Global Travel Restarting, Trade Team Delegates Assigned for 2022

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After over a year of lock down, the U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) global representatives have begun to venture out into their respective marketplaces. Representatives in the Americas and China have begun to resume limited in person trade servicing. European representatives are attending two trade shows in October. The USDBC is hopeful that all Asia representatives will be able to resume some travel as COVID restrictions ease. 
 
Most travel by U.S. trade team delegates overseas is curtailed through the end of 2021 due to ongoing travel complications, but USDBC is hopeful to restart some travel in early 2022. 
 
The International Promotion Committee has completed the process of reviewing trade team applications and delegates have been assigned for fifteen different trade events beginning in January 2022, with the caveat to remain flexible through Q1 2022 to ensure everyone’s health and safety. 
 
More travel opportunities may be added during 2022 as opportunities come up.
Jon Ihry

Save the Date – U.S. Dry Bean Harvest Review

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The U.S. Dry Bean Council is hosting a webinar outlining the results of the 2021 dry bean harvest. The event will be held November 17 at 9 a.m. Central Time. Registration and speaker information to coming soon.

Ocean Freight Rates Surge Higher

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In the third quarter, ocean freight rates for bulk commodities, including grain, were at the highest level in 13 years. To ship grain from the Pacific Northwest to Japan, the rate was $44.56 per metric ton. That’s up 16 percent from the second quarter and up 93 percent from one year ago. The rate increase is linked to congestion at the ports and other logistical problems.

Louisiana Glyphosate Plant Resumes Production

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Bayer’s glyphosate plant in Luling, Louisiana is back up and running. The facility was hit by Hurricane Ida and went offline on August 28. A Bayer spokesperson told the Red River Farm Network, the site has resumed full operations ahead of schedule and is expected to be at full production rates in the coming weeks. With the Louisiana site being the largest glyphosate plant in the United States, the shutdown further complicated the supply situation. The Bayer official said glyphosate demand is high and filling that demand is the company’s top priority.

National Farmers Day

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Tuesday, October 12 was National Farmer’s Day. THANK YOU for all the hard work you do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep the world fed. We appreciate the work farmers do every single day of the year!

EPA Ag Advisor Selected

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The Biden Administration has selected Rod Snyder as the Environmental Protection Agency Senior Advisor for Agriculture. For the past seven years, Snyder has been president of Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. Previously, Snyder worked for the National Corn Growers Association and CropLife America.

Job Opening: Dry Bean Research Specialist

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The Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University is seeking a research specialist to assist in the dry bean breeding/genetics program.

Candidate is expected to participate in all the field, greenhouse, and laboratory activities involved in a breeding program. This includes the planning, organizing, and conducting of experiments under the supervision of the project leader. Tasks may include (but not limited to) seed and field preparation, planting and maintenance of field trials, and disease evaluations), recording, editing, and data analysis using statistical programs, collaborate with some activities in the DNA laboratory and the canning testing, and assisting the program leader in keeping, preparing, and compiling data and research results.

The candidate is expected to interact and work as part of a team that includes other research specialists, students and interns, growers, plant breeders, and other scientists. Duties will involve all aspects of a breeding/genetics program so the candidate has a holistic approach and learns all the aspects involved in the functioning of a breeding program.

Apply here.

Northarvest Announces 2021 Scholarship Recipients

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The Northarvest Bean Growers Association (NBGA) awarded two, $1,000 scholarships to support the children and/or grandchildren of members. The 2021 recipients are Andrew Johnson of Park River, North Dakota and Justus Jon Moser of Morris, Minnesota.
 
Andrew is the son of Dwight and Susan Johnson and is currently attending Free Lutheran Bible College in Plymouth, MN with plans to study ag management in the future at an accredited school. He was active in several activities while a student at Park River Area School, including football, hockey, baseball, trap shooting and was highly decorated during his time in 4-H Club – including being recognized as the “Outstanding 4-Her of the Year.”
 
Justus is the son of John and Lori Moser and will be attending South Dakota State University to study ag system technology and precision ag at Brookings, SD. While attending Morris Area High School, he was active in 4-H and FFA, where he was the Regional Star Farmer, placed first in the Beef Entrepreneurship proficiency program and also served on both the junior and senior officer team. Justus was also active in the National American Limousin Foundation (NALF), where he showed cattle and served on the Minnesota NALF board as vice president.
 
The Association would like to thank Andrew and Justus for participating in the Northarvest scholarship program. We wish them the best of luck in their professional careers!
 
NBGA has awarded two scholarships annually for the past 5 years. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, a parent or grandparent must be a current grower member of the Association, be enrolled or plan to enroll in the first year of college or technical college and have at least a 3.0 grade point average from high school.

Soil Health Cover Crop Program

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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) announces the Soil Health Cover Crop Grant Program, a newly added program made possible through funding provided by the 67th Legislative Assembly. NDDA will provide cost-share assistance to producers via a lottery system.

Cover crops must be planted by August 31, 2021, and the online application must be completed by October 1, 2021. There is a cost-share payment of $15 per acre for new applicants and a future cost-share payment of $10 per acre for repeat applicants. There is a 50-acre cap per applicant per year.

Complete details are available at https://www.nd.gov/ndda/program/soil-health-cover-crop-grant-program or by contacting Jason Wirtz at 701-220-1628 or jwirtz@nd.gov. 

NDDA will be opening applications by September 1, 2021 and closing them October 1, 2021 for the 2021 season. Applications will reopen again next year for the next growing season.

SBARE Seeks Input

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The North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education (SBARE) is seeking public input on needs in the state.
 
SBARE provides the state Legislature and governor with recommendations on how the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and North Dakota State University Extension can address critical state needs and ensure that the state’s investments on behalf of North Dakota citizens will yield great long-term dividends.
 
The input will help shape SBARE’s recommendations for the 2023 legislative session.
 
SBARE is holding two input sessions
  • November 2-3 – NDSU Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center, 1241 N. University Drive, Fargo
  • December 7 – Dickinson Research Extension Center, 1041 State Ave., Dickinson, N.D.
To set up a time to present 10 to 15 minutes of testimony at an input session, contact Melissa Schwengler at 701-231-7656 or melissa.schwengler@ndsu.edu to reserve a time slot.
 
Other options are:
In your remarks, describe your agricultural research and/or Extension needs and potential solutions.