The Daily Agenda: Ag Take

ag take | Big Soybean Sale... But Who's Buying?

Mike Maybay — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:34:47 GMT

COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council (MCR&PC) invests corn checkoff funds in programs that bolster agricultural literacy, develop future ag leaders, strengthen community connections, and improve public trust in farming. The following is a summary of those investments in 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43FZddW (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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AG HEADLINES

SOYBEAN SALE: Via barchart, VERBATIM: “USDA reported 372,000 MT of soybeans to unknown destinations this morning with 60,000 MT for old crop an 312,000 MT for new crop shipment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4erJOCT

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Was it China? Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag says,” MARTINSON: “You know, with the size of the purchase, you almost think it has to be. And the timing of it is very coincidental for the rumors that came out yesterday. So, you know, I do think it probably was China that came in and did this purchase.
We really won’t know until it gets ready to ship and it gets declared. But at this point, it looks ominous that it was China that was in buying.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sa3uE1

FERTILIZER: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “With the Strait of Hormuz reopening, Heartland Investor Services Commodity Trading Advisor Eugene Graner is focused on the movement of fertilizer out of the Persian Gulf. Brazil imports 85 percent of its fertilizer and will be competing with the U.S. for that supply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eeJXL8

DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The government relations director for the Wisconsin Farmers Union says long-term policy solutions are needed to help stabilize milk prices for producers. Michelle Ramirez-White with Dairy Together says more than 40 percent of U.S. dairy farms have been lost since 2017.” RAMIREZ-WHITE: “With the boom and bust of price cycles, the flood of milk on the market has contributed to five-year depressed and volatile milk prices,” she says. “Small and mid-sized dairy farmers just can’t compete.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SwkaFI

BEEF: Via watchdog organization Farm Action, VERBATIM: “Farm Action released a new rancher-backed policy roadmap to address record-high beef prices by rebuilding domestic cattle production and restoring competition, rather than relying on increased imports. The roadmap argues that today’s high beef prices are rooted in decades of consolidation in meatpacking and retail. In the 1970s, the top four beef packers controlled about 36% of the market. Today, four companies control roughly 85%, leaving ranchers with fewer buyers, less bargaining power, and a smaller share of the consumer beef dollar.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4voBbR2

CHECKOFF: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “By three votes, Minnesota beef producers last month rejected a proposed increase to the state’s beef checkoff program. A successful passage would have increased the checkoff value from $1 to $1.50, the 50¢ being a refundable assessment. The increase would have made Minnesota the 20th state to add to the $1 national beef checkoff assessment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4epebLH

CROP UPDATE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “USDA’s latest weekly crop report says 81 percent of corn in the state is rated in good to excellent condition, up from 80 percent last week. Tim Waibel farms near Courtland in south-central Minnesota and tells Brownfield his corn looks excellent.” WAIBEL: “And the soybeans I would say would not be much behind excellent, they’re pretty good. A little iron chlorosis in some of the soybeans, but we’ve had very favorable rains.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eoO5XO

PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)

HEADWINDS

MOTH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A scouting network has identified a migratory pest in southeast Minnesota that has growers concerned. University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Ryan Miller says traps are capturing an alarming rate of true armyworm moths.” MILLER: “Early last week it first popped up. And true armyworm, it’s a migratory insect so it’s a moth that overwinters in the south and then is blown in on some of these southerly winds that we get in those low-level jets that can move insects around.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4evYu47

WEEVIL: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Alfalfa producers in central Minnesota lucky enough to harvest hay prior to heavy rainfall during the first and second weeks of June had some good harvests. Those who waited for some more height are now waiting for rain to stop before the first cutting. While timely harvesting of the forage crop is always a battle, alfalfa weevils are adding in some additional concerns in some pockets of the growing region.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uMdmRH

EL NINO: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Nutrien atmospheric scientist Eric Snodgrass says the current El Niño is developing faster than any previous event on record, but farmers should be cautious about assuming it will dictate summer weather patterns across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.” SNODGRASS: “At this point in June, it’s the warmest the ocean temperatures have been since we’ve been measuring them consistently across the equatorial Pacific. A lot of the superlatives assigned to this El Niño are coming true.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gqZPvs

WEATHER NOTE: The next Drought Monitor is due out tomorrow. Watch for it in lunch take and in Friday’s ag take.

TAR SPOT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agronomy manager with Wyffels Hybrids says the stormy weather pattern for much of the Corn Belt is setting the stage for tar spot issues in corn. Robby Meeker, who covers the eastern half of Illinois and all of Indiana, tells Brownfield, ‘The June rains are really what set the table and open the door for tar spot exposure. If we can get that splash event here early in the year, that’s what can bring on the later onset of tar spot.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gqyOIr

MINNESOTA UPDATES

SCHOOL FOOD: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “[Monday] at the @MNArboretum we kicked off the third cohort of the #FarmtoSchool Institute, where six school teams from across MN will develop action plans to bring more local foods into their cafeterias, classrooms, and communities!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4eOS5lK

AG RELATIONS: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciated opportunity to welcome the Ag Relations Council to Mpls MN today for their annual meeting. Made up of pr professionals who work in agriculture from all over the United States in all walks of agriculture!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4eCsAD8

FSA COMMITTEES: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ozH76N

WEEDS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The next generation of weed control has officially arrived, but for many U.S. row-crop farmers, the tools remain just out of reach. They are often too expensive, too slow, or too impractical for widespread adoption on large-scale operations. Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist, sees the dilemma clearly. He notes that conversations among his industry colleagues have fundamentally shifted away from the traditional playbook. Where scientists once focused almost exclusively on identifying specific weeds and matching them with the right chemistry solution, the industry is now forced to look beyond the jug.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ePqaSE

GRANT: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Applications are open to support Continuous Living Cover (CLC) Crop markets. This grant will accelerate the CLC crop development chain through supporting infrastructure, business development, and equipment.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4ez8yJv

RESEARCH: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hosted several land-grant university leaders at USDA for a roundtable discussion and announced the opening of the FY2026 funding opportunity for the Research Facilities Act program. President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts provided $125 million annually for the Research Facilities Act program and this historic investment will help address decades of deferred maintenance and accelerate modernization of agricultural research facilities across the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oxjtbn

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

FARM TOUR: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Tucked into the hills of the Driftless region near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, one farm is putting a new spin on the area’s agricultural history—and inviting visitors to get their hands in the dirt (literally). Sacred Blossom Farm has been a destination for foodies and the farm-curious since 2016, and this summer, it’s opening its gates for two weekends of open house farm tours.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4esAUVB

BERRIES: From the Star Tribune, a guide to berry picking options. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4xAgdjm

AWARD: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Last week, the MDA’s Food Safety Team received the Elliot O. Grosvenor Food Safety Award from the Association of Food and Drug Officials. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements made by the Food and Feed Safety Division at the MDA in food safety.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4vc4x4M

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ag take | Ag Markets React to Iran Deal

Mike Maybay — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:31:18 GMT

WASECA CTY: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday night, Waseca County Corn & Soybean Growers Chair Craig Baxter represented the group at the Waseca County Farm Bureau’s Taste of the Farm event. Thanks to Craig for highlighting agriculture in his local community!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4xtnuS3 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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OUTSIDE IMPACTS

WAR: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Markets reacted quickly to the news of the potential end of this war. AgBull Trading President Tommy Grisafi said stock prices rose overnight.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43B6Ke8

MORE: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “Pro Farmer’s Bill Watts reported that ‘grain and soy complex futures opened modestly lower Sunday night after the U.S. and Iran announced a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, setting the stage for further talks aimed at ending a four-month old conflict.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eg5Po0

SCREWWORM: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension livestock veterinarian encourages producers in the Upper Midwest to have a level-headed response to New World screwworm. Dr. Angie Varnum with the University of Minnesota calls detections of the parasitic pest an important issue for the country.” VARNUM: “But it’s not something that’s currently urgent for Minnesota beef, dairy, small ruminant, swine, or equine producers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vP0MCc

EXPLAINER: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “The New World screwworm poses potentially life-threatening risks to pets, wildlife and livestock. While the risk is concentrated in a few states, experts say a massive invasion could ripple across the American economy through higher grocery prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eui0hf

MORE: You can find MDA information about the screwworm HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4a3YgzL

TRADE IMPACT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Following the confirmation of New World screwworm in the United States, both Canada and Mexico have issued import restrictions on live cattle from the U.S. University of Tennessee ag economist Charley Martinez says the impacts will vary.” MARTINEZ: “We probably do send more to Mexico than Canada in terms of just how we trade and the product that we’re sending just south of the border out of Texas,” he says. “When we say Canada, there’s probably not as many cattle going from Texas to Canada in terms of having really big impact on trade.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oO3BBv

FLANAGAN: Via KVRR-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor stopped by Moorhead this weekend for some face time with local farmers – and prospective voters. Peggy Flanagan is running for U.S. Senate, and as part of her campaign, she visited Prairie Rose Farm to learn more about agricultural business and local food systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uCjT1q

WEATHER

EL NINO: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A crop protection specialist expects this summer’s El Nino to influence crop disease pressure. Tyler Harp with Syngenta says conditions in the southern U.S. are typically wetter than normal, with the northern tier of states warmer than average.” HARP: “We transitioned into El Nino from La Nina, probably one of the quickest on record. And so it’s going to be a quite strong one. If we have really wet conditions, we’ll see a lot of tar spot. We could see a lot of southern rust if it stays hot.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uFM9Aq

BEETS: Via Ag Update, from Montevideo farmer Megan Horsager, VERBATIM: “Overall, it has been a successful start to the season on our farm. We had good windows for planting with well-timed rains to get the crops germinated timely and evenly. The long stretch of cold and wind in the middle of May put a damper on growth, but we managed to avoid significant frost damage. Since finally turning the corner into summer weather, things have been progressing well.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ebP12Y

STORM DAMAGE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Reminder: Federal disaster loan application deadline for losses caused by storms/winds on 6/21/25 is near for affected counties (Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Roseau).” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4edqvi0

MORE: Via Small Business Administration, more on disaster loans and how to apply. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vQDzjd

PROJECTIONS: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report released on June 11 did not change estimated 2026 corn or soybean production levels, and did not make any significant adjustments in the projected 2026-27 demand levels for either corn or soybeans. The only significant change in the June WASDE report from the May monthly report was a decline of 0.5 bushels per acre in the projected 2026 national average wheat yield, with a corresponding adjustment to the estimated 2026 wheat production and the 2026-27 ending stocks. There were no adjustments to the 2026-27 corn and soybean carryout levels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xwzzps

WHAT’S NEXT

THIS MONTH: Via MYLE, VERBATIM: “The seventh annual Minnesota Youth Livestock Expo (MYLE) Livestock Show will be held on June 25-28 at the Martin County Fairgrounds in Fairmont, Minnesota. The event will feature 4-H and FFA members, as well as other youth livestock exhibitors from throughout Minnesota, showcasing their top-notch beef, sheep, goat and rabbit projects. The MYLE Show is the largest youth livestock show in Minnesota outside of the Minnesota State Fair later this Summer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QineVq

NEXT MONTH: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota Extension will host a free agrivoltaics webinar, ‘Keeping the farm in ‘solar farm’: Agrivoltaic logistics,’ at 7 p.m. July 14. Solar energy sites on rural landscapes are raising concerns about taking agricultural land out of production, but they can be developed to prioritize ag production, known as agrivoltaics. Building an agrivoltaic site is a logistical puzzle involving specialized site prep, complex operations management, and long-term land stewardship.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ebO1Mg

NEXTGEN: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “Area schools in Renville County attended an Ag Day during the last month of the school year. Organized by Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom, the May 5 event drew more than 130 people including students, teachers and volunteers to a rural Renville farm, according to a news release, and participants left with a greater appreciation of agriculture education.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sd0l6e

MN / ND: Via Minnesota Lawyer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota and North Dakota play vital roles in the Upper Midwest’s agricultural economy. While the states share many industry characteristics, they differ in regulatory structures, enforcement priorities, and administrative processes. Agricultural and rural businesses operating across state lines must account for variations in jurisdiction, environmental compliance, employment regulation, real estate requirements, and legal enforcement. Without careful planning, these differences can lead to regulatory challenges, operational delays, or liability exposure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4etlbpy

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

FRIDAY: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “This Juneteenth, Frogtown Farm is inviting the community to gather under the evening sky for a free outdoor screening of Farming While Black, a powerful documentary about Black land stewardship, agricultural heritage, food sovereignty, and the enduring connection between land, liberation, and community.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gkvXAO

ag take | What El Nino will Mean for Farmers

Mike Maybay — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:30:30 GMT

E15: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “One month ago, Minnesota’s U.S. House delegation sent a clear signal on year-round E15. All eight members of the delegation voted in favor of H.R. 1346, bipartisan legislation that would permanently authorize year-round sales of the biofuel blend . . . We look forward to working with members of the U.S. Senate to make year-round E15 a reality.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3SBMWoo (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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EL NINO FORECAST

FED ADVISORY: Via NOAA, VERBATIM: “NOAA’s National Weather Service announced today that El Nino has developed in the tropical Pacific, and issued an El Nino Advisory. El Nino, the warm phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is predicted to intensify to a moderate or strong level this fall. Forecasters predict a 63% chance of sea surface temperatures exceeding 2.0°C in the Nino-monitored region of the Pacific. If this threshold is surpassed, NOAA considers the event a ‘very strong’ El Nino.”

“During a typical El Nino winter, the jet stream over the north Pacific Ocean tends to shift southward, bringing the storm track over the southern tier of the U.S. The southward shift in the storm track also leads to drier conditions over the Northern Rockies and Ohio and Tennessee valleys. For temperatures, El Nino often leads to a warmer than usual winter over the northern U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vLfKt0

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Even with NOAA’s declaration, [Nutrien Ag Solutions senior science fellow Eric Snodgrass] says farmers shouldn’t assume El Niño will be the primary driver of weather during the heart of the growing season.” SNODGRASS: “Historically, the correlations with El Niño and summer weather patterns are weak. It’s not as strong as we’d like,” he says. “I wish it was the most dominant factor in summer because then I’d be really good at my job. But the reality is summer is defined by thunderstorm complexes. It’s defined by very weak boundaries. It’s defined by heat. As a result, predicting it days and weeks in advance is difficult.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SDMwxN

DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows Minnesota’s situation got worse – 32% of the state is in formal drought status, up from 14% a week earlier. An area in southwest Minnesota is now considered to be in extreme drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

MORE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “In far southwestern Minnesota, in Rock County, Wednesday’s storms missed cattle rancher and farmer Peter Bakken’s land altogether, and he told Morning Edition the lingering drought has him worried about the health of his crops and cows.” QUOTE: “We’re right at a critical spot where we need to have timely rains,” Bakken said. “We don’t have any recharge in the ground, so my big concern at the moment is I’m a beef farmer and we’re trying to get cows on grass and the grass is not growing.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4aMDGEa

STORMS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Severe storms continued to pop up and wreak havoc on farms in the region of central Minnesota this week. The Deer Creek and Wadena area saw a bout of hailstones up to golf ball-sized hit that area at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. Ron Schertler, an agronomist with Leaf River Ag, said the damage was localized to an area about a mile wide and 10 miles long, mostly coming from southwest of Wadena before striking a large part of the city of Wadena. He was out Thursday morning surveying the damage on fields, which included an estimated 1,000 acres, with about 5,000-6,000 plants lost per acre in the hardest hit spots.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43woc3q

HEAT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Summer heat can reduce pork productivity. Chuck Woods with KENT Nutrition says heat stress can occur all along the swine production chain.” WOODS: “Whether you’re trying to keep sows hydrated and eating through, especially in late gestation when those sows, their internal body temperatures can get really hot. We’ve seen it there, we’ve seen it even in finishing pigs.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4asszQG

SOLAR FLARE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Hurricanes get names, even The Weather Channel nicknames bad winter storms, but how about a huge solar flare? We’d never heard of it, either, until the Gannon Storm of 2024 caused Corn Belt farmers more than a billion dollars in productivity . . . While scientists at Colorado’s Space Weather Prediction Center warned the airline and utility sectors about how bad the inbound solar energy would be for major infrastructure (including on mandated conference calls), they weren’t aware of the impact on farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Smd2vw

HEADWINDS

MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cattle and hogs were lower early Friday with grain markets slightly higher. Live and feeder cattle futures were lower on Friday with some profit taking after a strong week but also running into chart resistance. Additionally, Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the market is trading headlines that a JBS beef slaughter plant in Pennsylvania was closing.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4usGb5D

MORE AID: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Additional farm aid may be on the horizon. During Wednesday’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Chairman John Boozman said lawmakers are discussing support beyond the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and specialty crop assistance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vqlcC1

GRAZING: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the distribution of a comprehensive directive to all U.S. Forest Service employees from the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). These actions advance implementation of the Advancing Grazing on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the USDA–Department of the Interior Grazing Action Plan, delivering on the Trump Administration’s commitment to strengthen American ranching, restore multiple-use management on federal lands, and combat regulatory lawfare against producers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qm9OaJ

