The Hilgeman family farm, MFU members in Pennington County

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

MinnesotaAgriculture

a publication of Minnesota Farmers Union

May 2019

In this issue…

Legislative Update

Members in Focus: Hilgeman Family

Renewable Energy Update

Rural Voices Discussions

MFU Women’s Conference Details

May is Beef Month

Minnesota Farmers UnionExecutive CommitteeGary Wertish, PresidentBryan Klabunde, Vice PresidentAnne Schwagerl, SecretaryCarol Anderson, ChairTed Winter, Vice ChairLinda LarsonSteve LinderJoshua VanDerPol

Minnesota Farmers Union StaffGary Wertish, PresidentBryan Klabunde, Vice PresidentStu Lourey, Government Relations Michelle Medina, ProgrammingBruce Miller, Membership and Outreach,

Minnesota Cooks Brita Moore, Public Relations and

CommunicationsGlen Schmidt, Education Laura Sherar, Operations

Minnesota Farmers Union Outreach StaffLee Johnson, (507) 317-7537Ken Pazdernik, (218) 206-4499Diana Rico, (651) 368-6247Peter Ripka, (320) 412-6355Amanda Rosendahl, (320) 815-8670

MFU Phone: (651) 639-1223MFU Toll-Free: (800) 969-3380MFU Website: www.mfu.org

Minnesota AgriculturePublication Number

351340 ISSN 0274-9718

Published monthly by the Minnesota Farmers Union;305 Roselawn Ave. E, Suite 200 Saint Paul, MN 55117.Periodical rate postage is paid at St. Paul, MN.

Postmaster: Send address changes to MinnesotaAgriculture; 305 Roselawn Ave E Suite 200 St. Paul, MN55117. Phone (651) 639-1223.

Minnesota Agriculture is published exclusively for the use of Minnesota Farmers Union members. The newspaper is a benefit of membership in thestatewide organization that represents family farmersand works to preserve and improve the quality of lifefor all who live in rural Minnesota. A portion of eachmember’s dues, about $5, funds a subscription.

Volume 163 No. 5 May 2019

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Dairy Together Roadshowby Emily Pliscott, MFU internA group of about 100 Farmers Union members,bankers, industry members and cooperativerepresentatives gathered on April 16 inGreenwald, Minn., to discuss the current dairyprice crisis and possible solutions. The eventwas one of the Dairy Together Roadshowshappening in states such as Wisconsin, NewYork, California, New Mexico, Michigan andMinnesota.

Dairy Together is a movement in conjunctionwith Wisconsin Farmers Union, Holstein USAand National Farmers Organization to rebuild a viable dairy economy for family farmers andrural communities. National Farmers Union Vice President Patty Edelburg, a dairy farmerfrom Wisconsin, addressed the room, saying we would discuss a “structural change weprobably need.”

This event intended to go over national, notregional or voluntary solutions, moving awayfrom consolidation. The meeting was to discusslong term solutions for farmers who do notwant to put their fate in the hands of globaldairy markets they cannot control. Low pricesfor dairy have caused many family dairy farmsto go out of business, which in turn harms ruralcommunities as well.

Attendees heard from retired University ofMinnesota Professor Dr. Richard A. Levins. Hefocused on a short-term plan to support familyfarmers by paying out the difference of operatingcosts in milk prices for large and small farmers,since small farmers typically have higher costsof production than large farms. Levins aimed tolevel the playing field, saying it is “bad economicsto get rid of people as competent as the farmerswe have.” His proposal would be implementedin conjunction with a longer-term plan.

NFO Director of Operations Dave Kasenopresented his organization’s idea, which is toextend the Federal Milk Marketing Ordersnation-wide. Cornell University professor ChuckNicholson and University of Wisconsin-Madisonprofessor Mark Stephenson analyzed threeproposed options for dairy supply management.The first options were programs with anallowable annual production growth amountand a market access fee per hundred weight forexpansions exceeding this allowable growth.There are two versions, one with continuousregulation and one where the market access fee

and regulations are triggered by price. Theother program is a marginal milk program.

The two economists analyzed theirimplementation as if they had beenincluded in the 2014 Farm Bill. Theprograms generally showed reducedvariation, enhanced prices and increasedincomes. One negative impact is a possibledecrease in domestic dairy sales, thoughwe were assured this small decrease is onlybecause of a higher price and would beoverridden by positive impacts.

Minnesota dairy farmers, bankers andother stakeholders had a productive

conversation about the future of the industry.While it is hard to find the perfect solution to help our farmers, the speakers wanted toshare that these proposals are seriously worthconsidering. Today’s farmers are ready forchange, and Farmers Union believes there isenough space in the market for farmers andconsumers to all do well.

To learn more about Dairy Together, go towww.dairytogether.com.

National Farmers Union Vice President Patty Edelburg, a dairy farmer from Wisconsin, introduces the Dairy Togetherprogram to attendees in Greenwald.

Shaina Kirckof, a dairy farmer from Brootenencourages farmers to reach out to electedofficials about what kinds of policies theywant to see implemented.

3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Ag Census shows greater diversity, need for better policyLast month, the United States Department ofAgriculture released the 2017 Census ofAgriculture, which had been delayed by the 35-day government shutdown earlier this year.The census, released every five years, gives us a snapshot of what agriculture in our countrylooks like. As you’ll see in the National FarmersUnion Washington Corner on page 10, the2017 census improved upon the surveyquestions from previously. Many farms have multiple operators, and the census showed us that more of those operators are women than it has captured before.

Unfortunately, the census also pointed toward continued downward trends in farm income and the number of farms overall. Only 5 percent of farms accounted for 75 percent of all sales in 2017. These concerning trends are why we need swift policy action to get fair prices for family farmers.

Rural Voices DiscussionsWe have held four Rural Voices Discussions sofar, and as we have for the past three years,have gotten some excellent thoughts from youon what we can work on as an organization. I’dlike to thank all of you who have attended, andwe’re working to plan more in other regions of the state – stay posted for future dates. I lookforward to seeing you there. Our Facebooklivestreams of the discussions have gottenhundreds of views, extending our reach beyondthe room. Thanks also to CongresswomanAngie Craig, National Farmers Union VicePresident Patty Edelburg, MinnesotaAgriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen,Assistant Commissioners Whitney Place andSusan Stokes, and chef J.D. Fratzke for servingon our listening panels with me.

Again we’ve heard that the high cost of healthcare is not sustainable, and that rural infra-structure needs such as roads, bridges andbroadband internet access are huge issues ourrural communities are facing right now. This is in addition to the low farm income we’vebeen dealing with for more than five yearsnow, which we have also heard about. More

so than in previous years, attendees havebrought up climate change, weather extremesand agricultural consolidation as problemsaffecting them. All of these have been on MFU’s priorities. Hearing them from youdirectly lets us know that we need to keepthem there. If you are particularly passionateabout something you mentioned, rememberthat you can save it to submit as a resolution at your county conventions this fall, and itcould become part of MFU policy.

