is more than enough to pay for those expenses.
As you harvest your 2025 crops, take a step back and acknowledge your biases. Read more than one advisory service. Listen to the closing markets on the radio. Try not to cherry pick your headlines. There will be reports of disappointing and bumper yields. Try to make decisions without being overwhelmed with information.
I wish I could assure you that prices will rally and be profitable in 2025. I could be the hero if I made that promise. You could close the magazine with a giant smile, head to the combine and start dreaming of your next capital purchase. But you are smart enough to recognize your bias, right?
By Drew Lyon
Advancing agriculture MAWG marks legislative wins
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) President Kevin Leiser is a noted fan of split government. A divided legislature must work together and compromise, and the Fertile, Minn., farmer said that agriculture interests emerged a winner during the 2025 legislative session.
“I thought things were a lot better this session because both parties had to make deals,” Leiser said. “I’d rather have things remain steady than big policy bounces back and forth.”
While the legislative process wasn’t always smooth, the Minnesota Legislature performed its constitutional duties and held a special session in June to complete work on a two-year state budget, a few weeks after the session formally adjourned, to avoid a state shutdown.
Lawmakers had their work cut out for them during a 21-hour special session, debating and passing about 90%
of the state budget. With a tied House (67 Republicans, 67 Democrats) and a one-seat Democratic majority in the Senate, negotiations were tense at times, necessitating bipartisan cooperation (often in private meetings).
Lawmakers eventually reached a compromise, passing a $66 billion budget, an 8% decrease from the $72 billion biennial budget passed in 2023 and one that cuts a projected $6 billion deficit for future years. While the budget addressed immediate financial concerns, lawmakers also punted partisan debates on health care, taxation, energy, environmental and economic policies to the 2026 session.
The passage of 14 bills capped an unusual year that started with a power-sharing struggle and Democratic boycott in the House and ended with missed deadlines that necessitated the Legislature needing to return to the Capitol to finish the job.
MAWG celebrated its legislative wins, but lamented missed opportunities, including pesticide labeling and exemptions to the earned safe and sick time, that would’ve benefited Minnesota farm families and agribusinesses.
Stepping stones
Agriculture was an early budgetary bright spot. Lawmakers in the House and Senate collaborated to put the omnibus agriculture bill on Gov. Walz’s desk a day ahead of the May 19 deadline. The bill funds programs that are key to MAWG and the state’s farm economy.
In the 2026-2027 biennium, the ag bill appropriates $115 million to fund the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), $13.5 million to the Board of Animal Health, $8.7 million to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and $2 million to the Office of Broadband Development to increase high-speed internet access across Minnesota. Funding also includes $400,000 to combat animal disease outbreaks. In total, the ag omnibus bill increases funding by $9 million compared to Gov. Walz’s budget proposal.
“Agriculture is one of the leading economic drivers in the state, but that’s rarely reflected in the budget,” Leiser said. “We’re happy to see it got bumped up a bit in this budget.”
During MAWG’s visit to the Capitol in February, farmer leaders urged legislators to increase funding for the Ag Special in the University of Minnesota’s budget, which has stayed flat at $49.922 million per year since 2011. Although the funding didn’t see an increase, MAWG was satisfied Ag Special will receive funding at its current level.
“There wasn’t a whole lot in the ag bill that we would’ve changed,” Leiser said. “You don’t get everything you want, but all in all, given the current economic situation, we’re mostly pleased with what was – and wasn’t – passed.”
Northern Crops Institute, a key MAWG priority that is typically appropriated in the ag bill, wasn’t included and will instead be eligible for funding through a newly established MDA competitive grant program administered by Commissioner Thom Petersen. MAWG is confident NCI will continue to receive funding.
Ag bill highlights
Some notable policy provisions featured:
• $1 million – County ag inspectors
• $500,000 – Biofertilizer Innovation Program
• $500,000 in additional funding for Farm Business Management
• $200,000 – Farm Safety and Wellness
• $1 million – AGRI Works Grant Program
• $1.4 million – Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program
• $1.5 million – Agriculture Emergency Account
• $750,000 – Toward avian influenza food testing and voluntary agriculture worker testing
Longtime MAWG lobbyist Bruce Kleven, who just completed his 31st year representing Minnesota wheat farmers in St. Paul, said agriculture fared well in the face of difficult cuts.
“Within the context of the aggregate budget, ag did pretty good,” he said.
Leiser said MAWG is appreciative of its relationship with Commissioner Petersen. A fully funded MDA ensures growers have tools and resources to handle weather disasters, apply for beginning farmer tax credits, financial assistance and numerous grants, cost-share programs and scholarships.
“Commissioner Petersen is a guy who really cares,” said Leiser, who had just spoken by phone with the commissioner. “He’s a true supporter of agriculture.”
Special session takeaways
After a strong advocacy push by MAWG, including during the annual St. Paul Bus Trip, the 2025 Minnesota legislative session did not include any new restrictions or bans on pesticides, fertilizers or seeds. While some lawmakers argued for stronger regulations on treated seeds and groundwater contamination, the final bill maintained existing agricultural policies without imposing additional limitations.
Restrictive agricultural regulations were left essentially unchanged, ensuring Minnesota wheat farmers can continue employing current agricultural practices on their operations.
In the months ahead, MAWG farmer leaders, in addition to harvesting their 2025 crop, will keep tabs on any policy developments in St. Paul and begin shaping its 2026 legislative priorities in advance of MAWG’s Annual Meeting during the Prairie Grains Conference. The 2026 legislative session, which will mostly focus on policy, is set to begin Feb. 17, 2026.
“Kevin and his board continue to be really engaged in the process,” Kleven said.
MAWG mourns loss of legislators
The session’s aftermath took a tragic turn when Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed June 14 in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot but are expected to recover. MAWG sends its condolences to Speaker Hortman, her family, friends and colleagues, while sending well wishes to the Hoffman family.
Leiser recalled fond memories of meeting with Speaker Hortman.
“She was friendly and listened to what I had to say, which is what we ask of our elected leaders,” Leiser said.
MAWG also mourned the July 21 death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, a longtime member of the Senate Ag Committee who most recently visited with MAWG leaders in February 2025.
By Sydney Harris
Advocacy impact
Lobbying is hard, but necessary, work
Tumultuous commodity prices. High input costs. Too much rain. Not enough rain. Encroaching weeds. Damaging pests. Risk of disease. Equipment breakdowns.
