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4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification
MCPR and the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Council are pleased to report that we are making progress on reactivating our 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program for ag retailers in Minnesota. Previously, the council provided certifications for the ag retail facilities in Park Rapids and Big Lake. Based on those initial efforts, the team involved identified several process improvements, and we were able to build on that experience to secure additional NRCS grant funding to help advance the program.
We are pleased to announce that NuWay-K&H Cooperative is taking action to become the next ag retail facility to work through the 4R certification process. In the coming weeks, we anticipate that several more facilities will complete their applications and pre-audit meetings as they prepare for the 4R auditors to make their site visits.
MCPR secured funding for MDA to conduct a study and develop recommendations for an incentive-based program to help ag retailers advance the 4Rs and leverage the 4R Nutrient Certification process as part of the Minnesota Omnibus Ag bill. By demonstrating leadership to advance industry-developed best practices, MCPR is positioned to combat regulatory pressures and better inform policymakers on actions occurring in the fields. Please contact the MCPR 4R Coordinator, Emma Haydock, at emma@mcpr-cca.org if you would like more information and to talk through the process for having your ag retail facility 4R certified.
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Register today for MCPR’s annual golf outing!
Tee off with the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers 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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Ag Retail Survey to begin soon
MCPR will soon begin the Ag Retail Survey project. This summer, our survey liaisons will be calling on about 90 randomly selected ag retail locations, asking them to complete questionnaires for 12 randomly selected farm fields for each location. If your facility is contacted by a survey liaison about completing the ag retail survey, please work with them to schedule a time to meet and help them efficiently complete the questionnaires for the selected farm fields.
This project intends to gather data on nutrient management and farming practices across the state. The goal is to collect a statistically significant sample that will allow us to demonstrate practice adoption across the state. As you know, we are facing increasing pressure to expand regulatory action on fertilizer applications and the adoption of conservation practices in Minnesota. By gathering accurate information about current activities, we hope to show how the ag sector and farmers are working to maximize fertilizer efficiency and demonstrate the adoption of advanced farming practices. MCPR strongly supports a science-based approach and utilizes best management practices over a legislated regulatory strategy.
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Registration now open: CPM Short Course and MCPR Trade Show
Mark your calendar for the CPM Short Course and MCPR Trade Show Dec. 2-4, exclusively at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel! Exhibitor and sponsor registration is now available.
Visit this page for information on exhibiting and sponsoring the event. 2024 exhibitors will receive priority on booth location until Oct 1.
Click here for the event schedule. More details will be added as they become available.
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Congressional agencies look for boost amid government downsizing
From Roll Call
While Republicans warn of lean times ahead, many on Capitol Hill are hoping Congress will choose to pony up more money for itself.
Several legislative branch agencies are seeking substantial funding hikes for fiscal 2026, even as the White House proposes steep cuts to domestic spending and foreign aid, as outlined in a detailed request released Friday.
Full story.
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A look at key flashpoints in the coming Senate reconciliation debate
From Roll Call
The Senate this month will navigate a minefield of concerns from across the ideological divide among Republicans as well as lobbyists and stakeholders as it works to tweak and approve the House-passed “big, beautiful” budget bill.
Democrats, meanwhile, are lining up an assault on the filibuster-proof bill using all the procedural tools at their disposal, particularly by subjecting the mammoth package to a thorough scrubbing for compliance with the “Byrd rule” barring extraneous provisions. Any section found to violate the rule, which among other things requires a budgetary impact that can’t be just “merely incidental” to some other long-sought policy goal, can be stripped from the bill unless backers can get 60 votes to keep it.
Full story.
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ARA action alert: Advocate for ag-friendly budget reconciliation package
Congress has a narrow window this year to pass a budget reconciliation/tax relief bill that addresses the pressing financial and economic needs of agriculture and rural America. This legislation is vital to supporting family farms, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring our nation’s food security. By advancing policies that provide tax relief, invest in agricultural innovation, and bolster rural resilience, Congress can help farmers and ranchers navigate rising costs, adapt to new challenges, and thrive in a competitive global market.
The House has already passed its version of the package, which includes several provisions critical to agriculture and rural prosperity. While the Senate may approach this legislation differently, it is essential to preserve the momentum by advancing a bill that incorporates the priorities of rural communities.
The House-passed package includes critical tax provisions that should be incorporated into the Senate version:
Tax Provision Extensions:
- Section 199A Deduction: Permanent enhancement supports family-owned farms and reinvestment.
- Estate Tax Relief: Increased exemptions protect generational farm transitions.
- Lower Individual Tax Rates: Relief for pass-through farmers facing rising costs.
- Section 179 Expensing and Bonus Depreciation: Vital for agricultural productivity and innovation.
- 45Z Credit Extension: Boosts investment in renewable biofuels and energy independence.
Farm Bill Investments:
- Farm Safety Nets: Strengthen crop insurance and disaster aid.
- Conservation: Protect resources while enhancing sustainability.
- Trade Programs: Keep U.S. farmers competitive globally.
- Research: Equip farmers to adapt to climate challenges and innovate.
As the Senate considers its version of the budget reconciliation package, ARA urges you to take action and advocate for passing a bill that reflects the priorities of rural America and the agricultural economy. Farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and this legislation offers a generational opportunity to address their needs and ensure their resilience.
Take action.
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Enhanced efficiency fertilizers: Boosting crop production, mitigating environmental impact
From University of Florida IFAS
Applying fertilizer requires a careful balancing act between using too little — which can be insufficient to support plant growth — and applying too much, which wastes money and can hurt the environment.
A newly published UF/IFAS review explains how enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) like controlled-release and slow-release varieties can help farmers maximize their yields while reducing their chances of hurting their pocketbooks or the planet.
Full story.
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End of the line for Roundup? Bayer signals glyphosate’s final act may be near
From CropLife
Could the agricultural industry soon see the sun set on Bayer’s Roundup brand of glyphosate? Based upon the evidence, it certainly seems possible.
Across the agricultural landscape, perhaps no other single product has been as canonized and demonized as glyphosate. In agricultural circles, this herbicide was a gamechanger. It helped to control many different varieties of weeds, improving crop yields along the way, and spawned an entire class of row crops, the Roundup Ready brand.
Full story.
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How no-till influences nutrient management
From No-Till Farmer
Under no-till management, fertilizer and manure are typically broadcast on the soil surface & residues are not incorporated. These practices have a number of profound impacts to nutrient cycling and availability, as described below.
Full story.
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U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News
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National Agriculture in the Classroom conference comes to Minneapolis June 23-26
Twenty-five Minnesota teachers awarded scholarships to attend
Minnesota is proud to host this year’s National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, “Lakes, Land, and Legends,” June 23–26 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis. Organized by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization, this premier professional development event brings together Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, volunteers, and agricultural literacy leaders from across the country. Participants will take part in workshops that connect agriculture to core subjects in alignment with national education standards. Traveling workshops will also give attendees a firsthand look into Minnesota’s diverse agricultural landscapes.
Full story.
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