Used to working with the media in his 18 years with the Minnesota Beef Council directing a highly coordinated effort to improve the safety of ground beef, Ron Eustice knows the value of good relationships.

Since 2003 the University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Camp has been helping youth gain more experience and knowledge about dairy showmanship. Through word-of-mouth and a little publicity the number of young people who have attended the camp has grown steadily throughout the last five years.

Shepherd’s Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival
May 10-11
Washington County Fairgrounds, Lake Elmo
Info: Minnesota’s premier fiber festival; log on to www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org

Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care Quarterly Meeting
May 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Minnesota Zoo Wells Farm Family Farm, Apple Valley
Info: Must RSVP by 5 p.m. May 12 to DianaW1123@aol.com, Dean.Treangen@state.mn.us or (952) 431-9579

Rivers and History Weekend
May 17-18
Upper Sioux Agency State Park, Granite Falls
Info: Family-centered event; canoe the area rivers, camp out and learn of the region’s rich history; log on to www.curemnriver.org or call (877) 269-2873

The Land crossword: May 2-9, 2008

Kids' Corner: May 2-9, 2008

It’s easy to rapidly drive by the 15-foot-tall cross on Todd County Road 14 near Browerville and not pay much attention. During the drought of 1988, though, people didn’t drive by so fast.

A special treat in listening to George Rehm — a longtime University of Minnesota Extension agronomist, now retired — is his remarkable candor. Without the “political restraints” of being on the U of M payroll, he thrives on “telling it like it is.”

Since 1981, when I picked up my first pen, paper and paycheck as a journalist, six farm bills have come and gone. The writing of those six laws, however, was as easy as making oatmeal compared to the hemlock being brewed now with the seventh, and not-yet complete, 2007 farm bill.

The farm bill stalemate remains as painful to watch as root canal is to endure. This House-vs.-Senate-vs.-White House-vs.-everyone marathon has lasted longer than last year’s baseball season and this year’s hockey season.

Less than 20 percent of Minnesota’s lakes and streams have been tested. Of these, about 40 percent don’t meet Clean Water Act standards.

On-going developments in the Argentina situation have had old crop beans on a roller coaster. Early in the week, there were indications that two or three soybean vessels' destinations had been switched from the United States to Argentina and prices plummeted.

The delayed corn planting provided pressure on the assumption fewer acres will be switched from beans to corn. Another week will provide us with a much better idea of how the Argentine situation will play out.

The next few weeks will be significant for the direction of the cattle market into the summer months. Producers should be on alert to lock-in summer inventories on the first signs of weakness developing in the market.

It has been a long time since the weather has been this uncooperative in the Upper Midwest. Planting progress is falling behind, but it is difficult to say if the market will react or not.

It now appears that Congress may be getting closer to reaching resolution on some of the key funding issues, which could lead to a compromise, and the ultimate passage of a new farm bill by Congress.

Is it really possible to fulfill your lifetime dreams? Is graduation really the launching pad to greater heights and the ability to help solve societal problems?

As soon as there is some growth, these plants can be replanted in a sunny area, if at all possible. Rhubarb can be transplanted all season long.

Versatility is the soybean’s forte, as you will see in these recipes from the United Soybean Board’s “Favorites From the Heartland” cookbook.

Read “The Compassionate Carnivore” by Catherine Friend, and see what an animal-raising, animal-eating farmer has to say about what’s on your plate.

Young or old, strawberry lovers are sure to get a kick out of Minnesota’s only hydroponic strawberry patch, located at Emma Krumbees Orchard and Farm in Belle Plaine.

Long ago, 100 years to be exact, the land between Chaska and Excelsior was about to begin a rich history. A history of being the land that created some of the hardiest developed fruit in Minnesota, fruit that even the most stoic Minnesotans would rave about.

It was the idea of putting tractor power to work blowing snow that jump-started Hector-area farmer Dick Loftness into the manufacturing world back in 1956.

“It’s sort of like making Kevin Garnett one of the best professional basketball players in the world. That took some time, just as it takes time to build the genetics of your herd, too.”