The 83rd annual Minnesota Farmers Union State Convention is Nov. 22-24 in Minneapolis, beginning with panel discussions. Policy debate will continue throughout the event at Delta Hotels by Marriott.

Interspersed with policy discussions setting the course for the MFU future will be guest speakers, annual meeting and an awards banquet.

Questions? Visit Minnesota Farmers Union, call 651-639-1223 or email MFU.

Farm Bureau annual meeting
moves to new location

The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting is Nov. 21-23 at a new location, the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka.

The annual meeting brings together the organization’s grassroots membership to discuss issues facing agriculture, along with general organization updates, educational opportunities and networking.

An awards banquet will be held to honor recipients for the Distinguished Service to Ag, Honorary Life, FFA Advisor of the Year, Post-Secondary Educator of the Year, Extension Educator of the Year and Ag Communicator of the Year.

Click here for a full schedule.

Minnesota Organic Conference’s
early registration ends Dec. 2

Registration is open for the 2025 Minnesota Organic Conference, an annual statewide conference that highlights organic agricultural practices.

Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the two-day conference will be Jan. 9-10 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.

The event will feature keynote speakers and more than 30 breakout sessions, providing educational opportunities in areas such as organic crop production, dairy, livestock, fruits and vegetables, marketing, and business. Attendees will also have access to an 80-booth trade show featuring information about relevant products and services.

Early-bird pricing is available for those who register by Dec. 2, after which prices will increase. Full pricing details can be found on the Minnesota Organic Conference webpage.

For more information, visit MDA’s website.

New public policy specialist
joins state’s Farm Bureau

Hunter Pederson joined the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation as its public policy specialist on Sept. 30.

Pederson will support the public policy staff including advocacy at the state Capitol, issue research, and offer support to regional and county Farm Bureaus.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Pederson most recently served as the committee administrator for the Minnesota Senate Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development Committee. In this role, he played a pivotal part in passing major agricultural budgets and worked closely with state Sen. Aric Putnam to shape legislative priorities and engage with key stakeholders. Before that he worked as a legislative assistant to Putnam, as well as state Sen. Dan Sparks, where he managed constituent communications, advised on political matters and contributed to policy development.

Minnesotan lands as finalist
in Ag Innovation Challenge

Minnesota Farm Bureau member Bryan Boll, owner of Northstar Lime in Crookston, was named a Top 10 finalist in the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.

Northstar Lime was developed as an opportunity to advance a sustainable lime fertilizer while repurposing byproducts. The pellets are created from spent lime from a nearby sugarbeet processing plant. The pelletized lime allows for precise and accurate application, balancing soil pH and enhancing nutrient absorption while also promoting efficiency, sustainability and increased crop productivity.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to elevate the importance of entrepreneurship in agriculture through the contest.

The 10 semifinalist teams participate in a virtual pitch round with three judges representing various sectors of the agricultural supply chain. Northstar Lime did not make the cut into the final four.

Click here to learn more about the Challenge.

Register for MN Ag Expo
on Jan. 22-23 in Mankato

This year’s MN Ag Expo will be Jan. 22-23 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.

Registration is available for Minnesota’s premier indoor ag trade show and conference, hosted by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

The show is free to attend but advanced registration is encouraged as it ensures meal tickets. Click here for more information and to register.