The Nov. 17 story about Luverne’s day care center needs clarification and correction.
For one, the story incorrectly referenced the effect of new industry construction on tax capacity in the community.
The Premium Minnesota Pork smokehouse $70 million construction and the $50 million Lineage Cold Storage Warehouse add millions to the local tax base; however, the story incorrectly referred the construction values as tax capacity impact.
It should also be clarified that under the right circumstances, the day care center will be able to turn a profit. The Star Herald reported that small rural day care centers are unable to profit and would need public subsidies to succeed.
However, the proposed center in Luverne could show a profit of more than $100,000 per year when operating at full capacity if it gets federal meal reimbursement and if full-time employees don’t all participate in health insurance benefits.
The proposed day care center is an important story in the community and the Star Herald strives to get fair and accurate information to readers at all stages of the process.
It’s also important to note that this is a developing story.
The city has indeed purchased the building, but the day care center is in its planning stages and news stories about the progress at this point reflect proposed plans.
The full story from Nov. 17, including the corrections and clarifications can be found at www.star-herald.com.

Spending time with family and friends at Thanksgiving remains important for many Americans, and this year the cost of the meal is also top of mind.
Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is $64.05 or less than $6.50 per person. This is a $10.74 or 20 percent increase from last year’s average of $53.31.
The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs more than last year, at $28.96 for a 16-pound bird. That’s $1.81 per pound, up 21 percent from last year, due to several factors beyond general inflation.
Farm Bureau “volunteer shoppers” checked prices Oct. 18-31, before most grocery store chains began featuring whole frozen turkeys at sharply lower prices.
According to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data, the average per-pound feature price for whole frozen turkeys was $1.11 the week of Nov. 3-9 and 95 cents the week of Nov. 10-16, a decline of 14 percent in just one week; and the share of stores offering feature prices rose from 29 percent to 60 percent.
This means consumers who have not yet purchased a turkey should be able to find one at a lower cost than the Farm Bureau average.
“General inflation slashing the purchasing power of consumers is a significant factor contributing to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner,” said AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan.
General inflation has been running 7 percent to 9 percent in recent months, while the most recent Consumer Price Index report for food consumed at home reveals a 12 percent increase over the past year.
“Other contributing factors to the increased cost for the meal include supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine,” Cryan said.
“The higher retail turkey cost at the grocery store can also be attributed to a slightly smaller flock this year, increased feed costs and lighter processing weights.”
Cryan said the supply of whole turkeys available to consumers should be adequate this year, although there may be temporary regional shortages in some states where avian influenza was detected earlier this year.
“Farmers are working hard to meet growing demands for food – both here in the U.S. and globally – while facing rising prices for fuel, fertilizer and other inputs,” said Cryan.
The shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.
“We should not take our food supply for granted,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
“Supporting sustainable productive agriculture in the U.S. and globally is imperative. As many of us gather with family and friends for a special meal, it’s a time for giving thanks and doing our part to help those who can’t afford a big holiday feast,” he added.
“State and local Farm Bureaus across the country have strong partnerships with local food banks and I’m proud of their collective efforts to help ensure no one goes hungry.”
In recognition of changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, the Farm Bureau price survey also includes ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans, in an expanded holiday menu.
Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increased the overall cost by $17.25, to $81.30. This updated basket of foods also increased in price (up 18 percent) compared to 2021.
This year’s national average cost was calculated using 224 surveys completed with pricing data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers checked prices in person and online using grocery store apps and websites. They looked for the best possible prices without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals.
The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey provides a record of comparative holiday meal costs over the years.
Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
Individual prices: •16-pound turkey: $28.96 or $1.81 per pound (up 21 percent)•14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix: $3.88 (up 69 percent)•2 frozen pie crusts: $3.68 (up 26 percent)•Half pint of whipping cream: $2.24 (up 26 percent)•1 pound of frozen peas: $1.90 (up 23 percent)•1 dozen dinner rolls: $3.73 (up 22 percent)•Misc. ingredients to prepare the meal: $4.13 (up 20 percent)•30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $4.28 (up 18 percent)•1 gallon of whole milk: $3.84 (up 16 percent)•3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $3.96 (up 11 percent)•1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): 88 cents (up 8 percent)•12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.57 (down 14 percent)
Regional averagesAFBF analysis revealed regional differences in the cost of the meal.
The cost for the classic meal was the most affordable in the South at $58.42, followed by the Northeast at $64.02, the Midwest at $64.26 and the West at $71.37.
The expanded meal (classic meal plus ham, green beans and Russet potatoes) was the most affordable in the South at $74.90, followed by the Midwest at $81.53, the Northeast at $82.76 and the West at $88.55.
For additional information, email Mike Tomko, American Farm Bureau Federation, miket@fb.org or Bailey Corwine, American Farm Bureau Federation, baileyc@fb.org

