Ann Bailey

The volunteer fire departments will use the donations to buy equipment that will allow them to more quickly rescue motorists who are entrapped in their vehicles after incidents such as rollovers.

Sugarbeet planting has begun for some American Crystal Sugar farmers, but some places remain too wet. American Crystal's farmers are growing fewer acres this year because of improved efficiency.

Potato planting has begun in the Red River Valley. While it's later than some farmers would like, it's still about an average start.

Cargill held meetings in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin earlier this spring to give farmers information about growing and marketing winter camelina.

Saline soils, poor drainage and the high calcium carbonate content of soils in that region result in reduced soybean yields, but research is looking at how to overcome those challenges.

Research at the Northwest Research and Outlook Center in Crookston showed fertilizer application shouldn't change when a field is tiled. But drain tile seems to increase yields for some crops.

Despite the poor spring conditions, most of the 2026 sugarbeet crop that got into the ground was in excellent to average condition at the end of May, sugarbeet company leaders said.

Naeem Kalwar, soil health specialist at Langdon Research Extension Center, believes wind erosion will worsen if farmers continue conventional tillage. But converting to no-till requires patience.

Some sugarbeet slicing campaigns were not expected to end until early June after large harvests in 2025.

Organized because of concerns about soil loss, the Northwest Minnesota Tillage Expo featured tilling demonstrations, information about water infiltration and soil fertility and thoughts from farmers.