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Register today for MCPR’s annual golf outing!
Tee off with the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers (MCPR) at its annual golf outing on Thursday, Aug. 14 at The Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake. Enjoy 18 holes on one of Minnesota’s crown jewel courses and support MCPR in their mission of supporting regulatory and legislative initiatives that benefit retailers, manufacturers distributors and custom applicators of crop production inputs.
Registration for the annual golf outing is now open. The cost is $220 for a single or $880 for a foursome, which includes golf, cart, lunch and dinner, drink and raffle tickets. Check-in and lunch will begin at 10 a.m. with an 11 a.m. shotgun start. Dinners and awards/prizes will follow. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
For more information or to register, visit mcpr-cca.org/golf-outing/.
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MAHA report’s surprising stance on glyphosate, atrazine explained
From The SCOOP
Anxiety levels among some members of the agricultural community were off the proverbial charts going into the unveiling of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s report on Thursday.
The concerns were well-founded, based on the body of work done by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as an environmental lawyer, over the past decade. Kennedy, now U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, is long-known for opposing herbicides and other crop protection products, having helped win a 2018 lawsuit filed against Monsanto, the original producer of Roundup (glyphosate).
Full story.
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Minnesota lawmakers unlikely to finish budget ahead of window for worker layoff notices
From MPR News
After plowing through two deadlines — one constitutionally required for session adjournment and another for an aspirational pre-Memorial Day finish to budget work — lawmakers are setting a new target to complete a $66 billion budget.
It likely isn’t early enough to prevent thousands of furlough notices from going out to state workers starting June 1 — this coming Sunday. The letters would warn of possible layoffs that would result if the Minnesota Legislature can’t pass remaining pieces of the state budget before July.
Full story.
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‘Chance of a lifetime’: Minnesota farmer steps into FSA leadership
From FarmProgress
A lifetime in agriculture — both in the field and through farm organizations — led Kurt Blomgren to a new chapter: executive director of the Farm Service Agency in Minnesota. He began May 5.
In 1999, the fourth-generation farmer started the first of his three three-year terms on the FSA committee for Watonwan County. “I learned a great deal about the process there,” Blomgren says. He then got involved with Minnesota Farm Bureau and other farm organizations, including a local pork producers group.
Full story.
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Corn growers deeply troubled by MAHA report release
From National Corn Growers Association
The Make America Healthy Again Commission today released its long-awaited report, which denigrates the safety of key pesticides used by corn growers and other farmers. In response, the National Corn Growers Association released the following statement:
“The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides. We are deeply troubled that claims of this magnitude are being made without any scientific basis or regard for a long history of EPA expert evaluations of these products.
Full story.
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Game-changer in fertilizer pricing: Explore the new urea futures tool
From The SCOOP
Starting Monday, CME will introduce a smaller contract size for urea out of the U.S. Gulf.
What was once in increments of a full barge—100 ton, will now be available in 10 ton contracts.
“We are pleased to introduce 10-Ton Urea U.S. Gulf futures on June 2,” says John Ricci, Managing Director and Global Head of Agricultural Products at CME Group. “At 1/10th the size of the existing Urea (Granular) FOB U.S. Gulf futures, these contracts will allow for more precise hedging and expanded market access to smaller-sized end users of urea. Amid high volatility, these new contracts will offer greater flexibility for producers to manage their fertilizer price risk.”
Full story.
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Demonstrating value is a mandate: fun, shiny objects don’t do the job
From The SCOOP
Benny Andres, who oversees the product management team at Bushel, shares how technology—and specifically software—can be used to strengthen the relationship between farmers and their trusted advisers.
Specifically, he says agribusinesses are looking for three things in technology:
- Automation
- Workflow improvement
- Fewer systems to work in
Full story.
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Precision ag advancements
From BrownField
A precision ag specialist suggests the use of sensors has been one of the biggest advancements for this generation of farmers.
University of Minnesota Precision Agriculture Center director Yuxin Miao says technology continues to influence farming.
“The most impactful I think (is) the development of satellite remote sensing, and also UAV remote sensing. Especially satellite remote sensing, right now we have satellites that can collect images from the farmers’ fields every day.”
Full story.
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How in-cab systems offer the best of both worlds for operators
From CropLife
Knowing that operators spend hours in a cab, manufacturers continue to focus on comfort and technology.
“Over the past several years, in-cab systems have undergone a significant transformation, reshaping the way operators interact with machinery in the field,” says Logan Handsaker, Product Sales Specialist, Ag Leader. “From cutting-edge displays to real-time connectivity, the cab has evolved into a smart-centralized hub for managing today’s increasingly complex agricultural operations.”
Full story.
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Four sprayer tricks to keep your rig rolling
From Farm Journal
From lubricating booms to cleaning and replacing spray tips, ace mechanic Dan Anderson emphasizes the importance of prioritizing upkeep during the season.
1. RTV silicone is an alternative to “pipe dope” or Teflon tape when assembling plastic pipe fittings used on sprayers. The silicone sealant allows adjustment to align fittings after assembly, and it doesn’t permanently cement connections.
Full story.
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Current weather pattern set to take a dramatic shift: What you need to know
From The SCOOP
The forecast is calling for a hot and dry June, which is a stark contrast from the cool and wet weather pattern that’s been dominating. As rains continue to suffocate the southern Corn Belt and the mid-South, those areas could face higher amounts of prevent plant this year, while much of the West will turn dry and warm by next week.
Over Memorial Day weekend, parts of Oklahoma, southern Missouri and Arkansas saw up to 5" of rainfall. Texas also saw rain, with severe storms even producing large hail. Posts on social media showed grapefruit-sized hail pounding areas of the state.
Full story.
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U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News
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U of MN Extension - 2025 field school
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EPA announces virtual Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee meeting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs will hold a virtual public meeting of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) on June 17, 2025, from 11:00AM – 5:30PM (EDT). The PPDC provides feedback to EPA on pesticide regulatory, policy and program issues and includes representatives from environmental groups, pesticide manufacturers, trade associations, academia and federal and state agencies.
Register here.
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