BEEF: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “U.S. beef producers have been struggling with tight margins and uncertainty for years. We stand with our friends at the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association in support of hardworking family farmers and ranchers. Thank you for all that you do!” POST: https://fluence-media.co/47b2PqR (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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CHINA: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “As U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping prepare to kick off talks on Thursday, U.S. negotiators have signaled they seek a return to a fragile trade war truce, but tensions remain high and longer-term economic irritants will likely persist between the geopolitical rivals. Trump has repeatedly expressed optimism about reaching a deal when he meets Xi in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. It will be their first face-to-face meeting since Trump’s first term.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hvCA1O
MORE: Via CNBC, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump is ‘losing a self-inflicted trade war’ with China, leaving the United States with a ‘weak hand’ going into his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Senate Democrats said Wednesday in a new report on the effects of Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs. ‘Trump’s trade wars have imposed significant costs’ on U.S. consumers and businesses, ‘sold out American farmers,’ and the president ‘has strengthened China’s hand while weakening America’s leverage,’ the report says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oJi14v
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “There’s concern China may not follow through on certain aspects of an anticipated trade deal with the U.S. Michael Cordonnier with Soybean and Corn Advisor says during the first Trump administration, the Chinese did not fulfill its commitments as part of the Phase One agreement. ‘And between then and now, which is six years later, Brazil is producing 46, 47 million tons more of soybeans. So with the first Trump administration (trade war), China said ‘we’ve got to diversify our soybean sourcing.’ He tells Brownfield China looked to South America and hasn’t looked back.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3L6nYdl
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
HEMP: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 state and territory attorneys general calling on Congress to outlaw intoxicating hemp products at the federal level. If enacted, the move could have major implications for Minnesota’s booming hemp-derived THC edible and beverage industry. Ellison is one of four lead sponsors of a letter publicized Friday asking congressional leaders ‘to act decisively to clarify the Farm Bill’s definition of hemp to ensure intoxicating THC products are taken off the market.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X1oYC1
MORE: Via Marijuana Moment, VERBATIM: “A GOP senator says he’s willing to hold up spending legislation to end the ongoing government shutdown if Congress attempts to move forward with a controversial plan to ban hemp products containing THC—though he’s warning there’s a “real danger” he won’t prevail. As such, he argues that it’s imperative for the industry make its voice heard on Capitol Hill over the coming days. At a virtual event hosted by Hemp Industry & Farmers of America (HIFA) on Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) gave a status update on efforts to keep the proposed hemp ban out of appropriations legislation that’s being negotiated by House and Senate lawmakers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nF4udq
TOMORROW: Via AgriGrowth, VERBATIM: “Economic data from the first quarter of 2025 showed that Minnesota’s GDP decreased by 2.42% from the previous year, driven by mounting challenges in the agriculture industry. Minnesota’s agriculture and food sector has been a cornerstone of the state’s economic growth, often mitigating or cushioning recessions. To strengthen our agriculture and food economy, change is required. Minnesota AgriGrowth’s fall summit will continue the hard questions being asked at kitchen tables and board rooms: ‘How do we build a robust agriculture and food economy in Minnesota by 2040?’” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/3L2utxu (SPONSORED: AgriGrowth)
SOYBEANS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, news broke across an ocean that, ahead of a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and China’s president, Xi Jinping, China had purchased three cargoes of U.S. soybeans, ending a monthslong embargo. The news was welcome. But more would be needed. In southwestern Minnesota, including Tracy, local economies follow the soybean markets. In good years, farmers use profits to buy pickups from area car dealerships and make down payments on land. In lean years, they tighten belts. Trump’s trade war with China could not have come at a worse time. It’s the lean years in the soybean markets, and up until this year every third row went to China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49o2imP
FUTURES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Soybean futures are at new highs as the market responds to reports China and the U.S. are closing in on a trade deal. Market analyst Angie Setzer with Consus Ag Consulting says prices are at levels not seen since September 2024.” SETZER: “On the November contract, I was just looking that up today. I know we’re at least 12 months (since) the highest we have been. And now, it was October 1st of last year, or the very end of September last year that we saw Nov ’25 beans actually trade up to that $11 mark.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oKAoWJ
NEXT MONTH: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis surveys farm lenders across the Ninth District quarterly to check the pulse of agriculture in this heavily rural region. Join regional economist Joe Mahon for a live webinar to discuss the latest results—gathered as fall harvests were underway—on farm incomes, land values, interest rates, and the availability of farm labor.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/47BujF9