Hannah Fick, a 2021 graduate of Hills-Beaver Creek High School, received her American Degree, the highest award given to FFA members, at the 2022 National FFA Convention recently in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Fick was joined by current H-BC FFA Chapter members Gus Jacobson, John Tiler, Sylvia Fick, Tyrae Goodface and Alexis Gardner-Swenson. The students attended various convention sessions, career and college fair, concerts and a rodeo, according to H-BC FFA adviser Cloey Anderson.
The American FFA Degree is achieved by less than one percent of FFA members. The degree is awarded to members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experience. Fick’s SAE was in agricultural sales placement.

The calendar says it’s time to be thankful.
… for things like a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food on the table. … like turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing (the homemade kind from Mom’s recipe). And pie.
I’m especially thankful for loved ones, like my husband, our children and our families … and for loved ones in heaven — not because they’re in heaven, but because we were blessed to have had them in our lives.
That’s what I’m learning about grief during Thanksgiving.
There are blessings and there are losses. And the more we’ve loved, the harder we grieve. I’m told it’s especially hard during the holidays, so I’m bracing for it.
Only two months after losing Carson to suicide, the losses are coming into sharper focus:
He won’t marry or have children (my grandchildren) or operate his farm or build his dream home or … The list of losses is longer than the years he was with us.
It could ruin Thanksgiving if I forget to be thankful.
Fortunately, there are many reasons to be thankful.
The grief handbooks remind me to be thankful for memories. I’m thankful I had him for 21 years and have 21 years of memories to savor.
I’m thankful for his colorful personality, his distinct sense of style, his adventuresome spirit and his gift of gab. The kid could talk, and he didn’t mind talking to his mother — even about his troubled mind that we were getting him treatment for.
I’m thankful also that he didn’t mind hugging his mother.
This summer there were many long, meaningful hugs — longer than he would have liked, but I held on as long as he let me, hoping there was healing in a mother’s hugs.
I’m thankful he let me hold his hand during a cool September evening when I joined him on the porch.
It was a rare allowance, so I tightly held his hand and told him God had a plan. That things were going to get better, and he wouldn’t be alone, because so many of us loved him.
He said, “I know, Mom.”
The next day he was gone.
So, am I thankful this Thanksgiving?
Yes. There are tears, but I’m thankful.
For Carson’s 21 years, that he knew he was loved, and that he’s now in the arms of his loving Father, where he ultimately belonged.
I’m also thankful for other grieving souls who have comforted me in their own sorrow. It doesn’t bring our loved ones back, but it helps to know we’re not alone.
Everyone hurts. Everyone has losses. And everyone has reasons to be thankful.
It is my wish for all of us this Thanksgiving that a spirit of gratitude takes the edge off the pain and allows us to enjoy what and who we have today.

The Rock County Star Herald is again facilitating a holiday campaign to send Christmas greetings to deployed military men and women serving the United States around the world.
After the first campaign in 2019, more than 600 letters were mailed through the Star Herald’s lighted display in the city park.
We are again collecting letters for service people at our lighted display at the park, and letters can be dropped off at the Star Herald’s Main Street office.
“Our goal this year is 1,000 letters,” said general manager Rick Peterson, who is spearheading the effort again this year. “We’re reaching out to schools, churches, organizations and families.”
After previous years’ responses, he expects to get 1,000 in no time.
“I was moved — overwhelmed — by people who brought them in. Stacks and stacks of them,” Peterson said. “And people really put some thought into them.”
Cards will be collected each week and sent to “Military Missions,” where they’ll be included with care packages to about 8,000 people.
The Star Herald heard responses from service people who had received cards.
“It meant a lot to them,” Peterson said.
If local families have someone serving in the military that they’d like a card sent directly to, the Star Herald will accept those names and addresses to make sure those cards get mailed directly from Luverne.
Don’t put cards in envelopes, don’t use glitter (because it gets on the uniforms), and avoid political messages and lengthy religious discussions (but feel free to let them know you’re praying for them).
Also, don’t date the correspondence, because letters will be sent throughout the year as part of Military Missions care packages.
Organizations encourage greeting cards or homemade creations that start with “Dear Service Member” or “Dear Friend.”
The point of the greeting card campaign is to bring joy to someone.
“Be positive and upbeat,” Peterson said. “Be thankful. Feel free to share a little information about yourself, like hobbies, pets, and what state you’re from.”
Cards will be accepted through the holidays. Questions can be directed to rick@star-herald.com or call 507-283-2333.

