Minnesota CRAZY WEATHER!

About a week ago, we received 10 inches of snow, which then turned into a BLIZZARD. Yes, you heard that right. Not unusual for Minnesota in March. But . . . then a few days later, an 80-degree day was put into our laps. I absolutely loved the warmer weather. But now I want 80 degrees back!

So what is happening on the farm?

Well, we are down to a couple of semi-truck loads of pigs left. Soon we will be pigless pig farmers.

We are not sure when our next batch of newly weaned pigs will arrive. We hope to see them soon, as we are ready for them. Our new pigs come from a sow farm about 1 1/2 miles from us. We are fortunate that the farm is close to where we live.

We are starting to look at what needs to be done for spring. Still very early, but it will be here before we know it. And with that 80+ degree day—it’s put the spring bug in our lives. We have one farm that we are trying to decide whether to plant corn or soybeans. We just don’t know what the market is telling us as the commentary keeps changing.

We will also start delivering corn to our local ethanol plant. We don’t feed all of our corn. The remainder of our corn goes for ethanol. I love the idea of growing a renewable fuel source. We will also be delivering soybeans to our local soybean processing plant.

I’m 97.34% done moving into our new-to-us home. It’s been a big job and a lot of anxiety on my part deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. It’s taking a little time and effort to adjust, but in the end, I feel good about the decision.

Solar Farms?

We have a solar farm being built near us that will cover about 1200 acres. I am torn. I don’t think we should use prime farmland to build solar farms. Unfortunately, the proposed solar will be about 150 feet from people’s residences. I don’t like that at all.

I believe solar farms should be built on marginal land. On the other hand, I feel like farmers should have the right to do what they want with the land they own. And the land owners are being offered an extraordinary amount of money for these 30-year leases, so it’s hard to say no. Again, I feel like they belong on marginal land.

Succession Planning

Okay. I keep hearing there will be significant assets that will be changing hands soon. And that so many older farmers haven’t started the process of changing the farm ownership to the next generation.

I don’t disagree. We are one of the farmers. My husband just turned 70. Yes, we have a trust, will, etc., but it needs to be updated. We will meet with an attorney next week to discuss succession matters. I would love to write about succession information that farmers can utilize. The problem, as I see it, is that every farming operation is different. It’s complex. And a one-size-fits-all does not work. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore it.

My hope is to share some resources I find as I research succession plans with you. Tell me what you want to know. Please feel free to reach out to me.

A Little Respite from the Farm

A couple of weeks ago, we took a trip to Hawaii. Kauai and Oahu to be exact. It was beautiful and a needed rest. I have never been to Hawaii, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was great. We went with family members, which made it more enjoyable.

One interesting note for those that have not been there, is they have a lot chickens/roosters on the Kauai island. They are everywhere! And every morning at 4 am, they start to crow. Right outside our bedroom window. Loved every minute of it (well, not really). And they don’t miss a beat.

I loved the weather and the scenery. Some of the islands reminded me of Halong Bay in Vietnam. I visited Vietnam about 10 years ago through the MARL (Minnesota Ag Rural Leadership) program.

I loved the seafood in Hawaii. I loved the sightseeing, as we were able to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial, Dole Plantation and Macadamia Farm. Also, I was able to see seals, sea turtles, and whales (from what I am told, you don’t always see whales).

Another interesting experience happened in a restaurant we were eating at. On the menu was a pork dish where the pork came from Comparts Family Farms. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I know the Comparts (they farm in Minnesota), and they don’t live far from me. Needless to say, we ordered the pork and it was delicious. And of course, I had to tell our server that I knew the Comparts!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I feel very blessed to be able to experience it and I will remember it for a very long time.

Any Questions?

Let me know if you have any questions or a topic you would like me to write about. Please put them in the comment section.