In this week's episode of AGRI-BIZ, Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich cover the top headlines in agriculture.  Planting in cool and wet soils, GREET model guidelines for biofuels released this week, predictive AI in agriculture, NDSU sheep auction, buying local at Alsager Meats, and more.

Spring weather has been very active in parts of farm country. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey explains more about the expected weather pattern. 

For the tenth straight year, Culver’s is offering guests a single scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard in exchange for a $1 donation to local FFA chapters and other agricultural education organizations.

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency reminds agricultural producers that Farm Loan Programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart practices.

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. The Biden administration released guidance on its sustainable aviation fuel subsidy program that allows corn-based ethanol to qualify for the program if it’s sourced from farms using climate-friendly growing techniques. Andrew Mauch serves as President of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has affected dairy herds in several states. Mike North, Producer Division President with Ever.Ag, talks about how the markets have reacted to the news. NAFB News Service 

Mike Strantz, vice president of advocacy with the National Farmers Union, talks about areas inside the bill that are important to the National Farmers Union. NAFB News Service

The difference in Brazil’s soybean production estimates from USDA and Brazil’s counterpart is quite large in 2024. NAFB News Service

More consumers are placing growing importance on buying sustainable, local food products - including at the meat counter.   Rusty Halvorson recently talked with fifth generation rancher Josh Alsager of Walcott, North Dakota, about his family's long history in sustainable beef production.  Alsager is also co-owner of Alsager Meats of Audubon, MN and Fargo, ND.

Farmers in Minnesota are making some planting progress. According to the latest crop progress report from USDA, corn planting was 30 percent complete, 14 percent of the soybeans are in the ground, and half of the oats and spring wheat crops have been planted.

Farmers National Company reports that overall farmland demand remains extraordinarily strong and land values are holding steady in most areas.

Studies show that farmer suicide rates are several times higher than the national average. Jessica Cabrera, managing director of member engagement with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says mental health among farmers and ranchers is an important topic.

The USDA released its 2024 Prospective Plantings Report in March. Mac Marshall, vice president of market intelligence for the United Soybean Board, talks about the soybean numbers that stood out in the report.

Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation has the details.

The ethanol industry and its backers in Congress have a new concern over the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of summertime E15 sales, allowed so far on a temporary summer-to-summer basis.

After weeks of paying higher prices, those increases at the gas pump may be nearing a halt as refineries complete the transition from winter to summer gas blends. 

USDA recently wrapped up a successful trade mission to New Delhi, India. Alexis Taylor, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, says the first mission to India in seven years was very productive.

About 13 percent of U.S. farms participated in Federal crop insurance programs in 2022, with the highest share from small family farms.

In this week's episode of AGRI-BIZ, Cass County 4-H signs up a new round of kids for the Livestock Enhancement Program at the Red River Valley Fair, sugarbeet planting leaps forward in the region, researchers at the NDSU Carrington Research Center are gearing up for the growing season, USDA is trying to get ahead of bird flu in dairy cattle, and more.

Oklahoma State University Livestock Market Economist, Derrell Peel, talks about the April Cattle on Feed Report released on April 19,

The Rural Development Finance Corporation has issued its first loan through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program, which offers low-interest financing for the start-up, expansion or operation of regional meat processing facilities, to Kramlich-Deede Meats in Medina.

The last couple of years have seen outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the spring and fall as temperatures change. However, this year has seen an unusual outbreak of the virus among dairy cattle. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, provides an update

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says above normal temperatures and precipitation will be predominant across much of the nation during the period of April 30 - May 6.

U.S. sunflower oil exports in the first five months of the marketing year stand at 11,045 metric tons (MT) a slight decrease of 1,407 MT from the same time a year ago. 

The U.S agricultural industry is entering the growing season, which means things will get busy. The National Agricultural Aviation Association is asking all uncrewed aircraft system operators (or drones) to be mindful of low-altitude crewed or manned agricultural aircraft operations.

This Farm Talk Segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. Registration is open for a free 2-day workshop for North Dakota teachers – Feeding and Fueling the World. The workshop is focused on integrating the science of modern food production into their classrooms and career technical education programs. Heidie Haugo with the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council has the details. 

Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom explains that with support from USDA and the Beef Checkoff Program, USMEF is finding new opportunities for underutilized cuts in a wide range of international markets. These efforts, along with marketing of beef variety meats, help maximize the value of every animal.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers will host the Modern Ag on the Mall event next month in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, a beef cattle specialist with Oklahoma State University, says the HPAI cases underscore a need for vigilance in protecting cattle from wildlife.

USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam explains a marker in measuring marketing of cattle in feedlots, and how it could indicate current trends in cattle inventory.

Farmers aren’t the only ones prepping for the spring planting season. Researchers at the Carrington Research Extension Center in central North Dakota are doing the same.

The Minnesota 95th State FFA Convention is taking place in Minneapolis. 

Dr. Beth Thompson, South Dakota State Veterinarian, talks about a number of the common signs of HPAI infection that producers need to watch for.

Andrew Mauch serves as the President of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. Mauch talks more about how the ethanol markets are being impacted by carbon capture and sequestration and how it effects corn producers.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says above normal temperatures and precipitation are expected for much of the nation for the period of April 23 - 29.

The Food and Agriculture – Information Sharing and Analysis Center released its first annual report on ransomware incidents in the U.S. food and agriculture sector.

Steffes Group Director of Real Estate Max Steffes and Rusty Halvorson discuss land auction highlights from Q1 2024, trend expectations heading into the U.S. elections this fall, some of the highest selling items from March and more!

In this week's episode of AGRI-BIZ, Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich cover the latest developments in the carbon conversation for agriculture, plus highlights of Auction Talk with Steffes Group.

Market bears have not been hibernating this winter in the grain markets. Allison Thompson is a market analyst with The Money Farm located in Ada, Minnesota.

Hormel Foods is the latest U.S. pork producer to reach a settlement in the ongoing allegations of a price-fixing conspiracy in the meat industry. In the first settlement round, Hormel will pay $2.43 million to the commercial indirect purchaser class in the case.

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. Andrew Mauch, NDCGA President, talks more about how the ethanol markets are being impacted by carbon capture and sequestration and how it effects corn producers. 

Spring planting progress has begun across the region. Along with getting the work done, comes to the decision as to what to plant. Jeff Gale serves as the NDSU Extension Ag and Natural Resources Agent for Foster County. He talks more about what producers are planning to plant in 2024 in the Carrington area.

Spring planting progress is taking place across the region. Andrew Mauch farms in southeastern North Dakota near Mooreton. 

Scott Jacobson, public affairs officer with the U.S. Forest Service, says since 2002, foresters and crews have been replanting trees to help the forest fill back in after the Jasper Fire.

The first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is now confirmed in Minnesota. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the first 2024 outbreak in Minnesota in a Meeker County flock. File Photo

For the second straight month, unit sales of 100-plus horsepower ag tractors increased in the U.S. New data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says March sales jumped 3.2 percent compared to last year, following February’s increase of 2.8 percent compared to 2023.

Lance Honig with USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service saying that the weekly crop progress report is as near to real time crop information as you can get.

John Swanson and Kevin Capistran have been re-elected to the Minnesota Sunflower Council. 

South American corn production numbers will be lower than expected, especially in Argentina. 

The 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag Innovation Challenge opened applications last week and announced a big change to the prize money.