Dairy TogetherWe also had the privilege of hosting a DairyTogether Roadshow session with the help ofWisconsin Farmers Union, National FarmersOrganization and Holstein USA. It broughttogether dairy farmers, lenders, dairy industryexperts and media to explore possibilities tosolve the dairy price crisis. The ideas broughtup implement some form of supplymanagement, either by updating the FederalMilk Marketing Orders to include 2-tier milkpricing, or by instituting some kind of marketaccess fee or allowable annual productiongrowth. It was acknowledged rightly that wecan’t trade our way out of low prices, althoughtrade is still an important piece of farm income.

We don’t all agree about what’s the right wayto keep family dairy farmers in business, but weknow we need to do something. USDAstatistics indicate that we’ve lost about 17,000dairy herds over the last 10 years, nearly onethird of herds in the country. We have less than3,000 dairy farms in Minnesota now. MFUpolicy supports supply management for dairy,although it hasn’t been politically popular.

GARY WERTISHPRESIDENT gary@mfu.org

(continued on page 4)

May is Beef MonthThis month, we celebrate all those whoraise cattle. According to the latestMinnesota Department of Agriculturestatistics, there are about 20,000 cattlefarms in our state, and many of them areFarmers Union members. Beef is healthyand delicious, and cattle are a greatadded value for many farmers. Enjoygetting to know the beef-raisingHilgeman family, this month’s Members in Focus, and have a Minnesota-grownburger or steak to support our cattlemenand women.

MFU President Gary Wertish, National Farmers Union Vice President PattyEdelburg and Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen at aRural Voices discussion.

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

StoneBridge Beef & Hell’s Kitchen Tacos de Lengua

Yield: 15-20 tacos

1 beef tongue1 large white onion, medium dice4 jalapeños, medium dice1 bunch cilantro, leaves and stems

roughly chopped6 cloves garlic, smashed1 4-7 oz can chipotle in adobo sauce2 cups fresh lime juice (about 8 limes,

halved and squeezed)1 T ground cumin1 T salt1/4 cup dried oregano1 T black pepper6 cups beef stock

To serve:tortillas, warmedfresh cilantro, choppedwhite onion, dicedlime juice

Place all ingredients in a large pot. Add enough water to cover ingredients by 1 inch. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, then reduce to a slow simmer and cover. Slowly simmer on stove top for about 4 hours.

After 4 hours, remove tongue. Place on sheet panand cool in fridge for 2 hours. (Discard simmeringingredients or creatively recycle in another recipe.)

Ensure the tongue is chilled enough to handlewith bare hands, then peel outer layer of skin off

with a paring knife, removing 1/4 inch of tissue off the base and underside of tongue (discardthese pieces). Dice remaining tongue to desiredthickness.

Serve with warmed tortillas, cilantro, white onion,and fresh lime juice.

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers4

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (continued)

The strong turnout at the Dairy TogetherRoadshow, one of several taking placearound the country, shows that our farmerswant action.

Legislative session nears endThe 2019 legislative session will conclude onMay 20. The short time remaining means theLegislature is busy finalizing omnibus bills for the various government agencies, on theHouse and Senate floors and in conferencecommittee. Of notable interest to MFU arethe agriculture, tax, health and humanservices and transportation bills.

This session looked a little different for usthan previous ones, as we brought on StuLourey as Government Relations Directorshortly after Thom Petersen became theCommissioner of Agriculture. I’d also like to thank Programming Director MichelleMedina, Membership & Outreach DirectorBruce Miller and intern Emily Pliscott, whomade sure we covered all of the legislativecommittees we needed to; MFU SecretaryAnne Schwagerl, who testified twice insupport of rural broadband funding; andJackson County Farmers Union member

John Nauerth III, who submitted commentsin support of the Right to Repair bill thatBruce presented to the Legislature.

It was important to me to testify at theLegislature to make sure your voices wereheard. I testified on issues such as repealingthe sunset of the health care provider tax;sustainable transportation funding; a grainindemnity fund; Section 179 tax codeconformity; increasing the Ag2School taxcredit; Right to Repair; and a well-fundedDepartment of Agriculture. Stu, Bruce,Michelle, Emily and I will be at the Capitoloften as session wraps up, making sure thatfamily farm-friendly policies are supported.

For more about the biggest priorities for usright now, see Stu’s article on the next page.

Register for Women’s ConferenceI’m pleased to inform you that registration isnow open for the 2019 MFU Women’sConference, themed “Strength in Community.”I encourage our women farmers and ruralresidents to attend this annual conference,which will be held at MFU member wineryL’Etoile Du Nord in Parkers Prairie. PublicRelations & Communications Director Brita Moore has more details on page 13; you can register today atmfuwomen2019.eventbrite.com.

We received some great feedback from those whoattended our Rural Voices discussions. Thank you!

5

MFU LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

If there’s one issue that farmers and othersin rural areas have spoken up most on, it’shealth care: People are paying far toomuch for care they need. That’s why MFU is backing two legislative proposals todefend investments in affordable healthcare, bring down costs and provideneeded options.

First, MFU has been advocating to repealthe sunset of the provider tax, which is akey funding source for MinnesotaCare,Medical Assistance, the office of RuralHealth and Primary Care and otherimportant programs. The tax is set to

expire at the end of2019, making actionthis legislative sessioncritical.

Second, the team isworking hard toadvance Gov. Tim Walz’sONECare proposal in the Legislature. This would allowMinnesotans to buyinto a state plan, likeMinnesotaCare, andincludes cost controlssuch as using the state’spurchasing power tonegotiate with drugcompanies. In additionto testifying, MFU has been building momentum for this proposalacross the state, joining the governor andagency commissioners for roundtables andtalking about why we support the plan with the media.

Goodhue County Farmers Union PresidentDeborah Mills, a dairy farmer from Lake City,

was invited to join thegovernor for hisState of the Stateaddress, aftershe participatedin one suchroundtable inthe Rochesterarea. In additionto highlightingthe strain thathigh health carecosts put on

farm families, Gov. Walz made the case forincreased mental health resources for farmers.Deborah’s story about reaching out to farmmental health counselor Ted Matthews andcontinued advocacy are needed to push theSenate to provide increased resources for ruralmental health counseling and Farm Advocatesthat passed unanimously out of the MN Housein early March.

