Calendar of Events

The Land Staff Writer Emeritus

OLIVIA, Minn. — With 30 years of professional agronomic consulting services, plus being an actual farmer himself, Curt Burns gets listened to — such as at the Nov. 17 Renville County Corn and Soybean plots information session at Max’s Grill in Curt Burns Olivia, Minn. Burns listing: C.B. Agronomics LLC, Stewart, Minn. His email: burnsagro@gmail.com.

Said Burns, “As we all know, 2021 turned out to be a challenging, teasing, then rewarding season. We started with plentiful soil moistures; then virtually no rains until August. Crops were writhing. You and I were thinking mostly negatively. At county fair time you were talking 100 bushel corn. Then August happened and 10 to 15 inches of rain! And you harvested 170 bushels, 200 bushels, 240 — even more. During this August/September time frame we simply underestimated the rainfall factor. Also, get favorable temps too and despite a drouthy start it’s apparent you can salvage a decent crop.”

“I had guys thinking 100-bushel corn and ending with 150 to 175 bushel corn. Kernel size was deep; test weight was good. Yes, I hear about today’s genetics being better than genetics of 1988. But I also think we’re better farmers than we were in 1988! Still lots of moldboard plowing in 1988. But look at today … crop residues left on soil surfaces help absorb rainfall keeping the moisture in the soil.”

“Also today, more narrow-row cropping. That additional canopy also helps preserve moisture. Yes, genetics today are better than 1988. But the reality is you guys are better farmers today … and you’ll be even better farmers 10 years from now.”

“It’s all about education; about technology; and your ability to put this technology to work on your

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own farm. This year variations, even from township to township, were amazing. I had townships with four inches rain all year getting 50-bushel beans and 150 to 160-bushel corn!”

“The point being, your soils are still the numberone determiner of your success and it starts with good drainage which then permits good root penetrations. In my 30 years’ experience I’ve learned we can be on the dry side into June; but if we start getting wet in August and September, we can still get a pretty good crop.”

“I’ve never seen low-ground, peat-soil areas produce like they did this year … yield monitors pushing 300 bushels in those areas. Summing up, even if the good Lord keeps us on the dry side into that MayJuly timeframe, but quenches our thirst starting in August, we can still have good crops.”

“Yes, a couple of things about 2022 concern me … and you guys know fertilizer prices top the list. I know several of you locked in your prices earlier this fall. But I’m seeing many fertility tests now showing low to medium fertility … and cash rent prices already at $275 to $300. Are we now mining our soils because P and K prices are too high? Certain truths don’t change. If you’re going to successfully grow good crops you need good fertility practices. You can’t skip on fertilizer; you can’t skip on drainage.

“A common mistake I see is a grower picks up a new farm to rent and that farm does not have the best drainage. I suggest work with that land owner about fixing those areas. No, I’m not saying pattern tiling, but fix the obvious. It’s important you work with these land owners — not just for your assurance of a good crop, but perhaps even more important to that land owner is the added sustainable value to his property.”

Another concern of Burns: “If we don’t have a really cold winter we’re likely to see expanding insect issues in 2022. I think grasshoppers will keep increasing; so too will spider mites; also root worms. I don’t like to say it, but we need a polar vortex for at least three months this winter or we will have insect issues next season. This means perma-frosts even 24-inches into the soil.”

In order to get a good crop you’ve got to do the basics: drainage, fertility, weed control, insect control, and good crop insurance too.

“Yes, your risk factor of damage from corn rootworms keeps increasing. I’m not saying that if you have long rotations — including sugar beets, or peas, or sweet corn — that you can plant non-transgenic hybrids and be fine. But if your neighbors are into continuous corn or you have a neighboring dairy farmer with increasing corn rootworm issues, you may be okay on your farm. But when you start bringing non-transgenic hybrids into closer contest with traditional or more transgenic hybrids, you’re likely going to see more root worm population into that township.”

“What I’m saying is, look at your operation, plus how much continuous corn is in your neighborhood. If increasing, that proximity likely means more beetles closer to my corn fields too. So maybe I need to look at traited corn too. I’m not trying to sell something … I’m just saying that if we continue with this warmer winter scenarios, we’ll have issues with more rootworms.”

