Minnesota Corn Growers Association

Hey everyone,

I am excited to announce that this month I have begun my term as president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association for 2015-2016. It is a huge honor to be working with this great organization, and I will always do my best to represent our great state and my fellow farmers in the best way possible.

http://www.agrinews.com/news/minnesota_news/noah-hultgren-elected-mcga-president/article_ad4f31ce-6dd1-11e5-a6f0-cb9a74c931b1.html

As shown in the article, I am proud to say that “MCGA has accomplished a lot in recent years on behalf of corn farmers, especially in the areas of research, environmental stewardship and ethanol. The next step is to build on those achievements and leverage them in a way that connects with non-farming consumers. Corn farmers have an amazing story to tell. We need to make sure we’re telling it and making our voices heard outside of the farm community.”

I look forward to a very successful year. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments, or would just like to wish me luck.

Thanks,
Noah
noah@farmlandman.com
320-894-7528

Corn and Soybeans

Though most of my posts and focus are on corn, I got interviewed by Tom Meersman of the StarTribune a couple weeks ago for an article on soybeans.

http://www.startribune.com/soybeans-planted-on-record-acreage-this-year/311055001/

Since corn prices were down, there were more acres of soybeans planted this year. Here's my section from the article:

"Noah Hultgren — who grows corn, sugar beets and other crops on his farm in Raymond near Willmar — said it’s no surprise that some farmers have shifted slightly to soybeans.

The “input” costs of land rent, seed and fertilizer have not dropped, he said, even though the price per bushel of corn has fallen off considerably.

“In real good [crop price] years, soybeans don’t make you as much money, but in the poorer-price years you don’t lose as much either,” said Hultgren, who also is vice president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association."
 

You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.startribune.com/soybeans-planted-on-record-acreage-this-year/311055001/

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Noah Hultgren, the Farmlandman

noah@farmlandman.com

320-894-7528

Iowa Farmland Values Dropping Quickly

Much like the Iowa State basketball team in the first round of this year's NCAA tournament, farmland values in Iowa were dropping recently.

Check out this fascinating article from Donnelle Eller with the Des Moines Register:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2015/03/31/iowa-farmland-values/70725978/

Though the entire article is filled with interesting information and insights, the first sentence tells you everything you need to know:

"After peaking two years ago, Iowa farmland values have tumbled about 15 percent, a new report shows, and are likely to continue dropping, given weakness in corn and soybean prices."

Eller also includes some useful quotes from Wells Fargo agriculture economist Michael Swanson, who "believes the continued contraction in farmland values in Iowa and elsewhere will be significant."

The article includes a table showing average tillable cropland prices for the past decade, starting at $3,070 in March 2006, rising as high as $8,690 in March 2013, before falling back to $7,372 in March 2015.

If you have any questions about farmland prices in your area, please call me at 320-894-7528 or e-mail me at noah@hultgrenfarms.com.

Have a great week!
Noah Hultgren
Farmlandman.com
noah@hultgrenfarms.com
320-894-7528