BEEF: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “U.S. beef producers have been struggling with tight margins and uncertainty for years. We stand with our friends at the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association in support of hardworking family farmers and ranchers. Thank you for all that you do!” POST: https://fluence-media.co/47b2PqR (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
CHINA: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Representatives from China and the United States agreed on a framework for a possible trade pact ahead of a crucial face-to-face meeting between President Trump and China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, later this week. But both sides were careful to suggest that they did not have a final deal, which would be determined by the two leaders, who are expected to meet in South Korea on Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Wqvwda
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of Iowa Farm Bureau is encouraged by reports over the weekend China has agreed to a trade framework that includes purchases of U.S. soybeans. Brent Johnson grows corn and soybeans in Calhoun County.” JOHNSON: “To get to a place where it looks like we’ve got some runway here with conversations with China, our largest soybean buyer, I think it’s going to bode well. And hopefully we’ll have some more clarity and better conversations very shortly in the future.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3LaPtlV
ARGENTINA: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “With beef prices at an all-time high, the U.S. is set to quadruple imports of Argentine beef in an attempt to reduce consumer costs. President Donald Trump first mentioned a potential ‘beef deal’ on Sunday, drawing sharp criticism from rural lawmakers and farm groups, many of whom have been loyal supporters. During a Thursday morning appearance on Fox Business, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Trump suggested increasing the tariff rate quota on Argentine beef from 20,000 metric tons to up to 100,000 metric tons.” ROLLINS: “This is not a massive influx in the millions of tons, I think that some have thought, of beef from Argentina,” Rollins said. “It is an important, strategic, intentional move out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nm40sb
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
BAILOUT: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “One person described it as a bridge. Another person saw it as a Band-Aid. Whatever the metaphor, they agreed that Minnesota farmers need a bailout package to weather the ongoing U.S.-China trade war. A ‘bridge payment’ until markets open up would be a welcome, temporary step, said Dan Glessing, a dairy farmer who serves as president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. ‘It would be appreciated, but it’s not a solution,’ he said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hqsG1m
LAST TIME: Via Investigate Midwest, VERBATIM: “During his last trade war, the Trump administration paid farmers through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, often referred to as a ‘credit card’ that helps address farmers’ shortfalls. It has typically been used for relatively small amounts of assistance, but the first Trump administration used it to provide more than $20 billion in subsidies, the largest chunk of change in the corporation’s history. Congress has the power of the purse, but the move bypassed congressional approval, and the administration appears to be attempting the same maneuver this time. The corporation’s fund only has $4 billion left, so officials could tap money from tariffs — which American consumers pay — to make up the difference, according to Politico.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JglYP5
OCT 30: Via AgriGrowth, VERBATIM: “Economic data from the first quarter of 2025 showed that Minnesota’s GDP decreased by 2.42% from the previous year, driven by mounting challenges in the agriculture industry. Minnesota’s agriculture and food sector has been a cornerstone of the state’s economic growth, often mitigating or cushioning recessions. To strengthen our agriculture and food economy, change is required. Minnesota AgriGrowth’s fall summit will continue the hard questions being asked at kitchen tables and board rooms: ‘How do we build a robust agriculture and food economy in Minnesota by 2040?’” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/3L2utxu (SPONSORED: AgriGrowth)
SNAP: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “The Agriculture Department on Saturday posted a new message to its website blaming Democrats for the upcoming suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, saying assistance will halt beginning Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown . . . The message comes as the ongoing government shutdown is set to enter its fifth week on Wednesday if Senate Republicans and Democrats don’t reach a 60-vote threshold for legislation that would temporarily fund the government.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nq47Dd
HARVEST: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The soybean harvest is winding down in parts of the Upper Midwest. Stine Seed agronomist Susan Hart covers central and western Minnesota, all of North Dakota, and the north edge of South Dakota. ‘On the soybean side, I would say we’re almost completely wrapped up. There’s just a few fields still standing out there, we got a little wet the end of last week so they had to put the brakes on a little bit.’ She tells Brownfield moisture was abundant this growing season, which is reflected in lighter soils.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3JyKRFH
HARRIS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “The pandemic kept Yia Lee and her husband Chong Ge Vang apart — Lee staying in St. Paul for her nursing job and Vang living in the couple’s small farm north of the Twin Cities. When the risk of infection finally ebbed, the couple decided to make their Rainbow Garden Farm in Harris a refuge for others as well. In 2023, they opened the farm to the public, allowing visitors to spend the day at the farm, taking pictures, enjoying a meal, even picking fresh corn and lettuce from the couple’s plot.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4owHoGo
FLOUR: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “It’s hard times in America’s heartland right now, where many farmers are on the brink of bankruptcy due, in part, to President Trump’s trade war shutting off global sales of many of their crops. Trump’s tariffs have also made imported fertilizer and other equipment farmers rely on even more expensive amid already high inflation. But in one corner of Pacific Northwest wheat country, there are glimmers of economic hope due to the burgeoning business of ‘craft flour.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/47tLQiu
USDA: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “USDA partially reponed local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices across the United States on October 23, which will allow some farm-level FSA functions to resume after being shut down for over three weeks. The partial shutdown of the U.S. government began on October 1, and is now the second longest in history. The longest government shutdown was in late 2018 and early 2019, and lasted 34 days. Farmers in the Midwest have been in the middle of harvest season in recent weeks, so there has probably not been a lot of attention paid to the government shutdown to this point. Most of the federal government services through USDA that are administered through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) have been discontinued while the government shutdown is in effect.”
MENTAL HEALTH: Via Forum, VERBATIM: “For farmers and agricultural workers in Minnesota, every day is a work day, which leaves little time for taking care of one’s mental health. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website, farmers experience common mental health conditions more often than the general population. According to the National Rural Health Association, the suicide rate among U.S. farmers is 3.5 times higher than the national average.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oem1tZ
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)
JET FUEL: Via Minnesota News Connection, VERBATIM: “Pretty soon, Minnesota’s farm fields will be in a deep freeze but some seeds will still be doing their work as farmers try out a winter-hearty crop are at the forefront of a production process to create cleaner fuel for commercial jets. This fall, the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green initiative is in the early stages of a study to determine the next steps for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. A key ingredient is winter camelina, a cover crop which not only protects the soil from erosion but has the potential for commercial use.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47rBEqO
SJOSTROM FARMS: Via New Ulm Journal, VERBATIM: “Lowell and Adrianne Sjostrom continue to live on the original family farm that dates back to 1865, a half mile north of Bernadotte Lutheran Church. They don’t milk cows anymore, but they still cut their own grass, which is no small task. ‘It takes one mower about five hours to cut the grass, so we got another mower,’ said Adrianne Sjostrom. Sjostrom Farms, operated by Steve and Deb Sjostrom and their son Jacob with help from Steve’s father Lowell, continue to farm east of Lafayette, a few miles from Steve’s parents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47I494B
NEXT MONTH: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “The next Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team webinar is from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 11, and will feature Richard Stup with the Agricultural Workforce Development program at Cornell University.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JyRAzr
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
HORSE SHOW: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Last horse show of the year for the Petersen Pony Farm in Hinckley today! Solid 5th place for Sunshine in Mare Halter class!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3LwijNy
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