See HARTWIG on C2

FALL AG UPDATE
Jill
Sackett
by JUSTIN R. LESSMAN
Publisher
A handful of innovative
proposals for local on-farm
research projects will com-
pete against others from
around the region for a
share of $400,000 in grants.
The grant dollars are
available through the North
Central Region-Sustain-
able Agriculture Research
and Education Programs
Farmer Rancher Grant
Program. Applications for
the grant dollars are being
accepted now through 4
p.m. on Nov. 20.
Farmers and ranchers
in the 12-state north-cen-
tral region including
Minnesota are invited
to submit grant propos-
als to explore sustainable
agriculture solutions to
problems on the farm or
ranch. Proposals should
show how farmers and
ranchers plan to use their
own innovative ideas to ex-
plore sustainable agricul-
ture options and how they
will share project results.
Projects should emphasize
research or education and
demonstration.
Jill Sackett, extension
educator in ag production
systems and co-coordina-
tor for Minnesota NCR-
SARE, said a handful of
applications have already
been submitted by farmers
from Jackson County.
The grant programs are
competitive and applica-
tions come from 12 states,
Sackett said. Minnesota
tends to get a few every
year and I dont expect
this time to be any differ-
ent. New, innovative ideas
are key.
There are three types of
competitive grants, Sackett
said individual grants
($7,500 maximum), part-
ner grants for two farmers/
ranchers from separate
operations who are work-
ing together ($15,000 maxi-
mum) and group grants
for three or more farm-
ers/ranchers from sepa-
rate operations who are
working together ($22,500
maximum). Sackett said
NCR-SARE expects to
fund about 45 projects this
round.
NCR-SARE is accept-
ing online submissions.
Interested applicants can
find the call for proposals,
as well as useful infor-
mation for completing a
proposal, at www.north-
centralsare.org/Grants/
Types-of-Grants/Farmer-
Rancher-Grant-Program.
Potential applicants with
questions can contact Joan
Benjamin, associate region-
al coordinator and Farmer
Rancher Grant Program
coordinator, at benjaminj@
lincolnu.
edu or 800-
529-1342.
Applicants
should also
contact
Benjamin if
they need a
hard copy
or an email
version
of the call for proposals.
Sackett can be reached at
(507) 389-5541 or by email
at sacke032@umn.edu.
Local farmers seek research grant funds
Wayne
Hartwig
by MIKE JORDAN
Staff Writer
Welcome native Wayne
Hartwig is the new Cargill
plant manager for both the
Miloma plant near Heron
Lake and the Alpha plant.
Hartwig began as plant
manager on July 20.
I am in charge of the
day-to-day operations of
the plants, he said. But
our number-one responsi-
bility is to
see that the
plants are
run saf e-
ly that,
and making
sure our el-
evators
serve our
customers
needs with
the right personnel. Be-
yond that, there are things
like inventory control we
deal with.
Hartwig brings a lot of
experience to his new po-
sition, having worked in
the elevator business for
38 years 20 years with
Cargill and 18 years prior
to that at a private elevator
in Sherburn.
This is my 30
th
harvest
in the elevator business,
he said. The last 20 have
been with Cargill, first at
the Fairmont/Alpha plants
and then the Blue Earth/
Marne plants.
Hartwig said the future
looks bright for Cargill
companywide, as well as
locally at the facilities he
manages.
Thi s busi ness has
changed so much, but it is
visiting with the farmers
our customers espe-
cially at harvest that I re-
ally enjoy, he said. This
is a great time of year and,
even though we are very
busy, is a lot of fun. We
dont get the farmers in
here as much as we used
to during the year, but they
are all busy. When they do
come in, I like to visit with
them.
Hartwig is married. His
wife, Dee, works as a para-
Hartwig new
manager of
Cargill plants
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Gavin Mulder (right) takes home champion market beef honors from the 2014 Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. Nearly 600 beef cattle were
exhibited at the state fair. Also pictured are beef show judge Bryan R. Kutz (from left), Ron Mulder, Cameron Mulder holding Kirbee Mulder,
Ross Anderson, Tyler Trius, Krystin Riemann and Jessica Mulder.
Mulder put in long
days raising states
top market animal
by MARIE ZIMMERMAN
News Editor
In more than a decade of
showing beef in 4-H, Gavin
Mulder has learned its a
long road to the top. There
are a lot of early mornings,
late nights, grooming ad-
hesive.
But the work paid off
when Mulders crossbred
steer won champion mar-
ket beef this year at the
Minnesota State Fair in
St. Paul.
Nearly 600 beef cattle
were exhibited there from
across the state.
Mulder knew his steer
was good, but was he that
good?
I was very nervous out
there, Mulder said.
When t he t op mar-
ket beef animal was an-
nounced, it felt amazing,
he said. I never dreamt
Id ever do that. I wanted
to, but I never thought I
would.
