Mikkel Pates
Mikkel Pates, reporter/columnist for Agweek magazine of Grand Forks, reports from Fargo, N.D., about agriculture in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.Contact
Articles
Northeast SD upbeat about beef, corn
CropStop includes visit to Northern Beef Packers in Aberdeen.
RELATED CONTENTAnderson Seed insolvency case hits one-year mark
The Anderson Seed Co. insolvency this week hit its one-year mark, with a total of more than $5 million still owed to farmers in the Dakotas, and perhaps more in Minnesota.
Elite sheep shearers compete at stock show
RELATED CONTENTRanch rodeo
The event is becoming one of the stock show's most popular crowd attractions.
RELATED CONTENTFeb. 7 drought outlook similar to that of Jan. 17
A Feb. 7 U.S. Drought Monitor map continues to show improved prospects for moisture conditions in the next three months in the Northern Great Plains, compared with 2012, especially Minnesota and much of northern North Dakota.
Speak up
America’s most famous animal scientist has a message for North Dakota State University agriculture students: Speak up.
RELATED CONTENTND land appraisers see prices up 46 percent
A North Dakota farm managers and rural appraiser group published its 2012 report this week, indicating an average 46 percent annual jump in North Dakota farm values in 2012, and a 28 percent increase in values in nearby Minnesota counties.
RELATED CONTENTIs another bust in farming a sure thing?
FARGO, N.D. — “Things are seldom as good as they say it is in the newspaper — and almost never as bad,” Mikkel Pates says to friends at least once a month for the past 20 years, often over a “nice cup of tea.”
Brushing at biomass
FARGO, N.D. — While attending parts of a recent conference in Fargo, N.D., titled “Northern Plains Biomass Economy: What Makes Sense?” I thought — hey — this was the right question for a conference. I congratulate North Dakota State University for pulling this together. I think “what makes sense” is a complicated issue here because it’s like solving a math question with multiple unknowns.
Steiger pride on display
FARGO, N.D. — Where I work, I keep a model of the Steiger Puma tractor on the mantle of the rolltop desk I inherited from my dad. I bought the model tractor June 17, 1986, the day Steiger Tractor Inc. of Fargo, N.D., announced it was filing Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Holding our breath
FARGO, N.D. — “Come on, global warming!” You don’t actually hear that cheer, but there are farmers in the northern Red River Valley and areas to the east and west no doubt are thinking it.
RELATED CONTENTObama vs. McCain?
FARGO, N.D. -- The other day, I attended a news conference, of sorts, regarding the agricultural positions of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.
RELATED CONTENTSUNNY REUNION: 50th year attracts friends to valley
FARGO, N.D. -- The other day, I was privileged to attend a family reunion of sorts.
RELATED CONTENTWhere credit is due
FARGO, N.D. — My mother-in-law had an old German expression that she told half-jokingly that I paraphrase something like this: “He who doesn’t brag about himself, goes unbragged.”
RELATED CONTENTAG AT-LARGE: Good old days of cheap dirt
Fargo,?N.D. — Anyone in agriculture has to be impressed with the breathtaking backlash that has occurred on corn-based ethanol. Suddenly, this increase in the price of corn and other commodities is seen as the worst thing that could have ever happened — an abomination. The good old days must have been when grain was dirt cheap. This turnaround is as startling as the reputations of Britny Spears or Eliot Spitzer.
RELATED CONTENTEd's big adventure -- Schafer's entitlement central to his success
FARGO, N.D. — I’m not in the business of throwing bouquets to political figures, but I am happy to report that I’m impressed with how Ed Schafer has handled himself so far as U.S. secretary of agriculture.
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