“I don’t like ‘down corn.’ That’s my number-one concern,” sums up Burns. v

FOLEY, Minn. — Farmers with Private Pesticide Applicator certifications which expire on March 1 will need to renew that license for the 2022 growing season. The process to renew your license remains similar to what it has been from previous years with a few newer options for 2022.

Attend an in-person renewal workshop conducted by University of Minnesota Extension staff. Preregistration must be done online at pat.umn.edu three days prior to the workshop to ensure enough space to accommodate everyone. Walk-ins are still welcome provided we have enough space. Bring an official picture ID, such as a driver’s license, your current permit card if you have one, and a check to pay the $75 permit fee. You must arrive on time and stay for the entire workshop. Anyone 15 minutes late or leaves before workshop completion will not get credit for the workshop. Workshop locations are listed at pat.umn.edu.

Take the written exam available at your local County Extension office. The 19th edition manual is the current reference for the exam and is available for $10 at your local County Extension office. Mail the $75 permit fee along with your test answer sheet in the envelope provided.

Take the exam online by going to the University of Minnesota Extension website and looking under the Private Pesticide applicators page.

The self-paced canvas course will take you through the educational modules which you can complete at your own pace. You must register and complete all required components by no later than Feb. 28 to receive credit. Registration is at pat.umn.edu under the “Self-paced course” tab.

Attend a live online Zoom recertification workshop. You must pre-register to attend the Zoom workshop.

For questions about the private pesticide applicator certification process, call your local county Extension office.

This article was submitted by Nathan Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension. v

The Land Staff Writer Emeritus

MORTON, Minn. —It was my pleasure to join the “Priming for 2022” presentation by Hefty Seed Company on Dec. 22 at Jackpot Junction Casino. I was able to sit down with Darren Hefty, a most gifted spokesman for this Darren Hefty Minnehaha County, S.D. seed company. Over the years I’ve learned Darren will handle any question I toss at him, so here we go.

The Land: What are the top three questions farmers are tossing at you these days?

Hefty: Today that immediately centers on the supply chain with Liberty and Roundup herbicides. Also, how to deal with these outrageously high fertilizer prices right now … and still make money raising a crop next year.

You ask if we’re guilty of over-fertilizing our fields in the ongoing quest for bigger yields. I would say what we are most guilty of is not recognizing the variabilities within our fields. Sure, farmers don’t want to over-fertilize because that’s simply wasting money. But identifying these variabilities within a field is the challenge.

The Land: I’m hearing about cutting nitrogen rates up to 50 percent if applied to your corn crop as needed.

Hefty: Nitrogen is a real challenge because we want to get it out there at the exact right time. But with summers like we had in 2020 and 2021, it’s difficult to make in-season applications and have enough moisture to move those products into the plant. We suggest testing your soils each fall or early spring and adjusting your fertility program up front at planting — or even before — on heavy soils. Yes, we see value in in season’ applications … we just need to understand rainfall and application methods.

The Land: So is ‘spoon feeding’ your fertilizer, especially nitrogen, a preferred technology? And with anhydrous prices ramping up three to four times higher than last season, why not?

Hefty: One of the important developments is the ability to test your soils and prescribe most accurately the fertilizer appetite of your corn, even accounting for differences within a given field. Today’s high-tech corn planters can even adjust application rates on the go if you provide proper input data.

The Land: Are farmers guilty of excessive tillage — especially in seedbed preparations for their corn?

Hefty: Tillage is often a big discussion. What works great for one guy isn’t necessarily the same recipe for another. I just think that for anything we do in our fields there has to be a purpose; there has to be a goal. Conventional tillage, strip tillage, even zero tillage can work. Obviously your own skills, your equipment, your relationship with your weatherman, all impact the choices you make. It boils down to making the decisions that have the biggest benefits on your fields.

The Land: Especially because of fertilizer costs, some are predicting corn acres to be the big loser for the 2022 season. What’s your take?

Hefty: It’s a huge debate as to where acres will fall in 2022. With fertilizer prices so high it makes it more difficult for younger farmers — especially on rented ground. However, as I travel Iowa and Minnesota, more farmers are telling me they’ll stay with the same acreage mixture between the two crops because prices and situations may change as they get into 2022 cropping season. So unless they’ve already locked in fall prices for their crops, most farmers are telling me they’ll stick with their rotations.

