The latest Creighton University Rural Mainstreet survey shows nearly 63 percent of rural bank CEOs in Minnesota and nine other Midwest states believe the rural economy is either in a recession now or will sink into recession next year. Creighton University Economist Ernie Goss directs the survey and calculates a monthly economic index for the region. Goss says it has fallen to its lowest level since May of 2020.

Over 18 percent of the rural bankers who responded to the survey expect farmers in their area to wind up earning less than they spent raising crops and livestock this year.

Studies have shown that about 58 percent of these bank CEOs in rural Minnesota expect farmland prices to fall next year.

We’re approaching the end of 2025, which means that some producers are planning ahead for the 2026 season. BASF Crop Protection Marketing Director Brady Spangenberg says one thing they learned from last year was that the people who put together an early plan were some of the most successful. 

If you do lock in a plan early Spangenberg says it can always be adjusted if needed. 

Spangenberg also shared some of his other lessons from this past season.

For more agricultural news and programming, go to the Farm News webpage at rjbroadcasting.com. 

AUDIO FROM: Red River Farm Network

Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means many households will be cooking, and it is the number one Day of the Year for cooking fires in the United States with an estimated 388 percent increase over the daily average. For this reason, Tina Sanders of Safe Kids Grand Forks says that people need to take extra precaution while cooking over the Holiday.

Sanders says people also need to be prepared to take the proper response when it comes to grease fires.

You can see more cooking safety materials on the American Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.

Save the Boundary Waters says a new exploratory drilling proposal near Birch Lake could open the door to a future copper mine. Executive Director Ingrid Lyons explains the situation:

Lyons says part of the mineral deposit sits beneath Birch Lake, and noise and light from 24-hour drilling could impact wilderness users:

While federal land in the watershed has a 20-year mineral withdrawal, the proposal shows a major gap — state lands are still open to copper mining. She says a bill in the Legislature would close that gap by banning copper mining permits on state lands upstream of the Boundary Waters.

Lyons encourages Minnesotans to reach out to lawmakers and get involved.

Our full conversation with Save the Boundary Waters Executive Director Ingrid Lyons:

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has awarded new grant funding to five soil and water conservation districts as part of its Keep it Clean Program, an initiative designed to reduce waste left on frozen lakes during winter recreation.

Two of the selected districts sit in the far north: Beltrami County and Lake of the Woods County, where ice fishing draws thousands of anglers each year. Local officials say the funding will help tackle a growing concern: trash, debris, and wastewater left behind on the ice that can end up polluting lakes once the thaw arrives.

Under the program, districts will use the grants to boost education and outreach, expand cleanup events, and promote proper disposal practices at access points and ice roads. Awards range from twenty-four-and-a-half thousand to forty thousand dollars.

BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke says the goal is to work with winter sports communities to reduce waste and protect the water quality Minnesotans depend on.The Keep it Clean Program is funded through a one-time, two-hundred-thousand-dollar state appropriation approved earlier this year.

The Minnesota Canola Council and University of Minnesota Extension will be holding a Canola Symposium on Thursday, December 4 in Roseau, and canola producers across the Red River Valley are invited to attend. Event presenter Dave Grafstrom tells us more about the research he’s done, which will be discussed next week.

Grafstrom also tells us why he thinks you should attend the symposium next week.

Again, the Canola Symposium will take place on Thursday, December 4 at the Community Center in Roseau. More information can be seen on the Minnesota Canola Council website at www.mncanola.org.

In the past five years, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s Comforts of Home program has helped stabilize nearly 8,000 people from across the region recovering from crises. The organization’s 11,000-square-mile service area, including all of Lake of the Woods County, the Iron Range, and Koochiching County.

American Red Cross Northern and Central Minnesota Executive Director Dan Williams said “the Comforts of Home program will be there, ready to help, when an individual person or family has their housing situation stabilized and they are ready to re-supply their home to build on their recovery.”

People who take part “shop” the shelves at no-cost for essential items like pillows, towels, bedding, and dishes. After receiving items from Bed, Bath, and Beyond and local walmarts for years, the organization is calling on the public for help stocking the shelves for the first time ever.

December 2 is Giving Tuesday, and UWNEMN is focusing its Giving Tuesday efforts on the Comforts of Home program.
Donations to Comforts of Home can be made online at unitedwaynemn.org.

The Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWMB) held discussions regarding their Strategic Plan at their most recent meeting, and the organization is weighing the possibility of making ground water one of their main priorities. RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip explains.

Sip explains how they will be moving forward with making this a priority.

Our full conversation with RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip:

Many people use the Post Office to deliver packages, and other various Christmas gifts during the holiday season. Christina Basilio, a Google trends expert, tells us the worst and best days to go to the Post Office.

And if you get a gift that’s the wrong size or color, Basilio has advice on when to send it back.

Basilio says Google has new AI-powered tools to help you save money and time during the holiday season.

Last month, the Two Rivers Watershed in Roseau and Kittson County went through some fall flooding, and the area is still seeing some of its ramifications. Dan Money of the Two Rivers watershed tells us what caused this flooding.

While the flooding was minor, Money says there were some things in the district that were affected, including the fall harvest, and construction.

Money says they will also be closely monitoring winter conditions this year, as fall flooding could be a sign of more to come in the spring.

Our full conversation with Dan Money: