In a sparsely attended afternoon public hearing for a proposed CO2 (captured carbon dioxide) pipeline project, stakeholders, landowners and the public heard an overview of the Summit Carbon Solutions plan as well as officials from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
A farmer’s right to repair their own equipment has been a hot topic in agriculture for a few years. The basic premise is large equipment manufacturers are keeping farmers from performing their own software diagnostic repairs or hiring independent engineers to do them. Twenty states have intr…
A bill funding the state’s agriculture department and related programs is on its way to a conference committee following a vote on the House floor.
If the Minnesota Department of Agriculture had its way, the Environmental Protection Agency would forget about trying to further change the way Minnesota farmers use the herbicide atrazine on their crops.
It’s not a conversation any of us want to really discuss with parents or grandparents. After they are gone, depending on the value of a property, some farm families or property owners that inherit property left in an estate could face substantial tax burdens.
In just about every conversation these days, the same topic is mentioned — inflation.
Farmland has definitely been a valuable commodity in the last few years in Otter Tail County.
It’s a big business and it’s only getting bigger, says Jesse Tysdal of Tysdal Triple T Farms, located about five miles north of Fergus Falls on County Road 1.
More and more consumers are demanding to know where their food comes from and how it is raised and they are willing to pay a premium price for it as well.
A substantial fire took place in the evening on Mar. 24 at Pro-Ag Farmers Cooperative elevator in Hoffman.
The dry conditions experienced over the last few years continue to persist in the midwest, especially in Otter Tail County.
It started out small but became a very active group that met regularly in the area. The Farm Women Club was founded with the goal of getting together to appreciate and celebrate farm women and their achievements.
December drove home a harsh reality to many people all across the nation. When the weather gets nasty it can get downright miserable just about everywhere. The snow cyclone bomb Elliot, stretched from the Mountain West to the East Coast and down into the Gulf Coast states. While a storm this…
Only two of the ten counties that would be part of the footprint for a proposed CO2 pipeline that would be built by Summit Carbon Solutions, the Otter Tail and Wilkin County segments of the project are now going to be scrutinized further.
Each year, the West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding accomplishments in implementing conservation practices that improve and protect Otter Tail County’s natural resources. This year’s outstanding conservationists a…
A former Fergus Falls High School graduate has been elected as a board member for the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association.
The advantage of cover crops in Otter Tail County and the surrounding area has been known about for a long time.
A proposed CO2 pipeline project that would go through Otter Tail County that is being built by Summit Carbon Solutions, based out of Ames, Iowa, has responded to recent criticism from environmental groups and others, countering that some of the information they are putting out is simply not …
A rural Underwood couple has been named as Red River Valley Outstanding Farm Leaders for 2022.
An organization that represents hundreds of area producers has sent a delegation on a trade mission to Manila, Philippines.
A new wheat variety has been released for growers and seed sales marketing. It’s called ‘MN-Rothsay’.
With the 2022 County Committee Election process coming up in a few months, farmers and landowners in West Otter Tail County are being reminded that the Farm Service Agency is hosting a series of informational meetings about the process.
When it comes to the weather, it has been a year like no other in recent memory in Otter Tail County. This is especially true for spring planting and getting the fields seeded.
A long time area agricultural event and trade show recently decided to end their run.
As with every spring, planting will begin soon and a lot of equipment will be moving around. This is the best time to think about safety, not after it is too late. Farm accidents can’t be undone.
The past eight weeks, our nation and the world have watched Russia’s unjust war in Ukraine unfold and progress. I believe for many of us, it is truly hard to fathom what it’s like on the ground. On Feb. 24, as the first missiles launched, I was amazed and disgusted that Russia would actually…
In a situation that could directly affect area dairy farmers in Otter Tail County, early last month, Global Affairs Canada released their proposed changes to their tariff-rate-quota (TRQ) allocations in regards to the the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) officially entered into …
From chaotic trading markets to unknown factors in supply issues for the upcoming planting season, the Ukraine situation with the Russian military campaign is causing ripple effects around the world, and a ton of volatility in many area — one of which is agriculture.
Gov. Tim Walz has announced the activation of a USDA emergency response team to support the state’s disease control and containment efforts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) or bird flu, which poses a low risk to humans but is currently confirmed in three poultry flocks in Minnesota.
A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would give landowners the legal right to renegotiate or buy out U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service easements that were created before 1977.
For many years sulfur was considered a secondary nutrient. However despite it’s status, it is actually an essential element of crop production.
Scholarships are now available to help Minnesota organic fruit and vegetable growers participate in one-on-one farm business management guidance. Participants can work with instructors to improve their knowledge of accounting, budgeting, finance, tax management and business analysis. In addi…
Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) has reported that western and southern Minnesota is experiencing severe drought right now. In fact, in some places herd culling is being done due to a lack of quality feed and farmers are making other operational changes to mitigate future losses in…
Otter Tail County is experiencing extreme drought stress in some areas of the county at this time along with the rest of west-central Minnesota. Some areas of the state, like Polk and Nobles counties are also struggling.