MFU has also been working to secure propertytax relief for farmers. President Gary Wertish andothers testified in support of the House Tax Bill,which includes Rep. Paul Marquardt’s (DFL-Dilworth) proposal to increase 30 the Ag2Schooltax credit from 40 to 70 percent, a move that

is estimated to provide over $30 million inproperty tax relief to farmers over the next twoyears. The bill also includes full conformity onSection 179 and a limited fix intended to keepfarmers from losing their homestead statuswhen they transition their farms to the nextgeneration. As of the Legislature’s April recess,Senate Tax Committee Chair Roger Chamberlain(R-Lino Lakes) had yet to release that chamber’stax proposal.

The Senate and the House passed their agri-culture budget bills out of committee ahead of the April recess. The chambers are workingwithin budget targets that force committeemembers to choose between worthyinvestments. The House committee, led byChair Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin), largely did agood job balancing needs of the agriculturecommunity with budget constraints. This billproposes investing an additional $6 million in ag programs and includes several MFUpriorities like funding meat inspections,noxious weed control and farmer mentalhealth. The Senate bill invests in dairymodernization grants, but proposes cuts inother areas, including at MDA. MFU will beworking with legislators in both chambers to help make sure that whatever compromise isultimately reached works for family farmers.

These are just a few issues the MFU legislativeteam has been working on at the State Capitol.

If you have thoughts or questions, don’thesitate to reach out to me at stu@mfu.org,(320) 232-3047 or @stulourey on Twitter.

STU LOUREY, GOVERNMENTRELATIONS DIRECTORstu@mfu.org

MFU President Gary Wertish testifies on the importance of the provider tax and whythe Legislature should repeal the 2019 sunset of the tax.

MFU Government Relations Director Stu Loureytestifies in the House Ag and Food Finance andPolicy Division in favor of HR 1546, which wouldprovide more support for underserved farmers.

Goodhue County FarmersUnion President Deborah Mills

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

MFU President Gary Wertish was part of the listening panel each time. Others who have participated are Congresswoman Angie Craig, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen, Assistant Commissioners of Agriculture Susan Stokes and Whitney Place, National Farmers Union Vice President Patty Edelburg and Artisan Plaza Chef J.D. Fratzke.

This is our way of making rural Minnesotans’ voices heard when they too often aren’t, at least not clearly enough. Policymakers and media are eager to attend as well, so they can address what’s going on intheir communities. Our listening panelists, whovary by location, have no agenda for what theywant to talk about – it’s open to whateverthose in attendance want to say.

We have been deeply moved by what MFUmembers and others in the community haveshared in this open model, from the negativeincome they are making in farming, tounsustainable health care costs upwards of$35,000/year, to anxiety about the changingclimate, to the economic struggles of smalltowns at this time. These unfiltered thoughtsreflect what we’ve been hearing in general for the past few years, as the average incomemade on the farm has not been enough tocover input costs, let alone pay for health careand property taxes. Prices were low evenbefore Trump administration tariffs prompted

retaliation from our allies, with tarrifs of theirown on U.S. agriculture driving down priceseven more, and mergers of large agribusinessesdecreasing competition and raising input costs.

Then, of course, there’s the weather, thebiggest factor farmers can’t control, which hasbeen particularly devastating in Minnesota this spring with floods.

“We have too much water,” Ted Suss, RedwoodCounty President, put simply at the Winthropdiscussion. “The farm down the road from me is flooded three or four times a year now.”

It’s just one symptom of the changing climate,which was brought up at all four of thediscussions we’ve had.

The depressed agricultural economy and all the forces that have come with it have led topopulation declines in our small towns, whichmeans schools have consolidated and it’sharder to do business there, including startingfarms of your own. It is clear from what weheard that rural Minnesotans want to see realaction to solve these problems.

We hear you, and we’re getting your messageout there with the Legislature, the Walzadministration and the media. Additionally, we livestreamed all of the discussions on ourFacebook page, so they were viewed byhundreds of people outside of those inattendance. Several newspapers and radiostations covered the discussions as well.

We hope to reschedule the Granite Falls RuralVoices Discussion and cover other areas of thestate as well. Stay posted on mfu.org/eventsand the weekly e-news for updates.

Environment, health care, financialstress top of mind for ruralMinnesotansThe MFU Rural Voices Discussions havebecome an annual event, bringingtogether family farmers and ruraladvocates to speak openly about theissues most affecting them. So far this year,we’ve held four, in St. Peter, Winthrop,Alexandria and Cannon Falls. We hadscheduled one in Granite Falls as well, butan April blizzard forced us to postpone.

6

RURAL VOICES DISCUSSIONS

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner SusanStokes reflects on what she heard from participants at the St. PeterRural Voices Discussion.

Rural Voices Discussion in Winthrop, Minn.

BRITA MOORE, PUBLICRELATIONS & COMMUNICA-TIONS DIRECTORbrita@mfu.org

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers 7

RENEWABLE ENERGY UPDATE

what you are looking for, as well as legalprovisions to navigate.

That’s why MFU partnered with the Farmers’Legal Action Group (FLAG) to create theFarmers’ Guide to Solar and Wind Energy in Minnesota, a resource for farmersconsidering large scale solar and windinstallations on their farm. The guide hasgeneral legal information for farmers,intended as a starting point for theseprojects. As always, farmers shouldconsult with an attorney regarding theirspecific situations or contracts.

The guide is meant to be a resource forfarmers and covers many topics includinglegal agreements, leases, easements,covenants, contract provisions, assign-ment clauses, liability provisions,insurance provisions, tax considerations,equipment responsibility andmaintenance, compensation, land userestrictions and more.

The guide will be available to print as a PDF on MFU’s website atwww.mfu.org/farmers’-guide-to-solar-and-wind and on FLAG’s website athttp://www.flaginc.org/. We will alsohave printed copies of the guide, which

will be available at the MFU State Office andfree for members. Join us at the RenewableEnergy Working Sessions this summer to learnmore about it.

Many farmers have come to us over thepast few years wondering how theyshould go about installing clean energysystems on their farmland, such as windand solar. There’s a lot to consider in theseprojects to make sure you get exactly

MICHELLE MEDINA,PROGRAMING DIRECTORmichelle@mfu.org

Clean Energy Jobs Report: From Clean Energy Economy Minnesota

Graphic provided by Clean Energy Economy MN

and doors, or in construction working toretrofit buildings with efficient lighting or HVAC systems. Clean energy jobs also includeworkers employed in industries that generatepower from wind, solar and bioenergy, amongother sources. An emerging clean energysector is in transportation, developing hybridand plug-in electric vehicles and infrastructure.

Minnesota’s renewable energy sector grew bynearly 12 percent—the strongest job growth in the Midwest—despite the sector strugglingon the national level. Additionally, energyefficiency jobs continue to be the largest sectorfor Minnesota clean energy employment, withthree out of every four clean energy jobs in thestate. Clean energy employers in Minnesotaexpect to add more than 4,400 clean energyjobs in 2019, a 7.3 percent increase.

