Motorists traveling on Minnesota highways this spring should be aware of large farm equipment moving from farm to farm, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “Planting season is ramping up across Minnesota and farmers need the highways to access their fields,” said Brian Sorenson, state traffic engineer. “Motorists need to be prepared to encounter … [Read more...]

ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging all Minnesota produce farmers to fill out the 2021 Grower Questionnaire. Produce farmers are asked to complete the questionnaire annually to determine how the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule applies to their operation and what steps they must take to comply with safety … [Read more...]

USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for very low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area. The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very low- and low-income applicants that are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as 1% … [Read more...]

The University of Minnesota and Minnesota Beef Council are collaborating on an overview study mapping the pathways Minnesota beef cattle travel from birth to finish. The survey was opened last fall, and the deadline has been extended to March 31, 2021. Dr. Joe Armstrong – “We really need MN beef producer responses to help us guide our research in the direction that best fits … [Read more...]

It does not come as a surprise that veterinarian, Dr. John Bengfort, is a wealth of knowledge. What is a surprise is that he has a wealth of interesting stories to tell. Dr. John Bengfort grew up on the family farm in northeast Iowa around Ossian and Postville. The family raised dairy cattle and hogs but no horses. After high school, Bengfort, a Vietnam veteran, served in the … [Read more...]

Kari Johnson fell in love with horses when she was about five years old, and still loves them. According to her, it was her dad’s fault; Dad had a buddy whose daughter had a horse, and he insisted that Kari needed one too! When her dad brought home her first pony, Kari fell head over heels for it. Kari was the youngest of five kids; none of the other kids was into horses at … [Read more...]

A contract for services between the Minnesota Land Trust and Fillmore County Soil & Water Conservation District was unanimously approved at the February 18 board meeting. The contract was for $5,000. “It’s in our favor to implement educational outreach programs for the land trust. It’s something we’ve done in the past,” noted District Administrator Laura Christiansen. … [Read more...]

By Bonnie Haugen Farmer, Land Stewardship Project member Canton, MN I am addressing the report of the Fillmore SWCD board meeting January 21, 2021. I understand that our SWCD needs to be mindful of partnering on educational events.  I do not want our farmers to avoid good events if there is a negative association.  However, I want the reasons for eliminating partnerships to … [Read more...]

ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has extended the application deadline for the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) as a result of the addition of federal COVID-19 relief funds to the program. The MDA expects to award a total of roughly $2.9 million in funding for the grant program, including about $1.65 million in one-time funding for COVID-19 … [Read more...]

Minnesota Farm Bureau’s Sesquicentennial Farm program will honor Minnesota families who have owned their farms for at least 150 years. Since the Sesquicentennial Farm program began in 2008, over 400 farms have been recognized. Applications are due March 1. The Sesquicentennial Farm program recognizes family farms according to the following qualifications: 1) The farm must be … [Read more...]