His steer then led off the
2014 Purple Ribbon
Auction and garnered
a high bid of $20,000,
$8,000 more than the
$12,000 paid for the
grand champion mar-
ket swine, the auc-
tions next highest
winning bid.
Mulder came home with
a brand-new Featherlite
trailer emblazoned with
2014 grand champion
market beef steer Minne-
sota State Fair.
Mulder also showed
swine in the FFA compe-
tition at the state fair this
year. He brought home
grand champion supreme
breeding guilt and grand
champion middleweight
crossbred barrow. A good
year, by all accounts.
Great year, he amends.
Growing up on a farm,
Mulder was surrounded by
beef and hogs. He started
showing heifers when he
was about 5 and gradu-
ated to steers several years
later.
I think theyre easier to
work with, he said of beef
animals.
Mulders dad and aunt
showed beef, and hes con-
fident his 2-year-old sister
will too.
Ill help her with that,
he said.
Mulder is committed to
the beef project. Hes done
many jackpot shows and
exhibited at the regional
Ak-Sar-Ben stock show in
Nebraska, been all over
the country and met
people from different
places.
I think its really fun
to just meet so many
people in 4-H, he said.
Every morning, Mul-
der wakes up for early
for chores. First, the
show pigs get feed and a
walk. Then Mulder washes
his steer and walks him
down the lane, puts him
in a cooler room where
the air stimulates lush hair
and brushes him dry and
feeds him.
Mulders dad, Cameron
Mulder, faithfully helps
with each years 4-H ani-
mals. But this year Mulder
shouldered much of the
decision-making because
he felt it was important.
It was nerve-wracking
making the decisions
outlining a feeding pro-
gram, making sure the ani-
mal wasnt too hot at night.
I stress myself out,
Mulder said.
Mulders dream is to
raise cattle as a career.
He is a junior right now at
Jackson County Central
High School and plans to
go on to college.
He can exhibit in 4-H
three more years and will
show another steer next
year.
Im just going to go up
there like I did this year
and hope for the best,
Mulder said.
MAKING OF A CHAMPION
I NEVER DREAMT ID EVER
DO THAT. I WANTED TO, BUT I
NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD.
Gavin Mulder
Kellner headed to
Kentucky for National
Poultry Conference
by MARIE ZIMMERMAN
News Editor
From regal bl ack
Cochins with their
feathered feet to
little barred rock
bantams, Michaela
Kellner knows her
birds.
The Jackson
County 4-H mem-
ber took top place
in the senior poul-
try judging contest
Local 4-Her top
poultry judge
in Minnesota
See JUDGE on C2
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Michaela Kellner shows
off her winning black
Cochin chicken at the
Jackson County Fair. She
has been in the poultry
project for eight years and
has been judging poultry
in 4-H for three years.
PHOTO BY MIKE JORDAN
Brian Majerus, who custom feeds a large number of pigs near Lakefield, was
featured in a recent edition of the Farm Market News, a regional ag publication
reaching nearly 18,500 rural homes and businesses across the tri-state area. In ad-
dition to custom feeding, Majerus also does manure applications for area farmers
with his Challenger tractor and Balzer manure tank.
A local farmer was re-
cently featured in the Farm
Market News, a regional
agricultural publication
reaching nearly 18,500
households and businesses
across the tri-state area.
Brian Majerus, who cus-
t om f eeds hogs near
Lakefield, is the subject of
the Oct. 6 Farm Market
News cover story. In the
article, the 1989 Lakefield
High School graduate dis-
cusses how he went from
working on his familys
dairy farm south of town to
raising pigs a venture on
which he embarked back in
2002.
I was involved in both
4-H and FFA while in high
school, but with dairy
cattle, not too much with
hogs, Majerus said in
the article. It was mostly
See FARMER on C7
Local farmer featured in regional ag publication
C2 Thursday, October 16, 2014
Curt Handevidt and Phil Handevidt, Owners
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professional at the Martin
County West Schools. The
Hartwigs have three chil-
dren Tricia is a medical
technician at Fairmont
working in coding, Kris
teaches in the St. Cloud
area and Peter is on the
HARTWIG: New Cargill plant head
Continued from C1
PHOTO BY MIKE JORDAN
Wayne Hartwig has been with Cargill for the past 20 years and this July took over
management of the Cargill plants in Miloma and Alpha.
JUDGE: Kellner headed to Kentucky for National Poultry Conference
Continued from C1
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Michaela Kellner (from left) took first place in this years poultry judging contest at the Minnesota State Fair. Fellow top-placing contestants
included Nathan Vonderharr of Isanti County, second place; Mariah Huberty of Chisago County, seventh place; Andrew Gathje of Fillmore
County, third place Calli Yerbich of Beltrami County, sixth place; and Noah Carlson of Houston County, 10th place.
at the Minnesota State Fair
this year, which earned her
a spot on the four-person
team that will represent
Minnesota at the National
4-H Poultry and Egg Con-
ference next month in Lou-
isville, Ky.
