April/May 1997
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
Brandli, Bengtson, Leseth elected to MWRPC
Art Brandli, Warroad; Kelly Bengtson, Hallock; and John Leseth, Moorhead, have been elected to the board of directors of the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council.
Brandli was re-elected for a second, three-year term representing Area 1, which is northwest MN. He currently serves as chair of the MWRPC's domestic promotion committee. Bengtson will replace Charlie Swanson, also of Hallock, on the MWRPC board; Swanson will step down from the board in July after serving for 12 years.
In Area 2, which includes west central MN, Leseth will replace Merlyn Petermann, Hawley, who steps down from the board in July after serving one term.
Others who serve on the MWRPC board are Cliff Keller, Fergus Falls; Ellsworth Danielson, Fosston; Bruce Hamnes, Stephen; Don Loeslie, Warren; Paul Aasness, Fergus Falls, and Francis "Butch" Buschette, Renville. The MWRPC administers the one-cent per bushel wheat checkoff program in Minnesota for wheat research and promotion activities and programs.
SDWI names Vallery director
Rick Vallery has been named executive director of SD Wheat Inc., replacing Brenda Forman, who has accepted a position as executive secretary of the SD Association of Cooperatives. Vallery has a background in farming and ranching, and previously spent almost 12 years on the SD Farm Bureau staff recruiting members, organizing counties, surfacing leaders and developing and implementing policy.
"SD Wheat Inc. needs to remain a leader in the value-added arena, which is a challenge I enthusiastically and whole heartily endorse," says Vallery. "Opportunities to create more profit for wheat producers is a high priority for this organization."
Thompson, Knutson elected to MN Barley Council
Jim Thompson, Hallock; and Curt Knutson, Fisher, have been elected to the board of the Minnesota Barley Research and Promotion Council.
Thompson will be serving a third term on the MBRPC, representing district 1. He and his wife Barbara have two children, Brent and Marla. Among his other activities, Thompson has served on his local township board, SWCD Board, Ag Utilization Research Institute Advisory Board, and is a member of the U.S. Feed Grains Council.
Knutson is new to the MBRPC board, replacing Ron Tommerdahl, Hendrum, who is stepping down from the board after representing barley producers in district 2 since 1990. Knutson and his wife Kim have four children: Amy, Chad, Kristen and Nicole. Knutson grows barley, wheat, sugar beets, and edible beans with his brother; and they also own KB Manufacturing, a small manufacturing business that specializes in producing chemical injection monitoring systems for the spraying industry. A 1996 RRV Agassiz Ambassador, Knutson is involved in many civic and agricultural groups and activities, including the Minnesota Wheat & Barley Steering Committee.
Preferred malting barley varieties for 1997
The American Malting Barley Association recommends the following malting barley varieties for planting in the Northern Plains this year: Robust, Azure, B1602, Foster, Morex, Stander and Robust. The industry purchased more Robust than any other variety in 1996 and expects to do so again this year. Don't mix varieties at planting or at harvest: each barley variety malts differently and mixtures will not malt properly, stresses AMBA.
Stephanie Sorensen joins MN Wheat staff
Stephanie Sorensen has joined the staff of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council as a communications assistant. Sorensen, a 1996 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is responsible for the Wheat News segment offered on the Data Transmission Network (DTN) and FarmDayta to association members. As well, Sorensen assists with MN Wheat publications, including Prairie Grains, and the organization's web site: www.smallgrains.org.