SCREWWORM: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The head of Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture is concerned the arrival of New World screwworm in the southern U.S. could have trade ramifications. Commissioner Thom Petersen tells Brownfield.” PETERSEN: “This isn’t new for Minnesota, dealing with high-path avian influenza for quite a while (and) having trade stipulations put on. So we’re very familiar with that.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4omMztE

EAB: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota researchers have finally found a worthy opponent for the emerald ash borer. Actually, they’ve discovered a few worthy opponents, all derived from fungi. And wouldn’t that be fun? Because these beetles definitely aren’t. Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer, known by its scientific name, Agrilus planipennis, and by the acronym EAB, found its way across the ocean more than a decade ago, quickly becoming the primary threat to one of the most important trees in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oxpaGg

NEXT STEPS

SURVEY: Via Minnesota State, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence (SACE) has released results from its 2025-2026 Minnesota Farm Transition Survey, highlighting a growing need for practical farm succession planning resources and support for producers across the state. The survey gathered responses from more than 75 producers representing 29 counties across southern and central Minnesota. Findings show that while more than 90 percent of respondents intend to transfer their farm operations to the next generation or another successor, many are still early in the planning process or have not yet started.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43xZ38k

DRYDOWN: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Desiccating your soybeans can provide timely, uniform drydown of your crop for harvest up to 15 days earlier than normal, keep weeds in check and prepare your fields for planting the next crop in your rotation. But there can be agronomic and economic downsides, too.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/444pMth

INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An official with the nation’s largest ag cooperative is pleased with the movement of crop inputs so far this season. CHS senior vice president Mike Johnston says logistically it’s been a smooth start.” JOHNSTON: “We’ve had good moves of fertilizer up the river, or via unit train, however we’re receiving it across our territory. And so we haven’t run into shortages and we’ve been able to deliver on time for our growers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vDuxGa

EQUIPMENT LEASING: Via Compeer, VERBATIM: “Compeer Financial is teaming up with PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) and other industry partners to offer a pilot leasing program for strip-till equipment, helping offset upfront financial costs for farmers implementing soil conservation practices on their farms. Through RegenLend, Compeer Financial will lease the equipment to farmers, and PepsiCo will cover two annual lease payments to share the cost of investment with farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xxzmCL

(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)

NEXT YEAR: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture invites farmers, educators, researchers, and advocates to submit session proposals and speaker suggestions for the 2027 Minnesota Organic Conference, set for January 7-8, 2027, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, MN.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w6gR6X

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

BARN QUILTS: Via The Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “Thanks to a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Cindy Haffner of rural Rose City, Minnesota, was finally able to launch the new barn quilt trail in Douglas County. On Monday, June 1, Painted Pathways officially opened to the public. But what exactly is a barn quilt? It is a board that has been hand-painted with a single quilt pattern and then attached to a barn, some other type of building or can be free-standing. The pattern can represent something meaningful to the owner, be taken from a family quilt, represent the property’s history or even be a whimsical pattern created by family and friends.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49YFz0i

CULVER’S: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “An iconic blue barn erected by a Midwest fast food favorite is no more after strong storms toppled the building over on Wednesday. The Culver’s Blue Barn, emblazoned with the words ‘Thank You Farmers’ stood off US-151 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Multiple people shared photos of the damage on social media, showing the barn crumpled over.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4uqZMmF

ag take | MN Soybean Farmer Testifies Before Congress

Mike Maybay — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:31:04 GMT

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn, the state’s grassroots organization of corn farmers, has announced a partnership with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, set for June 20-26 in the Twin Cities. Held every four years, the Special Olympics USA Games are a national celebration of inclusivity, changing perceptions and the ability of the human spirit rising above limitations. The 2026 games will draw nearly 3,000 athletes from all 50 states to the Twin Cities to compete in 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4egSPP2 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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A BUSY AG NEWS DAY

WEATHER STATION: From Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Today in greater Pease, MN @braunfarm to visit with staff as they install the latest weather station in @MNagriculture weather network. Thanks Tim for hosting one on his farm!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Q660KN

MORE: Via MDA, more about the Minnesota Ag Weather Network including a map of stations and a link to data. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4m3XHsW

USMCA: Via ASA, VERBATIM: “Today, American Soybean Association (ASA) Executive Committee member and Minnesota soybean farmer Jamie Beyer testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during a hearing on ‘Agricultural Perspectives on the Future of the USMCA,’ highlighting the critical importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to U.S. soybean farmers and urging policymakers to maintain long-term certainty for American agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4om64To

MORE: Via ASA, Beyer’s testimony in which she argued the USMCA is necessary for market stability given the recent uncertainty with the largest U.S. soy customer: China. QUOTE: “In contrast to the relationship with our Chinese partners, the North American trade relationship is the picture of stability for the U.S. soybean industry. Since NAFTA entered into force, U.S. soy exports to Mexico quadrupled, and exports to Canada doubled (Figure 1). Under USMCA, both markets have continued to grow over time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v2kB95

USDA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins was questioned about the USDA’s reorganization during a U.S. Senate Ag Committee hearing on Wednesday. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said she’s concerned about staffing cuts amid recent detections of New World screwworm in the U.S.” KLOBUCHAR: “The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has lost 25 percent of its staff,” Klobuchar said, “including more than 300 employees in veterinary services alone since the (Trump) administration came in.” ROLLINS: “A year and a half ago there were 10 APHIS employees working full-time (on NWS),” Rollins said. “Now, we’ve got over 120.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4usmCdM

MORE: From Forbes via YouTube, Rollins’ testimony before the Senate Ag Committee. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fDHzPi

ICYMI… morning take shared news of USDA restructuring that led to Minnesota losing 21% of its agency workforce since President Trump returned to office. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4enA9xo

SCREWWORM: Via Pork Business, VERBATIM: “While New World screwworm (NWS) is a foreign pest to the U.S., Dusty Oedekoven, National Pork Board’s chief veterinarian, says it was not unexpected.” QUOTE: “We’ve been watching the northward expansion of the fly for a couple of years,” Oedekoven says. “USDA has taken a proactive approach to preparing for that. There’s a lot of information available at screwworm.gov about the current status, as well as planned response activities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uwTm5I

FERTILIZER: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “In the shadow of a wind turbine on a low rise just outside the western Minnesota town of Morris, a cluster of tanks, pipes and sheds holds what some believe is the key to a more self-sufficient future for the region’s agriculture and heavy industry. When the wind is blowing – and it often is, out here – the turbine powers two electrolyzers that cleave hydrogen from water, another system that separates nitrogen out of the air and a third that binds the two elements to form anhydrous ammonia, a critical input for corn farming.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43pFb7i

PRICES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Corn and soybean futures have come down from their recent highs, and a farmer in eastern South Dakota says he wishes he would have locked in more new crop sales. ‘I locked about 10 percent in for fall, but I had not locked enough,’ says Paul Casper. He tells Brownfield he was hopeful the conflict in the Middle East would be over by now and fuel prices would have also declined.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vEZFVA

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Grain markets were mixed for a second day in a quiet session as fund selling subsided heading into the June WASDE. John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing says the grain markets saw similar action last year during June.” HEINBERG: “We just traded sideways through the middle of June and I think that the WASDE report is a part of it here. I mean, obviously, we’ve sold the corn and wheat markets very aggressively, did find some support, and we’re holding those.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S0jeJF

FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag lobbyist says he’s optimistic a delay in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s farm bill timeline won’t derail the legislation this year. Randy Russell with The Russell Group tells Brownfield ‘Senator Bozeman has come out and said now he wants to release his bill before the July 4 recess and then mark it up in July after lawmakers come back before the August recess.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49RIkAw

CROP NEWS & GUIDANCE

UPDATE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A west-central Minnesota farmer is pleased with how the growing season is unfolding. Nathan Collins grows corn, soybeans, sugarbeets, kidney beans, and some organic crops near Murdock.” COLLINS: “Got the early planted stuff in nice, and held off for a little while on some corn. And everything came up pretty good, we’re pleased with the stands. Getting on the crop protection plans now.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xbCns2

BERRIES: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture census, released every five years, showed a small decline in berry farmers in the state. But numbers from Minnesota Grown, a partnership between growers and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, show an increase in both the number of berry producers and the kinds of berries grown over the past 15 years.” QUOTE: “People are still growing strawberries and raspberries, but there’s more blueberries and also some new fruits,” said Rachel Wandrei, Minnesota Grown’s marketing manager. “We didn’t even have the honeyberry in our directory until two years ago and now there are 16 farms growing them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4osBS9e

WEEDS: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Farmers across the region are reporting solid crop stands heading into summer, helped by timely rains and above-average growing degree units. Matt Widboom, who farms near Worthington, Minnesota, says weed control has become a serious concern.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49Up05z

SOYBEANS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “As soybean crops move rapidly through their early growth stages, one of the greatest risks to your yield potential over the next few weeks is a well-intentioned herbicide pass made just a few days too late. Because so much of a soybean crop’s yield potential is determined during pod fill, Missy Bauer stresses that what happens now with herbicide passes is about setting up the plant in advance to handle that critical period well.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43WkoZg

ROOT ROT: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Recent heat and rainfall have improved soybean growth conditions across portions of North Dakota, but are also increasing disease risks. NDSU Extension Soybean Specialist Wade Webster says growers should watch closely for root rot diseases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43LGU7j

GRANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Green Fertilizer Grant Program. The program will support agricultural and rural electric cooperatives registered as 308A or 308B within the state of Minnesota so they can invest in green fertilizer manufacturing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4utPTon

LOOKING AHEAD

NEXT WEEKEND: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “In a way to start Summer, Olmsted County Country Breakfast on the Farm preparations are underway for its 38th year, but this time at a crop farm. Traditionally, the event takes place on a dairy farm. This year’s Breakfast on the Farm is hosted by the DeCook family at their grain bin site in Stewartville.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eDgCJt

SPRAYING: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to aerially manage 19 sites in Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties to slow the spread of spongy moth. Officials likely will conduct the aerial management activities June 24 – July 1, beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. These dates are dependent on weather conditions in the area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oE7Jnz

NEW ENVOY: Via 2 Paragraphs, VERBATIM: “American country music singer-songwriter John Rich of the duo Big & Rich announced this week on social media that he has been named by President Donald Trump as the ‘Special Envoy for American Landowners.’” RICH: “In this role, I look forward to representing and advocating for landowners’ rights against any entity that chooses to harass or intimidate them in an effort to achieve goals contrary to those of the President. I look forward to defending our farmers and ranchers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ehjDPa

MORE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “A key focus of Rich’s work will be advocating for landowners facing pressure related to large-scale solar and wind development that may impact productive farmland, ranchland, and rural livelihoods. He will work closely with USDA leadership and stakeholders to ensure landowners have a strong voice in decisions affecting their property and communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vAN4CU

MN + DAKOTAS: From Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “This morning joining my counterparts South Dakota Secretary Hunter Roberts & North Dakota Commissioner Doug Goehring on a state of ag panel in Fargo at the Midwest Ag Summit. Appreciate invite from Fargo-Moorhead chamber.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3RYXX36

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

GREENTECH: Via Minnetonka-based Pivot Bio, VERBATIM: “Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, today announced it has been named No. 5 on TIME Magazine’s World’s Top GreenTech Companies of 2026 list. Pivot Bio is the second-highest ranked U.S.-based company on the global ranking.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4unXfKd

ag take | Second U.S. Screwworm Case

Mike Maybay — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:31:03 GMT

TRADE: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has been a game-changer for U.S. agriculture, creating jobs, expanding exports, and providing stability to our farms and communities. But these gains aren’t guaranteed: Your advocacy is needed to secure the long-term benefits of this agreement. This month, join MCGA and the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA in signing a letter to the Trump administration urging a full renewal of the landmark agreement.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/43dXTie (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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EXTERNAL FACTORS

USMCA: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “The US, Mexico and Canada are set to blow past a July 1 milestone to renew their trade deal, opening the possibility of months or years of haggling over the rules and tariffs for auto manufacturing and other industries, people familiar with the matter said. The agreement, signed by President Donald Trump during his first term, includes a deadline next month to extend the pact for 16 years. If all three countries don’t agree to renew it, the deal remains in place until at least 2036 — barring one of them quitting it entirely — and enters rolling annual reviews.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43rdviq

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Corn Refiners Association Vice President of Trade and Industry Affairs Christy Goodfellow says trade officials have already signaled negotiations with Mexico will continue after July 1.” GOODFELLOW: “What we have thought of as a deadline, I think the expectation is now that we will move past that.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e9h6GD

TRUMP IN WI: Friday’s ag take arrived in inboxes right about the time that President Trump was set to begin speaking at a Wisconsin farm. WEAU-TV was there and has a recap. VERBATIM: “Around one thousand people gathered at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, some standing in pouring rain, to hear President Trump speak . . . The president and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins highlighted trade deals, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and policies enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill. The White House reports that 55,600 family farms were helped by getting rid of the death tax. The administration reports that tax cut savings average $2,600 for rural Wisconsinites and that Wisconsin saved more than $124 million on crop insurance.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vukxii

MORE: Via Wisconsin Examiner, VERBATIM: “Trump and other speakers promised that the administration and congressional Republicans are working to ease the burden on American farmers, but offered little in the way of concrete proposals for how fertilizer, seed, gas and equipment will get cheaper or how milk, corn and soybeans will get easier to sell.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xfuRfT

INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Market disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East are impacting pork producers. Swine lender Chris Ford with Farm Credit Services of America says the rise in global oil prices is being felt across agriculture.” FORD: “Which has a direct impact on diesel, which pretty much everything on the farm is driven off diesel. Whether it be crop inputs, vehicles, those sorts of things. So that’s having a pretty significant impact. Plus then you see just the volatility the (conflict) creates in the interest rate (and) bond markets.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uZawtO

NEW WORLD SCREWWORM

SECOND CASE: Via The Texas Tribune, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a second case of New World screwworm in Zavala County on Friday, just hours after Gov. Greg Abbott expanded a statewide disaster declaration in response to the screwworm’s arrival in Texas. The second case was found in a one-month-old calf 5.6 miles away from where the first case was detected on Wednesday, according to a USDA social media post. USDA deployed mobile response teams and increased surveillance in the area in response to the detection, the post said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v3h5LO

MORE: Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins held a news conference this afternoon to provide updates on the situation. From PBS Newshour via YouTube, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RZ2yCc

MORE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced President Donald J. Trump has appointed John Bellinger as the new Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. In this role, Bellinger will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore all available technologies to combat the New World Screwworm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ea1T8t

FALLOUT: Via BBC, VERBATIM: “Canada’s food inspection agency has announced a temporary ban on livestock from the US state of Texas after flesh-eating screwworms were discovered in calves this week. Cows and horses that were in Texas anytime within 21 days before crossing the border into Canada would not be accepted into the country, an agency news release said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v145q6

WHAT IT IS: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Screwworms are parasitic flies whose females lay eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal. Once the eggs hatch, hundreds of larvae use their sharp mouths to eat through living flesh, eventually killing their host if left untreated. They mostly spread through the movement of infested animals and ⁠pose no threat to food safety and rarely affect humans, experts said. The last time screwworm was endemic in the United States, it took the cattle industry 30 years to recover, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4az5R9u

WHAT TO DO: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A swine veterinarian is encouraging U.S. livestock producers not to panic following the confirmation of New World screwworm in South Texas. Pat Hoffman is with Elanco.” HOFFMAN: “First thing I’d say is ‘take a deep breath.’ The United States has dealt with this before and we’ve eradicated it. And so it’s nothing new really (and) we have even more tools in the toolbox. We have faster diagnostics, we have faster ability to communicate these days.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ojH0ML

CROP CONSIDERATIONS

PIVOTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agricultural economist at the University of Illinois says the slumping ag economy has farmers showing an increased interest in planting crops for premium markets. In a recent FarmDoc webinar, Nick Paulson says he’s fielding a lot of questions about white corn, non-GMOs, and organics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g5o6Hd

HERBICIDES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “As farmers make post-herbicide applications, Field Agronomist Nicole Stecklein says one simple habit may separate clean, healthy fields from those that suffer preventable herbicide injury: counting collars, not leaves. In a year marked by what she calls ‘weather whiplash’ — one of the wettest Aprils on record in Iowa followed by one of the driest Mays — corn is racing through the early vegetative stages. That puts timing pressure on farmers who want to clean up their fields with a post herbicide while being mindful of product label restrictions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ftOGtq

ARC/PLC: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Eligible landowners now have the opportunity to increase their crop base acres for potential Ag Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) farm program payments in future years. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced that the eligible landowners will receive a notice of possible changes in their crop base acres, and will have from now until August 31, 2026 to finalize the proposed base acre updates. The so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ (OBBB) that was signed into law in 2025 provided for the addition of crop base acres, which was the first opportunity to update crop base acres since 2002.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q6M8Hq

SCHOOL FOOD: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $1.3 million to schools and early care providers through its Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Farm to School and Early Care grant programs to increase purchases of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4odBFXn

FARM VISIT: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Visited Kisheri Farms today near Kenyon, MN to visit with Relyndis & Marius at their newly purchased farm where they grow diverse crops that they sell at the Mill City Farmers Market & other places.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4ebWNIG

