A Minnesota Department of Agriculture program aims to help farmers make their on-farm grain storage facilities safer.

MDA’s Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant reimburses up to 75% of the cost to purchase and install eligible safety equipment for on-farm grain bins or silos. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $400 per bin or silo, with a limit of $2,400 per farm per year. Grant funding comes from a legislative appropriation of $75,000 for both the Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant and the Rollover Protective Structure Rebate programs.

Examples of eligible safety equipment include but are not limited to:

The MDA is accepting grant applications through May 15 or until all funds are exhausted. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information and to apply, visit the MDA’s Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant webpage.

Corn research group announces
new leadership team

The Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council announced its 2024-25 leadership team: Duane Epland, chair; John Mages, vice chair; Jordan Goblish, treasurer; and Scott Winslow, secretary. Each began his yearlong term July 1.

A farmer for more than 40 years, Epland grows corn and soybeans with his brother, Bruce, near Twin Lakes, located about 10 miles south of Albert Lea near the Minnesota-Iowa border. He joined the MCR&PC in 2018 and says his goals as a council member include expanding ethanol usage and continuing to fund university-level agricultural research.

Mages farms with his wife, Cindy, and his oldest son, Andrew, near Belgrade, about 50 miles west of St. Cloud. He joined the MCR&PC in 2021 after serving on the Minnesota Corn Growers Association board from 2006-2015, including a term as president in 2012. He, too, notes the MCR&PC’s research program and how it helps maximize yields and nutrient management efficiency.

Goblish grows corn and soybeans with his dad, George, near Vesta, about 20 miles east of Marshall. He joined the MCR&PC in 2022 and says he’s excited about corn checkoff-supported research and the opportunity presented by sustainable aviation fuel.

An MCR&PC member since 2015, Winslow raises corn, soybeans, hogs and beef cattle on his family farm near Fountain in Fillmore County. He farms alongside his son, Colin, his daughter-in-law, Ashley, and his daughter, Katie. He appreciates the MCR&PC’s research program, which works in part to find new uses for corn and corn co-products, and the council’s partnerships that promote agriculture.

BEAN REAPPOINTMENTS: The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council reelected Tom Frisch (right) as chair. Gail Donkers (middle) was reappointed vice chair, Pat Sullivan (left) returns as secretary and Ben Storm (not pictured) was reelected treasurer. (Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council)

Tom Frisch reelected chair
Minnesota soybean council

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council reelected Traverse County farmer Tom Frisch as its chair during its June board meeting.

Frisch, who also is one of four Minnesota farmers serving on the United Soybean Board, is eager to continue directing soy checkoff investments in his second term as chair. In May, the council launched “Behind the Dollar,” a campaign showing how the soy checkoff continues improving farmer profitability through agronomic research, developing new markets and creating value-added uses.

Frisch, first elected to MSR&PC in 2019, is a fourth-generation farmer and partner in the farming operation alongside his father, two first cousins and his cousin’s son. The family raises soybeans, corn, sunflowers and grapes near Dumont. In addition to working with the family farming operation, Frisch started his own crop consulting business after graduating from North Dakota State University in 2000 with a degree in agriculture economics. Frisch also is a longtime volunteer firefighter. Tom and his wife, Jane Vangsness Frisch, live 2 miles north of the original Felix Frisch and Son homestead.

Rice County farmer Gail Donkers also was reelected as MSR&PC vice chair. Donkers has a multigenerational farm near Faribault, where she raises soybeans, corn, alfalfa, dairy steers, finishing hogs and sheep.

The council reelected Ben Storm as treasurer, while longtime director Pat Sullivan again will serve as secretary. Council directors serve three-year terms, which begin July 1. The council is charged with directing state soybean checkoff resources toward research, establishing markets and developing value-added uses for soy.

Earlier in the meeting, the council also honored retiring Directors Jim Willers and Kris Folland, who are stepping off the board in July. Willers, who farms near Beaver Creek, served 21 years on the council, while Folland, of Kittson County, directed checkoff funds for nine years.

SOYBEAN SET: Darin Johnson (second from left) was elected president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association on June 20 at MSGA’s new office in Mankato. Ryan Mackenthun (second from right) will serve as vice president, Rose Wendinger (left) moved to treasurer, while Secretary Kyle Jore is the latest addition to the officer team. (Minnesota Soybean Growers Association)

Johnson named new president
of soybean association

Darin Johnson was elected president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) during the organization’s quarterly board meeting.

In addition to Johnson, Brownton farmer Ryan Mackenthun was elevated to vice president, St. James grower Rose Wendinger will move to treasurer, while new Secretary Kyle Jore of Thief River Falls rounds out MSGA’s 2024-25 officer team. In a sign of MSGA’s commitment to uplift the next generation of grower leaders, the current officer team is its youngest in recent memory.

Johnson, who farms with his uncle Scott, his wife Rachel and their family, runs his own seed business and holds extensive advocacy experience. He joined his local Faribault County Corn & Soybean Growers Board more than 20 years ago and serves on the board of Ag Management Solutions, the association management group that oversees MSGA. Throughout his farmer leadership career, he’s advocated for MSGA at state and national hill visits, welcomed a presidential candidate to his farm, hosted legislative events and brought numerous international trade teams to his operation.

While serving as president, Johnson will help to advance MSGA’s legislative priorities as it prepares to visit with candidates during election season and strategize for the 2025 legislative session.

Johnson replaces Bob Worth, who stepped down after becoming MSGA’s only director to serve multiple two-year terms as president. During Worth’s second term as president, MSGA achieved policy wins for its members related to crop input protection, tax relief, biodiesel, the creation of a grain indemnity fund, additional support for international trade programs and more. Worth also became a national advocate for rural mental health awareness.

Worth will continue advocating for Minnesota farmers. The Lincoln County producer was reelected as an at-large director and elected to represent Minnesota on the American Soybean Association, where he previously served as vice president. Worth’s ASA term begins in December, when he’ll replace Michael Petefish.

During the meeting, the board also reelected Jamie Beyer, Adam Guetter, Chris Hill and Jim Kukowski to the ASA.

GROWTH MARKET: Directors from Northern Soy Marketing elected officers for 2024-25. Minnesota farmer Glen Groth (right) will serve as chair, David Struck (left) of South Dakota was elected vice chair, and Wisconsin farmer Nancy Kavazanjian was reelected treasurer. (Northern Soy Marketing)

Northern Soy Marketing
elects FY25 officers

During its June board meeting in Bloomington, Minn., the Northern Soy Marketing board elected its officers for fiscal 2025, which began July 1. Minnesota farmer Glen Groth, who farms near Ridgeway, was elected as chair, replacing Benson, Minn., farmer Patrick O’Leary.

Groth (pronounced Growth) farms with his wife, Melinda, and grows soybeans and corn, along with raising hay and dairy heifers in southeastern Minnesota. A director with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Groth has served on NSM since 2021.

David Struck of Wolsley, S.D., was appointed as NSM vice chair, and Nancy Kavazanjian, from Beaver Dam, Wis., was slated to return as treasurer.

Along with FY25 officer elections, NSM’s June board meeting featured budget reviews, administrative reports and an FY24 recap. With the end of FY24 right around the corner, NSM is looking forward to capitalizing on the momentum it has built and continuing to promote the nutritional and financial advantages of northern-grown soy.