CEEM is a nonprofit organization dedicated tostrengthening Minnesota’s clean energy businesscommunity. Read more about the report on CEEM’swebsite www.cleanenergyeconomymn.org.

Clean energy technology is increasinglyproviding a real financial boost to Minnesotans.Smart energy efficiency projects can reduceheating and cooling costs. Solar and windenergy can help reduce energy bills further, or,in the case of large installations, supplementannual farm income. In Minnesota, clean energyalso employs more people than teachers andeducation services, banking and credit unionsand the medical technology sector.

More than 61,000 Minnesotans now work inthe clean energy industry after adding 2,737jobs in 2018, according to the Clean JobsMidwest Report, an analysis of energy jobsdata from Clean Energy Trust (CET) and E2(Environmental Entrepreneurs). According tothe report, released on April 9 by Clean EnergyEconomy Minnesota (CEEM), clean energy jobsin Minnesota grew by 4.7 percent, or 2.5 timesfaster than the overall state job market (whichgrew 1.9 percent). Nearly 40 percent of thesejobs are in Greater Minnesota.

People working in clean energy have jobsin several sectors. They may work tomanufacture energy efficient windows

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers8

FSA NEWS AND VIEWS

New Information for Dairy ProducersLimited 2018 Margin Protection for dairy signupTo be eligible to participate in the Margin Protection Program (MPP), a dairy operation must be commerciallymarketing milk at the time of their annualcoverage election, according to 1-MPP,subparagraph 10 B. However, many dairyoperations that were commerciallymarketing milk in 2018 stoppedmarketing milk before or during the re-enrollment period and were determinedineligible for 2018 coverage. For thesecases only, DAFP is granting blanket relieffor affected dairy operations to makeMPP-Dairy coverage elections during alimited 2018 signup period.

The limited 2018 MPP-Dairy signup is onlyfor dairy operations who were producingand commercially marketing milk in 2018but stopped commercially marketing milkbefore or during the 2018 re-enrollmentperiod from April 9, 2018 through June 22,2018. The limited MPP-Dairy re-enrollment runs through COB on May 10.Interested eligible producers must visittheir county office to sign up for coverage.Dairy operations can only sign up for themonths they were marketing milk in 2018.

Retroactive enrollment for producerswith 2018 LGM coverageDairy producers who elected to participate inthe Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy CattleProgram (LGM-Dairy) now can participate inthe Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage. Sign-up runsthrough May 10.

Producers enrolled in 2018 LGM-Dairy,administered by USDA’s Risk ManagementAgency (RMA), previously were determined bythe 2014 Farm Bill to be ineligible for coverageunder MPP-Dairy, a safety net program availablethrough USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

“The 2018 Farm Bill included substantialchanges to USDA dairy programs,” said FSAAdministrator Richard Fordyce. “This includesthe ability for producers with LGM coverage to retroactively enroll in MPP-Dairy for 2018. It also integrated recent improvements to theMPP-Dairy in the new Dairy Margin Coverage(DMC) program, beginning with the 2019calendar year.”

Dairy Margin Coverage programThe USDA has announced that the January2019 income over feed cost margin was $7.99 per hundredweight, triggering the firstpayment for eligible dairy producers whopurchase the appropriate level of coverageunder the DMC program.

DMC, which replaces MPP, is a voluntary riskmanagement program for dairy producers thatwas authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill. DMCoffers protection to dairy producers when thedifference between the all milk price and theaverage feed cost (the margin) falls below acertain dollar amount selected by the producer.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announcedthat sign up for DMC will open by mid-June ofthis year. At the time of sign up, producers whoelect a DMC coverage level between $8 and$9.50 would be eligible for a payment forJanuary 2019.

Operations making a one-time election toparticipate in DMC through 2023 are eligible toreceive a 25 percent discount on their premiumfor the existing margin coverage rates.

“Congress created the Dairy Margin Coverageprogram to provide an important financialsafety net for dairy producers, helping themweather shifting milk and feed prices,” Fordycesaid. “This program builds on the previousMargin Protection Program for Dairy, carryingforward many of the program upgrades madelast year based on feedback from producers.We’re working diligently to implement the DMCprogram and other FSA programs authorizedby the 2018 Farm Bill.”

Additional details about DMC and other FSAFarm Bill program changes can be found atfarmers.gov/farmbill.

DAN MAHONEY, CEDSIBLEY COUNTY FSAdaniel.mahoney@mn.usda.gov

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers 9

MFU SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

GLEN SCHMIDTEDUCATION DIRECTORglen@mfu.org

unique experience of being raised on the same farm site as my grandparents. I have beenable to learn about agriculture from both myfather and grandfather. Although we have asmall certified organic farm, my parents havetaken the time to expose me to all sides of theagriculture industry through involvement in the community and Minnesota Farmers Union.”

Carolyn Pavlish, daughter of Jerome Slette of Mahnomen. Carolyn plans to attend theUniversity of Minnesota Crookston to studyAgricultural Education. Carolyn said, “I strive to educate others on the various areas of thematerial and help them to see the importanceof the many occupations in the industry. Theworld is beautiful, and diverse. Agriculture isfascinating and I can't imagine my life without it.”

Carly Feldewerd, daughter of Cory and HeidiFeldewerd of Melrose. Carly will be attendingNorth Dakota State University to study Nursing.Carly said, “As I have been learning more aboutour country and government in my AmericanGovernment class, I have started to notice the importance of representation in ourgovernment. I understand that the MinnesotaFarmers Union is present to represent farmersas a whole in Minnesota. This is vital for myfamily, and for other farming families around us.Without representation, we could run the risk ofnot being stood up for. Our government runsoff the basis of being represented, so there hasbeen a significant impact on my life and myfamily’s life due to the Minnesota FarmersUnion political representation.”

Alma Jorgenson, daughter of Mike Jorgensonand Kathy Draeger of Clinton. Alma is currentlyattending Gustavus Adolphus College andmajoring in Psychology and EnvironmentalScience. In Alma’s own words, “One day reallystands out to me when thinking about how

rural life shaped my future. On this day, anelderly woman came in and started telling meabout her family trauma. We started chattingabout the availability of rural mental healthpractitioners. Near the end of this conversation,she started crying, saying how helpless she felt.When she left I broke down. My heart hurt formy community. My time working at the grocerystore inspired me to want to do everything thatI can to help rural communities. To do that I amgoing to school to be a rural psychologist. Ihope that I am able to use my education to bein a rural community and to make a differencein those people’s lives.”

