Ag Digest (May 29, 2015)

Farmers Business Network celebrating launch

Farmers Business Network is celebrating its official public launch and a year of farmer member growth from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday at Shotgun Sally's in Fargo.

The celebration will include food, music, drinks and a view of the future of farming.

FBN will donate $50 to members' FFA or 4-H chapter for every non-member farmer they bring to the event.

Foreign Exchange Seminar set

U.S. Bank is sponsoring a free seminar June 16 in Moorhead to discuss the foreign exchange market, swaps, spot and forward contracts and non-deliverable forward contracts.

Register by June 11 by contacting Anne Wang at (701) 280-3634 or anne.wang@usbank.com .

NDSU to provide ethanol risk management training

North Dakota State University is providing a three-day course on risk management to members of the corn ethanol industry on June 16-18 in NDSU's commodity trading room in Barry Hall, 811 2nd Ave. N., Fargo.

The training will cover topics like financial risk, logistics and futures. The program will combine lectures with hands-on learning in the form of exercises, case studies and trading simulations.

The free training is sponsored by North Dakota's Renewable Energy Program, Cenex Harvest States, Archer Daniels Midland and NDSU.

To learn more about the program and register, go to www.ag.ndsu.edu/bioepic/2015-ethanol-risk-management-training .

Crop insurance deadline looming

Producers seeking federal crop insurance must have their Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form, commonly called form AD-1026, on file with their local U.S. Department of Agriculture service center by Monday.

Many farmers have their certification form on file meeting conservation compliance provisions since it's required for participation in other USDA programs, including NRCS conservation programs. But producers, like specialty crop growers who receive federal crop insurance premium subsidies and do not participate in other USDA programs, must now file a certification form with USDA's Farm Service Agency, according to the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Producers who file their forms by the deadline will be eligible for federal crop insurance premium subsidies during the 2016 reinsurance year, which begins July 1. The Monday deadline does not apply to producers seeking benefits from FSA and NRCS programs.

4-H Youth Conference set

The 2015 4-H Extension Youth Conference will be June 15-18 on North Dakota State University's campus.

The conference is open to all North Dakota youths who have completed seventh through 12th grades. Youths do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to attend.

The registration fee is $225, which includes all meals from Monday evening through Thursday brunch, housing for three nights, an event T-shirt and a photograph of the attending delegates. Using the conference bus system will cost an additional $75.

To attend, contact your local Extension Service office or the Center for 4-H Youth Development at (701) 231-7251 or NDSU.4-H@ndsu.edu .

N.D. Farm Toy Show celebrating 30th anniversary

The 30th annual North Dakota Farm Toy Show, Auction and Craft Show will be June 20 and 21 in LaMoure. Farm toy exhibits and crafters will set up in the LaMoure school gym. There will also be a kids pedal tractor pull, toy auction, door prizes and a free gift for the first 50 people.

The event starts at 9 a.m. June 20 and goes until 4 p.m. A barbecue hosted by LaMoure Lions will be at 4:30 p.m. in Sunset Park. The toy auction will be at 6 p.m. at the LaMoure Civic Center. The craft show will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 21.

Toy Farmer hosts the event, which approximately 1,000 people attend each year. For more information, visit www.toyfarmer.com or call (800) 533-8293.

Angus university feed-out set

The North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center is partnering with the North Dakota Angus Association to sponsor the fourth annual North Dakota Angus University calf feed-out program this summer and fall.

Cattle producers interested in gaining a better understanding of how Angus-sired cattle from their operation perform in the feedlot, quality grade or the potential profitability available through retained ownership can consign steers to the program.

Producers who consign cattle pay the feeding costs based on the average cost of gain, veterinary costs and a modest yardage charge. The center carries the costs until the cattle are marketed. After the cattle are marketed, the center deducts all applicable fees from the sale price without an interest charge.

Consigned cattle should be delivered to the center's feedlot the first week of June.

To consign a group of cattle or for more information, contact Chanda Engel at (701) 652-2951 or chanda.engel@ndsu.edu , or call Mike Wendel, North Dakota Angus Association program liaison, at (701) 710-0425.