Every single day, Minnesota farmers wake up and “dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge” a myriad of obstacles threatening to take down their operations. There’s always something, and if growers take their eye off the ball, the repercussions could be catastrophic.
It makes sense that when they’re focused on staying in the black, mustering up the vigor needed to care, let alone take action, about the agriculture policies set in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., can be difficult.
“Farmers know better than anyone how to farm,” said Kevin Leiser, president of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG). “We don’t want to be at the mercy of the government telling us how to farm.”
Chat with any Minnesota wheat grower and it doesn’t take long to understand the breadth of the time commitment demanded on the farm – not to mention family commitments. Frequent trips to St. Paul and Washington, D.C., whenever policies pertinent to agriculture need to be discussed with legislators is next to impossible. That’s why MAWG membership is a no-brainer.
Since 1975, MAWG has represented Minnesota’s nearly 8,000 wheat farms, funding lobby efforts on issues that improve farmer profits and support educational programs. Spearheading those advocacy efforts in St. Paul, under the guidance of MAWG farmer leaders, is Bruce Kleven, MAWG’s longtime lobbyist.
“It’s been a good job for me because it combines my farm experience with law and policy,” said Kleven, who grew up on a sugarbeet, soybean and corn farm in west-central Minnesota and earned his law degree in 1992. “I help pass good bills and stop bad ones.”
continued on page 10
A voice for wheat farmers
Love it or hate it, Minnesota wheat growers should care about ag policy.
“Farmers should care because the policies impact their farms,” said Kleven, who has been MAWG’s lobbyist for 31 years. “Obviously, weather impacts the farm but there’s nothing you can do about that. And although you have a marketing plan to do your best, there’s generally nothing you can do about prices. Ag policy is something you can do something about.”
Without farmer advocacy, crop insurance would be nonexistent. As persistent gamblers, farmers know that when they plant their crop each spring, five minutes – or less – of Mother Nature’s wrath can wipe out their entire crop, sometimes just mere days before harvest.
Established in 1938 to help agriculture recover from the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) is a critical tool for producers. From 2000 to 2022, FCIP offered financial and administrative support for 134 unique agricultural commodities, covering an average of 293 million acres annually.
“Minnesota wheat growers –and producers across the country – depend on crop insurance to alleviate a portion of their loss when factors out of their control ruin their crop,” MAWG Executive Director Brian Sorenson said. “That’s why MAWG’s membership in the National Association of Wheat Growers is critical. They are our voice in Washington, D.C., when national policy is being set.”
While ag policy can supplement a grower’s operation when a crisis arises or to encourage environmental practices, ag policy can also strip vital tools from producers. In fact, more often than not, MAWG is playing legislative defense, not offense.
“We have all kinds of threats to our industry in St. Paul from both legislators and agency bureaucrats,” Kleven said.
For example, in 2019, Minnesota’s
Groundwater Protection Rule went into effect, which minimizes potential nitrogen fertilizer sources of nitrate pollution to the state’s groundwater and drinking water. The rule restricts the application of nitrogen fertilizer on cropland in the fall or frozen soils in vulnerable groundwater areas, which is defined as an area where nitrate can move easily through soil and into groundwater, contaminating drinking water sources.
However, there are exclusions to the rule, including a climate exemption which applies mainly to counties in northwest Minnesota, the state’s primary wheat growing region. Based on precipitation and evapotranspiration rates and a short planting season, counties in this region have a low nitrate leaching potential. But without hefty lobbying from MAWG and other state commodity groups, this critical exemption would’ve never happened.
“When legislation was trying to pass the nitrogen fertilizer rule, MAWG lobbied to base the rule on science,” said Leiser, who farms near Fertile. “So, northwest Minnesota was exempt from the rule because our soil types aren’t prone to leaching.”
Sometimes, policies detrimental to agriculture come out of left field. Just because a law isn’t categorized as “agricultural” doesn’t mean that it won’t impact producers. A recent example of this scenario is the Paid Family and Medical Leave Law, which published its final rules on June 16 and will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Despite the best efforts of MAWG and other commodity groups, there are no agricultural exemptions to the rule.
“The Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, which was passed in 2023, has no farm exemptions – all employers are subject to it,” Kleven said. “Our growers are going to have to pay into that fund. People can use it to take several weeks off from work, like staying home with a new baby. But farm workers generally work on the farm to earn hours and
do the work - they don’t sign up with a farmer and then take six weeks off to be home with a newborn. Nevertheless, every farmer in the state who has at least one employee will be paying these added costs regardless of whether his or her employees ever use it.”
At the table, not on the menu
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” isn’t a catchphrase that only applies to sports – it applies to agriculture lobbying, too. MAWG frequently joins forces with other agriculture lobbying groups in the state, presenting a united front. Because of their vigilance, not all proposed legislation sees the light of day, getting shut down before it has the chance to concern producers.
The best offense is a good defense.
“The ag lobby team stops a lot of things that people don’t even know about by talking to legislators and working together,” Kleven said.
When growers stop to think about it, agriculture without lobbying from farm groups would be unrecognizable – and likely unprofitable.
“I think probably my favorite part is stopping the bad things from happening and burdening our members who are just trying to earn their living,” Kleven said. “Because if you erased the ag lobby team from all the various agriculture groups, we would have a very different looking agriculture state here.”
Farmers know how to farm. For many, it’s what they’ve done their entire life. The elected officials making decisions for farmers don’t know what they don’t know, which is why it’s critical that MAWG is Minnesota wheat producers’ voice at the legislative table.
“Many of the people making these policies don’t even know what corn, soybeans and wheat look like, let alone how they’re grown,” Leiser said. “And then they’re trying to dictate to us that they know better than us how to grow it. Without ag advocacy groups explaining farming to them, we’re just at their mercy.”
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By Mark Askelson
Back Row: Peter Hvidsten, Glenn Hjelle, Scott Lee, Dalton Harris, Jeff Larson & Mark Jossund
Front Row: Rhonda K. Larson, Sydney Balstad & Mikayla Tabert
Learning curve
MWRPC sprouts three new directors
As another growing season nears its end, a bushel of young farmer leaders are growing into new roles with the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC). This summer, MWRPC welcomed Sydney Balstad, Dalton Harris and Jeff Larson to the board after their fellow farmers elected them in spring 2025.