Andrew Johnson, son of Darren and KariJohnson of Fergus Falls. Andrew will be attending North Dakota State University,majoring in Agriculture Economics and minoringin Soil Science. Andrew said, “My increased time working on the farm helped me decide my career path which includes attending NDSUand majoring in Agriculture Economics andminoring in Soil Science. These degrees willprovide a good knowledge base for marketingour crops and valuable insight into our cropproduction. Following graduation from college,I will return home and be the 4th generation to operate the family farm. Also, following mydad’s, grandpa’s and great grandpa’s footsteps, Iplan to be an active member of Farmers Union.”

These young adults have distinguishedthemselves through their passionatecommitment to agriculture, MFU, theircommunities and their future careers.Congratulations to all!

Every year, Minnesota Farmers Union andNational Farmers Union offer scholarshipopportunities to members and theirchildren. Altogether, there was more than$14,000 worth of scholarship moneyavailable.

Of that, $1,000 is awarded to five studentsthrough the Minnesota Farmers UnionScholarship. The winners of the 2019Minnesota Farmers Union Scholarships are:

Daniel Williamson, son of Donnel &Christa Williamson of Spicer. Daniel plansto attend South Dakota State Universityfor Agricultural Sciences. Daniel said, “Ihave always been involved in agriculture.Whether it was riding with my dad in atractor, or helping him with cattle chores, I was always exposed to it. I have had the

Nominees needed for 2020 Beef BoardThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)Agricultural Marketing Service is requestingnominations by June 17 to fill positions that will become vacant on the Cattlemen’s BeefPromotion and Research Board (Board) inJanuary 2020. There will be one position openfor Minnesota.

Any beef producer who owns cattle or anyimporter that imports cattle or beef may benominated. Producers and importers must benominated by a USDA certified producer

organization (of which MFU is one) and submit a completed application. USDA will selectappointees from the nominated producers and importers. Nomination forms and a list ofcertified producer organizations in each state or unit are available on the Cattlemen’s BeefBoard page on the AMS website. If you havesuggestions for whom MFU should nominate,please contact us.

The Cattleman’s Beef Board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985

and is composed of 99 members representing34 separate states, five units of geographicallygrouped states and one importer unit.

For more information, contact Barbara Josselyn at (202) 690-2611 orBarbara.Josselyn@usda.gov or fax (202) 720-1125. You may also send mail to:Research and Promotion Division; Livestock and Poultry Program; AMS, USDA;1400 Independence Ave., SW.; Room 2610-S, STOP 0251; Washington, D.C. 20250-0251.

10

NFU WASHINGTON CORNER

A monthly update from National Farmers Union

In the coming weeks and months, Congresswill set discretionary funding for fiscal year2020. Several important food and farmprograms are included in this, includingconservation programs, rural development,farm assistance and food safety inspections.National Farmers Union is hard at workadvocating for programs that matter most toour members to ensure they receive adequatefunding. NFU hopes that policymakers takethese data into account in the appropriationprocess, Farm Bill implementation and allfuture federal agricultural and rural policydevelopment.

Census provides clearer picture of U.S. agricultureThe U.S. Department of Agriculture releasedthe results of the 2017 Census of Agriculturein mid-April. The Census, which is taken everyfive years, is the most complete set of data forAmerican agriculture, providing an abundanceof information about land use, farm ownershipand decision-making, demographics, produc-tion practices, income and expenditures.

NFU President Roger Johnson stressed theimportance of the Ag Census in data-drivenpolicy making.

“The ag census is important to federal, stateand local policymakers, as well as farmers andranchers. The data will inform farm policy,

rural policy, and long-term decisions madeover the next five years,” said Johnson. “We’regrateful to the farm and ranch families whoput in the time to filling out the 2017 Censusof Agriculture and thereby giving a voice totheir operations and their communities.”

This is the first Census that allowed operationsto list more than one principal operator, thusoffering a more accurate picture of the role ofwomen and young farmers who in previousyears were often listed as secondary operators,regardless of their level of involvement. As aresult, the number of women producersjumped almost 27 percent, with more thanhalf of farms listing at least one woman as adecision maker.

Though the number of beginning farmersgrew as well to 27 percent of total farmers,they are still overwhelmingly outnumberedby older producers: For every produceryounger than 35, there are more than sixfarmers older than 65. This alarming trend haspushed the average age of farmers up to 57.5years old. If older farmers retire at a faster ratethan new farmers join the industry, it will putsignificant strain on the agricultural system.

The census points to some other troublingchanges in farm-level consolidation and thefarm economy. For one, the overall number offarms and ranches dropped by 3 percent tojust over 2 million, and total acres cultivatedfell by 1.6 percent to 900 million. Additionally,while the number of large- and small-sized

farms grew between 2012 and 2017, themiddle-sized farms fell. As farms consolidated, so did farm production; just over 5 percent offarms accounted for 75 percent of all sales.That doesn’t mean farmers are making moremoney; 56.4 percent of farm operations lostmoney in 2017.

NFU advocates for conservationprograms and farm stress assistanceNFU recently joined 140+ leading farm,conservation and wildlife groups in sending a letter to the Senate and House agricultureappropriations subcommittees, urging themto protect funding for Farm Bill conservationprograms in the FY 2020 appropriationsprocess. A week prior to that, NFU and a broad coalition of leading farm and ruraladvocacy groups sent a separate letter to theappropriations subcommittees to encouragethem to fully fund the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), which isintended to provide farmers, ranchers, andfarmworkers with affordable stress assistance.

Though the 2018 Farm Bill called for discre-tionary spending levels for its programs, thematerialization of that money is dependenton the passage of an appropriations bill. Thebudget and appropriations process occursannually. The release of President Trump’sproposed budget last month was the first step in the process. This budget is not binding;it serves as a recommendation to Congress,indicating the White House’s financial prioritiesfor the upcoming year. From there, Congresswill work to set to set limits on spending,which will be finalized in a congressionalbudget resolution. Finally, specific committeesdraft 12 appropriations bills for discretionaryspending, which are separated by agency orgroups of agencies.

Agricultural spending, which has its ownappropriations bill, is often shortchanged

Census of Agriculture Atlas Map showing the number of farms in the U.S. in 2017

United States Total2,042,220

1 Dot = 200 Farms

0

Miles

100

0

Miles

10017-M207U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

0 200

Miles

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

11

NFU WASHINGTON CORNER

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

in this process, resulting in important andpopular farm and food programs beingunderfunded. This sometimes results infarmers not having access to conservationprograms that they want to participate in. As the letter notes, “demand for the Environ-mental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)consistently exceeds available dollars by atleast two to one. In some years, USDA hasbeen forced to turn away as many as three-quarters of eligible applicants.”

