ICE CREAM: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Stop by our tent at FarmFest to enjoy some Sweet Corn flavored Ice Cream!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Uk8yDw (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
TOMORROW: Farmfest continues in Redwood County. The schedule includes the naming of the Woman Farmer of the Year as well as a program honoring this year’s Farm Family of the Year honorees. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/41cs6xF
FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees suggest a lot of work needs to be done to complete a new farm bill. During an ag policy forum Tuesday morning at Farmfest in southwest Minnesota, House Ag Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig said she supported the ag provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. ‘I just wish it had been part of the farm bill process. There’s still some work to do, clearly. We’ve got to reauthorize CRP, that’s in a traditional farm bill (and) not in a reconciliation package. The farm loan programs are set to expire in September.’ Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar tells Brownfield much of the focus in the Senate is on confirmation hearings and moving forward on bipartisan legislation.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45lS8zH
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Rising input costs are a concern for a farmer in southern Minnesota. Ryan Mackenthun of Brownton says margins are top of mind for this year and beyond. ‘Costs, input costs, farming next year. I’m actually going through lining up my operating note for next year and going to the bank and bringing some numbers into them, and they’re pretty tight.’ He tells Brownfield fertilizer prices are rising.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mwgOMP
WORKFORCE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Chiara and Travis Bolton needed to grow their Minnesota bee farm. They just couldn’t find U.S. workers. Instead, they sought and won a $200,000 federal grant last year that helped them build worker housing and hire two Guatemalans to tend colonies. But the federal check never arrived. The Boltons say they’re trapped between the Trump and Biden administrations’ conflicting priorities for America’s temporary foreign workers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mppUe8
EMERGING FARMERS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “The Food Group oversees Big River Farms, an incubator farm near Marine on St. Croix where farmers can learn about cultivating crops and starting a business. Big River Farms provides land and resources to emerging farmers. The Food Group relies on two key federal grants to support underserved farmers, according to Lenarz-Coy. Through the Local Food Purchasing Program, the Food Group buys locally grown produce from emerging farmers and distributes it to community members at affordable prices. The USDA American Rescue Plan Act Technical Assistance Grant is a federal grant that funds The Food Group’s educational programs at Big River Farms. The Food Group is currently able to access these funds, but its leaders are unsure if these funds will remain available given the recent USDA announcement, which inhibits them from expanding their programs and planning for the future, according to [Executive Director Sophia Lenarz-Coy]. She said the organization would continue working to serve its clients even if funding is lost.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40SWXyW
FEEDLOTS: Via Fergus Now, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has put a pause on increased air and water permit fees after backlash from agriculture groups and state leaders. MPCA Interim Assistant Communications Director Dan Ruiter shared a statement on Tuesday morning (August 5th) announcing that after receiving feedback from industry leaders, the agency would pause all fee increases and hold sessions to hear additional feedback and plan next steps.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Uh2cVu
MORE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “When news of the pause was announced on the first day of Farmfest, on Tuesday, Aug. 5, [Senate Ag Committee Chair Aric Putnam] was glad to hear that the MPCA would be hosting sessions to hear from the agriculture community. He added that while increases to the fees were needed, that should be done in an approach that involves communicating with those it affects. The fee increases stem from an attempt to adjust for inflation, and the fees have not been changed since 2009.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UQ6qDC
FISCHBACH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Trade is encouraged by actions taken by the Trump administration to improve U.S export business. Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach says there’s been a lot of movement on the trade front the past few months. ‘I think it’s exciting for the ag industry because we are going to be opening up those markets, and yes there’s lots of questions about tariffs. But you know what? Those are bringing people to the table.’ Speaking to Brownfield at Farmfest in southwest Minnesota Tuesday, she said the U.S. has notched several recent trade wins.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3UOD2xC
SNAP: Via Iowa Capital Dispatch, VERBATIM: “Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday joined a news conference in Washington, D.C., to praise the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Trump administration for allowing Iowa to restrict certain foods under a federal aid program and implement an alternative summer nutrition program for children. Reynolds spoke at a news conference focused on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that was hosted by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The Trump administration officials discussed approving new waivers for restrictions on what food can be purchased through the public assistance program. Rollins signed six SNAP state waivers — for Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia — at the event, approving restrictions on food purchases under the program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m72dYp
RELIGION: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, at Faith and Fellowship Tuesday at the Great American Farmers Market, alongside Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and USDA Senior Advisor on Faith and Community Outreach Dr. Alveda King, issued a statement reaffirming the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) steadfast commitment to protecting and upholding religious liberties in all public engagements and federally administered programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40SRMz2
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)
NW MN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “There’s been ample moisture for farmers in northwest Minnesota this summer. Blair Hoseth grows corn, soybeans, and hay near Mahnomen. ‘We’ve had a pretty good run of moisture most of the summer, sometimes a little too much. So actually we’re sufficient for moisture, we could use a little bit more for the beans coming up. But we’re decent.’ He tells Brownfield most of the corn in his area looks good despite the potential for nutrient loss.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4okNAlT
BUDGET RECONCILIATION: Via The Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “Members of Minnesota’s U.S. House contingent discussed the farm safety net, budget reconciliation, what’s happening with passing a ‘skinny farm bill,’ trade, nutrition funding and more in a forum on the first day of Minnesota Farmfest. The forum, titled ‘Developing a Reliable Ag Policy Safety Net,’ was moderated by Mark Dorenkamp of Brownfield Ag News and was preceded by comments by Stephen Vaden, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On the panel were Reps. Angie Craig, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HlmxG8
JET FUEL: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “Farmers gathered inside the Farmfest grounds in Morgan on Tuesday, Aug. 5, said they needed something to improve the current negative margins they are seeing in major commodities. They also needed something that would get the next generation excited about farming. Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish said farmers must look to emerging opportunities. Wertish was on a panel speaking to the topic of building sustainability in Midwest agriculture on Tuesday afternoon of Minnesota Farmfest’s three-day event in Morgan, Minnesota. Sustainable aviation fuel was the central opportunity of discussion that had farmers hopeful for a new market and businesses like Delta Airlines hopeful for local access.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3J3TuHG
MILLENNIAL FARMER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Zach Johnson is a sixth-generation farmer in west central Minnesota and is known to his 1 million YouTube followers as the Millennial Farmer. He joined MPR News guest host Chris Farrell to talk about what Farmfest is all about.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46PUn0B
MORE: Johnson also talked with Vineeta Sawkar on WCCO Radio about why he first turned to social media. JOHNSON: "So a lot of people, you know, they get to see the farms out in the countryside," Johnson says. "But they don't really know what's going on behind the scenes. And I started to realize that there's an actual, real genuine curiosity to that. And When you put yourself out there and you be fully transparent and you show what's going on, it seems like people really, really take a liking to that. And they really cling to that and they enjoy getting to see the reality of what happens on the family farms today." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45rWNA8
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THIS WEEKEND: Via KAXE-Radio, VERBATIM: “The North Central Minnesota Farm & Antique Association was formed in 1985 by a handful of folks who were interested in antique farming equipment. Since then, they've gathered every August. The group is hosting its 41st Annual Threshing and Antique Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10 at the Blackberry Farm, located 7 miles east of Grand Rapids, just off Highway 2.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3J92jjv
SCHOOL LUNCH: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Back-to-school shopping usually means backpacks, notebooks and lunchboxes. But don’t forget to add food safety to the list. Young children, especially those under age five, are more likely to get seriously sick from foodborne illness. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding parents, caregivers, and anyone packing school lunches to follow a few simple food safety steps.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Hp3o6h
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