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)
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
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)
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
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