Agralite Newsagralite.coop/sites/agralite/files/PDF/Newsletters/2017...The municipal utilities in Minnesota have had similar authority in Minnesota for over 30 years. With the passage

Inside:

Agralite News

Notice to the Membership on proposed adoption of rules under

Minnesota Statute 216B.164During the 2017 Legislative Session, the Minnesota

Legislature passed and the Governor signed a provision that reduces duplicative regulation on your electric cooperative. This local democracy legislation returns some balance to the regulatory process, ensuring decisions that impact member-owners of cooperatives are made locally by the Board of Directors who are elected by the members. While electric cooperatives are already locally regulated in most areas, this legislation made an important clarification, one that will allow for innovation in response to member’s needs and wants for years to come.

The legislation impacts the distributed generation section of statute and brings it in line with the rest of Minnesota Statute as it applies to rates, fees and charges of electric cooperatives. Electric cooperatives still must follow the law as laid out by the legislature in this section. The provision that the legislature recently passed and the Governor signed allows for cooperatives to adopt the authority implementing this section of statute (Minnesota Statute 216B.164). To do so a cooperative has to pass a resolution adopting this authority and adopt rules implementing this section of statute.

The municipal utilities in Minnesota have had similar authority in Minnesota for over 30 years. With the passage of the provision, the legislature affirmed the value of local decision making for rural electric cooperatives across

Minnesota. As your locally owned cooperative, we know that local decision making can result in rates and services that reflect our community’s needs while assisting in keeping administrative costs down.

Under these new rules, the cooperative staff and CEO will talk with the member to hear their concerns. After the staff and manager have had a chance to hear the concerns and time to consider the issues, they will attempt to reach a resolution with the member. If a resolution is not agreeable to the member, the matter can be brought to the Board of Directors for their consideration. After consideration by the Board of Directors and the Board has made a determination on the issue, the member has the right to request their concerns be heard by a mediator. The cost of the mediator will be paid 90% by the cooperative and 10% by the member. If the member is still not satisfied they can pursue litigation.

At the August board meeting, the Board will consider the adoption of this part of the new state law. Directors and staff will be reviewing the applicable law (MN 216B.164) and discussing a resolution and rules implementing the section of statute. The purpose of this change is to secure local decision-making, not to substantively change the way your cooperative interacts with distributed generation. If you are interested in this change, please contact us with your concerns or plan to attend the meeting in person.

Photo above is by Mandi Naig, our July

Calendar Contest Winner

Page 2• June Meeting Minutes• Line Crew Demonstrations

Page 3• Operation Round Up Helps

Maintain CPR Classes• Unclaimed Capital Credits

Page 4• Safety: Noise-Induced Hearling

Loss• SmartHub Program• Paying your bill

Page 5• The smart home• Rural communities have a voice

in Washington

Page 6• Tips to prevent wildfires• Unclaimed Capital Credits,

continuedPage 15• Classifieds• Energy Explorers

Page 16• Community Solar• Infographic: Lightning Awareness• Infographic: Using Your Electric

Water Heater for Heating Storage• Operation Round Up

Summer Office Hours:

7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Agralite Electric Cooperative • Benson, MN 56215 • 843-4150 or 1-800-950-8375

Manager Kory Johnson

Volume XCIII • JULY 2017

Update Your Contact InformationIf you receive email and/or text message notifications when load management is activated,

please make sure we have your current information! Agralite offers several special rates to those members who participate in our load

management programs. By participating in load management, you not only get a lower rate for yourself, but you also help the entire cooperative by controlling wholesale power costs.

If you would like to be notified by email and/or text message when load management is activated, please let us know.

AGRALITE NEWS July 2017

A Report to Patrons From the Board RoomMinutes of Meeting • Board of Directors • June 2017

Board Chairman Orvin Gronseth called a meeting of the Board of Directors of Agralite Electric Cooperative to order at 8:35 a.m., June 29, 2017. All members of the Board were present. The agenda, minutes of the last meeting, the monthly disbursements, and payment of capital credits of deceased members were approved.

James Pachan, Manager of Member Services, reported on activities of his department for the month. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on AMI (Automated Metering Infrastructure) vendors. He discussed load management and CIP.

Jenny Stryhn, Manager of Finance, discussed Agralite’s margins, capital credit checks, and the SmartHub upgrade. Jenny brought forth Work Order #449, Special Equipment WO May 2017, NRECA

Pension Plan Resolution, and 2016 Form 990 and the Board approved them.

The financials were given by Jenny with a PowerPoint presentation.

Tom Hoffman, Manager of Engineering & Operations, reported on activities of his department for the month. He discussed line crew projects and outages. He met with the RUS Government Field Rep. to discuss the new work plan for next year and the Rep. also conducted the O & M 300 review.

Tom gave the safety report. Director Rau reported on the GRE Annual Meeting.Director Rau reported on the MREA board meeting.Kory Johnson, General Manager, reviewed his

report to the board. The strategic planning meeting was discussed. He discussed recent meetings that he attended. Local Democracy was discussed and the Board approved to follow MREA’s recommendations for implementing MN Statues 2016, section 216B.164.

Director Thomson will be the 2017 NRECA Regional Meeting voting delegate. Director Rau will be the alternate.

Director Rau discussed a member issue that was brought to his attention.

The July board meeting was set for the 28th. Being no further business came before the Board,

the meeting was adjourned.

Line Crews give demonstrations

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Pro-gram Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the infor-mation requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

Agralite Electric CooperativeHOURS ARE: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., M-F

320-843-4150 or 1-800-950-8375The Agralite News is circulated every third Friday of each month

by Agralite Electric Cooperative.Editor - Kory JohnsonPublisher - Swift County Monitor NewsPostmaster send address changes to:Agralite Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 228, Benson, MN 56215Second class postage, paid at 320 East Highway 12, Benson, MN 56215 (USPS 543-040)

PAGE 2

Line crews from Agralite Electric & Traverse Electric gave live demonstrations on the Electrical Safety Demo Trailer at the Big Stone County Fair in Clinton on Friday, July 14.

AGRALITE NEWSJuly 2017

continued on page 6

PAGE 3

Operation Round Up helps maintain availability of community CPR classes

Agralite is trying to return Capital Credits to former members whom are no longer at their last address on file with the cooperative. If your name appears on this list or you know someone who is on this list, please take a moment to let them know or to let us know. Past members listed may claim their capital credit refund by contacting our office at 320-843-4150.

Capital Credits belong to our members and we hope we can return the credits to their owners!

Unclaimed Capital Credits Reminder

Ahrndt Kim Benson MNAjax Terry Anoka MNAlexander Marianna Mesa AZAllen Philip Little Canada MNAmundson Justin Benson MNAndersen Dennis Custer SDAnderson Judith Alexandria MNAnderson Shari Marietta MNAnderson Steven Watson MNArndt Shawn Clinton MNAthey Rodney Ortonville MNAubart Farms Sedan MNBagstad A. D. Willmar MNBangs Charles Donnelly MNBarsness Paul Spicer MNBathke Gary Niagra Falls NYBean Terry Donnelly MNBeckman Tim Brooten MNBendt Lloyd Donnelly MNBendt Lloyd Waseca MNBlevins Grozio Glenwood MNBlum Dale Pierce NEBoicourt Robert Omaha NEBooth Thomas Prosect ORBraaten Vernon Minneapolis MNBouwman Brothers Sedan MNBurrington Fern Saint Cloud MNCampbell Fredrick Sauk Rapids MNCarsten Renae Glenwood MNChristensen Harvey Lakeville MNChristenson Harry Appleton MNChurch Ronald Nebraska City NECollins Jim Appleton MNCook Curt Benson MNCoolbroth Clayton Benson MNCortez Thomas Hammond WICunningham Rick Moorhead MN

Cuomo Gregory Cyrus MNCypher Jeffrey Truman MNDablow Ed Morris MNDakota St Bank of Milbank Big Stone City SDDamerow Rhonda Chokio MNDavidson Brothers Benson MNDean Robyn Belgrade MNDean Rolfe Villard MNDelong Judi Kensington MNDelong Roger Barrett MNDerflinger Casey Custer SDDoherty John Danvers MNDokkebakken Ellen Benson MNDokken Lois Benson MNDolan Frank Danvers MNDolan Mary Benson MNDosdall Howard Morris MNDrewes Otto Morris MNEby Daniel Glenwood MNEdwards Edward Morris MNEliason Charlene Ortonville MNEliason Ruth Starbuck MNElvecrog Lena Plymouth MNEngler Darlene Starbuck MNErck Oscar White Bear Lake MNErickson Ronald Montevideo MNErickson Vernon Benson MNEstby Mayrene Glenwood MNEvenson Mike Kerkhoven MNFabian Jim Donnelly MNFarmland Industries Inc Kansas City MOFawcett Arlys Sherman TXFederal Land Bank Koosman Willmar MNFehr Everett Fargo NDFehr Ruth Whittemore IAFehr’s Machinery Inc Morris MNFenske Keith Chokio MNFeuchtenberger Dwayne Hancock MNFinberg Marlow Snohomish WAFinke Robin Benson MNFischer Randy Fergus Falls MNFive Inc Carlos MNFontaine Gayla Brooten MNFredrick Arthur Kerkhoven MNFrett Molly Benson MNFreyholtz Robert Danvers MNFullington Cecil Pacific Junction IAFunny Farms, Inc Roscoe NYGarrett Darlene Perham MNGensler Ingred Benson MNGerber Nathan Ephrata PAGibson Eric Lincoln MTGiese Kevin Benson MNGilchrist David Alexandria MNGjerdingan Harris Willmar MN

Glacial Trail Club Brooten MNGlimsdal Troy Alexandria MNGoodon David Benson MNGosch Letitia Council Bluffs IAGoulet Lee Danvers MNGoulet Milton Benson MNGraham Clair Johnson MNGregerson Eveline Minneapolis MNGreig WM Appleton MNGreiner Jason Glenwood MNGrossman Michael West Concord MNGrossman Ollie Morris MNGudahl Melvin Fargo NDGuerra Kay Fergus Falls MNGuillemette Ernest Ortonville MNGuse Lloyd Correll MNGustafson Thomas Hutchinson MNGutzman Lorri Ortonville MNHafstad Arnold Glenwood MNHagberg Rolf Glenwood MNHagen Leonard Holloway MNHagevik Bruce Minnetonka MNHallman Alice Morris MNHameren Marvin Ortonville MNHamilton Joanne Benson MNHamilton Mark Willmar MNHanson Charles Ortonville MNHanson John Sedan MNHanson Lavina Danvers MNHanson Ralph Sartell MNHegge Alice Ortonville MNHenkelman Alvin Correll MNHennen Thomas Morris MNHenning Douglas Renville MNHeiland Michael Franklin MNHenrichs Donald Ortonville MNHesse Myrtle Hemet CAHill Larry Sioux Falls SDHillman Clarence Appleton MNHoberg Jerry Morris MNHoffman James Belle Plaine MNHofstadter Curt Saint Cloud MNHoltz Mark Park Rapids MNHouser Charles Alexandria MNHoward Gina Benson MNHunt Joel Big Stone City SDHunt Mike Suamico WIHurst Michael San Antonio TXHuselid Katherine Clinton MNHynnek William Ortonville MNJackson Rod Bemidji MNJacobson Forrest Sunburg MNJeitz Stanley Morris MNJergenson Bernett Sedan MNJergenson Lillian Benson MN

Jesness Elmer Barrett MNJessen Vera Willmar MNJobgen Elaine Hancock MNJohnson Lois Paynesvile MNJohnson Verner Starbuck MNJorgensen Mark Ortonville MNJRW Farms Ramona CAJudge Joseph Brooten MNKahout Stanley Minneapolis MNKampmeier Tom Chokio MNKanne Elmond Brewster MNKarels John Henning MNKascht Elizabeth Bozeman MTKascht Jerome Benson MNKasperson Richard Chokio MNKelzer David Big Stone City SDKellen Stacy Morris MNKnutson Edwin Ortonville MNKnutson Guy Brooten MNKnutson Harlen Sacred Heart MNKoenen Scott Appleton MNKolden Curtis Barrett MNKolling Derek Murdock MNKontz Tom Graceville MNKoosman James Willmar MNKordovsky Daniel Dwight NDKoubsky Tim Alexandria MNKral Dennis Cyrus MNKroc Janice Glenwood MNKurkosky Steve Ortonville MNLachmiller Ryan Plymouth MNKvistad Steven Craword NELand Gertrude Odessa MNLange Louis Slayton MNLarson Corey Ortonville MNLarson Danny Morris MNLarson Charles Danvers MNLee Harris Dawson MNLemen James Bena MNLitzkow Raymond Pevely MOLoa Roy Benson MNLuchardt Dixie Sedan MNLund Mary Becker MNLunderby Steven Newcastle WYLundquist Keith Cyrus MNMadsen Bradley Alexandria MNMalland Gary Watertown SDMaltrud Paul Hitterdal MNMarohl Elmer Appleton MNMata Francisco Appleton MNMcKenna Edward Minneapolis MNMcRoberts Wayne Appleton MNMebust Harold Glenwood MNMeers Dorismae Morris MNMelchert Lloyd Morris MNMessner Philip Hancock MNMeyer Norman Pine City MN

Maintaining adequate manikins, pocket masks, and practice models Automated External Defibrillators (AED) is necessary to have appropriate ratios for hands on skills. Agralite Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up contributed $380 to the Benson Community Education High School and Hospital CPR classes taught by Barb Schwarz from Benson High School and Megan Grimsley from Swift County-Benson Health Services. Barb is teaching for the American Red Cross in the high school, a class called Responding to Emergencies, which is offered every other year. Megan is teaching for the American Heart Association, taking over some of the Community Education classes offered for the general public. All certifications are good for two years. Classes continue to be offered in Benson. Contact your local Community Education to register for a class. Classes are organized on a needs basis. Get your name on the list!