“We’re really excited to have three great new people on the board, and I’m looking forward to having some fresh opinions as well,” said Mark Jossund, chair of MWRPC. “I think all three are going to be an excellent asset to the board.”
But bringing on three new board members, who may not be strangers to the world of wheat but are relative newcomers to sitting on a checkoff board, does come with some challenges. Jossund is confident it won’t be long before they’re up to speed.
“Their families have been involved so they understand the wheat checkoff quite a bit and how it works,” he said, “but there’s always a little learning curve getting to know the rest of us and what’s going on, but I think each of them will fit in pretty well.”
So far, so smooth
For Sydney Balstad, who farms with her dad and two uncles near Fosston, the biggest hurdle has been learning the alphabet soup of acronyms and organizations that the wheat checkoff works with. Luckily, her colleagues helped show her the ropes.
“The first meeting was a bit of a shock, especially with the terminology, just trying to follow along with everything and all the different organizations that Wheat intertwines with,” Balstad said. “The veterans of the group were great in slowing down and explaining everything as they went.”
Balstad’s big interest in the board comes in the form of research. At the most recent board meeting, she learned of an upcoming research day at the University of Minnesota Crookston, which she was eager to attend on behalf of MWRPC to learn about the latest in wheat research.
“I learned a lot about cover crops and the push for that especially with sugarbeets, which is a common rotation for wheat, and how interseeding with other crops can work,” she said. “It’s also very exciting to learn more about the new varieties that the U of M and NDSU are researching and coming up with.”
While it may have been easy to seem out of place being the “new guy” at the first meeting in June, Jeffrey Larson added that the MN Wheat staff and board members did a great job of making them feel right at home.
“I’m impressed with how smoothly everything ran, and it’s been fun working with Brian [Sorenson] and the rest of the crew,” he said. “I feel comfortable with the group, and I know they’ll do a great job keeping us up to snuff with everything as we go.”
Safety in numbers
Larson farms on the northern end of the Red River Valley between East Grand Forks and Warren. He first became interested in getting more involved with Minnesota Wheat after joining the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers on a bus trip to the state capital a few years back. One of his goals while on the checkoff board is to support research on pests and other agronomic challenges, along with growing the market for wheat.
“I think one of the biggest concerns is the price outlook for wheat and how we can strengthen the value of our crop,” Larson said. “It’s a worldwide commodity and there’s a strong surplus, so we need to figure out how to promote our U.S. hard red spring wheat and convince other countries and users that it may cost a premium, but they’re getting the best quality.”
From Dalton Harris’s perspective, his most recent venture into leadership prior to MWRPC came when he was president of the Ada-Borup FFA in high school. Following
college and a brief stint teaching, he now has spent a handful of years farming full time with his father. He ran for one of the open Council seats as a way to learn more and be more involved in an industry that he is very passionate about.
“I’m excited to get involved with farming beyond just sitting in a tractor, whether that’s helping navigate the checkoff budget or supporting research,” said Harris, who farms near Georgetown. “The leaders of the board, like Mark Jossund, who farms just down the road from me, have been great in guiding us so far.”
All three of the new board members cited an interest in supporting new research when running for the MWRPC, which the board chair notes is fitting considering it’s one of the main priorities for the rest of the board as well.
“Our biggest challenge right now is restructuring our OnFarm Research program, which we’re looking at partnering with North Dakota State University,” said Jossund. “We’re not going to go at it alone anymore, so that’s one of our big focuses that’s taking quite a bit of time, but it’s worth it.”
By Deanna Kanne
A Grain of Knowledge
Accelerated Breeding for Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Spring Wheat
The Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council funds many different research projects relating to wheat issues. One longstanding project has been working on scab resistance breeding, which started in 1995 in partnership with the South Dakota Wheat Commission.
“At the time, they teamed up to provide some funds for the SDSU spring wheat breeding program to work with scab resistance breeding work, so this is really a continuation of that 30 years later,” said Karl Glover, principal investigator for the study, which was recently renewed in December 2024 for another three years.
In Glover’s field, patience is a virtue.
“Plant breeding is a long-term commitment, so it’s just kind of something that if the hope is to create resistant material and keep them coming through the programs and available for producers, then it’s just kind of a requirement that the program continue to cooperate year to year,” Glover said.
The disease
Fusarium head blight is an economically important wheat disease. Also known as scab, it can cause devastating yield loss and pose a risk to both human and animal health.
Late summer is a prime time for diseases to impact the wheat crop. When conditions are right, i.e. high humidity, and there’s not a lot air movement and scab pressure, the disease is liable to
impact fields.
“If the weather conditions are proper, properly humid, and those sorts of things, and if there’s inoculum present, then odds are that the disease will not have too much difficulty taking hold,” Glover said.
What to do
While full resistance does not yet exist, moderately resistant varieties are currently available on the market. Combining that with a fungicide should help to battle the disease. Glover’s research is ongoing, continually looking for more resistant varieties of wheat.
“Any breeding program – whether it’s the Minnesota Wheat program or North Dakota or South Dakota – anybody that does this sort of work needs to maintain a program of operating,” Glover said. “We create new materials and populations to select for each year, and we need to know which of the parents that we cross with have the characteristics that we’re interested in, in this case the scab resistance. Then as the materials go through the breeding program, we want to be able to identify those that have good levels of resistance to use as parents so it’s kind of a cyclical program.”
Karl Glover is a professor in the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science at South Dakota State University. He can be reached at karl.glover@sdstate.edu.
By Sydney Harris
THE RIGHT STUFF
Precision technology is transforming agriculture
The year is 1892 and John Froelich just built the first gas engine that could move forwards and backwards. A maneuver that’s taken for granted today but was revolutionary at the time, the engine eventually earned the moniker “tractor” and transformed farming.
The transformations in agriculture technology didn’t end there. Long gone are the days of picking a point on the horizon and attempting to drive in a straight line.
Today, in 2025, tractors drive themselves, drones fly overhead and yield monitors give growers a play-byplay as a field is harvested. In the world
of precision agriculture, the sky isn’t the limit and Froelich would be unlikely to recognize the farming landscape 133 years after his invention.
“Precision agriculture is all about site-specific management,” said Bryan Runck, a senior research scientist at the University of Minnesota’s GEMS Informatics Center. “It’s most associated with the four “Rs” –right place, right source, right time and right rate.”
While precision agriculture has made farming more convenient – not including sitting around waiting for software updates, of course – many
advances were made out of necessity. Between environmental changes, pesticide resistance, labor shortages and fewer acres available for farmland, precision agriculture is the answer.
