Farmer Veteran Coalition Making a Difference

The Farmer Veteran Coalition is making a difference in the lives of veterans across the country. American veterans can sometimes find themselves looking for a direction in life after leaving the service. Veterans looking into the possibility of a career in agriculture for a potential post-military career have an ally. Paul Marshall is a Veteran Service Provider for the Farmer Veteran Coalition. He talks about the mission of his organization.

Studies have shown that a career in animal agriculture can help veterans in many ways. Working in the country is especially helpful for vets fighting off the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Marshall says the Veterans Administration Hospital is catching on to the fact that being in the country is good therapy. One service the Coalition provides is helping match farmers looking for help with veterans interested in agriculture.

The organization describes itself as an organization that sets out to cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders. They want to develop viable employment opportunities that turn into meaningful, lifelong careers.

The FMC website says.”We believe that veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems. We believe that agriculture offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits.”

The roots of the organization go back to 2006. The first meeting to discuss pairing returning veterans with farmers looking for help took place in California. The movement expanded steadily from there. As recently as 2015, the number of veterans the organizations was working with totaled 4,500. The organization is now an independent 501c3. The group intends to keep paring returning veterans and farmers who need help for a long time to come.

For more information on the Farmer Veteran Coalition, check out www.farmvetco.org.

March 2, 2019March 2, 2019

Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame 2019 Inductees

The Minnesota FFA Alumni Association is proud to announce its FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2019. These nine inductees will join the 176 members already inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame over the past sixteen years. That number includes 75 inaugural members in 2004. The FFA Hall of Fame is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota FFA Association, Alumni, and Foundation.

Criteria

A selection committee consisting of FFA members, alumni, agricultural educators, and foundation representatives selected the final inductees. “We were looking for individuals who have been influential and supportive of Minnesota FFA,” said Steve Olson, co-chair of the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Committee. “We want people who have demonstrated a high level of service and longstanding commitment to agriculture, agribusiness, and/or education in agriculture.”

Save the Date

Inductees will be introduced at the 2019 Minnesota FFA Alumni Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 2nd at the Anoka Technical College. You can still register to attend by registering here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScY2u9AM4OuPk2I2goKOs5hQm0VFtULjPQSa3HEi_288VgVHQ/viewform

The Induction Ceremony

The induction ceremony is on Monday, April 29, 2019, during the 90^th State FFA Convention. You will see the 2019 Hall of Fame Class on the Minnesota FFA Alumni Association website. They’ll also be on the state FFA convention newsletter coming out shortly after the convention.

The Minnesota FFA Foundation, through its Star Partners Program, provides resources that support the FFA Hall of Fame program. Check out www.mnffafoundation.org for more information on programs and funding opportunities.

Making a Difference

FFA is a national youth organization making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success of its 629,367 student members. FFA members are preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology sectors of agriculture. Nearly 11,000 students are members of the Minnesota FFA Association. www.mnffa.org.

Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2019

● Judy Barka, Watkins, MN

● Nancy Dahlman,Cokato, MN

● Roy Johnson, Elk River, MN

● Fred Troendle, St Charles, MN

● Neil Pearson, Grove City, MN

● Ken Hammer, Frazee, MN

● Jeff Voss, Jackson, MN

● Gary Olson, Moorhead, MN

● Doug Hoseck, Hector, MN

Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame

Selection criteria

Nominees should meet many, but not necessarily all, of the following criteria:

1. Contributions and service the candidate has provided to agriculture/agribusiness, to education in agriculture and FFA. Consideration should be given to longevity.

2. Leadership to the candidate’s profession, to agriculture, to education and to the FFA;

3. Career accomplishments, honors and recognition;

4. FFA leadership at the local, state, and national level;

5. Leadership and support to other agriculturally related organizations and/or agencies;

6. Responsibilities, leadership and/or services to non-agricultural groups and organizations;

7. Participation and support of philanthropic endeavors;

8. Service to and participation in activities which promote agriculture, citizenship, education and the FFA.

February 6, 2019February 6, 2019

Applications Open for Beginning Farmer Institute

The Beginning Farmer Institute is National Farmers Union’s way of counteracting the aging population of rural America. Agriculture needs more young farmers and ranchers to take up the mantle and carry ag forward into the future.