The Land: You guys are so good at ‘pre-planning’ your chemical inventory needs, but do you think there will be supply shortage issues as this new season starts up?

Hefty: With ag chemicals, outside of Liberty and

7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.....................................................Registration 8 a.m. – noon......MSGA Delegate Session and Annual Meeting (Banquet Hall) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.........................Trade Show Open (Grand Hall) 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m................Beck’s Hybrids Learning Session (Meeting Room 245)

“Carbon: Not Just A Credit” What is your understanding of carbon and how it can impact your farming operation? Carbon is a buzzword flying around agriculture today and possibly creating some confusion. This presentation will provide a clear understanding between the carbon that is associated with the “carbon credits” and the carbon that is proven to be an agronomic benefit for your farm’s profitability. Nate will explore years of research and understanding of the carbon molecule and its place in agronomy, sharing data from Beck’s Practical Farm Research to guide your decision making for 2022. Noon.....................Boxed Lunch sponsored by Minnesota Pork 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m................Blue Horizon Learning Session (Trade Show Stage)

“Spot the Difference: Understanding Quality in Solar Projects” with Hal Kimball and Griffin Dooling. With the farm implements you use every season, you know how to spot the difference between manufacturers and the quality of their products. But if you’ve never worked with a solar developer before, how can tell if the project will stand the test of time? In truth, not all solar is created equal and sometimes the more affordable estimates can end up costing you the most in the long run. Griffin and Hal of Blue Horizon Energy are here to help you gain a discerning eye for quality. We’ll break down individual solar array components (like solar panels, racking systems, warranty, service guarantees, etc) into tiers based on price points and the pros and cons of each. In the end, you’ll be able to better evaluate a solar project proposal, allowing you to pick the solar developer that’s best suited for your farm. 2 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. .......... Afternoon Keynote — Amanda Radke (Trade Show Stage)

“Shifting our mindset and shaping new opportunities in challenging times” The pandemic has impacted both the health and economies of countries around the world. As producers and consumers alike grapple with the ramifications of this global crisis, at home on the farm, food producers are finding hope for the future. South Dakota cattle rancher and BEEF Daily blogger, Amanda Radke, challenges audiences to change their outlook in the face of great uncertainties, to look for new business opportunities where it appears none exist, and to pivot in creative and innovative directions in order to add value to their operations while serving as a high-quality supplier of safe, affordable food for consumers. 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.............. MCGA Reception and Silent Auction (Reception Hall) 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Dinner featuring comedian Todd Andrews (Banquet Hall)

Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers Association 7 p.m. -11 p.m.....................MSGA Carnival Fundraiser Night** (Loose Moose)

7 a.m. – 3 p.m............................................... Registration Open 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m............................ MCGA PAC Breakfast*** (Reception Hall) 8 a.m. – 3 p.m............................................... Trade Show Open (Grand Hall) 8:15 a.m. – 9 a.m...........Ag Economic Outlook with Kent Thisse (Trade Show Stage)

Join Kent Thiesse to review current trends in the in the farm economy and ag industry, including Federal ag policy issues, a summary of ag-related carbon sequestration programs, as well as an overview of future opportunities and challenges in the ag industry. Sponsored by Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. 9 a.m. – noon..... MCGA Delegate Session and Annual Meeting (Banquet Hall) 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m..........................Strip-Till Learning Session (Meeting Room 245)

Join University of Minnesota Researcher Jodi DeJong Hughes along with farmer Brian Ryberg for on-farm lessons and applications of strip-till in corn and soybean crop rotations. 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. ......................................................... Lunch

Sponsored by Profinium Program times and speakers are subject to change without notice **All are welcome. Tickets are $25 and available at the door. Includes drinks, appetizers and games. ***Must be a Minnesota Corn Growers member to attend.

MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota’s premier indoor agriculture trade show is returning to an in-person event in 2022. After a virtual pivot in 2021, the MN Ag Expo will take place Jan. 19-20 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.

“We are thrilled to reunite with our fellow farmers and the agriculture community,” said Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President and Beltrami farmer Mike Skaug. “MN Ag Expo is always a must-attend for growers throughout our state. After the trials and tribulations of the past couple years, we’re definitely not taking the 2022 Expo for granted.”

