SUMMER CAMP: From the Bell Museum via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Fun on the farm! At the end of July, Bell Summer camps arrived in Lamberton, Minnesota at the UMN Southwest Research & Outreach Center. Our statewide camps, hosted in collaboration with UMN Research and Outreach Centers, get kids out into the fields and into the lab! Summer camps are generously supported by Minnesota Corn” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/414fuZh (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
OUTLOOK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Leaders of state farm organizations are concerned about a dismal financial outlook for many producers. Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish says the U.S. is expected to harvest a record corn crop this fall. ‘Overall, the crop looks very good and you’ve got low prices. So that’s a concern, (plus) the high inputs and low margins. You’ve got 200-plus bushel corn out there in some fields and it probably doesn’t cash flow.’ Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson tells Brownfield trade uncertainty caused by tariffs isn’t helping.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3V2c0D3
FLOWER FARM: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Liz Fiedler Mergen opened her quaint flower farm after her husband died from a heart attack there five years ago. She was determined to build a business she could pass on to her two daughters — the sixth generation to live on the farm. So she began planning for a retail store and small event space to host baby showers or classes where people create their own bouquets or wreaths. But Fiedler Mergen, 36, has become the subject of increasing hostility in the six months since the Stearns County Board approved a permit allowing her to erect a new building on her farm north of St. Joseph. Neighbors have cursed at her, called her a liar and flipped her off on the road outside her house, she said. She blames the controversy on one commissioner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45NPBj3
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
STATE FAIR: The Great Minnesota Get Together begins Thursday. One item on the ag agenda: The 4-H building is celebrating 85 years. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3HeygXj
MORE: The University of Minnesota traces its State Fair history back to 1859. HISTORY: https://fluence-media.co/46ZPPF0
PORK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Pork producers will travel to Washington D.C. next month with a clear message for lawmakers. ‘The need for a farm bill, whether we’re going to call it farm bill 2.0 (or) skinny farm bill.’ And Lauren Servick with the Minnesota Pork Producers Association tells Brownfield more specifically, a solution to California’s Proposition 12.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3JggDqA
FUEL: Via Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, VERBATIM: “According to data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the average prices of regular 87 octane and Unleaded 88 from January to May was $3.01 per gallon and $2.87 per gallon respectively. This resulted in price savings of 14 cents per gallon over the five-month period. With 57.64 million gallons of Unleaded 88 sold from January to May this year, this amounted to savings of $8.08 million at the pump for Minnesota drivers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mBRYf3
AUG 29: Via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “The Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Research Center invites community members, students, farmers, families, ag industry professionals and policymakers to its annual Field Day, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, at the center’s research site: 26505 County Road 2, Staples. This free, no-registration-required event offers a full day of hands-on demonstrations, engaging education, local food and family-friendly activities celebrating innovation in agriculture and energy systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fDYy1y
RAIN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A central Minnesota farmer says frequent rain this summer has had a mixed impact on crops. John Mages farms in Stearns County. ‘Our area has had quite a bit of rainfall, so on the heavier soils there is a little bit of nitrogen deficiency (and) things like that. But as you go on kind of the bonanza valley area around Belgrade (and) Brooten in the lighter soils, everything looks really excellent.’ He tells Brownfield scouting continues for late season pests.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4lz7vLc
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor shows the drought is finally over in Minnesota – only 5% of the state is now abnormally dry. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
MAHA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield he’s hearing the next Make America Healthy Again Commission report could be negative toward agriculture. ‘I’m hearing from a lot of ag interests that there’s a lot of concern about it. Very much concern by farmers.’ The New York Times is reporting the next MAHA report will stop short of proposing direct restrictions on pesticides and ultra processed foods. The Iowa Republican says during confirmation hearings, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr indicated he understood the concerns voiced by agriculture.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45Z0Sfx
FUR FARMS: Via DNR, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on new rules proposed for licensed fur farms in the state. The proposed rules aim to strengthen standards for animal containment and disease testing and reporting, clarify requirements for carcass and waste disposal, and establish protocols for the transportation of live animals and animal products.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41Lzlwu
LIVESTOCK SHOW: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce will no longer be putting on the Sioux Empire Livestock Show, the organization announced this week through a Facebook post. This livestock show has been a tradition in the community since 1954. The post says that the decision was driven by long-term financial challenges, staffing and volunteer limitations and facility constraints, not by lack of support from the livestock community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lvZZ3w
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)
FOAM: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The secretary of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council is excited about potential new markets for soybeans. Pat Sullivan, who farms near Franklin and serves as a volunteer firefighter, says there’s a lot of interest in soy-based firefighting foam.” SULLIVAN: “That is PFAS-free and is environmentally friendly. The number one cause of death in firemen is cancer, so I think it’s going to be a great thing to get the word out and get it known about.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4mGymWr
RUST: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “According to the latest Crop Protection Network map, positive cases of southern rust have been reported in five Minnesota counties so far this growing season. Reports started coming in on July 29, 2025 — just over two weeks ago. Complicating things is the fact that states as far north as Minnesota have less experience with the disease compared to other Corn Belt states, according to Syngenta agronomist Tim Dahl, because ‘southern rust does not overwinter on residue.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Jb96cG
RECONCILIATION: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Deputy Secretary at USDA is touting the ag provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Stephen Vaden says the legislation has big wins for American agriculture.” VADEN: “First and foremost, it modernizes reference prices. As you know, the cost of production in agriculture has skyrocketed over the past few years (and) USDA’s formulas for reference prices have not kept up with it.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Ji7Kgf
GRANT: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Dairy Profitability Enhancement Grant. This funding is available to regional or statewide organizations to administer and deliver the Dairy Profitability and Enhancement Program (DPEP). DPEP is intended to provide information and technical assistance to dairy farms of all sizes to enhance their financial success and long-term sustainability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mIy4hP
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AWARD: Via Perham Focus, VERBATIM: “When Kris Huebsch was named the Minnesota Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year, she learned something about herself. ‘Oh my gosh, I'm a crier!’ she exclaimed, before expressing gratitude to her family, peers, the award sponsors and those in attendance at the award ceremony on Aug. 7 in Redwood County . . . The title of Minnesota Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year is bestowed upon a female farmer who is dedicated to agriculture, involved in daily operations and shows that same level of commitment to their community and family. Huebsch, who owns Otter Berry Farm along with her husband, Cordell, took a few moments to chat the morning after the unexpected turn of events.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fCuTWR
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