E15: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Ahead of this week’s expected U.S. House vote on year-round E15, several MCGA and Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association leaders highlighted the value of E15 to their communities in letters to local newspapers published this weekend. MCGA President Wes Beck and Brian Kletscher of Highwater Ethanol published a letter in the Mankato Free Press. And MCGA board member Richard Syverson and Chad Friese of CVEC published a letter in the West Central Tribune.” POST/LINKS: https://fluence-media.co/3PbfSm4 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
A BUSY WEEK AHEAD
MNLEG: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota legislative session is entering its final week and Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen says there’s still a lot of work to be done.” PETERSEN: “It’s a bit of a mixed bag for agriculture, at the moment. We did pass the DAIRI bill and the governor signed that and that’s going to help farmers who enrolled in the Dairy Margin Coverage federal program, but the rest of the bills are kind of stalled out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4u0TVoL
CROP PROGRESS: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, 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. The good news is that the weather forecast in the Upper Midwest for mid-May looks to be more conducive for the completion of Spring planting in many areas, as well as more favorable temperatures for early season crop growth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4trXenO
RESTAURANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Make It Minnesota program is supporting a cohort of ten emerging and established food and beverage brands at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, held May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Exhibiting as part of the ‘A Taste of the States’ pavilion organized by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Minnesota companies will connect with buyers from across the foodservice and hospitality industries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4djle6C
CLOSING: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The Academy for Sciences and Agriculture in Vadnais Heights and Little Canada is closing after this year’s graduation ceremony in June. In a note on the school’s website, Executive Director Sam Wakefield said, ‘AFSA has become financially unsustainable.’ Osprey Wilds, a nonprofit charter school authorizer, is terminating AFSA’s contract, Wakefield said. This means the school has to dissolve.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/430UZgt
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)
DC + AG
THIS WEEK: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “When the U.S. House approved the farm bill last month, it left out a provision that would have allowed for the year-round sale of what’s known as E15, a fuel that contains 15% ethanol. The reason? GOP leaders wanted to ensure the bill’s approval and bypass an internal conflict between farm-state Republicans – like those who represent Minnesota in Congress who support increased ethanol use – and GOP lawmakers representing the oil industry, especially smaller oil refineries that say it’s too expensive to blend E15. So, a deal was reached to have a vote on a bill [this] week, likely on Wednesday, that would allow year-round sales of E15, which would be a huge economic boost to the nation’s corn farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QXmtkt
MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said support for E15 is stronger than ever as lawmakers prepare for this week’s House vote.” QUOTE: “We have so much real momentum right now,” Skor said. “You’ve got farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and the majority of oil refiners all united in a compromise bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wif5Ah
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “House Agriculture Committee member Brad Finstad tells Brownfield for the first time there’s a clear path for an up or down vote.” FINSTAD: “And it’s high time Congress starts acting. And I represent 750,000 people, and the only way I can show them where I am on this issue is if I press ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ And they have waited long enough.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nsHTlQ
DAIRY: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, restoring whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk options in federal Child Nutrition Programs for children and adults ages 2 and older.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4woAnwf
HUMAN RESOURCES
NEXTGEN: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Today we held an in-person Emerging Farmers Working Group meeting at @2Harvest to learn about how their values-based procurement helps create new market opportunities for small farmers in our region. Thanks to our working group members and guest speakers for a great discussion!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4flhZhw
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: MPR checks in with Zach Johnson ten years into his side-gig as a YouTube star. VERBATIM: “It was just supposed to be a hobby, Johnson said. The videos were a way for him to talk from the heart to the camera about farming’s ups and downs with minimal editing. But then, a couple of videos the following year exploded, he said. ‘By the end of that fall, we really were looking at it, my wife and I, saying, ‘You know, I think this is something.’’ Johnson said. That was the start of what would become a farming channel titan on YouTube, with over a million subscribers and counting. The Millennial Farmer has led to sponsorships, merchandise, speaking opportunities and a revenue source that brings the Johnsons more money than their own farming does.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ugeA8k
LEADERSHIP: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The American Farm Bureau Federation recently selected the next group of agricultural leaders for its 13th Partners in Advocacy Leadership (PAL) class. Minnesota Farm Bureau (MFBF) member Amanda Cook of Chisago County was one of 10 individuals selected to join the class.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uIQmDL
SCHOLARSHIP: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota high school senior is being recognized for his leadership in both FFA and 4-H. Luke McCrea is the recipient of the 2026 Soy Scholarship, a national award that recognizes student leadership and involvement in agriculture.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uKYgww
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