E15: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1346—the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. Passed on a 218-203 vote, the bipartisan bill allows for permanent year-round sales of E15 (Unleaded 88) while making reasonable reforms to the Renewable Fuel Standard’s small refinery exemption program. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is thrilled with today’s vote, which is a win for corn farmers, rural communities, and U.S. drivers and recognizes that in order to deliver these wins, there are still legislative steps to be taken before it becomes law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42FvvoS (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
We call on our state leaders to pass an infrastructure jobs bill with $100 million to replace lead drinking water pipes. Sponsored by LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota. FIXMN.org (SPONSORED: LIUNA MN + ND)
DC + AG
CHINA: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “The United States expects China to sign up to buy ‘double-digit billions’ worth of U.S. farm goods following a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday. Greer noted the 25 million metric ton per year soybean deal agreed last October and said the U.S. also expects to ‘see an agreement for double-digit billion purchases of ags over the next three years per year coming out of this visit.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPulmS
MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said while China does not need old crop soybeans the original 25 million metric ton agreement on soybeans struck back in October is still in place. Still there is nothing in writing. [Dan Roose with U.S. Commodities] says, ‘Yes, that’s the only thing that we’ve picked up here so far is that the old agreement, the verbal agreement that they had, the 25 million metric tons for the next three years each year is going to be in place. And by the way, that’s pretty much what we’ve had over history or at least the last 10 years. So nothing really big on that one either.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnmlF0
MORE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Mr. Greer confirmed that the United States and China would establish a “Board of Trade” to oversee a tariff reduction on about $30 billion in goods. He said the United States was trying to steer trade with China around ‘the kinds of things we want to be selling,’ including airplanes, soybeans, medical devices and energy . . . The Chinese government also renewed export licenses for some U.S. slaughterhouses to sell American beef in China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49JqsYf
MARKET REACTION: Via Red River Farm Networking, VERBATIM: “Soybean futures turned sharply lower following comments from Trump Administration officials suggesting soybeans had already been addressed in earlier agreements with China. StoneX Chief Commodities Economist Arlan Suderman said computerized trading algorithms interpreted the news as bearish for soybeans, triggering heavy selling in thin overnight trade.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uKQ6nz
E15: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “The House on Wednesday passed a bill to codify year-round sales of E15 ethanol fuel, a major win for members from corn-producing states but one that drew fierce opposition from other Republicans. The vote was 218-203, with 122 Republicans, 95 Democrats and 1 independent voting in favor, and 90 Republicans and 113 Democrats opposing the bill. It also split the votes of Republican leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) voted against the bill, while House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) voted in favor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43beoeK
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “All eight of Minnesota’s House delegation voted for the bill, a rarity in the current Congress . . . Ethanol, a fuel made from corn and other grains, is important to Minnesota, which was the first state to mandate it in gas blends. The industry contributes $2 billion to Minnesota’s gross domestic product and 16,573 jobs, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uvSM9f
MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The House vote to expand year-round E15 on Wednesday should have been a clean policy victory lap for ethanol supporters. Instead, it’s become a multi-layered debate involving competing economic models, social media confusion, and an increasingly complicated Senate runway that may determine whether the win in the House actually translates into law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wwUuZe
MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Dan Glessing called the House E15 vote a major victory for consumers and farmers.” GLESSING: “It’s a cheaper choice for consumers, but more importantly, it’s homegrown,” said Glessing. “At the end of the day, it’s a win-win.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPT8qQ
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives—in the U.S. and abroad. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
AG HEADLINES
MONDAY: 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 spring planting was underway—on farm incomes, land values, and the impacts of interest rates on farm finances.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4daDbFL
NEXT WEEK: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “A field day demonstrating small-scale biochar production will be held at the Don and Bev Struxness Farm on Saturday, May 23. The event will be held from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. at the farm, which is located three-fourths of a mile east of Milan on Minnesota Highway 40. The use of biochar helps solve the problem of dead, dying and storm-damaged trees while enhancing the soil and productivity, according to the news release announcing the field day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dLL8kM
