MEXICO: Via Minnesota corn, VERBATIM: “During the 2024-25 marketing year, the U.S. exported over 1 billion bushels of field corn to its southern neighbor. That was a record to a single country, and it marked the first time the U.S. had ever exported more than 1 billion bushels to a single destination. All told, the U.S. exported over 37.4 million metric tons worth of coarse grains, co-products, ethanol and meat products to Mexico in 2024-25, according to the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC). That was a nearly 50% increase compared to the 2020-21 marketing year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PgNHBB (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
GLOBAL IMPACTS
GRAINS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Grain markets were lower on Wednesday morning as Rich Nelson of Allendale says they are seeing spillover from easing energy markets. President Trump posted Tuesday afternoon the U.S. would be providing safe passage of ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz taking away that choke point and adding some certainty to the markets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b64a2S
EXPENSES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is concerned the conflict in the Middle East will drive up fertilizer and fuel costs for farmers. During his weekly call with ag reporters Wednesday, the Iowa Republican said a large percentage of urea used for corn production comes through the Strait of Hormuz.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ba7QRl
MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Diesel prices spiked more than 60¢ combined on Monday and Tuesday. It is a direct result of the supply cutoff through the Strait of Hormuz, says Alex Hodes, director of market strategy – energy with StoneX Financial Inc. Refined product movement is concentrated in the Strait, making this one of the biggest global disruptions for the oil market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NhvW4A
TRADE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration says its America First trade policy approach is working. The 2026 Trade Policy Agenda released by the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office says since the President began implementing his policy in April 2025 the trade deficit in goods decreased year over year, and the deficit to China fell more than 30 percent.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/406BjGK
STATE ISSUES
MNLEG: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Pork Producers Association has several policy objectives as it prepares for an annual visit to St. Paul. Association board director Vince Baack says the Day on the Hill helps to establish relationships with elected officials.” BAACK: “With those legislators that are certainly friendly toward agriculture, and with those legislators that don’t have a lot of background with it.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4b9N1Fz
MFU: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciated opportunity to address big group of @MNFarmersUnion members this morning ready to head to the Capitol for their lobby day!” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4aZrY8E
MN HQ: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Pivot Bio, an agriculture firm valued at about $2 billion, is moving its headquarters to the Twin Cities so it can operate closer to the crops its cleaner-and-cheaper fertilizer alternative treats. Previously based in California, Pivot makes invisible-to-the-eye bacteria that allow plants to absorb vital nitrogen without leaching it into the environment when it rains, unlike common fertilizer. Farmers have used this product, which is cheaper than synthetic nitrogen, on more than 15 million corn acres and several hundred thousand acres of Minnesota farmland, CEO Chris Abbott said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sir7XA
FERTILIZER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is introducing the Biofertilizer Innovation and Efficiency Pilot Program, an initiative designed to help farmers improve nitrogen management and adopt innovative technologies that protect water quality and enhance soil health. Applications for the 2026 growing season opened March 2 and will close on May 1. They are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Farmers who participate can receive $15 per acre for reducing their commercial nitrogen fertilizer application rate by the lesser of 15% or 30 pounds per acre when using a qualifying biofertilizer product.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ba5TV1
SCHOOL FOOD: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “The Farm to Kids Roadshow is bringing free training & networking sessions across MN to foster connections that get more local food onto [kids’] trays.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4sugL7k
BIRD FLU: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Avian influenza has now killed more than 10 million birds in Minnesota since 2022, as farmers and state officials continue to deal with a disease that just won’t stop. The virus, highly pathogenic avian influenza, is no longer inflating egg prices at the grocery store like a year ago. But it is still hammering turkey flocks in Minnesota, the leading turkey producer in the U.S. Confusion about federal funding as the White House attempts to crack down on fraud in Minnesota has also complicated management of the costly disease, state officials said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ssSTRt
THE FEDS
THIS WEEK: Via KRWC-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farm Bureau President and Waverly farmer, Dan Glessing is in Washington D-C this week for National Farm Bureau board meetings, and for talks on various farm topics with lawmakers from Minnesota, and others on farm-related committees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rMxen9
FARM BILL: Via House Agriculture Committee Democrats, VERBATIM: “Today, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) delivered the following opening statement at the full committee markup of the Republicans’ partisan farm bill.” CRAIG: “Republicans should have worked with Democrats to pass a five-year, 12-title farm bill. Instead, we are here to mark up a so-called ‘skinny’ farm bill – the last pieces of the jig-saw puzzle of a farm bill. It didn’t have to go this way. There are many policies this Congress could undertake to fix what bad policy and partisanship have caused.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OPQQZ5
TARIFFS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An Oklahoma State University professor says changing tariff policy means more uncertainty for farmers. Sundresh Heragu with OSU’s Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers tells Brownfield U.S. ag exports are north of 175 billion dollars but margins are tight and farmers are hesitating to invest in their operations.” HERAGU: “Farmers are not willing to put a lot of capital in at this point because they want to adopt a wait-and-see approach, of course, they’ve been doing this for the past year, almost.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4l7LXXj
MAHA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy. Jr., and National Nutrition Advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dr. Ben Carson announced the USDA’s commencement of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Strategic Partnerships, an effort which encourages the private sector to participate in educating the American people about the importance of the Guidelines and how they serve as the foundation to better eating.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4spckKD
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BUTTER: Via Land O’Lakes, VERBATIM: “Land O Lakes has been voted the most trusted butter brand in the United States, according to Newsweek in their 2026 Most Trusted Brand Awards conducted by leading market research firm BrandSpark. The recognition is based on a national survey of more than 35,000 American shoppers, who were asked – without prompts or brand lists – to name the brands they trust most across grocery store aisles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uf3IZ8
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