National Farmers Union (NFU) today announced application period is now open for its Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) program class of 2019-2020. NFU encourages new farmers of any age, from operations of any size, type, or location to apply for the class.

BFI’s hands-on training provides beginning farmers and ranchers in the U.S. with the tools they need to lead successful farm and ranch operations. The Beginning Farmer Institute is also a fantastic opportunity to grow as leaders in their communities and American agriculture.

The BFI program will host three in-person sessions in Washington, D.C., California, and Georgia over the coming year. Programming will focus on equipping participants with skill sets in business formation, accounting, taxation, labor, credit and business planning.

Farmers from all parts of the country that work on diverse types of farms have greatly benefitted from the Beginning Farmer Institute training. The most recent class of the program—which will graduate at the upcoming NFU Convention in Bellevue, Washington—has 18 farmers and ranchers from 13 states. Women and veterans represent a majority of program’s past participants.

The application period for the 2019-2020 class will be open until April 12, 2019. BFI is sponsored by FUI Foundation, Farm Credit Council and CHS Foundation. More information about BFI is available here.

About NFU:National Farmers Union advocates on behalf of nearly 200,000 American farm families and their communities. We envision a world in which farm families and their communities are respected, valued, and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice.

Stay Connected
Look for us online at NFU.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

February 3, 2019February 3, 2019

Foxglove, a conflicted MDA Weed of the Month

Grecian foxglove (Digitalis lanata) is a beautiful but toxic invasive plant. It was brought to North America from its native Europe as an ornamental plant. Grecian foxglove thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas and has been found in Washington County, Minnesota. All plant parts are toxic, alive or dried, necessitating careful handling with protective clothing and equipment. This is a threat to humans and other animals. Additionally, Grecian foxglove overtakes and unbalances the ecosystems it takes root in.Grecian foxglove is a perennial plant that forms a rosette then sends up a flowering stem its second and subsequent years. The flowering stems are 2-5 feet tall. Its leaves are oblong-shaped with pointed tips and are simple and alternately placed on the stem. Flower color ranges from white to faint yellow with brownish-purple venation inside. Some of the ways Grecian foxglove can be distinguished from its look alike, common or garden foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), is that Grecian Foxglove has woolly hairs located on the stems and sepals, green petals that surround and protect the flower bud, and garden foxglove’s flowers display a much wider color spectrum.

Grecian foxglove (Digitalis lanata) is a beautiful but toxic invasive plant. It was brought to North America from its native Europe as an ornamental plant. The noxious weed thrives in sunny to partially-shaded areas and has been found in Washington County, Minnesota. All plant parts are toxic, whether it’s alive and thriving or dead and dried out, which means you have to take precautions. Careful handling with protective clothing and equipment is vital to your safety. This is a threat to humans and animals. Additionally, the weed overtakes and unbalances the ecosystems it takes root in, squeezing out other non-invasive plants.

Grecian foxglove synthesizes toxic compounds that impact cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal systems. The poison effects can come after either accidental ingestion or absorption through the skin. Poison symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, strange dreams, arrhythmias, and changes in vision.

Please take this seriously. If you suspect foxglove poisoning, call Minnesota Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222. Obviously, if someone needs immediate help, call 911 if immediate help is needed.

These toxic compounds can be deadly, but when extracted and used properly, they can also be used as a medicine. They can be highly beneficial in treating cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Washington Conservation District, along with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM), University of Minnesota-Extension, Belwin Conservancy, and private landowners and contractors are all working together to find and eliminate foxglove in Minnesota.

These groups and their efforts are supported by Environment and Natural Resources Trust Funds, as recommended by the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources. Grecian foxglove is a prohibited and eradicate weed on the Minnesota Noxious Weed List. If you suspect that you have found Grecian Foxglove, please take pictures of the plant, note the exact location, and report to Arrest the Pest at arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us.

January 23, 2019January 23, 2019

Farm Service Agency offices will reopen

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide will soon reopen to provide additional administrative services to farmers and ranchers during the government shutdown. Certain FSA offices have been providing limited services for existing loans and tax documents since January 17, and will continue to do so through January 23. Starting on Thursday, January 24, all FSA offices will open and offer a longer list of services they’ll offer to farmers.