“We can grow a crop much more precisely by addressing the needs of the different parts of the field in a variable rate fashion,” said Paulo Flores, a professor at North Dakota State University in the Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering. “Basically, precision agriculture allows us to measure parts of the field where we need more or less of something, such as nitrogen,
and the equipment has such a level of technology that allows us to deliver the right amount to the right place across the field.”
Every year, CropLife magazine and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agronomy at Purdue University conducts a survey titled, “Precision Agriculture Dealership Survey,” of crop input dealers about precision agriculture technologies. The longest-running, continuous survey of precision farming practices in the world, the data collected offers a unique insight into the trends adopted by producers across the Midwest.
Unsurprisingly, according to the 2025 survey, the most widely adopted precision technology was GPS guidance with automatic control with dealers reporting that 74 percent of the acres in their market areas utilize the technology. Not only does autosteer save producers money, it increases accuracy and reduces operator fatigue.
“There was a really big unlock once relatively high-precision GPS became publicly available,” said Runck, who grew up on a conventional corn and soybean farm near Lamberton, Minn. “I remember on our farm, and I think this is reflective of a lot of the early adopters of GPS, was all of a sudden you could map all your field boundaries easily and inexpensively because you could get on a global coordinate
reference system as opposed to just a local coordinate reference system that existed within the field. If we didn’t have commercial, high-precision GPS, a lot of the ease-of-use things that farmers have come to expect wouldn’t be possible.”
Building efficiencies
For farmers, GPS might be more precious than gold. Not only does it allow a tractor to steer itself, but it has also made way for several innovations that are now highly valuable to growers like yield monitors and precision soil sampling. The 2025 Precision Agriculture Dealership Survey reported that yield monitors were the second most adopted technology but made sure to mention that just because a farmer has a yield monitor, doesn’t necessarily mean that the farmer is creating a yield map.
“The question that I always have is how much of technology adoption is driven by turnover in equipment because a lot of the precision technology is baked into equipment,” said Runck.
While some technologies have been around for several years, researchers are constantly working on not only improving existing technologies but also developing new tools that will help producers. Utilizing drones is one of the technologies that’s on the rise, and Flores
is exploring two agriculture functions for the unmanned aerial vehicle.
“The two main things that I focus on are high-throughput phenotyping and site-specific weed control,” Flores said. Growers rely on variety development to improve yield and combat disease, among others, which is far from a quick process with commercialization taking several years. To aid plant breeders, Flores is working to develop a system to help them collect basic data from their plots.
“Plant breeders have hundreds, if not thousands, of small plots across the state and they go around making measurements on those plots which takes a lot of time,” Flores said. “What we’re trying to do is use drone imagery to collect data that would be a proxy for the measurements they take in the field because they can spend four to eight hours taking measurements in the field, but we can fly the same field in half an hour. We’re trying to help build efficiencies into their breeding program.”
Drones can be used beyond research purposes and have proven useful in onfarm applications, too.
“We’re looking at using drone imagery to map the weeds in the field and then create a prescription map that is pushed to a commercial size sprayer,” Flores said. “The idea is to basically shut the nozzles off on the sprayer continued on page 18
where there aren’t weeds in the field.”
Using drone imagery to spray only the parts of a field that need to be sprayed will save producers precious dollars and cents.
“I don’t care about identifying the weed species, we are more interested in identifying the crop and deleting the crop from the imagery,” Flores said. “And the other thing we try to do is not spray every single individual weed, but we create a grid of cells that’s about five feet by 10 feet, and every time there is at least one weed in that cell, that cell gets sprayed. If the cell doesn’t have any weeds, they don’t get sprayed.”
State of the art
Artificial intelligence is another hot topic in not only agriculture, but virtually every industry in the global economy
“The research community is going to be going heavy down the AI front and that’s because the federal government is going to continue to invest in that,” Runck said.
As AI applications are developed and
fine-tuned for the agriculture industry, the idea is that the technology will help growers make critical decisions. For example, farmers are highly dependent on the weather and as AI technology continues to improve weather forecasting, farmers will be able to make more informed decisions.
“We should be seeing state of the art weather forecasting,” Runck said. “We’re already seeing state of the art weather forecasting and that has a huge impact on agriculture because if we can get to a reliable, like 30- or 60-day forecast, that’s a complete game changer.”
While rapidly advancing agriculture technology seems perfect in theory, there are still barriers before the latest and greatest technology is widely adopted. Farm income stands out as the biggest barrier, with over 50 percent of dealers in the Purdue survey agreeing or strongly agreeing. According to the survey, the second biggest issue is the cost of precision agriculture outweighing the benefits. Long story short, farmers need to be
able to afford the technology and see the return on investment.
“Ultimately, the more you buy into precision ag systems, the more compounding beneficial effects,” Runck said.
Though there is still a lot of work to be done, the future of precision agriculture is bright.
“In the future, from a practical standpoint, I hope the technology gets easier to use and that there aren’t a lot of the same pain points that we feel right now in terms of integrating across platforms and vendors,” Runck said.
Chances are that in 133 years, today’s farmers won’t recognize the technology used in fields across the country. In fact, today’s farmers might hardly recognize the advances that will be made in the next decade. But nevertheless, agriculture technology advancements remain critical to feeding and fueling the world, and public and private research institutes will continue exploring the most effective methods to integrate technologies on the farm.
BY BRIAN HEFTY
YOU WANT MORE TIME...
IT’S THE ONE THING YOU CAN’T BUY, RIGHT? NOW YOU CAN.
You want higher corn yields and less lodging, and you want your soybean yields to be better, as well.
HERE’S HOW HEFTY BRAND 40 SERIES CORN CAN HELP YOU WITH ALL THIS – BUT FIRST, THE BIG QUESTION.
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN HEFTY’S HAVE “40-DEGREE CORN” AND BIGGER SEED COMPANIES DON’T?
Look back in history at almost any great innovation... These things often come from small companies before they are widely adopted, so we expect someday many seed providers will have 40 Series hybrids in their lineups, but for now, they don’t. Here are the three keys to 40 Series Corn, the only corn we know of in the world that is recommended for planting in 40-degree soil temps.
HEFTY COMPLETE SEED TREATMENT.
We’ve been working with biologicals/Naturals in seed treatments for about two decades. What we’ve discovered is a package that speeds emergence and boosts early nutrition, even in super-cold soils.
