TRADE MISSION: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn, in partnership with the U.S Grains & BioProducts Council, recently organized a trade mission to Minnesota, bringing together leading animal nutritionists from the Central America region for an immersive learning experience across the state. The mission was designed to boost confidence in using U.S. corn co-products in feed formulations, a vital step toward modernizing animal nutrition in that region.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b4JFVb (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
DC + AG
HEMP: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.) on Wednesday introduced a bill designed to set up a clear regulatory framework for hemp and hemp-derived THC products. The Lawful Hemp Protection Act would establish the first comprehensive federal regulatory framework for hemp products. Craig, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, credited her state with being the model ‘for responsible hemp regulation.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4py8aQH
MORE: Via Marijuana Moment, VERBATIM: “Under the new bill, legal hemp would not include cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by a cannabis plant or that are ‘produced, manufactured, or converted using chemical synthesis, hydrogenation, acetylation, alkylation, or any other artificial process that adds to, removes from, or otherwise alters the molecular structure of a cannabinoid so that it contains one or more functional groups or substituents that are not present in any naturally occurring cannabinoid constituent’ of cannabis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RTmfeZ
MINNESOTA: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s top cannabis regulator said hemp THC products will remain available in the state whether the federal ban takes effect or not. Minnesota has its own legislation regulating the hemp market. Like hemp business owners across Minnesota and nationwide, Leah Kollross is waiting nervously. Kollross founded the Minneapolis hemp-derived THC beverage and edible maker 23rd State with her husband, Kasey, around the time she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2023. She has been forced to rethink the future of her business after Congress passed the ban last fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fvluAu
WISCONSIN: Via letter from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to the state’s congressional delegation, QUOTE: “I must reiterate the importance of Congress providing a stable and workable path forward for Wisconsin’s hemp industry in the next Farm Bill or standalone legislation. Hemp has become an increasingly important tool for agricultural diversification, rural economic development, and value-added manufacturing, creating new opportunities for Wisconsin farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers across our state. As Congress considers the future of federal hemp policy, it is essential that any changes provide the certainty and regulatory clarity needed for this emerging industry to continue growing and investing in Wisconsin.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vNZaZ4
(DISCLOSURE: Plift is a Fluence client)
AID: Via Ingstad Minnesota Radio Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Congressman Brad Finstad says a House budget proposal includes $10 billion in economic aid for row crop farmers. Finstad says the assistance would be distributed through a bridge payment program similar to last year’s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44JzGB2
AI: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to speed up progress in plant science by calling on universities and stakeholders to help build new AI tools that can translate the huge amount of germplasm data the agency collects. Through the Genesis Mission and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), USDA is expected to launch an Agricultural National Science & Technology Challenge later this year. The Challenge will ask innovators to create practical solutions that pull together different types of information—like images, field data, and lab results—so scientists can quickly spot important plant and seed traits and develop crops that are more resilient and productive.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wgtCvQ
AG PRODUCTS
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The new CEO of the United Soybean Board says increasing demand for U.S. soybeans is needed to help improve farmer profitability. Courtney Knupp tells Brownfield that includes market diversification and value-added opportunities.” KNUPP: “There’s a lot of versatility in this product, and we need to capture more opportunities to impact U.S. consumers and keep that product at home.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4yzBuu9
MARKETING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A grain merchandiser says having a marketing plan can help farmers take advantage of rallies. Mathew Burkey with Ag Valley Co-Op, based in western Nebraska, says producers often overthink their strategies, which can create stress.” BURKEY: “If it is a profitable sale, then it’s a good one and then you have to move on to the next one. It’s hard to do, but if you don’t make yourself have targets and know your cost of production, sometimes you get paralyzed by emotion and not doing something is still doing something and then nothing gets done.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TjeO12
ETHANOL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. ethanol production bounced back after a couple of weeks of decline. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.094 million barrels per day, up 54,000 on the week and 16,000 on the year, supported by margins and demand expectations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pF8EEM
MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The grain markets were higher early Wednesday with wheat leading the price gains and adding war premium. Vince Boddicker of Farmers Trading Company says hard red winter wheat made new contract highs and new highs for the year. He says the Iran War is driving up the cost of energy and leading to inflation concerns but Boddicker is urging caution because at some point it becomes old news.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fw6S47
WHEAT: Via Barchart, VERBATIM: “The wheat complex shrugged off early weakness on Tuesday, with contracts higher across the three markets. Chicago SRW contracts were 4 to 5 cents in the green. KC HRW futures were up 9 to 10 ½ cents in the front months. MPLS spring wheat was the leader, with contracts 11 to 12 cents higher. Spring wheat led the charge higher, as Minnesota/the Dakotas through the PWN are seen with little to no precip in the next week according to the NOAA 7-day QPF.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yBaomo
JET FUEL: Via Delta, VERBATIM: “Delta Air Lines is scaling SAF through a multi-airport collaboration supported by Shell Aviation that aims to expand SAF availability and adoption. Together, the two companies will expand SAF availability across key U.S. hubs and priority cities — including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Portland International Airport (PDX), John. F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Logan International Airport (BOS) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) — while building the infrastructure needed to support long term, reliable supply. The collaboration comes at a critical time for fuel diversification and supply resilience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TuahsD
(DISCLOSURE: Delta is a Fluence client)
FROM THE FIELDS
FALL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agronomist with CHS expects farmers to alter fall fertility plans. Corey Klaphake covers southern Minnesota and says cutbacks are likely because of high fertilizer prices.” KLAPHAKE: “I think definitely there will be some cutting back no doubt, on the phosphates probably in particular is what the big conversation has been.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hrPsbf
SEEDS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding the public that the deadline is approaching to submit comments on whether current rules sufficiently protect natural resources from contamination allegedly associated with neonicotinoid‑treated crop seeds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b1K2Qs
LAND: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Farmland values have likely peaked, but a sharp decline is not expected, according to Bell Bank Director of Agribusiness Development Lynn Paulson. Speaking at the Bell Bank AgViews Live seminar, Paulson said additional farmland could come onto the market in the years ahead through estate transfers and changing farm economics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pBpyUA
WEEDS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Some sugarbeet growers are returning to a decade’s old weed control approach because of herbicide resistance. Kevin Olson is the president of LASCO Manufacturing, which uses a patented electric discharge system on its Lightning Weeder tool to kill weeds. He tells Brownfield the weeder was developed by Allis Chalmers in the early 1980’s in response to chemically resistant weeds, but production dipped when the company experienced financial trouble.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45flqAb
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FREE SAMPLES: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “Ecolibrium 3‘s Lincoln Park Grocery Store is getting closer to opening to the public. In the meantime, they’re connecting with locals by offering weekly produce samples. The produce at LNPK is grown locally at Eco 3’s Urban Farm on the grounds of Lake Superior College. The produce is picked in the morning before heading to the store on West Superior Street that same day. Fresh samples are given out every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. right outside the store.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3R56Fg8
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