Agralite Electric’s SmartHub Program

• Pay their bill immediately with secureonline payments

• View monthly electricity usage and history

• Manage account information directly and trackpayment history from mobile devices or the web

• Receive email regarding bills

• Sign up for Auto Pay

With SmartHub, members can

SmartHub is a convenient two-way communication program that allows members to access their Agralite Electric account information through personal computers and mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad and Android smart phones and tablets.

SmartHub is intuitive and easy-to-navigate, and provides so much more than just bill payment.

SmartHub:A New and Enhanced Online Bill Payment System How to Access SmartHub

To pay your bills or utilize any of the other features, simply go to www.agralite.coop and click on “SmartHub” located on the left-hand side of the homepage. If you have yet to sign up for any kind of online bill payment account, simply click on the “New User” link and follow the prompts to sign up for an online account.

Agralite Electric is proud to provide you with powerful, secure and convenient account access, as well as detailed information about your energy usage via SmartHub. Sign up today to experience the new and exciting features of SmartHub.

If you have any questions, please contact our office1.800.950.8375

To download the FREE SmartHub app for your mobile device or tablet, click on the App Store icon on your iPhone/iPad or the Google Play icon on your Android phone/tablet, and search for “SmartHub”.

Agralite Electric’s SmartHub Program

• Pay their bill immediately with secureonline payments

• View monthly electricity usage and history

• Manage account information directly and trackpayment history from mobile devices or the web

• Receive email regarding bills

• Sign up for Auto Pay

With SmartHub, members can

SmartHub is a convenient two-way communication program that allows members to access their Agralite Electric account information through personal computers and mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad and Android smart phones and tablets.

SmartHub is intuitive and easy-to-navigate, and provides so much more than just bill payment.

SmartHub:A New and Enhanced Online Bill Payment System How to Access SmartHub

To pay your bills or utilize any of the other features, simply go to www.agralite.coop and click on “SmartHub” located on the left-hand side of the homepage. If you have yet to sign up for any kind of online bill payment account, simply click on the “New User” link and follow the prompts to sign up for an online account.

Agralite Electric is proud to provide you with powerful, secure and convenient account access, as well as detailed information about your energy usage via SmartHub. Sign up today to experience the new and exciting features of SmartHub.

If you have any questions, please contact our office1.800.950.8375

To download the FREE SmartHub app for your mobile device or tablet, click on the App Store icon on your iPhone/iPad or the Google Play icon on your Android phone/tablet, and search for “SmartHub”.

1. Pay with Automatic Bank Pay – No more checks to write or bills to mail. Safely pay your bill each month with automatic deductions from your checking or savings account.

2. Pay Online – SmartHub allows you to make payments 24 hours a day. Simply go to www.agralite.coop and click on SmartHub.

3. Pay with EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) – Each month your bill is paid automatically by the credit or debit card you designate.

4. Pay by Mail – Mail a check, cashier’s check, or money order addressed to Agralite Electric Cooperative, PO Box 228, Benson, MN 56215.

5. Pay in Person – You can pay your bills at our office or use our drive-up drop box 24 hours a day.

6. Pay by Phone – With Secure Pay, simply call 1-855-386-9925 and you can make payments with a credit or debit card any time of the day. Remember to have your Agralite account number available.

7. Budget Billing – Budget Billing averages your projected electric bills for the year and gives you a consistent monthly billing amount to pay each month.

Visit www.agralite.coop for more information or give us a call!

So many ways to pay your electric bill – let’s count the ways to see which

one is right for you!

PAGE 4

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Safety: Carl HenningCLCP, Safety Coordinator

“Noise-Induced Hearing Loss,” National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, February 7, 2017, accessed June 5, 2017, www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss

Every day, we experience sound in our environment. Normally, these sounds are at safe levels that don’t damage our hearing. But when sounds are too loud, even for a brief time, or when they are both loud and long-lasting they can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss can be immediate or take a long time to be noticeable, temporary or permanent, and can affect one ear or both ears. Regardless of how it might affect you, one thing is certain: noise-induced hearing loss is something you can prevent.

Exposure to harmful noise can happen at any age. The CDC estimates between 10 and 40 million adults in the U.S. under age 70 have hearing loss in one or both ears from exposure to loud noise. Other research suggests that as many as 17 percent of teens (ages 12 to 19) have noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears.

Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense “impulse” sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time.

Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Sounds less than 75 dB, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss.

However, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for noise-induced hearing loss to happen.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss that is completely preventable. If you understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good hearing health, you can protect your hearing for life. Here’s how:

• Know which noises can cause damage (those at or above 85 dB)

• Wear earplugs or other protective devices when involved in a loud activity (activity-specific earplugs and earmuffs are available at hardware and sporting goods stores)

• If you can’t reduce the noise or protect yourself from it, move away from it

• Be alert to hazardous noises in the environment

• Protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own

• Make family, friends, and colleagues aware of the hazards of noise

• Have your hearing tested if you think you might have hearing loss

6841 Power Lane SW www.star-‐energy.com Alexandria, MN 56308 Tel 320.762.1697

Average Decibel Ratings of Familiar Sounds

45 dB – refrigerator humming 60 dB – normal conversation 85 dB – heavy city traffic 95 dB – motorcycle 105 dB – MP3 player at max volume 120 dB – sirens 150 dB – firecrackers and firearms

Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2017

Carl Henning (CLCP), Safety Coordinator Safety & Compliance Training Program 2017

Noise-‐Induced Hearing Loss1 Every day, we experience sound in our environment. Normally, these sounds are at safe levels that don’t damage our hearing. But when sounds are too loud, even for a brief time, or when they are both loud and long-‐lasting they can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-‐induced hearing loss. Noise-‐induced hearing loss can be immediate or take a long time to be noticeable, temporary or permanent, and can affect one ear or both ears. Regardless of how it might affect you, one thing is certain: noise-‐induced hearing loss is something you can prevent. Exposure to harmful noise can happen at any age. The CDC estimates between 10 and 40 million adults in the U.S. under age 70 have hearing loss in one or both ears from exposure to loud noise. Other research suggests that as many as 17 percent of teens (ages 12 to 19) have noise-‐induced hearing loss in one or both ears. Noise-‐induced hearing loss can be caused by a one-‐time exposure to an intense “impulse” sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time. Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Sounds less than 75 dB, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for noise-‐induced hearing loss to happen. Noise-‐induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss that is completely preventable. If you understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good hearing health, you can protect your hearing for life. Here’s how: • Know which noises can cause damage (those at or above 85 dB) • Wear earplugs or other protective devices when involved in a

loud activity (activity-‐specific earplugs and earmuffs are available at hardware and sporting goods stores)

• If you can’t reduce the noise or protect yourself from it, move away from it

• Be alert to hazardous noises in the environment • Protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their

own • Make family, friends, and colleagues aware of the hazards of

noise • Have your hearing tested if you think you might have hearing loss

1 “Noise-‐Induced Hearing Loss,” National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, February 7, 2017, accessed June 5, 2017, www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-‐induced-‐hearing-‐loss

AGRALITE NEWSJuly 2017 PAGE 5

By Tom TateThe concept of the smart home is not as new as you

might expect. In the late 1980s, as a product manager for Honeywell, I got to see a real smart home.

Honeywell’s smart home contained impressive automation capabilities. Lighting, security, fire

monitoring, temperature control and appliance use were all automated to adapt to occupant and environmental inputs.

But the learning curve for the user would be steep. In one room, Honeywell engineers filled a closet floor to ceiling with programmable logic controllers (an

industrial digital computer). Talk about something for the tech-savvy!

Today, more than 30 years later, the world has the advantage of the internet and ubiquitous Wi-Fi. The development of these two communications capabilities has spawned a proliferation in the number and type of devices that can be “connected” and used to create smart homes.

For those who feel they are not-so-savvy when it comes to technology, good news abounds. Most devices offer a very simple setup. A typical process goes like this; power up the device, identify your Wi-Fi network from a list the device recognizes, and type in your password. You’ll be connected and ready for action.

Even easier is the one-button connection using the Wi-Fi Protected

Setup (WPS) feature of many routers. Fire up the device, press the WPS button and click the connect button in the device’s program. Best of all, most devices offer an app for your smartphone.

For those who are tech-savvy, the sky is the limit. An abundance of inexpensive microcontrollers and peripheral sensors and controllers support the creation of a smart home system from scratch. A programming approach termed IFTTT (If This Then That), enables users to connect different devices so an action or output from one generates some reaction in another.

I recommend swinging by one of the earliest purveyors of home automation goodness, Smarthome.com. These days, anything be automated: lights, curtains, entertainment systems, door locks, garden watering, weather monitoring, appliance use…This is a great place to see what is possible.

Aside from being extremely cool and making life easier, a smart home can dramatically reduce energy consumption, especially for the major energy consumers in our homes, like lighting and temperature control. Technically savvy or not, I recommend everyone get their feet wet in the smart home pool.

Be sure to check with the energy experts at Agralite Electric Cooperative about programs related to smart devices.

The smart home for the savvy and not-so-savvy

Rural communities have a voice in WashingtonBy Dan RiedingerGiven the incessant news out of

Washington highlighting partisan bickering and gridlock in Congress, it can be hard to tell whether our elected leaders are listening and being responsive to the concerns of rural Americans. That’s why America’s electric cooperatives urged members to get out and vote in the last election and are now focused on advancing the interests of rural communities in our nation’s capital. We’ve asked for a seat at the table—a request that’s been met with some success.

Early this year, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), our national service organization in Washington, led a group of more than 40 organizations in sending a letter to President Trump asking him to make rural issues a top priority of his administration. “As you witnessed first-hand during the campaign, the issues facing rural America are no less significant than those facing urban parts of the country, but can be more easily overlooked because America’s small towns and rural areas make up just 15 percent of the nation’s population,” the groups wrote.

To address this concern, the organizations urged the president to designate a senior member of the White House staff to take point on rural issues or establish an office of rural

policy within the Executive Office of the President. In response to this and other electric cooperative outreach efforts, the president in late April signed an executive order establishing an interagency Rural America Task Force to examine the issues facing rural America and identify actions needed to address them.

NRECA CEO J im Matheson called the creation of the task force “a key step as we seek to develop rural communities economically. That includes implementing new energy technologies to meet tomorrow’s energy needs, while also deploying broadband and other services to enhance daily lives throughout rural America.”

Electric cooperatives also have been weighing in on another big topic in Washington: the need to improve the nation’s aging infrastructure. Co-ops have told policymakers that they must look beyond merely repairing roads and bridges if a federal infrastructure initiative is going to meet the needs of rural communities. High on co-ops’ list of priorities is closing the rural-urban digital divide by expanding rural access to high-speed Internet service, which Matheson calls “a key ingredient for a healthy 21st century economy, particularly in rural areas.”