HIGHER COLD GERMINATION SCORES.
A 60% or a 70% cold germ doesn’t work. Just because the warm germination score on the tag says 95%, that does not mean that corn will grow in cold soil. With 40 Series Corn, you can count on a high cold germination rate.
GREAT GENETICS.
Starting with a great pedigree is always essential for cold soil emergence.
LET’S GO BACK TO MY OPENING STATEMENTS AND HOW 40 SERIES CAN HELP.
It basically comes down to planting earlier. My Dad would often talk about how you should “focus on the end date rather than your start date.” For example, if I want to be done planting my soybeans by May 1, I probably need to be done planting my corn by April 25 at the very latest, which basically means I’ve got to start April 10, because we have a lot of corn acres and we commonly have a few rain days in there. Here’s some of the good news with that.
WHEN YOU START PLANTING EARLIER, YOUR CORN IS SHORTER. That means less lodging, less greensnap, and less plant material you have to run through your combine, so reduced wear and tear and fewer breakdowns.
EARLIER PLANTING USUALLY MEANS HIGHER YIELDS, AS WELL. On our farm, April planting typically boosts yield by 20 to 50 bushels over May planting.
BEST OF ALL, WHEN YOU PLANT 40 SERIES CORN AND START EARLIER, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE MORE TIME FOR EVERY OTHER JOB YOU HAVE TO DO ON THE FARM. Think about how that will reduce your stress. Think about the higher yields you’ll get in soybeans from planting earlier. Think about the better weed control you’ll achieve by spraying earlier.
HEFTY BRAND 40 SERIES CORN CAN HELP TRANSFORM YOUR OPERATION, AND WE’RE EXCITED TO OFFER IT IN EVEN GREATER QUANTITIES IN 2026!
By Mark Askelson
Tour takeaways
NDGGA gives EPA first-hand farm life experience during annual E-tour
Despite their state’s unique geography and diverse conditions, North Dakota farmers continue to strive to do what’s best for the environment and their farm operations. Unfortunately, the folks at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA don’t always get a chance to see that while at their regional and federal offices. The North Dakota Grain Growers Association (NDGGA), however, gives federal officials that opportunity through its annual E-tour, which has highlighted the state’s agricultural practices and commitment to environmental stewardship for the past 30 years.
“The participants from the EPA on this year’s E-tour were the ones who oversee the labeling on our pesticides, fungicides and herbicides that we use on our farms, so the purpose of this event is just to show them what production agriculture is like,” said NDGGA President Ryan Ellis. “It allows them to see what goes into farming for us and the thought process we have.”
This year’s NDGGA E-tour – with the “E” being short for environment – took place June 23-27, spending a majority of the time in the eastern third of the state. It started with an airplane ride with North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring to the Devils Lake area where participants caught a bird’s eye view of the infamous Prairie Pothole
Region. The next day they toured the North Dakota Mill and Elevator in Grand Forks to learn more about the flour making process, visited the farm of NDGGA Director Barry Kingsberry near Grafton and then were off to Hoople, where they toured a local elevator and agronomic facility.
“In Hoople they were able to get a grasp on the size and scope of what they’re involved with and the amount of chemicals, nutrients and fertilizer that go through that facility,” said Nick Sinner, NDGGA executive director. “But more importantly, the safety that is used on their daily operations when working with those chemicals and fertilizer.”
Constructive conversations
Even though the event was hosted by NDGGA, the E-tour also made sure to highlight other major commodity industries in the region as well. The tour made a stop at a potato-cleaning facility and one of the American Crystal sugar beet processing facilities.
“We had some great discussions with the folks at American Crystal about the Endangered Species Act, and we also stopped by a sugar beet farming operation north of Grand Forks where the discussion then focused on drain tile, spraying and no-till,” Sinner said.
The group later traveled to Luverne, N.D., to the farm of another NDGGA Director, Casey Burchill, which about a week prior was hit hard by damaging winds and storms. Although witnessing the severity of the storms that can occur in the Great Plains states wasn’t part of the initial plan, it did provide some additional perspective of the roles that Mother Nature plays in the outcome of the crop.
“Casey had some bins damaged and there was a row of power lines that were snapped like they were matchsticks, so they got a better understanding of the power of these storms that our farmers have to deal with,” Sinner said. “This was pure coincidence, but frankly we felt that they should see that too.”
In addition to viewing the storm damage, the E-tour participants had the opportunity to see some of the technology being used on the farm, such as the various spray nozzles used to prevent drift, direct injection systems to limit excess, automatic shutoffs and GPS capabilities on their equipment. Sinner says it was eye opening for the folks from the EPA to view those conservation practices in action.
“They heard from our board of directors who are as concerned about drift as anybody, and they want to be
safe out there and don’t want to put excessive chemical on their fields,” said Sinner. “They’re not doing it just to spend money. They follow the label, which is very important, and they don’t put any more on than they absolutely need to.”
While the E-tour provided for a few long days spent traveling the state in a bus, those bus rides created a great opportunity for all involved to better get to know each other and continue the agriculture conversation.
“My favorite part each year are the bus rides because as we’re traveling along, we continue the conversations about what it is we just saw or what’s going on in a field as we’re passing by,” Ellis said. “By the end of the trip we all get along pretty well because we’ve spent a long time together.”
Overall, Sinner was very pleased with how the E-tour went as well, which was his very first since becoming NDGGA executive director this spring. Judging by reactions from their guests at the EPA and USDA, he believes it was also a positive experience for them.
“Their feedback shows that they learned quite a bit, which was the whole purpose of the tour,” Sinner said. “Now our next step is how can we continue to build this relationship well into the future.”
The E-tour has been an annual event in North Dakota for over 30 years.
By Mark Askelson
Making change
Nick Sinner brings experience and familiarity to NDGGA
When you have an office of one, you need a well-rounded, well-established individual to put boots on the ground and lead the way. The North Dakota Grain Growers Association (NDGGA) has found that person in their new executive director, Nick Sinner. Sinner has deep roots in North Dakota agriculture and knows his way around the capitol building in Bismarck.
“I grew up in agriculture on a farm near Casselton and continued farming after college with my brother, dad and uncle for about 20 years before I decided to try something different,” said Sinner, who began his role with NDGGA in March.