Question:  My question stems from all the vehicles that have loud music playing. I can hear them coming from blocks away. When they drive by my house, the windows actually rattle. Is there a state law or ordinance against these boom boxes on wheels?
Answer: Minnesota does not have a state law prohibiting loud music inside a vehicle, but many cities do have ordinances prohibiting noise levels. A common ordinance states music cannot be heard from a vehicle at a distance of 25 feet or more from the path of the vehicle when operated on a public street or sidewalk or in a public park or other public places.
It is important for the driver to be alert and aware of everything that is going on around them. Listening to very loud music while driving may block out an emergency vehicle’s siren or another vehicle’s horn, possibly causing a crash or reducing the response time for an emergency vehicle. Emergency vehicles are equipped with lights and sirens in an effort to warn others when responding to an emergency. The ability to hear a siren and see emergency lights will enable the driver to safely pull over and yield for approaching emergency vehicles.
You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober.  Help us drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.
If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848.  (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us)

Input sought by Dec. 5 for ‘Rural News Trust in Minnesota’ research
 
To the Editor:
I’m a senior journalism student at the University of Minnesota working on my honors thesis, “Rural News Trust in Minnesota.”
To do this research, I’m looking for rural Minnesota residents who read, watch or listen to news, and I’d like to interview them about their news habits and preferences.
If there are Rock County Star Herald readers who would be interested in helping me with my research, I’d love to get as many perspectives as possible by Monday, Dec. 5
These conversations will be incredibly helpful for the integrity of the research project. I can be reached at 763-501-5987 or adwan007@umn.edu
Noor Adwan,
St. Paul
University of Minnesota

Many farm operators provide some type of custom work or use of farm machinery to other farmers during the growing season, and payment is usually made following the completion of the harvest season. Sometimes, it can be difficult to arrive at a fair custom rate for the certain farming practices, or for the use of various pieces of machinery. This could be the case in a year such as 2022, when the cost of machinery operation for diesel fuel, repairs and labor have increased substantially from the beginning of the year until year-end.
Due to the high cost of investment in farm machinery, an ever-increasing number of farm operators are hiring other farm operators to provide some or all of the needed machinery resources for their farm operation. This is especially true with new and younger farm operators, as well as with children that decide to start farming with their parents. In addition, some land investors are choosing to operate a farm themselves rather than cash renting the land to another farm operator, and thus they are hiring a farm operator under a custom farming agreement.
One of the best resources for average custom rates is the annual “Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey” that is coordinated and analyzed by Iowa State University. Each year in January, custom operators and farm managers are sampled regarding the expected farm custom rates for various farm operations. The custom rate summary, which is usually released in late February, lists the average custom rate, as well as a range in custom rates, for various tillage, planting, fertilizer and chemical application, grain harvesting, and forage harvesting functions on the farm.
The Iowa Custom Rate Survey, which also includes many miscellaneous farming practices and a formula for calculating rental rates, is probably the most widely used custom rate information that is available in the Upper Midwest. The complete 2022 “Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey” for all farming practices is available online at the following Iowa State University website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a3-10.html
The average custom rates for farm operations in most areas of the Upper Midwest tend to be very close to the average Iowa custom rates. All listed custom rates in the Iowa survey results include fuel and labor, unless listed as rental rates or otherwise specified. These average rates are only meant to be a guide for custom rates, as actual custom rates charged may vary depending on increases in fuel costs, availability of custom operators, timeliness, field size, etc. In a year such as 2022 that has featured significant increases in operation costs for farm machinery, it may be justified and necessary to adjust some of those custom rates above the median or average rates.
Based on the Iowa State data, average custom rates for tillage, planting, and harvest operations in 2022 were expected to increase by about 7 percent, compared to the rates for similar operations in 2021. The cost for new and used machinery increased rapidly in the past 12 months, which together with increasing fuel costs and higher labor charges, accounts for the increases in 2022 custom rates.
It should be noted that many of these factors have continued to increase during 2022, which may result in custom operators increasing their final custom rates to even higher levels by year-end to fully cover the increasing expenses for custom operations. Good communications between the custom operators and farmer are very important in finalizing custom rates.
All listed custom rates in the Iowa Survey results include fuel, labor, repairs, depreciation, insurance and interest, unless listed as rental rates or otherwise specified. The average price for diesel fuel in the survey was assumed to be $3.33 per gallon; however, current prices for diesel fuel are considerably higher than that price. A fuel price increase of 50¢ per gallon would cause most custom rates to increase by approximately five percent. These average rates are only meant to be a guide for custom rates, as actual custom rates charged may vary depending on continued increase in fuel costs, availability of custom operators, timeliness, field size, etc. and could be adjusted later in the year due to changes in economic factors.
 
