STUDY: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Through the Minnesota corn checkoff, Minnesota Corn is supporting a study by Professor Paul Dauenhauer of the foundational catalytic technology needed to convert corn into methanol. Creating a viable corn-to-methanol pathway could open up significant additional market opportunities for corn-based biofuels, particularly in jet and marine fuel applications.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4twUc2e (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
MN AG HEADLINES
DISASTER: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “USDA Designates Carver, Kandiyohi, and Pope Counties in Minnesota as natural disaster areas due to excessive rain, high winds, hail, and lightning in 2025 . . . This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dBeB1m
DROUGHT: This week’s Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows 58% of the state is abnormally dry with 26% in formal drought status – an improvement from a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
FLEXIBILITY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The planting plan is fluid for a northwest Minnesota farmer this spring. Jake Thompson of Barnesville tells Brownfield he’s monitoring soil temperature and weather forecasts.” THOMPSON: “We do grow some small grains (and) are going to be producing some oats to go down to that new Albert Lea processing facility. So that’s something we want to get in the ground with adequate moisture because that’s an early crop, and the earlier we can get those in the better yield potential we’ll have.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tISzi8
DAIRY: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “State environmental regulators are offering the public more time to weigh in on a proposed dairy expansion in western Minnesota after receiving hundreds of comments about the planned 19,000-head operation. Riverview Farms, a Stevens County business headquartered near Morris, operates 13 dairies in Minnesota that range in size from 2,800 to more than 8,570 head, with a total of more than 92,000 cows . . . On Tuesday, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which regulates feedlot permits, announced a second extension of the public comment period to May 7. In addition, a public meeting has been scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the South Side Event Center and Reception Hall in Morris.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tzmMjj
MORE: Via Session Daily, VERBATIM: “That’s too many cows, says Rep. Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield). Large-scale dairy operations pack animals indoors, requiring manure to be collected, diluted with massive amounts of water, and stored or spread on nearby fields. As such, Pursell said they need careful monitoring to prevent environmental damage. To that end, she sponsors HF3940 that, as amended, would require the preparation of an environmental impact statement for the construction of an animal feedlot facility with a capacity of 10,000 or more animal units.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41sJ62h
ASSISTANCE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A bill to provide financial assistance to Minnesota dairy farmers passed unanimously in the Senate. Ag Committee Chair Aric Putnam says the measure helps cover insurance in case milk prices fall or feed prices rise.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47S09OO
MORE: Via E Dairy News, VERBATIM: “Current rules tie eligibility to milk production in 2022, which excludes many recently established dairy farms. Supporters of the legislation say that creates an unfair gap, especially for younger producers and families who entered the industry after that year. The revised bill would instead allow producers to use their federal Dairy Margin Coverage enrollment history when 2022 production records are unavailable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tIUi76
LIVESTOCK PROTECTION: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers are discussing putting more money into grants and payments for producers to deal with livestock conflicts with wolves and elk in the state. For years, the Minnesota Legislature has granted funding to compensate livestock producers for those livestock injured or killed by predators. This year, additional funding is being discussed to compensate for those losses as well as providing avenues to avoid conflict through non-lethal means.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c3orb5
PRODUCTIVE FARMS, STEWARDSHIP GO HAND IN HAND. via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn farmers are demonstrating that productive agriculture and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Through widespread adoption of practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, and targeted nutrient management, farmers have improved soil health, reduced erosion, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protected water quality across millions of acres in Minnesota. That’s all while implementing advances in seed genetics, fertility management, and precision technology that have improved on-farm productivity.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4stHjG5 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
THE BUSINESS OF AG
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The associate director of the Ag Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University says even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens today, U.S. agriculture will likely be dealing higher fertilizer prices for several seasons. Shawn Arita says getting things back to normal will take time, given the waterway must be secure and cleared, hundreds of vessels are backed up and some fertilizer production facilities have been damaged.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4smJ86H
MN BILL: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “A proposal to provide $10 million in funding for green ammonia projects shrunk to $8 million following an amendment brought before the Minnesota House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee on Wednesday, April 8. House file 2103, also known as the Minnesota Made Ammonia Act, would appropriate money for an ammonia, hydrogen, and renewable energy certificate tracking system. It seeks to fund a green ammonia production facility and research into further production opportunities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QxpDuQ
HOMEMADE Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Farmer talk at the coffee shop often follows a predictable script: weather, grain prices and the eye-watering cost of inputs. But Carson Kahler, based in Martin County, Minn., is giving viewers of his 6th Gen Farmer videos on YouTube something more unique to discuss. He’s decided to manufacture his own nitrogen.” QUOTE: “Starting my farming journey, I’m quickly realizing that there are certain things that I have to look at differently than a lot of other farmers do,” Kahler says. “One of those is the increased price in fertilizer and other inputs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4svuRoz
FUNGICIDE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Chlorothalonil is a widely used fungicide on many crops, including corn, soybeans, dry beans, and potatoes, as well as for turf and ornamentals. Routine monitoring identified concerning levels of 4-hydroxychlorothalonil — a chlorothalonil degradate — in groundwater. We have adopted new Water Quality Best Management Practices for Chlorothalonil to help growers and applicators protect Minnesota’s groundwater for the future.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4tn1sOF
MARKETING: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Market volatility has taken a different turn in 2026, driven more by global and political factors than traditional supply and demand, according to Northland Farm Business Management Instructor Betsy Jensen. Speaking at the Farm Business Management meeting in Crookston, Jensen said the unpredictability has made marketing decisions more challenging for farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QuVZGC
HEALTHCARE: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “As of this year, Missouri is one of 14 states that allow health coverage through state farm bureaus, grassroots membership organizations that advocate for the agricultural industry and rural interests. An annual membership in the bureau typically costs $30 to $50, and in many of the states anyone can join. With membership comes the option of buying into the health plan. Plan details vary by state, but they typically share many features of marketplace plans, including coverage of a wide range of services, a broad practitioner network, and a way to file complaints. But because states have passed laws exempting farm bureau health plans from health insurance requirements, they don’t offer many of the coverage protections provided by insurance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q4xsbk
MORE: Via American Cancer Society, information about Farm Bureau health plans and the states that allow them (Minnesota is not included). SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cjElgk
TRADE
VIETNAM: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The U.S. is making progress expanding agricultural trade in Southeast Asia, with USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg highlighting new opportunities in Vietnam. Lindberg says meetings with grocery retailers, soybean processors, and cotton buyers are helping grow demand for U.S. products.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mnbxZ7
MEXICO: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “USDA officials are still weighing when, or if, live cattle imports from Mexico can resume. The threat of New World screwworm is ongoing, and the department has been conducting risk assessments as it considers reopening the southern ports. Undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs Dudley Hoskins says the department has employees in country monitoring the situation.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eehRzW
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
100 YEARS: Via Minnesota State Fair, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognize 68 Minnesota farms as 2026 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Tim Walz. Since the program began in 1976, more than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c3VBHK
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