Field and Garden: Weather, markets and an upcoming workshop

On Christmas Day, the high temperature reached 32 degrees in Carrington, 12 degrees warmer than normal, though still far from the record high of 44 degrees set in 1999.

Our coldest Christmas occurred in 1996, when the daytime high was minus 17 degrees, and the nighttime low dipped to minus 28.

Looking back over the past year, the highest temperature recorded was 89 degrees on August 1, while the lowest was minus 23 degrees on January 14.

We had a cooler-than-usual summer, with daily high temperatures below normal for four consecutive months, from May through August. However, temperatures were much warmer than normal in February, September and October.

For the year, the average daily temperature in Carrington was three degrees above average, and the amount of precipitation was 15 percent more than what we normally expect.

Note: The NDAWN station at the Carrington REC has been operating since 1990, and the records reported in this column span from 1990 to 2024.

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NDSU Extension Crops Economist Frayne Olson was one of the featured speakers at Central Dakota Ag Day in December.

During his presentation, Olson highlighted a couple of key points worth sharing.

First, Olson noted that experts are forecasting a large harvest in Brazil, which is likely to keep grain prices low. “We could be stuck bouncing along the bottom for some time,” he noted.

Olson encouraged farmers to steadily manage their grain sales. “Decide now, while you’re thinking clearly, what price point you’ll sell more grain at, and then stick to your plan,” he advised. “You can’t predict the highs, and you’re not fast enough to chase prices.”

Olson also urged farmers to carefully monitor their cost structure. “U.S. production costs are very efficient on a per-bushel basis, until land costs are factored in,” he said. “Be cautious when purchasing land or entering into land rental agreements.”

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A one-day workshop on succession planning, focused on creating a long-term plan for farm or ranch ownership, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, in Jamestown at the North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) State Headquarters.

Hosted by NDFU in partnership with NDSU Extension, this free educational event is designed to help farm families navigate the process of transferring ownership or dividing assets.

“There comes a time when all farm families need to have a conversation about how the farm or ranch will be passed on to the next generation,” said NDFU President Mark Watne. “These workshops are the first step in starting that important conversation.”

Participants will learn how to initiate and sustain discussions with family members about future ownership and begin developing a succession plan. Additionally, they will gain insights into selecting and working with legal and financial professionals to create a practical plan.

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch provided. Space is limited.

To register, visit ndfu.org or use the NDFU app. The registration deadline is Jan. 23. For more information, call 800-366-6338.