250 YEARS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Two hundred and fifty years ago, nine out of ten Americans were farmers. Today, less than two percent of our population raise the food, feed, fiber and renewable energy that, more than ever, fuels American ingenuity and creativity. The thread that connects agriculturists across all that time is family. Family farms are as American as apple pie, as the saying goes, and they truly helped to build the strong, democratic republic we celebrate today. You can trace that family connection in the many farm families of Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bsXuwF (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
THE STATE OF AG
SURVEY: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Crop farmers waiting for stronger returns might have a longer road ahead than many hoped. According to Farm Journal’s June Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor(AEEM), half of the agricultural economists surveyed don’t expect crop agriculture to return to broadly profitable margins for another three to five years.”
“The results highlight growing concerns over tight margins, shrinking working capital and continued uncertainty surrounding demand and production costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f36cTm
PAIN POINTS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The agricultural economy isn’t the only thing causing headaches for regional farmers. Grand Farm, a Fargo-based ag nonprofit focused on research and technology, released a report identifying five pain points impacting farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Grand Farm Executive Director William Aderholdt said his team reached out to commodity councils and associations to understand the problems ailing their members. But the report’s goal isn’t just to compile issues troubling farm country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vd6mO4
GRAIN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Many farmers are pricing old and new crop grain. Tim Waibel grows corn and soybeans near Courtland in south-central Minnesota and says most of his crop is priced.” WAIBEL: “We’ve done okay with the marketing, generally speaking. We have less than 10 percent to market yet, so I think we did pretty good.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QXYYbq
FERTILIZER: Via The Street, VERBATIM: “Hunger and food insecurity don’t move in sync with oil prices—and right now, fertilizer supply and affordability remain a major global pressure point. Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau from the George W. Bush Presidential Center explains the ‘long tail’ of fertilizer disruptions and why the impact on farmers can extend well beyond the initial shock. We discuss where risk is highest, including countries already close to food insecurity such as Ethiopia and parts of South Asia, and how high fertilizer costs force difficult decisions during planting seasons—decisions that can affect yields, staple food prices, and overall food security.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4f9k66K
MORE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “But the costs borne by farmers don’t necessarily get passed on to consumers, and food system experts say they’re unlikely to have a major impact on the retail prices of fruit and vegetables. ‘Consumers are going to see higher food prices come September to January, once harvests start coming in, and the few months thereafter,’ said Chris Barrett, a professor of agricultural economics at Cornell University. ‘Very little of that is going to be directly attributable to fertilizer.’ That’s because food inflation is generally driven by larger factors affecting multiple parts of the food supply chain, such as fewer workers and high fuel costs.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QBWVty
BY THE NUMBERS
ACREAGE: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The late June USDA Acreage Report is always highly anticipated, because it becomes the first ‘hard data’ after the March USDA Plantings Intentions Report to give an indication of crop production levels for a given growing season. Many times, the June USDA Report can have a big impact on grain market trends, either upwards or downwards; however, the 2026 report was basically ‘neutral’ for corn and soybeans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ybWh6Y
REPORTING: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “One of the components of the USDA One Farmer One File Initiative is the modernization of acreage reporting. SDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce told the Red River Farm Network the first phase replaces paper maps and office visits with an interactive digital mapping system.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eVD6Fy
ORGANIC: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping organic producers and handlers cover certification costs as part of the Department’s effort to put Farmers First and Make America Healthy Again. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications to help with organic certification costs for the 2025 and 2026 program years through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which covers up to 75% of eligible organic certification costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eLUOwp
PRIORITIES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The biggest mistake growers and agronomists can make this season is falling behind in scouting, planning and execution, according to Mark Herz, agronomy technical specialist at CHS. He offers three priorities to help shape a strong scouting approach.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p3HOFM
THE PLANNER
NEXT WEEK: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will host a free waste pesticide collection event on July 16 in Clay County. Farmers, residents, and businesses can safely dispose of unwanted and unusable pesticides. Participants from all counties are welcome.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44aQS2a
NEXT MONTH: Via Farmfest, VERBATIM: “This year could be the biggest year yet for Candidate Forums at Minnesota Farmfest, featuring four candidate forums during the event on Aug. 4, 5 and 6 at the Gillfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, Minn. In every even numbered year since 1990, Minnesota Farmfest has featured candidate forums for the Minnesota election races for Governor, U.S. Senate, and the Congressional seats in Greater Minnesota. Several other interesting forums on timely agricultural topics have also been planned during the three-day event.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44P6PLA
MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says funds continue to pressure the cattle futures and he anticipates that will continue after last week’s lower weekly closes.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4aESWDj
SHEEP: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota sheep farmer says high input costs are creating challenges. Amanda Cook of Center City tells Brownfield raising livestock is getting more expensive.” COOK: “The cost of goods is a major challenge for everybody right now. That’s really impacted our margins and being able to sustainably create products in ways that preserve our business for future years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4y6u0hP
REGULATIONS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to combat weaponized regulatory and enforcement actions against America’s producers, ranchers, and small businesses. This partnership advances Pillar 4 of the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework by building a government-wide shield against lawfare.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vkhLvN
WATER: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “The MDA and local Soil and Water Conversation Districts are hosting a series of nitrate testing clinics for private well owners this summer. All residents within driving distance are welcome to attend.” LINKS: https://fluence-media.co/4fptfIv
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DRONES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A crop protection specialist says spray drones can play an important role on today’s farms. WinField United’s Tyler Steinkamp tells Brownfield, ‘Drones, especially as we continue to develop this technology, they just keep getting better and better.’ He says growers can use them for a variety of crop protection applications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wt3yxo
PEACE: via MFU advisory, VERBATIM: “National Farmers Union (NFU) and Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) mourn the passing of David Velde, a long-time Farmers Union leader and General Counsel for the organizations. Velde, 74, of Alexandria, died June 26. … He grew up in a Farmers Union family and was the director of public affairs for Minnesota Farmers Union before serving as NFU and MFU General Counsel.”
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