DC: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Stay tuned for a call-to-action from @corngrowers! Since the full text of the continuing resolution was posted, it’s becoming unclear whether important priorities for corn farmers will be included in a reworked package. We need a continuing resolution that supports America’s farmers now.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gvL5bV (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
SHUTDOWN: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, Trump — with help from Musk — effectively killed the funding legislation put together by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a 1,500-page bill packed with the byproduct of the traditional horse-trading that generally defines congressional dealmaking . . . Less than a day later, House Republicans released a 116-page plan to keep the government open through March 14. The plan had the support of both Trump and Musk, the billionaire who was Republicans’ biggest 2024 political donor and a frequent presence in Trump’s orbit. But even after a significant arm-twisting and primary threats from Trump and his allies, the new plan went down in flames on the House floor Thursday night with significant Republican opposition.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P6y9ND
MORE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Angie Craig tells Brownfield she’s hopeful a Continuing Resolution that includes stop-gap government funding, an extension of the current farm bill, and supplemental financial assistance for farmers can be agreed upon.” CRAIG: “Communication between Speaker Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries has resumed, which is good.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZPW74u
MORE: From Steve Karnowski via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “American farmers are hoping that aid to agriculture will be revived as Congress struggles to pass a short-term spending bill that would keep the federal government funded and avert a looming partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight Friday night. A one-year extension of federal farm programs, around $30 billion in economic relief and an agreement that would increase sales of a higher blend of ethanol, called E15, were part of a bipartisan deal that collapsed Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump and his allies denounced the overall package. But even as he rejected that deal, Trump signaled that he was at least aware of concerns in farm country, which voted heavily for him in the election.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/400Ai3A
MORE: Via National Corn Growers Association, VERBATIM: “As Congress renegotiates the continuing resolution, call your House representative to ensure corn growers are not forgotten as House leadership goes back to the drawing board. In the midst of economic turmoil, corn growers cannot afford to be misplaced in the negotiation of this continuing resolution.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/406xPVz
LOANS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the final approximately $300 million in assistance to distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the past two years, USDA acted swiftly to assist distressed borrowers in retaining their land and continuing their agricultural operations. Since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022, USDA has provided approximately $2.5 billion in assistance to more than 47,800 distressed borrowers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gKddYG
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows slight improvement in the percentage of the state suffering severe drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
WINTER: From Kevin Schulz via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Eric Snodgrass wants you to have a terrible winter. ‘I want [farmers] to hate it; I want it to be a super active freeze-thaw cycle,’ says the senior atmospheric scientist with Conduit, who was formerly with Nutrien Ag Solutions. ‘I want there to be rain, ice and snow. … I’d like to dial up about an April 4 blizzard all the way to Kansas, and after that, then everything can be fine. But those are the things that winter can do to undo a drought so that we don’t have to rely on spring rains only.’ Coming off the driest fall on record paired with a weak La Niña leads Snodgrass to say that scenario lends itself to a 6 in 10 chance that next growing season will experience a drought, although he is quick to add ‘that’s better than 50-50, but that also means four in 10 years it rains, right?’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41MaqKa
WILD RICE: Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, VERBATIM: “If she closes her eyes, Danelle Larson can still remember how the stretch of Mississippi River in front of her looked as recent as a decade ago: nothing but open, muddy water. Today, it’s covered with impressively tall and thick beds of wild rice. Larson, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Alicia Carhart, Mississippi River vegetation specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, surveyed the plants by airboat in mid-September . . . In the past several years, wild rice has exploded on this part of the upper river, particularly on a section of it called Pool 4, near Alma, and Pool 8, near La Crosse. Historical records show it was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but poor water quality and other problems caused widespread aquatic vegetation die-offs in the 1980s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4grsXzO
GRAIN: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market analyst sees a surplus of corn and soybeans overshadowing a year of strong demand. Naomi Blohm is senior market advisor with Total Farm Marketing.” BLOHM: “The theme has been bigger production, bigger supply. Demand of course has been fantastic, but we have not had any serious weather threats.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/405gXyv
NEXT MONTH: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center will host a research update from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 15. This update provides research-based knowledge and field-test solutions that will help producers in the field in 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pa2pqZ
