Every year the Lake Region Extension Roundup attracts farmers and ranchers from all across the state. Held at the Memorial Building on January 3 and 4, the gathering featured panels, booths, and opportunities for farmers to network. Farming is not as simple as planting some seeds to grow into a crop. Panels feature everything from crop production, grain diseases, weather, and sprayer technology.
It’s also an opportunity for farmers to network with one another and farmer-focused businesses. Businesses that make farm equipment, seeds, and insurance set up booths and pass out free trinkets such as pens, bags, calendars, and other items.
The story of farming in 2023 was, despite the climate possibly that could’ve negatively affected crops, most farmers were able to have a good year.
Fran Leiphon, who is from northeast of Devils Lake, has a farm of his own. He produces soybeans, pinto beans, and wheat. He has been coming to the Roundup since it started. “It’s always good information, updates on things, little socializing,” he said. He attended a presentation on the specialty crop market outlook. He said it was a” good presentation.”
“We don’t normally get updates like that… It’s good to have an update on specialty crops,” he said. For his 2023, he said business came out very well. “As everyone has pretty much said across the whole area it was better than expected with the moisture conditions.”
Scott Huso, a farmer from Aneta, produces spring wheat, winter wheat, canola, soybeans, and other crops. He echoed similar sentiments of 2023 being a good year. “[We had] very good early season crops,” said. “Much better than expected. Soybeans were a little disappointing. Corn was about average.”
Huso said for 2024 he is “optimistic” about his crops. “People are concerned about moisture. I have an optimistic attitude. As far as I can tell we’re going to be okay.”
One of the experts who spoke at a panel on weather conditions was Drew Lerner. He is president and senior agricultural meteorologist for World Weather Inc. “I’m not trying to scare you that we’re going to go into a drought… there’s a lot of reasons to be watching over the next few weeks,” he said. “Recent storms have improved the moisture profile. It is still very early in the winter with plenty of potential change during the spring months.”
