CHECKOFF: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Thank you to Minnesota’s family corn farmers for 35 years of continued support for the Minnesota corn checkoff! Learn more about how the checkoff delivers markets opportunities for corn farmers and agricultural economies at the link in our bio.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/3CYaPzh MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3EPMQmt (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
UNCERTAINTY: From Esme Murphy via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers say they are in a valley of uncertainty amid the layoffs and cost-cutting measures of the first few weeks of President Trump's second term. ‘It's really ... a day-to-day, hour-to-hour situation,’ Minnesota Department of Agriculture commissioner [Thom Petersen] said. [Petersen] says some programs and initiatives designed to help farmers are now in doubt. He also added that there are freezes on grants for research initiatives. He cited that some research funding that goes to the University of Minnesota, for example, is done.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hTW7Zd
MORE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “On a recent snowy afternoon, Gale Livingstone, a first generation farmer, is working in the propagation greenhouse at Deep Roots Farm, which she owns and operates. Four volunteers are putting collard greens, bok choy, kale and scallion seeds in seed starting trays — just a few of the vegetables Livingstone is growing this spring . . . Livingstone is one of about a million American farmers who benefits from financial assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) each year. But she says she isn’t sure what the future holds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kdgq5E
MORE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that USDA will release the first tranche of funding that was paused due to the review of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In alignment with White House directives, Secretary Rollins will honor contracts that were already made directly to farmers. Specifically, USDA is releasing approximately $20 million in contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CZHtR4
MORE: From Kent Erdahl via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Thom Petersen, says the USDA loan freeze is one of several uncertainties taking a toll on farmers right now. ‘It's really hard to keep up on what is happening,’ he said. Petersen said his office has fielded a large number of calls from farmers confused about the sudden firing - and re-hiring - of federal farm loan officers and other USDA staff members who have helped in the first against bird flu outbreaks on farms.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Qu1qCz
MORE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “State Senator Aric Putnam chairs the Minnesota Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee and says he recently hosted a hearing on federal funding and policy with Minnesota Department of Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen.” PUTNAM: “We know there’s a USDA (and) we know there’s an MDA, but sometimes we’re not sure who pays for what. And that becomes a real challenging budget consideration for the state committee when we’re trying to figure out how to respond to some potential changes that are happening in the federal government.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4i9afxl
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
ROUNDTABLE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Secretary Brooke Rollins hosted a roundtable with two dozen farmers to hear their perspective on the best approaches to combat avian flu and ultimately lower egg prices. They also discussed other issues facing farmers, including the importance of disaster relief, expanding markets, reducing input costs, and decreasing regulation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41913Cn
MORE: Via RFD TV, VERBATIM: “Rollins wanted their input on the best approach to solving the problem and ways to address egg shortages. They also talked about other issues in the industry, like disaster relief, input costs, and decreasing regulations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XeKyDL
NETHERLANDS: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Netherlands is seen as a gateway to the European Union for U.S. ag exports. Minnesota Department of Agriculture deputy commissioner Andrea Vaubel spoke to Brownfield after returning from a recent trade mission to the east European country. ‘They’re one of the largest importing countries in the EU (and) we’ve got a really strong relationship with them for U.S. agricultural products, so we really felt like this was a place that we needed to build on that EU relationship.’ She says the Netherlands is a major destination for U.S. soybeans, ethanol, beef, dairy, and animal feed.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kbpEPv
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows no improvement over the previous week – 63% of the state remains in drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
LAND: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Midwestern farmland values decreased one percent in 2024. Chicago Federal Reserve Bank policy advisor David Oppedahl says the district, which includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, saw dips of two to three percent in every state except Wisconsin. ‘So we are not seeing everywhere that farmland values are down, but generally in most areas they’re headed down.’ He tells Brownfield several factors are in play including a decline in crop prices.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4i9Wxu9
STUDY: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “A newly published study by researchers at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Geological Survey, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reveals new information about the age of groundwater in the state’s distinctive Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota. The peer-reviewed study examined current concentrations of a discontinued row-crop herbicide, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, in springs and wells. Researchers then compared the data against the historical use of the herbicide. Researchers combined those results with independent age-dating methods to reveal a mixture of groundwater ages, ranging from 10 to 40 years old in many of the region’s shallower springs and wells, to thousands of years old in deeper aquifers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QvX6Te
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
NEXT MONTH: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are excited to host the first annual Ag for All conference for LGBTQIA+ farmers and agriculturists.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41d5eNk
STORYTELLERS: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “Albert Lea Seed and Mad Agriculture have a lot in common. They both love organic, regenerative, and sustainable farming practices that are flipping conventional agriculture on its head. And they both love telling stories about the awesome farmers who are leading the way. The two teamed up to bring you ‘The Meadowlark’s Call,’ the story of Halee and John Wepking’s relationship to their land and growth within their community.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kbpGHm
HEIFERS: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A northern Minnesota cattle producer is benefiting from continued strength in the heifer market. Rachel Gray of Blackduck says high calf prices are trickling down to bred heifers. ‘We’ve seen record-high bred heifers (and) we hope that it holds. And my hope for people is that as they’re paying for bred heifers, which is my niche market, is that those heifers are going to pencil.’ She tells Brownfield her concern is a repeat of 2014.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QtJUyh
FFA: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Beef Council CEO Kelly Schmidt was a state FFA officer in 1998-1999.” SCHMIDT: “I have wonderful memories from it and still draw on experiences I had through that year, everything from leadership development to networking.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3D1XjdQ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CONTEST: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Our Minnesota Grown Program is launching the second year of its Cream of the Crop contest to recognize K-12 schools, early care centers, & family day cares that go above & beyond to serve & promote Minnesota-grown foods.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3Quw9zj MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4hO2GfI
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