FREE: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “This spring, Minnesota Corn is once again offering free nitrate screenings to corn farmers. The screenings are an easy way to better understand water conditions and the potential for nutrient loss on your farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42qsj0W (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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SURVEY: Via Cargill from its Protein Profile report, VERBATIM: “People are eating more protein than ever, with 61% of consumers increasing their protein intake in 2024, up from 48% in 2019 . . . As inflation and rising food costs persist, consumers are redefining what value means in protein and how to prioritize affordability without sacrificing taste. 37% of consumers are turning to bulk buying protein and freezing portions to maximize budgets, while 54% report focusing on affordable staples like ground beef and chicken.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/426yW8N
CLASSIFICATION: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Unlike many of the farms dotting the Zumbro River Valley, [Allie Kuppenbender] isn’t nurturing corn or soybeans. She’s using the fertile soil to cultivate rows upon rows of colorful flowers for her budding business, Bleed Heart Floral. To Kuppenbender, the work feels a lot like farming. And the challenges she faces — from fighting pests and coping with drought to finding reliable seasonal help — would feel familiar to most other farmers here in the southeastern part of the state. Yet, even with the dirt under her fingernails and long hours spent in the fields, Kuppenbender doesn’t meet the legal definition of a farmer. The distinction has led to an ongoing dispute between Bleed Heart Floral and Wabasha County over how to classify the property for tax and permitting purposes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DZa49D
TARIFFS: President Trump this afternoon announced his new sweeping tariff plan on what he calls “Liberation Day.” Via NBC News.
WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4iOXFUJ
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. commodity markets are bracing for the onset of tariffs by the Trump administration. Total Farm Marketing senior market advisor Naomi Blohm says retaliation is the biggest unknown. ‘What we’re wanting to see is who responds back and what percent of the tariffs, and which commodities are they going to be going after.’ She tells Brownfield some countries might factor U.S. production into retaliatory tariffs.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4j8eIRs
MORE: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “At the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner in Ankeny on Monday, [Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins] said the Biden administration ‘sat on the sidelines for trade negotiations,’ which gave other countries an advantage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts the agricultural trade deficit will reach $49 billion later this year, which Rollins said is ‘completely unacceptable and unsustainable.’ For nearly 60 years, U.S. agricultural exports exceeded imports. That shifted in 2019 with higher demand for ‘high-valued imported goods — such as fruits and vegetables, alcoholic beverages and processed grain products,’ according to the USDA. Rollins said Trump’s plan to create a level playing field includes balancing trade deals, increasing export markets for U.S. products and holding bad actors accountable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iULoyg
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
HEMP: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Those wanting to grow and process hemp in Minnesota in 2025 must apply for a license with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) by April 30. Each license is valid only through December 31 of the year it is issued. Licensees must reapply annually to remain in the program. A license from the MDA is required for individuals and businesses. To date, about 50 people have applied for a 2025 MDA license. In 2024, there were 183 applicants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FPXtGi
FEEDLOTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A rulemaking process that will have implications for Minnesota livestock producers is underway. Minnesota Pork Producers Association director of public policy strategy and sustainability Lauren Servick tells Brownfield the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has initiated a public comment period for rules that govern feedlots in the state.” SERVICK: “Those rules haven’t been revised since 2000, so as part of some of the things that they’ve outlined and the activities that they’ll be doing to continue to review these rules involves reviewing the rules and going through this process.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QXnQwr
FUNDING CUTS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended $500 million in Commodity Credit Corporation shipments destined for food banks across the country through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) . . . The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, said that, so far this year, it has placed 78 orders for a variety of food, including milk, eggs, green beans, dried fruit, chicken, turkey and pork . . . Most of the food for TEFAP is purchased from local farmers. The Department of Children, Youth and Families said it had ‘not received any communication from USDA, beyond the individual cancelled orders, about potential future impacts to (Commodity Credit Corporation) purchases or plans.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3G4sSok
MORE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins fulfilled the promise of Title IX in pausing federal funds for certain Maine educational programs. Secretary Rollins sent a letter to Maine Governor Janet Mills announcing the pause and an ongoing review of federal funding that the state of Maine receives from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This comes after Maine’s continual refusal to provide equal opportunity to women and girls in educational programs, in direct violation of Title IX.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FPuUsx