Given this imperative, co-ops were very pleased when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

appointed Matheson to serve on a newly created Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. The mission of the panel, which held its inaugural meeting in April, is to advise and make recommendations to the FCC on how to accelerate the deployment of broadband by reducing and removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure investment. Matheson will work to ensure that rural needs are addressed.

This isn’t to say that everything in Washington will go co-ops’ way. The federal government is a massive bureaucracy with many interests vying for attention. But there’s one thing you can count on: Electric cooperatives will fight to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill and within the many federal agencies that impact the quality of life in rural communities. They’ll always strive to get a seat at the table.

AGRALITE NEWS July 2017PAGE 6

Tips to prevent wildfires

Miller Bruce Birchwood WIMiller Kenneth New Hope MNMiller Larue Alberta MNMN Housing & Finance Willmar MNMitchell Angela Glenwood MNMoe Donald Glenwood MNMoe Tammy Ortonville MNMoen Krista North Branch MNMohr Lloyd Morris MNMonfort Pork Benson MNMonnens Hilda Twin Brooks SDMoore Virgil Anoka MNMorton Darlyne Benson MNMorton Warren Hancock MNMueller Galen Fargo NDMunsterman Ralph Appleton MNNadgwick Lorne Hoffman MNNelson Bryan Morris MNNelson Gerald Bear Lake MINelson Harvey Bird Island MNNelsen Henry Montevideo MNNelson James Benson MNNelson Melvin Starbuck MNNelson Noble Jr Clinton MNNelson Robert Cyrus MNNelson Thomas Boyd MNNetland Gregory Murdock MNNieuwboer Fred Jr Willmar MNNinneman Cynthia Ortonville MNNinneman Michael Ortonville MNNissen George Benson MNNord Bruce Pomona CAOhleman Scott Marshall MNOlsen Helen Golden Valley MNOlson Clifton Graceville MNOlson Dean Beaverton ORO’Malley Faith Siren WIOrtonville Area Fisheries Hdqrs Ortonville MNOstby Beatrice Appleton MNOtto Mike Morris MNOuellett Richard Vermillion SD

Palmer Blanche Marshall MNPartners McCue Saint Paul MNPatten Greg Benson MNPaulson John Leland MSPederson Bernadine Appleton MNPederson Carolyn Benson MNPennie Heather Hancock MNPerry Ayle Appleton MNPeterson Brent Beardsley MNPeterson Norman Rosholt SDPeterson Wayne Clinton MNPollworth Ronald Morris MNPomerleau Robert Willmar MNPriem David Alberta MNPure Water Aqau Culture Garfield MNQualey, Gladys Morris MNRamberg Jon Mora MNRannestad David Spicer MNRanten Van Howe OKRasmussen Lawrence Benson MNReaume Margaret Le Sueur MNReisdorph Roger Clarissa MNRemund Kevin Montevideo MNRierson Harris Minneapolis MNRitter Thelma Morris MNRitter Thomas Chokio MNRoberts David Morris MNRodengen Ansel Odessa MNRodriquez Emilee Morris MNRohde Tina Ortonville MNRoles Keith Alexandria MNRonning Alice Starbuck MNRosdahl Roy Nisswa MNRound Lake Hunting Club Glenwood MNSanders Lowell Cyrus MNSaulsbury Leona Benson MNSchaller F L Clinton MNSchildt Terry Lilburn GASchlieman Duane Morris MNSchliep Clarence Benson MNSchlinger Arnold Morristown MN

Schmidgall David Hancock MNSchmidgall Tom Morris MNSchmidt Jeremy Redfield SDSchoen Dana Starbuck MNSchoen Warren Ortonville MNSecrease Dennis Freeburg ILSindelir Raymond Olivia MNSkarsten Myron Benson MNSkeslien Lorraine Glenwood MNSmith Joseph Saint Paul MNSnyder Paul Emerado NDSorbel Herb Elbow Lake MNSorenson Gordon Arlington MNSpindler Chris Morris MNStage Victor Sleepy Eye MNStaton James Benson MNStegeman Richard Jr Goodland KSStein Timothy Howard Lake MNStock Ted Clarkfield MNStrobel Steven Saint Cloud MNStunes Del Forestburg SDSunnen Yvonne Wayne PASvea William Idleyld Park ORSwanson Rodney Fargo MNSwezey Lawrence Wheaton MNSwanson Scott Blaine MNSzczesniak Darwin New London MNSzczesniak Florence Willmar MNTague Maria Ortonville MNTaylor George White Bear Lake MNTenbrook Pork Morris MNTerrace Sportmens Club Glenwood MNThompson David Mills WYThompson David Glenwood MNThompson Wayne Brooten MNThor John Norfolk NETkach Theodore Omaha NETomford Richard Graceville MNTorkelson Steve Murdock MNTreinen Paul Bellingham MNTri State Broadcasting Ortonville MN

Trumbull James Alberta MNTuttle Robert Milan MNValnes Earl Starbuck MNVan Hofwegen Bastian Boyd MNVanruler Chris Lyons COVantries Marvin Henning MNVeldhuisen Dennis Marshall MNVerizon Wireless Columbus OHVikander Becky Hancock MNVlietstra Griffin Dell Rapids SDVogel Andrene Monticello MNVollan Leslie Benson MNVon Ende Brus Morris MNWagner Eldon Mesa AZWakefield Bruce Graceville MNWaldrum Tom Fremont CAWalsh Kim Crookston MNWalsh Tom Brooten MNWatzke Edwin Glenwood MNWehrle Brett Ackerman MSWeinman Gus Clinton MNWelding J&K New London MNWelker Keith Benson MNWendt Florence Morris MNWennblom James Golden Valley MNWestermeyer Allan Bellingham MNWheeling Carol Starbuck MNWickersham Dan Mendon ILWickstrom Ralph Alberta MNWiedebush N T Fargo NDWilson Bradley Madison MNWoltjer Russell Fairbault MNWoodard Robert Bellingham MNWussow Roger Garfield MNZeltwanger Kevin Hancock MNZiegler Robert Blackduck MNZins Richard Villard MNZwack Scott Glenwood MN

Unclaimed Capital Credits...from pg 3

By Abby BerryIn 2016, more than 65,000 wildfires

burned 5.4 million acres of land in the United States according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The worst part? Many of these wildfires could have been prevented.

While some wildfires are caused by lightning, approximately 90 percent are caused by human error. Many times, wildfires occur when campfires are left unattended, debris is burned improperly or cigarettes are carelessly discarded.

A wildfire can grow rapidly out of control when the three following conditions are present: oxygen, fuel and a heat source. The fuel can be any materials that are flammable near the wildfire, and the heat source can be a variety of things, like campfires, cigarettes or even warm winds. When these three conditions are met, a violent wildfire can ensue.

By taking a few extra precautions, campers and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the sights of nature without causing a wildfire. Here are a few tips from National Geographic to help prevent wildfires (Editorial Note: If you run the Wildfire Prevention Tips graphic, please delete the following bullets/copy and point readers to the graphic instead.):

• Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure you completely extinguish

the fire when you’re done. Drench the fire with water and stir the ashes until cold.

• Play it safe when using fueled lanterns, heaters and stoves. Lighting and heating devices should be cool before refueling. Keep flammable liquids and fuel away from appliances.

• Never discard cigarettes, matches

and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

• When burning yard waste, follow local ordinances. Avoid burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check.

If conditions are right and you find yourself in the path of a wildfire, evacuate immediately. Listen to local emergency notifications for the most up-to-date information. Better yet, make a wildfire plan for you and your family before a fire occurs.

Visi t ht tps: / /www.ready.gov/wildfires for more information about wildfire safety and prevention.

PAGE 7July 2017 AGRALITE NEWS

By Kent ThiesseFarm Management Analyst

VP MinnStar Bank

Focus On Ag

The USDA Grains Supply and Demand Report released July 12 provided more negative numbers for future corn and soybean prices.

The report showed rather high levels in the projected ending stocks for both corn and soybeans by Sept. 1, 2018. It also kept the expectations for the 2017 average U.S. corn and soybean yields at the same levels as previous estimates.

Corn and soybean market prices dropped substantially immediately following the release of the July 12 report, after posting some rather significant gains earlier due to deteriorating crop conditions in some areas.

USDA is now projecting that 2017-18 corn ending stocks to be 2.37 billion bushels by Sept. 1, 2018, which is a slight increase compared to June corn carryover level. The carryover level is based on 83.5 million harvested corn acres in the U.S. for 2017, and a U.S. corn yield of 170.7 bushels per acre, resulting in an estimated 2017 total corn production of just over 14.2 billion bushels. This compares to recent total U.S. corn production of 15.1 billion bushels in 2016, 13.6 billion in 2015, and 14.2 billion bushels in 2014.

USDA is now projecting 2017-18 market year average (MYA) corn price in a range of $2.90 to $3.70 per bushel, or an average of $3.30 per bushel. The marketing year for the 2017 crop year will run from Sept. 1, 2017 through Aug. 31, 2018. The final 2016-17 national MYA price is now estimated at $3.35 per bushel, as compared to the final 2015-16 MYA price of $3.61 per bushel and the 2014-15 MYA price of $3.70 per bushel.

Based on the June 30 USDA Acreage Report, U.S. soybean acreage for 2017 will reach a record level of 89.5 million

acres, with 88.7 million acres being harvested.

In the July 12 Supply and Demand Report, USDA is projecting a U.S. soybean yield of 48.0 bushels per acre in 2017, resulting in a total 2017 estimated U.S. soybean production of 4.26 billion bushels. If achieved, the 2017 production level would be just shy of the record U.S soybean production of 4.3 billion bushels in 2016, and compares to production of 3.9 billion bushels in 2015.

USDA is now estimating soybean ending stocks at the end of the 2017-18 marketing year to be at 460 million bushels, which was slight decline from the June WASDE report, but is above the 2016-17 carryover estimate of 410 million bushels. The soybean ending stocks estimated for both the current and next marketing years would be considerably higher than the 197 million bushels for 2015-16.

USDA is estimating the national MYA soybean price for the 2017-18 marketing year in a wide range from $8.40 to $10.40 per bushel, or an average of $9.40 per bushel. This compares to an estimated soybean MYA price of $9.50 per bushel for the current 2016-17 marketing year, and final MYA price $8.95 per bushel for 2015-16 and of $10.10 per bushel for 2014-15.

Once piece of “good news” in the July 12 USDA report was a projected small increase in the demand for soybeans in the 2017-18 marketing year. Soybean demand for 2017-18 is expected to increase to 4.23 billion bushels, with slight increases projected in both domestic usage and export demand. This compares to total soybean demand of 4.12 billion bushels in 2015-16.

Grain prices decline following USDA reportsTotal corn demand is expected to be at

14.35 billion bushels for 2017-18, with an expected decrease in corn export demand, and slight increases in domestic usage for ethanol production and feed usage. Total U.S. corn demand was 14.57 billion bushels for 2016-17, and 13.66 billion bushels for 2015-16.

Both “old crop” and “new-crop” corn and soybean prices have reacted in a very “bearish” fashion to the crop acreage trends, and the identified levels of grain stocks listed in the July 12 report.

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) December corn futures prices closed near $4.00 per bushel July 10, prior to the WASDE report, but dropped to $3.53 per bushel by July 14.

December 2017 CBOT corn futures closed at $3.89 per bushel July 14, which was close to the lowest level during the current calendar year for “new crop” 2017 corn, after trading near the highest level for the year at the beginning of the week. By comparison, CBOT December corn futures were at $3.58 per bushel a year ago on July 15, 2016, and at $4.45 per bushel on July 10, 2015.

Soybean futures prices on the CBOT also dropped quite dramatically following the June 12 WASDE Report, which showed record U.S. soybean acreage for 2017, along with increasing soybean ending stocks for the 2017-18 marketing year.

The CBOT soybean futures price for “new crop” 2017 soybeans closed at $9.89 per bushel on July 14, following the latest USDA Report. This was a drop of about $0.70 per bushel from the soybean futures prices prior the release the latest USDA teport.

The CBOT November soybean futures had risen from near $9.10 per bushel in mid-June to over $10.50 per bushel just prior to the July 12 Report. The current CBOT November soybean futures price of $10.01 per bushel July 14, compares to CBOT soybean prices of $10.57 per bushel on July 15, 2016 and $10.22 per bushel on July 10, 2015.

