Growing Harvest Ag Network

This NDSU Ag Minute features Angie Johnson, NDSU Farm and Ranch Safety Specialist. Johnson has the details on the 2026 Youth Farm Safety Camps taking place in Devils Lake, Dickinson and Bismarck. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keeping the Mississippi River navigation system open is critical for the nation’s economy. A 15-barge tow is the equivalent of more than 1,050 semi-trailers or 200 rail cars. One barge can carry more than 50,000 bushels of wheat, enough to make 2.1 million loaves of bread. Shipping commodities on the river saves money and ultimately helps reduce grocery store costs. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Minnesota Extension service hosted a Strategic Farming webinar on Wednesday morning on the topic of early corn and soybean planting. For optimal corn planting dates, Extension agronomist Jeff Coulter said the best window of opportunity opens in about 3 ½ weeks. This National Ag Month story is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, the Feeding the Economy report provides a comprehensive look at the full economic footprint of U.S. food and agriculture. Among the report’s biggest takeaways is that food and agriculture support $10.4 trillion in total U.S. economic output, representing about 20 percent of all economic activity. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bipartisan group of Senators introduced a bill that would require mandatory price reporting of fertilizer. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole Wardner with the ND Beef Commission highlights the impact cattle ranchers have across the nation and across the globe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A National Ag Day announcement by the Agriculture Secretary centered on a new campaign to promote the "Product of USA" label for meat, poultry, and egg products. Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, is still affecting poultry flocks across America. Dr. Alan Huddleston is the acting U.S. chief veterinary officer for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. He said the U.S. has never seen an HPAI outbreak at this scale. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The taste for pork in Mexico has been growing year over year, but it's not as popular in home kitchens as it has been in restaurants. The U.S. Meat Export Federation is trying to change that, with support from the USDA and National Pork Board. Here's USMEF's regional director of Mexico, Gerardo Rodriguez. Source: USMEFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amber Wood with the North Dakota Livestock Alliance has the details on some recent developments to help grow the hog industry in North Dakota.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal farm support programs are playing an increasingly central role as U.S. producers navigate a period of economic uncertainty marked by high costs and weak commodity prices. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump has called for an investigation into possible price fixing and other violations in the beef packing industry. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said the timing aligns with the organization’s current lawsuit involving the packing sector. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell provides the numbers from the March Cattle on Feed Report. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farming can be a stressful occupation. An Extension expert provides tips on ways we can reduce stress and its various impacts in our lives. Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council. Amber Wood with the North Dakota Livestock Alliance has the details on the proposed hog operation to be located northwest of Oriska, North Dakota. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four national FFA members will represent the voice of agricultural youth in Washington, D.C., during the National Ag Day Celebration on March 24. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent warm up has many homeowners thinking about spring and their yards. Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension Horticulture Agent, says homeowners should be on the lookout for snow mold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share some of the week's top stories in agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Statistics Canada data, Canadian farmers intend to plant 66,100 acres of sunflowers this spring, which is down 12.6 percent from 2025. Last year Canadian farmers planted 75,600 acres of sunflower. Source: National Sunflower AssociationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This NDSU Ag Minute features Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension Horticulture Agent based in Cass County. Kinzler has advice for homeowners who may be spotting snow mold, vole or rabbit damage in their yards this spring season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canola Growers were recently in Washington D.C. Barry Coleman with the Northern Canola Growers Association highlights some of the top concerns growers brought to Capitol Hill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exports of U.S. pork had a strong start to 2026 with another year-over-year increase in January, according to U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom. Source: USMEFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads would create the first coast-to-coast railroad across 43 states. Danny Munch, economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the big concern is the loss of competitive pressure across the rail system. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says above normal temperatures in the Central and Western U.S. and below normal precipitation nationwide are in the forecast for the period of March 24 - 30. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Farm Talk segment features Kelly Marczak of MEG Corp. Marczak discusses the NDCUC/MEG Corp partnership to bring ethanol educational workshops to high school and college tech programs in North Dakota. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. agriculture groups are watching the pending negotiations between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada as the countries work on renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Larew, National Farmers Union President, discusses some of the current challenges in the ag industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brazil is projected to produce a record 6.5 billion bushels of soybeans in the 2025-2026 crop season. However, despite the big crop, farm margins are predicted to decline to their lowest level in nearly two decades. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski goes over USDA's March outlook for beef production and steer prices. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, livestock producers are almost 40 percent more optimistic than crop farmers. That’s from the February Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union, says that while he appreciates the work done on the skinny Farm Bill, and some programs are being reauthorized, there’s not a lot of money available for what farmers truly need. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 was a strong year for U.S. pork exports, with a volume of 2.9 million metric tons, landing three percent shy of the 2024 record, but it was still the third-highest on record. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March is National Agriculture Month.Evan Montgomery, Vice Chair of the North Dakota Soybean Council, represents District 7 from Grand Forks. Montgomery talks more about how ag has evolved over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council. Carson Klosterman serves as the Chairman of the council and introduces the new representative for District 4. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey notes a sharp temperature gradient and near to below normal precipitation for period of March 17 – 23. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proposed merger of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railways would leave farmers with fewer transportation options and vulnerable to shipping cost increases at a time when balance sheets are squeezed to the breaking point. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share some of the region's top stories in agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The USDA has already allocated over $6 billion in payments under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Programs. Payment rates for specialty crops under the program are due in early April. NAFB News Service See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski goes over USDA's March world supply and demand estimates for soybeans. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agtegra Cooperative announced that it plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art feed mill in Faulkton, South Dakota. Source: Agtegra CooperativeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. beef exports to Colombia were up 23% in volume and 77% in value in 2025. As U.S. Meat Export Federation Latin America Representative Homero Recio explains, USMEF had to work to reclaim market share after U.S. beef was restricted in the country for much of 2024 over the finding of avian influenza in dairy cattle in the U.S. Source: USMEFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 NDSU Soybean Symposium was recently held at the NDSU Memorial Union. North Dakota Soybean Council Vice Chair Evan Montgomery shares what information he found most interesting during the day of education. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.