DC VISIT: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Corn farmer-leader team continue their visits in D.C. this week. Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, Congressman Andy Harris, Congressman Brad Finstad, and U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson were among those visited.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3RIjTvC (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
TAXES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag tax specialist is confident Congress will act before several provisions important to farm families expire. Chad Hanson with Iowa-based tax accounting firm Corporate Farmer says recent signals from Washington indicate progress.” HANSON: “What I’m hearing out of Washington is that both the Senate and the House are pretty much on the same page when it comes to the tax portion of this bill that they’re proposing at this point and time, so that’s really good news.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/420R43J
TARIFFS: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “President Trump on Monday said the U.S. will apply an additional 50% tariff on imports from China if the Asian nation doesn't withdraw its plan to impose a retaliatory 34% import fee on American products. In a post on his Truth Social app, Mr. Trump said that ‘any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set.’ He added, ‘Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42fZS4x
MORE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Heading into this year, most U.S. farmers were hoping to break even or maybe record a small profit if they could find a way to limit their sky-high costs. But now they are faced with losing the biggest export market for many of their crops after China retaliated against President Donald Trump's tariffs . . . Tim Dufault, whose farm is in northwest Minnesota only about 80 miles south of Canada, said in a good year soybean farmers might make $50 to $75 an acre. But this isn't a good year because crop prices aren't high enough to cover soaring costs, and the price drop in the past two days cost them about $25 an acre, he said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42zF6hB
MORE: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, a nonpartisan organization, said they have reason for concern after seeing what happened as a result of the 2018 trade war with China. The association said U.S. agriculture experienced massive losses and soybeans were the hardest hit. The organization said soybeans are Minnesota’s top agricultural export. Currently, roughly one in four of the state’s soybeans gets sent to China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43DlIRY
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Input costs are top-of-mind as crop farmers begin the 2025 growing season. Iowa State University Extension agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe says most fertilizer decisions were locked in months ago.” VITTETOE: “But I had a fair amount of questions during the winter months about looking at those soil tests and really thinking about where do we need fertilizer, and are there areas where we can maybe cut without hurting our yield as well.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jeNiJC
ENERGY PROJECTS: Via The Gazette, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced March 25 it will release previously authorized grant funds to farmers and small rural business owners to build renewable energy projects — but only if they rewrite applications to comply with President Donald Trump’s energy priorities. The move has left some farmers perplexed — and doubtful that they’ll ever get the grant money they were promised, given the Trump administration’s emphasis on fossil fuels and hostility toward renewable energy . . . After hearing of the USDA’s latest announcement two weeks ago, Minnesota strawberry farmer Andy Petran said he suspects many previously approved projects won’t be funded. He’d been approved for a $39,625 grant to install solar panels on his farm. But like many other farmers nationally, Petran got word from the USDA earlier this year that his grant money had been put on hold.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42yuyiK
MAHA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Brooke L. Rollins Thursday collaborated on their first Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) event during a visit to Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School in Alexandria, VA where they participated in a healthy snack time with students and met facility staff. The event was an opportunity to learn more about the impact that federally funded nutrition programs have on children and signaled their strong partnership to work together to effectuate their vision for a healthier America.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jl7mu3
CHICKENS: Via ABC Newspapers, VERBATIM: “Baby chicks were in abundance at Anoka-Ramsey Farm and Garden, with there being an increased demand for them in part because of fear around rising egg prices, the forthcoming fair season and buyers who simply enjoy them as a hobby. They were sold on Friday Morning of March 28 to buyers that waited in line as early as between 7 and 8 a.m. Farm owner Tom Tidrick, speaking on site, said that chick purchases had increased by a lot the last few years, one of the reasons being an egg shortage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43KD67k
MARGINS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist who farms in southern Minnesota encourages farmers to control the controllables in the face of tight margins. Megan Roberts works for Compeer Financial and says there’s a lot of uncertainty right now.” ROBERTS: “And we don’t have a lot of control over what happens with tariffs, we don’t have a lot of control over what happens next with planting or taxes, whatever it might be. What we do have control over is our own operation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i8Tjqx
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
PLANS: Via Pipestone Star, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers intend to plant 8.60 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2025 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Prospective Plantings report. This is up 400,000 acres from 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/420SV8K
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)
THIS WEEK: Via Radio Mankato, VERBATIM: “Farmers, ag industry professionals and anyone interested in agriculture are invited to the Southern Minnesota Farm Data Show taking place April 8 and 9. The event will include a review of the 2024 Farm Business Management Southern Minnesota Annual Report. In addition, Farm Business Management Instructors from South Central College (SCC) will share insights on 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ygssl1
PEANUTS: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Visitors to corn mazes across the country are finding a familiar and joyous figure in the winding labyrinth of tall stalks. Snoopy. More than 80 farms in the U.S. and Canada have teamed up with Peanuts Worldwide to create ‘Peanuts’-themed mazes to celebrate the beloved strip's 75th birthday this summer and fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i35pBz
4-H: Via Farm Forum, VERBATIM: “For over 55 years, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador program has been shaping young leaders, empowering them to make a difference in their communities through service, promotion and education. These ambassadors are more than just representatives—they are role models, mentors and passionate advocates for 4-H across the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3G0umA6
PIVOT: From California-based Pivot Bio via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Pivot Bio, one of the world's leading innovative agtech companies, today announced the appointment of Travis Frey as the company's chief technology officer. Frey, a leading agricultural innovator and scientist, assumes the post following the retirement of industry veteran Ernie Sanders. In this role, Frey will lead the company's global research and development, innovation and science teams at Pivot Bio, named one of the world's most innovative companies by Fast Company in 2024, and recently named one of the world's top Greentech companies by Time magazine. Frey will serve on the company's executive leadership team, reporting to Chris Abbott, chief executive officer of Pivot Bio, and will be based at the company's corporate office in Wayzata, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Aef58
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CARGILL: From Cargill via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Cargill is honored to win five 2025 Edison Awards, recognizing the company’s bold innovations that are shaping the future of food and agriculture. From advancing climate-smart farming to driving breakthroughs in nutrition and water access, each award-winning solution showcases how Cargill is building a more secure and resilient food system.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cjOxVK
SHEEP: Via Pipestone Star, VERBATIM: “Tanner and Cooper Nelson are super sheep showman. And they have the hardware to prove it. Tanner Nelson is the reigning Jackson County 4-H champion senior sheep showman, while younger brother Cooper is the reigning Jackson County 4-H champion junior sheep showman. Both earned the titles at last year’s Jackson County Fair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i9uef0
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