NRS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “An updated state Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) could help Minnesota meet its 2040 nutrient reduction goals and ensure the vitality of the state’s corn farmers. But the current draft of the updated NRS, as published by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) this summer, needs additional fine-tuning to meet those objectives. That was the gist of comments submitted on September 10 by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) to MPCA.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VoriCp (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
BIRD FLU: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Nearly half a year after the state's last detection of the virus, avian influenza has been found in a southern Minnesota turkey flock, according to animal health officials. The Redwood County flock ‘showed signs of increased mortality’ over the weekend, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said. Testing confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, colloquially known as bird flu. This is the first time the virus has been detected in Minnesota since April 23.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nzpqCL
SOYBEANS: Via Marketplace, VERBATIM: “The U.S. soybean harvest is here. According to the USDA, 5% of this year’s crop is already out of the ground and the agency is forecasting record yields. Where all that soy is headed is a different question. China, typically the destination for over a quarter of it, still is not buying . . . American farmers have been here before. Just like during President Donald Trump’s last trade war, some farmers are expecting the USDA to step in and make them whole. ‘As much as you don’t want that to be the way that farmers make their money, I don’t think they’re gonna have a lot of choice,’ said Jonathan Miller, a corn and soybean farmer based in western Kentucky.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3KqDUGF
NIGERIA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The American Soybean Association is exploring export opportunities in Africa. ASA member and Minnesota farmer Jamie Beyer recently returned from a World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) trade mission to Nigeria, a market of 220 million people.” BEYER: “Very, very dense population, and 50 percent of the Nigerians are 19 or under. So a very unique opportunity to have all these young people who are ready to kind of do something, lots of good energy. But they aren’t able to feed themselves (because of) lots of challenges.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3K4wtFf
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
SATURDAY: Via Star Tribune, an interview with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp ahead of Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis covering, among other topics, the origins of the event. VERBATIM: “Nelson was playing golf in Bloomington, Ind., with one of Mellencamp’s buddies. The Texas superstar mentioned a benefit concert he was contemplating for family farmers, and the friend pointed out that Mellencamp’s brand-new song ‘Rain on the Scarecrow’ was about the struggles of farmers.” QUOTE: “Willie got done playing golf and he called me up that day and he wanted help,” said Mellencamp, who’d never spoken to him before. “Two days later I got a call from Neil [Young] and Neil said Willie’d talked to him, and that’s how it all started.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gwfnwb
PRESSURES: Via Ag Update, VERBATIM: “Tariff uncertainty and a rise in farm bankruptcies are among the pressures ag economists cite as they monitor the unfolding crisis. Jim VanDerPol, co-owner of Pastures a Plenty Farm near Kerkhoven, which has been in his family for multiple generations, said for a long time, it was mostly corn and soybeans and a small hog outfit. But over the decades, the farm has expanded what it raises and grows, while emphasizing soil health.” QUOTE: "There's not much hope in farm country these days," VanDerPol observed. "But what we're practicing diversifies our income, and so I think for that reason we are in a little better shape than what we would've been had we not done these things." READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VSgfkX
RAIN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in west-central Minnesota says this summer has been too wet. Jamie Beyer and her husband grow soybeans, corn, alfalfa, and sugarbeets near Wheaton. ‘We are on day 54 of measurable rain, so it’s been very unusual. We’ve gotten 24 inches of precipitation (so) conditions are mucky already heading into fall.’ She tells Brownfield there are drowned out spots and some strange disease pressure.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VjjWjF
WILDFIRES: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new memorandum to modernize and strengthen America's wildfire prevention and response system. This policy direction enacts common-sense reforms that modernize and streamline federal wildfire system. Concurrently, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued his own memorandum to streamline capabilities and strengthen federal, state, and local partnerships.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46FZxvn
RFS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The EPA has proposed a supplemental rule to address outstanding small refinery exemptions. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield the agency is trying to clean up unresolved issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).” COOPER: “They’re dealing with various court decisions and standards that were late in being published, so a lot of what EPA is doing right now is trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again and get the RFS back on track.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3IpbRa9
GRANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the fiscal year 2026 Agriculture Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant Program. Established by the Minnesota legislature in 2008, this program helps farmers start, improve, or expand livestock operations by funding equipment purchases, facility improvements, and new construction.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ipdlkz
AWARD: Via KFGO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Crop Production Retailers and the Minnesota Certified Crop Adviser Board are excited to introduce the Minnesota Certified Crop Adviser Award. This award recognizes an individual who has performed superior service for their farmer customers in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management and crop production.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VmhcBX
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)
CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Nitrogen loss and disease pressure could compromise corn stands going into harvest. Dan Bjorklund is a technical agronomist with Iowa-based Landus Cooperative and says record rainfall this summer resulted in nutrient deficiencies and widespread cases of tar spot and southern rust.” BJORKLUND: “I’ve been in several fields the last ten days that did not have fungicide, we knew that going in. So I just wanted to check the quality of the stalks, they’re paper.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ptYQg3
FERTILIZER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota farmers wrap up harvest and prepare for fall fertilizer applications, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding growers and applicators that safety must come before speed when handling anhydrous ammonia (NH3). Accidents involving NH3 can cause severe injuries or even be fatal. To reduce risks, the MDA is urging farmers, fertilizer dealers, and custom applicators to take extra precautions during application, transport, and storage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IpITqC
WEED: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers are encouraged to keep an eye out for Palmer amaranth during harvest. University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Liz Stahl says the state has done a good job keeping the invasive weed outside its borders.” STAHL: “Kudos to farmers and ag professionals, the Minnesota Department of Ag working with Extension as well, just keeping Palmer from really getting established in our state. But one of the ways to do that is being vigilant and keeping an eye out.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nrxEgR
RENT: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “If you are considering a new rental agreement or looking to renegotiate an existing lease, there are several factors to take into account when it comes to negotiating the rental rate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3K8zd4j
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
APPLES: Via Thrifty Minnesota, a list of favorite apple orchards to visit. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4mne9EH
HISTORY: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “Darlene (Maki) Saumer is true to her Finnish heritage. She’s hard-working and she has that Finnish sisu, meaning perseverance, resilience, grit, stoic determination, tenacity, hardiness, and willpower. She is dedicated to the Wirtanen Farm in Markham, where her beloved Fall Festival is taking place today. Memories of the Wirtanen Farm are fond. They take me back 25 years or more, back to the days before it was restored to its original beauty, a fine example of Finnish log building.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46p8hEZ
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