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Strategic Farming: Let's Talk Crops Talked Crop Economics

On the January 28th Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops program, we welcomed two guests with experience in agricultural economics. Nathan Hulinsky, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Agricultural Business Management, joined from the Brainerd Regional Extension Office. Also joining was Dr Frayne Olson, Crop Economist and Marketing Specialist with North Dakota State University. Frayne is the Director of the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives and a professor in the Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics at NDSU. The moderator for this session was Matt Pfarr, Extension educator-crops.

Crop production and economics

Nathan invited the public to connect with the UMN Agricultural Business Management Team: https://extension.umn.edu/managing-farm. You will find useful information on rental rates, crop budgets, and the Farm Bill.

Nathan Hulinsky began the program with a look at Minnesota’s total agricultural row crop production. He shared 2023, 2024, and 2025 crop production data to demonstrate the scale of each crop produced within the state. The national rankings for Minnesota crops are impressive:

  • Corn (#4)
  • Soybeans (#3)
  • Hay (#10)
  • Wheat (#3)
  • Sugar beets (#1)
  • Dry beans (#2)
  • Oats (#1)
  • Canola (#4)
  • Sunflowers (#3)
  • Rye (#5)
  • Barley (#8)
  • Potatoes (#9)
  • Maple syrup (#11)
Source : umn.edu

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