Farm stress programs have also been stalledby underfunding. FRSAN was first authorizedby the 2008 Farm Bill but has only recentlyreceived funding; Congress provided $2million in the fiscal year 2019 appropriationsbill for a pilot of the program. NFU hopes thatthe pilot program will create an on-ramp tofull program implementation.

“As the Subcommittee develops the FY 2020agriculture appropriations bill, we urge youto fully fund the FRSAN at $10 million,” readsthe letter. “This funding will be criticallyimportant in meeting the needs of farmersand ranchers as they endure increasingfinancial and mental stress.”

NFU opposes NIFA/ERS relocation,reorganizationThe U.S. House Agriculture AppropriationsSubcommittee held a hearing in late Marchto examine the impacts of relocating theEconomic Research Service (ERS) and theNational Institute of Food and Agriculture(NIFA) and reorganizing ERS under the officeof the Chief Economist.

The USDA first announced plans to move thetwo major research agencies to somewhereoutside of the nation’s capital and to reorganize

the ERS from under the Research, Educationand Economics mission area to the Office of the Chief Economist last August. Theannouncement was met with significantcriticism, as it would move two key agenciesfar away from other organizations with whichthey closely collaborate, force hundreds of government employees to move or find newjobs, potentially allow for the politicization ofscientific and economic research and hinderthe capabilities of the organizations.

NFU first expressed concern about the planlast September due to “concerns regardinghow the move would impact the agencies’functions and the lack of informationsurrounding the Administration’s justifi-cations.” NFU Vice President of Public Policyand Communications Rob Larew reiteratedthose concerns, emphasizing the importanceof prioritizing “the work of the agencies” andmaintaining “the integrity and impacts ofpublic research” and urged the USDA “to endthe relocation of these two importantagencies.”

The Washington Corner can be found atwww.nfu.org/corner.

why is working with Farmers Union Insurance Agency and MFUimportant to you? Working with Farmers Union InsuranceAgency and Minnesota Farmers Union is a great experience,and I have been an Agent in the Fosston community since Aug. 1, 1995. Although our Agents are spread out throughoutthe state, we are a very close-knit Agency and staff. We careabout our insureds on a personal level, and everyone workstogether to get you answers and explore coverages that maybe needed.

what community organizations are you passionate about?I am involved in my local church and volunteer around town for various events. My family and I enjoy hunting and fishing,and also belong to the local snowmobile club.

please tell us a little bit about your family life. I’ve been marriedto my husband, Nathan, for almost 30 years. We both grew upon dairy farms, and started our own dairy in 1989; we are nowcrop farming. We have two adult children, Ethan and Hannah(soon to be married to Ben this summer), and two beautifulgrandchildren, Mayson and Laycie.

what is your #1 concern when reviewing and selling farminsurance? Farming is not like it used to be when we started in1989. Today when reviewing or writing a farm policy, there areso many questions to ask to ensure we put enough coverage on all property and equipment as farmers have diversified inmany ways. Coverage needs are unique to each farm operationand since no two farms or policies are the same, we really want to be sure our clients have adequate coverage for theiroperations. This is especially important at claim time.

Barb purchased the CarCo Building in Fosston and has expanded her Agency withinthe past few years in addition to assisting with farming. Barb is licensed in PropertyCasualty Insurance for Personal and Commercial needs, as well as Life, Health andAccident Insurance. You can follow Barb’s Agency on Facebook at@SweepFarmersUnionInsuranceAgency.

Be sure to follow Farmers Union Insurance Agency on Facebook and Twitter at@MNFUIA, and visit our website at www.mnfuia.com.for more information aboutour Agents and the insurance services we can provide. We are Trusted. Local.Committed.

Photo © 2019 Katie Cannon Photography

FUIA Agent HIgHlIgHt: BArB Sweep(218) 435-2063

204 1st St e (Carco Bldg), Fosstonsweepagency@outlook.com

Registration for 2018 MFU Leadership CampsThere’s still time to sign up for our 2018 MFU Leadership Camps! Go to www.mfu.org/camp to register.

Day Camps June 10-14 and July 8-12Various locations in Minnesota

Weeklong Camps Northern Elementary Camp (Ages 8-11)June 17-21 (Mon-Fri) • Farmers Union LakeSarah Campground (near Erskine)

Each night at camp we hold differentactivities, according to themes chosen by ourYouth Advisory Council. This year the themesare Mythical Fantasy Night, Fake an InjuryNight, The Letter S Night, Roaring 20’s Night(Senior Camp only) and Banquet Night! We ask that campers please try their best todress-up in themed costumes to make themost fun of the nights. Be creative and havefun!

Mythical Fantasy NightCamp will transform before your very eyes toyour favorite mythical fantasy! Dress up as adwarf to get ready for a hike to Mt. Mordor,Harry Potter for a game of Quidditch, or youcould even be a fairy to fly to Neverland! Art

thou brave enough to step into this otherrealm for this night of camp? Whether you’rea king, queen, goblin, wizard, knight inshining armor or even a dragon, it’s going to be a blast!

The Letter S NightSeriously, this stupendous theme will surelybe a success! The Letter S Night is the night to get creative and dress up as anything thatstarts with an S. Choose anything from ashark to a solar system and get ready for atalent show you won’t soon forget!

Fake an Injury NightEver wonder what it would look like if youhad a broken arm? Well dig up all those

old crutches, eye patches, gauze and slings,because on Fake an Injury Night we want youto dress up in your best fake injury gear!

Banquet Night A camp tradition! Put on your best dressclothes and join us for an evening of finedining, fine music and awards.

Roarin’ 20’s Night (Senior Camp Only)Get ready to really put on the Ritz this nightof camp. Know your onion and dress up inyour most sophisticated garb. Try your handat some of the casino games or just hang out at the speakeasy. Party like it’s 1929 at the dance! This night is sure to be the bee’s knees!

2019 MFU Theme Nights

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers12

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 8 • MFU Women’s Conference • L’Etoile Du Nord Winery, Parkers PrairieFFI: MFU Programming Director Michelle Medina, (651) 288-4096 ormichelle@mfu.org; MFU Public Relations & Communications Director Brita Moore, (651) 288-4068 or brita@mfu.org

Call us at (651) 639-1223 if you have any questions about upcoming events.

