HARVEST: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “2025 marked Brian Thalmann’s 34th harvest season and Nathan Serbus’ seventh. Looking back, the two farmers say the year delivered a few lessons, and they feel grateful to have seen fairly high yields. Thalmann, who farms with his son Adam in Plato, said well-timed rains through much of the summer set them up for what eventually was a crop 10 percent above their average production history. What he didn’t count on was that the continually wet conditions also set the stage for higher disease pressure, including white mold.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sbfl2f (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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HEADWINDS
MORE AID: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers are already considering a second tranche of farm aid that could be included in Congress’ Jan. 30 funding package, according to five lawmakers and others familiar with the plans. ‘I’d like to see another 10 [billion dollars],’ House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) told POLITICO’s Morning Agriculture. When asked about a timeline for that money, he added: ‘That, I don’t know.’ The push comes just days after the Trump administration rolled out an initial $12 billion package for farmers hurting from the president’s tariff agenda and other economic headwinds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q5hI4w
BIRD FLU: Via Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Mike Rounds (R-SD) led 21 of their colleagues in urging Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to move forward with the USDA’s avian flu vaccine strategy for poultry while encouraging a comprehensive, science-based approach.” QUOTE: “Any finalized vaccine strategy must take into account feedback from animal health stakeholders, industry experts, and be grounded in sound science. It must also be comprehensive in scope, addressing all impacted species, including turkeys and egg-laying hens. Once a vaccine is developed and USDA has confirmed its safety and efficacy, a vaccine strategy for dairy cattle should also be prioritized.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48GfXUg
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota turkey grower John Zimmerman, who served as chair of the National Turkey Federation in 2024, tells Brownfield the industry has made great strides in biosecurity and limiting the spread of avian flu.” ZIMMERMAN: “But at the end of the day we’re still having very highly bio-secure farms come down with the virus, so we need to look at other options. And that other option for us now is the vaccine . . . we have to get a strategy in place to work with USDA to make sure that if we do start to selectively vaccinate some of these flocks that have been hit multiple times or certain geographic areas, that it doesn’t interrupt our trade agreements with other foreign countries. So that’s what we’re fighting for now and that’s what we’re asking for help from the Senators.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/457yQ1t
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
PERSPECTIVES ON AID
BAILOUT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An Iowa farmer who joined President Trump to announce a bridge payment program suggests the administration knows more help is needed. Cordt Holub says he sat next to the President during a roundtable Tuesday and then visited the Oval Office.” HOLUB: “He was all ears. And of course we’re grateful and thankful for these bridge payments, but at the end of the day without permanent long-term action, long-term viability is definitely at risk.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3KO1DkS
MORE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “While rural areas remain conservative bastions, farmers’ patience with Washington is wearing thin. Several of them described the government bailout, an echo of similar policies during Trump’s first term, as a welcome stopgap but one that will not solve the agricultural industry’s problems.” QUOTE: “It’s a bridge. It’s not the ultimate solution we’re looking for,” said Charlie Radman, a fourth-generation farmer who grows corn and soybeans on the land his family has owned near Randolph, Minnesota, since 1899. “What we really want to have is a little more certainty and not have to rely on these ad hoc payments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44UJqJ8
“HOLES IN THE BOAT”: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An Iowa farmer who serves on the United Soybean Board is still concerned about margins despite the government’s plan to issue bridge payments in early 2026. Brent Renner grows corn and soybeans near Klemme.” RENNER: “If you want to use the analogy of a shotgun hitting a boat, we’ve got several holes in our boat right now with the ag economy in general. And while this is certainly not an unwelcome band-aid, it’s maybe still a band-aid.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48P4CS9
DC IMPACTS
INTEREST: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve cut interest rates another quarter point this week. Ag economist Dr. Megan Roberts with Compeer Financial says the Fed is likely responding to labor market concerns . . . She tells Brownfield the rate cut is a positive for farmers who plan to borrow in 2026.” ROBERTS: “It’s just a little bit more moderation in interest rates. We’ve already had two cuts at the last two Fed open market committee meetings (so) it’s just nice to see a little bit of that moderation of interest rates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MEC5Hm
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
LAND: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom demanding California abandon a proposal that would redistribute agricultural land based on race, ethnicity, and national origin. This letter comes as the California Land Equity Task Force considers a draft proposal that would encourage and facilitate land transfers and financial assistance exclusively to certain minorities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pAxhS9
BACKGROUND: Via Farms.com, VERBATIM: “The governor directed the Agricultural Land Equity Task Force to provide a report by Jan. 1 with recommendations ‘on how to address the agricultural land equity crisis.’ Land equity, according to the task force is ‘when all people have secure and affordable access to viable land for the care, relationship with, and cultivation of food, fiber, medicine, and cultural resources without systemic barriers, disparities, or exploitation,’ a draft report says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ajoH5v
TRANSPORTATION
E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The executive director of the Minnesota Biofuels Association indicates year-round nationwide E15 is getting closer to reality. Brian Werner says renewable fuel and refiner stakeholders are meeting in Washington D.C.” WERNER: “And they’re making progress on getting to an agreement on year-round E15. So some changes that would allow E15 to be sold year-round, and also make some changes to how small refinery exemptions are defined.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3KYrt5F
ROAD SAFETY: Via KIMT-TV, VERBATIM: “A group of Byron area farmers held a workshop with the University of Minnesota Extension and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, Dec. 10 in response to rising concerns about distracted drivers during the harvest season. Kevin Connelly, a dairy, oat and soybean farmer in Byron, says this latest harvest season, he and his neighbors saw an increase in close calls on the road where impatient drivers would try and pass their farm equipment on the ride side, driving along the ditch, or even trying to pass on the left side during while they were conducting a turn.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4j2ZX3K
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)
MONEY MATTERS
ENERGY: Via KVRR-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers and rural communities have been hit hard again this year with an increase in their electricity bills. Minnesota Department of Commerce spoke with two Minnesota farmers who say they have turned to solar power for their daily energy. But many people say they are cutting costs by cutting back on medications or food.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q77QaG
TAX CREDIT: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) will start accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on January 1. This is an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48AF5NF
FARM PRODUCTS
SCHOOLS: Via Minnesota Daily, VERBATIM: “On the wildflower-filled Rusnak family farm in Wanamingo Township, Minnesota, fields of fresh produce are harvested and sent to Minneapolis Public Schools through the Farm to School program. MPS has purchased produce, meat proteins, grains and beans from small to mid-sized farmers across the state since 2013, MPS Farm to School Coordinator Madison Taylor said. This October, schools across the country are celebrating National Farm to School Month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Yr2evS
TREES: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Still searching for the perfect Christmas tree? Consider buying local! Minnesota-grown trees are harvested fresh, last longer, and support our state’s farmers. Find a local tree farm near you at http://MinnesotaGrown.com” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3YbxKhD
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MOVE: Via KFGO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Traverse County farmer Tom Frisch led the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council as chair for two years, helping to direct soy checkoff investments in research, value-added uses, developing new leaders and building markets. Now, after stepping down as Council chair in June 2025, Frisch is taking on a greater role with the United Soybean Board after being elected secretary during USB’s December board meeting in St. Louis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pYxRc6
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