MSGA and Expo co-sponsors, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, will hold their annual meetings and finalize their 2022 policy resolutions on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, respectively.

This year, MCGA and MSGA have once again compiled a diverse list of keynote speakers and breakout sessions. South Dakota rancher and advocate Amanda Radke will serve as the afternoon keynote, and Army Veteran Jack Zimmerman will share his inspiring story during Thursday’s “Food for Thought” luncheon. Farm management expert Kent Thiesse is set to deliver the Morning Ag Economic Outlook presentation.

“Audiences are so excited to be back together,” Radke said. “The ag community is so close knit, and we’ve missed that fellowship and camaraderie.”

MCGA’s Reception and Silent Auction takes place on Jan. 19, highlighting the work of MCGA’s 52 county corn organizations. It will be followed by entertainment from comedian Todd Andrews during the dinner banquet.

While at the Expo, be sure to stop by the MCGA booth on the trade show floor to learn the many ways the state’s corn farmers are building a brighter future for Minnesota agriculture. Connect with old friends, look for giveaways, learn how your corn check-off funds are working for you, and explore the benefits of membership.

«Minnesota Corn is proud to co-sponsor MN Ag Expo and other events that allow farmers to network, hear from industry leaders and explore the latest trends in agriculture,” MCGA President Bryan Biegler said. “We’re looking forward to celebrating and highlighting our grassroots membership and can’t wait to get together.”

MSGA will also be holding its annual carnival fundraiser on Jan. 19 at the Loose Moose Salon to support MSGA’s grassroots advocacy mission in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.

Attendance at MN Ag Expo is free, but registration is required. Register online at https://mnagexpo.com/register.

“Our members and sponsors have been driving our mission since 1962, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to once again visit as an agriculture community,” MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek said. “There’s going to be something for everyone at this year’s Ag Expo.”

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. v

Jack Zimmerman was raised in a small town in Minnesota and shortly after graduating high school, joined the U.S. Army. After months of training, Zimmerman became an airborne infantryman. He deployed in 2010 with the legendary 101st Airborne Division. After spending nine months in heavy combat, Zimmerman, while on a foot patrol, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and suffered catastrophic injuries. As he lie there on the battlefield, his entire life flashed before his eyes. All the while his teammates were continuing to take heavy fire and fight the enemy while the field medic worked to save Jack’s life.

Zimmerman was not expected to survive that day, but 20 surgeries and two years later, he left the San Antonio Military Medical Center and medically retired from the U.S. Army. Back home, his friends, family and community rallied around him to offer their support. Zimmerman tackled many hurdles during his first months home and struggled to find his purpose after leaving the military. Through many opportunities to serve, both personally and professionally, Zimmerman found his passion in speaking to others and inspiring through his unique and valued perspective. Today, Zimmerman is a devoted husband and father and is a strong part of his community.

Todd Andrews began his comedy career in the Boston area (where he grew up), but eventually moved to his wife’s hometown in western Wisconsin. Todd’s performances are wonderfully woven stories about the observations and trials of a “Boston Boy Lost in Wisconsin” — focusing on his “fish out of water” experiences, his wife and family, and other odd life events.

Amanda Radke is a fifth generation rancher from Mitchell, S.D., who has dedicated her career to serving as a voice for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Since 2008, Radke has tackled industry issues on the BEEF Daily blog for BEEF Magazine, where she provides tools and strategies for producers to effectively engage with consumers and counter negative media articles on social media.

When she’s not blogging or speaking, Radke is penning agriculturally-accurate children’s books to help promote agricultural literacy in schools. Her titles include, “Levi’s Lost Calf,” “CanDo Cowkids,” “ A Home Run For Peanuts” and “The Soil Quilt.” Radke is determined to teach kids about where their food comes from to help the upcoming generation of consumers be both informed and empowered at the grocery store.

Kent Thiesse is a farm management analyst and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Ag Loan Officer for MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn. Kent writes a weekly column titled “Focus On Ag” which is distributed to several Midwest as well as writing regular articles for The Land magazine and other publications on agriculture related topics. In addition, Kent is a frequent speaker on farm management topics, and serves as the coordinator for the feature forums at Farmfest each year.

Nate Firle of Gibbon, Minn. designated small acres to strip trial replicated research to gain an understanding of not just how a product performs, but why. Nate is currently Regional Agronomy Manager for Beck’s Hybrids.