TAIWAN: From the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago via X, VERBATIM: “Director General Lei Yen-Feng was pleased to attend a dinner hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on October 23 to welcome the visiting delegation from Taiwan organized by the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Grains & Bioenergy Association. During the event, Director General Lei exchanged views with Minnesota officials on Taiwan–U.S. and Taiwan–Minnesota relations, expressing hope to build on this foundation to further promote bilateral trade in soybeans, corn, bioenergy, and other products.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4qA8caO
COVER CROPS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Farmers are looking for cover crop benefits beyond soil health and water management. Midwestern BioAg CEO Gaji Balakaneshan says in many cases, growers only use cover crops because they’re paid to. ‘Because they’re not seeing a benefit on a year-to-year basis, and that’s part of the problem.’ He tells Brownfield cover crops can help improve crop fertility programs.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qNHJqq
CLIMATE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan was at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs Tuesday talking with students about climate action. Regan was administrator under President Biden, who signed legislation encouraging private and public investment in clean energy. Environmental protections have been deprioritized by President Trump’s administration. This month, Trump canceled more than $7 billion in grants supporting clean energy projects in 16 states.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3X6wawA
DECISIONS: Via UPI, VERBATIM: “Winter is coming for farmers in the Midwest and the long, cold months will be filled with questions about how to keep producing. Operating notes are coming due, equipment needs to be updated and the plans for next planting season are beginning, Dan Glessing, president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, told UPI. Glessing is a dairy farmer in Waverly, Minn., a small town west of Minneapolis. His family raises dairy cows but it also grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats. The diversity of his operation is a strength, though he faces a number of decisions during the offseason to continue being successful.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48NrSBz
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)
NEXT MONTH: Via Aitkin Age, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) will host its 2025 annual meeting, Nov. 20-22 at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest Minnetonka, bringing together grassroots members to discuss the most pressing issues facing agriculture. The three-day event features educational sessions, organizational updates, networking and recognition of agricultural leaders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4og0eSI
CARGILL: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “U.S. agribusiness Cargill Inc (CARG.UL) said Wednesday it is permanently laying off 80 employees in Minnesota and an undisclosed number globally in the latest wave of job cuts among agricultural companies hit by a broader farm sector slump. The layoffs, part of a plan announced last December to cut its workforce by 5%, were aimed at ‘reducing redundancy in select professional areas,’ Cargill said in an emailed statement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hCoZ9d
SNAP: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “This week, @GovTimWalz announced $4 million in emergency funding for 300 food shelves & Tribal Nations to offset interrupted food benefits like SNAP due to the federal government shutdown. Use the Hunger Solutions Find Help map at https://hungersolutions.org/find-help/ or call 1-888-711-1151.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4qAaZk7
DISEASES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Growers in the Upper Midwest dealt with several soybean diseases this year. Stine Seed agronomist Susan Hart covers Minnesota and the Dakotas and says harsh spring conditions made crops vulnerable. ‘They got beat up so hard right when those beans were coming out of the ground that really just set up a great situation for some diseases to really cause some problems this year for us.’ She tells Brownfield one of the diseases was charcoal rot.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Wx18hl
HARVEST: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “The 2025 harvest is off to an early and efficient start as most farmers in our area have completed harvesting soybeans and have started picking corn. Many have finished soybeans in record time this year due to dry conditions and timely maturity. Harvest reports that I’ve heard have been anywhere from average to above-average yields, with most producers happy with their crop so far. The biggest difference-maker in yields that I’ve heard of this year has been the timely application of fungicide on corn, with reports of 20- to 30-bushel-per-acre increases in yields for those who elected for one to two applications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47gjU2M
DATA: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “The USDA was expected to publish the 30th Crop Progress report of the growing season today, but the report was not published for a fourth week because of the continued government shutdown. The shutdown has affected all four expected October reports from USDA. Just four more reports are anticipated after today for the 2025 season, with the last expected Nov. 24, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LAjWd9
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MSR&PC: Via KFGO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council has five seats up for election in 2026, spanning almost all districts across the state. MSR&PC is seeking diverse viewpoints to help direct checkoff dollar investments into projects that benefit farmers and the state’s soybean industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hvSbyq
CARGILL: Via World Grain, VERBATIM: “Cargill is supporting regenerative agriculture practices in 16 countries through a range of programs and partnerships, according to the company’s latest annual report. One such partnership involves Cargill and Mars, Inc. helping farmers in Poland receive payments for carbon sequestered after adopting regenerative practices with the goal of improving soil health on more than 4,500 hectares through 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JyoErc
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