FAIRHAVEN: Via High Plains Journal, VERBATIM: “Twenty-five minutes north of Duluth, at Fairhaven Farm, first-generation farmer and University of Minnesota Duluth alumnus John Beaton is redesigning small-scale agriculture in a changing world. Fairhaven Farm grows vegetables and flowers, but the farm’s bigger goal is to care for the soil and strengthen the farm for the future. As a sustainable farmer, Beaton believes that building soil health is foundational to the success of his farm. His soil health principles are simply to disturb the soil less, keep it covered, grow many types of plants, and keep living roots in the ground as long as possible.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uqHtye

CHEESE: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “‘Cheese Fest,’ as it is more commonly known, covered the streets of downtown Pine Island in curds rather than cars June 4 through 7. The weekend-long festival featured a rock climbing wall, mechanical bull and drone light show along with more traditional fair activities such as carnival rides, games, craft vendors and – of course – lots of cheese.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49OcqVD

THIS MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “June is Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month! From leafy greens to peas, radishes, berries & more, growing season is underway, bringing fresh flavors to tables across the state. Find a farm, farmers market, CSA, or other local food business near you at http://MinnesotaGrown.com.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4urXt2F

ALSO THIS MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Happy Pride Month! We celebrate the LGBTQ+ producers who work tirelessly to feed our families and sustain our economy. Let’s keep showing up to support one another and create spaces where everyone can be their authentic selves.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3Q9BEH5

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

MEDIA: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Kloe Wadd has deep roots in production agriculture, beginning with her family’s farm at Waseca, in southern Minnesota . . . Join us in welcoming Kloe to the RRFN team.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xhTRmw

APPOINTMENTS: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Today Governor Walz announced the reappointment of livestock producer Alex Stade & appointment of Dr. Veronica Bartsch to the MN Board of Animal Health, congrats to both!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4uZQWO7

ag take | Trump Faces Wisconsin Farmers

Mike Maybay — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:31:00 GMT

USMCA: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has been a game-changer for U.S. agriculture, creating jobs, expanding exports, and providing stability to our farms and communities. But these gains aren’t guaranteed: Your advocacy is needed to secure the long-term benefits of this agreement. This month, join MCGA and the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA in signing a letter to the Trump administration urging a full renewal of the landmark agreement.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/43dXTie (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “More than 150 food and agriculture groups across North America are urging leaders to renew the USMCA. National Potato Council’s Kam Quarles tells Brownfield” QUOTE: “In perspective of where we are 20, 30 years ago versus where we are today, on an economic basis, on a holistic basis, the agreement has delivered substantial results for not just agriculture, but the countries as well.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xcIKLN

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THE POLITICS OF FARMING

TODAY: Via Wisconsin Public Radio, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump is set Friday to visit a farm in Chippewa Falls for a roundtable on farm issues. The visit to Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District highlights the national importance of that seat, which both parties believe is crucial to determining who holds power in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by staunch Trump ally, Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien . . . In a statement to media, a White House spokesperson highlighted Trump’s ‘strong support for Wisconsin’s farmers — delivering lower input costs, new trade markets, less red tape, a stronger farm safety net, a doubled death tax exemption, no taxes on rural property loan interest, and new Rural Opportunity Zones.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QrZPRj

MORE: From KMSP-TV via YouTube, live coverage of the President’s visit. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4e3R5bR

AG SECY: Via Mediaite, VERBATIM: “Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) and Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins got into a heated spat during Thursday’s House Agriculture Committee hearing as Craig grilled Rollins on increasing prices under the Trump administration and admonished the Trump cabinet member for repeatedly trying to blame the Biden administration. As the testy exchange devolved into the two speaking over each other, Rollins asked Craig not to be ‘so rude’ and allow her time to answer questions. Craig showed her frustration with Rollins by repeatedly cutting her off and reclaiming her time.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vqXF3e

MORE: From Forbes via YouTube, the exchange. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ogus92

MORE: Via MS Now, VERBATIM: “The hearing also focused on one of the victims of the Iran war: American farmers. The enduring closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent the price of critical inputs, such as fertilizer and diesel fuel, soaring at a time when row croppers are already squeezed by the loss of key export markets among Trump’s aggressive trade war with China.” QUOTE: “I have to be honest with you, I wish that you would take the time to talk with farmers in my district who have been totally screwed over by this administration. They are livid, they are mad, they are pissed off,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said. “My farmers can’t afford fertilizer; it’s at record highs because of your administration,” he said. “They can’t afford diesel because of this president’s reckless, illegal war. They can’t afford farm equipment — it’s more expensive than ever because of the stupid tariffs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uoEJRP

FERTILIZER: Via WDIO-TV, VERBATIM: “Ffarmers in Minnesota are still facing higher fertilizer and shipping costs this planting season. The Middle East supplies nearly half of the world’s urea, a key fertilizer ingredient. Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in February, oil, energy, shipping and fertilizer costs have risen sharply. The Minnesota Farmers’ Union reports that nearly 25 percent of the world’s petroleum and 30 percent of nitrogen supplies have increased in price. Due to global supply disruptions and the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, farmers have needed to adapt to changing costs. Jadell Cavallin with little Waldo farms says many farmers along the north shore and in Minnesota are hurting from rising costs.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RPFt4W

LOANS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching the transformation of over 130 loan and grant systems that support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities into one modern platform built for the 21st century. After reviewing capabilities and options, today the USDA is moving forward with the next step in Loan Modernization implementation to replace outdated and inefficient legacy systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4awqovn

DATA: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) continue to show stronger and more reliable profitability than non‑certified farms, according to new data from the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence. The findings reinforce a clear, long‑term trend: For the seventh consecutive year, MAWQCP‑certified farms reported higher gross cash farm income and higher net farm income than comparable non‑certified operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RPRSWw

ENVIRONMENTAL HEADWINDS

INVASIVE: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “A flesh-eating parasite that had been kept out of U.S. livestock for decades has been detected in Texas, threatening the nation’s cattle industry and food supply at a time when prices are already high. The case of New World screwworm was confirmed in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, near the U.S.-Mexico border, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said late Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uU3h68

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “For weeks, cattle markets had been bracing for the inevitable. As New World screwworm moved closer to the U.S. border, rumors swirled and anxiety built across the cattle industry. So when confirmation came Wednesday night that New World screwworm had been detected in the United States, many expected another sharp selloff in cattle futures. Instead, the market rallied Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ftQzGt

MORE: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “W/ notice New World screwworm has been detected in Texas, MDA is working closely with/ USDA, BAH & others to monitor situation & possible impacts on MN.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3RMLhw4

MORE: Via MDA, NWS updates. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4e1NU4n

DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows 75% of the state abnormally dry, up from 61% a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

HEAT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Heat stress is a concern for pork producers. Dr. Jeff Hansen with Elanco Animal Health says even in controlled environments, weather plays a part in pig development.” HANSEN: “Every year we face the same thing, and that is a lot of heat and some really unsavory weather sometimes with rain. And pigs don’t deal well with heat, and in particular humidity and things like that.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3PNwEbf

AG UPDATES

LITCHFIELD: Via Renewables Now, VERBATIM: “US biomethane producer Vanguard Renewables has started construction of a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Minnesota that will process food and beverage waste and supply gas to a utility off-taker. The anaerobic digestion plant, located in Litchfield at family farm Wagner Dairy, is expected to process more than 300 tonnes of organic waste per day and produce about 270,000 MMBtu of RNG annually once operational.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uk8kMb

PAYMENTS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is expanding payment limitation and payment eligibility provisions that affect program payments including allowing for the equitable treatment of business entities. Additionally, producers will benefit from an increased payment limitation for certain programs, and a broader definition of farming income that will result in more exceptions to income limitations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QoME3B

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Previously, farms that were structured as an LLC or an S-Corp were limited to a single payment limitation. Now, partnerships, S-Corps, qualifying LLCs, and joint ventures or general partnerships will be treated the same.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vpn25s

SPECIALTY MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “For corn and soybean growers eyeing specialty grain opportunities, the first move isn’t buying seed — it’s calling a merchandiser. From transitioning to non-GMO yellow corn to implementing full organic systems, Clarkson Grain’s Kelsey Graber says the farmers who succeed in premium markets are the ones who secure buyers before they plant a single acre. She strongly advises farmers not to plant any specialty crop ‘on speculation.’ Instead, growers should always secure a signed contract with a buyer (such as Clarkson Grain, Scoular, or Cargill Specialty, etc.) that details the pricing structure, premium, and delivery window ahead of time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uggWU8

PROCESSORS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins launched the Small Processors Action Plan, a new set of actions to better support small and very small meat and poultry processing plants, improve customer service, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining strong food safety protections for consumers. Additionally, Secretary Rollins announced that USDA is accepting applications for the fourth round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program to expand American meat and poultry processing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dR0RiL

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

THIS MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Happy National #TurkeyLoversMonth! Minnesota is proud to be the nation’s #1 turkey-producing state, thanks to the hard work of our family turkey farmers and industry partners. Join us in celebrating the farmers who help feed our state, nation, and world.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/43S95RM

ag take | MN Tax Credit Now Available to More Farmers

Mike Maybay — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:30:27 GMT

THE FUTURE: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Thanks to MCGA board member Angela Guentzel for participating in the Innovation Forum‘s Future of Food and Beverage USA Forum in Minneapolis. Angela talked about farm economics and changes she’d like to see so that farms like hers will be profitable and sustainable for the next generation.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4ei9QJX (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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MIDWEEK HEADLINES

TAX CREDIT: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “In January, money for a tax credit aimed at helping newer farmers ran out in one day. Around 300 farmers were turned away. However, lawmakers decided to remove the cap on funds for the remainder of 2026, so those farmers and more will be eligible for thousands of dollars in tax credits . . . In 2017, the Minnesota Legislature created the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit to incentivize established farmers to rent or sell equipment, livestock and land to beginning farmers. Beginning farmers are defined as the roughly 25 percent of Minnesota farmers who have been farming for 10 years or fewer.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vjmX36

PAYMENTS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “USDA has finalized new payment-limit rules that will give many farm operations organized as LLCs, S corporations and other pass-through entities a clearer path to receiving farm program payments. The final rule went into effect June 2 and will begin with the 2026 crop year. Under the new guidance, each equal owner who is actively engaged in farming may qualify for a separate payment limit, rather than the entity being treated as a single recipient.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vxOvSN

ACRES: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “USDA base acres are expanding for the first time since the 2002 farm bill. According to an analysis from the NDSU Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota collectively will get an additional 7.25 million base acres.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dWDp2k

MORE: Via NDSU:

The report also includes county-level maps for corn, soybeans, and wheat. REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/3S2Mjnz

FARM BILL: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “With Minnesota farmers facing tight margins, rising input costs and uncertainty over federal support, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said completing a long-delayed farm bill remains one of her top priorities before leaving office next year. On a hot day in late May, Smith stood in the front yard of the farm owned by Dodge County farmer and retired Mayo Clinic technologist Jim Checkel, who explained to her his career philosophy after giving a tour of the farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PJiQ1s

ALFALFA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer and custom forage harvester in west central Minnesota says the first cutting of alfalfa is underway. Nathan Collins of Murdock tells Brownfield cool May weather slowed development.” COLLINS: “I was glad we planted our corn a little later, but alfalfa seemed to be slowed up a bit. So we’re actually just starting cutting first cut today.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4e49w0a

DICAMBA: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota approaches the heart of the 2026 growing season, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding licensed and certified applicators that state-specific dicamba restrictions take effect in June for over-the-top (OTT) use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans. These restrictions are designed to reduce off-site movement and protect neighboring crops, vegetation, and sensitive areas.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43Lbiyj

ECONOMICS & TRADE

AG ECONOMY: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The hardest thing to grow on an American farm right now isn’t corn or soybeans — it’s a profit margin. Between competition from Brazil, Argentina and other countries and the unpredictable nature of trade deals, many U.S. growers are finding survival, much less profitability, an uphill climb in 2026. According to a recent Farm Journal poll, more than 86% of corn and soybean farmers are worried about global competition from countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Economists say that anxiety is well-founded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a9m05m

USMCA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The National Corn Growers Association is emphasizing the importance of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement ahead of this summer’s review of the trade deal. NCGA director of public policy for trade and biotechnology Nancy Martinez calls this a critical time for the future of the agreement.” MARTINEZ: “This is an unprecedented review, we’ve never had this review before. We have data to show and stories to back it up about how beneficial USMCA has been for the U.S. corn industry.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vs9l5Q

(DISCLOSURE: Minnesota Corn is a Fluence sponsor)

CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market advisor says dry weather in Brazil hasn’t had a significant impact on the country’s expected record corn crop. ‘It wasn’t a perfect year by any means, but it wasn’t bad,’ she says. Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing says Brazil is entering harvest, which could ramp up global competition for U.S. crops.” BLOHM: “They’re actually just starting to harvest some of that safrinha corn,” she says. “It will be ready to export in August. This is when Brazil typically becomes a larger competitor than the United States. We’ll want to be watching to see if China ramps up purchases of South American corn.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4o4pb46

CATTLE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Beef has long been an iconic and beloved staple of the American diet, from barbecue to hamburgers and steaks. Even as retail prices have soared recently, U.S. demand for beef has remained strong. Yet the U.S. cattle herd, including both beef and dairy cattle, is the smallest it has been in three-quarters of a century. Domestic producers had 86.2 million head of cattle on the first day of this year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, the lowest number since 1951.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uiPbdJ

ELEVATORS: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Following the leak of its plans to close or possibly sell three southern Minnesota grain elevators, CHS, Inc. released a statement confirming its plan ‘to optimize its assets.’ On May 29, CHS Senior Director of Operations Jim Morken notified employees that the cooperative plans to close or possibly sell its grain elevator facilities in Kasson, Ostrander and Wykoff. The elevators will accept grain through the 2026 harvest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u7sMjb

THE BUSINESS OF FARMING

SOYBEANS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “A simple question from a farmer about planter seed plates recently sparked an unexpected lesson on the importance of good soybean singulation. Two of the nation’s best-known yield champions urged growers to rethink how they meter soybean seed — and how many plants they actually need in the field. During a Breaking Barriers with R&D segment, Virginia farmer David Hula and Georgia grower Randy Dowdy explained that the path to a more uniform, productive soybean stand begins with precision singulation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vpgeEV

GRANTS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture awarded 166 grants, amounting to $4.7 million, to farms and watersheds across the region this year through its Soil Health Financial Assistance Program. These competitive grants are designed to cover 50% of the cost of soil health equipment, including machinery that promotes regenerative and soil-building practices such as no-till drills, air seeders, cover-crop drones and strip-tillage units. New and used equipment, along with individual machine components, are all eligible for the funding.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43QX2UI

RESEARCH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new research partnership aims to help support and expand biogas market opportunities. Shannon Schlecht with the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute in Minnesota says they are partnering with Swedish company BPC Instruments to untap the potential of agricultural residues and organic waste streams for renewable energy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fWrcgD

BELGIUM: Via Cargill, VERBATIM: “In a move that underscores Cargill’s commitment to the Belgian market, the company announced two recent expansions at its Izegem edible oils bottling site and its Mouscron gourmet chocolate facility, along with a new extrusion pilot plant at its Vilvoorde Innovation Center. The approximately €56 million total investment enhances the company’s operational and research & innovation capabilities. It also supports Cargill’s ability to serve growing demand for edible oils, premium chocolate products and customer-led innovation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oa0Xpc

EAB: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) in a new area of Kandiyohi County. The EAB find requires expanding the current county quarantine boundary to include the entire county. EAB was discovered by a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forest Health Specialist in the City of Willmar, which is outside the current quarantine area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QnTTJ3

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

THIS MONTH: From Minnesota Turkey via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Turkey is kicking off 12 Games of Turkey with the St. Paul Saints Baseball with a $10,000 donation of Minnesota grown turkey to Second Harvest Heartland!!! We are excited to celebrate June Turkey Lovers month with the Saints all month and could not think of a better way to start the celebration than with a donation to help end hunger in Minnesota.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4oc73FI

ag take | To Replant Or Not To Replant

Mike Maybay — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:31:03 GMT

INVESTIGATION: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Federal Trade Commission has launched a long-awaited and highly-anticipated investigation into the fertilizer industry’s pricing practices and market concentration, Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced yesterday at a gathering of farmers from across 18 states, including Minnesota, on a North Texas farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nYIEDg (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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JUNE BEGINS

STUDY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Economic growth in poorer countries may be the best way to protect biodiversity, according to a new study led by University of Minnesota researchers recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Cropland expansion is a major environmental issue, causing habitat loss and climate change. That’s part of the reason why debates about the environment and economic growth often pit the two against each other, said lead author Steve Polasky, environmental economist at the University of Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vHgsHV

PLANTING: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The Spring planting season of 2026 has been a mixed scenario for farmers across the Upper Midwest. Favorable weather conditions from late April until mid-May allowed for corn and soybean planting to be completed in many areas of the Midwest; however, frequent rainfall events during much of May has slowed planting progress in some portions on the eastern and southern Corn Belt. A cooler than normal weather pattern during the first half of May slowed corn and soybean development in the Upper Midwest. Many areas were also negatively impacted by very strong winds and dust storms in mid-May, as well as some isolated frost damage and severe weather.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dHKZiz

DECISIONS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The decision to replant can often be one of the most difficult for row crop farmers. Stine Seed agronomist Tom Larson calls it an emotional process.” LARSON: “To replant or not to replant? I’ve seen where you’ll throw some flags out there and try to spike in some corn if you feel you have a light spot, and ultimately what happens is you end up with a 2x planting rate in those areas and probably did more damage than if you would’ve just stayed out of that area.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fjsour

APPLICATIONS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Beyond ‘How much do I apply?’ growers need to ask ‘When can my corn actually use it?’ says Connor Sible, a crop physiologist at the University of Illinois. Sible and Fred Below’s research shows dialing in the timing and placement of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) applications can be the difference between a 160-bu. crop and a 230-bu. or even 300-bu. one.” SIBLE: “The key is peak uptake. Your crop doesn’t need the same amount of nutrients every day. There’s a short window when demand spikes, and that’s what really drives yield.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uIcKNM

WORKFORCE: Via news release from Rep. Craig, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Angie Craig (MN-02) joined James Beard Award-winning chef Karyn Tomlinson of Myriel and Minnesota business leaders in a press conference and roundtable to discuss the urgent need for immigration reform in order to support Minnesota businesses and stabilize the food economy. The event marked the launch of the ‘Keep Food on the Table Tour,’ an initiative led by Seat the Table, a nationwide coalition of food, agriculture, and hospitality leaders founded by American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) Action, The James Beard Foundation and Texas Restaurant Association.”

