COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council (MCR&PC) invests corn checkoff funds in programs that bolster agricultural literacy, develop future ag leaders, strengthen community connections, and improve public trust in farming. The following is a summary of those investments in 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43FZddW (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
AG HEADLINES
SOYBEAN SALE: Via barchart, VERBATIM: “USDA reported 372,000 MT of soybeans to unknown destinations this morning with 60,000 MT for old crop an 312,000 MT for new crop shipment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4erJOCT
MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Was it China? Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag says,” MARTINSON: “You know, with the size of the purchase, you almost think it has to be. And the timing of it is very coincidental for the rumors that came out yesterday. So, you know, I do think it probably was China that came in and did this purchase.
We really won’t know until it gets ready to ship and it gets declared. But at this point, it looks ominous that it was China that was in buying.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sa3uE1
FERTILIZER: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “With the Strait of Hormuz reopening, Heartland Investor Services Commodity Trading Advisor Eugene Graner is focused on the movement of fertilizer out of the Persian Gulf. Brazil imports 85 percent of its fertilizer and will be competing with the U.S. for that supply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eeJXL8
DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The government relations director for the Wisconsin Farmers Union says long-term policy solutions are needed to help stabilize milk prices for producers. Michelle Ramirez-White with Dairy Together says more than 40 percent of U.S. dairy farms have been lost since 2017.” RAMIREZ-WHITE: “With the boom and bust of price cycles, the flood of milk on the market has contributed to five-year depressed and volatile milk prices,” she says. “Small and mid-sized dairy farmers just can’t compete.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SwkaFI
BEEF: Via watchdog organization Farm Action, VERBATIM: “Farm Action released a new rancher-backed policy roadmap to address record-high beef prices by rebuilding domestic cattle production and restoring competition, rather than relying on increased imports. The roadmap argues that today’s high beef prices are rooted in decades of consolidation in meatpacking and retail. In the 1970s, the top four beef packers controlled about 36% of the market. Today, four companies control roughly 85%, leaving ranchers with fewer buyers, less bargaining power, and a smaller share of the consumer beef dollar.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4voBbR2
CHECKOFF: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “By three votes, Minnesota beef producers last month rejected a proposed increase to the state’s beef checkoff program. A successful passage would have increased the checkoff value from $1 to $1.50, the 50¢ being a refundable assessment. The increase would have made Minnesota the 20th state to add to the $1 national beef checkoff assessment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4epebLH
CROP UPDATE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “USDA’s latest weekly crop report says 81 percent of corn in the state is rated in good to excellent condition, up from 80 percent last week. Tim Waibel farms near Courtland in south-central Minnesota and tells Brownfield his corn looks excellent.” WAIBEL: “And the soybeans I would say would not be much behind excellent, they’re pretty good. A little iron chlorosis in some of the soybeans, but we’ve had very favorable rains.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eoO5XO
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)
HEADWINDS
MOTH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A scouting network has identified a migratory pest in southeast Minnesota that has growers concerned. University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Ryan Miller says traps are capturing an alarming rate of true armyworm moths.” MILLER: “Early last week it first popped up. And true armyworm, it’s a migratory insect so it’s a moth that overwinters in the south and then is blown in on some of these southerly winds that we get in those low-level jets that can move insects around.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4evYu47
WEEVIL: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Alfalfa producers in central Minnesota lucky enough to harvest hay prior to heavy rainfall during the first and second weeks of June had some good harvests. Those who waited for some more height are now waiting for rain to stop before the first cutting. While timely harvesting of the forage crop is always a battle, alfalfa weevils are adding in some additional concerns in some pockets of the growing region.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uMdmRH
EL NINO: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Nutrien atmospheric scientist Eric Snodgrass says the current El Niño is developing faster than any previous event on record, but farmers should be cautious about assuming it will dictate summer weather patterns across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.” SNODGRASS: “At this point in June, it’s the warmest the ocean temperatures have been since we’ve been measuring them consistently across the equatorial Pacific. A lot of the superlatives assigned to this El Niño are coming true.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gqZPvs
WEATHER NOTE: The next Drought Monitor is due out tomorrow. Watch for it in lunch take and in Friday’s ag take.
TAR SPOT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agronomy manager with Wyffels Hybrids says the stormy weather pattern for much of the Corn Belt is setting the stage for tar spot issues in corn. Robby Meeker, who covers the eastern half of Illinois and all of Indiana, tells Brownfield, ‘The June rains are really what set the table and open the door for tar spot exposure. If we can get that splash event here early in the year, that’s what can bring on the later onset of tar spot.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gqyOIr
MINNESOTA UPDATES
SCHOOL FOOD: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “[Monday] at the @MNArboretum we kicked off the third cohort of the #FarmtoSchool Institute, where six school teams from across MN will develop action plans to bring more local foods into their cafeterias, classrooms, and communities!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4eOS5lK
AG RELATIONS: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciated opportunity to welcome the Ag Relations Council to Mpls MN today for their annual meeting. Made up of pr professionals who work in agriculture from all over the United States in all walks of agriculture!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4eCsAD8
FSA COMMITTEES: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ozH76N
WEEDS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The next generation of weed control has officially arrived, but for many U.S. row-crop farmers, the tools remain just out of reach. They are often too expensive, too slow, or too impractical for widespread adoption on large-scale operations. Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist, sees the dilemma clearly. He notes that conversations among his industry colleagues have fundamentally shifted away from the traditional playbook. Where scientists once focused almost exclusively on identifying specific weeds and matching them with the right chemistry solution, the industry is now forced to look beyond the jug.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ePqaSE
GRANT: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Applications are open to support Continuous Living Cover (CLC) Crop markets. This grant will accelerate the CLC crop development chain through supporting infrastructure, business development, and equipment.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4ez8yJv
RESEARCH: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hosted several land-grant university leaders at USDA for a roundtable discussion and announced the opening of the FY2026 funding opportunity for the Research Facilities Act program. President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts provided $125 million annually for the Research Facilities Act program and this historic investment will help address decades of deferred maintenance and accelerate modernization of agricultural research facilities across the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oxjtbn
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FARM TOUR: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Tucked into the hills of the Driftless region near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, one farm is putting a new spin on the area’s agricultural history—and inviting visitors to get their hands in the dirt (literally). Sacred Blossom Farm has been a destination for foodies and the farm-curious since 2016, and this summer, it’s opening its gates for two weekends of open house farm tours.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4esAUVB
BERRIES: From the Star Tribune, a guide to berry picking options. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4xAgdjm
AWARD: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Last week, the MDA’s Food Safety Team received the Elliot O. Grosvenor Food Safety Award from the Association of Food and Drug Officials. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements made by the Food and Feed Safety Division at the MDA in food safety.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4vc4x4M
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