Local forward cash prices for “new crop” 2017 corn have been below $3.25 per bushel most of the time in recent months at most locations in the Upper Midwest, except for a brief period in early July prior to the WASDE Report. These 2017 corn price levels are well below the “breakeven level” for most Midwest corn producers.

The 2017 harvest price has been tracking very near the local current cash corn price for remaining “unsold” 2016 corn in on-farm storage at many locations in in the Northern Corn Belt. USDA does not track the percentage of bushels in storage that have been sold or not sold; however, most analysts feel that a significant amount of the 2016 corn that is still in farm storage has probably not been priced.

For some producers, it is the third year in a row that they have endured this extreme corn price drop after July 1 on their unpriced corn from the previous harvest season. For many farm operations, this is putting significant pressure on their farm financial situation.

On the other hand, numerous producers also took advantage of the brief price increase in early July to sell any remaining 2016 corn and soybean inventories, as well as to forward price a portion of the anticipated 2017 crop in the field.

Grizzly Buildings, Inc.Grizzly Buildings, Inc.Grizzly Buildings, Inc. 29307 US Hwy 212

Danube, MN 56230

866-892-3489 Toll Free

320-826-2512 Local

www.grizzlybuildings.com License #BC638144

Specializing in Post Frame Buildings

Stop by our FARMFEST BOOTH

to get a BUILDING QUOTE with DISCOUNTED PRICING

Aug 1-3, 2017

The Harrison Company

“We Sell Farms”320-842-7303 • 320-760-0150

Bill & Kay Harrisonwww.theharrisonco.com

• 229accropland,CPI70.2DouglasCounty-fourparcels,northofLakeAndrew

• 40acinSwiftCounty,10misouthofBenson,4BRhouseandoutbuildings

• Severalparcelsofqualitycroplandidealforinvestors


55053 East Highway 212Buffalo Lake, MN 55314: ½ Mile East on

US Hwy 212, South Side of Road

• 2+ Auction Rings• Online Bidding

• Modern Auction Facility• Lots of ParkingC O N S I G N N O W !

320-365-4120www.henslinauctions.com

AREA FARMERS, CONTRACTORS & DEALERSThursday, August 18, 2016 • 9:00 a.m.

LARGEEQUIPMENT

AUCTION!

TRACTORS, COMBINES, FARM EQUIPMENT, TRUCKS, TRAILERS, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, FISH HOUSES, RECREATIONAL ITEMS, & MISCELLANEOUS. ALREAdy LATE MOdEL FARM

EQUIPMENT AddEd TO THIS AUCTION, PLEASE MARK dATES ON yOUR CALENdARS.

Thursday, AUGUST 18, 2016 • 9:00 a.m.55053 East Highway 212 • Buffalo Lake, MN 55314

Consign now!!! Construction and Farm Equipment, Trucks, Trailers, Vehicles, ATVs, Campers & Power Equipment. Title cards & lien releases must accompany vehicles at time of delivery. Checks will be written to titled owners. Trucking available. Please make sure equipment has sufficient fuel, an extra set of keys & is key start ready. Consignments may be mailed to: PO Box 508, Bird Island, MN 55310, faxed or emailed. Lots of late model equipment has been consigned. This will be a large auction. Be prepared to buy in 2 auction rings!

Henslin Auctions, Inc. Bird Island, MN

LaDon Henslin 65-25Allen Henslin

Cell: (320) 979-1808Frank Roering(320) 290-8490Brad Dallmann(320) 905-6226

AuctionToday’s

Marketing Advantage

Call Today For Your Auction!

(320) 365-4120 • www.henslinauctions.com100 Main St.-- P.O. Box 508 • Bird Island, MN 55310

Our professional service includes: Professional auctioneers and support staff, equipment loading/unloading assistance, portable loading dock, modern lighted secure auction facility, extensive advertising, marketing, promotion and guaranteed payment to seller. Sellers, take advantage of our large exclusive email campaign. Early equipment check-in is encouraged and is available starting Monday, August 8 until Friday, August 12, 2016. No Sunday drop offs or loading.

AdverTising deAdline: 12:00 Noon • Friday, July 22

All Equipment must be in the yard by 4 p.m., Fri., Aug. 12

CONSIGN NOW!Phone: (320) 365-4120 [email protected]








AuctionToday’s

Marketing Advantage














AuctionToday’s

Marketing Advantage







55053 E. Hwy. 212, Buffalo Lake, MN 55314

1/2 mile E. on US Hwy. 212 (south side of road)

Thursday, August 24, 2017 • 10:30 a.m.

ADVERTISING DEADLINE:12:00 NOON • JULY 27

All equipment must be in the yard by 4 p.m. Aug. 18

Hughes Real Estate has grown! New Offices now open in Montevideo and Granite Falls!

Left to Right: Sandra Russen, Janell Welling (both in Montevideo), Broker - Jesse Hughes and Sherry Mathiowetz (Granite Falls).

408 N 1st Street, Montevideo 320-269-6429780 Prentice Street, Granite Falls 320-226-69411222 Atlantic Avenue, Benson 320-815-0460

More Choices & Expanded ServicesResidential, Commercial, Farmland & Auction Services

Servicing Your Area in West Central MN

LAND FOR SALE

[email protected]

Pope County Farm Land For Sale196.97 Deeded Acres (173 Tillable) in Sec. 27 of Langhei Twp., Pope Cty, MN.

CRP Contract Has Been Terminated. Ready to Farm in 2018. Perfect Opportunity for Grazing This Fall and Row Crop

Farming Next Spring! Immediate Possession!

Stevens County Farm Land Auction239 Acres (207 Tillable) Sec 27 Pepperton Twp. Good Soils w/ 91.3 CPI!Sealed Bids Due Friday August 4, 2017. Live Auction August 10, 2017.

Call or log on for details.

On June 1, 2017, there were 8.40 million hogs and pigs on Minnesota farms, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Hogs and Pigs report. The June 1 inventory increased 100,000 from the previous quarter and 4 percent from the previous year.

The March-May quarterly pig crop was 3.31 million head, up 8 percent from the previous quarter and up 5 percent from last year. A total of 290,000 sows farrowed during this quarter. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.40 for the quarter, the highest pigs saved per litter on record.

As of June 1, producers planned to farrow 290,000 sows and gilts in the June-August quarter and 290,000 head during the September-November quarter.

United States Hogs and Pigs United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2017 was 71.7 million

head. This was up 3 percent from June 1, 2016, and up 1 percent from March 1, 2017. This is the highest June 1 inventory of all hogs and pigs since estimates began in 1964.

Breeding inventory, at 6.07 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 65.6 million head, was up 4 percent from last year, and up 1 percent from last quarter. This is the highest June 1 market hog inventory since estimates began in 1964.

The March-May 2017 pig crop, at 32.3 million head, was up 4 percent from 2016. This is the second largest March-May pig crop since estimates began in 1970. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 3.06 million head, up 3 percent from 2016. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.55 for the March-May period, compared to 10.48 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.70 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.60 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 3.06 million sows farrow during the June-August 2017 quarter, up slightly from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2016, and up 2 percent from 2015. Intended farrowings for September-November 2017, at 3.06 million sows, are up slightly from 2016, and up 4 percent from 2015.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 48 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up from 47 percent the previous year.

Hog production in Minnesota Agralite Electric Cooperative

Member Owned!

ALSO ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER

www.agralite.coop

AGRALITE NEWS PAGE 9July 2017

Sealed Bid Farm Land Auction

239 Acres +/- of Prime Farm LandSection 27, Pepperton Twp, Stevens County, MN

239 deeded acres +/- (206.67 Tillable Acres +/-)

of Stevens County Farm Land

Property will be surveyed and sold by the surveyed acre.

Bids Due Friday, August 4, 2017 at 5:00 PMProperty Location:

Alberta, MN: 3 Miles North on Stevens CR #9; Morris, MN: 2 Miles NW on MN Hwy 9, 5 Miles West on

Stevens CR #14; Watch for Hughes Real Estate Signs

Legal Description: Part of the North Half of Section 27, T-125-N, R-43-W, Pepperton Township, Stevens County, MN

Terms and Conditions:Only those who submit a written, signed bid will be invited to attend the live auction on August 10th. Please contact Jesse for an infor-mation packet with bidding form. Successful bidder will be required to have certified (non-refundable) funds of $50,000 due and pay-able to “Hughes Real Estate Trust Account” available upon completion of a purchase agreement the day of the auction. Closing will be on or about September 28th at the offices of Michael Erhardt, attorney for the Sellers, located at 201 12th Street No., Benson, MN 56215. Statements made sale day will take precedence over printed material. Buyers premium will apply to the final bid. Sellers have the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

AUCTIONEER NOTES: Hughes Real Estate and Auction Service is honored to have the opportunity to help the Janecek family move forward by offering this property up for sale. Tillable cropland is currently enrolled in CRP which can be terminated immediately following our auction (if Buyer(s) wish to do so) with plenty of time after closing to till back the land so it’s ready to farm in 2018! If not, this parcel has good income with a majority of the current CRP contracts running through 2023. Between the CRP grassland and shoreline on a 107 acre lake, this farm would make a great hunting property as well. Thank you. Jesse Hughes

Jeanette Janecek Estate

239 Deeded Acres (+/-) 206.67 Tillable Acres (+/-)

Good Soils!

CPI = 91.3

Call Jesse Hughes for more info or

bidding form (320-815-0460)

Stevens CR #14

Stevens CR #9

Live auction to be held on Thur., August 10, 2017 at 1:00 PM Hotel 200 located at 200 Hwy 28 E, Morris, MN 56267

Only those who submit a written, signed bid will be invited to

the live auction on August 10th

1222 Atlantic Avenue, Benson, MN 56215320-815-0460

Jesse Hughes • #76-24 • Broker/AuctioneerPhone:320-815-0460 •[email protected]

Agents: Sonia Kannegiesser • Duaine Flanders Dave Weller • Dale Zaczkowski • Janell Welling

Sandra Russen • Sherry Mathiowetz

www.HughesRealEstate.net

Cropland can be farmed in 2018!

Two buildings included on the property: 1 – 40’ x 50’ Behlen Galvanized Steel Quonset and 1 – 16’ x 24’ Former School House/Pepperton Town Hall

Jim Grossman EstateBenson, MN

AUCTIONEER NOTES: Hughes Real Estate and Auction Service would like to thank the Grossman Family for the opportunity to disburse their personal property at public auction. Many items are in new or near-new condition. Jim was very particular about maintenance which is evident looking over all major items and power equipment. Please check out our website at www.HughesRealEstate.net or www.Midwestauctions.com for many pictures. Thank you and we’ll see you at the auction! - Jesse Hughes

JD Gator

AUCTION LOCATION: Benson, MN: 115 20th Ave SE; 1 Mile East on Hwy 12, 1/4 Mile South on 20th Ave SEWatch for Hughes Auction Signs!

Tractor w/Loader, Skidloader, Pickup, Trailers, Gator, Tools & Shop Equip., Misc. & Household

AuctionSaturday, August 12, 2017 • 10:00 AM

Tractor

Mowers

Skidloader & Attachments

Pickup/Topper

Trailers

Misc. Equip.

2008 Kubota L 5240D HST MFWD (serial #50015) W/ LA 854 Quick-Attach Joystick Loader (6ft Bucket), 3 SPD Hydrostatic w/cruise, Folding ROPS, 340 Hours, Contractor Tires, Auto Throttle Advance, 3PT/540 PTO/1 REM

(Excellent Condition)

2003 Bobcat S300 Turbo Skid Loader S/N 525811048, HD w/Rear Stabilizers, Power “Bob-Tach” Hyd Attach, Cab w/heat and 1091 Hrs – Very nice!