Additionally, Secretary Perdue announced that the deadline to apply for the Market Facilitation Program has been extended to February 14. The program is designed to help American farmers hurt by retaliatory tariffs. Other program deadlines may be modified and will be announced as they are addressed.

“At President Trump’s direction, we have been working to alleviate the effects of the lapse in federal funding as best we can, and we are happy to announce the reopening of FSA offices for certain services,” Perdue said. “The FSA provides vital support for farmers and ranchers and they count on those services being available. We want to offer as much assistance as possible until the partial government shutdown is resolved.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has temporarily recalled all of the more than 9,700 FSA employees. Offices will be open from 8 am to 4:30 pm weekdays, beginning January 24. President Trump has already signed legislation that guarantees employees will receive all backpay missed during the shutdown.

For the first two full weeks under this operating plan (January 28 through February 1 and February 4 through February 8), FSA offices will be open Mondays through Fridays. After that, offices will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, if needed, to provide the additional administrative services. That schedule will be in effect until the government shutdown ends and full funding is restored

Agricultural producers who have business with the agency can contact their FSA service center to make an appointment.

Farm service Agency offices will be able to provide a list of critical services to farmers, which are listed below. The offices are allowed to do so, because failure to perform these services would harm funded programs. FSA staff will work on the following transactions:

Market Facilitation Program.
Marketing Assistance Loans.
Release of collateral warehouse receipts.
Direct and Guaranteed Farm Operating Loans, and Emergency Loans.
Service existing Conservation Reserve Program contracts.
Sugar Price Support Loans.
Dairy Margin Protection Program.
Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage.
Livestock Forage Disaster.
Emergency Assistance Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program.
Livestock Indemnity Program.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Tree Assistance Program.
Remaining Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program payments for applications already processed.

Transactions that will not be available include, but are not limited to:

New Conservation Reserve Program contracts.
New Direct and Guaranteed Farm Ownership Loans.
Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.
New or in-process Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program applications.
Emergency Conservation Program.
Emergency Forest Rehabilitation Program.
Biomass Crop Assistance Program.
Grassroots Source Water Protection Program.

With the Office of Management and Budget, USDA reviewed all of its funding accounts that are not impacted by the lapse in appropriation. After the reviewal process, USDA was able to except more employees. Those accounts that are not impacted by the lapse in appropriation include mandatory, multiyear, and no year discretionary funding including FY 2018 Farm Bill activities.

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

Minnesota FSA Offices Temporarily Open

https://www.farmers.gov/sites/default/files/documents/OpenFSAServiceCenters.pdf

The link above will show you which Minnesota FSA offices are open.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers who are experience difficulties because of the government shutdown to remember that MDA can help. While the USDA did announce today that Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offices will temporarily reopen January 17, 18, and 22, some farmers may still need to get additional resources heading into the spring planting season.

“I’m pleased that the FSA offices will reopen for a few days to help farmers get their existing loans processed,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “FSA is an important federal partner and provides critical services to farmers. My understanding is that the FSA staff will be available to assist farmers with existing farm loans.”

Petersen encourages Minnesota farmers to contact their local FSA office immediately during this temporary reopening. He also reminds farmers who may be in need of financial assistance or other resources to remember these programs run by the MDA.:

Rural Finance Authority low interest loan programs. Contact Ryan Roles at 651-201-6666, or visit www.mda.state.mn.us/agfinance
Farm Advocate Program for farmers needing one-on-one financial advice or other assistance. Contact Matt McDevitt at 651-201-6311, or visit www.mda.state.mn.us/farmadvocates.
Farm and Rural Helpline for farmers and their families that are coping with stress. Call 833-600-2670, or visit www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress.

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

Vermeer Bouncing Back from 2018 Tornado

Employees and management at Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella, Iowa, will always remember July 19, 2018. An EF3 tornado tore through the campus, causing significant damage and a number of non-life-threatening injuries. To add insult to injury, the tornado hit as the company was celebrating its 70^th anniversary.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Vermeer CEO Jason Andringa said, “We’ve dealt with several challenges during our 70 years of doing business and we’ve survived them thus far. We plan on doing it again.” That recovery is well underway.

