E15: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “By a conservative estimate, Minnesota motorists have saved $80 million by using Unleaded 88 (also known as E15), rather than standard 87 octane gasoline. That savings is growing as the 15 percent ethanol blend becomes more widely available and the price difference with conventional gasoline broadens. ‘A growing number of filling stations have added Unleaded 88,’ Devin Hoffarth said. As Market Development & Industry Relations Director for Minnesota Corn, Hoffarth has offered technical assistance and encouragement to station owners who want to take part in this trend.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Erfs5H (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
On Saturday we launched our first premium publication. The Fluence Brief, they will be released 3-4 times a month and dive deeper into the business, economic and political dynamics of the Midwest. First one is gratis, but then we’ll have a fee. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cQw43r
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
EPA: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration granted an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 sales to continue through the summer months effective on May 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Monday. Although the Trump administration announced it would likely grant an E15 summer waiver in an executive order signed months ago, members of Congress and even governors had been pressing the EPA to grant the waiver in the absence of Congress passing legislation to allow permanent E15 sales nationally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lQJ3Gh
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor thanks the administration for moving quickly to remove what she calls a ‘needless barrier’ between Americans and lower-cost fuel.” SKOR: “EPA’s decision will put more American fuel in the marketplace. It will allow Americans to spend less of their hard-earned money at the pump this summer. It will give fuel retailers the clarity and certainty they need, and it will protect a critical market for American farmers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44MoTqW
MORE: Via USDA, from Secretary Brooke Rollins, QUOTE: “Our nation’s great corn growers are critical to helping the U.S. achieve energy independence which is essential to national security.” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “I thank Administrator Zeldin for moving quickly to implement this emergency fuel waiver and his continued commitment to U.S. famers and the U.S. biofuels industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jyf58F
MORE: Via news release from Rep. Angie Craig, CRAIG: “Today's announcement from EPA is great news for producers and consumers – and a step in the right direction toward codifying nationwide year-round E15,” said Rep. Craig. “I’ve got a bipartisan bill to lower prices at the gas pump by doing just that and it’s time to get it signed into law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Q6abv
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
TARIFFS: Via WGLT-Radio, VERBATIM: “A Democratic congressman from the Chicago area brought his concerns about President Trump’s tariffs to a farm just south of Bloomington on Thursday, accusing the administration of sowing ‘chaos and uncertainty’ with its confrontational approach to trade policy. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi was raised in Peoria, though his district today is around 100 miles north of Bloomington-Normal in the Chicago suburbs. He’s widely expected to be considering a run for the U.S. Senate following Dick Durbin’s retirement announcement.” QUOTE: “People are very concerned about two words: chaos and uncertainty,” he said. “Chaos because they don’t know who to believe or what is actually the truth about what’s going to happen in regard to tariffs. And uncertainty means, less hiring and less investment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44aelSl
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of Minnesota Pork is emphasizing the potential harm trade wars can have on agriculture. Todd Selvik says tariffs cause retaliation and uncertainty. ‘It would be really good to get our opinions out there, to tell people the state of the industry and that we’re not unscathed by all this stuff.’ The Waseca crop and livestock farmer tells Brownfield about 25 percent of U.S. pork is exported.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42Vs6Cd
TAXES: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “Corn growers are highlighting tax priorities to Congress, calling on farmers to contact policymakers and voice support for key provisions. National Corn Growers Association President Kenny Hartman joined RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender to discuss what tax priorities need to happen, how they can impact farmers across the nation, and their work to protect the stepped-up basis tax provision.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lS2nDg
MEXICO: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sent a letter to her counterpart in Mexico demanding Mexico eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment that are critically impairing the U.S. response to spread of the New World Screwworm.” ROLLINS: “If these issues are not resolved by Wednesday, April 30, USDA will restrict the importation of animal commodities, which consist of live cattle, bison, and equine originating from or transiting Mexico to protect the interest of the agriculture industry in the United States.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EIQY80
BRAZIL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market analyst suggests South American weather is holding back U.S. corn prices. Naomi Blohm is with Total Farm Marketing. ‘Right now, Brazil isn’t really having any weather issues on that Safrinha corn. Which is part of the reason why the corn market, in the short term, has stalled out a little bit here for a price rally.’ She tells Brownfield the world does need a large Brazilian crop because global corn ending stocks are very tight.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43eeVwn
RFK JR: Via North Dakota Monitor, VERBATIM: “Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ is making some North Dakota farmers queasy. Kennedy’s MAHA movement shuns highly processed foods and dyes. But it also includes an attack on oils made from seeds such as sunflowers and canola, with North Dakota being a leading producer of those specialty crops. These oils are among what has become known as the ‘Hateful Eight,’ oils from canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, soy, rice bran, sunflower and safflower targeted by the MAHA movement. During a roundtable discussion last week in Fargo with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, representatives of crops such as sunflowers, canola, soybeans and lentils said the MAHA movement is troubling for their members.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EvqA1s
From morning take…
FARMS: via an MPR newsletter, VERBATIM: “Handing down the family farm could get a bit easier under a bill in the Minnesota Senate. … As farmers in rural Minnesota age, the state's special agricultural homestead program can put them in a bind. The program allows farmers to pass down farmland without a big tax hit, but only if they live within a short radius of that farm. But in areas without nearby care facilities, it means aging farmers [can] face tough decisions. … The bill expands the homestead radius to within the county or an adjacent county to qualify.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EHsj3B
Sign up for morning take… https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
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)
PESTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “There are increasing reports of crop pests migrating north into the Midwest. Iowa State University Extension agronomist Angie Rieck-Hinz says there’s been significant black cutworm moth and true armyworm moth flights the past two weeks. ‘They’re migratory (so) they fly up from the south (and) are attracted to the green growing areas, so weedy fields, cover crop fields, grassy areas, field edges, waterways, ditches.’ She tells Brownfield it’s too soon to know whether the insects will be a problem for growers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Ygx76Q
100 DAYS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has affirmed the bold leadership of President Donald J. Trump by supporting America First Policies. At her direction, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has worked to support American farmers and ranchers on the southern border, hold Mexico accountable to the agreements they’ve made with the United States, and ensure illegal immigrants do not receive federal benefits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iHSaXh
RECALL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid purchasing and consuming certain Gerber Products Company Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for these products after determining they pose a choking hazard to babies and young children.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RAVNmL
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MN ZOO: Via Minnesota Zoo, VERBATIM: “Are you ready to welcome the little ones? Then be here for Farm Babies, a beloved springtime tradition at the Minnesota Zoo! Farm Babies is open daily during Zoo hours and is included with your Zoo admission.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3S8b9zg
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