GAS: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Great price spread for Unleaded 88 this morning at the Kwik Trip in Clearwater! Find a complete list a Minnesota fuel stations offering lower-cost, lower-carbon Unleaded 88 at https://www.mnfuels.com/” POST: https://fluence-media.co/44LXXqn (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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FROM THE USDA
SNAP: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “The Agriculture Department plans to freeze federal funding for 21 states starting next week as it escalates its crackdown on possible fraud in the food stamp program, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday. The USDA requested states in February to turn over data about benefit recipients under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that serves nearly 42 million people. Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday the withholding move would aid the department’s efforts to root out fraud, adding that 29 ‘red states’ complied with the order.” ROLLINS: “But 21 states including California, New York and Minnesota — the blue states — continue to say ‘no,’ so as of next week we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply and they tell us and allow us to partner with them to root out this fraud and protect the American taxpayer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iGj2bv
CROP INSURANCE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced major updates to federal crop insurance, reducing red tape for farmers, modernizing long-standing policies, and expanding access to critical risk protection beginning with the 2026 crop year. The Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Final Rule streamlines requirements across multiple crops, responds to producer feedback, and strengthens USDA’s commitment to putting America’s farmers first.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MlPgNh
DISASTER RELIEF: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation says the USDA is delivering on its promise to help farmers impacted by natural disasters. Richard Fordyce says the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program covers commodities that were not ensured in the first application process, which now includes shallow losses, uninsured, and quality losses caused by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4psB9Vg
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
AG DECISIONS
BEEF: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “This morning in St. Cloud at MN Cattlemen annual meeting where @MNagriculture is leading the first public meeting in MN Beef Council proposal to raise beef checkoff .50 from current $1.00 per [cow]. Referendum next spring.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCZlTC
JET FUEL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Some farmers are considering crop rotation changes to tap into the sustainable aviation fuel market. Minnesota Farm Bureau president Carolyn Olson says there are growers in her state looking to grow winter camelina as a SAF feedstock.” OLSON: “Just to try something different as a way to sell something that not everybody else is. And I think a lot of the camelina right now is on the very small scale, because we’re still working on what does it look like to grow that in a large-scale and where are the markets?” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Xzrr78
BIRD FLU: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen is seeing progress being made on vaccines for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, but approval and trade considerations remain significant hurdles.” PETERSEN: “My understanding is that the USDA has vaccines that are close to being ready to go, but will need to be approved and put out by the USDA,” Peterson told the Red River Farm Network. “I think the sentiment that we have in the turkey industry in Minnesota is that there is support for the vaccines, taking into consideration that we may have some issues with export.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MjK2BI
SUGAR: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “American Crystal Sugar on Thursday, Dec. 4, announced that net sugarbeet payments per ton for 2025 will be far less than payments in recent years due to low sugar prices blamed on sugar dumping by companies that heavily subsidize their sugar crops. The Moorhead, Minnesota-based sugar cooperative, in conjunction with the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, held its annual meeting on Thursday at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. And while Tom Astrup, president and CEO, said while there was much to celebrate, including a record 2025 crop that follows what was a record 2024 crop, there also are significant headwinds due to the realities of the global sugar market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48UWEb6
WORKFORCE
GUEST WORKERS: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “As food prices remain high, the Trump administration has made it easier for farmers to hire foreign guest workers and to pay them less. Now, other industries with large immigrant workforces also are asking for relief as they combat labor shortages and raids. Visas for temporary foreign workers are a quick fix with bipartisan support in Congress. And Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ office told Stateline that ‘streamlining’ visas for both agricultural and other jobs is a priority for the Trump administration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48lda46
CARGILL: Via news release from Cargill, VERBATIM: “Cargill this week celebrated the official opening of a new 81-unit employee apartment complex in Fort Morgan, Colorado — marking the latest milestone in a $40 million housing initiative aimed at improving workforce support and strengthening the local community . . . The housing initiative is part of Cargill’s broader $90 million commitment to Fort Morgan and the future of the U.S. beef industry. This includes automation and technology upgrades at the plant through its Factory of the Future initiative. These enhancements are designed to improve workplace safety and increase operational efficiency.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pPuior
WEATHER IMPACT
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor shows no improvement over last week – 30% of the state is in drought, 4% severe drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An abnormally wet growing season had a mixed impact on soybeans. Pioneer U.S. Soybean Portfolio marketing lead Chris Pritchett says there were pockets that really benefited from consistent rainfall.” PRITCHETT: “That allowed them to produce at levels that they don’t normally see in soybeans, (like) in parts of Kansas that are cutting 60, 70, even up to 80 bushel is unheard of. So while we did have some challenges with wet feet in places, overall performance still reigned supreme.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4awyIfs
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)
LEARNINGS
LUNCH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Cold days call for a hot lunch! Thanks to the team at Roseville Area Schools who hosted us for a their Minnesota Thursday menu which included Turkey Banh Mi (with turkey thighs from Ferndale Market and fresh baked bread from Mi Sant) and pickled veggies, salad, and fruit.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3XDLKAf
OPPORTUNITIES: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “There’s a plethora of educational possibilities available for producers. The best of the bunch might just be producer meetings. Getting away from the farm during the winter months to rub elbows and commiserate with your fellow producers can go a long way in improving your knowledge base and your mental psyche.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oW4RRv
NEXT YEAR: Via Morrison County Record, VERBATIM: “‘Building Your Business: Starting Strong, Scaling Smart, Succeeding Strategically’ is the theme for the 2026 Extension Women in Agriculture Conference, hosted by University of Minnesota Extension, in partnership with the Minnesota Farm Service Agency. The conference will bring together farmers and those working in agriculture to learn from speakers and from each other to share practical tools, proven strategies, and inspiring stories for launching and maintaining resilient farms and agribusiness ventures.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oB3zeg
REDHEAD CREAMERY: Via Farm Forum, VERBATIM: “That was the venue for the second annual Agritourism Exchange on Nov. 13, co-hosted by University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Farmers Union. About 65 people came from across Minnesota to exchange ideas about diversifying farm income and connecting directly with consumers through agritourism.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oO8KrC
THIS MONTH: Via Waste Today, VERBATIM: “The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), based in Crookston, Minnesota, is looking ahead to its 2025 Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable event. The annual event will take place Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central in Minneapolis, with a virtual attendance option available.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pfNpYU
4-H: Via Farm Forum, VERBATIM: “Each year, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors select a service theme to engage all Minnesota 4-H youth in learning about a community issue and taking steps to make a positive, collective impact. The 2025-2026 statewide service project theme is Disaster Relief and Emergency Response. The 4-H State Ambassadors will share seasonal topics and projects that provide opportunities for service learning and action.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Ht9Zi
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FROG TREE FARM: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Black joy and agricultural resistance were at the heart of the fourth annual ‘We Are the Harvest: A Sankofa Celebration of Black Legacy & Joy,’ co-hosted by Frog Tree Farm and Three Rivers Park District. Minnesota’s oldest multigenerational Black-owned farm, run by Peace Mitchell and Michael Birchard, partnered with the district to expand the event from a small community gathering into a full day of youth activities, live demonstrations, and panels featuring Black farmers and entrepreneurs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XCQxSI
FARM FAMILY: Via Patriot News, VERBATIM: “The Sherburne County Board Tuesday recognized the Golly Family of Clear Lake as the 2025 Farm Family of the Year. Kiel Golly grew up farming alongside his dad, John on land first established by his parents, John and Lynette, in 1979.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MrXfZ8
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