“I was there that day, taking part at an anniversary event at which we had brought in more than 400 customers and dealers,” said Mark Core, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Vermeer. “We had an unbelievably good day. I’d just left to go to another meeting at the corporate building, so I was as far away as I could get from the tornado and still be on the campus.

“The people that were closer than I was described a lot of flying debris,” said Core. “A lot of people in our tornado shelters didn’t necessarily hear anything but they did feel their ears pop. They knew something was close. But, for most people, they really didn’t have any idea how big the tornado was until they walked outside.”

Awe and bewilderment are terms Core used to describe the reactions in the aftermath. Several plants sustained heavy damage and the wastewater treatment facility was a total loss. As the recovery process continues, Core said they will have to demolish two of their manufacturing facilities on the Vermeer campus.

“That means about 30 percent of our manufacturing space will be demolished,” Core said. “It should take two or three years to rebuild, including the time it takes to decide exactly how we want it rebuilt.

“Our CEO (Andringa), the grandson of our founder, set two immediate goals the next day,” Core recalled. “The first goal was getting everyone back to work within 45 days, so they could get back to their normal livelihood. The second was he wanted us to build ourselves back stronger than ever by 2020.

“We got everybody back to work in 31 days,” he recalled. “The second goal is what we’re in the middle of right now. Some things force a company to reinvent itself. Vermeer has never had a financial crisis because of how the owners manage the company. We’ve never been part of a purchase or acquisition. But, we did have a tornado. That gives us the opportunity of a clean slate to improve how we do things.”

In his words, Core said they are “shockingly” back up to pre-storm production levels. They had to shift some of their divisions into rented buildings in order to reclaim some space. He said the workers are more crowded in than they were before. They did have to outsource a few things temporarily as well. He said, “it might look too good to the naked eye,” but they’re still producing at a high level.

“I think a big key to the rebuilding is the passion of Midwest workers who believe in the family and the company,” Core added. “The only way to get everybody back to work in 45 days was to figure out how to get the production lines back in place in 30 days. It hasn’t been easy and there’s still a lot to learn over the next two-or-three months about our temporary world here, but so far, it’s been really pretty amazing.”

The company had a small spike in back orders during the first few weeks after the tornado, but overall, Core said the disruption at the dealer level has been small. He said their dealers did a “phenomenal job” of working with each other to help take care of customers.

“It’s been so much fun to watch the people on our staff rise and shine as they continue to help the company move in the right direction,” Core said with a smile visible even during a phone conversation. “They’ve been able to make quick and smart decisions on things like production, environmental health and safety, facilities, and senior leadership.

“We’ve also had a lot of support from our community,” Core added. “We’ve even had a lot of help from companies that you’d consider our competitors. It’s humbling when you hear from a major competitor that night who told us their people want to head our way and see if they could help us. I think we had a total of eight competitors contact us within the first 24 hours.

Core said it says a lot about people in the business of agriculture, who are always willing to lend a hand in the worst of situations.

“I think we’re getting through this,” Core said.

Here’s a first-hand, birds-eye view of the damage at the Vermeer plant taken by a drone on the same day.

October 22, 2018

Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline Available 24/7

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds farmers and their families that the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free and confidential. The toll free number is (833) 600-2670.

helpline

“These are challenging times for growers who are facing a number of economic headwinds on the farm. And during harvest, that stress builds for a lot of farmers spending long hours in the combine,” said Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Brian Thalmann, who farms near Plato. “All farmers should know this number is available when outside help is needed.”

Farmers and rural communities face unique stresses and emotional situations, including financial challenges, unpredictable weather, and physically demanding work. Stress, anxiety, depression, financial burdens, and other mental and emotional challenges are common.

The Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline connects callers to financial help, mental health counselors, legal assistance, and more. Calls are confidential, but counselors may ask for a first name and phone number in case of a dropped call. Translation services are available in all languages.

The Helpline is also available to people who are worried about family or friends and aren’t sure how to help.

Farmers and rural Minnesotans can call the toll free number as often as needed at (833) 600-2670 or visit the MDA’s website for additional resources on farming and stress.

Here are some great tips on dealing with farm stress of Lynn DeVries of the Nebraska Extension Service.