AG SUPPLY CHAIN

TOMORROW: Via Minnesota Farmers Union, VERBATIM: “Farmers Union Processing + Meats opens for business June 2. The more than 10,000-square-foot meat processing facility slaughters cattle and hogs. The facility is available for custom-exempt processing and is working toward gaining USDA certification in July.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4x3rgRM

ELEVATORS: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “CHS, Inc., the largest farmers cooperative in the U.S., told employees on Friday that it plans to close or possibly sell its grain elevators in Kasson, Ostrander and Wykoff, after this season’s harvest . . . The elevators will accept grain through the 2026 harvest. They will close once all the grain has been transferred, estimated to happen in early 2027, according to the announcement. CHS said it will be looking for buyers for the elevators during the wind-down of the operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vqeGe4

FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The chief economist with the American Soybean Association says recent surveys show input costs continue to be the largest concern for the organization’s grower members. ‘Whenever our board gets together, that’s the number one topic of conversation is input costs.’ During a recent webinar hosted by the Illinois Soybean Association, Scott Gerlt says escalating fertilizer prices are top of mind, but the government could provide some relief by removing current countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate imports.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dEtaRq

USDA: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins used her appearance at the Reagan National Economic Forum to outline what she considers the top priority for USDA: bringing more of America’s agricultural supply chain back home.” ROLLINS: “It is about ensuring that every day our farmers and ranchers and our agriculture supply chains are based in America, that they have what they need to continue to produce the best, highest quality, most efficient way to produce it in the world.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fZhBFM

AG MARKETPLACE

THIS MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “We kicked off #NationalDairyMonth today at our offices in St. Paul with a visit from the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way Malorie Thorson from Waverly. She stopped by to help serve our staff ice cream treats over the lunch hour. Thanks, Malorie!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4x36WjG

GRANTS: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Fair is pleased to announce the recipients of the Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grant, a program that awards grants and provides mentors to youth livestock exhibitors who are first-time participants in the Minnesota State Fair. The BELLE Grant is in its fifth year and funded by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4o9utLS

MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cattle futures are higher to start Monday after lower weekly closes last week. Funds were liquidating and taking profits last week and to end the month especially with news that another New World Screwworm (NWS) case had been detected closer to the U.S. But are the funds done selling?” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fk5cMG

UNCERTAINTY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of CattleFax says today’s cattle market presents both tremendous opportunity and unprecedented uncertainty.” QUOTE: “We’re in a time period of potentiality the greatest risk we’ve ever seen.” Randy Blach says there’s been plenty of opportunity for producers to take advantage of higher prices, but, ‘We are starting to see a little bit of consumer fatigue. We are starting to see some price resistance. I don’t think we should be surprised if these markets flatten out or have some correction over the next several months.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dVzYZA

COCOA: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Cargill’s new chocolate alternative, which avoids cocoa markets that sent the price of candy on a rollercoaster ride in recent years, just tastes chocolaty. Kernels of the grape-seed-derived product called NextCoa, shown off in one of Cargill’s Minnesota corporate kitchens on a recent Friday, elevated fresh-baked cookies to taste like they emerged from a bakery. The sweet chocolate-alternative with vegan and allergen-free ingredients coated pretzels and made for indulgent truffles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RW7U0R

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

NORTH SHORE: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “When was the last time you went to the farm itself to pick our fresh produce? Between Duluth and Two Harbors, north of Highway 61, a dozen farmers have banded together once again to help support one another by selling fresh produce. The Clover Valley Farm Trail opened their stands during Memorial Weekend. This year’s spring started rough for local farmers as the season stayed cold longer than expected.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uJa8PJ

ag take | Feds Investigate Fertilizer Prices

Mike Maybay — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:30:38 GMT

PESTICIDES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has opened a public comment period on the adequacy of the state’s pesticide rules (Chapter 1505). The action is in line with a court-approved stipulation agreement between the plaintiffs (a coalition of environmental groups) and the defendants (Attorney General/MDA and an intervenor coalition of farmer organizations and CropLife America).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4va75A6 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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FRIDAY AG HEADLINES

INVESTIGATION: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Federal Trade ⁠Commission ⁠said on Thursday it has been ⁠investigating fertilizer prices, which spiked after the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Soaring prices for fertilizer and fuel due to the conflict have pinched farmers as they have planted corn ‌and other crops, and grappled with ‌a resurgent drought in the U.S. Plains. Some growers are facing a fourth straight year of shrinking ⁠margins.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBIiqg

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Speaking before farmers gathered on a North Texas farm, FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson announced the commission had already initiated a “major industry-wide investigation” into fertilizer prices, citing USDA data showing fertilizer has delivered the largest increase in production costs for U.S. farmers since 2020 . . . For farmers attending the event, the announcement drew a standing ovation. After years of frustration, congressional testimony and criticism of the fertilizer industry, the FTC’s move marks the first formal federal investigation with subpoena power and the potential for antitrust enforcement if wrongdoing is uncovered.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uEBx5o

OUTLOOK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Fertilizer supply and pricing concerns are likely to hang on into the fall, with analysts pointing to tight global markets and ongoing geopolitical disruptions. Ben Brown with University of Missouri Extension says phosphate and urea are concerns. ‘Retailers are making decisions for fall. To have fertilizer on hand in the fall, it’s challenging to even source the product.’ Chris DeMoss with MFA Incorporated says it comes down to balancing uncertain demand and planning inventory.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vlmZYz

E15: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Looking to expand access to higher ethanol blends like E15 at your fuel station? Reminder that applications for the AGRI Biofuels Infrastructure Program are due Tuesday, June 2 at 4p.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4dFk2fs

GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives—in the U.S. and abroad. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)

THE FARM ECONOMY

CRISIS: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Beth Ford had worked at six companies spanning five industries, including Pepsi, Mobil and Scholastic, before arriving at Land O’Lakes. As CEO of one of the only cooperatives in the Fortune 500, today she’s answerable not to shareholders or investors but to thousands of decentralized owner-members. Half of the U.S.’s harvested acres flow through the Land O’Lakes network. What does she see from her vantage? A gathering storm in American agriculture. She believes the country isn’t paying enough attention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tZxtLX

GROCERIES: Via Parade, VERBATIM: “If you’ve never had the chance to pick a fresh fruit or vegetable while visiting your local farm, you’re missing out. These sun-ripened items are usually in perfect condition, and can taste like nothing else you’ve ever had before. But a rise in farm bankruptcies may put an end to that practice in certain areas, as farmers say they are struggling to make money in today’s economy. What’s worse is that the larger implications this has for the rest of the U.S. may mean more than just having to buy fresh food picked before its prime; it may mean Americans will once again face rising grocery prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nV6fVz

TOMATOES: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Tomatoes, ubiquitous in everything from fast-food burgers to haute cuisine, are taking on a new role beyond the plate: A nagging reminder of rising costs. Prices for those red orbs have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dEhcap

EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Old crop wheat export sales fell to a marketing year low during the week ending May 21st. The USDA says old crop sales were a net reduction following big cancelations by several of key buyers, but most of those key buyers also bought new crop U.S. wheat. The next marketing year for wheat begins Monday. Approaching the final quarter of their marketing year, old crop corn and soybean export sales saw week-to-week declines, partially due to price and competition from South America. Pork sales were also down on the week, but beef sales were solid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uf14kU

CATTLE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Live and feeder cattle futures were lower early Friday seeing some following through selling from a lower close Thursday and with sharply lower boxed beef values. However, a case of New World Screwworm (NWS) only 52 miles from Texas was reported by USDA on Thursday making it the closest detection to the U.S. to date. Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says that was causing additional fund liquidation.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4300e06

2026 GROWING SEASON

PLANTING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The director of agronomy for Stine Seed describes the spring planting season as highly variable. Tom Larson says some parts of the Midwest experienced very good conditions.” LARSON: “Like most years, there’s areas where it has been kind of that garden environment. And in other areas they have had some challenges to deal with.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vh1N5I

DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows things getting worse – 61% of the state is now abnormally dry or worse, up from 42% a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

SCHEDULE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Brennen Toquam grows corn and soybeans near Blooming Prairie and says he plans to side-dress corn later this month. ‘Via Y-drop, put it on our Hagie sprayer. My goal is to always be done by the 4th of July, doesn’t always happen. But done with bean post, corn post, and Y-dropping by the 4th of July.’ He tells Brownfield pockets of weeds are appearing.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4agHTzE

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

SPECIALTY CROPS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced payment rates and the enrollment period for the Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers in response to elevated input costs and market disruptions resulting from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impeded specialty crop exports.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dCb7LI

COVER CROPS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for a new round of grants to support the development of enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous living cover (CLC) crops and cropping systems in the early stages of commercial development. Continuous living cover refers to agricultural systems that maintain living plants and roots in the soil throughout the entire year. This year-round vegetative cover protects soil, improves nutrient cycling, reduces erosion, and strengthens landscape resilience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PW9GhU

ag take | MN Leads U.S. in Farm Bankruptcies

Mike Maybay — Wed, 27 May 2026 20:34:43 GMT

INPUTS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Corn farmers have been struggling with stubbornly high input prices for multiple years. The Middle East conflict with Iran has made the situation worse, particularly for fertilizer and diesel costs, but escalating costs for fertilizer occurred prior the start of the conflict, and corn farmers faced significant cost increases for fertilizer in 2021 and 2022. There are no easy, short-term solutions to address fertilizer prices but the Minnesota Corn Growers Association is working closely with state corn associations and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to lay the groundwork for legislative action to address the challenge in the long-term and mitigate future risk from global shocks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uCzS0r (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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MIDWEEK HEADWINDS

BANKRUPTCIES: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota led the country in farm bankruptcies during the first quarter of 2026, continuing last year’s steady nationwide climb that was particularly steep for Midwest farmers. Eight Minnesota farmers have already filed for bankruptcy this year, double the amount for the entire year of 2024. ‘I know a lot of farmers that are really struggling,’ Bob Worth, who farms corn and soybeans in southwestern Minnesota, said in an interview. Worth, 74, was sitting in the driver’s seat of his planter, taking a brief pause from planting his 56th crop on his Lake Benton family farm. In over half a century of farming, Worth has seen a lot of ups and downs. Lately, it’s been much more down than up.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RyL5Ar

FERTILIZER: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration is formally redefining fertilizer as a national security issue, launching a sweeping federal strategy designed to rebuild domestic fertilizer manufacturing, accelerate permitting, expand supply chains and reduce America’s dependence on foreign suppliers. During a major multi-agency briefing Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced an aggressive effort to reshore fertilizer production to the U.S. through permitting reform, federal financing support, regulatory rollbacks and expanded coordination across federal agencies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fuz5Kj

THE ISSUE: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “There is a wide variation in the number of crop producers across the United States that had all of their 2026 fertilizer needs already booked and paid for prior to the initiation of the current U.S. conflict in Iran. Producers that did not have all of their likely fertilizer needs in place for the 2026 crop year prior to March may be experiencing some challenges in securing adequate fertilizer supplies for crop production this year. Farmers that needed to purchase all or part of their fertilizer needs this Spring have also faced much higher fertilizer costs. This further expands the financial challenges for farmers that were already facing very tight or negative breakeven crop production margins for the 2026 growing season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/430j8E0

DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Rising input costs are eating into dairy profits. Dan Glessing operates a dairy in southern Minnesota and says fuel and fertilizer prices are escalating.” GLESSING: “Well obviously the fuel aspect, and I sure would love to have like three times the cows so I wouldn’t have had to purchase commercial fertilizer this year. But in a normal day I wouldn’t say that. But I didn’t have my fertilizer locked in (and) quite honestly did a building project last year and the funds just weren’t there.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uzy9Zr

E15: Via South Dakota Searchlight, VERBATIM: “Proponents of ethanol, including lawmakers from corn-growing states, say year-round sales of a gasoline blend containing 15% of the biofuel would give consumers a less expensive alternative to fill their gas tanks, boost energy supplies and benefit agricultural interests. So why hasn’t Congress allowed it? There’s credible skepticism about those claims — and opposition from the strange bedfellows of environmental advocates and lawmakers from states where oil production and refining are major industries. As a result, expanding the availability of E15, as the blend is called, has become a congressional brawl with no predictable result.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u4x4In

GROWING CONDITIONS

WARMUP: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A warmup in the Upper Midwest is encouraging southeast Minnesota farmer Brennen Toquam.” TOQUAM: “It’s crazy. You leave on Friday of Memorial Day (weekend) and the corn was just pukey kind of yellow, and you come back and man it’s got that dark green. It’s amazing what two days of heat and sunshine can really do.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uvLthy

REPLANTS: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Agriculturist Paul Moffat says sugarbeet growers in the southern Red River Valley are dealing with above-normal replant acres following cold temperatures and strong winds this spring.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nQZDYh

SOIL: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “[Eric Samuelson] is no stranger to the windy nature of the Red River Valley. The region, which includes the northwest corner of Minnesota and northeast North Dakota, is mostly flat. It also doesn’t have many trees, which means there’s not much to slow the high-speed winds sweeping across the valley. That’s an issue because it’s been a windy Spring, with wind speeds frequently clocking over 40 miles per hour. And on the week of May 11th, those wind gusts reached speeds close to 50 miles per hour on multiple days, according to Crookston weather data.” SAMUELSON: “When the dirt’s blowing to that extreme.. It’s just an eerie, sickening feeling in your stomach to watch.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rw5jL7

RAIN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association says he’s encouraged by recent moisture. Tom Slunecka tells Brownfield rain fell over areas that needed it during the past week.” SLUNECKA: “There were a lot of dry areas. I was driving across the state last week on Thursday (and) couldn’t believe the dust storms that I went through. But all of that is now healed and things are starting to look really, really good.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49lZFRY

GRANT: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Conservation practices such as avoiding tilling and planting cover crops help preserve soil health. Healthy soil leads to healthy crops. But the required equipment can be prohibitively expensive for farmers. To compensate, the Department of Agriculture’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Program offers grants that help cover the cost of equipment used for conservation practices. This year, the program has awarded nearly $4.7 million to farms and watersheds across the state. The grant is highly competitive, according to Brad Jordahl Redlin, manager of the Ag Conservation Services section at the Department of Agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RAzwIT

SOYBEANS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “A University of Minnesota Extension educator is researching ways to make soybean yields more competitive in northwest Minnesota. Saline soils, poor drainage and the high calcium carbonate content of soils in that region result in reduced soybean yields, said Angie Peltier, Extension crops educator at the Northwest Research and Outlook Center in Crookston, Minnesota. ‘All of these things kind of combine to make tough growing conditions,’ Peltier said. Although there is plenty of iron in the soil, the soybean roots don’t absorb it well when there also is an excessive amount of salt.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q9qYbz

ARC/PLC: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced eligible landowners have from June 1 until Aug. 31, 2026 to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, as authorized by provisions included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on July 4, 2025, the Act provides landowners with the opportunity to update and increase base acres in preparation for enrollment in ARC and PLC beginning with the 2026 and future crop years. Nationwide, up to 30 million new base acres can be added by eligible farms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PEBXtr

CATTLE PESTS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) opened the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, a state-of-the-art laboratory facility today that will provide the U.S. cattle industry with innovative tools and advanced technologies to manage and eliminate the invasive fly and tick pests that threaten the U.S. cattle industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4abyJ7y

MARKETS

CHINA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Growers still sees China as a top soy export market despite ongoing trade disruptions. Tom Slunecka tells Brownfield. ‘Without a doubt China is still the tipping point of profitability for soybeans, and it will be for a long, long time.’ But he says it’s important for the U.S. to look beyond the Chinese market.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fcN7jp