June Dairy Month Farm Events June 1 • Clay County Breakfast on the Farm •Kasin Farms, 3050 Hwy. 32 South, Hawley

June 15 • Kanabec/Isanti County Breakfaston the Farm • Haubenschild Farms, 35050 Nacre St. NW, Princeton

June 20 • Wabasha County Family Night onthe Farm • Stelling Farms, 62728 305th Ave.,Millville

June 22 • Olmsted County Breakfast on the Farm • Blue Horizons Family Farm, 4329 75th St. NE, Rochester

June 22 • Todd County Breakfaston the Farm • Twin Eagle Dairy, 20061 380th St., Clarissa

June 22: Wright-Carver CountyBreakfast on the Farm • HoeseDairy Inc., 5520 Polk Ave., Mayer

June 29: Carlton County Breakfaston the Farm • Laveau Dairy, 508 Cemetery Road, Wrenshall

Crow Wing County Farmers Union Meeting

May 20 • 12 noon Northwind Grille, 603 Laurel St., Brainerd

Contact: Crow Wing County President Steven Koering, (218) 251-8650

Northern Junior Camp (Ages 11-14)June 24-28 (Mon-Fri) • Lake Sarah Campground

Southern Elementary Camp (Ages 8-11)July 16-20 (Tues-Sat) • Sibley State Park (near New London)

Southern Junior Camp (Ages 11-14)July 22-26 (Mon-Fri) • Sibley State Park

Senior High Camp (Ages 14-18)July 28- Aug 2 (Sun-Fri) • Sibley State Park

MFU offers FREE agritourism sign to members

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers 13

MFU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Minnesota Farmers Union Women’sConference: Strength in CommunityOne of the biggest stories in agriculture andrural Minnesota lately has been the stress.Many factors are responsible for this, includingnegative farm income, farm transitions, theweather and our intense political climate. On its own, farming is stressful. But it’s easy to overlook the isolation that’s becominglyincreasingly prevalent in our rural communities,with fewer and fewer farmers and small-townbusinesses.

Minnesota Farmers Union is all about workingtogether and supporting each other throughthese hard times, counteracting this isolation.At our 2018 MFU Women’s Conference,participants told us they appreciated how ithelped them feel less alone. We are building on that for the 2019 conference, seeking tobuild community among MFU women withpolitical advocacy, local food and learningabout available resources.

Confirmed as speakers so far are:Mary Nell Preisler, Director of Farmer-LenderMediation at the University of MinnesotaWhitney Place, Assistant Commissioner at theMinnesota Department of AgricultureAlana Petersen, Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S.Senator Tina Smith, D-Minn.

We’ve also reached out to Dream of Wild Health,an indigenous local foods organization.

The community extends beyond the speakers,as MFU members Polly Perkins and DavidChristianson have generously agreed to hostthe conference at their beautiful vineyard,L’Etoile Du Nord, in Parkers Prairie, just north ofAlexandria. A local foods lunch will be providedby Minnesota Cooks restaurant La Ferme.

Through all of this, we hope conferenceparticipants will come away knowing they arevalued and are truly not alone. It’s one thing to tell someone they aren’t alone; it’s anotherto make them feel it. With the stressful times inagriculture right now, there’s so much we can’tcontrol. But we can remind each other that thebonds of the MFU family are strong. Togetherwe can call for change, make a difference in our food systems and help each other get whatwe need.

BRITA MOORE, PUBLICRELATIONS & COMMUNICA-TIONS DIRECTORbrita@mfu.org

L’Etoile Du Nord Vineyard tasting pavilion overlookingLake Irene

Date: Saturday, June 8

Date: 9 a.m. (registration begins) until2 p.m. (end of programming)

Attendees are invited to stay after 2 p.m.for optional wine tasting, vineyard toursand socializing.

Location: L’Etoile Du Nord Vineyard,16451 NW Irene Court NE, ParkersPrairie, MN

Registration:mfuwomen2019.eventbrite.com

Limited to 40 participants due to spaceconstraints. Please register by June 1.

Cost: $10 per person

FFI: Programming Director MichelleMedina, (651) 288-4096 ormichelle@mfu.orgPublic Relations & CommunicationsDirector Brita Moore, (651) 288-4068 orbrita@mfu.orgChild care will be available. Please markon your registration if you will need it.

MFU Women’s Conference 2019

Thinking of inviting the public onto your farm this summer for a farm tour, breakfast, U-pick, etc.? MFU worked to pass the stateagritourism bill in 2015. To be protected, theprovider of the agritourism activity must post signs warning attendees of the inherentrisks of visiting a farm. These signs should beposted at the entrance to the property and be clearly visible to all visitors.

Upon request, Minnesota Farmers Union willprovide interested members one FREE sign

that meets the specific guidelines inaccordance to the Limited Liability Law. With the sign, you’ll also receive a two-pageguide to the law that was put together by Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG).Additional signs for members can bepurchased for $7. Signs for non-members cost $10.

To get your sign, contact MFU OperationsDirector Laura Sherar at laura@mfu.org or(651) 639-1223.

Order MFU County Fair Kits!Want to share the message of Minnesota FarmersUnion at your county fair this year? We can helpyou!

Each year, MFU compiles county fair kitsconsisting of MFU logo items you can easilydistribute at the fair, at no cost to you. You caneither order a full kit, or individual items.

Some examples of items included in the kits:• Chip clips• Jar openers• Carpenter pencils

• Pens• MFU Brochures• Copies of Minnesota Agriculture

County fairs bring together rural Minnesotanseach year. Make it an opportunity to help peoplein your county learn more about MFU!

For more about county fair kits, contact MFUProgramming Director Michelle Medina atmichelle@mfu.org. The order form will beavailable on the MFU website.

Please allow 2 weeks to receive your items.

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers14

RESOURCES

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) hasextended its “Crisis Connection” telephone hotlineservice for another year.

The program has renamed the service Farm & RuralHelpline, with the toll-free number (833) 600-2670. You are encouraged to call this line if you need any kind of assistance. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If you or any farmers you know would like to speakwith Ted Matthews, the state rural mental healthspecialist based out of MnSCU, his number is (320)266-2390. He meets with farmers one-on-one andfree of charge. No insurance card, paperwork orreferral is necessary.

Farm & Rural HelplineFarm Advocates provide one-on-one assistance for Minnesota farmers who facecrisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems. They understand theneeds of agricultural families and communities. They are trained and experienced in agricultural lending practices, mediation, lender negotiation, farm programs, crisis counseling, disaster programs and recognize the need for legal and/or socialservices. Most Farm Advocates are MFU members.

The Farm Advocate Program has been supported by the Minnesota Department ofAgriculture since 1984. There is no charge or fee for Farm Advocate assistance.

Farm Advocates

Farm Advocates:Jan Boll Trail (218) 268-4472Bruce Lubitz Perham (218) 346-4866Connie Dykes Lake City (651) 345-5149David Elliason Isle (320) 676-3559David Hesse Comfrey (507) 877-3012Dean Hetland Eagle Bend (218) 639-9302Dan Hunz Monticello (320) 743-5660Ruth Ann Karty Clarkfield (320) 669-7135George Bosselman Fosston (218) 200-9432Steve Zenk Danube (320) 894-2517

www.mda.state.mn.us/about/commissionersoffice/farmadvocates

NEW! Farm Stress Radio SeriesPrompted by the many sources of stresscurrently impacting farmers and ranchers, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture(MDA) and the Red River Farm Network(RRFN) have joined forces to create a newradio series called TransFARMation. MFU is proud to be one of its sponsors.

