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Southwest Minnesota news and notes Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Potter takes part in Pork Checkoff program
SPRINGFIELD, Minn. -- Nathan Potter of Springfield has been selected by the Minnesota Pork Board to be their representative to Pork Leadership Academy, which is a national Pork Checkoff-sponsored program that identifies and trains industry leaders.
Only 25 U.S. pork producers take part in PLA annually.
Potter farms full-time with his parents, Dennis and Lucy Potter. He is a former Brown County Pork Ambassador and is a graduate of the agriculture program at Ridgewater College in Willmar.
PLA participants will attend five meetings during the year they are in the program. Different issues will be addressed during each meeting.
Ayrshire will be featured State Fair breed
WINTHROP, Minn. -- Minnesota Ayrshire Breeders Association members are making plans to display their dairy breed as the Showcase during the Minnesota State Fair.
One breed is selected to provide milking cows for each scheduled demonstration milking in the parlor, and to remain for the entire fair. The Showcase herd is housed next to the Moo Booth, where fair-goers can learn about dairy farming and cattle.
"Having the Showcase herd is a big responsibility," said Brenda Nelson of Winthrop, who will manage the herd on site.
Breeders who have an animal to offer for the herd should contact Steve Searles at (507) 261-3062. Potential sponsors may contact Karla Smieja at (507) 250-5479.
Robust regains top spot in barley acreage
ST. PAUL -- Robust has regained the title of the most popular barley variety in Minnesota. It had lost the top spot last year to Lacey, according to the NASS Minnesota field office.
Robust accounts for 45.5 percent of the state's planted barley acreage, or 59,100 acres. Lacey accounts for 36.5 percent of the state's planted barley acres.
Total planted barley acreage for Minnesota in 2007 is estimated at 130,000 acres, up 25,000 acres from 2006.
The Northwest District has has 86,700 acres, followed by the Central District at 12,800 acres, the West Central District at 11,100, and the Southeast District at 6,600.
Dairy farmers can serve milk at state fair
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Dairy farmers are being invited to serve milk during the Minnesota State Fair.
The stand, operated by the farmer-funded Midwest Dairy Association, is working with the Minnesota Milk Producers Association to recruit dairy farmers as milk servers.
The effort is part of Midwest Dairy's checkoff-funded People Behind the Product initiative, which showcases dairy farmers' commitment to producing wholesome dairy products.
All volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Local dairy princesses and ambassadors are also welcome to join the serving team.
For more information, call Alise Jennissen, at (320) 203-8336.
People with disabilities can enjoy horse rides
LE CENTER, Minn. -- Le Sueur County 4-H Horse Project families and the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Posse are sponsoring evenings of horseback riding for people with disabilities.
Youth and adults with disabilities can join 4-H members in the show arena on the county fairgrounds in Le Center at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays on July 24, July 31 and Aug. 7. Only the safest horses will be ridden and helmets will be provided.
Participants are asked to pre-register by calling (507) 357-8230. The rides are free.
Minnesota revenues higher than expected
ST. PAUL -- Thanks mostly to higher-than-expected income tax payments and lower-than-expected refunds, Minnesota ended fiscal year 2007 with an unexpected $158.7 million in the bank.
A budget update released Tuesday -- calling the numbers "preliminary and subject to change" -- said the individual income tax outpaced projections made in February. At the same time, Minnesotans received $24 million less in refunds than finance officials had been counting on. Sales taxes and corporate taxes missed their mark slightly.
For the fiscal year that ended in June, the state collected just shy of $15.9 billion in all types of taxes. The update looks at the revenue side of the ledger. The next comprehensive economic forecast that also considers spending patterns isn't due until November.
Meanwhile, the authors of the report said economic growth should remain steady over the next year, overcoming drags caused by $3 a gallon gas, a housing slump and inflation.
No payments for wheat, barley and oats
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture won't issue final 2006 crop counter-cyclical payments to farmers enrolled in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program with regards to wheat, barley and oats.
No payments will be made because because prices for these commodities have averaged well-above levels that trigger counter-cyclical payments.
USDA didn't issue a first or second partial payment for the 2006 crop of wheat, barley and oats due to strong markets. The final marketing year prices per bushel are $4.26 for wheat, $2.59 for barley and $1.87 for oats.
Spring Valley hosts engine, tractor show
SPRING VALLEY, Minn. -- The 25th annual Antique Engine & Tractor Show will be held July 20-22 on the showgrounds near Spring Valley. The showgrounds are located next door to Deer Creek Campground.
Show gates will open at 7 a.m.
IH tractors, equipment and gas engines will be featured as the Root River Antique Historical Power Association hosts the IH Collectors of Minnesota Chapter No. 15.
The show will feature parades, fun contests, tractor pulls, demonstrations, a church service, food, and much more.
Admission is $7 and children under age 12 will be admitted free. An IH banquet will be held July 21, starting with a 5:30 p.m. happy hour followed by dinner at Grumpy's Restaurant in Grand Meadow.
Deadline for FSA nominations is Aug. 1
WASHINGTON -- Farmers have until Aug. 1 to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency committees.
"County committees are important because they assist local farmers and ranchers,'' said Teresa Lasseter, administrator of the Farm Service Agency.
To be a FSA committee member, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. |
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