October 19, 2018

USSEC Initiative Helping Move Extra Soybeans

It’s well-known that the trade dispute between the United States and China has hit the U.S. soybean industry hard. China, once the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, is no longer purchasing large volumes of beans. That means a lot of the product needs to find new markets. The U.S. Soybean Export Council is working on a new initiative called “What It Takes,” which is designed to help deal with the backlog of soybeans that need to be shipped and sold.

“When the tariff dispute cranked up in April, we were all hopeful that it would be a short-term thing,” said USSEC CEO Jim Sutter. “While it could change at any time, we’d better plan for it to be a longer-term ordeal. It’s made even more challenging by the complex issues between the two countries. There’s more than soybeans involved, with a lot at stake.”

“It was a huge shock to what our industry has gotten used to in terms of marketing plans,” Sutter said. “Our team has been very busy working with exporters. We’re trying to help them in any market where they might have potential customers. We’re also working with importers around the world, telling them about the attributes and possibilities that U.S. soy holds for them.”

Sutter said most overseas markets have purchased at least some U.S. soybeans. There are just a few that haven’t yet. U.S. beans are priced very competitively around the world right now, making them a more affordable option than in past years.

Soybeans have really backed up in the Pacific Northwest. Exporters there typically sell most of their beans to China. USSEC is focusing on encouraging potential customers to come to the PNW as they look for soybeans, and they’ve been successful at it. Taiwan has purchased soybeans in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 15 years.

“We’re doing a lot of work in other Asian countries, which we think would be a logical destination for those beans from the Pacific Northwest.”

Here’s the complete conversation:

Here’s a refresher on just how USSEC helps improve things for soybean farmers:

October 18, 2018October 19, 2018

Organic Farming adding acres and operations

Organic farming is growing to meet the increasing demand for its products. A report from Mercaris, an organic industry data service, says the U.S. now has roughly 6.5 million acres of organically certified land. The number of certified organic farms is three percent higher this year than in 2017. Laura Batcha, CEO/Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association, says that great is news.

“We always welcome seeing an increase in U.S. acres dedicated to organic farming,” Batcha said. “It’s something very important to see an increase in the overall value chain and the sustainability of the industry, as a whole.

“We’ve been investing in some particular initiatives that have an emphasis on increasing production in terms of row crops, including row crops and small grains,” Batcha added. “It’s really nice to see the number of acres has grown in the last year. Our members worked on projects to help to increase knowledge transfer that would support farmers transitioning their acres (to organic), so it’s nice to see that particular crop types and geographies are showing an increase.”

Some of those geographies include states along the East Coast, through the Corn Belt, and through the West. Those areas reported the largest gains in total certified operations. Just those three regions alone added 430 certified organic farming operations. Batcha is pleased that organic is spreading to different locations.

Batcha said the goal is to keep a nice and steady growth in the number of organic areas and operations across the country. That’s not necessarily an easy thing to do because there’s no one way of doing things in organic production that applies to all products.

“It’s tough to talk about keys to growing the industry as a whole because you have to look at it from a crop-specific perspective,” she said. “You also need to look at things from a regional perspective. What works for specialty crops in California won’t be the same thing that works for small grains in the Great Plains.

“The industry is focusing on several things right now,” Batcha added. “Organic regulations require crop rotation and cover-cropping. Organic farms have longer and more complex crop rotations (than traditional farming). What is needed is for crops in different rotations to have access to markets. It’s an emphasis the whole supply chain is looking at. Some of our farms may have six or seven different crops and we want healthy markets for all of them.

“The other thing the (Mercaris) report calls out is improving transparency in terms of data and statistics in the organic industry,” Batcha said. “But there are still gaps. The report recommended the same thing that our members have already brought to the Department of Agriculture. The recommendation we want is to see that the reporting of acreage from the certified agencies to the USDA to be a mandatory data transfer on an annual basis. It’s not only important for good statistics that inform policy choices, as well as farmer decision-making out in their fields.”

There are now 17,648 U.S. farms certified as compliant with the USDA National Organic Farming Program standards for organic row crop production. Total organic acres increased from 6.4 million acres in 2017.

The data company calls the report the only trusted information source on organic farmland statistics because the Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will not be issuing data on organic acreage for 2018.