I am really excited to
go, Kellner said.
In poul t ry j udgi ng,
4-Hers are tested on knowl-
edge of live birds and the
basis of grade and quality
of poultry products. Kell-
ner has judged poultry
for three years, studying
how to properly evaluate
egg-producing hens and
apply U.S. Department
of Agriculture standards
in grading ready-to-cook
poultry and eggs, mainly
by reading the national 4-H
curriculum.
Kellner has also been on
the FFA poultry judging
team for two years.
4-H members are judged
individually at the state
poultry judging contest,
which had about 70 contes-
tants this year. Kellner was
the only person to judge
from Jackson County.
At first, she wasnt sure
how well she had done.
I actually thought I
messed up on some things.
I was pretty sure I wasnt
going to place in the top,
Kellner said.
The top four youth from
the senior judging contest
make up the team that will
represent Minnesota at
nationals, where they will
be judged both individu-
ally and collectively. At the
Minnesota poultry judging
contest, Nathan Vonder-
harr of Isanti County came
in second, Andrew Gathje
of Fillmore County placed
third and Hayley Carlson
of Cass County was fourth.
The toughest part of
poultry judging for Kellner
is candling eggs, she said.
Its a process of using a
bright light in a dark room
to see inside the shell.
You have to look for an
air sac; its just kind of hard
to see, Kellner said.
If the air sac is small, the
egg is fresh. The older the
egg gets, the larger the air
sac becomes.
Chickens have always
been a part of life for
Kellner, who started
showing poultry eight
years ago. She exhibits
black Cochins and barred
rock bantams.
I just find chickens
kind of interesting, she
said.
In addition to judging,
Kellner and her Minne-
sota teammates will be
able to attend a poultry
careers workshop and
sightsee in Louisville dur-
ing the national conven-
tion.
Ive never been to
Kentucky, so that will be
fun, she said.
Kellner has also shown
sheep and goats at the
Jackson County Fair and
exhibited in forest re-
sources, fine arts, fish-
ing sports, photography
and food and nutrition.
A sophomore at Jack-
son County Central High
School, she participates
in FFA and plays saxo-
phone in the band.
farm near Welcome.
We have six grandkids
five girls and a boy,
Hartwig said. My pas-
time, when not at work,
is spending time with my
grandkids. I have also
redone some John Deere
tractors some my dad
had and some of my own.
Hartwig said he strives
to create a pleasant expe-
rience for customers.
My goal here at Car-
gill is to make this a place
farmers want to come to,
he said. I want farmers
to have a good experience
coming here as they bring
in their grain.
The Cargill plants in
Miloma and Alpha em-
ploy nine people, Hartwig
said, two of whom are new
hires.
C3 Thursday, October 16, 2014
8
4
6
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C4 Thursday, October 16, 2014
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Its our privilege to work with our local pork producers.
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PHOTO BY DAN CONDON
Ben Freking shows the champion market steer at the 2014 Jackson County Fair. The
rural Alpha showman plans to exhibit a junior steer in the beef division of the 41
st
an-
nual North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky., next month.
A Jackson County young-
ster plans to exhibit a ju-
nior steer in the beef di-
vision of the 41
st
annual
North American Interna-
tional Livestock Exposition
in Louisville, Ky.
Ben Freking of Alpha
will travel to the NAILE
next month to compete
against animals from near-
ly every state in America.
The expo runs Nov. 8-21 at
the Kentucky Exposition
Center in Louisville.
The NAILE is recognized
as the worlds largest pure-
bred livestock show, with
nearly 27,000 entries and
close to $750,000 in prizes
and awards.
Purebred farms from
nearly every state and Can-
ada bring livestock to com-
pete in one of 10 expo divi-
sions: dairy cattle, dairy
goats, meat goats, beef
cattle, cowboy mounted
shooting, quarter horses,
draft horses, sheep, swine
and llamas and alpacas.
More than 200,000 Ameri-
Local animal headed to
worlds largest purebred
livestock expo next month
can and international visi-
tors attend the hundreds
of individual breed shows,
sales and events.
The expo is also home
to numerous youth events
including the Eastern Na-
tional 4-H Horse Round-
up; youth, junior college
and senior collegiate dairy
judging contests; the 4-H
Dairy Quiz Bowl; the Na-
tional Collegiate Livestock
Judging Contest; the Na-
tional 4-H Livestock Judg-
ing Contest; the National
4-H Skill-A-Thon Contest;
the Junior College Live-
stock Judging Contest; and
the National 4-H Poultry
and Egg Conference.
The NAILE is produced
by the Commonwealth of
Kentucky and the Ken-
tucky State Fair Board.
Mi nnesot a farmers
have an opportunity this
fall to help solve a rising
but little-known problem
affecting rural communi-
ties throughout the state.