Custom farming agreements
Some farm operators hire custom work for specific farm operations with another farm operator, such as planting or combining, while other operators hire the typical crop field work through a custom farming agreement.
The Iowa State Custom Rate Survey includes the average custom farming rates for corn, soybeans and small grain. Custom farming agreements usually include tillage, planting, some weed control, harvesting and delivering grain to a specified location. Usually any other additional or necessary farm practices that are performed during the year are paid outside of the custom farming agreement. Many farm operators negotiate these types of custom farming arrangements in the spring of the year, while others wait until harvest is completed.
Although the concept of a custom farming agreement seems simple, close communication between the custom operator and the landowner is essential to a solid plan. It is recommended that a custom farming agreement include a written contract that specifies the typical cropping practices to be performed and the amount of payment per acre to be paid to the custom operator by the landowner, and all other pertinent details for the custom farming arrangement.
The custom farming rates for corn and soybean production were expected to increase by about 1.5 percent compared to a year earlier; however, similar to the other custom rates, larger increases may be justified to cover increased costs of fuel, labor, etc.
For more details on custom farming agreements, please refer to the Iowa State University “Ag Decision Maker” website at:  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/
 
Calculating farm machinery costs
The University of Minnesota periodically releases a publication titled “Machinery Cost Estimates,” which was last updated in April of 2022. This summary looks at the use-related (operating) cost of farm machinery, as well as the overhead (ownership) costs of the machinery. The use-related expenses include fuel, repairs and maintenance, labor, and depreciation. Overhead costs include interest, insurance and housing, which are calculated based on pre-set formulas. This publication can help serve as a good guide to help farm operators estimate their “true cost” of farm machinery ownership.
The U of M machinery cost publication and other resources available on the costs of farm machinery ownership are available at https://wlazarus.cfans.umn.edu/william-f-lazarus-farm-machinery-managem….
Another good resource for estimating the costs of farm machinery ownership is a publication from Iowa State University titled “Estimating Farm Machinery Costs,” which includes a worksheet to calculate farm machinery costs. This publication is available at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/pdf/a3-29.pdf
 
For additional information contact Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst and Sr. Vice President, MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal, MN.  Or call 507- 381-7960;  email kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com); website is http://www.minnstarbank.com/

Dispatch report
Nov. 11
•Complainant reported tailgating a vehicle.
•Complainant reported child maltreatment.
•Complainant reported a driving complaint.
•Assistance from another department was requested.
•Complainant reported theft.
•A civil issue was reported.
•Complainant requested roadside assist.
•Complainant reported an oil spill.
•Complainant reported a fire.
Nov. 12
•Complainant reported a fire.
•Complainant in Edgerton reported a gas smell.
•Complainant requested information.
•Complainant reported a runaway.
•Complainant reported a vehicle tailgating and swerving.
•Complainant reported drug paraphernalia.
•Assistance from another department was requested.
•Complainant in Kenneth reported no staff at location.
Nov. 13
•Complainant reported possible carbon monoxide.
•Assistance from another department was requested.
•Complainant reported an assault.
•Complainant requested roadside assist.
Nov. 14
•Roadside assistance was provided.
•Complainant reported child maltreatment.
•Assistance from another department was provided.
•Complainant reported vandalism.
Nov. 15
•Complainant reported speeding.
•Complainant reported a semitruck swerving and speeding.
•Complainant requested a deputy at location.
•Complainant reported theft from vehicle.
•Complainant reported a domestic dispute.
•Complainant reported a fire.
•Complainant filed a narcotics complaint.
Nov. 16
•A warrant was issued.
•Complainant in Hills reported a sudden death.
•Complainant in Luverne filed a disturbing the peace complaint.
•Complainant reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant in Beaver Creek filed a complaint about train being parked near house and exposing fumes.
In addition, officers responded to 4 motor vehicle accidents, 6 deer accidents, 1 transport, 13 ambulance runs, 4 paper services, 1 animal complaint, 1 fingerprint request, 3 burn permits, 1 background check, 2 gas drive-offs, 1 alarm, 2 drug court tests, 8 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 36 traffic stops, 5 abandoned 911 calls, 3 tests, 5 welfare checks, 1 report of cattle out and 1 follow-up.