His ‘something different’ was going to work on behalf of farmers in several different leadership roles. His first involvement was as administrator with the North Dakota Barley Council. From there, he spent nearly a decade as the executive director with the Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers, advocating for sugar beet farmers on the nation’s largest agricultural political action committee. Sinner then went on to lead the South Dakota-Minnesota Equipment Dealers Association as CEO. He most recently served as program manager of the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo,
N.D., as well as a brief stint with The Grand Farm in Horace before joining NDGGA.
With his roots in production agriculture, including both farming and leadership, Sinner notes that he was excited when he first learned about the opportunity to work for NDGGA and be a voice for North Dakota’s wheat and barley growers.
“I’ve always felt confident in my ability to make change, to take that knowledge that I have and to be able to tell a story and to represent a group a people at the state legislature or in D.C.,” said Sinner. “That’s what really drew me here to the North Dakota Grain Growers.”
For the NDGGA board of directors, Sinner’s wealth of experience made him a great candidate to oversee the dayto-day operations of the organization.
“We’re really excited to have Nick onboard with us and he’s already hit the ground running,” said Ryan Ellis, NDGGA president. “He has a lot of experience in this type of role, and he’s been a really good fit for us.”
Other duties for Sinner include managing strategic initiatives, advocating on behalf of North Dakota’s grain growers at the state and federal level and enhancing
communication and outreach efforts to members and the agricultural community. The transition in working with a new board of directors has also gone well for Sinner, as he was familiar with many of the names and the organization in general.
“I knew quite of few of the board members and quite a few of the past board members and leadership, so I knew what they were about and how well they worked,” Sinner said.
On tour
One of Sinner’s first duties as the executive director was to plan and organize the NDGGA’s annual environmental tour at the end of June, or E-tour, aimed at highlighting agricultural practices and environmental stewardship across the state. He also jumped right in spending time at the state Capitol, roaming the halls and getting reacquainted with legislators towards the end of this year’s session.
“It was a little bit of taking a drink from a fire hose to start, but I’ve been welcomed in from the group and I saw a lot of old friends out there,” Sinner said. “As quickly as I could I tried to learn the issues and the players out there, but it’s been great ever since.”
One of the main challenges and opportunities that Sinner has ahead of him is in the realm of market development and
PLANT
clearing the hurdles to make North Dakota wheat and barley available to more consumers across the globe, given the state’s heavy reliance on ag exports.
“If there are things that we can do or trade agreements that we can help move forward that are going to streamline the efforts of people to get wheat and barley out of this country, we’re there to help them,” he said.
According to Sinner, one aspect that’s not helping them in their quest for market development is the ongoing tariff situation.
“In production agriculture in the United States, we need to find a market outside of our border, and so any hinderance to that is always a concern for us,” he said.
Founded in 1967 as the North Dakota Wheat Producers, NDGGA was established by a group of farmers and agricultural leaders from across the state. Today, NDGGA continues to support its members through education, leadership, proactive advocacy and representation –working to enhance profitability and promote value-added opportunities.
Sinner says he’s looking forward to help support NDGGA’s nearly half-century mission.
“I’m happy to try and do the best I can for the organization,” he said.
By Bailey Grubish
A GREAT 38 Minnesota
Wheat finds value in supporting MN Ag in the Classroom across nearly four decades
The Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC) is a longtime supporter of Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) with 38 years of funding.
For some perspective: MAITC celebrates its 40-year anniversary in 2026, thanks to partnerships from farm groups like MWRPC.
“As a board, we’re always working for a better future for our growers through research and promotion,” MWRPC Chair Mark Jossund said.
MAITC is a public/private partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Together, these organizations work to create the pieces necessary to serve the mission of increasing agricultural literacy through kindergarten-12 grade education with programming. The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. Foundation was founded to support MAITC through securing and managing funds for the program.
“Having content experts is really
expertise. It’s a lot easier to have somebody that knows what we do, that supports our work, and we already have a relationship with who we can call to help us go deeper with that particular study.”
As part of building MAITC’s network, resources and awareness, representatives of the organization attend the Prairie Grains Conference, an annual event co-hosted by the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers.
say thank you to those who support us,” Ward said of the conference. “The Prairie Grains Conference is unique in its time of year and location, so it gives us an opportunity to really connect with industry professionals and our investors, current and future in the northwestern part of Minnesota.”
A one-stop shop for Minnesota ag resources
MAITC’s website offers an array of learning tools and resources for educators.
Opening the Minnesota. agclassroom.org website, moving the mouse to hover over the educator center and scrolling down to the Curriculum Matrix tab reveals an array of learning options on agriculture.
The matrix allows the visitor to search by academic standards, grade level or even topics.
Typing in “wheat” alone shows 64 options for lessons, videos, games and books that teach about the
parts of a wheat plant and growing the grain, how it’s turned into flour and even how it’s used in various foods.
“It’s amazing, and it is the most amazing collection of rabbit holes to jump into that will leave you inspired,” Ward said of the Curriculum Matrix. “So, whether you’re doing a community event or you’re doing an in-service for teachers in your school district, there’s really something for everyone there.”
With supporters like MWRPC, the Agriculture in the Classroom team provides online support as well as experiences.
MAITC offers traveling workshops, farm camps, summer teacher tours, professional development and virtual field trips to list a few activities for educators and students.
“Providing experiences for educators, like summer teacher tours, to take those teachers out into fields and into ag industries so they themselves can learn about agriculture and learn about careers in agriculture is another piece of what we do here,” Ward said. “We need to help educators see that there’s a place for their students working in agriculture tomorrow.”
MAITC is currently impacting 88% of Minnesota’s public-school districts. Ward said reaching this volume of school districts is due to the support from individuals, organizations, industry professionals/groups and investors.
“There are all kinds of little pieces and parts that make it a big success,” Ward said. “As in most organizations, the big piece for us is to impact students and to impact the most students. We train teachers, we train educators - that’s really where our work is, and we focus on nonagriculture teachers.”
Milestones for a cornerstone of Minnesota agriculture
In 2026, Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom celebrates 40 years. 40 years of education. 40 years of impact. 40 years of service. 40 years. At the virtual annual meeting on Sept. 24, there are two big announcements coming that as Ward put it is “worth shouting from the mountains.” One of the announcements is about the new strategic plan and the four main goals. Each quarter of fiscal year 2026 will highlight one of the new goals. Learn more about the annual meeting and the organization on the MAITC website.