This year in rural Min-
nesota, families will miss
40 million meals. Minne-
sota farmers already play
a significant role in food
production for the state,
country and world. But
a need still exists, and in
rural communities,
hunger is often hid-
den.
Feeding Americas
Invest an Acre pro-
gram turns farmers
contributions into
meals for local fami-
lies. Farmers can get in-
volved in two ways: They
can make a cash donation
now or pledge to make a
donation from this years
crop at harvest. Farmers
do not need to make a fi-
nal commitment until the
crops are at the elevator.
Hunger does not dis-
criminate, said Jenni-
fer Woodford, executive
director of Channel One
Regional Food Bank. It
does not care where you
live. Hunger does not care
whether you are young
or old. Hunger can strike
anyone at any time. For
many families, a serious
life event means hunger
strikes when it is least
expected and defenses
are down. A gift through
Invest an Acre can help us
stop hunger in its tracks
right in local communi-
ties.
Hunger is often a hid-
den problem that affects
seniors, working families
and children in rural and
metro areas, Woodford
said. One in 10 Minneso-
tans is at risk of missing
a meal every day.
Invest an Acre is part
of a larger initiative to
actively engage farmers
in combating hunger
Harvest to End Hun-
ger Minnesota. The sec-
ond arm of the program
is Share Fresh MN, a
fresh-produce donation
program that accepts un-
harvested or unsold pro-
duce from farmers.
The program is sim-
ple: Farmers are asked to
visit HarvestToEndHun-
gerMN.org and pledge
the revenue from an acre,
bushel or any amount of
their 2014 crop to help
fight hunger in their own
communities. Farmers
then create a donation
form to bring to their lo-
cal elevator with their
grain donation. One
hundred percent of the
donation stays in the
farmers community,
and all of the money
goes directly to pro-
vide food to hungry
families. The Monsanto
Co. is matching every do-
nation nationally, dollar
for dollar, up to $675,000.
The cluster of partici-
pating food banks includes
Channel One Regional
Food Bank, Great Plains
Food Bank, North Coun-
try Food Bank Inc., Sec-
ond Harvest Heartland,
Second Harvest North
Central Food Bank and
Second Harvest Northern
Lakes Food Bank.
Local farmers tapped to combat
hunger in their own hometowns
HUNGER DOES NOT
DISCRIMINATE.
Jennifer Woodford
Do you have a special event coming up? Announce it with a
custom banner for only $30. Call 847-3771 or 662-5555.
unitedprairiebank.com
507.847.4700 Jackson
Thank you Pork Producers
MEMBER
FDIC
We appreciate your hard work and dedication!
Your farm is your life and legacy. Find out how
United Prairie Bank can help your operation succeed
by contacting us today.
202 Grant Street, Jackson
4731
C7 Thursday, October 16, 2014
www.newvision.coop
Service and Value
Every Day!
4764
Let us help you with our
money-saving programs:
1-800-321-3520
Jackson, MN
info@federatedrea.coop
Energy-efcient lighting and retrot motor rebates
Livestock monitoring through Heartland Security
Standby generators money-saving program
Exede internet with 12 MBPS download speed
Farmers: Farmers:
8771 This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Grain Agronomy Energy Seed Feed
Jackson Trimont Sherburn Round Lake
Lakeeld Okabena Wilder
1-800-864-3847
www.fcajackson.com
507-847-4160
FCA CO-OP
Farmers, we salute you!
Have a safe harvest!
4758
8766
Jackson Cycle
Springeld Parkway, Jackson, MN Phone: 507-847-3939
Larry and Sandy Clymer
www.jacksoncycle.com
Tax Deductible
and NO SALES TAX
for farm use.
FARMER: Majerus operation featured in regional agriculture publication
Continued from C1
PHOTO BY MIKE JORDAN
Brian Majerus, who custom feeds a large number of pigs
near Lakefield, was featured in a recent edition of the
Farm Market News, a regional ag publication reaching
nearly 18,500 rural homes and businesses across the
tri-state area. In addition to custom feeding, Majerus
also does manure applications for area farmers with his
Challenger tractor and Balzer manure tank.
about dairy cattle.
Majerus bought an acre-
age just three miles from
the place where he grew
up. It had one old hog barn
on it, he said.
I got hooked up with the
FCA (Co-op) in Jackson
with Jerry Svoboda and
got me some pigs out here
and just went from there,
Majerus said in the article.
I started with a 500-head
barn. Now I am hooked in
with a guy out in Nebraska.
He farrows his own pigs
and I feed them out. I dont
get them in as nursery pigs;
I get them in as feeder pigs
here. My home site is most-
ly feeder pigs too.
Majerus has two sites
one is a 2,500-head site at
his place and the second
is a 4,000-head site near
Jackson.
My son, Dylan, and I
work together and custom
feed around 8,500 pigs
from different owners. I
feed for Sunde Farms out
of Adrian, he said. My
son manages and helps run
a 5,500-head nursery too.