The series uses farm radio, podcasts andsocial media to increase awareness and

reduce inhibitions about acknowledging farmer stress while highlighting sources of support.

“Many people are struggling and need toknow they’re not alone,” said AgricultureCommissioner Thom Petersen. “This is apowerful series. We hear from farmers,ranchers and others in agriculture talk about some of the strategies and solutions

that helped them when times got tough.”

The 60 second prime-time radio stories can be heard on all of RRFN’s 20 stationsthroughout Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition, the in-depth podcasts can be found atwww.rrfn.com/transfarmation.

Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers 15

MEMBERS IN FOCUS: HILGEMAN FAMILY

“You have to like raising animals to do it,” saidGreg Hilgeman. “If you’re just in it for the money,don’t do it.”

Fortunately, Greg and his family do enjoy it. He farms 300 cow-calf pairs and 3,500 acresalongside his wife Gayle and son Scott in ruralOklee in Pennington County. The all-Herefordherd is sold as feeder calves.

The Hilgeman beef operation is medium-sizedcompared to others in Minnesota, from Greg’sperspective. The cows take a lot of work, but sodoes the grain part of the farm – wheat, corn,soybeans and sunflowers grow on their land,and they’re looking to continually diversify theircrops as markets evolve.

Typical of our hardworking Minnesota beefproducers, the Hilgemans started their calvingprocess in early February, when temperatureswere in the negative double-digits. This mightsound terrifying to someone who doesn’t raiselivestock. Greg shrugged it off. “Cold weather iseasier to deal with than mud.”

A process of experimentationThe farm where Greg and Gayle reside is on the land homesteaded by Greg’s maternalgrandfather in 1904. Greg’s mother was one of11 children and raised him in the Twin Cities.But he enjoyed summer farm work with his“Norwegian bachelor farmer” uncles so muchthat he took over the farm.

“There’s always been livestock here,” Greg said.“My uncles milked cows and sold cream. Theyquit milking way before I took over. We had afew cows after that, but it was just a hobby.”

Gayle’s entrance into the operation spurred thefarm’s evolution into the sizable cattle businessit is now. Growing up on a dairy farm threemiles away from Greg’s family, she preferred tostay home with the cows during the summerinstead of going to camp.

“She took the cow herd and expanded, bredand managed it,” Greg said. “It’s really been herbusiness.”

The couple has experimented with variouscattle breed crosses, from shorthorns to Angusto Simmentals, ultimately settling on Herefordsdue to Gayle’s liking for them.

“They’re nice to work with, they’re really calm,”Scott said.

A significant portion of their land goes towardfeeding and bedding for the cattle, includingpasture, wheat and alfalfa.

“We were doing barley, but the contracts havegotten too small so we’re not doing it anymore,”Scott said. “Otherwise wheat, corn, soybeans,sunflowers, getting into grass seed production.”

Scott’s been farming as long as he canremember in some capacity, as his motherpointed out.

“One day he got into the pickup and said, ‘See, I can reach the drive!’” Gayle said. “He’s beenhauling hay bales since he was five.”

Though Frances and Sylvia moved away,becoming the North Valley Health Center PublicHealth Director and an FBI special agent,respectively, Scott stuck around, marrying hiswife Nicole. They have two young children,Hannah and Logan, and live a couple miles fromGreg and Gayle. Nicole is a nurse in Thief RiverFalls. Scott does as much as he can on the farm.

Real impact of tradeOne thing that makes Northwest Minnesotaunlike Southern Minnesota is that there are nobiofuels or processing plants that corn orsoybeans can go to. They are reliant on exportsas the end point for their grains. Now that thetariff battle with China has effectively takenaway their soybean market, the Hilgemans arelooking elsewhere.

“We’re really dependent on shipping to thePacific Northwest export market. When thatmarket disappeared, what killed us was basismore than price,” Greg said. “We need that(Asian) market back if we’re going to raise beanssuccessfully. We used to ship a lot of grain out of Duluth, but there’s very little of that anymore.We can’t compete trying to send it down theMississippi River.”

They can’t compete with Southern Minnesota’saccess to domestic biofuels plants and otherfarmers’ access to sugar beet and canolaprocessing plants. Plus they face competitionfrom Russia on wheat production too, whichthey have to keep growing for cattle bedding at least.

Luckily, sunflowers are a bright spot for them.

“Where we haul our sunflowers, they have tohull them for baking purposes,” Scott said. “Sothere they process them as you haul them inand ship them out.”

Their foray into grass seed looks promising too,although it remains to be seen how it’ll turn out.

Weather woesAny farmer can tell you that the weather is themost worrisome factor they can’t control. TheHilgemans are no exception.

In addition to calving in Arctic temperatures,they were combining until Christmas last yearbecause of the wettest soil they’d had in years.

“Last year it was a late spring, and then it gothot and dry really fast,” Scott said. “We hadn’teven combined an acre of soybeans when wegot a foot of snow.”

They’re luckier than their compatriots inSouthern Minnesota, who got even moremassive rains last summer and devastatingblizzards this past winter.

“Our country here is so flat and poorly drained,if we got a big rain like that, it would be adisaster for everything,” Greg said. “It doesn’t run off very quickly.”

Respect for MFUGayle has a longer history with MFU than herhusband does. “My parents were members ofFarmers Union and National FarmersOrganization,” she said.

Greg didn’t join any agricultural organizationsfor a long time, though eventually he joined the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Associationand MFU after that, as well as the MinnesotaWheat Growers.

“I don’t agree with everything that any onegroup does, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’tbelong to them and have a voice,” he said.“Farmers are a diverse group of people; youcan’t get them to agree on everything.”

Scott joined MFU for himself about two yearsago and has already served as a delegate to theNational Farmers Union Convention in 2018.He’s still considering how he most wants to beinvolved and what he most cares about, but isexcited for the next convention.

“A lot of the Farm Bill stuff is important to me,”Greg said, “like the environmental andconservation parts of it. I’m not an extremist onthat, I try to find common sense in the middle.”

What he connects with most about ourorganization is the philosophy that started it all: cooperation.

“I have a lot of respect for how MFU does things,forming cooperatives to supply farmers withproducts they need. Like now with insurance,Green View, Farmers Union Industries, and theGrain Terminal Association and Cenex before.There are a lot of farmers who don’t realize allthat Farmers Union is.”

Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers

Volume 163 No. 5 www.mfu.org May 2019