Nicollet & Sibley County Ag News
November 2021
Your Ag Educator- Notes from Emma Severns
Welcome to November!
November always reminds me of all the things I have to be thankful for. I have enjoyed meeting all of you and addressing local issues that are important to you. As we approach the end of the harvest season, we start to see more educational opportunities such as our upcoming Land Rent Workshops. I look forward to being able to meet with some of you at those events. Keep an eye out for upcoming local events which can be found on our Extension webpage, UMN Extension- Nicollet & Sibley County Facebook and here in our newsletter. As always, be in touch with questions, concerns, and ideas for Extension programming.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Emma
Extension Events
Land Rent Workshops
Wondering what is acceptable to charge or pay for land rent in Minnesota? Recently, farmer profits are down and farmland rental rates have declined slightly while commodity prices have decreased significantly. These factors make determining a fair profitable farm rental agreement a challenge in today’s economy.
University of Minnesota Extension Farmland Rental Workshops help farmers, landlords and ag professionals determine a fair farmland rental rate. Presenters review historical rental rates throughout Minnesota and use data-driven decisions to help determine a fair value for land.
Feeding goats and sheep for the age and stage of production
Join UMN Extension to learn more about the management of the nutritional needs of goats and sheep during a drought year. This event will discuss the nutritional requirements of small ruminants at every age and stage of production.
For more information and to register click here
2021 Soil Management Summit
The Soil Management Summit emphasizes proven farmer experience and applied science. Straight from the fields, learn how heavier, colder soils aren’t necessarily the challenge they’re made out to be. Hear from long-time no-till, reduced tillage, and cover crop farmers as they share their experiences, so you can be spared the same hard-learned lessons.
Land Rent Workshop-Sibley County
Farmland rental rates are the largest input cost the farmer has. Landlords, farmers, and agri-business professionals should make plans to attend one of the informative meetings being held across Minnesota and online.
Topics:
- Local historic and projected farmland rental rate trends
- Current farmland values and sales
- Determining a fair rental agreement
- Input costs for 2021
- Current 2021 corn and soybean prices
- What is affordable rent?
- Rate of return to the landlord at current market values
- Flexible rental agreements
Instructors:
University of Minnesota Extension Ag Business Management educators David Bau and Nathan Hulinsky
Cost and registration
The event is free to attend and pre-registration is not required.
Monday, Nov 29, 2021, 01:30 PM
Sibley County Human Services Department, 111 8th Street, Gaylord, MN, USA
Hot Topics in Agriculture
Increasing tar spot of corn in Minnesota
Tar spot of corn increased in distribution and severity in Minnesota in 2021 compared to previous years. It developed widely in SE MN where it developed previously, and spread west and north to areas where it was not previously known. Thus, tar spot is no longer restricted to southeast Minnesota and may pose a risk to more areas in the future.
With high fertilizer prices, should you consider manure options in your area?
As fertilizer prices continue to rise, more people are considering how to integrate livestock manure into their soil fertility plans. While dealing with manure can be a bit more complicated than fertilizer, it’s a valuable source of nutrients and also provides food for soil microorganisms; a win-win situation when it comes to overall soil health! Here are some tips to consider to make sure you get the best bang for your buck from manure.
High nitrogen fertilizer costs: What should corn growers be thinking about?
It is uncertain as to whether there are real concerns about fertilizer availability or if dealers are trying to avoid the risk of purchasing expensive product they would be forced to sell at a loss should fertilizer prices drop. Farmers have rightly been questioning whether they need to adjust their plans based on this situation. Here are some things to consider when evaluating your situation.
University Resources for You
Fall 2021 Tax Planning for Farmers
Most government payments to farmers and small businesses require inclusion as income on your annual federal or state tax return. The continued COVID-19 pandemic, summer 2021 natural disasters including hail and drought, and other governmental funding initiatives will result in some farms and small businesses having significant governmental income payments this year. Since most farmers are cash-basis tax filers, farmers may take advantage of several tax planning strategies to help maximize their after-tax income.
Successful fall tax planning requires that farmers maintain up-to-date farm accounting records to determine what strategies to implement. Click here to learn more.
Manure management planning - or accounting for how, when, and where you’ll apply all of the manure generated on your farm every year - is an important aspect of livestock production. There are often rules associated with manure management planning, depending on the state where you farm. In Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has created a Manure Management Planner (MMP) spreadsheet tool to help you create your plan while meeting state guidelines. We recently created an online course to help folks learn how to use the planner while also learning more about the science behind manure management!
UMN Soil Testing Laboratory
The Soil Testing Laboratory is part of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources.
Soil testing takes the guesswork out of fertilizer recommendations, ensures fertile soil without pollution of the environment, and makes good economic sense. Our recommendations are based on laboratory results, soil characteristics, crop history, crop nutrient requirements and are specific to Minnesota locations and conditions.
Please email us at soiltest@umn.edu, or call 612-625-3101 for more information. (Email messages often result in the fastest response.)
Farm Information Line
Contact the Farm Information Line for reliable, research-based answers from Extension agriculture and natural resources experts. It is a statewide service backed by a network of local educators, so you'll get information to meet your needs.
Call: 1-800-232-9077
Afterhours: Leave a voicemail and we'll return your call the next business day.
Anytime: Email us at fil@umn.edu.
Connect With Us
Email: sever575@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu
Location: 501 South Minnesota Avenue, St Peter, MN 56082, USA
Phone: 507-934-7828
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMN-Extension-Nicollet-Sibley-County-296711563757356
Twitter: @UMNExt