The nursery and 6,600 part
of it is with SBI Slater Bros.
We work together. They
are in charge of the feed
and I do the ordering. I am
more on the custom end of
it. I am the owners eyes
out here. I can make sug-
gestions on rations and if I
think something is wrong.
All of the sites are set up
on controllers all the way
around, he said. I dont
have ownership in any; we
just run them together.
Some of Majerus sites
are curtain barns, but the
others are tunnel barns.
We run some curtain
barns that are more af-
fected by climate and wind,
but the tunnel barns have a
tighter lock on controlling
ventilation, temperature
and all of that, he said.
Tunnel barns are easier
to run climate-wise. We
can keep them power ven-
tilated easier.
Some sites have bin con-
trols. With the automated
controllers in the barns,
the feeding is automatic
and so is the watering.
The water intake of the
pigs is really important,
Majerus said. If their wa-
ter or food intake stops, the
system goes off and calls
us. We can call to know
the temperature and check
the feed out and know the
weights of each animal.
Calling, we can check pret-
ty much on everything at
each barn; but were still
learning, I think.
The Majerus team raises
all breeds of pigs.
The challenge raising
pigs, I guess, is keeping
disease out running
good biosecurity through
all our sites, he said. But
weather conditions and the
climate in the barns can be
challenging too.
Majerus and his son
get help loading the pigs
from his nephews, and his
friends sons do the power
washing.
I enjoy the variety and
the challenges of getting
them, though, and keeping
them healthy, Majerus
said of the hogs.
As a related side venture,
Majerus also dabbles in
custom manure applica-
tion.
Our custom manure
operation with Slater Bros.
and Son is mostly in this
area, he said. We have
been applying manure to
fields for 10 to 12 years,
about 15 million gallons
a year.
In addition to son Dylan,
Majerus and his wife, Amy,
have a daughter, Kylie,
who will graduate this
year from Jackson County
Central High School. Amy
Majerus is employed as the
director of hospice in Spirit
Lake, Iowa.
She really likes her
work, Majerus said. She
keeps people comfortable
while helping their fami-
lies.
When family members
arent working or attend-
ing school, they like to go
boating and fishing on Big
Spirit Lake or West Okoboji
Lake.
We also make trips to
West Battle Lake too, Ma-
jerus said. I try to work
out at the fitness center
when I can too.
The Farm Market News
is mailed free of charge
to 18,400 rural homes and
businesses across 17 coun-
ties in southern Minnesota,
northern Iowa and eastern
South Dakota. It is also
available for free pickup
at cafs and coffee shops
throughout the coverage
area and at the offices of
Livewire Printing Co. in
downtown Jackson and
the Lakefield Standard in
downtown Lakefield.
Check out the Livewire for full color
business cards. Make the best impression
with a professional design created to your
specications! Call 847-3771.
C8 Thursday, October 16, 2014
Jackson Feed, LLC
We Try Harder
Industrial Parkway Jackson, MN
(507) 847-2590 800-967-2032
See Us For
Quality Big Gain Products!
We Salute the
Jackson County
Livestock Producers!
Grind, Mix and
Delivery
Bulk and
Bag Feed
Show Supplies
Dog and Cat
Food, Bird Seed
8833
1001336.1 State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Bloomington, IL
Paul H. Graupmann, Agent
Jackson 847-4300
Lakeeld 662-5552
www.paulgraupmann.com
8834
I get that. Let me give you
a hand protecting whats
important to your family with
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When its your livelihood
that counts . . .
count on me.
207 Main Street, Lakeeld, MN
PORK
Wholesome Nutritious Versatile
Great selection
of leaner,
healthier pork
is available.
Open
Mon.Sat.
7 a.m. 8 p.m.
Sun.
9 a.m. 3 p.m.
507-662-6777
We salute area farmers!
Have a safe harvest!
4777
Conveniently located one mile off Hwy. 71 in Bergen, Minnesota
831-4670
Hours: Mon.Fri. 812 p.m., 15:30 p.m.; Sat. 911 a.m.
www.bergenmeats.com
Custom Slaughtering
Self-serve Retail Cases
Varieties of Smoked Meats
Jerky and Snack Sticks
Award-winning Lock er!
Proud to Support Our Farmers!
Like us on Facebook
BERGEN MEAT PRO CES SOR
Serving you
for
35 years!
8829
CLIP AND SAVE
8826
Asmus Farm Supply Inc. Quality products and service since 1960.
102 S. Front Street Okabena, MN 56161
507-853-4441
2375 State Highway 62 Fulda, MN 56131
507-425-3338
www.afschem.com
Marge Olmem, CPA
P.O. Box 416 308 Main St. Lakeeld, MN 56150-0416
507-662-6636 Fax: 507-662-5311
Email: marge@mlocpa.com
4763
Proud to support our farmers.
Have a safe harvest!
