In this Edition
Capitol Corner - Federal
- How To Educate Lawmakers About Ag Retail
- Biden Decries 'Extremism' On Supreme Court, Details Plan For Term Limits, Ethics Code For Justices
- Five Explosive Moments From Trump’s Off-the-rails NABJ Interview
- Kamala Harris Says Trump's False Claims About Her Black Identity Show ‘Divisiveness,’ ‘Disrespect’
- Is Agriculture on the Brink of a Farm Economy Cliff? The Emotional Testimonies from Capitol Hill this Week
Industry Related News
- Unleashing the Potential of AI
- Crops Catching Up Following Drawn Out Planting Season
- Farmers Face Weed Management Dilemmas
- Will Tar Spot Be A Problem In Your Corn Crop? This One Tool Can Help You Know
- A Closer Look At Epa’s New Insecticide Strategy
- The ABCs of 45Z: Take Time Now to Prepare for Low-Carbon Market Opportunities
Partner News/Announcements
- U of MN Extension – MN Crop News
- MDA Seeks Input Before Next Legislative Session
Upcoming Events
- Monday, Aug. 12, 1-2:30 p.m. : "River Nutrient Levels — Updating Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy"
- The Annual 4R Field Day Will Be Held August 15, 2024 At Johnson’s Rolling Acres, 24486 Bear Paw Road, Peterson, MN
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How To Educate Lawmakers About Ag Retail
Some lawmakers already understand the value trusted advisers bring to American farmers and ranchers, but others have little or no knowledge at all about the ag retail industry. In fact, many legislators on Capitol Hill have never stepped foot onto an ag retail facility.
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and its member network are working to close that gap between Washington, D.C., and rural America through a coordinated grassroots advocacy effort.
By inviting lawmakers to tour facilities in their districts, ARA members educate and build productive relationships with those making decisions from Washington that directly impact their businesses and the bottom line. With the farm bill still in limbo, we must take initiative as an industry to make our voice heard.
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Biden Decries 'Extremism' On Supreme Court, Details Plan For Term Limits, Ethics Code For Justices
President Joe Biden said Monday that ''extremism'' on the U.S. Supreme Court is undermining public confidence in the institution and called on Congress to quickly establish term limits and an enforceable ethics code for the court's nine justices. He also called on lawmakers to ratify a constitutional amendment limiting presidential immunity.
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Five Explosive Moments From Trump’s Off-the-rails NABJ Interview
Former President Trump's interview at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention in Chicago Wednesday quickly turned chaotic after the GOP presidential nominee took the stage more than an hour late.
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Kamala Harris Says Trump's False Claims About Her Black Identity Show ‘Divisiveness,’ ‘Disrespect’
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Is Agriculture on the Brink of a Farm Economy Cliff? The Emotional Testimonies from Capitol Hill this Week
Is agriculture on the brink of an impending farm economy cliff? A panel of experts testified before the House Ag Committee this week about the severe challenges facing agriculture, all the way from the farmer to the supply chain.
The hearing on Capitol Hill comes as net farm income is forecast to decrease by $43 billion from 2023 to 2024, marking the most significant two-year decline in history. Meanwhile, production expenses are forecast to increase by $17 billion.
During the hearing the Chair of the House Ag Committee expressed his concerns about another farm financial crisis brewing.
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Unleashing the Potential of AI
Bayer is transforming health and nutrition by harnessing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to catalyze faster product development and improve the way we manufacture and deliver products to our customers. With our mission “Health for all, hunger for none” always in mind, we are guiding our use of AI through a principled, purpose-led approach. To bring meaningful innovations to patients, farmers and consumers fast, we leverage AI as strategic tool to deliver unprecedented value.
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Crops Catching Up Following Drawn Out Planting Season
A northwest Minnesota farmer whose planting window stretched two months says crops are evening out.
Niel Rockstad of Ada began planting April 13th and finished June 13th.
“Did all of our planting in (mostly) three and four-day windows in between rain events.”
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Farmers Face Weed Management Dilemmas
Farmers trying to control weeds through a wet first half of the growing season have faced several dilemmas.
University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says weed emergence and growth have been unpredictable.
“Giant ragweed is typically a really early emerging (weed), but it seemed to carry on and we had giant ragweed even later into the spring. Waterhemp is always a perennial problem.”
He tells Brownfield wet conditions also limited postemergence herbicide applications.
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Will Tar Spot Be A Problem In Your Corn Crop? This One Tool Can Help You Know
Farmers who are watching for the development of tar spot in Corn Country are beginning to see some areas starting to light up with the disease.