Griffin Dooling has led Blue Horizon Energy’s team of nearly 50 energy professionals through significant growth as they develop energy projects for businesses, farms and communities across the upper Midwest.

Hal Kimball joined the Blue Horizon Energy team in 2016. Since then he has risen to the role of sales manager — playing a vital role in the development of large-scale commercial, agricultural and not-for-profit solar projects across the upper Midwest.

Jodi DeJong-Hughes has been a regional educator with the University of Minnesota Extension for over 25 years. Her area of specialization includes tillage systems, soil compaction, and improving soil health. Jodi’s work focuses on reducing soil erosion and building soil health to improve the grower’s bottom line and to reduce the movement of soil and nutrients to our natural waterways.

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Archer Daniels Midland Company ...........................49 Ag Focus .................................................................12 Ag Solutions .............................................................2 Ag Spray Equipment ................................................60 AgroEcoPower .........................................................15 AGXplore International .............................................21 American Lung Association......................................46 American Pressure Inc. ...........................................20 AURI ........................................................................64 B

BASF .......................................................................40 Big Iron Auctions .....................................................62 Beck’s Hybrids.........................................................45 Blue Horizon Energy ................................................30 C

Dekalb Asgrow Seeds....................... 47 E

Ellingson.............................................. 9 Environmental Tillage Systems .......... 34 F

Far[MN] ............................................. 44 Farm Bureau...................................... 50 Farmer Law PC / Ag Work Force ........ 32 G

Gold Country Seed............................. 53 Green Energy Products ...................... 51 GreenSeam........................................ 19 Ground Works.................................... 73 H

Heads Up Plant Protectants ............... 52 Hefty Seed Company ......................... 58 Hertz Farm Management ................... 31 Hodgman Drainage............................ 29 Houston Engineering.......................... 27 ISG .................................................... 61 L

LandProz Real Estate 59 LeafFilter Gutter Protection 35 Litzau Farm Drainage Inc. 57 M

Minnesota Ag in the Classroom 33 Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) ................... 39 Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program......................... 22 Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center...................... 42 Minnesota Corn Growers Association.................. 38 Minnesota Farmers Union.................... 6 Minnesota FFA Foundation................. 48 Minnesota Propane Association ......... 17 Minnesota Soil Health Coalition............ 5 Minnesota Soybean Growers Association/ Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.......................... 11 Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence.......................... 14 Minnesota State University Mankato.. 13 Mustang Seed ................................... 16 N

Natural Resources Conservation Service – USDA.............................................. 74 Northern Soy Marketing....................... 3 Novozymes BioAg.............................. 66 P

Pioneer Hi-Bred International ............ 37 Prinsco .............................................. 69 Profinium............................................ 8 R

Renk Seed Co. .................................... 4 Rinke Noonan .................................... 54 Rob-See-Co....................................... 18 Sackett Waconia................................ 67 SB&B Foods....................................... 72 Schultz Welding ................................. 70 Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance .... 28 Steffes Group Inc............................... 25 T

The Land Magazine ........................... 71 Timpte, Inc......................................... 23 Titan Pro........................................... 68 U

University of Minnesota ..................... 36 U.S. Meat Export Federation ................ 7 V

Vive Crop Protection .......................... 26 Z

Ziegler Ag Equipment ....................... 56

Roundup, it looks like supplies will be adequate to do all the pest management that we need to do. However, there may be individual products that sell out this year. And this could mean some farmers may need to go to their second or third option The other challenge farmers are seeing is that prices on some products are up considerably while competitive products didn’t go up nearly as much. I encourage every farmer to spend a little extra time with their agronomist this winter figuring out which program will be most costeffective for them and which products are going to be in tight supply.

At the mention of agronomists, Hefty and I were joined by Hefty agronomist Matt Thompson, so I directed a couple of questions his way.

The Land: We’re soon just 90 days from the 2022 planting season. What’s your advice on what farmers should be doing?

Thompson: The big buzz word going into this next season is “nitrogen fixing bacteria.” There’s lots of skepticism in the market place right now … farmers calling this a ”snake oil” or “foo-foo dust.” Is this stuff really going to work?

Lots of investment going into the nitrogen fixing market these days because they’re trying to clean up the carbon emission’s footprint created in the making of nitrogen.