6ft Material/Snow Bucket5½ft low profile bucket4ft Pallet ForksBobcat Mod 44C 4 Blade Tree

SpadeBobcat Mod 8811 Backhoe w/24”

Bucket

2007 Kubota ZD 326 Zero-Turn 60” mower (serial # 13289) w/Commercial Deck/3 Cyl Diesel /ROPS/330 hours (NICE)

Ariens Riding Mower w/46” deck and Rear Bagger/Hydrostatic/Automatic 22HP Briggs V Twin

Snapper 11 HP Briggs/bagger

2006 6 x 12 Royal Encl. single axle trailer w/side & rear ramp doors 3500lb axle (Clean)

2004 Towmaster 7 x 21 tandem axle 5th wheel w/beavertail and HD ramps

6 x 9 landscape trailer w/ramp & high sides

Bush Hog Mod SQ 600 5FT Rotary 3pt. mower

Woods GTC 60 (5ft) 3 PT rotary tiller

HD 6ft 3PT BladeHawkline 3PT Post Hole Digger

w/ 12”x42” Auger – Exc. Cond.16ft Pull-Type DiscSpike Tooth Drag SectionsNI Mod 402 Side-Delivery Rake7 ½ ft x 16 ft Hayrack

2009 John Deere TH 6 x 4 Gator Serial #M06X4HD040017 Electric Dump Box 575 Hours

2001 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 Laramie SLT w/5.9L Cummins

Dsl 4spd Auto/Heated Leather power seats w/Lumbar, PW/PL/CD/Cass, 8’ box, 157,679 mi.

8’x69” (apx.) Black Fiberglass Unicover Safari topper w/rear and long side glass windows

5’ Poly Pickup Tool Box5’ Alum Receiver Hitch Cargo

Carrier

Shop & ToolsMisc hand and Power Tools:

Wrenches, sockets, crow bars, hand saws, corded and cordless drills, circular saws, bolt cutters, HD 1/2” Elec Drills, etc. Aluminum Pipe Wrenches (36”, 2-24”, 2-18”, 14”)

Misc. Lawn and Garden tools, garden hose, etc.

Air Hose, Elec CordsChain Saws: Stihl MS 280 gas 18” bar HD Homelite Super 2 16” gas Remington 3HP 16” 110v 22 Gal Sandborn Port. Air Comp.Shop King 8” Bench Grinder2 ½ ton floor jackSchumacher 10/30/200 Amp

Battery ChargerExcell 2500 PSI Gas Pressure

washer w/GCV 160 Honda 5.5HP

Coleman Powermate 3000/3750 watt generator on wheels – rope start

Craftsman Bench top Jig SawPro-Tech 10” table sawRockwell 10” Miter SawRoto-Zip Rebel (New in Case)Bosch “Bull Dog” ½” Rotary

HammerLog chains, binders, ratchet

straps, wire stretcherLots of misc. Nuts & Bolts,

Screws, nails, plumbing hardware

Antique Wood Hand Truck

Laser Level & Locator

Porter Cable Mod RT-7201-1 Self Leveling Remote Controlled Laser w/Tripod (Like New)

Progressive Electronics Mod 501 hand held Cable Locator

HouseholdSwingset Ping pong tableBunk beds Round brown chairDesk w/glass top Glider rockerMatching dresser & vanity w/

seat and bed frameAntique dresser w/mirror - niceLaundry or sewing table Crib2 - Poker tables Loveseat2 - 6’ white tables Weber grill12 - White plastic outdoor chairs42”w x 22” deep iron wood

fireplaceSet of golf clubs - old DresserEnd table w/drawer Child gateStationary bike Kid’s kitchenKid’s table w/2 chairsElectric fireplace High chairCollection of basketball cards6qt. alum. pressure cooker-in boxTwin bed Blue dresser & mirrorGolden Powerlift Recliner – 3

mo oldStand Assist adjustable side

table Shop Vac 6 gal. (in box)Vintage TRS-80 Radio Shack

computer w/printer and accessories

More misc. with items added daily

SnowblowerMTD Gold 26” Walk Behind w/

elec. start, 4 way chute, hand warmers (Like New)

Camper & BicyclesPop-up Camper Assorted Bikes incl. a Sears

& Roebuck “Ted Williams” yellow tandem bicycle

Jesse Hughes • #76-24 • Broker/Auctioneer

Phone:320-815-0460 • [email protected] Anderson #34-61Justin Larson #34-103

www.HughesRealEstate.net1222 Atlantic Avenue, Benson, MN 56215

5th Wheel Hitch

Auction CalendarNOW thru JULY 26 - Timed online antiques and

collectible auction. Approx. 225 lots of very nice antiques, including furniture, stoneware and collectible items. Earl and Joan Schultz Estate, Waconia, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., JULY 26 - 9 a.m. AgIron West Fargo Event, Red River Valley fairgrounds. Steffes Group Inc.

THURS., JULY 27 - 11 a.m. Jeff Hoffman Es-tate, Minneota, MN. Farm auction. Steffes Group Inc.

THURS., JULY 27 - 10 am. Meeker County, MN Land Auction, Hutchinson, MN. 140 +/- acres. Steffes Group Inc.

FRI., JULY 28 - 10 a.m. Dakota County, MN. Land auction, Farmington, MN. 204 +/- acre multi tract auction. Steffes Group Inc.

FRI., JULY 28 - 10 a.m. Recreational Personal Property Auction. Farmington, MN. To include Cat skidloader, guns, ammo, tools, Polaris RZR and outdoor enthusiast items. Steffes Group Inc.

SAT., JULY 29 - 10 a.m. Schwein Farms farm retirement auction. Pemberton, MN. Matt Maring Auctions, Inc./Henslin Auctions, Inc.

MON., JULY 31 - 10 a.m. Caspers Real estate live auction. 2 BR house with garage. Sacred Heart, MN. Zielsdorf Auction and Real Estate Services.

TUES., AUG. 1 - 10 a.m. Alex Doering Estate, Brownton, MN. Steffes Group Inc.

AUG. 2 thru AUG. 9 - August online auction. Upper Midwest Locations. Steffes Group Inc.

THURS., AUG. 3 - 8 a.m.-noon. Marshall County, MN Land Auction. Florian, MN. 153 +/- acres in Nelson Park Twp. Timed online auction. Steffes Group Inc.

SAT., AUG. 5 - 8 a.m. Two Ice Castle fish houses, Two 10’x12’ storage buildings w/roll up doors, new merchancise including tools, bicycles and misc. Lake Lillian, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

SAT., AUG. 5 - 8:30 a.m. Large exceptionally rare antique and collectible auction. Guste and Adell Blad, Bird Island, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., AUG. 9 - 10 a.m. Farm site with lots of

machinery storage, Denali SUV, MF tractor w/loader, JD Gator, guns, shop, lawn and garden, household. Joan Rosetter, Granite Falls/Montevideo, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

THURS., AUG. 10 - 1 p.m. 239 acres +/-, Stevens County. Sealed bid land auction. Jeanette Janecek Estate. Hughes Real Estate and Auction Service.

FRI., AUG. 11 - 10 a.m. Clean farm equipment retirement auction. Tractors, New Holland, combine and heads, semi truck and grain trail-er, farm and tillage equipment. Ron and Rosie Peterson, Atwater, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

SAT., AUG. 12 - 10 a.m. Jim and Margaret Grossman, owners, Benson, MN. Kubota tractor w/loader, heavy duty skid loader and many attachments, pickup, trailers, tools and shop equipment, small farm equipment, misc. lawn and garden. Hughes Real Estate and Auction Service.

TUES., AUG. 15 - 9:30 a.m. Multi-parcel real estate and equipment. Service trucks and equipment, inventory, shop tools and items. Isaacson Implement, Nerstrand, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc./Matt Maring Auctions, Inc.

WED., AUGUST 16 - 10 a.m. Farm Dealer Consignment auction #61 located at Ziels-dorf Auction Facility, Benson, MN. Zielsdorf Auction and Real Estate Services.

FRI., AUG. 18 - 10:30 a.m. Multi-parcel Renville Co. farm land auction. 120 acres +/-. Sacred Heart/Renville, MN. Allen Kubesh Estate. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

TUES., AUG. 22 - 9 a.m. AgIron Sioux Falls event, Larchwood, IA. Steffes Group Inc.

WED., AUG. 23 - 10 a.m. Jim and Jean Put-man, Tintah, MN. Farm retirement. Steffes Group Inc.

THURS., AUG. 24 - 10:30 a.m. Large equipment consignment auction, Buffalo Lake, MN. Farm/Construction equip., tractors, combines, trucks, trailers, new items including skid loader attachments, dumpsters, fish houses, storage buildings and much more. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

FRI., AUG. 25 - 10 a.m. Meeker County, MN Land Auction, Litchfield, MN. 108 +/- lake-

shore property and tillable land multi-tract auction. Steffes Group Inc.

TUES., AUG. 29 - 10:30 a.m. Clean JD farm equipment retirement auction. Virgil Swen-son, Willmar. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., AUG. 30 - 11 a.m. Prime multi-parcel Kandiyohi Co. farm land auction. 240 acres +/-, Willmar, MN. Donavon and Kathleen Monson. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

THURS., AUG. 31 - 10 a.m. Clean farm equipment retirement auction. Willmar, MN. Donavon and Kathleen Monson. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

SEPT. 1 thru SEPT. 11 - Online only sporting goods consignment auction. Zielsdorf Auction and Real Estate Services.

TUES., SEPT. 5 - 10 a.m. Exceptionally clean late model J.D. farm equipment retirement auction. Clarkfield/Montevideo, MN. Wayne and Patricia Virkus. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

SEPT. 5 - 10 a.m. thru SEPT. 14 - 10 a.m.: Timed online farm equipment auction. Mike Anderson, Clarkfield, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., SEPT. 6 - 11 a.m. Kandiyohi County Land auction. Atwater/Kandiyohi, MN. 90 Acres +/- located in Gennessee Twp. Carlson Anderson family. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

FRI., SEPT. 8 - 10 a.m. Farm, trucking and household equipment estate auction. Kerk-hoven/Murdock, MN. Jerry D. Henry Estate. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

SAT., SEPT. 9 - 8:30 a.m. Fall consignment auction. Long Prairie, MN. Tractors, com-bines, farm machinery, trucks, trailers, ATV’s, livestock equipment, etc. Mid American Auction Co.

TUES., SEPT. 12 - 10 a.m. Clean farm equip-ment estate auction. Douglas E. Anderson Estate, Grove City, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

TUES., SEPT. 19 - 10 a.m. 6.64 acre farm site. 2009 Chevy, 2007 Toyota van, camper, JD Gator, large toy train set, lots of shop tools and misc. Marvin and Marion Bohlson Estate. Clara City, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

FRI., SEPT. 22 - 2:30 p.m. Absolute prime Kandi-yohi Hunting Land. 151.29 acres +/- located in

Edwards Twp., Prinsburg/Raymond, MN. Mel-vin Kleinhuizen Trust. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

SAT., SEPT. 23 - 10 a.m. Large annual au-tumn inventory reduction auction. American Surplus & Mfg., Montevideo, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

THURS., SEPT. 28 - 10 a.m. Clean equipment and recreational auction. Sturgeon Lake/Willow River, MN. Semi trucks, equipment trailers, construction equipment and other items. Greg and Gail Waldhalm, Sturgeon Lake, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

TUES., OCT. 17 - 10 a.m. Gun and ammo auction. Approx. 40+ guns including rifles, shotguns and handguns. Former Northern Grain and Swift Mfg. Co., Clara City, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., OCT. 18 - 9 a.m. Huge commercial real estate and industrial equipment auction. Ap-prox. 10 A. manufacturing facility and offices. Former Northern Grain and Swift Mfg. Co., Clara City, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

NOV. 3 thru NOV. 13 -November 2017 Online only equipment consignment auction. Ziels-dorf Auction and Real Estate Service.

NOV. 7 thru NOV. 14 - Seed equipment disper-sal and excess inventory timed online auction. Kallevig Agri Products, Willmar. MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., NOV. 8 - 11 a.m. Prime Redwood Co. farmland auction. 92 Acre +/- located in Mor-gan Twp., Morgan, MN. Lorraine Ziegenhagen Estate. Henslin Auctions Inc.

SAT., NOV. 18 - 9:30 a.m. Western Prairie Farm Collectors 2017 Fall consignment auction. Appleton, MN. Farm, ranch, construction, recreational. Brown and Baker Auction Co.

THURS., NOV. 30 - 10:30 a.m. Exceptionally clean late model Case IH farm equipment retirement auction. Tim and Suzanne Milbeck, Dawson, MN. Henslin Auctions, Inc.

WED., DEC. 13 - 10 a.m. Farm Dealer Consign-ment auction #62 located at Zielsdorf Auction Facility, Benson, MN. Zielsdorf Auction and Real Estate Services.

Be part of this Auction Calendar by calling 1-800-750-0166. Advertise in advance of your event and you’ll be included in the Peach, Canary, Monitor-News, Extra, Agralite and on-line!