TODAY: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Corn futures are lower again on Wednesday following the easing crude oil market as Iran peace talks continue to progress. What’s holding up soybeans and cattle?” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RBtyaG

ARGENTINA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A grains and oil seeds analyst says Argentina’s plan to reduce export taxes could put U.S. ag commodities at a competitive disadvantage. Marc Rosenbohm with Terrain says the country will gradually reduce its levies on corn and soybeans through 2028.” ROSENBOHM: “The Argentina farmer would see a bit higher price domestically, which incentivizes a bit of an area response and that could push down global prices for those products a bit. The primary effect on U.S. producers would be a bit lower prices because of the extra supply.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/430n9Z6

EGGS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Today @GovTimWalz signed SF 3891 into law. This will allow retailers to donate eggs past the quality assurance date to food assistance programs. The bill comes at an important time when more Minnesotans are relying on charitable organizations to feed themselves & their families.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/49kXsWU

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

LIVESTOCK SHOW: Via MYLE, VERBATIM: “Entries are currently open for the Minnesota Youth Livestock Expo (MYLE) Livestock Show, and entries will remain open until Tuesday, June 2. No late entries will be accepted. The 2026 event will mark the seventh annual MYLE Youth Livestock Show. The MYLE Show for beef, sheep, goats, and rabbits will be held on June 25-28 at the Martin County Fairgrounds in Fairmont, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dBr3Oc

ag take | Bipartisan Push for Sugar Investigation

Mike Maybay — Fri, 22 May 2026 20:35:59 GMT

TRADE: From Minnesota Corn via X, VERBATIM: “This month, join the us and @AgForUSMCA in sending President Trump a unified message about the importance of USMCA.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4ururBh (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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AG HEADLINES

SUGAR: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “A large bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives have joined the sugar industry in asking U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to launch a Section 301 investigation into unfair and discriminatory practices by foreign sugar-producing countries . . . Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Reps. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., and Troy Carter, D-La., on May 20, 2026, were joined by 108 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Greer calling on USTR to ‘take appropriate action to protect American sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers, processors, refiners, and factory workers from being undercut by discriminatory foreign trade practices.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wFUJRX

MORE: Via Rep. Michelle Fischbach, the letter, which was signed by Fischbach, as well as Represenatatives Brad Finstad, Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, and Pete Stauber, as well as Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v5CHXv

CHINA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Soybean Export Council CEO Jim Sutter says trade between the U.S. and China could level out following recent trade talks, but it’s not a guarantee. ‘One of the things we understand that has been agreed is that the tariffs will be kind of equalized between soybeans from all origins. So we’ll no longer be at this 10 percent duty disadvantage.’ Sutter says Brazil’s soybeans are cheaper than U.S. beans due to the tariffs, and price speaks to buyers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fBPH2y

RADIO: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was included as an amendment to the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s update to the National Highway Traffic Safety programs and passed on a 48-one vote. It is expected to be part of the Surface Transportation bill when it comes to the House floor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uq4bXL

MNLEG: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen has been a part of more than 25 years of legislative sessions, and this one rates up there with one of the more frustrating ones. Minnesota farmers had some last-minute wins, as legislators passed several important bills in the waning hours of the session Sunday, May 17. But some major items, including a large omnibus ag bill that was held up by ag committee disagreements over the banning of a herbicide, never made further ground since a failed vote in mid-April.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dG8Q0C

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farm Bureau is giving mixed reviews at the conclusion of the 2026 state legislative session. President Dan Glessing tells Brownfield MFBF is disappointed legislators could not pass an agriculture bill.” GLESSING: “But pleased that the tax bill had some agricultural perspectives and benefits to farmers and ranchers, and bonding.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4f37oba

COCOA: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Cargill’s new chocolate alternative, which avoids cocoa markets that sent the price of candy on a rollercoaster ride in recent years, just tastes chocolaty. Kernels of the grape-seed-derived product called NextCoa, shown off in one of Cargill’s Minnesota corporate kitchens on a recent Friday, elevated fresh-baked cookies to taste like they emerged from a bakery. The sweet chocolate-alternative with vegan, allergen-free ingredients coated pretzels and made for indulgent truffles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RW7U0R

OUTSIDE PRESSURES

WILDFIRE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A fundraising effort is now underway to help a longtime Minnesota farm rebuild following a devastating wildfire. On Saturday, the Flanders Fire crossed County Road 11 and engulfed the Roberts Farm in Crosby, owned by Larry Roberts and his partner, Linda. The 160-acre farm has been in the family for nearly 40 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dDEGuV

DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows slight improvement, though 42% of the state remains abnormally dry or worse. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

CROP STRATEGY: Via Public News Service, VERBATIM: “With financial pressures mounting, Midwestern farmers are increasingly approaching bankruptcy territory. But a new analysis says the right land management strategy could help some farms stay afloat. Economists say rising input costs for fertilizer — made worse by the war with Iran, global trade disputes and depressed grain prices — are weighing down profits. Samuel Porter, an agricultural economist who is researching the topic for the Minnesota Farmers Union, said conventional wisdom holds that farms should expand acreage and increase yields to boost profits. But the information he is gathering suggests that is not always the case.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PUAI9y

SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A technical service manager with FMC says he is expecting increased pest pressure for soybeans this year. Bruce Steward says drought conditions delayed planting in some parts of the Midwest.” STEWARD: “Those are usually the ones that are hit the hardest, and pest populations build up. You get one generation after another. As other crops dwindle by, you get those pests that invade green soybean fields.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wKERgM

CORN: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The optimum window for making sidedress nitrogen applications in corn is narrower – and potentially earlier – than many growers might realize. Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist, says recommendations for Minnesota call for sidedress applications to be wrapped up by the V6 growth stage – not because the crop is already using large amounts of nitrogen, but because of when the nutrient is most needed by the crop.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49B0DKf

SOIL HEALTH: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Soil Health Financial Assistance Program (SHFAP) again saw exceptional demand this year, awarding 166 grants totaling almost $4.7 million to support conservation practices that build soil health and protect Minnesota’s water resources. Funding reached farms and watersheds in 79 counties, with an average award of about $30,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4flrVYL

FAIRHAVEN FARM: Via Farm Forum, VERBATIM: “Twenty-five minutes north of Duluth, at Fairhaven Farm, first-generation farmer and University of Minnesota Duluth alumnus John Beaton is redesigning small-scale agriculture in a changing world. Fairhaven Farm grows vegetables and flowers, but the farm’s bigger goal is to care for the soil and strengthen the farm for the future. As a sustainable farmer, Beaton believes that building soil health is foundational to the success of his farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43qg58c

AG ADVOCACY

GRANTS: Via Entrepreneur Fund, VERBATIM: “The Entrepreneur Fund (EFund), with support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is excited to announce the 26 recipients of the Rural Field to Market Grant, a one-time funding opportunity designed to strengthen small- to mid-size farm and food businesses across EFund’s Minnesota service area.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4o3eIGl

KAY: Via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Ten young women were named as finalists for the 73rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way. According to a news release from Midwest Dairy, dairy princesses from across the state gathered May 15-16 at the Delta Hotel in Minneapolis for the annual May Leadership Event.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49M6pbK

MORE: Via Midwest Dairy, the finalists. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4fCjV5v

NEXTGEN: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Commissioner @thommypetersen and Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel joined students and educators at Jefferson Elementary School in New Ulm to proclaim May 18–22 as School Garden Week in the State of Minnesota!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4nPoyLQ

CAMPAIGN: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is teaming up with a broad coalition of farm, food, and commodity organizations to support a statewide Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign. The campaign, which kicked off during May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, looks to highlight the realities farmers experience and provide resources to those in need.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uqAsxU

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

TOMORROW: Via Ramsey County Historical Society, VERBATIM: “Join Gibbs Farm in getting excited for summer with an ice cream social! We’ll be serving our classic homemade ice cream with a fabulous array of toppings. Take a guided tour of the historic farmhouse, replica Dakota summer bark lodge, and tipi. Visit the farm animals, take a stroll around the restored prairie, grab a cheesesteak from the Philly Station food truck and listen to live music from Light of the Moon!” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uqvoto

DOG TAGS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “On a 20,000-square-foot apple orchard tucked behind a chain-link fence, a quiet piece of rural Minnesota has become something far larger than fruit trees and farmland. It has become a living memorial, built from thousands of hand-made dog tags and the determination of a couple honoring those killed in service to their country in Iraq and Afghanistan. For Linda Hoffmann, the idea started with a search for stillness.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tWSWFn

ag take | China Uncertainty + Ag Bankers Surveyed

Mike Maybay — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:30:46 GMT

2026 SESSION: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The gavel officially fell on the 94th Legislature over the weekend. It was a historic session, maybe not for all that was accomplished – which was more than most capitol observers expected- but for all that transpired over the course of the biennium.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v68jfP (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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AG NUMBERS

SURVEY: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “Farm incomes and spending decreased over the first three months of this year, according to agricultural lenders responding to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ Ag Credit Survey conducted in April and covering first-quarter activity. Interest rates on most categories of farm loans increased slightly, while demand for credit increased. Loan renewals and extensions also increased on balance, while rates of loan repayment declined.”

“More than 75 percent of district agricultural lenders indicated that incomes decreased in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Despite strong harvests in much of the district and relatively stable or somewhat improving crop prices at the end of 2025, incomes fell again in the recent quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4usSuzK

NAT DISASTERS: Via Trace One, VERBATIM: “The increased frequency of natural hazards has created a challenging environment for farmers. However, the effects of climate- and weather-related disasters are not uniform, varying greatly depending on location.”

“To pinpoint where these events are having the greatest impact on farmers and the nation’s food supply, researchers at Trace One—a company specializing in product lifecycle management (PLM) and regulatory compliance software for the food and beverage industry—conducted an in-depth analysis of the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3POQrqC

FERTILIZER: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration is moving to expand domestic fertilizer production and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign suppliers. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said USDA is restructuring fertilizer expansion projects inherited from the previous administration after finding major delays and management issues.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dU8tkm

HERBICIDES: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Soybean growers across the upper Midwest may be running low on reliable post-emergence herbicide options, and the window to act is narrowing, according to experts across the region. The warning comes from University of Minnesota Extension, in guidance released as planting began statewide in late April , University of Minnesota Extension crops educators Eric Yu and David Nicolai and weed scientist Debalin Sarangi said the spread of resistance — now spanning glyphosate, ALS-inhibitors, PPO-inhibitors and glufosinate — has made post-only programs increasingly unreliable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uk1Eyn

EXTERNAL PRESSURES

CHINA TRADE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Corn and soybeans saw early pressure with doubts about the trade deal with China casting a shadow over prices. In a statement Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed there had been a ‘guiding target’ set between the two countries with the goal of ‘expanding two-way agricultural trade,’ but made no mention of the U.S. government’s claimed $17 billion number for U.S. ag product purchases from China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nEQVfB

MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The deal comes after China failed to follow through on purchasing $200 billion in American exports after a deal made during Trump’s first term in 2020. CoBank’s lead economist for grains and oilseeds, Tanner Ehmke, said commodity traders were hoping for the meetings to produce ‘actual purchases, not just pledges of potential purchases.’” QUOTE: “Leading into this, there was hope that something would be inked and finalized,” Ehmke said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t seen anything from that from that vantage point yet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eZRL4b

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “China and the United States continue discussing tariff reductions and expanded agricultural trade following recent negotiations between the two countries. China has resumed registration of hundreds of U.S. beef processing facilities and plans to restart poultry imports from states free of avian influenza.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uk5SGf

FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee is optimistic the Senate will maintain momentum on the farm bill. Randy Feenstra of Iowa tells Brownfield the Senate Ag Committee could mark up its version within a month.” FEENSTRA: “That’s a big deal, and if they do a markup (and) pass a farm bill and then it goes to conference and we can work out a solution. But I’m really bullish on a farm bill right now (and) getting it passed.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eYU3ka

SENATE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Mark York hit 281 bushels per acre on his 80-acre corn field last year. His mother had died around planting time. Some of those bushels are still in the bin. The proceeds, York said, are helping fund his U.S. Senate campaign. A seventh-generation farmer from Lake Wilson, York is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. His campaign says he would be the first farmer to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate in roughly a century.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dyk7Aa

CHECKOFF: Via MPR, more context for a vote first reported in morning take, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced that the statewide referendum failed, falling three votes short of passage. Since 1986, cattle producers in the state have been paying a $1 beef checkoff fee for each head of cattle sold. A proposed fee increase would’ve raised that amount to $1.50, with the option to request a $0.50 refund per head. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, a total of 3,477 ballots were mailed to producers. Out of eligible ballots submitted, 380 ballots were submitted in opposition and 377 votes were in favor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nGNkxl

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The beef checkoff has been at $1.00 per head at the time of sale for four decades and [Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association executive director Kaitlyn Root] tells Brownfield next steps are unclear.” ROOT: “I think that is something that the Beef Council definitely will need to discuss. They have their next quarterly meeting in July, and the Cattlemen we have our quarterly meeting in July. So those conversations will be had.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uujmj0

GRANT: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Electric Farm Equipment Grant (EFEG) program. This new program helps Minnesota farmers purchase electric farm equipment to reduce air pollution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wFEqV7

PLANNING AHEAD

THIS WEEK: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “It’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week! EAB continues to threaten Minnesota’s nearly 1 billion ash trees; it has been confirmed in 60 counties. Our trees need your help to slow its spread. Together, we can protect our forests & communities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4uGuqcZ

THIS SUMMER: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Registration is open for Minnesota Farmers Union’s Summer Camps. Held at Sibley State Park near New London, the multi-day overnight camps provide opportunities for youth ages 8 to 18 to discover new passions, step away from screens and build skills that last a lifetime.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uXO9Em

CROP PROGRESS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A central Minnesota farmer says crops are coming along nicely after an early planting season. Nathan Serbus grows corn and soybeans in Renville County and tells Brownfield he finished planting April 23rd.” SERBUS: “Everything is coming along really good, we have some corn, a bunch of it, starting to emerge or just poking up. And I grow some sweet corn too, and that stuff I planted really early and it’s amazing how big that is already.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uXyMMh

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

TEACHER: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Marie Kruse keeps a stuffed cow in her classroom. When a new calf is born on a local dairy farm each year, she stages a gender reveal, complete with confetti, pink helium balloons and all, for her five-year-old students . . . It’s a small ritual that captures the intent behind everything Kruse does in her southeast Minnesota classroom to connect young children to agriculture before they’re old enough to take it for granted. That approach not only earned Kruse the 2026 Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher Award, but one of six national Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture awards from the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. She will receive a $500 stipend and travel expenses to attend the national conference in Providence, Rhode Island, this June.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uUPHit

ag take | POLL: Farmer Votes in Play

Mike Maybay — Mon, 18 May 2026 20:30:52 GMT

STUDY: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “According to an independent study conducted by the Juday Group and released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), red meat exports generated substantial returns for corn producers in 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dMKdAJ (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

MORE: Via USMEF, an infographic showing the study results. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nAzTix

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MONDAY AG HEADLINES

POLL: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Frustrations over the skyrocketing costs of doing business, trade policies and lack of E15 expansion have put producers’ votes – many in competitive political battleground states – in play, according to an exclusive poll of Farm Journal readers . . . Researchers, lobbyists and analysts who reviewed the poll for Farm Journal stress this is not a realignment toward Democrats. Rural America remains Republicans’ home turf. Instead, producers increasingly think neither party knows nor cares to understand them, let alone solve their problems, according to the findings.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eQ6Oxi

MORE: In a separate story, Ag Web digs deeper into the results, VERBATIM: “More than half of the farmers surveyed say federal policies have negatively impacted their operations over the past year. And as input prices, including diesel and fertilizer, continue to climb, one Ohio farmer says these expenses, and the strain they’re shaving on his farm, haven’t been this bad since the 1980s. In the recent poll of nearly 1,000 farmers and ranchers, input costs ranked as the top concern among the farmers surveyed, with fertilizer, fuel and machinery expenses all contributing to tighter margins.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49VXUuJ

MNLEG: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “The House passed SF3839 133-0 authored by Rep. Andrew Myers known as the [egg] donation bill which allows eggs to be donated past their quality assurance date, the Senate already passed so bill is on the way to Governor Walz for his signature.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4wzGoGm

MORE: ICYMI… morning take had a comprehensive look at what passed and what didn’t ahead of last night’s deadline. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PoFZWK

WEATHER: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Nutrien Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass says a developing El Nino pattern could move into unprecedented territory later this year, creating uncertainty for crop production and summer weather patterns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uVLTgT

DRY & WINDY: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Heavy wind gusts combined with dry conditions are affecting farmers and their topsoil, right as planting season gets in full swing throughout the Red River Valley. The region’s flat land makes the area especially vulnerable to wind erosion, one of the biggest issues facing area farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wCXkfk

CAMELINA: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “While corn and soybeans are the major crops grown on Minnesota farms, a food and agriculture coalition is attempting to elevate the value of lesser-known winter camelina. The oilseed cover crop is the subject of a new report released this month by MBOLD’s Protein Catalyst initiative that was launched in 2025. It receives staff support from Greater MSP, an economic development organization based in St. Paul.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v1H06l