Alpha
120 Kiesel Ave.
Alpha, MN 56111
(507) 847-4163
Fax (507) 847-4175
Miloma
35419 St. Hwy. 60
Heron Lake, MN 56137
(507) 793-2328
Fax (507) 793-2710
8825
Have a
Safe Harvest
We Salute All Area
Farmers!
Shannon Carr, D.V.M. Joe Carr, D.V.M.
River Valley
Veterinary Clin ic
Your animal health care professionals.
139 Industrial Parkway Jackson, MN
(507) 847-4228
4776
Yep, we have pork!
The Butcher
Shop
212 Main Street
Lakeeld, MN
507-662-6281
Were proud to salute you!
FARMERS
4
7
5
7
Jackson County resi-
dents who have farmed
less than 10 years are eli-
gible for scholarships for
half the cost of enrolling
in farm business manage-
ment classes.
The scholarships are
available through the
Minnesota Department
of Agriculture. Schol-
arship recipients must
have a financial inter-
est in the farm, partic-
ipate in making some
or all management de-
cisions and participate
in the operation of the
farm on a regular basis.
Strong business and fi-
nancial management are
critical to any farms suc-
cess, said Becky Balk,
coordinator of the MDAs
Local beginning farmers eligible
for FBM educational scholarships
Beginning Farmer Pro-
gram. We created this
program to help beginning
farmers form a solid busi-
ness foundation to make
their farms succeed.
Scholarship recipients
must be enrolled in a farm
busi ness management
program offered through
Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities or the
Southwest Farm Business
Management Association.
Beginning farmers already
enrolled in farm business
management classes qual-
ify for scholarship assis-
tance until they earn 40
credits. They should work
through their instructor
to apply for a scholarship.
More than 2,000 farmers
in Minnesota participate
in farm business manage-
ment education each year,
improving their ability to
assess profitability, make
pricing and marketing de-
cisions, monitor cash flow,
secure loans and prepare
their taxes.
Local farmers are in-
vited to learn how to most
effectively integrate cover
crops into a corn/soybean
rotation at a special field
day next month.
Set for Nov. 13, the
field day will start at the
American Legion Hall in
Okabena at 10 a.m. Fol-
lowing lunch, which will
be supplied courtesy of
program sponsors, those
in attendance will travel
to the Jerry and Nancy
Ackermann farm site by
Lakefield for further pre-
sentations and in-field
activities.
The field day will run
until 3:15.
The Ackermanns, along
with fellow local farmers
Jerry Perkins and Dave
Christoffer, will discuss
their experiences with
various cover crop seed-
ing methods, timings and
mixes. Liz Stahl, crops
educator with the Univer-
sity of Minnesota Exten-
sion, will present results
from demonstration trials
conducted in corn across
three on-farm sites in
southwest Minnesota this
growing season. Jill Sack-
ett, extension educator in
ag production systems and
co-coordinator for Minne-
sota North Central Region
Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education,
will discuss the latest cov-
er crop research being
conducted by the U of M.
During the afternoon
session, Michael Lehman,
research microbiologist
with the U.S. Department
of Agricultures Agricul-
tural Research Service,
will discuss the potential
benefits of using a cover
crop from a soil micro-
organism perspective.
Attendees will be able
to view soil biological
activity through use of
the Lakefield-based Prai-
rie Ecology Bus. Field
day participants will also
have the opportunity to
conduct indicator tests
of soil quality under dif-
ferent cropping systems
led by Stephanie McLain
and Loren Clarke, district
conservationists with the
Natural Resource Conser-
vation Service.
There is no charge to at-
tend the field day, courtesy
of program sponsors.
Preregistration is not
required.
Cover crops feld day set for Nov. 13
If you go . . .
What: Cover crop feld
day
When: Thursday, Nov.
13, 10 a.m.
Where: American Legion
Hall, Okabena
New federal programs
are in place to help farm-
ers better manage risk.
The programs were an-
nounced late last month
by U.S. Department of
Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack. Vilsack also an-
nounced new tools are now
available to help provide
farmers the information
they need to choose the
new safety net program
that is right for their busi-
ness.
The 2014 Farm Bill rep-
resented some of the larg-
est farm policy reforms in
decades. One of the Farm
Bills most significant re-
forms is finally taking ef-
fect, said Vilsack. Farm-
ing is one of the riskiest
businesses in the world.
These new programs help
ensure that risk can be ef-
fectively managed so that
families dont lose farms
that have been passed
down through generations
because of events beyond
their control. But unlike
the old direct payment
program, which paid farm-
ers in good years and bad,
these new initiatives are
based on market forces
and include county and
individual coverage op-
tions. These reforms pro-
vide a much more rational
approach to helping farm-
ers manage risk.
