VOLUNTEERING: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “If you’re a female farmer who is passionate about food, farming, and sharing the story of agriculture, volunteering for CommonGround Minnesota could be the perfect opportunity for you. This organization, made up of women farmers, works to bridge the gap between consumers and agriculture by sharing real, personal stories about food production. Here’s why getting involved is a great idea.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S0rp5n (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
We recently launched our first premium publication. The Fluence Brief will be released 3-4 times a month and dive deeper into the business, economic and political dynamics of the Midwest. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cQw43r
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THIS WEEK: Via Hoosier Ag Today, VERBATIM: “This coming week may prove to be do or die for the Farm Bill, which has been long delayed by partisan bickering, and is now being sliced and diced with the big dollar programs being put into the budget reconciliation bill. The proposed Farm Bill safety net package includes roughly $50 billion for crop reference prices, as well as money for crop insurance, dairy, livestock biosecurity, export trade promotion. Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and former USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, tells Hoosier Ag Today that this approach is not the best way, but may be the only way critical farm safety net programs get funded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kiRzfW
CHINA: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “The United States and China agreed Monday to slash their massive recent tariffs, restarting stalled trade between the world’s two biggest economies and setting off a rally in global financial markets. But the de-escalation in President Donald Trump’s trade wars did nothing to resolve underlying differences between Beijing and Washington. The deal lasts 90 days, creating time for U.S. and Chinese negotiators to reach a more substantive agreement. But the pause also leaves tariffs higher than before Trump started ramping them up last month. And businesses and investors must contend with uncertainty about whether the truce will last.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sx3ryR
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In Minnesota, the news was most welcome in farm fields, where producers were planting soybeans. Soybeans, a staple for livestock diets, is the state’s largest export, and China is the largest customer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dhtdAX
MORE: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “The tariff pause with China could, at least temporarily, help calm some concerns from the U.S. agriculture industry over exports, with China remaining such an important customer for U.S. ag products.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kl63Mh
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The executive director of Farmers for Free Trade is encouraged by the U.S. and China agreeing to drastically roll back tariffs. Brian Kuehl calls Monday’s announcement a step in the right direction. ‘Any progress with China is good. China is one of our largest export markets for U.S. ag and food products, right up there with Canada and Mexico. Those are the big three.’ He tells Brownfield the 90-day reduction on tariffs gives both countries an opportunity to figure out a long-term solution.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3RXvAyX
MORE: Via American Soybean Association, VERBATIM: “Caleb Ragland, American Soybean Association president and a farmer who grows soy in Kentucky, said, QUOTE: “We are very pleased with these first steps toward resolution and appreciate that President Trump has heard our requests to quickly come to the negotiation table for agriculture producers and others who stand to suffer financial losses and lose hard-earned relationships. Farmers want to play their part in supporting broad-based, long-term solutions to the administration’s concerns and help our fellow U.S. citizens when possible; but we cannot sustain tariffs that are exponentially higher than those of the first China trade war, which knocked out our largest export market overnight, if they linger into our fall harvest season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dobszN
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
HEAT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Unseasonably warm conditions are causing some concern for emerging crops in west-central Minnesota. Anne Schwagerl farms in Big Stone County.” SCHWAGERL: “And I’m watching the little corn and bean plants come out of the ground and hoping that things don’t fry before we can get a little shot of rain. The heat feels nice, but the timing is tough.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3F5ugXU
MEXICO: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, effective immediately. NWS has been recently detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YJgAZb
MORE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “New World screwworms are fly larvae that burrow into a wound or mucous membranes of animals and rarely humans. The maggots feast on the flesh and blood of their host with tiny mouth hooks. Left untreated, the parasitic infection can kill a full-grown cow within one to two weeks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/434PZIR
DISASTER ASSISTANCE: Via farm business analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The Continuing Resolution legislation that was passed by Congress in late 2024 included $21 billion in disaster assistance for 2023 and 2024 agricultural crop losses from natural disasters, such as drought, hurricanes, severe storms, flooding, wildfires, excessive rainfall, etc. Recently USDA Ag Secretary, Brooke Rollins, announce some initial details for the disaster programs, which includes assistance for crop and livestock producers. Farmers and ranchers in many portions of the U.S. may qualify for the disaster payments for one or both years, including the Upper Midwest that had areas impacted by drought in 2023 and by excessive rainfall in 2024. The disaster payments will be implemented by local FSA offices during the coming months.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EQRfG9
From morning take…
