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AI reshaping agriculture

Moderating a recent Farmfest Forum on how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping agriculture, West Central Minnesota farmer Zach Johnson said AI interests just about every-one in agriculture at least a little bit. “It’s like the internet was 20-25 years ago. It’s going to take everyone using it to the next level. I’m sure some great things will come from it and there will be challenges,” said Johnson, known as the Millenial Farmer with more than a million followers on the YouTube Channel “Millennial Farmer.” He said he’s seen autonomous technology that allows ...

Weekend storm is mixed bag

BROWN COUNTY — Rainfall of six inches or more in the Marshall area Aug. 15-17 compared to about an inch around Lake Benton pleased some farmers and created Cottonwod River flooding in other places. “We got adequate rain. We’re in the garden spot right now. We got a few tenths of an inch of rain at a time,” said Lake Benton corn and soybean farmer Bob Worth. “A few miles east of us, near Balaton and Marshall, they got lots more rain in those three days. We’re getting near September. We don’t have too many drying days left. A poorly tiled piece of ground will be wet for a ...

‘I told him we didn’t support his tariffs’

GILFILLAN ESTATE — A panel of agricultural leaders and government officials spoke at a Farmfest Forum Wednesday about how to deal with the trade deficit and what it means to America and the world. American Farm Bureau President “Zippy” Duvall said he recently talked to President Donald ...

U.S. Ag official touts ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

GILFILLAN ESTATE — Federal politicians discussed agricultural policy with passion at times in front of a large Farmfest Forum crowd Tuesday. Newly appointed U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden talked glowingly about the Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law July 4 containing ...

Farmfest forum to focus on ag trade issues, economic challenges

MORGAN — The 2025 Farmfest featuring more than 400 agricultural vendors begins at 8 a.m., Tuesday Aug. 5 at Gilfillan Estate, several miles northwest of Morgan. Forums begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday with farm succession planning in the Wick building. An artificial intelligence forum begins at ...

Soybeans ‘blooming like crazy, setting pods’

NEW ULM — Bolstered by the most July rainfall in years, corn and soybean farmers are optimistic about their crops this year. More than six inches of rain fell in and around New Ulm in July, according to a weather observer. Average July rainfall is three to four inches. “We got quite a ...