Breaking News

Ag and Extension

SMSU Agronomy Field Day set for Sept. 11

The annual SMSU Agronomy Field Day is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11, from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the SMSU Agronomy Field Trials Farm site at 2927 265th Avenue, Marshall, Minn. The day will include lunch, tours, and presentations highlighting SMSU field-trial research, as well as other related programs and projects. Join us at the farm site at 11:45 a.m with the program and lunch starting at noon Plot tours will follow lunch until 1:30 p.m. Take a short walk out to the field plots and view firsthand the progress of SMSU’s research efforts. Please RSVP at ...

27 participants chosen for MARL Class 14

Twenty-seven individuals have been selected to participate in Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) Class 14. The class members will begin their two-year leadership journey this fall with their first seminar on Sept. 16-18, 2026 in the Itasca State Park area.  MARL is a rigorous and dynamic two-year educational experience featuring 11 in-state seminars — six in the first year and five in the second year. The program highlights include a national study seminar in Washington, D.C., and an international study seminar to a destination to be determined by the MARL Board of ...

Strategic Farming Field Notes: Crops update and preparing for soybean insect scouting

On June 24, Matt Pfarr, University of Minnesota Extension educator – Crops, and Dr. Bob Koch, University of Minnesota Extension soybean entomologist, joined moderator Dave Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension Educator – Crops, to discuss crop development, disease outlook, nutrient management, and soybean insect scouting during the University of Minnesota Extension Strategic Farming: Field Notes webinar. The Strategic Farming: Field Notes webinar series provides timely, research-based information on current crop production issues throughout the growing season. The series is ...

Beef x Dairy Insights – Calf Development Track

With beef x dairy calf prices at record highs, every early-life calf management decision matters. Early-life management, including colostrum, nutrition, health protocols, and stress management, can have lasting effects on a calf’s health, performance, efficiency, and overall value. Thesetopics and more will be discussed at the upcoming Beef x Dairy Insights: Calf Care & Early Management program, held July 21 and 22. UMN Dairy Extension Specialist Dr. Brad Heins will present “Early Life Nutrition for Beef-on-Dairy Crossbred Calves,” highlighting the importance of high-quality ...

Will electric tractors gain traction?

EAST LANSING, Mich. — In the soft dirt of an indoor horseback riding ring last month, a group of farmers got ready to test drive a new piece of equipment: an electric tractor. As they took turns climbing in — some surprised by its quick acceleration — they gave real-time feedback to ...

Expedited Congressionally mandated disaster assistance for farmers announced

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). To expedite the implementation of SDRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering assistance in two stages. This first stage is open to producers with eligible crop losses that received assistance under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program during 2023 and 2024. Stage Stage One signup ...