MORE: Via MBOLD, the report. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dF2w9Y

MARKETS

CHINA: Via The White House, a fact sheet on the results of President Trump’s visit to China. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ufBLQf

SOYBEANS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “On Friday, during his visit to China, President Donald Trump said he struck a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the foreign country to buy billions of dollars of American soybeans, and that farmers are ‘going to be very happy.’ Joe Smentek, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, said it still remains to be seen if the deal will be penned in ink.” SMENTEK: “I remain really optimistically — I hope that they are going to be very happy,” he said. “Hearing it from one side is one thing, but not hearing it from the other coming out of Beijing is, you know, kind of leaving us hoping.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nCl9zP

MEAT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The head of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the U.S. and China have made major progress in expanding market access for American beef. Dan Halstrom says China has granted a five-year registration extension to 425 facilities.” HALSTROM: “This is what we’ve been waiting for really for almost a year now with these plants. This is great news and better news for our customers in China who have been clamoring to regain access to U.S. beef.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RkSYJy

FUTURES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Grain and hog futures were sharply higher on Monday morning as the White House released details of the China trade framework on Sunday . . . Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says the $17 billion dollar of ag products was non-specific. So it is not known which commodities it will cover but he thinks the likelihood is soybeans, feed grains and beef. However, he is less confident about pork purchases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nHcZGu

RESTAURANTS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “MDA staff is in Chicago to support seven Minnesota food brands exhibiting in the Taste of the State’s Pavilion at the #2026RestaurantShow!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Rjj6o7

DC + AG

DIET: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The director of food policy for the National Pork Producers Council says the Trump administration’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, implemented at the beginning of the year, are benefiting farmers and ranchers. ‘Meat is back,’ Dr. Ashley Johnson said at the NAFB’s 2026 Washington Watch. Johnson tells Brownfield a healthier diet starts with what farmers produce.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dniftO

REPORT: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report released on May 12 was the first official USDA projected corn and soybean production levels, usage, and ending stocks for the 2026-27 marketing year. The latest WASDE Report also updated supply and demand estimates for corn, soybeans, and wheat for the 2025-26 marketing year, which ends on August 31, 2026 for corn and soybeans, and on May 31, 2026 for wheat and other small grain crops. From a grain marketing standpoint, the initial reaction to the WASDE report was positive for corn, soybeans, and wheat, before markets declined by the end of the week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RMF2rS

NASA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “NASA’s Earth Science Division Director says the agency is advancing its soil testing technology to deliver more precise field data. Dr. Karen St. Germain tells Brownfield, ‘We’re building our next-generation sensor, that I hope is really going to give us even more insight into soil health and nutrients.’ She says NASA provides critical research for farmers and ranchers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42GMMhC

CWD: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will provide approximately $12 million to support efforts by States and Tribal governments, research institutions, and universities to control and prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild and farmed cervids (e.g., deer, elk).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nBBrss

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

FEEDBACK: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The MDA is seeking public comments to assist the agency in determining whether Minnesota’s rules are adequate to protect natural resources. On Jan. 16, 2026, the Ramsey County Second Judicial District Court ordered the MDA to initiate the ‘appropriate administrative proceedings to consider and make findings and an order concerning the adequacy of its rules to protect natural resources from contamination allegedly resulting from the use of neonicotinoid-treated crop seeds.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rhdnzh

NEXTGEN: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “In between overnight frost adversaries and sunny skies last week, Minnesota West Community & Technical College ag instructors Dusty Neugebauer and Jeff Rogers planted the Worthington ISD 518 Ag Land Lab farm into 68 acres of corn and just over 90 acres of soybeans. Students in the Ag 11 and Ag 12 classes, as well as some freshmen and sophomores in other high school ag-related courses, took part in the hands-on educational training, with Minnesota West ag students helping lead some of the programming.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tDs2Cd

ag take | China's Soybean Plans + Ethanol's Economic Impact

Mike Maybay — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:30:55 GMT

E15: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1346—the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. Passed on a 218-203 vote, the bipartisan bill allows for permanent year-round sales of E15 (Unleaded 88) while making reasonable reforms to the Renewable Fuel Standard’s small refinery exemption program. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is thrilled with today’s vote, which is a win for corn farmers, rural communities, and U.S. drivers and recognizes that in order to deliver these wins, there are still legislative steps to be taken before it becomes law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42FvvoS (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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We call on our state leaders to pass an infrastructure jobs bill with $100 million to replace lead drinking water pipes. Sponsored by LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota. FIXMN.org (SPONSORED: LIUNA MN + ND)

DC + AG

CHINA: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “The United States expects China to sign up to buy ‘double-digit billions’ worth of U.S. farm goods following a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi ‌Jinping in Beijing, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday. Greer noted the 25 ‌million metric ton per year soybean deal agreed last October and said the U.S. also expects to ‘see an agreement for double-digit billion purchases of ags over the next three years per year coming out of this visit.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPulmS

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said while China does not need old crop soybeans the original 25 million metric ton agreement on soybeans struck back in October is still in place. Still there is nothing in writing. [Dan Roose with U.S. Commodities] says, ‘Yes, that’s the only thing that we’ve picked up here so far is that the old agreement, the verbal agreement that they had, the 25 million metric tons for the next three years each year is going to be in place. And by the way, that’s pretty much what we’ve had over history or at least the last 10 years. So nothing really big on that one either.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnmlF0

MORE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Mr. Greer confirmed that the United States and China would establish a “Board of Trade” to oversee a tariff reduction on about $30 billion in goods. He said the United States was trying to steer trade with China around ‘the kinds of things we want to be selling,’ including airplanes, soybeans, medical devices and energy . . . The Chinese government also renewed export licenses for some U.S. slaughterhouses to sell American beef in China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49JqsYf

MARKET REACTION: Via Red River Farm Networking, VERBATIM: “Soybean futures turned sharply lower following comments from Trump Administration officials suggesting soybeans had already been addressed in earlier agreements with China. StoneX Chief Commodities Economist Arlan Suderman said computerized trading algorithms interpreted the news as bearish for soybeans, triggering heavy selling in thin overnight trade.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uKQ6nz

E15: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “The House on Wednesday passed a bill to codify year-round sales of E15 ethanol fuel, a major win for members from corn-producing states but one that drew fierce opposition from other Republicans. The vote was 218-203, with 122 Republicans, 95 Democrats and 1 independent voting in favor, and 90 Republicans and 113 Democrats opposing the bill. It also split the votes of Republican leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) voted against the bill, while House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) voted in favor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43beoeK

MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “All eight of Minnesota’s House delegation voted for the bill, a rarity in the current Congress . . . Ethanol, a fuel made from corn and other grains, is important to Minnesota, which was the first state to mandate it in gas blends. The industry contributes $2 billion to Minnesota’s gross domestic product and 16,573 jobs, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uvSM9f

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The House vote to expand year-round E15 on Wednesday should have been a clean policy victory lap for ethanol supporters. Instead, it’s become a multi-layered debate involving competing economic models, social media confusion, and an increasingly complicated Senate runway that may determine whether the win in the House actually translates into law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wwUuZe

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Dan Glessing called the House E15 vote a major victory for consumers and farmers.” GLESSING: “It’s a cheaper choice for consumers, but more importantly, it’s homegrown,” said Glessing. “At the end of the day, it’s a win-win.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPT8qQ

AG HEADLINES

MONDAY: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis surveys farm lenders across the Ninth District quarterly to check the pulse of agriculture in this heavily rural region. Join regional economist Joe Mahon for a live webinar to discuss the latest results—gathered as spring planting was underway—on farm incomes, land values, and the impacts of interest rates on farm finances.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4daDbFL

NEXT WEEK: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “A field day demonstrating small-scale biochar production will be held at the Don and Bev Struxness Farm on Saturday, May 23. The event will be held from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. at the farm, which is located three-fourths of a mile east of Milan on Minnesota Highway 40. The use of biochar helps solve the problem of dead, dying and storm-damaged trees while enhancing the soil and productivity, according to the news release announcing the field day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dLL8kM

ETHANOL IMPACT: Via South Dakota State University, VERBATIM: “The U.S. ethanol industry experienced its first major ‘boom’ in the early 2000s, thanks to changes in U.S. energy policies — particularly biofuel mandates — along with the surging crude oil prices and the phase out of a fuel additive, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). In response, corn prices rose by as much as 31% and, according to a new study from South Dakota State University’s Ness School of Management and Economics, farmland values in ethanol-producing states increased by as much as 44%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPse2c

BIRD FLU: Via Watt Ag Net, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has had its first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in nearly a month. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of HPAI in what it described as a ‘commercial breeder operation’ in Becker County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dtbMhh

GRANTS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Pandemic food chain disruptions prompted farmers to think about making their businesses more resilient. Today, their growth plans are cropping up across Minnesota: Murphy’s Grove dairy farm in Aitkin County wants to add frozen yogurt ice pop to its product offerings; in Sawyer, Minn., Native Wise is adding an on-site meat house to process bison and establish a permanent field-to-market pathway. Both ag businesses are among the 26 Rural Field to Market Grant recipients being announced today by the Duluth-based Entrepreneur Fund with the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42VtRjf

PROCESSING: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Pork’s inaugural Activate class has provided participants with an impressive mix of experiences, connections and learning opportunities. Session 4 centered on what happens to Minnesota pigs once they leave the farm, highlighting the farm-to-fork journey and connecting us more deeply with the broader pork industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPzr2u

OUT IN THE FIELDS

FIELDWORK: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Spring fieldwork has progressed rapidly in many portions of the upper Midwest in late April and early May; however, cool temperatures has slowed germination and crop emergence in some areas. Planting progress has been a bit slower in Wisconsin, as well as in portions of eastern Iowa and Minnesota, due to more frequent rainfall events. On the flip side, planting progress has been ahead of normal in Nebraska, South Dakota, and the eastern Corn Belt, as well as in southern and western Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/438Q4Kr

CONDITIONS: The latest Drought Monitor shows an increase in areas of the state that are abnormally dry. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of The Fertilizer Institute says disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East continue to affect global markets. In a Senate Ag Committee hearing on Wednesday, Corey Rosenbusch told attendees tighter global supplies are resulting in higher prices.” ROSENBUSCH: “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacted about 34% of globally traded urea, 20% of phosphate, 20% of the natural gas is supplied from the region, and natural gas is the feedstock, of course, for all nitrogen fertilizer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tEIcLJ

MORE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Corn and soybeans are breaking ground across southern Minnesota after a warm stretch pushed soil temperatures into emergence range, but a mostly snowless winter and a dry spring have left farmers watching the rain gauge. At the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton, soil scientist Jeff Strock said the region received roughly 15 inches of snow this past winter, which is about half the 30-inch historical average, with most of it falling late in a single wet, heavy storm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pjtxri

MARKETING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer is moving from planting to grain marketing. Chad Willis grows corn and soybeans near Willmar and says once he finished planting, he began delivering old crop sales.” WILLIS: “Hauling in some old crop (and) marketing new crop. It’s finally inching above profitable levels, so I’ll have to start making some sales for new crop.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4txX9iv

PESTS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Stay ahead of pest problems before they cost you time & yield. The Crop Protection Network brings together universities, Extension, & experts across the USA & Canada to deliver unbiased, research based guidance on identifying & managing crop pests.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dKETOd

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

NEXT MONTH: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Forest Service today announced an additional 2026 recreation fee-free day on June 6 in celebration of National Trails Day, providing no cost use of all standard amenity recreation sites on national forests and grasslands.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tG2jJw

NEXT YEAR: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “The 2027 Minnesota Organic Conference is now accepting proposals for sessions, panel discussions & keynote speakers! We welcome a wide range of perspectives relevant to organic farmers of all types.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4wxGq1z

ag take | Cargill CEO in China with Trump

Mike Maybay — Wed, 13 May 2026 20:30:59 GMT

TODAY: From Minnesota Corn, sharing a Tweet from a Politico reporter saying Rep. Tom Emmer will vote “yes” on E15. VERBATIM: “Thank you @GOPMajorityWhip for your support of homegrown biofuels and family farmers! We appreciate your commitment to Minnesota’s agricultural communities.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/3PBOX2U (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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AG IN THE HEADLINES

CHINA: Via USA Today, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump has landed in China for a discussion with the country’s president, bringing with him over 10 U.S. business leaders and plans to discuss China-U.S. relations, world peace, and development . . . He arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Wednesday, May 13. As China’s Vice President Han Zheng greeted Trump and other business owners who joined him on the trip, music from a live band blasted in the background.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uGvAEI

MORE: One of the business execs there is Cargill CEO Brian Sikes. Via DTN, VERBATIM: “Sikes‘ presence raises the possibility of a deal for China to buy U.S. commodities . . . Looking at soybeans, CoBank, the Denver-based bank for co-operatives, said in a newsletter Monday that ‘China doesn’t need U.S. soybeans’ but might commit to buying more corn, wheat, sorghum or other agricultural commodities. Tanner Emke, CoBank’s lead grain and oilseeds economist wrote, ‘Despite a late 2025 bilateral agreement committing China to purchase at least 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually through 2028, a 10% supplemental Chinese tariff remains in place on U.S. soybeans.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QXCSWh

MORE: Via MarketWatch, VERBATIM: “Analysts at J.P. Morgan said in a note that Trump and Xi could agree on ‘narrow purchase commitments’ for soybeans and other agricultural products. Privately held Cargill would be among the U.S. companies that could benefit from that.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fjEweK

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says he’d like to see written commitments of purchases for ag goods like soybeans and beef.” MCCORMICK: “Those are the low hanging fruit per say for China to buy. The real question is China kind of hinted at this back in March that maybe they’d be interested in other row crops like sorghum, corn, DDGs and ethanol. That is what the trade is going to look for.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uby9Pm

E15: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “House lawmakers are gearing up for a vote on year-round E-15 sales, with some action potentially coming as soon as today. The measure was removed from the broader Farm Bill, and now House committee members are nearing a vote to move forward with a full House consideration on E15 as a separate measure. A number of agricultural lawmakers are now pushing to see the legislation back before the full House and cleared.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wsRY6e

TRADEOFF: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “A study by the University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute offers a cautious message about the year-round E15 legislation. Automatic small refinery exemptions are also part of the E15 bill. FAPRI says ethanol demand would boost the demand for corn, but it would jeopardize the market for soybean oil.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/435rgD7

MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “According to FAPRI Director Seth Meyer, the study’s clearest takeaway is that year-round E15 alone doesn’t dramatically reshape the farm economy in the near term, but proposed changes to small refinery exemptions could pressure farm income while increasing government spending. Meyer says the headline is pretty straightforward. The biggest market disruptions in the analysis don’t actually come from allowing year-round E15 sales. Instead, the larger economic consequences show up when the House proposal to reduce SRE reallocations gets layered into the equation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u4utih

MORE: Via University of Missouri, the study. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d6yo8i

ROADS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “With spring fieldwork underway, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging farmers, commercial applicators, ag retailers, and common carriers to take extra care when transporting agricultural products, goods, and commodities on public roads. Overturned tanks, unsecured loads, and roadway spills have the potential to put people, property, and water resources at risk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wtGQpB

FROM THE FIELDS

CROP UPDATE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “During Tuesday’s Crop Watch broadcast, Euclid, Minnesota farmer Brent Strickler said many producers are growing anxious as wet fields and lingering frost continue to delay planting progress.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fpJjey

WASDE: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “The May 12 USDA Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reports seemed to be all about wheat, with the first in-field assessment of the U.S. wheat crop. While there were some changes for the U.S. corn and soybean balance sheets, they were more minor, with corn a bit bearish and soybeans neutral.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nukW1F

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Total Farm Marketing Senior Market Advisor Naomi Blohm said wheat was the big story of the report. ‘The USDA for the new crop wheat came in at 1.561 billion bushels, down from 1.9 a year ago.’ That would be the lowest wheat production total since 1972.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPzsU8

MORE: Via USDA, the report. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u9prkJ

WEEDS & MORE

HERBICIDES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Waterhemp and other tough weeds are forcing farmers to rethink how they use herbicides in high-residue cropping systems, from heavy corn stalks to thick cereal rye covers. University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University Extension specialists say they increasingly hear from growers who did ‘everything right’ with applying their pre products yet still see waterhemp push through and survive. Increasingly, one of the challenges is those fields carry a lot more residue than they used to.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wx5aXW

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension crops educator suggests recent weather conditions are preventing early season weeds from flourishing. Dave Nicolai with the University of Minnesota says it’s been cool and dry across the Upper Midwest.” NICOLAI: “The dewpoint is low, relative humidity is low, and colder soils. So we really haven’t seen the emergence, typically we look for some of those foxtails to come up (and) some of those common lambsquarters in terms of that. In in between areas where they have some protection, there has been some emergence.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42y4bZD

FUNDING: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the recipients of the County Agricultural Inspector Grant for Fiscal Year 2026. All 47 counties that applied for grant money qualified and will be awarded $10,300 each. The money will be used by county agricultural inspectors (CAIs) to carry out duties under the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tzKBY3

