THIS WEEK: From Minnesota Corn via YouTube, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn is proud to support the athletes competing in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Their commitment, determination, and pursuit of excellence reflect values shared by communities across Minnesota. As these athletes train, compete, and achieve their goals, we celebrate their accomplishments and the spirit that brings us together. We’re honored to stand alongside them and cheer them on every step of the way.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4g0vROS (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
MONDAY’S CROP
SCREWWORM: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “New World screwworm, a gruesome parasite, was recently discovered in cattle and pets across Southern states. Now, Minnesota officials worry it could make its way here . . . The screwworm has so far been contained to the South. Still, Brian Hoefs, the Minnesota state veterinarian, remains concerned it could make its way here through the movement of not only livestock but also pets.” HOEFS: “Anyone traveling with your dog to vacation areas that are endemic with this parasite needs to be aware that your dog can be infested as well, and you could be bringing it back on them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uMAwHJ
PROP 12: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Nolan and Trisha Zachman raise pigs without gestation crates at Feathered Acres Learning Farm and Inn in Belgrade, Minnesota. They farm within the Niman Ranch network, which Trisha Zachman described as more than 600 independent family farmers committed to raising pork without the use of controversial 2-foot-by-7-foot crates in which most pork producers house pregnant sows. For Zachman, Proposition 12 — a voter-passed California law regarding animal welfare — created a market her operation could compete in.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vp1u9o
MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Corn and wheat were lower early Monday with soybeans trying to hold gains. Cattle were sharply higher, milk futures mixed.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eXiMER
CROP UPDATE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in west-central Minnesota says they’ve been fortunate so far with severe weather. Jamie Beyer and her husband grow corn, soybeans, sugarbeets, and alfalfa near Wheaton.” BEYER: “Things are looking pretty good. We were happy to miss some of the storm damage, it kind of came through Hoffman. But the crops are still pretty short, so we’re okay. It’s always good to miss hail and that sort of thing.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uQGLdI
SUGARBEETS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “American Crystal Sugar Co., the U.S’s largest sugarbeet company, was still slicing its 2025 crop at the end of May. The Moorhead, Minnesota, factory district finished slicing sugarbeets on May 20, 2026, and Crookston, Minnesota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, factory districts were scheduled to finish the weekend of May 29. In North Dakota, the Hillsboro and Drayton factory districts were estimated to finish in early June, said Steve Roseau, American Crystal Sugar Co. vice president of agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vpQkRQ
HARVEST: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “An unusually early wheat harvest and ongoing drought conditions are creating challenges for custom harvesting crews across the Central Plains.” QUOTE: “We’re for sure two weeks, if not three weeks ahead of schedule the whole summer so far,” said U.S. Custom Harvesters Vice President Mychal Neumiller. “We’ve literally only made one move with our entire Texas stop zeroed out. Some combines started in Kansas and some started in Oklahoma, and we’ve only got those jobs done and moved here. It’s definitely a weird year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uQPpJi
DISEASE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Last year, when Joe Sullivan’s sugar beet fields were infected with a fungal disease called Cercospora leaf spot, he was devastated. Sullivan, who farms throughout Renville County, said the disease cut his yields by about a third. He had to dig into his farm’s savings to cover the losses. ‘It’s getting to the point of, it’ll be interesting if we can keep growing the crops because they’re very expensive crops to grow,’ said Sullivan. Cercospora leaf spot is a fungus that infects sugar beets. It damages their leaves, leaving spots on them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43QZJ8Z
PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
THE BUSINESS OF AG
DATA: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “A greased hog of crop data has slipped the farm and turned into bacon for every other sector of the ag industry, contends Halterman, a particularly galling dynamic for many producers flailing for survival.” QUOTE: “The data and crop reports have grown into a monster,” echoes Bailey Buffalo, owner of Buffalo Grain Systems in Jonesboro, Arkansas. “The future is farmers generating their own proof. If enough bins were synced through a producer-controlled network, the market would no longer have to depend solely on USDA estimates. Buyers of corn, rice, and soybeans would have to negotiate against verified regional inventory controlled by the farmers who own the grain.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44sYzRa
TRADE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association says the review of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement could boost U.S. ethanol exports. Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield Mexico has regulatory barriers in place, but.” COOPER: “There does seem to be a growing openness and understanding in Mexico that they really could benefit from opening their market to U.S. ethanol. It would help lower their prices.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Slg1Vb
INPUTS: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “Farm News Media reported that ‘USDA’s new 2027 cost of production forecast reveals farmers may not see meaningful relief from elevated production costs anytime soon. The projections show total production costs continuing to rise for most major crops, pushing all commodities to record highs — including corn at $952 per acre, soybeans at $701, sorghum at $477 and wheat at $428.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vYAqxF
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The chief economist with The Fertilizer Institute says global fertilizer supplies will be constrained for the foreseeable future even if the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens. Veronica Nigh says many questions remain about the state of Middle Eastern production facilities.” NIGH: “How long is it going to take for those fertilizer vessels to get through? I don’t think they’re probably going to be the first priority vessel to get through there.” She says, “How long is it going to take for those facilities, even if they’re undamaged, to get back up and start producing?” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QWwBu4
LOOKING BACK & AHEAD
NEXT MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Ready to expand into international markets? Join MDA and @FoodExports on July 22 for a full-day seminar covering export readiness, market research, pricing, trade agreements, and more.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3So10ls
MORE: Via Food Export Midwest USA, seminar details. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4uTQIqW
PAYMENTS: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced the final RMA county average yields for corn and soybeans. The RMA yields are used to determine payment eligibility for producers that caried either 95 percent or 90 percent Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), or Supplemental Crop Option (SCO) area-based crop insurance coverage for the 2025 crop year. ECO and SCO insurance coverage utilize the same Spring projected price and the same harvest price as the typical individual crop insurance policies; however, ECO and SCO insurance indemnity payments are based on county average expected yields and final harvest yields, rather than individual farm yields.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oLMG2j
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BREAKFAST: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “This morning in greater Princeton, Minnesota for Kanabec/Isanti County Breakfast on the Farm at Haubenschild dairy. Dennis and his family have always been leaders and appreciate how they open their farm to the public!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3SUXUpa
150+ YEARS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “A Norwegian fellow named Ollie Hustad who started farming 160 acres near Battle Lake back in 1875 probably never imagined his legacy of farming continuing on today. But it has, first through his son Nels, who took over the farm after him. Nels’ son Agnar came after him. Then Arvid and finally Arlyn, the present-day owner, who has watched his son James start to farm the acreage as the sixth generation of Hustad on the rolling fields outside Battle Lake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qw70Io
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