TICKET GIVEAWAY: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn is giving away two sets of four single-day FarmFest admission tickets! FarmFest is August 4-6, 2026 in Redwood County, MN.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4hluLxA (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
DC + AG
SAFETY NET: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Why do U.S. farmers pay double for inputs compared to Brazil? The answer might not be found in the supply chain, but in federal farm payments. A growing chorus of farmers and economists is asking if the U.S. farm safety net has evolved from a ‘protection’ program into a ‘profit enhancer’ that is driving up land prices and locking out the next generation. It’s a question gaining new attention as House Republicans propose an additional $12 billion in farm aid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fKGbd1
FARM BILL: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman is facing a predicament in advancing his farm bill proposal. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who is a member of the committee, has been hospitalized since mid-June. McConnell plans to return to Capitol Hill, but the timeline remains a question.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vKq2t5
AG STATS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Is USDA preparing to right a lilting ship? On July 15, USDA announced a modern makeover of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), an agency of massive market consequence and designated statistical guardian of the farm economy. NASS has lost faith with some farmers who question its role as purported watchdog of America’s bins and bushels. According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, a NASS rehaul is in the works, and her aims are backed by common farmers in flyover country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TdT7iT
ORGANICS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications to help with organic certification costs for 2025 & 2026 program years through Dec. 31, 2026. Up to $750 available or up to 75% of the cost, whichever is smaller.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4gNTpaa
PAYMENTS: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “USDA has announced the final 2025 market year average (MYA) prices for wheat and other small grain crops. The final 2025 MYA prices for wheat and small grains were based on the monthly average farm-level prices from June 1, 2025 until May 31, 2026. The monthly average prices are then “weighted”, based on the percentage of bushels sold each month, in order to arrive at a final MYA price for the marketing year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TulZDz
IN THE FIELDS
SCOUTING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agronomist says it’s currently a prime time to be out scouting fields. Hoegemeyer’s Eric Solberg tells Brownfield, ‘First off, I want to make sure you go out there and get an accurate stand count. When the (corn) ears are pollinated, you need an accurate ear count. Because they may have planted 34,000 but the final stand might not be up to their expectations.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wNJaah
SOYBEANS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Corey Hanson, who grows soybeans in Gary in the Red River Valley, has waged many battles against Iron Deficiency Chlorosis, also known as IDC, in his crops . . . The condition appears when the soybean plants aren’t able to access the iron they need to grow. Affected soybeans’ leaves turn yellow early in their life cycle. When that happens, the plants aren’t actively photosynthesizing, which stunts their development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44FAve8
SORGHUM: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An official with Texas Tech University expects U.S. sorghum acreage to grow as more farmers see its benefits. Monty Christian is the university’s executive director of marketing strategies in the research and development department and says sorghum is a great rotation crop.” CHRISTIAN: “If you’ve been monocropping for a long time, sorghum is particularly great with cotton. But also some of the other crops (like) soybeans and even corn. It does tend to have a lower upfront input cross, which has been attractive in this era of high fertilizer prices, high input prices.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fb8e5j
MARKETS & MORE
EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Corn export inspections continue to make a strong push into the end of the marketing year. The USDA says the amount of corn that left U.S. during the week ending July 16th was up on the year and well above what’s needed to meet the target for 2025/26, which runs through the end of August. Sorghum and soybean inspections also topped their respective targets for the current marketing year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pwf88M
CATTLE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Live and feeder cattle futures opened lower on Monday and then saw a decent bounce and it is overdue as the market is oversold. Joe Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek says the question is whether or not the strength will hold or if funds will use it to exit more of their long positions. Live cattle futures have been down a record 15 days and August is down $25.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fJqFya
WEATHER: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “We have expanded our Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the installation of two weather stations in South Central MN. Located near Wells in Faribault County & Vernon Center in Blue Earth County, they’re a crucial step toward improving statewide data coverage for MN farmers.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4vGPlMv
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY: Via Pipestone Star, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau is sponsoring ‘The Ag Adventure Trail, trunk or treat through agriculture on Wednesday, July 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rncohm
TRACTOR: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “John Deere’s new ethanol-powered tractor could create additional demand for U.S. corn farmers. Buddy Kavalier, a John Deere ethanol awareness champion, says the E98 tractor is an 8R-series model is a prototype fueled by E98 pure ethanol.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45dQJve
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