BUS TOUR: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Farmers and agricultural professionals across southeast Minnesota are invited to join the Southeast Minnesota Soil Health Bus Tour this summer to learn alongside peers, exchange ideas and gain practical insights for on-farm use. The three-day educational and networking experience will center on the 13th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference, scheduled Aug. 6-7, in Springfield, Illinois. Participants will travel by charter bus and take part in a field day before arriving at the conference, focused on soil health and strip-till systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48XQPti

LENDERS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced the removal of ten lenders from participation in the USDA Rural Development (RD) OneRD Guaranteed Lending Program. These lenders will be precluded from further participation in the program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d8IyFn

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

NEXT WEEK: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “School garden week is coming up May 18-22! If you’re looking to get more garden produce onto your students’ lunch trays, check out MN Ag in the Classroom’s free webinar on May 19 on how to practice food safety in school gardens.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4wsHofw

TEACHERS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “As the school year winds down, Minnesota educators have new opportunities this summer to connect students to agriculture, food systems, and the natural world. Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is offering two hands-on professional development experiences designed to help K–12 teachers bring real-world learning into their classrooms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dhIPog

FFA: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “The Marshall FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter recorded a handful of commendable finishes at the 2026 state convention, including two teams placing third overall in the career development events (CDEs), and senior Annabel Coudron placing first in poultry. The state convention held April 20-21 in the Twin Cities offered students the opportunity to represent their schools and towns while also continuing to grow their knowledge and experience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dCMjmF

ag take | E15 Vote Expected This Week

Mike Maybay — Mon, 11 May 2026 20:30:59 GMT

E15: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Ahead of this week’s expected U.S. House vote on year-round E15, several MCGA and Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association leaders highlighted the value of E15 to their communities in letters to local newspapers published this weekend. MCGA President Wes Beck and Brian Kletscher of Highwater Ethanol published a letter in the Mankato Free Press. And MCGA board member Richard Syverson and Chad Friese of CVEC published a letter in the West Central Tribune.” POST/LINKS: https://fluence-media.co/3PbfSm4 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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A BUSY WEEK AHEAD

MNLEG: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota legislative session is entering its final week and Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen says there’s still a lot of work to be done.” PETERSEN: “It’s a bit of a mixed bag for agriculture, at the moment. We did pass the DAIRI bill and the governor signed that and that’s going to help farmers who enrolled in the Dairy Margin Coverage federal program, but the rest of the bills are kind of stalled out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u0TVoL

CROP PROGRESS: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Spring fieldwork has progressed rapidly in many portions of the Upper Midwest in late April and early May; however, cool temperatures has slowed germination and crop emergence in some areas. Planting progress has been a bit slower in Wisconsin, as well as in portions of Eastern Iowa and Minnesota, due to more frequent rainfall events. On the flip side, planting progress has been ahead of normal in Nebraska, South Dakota, and the Eastern Corn Belt, as well as in southern and western Minnesota. The good news is that the weather forecast in the Upper Midwest for mid-May looks to be more conducive for the completion of Spring planting in many areas, as well as more favorable temperatures for early season crop growth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4trXenO

RESTAURANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Make It Minnesota program is supporting a cohort of ten emerging and established food and beverage brands at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, held May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Exhibiting as part of the ‘A Taste of the States’ pavilion organized by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Minnesota companies will connect with buyers from across the foodservice and hospitality industries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4djle6C

CLOSING: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The Academy for Sciences and Agriculture in Vadnais Heights and Little Canada is closing after this year’s graduation ceremony in June. In a note on the school’s website, Executive Director Sam Wakefield said, ‘AFSA has become financially unsustainable.’ Osprey Wilds, a nonprofit charter school authorizer, is terminating AFSA’s contract, Wakefield said. This means the school has to dissolve.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/430UZgt

DC + AG

THIS WEEK: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “When the U.S. House approved the farm bill last month, it left out a provision that would have allowed for the year-round sale of what’s known as E15, a fuel that contains 15% ethanol. The reason? GOP leaders wanted to ensure the bill’s approval and bypass an internal conflict between farm-state Republicans – like those who represent Minnesota in Congress who support increased ethanol use – and GOP lawmakers representing the oil industry, especially smaller oil refineries that say it’s too expensive to blend E15. So, a deal was reached to have a vote on a bill [this] week, likely on Wednesday, that would allow year-round sales of E15, which would be a huge economic boost to the nation’s corn farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QXmtkt

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said support for E15 is stronger than ever as lawmakers prepare for this week’s House vote.” QUOTE: “We have so much real momentum right now,” Skor said. “You’ve got farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and the majority of oil refiners all united in a compromise bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wif5Ah

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “House Agriculture Committee member Brad Finstad tells Brownfield for the first time there’s a clear path for an up or down vote.” FINSTAD: “And it’s high time Congress starts acting. And I represent 750,000 people, and the only way I can show them where I am on this issue is if I press ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ And they have waited long enough.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nsHTlQ

DAIRY: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, restoring whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk options in federal Child Nutrition Programs for children and adults ages 2 and older.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4woAnwf

HUMAN RESOURCES

NEXTGEN: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Today we held an in-person Emerging Farmers Working Group meeting at @2Harvest to learn about how their values-based procurement helps create new market opportunities for small farmers in our region. Thanks to our working group members and guest speakers for a great discussion!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4flhZhw

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: MPR checks in with Zach Johnson ten years into his side-gig as a YouTube star. VERBATIM: “It was just supposed to be a hobby, Johnson said. The videos were a way for him to talk from the heart to the camera about farming’s ups and downs with minimal editing. But then, a couple of videos the following year exploded, he said. ‘By the end of that fall, we really were looking at it, my wife and I, saying, ‘You know, I think this is something.’’ Johnson said. That was the start of what would become a farming channel titan on YouTube, with over a million subscribers and counting. The Millennial Farmer has led to sponsorships, merchandise, speaking opportunities and a revenue source that brings the Johnsons more money than their own farming does.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ugeA8k

LEADERSHIP: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The American Farm Bureau Federation recently selected the next group of agricultural leaders for its 13th Partners in Advocacy Leadership (PAL) class. Minnesota Farm Bureau (MFBF) member Amanda Cook of Chisago County was one of 10 individuals selected to join the class.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uIQmDL

SCHOLARSHIP: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota high school senior is being recognized for his leadership in both FFA and 4-H. Luke McCrea is the recipient of the 2026 Soy Scholarship, a national award that recognizes student leadership and involvement in agriculture.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uKYgww

ag take | A Mixed Bag of Crop Conditions

Mike Maybay — Fri, 08 May 2026 20:31:01 GMT

NEXTGEN: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Nathan Serbus recently hosted more than 100 students at his farm as part of Renville County’s 5th Grade Ag Day thanks to a coordinated effort with Minnesota Ag in the Classroom. Fifth-grade students from four Renville County schools participated in hands-on learning experiences focused on agriculture and modern farming practices. In addition to touring the Serbus farm, students visited Beck’s Hybrids in Olivia and heard presentations from local NRCS managers at the Renville County fairgrounds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49ClvAt (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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FRIDAY AG HEADLINES

PLANTING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers faced inconsistent weather during the first month of planting. University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says overall, progress is ahead of normal.” NICOLAI: “We had crops starting to be planted even as early as the 11th of April, and I think for the first time in years we had soybeans going in just as soon as we were planting corn. But all in all, we had wet weather and then were extremely dry in southwestern Minnesota. Almost to the point where we had some dust storms.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wBi7A3

CROP PROGRESS: Via Successful Farming, an overview of the most recent prospective planting report for Minnesota. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nsGxHB

DROUGHT: This week’s Drought Monitor shows more improvement, however dry conditions persist in the southwest corner of the state and up north. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

GUIDE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie is urging farmers to pay close attention to soil conditions and local weather forecasts as planting accelerates across the Midwest. Ferrie and his team at Crop-Tech Consulting recommend using a ‘red-yellow-green light’ system to guide planting decisions. The practice is based on three factors: soil moisture, seed chilling risks and the 10-day emergence forecast.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u1ivG0

SNAP: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the final rule regarding stocking standards for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring a broader variety of nutritious food is available to SNAP participants at authorized retailers across the country . . . Retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits must now carry seven varieties of items across four categories of staple foods: protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d8JYyo

FARM BILL: Via news release from Rep. Brad Finstad, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) joined agricultural stakeholders, local businesses, farmers, producers, and rural leaders at AGCO in Jackson for an event celebrating the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (2026 Farm Bill).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4trn0J8

MORE: From Rep. Finstad via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Proud to have my legislation, the PACE Act, included in the #2026FarmBill. Farmers in #MN01, especially those who are just starting out, need dependable financing options to maintain and grow their operations. This legislation modernizes FSA loan limits to reflect the current needs of farmers, ensuring they have the certainty needed to get started, expand, or restructure.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4dhvf4o

E15: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “When the U.S. House approved the farm bill last month, it left out a provision that would have allowed for the year-round sale of what’s known as E15, a fuel that contains 15% ethanol. The reason? GOP leaders wanted to ensure the bill’s approval and bypass an internal conflict between farm-state Republicans – like those who represent Minnesota in Congress who support increased ethanol use – and GOP lawmakers representing the oil industry, especially smaller oil refineries that say it’s too expensive to blend E15.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QXmtkt

MARKETS

CATTLE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cattle futures were higher on Friday after recovering well off the early lows on Thursday. Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cash trade developed in the South at $256 to $258, up $2 to $3. However, in the North trade started at $256 but by the end of the day trade was all the way up to $260. Dressed prices ranged from $400 to $405 with the volume at $402, up $3.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QX783n

CHINA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says China could return as a buyer of U.S. beef after going more than a year without purchases.  Dan Halstrom says Presidents Trump and Xi are set to meet next week.” HALSTROM: “We do know that beef is on the list along with soybeans and other ag products,” he says. “So cautious optimism is there for some improvements.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4njVID0

SETTLEMENT: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “As promised, the Justice Department has settled its antitrust lawsuit against Agri-Stats. Six other states, including Minnesota, are also part of this settlement. The Indiana-based data company was accused of sharing market-sensitive information with meat packers, which resulted in collusion and higher consumer meat prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ewF6FJ

COMPETITION: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s encouraged by steps taken by the Trump administration to investigate competition in the meat processing industry. The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield getting to the bottom of potential antitrust violations by the big four meatpackers will take time.” GRASSLEY: “But I can say over my years in the Senate it’s been a hard time for me to get the Department of Justice involved in ag issues, so I’m very thankful they are moving ahead with what they are doing now. Because it’s kind of unusual.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42YojnO

THE BUSINESS OF AG

INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist says the cost of production is making it difficult to plan for the future. Michael Langemeier says the current ag economy is impacting how farmers think about long-term financial planning.” LANGMEMEIER: “We’re so busy putting out fires, worrying about these high input costs, that we lose sight of where we want to be,” he says. “This is very important because we don’t want to do anything short-term that’s going to make that long-term goal not feasible.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4u3doW3

FERTILIZER: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “Mark Gaalswyk, founder of East Environmental Solutions, says his company has quoted 30 automated fertilizer systems, known as EasyFENs, for distribution to partners in Africa for the past several months. The EasyFEN is meant to use the company’s signature microbial seed to convert two truckloads of food and crop waste into a batch of Terre plenish, a microbial fertilizer that Gaalswyk claims is highly efficient and more environmentally friendly.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ttIsNB

PESTICIDES: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “New Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements are starting to appear on pesticide labels. Some fields will need to meet mitigation point requirements before certain products can be used. Plan ahead and check how ESA label changes may affect you.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4eC1Q7i GUIDANCE: https://fluence-media.co/4dfCrht

COVER CROPS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cover crops were nearly scratched off Laurie and Jim Isley’s list of practices on their Michigan farm a few years ago. The reason? Production costs were adding roughly $35 an acre to their budget, which was already stretched beyond thin . . . The use of cover crops is back on firmer economic ground now, she adds, thanks to cost-share programs such as Farmers for Soil Health (FSH), which help make soil health investments possible for income-strapped growers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QOWbRw

FUNDING: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for climate-friendly agricultural practices (CFAP) incentive payments. CFAP provides payments at a flat rate up to $10,000 for producers to implement a selection of sustainable agricultural practices with known, quantifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nfzdyO

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

AWARDS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop Awards. This contest recognizes K-12 school districts and early care centers that show outstanding leadership in promoting and serving Minnesota grown and raised foods.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/48T8hPI

ICE CREAM: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “It was Ice Cream Day at the Capitol today, and Commissioner Thom Petersen visited with members of @mnmilk as they served St. Joseph, MN-based Jupiter Moon Ice Cream to anyone who came by for a visit.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/431f46g

ag take | Farm Sale Fraud Increasing

Mike Maybay — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:31:05 GMT

TRADE: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Join us, National Corn Growers Association, and other ag groups in showing your support for USMCA! Sign a letter to President Trump urging a full renewal of the landmark trade deal, which has been a game-changer for U.S. agriculture.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4wbpxcH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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WEDNESDAY AG HEADLINES

MNLEG: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “With the end in sight for Minnesota legislature, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Public Policy Specialist Hunter Pederson says some provisions like the Farmer-Lender-Mediation program might be tabled until next year.” PEDERSON: “On the House side, their ag committee was not able to come to agreement on a bill to move forward. So, we haven’t seen a resolution on that yet, and I’m not sure that we’re going to since it’s not an actual budget year. But knowing that there’s a few things in there like that farmland remediation, that would be a meaningful thing to get done. But we might not see that.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d1FWb6

FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “All eyes shifted to the U.S. Senate after the House passed its farm bill last week. Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman says the Senate has different rules for its farm bill process.” BOOZMAN: “Because of the filibuster, we need 60 votes to get things passed,” he said. “We have the opportunity to lose some Republicans, and we have the opportunity to lose a bunch of Democrats. We’ve got to get probably nine, ten or more to vote with us.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QQXdMK

FERTILIZER: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Phosphate and nitrogen prices were already elevated before the Iran war according to Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer with StoneX, as China, the world’s number two nitrogen exporter, banned exports.

Urea: Prices have nearly doubled since early December.
Potash: Up approximately 10% since the start of the year.

Then came the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz which added insult to injury as three of the top 10 largest urea and anhydrous exporters are cut off. Linville points out that’s because the Strait closure also shut down LNG or the natural gas supplies used to produce nitrogen fertilizer products, which further elevated prices at New Orleans, Louisiana.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OO4Djk

DECARBONIZATION: Via PepsiCo, VERBATIM: “PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) today announced a new collaboration with agriculture technology company, TalusAg, that aims to advance fertilizer decarbonization across global agricultural supply chains through low-carbon ammonia environmental attributes, marking PepsiCo’s first executed transactions of this kind. The initial agreements span PepsiCo’s Europe, Sub Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific, and global teams, representing approximately 30,000 metric tons of low-carbon ammonia, with an option to purchase an additional 41,000 metric tons. The broader collaboration also extends to the U.S. and the proposed Blue Earth, Minnesota project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cTNhL1

PSEUDORABIES: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “The rare pig virus pseudorabies is making its way to Iowa, more than 20 years since it was last seen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of the virus at a commercial swine facility in North Central, impacting fewer than 100 pigs. According to the Department, the state has been pseudorabies-free since 2004.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uwEftj

USDA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation says the agency is addressing concerns about ag data security in the One Farmer One File initiative. Richard Fordyce says merging dozens of separate farm programs into a single network can be done safely.” FORDYCE: “The data is the farmers.’ We know that. We protect that, and we think that more vulnerabilities exist when you have a system that has 72 independent and separate running systems as opposed to one platform.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42eWdVf

AG COMMERCE

LAND FRAUD: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agricultural real estate expert says farm sale fraud is becoming more common. Colton Lacina with Farmers National Company says, ‘We’ve seen a large uptick in the last, you know, six months to a year.’ Lacina tells Brownfield that seller impersonation fraud occurs when someone lists the farm property for sale with an agent without the real owner’s knowledge.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wkuMqW

TAPEI: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciated opportunity to host Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei of the Tapei Economic & Cultural Office in Chicago this afternoon at MDA. Taiwan was Minnesota’s 8th largest export market for food and ag products including soybeans, corn, pork, feed products & more.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4cUgB4c

CARGILL: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Brazilian prosecutors have accused Minnetonka-based Cargill of failing to address ‘serious human rights violations’ in its soybean supply chain that runs deep into the South American country. In a civil lawsuit filed against the global commodity giant, the government is demanding roughly $21.9 million ‘for collective moral harm,’ the country’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release last week. Cargill declined to comment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tduI9p

SPRING WHEAT: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “For many Minnesota farmers, spring wheat is no longer the backbone of the operation — it’s a strategic choice. As input costs rise and corn and soybeans offer stronger returns, wheat acreage across the region continues a steady decline decades in the making. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Prospective Planting report at the end of March, projecting hard red spring wheat acreage to drop 10% in Minnesota, 8% in North Dakota, and 4% in South Dakota. Nationally, the United States is expected to plant only 9.4 million acres of spring wheat in 2026, down from 10 million acres in 2025. This downward trend is not new.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RmPuGh