The new programs, Ag-
ricultural Risk Coverage
and Price Loss Coverage,
are cornerstones of the
commodity farm safety net
programs in the 2014 Farm
Bill, legislation that ended
direct payments. Vilsack
said both programs offer
farmers protection when
market forces cause sub-
stantial drops in crop pric-
es and/or revenues. Pro-
ducers will have through
early spring of 2015 to se-
lect which program works
best for their businesses.
To help farmers choose
between ARC and PLC,
USDA helped create online
tools that allow farmers to
enter information about
their operation and see
projections about what
each program will mean
for them under possible
future scenarios. The new
tools are now available at
www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.
USDA provided $3 mil-
lion to the Food and Agri-
cultural Policy Research
Institute at the University
of Missouri and the Agri-
cultural and Food Policy
Center at Texas A&M
co-leads for the National
Association of Agricultural
and Food Policy along
with the University of Illi-
nois lead for the Nation-
al Coalition for Producer
Education to develop the
new programs.
Were committed to
giving farmers as much
information as we can so
they can make an informed
decision between these
programs, said Vilsack.
These resources will help
farm owners and produc-
ers boil the information
down, understand what
their options are and ulti-
mately make the best de-
cision on which choice is
right for them. We are very
grateful to our partners for
their phenomenal work in
developing these new tools
within a very short time
frame.
Farm owners may visit
their local Farm Service
Agency offices now if they
want to update their yield
history and/or reallocate
base acres, the first step
before choosing which new
program best serves their
risk management needs.
Letters sent this summer
enabled farm owners and
producers to analyze their
crop planting history in
order to decide whether
to keep their base acres or
reallocate them according
to recent plantings.
The next step in USDAs
safety net implementation
is scheduled for this win-
ter when all producers on
a farm begin making their
election, which will remain
in effect for 2014-2018 crop
years between the options
offered by ARC and PLC.
New programs in place to
help farmers manage risk
I have completed
only a few of 44 farm-
land rental workshops
with most scheduled for
November and Decem-
ber. The budgets for 2015
are ugly using current
2015 forward contract
prices offered with both
corn and soybean bud-
gets in the red. Corn is
negative by more than
the average rent paid
in 2014 and the farmer
receiving no labor and
management payment.
The 2013 average rents
in southern Minnesota
were $243 in the FINBIN
database and the data
provided by the Minne-
sota Agricultural Statis-
tic Service in September
listed the average rents
as $227 per acre in 2013
and $237 in 2014.
Recent 2015 forward
contract corn price is
$3.27 and soybean price
is $8.84. The record corn
and soybean prices of
recent years have sig-
nificantly affected land
rents. Crop production
expenses, farm profits
and cropland rental rates
all increased during
the recent golden era
of farming. Projected
average input costs for
2015 based on adult farm
management numbers
for southern Minnesota
in the FINBIN database
project to $639 for corn
and $306 for soybeans
before paying rent and
paying no income for
farmer labor and man-
agement. The numbers
are in the red; using
180 bushels of corn per
acre at $3.27 per bushel
provides a gross income
of $588.60 compared to
$639 expense leaves a
loss of more than $50 per
acres before paying any
rent. Using 50 bushels
for soybeans at $8.84
generates $442 gross
income and leaves $136
after $306 of expenses to
share between the farm-
er for labor and landlord
for rent.
In August, I examined
the last time average
corn and bean prices fell
compared to the previous
year 2009 compared to
2008 prices to determine
if land rents moved lower
as commodity prices
fell. The data indicated
no decline in farmland
rental rates, although
commodity prices re-
bounded the next year to
higher levels. Using $250
for an average rental
rate, a farmer would
receive no income for
labor and management
and have a loss of $300
per acre for corn and a
loss of $114 per acre for
soybeans. In a 50-50 crop
rotation, the loss would
average $207 per acre for
the farmer.
Examining the num-
bers in another way,
if a farmer wanted to
farm for free and have
no income, he or she
could afford to pay
$43 per acre rent, in
a 50-50 corn soybean
crop rotation. Anything
over this amount would
come out of the farmers
pocket. Budgets should
also be affected by the
new farm bill with pay-
ments if prices remain
at low levels. In order to
cover rents and $60 la-
bor charge per acre, the
corn price would have to
reach $5.27 and soybeans
$12.32 per bushel using
the projected average
input costs for 2015.
So what is a fair rental
agreement? Usually it is
an agreement in which
the landlord receives a
fair rental payment and
the farmer receives a fair
profit. In the above sce-
nario, neither the farmer
nor the landlord think
the numbers are fair us-
ing $43 for rent and no
income for farmer. Farm-
land sales in Minnesota
increased by more than
22 percent from 2012
to 2013; this has caused
property taxes to in-
crease for the landlord.
So how do you ap-
proach this troubling
situation? Start by agree-
ing to a lower base rent
up front and then add
flexible components. If
yields are better than
average, both parties
should benefit. If prices
improve from these
harvest lows, both par-
ties should benefit. If
a farmer can maintain
yields with lower input
costs, both parties should
benefit. These can all be
components of a flexible
lease agreement.
