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👉 NEWS UPDATE: A new financial analysis from 124 farms across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota shows cover crops aren’t just a soil win…they’re paying off. Median costs landed around $42/acre, with some as low as $14. More importantly, corn acres that followed cover crops were more profitable than regional averages. That’s real-world, side-by-side data showing regenerative practices can move your bottom line, not just your organic matter score.
✅ Why It Matters (to You): This kind of local, boots-on-the-ground data is the missing link for a lot of farmers who’ve heard the hype but haven’t seen the math. It proves that, when done right, building soil biology and protecting topsoil can create real margins. And for growers using poultry litter, there’s even more synergy; litter feeds the biology that makes cover crops pay off faster.
🚜 Your Move: Use this study as a benchmark. How do your per-acre costs compare? What did your corn-on-cover acres yield versus the average? And if you’re not already pairing litter with covers, this is your cue to start testing that combo.
OTHER STORIES
Tariff Powers Under Scrutiny—Could Reshape Input Cost Landscape
👉 NEWS UPDATE: The Supreme Court is hearing a case on the limits of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the law that’s been used to impose broad trade tariffs in recent years. If the Court narrows that authority, it could reshape how future presidents respond to global trade tensions—affecting everything from ag exports to the price of imported equipment, fertilizers, and key crop inputs. 📖 Read more on RFD-TV
✅ Why It Matters (to You): Tariffs have played a major role in ag markets over the past five years, often swinging input costs and grain prices with little warning. This case could cool down some of that volatility, or, if authority shifts to Congress, create new unpredictability. Either way, the pressure is on for growers to build more stability into their systems. Soil health practices like cycling nutrients internally and reducing dependency on synthetic imports are now more than just agronomic preferences—they’re financial insurance.
🚜 Your Move: Map out which parts of your input stack are most exposed to global supply chains and tariff-sensitive imports. Look for places where domestic inputs, like poultry litter, can close those loops. The more self-reliant your fertility system is, the less trade policy can punch your margins.
👉 NEWS UPDATE: New winter meeting data shows strip-till adoption continuing to rise across Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas as farmers look to cut fertilizer costs and improve nutrient efficiency heading into 2026. Growers cite more precise nutrient placement, warmer spring soils, reduced passes, and strong performance when paired with manure or poultry litter as the primary drivers behind the trend.
Minnesota Pulls Back on Treated Seed Rule After Legal Pushback
👉 NEWS UPDATE: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has officially withdrawn a proposed rule on the disposal of pesticide-treated seed after an administrative law judge found it too vague and potentially unworkable. The decision ends a year of debate that had growers wondering what new compliance costs and restrictions might be coming down the pipe.
📖 Full story on DTN
✅ Why It Matters (to You): For now, this means business as usual, but it’s a signal that treated seed, like other chemically-dependent tools, is entering a new era of scrutiny. What starts as a paperwork issue can quickly become a logistics or liability headache. Whether or not you're directly affected today, the move reminds us that reliance on synthetics, especially ones with unclear end-of-life pathways, can carry hidden costs.
🚜 Your Move: Take this as a moment to re-evaluate how you manage treated seed on-farm. Inventory, storage, disposal. Track it and if you’re leaning more on biological or regenerative inputs like poultry litter, make sure your system is aligned with where regulators, and markets, are headed. This might be one rule walked back, but the trend line is clear: transparency and stewardship are becoming non-negotiable.
NOVEMBER: ❄️ The freeze is on. Fieldwork windows are tightening fast as soil temps drop and daylight shrinks.
🌽 Harvest Wrap: Most corn is off, but straggler acres need attention. Stalk integrity is a concern—get it done before freeze-thaw cycles snap what's left standing.
💧 Soil Moisture Watch: Topsoil is locking up. Uncovered fields are seeing rapid moisture loss and compaction risk. Without residue or cover, winter erosion is a real threat.
🌱 Cover Crop Survival: It’s past prime seeding, but if you got them in early, monitor stand success. Snow cover will help root survival—especially rye, triticale, and hardy blends.
🐓 Litter Timing Shift: Nutrient uptake slows as soil temps fall below 50°F. If you're still applying poultry litter, treat it like a long-term investment. Nutrients will mineralize slowly and feed early spring growth.
🌾 Fall Weed Strategy: Burndown windows are just about closed. Post-frost applications are less effective; evaluate weed pressure now and plan spring residuals accordingly.
🧊 Frozen Ground Ahead: Expect full freeze across the Upper Midwest by mid-to-late November. Tile flow will shut down, and compaction risk spikes with cold, wet passes. Park heavy equipment unless absolutely necessary.
CBOT NUMBERS
CORN
DEC ’25: $4.29 | MAR ’26: $4.43 ¼
Summary: Corn futures edged higher, but momentum’s thin as traders await harvest data. Exports hold steady, while South American weather has yet to stir the market.
Outlook: Basis drives the story—lock in margins if bids stay firm. Charts remain neutral, so don’t bank on a post-harvest bump—ok neutral at best.
SOYBEANS
NOV ’25: $10.93 ¼ | JAN ’26: $11.14 ¼
Summary: Soybeans firmed on strong crush demand, higher oil prices, and dry weather in Brazil delaying planting. A tariff truce with China offers mild optimism, but their focus on South American supply limits upside.
Outlook: Market hinges on Brazil’s weather and China’s buying pace. With both uncertain, consider scaling in sales while basis holds firm—volatility’s coming.
WHEAT
DEC ’25: $5.37 | MAR ’26: $5.50¼
Summary: Wheat eked out small gains, but global supply and weak exports keep rallies capped. Traders want a clear spark before pushing higher.
Outlook: If basis is solid, take the win. Flat charts and rising storage costs make this a clean exit before winter pressure builds.
EVENTS
Minnesota Irrigator Program (MIP)
Nov 18–19, 2025 | 📍 Sherburne History Center, Becker, MN
A two-day intensive training focused on irrigation scheduling, variable rate technology, and nutrient + water efficiency—designed for irrigators, crop advisors, and technical staff. Hosted by UMN Extension.
More info.
Minnesota Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Nov 20–22, 2025 | 📍 Bloomington, MN
Policy discussions, networking, and updates on key issues facing Minnesota agriculture heading into 2026.
More info.
Premier Soil Health Event 2025
Dec 2, 2025 | 📍 Minnesota (location TBA)
Hosted by the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, this annual event digs deep into practical strategies for building resilient, productive soil systems.
More info.
Let’s Talk Soil, Live.
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