AGRICULTURE: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Moving forward toward reconciliation of the omnibus agriculture and broadband development policy and finance bill may prove very problematic. ‘At this point, it’s as clear as mud,’ Sen. Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) said Friday. He and Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) chair the conference committee on HF2446. … There are no overlapping policy provisions between the [two] bodies’ versions of the bill. Anderson made note of that unique situation, but also commented it’s imperative the committee completes its important work. … [However], both co-chairs said solving the fiscal and policy differences can’t commence until the committee receives its budget target from legislative leaders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45ceBjY
CROPS: via a Rep. Brad Finstad press release, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) reintroduced the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act, legislation that will strengthen crop insurance and make higher coverage levels more affordable. … Original cosponsors include Representatives Michelle Fischbach (MN-07). … Specifically, the FARMER Act would increase premium support for higher levels of crop insurance coverage…[and] improve the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RZP2ew
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MOTH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “More significant black cutworm moth flights are being reported in parts of the Upper Midwest. Bruce Potter with the Minnesota Cooperative Black Cutworm Trapping Network says the bulk of captures are happening in south-central and southeastern Minnesota.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3H3ir4W
DULUTH: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “One of the Northlands biggest signs of summer is here, and that’s the season opening of the Duluth Farmers Market. For over 100 years local farmers and crafters have been selling produce, plants, jewelry and much more at the market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/434PTAZ
TOURISM: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Summer is a great time to make memories with friends and family outdoors, whether it’s picking berries, horseback riding, eating dinner on a pizza farm or attending a barn wedding. These and other on-farm activities are part of the growing agritourism industry. Extension Educator DeeDee LeMier answers questions about the state of agritourism in Minnesota.” LEMIER: “As an emerging sector in Minnesota, the full economic impact is not yet well understood. According to the Agricultural Census, 3,862 of Minnesota’s 68,822 farms offer direct sales or agritourism, and about 25% of those farms made less than $10,000 from these efforts. But economic impact is about more than just receipts or profits. Beyond direct transactions, like produce sales or apple orchard admission, we should account for visitors who stop for gas, dine out or stay overnight in the area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mdVlZs
SATURDAY: Via Thrifty Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Enjoy nature, music and of course not to forgetting the most important element… the BARN! Rock the Barn at Dodge Center takes place May 17th.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j2LVx7
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
WEEDS/PESTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Farmers in north-central and northeast Iowa are seeing minimal weed and pest pressure. Iowa Soybean Association research agronomist Shane Beck says fields ‘look pretty clean.’ ‘I did see a corn field last week that had some velvet leaf coming, but nothing I was super concerned with yet. It looks like the preemergence worked really well.’ He tells Brownfield growers should be scouting for insects and early season diseases.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iVIqsj
CHICKENS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Chicken owners from across the Twin Cities have been known to dump fowl on Miranda Meyer’s St. Paul doorstep in the middle of the night. Outside her house on Hatch Avenue — yes, St. Paul’s ‘chicken lady’ lives on Hatch Avenue — neighbors stop and watch the birds strut toward feed scattered near Meyer‘s black hearse. Hens like Sweet Pea, found half-frozen in a bush, ruffle their feathers in a white coop. Meyer‘s rooster, Jimothy Dean Scrambles, perches on a fence and crows. Minneapolis animal control officials call Meyer, 32, to rehome abandoned chickens. But in her home city, St. Paul animal control has issued citations against her flock.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3F04kgm
SMITH: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “For the second time in two weeks, a director with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association welcomed a U.S. senator to their farming operation. After MSGA President Darin Johnson hosted Sen. Amy Klobuchar in April at his farm in Wells, Sen. Tina Smith spent an hour at the Morgan family farm of Jeffrey and Kelli Sorenson, literally discussing ‘kitchen-table issues’ in the Sorenson’s dining room.” QUOTE: “It was great having Sen. Smith out here to get her perspective on what we can do moving forward to pass a Farm Bill, as well as help farmers out,” said Jeffrey Sorenson, who represents Minnesota on the American Soybean Association. “She’s a great advocate for us in D.C.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43qTNnB
DOWSER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Jim Kuebelbeck walks slowly across a wooded hillside holding a wishbone-shaped fiberglass dowsing rod tightly in his upturned hands. Intense concentration is reflected in his face as he crunches through a thick layer of last year’s fallen leaves. ‘We got something here, I don't know, we'll find out,’ he says, stopping briefly while his wife Carol jabs a small pink marking flag into the ground. Kuebelbeck is dowsing, finding a prime spot for the property owner to drill a well before building a home on this property near St. Joseph. He identifies two spots where he is sure the well driller will find a good water supply.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43r9P0M
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FFA: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “Several area schools and students earned top honors at the 2025 Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Convention last week, including the Tracy team bringing home a first place team finish in the poultry evaluation, and Marshall junior Annabel Coudron placing first overall individually in poultry.” QUOTE: “I did not see that coming,” Tracy’s Elijah Lightfoot, a part of the poultry team, said. “They go from fifth to first, and when they announced the second place team, we realized we won and I was just in shock … It feels worth all the practice.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/454S3Se
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