The last time prices de-
clined significantly from
previous year was 2009.
If prices remain at these
current lower levels, how
long before rents begin to
decline and approach the
2009 average of $168 or
the 2010 average of $169
per acre?
Farmland rental rates that work for both parties
GUEST COLUMNIST
Dave Bau
C9 Thursday, October 16, 2014
WERE PROUD TO SALUTE AREA FARMERS!
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Sunday 7 a.m. 9 p.m.
WE FEATURE . . .
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8835
We Salute ALL AREA FARMERS!
To market corn, call: 1-888-831-0067
To buy DDGs, call
nutrition : 1-888-327-8799
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Sales And Service
301 N. Hwy. 86 Lakeeld, MN
We Support
Our Area
Farmers!
4754
4761
Heron Lake,
MN
507-793-7400
Have a safe harvest!
WESTBROOK
AG POWER
Sales Service Parts
Westbrook, MN
507-274-6101
www.westbrookagpower.com
WESTBROOK
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Special monitoring for:
Owned by:
8770
Farmers, producers
encouraged to apply
by Oct. 20 deadline
The Minnesota Depart-
ment of Agriculture has
another round of funding
available for projects to
help farmers, producers
and processors add value
to their operations.
A total of $2 million in
funding has been made
available through the Agri-
cultural Growth, Research
and Innovation Program,
established by the Minne-
sota Legislature to advance
the states agricultural and
renewable energy indus-
tries.
The MDA distributes a
portion of AGRI funding
through the Value Added
Grant Program, which
aims to increase sales of
Minnesota agricultural
products by diversifying
markets and increasing
market access and food
safety. These grants are in-
tended to initiate or expand
livestock product process-
ing; purchase equipment
to start, upgrade or mod-
ernize value-added busi-
nesses; increase on-farm
food safety, such as imple-
mentation of a food safety
plan; and increase farm-
ers processing and aggre-
gating capacity to enter
farm-to-school and other
markets
Proposals with a meat
processing, farm-to-school
or other institution
component, or those ad-
dressing Good Agricultural
Practices or a similar type
of food safety plan receive
priority, but all value-add-
ed proposals are encour-
aged to apply. Small- to
medium-sized operations
also receive special con-
sideration.
Equipment purchases or
physical improvements are
eligible for 25 percent of
the total project cost up to
a maximum grant award of
$150,000 with a completed
business plan or food safe-
ty plan. A business or food
safety plan must outline
what equipment and im-
provements are necessary
to fulfill the plan.
This round of applica-
tions must be received no
later than 4 p.m. on Oct.
20. Proposals may be de-
livered by mail, in person
or by email.
Applications are avail-
able at www.mda.state.
mn.us/valueadded.aspx.
Value-added ag grants available
The Minnesota Depart-
ment of Transportation
is willing to pay Jackson
County farmers to leave
some corn in the fields.
Its part of an innova-
tive program that provides
cash incentives to farm-
ers to leave standing corn
rows standing from fall
to spring. These stand-
ing corn rows act as snow
fences, which catch snow
throughout the winter to
reduce blowing snow on
state highways.
MnDOT will also pay
farmers for two other
snow-control ag produc-
tion structures large
hay bal es and si l age
bags. These structures
would be positioned in
the field at the proper dis-
tance from the roadway
to offer snow and blow-
ing snow protection to the
roadway. If farmers want
to plant a perennial shrub
row receiving conservation
payments, MnDOT will
complement these incen-
tives as well.
MnDOT i s usi ng a
Blowing Snow Control
Calculator developed by
the University of Min-
nesota Extension and the
U of M Center for Trans-
portation Studies, which
assesses agricultural and
MnDOT expenses to de-
termine a fair and reason-
able incentive payment
for farmers. Farmers are
compensated on a per-acre
basis that factors in crop
yield, production costs,
inconvenience factors for
the farmer and traveling
public, price of corn and
anticipated snow removal
cost savings as determined
through the calculator.
MnDOT is seeking farm-
ers with fields to the north
and west sides of state
highways and interstates
where there is a known
snow drifting problem.
Those with land adjacent
to a snow problem area
who are interested in the
program may contact Mn-
DOTs Dan Gullickson at
(651) 366-3610.
MnDOT to pay farmers for standing
corn rows, hay bales and silage bags
C10 Thursday, October 16, 2014
PRECISIONACRE

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After 3 years, keep the equipment or
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PRECISIONACRE

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Lakeeld, MN 56150
507-840-0467
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Youve never seen your elds like this. Once you see planter performance in real-time, high-denition maps that
build as you go, as well as eld-level insights for your entire operation, youll never look at your equipment, or your
acres, the same way again.
Program Benets
+ Over 80% savings and no large, up front equipment costs
+ Greater visibility and accuracy across your operation
+ Science-based insights that give you the edge on Mother Nature
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