We’re concerned that growers are going down the road expecting a living microbe that physically can replace nitrogen on a consistent basis. But so far, based on research that we’ve done, we just don’t see living microbes replacing units of nitrogen. So our suggestion is look at this as a supplemental type of a pass, and not a replacement answer for your nitrogen concerns.

This could be the next wave. We’re not denying that possibility. But we need a better understanding as to how we manage this type of technology in this market. There’s a tremendous amount of carryover nitrogen in our soils from the 2021 season because of how hot and dry our 2021 growing season was. So if growers really want to measure how much nitrogen their crops used this past season, it’s a lot cheaper to invest in a nitrate test that determines the amount of available nitrogen still remaining in the soils as

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OMAHA COMING IN 2022 opposed to trying to replace that nitrogen with a particular microbe.

The Land: Is there any particular cover crop that works best at correcting some of these deficiencies?

Thompson: Great question … the reality is that we live in a monoculture type world. We raise corn from late April into early October, then we have barren ground until the next season. A lot of the biology that a plant needs requires a food source of that plant. And the more active growing plants we can provide in that environment, the better off those plants will be. If you look at the bio-activity in pasture ground or a CRP piece, it’s going to be significantly higher than where we have a row crop environment; and that is because of the greater variety of crops. Any type of cereal rye and oat crop, even if you add some legume species to create that additional diversity, you are replenishing the soil health of your fields.

Soil Health is the big word in today’s agriculture. We’re understanding it more on a daily basis. But my mind is that to really get serious about rebuilding soil health, cover crops need to be part of your strategy.

The Land: Are cover crops with a tap root even more significant?

Thompson: If you have serious compaction issues, or soils with high magnesium, or really tight soils with drainage issues, I suggest a turnip-type crop with tap root capabilities. This tends to loosen these soils. My only concern with these cover crops is that we sometimes see a higher play of seedling diseases because of the fungal species that it takes to break down those crops. So including a cover crop into the mix requires some other adjustments into your overall cropping rotation. v

Visit www.TheLandOnline.com to view our complete calendar & enter your own events, or send an e-mail with your event’s details to editor@thelandonline.com.

Online — Think compaction: Aaron Daigh of North Dakota State University and Extension water quality educator Jodi DeJong-Hughes will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn. edu/strategic-farming.

— Rock Rapids, Iowa — Topics include trends in Mastitis Organisms and Strategies for Control; Strategies for Selective Dry Off Treatments; Milk Quality from a Processor’s Perspective; Milker Training Program; Troubleshooting Mastitis in your Herd for Cleaner Milk; plus a producer panel discussion. Contact Fred Hall at fredhall@iastate.edu or (712) 737-4230.

Jan. 17 — Small Grain Workshop — Morris, Minn. — Workshop will focus on production agronomics, variety selection and economics. Also includes an open forum discussion on related topics and on-farm experiences. Contact Jared Goplen at (507) 829-0614.

Online — Management of corn for grain and silage: Corn agronomist Joe Lauer and ruminant nutritionist Luiz Ferraretto of University of Wisconsin - Madison will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Minn. — Registrants should plan to attend all six sessions. Topics include financial reporting, human resources, legal issues, market risk and production metrics. Contact Katie Drewitz at (320) 255-6169.

Conference — Ames, Iowa — More than 60 farmerled sessions. Topics include conventional and organic field crops; small grains; horticulture; livestock and onfarm habitat. Contact Tamsyn Jones at tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661.

Jan. 21 & 22 —Farm Couple Retreat — Faribault, Minn. — Learn about creative communication skills, personality differences, and resources to help each couple reach their goals and attain better management of the stresses of farming and family relationships. Learn how to communicate with your partner and children more effectively and enjoy a mini-vacation as a couple from the farm. Contact Leah M Bischof at leahbischof@gmail.com or (320) 429-0611.

Online — New findings with sulfur fertility: U of M nutrient management specialists and researchers will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Online — Strategies for effective weed management: U of M weed scientists and researchers will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

— Orange City, Iowa — Program will explore methods of euthanasia, composting mortalities, farm personalities, transition cow nutrition, milk marketing and industry updates. Contact Fred Hall at fredhall@ iastate.edu or (712) 737-4230