HUMAN RESOURCES

STRESS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer is sounding the alarm on escalating farm stress. Bob Worth of Lake Benton suggests a mental health crisis is occurring in agriculture. ‘It is extremely serious.’ He tells Brownfield financial pressures, policy uncertainty, and unpredictable weather can all be factors.” WORTH: “We haven’t had a suicide for awhile, it’s probably a couple three months. But I’m hearing that farmers cannot get an operating loan for this spring, and it’s spring, we’re planting. And it’s going to be really tough on them.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wi8KoK

MORE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “People are the heart of every farm. When a farmer is having a tough time, taking a moment to reach out and listen can truly make a meaningful difference. For help starting the conversation, call or text the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4dfcJd0

TEACHER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is proud to announce Marie Kruse of Lake City, MN as the recipient of their 2026 Outstanding Teacher Award. This honor recognizes K-12 educators in Minnesota who creatively integrate agriculture into their classroom curriculum. For more than 20 years, Kruse has brought her passion for agriculture into her classroom, helping young learners understand the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48N2Aml

MORE: From MAITC via YouTube, how Kruse introduces agriculture to her students. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dejED9

SOCIAL MEDIA: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Addy Wohlhuter, a senior at Martin County West, has turned to social media to promote the local gas station/grocery store and what it has to offer, from deals on food to highlighting products with a local connection. Flour, oats and tortilla chips from Whole Grain Milling Co. based in Welcome, Minn., and Harris Honey products from St. James, Minn., are just two examples of local vendors highlighted on the Town Center’s social media presence, which Wohlhuter started building in October 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ev2zqJ

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

TULIPS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “A stunning first-of-its-kind floral experience is blooming in Farmington right now. Minnesota’s first tulip festival is happening at Brand Farms, where vibrant fields of colorful tulips are creating a beautiful springtime destination.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tlHxia

RACE HORSES: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “After exciting finish by Golden Tempo in the Kentucky Derby it was a great day to visit Steepwood Horse Farm where they have bred thoroughbred race horses for 40 years and to hear about the importance of the [horse] industry in MN. Thanks Richard, Cheryl & family for the time & tour!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cXpuZe

ag take | Farm Bill Heads to Senate

Mike Maybay — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:30:38 GMT

SPRING: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Planting season is in full swing at the Guentzel family farm in Kasota! As of last week, Angela Guentzel reported that corn planting was almost done for the season. She said field conditions have been good and that last week’s rain gave them a much-needed break. Meanwhile, up in Belgrade, John Mages was still waiting to begin planting as of last week. He said he’s optimistic heading into the season and hopeful that corn prices will rally. Wishing Minnesota farmers a safe week of planting!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3RiVqQE (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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THE POLITICS OF AG

2026 ELECTION: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Southern Minnesota farmers Jason Lohmann and Mark Legvold are making their case to voters that firsthand agricultural experience is what rural districts need at the Capitol. Lohmann and Legvold and are some of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates this year that come with production agriculture backgrounds. At a small farmer roundtable in Faribault last month, the two farmer candidates listened more than they spoke to Doug Kleese and his wife Mary, who farm in Kenyon/Zumbrota; Deb Hogenson from Waseca, who sold her family farm after her husband got sick; and Tessa Parks of Northfield, who farms with her husband, Wyatt.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w9SK82

FARM BILL: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “Agri-Pulse’s Oliver Ward, Kim Chipman, and Lydia Johnson reported that ‘all eyes are shifting to the Senate following the House passage of a farm bill [April 30]. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., is targeting the end of May or early June for a bill markup as Democrats prepare for fights on pesticides and food assistance.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f1Nm0x

HOUSE BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says there were many twists and turns on the way to passing the farm bill. Minnesota Republican Brad Finstad tells Brownfield negotiations in the days leading up to a full House vote ran late into the night.” FINSTAD: “It wasn’t a straight line, it wasn’t even close to a zig zag line, it was all over the place. It was a crazy, wild, sleepless week. Most days about two hours of sleep is all we got.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nbjwsv

AID PACKAGE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers are working to deliver additional financial support for farmers as economic pressures continue across agriculture. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee Chairman John Hoeven says the proposal builds on the current Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and could total tens of billions of dollars.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f0GiRO

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

DROUGHT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Dry conditions last month fueled a fast corn planting pace along with drought concerns in southwest Minnesota. Bob Worth of Lake Benton says there’s been a lack of soil moisture since last fall.” WORTH: “We had a very dry winter, so we had nothing, it was dry. When we worked the ground this spring it was absolutely mellow, it was the most beautiful ground conditions we’ve had. But there was not much moisture in there either.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uxJGZ7

ICYMI… We shared the latest Drought Monitor last week. It shows great improvement over the prior week. However, the southwest corner of the state, where Worth farms, is still seeing drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

COLD: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “A historically warm April pushed planters ahead of pace across much of the Midwest, but a cooler turn in the forecast is raising new questions about early corn and soybean stands . . . The same warm April that pushed planting ahead also means more acres are in the ground, while much of the northern Midwest remains within its typical frost window. Average frost-free dates range from mid-May in northern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to late May in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. That means early-planted fields in those areas could be exposed to cold injury.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42iv8jU

MARKETS

OVERVIEW: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Soybeans and corn were higher early Monday, wheat started lower then bounced. Cattle and hogs were lower.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wapf63

EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. export inspections were larger than last year. The USDA says corn continued to leave U.S. ports at a fast pace during the week ending April 30th, reflecting the strong global demand about three quarters of the way through the marketing year. Soybean inspections were solid but continue to trail the year ago pace because of lower demand from China. Sorghum was sharply higher thanks to comparatively better demand from China for that commodity. Wheat inspections were up modestly on the year, remaining on track to meet USDA projections.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nbWUIu

GRAIN MARKETS: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “In the past 2-3 years, there have been very few good opportunities for farmers to market corn and soybeans at favorable price levels. This has resulted in a large amount of grain being sold below breakeven levels, as well as a significant amount of the 2025 corn crop being still in storage on farms across the Midwest. This has also left farmers with some very difficult grain marketing decisions for both the grain that is still in storage, as well as for the 2026 crop that is currently being planted. In recent weeks, there has been a bit more optimism, with some improvement in corn and soybean prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nbGOP4

E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Congressman Don Bacon says persistent opposition is standing in the way of year-round E15 legislation. ‘We have some Republicans who hate E15 for the wrong reasons,’ he said. ‘They think we’re trying to force people to use E15. We’re not. We’re trying to remove a regulation that prevents E15 from being sold year-round.’ E15 was recently left out of the farm bill that cleared the full U.S. House.” BACON: “We have some people who think (E15) hurts the ag industry, which is outdated thinking. They don’t realize the distiller grains that come out of ethanol are more highly sought after than the actual corn.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48HBZHg

HEADWINDS

MENTAL HEALTH: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Farming is one of the industries with the highest risk for suicide. Mental health experts say financial pressures are a common reason why. A recent survey of farmers from Purdue University found that the ‘percentage of producers who expected good times in the next five years was 37 percent, which is 12 percent lower than the share reported in March 2025.’ Bad crop prices from trade turmoil with China, and now, increasing operating costs stemming from the Strait of Hormuz’s closure, have continued to squeeze farmers’ margins.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42a0xFc

DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Four separate lawsuits have been filed, claiming the federal milk marketing orders unfairly harm organic dairy producers. Organic farmers and cooperatives want an exemption from the federal milk marketing order program, and some farmer members are seeking damages from the government.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cQGD8q

FUNGICIDE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering the U.S. public an opportunity to help shape the future of agricultural safety, unveiling a draft Fungicide Strategy designed to balance the needs of American farmers with the protection of the nation’s most vulnerable wildlife. The proposal marks a significant step in the agency’s effort to meet its dual mandates under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tjRrRp

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

OATS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in west-central Minnesota is adding oats to his crop rotation this year. Noah Hultgren of Raymond says the small grain is in the mix along with sugarbeets, corn, soybeans, kidney beans, vegetables and alfalfa.” HULTGREN: “We’re growing oats for the first time in 35 years or so, we’re going to try that and see how that goes. But nice to have another crop that we’re having in the rotation.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ushc2D

APPOINTMENTS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Congrats to Hannah Bernhardt who has been appointed to our Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board & Harold Wolle who has been reappointed for another term. The RFA is the state’s ag lender, offering low-interest loans for a variety of farm activities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3PgqUGB

ag take | Amorous Turkeys & Rotisserie Chickens

Mike Maybay — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:30:53 GMT

FARM BILL: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is grateful to House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson and members of the committee for their work to advance the Farm Bill. While Congress made key improvements to the farm safety net as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in summer 2025, a full, comprehensive Farm Bill remains essential to ensuring the success of corn farmers and American agriculture. An updated farm bill that reflects present-day conditions is especially critical as farmers contend with high and rising input costs, low commodity prices, and weather and market volatility.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42t3iBL (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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A BUSY FRIDAY FOR AG

LLOYD: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Arguably the most famous bachelor turkey in all of Minnesota is a handsome idiot named Lloyd. Lloyd has a global Facebook fan base of about 48,000 who’ve followed his ridiculous exploits on the farm, such as cluelessly romancing basketballs, sticks and other inanimate objects. Never in his eight years has he been spotted properly mating with an actual turkey. His owner is determined to see if he could learn new tricks in his older age and find true companionship.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nc1Pcw

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN: After the 2026 farm bill passed in the U.S. House yesterday, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan criticized Rep. Angie Craig for voting against a bipartisan amendment that would allow SNAP recipients to buy hot rotisserie chickens. The amendment passed 384-35, and Rep. Tom Emmer was the only other Minnesota lawmaker who voted against it. FLANAGAN: “I think letting SNAP recipients have hot rotisserie chicken is good, actually. … If you’re siding with Tom Emmer, you’re probably on the wrong side.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/3QGO6ya

MORE: Via news release from Rep. Craig, QUOTE: “Along with other members of Democratic leadership, I voted against it to send a message that the amendment does not go far enough to expand SNAP-eligibility, and we will continue to push the Senate to include a further expansion in the final version of the bill. There is no question that SNAP recipients need access to more hot food options, but this amendment was pushed by big grocers and retailers and the chicken industry. We can do better.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RfnKTW

FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An American Soybean Association board director expects a long road ahead for the farm bill despite its passage in the U.S. House. Speaking to Brownfield just before the House passed its version of a skinny farm bill Thursday, southwest Minnesota farmer Bob Worth said he’s been optimistic the House could pass a farm bill this spring.” WORTH: “We could have a bigger problem on the Senate side than we do on the House side. The Senate side is not going to be very easy because the nutrition program is very big on the Senate side.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4unChvi

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The farm bill debate blurred some of the traditional party-line policy positions. A pesticide labeling provision maintaining support for the federal regulatory system over state courts was rejected, brought down a coalition that included MAHA Moms and the advocates for states’ rights. Policy Solutions President Jay Truitt also points to market consolidation, which would have been a Democratic talking point in the past.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t75Vnq

E15: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “When Congress returns from recess May 12, advocates hope E15 will get another chance in Washington. The measure was removed from the Farm Bill Wednesday following heated debates. Legislation to allow year-round, nationwide E15 sales is now moving forward as a standalone bill. If the bill passes the House, it will likely be reintegrated into the broader Farm Bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dnhEbV

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer is frustrated by continued uncertainty with year-round nationwide E15. Rob Tate of Cannon Falls tells Brownfield.” TATE: “The analogy that’s been given before is it’s a little bit like Lucy holding the ball for Charlie Brown and she moves it at the last minute on him. I think we feel a little bit that way, but we’re still hopeful something can get done here in the near future.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42GB3zg

EMISSIONS: Via Civil Eats, VERBATIM: “Republicans succeeded at passing an amendment that would roll back emissions standards on farm equipment, which they said were driving up costs for farmers. The vote on that amendment was divided more on party lines, with 206 Republicans voting in favor and 8 against, and 205 Democrats voting against, with 8 in favor. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) said the amendment was a distraction from larger issues hurting commodity farmers, including fuel and fertilizer price spikes caused by the Iran war and lost markets due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QAsinU

HEADWINDS: Via Axios, a laundry list of various challenges facing Minnesota’s farmers and indicators of their impacts, including a rise in calls and texts to the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n4nJ1f

FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The escalating price of fertilizer looms large as farmers begin the 2026 growing season. Chris Edgington grows corn and soybeans near St. Ansgar in north-central Iowa and says most growers in his area buy the bulk of their nitrogen needs in the fall or early winter.” EDGINGTON: “So most people are feeling pretty good about where they’re at for this year. But the conversation has already started about what price point it’s going to take for the retailers to fill up for summer and into next fall, and those numbers are up substantially.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4n5Ytrm

LIVESTOCK

PSEUDORABIES: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed Thursday cases of pseudorabies in a small commercial swine facility in Iowa, which traces to animals received recently from a herd in Texas. This is the first detection in commercial swine since its eradication in 2004.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t9GiTa

BEEF: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Consumers hungry for protein are still buying beef, but the meat’s producers from the farm to the butcher shop know it’s too expensive . . . The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation to determine if large meatpackers, which process farmers’ cattle and sell it to grocery stores, engaged in criminal anticompetitive conduct, the Wall Street Journal reported April 20. President Donald Trump accused these companies in November of driving up prices for consumers. Minnesota commodity giant Cargill is among the four major meatpackers controlling most of the American beef-processing market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eTIESq

DAIRY: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Good to see Governor Walz has signed SF3832 authored by Sen. Kupec and Rep. Nathan Nelson known as the DAIRI bill that gives additional assistance to dairy farmers who enroll in the federal DMC program.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4w12Wj6

MORE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The state’s Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative program (DAIRI) gives additional financial assistance to dairy farmers who participate in the Dairy Margin Coverage program. That is a federal Farm Service Agency program that provides financial support to dairy farmers when the margin between milk prices and feed costs is low. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish expressed his support in the bill.” WERTISH: “We appreciate that this program is targeted at family-sized dairy farms,” he wrote in a letter to House members. “That will ensure that the money goes further to keeping more farms in business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w5wfBa

USDA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area announced its intention to introduce the Food and Nutrition Administration. This shift will include a reorganization and relocation, all to move program leadership and staff from Washington, D.C. to hub and program compliance locations across the U.S. This shift in customer service will not disrupt program execution nor any endeavor to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse across USDA’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4um0zpm

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

STUDY: Via UofM CFANS, VERBATIM: “New research from the University of Minnesota offers encouraging news for specialty crop growers interested in pollinator-friendly production. The study was conducted in summer 2025 by Research Fellow Gigi DiGiacomo and Dr. Chengyan Yue as part of a larger project, Buzzing with Potential: Exploring Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Pollinator Services. The research found that consumers are willing to pay meaningful premiums for produce grown using practices that support pollinators — particularly when those practices are clearly communicated at the point of sale.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n1DPZz

SURVEY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A recent survey by a dairy producers’ group shows farmers want to know how their farm data is used by processors and others in the supply chain. Sherry Bunting with the American Dairy Coalition says Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy have asked USDA to collect more farm data for their sustainability modeling.” BUNTING: “Water usage, in addition to what’s already surveyed on irrigation to get into, you know, how much water the cattle are drinking, parlor washdown, any reuse of that water, as well as more detailed feed ration components.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w3iGCh

CRP: Via USDA FSA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) starting May 4, 2026, through May 29, 2026. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers Grassland CRP, a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dj1ocU

DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows recent rain helped – 95 of the state is now in formal drought status, down from 21% a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy

GOODHUE CTY: Via Lavender, VERBATIM: “Rows of lavender stretch across the landscape at Liten Bekk Farm, where a once-overgrown property is being transformed into a hub for sustainable agriculture and community connection. What began as a shared vision among three partners has quickly evolved into a multifaceted operation rooted in restoration, food production and giving back to the surrounding community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49kPBZ6

RESILIENCE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Ag Conservation Services Manager Brad Jordahl Redlin joined a panel on climate-resilient agriculture hosted by the MinneAg Network. At MDA, we’re proud to administer programs that help farmers improve soil health and protect water.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4uqU2dh

YARD CARE: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Every spring, Minnesotans step outside to perform the same ritual: rake the lawn, plan the garden, and grab a bag of fertilizer to help the yard wake up from winter. What most people don’t realize is how much this last step can affect the water around us.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nc0baQ

WILDFIRES: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new Secretarial Memorandum and letter directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to heighten national wildfire readiness, accelerate community-focused risk reduction, and strengthen firefighter health and safety for the 2026 fire year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n4ppYA

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

THIS WEEKEND: Twin Cities farmers markets kick off their season. KARE-TV has a list. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4n7veED

THIS MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We recognize the historical and ongoing contribution these groups have made to agriculture in Minnesota, and recognize the way these cultures strengthen our communities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4tKTqPw

ROBOT DOGS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “According to the National Equipment Register, $300 million to $1 billion in heavy equipment is stolen every year. Other threats such as feral hogs can rob the ag industry of $1.6 billion in a single year as well, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. However, a new four-legged, robotic companion could help solve these issues. Taking the form of a dog, the Asylon DroneDog, a robotic and autonomous security system, is stepping up to the plate.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nn8W1X