“It’s in Michigan, a lot in Indiana, Ohio, even into Wisconsin and Iowa, so there's definitely tar spot pressure starting to happen,” says Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist and owner of B&M Crop Consulting, Coldwater, Mich.
She addressed the issue this week at the 2024 Farm Journal Corn & Soybean College at Heyworth, Ill.
Bauer wants to get the word out to corn growers that evaluating weather information now – especially average daily humidity levels – signal that you need to prepare for tar spot and put your fungicide application plan together.
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A Closer Look At Epa’s New Insecticide Strategy
American Soybean Association’s Kyle Kunkler says the group is reviewing how the U.S. EPA’s new draft insecticide strategy could impact farming practices.
“We want to know if farmers are being asked to adopt restrictions that are justified by the science.”
He says the EPA has used conservative, worst-case scenarios combined with real-world data to determine what risks to endangered species might look like using certain insecticides, which creates a more realistic proposal.
Kunkler says farmers and applicators who are familiar with EPA’s herbicide strategy will find similar mitigation approaches in this new insecticide strategy.
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The ABCs of 45Z: Take Time Now to Prepare for Low-Carbon Market Opportunities
The U.S. Treasury’s recent tax-credit guidance for the biofuels industry has sparked many questions about farmer impacts and ability to participate.
While there’s still a lot to figure out, it’s clear farmers who produce low-carbon fuels will benefit from greater opportunities ahead — including financial incentives and higher demand for crops with a smaller carbon footprint. To be able to take advantage of those opportunities when they arise, take time now to prepare.
What to Know Now
Each biofuels plant will manage this low-carbon market opportunity differently. There are a lot of factors in play for both facilities and farmers. But if you have implemented, or are considering, regenerative practices and you have the ability to deliver your crops to a biofuels plant, you should:
- Document your practices.
- Reach out to the processing destinations local to you.
- Hire a firm to help you calculate your current carbon intensity (CI) score.
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Partner News/
Announcements
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U of MN Extension – MN Crop News
Crops Events
Nitrogen Smart Online
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MDA Seeks Input Before Next Legislative Session
Two virtual public input sessions offer chance to share ideas
St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is gathering ideas as the agency considers the state’s next biennial budget, and we want your input. Farmers, businesses, and others impacted by food and agriculture systems are all invited to share policy, funding, and program suggestions.
The MDA is hosting two virtual public input sessions where people can share their ideas directly, in addition to an online form for written submissions open through August 16, 2024.
The two sessions will take place on Zoom. Participation is free, but registration is required. The sessions are scheduled for:
The Minnesota Legislature appropriates funds for the MDA and related agricultural activities through a two-year budget bill that is part of the state’s overall government funding.
State budgets are set in legislative sessions that take place in odd-numbered years and are sometimes revised during sessions in even-numbered years. The next legislative session begins on January 14, 2025, and will determine the next two-year state budget.
Information about the MDA’s mission, leadership, and responsibilities is available on our website.
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Monday, Aug. 12, 1-2:30 p.m. : "River Nutrient Levels — Updating Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy"
How are the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Minnesota's major rivers changing? Speakers from the U.S. Geological Survey, Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will explain the ongoing water quality monitoring efforts in rivers near Minnesota's borders. These experts, researchers, and scientists are among 50 people working to complete a 10-year update to the Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Established in 2014, this strategy guides our state's efforts to reduce nutrient pollution.
Format: Information session with Q&A.
How to register: No advance registration required. Join via the event link.
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The Annual 4R Field Day Will Be Held August 15, 2024 At Johnson’s Rolling Acres, 24486 Bear Paw Road, Peterson, MN
This free event will highlight the soil and nutrient stewardship of farmers in Southeast Minnesota. The program includes comments from MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen, groundwater and nitrate basics, and farmer-led discussion on innovative practices being employed in the region.
This field day is offered due to the generosity of our sponsors:
- The Fertilizer Institute
- Mosaic
- Corteva Agriscience
- Yara
- ETS- makers of the Soil Warrior
- MN Department of Agriculture
- Driftless Area Ag Alliance
- Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center
- MN Farm Bureau
- MN Farmers Union
- MN Corn
- MN Milk
- MN Pork
- MN State Cattlemen
- Minnesota Turkey
- MN Crop Production Retailers
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Are you following MCPR on social media? Make sure you like and follow us so you don't miss out on events, what's happening with our members and the latest news impacting Minnesota’s agricultural retail sector!
Does your organization or company have news or a press release that you would like to share with the MCPR’s membership? If so, please contact MCPR - lee@mcpr-cca.org.
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Minnesota Crop Production Retailers | P: 763.235.6466
www.mcpr-cca.org
1020 Innovation Lane, Mankato, MN 56001
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