NEXT MONTH: Via Compeer, VERBATIM: “Compeer Financial is excited to announce its upcoming virtual seminar, Strengthening Your Roots, designed to empower farmers and agribusiness owners with the tools and insights they need to achieve their goals in 2025. The event will take place on Jan. 21, offering a convenient and impactful learning opportunity for the agricultural community. Participants will hear from Compeer’s subject matter experts on topics critical to farm success, including financial management, risk mitigation, tax preparation and emerging opportunities in carbon markets.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/49OO0de
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a sponsor of Fluence Media)
AG COMMITTEES: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farm groups are excited to see legislators from the state emerge as leaders in both the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish says as Ranking Members, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Angie Craig bring balance to their ag committees.” WERTISH: “I think it’s huge, and actually it provides a little more balance too because you have GT Thompson and Senator Boozman both from more of the south (and) east. Kind of brings back to mind when we had Collin Peterson as the chair of the (House) Ag Committee, he was able to balance the Midwest with the South.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3P2gTJj
FOOD SAFETY: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is soliciting nominations for membership to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). NACMCF is the advisory committee charged with providing impartial scientific advice and recommendations to the USDA and other government agencies on microbiological and public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply. USDA expects to appoint 30 committee members in 2025, whose work will include reviewing FSIS’ regulatory approach to Listeria monocytogenes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gps377
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 in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
CONSERVATION FUNDING: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Some farmers and landowners might be concerned about access to conservation funds given uncertainty with the farm bill and a change in administration. But Adam Kiel with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund says he’s assured by the private sector’s focus on sustainable agriculture.” KIEL: “I see those commitments maintaining, and increasing to be frank. So perhaps that’s a way to weather these ups and downs with what the federal funding looks like through continued growth and support from the private sector.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VLx6qb
COOPERATIVES: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for funding to support the development of agricultural cooperatives in the state. The Cooperative Development Grant Program is designed to help new cooperatives looking to finance business development strategies that will aid in the successful production, processing, or marketing of agricultural commodities, products, or services produced in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fnPcpf
ENERGY: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced awards for more than $4.37 billion in clean energy investments through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program. Rural electric cooperatives will use the funding to support thousands of jobs, lower electricity costs for businesses and families and reduce climate pollution by millions of tons each year . . . Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke highlighted the new investments at the Ramsey, Minnesota, headquarters of Connexus Energy, the state’s largest electric cooperative.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P54lRk
INTERNET: From Kim Hyatt via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “High-speed internet is coming to farmers, rural homeowners and businesses in Crow Wing and Morrison counties. Consolidated Telecommunications Co. in Brainerd, a rural broadband cooperative, was awarded a $5.5 million loan and $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. Federal officials visited Brainerd this week to announce the funding as part of $313 million awarded nationwide through President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda and USDA’s ReConnect Program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P6zKTz
WATER: Via The Nature Conservancy, VERBATIM: “Congress last night passed a large, bipartisan water infrastructure package that will leverage nature-based solutions to improve the health and function of the nation’s waterways. Typically passed every two years, the Water Resources Development Act authorizes funds for water infrastructure projects carried out across the country by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Around 200 local projects received feasibility studies in the bill, and 22 were authorized for construction.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fsV40n
MORE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek says last minute passage by the U.S. Senate was a critical step in supporting the nation’s ports and inland waterway system.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3P7LVzC
COVER CROPS: From Mike Moen via Public News Service, VERBATIM: “Clean drinking water doesn't just come from replacing lead pipes. Solutions also rest on Minnesota's farm fields, and this time of year, some rural acreage has been planted with seeds designed to do winter magic before the next growing season. Cover crops are typically planted going into in a farmer's offseason and are meant to improve soil health before a main crop, like corn, is prioritized the following spring and summer. Peter LaFontaine, agricultural policy manager with Friends of the Mississippi River, said newer varieties of winter cover crops have come on the scene, potentially changing the dynamics when it comes to profits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49QiDPi
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
EQUIPMENT: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Farm machinery sales weakened in 2024. Curt Blades with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says the market was soft in all categories to end the year. ‘Overall tractor sales were down a little over 13 percent for the year, and combines were down about 24 percent for the year. So those are not great stories.’ He tells Brownfield the combine figures are a bit skewed because of the high number of sales in 2023.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gFhtsV
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