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We’re a major distributor for fertilizer & spray parts.

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WHOLESALE AG CHEMICALS TRADEMARK OF VALENT U.S.A.Bellum (Use in place of Callisto®) .......................$252.50/gal.Callisto 1 gallon.........................................$353.50/gal. TRADEMARK OF VALENT U.S.A.Clethodim (Use in place of Select®) .....................$43.20/gal. TRADEMARK OF VALENT U.S.A.Fomesafen (Use in place of Flexstar®) .................$37.70/gal.Glyphosate

2 1/2 ...................... $12.95/gal.30s.......................... $10.95/gal.Tote: .......................$9.95/gal.

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Put Your Future into Focus

Securities and advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance and advisory services offered through Focus Financial Network, Inc., a registered investment advisor not affiliated with Royal Alliance.

Sandra Keenan, LUTCF

Financial Advisor

Life inSurance:Providing financial Protectionfocus financial offers a complete line of life insurance products designed and intended to help you meet your goals.

Open 1-4 Wednesdays or call for an appointment.320-843-4855 • 1-800-250-0862

Northstar Bldg., 1209 Pacific, Suite 106Benson, MN

Let’s talk soon!




Financial Advisor



Start PlanningYourretirement

Let me help make your portfolio work for you.




Financial Advisor

Open 1-4 Wednesdays or call for an appointment.

320-843-4855 • 1-800-250-0862Northstar Bldg., 1209 Pacific, Suite 106

Benson, MN

There is a surprisinglyhigh number ofamericans concernedabout funding theirretirement.

• Mutual Funds • Retirement Planning

• IRAs & Roth IRAs • Annuities• Life Insurance

• 401(k) Plans• Long Term Care

#1 #2 #3


(Allow at least 2 working days for crews to mark all underground utility lines.)

Call before you dig!1-800-252-1166

Precipitation was variable during the week ending in July 16 with 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork overall according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The week left some farmers in hope for more rain and others content with the amount they received. Field activities for the week included hay making, and spraying.

Corn was 20 percent silked, a week behind last year, and five days behind the five year average. Corn crop condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Forty-eight percent of the soybean crop were blooming, 4 days behind average, with 10 percent of soybeans setting pods. Soybean condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.

Most Minnesota small grains were nearly finished heading by Sunday. Thirty-six percent of spring wheat was coloring. Spring wheat condition decreased slightly to 83 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the oat crop had reached the heading stage, with 53 percent of oats coloring.

There were scattered reports of oats being harvested. Oats condition was 81 percent good to excellent. Thirty percent of barley was coloring. Barley condition rated 85 percent good to excellent. Thirty-three percent of the dry edible bean crop reached the blooming stage, with scattered reports of setting pods. Dry edible bean condition rating increased to 78 percent good to excellent. Sunflower crop condition was rated 89 percent good to excellent. Potato condition was rated 94 percent good to excellent. Sugarbeet condition rating decreased slightly to 66 percent good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay progressed to 78 percent complete, and the third cutting reached 7 percent complete. All hay condition rating decreased slightly to 83 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.

Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies decreased slightly from the previous week.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Farm Crop Report

Crop Condition July 16Crop V Poor Poor Fair Good ExclntCorn 1 4 16 63 16Soybeans 1 5 22 59 13Sugarbeets 2 2 30 38 28Spring Wheat 0 2 15 59 24Dry ed beans 0 3 19 69 9Oats 1 2 16 66 15Hay, all 1 1 15 65 18

Soil Moisture July 16 V. Short Short Adequate SurplusTopsoil 2 23 72 3Subsoil 1 14 81 4

Soil Moisture July 9 V. Short Short Adequate SurplusTopsoil 2 17 78 3Subsoil 1 10 85 4

Agralite Cooperative summer hours:

7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Call me today, Sandra Keenan.




Financial Advisor

Life inSurance:Providing financial Protectionfocus financial offers a complete line of life insurance products designed and intended to help you meet your goals.



Let’s talk soon!




Financial Advisor



Start PlanningYourretirement

Let me help make your portfolio work for you.




Financial Advisor

Open 1-4 Wednesdays or call for an appointment.

320-843-4855 • 1-800-250-0862Northstar Bldg., 1209 Pacific, Suite 106

Benson, MN

There is a surprisinglyhigh number ofamericans concernedabout funding theirretirement.

• Mutual Funds • Retirement Planning

• IRAs & Roth IRAs • Annuities• Life Insurance

• 401(k) Plans• Long Term Care

#1 #2 #3


303 N. 3rd, Kerkhoven • Ph. 264-3121Financing available.

www.freetlyelectric.com

Servingthe areasince1956.

FOR YOUR:• Home • Farm

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heating & cooling contractor.

Milk production in Minnesota during May 2017 totaled 868 million pounds, up 3 percent from the previous May according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during May, at 459,000 head, was the same as last month, but 2,000 fewer than last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 1,890 pounds, up 55 pounds from last May.

United States Milk Production Milk production in the 23 major States during May totaled 17.8 billion

pounds, up 1.8 percent from May 2016. April revised production, at 17.2 billion pounds, was up 2.2 percent from April 2016. The April revision represented an increase of 36 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month’s preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 2,035 pounds for May, 16 pounds above May 2016. This is the highest production per cow for the month of May since the 23 State series began in 2003.

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.72 million head, 81,000 head more than May 2016, and 2,000 head more than April 2017.

Milk production in the United States during May totaled 18.9 billion pounds, up 1.8 percent from May 2016.

Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,016 pounds for May, 19 pounds above May 2016.

The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.39 million head, 71,000 head more than May 2016, and 2,000 head more than April 2017.

Milk Production

By Wyatt Fraas, [email protected] for Rural Affairs

Retirement from a farm business may not mean moving away or giving up on mentoring the next generation, but it does entail transferring management decisions to someone else.

It can be a gradual or sudden process. It may be driven by long-term goals, by sudden health issues, or events outside your family.

When should farmers retire? The answer is related to choices and goals, and can happen at any time. While many can’t imagine doing anything else except farming, their families may have other ideas and want to share more time with them. Discussions with your family can help design the retirement process.

Allan Nation, of Stockman Grassfarmer magazine, observed that a farmer or rancher is at his peak combination of labor, innovation, and management skills at age 50.

To maintain or grow the farm business after 50 can require an additional infusion of labor and maybe of innovation. That often means a young partner with energy and new ideas. Such a partnership process can greatly improve the income of the business, which may be the means to fund retirement savings after a lifetime of investing in farm assets.

A farmer can look for someone to work into the business at any time, but a planned process will take several years of testing the relationship, training to the uniqueness of the business, and a gradual shifting of management. A five-year time frame can work well to ensure a smooth transition and to demonstrate steady progress to the new farmer. Add ample time for readying the business framework and selecting the best candidate.

The Center for Rural Affairs has resources for retiring and beginning farmers at www.cfra.org/beginning-farmer-rancher.

When should farmers retire?

www.agralite.coop www.swiftcountymonitor.com***


GRAVEL PRODUCTS/EXCAVATION

• Crushed road Gravel• Pit run Fill• roCk oF various sizes

Delivered to your site!

Call RObERT ANDERSON for all your excavation needs

Including: Site Prep, Ditching & Demolition • Cell: 320-808-9885 • evenings 320-843-3989

• General exCavatinG

Or call: burton Amundson 320-843-4068 Cell: 320-760-0230

EXCAVATINGbG AmUNDSON CONSTRUCTION, INC

Kerkhoven, MN • 320-264-5326Sue Benson & Stan Wagner, owners

Give us a call for all your Gravel

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loader work

Benson GravelWEST ACRESWATER SYSTEMSSales-Service-Rentals

Phone: (320) 843-2830Cell: 320-760-5280

“For the water we took forgranted 100 years ago.”

James OfferdahlWater Conditioning Contractor

Benson, MN 56215MN Dept. of Labor & Ind.

License # 03-2221WC

For all your waterconditioning needs &

water purification.ALL SYSTEMS

MADE IN THE USA

CARS CASH‘12 Dodge Charger, gray, 63m, V6, CD ......................$12,795‘09 Chrysler PT Cruiser, silver, 4cyl, 124m, CD ........... $2995‘08 Chevy Impala LTZ, red, sunroof, lth, Bose ............ $6795‘08 Cadillac DTS, black, DVD, sunroof .......................$5995‘08 Chevy Malibu LTZ, maroon, V6, sunroof, CD ......$4995‘08 Saturn Vue XR, V6, blue, htd seats ......................$3995‘07 Buick Lucerne 4Dr, 3800, V6, 138m ....................$5395‘07 Buick LaCrosse, white, 3800, 143m, CD ............$4795‘06 Chevy Impala, 4Dr, gray, 3.5 V-6, cloth ..............$3995‘06 Ford Taurus SEL, blue, 127m .................................$3195‘95 Chevy Camara Convertible, V6, red, 124m ....... $4995‘85 AMC Convertible, 5-speed, maroon, 169m ...... $1195

TRUCKS, VANS & SUV’S‘11 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4x4, EcoBoost, CD ...... $12,995‘10 Dodge 1500 Quad Cab 4x4, Red, CD ..............$10,795‘08 Dodge Nitro SXT, silver, CD, 128m .........................$5995‘07 Chevy Uplander, white, 140m, as is ......................$1295‘06 Pontiac Montana, white, 126m, 3.5 V6, CD ........$4795‘06 GMC Envoy XL SLE, charcoal, 3 rows, cloth ........$4995‘06 Chevy Equinox LT, white, new tires .......................$3395‘05 Cadillac SRV, blue, Bose CD, V6, 119m ..............$6795‘05 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, SLT, V8, CD ...............$4995‘05 Chrysler T&C Limited, 152m, engine noise ........ Offers‘03 Chevy Trailblazer LT, 3 rows, cloth, CD ..............$3995‘01 GMC Sonoma Crew Cab, 4x4, 4.3, topper ........$5295‘01 Mazda B3000 Ext, 4x4, 141m, white ..................$3200

R.D.J. Auto SalesHwy. 12 East, Kerkhoven

www.rdjauto.comDave Peterson, 320-264-2211

TRADE - LAYAWAY - CASH DISCOUNTS

Minnesota corn stocks in all positions June 1 totaled 664 million bushels, up 8 percent from June 1, 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. This is the largest June 1 stocks level since 1988. Of the total stocks, 74 percent were stored on-farm.

The March - May indicated disappearance totaled 388 million bushels, 19 percent more than the 327 million bushels used during the same period last year.

Minnesota soybeans stored in all positions June 1 totaled 108 million bushels, up 6 percent from the 102 million bushels on hand June 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 48 percent were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for March - May was 72.6 million bushels, 14 percent more than the 63.6 million bushels used during the same quarter last year.

Minnesota oats stocks stored in all positions June 1 totaled 16.9 million bushels, 13 percent below the stocks on June 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 88 percent were stored off-farm.

Minnesota all wheat stocks stored in all positions June 1 totaled 52.5 million bushels, down 9 percent from the 57.6 million bushels on June 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 42 percent were stored on-farm. The March - May indicated disappearance was 11.3 million bushels, 37 percent less than the 17.9 million bushels used in the same quarter last year.

Minnesota barley stocks stored in all positions June 1 totaled 8.30 million

bushels, 35 percent above the stocks on June 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 86 percent were stored off-farm. Indicated disappearance for March - May was 561 thousand bushels, 71 percent less than the 1.94 million bushels used in the same quarter last year.

Grain Stocks Minnesota (1,000 bushels)

On-Farm ’17 asCrop 6-1-16 6-1-17 % ‘16Corn 440,000 490,000 111Soybeans 48,000 52,000 108Wheat 22,500 22,000 98Oats 3,200 2,000 63Barley 1,800 1,150 64

Off-farm ’17 asCrop 6-1-16 6-1-17 ’% ‘16Corn 173,371 174.418 101Soybeans 53,942 55,714 103Wheat 35,073 30,546 87Oats 16,289 14,944 92Barley 4,358 7,153 164 Total all positions ’17 asCrop 6-1-16 6-1-17 % ‘16Corn 613,371 664,418 135Soybeans 101,942 107,714 106Wheat 57,573 52,546 91Oats 19,489 16,944 87Barley 6,158 8,303 135

Minnesota grain stocks

Spring Wheat production in Minnesota is forecast at 77.5 million bushels, an increase of 4 percent from 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. The expected yield is 61 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from the previous year. If realized, this will be a record yield for Minnesota, surpassing the current record yield of 60 bushels per acre set in 2015. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 1.27 million acres, an increase of 1 percent from 2016.