ETHANOL IMPACT: Via South Dakota State University, VERBATIM: “The U.S. ethanol industry experienced its first major ‘boom’ in the early 2000s, thanks to changes in U.S. energy policies — particularly biofuel mandates — along with the surging crude oil prices and the phase out of a fuel additive, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). In response, corn prices rose by as much as 31% and, according to a new study from South Dakota State University’s Ness School of Management and Economics, farmland values in ethanol-producing states increased by as much as 44%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPse2c
BIRD FLU: Via Watt Ag Net, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has had its first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in nearly a month. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of HPAI in what it described as a ‘commercial breeder operation’ in Becker County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dtbMhh
GRANTS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Pandemic food chain disruptions prompted farmers to think about making their businesses more resilient. Today, their growth plans are cropping up across Minnesota: Murphy’s Grove dairy farm in Aitkin County wants to add frozen yogurt ice pop to its product offerings; in Sawyer, Minn., Native Wise is adding an on-site meat house to process bison and establish a permanent field-to-market pathway. Both ag businesses are among the 26 Rural Field to Market Grant recipients being announced today by the Duluth-based Entrepreneur Fund with the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42VtRjf
PROCESSING: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Pork’s inaugural Activate class has provided participants with an impressive mix of experiences, connections and learning opportunities. Session 4 centered on what happens to Minnesota pigs once they leave the farm, highlighting the farm-to-fork journey and connecting us more deeply with the broader pork industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uPzr2u
OUT IN THE FIELDS
FIELDWORK: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Spring fieldwork has progressed rapidly in many portions of the upper Midwest in late April and early May; however, cool temperatures has slowed germination and crop emergence in some areas. Planting progress has been a bit slower in Wisconsin, as well as in portions of eastern Iowa and Minnesota, due to more frequent rainfall events. On the flip side, planting progress has been ahead of normal in Nebraska, South Dakota, and the eastern Corn Belt, as well as in southern and western Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/438Q4Kr
CONDITIONS: The latest Drought Monitor shows an increase in areas of the state that are abnormally dry. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of The Fertilizer Institute says disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East continue to affect global markets. In a Senate Ag Committee hearing on Wednesday, Corey Rosenbusch told attendees tighter global supplies are resulting in higher prices.” ROSENBUSCH: “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacted about 34% of globally traded urea, 20% of phosphate, 20% of the natural gas is supplied from the region, and natural gas is the feedstock, of course, for all nitrogen fertilizer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tEIcLJ
MORE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Corn and soybeans are breaking ground across southern Minnesota after a warm stretch pushed soil temperatures into emergence range, but a mostly snowless winter and a dry spring have left farmers watching the rain gauge. At the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton, soil scientist Jeff Strock said the region received roughly 15 inches of snow this past winter, which is about half the 30-inch historical average, with most of it falling late in a single wet, heavy storm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pjtxri
MARKETING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer is moving from planting to grain marketing. Chad Willis grows corn and soybeans near Willmar and says once he finished planting, he began delivering old crop sales.” WILLIS: “Hauling in some old crop (and) marketing new crop. It’s finally inching above profitable levels, so I’ll have to start making some sales for new crop.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4txX9iv
PESTS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Stay ahead of pest problems before they cost you time & yield. The Crop Protection Network brings together universities, Extension, & experts across the USA & Canada to deliver unbiased, research based guidance on identifying & managing crop pests.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dKETOd
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NEXT MONTH: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Forest Service today announced an additional 2026 recreation fee-free day on June 6 in celebration of National Trails Day, providing no cost use of all standard amenity recreation sites on national forests and grasslands.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tG2jJw
NEXT YEAR: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “The 2027 Minnesota Organic Conference is now accepting proposals for sessions, panel discussions & keynote speakers! We welcome a wide range of perspectives relevant to organic farmers of all types.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4wxGq1z
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