Jerry and Sarah Juven farm at the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and County Highway 82 some 6 miles southeast of Fergus Falls. Their rolling farmland lends itself to corn, alfalfa and lately, some substantial sentiment.
The Red River Valley Development Association (RRVDA) named Vernon and the late Joan Simmer of Rothsay the “Outstanding Farm Leaders” for Wilkin County.
The 2020 Dry Bean Grower Survey of Production, Pest Problems and Pesticide Use provides important data on dry bean production, pest problems and pesticide use in Minnesota and North Dakota. Research and Extension faculty at North Dakota State University along with directors of the Northarves…
The Red River Valley Development Association (RRVDA) named Charles and Carol Piekarski of Fergus Falls Outstanding Farm Leaders for West Otter Tail County.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in Fergus Falls will host an informational webinar about enrolling acres into the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The webinars will be held March 31 and April 1 at 9 a.m. The meeting will cover eligible practices, cost-share available, and …
Working lands work — for people and for wildlife. At the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we understand that by collaborating with local landowners, we can grow both healthy landscapes and waterfowl populations — plus a strong farm economy. Take a few moments to discover how we foster conserv…
“Building Bridges, Cultivating Connections,” the sixth annual Women in Ag Network Conference will be held virtually on Feb. 3, 2021. Even though the conference will be virtual, the event will be a day of learning and networking for women involved in agriculture. The conference will be from 9…
There are two things every farmer I know appreciates, harvesting a good crop and making a profit while doing it. While we are at the whims of nature for the quality and quantity of the crops, profitability is where we must have a say. Without profitability, family farms cannot repay their lo…
Like many annual events, this year’s Soil Management Summit (SMS), formerly known as the Conservation Tillage Conference or CTC, has had to make the transition from in person to online.
Junior Leader Workshop (JLW) -“4-H: The Next Level” was held Oct. 15 at Faith Haven Camp near Battle Lake. This camp is designed to inspire and enable each participant to uncover unique abilities, develop greater confidence and master strategies for success as a leader in their 4-H program.…
SustAg is offering grants for farmers and Minnesota nonprofit/educational organizations focused on new ideas in sustainable agriculture. Funding amounts up to $50,000 for projects spanning two to three years with a dollar-for-dollar match on amounts above $25,000 is still available. With the…
It appears like the fast shuffle Minnesota farmers got from Mother Nature last fall could be replaced in 2020 by a fast harvest.
Kimberly Marie Dysthe Goeden received a sentence of up to three years of supervised probation Monday in Eighth District Court at Elbow Lake.
No objections were presented in Eighth District Court Monday by customers of the former Ashby Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company. The court action clears the way for creditor to recover $1.45 million of their losses from a substantial embezzlement scheme engineered by a former manager, Jer…
Outside Rothsay, tucked away between pastures and fields, reside Justin and Karen Phillips, leaders of the Oscar-Trondhjem 4-H Club. Along with their four children, Andrea, Allison, Wesley and William, the Phillips family happily attends their meetings and works diligently on their 4-H proje…
Rep. Collin Peterson, congressman for Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District and chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, made a stop in Fergus Falls on Thursday to visit the ethanol plant Green Plains Otter Tail LLC. Peterson spoke with the plant’s general manager, Anthony Hicks,…
Creditors of the former Ashby Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company will be given an opportunity to recoup $1.45 million in losses Sept. 21 at the Grant County Courthouse according to Fergus Falls attorney Erik Ahlgren.
The Northwest Research and Outreach Center’s (NWROC) annual Crops and Soils Day has been moved to an online event in 2020. Visit nwroc.umn.edu to watch videos showcasing the spectrum of research going on at the NWROC.
Local fire and rescue departments and schools in Traverse County recently received some welcomed support from Traverse County Corn and Soybean Growers and their checkoff dollars. Fire and ambulance departments in Tintah, Wheaton and Browns Valley and schools in Browns Valley and Wheaton each…
Throughout Minnesota, 4-H educators and youth are putting their innovation skills to work as they create alternative experiences to replace 2020 county fairs, including the West Otter Tail County Fair.
There has been unprecedented milk and product price volatility over the last few months. Rabobank’s global dairy strategist Mary Ledman and vice president of dairy research, Ben Laine discuss their outlook on the global and U.S. dairy markets on a webinar at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The web…
For more than 150 years, family farms have driven rural communities. It’s still that way today; family farms support local schools, churches and businesses. In short, family farms support what rural America is all about.
Jeremy Fronning of rural Dalton joins the ranks of Otter Tail County farm producers who have been recognized as being certified through the MN Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). To become certified, property owners must meet program qualifications through a comprehen…
Although there will not be a state fair this year, that is not stopping the Minnesota FFA Foundation from getting together to celebrate the positive impact that Agricultural Education and the FFA are having on the more than 35,000 youth in Minnesota classrooms. The Minnesota FFA Foundation T…
Minnesota U-pick operations, on-farm markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) farms seeking help to ensure a safe and sanitary experience at farms and pick-up sites can apply for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Safe on the Farm Direct Marketing Cost Share program.
CHS Prairie Lakes recently donated a $10,000 grant to West Central Area High School’s agriculture program.
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