Oat production is forecast at 7.10 million bushels, down 13 percent from 2016. The yield is forecast at 71 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year. The area expected to be harvested for

grain totals 100,000 acres, a decrease of 17 percent from 2016.

Barley production is forecast at 5.70 million bushels, up 9 percent from 2016. The expected yield is 67 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from the previous year. Minnesota farmers expect to harvest 85,000 acres for grain, an increase of 8 percent from 2016.

Fall Potato planted acreage by type of potato consists of 71 percent Russets, 15 percent Reds, 9 percent Whites, and 5 percent Yellows.

The forecasts in this report are based on July 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next crop production forecasts, based on conditions as of Aug. 1, will be released on Aug. 10.

State spring wheat production is forecast to be up 6 percent


www.ericsmotorsports.com 1-320-842-4853

2005 Minnesota Ave. (W. Hwy 12), BensonERIC’S MOTOR SPORTS

Eric’s Motor SportsSales & ServiceTrike Conversions

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WASHINGTON, June 30, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimated a record high 89.5 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States for 2017, up 7 percent from last year, according to the Acreage report released today. Corn area planted is estimated at 90.9 million acres, down 3 percent from last year.

Following up to the Prospective Plantings report released in late spring, NASS surveyed approximately 11,000 segments of land and 69,700 producers during the first two weeks of June to gather information on what farmers actually planted. Key findings released in the Acreage report include:

SoybeansSoybean area for harvest is estimated

at a record high 88.7 million acres, if realized, up 7 percent from 2016.

Producers planted 94 percent of the soybean acreage to herbicide resistant seed varieties, unchanged from 2016.

CornGrowers expect to harvest 83.5

million acres of corn for grain, down 4 percent from last year.

Ninety-two percent of all corn acres planted in the United States are biotech varieties, unchanged from last year.

All CottonAll cotton planted area for 2017 is

estimated at 12.1 million acres, 20 percent above last year.

Upland cotton is estimated at 11.8 million acres, up 19 percent from 2016.

American Pima is estimated at 252,000 acres, up 30 percent from last year.

Ninety-six percent of Upland cotton planted acres are biotech varieties, up 3 percent from 2016.

All WheatAll wheat planted area for 2017 is

estimated at 45.7 million acres, down 9 percent from last year. This represents the lowest all wheat planted area since records began in 1919.

NASS today also released the

quarterly Grain Stocks report to provide estimates of on-farm and off-farm stocks as of June 1. Key findings in that report include:

Grain StocksSoybeans stored totaled 963 million

bushels, up 11 percent from June 1, 2016. On-farm soybean stocks were up 18 percent from a year ago, while off-farm stocks were up 7 percent.

Corn stocks totaled 5.23 billion bushels, up 11 percent from the same time last year. On-farm corn stocks were up 15 percent from a year ago, and off-farm stocks were up 6 percent.

All wheat stored totaled 1.18 billion bushels, up 21 percent from a year ago. On-farm all wheat stocks were down 3 percent from last year, while off-farm stocks were up 28 percent.

Durum wheat stored totaled 36.3 million bushels, up 31 percent from June 1, 2016. Both on-farm and off-farm stocks of Durum wheat were up from the previous year, 51 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

The Acreage and Grain Stocks reports and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.

USDA Reports Record High Soybean Acreage, Corn Acres Down

(Allow at least 2 working days for crews to mark all underground utility lines.)

Call before you dig!

1-800-252-1166

AGRALITE NEWS July 2017PAGE 14 AGRALITE NEWS PAGE 13MAY 2014

EQUIPMENT REPAIR

“Lenarz Farm & Auto”Auto & Farm Equipment Repair

Auto, Farm & Trucks Air Conditioning

- 2 WD Tractors - ASE Certi ed- Skidsteers & Other Farm Machinery

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New or Used Vehicle Repair

320-843-4699

DRAINAGE/TILING

320-264-3211 or 320-979-1522Still in business after 40+ years! Serving the Region.You can depend on us for a functional drainage system to remove

excess eld water and get you in the eld as soon as possible.

• Ken 320-264-3211 • Kevin 320-979-1522 Kerkhoven, MN 56252

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Van Heuveln - The ORIGINALFarm Drainage Company

DRAINAGE/TILING

AUTO SUPPLYThis could be your ad space.For more information, give Nancy or

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Swift County Monitor-News

“Taking Communications into the Future”• 24 Hour Answering and Dispatch Services• Promotional Calling Services• Directory Assistance• Operator Services

PO Box 6 Chokio, MN 56221 320-324-7530 1-800-933-1224 www.onvoy.com

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HEATING - COOLINGELECTRICALSince 1950

“For bright ideasin electricalcontracting”

(320)843-4636

Commercial • Industrial• Farm • ResidentialDESIGN • BUILD

2110 Hall Ave.Benson, MN 56215

www.loenelectric.com

Phone: (320) 843-2830Cell: 320-760-5280

“For the water we took forgranted 100 years ago.”

James OfferdahlWater Conditioning Contractor

Benson, MN 56215MN Dept. of Labor & Ind.

License # 03-2221WC

ALL SYSTEMSMADE IN THE USA

• Septic Systems

• Backhoe Work• Roto-Rooter • Septic Tank

Pumping

“Serving the Agralite Area Since

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Paul

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Danielson Excavating

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170 Hwy. 9 NW, Benson, MN

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EMAIL: [email protected]

CVT • Technician

For all your veterinary &

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VETERINARY SERVICESH & H Veterinary

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SMALL ENGINE REPAIREric’s Motor Sports • 320-842-4853Your local dealer for Engines, Mowers, ATV’s, Sleds,

Motor Cycles & Power EquipmentYour Mower Store & Sooo Much More...

Adly Moto ATV & Scooter Dealer2 Year Scooter Warranty - LOW Prices!!!

Dealer for • Simplicity • Snapper • Hustler • KohlerGrass Hopper • Briggs & Stratton • Full Line Stihl

Honda & Kawasaki Engines • Tillers, Throwers & Walk Behinds

ericmotorsports.com • www.ericsoutdoor.com

BUSINESS &SERVICE DIRECTORY

Michael Berreau, FIC Financial Associate 218 1/2 14th Street SouthBenson, MN 56215 320-843-2981 Toll-Free 800-211-3406

See me for all your

investment &insurance needs.

INSURANCE - PRE PLANNING This could be your ad space.For more information, give Nancy or

Barb a call at320-843-4111 or 1-800-750-0166.

Swift County Monitor-News101 12th St. S. • Benson, Mn 56215

Nancy VollmerBenson, MN

320-314-8400E-Mail: [email protected]

320 314 8400

TRAVEL

Vollmer Travel

This could be your ad space.For more information, give Nancy or

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Swift County Monitor-News101 12th St S • Benson Mn 56215

Nancy VollmerBenson, MN

320-314-8400E-Mail: [email protected]

Vollmer Travel

Final Expense

Benson Agency

Email:

Registered Representatives for securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. 27193 N10-11

• FURNACES • APPLIANCES• GAS FIREPLACES •

CRAIG’S• HEATING • AIR CONDITIONING • PLUMBING • REFRIGERATION

• APPLIANCES • GAS FIREPLACES

2015 Minnesota Ave. • W. Hwy 12 • Benson, MN 56215(320) 843-4385 • Emergency 314-2665

Factory Authorized Dealer – 100% satisfaction guarantee. NATE Certied.

S• General Electric • LG Appliances • Hotpoint • Fireplaces • Holland Grills

ELECTRICALSince 1950

“For bright ideasin electricalcontracting”

(320)843-4636

Commercial • Industrial• Farm • ResidentialDESIGN • BUILD

2110 Hall Ave.Benson, MN 56215


Email: [email protected]

Whether it beBig or Small...

909 13th St. North • Benson • 842-5291

E&M Electric, LLP

If you’re building or remodeling this fall...call the professionals at E&M Electric

• Farm & Residential • Commercial Wiring• Controllable Electric Heat

E&M Electric, LLP

AUTO & TRUCK SALES

R.D.J. Auto SalesHwy. 12 East, Kerkhoven

www.rdjauto.comDave Peterson, 320-264-2211

CARS, TRUCKS, SUVS,VEHICLES OF ANY KIND....

GET YOUR “WHEELS” HERE!!

200 13th St. South, Benson • 843-4848

“Your Professional Contractor” serving you for over 45 years.

• DEPUTY REGISTRAR •

(320)843-4636

Commercial • Industrial• AG

DESIGN • BUILD

2125 Minnesota Ave.Benson, MN 56215

“For bright ideas in electrical contracting”

ELECTRIC, INC.L ENSince 1950

ElEctrical


For all your veterinary needs.

• Kathleen Jost, DVM• Jaclyn Carlson, DVM• Melissa Nelson, DVM• Paul Syverson, DVM

If you’re building or remodeling...

SMALL ENGINE REPAIREric’s Motor Sports • 320-842-4853

ericmotorsports.com • www.ericsoutdoor.com

Dealer for • Odes UTV • Altoz • Simplicity • Snapper • Hustler • Grass Hopper • Full Line Stihl

• Honda & Kawasaki Engines • Tillers, Throwers & Walk Behinds

Your Mower Store & Sooo Much More...

Your local dealer for Engines, Mowers, ATV’s, Motor Cycles & Power Equipment

Still in business after 50+ years! Serving the Region.You can depend on us for a functional drainage system to remove

excess field water and get you in the field as soon as possible.

320-264-3211 320-979-1522

• Call for an estimate.• Locally done, guaranteed work.

Van Heuveln - The ORIGINALFarm Drainage Company

DRAINAGE/TILING DRAINAGE/TILING

• Ken 320-264-3211 • Kevin 320-979-1522• Kordell 320-894-8519 • Klinton 320-979-0793

Kerkhoven, MN 56252

Be a part of our Business Directory....

843-4111 or 1-800-750-0166or e-mail: [email protected]

Promote your business with our directory!

AGRALITE NEWSJuly 2017 PAGE 15

Classified AdvertisingFOR SALE

Classified ads are limited to 20 words per ad. Two ad limit per member; no gun or real estate ads.

2 motorcycles: 1980 Goldwing running, new front tire. 1983 Goldwing, need head gasket, new tires. 320-760-6158------------------------------------------------7’ JD snowblower, can be seen in DeGraff. 320-843-2520------------------------------------------------Black AKC German Shepherd puppies, Schutzhund breeding, excellent bloodlines & dispositions. Holloway, 320-394-2189------------------------------------------------Large round net wrapped 1st crop alfalfa bales, $60 per bale. 320-212-9664------------------------------------------------Agrafab lawn sweeper, 30”. 320-766-7746------------------------------------------------1950 WD Allis, needs work $500; John Deere AW disk, 15 ft $200; John Deere 14t baler for parts; Melroe 30 ft multiweeder $350; IH 844 corn head; IH 5 bottom plow; One spring tooth drag section. 320-305-3691------------------------------------------------4x4x8 cords split dry hardwood, $180 delivered, $150 pickup. Dog boarding $14/night. 320-760-4066------------------------------------------------Will do house cleaning and/or care giver for loved one. 320-766-0008------------------------------------------------

wAntEdTroybilt tiller, 8 hp or bigger, 20” dig path, excellent condition. Leave message 320-589-3354------------------------------------------------Looking for smaller Ford or Allis Chalmers tractor. Will consider other makes. Non running OK. 763-658-4755 Dave------------------------------------------------

Free Classified Ad form for all Agralite Electric Cooperative MembersAds must be received in our office by the 5th of the month to ensure being printed in the next issue of the Agralite News. No guns, no business or real estate ads please. Ads will be printed one time. Please print clearly or type your ad of 20 words or less on this form. We reserve the right to edit ad copy. *Limit 2 ads per member.

For Sale Wanted Give Away Community Event

Phone Number Account Number

Name

Clip and mail to Agralite Electric Cooperative, PO Box 228, Benson, MN 56215 or fax to 320-843-3738, or email your ad to [email protected]

OUTAGES:For all

Do not call the office for outages

July Energy Payment IS DUE AUGUST 20.*

*We accept Visa, Discover & Mastercard.

