SUSTAINABILITY: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “How Are MN Farmers Practicing Sustainability?” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kVNkYH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
BIRD FLU: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “State animal health officials have confirmed bird flu in a central Minnesota dairy herd, the first new case in dairy cows since last summer. In February, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture began testing raw milk samples from each of Minnesota's roughly 1,600 dairy farms on a monthly basis. The H5N1 virus appeared in samples collected from a Stearns County herd.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4legmmH
MORE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Board of Animal Health has quarantined the herd until they test negative. The organization is stressing that there is no concern for the safety of the public milk supply.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4chCBEd
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The state Department of Health is offering farms personal protective equipment to shield workers from virus particles. Minnesota has not reported any human cases of bird flu. Nationally, H5N1 has sickened 70 people, and one person has died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of those cases were from dairy farm exposure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iZN2yk
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
FLOODING: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s bonding The Red River Watershed Management Board is seeking $48 million from the Minnesota Legislature for seven flood reduction projects. This would be part of the infrastructure bonding request.” QUOTE: “We’re aware the legislative request through the bills introduced in the House and Senate are about $150 million and the DNR has a list of projects that were included on it of $140 million,” said Rob Sip, executive director, RRWMB. “What didn’t help is the governor had his list come out at $5.6 million so the numbers are kind off there.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c4Y1nU
ECAP: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “USDA has announced details and sign-up has begun for the Economic Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payments for crop producers. The American Relief Act of 2025 that was passed by Congress late in 2024 authorized $10 billion for ECAP payments to producers of eligible crop commodities. The legislation was signed into law on December 21, 2024, with USDA directed to implement the ECAP payments within 90 days, or by March 21, 2025. Under the direction on new USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, sign-up for the ECAP payments were announced to begin on March 19 at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. The ECAP payments were implemented to offset low crop commodity prices in 2024 and early 2025, as well as poor profit margins for the producers of most major crops raised in the U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kRZwtD
WEDNESDAY: Via UofM Crookston, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota Crookston is set to host its next Bergland Lecture Series event with guest speaker Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS, the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative. Debertin will speak about opportunities and challenges ahead for the ag landscape. The event will take place March 26 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in Bede Ballroom on campus.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42kiGjp
NEXT WEEK: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages dairy producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), a safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences. The deadline to enroll is March 31.” QUOTE: “We encourage producers to join the 945 dairy operations in Minnesota that have already signed up for this important safety net program in advance of the deadline,” said USDA Farm Service Agency Deputy State Executive Director Daniel Mahoney. “At 15 cents per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk protection through Dairy Margin Coverage is a cost-effective tool to manage risk and provide security for your operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iVvkfd
NITROGEN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An irrigation specialist is hearing farmer concerns about nutrient management ahead of the growing season. Mike Kilmer with Apple Irrigation says there’s a common theme among growers he works with. ‘The biggest concern that growers have right now is getting their nitrogen applied in a proper manner.’ Speaking to Brownfield at the North American Farm and Power Show in Owatonna, Minnesota Friday, he said irrigation can be a solution.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bZL0vM
BROOKLYN CENTER: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Brooklyn Center’s historic convention and event complex, the Heritage Center, is a top tourism driver for the north metro suburb. Red barns with white trim mark where the Village of Brooklyn Center was formed in 1911, on a farm once owned by early resident, Hennepin County sheriff and controversial figure Earle Brown. The property now hosts weddings, conferences and events, including an annual father-daughter dance. But the center has been losing money almost every year over the past decade, and ended 2024 down $500,000. Now council members are questioning whether the city should continue operating the complex.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hDs47j
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)
AG DAY: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture welcomed over 350 attendees at its fourth-annual Ag Day Gala on National Ag Day, March 18. The event took place at the North End Event Center on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, uniting agriculturalists to honor the broad range of farming and ranching practices in Minnesota and the essential role the sector plays in the state’s economic growth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iAHIBB
NEXT MONTH: Via Ag Update, VERBATIM: “Network with agricultural leaders at the 27th annual Women’s Agricultural Leadership Conference (WALC) April 9 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum near Chanhassen. This year’s WALC theme, ‘Rooted in Agriculture: Cultivating Leadership; Growing Together’, will focus on empowering participants to grow personally and professionally, ensuring a stronger and more resilient agricultural community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j1vkKS
FIRST RESPONDERS: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “Jamie Swanson serves as the fire chief of the Kandiyohi Fire Department, which covers around 1,000 people. Throughout a typical year, the Kandiyohi Fire Department responds to dozens of calls from farms. While these frequently are fire calls, the department is also prepared to deal with other risks. Part of the training which first responders do for farm accidents is familiarizing themselves with the tools available to them. These tools range from standard cutters to more niche items, like a stabilizing beam which the department got last year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41WncEp
AGRICULT-HER: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Lori Stevermer and her husband Dale farm at Easton, Minnesota. Lori has also spent over 30 years in the animal nutrition business in sales and marketing. This past week, Lori wrapped her year as president of the National Pork Producers Council during the National Pork Industry Forum. ‘I look back on my career and it is so rewarding to see more women getting involved.’ In the Agricult-HER interview with RRFN, Stevermer spoke about the importance of mentoring.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bXQvLn
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AWARD: Via Minnesota Farmfest, VERBATIM: “The Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award is back for 2025! This award was created to honor hard-working female farmers across Minnesota who selflessly give their time to growing crops and raising livestock on the farm. We need your nominations!” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c4WtKC
Copyright © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
As someone who subscribed, or as a member of the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council you are receiving this email.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427