2025 MN Spring Wheat Variet ies
2025 MN Spring Wheat Variet ies
Thank you to all Minnesota wheat producers who responded to the wheat variety survey. The results of this survey help guide the UMN spring wheat breeder, Jim Anderson, in developing suitable varieties for production in Minnesota.
The results of the survey depict what varieties are most important to Minnesota’s wheat growers.
Survey Findings:
• MN-Rothsay was the most popular variety statewide, with 28% of the acreage planted in 2025.
• Second most popular was WB9590 with 19% of the state's acreage.
• Third on the list was MN-Torgy at 10%, followed by SY Valda at 7% and TCG-Zelda at 5%.
• In the northern growing region of the state, MN-Rothsay was the most popular variety with 27%.
• MN-Rothsay again took the lead and was the most popular variety in the central growing region, with 35% of the acres planted.
• In the southern region, MN-Torgy was first on the list at 36% acres planted.
Surveyed: 53,5477
Surveyed: 3,760
By Sydney Harris
A MONTANA ‘FAMILY REUNION’
MGGA marking 70th year of Annual Convention & Trade Show
Time waits for no one, and before Montana grain growers know it, the Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) Annual Convention & Trade Show will be knocking on the front door.
And this year, it’s sure to be a December to remember.
“The convention is a little bit of everything under one roof,” said Alison Vergeront, MGGA executive vice president. “This year’s slogan is ‘Maximizing growth, grain and advocacy’ and, as always, we’re excited to welcome everyone to the show.”
Happening Dec. 2-3, 2025, at the Pacific Steel & Recycling Arena in Great Falls, the convention is marking 70 years of bringing producers and industry partners together for two days chock-full of learning and networking.
“Producers can find support and encouragement from not only their neighbors but farmers across the state,” Vergeront said. “It’s a good opportunity to connect with producers and industry partners because everybody is under one roof.”
And nothing brings farmers together like the weather. That’s why Eric Snodgrass, an atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions who develops predictive, analytical software solutions to manage weather risk for global production agriculture, is kicking off the festivities.
“Eric Snodgrass has been our MVP for all things weather,” Vergeront said. “He’s a trusted friend that we’ve worked with over the years and we’re thrilled to have him back.”
Many of the major factors that affect a farmer’s profitability are out of a farmer’s control, including the weather. It can be frustrating to say the least, but the MGGA Annual Convention & Trade Show is a place for producers to brainstorm ideas to alleviate a portion of the burden.
“Weather has been such a challenge in Montana and we’re going into our fifth year of drought,” Vergeront said. “Some guys are really having to start thinking outside the box, whether that be inputs, chemical, seed, different treatment, etc.”
Thinking global
The convention will also feature Jacob Shapiro, a geopolitical analyst. Holding a master’s degree with distinction from Oxford and a bachelor’s degree in Near Eastern studies from Cornell, Shapiro is a global thought leader in geopolitics and its impact on everything from global markets to supply chains. He’s also the director of research at The Bespoke Group, a U.S.-based wealth strategy firm that applies generational thinking to the preservation and growth of generational wealth for families around the world.
“We’ve been working with Jacob Shapiro off and on for four years and we really respect his insights and knowledge,” Vergeront said. “I think initially, when we first had him at the convention, people were like, ‘Geopolitical? What do I care about that?’ kind of thing. But over time, because of the political times we’re in and the trade climate and economic status we’re in as a country and industry, it’s just been very fitting.”
Talking all things marketing, Prairie Grains columnist Betsy Jensen is making the trek from her farm near Stephen, Minn., to guide producers toward developing a sound marketing plan.
“We’re thrilled to have Betsy Jensen,” Vergeront said. “Our current MGGA vice president, Steve Sheffels, has been the one putting the agenda together, so these speakers are pretty personal to him. For example, he has been following Betsy’s marketing information for years.”
That’s just the tip of the iceberg of what growers can expect at this year’s MGGA Annual Convention & Trade Show. The convention will also highlight research and market updates, legislative wins, mental health and MGGA’s policy resolution meeting. But above all, it’s where producers and industry stakeholders converse.
“I love all of it,” Vergeront said. “It has a typical, like family reunion feeling, just everyone gathered together.”
Opening doors
U.S. wheat farmers win when trade policy makes room for market development
At its core, the trade policy work conducted by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is about leveling the playing field for U.S. wheat farmers through identifying and resolving barriers that reduce an overseas customer’s ability to buy or import wheat. Tariffs, phytosanitary regulations and other burdensome, non-tariff barriers can slam the door shut on sales of U.S. wheat into a market, even when prices are competitive and quality is superior.
But when these obstacles are removed, USW’s international staff can do what they do best – demonstrate why and how U.S. wheat fits into a country’s needs to cultivate demand that directly benefits producers. This combination of trade policy and market development work were critical to establishing new market access in two key Southeast Asian countries in summer 2025: Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Unlocking market access in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is historically a “swing” buyer of U.S. wheat when prices are competitive with wheat purchasing, ranging from nothing to the most recent high of 450,000 metric tons (MT) (16.5 million bushels) in the 2019/20 marketing year. The most recent significant purchase was approximately 150,000 MT (5.51 million bushels) of U.S. hard red spring (HRS) wheat in 2023/24.
USW has worked to even out these sales to create a more consistent market, working with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to assess the market in 2023 and then showcase how the quality of U.S. wheat classes meet the needs for specific Bangladesh wheat foods. These market development activities laid crucial groundwork in the country, but U.S. wheat farmers
still needed a foot in the door. Wheat buyers in Bangladesh remained highly price sensitive, even after additional trade servicing activities revealed that flour mills preferred the quality of U.S. wheat above competing supplies.
That opening came in July 2025, when the Government of Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USW. Under the agreement, the Bangladesh government committed to purchasing 700,000 MT (25.7 million bushels) of U.S. wheat annually for the next five years. The agreement provides an opportunity to demonstrate on a large scale how U.S. farmers can reliably meet the country’s need for highquality milling wheat.
Persistence pays off in removing non-tariff barriers in Indonesia
Indonesia is also a highly competitive and growing market, and wheat imports into the country have to meet strict import requirements. While shipments of U.S. wheat have always met these requirements, the Indonesian government imposed new regulations in October 2023 that required fumigation of every load of U.S. wheat at use rates that were almost two times the recommended label rates. The new regulation added export cost and created uncertainty among Indonesian flour millers and U.S. wheat merchandisers alike.
