Alaina Johnson is a recent graduate of La Crescent High School and will be attending UW-River Falls as a Pre-Vet major this fall. She is from rural La Crescent, Minn., where she has grown up on her family’s dairy farm. For the last 13 years she has been actively involved in Houston County 4-H. She’s held leadership roles in the Ridgetop Dreamseekers 4-H Club (which just started … [Read more...]
Restructuring farmers eligible for relief from loan fees: COVID-19 relief funds available to help farmers restructuring debt
Eligible farmers restructuring their debt can get half of the loan guarantee fees on USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) restructuring loans covered through a new Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) program, paid for through federal COVID-19 funding. The Minnesota Legislature appropriated $175,000 in COVID-19 relief this spring toward a grant program that covers 50% of loan … [Read more...]
‘No-till & Cover Crops with Farmer Rod Nelson’ Online Zoom Event, August 14
CHATFIELD, MN - No-till and cover crops will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) Zoom event Friday, August 14, from 1-2:30 p.m. Join the event 10 minutes before 1 p.m. for music and social time. All Zoom experience levels are welcome and guidance to using the platform will be given in the first 10 minutes of the program. The event is free, but registration is … [Read more...]
Agriculture literacy in our communities
By Maddie Smith National FFA Officer Candidate Think about the last time you filled up at the pump. What fuel did you use? Why? Thinkabout the labels on the food you buy. What do they mean? Think about the news stories you hear. What do we do to keep our water clean and the environment healthy? How do trade agreements impact our communities? Why do we see healthy livestock … [Read more...]
Tractors, tractors everywhere!
“Linus Hammell knows a thing or two about tractors. As co-founder of Hammell Equipment, he has been involved with tractors and other farm equipment all his life. According to the Hammell Equipment website, Bernard and Linus Hammell acquired the Allis-Chalmers dealership in Chatfield in 1976, then built a dealership in Rushford in 1978. In 1992, they expanded into Eitzen, and in … [Read more...]
MDA expands options for contacting Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline Text and email service now available
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering two new ways that farmers and others involved in agriculture can contact the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline: text and email. “We want to make it as easy as possible for our farmers to get the help they need when they need it,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “COVID-19 has come on top of several years … [Read more...]
Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Breeders’ Association offer youth scholarships
St. Paul, MN. – The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association are both invested in the educational endeavors of young adults from greater Minnesota. Despite the cancellation of the 2020 Minnesota State Fair, both organizations will continue to offer scholarship opportunities this August. Deserving youth are selected based on their leadership and … [Read more...]
Free online suicide prevention class for agricultural communities
NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) are partnering to provide free online suicide prevention classes tailored to farming communities. This effort aims to change public perceptions in agricultural communities and better equip them to identify and help people who may be having thoughts of … [Read more...]
Financial programs for farmers
You’ve likely seen that both the Minnesota state legislature and the federal legislature passed financial relief laws in response to the COVID-19 situation. But what do they mean financially for farmers and other agricultural small business owners? This article offers a short summary of some of the recent legislation. Federal Programs The Families FIRST Act requires all … [Read more...]
Wykoff residents recognized for their service to the livestock industry
In the 86-year history of the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame, there have been three inductees from Wykoff. Hog breeder, Henry A. Derenthal was inducted in 1949, and this past March, Normen and Doris Peterson were inducted for providing exceptional service to the livestock industry. “The Petersons are good and honest people who treat their customers very … [Read more...]