Day or Night1-888-884-3887

givE AwAyOld barn in Morris area to be torn down for the wood. 320-808-9412------------------------------------------------


Operation Round Up

For anyone who already contributes to Operation Round Up, we applaud you. Thank you for your support and confidence in our community – Round Up dollars make a difference. The Round Up program lets us support many different community organizations and charities - strengthening our community.

You can sign up here (form at right) or you can give our office a call if you would like to know more. If you are interested in learning more about what Round Up does or how to be involved, call us today! Remember you can sign up any time – join today and help support our communities!

PAGE 16

What is Community Solar?

AGRALITE NEWS November 2014PAGE 16

in September. Customers pay $950 for each panel, man-ufactured in China by Canadian Solar.

“The vast majority are buying one (panel),” he said, al-though a group of three siblings purchased ten. Because solar gardens are so new the co-op has to take time to explain to customers how the system works, the bene ts, the investment payoff timeline (14 to 16 years) and other issues, Haller said.

Lake Region Electric Cooperative in Pelican Rapids built its 40kW project last fall and sold all 96 tenKso-lar panels — with a price tag of $1,500 each — by this October. The sales cycle began with great promise after the utility sold half the panels the rst month they were offered, said Dan Husted, vice president of energy ser-vices.

The rest of the sales occurred over several months and required more marketing than the initial rollout, in part because many customers are part-time residents with cabins.

After the slowdown in sales, Lake Region added an “easy pay” option to allow for on-bill nancing. Cus-tomers could pay for the panels over three years without interest.

“That helped, because $1,500 is a chunk of change,” he said. “I couldn’t even do it because I have other bills. That’s why we split it up.”

Unlike other co-op community gardens, Lake Region made its effort a for-pro t venture.

“The reason for that is we didn’t want the ratepay-er subsidizing it,” Husted said, noting the co-op earns a margin on every sale. “We wanted to demonstrate it could stand on its own and the business model could sup-port it — and that we don’t need a mandate.”

Lake Region is likely to do another solar garden proj-ect.

“It became a natural part of our marketing portfolio, just like selling off-peak and dual-fuel and heating pro-grams,” Husted said. “It’s become second nature…and I’m excited to do another one.”

However, sales are not as strong in other places.Opened formally in October, Kandiyohi Power Coop-

erative’s 140-panel solar garden in central Minnesota has attracted just 13 buyers.

“It’s been very slow,” said Diane Maurice, marketing and customer service manager. “We have an ag base and things aren’t what they were. That’s maybe made some difference, but I don’t know.”

The population of Kandiyohi’s area trends older and poorer than in other areas, making the tenKsolar panels priced at $1,250 each a tougher sell.

To make it easier, the co-op created a 24 month leasing

program with an interest rate of 5.98 percent, but Mau-rice said only one customer is using it.

The co-op’s board decided to create a solar garden to learn more about solar and “be on the forefront of what’s going on,” she said. Renewable energy isn’t totally for-eign to Kandiyohi Power, which has 255 kW of wind and solar on its grid being produced by members.

Maurice concedes to taking it “personally” when sales didn’t take off. The board continues to support the gar-den and she’s sanguine for now that it may take a bit of time to create a community willing to invest in commu-nity solar gardens.

“Do I see it selling out? No,” she said. “If I was asked this question three months ago I would have said we would sell it out in nine months. It’s not a losing sit-uation for us — instead of buying kilowatts from Great River Energy we’re produc-ing it ourselves and locking in those kilowatt hours. We still have something to gain.”

‘We’re feeling like this is a real technology’

In Iowa, too, increasing numbers of rural electric co-ops are taking the plunge into community solar – or at least planting their toes at the pool’s edge.

The Western Iowa Power Cooperative currently has plans to install 300 kW solar arrays at each of its head-quarters, located in Denison and Onawa. General man-ager Jeff Bean said the fu-ture depends somewhat on whether the co-op receives Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, is-sued by the Department of Agriculture. He indicated that the rst project is highly likely to score a federal grant – and to be producing by the end of this year.

The utility began looking into community solar be-cause of member feedback.

“We’ve had a number of

members inquire about solar,” Bean said. “We’re seeing where solar is going. We’re feeling like this is a real tech-nology.”

The co-op is so sold on solar technology, in fact, that earlier this year it began to install solar panels for cus-tomers wishing to generate their own power. The co-op has installed two systems – both for livestock producers. A third one is in the works, and more customers are in-quiring about installation.

Solar “is just another form of energy,” Bean said. “We’ve always touted ourselves as energy experts, and we want to remain the energy expert.”

Reporter Karen Uhlenhuth contributed to this story.

Community solar Cont. from p. 1

Fall into Savings Promotion!Are you looking for an easy, convenient way to pay your electric bill every month?

Agralite has a special promotion to help you save time and money on your electric bill!

Starting October 1st until December 31st 2014, if you enroll into either our basic Automatic Payment Plan or Budget Billing combined with the Auto-matic Payment Plan, you will receive a free gift! ($10.00 value!)

Or, if you sign up for SmartHub and make your payments online you will also qualify for this special promotion!

*Free gift must be picked up from the Agralite of ce by 12/31/14. One gift per member.

These options are safe, easy and convenient. After the initial set-up, you won’t need to spend time paying your bill each month.

Simply enroll your electric account with your preferred payment source and your electric bill will be paid each month, automatically! You can have your payment automatically and electronically transferred from your designated checking account, savings account, debit card, or major credit card (VISA, MasterCard or Discover) FREE of charge.

There’s more!*Sign up for one of these programs now until December 31st and receive one FREE

month of your xed charge! (A value of $34.00!)*You must remain enrolled in the Automatic Payment Plan for 12 months, or make 12

consecutive on time, monthly payments through SmartHub in order to receive this bill credit. Credit will be applied January 2016. One credit per member.

How to get started?Logon to our website at www.agralite.coop and enroll online through SmartHub. Once

enrolled, sign up for the Automatic payment plan. It is fast and free! Or, stop in the Agralite of ce and ask how to get signed up today!

Plan to Attend Farm Rental Agreement Meeting Dec. 5 in Morris

By David Bau, Extension EducatorWhat is a fair and pro table farm rental agreement?

Landlords, farmers, agri-business professionals should make plans to attend one of the informative meetings being held across Central and Southern Minnesota. These free meetings are being provided by the University of Minnesota Extension.

Worksheets will examine 2015 costs and what is afford-able rent that a farmer will be able to pay in 2015, the rate of return to the landlord at current market values and exam-ine exible rental agreements.

The meeting will be held in Morris on Friday, December 5, at 9:30 a.m. at the West Central Research & Outreach Center. The meeting will last approximately two hours. There is no pre-registration.

Other meetings planned for West Central Minnesota include:

• Dec. 1 in Marshall 9:30 a.m. - Lyon Co. Govern-ment Center, 607 W Main St., Rooms 4 & 5, Marshall

• Dec. 5 in Willmar 2:00 p.m. - Mid Central Re-search & Outreach Center, 1802 18th St. NE, Willmar

For more information or if you have questions, call Extension Educator David Bau at 507-360-0664 or the

Stevens County Extension Of ce at 320-208-6575.

To take part in our Community solar investing opportunity, send this form to: Agralite Electric Cooperative, PO Box 228, 320 East Highway 12, Benson, MN 56215

Community Solar Opportunity

What is Community Solar? An Agralite Electric Cooperative Community Solar project allows members to purchase a portion of the output of the kilowatt hours generated from a centrally located photovoltaic system.

How does it work? Solar panels are installed at a location on AEC lines. Members purchase a share or multiple shares of the system production. Members are then credited on their monthly bills based on their portion of the system production. Participants do not own any of the panels or infrastructure.

What are the benefits?1. Nothing is installed on your home or property. You have nothing to maintain.2. You have the opportunity to directly invest in a renewable energy project and receive credit from it on your monthly bill.3. By purchasing a share or multiple shares in the project, a portion of your electric usage will have a fixed cost for 20 years.

What does it cost? Estimated costs are $900 to $1,400 per production unit. These costs are estimates based on similar projects. Size and demand for the project will determine the final costs.

What do I get? Participating members get a percentage of the total solar array production each month based on their contribution to the project. It is estimated that each purchased unit will produce 400 to 600 kWh’s per year. Members would get their share of production from the project for a period of 20 years.

If interested, please complete the form below and return it to AEC.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Yes, I am interested in participating in a community solar project at Agralite Electric Cooperative. Each share of the project is estimated to cost between $900 and $1,400.

Member Name: _________________________________________________________ Shares Wanted: __________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________

Phone Number: __________________________________________________________ Account Number: ___________________

Send form to: Agralite Electric Cooperative, 320 East Highway 12, Benson, MN 56215Send form to: Agralite Electric Cooperative, PO Box 228, 320 E. Hwy. 12, Benson, MN 56215

An Agralite Electric Cooperative Community Solar project allows members to purchase a portion of the output of the kilowatt hours generated from a centrally located photovoltaic system.

How does it work? Solar panels are installed at a location on AEC lines. Members purchase a share or multi-ple shares of the system production. Members are then credited on their monthly bills based on their portion of the system production. Participants do not own any of the panels or infra-structure.

What are the benefits?1. Nothing is installed on your

home or property. You have nothing to maintain.

2. You have the opportunity to di-rectly invest in a renewable energy project and receive credit from it on your monthly bill.

3. By purchasing a share or multiple shares in the project, a portion of your electric usage will have a fixed cost for 20 years.

What does it cost? Estimated costs are $900 to $1,400 per production unit. These costs are estimates based on similar projects. Size and demand for the project will determine the final costs.

What do I get? Participating mem-bers get a percentage of the total solar array production each month based on their contribution to the project. It is estimated that each purchased unit will produce 400 to 600 kWh’s per year. Members would get their share of production from the project for a period of 20 years.

If interested, please complete the form below and return it to Agralite Electric Cooperative.

2017 Rebate Forms are available online at:www.agralite.coop

Agralite Electric Cooperative

Consumer: Coupon valid on your purchase of any GE ENERGY STAR® certified LED lighting product (offer not valid on GE reveal® LED lighting products). You pay sales tax. Coupon may not be reproduced or combined with another offer and is non-transferable. Void if transferred, exchanged, sold or reproduced. Offer limited to one purchase in U.S.A., its territories and military exchanges. Retailer: GE will reimburse you the face value plus 8¢ handling provided you have accepted this coupon in accordance with GE’s Coupon Redemption Policy. Void where prohibited. Cash value 1/100 of 1¢. For copy of policy and/or coupon redemption mail to: General Electric Company 1012, NCH Marketing Services, P.O. Box 880001, El Paso, TX 88588-0001.GE reveal® is a registered trademark of GE.ENERGY STAR® and the ENERGY STAR® logo are registered U.S. trademarks.© 2017 GE.

on ONE GE ENERGY STAR® certifiedLED lighting product(offer not valid on GE reveal® LED lighting products)

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON • EXPIRES AUGUST 31, 2017 • D204023 49014

SAVE $3.00

Send to or drop off to: Agralite, 320 East Highway 12, PO Box 228, Benson, MN 56215

Operation Round Up

VOID VOID VOID

VOID VOID VOID

The Hidden Battery Using Your Electric Water Heater for Heating Storage

Benefits Co-ops avoid peak pricing.

Members use power when it’s cheaper.

Helps avert need for new power plants.

Water heater storage Electric water heaters are essentially pre-installed thermal batteries that can be used to manage the storage of heat energy, allowing the co-op to take heavy energy loads o�-line during peak periods. This saves energy and money for members.

How it Works

Contact your local electric cooperative to learn more about load management programs.

Controllable, high-e ciency electric water heaters are in homes.

Electricwater heater:

Co-op cuts power to water heaters.

During times of high demand:

When demand drops: Water heaters are turned back on to run during the night and provide warm water for the next day.

70% of Lightning Fatalities OCCUR JUNE THROUGH AUGUST

Take extra care when enjoying outdoor sporting events and activities when weather turns threatening. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to pose an immediate threat. That is why the National Weather Service advises: “ When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!” Lightning can strike up to ten miles away from rain, even if you don’t see clouds.

Safe Electricity urges everyone to understand the importance of lightning awareness and how to stay safe. Learn more at SafeElectricity.org

Documents

Agralite Newsagralite.coop/sites/agralite/files/PDF/Newsletters/2017...The municipal utilities in Minnesota have had similar authority in Minnesota for over 30 years. With the passage