USW staff coordinated with USDA-FAS and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to work with their counterparts in the Indonesian government and Indonesia Quarantine Agency (IQA). The biggest breakthrough came after an intensive visit by an IQA delegation to the U.S. in December 2024, when regulators could see firsthand how the U.S. grain
handling and export systems maintain the safety and quality of the U.S. wheat supply.
As a direct result of what Indonesian regulators learned on that trip and continued high-level communications, the IQA agreed to a specific import protocol for U.S. wheat, including dropping the mandatory, high-rate fumigation. The Indonesian government implemented these changes for U.S. exporters on June 15, 2025.
The coordination paved the way for a subsequent trade policy success – the signing of a MOU between USW and APTINDO, Indonesia’s flour milling association, on July 7, 2025. Under this agreement, APTINDO committed to doubling its annual purchases of U.S. wheat to 1 million MT (36.7 million bushels) each year for the next five years. This MOU demonstrates a profound trust in U.S. wheat, built on the foundation of resolved trade issues and further bolstered by USW’s planned technical support and capacity building that has already resulted in a year-over-year increase in commercial sales.
More market development ahead
The trade policy successes in Bangladesh and Indonesia have clear wins for U.S. wheat farmers. But make no mistake, these were hardwon achievements requiring years of time, energy and resources. Both markets demonstrate that trade policy and market development work must occur in tandem to secure successful sales. The good news for U.S. farmers? The result is greater market access and more consistent demand for their high-quality wheat.
To learn more about U.S. Wheat Associates, visit uswheat.org or its Facebook pages.
Joe Sowers, USW regional vice president for South and Southeast Asia, signs the MOU with the Government of Bangladesh (represented by Md Abul Hasanath Humayun Kabir, Director General of the Directorate General of Food).
ACROSS THE PRAIRIE
By Prairie Grains Magazine staff
North Dakota farmer takes helm of U.S. Wheat board
During the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) summer board meeting on July 17, in Boise, Idaho, North Dakota wheat farmer Jim Pellman took the gavel as chairman of the organization’s board of directors.
“Jim brings a broad skill set in agriculture and wheat production to the USW officer team,” said USW President and CEO Mike Spier. “Jim deeply believes in the mission of USW to build export demand in a very competitive global market. We look forward to his continued contributions to our work that benefits wheat farmers in his home state of North Dakota and beyond.”
Pellman and his wife grow wheat, barley, canola, corn and soybeans on the farm they started in 1990 near McClusky, N.D. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University, Pellman worked as an ag lender and county supervisor with Farmers Home Administration and then several years as a community banker. Pellman represents Sheridan County on the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
“Over the last year as vice chairman, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and meet USW staff in a few of our 13 foreign offices, and what I have learned is that the insight they provide to our customers and the technical services that they provide are invaluable,” said Pellman. “In my role as chairman, I plan to meet more of our customers to emphasize the importance U.S. farmers put on raising quality wheat.”
The full slate of officers for USW’s 2025-26 fiscal year was elected at the winter board meeting on Jan. 15 in Washington, D.C. In addition to Pellman, Gary Millershaski of Lakin, Kan., moved up in the officer rotation to vice chairman and Clark Hamilton of Ririe, Idaho, moved to the past chair position. Mike Carstensen of Almira, Wash., was newly elected as secretarytreasurer. The officers all started their official terms on July 17 following installation.
The North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) appointed Jim Peterson as administrator of the Commission at its July 1 board meeting. Peterson has been with the North Dakota Wheat Commission since 1991 and previously served as policy and marketing director. He succeeds Neal Fisher, who had been administrator since 1998 and on the staff of NDWC
North Dakota Wheat Commission appoints Peterson as administrator
since 1977. Fisher retired from NDWC on July 1, after announcing his plans to the board at an earlier date.
“Change is a natural part of any organization, and the board’s goal was for smooth transition,” NDWC Chairman Mark Birdsall said. “Peterson is certainly qualified to fill this role, based on his years of experience with the critical work of the North Dakota Wheat Commission on behalf of North Dakota wheat producers. He has had extensive involvement with all our activities and partner organizations through the years and has served in leadership positions in national organizations.”
Birdsall said that “Fisher will be missed in the wheat industry, not just in North Dakota, but within the U.S. and internationally. He has a great reputation and track record of accomplishments on behalf of our state’s wheat producers. We appreciate all that Neal has contributed to our success and wish him the best in his retirement.”
Anne Osborne named as National Wheat Foundation executive director
The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Osborne as executive director, effective July 1. Osborne has served as the Foundation’s project manager since January 2021, playing a key role in the expansion and success of its core programs.
Under Osborne’s leadership, the Foundation’s signature initiative – the National Wheat Yield Contest – has grown significantly. The contest now includes
over 30 industry partners and receives more than 500 entries annually across five categories. It has led the way in innovation with the introduction of a digital yield category and an enhanced focus on wheat quality, attracting collaboration from all sectors of the wheat value chain.
“Anne has consistently shown strategic leadership, creativity and a deep commitment to collaboration in her role with the Foundation. She is exceptionally wellsuited to guide the organization into the future. As the sole member of the National Wheat Foundation, NAWG relies heavily on the Foundation’s exceptional work in education, outreach and research,” said Pat Clements, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers.
A lifelong advocate for growers, Osborne brings extensive experience in agriculture. She has held leadership roles in several organizations including the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association and Ag in the Classroom. Osborne has also served on church boards, local school boards and worked directly with producers through roles at DuPont and as a sales agronomist in central North Dakota.
Gary Broyles, a Montana wheat farmer and chair of the National Wheat Foundation, added, “Appointing Anne ensures continuity in our programs and strengthens our ability to expand partnerships and continue impactful education, outreach and research. Her leadership will benefit the entire wheat industry.”
Minnesota Wheat Open Golf Scramble
Thumper Pond, Ottertail, MN
Thank you to all of the sponsors:
Diamond Sponsors:
• Purple Wave Auction
Platinum Sponsors:
• AgCountry Farm Credit Services
• Bayer CropScience • Dakota Access
• MIAX • Rural Community Insurance Services
• TCG Wheat
Gold Sponsor:
• Arthur Companies • Ellingson
• Forum Communications • Invision Ag
Silver Sponsor:
• Bremer Bank, a division of Old National-Warren
• Hansen-Mueller
• Minnesota Farmers Union
• Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Assn
Bronze Sponsors:
• FarmQA
And the winners are .....
