As the 2025 harvest draws closer, there’s plenty on farmer’s minds this fall – from the markets to technology to the weather – and they had the chance to discuss those issues with ag leaders and fellow farmers while attending the annual Big Iron Farm & Construction Show Sept 9-11 at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo.

For the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Big Iron provided the opportunity for northwest Minnesota farmer leaders to discuss those issues, including trade and agronomic concerns like weeds and pests, with industry colleagues at their booth inside the Expo building.

“I think it’s great to have a farm show like this up here in the valley that represents our farming practices in northwest Minnesota so well,” said MSGA Secretary Kyle Jore, who traveled a few hours from Thief River Falls to attend Big Iron. “It’s a good time to bring everyone together as we sit in that transition period in between wheat and soybean harvest.”

With harvest just a few weeks away, soybean farmers in northern Minnesota are growing particularly concerned about the rising cash basis giving little hope for a profitable crop. Jore says there’s a lot riding on a trade deal with China.

“That has a big effect on us particularly in the northern part of the state, because predominantly that’s our main purchaser and we’re seeing that in our cash prices,” said Jore. “We’re seeing elevators put basis levels at really just awful numbers – $1.70 to $1.75, which is very reminiscent of the last trade war.”

Farmers were eager to hear from the new Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam, who headlined the Red River Farm Network Issues and Events Center stage on Thursday morning, as legislators and USDA officials have begun discussing potential ad hoc payment to assist farmers impacted by low commodity prices and high input costs amid trade disputes with some of U.S. agriculture’s largest trading partners.

Both the American Soybean Association and MSGA prefer open trade markets, not economic assistance.

“I think it’s important that we get our point across to the FSA administrator that we are hurting real bad in this part of the state due to the basis and any payments should reflect that,” Jore said, “but we’d rather have this trade dispute settled and a market for our soybeans.”

Jore also took advantage of the opportunity to share with farmers the work that MSGA has been doing this past year to safeguard Minnesota’s 26,000 soybean farmers in the legislature, such as protecting crop inputs and the tools needed to effectively and efficiently produce a crop. He and other MSGA directors also stayed busy selling raffle tickets for the Ice Castle Fish House, which was on display at Big Iron. MSGA will announce the winner of the raffle Jan. 21, 2026, during MN Ag Expo.

Connecting with growers

Never ones to shy away from conversations, MSR&PC District 1, 2 & 3 Directors Corey Hanson and Bill Zurn spent time in the Council’s booth and walked the grounds, visiting with fellow producers to get the pulse for the agronomic issues and concerns around the region, such as weed pressure, pests and disease.

“Really spent a lot of time just getting to know people, making new friends, and learning about their challenges this year, but also since there’s people here from multiple states, I’ve been picking their brain and learning how we can collaborate on some of our research and learn from each other as well,” said Hanson, who chairs MSR&PC’s research action team. “The weather this week was great, there was an excellent crowd here.”

Even more than the fancy, new equipment and machinery that packs the fairgrounds, Hanson adds that the education aspect is what peaks his interest most when attending Big Iron.

“The equipment is neat and fun to look at, but I look forward to taking in the market outlooks and seminars and bringing any new information I can back to my farm,” he said. “That’s what keeps me coming back and that’s what I look forward to Big Iron every year.”

Joining in on the conversations in MSR&PC;s booth were a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota, including Angie Peltier, Andrew Hanson and Lindsey Pease, who provided resources on scouting for soybean cyst nematode, frogeye leaf spot and other issues producers are dealing with this growing season.”

“I love mixing it up with the farmers at Big Iron and the one-on-one conversations about the research projects we’re doing and just being able to help them with whatever is going on above or below the surface of their fields,” Peltier said. “It’s a blast!”