TRUMP: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “In two months, the Trump administration has injected uncertainty into agriculture, an industry already struggling with low prices, high expenses and unpredictable—and at times, destructive—weather. Now, farmers—traditionally a key block of support for Trump—are also contending with a host of other challenges. USDA and foreign-aid funding is frozen or in limbo. Deportations are expected to squeeze an already tight agricultural-labor market. Tariffs are being aimed at the industry’s main trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China . . . ‘It’s kind of scary because I really don’t know what my new crop will be worth if we’re in the midst of a trade war, which we are,’ said David Legvold, who grows corn and soybeans on about 750 acres in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Yey0fT
BIOFUELS: Via Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, VERBATIM: “The fight over biofuels in Washington continues, with policymakers debating renewable fuel standards and support for ethanol and biodiesel. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed the issue Monday night at the Ag Leaders Dinner in Ankeny, Iowa, emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to rural economies and sustainable energy. She acknowledged the challenges facing the biofuels sector while reaffirming its role in reducing carbon emissions and supporting American agriculture.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hV0q5G
From lunch take…
HUNGER: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “More than one in five graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota said they worried about having enough food until they had money to buy more, the university’s 2024 College Student Health Survey found. Now, some Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers hope to make life a little easier for students like Hodge. With the help of Second Harvest Heartland and a university student lobbying group called Students United, the lawmakers want to loosen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility requirements to allow more college students to enroll.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cfoe2R
Sign up for lunch take… https://fluence-media.co/41WMvap
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)
TOWN HALL: Via KIMT-TV, VERBATIM: “The city of Oronoco welcomed many to its 'People's Town Hall' sponsored by the Minnesota Farmers Union on March 31. It was an open discussion for farmers and attendees to voice their concerns. Multiple lawmakers were present as well, taking notes and having conversations with constituents. Issues about not getting a Farm Bill done, signed contracts being canceled, and ending local programs for schools and food banks were brought up.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3FUq1hV
TRADE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching agricultural trade promotion programs for 2025 and accepting applications for four export market development programs. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has opened funding opportunities for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and Emerging Markets Program (EMP) that will help U.S. agricultural producers promote and sell their goods internationally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RwrMnW
PROP 12: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Proposition 12 continues to create challenges for U.S. pork producers. Minnesota pig farmer Todd Selvik says California’s animal confinement law has caused uncertainty for the industry.” SELVIK: “You’ve got some farms that are converting old units, some farms that aren’t. On my farm we chose not to convert ours, we didn’t see that there was enough incentive to do it (and) the market wasn’t really indicating that we needed to.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cmspKC
ROI: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension agronomist has some advice for corn farmers looking to maximize return on investment. Jeff Coulter with the University of Minnesota says fertilizer rates should be looked at. ‘Simply going with the University of Minnesota Extension guidelines for fertilizer rates can many times save quite a bit of money without sacrificing yield.’ He tells Brownfield planting populations can also influence ROI.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/447W9sl
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TRADE SHOW: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “‘We're really trying to disguise an ag show by making it a food show,’ is how Renewing the Countryside cofounder Brett Olson described the annual FEAST Trade Show, which took place on March 20. The trade show is the largest local foods business-to-business trade show in the region, according to Renewing the Countryside, connecting artisan food makers with wholesale buyers from grocery, specialty stores, school foodservice and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3R0JP5G
CANDLES: Via story posted April 1st The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “Don’t you just love the smell of fresh turned soil in the morning? Introducing the Smells Like Spring Spirit lineup of scented candles from Albert Lea Seed. This limited-edition lineup brings a burst of Spring to your nostrils with some of your favorite springtime farm scents, including As the Soil Turns, Rover Runs Through It, and First Cut is the Sweetest.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/42ffnts
MORE: From Albert Lea Seed via Facebook, VERBATIM: “We're just kidding. Hope you enjoyed our good-natured April Fools joke. Though we do think we could sell a lot of farm scented candles, we're going to just stick with seed and only seed.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4jcrsGH
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