May 4

S e r v i n g To d d C o u n t y , M N

Country Courier VOLUME 19; NUMBER 9 - FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010 CIRCULATION 10,000 - FREE

The looming crisis USDA Projects Record

Corn Crop and Yield
in snowmobiling
By Tad Hoefs volunteers by the snowmobilers soon. If you think the DNR will
Snowmobiling is a relatively who ride those trails. Granted, take over the maintenance of the
new form of winter recreation. there has been some influx of trail system, forget it. They don't
It's only been around as a popu- younger people into the clubs have the money and they're not
lar diversion from the angst of and that has been a great help, volunteers.
winter for about forty years. but it's not enough. If you are a snowmobiler and
Prior to that want to ensure
silent sports, there will
such as down- always be a
hill and cross designated
country skiing, trail system for
ice skating and you to ride on, I
ice fishing were suggest you
the staples of find a club in
winter recre- your area, join
ation, and had it and start
been for a long helping now so
t i m e . you'll be ready
Snowmobiling to step in when
altered that. the founders WASHINGTON, D.C., January 12, 2010 – USDA projects U.S.
With the advent retire. That corn production at a record 13.2 billion bushels. This is up from
of snowmobil- day is not far 12.9 billion bushels projected in USDA’s December forecast and
ing, people had away. 1 percent above the previous record of 13.0 billion bushels set in
a way to ride a Locally you 2007. Corn exports are projected at 2.1 billion bushels,
machine over have two unchanged from last month and up from the estimated 1.9 bil-
the snow and options. The lion bushels exported in 2008/2009. According to USDA’s World
were able to go Browerville Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released
fairly long dis- Driftskippers today, U.S. corn yield is estimated at a record 165.2 bushels per
tances with rel- Snowmobile acre in 2009. This is up 2.3 bushels from the December forecast
ative ease. Club has been and 4.9 bushels above the previous record of 160.3 bushels per
In the begin- in existence for acre set in 2004.
ning there were 20+ years. Rebecca Fecitt, U.S. Grains Council director of biotechnology
no designated They are the programs, said the continued utilization of scientifically proven
places or trails founders of the biotechnology applications provided by life science companies
where one could Todd County will help to increase corn yields, solidifying the need to continue
ride a snowmo- Trail System developing markets for U.S. coarse grains.
b i l e . that currently "We hope to see this upward trend in yields for U.S. corn con-
Consequently, Todd County has numerous opportunities for snowmobiling. grooms and tinue. As science becomes even more sophisticated, it will help
there was a lot maintains increase and maintain our yields. This will be instrumental in
of riding that involved trespass- Far too many snowmobilers approximately 400 miles feeding the world’s forecasted 9.1 billion people by 2050," said
ing, as riders looked for any don't belong to a club and are not throughout Todd County, and Fecitt. "The growing population, especially in developing coun-
place that had open space where helping to maintain the trails. they operate four gambling sites tries, will demand more meat, milk and eggs as incomes contin-
a snowmobile could go. This, of The reasons are many. Some say that help fund the trail system. A ue to increase. We have to maintain our biotechnology education
course, did not go well with they don't have enough time. But new club is just being formed. efforts in order to ensure that grain derived from biotechnology
landowners. It was clear that look at the founders and builders “Cruzin Nutz” will be more of a is accepted around the world."
something needed to be done so of the trails. They had jobs, kids, social club with riding and fun USDA projects sorghum production at 383 million bushels,
snowmobilers could ride their and other commitments too, yet activities. They are in the which is 19 million bushels higher than the December report.
machines without breaking the they found time to do the actual process of forming and soliciting Exports are unchanged from last month at 140 million bushels.
law. The answer to that problem building of the trails and then new club members. If you ride a
was the development of the maintained them. Some don't snowmobile, please get involved
snowmobile trail system. want added responsibilities, but and join one of these clubs.
Early on, snowmobilers gath- if they don't step up and help, Contact Bernie Mumm for the Todd County resident
ered together and formed clubs who will? Younger riders have “Driftskippers” or Bill Buhl for
for the companionship and fun of always had a trail system ready the “Cruzin Nutz” wins ADA promotion
riding together. They recognized and available for them and per-
the need to have designated haps they think they don't need
trails upon which to ride, and to get involved. They couldn’t be
Frosty web
since there weren't trails avail- more mistaken.
able they built their own. In a few years, the founders of
Eventually, all the individual the trail system will be gone. The
trail segments were connected few younger members of the
and the trail system evolved into clubs will be left to shoulder the
it's present form. Today, we have burden of trail maintenance and
approximately 18,000 miles of that, of course, will lead to prob-
designated snowmobile trails in lems. Too few club members and
Minnesota. too much work will lead to
The people who built the orig- burnout. If that happens, the few
inal trails back in the 1970's people remaining will quit and
were in their 20's, 30's, 40's and snowmobile clubs will become
50's (for the most part). As time history. The trail system won’t
went by and those folks aged, have the care it needs and will
they dropped out of the snowmo- fall into disrepair and quickly be
bile clubs. The amazing thing gone. If this happens, the
though is that, for the most part, chances of reopening closed Sherry Wangerin, of Bertha, was the lucky winner of the $500 check from the
Last week’s cool, foggy Todd County ADA Dairy Promotion held during December. Sherry entered her
these folks have been taking care trails will be slim.
mornings turned everything name in the drawing at the Corner Market in Bertha. Pictured are Kraig Kruse,
of the trails all this time. A great This is the crisis that we who
white. Including this spider president of the Todd County ADA, Sherry Wangerin, and Todd County Dairy
deal of thanks is owed to those love snowmobiling will be facing
web. Princesses, Tiffany Hulinsky and Megan Middendorf.