NEXTGEN: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 scholarships. Cameron Addington, Wyatt Glessing, Carson Lee, Luke McCrea, Eden Messerli, and Sven Storbakken will each receive $5,000 to further their pursuit of a degree in agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mOhbDR (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
THE FARM BILL & MORE
HEMP: Via Marijuana Moment, VERBATIM: “Republican lawmakers have filed amendments to sweeping agriculture legislation that would push back the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for another year and create a framework for continued legal sales, with new restrictions and clarifications. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a drug-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, Trump signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12. Now, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is proposing to delay the ban until November 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ut22KT
MORE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Ryan Kopperud, the vice president of a Duluth-based cider company that makes THC-infused drinks, said a federal ban on the popular beverages slated to go into effect in November is already taking its toll on what has become a booming industry in the state.” KOPPERUD: “We are starting to feel the pressure and contraction already, and it’s only going to get worse through the summer,” he said. “We are racing towards a cliff.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48oZULn
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NEXT WEEK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the House Ag Committee says there will be plenty of work to do when lawmakers take up the skinny farm bill next week. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, tells Brownfield, ‘I support it…I hear there are 1,000 amendments roughly, so we will have to work our way through that.’ On a call with reporters recently, he said producers can’t afford additional extensions of the 2018 legislation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sUItda
MORE ON AMENDMENTS: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Farm bill talks are ramping up again and Callan and Associates Founder and CEO Jim Callan says next week’s possible meeting of the House Rules committee will have a lot of amendments to sort through.” CALLAN: “Once amendments have been filed, they’ll be reviewed and some will be thrown aside, and many will be considered. So, it will be up to the Rules Committee to determine the number of amendments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QKV5pH
BIRD FLU: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Ag officials in the Upper Midwest remain on alert as spring migration winds down. Minnesota ag commissioner Thom Petersen tells Brownfield highly pathogenic avian influenza has been hit or miss in recent years. ‘This is the time of the year where we’ve seen cases, and it’s really been different. Sometimes we’ve seen a lot of cases in the spring, and then sometimes the cases come in the fall.’ He says the virus is present in the environment.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48pLNpg
SOYBEAN CHOICES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “When fields are ready to plant, soybean growers often head to their best ground first. Connor Sible is asking you to consider doing the opposite. ‘If you want to maximize soybean yields across your entire farm — not just in one field — start by planting your lowest soil-testing fields first and save the highest soil-testing fields for last,’ he advises. That shift in focus is counter to what many farmers currently do, and it is at the heart of the planting strategy he recommends. The University of Illinois row-crop field researcher and assistant professor contends that it’s when and where you pull the planter into each field that can raise your overall farm average.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e9dqXd
USDA: Via USDA, a pair of restructuring announcements:
FSIS: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a reorganization of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to modernize operations, streamline support functions and better align the agency with the nation’s agricultural landscape. As part of this effort, USDA will establish a new National Food Safety Center (NFSC) in Urbandale, Iowa, which will serve as the primary hub for FSIS administrative, technical and support operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41TPfF0
REE: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area today announced a reorganization and leadership restructuring to better align its work with USDA priorities, improve operational efficiency, and deliver results more effectively for American farmers, ranchers, and producers. This effort refocuses REE’s structure on mission delivery—streamlining operations, strengthening leadership accountability, and positioning resources closer to the agricultural communities USDA serves.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OMgjmp
COTTAGE FOODS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey welcomed attendees to day one of the Cottage Foodie Con in Eden Prairie today. Did you know MN is home to more than 14k registered cottage food producers?” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4edRoml
BEANS: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Tonight in downtown Glyndon Minnesota for the NorthHarvest Bean Growers Battle of the Beans cook-off highlighting edible beans in Minnesota. We rank consistently in the top 5 in edible bean production & #1 in kidney bean production!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/41UQ14r
PRODUCTIVE FARMS, STEWARDSHIP GO HAND IN HAND. via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn farmers are demonstrating that productive agriculture and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Through widespread adoption of practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, and targeted nutrient management, farmers have improved soil health, reduced erosion, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protected water quality across millions of acres in Minnesota. That’s all while implementing advances in seed genetics, fertility management, and precision technology that have improved on-farm productivity.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4stHjG5 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
HEADWINDS
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows 21% of the state is in formal drought status, down from 25% a week earlier. The only area still in severe drought is in the southwest corner of the state. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
RELIEF: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today in Missouri announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is maximizing disaster assistance support for producers by issuing a second Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payment to eligible producers who have approved program applications for losses due to natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers. Additionally, USDA is extending the program deadline to give producers and FSA more time to address any program application changes that could impact payments. The original April 30 deadline has been extended to Aug. 12, 2026, for SDRP Stage 1 and Stage 2.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cwbyGL
HERBICIDES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Farmers warn that access to cornerstone herbicides like glyphosate is not just a policy debate but a make-or-break factor for conservation, food prices and the future of U.S. agriculture. On a media call hosted by the Modern Ag Alliance on Friday, three veteran Midwest farmers say they are farming through some of the tightest margins of their careers while shouldering growing uncertainty over crop-protection tools. They argue that science-based regulation, consistent labeling and a predictable legal environment are essential if they are to keep adopting conservation practices and stay competitive globally.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mXxMoQ
NEXT WEEK: Via SCOTUS blog, VERBATIM: “During oral argument on Monday in Monsanto Company v. Durnell, the justices will consider a question that might seem quite dry: Does the federal law governing pesticide product labels supersede state labeling requirements? This is not your average Supreme Court case, however. Rather, it thrusts the court into a battle involving over 100,000 lawsuits, ‘billions and billions’ of dollars, the international scientific community, federal and state policymakers, and, if you ask Monsanto, the very future of U.S. agriculture and innovation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sPMak9
FARM FINANCES
CROP PRICES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Low corn and soybean prices concern southeast Minnesota farmer Ryan Buck. ‘Crop prices are not very appealing right now, so that weighs on a guy’s mind.’ Especially going into planting season, he says.” BUCK: “To put a crop in the ground that (we might not break even), we might make some money or maybe we’ll lose some. It’s been that way the past couple years, so it makes it tough but we’re the eternal optimists, farmers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cQ9zw5
CATTLE MARKET: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cattle futures were higher early Friday with follow through buying after a higher close Thursday. Futures are trading back above key support areas on the charts so is the correction over? Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says $243 was the line in the sand for the June live cattle or funds would liquidate.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OWcP0R
MARGINS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist says he doesn’t expect input costs to soften anytime soon. David Widmar with Agricultural Economic Insights says prices continue to move higher.” WIDMAR: “Moderating inflation often means that inflation is happening at a slower rate,” he says. “That doesn’t mean it’s going down or retreating. A thousand dollars worth of parts back in 2000 would be about two thousand dollars worth of parts today. More than 50 percent of that inflation has happened in the last five years.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eGUak0
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TODAY: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “It’s #ArborDay! While we celebrate the beauty of our trees, we’re also working to protect them from invasive pests like Emerald Ash Borer.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4e8WIHC
SEEDS: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “This afternoon in greater Vergas, Minnesota to visit North Circle seed company which sells heirloom vegetable seeds!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4tsZzjd
ZOO: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “There are a few telltale signs that spring has officially arrived in Minnesota—the first patio drink, the first warm breeze, and, of course, the return of Farm Babies at the Minnesota Zoo.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4e3tCt2
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