NEXTGEN: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota Corn invests checkoff dollars in programs that invest in people—programs like MARL, 4-H, and FFA that strengthen the fabric of rural communities. Those investments have helped countless young people and professionals build the skills and confidence to lead in agriculture and beyond. Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council Chair John Mages said that’s an investment that pays off far beyond individual participants.” MAGES: “Investing in leadership development might not increase yields, but it’s still one of the best investments we can make,” Mages said. “It’s what sets us up for long-term success— both in our industry and our communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JLBXVw (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
FEDERAL IMPACTS
BEEF: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump on Friday accused foreign-owned meat packers of driving up the price of beef in the U.S. and asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation. The Republican president announced the move on social media days after his party suffered losses in key elections in which the winning Democratic candidates focused relentlessly on the public’s concerns about the cost of living. But experts said it’s unlikely that an investigation would result in lower prices at grocery stores, and a trade group representing meat packers said they’re not to blame.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nPlTQG
DAIRY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “With dairy prices low, producers are looking everywhere to make an extra buck. And the Trump Administration’s plan to import Argentine beef could upend the one edge dairy farmers had. Many dairy farmers send their cows to be processed for meat to boost their profitability. And with high beef prices, that’s proved to be a big help.” QUOTE: “When you send those cows away, when they’re done being milk cows, you’re going to get a higher value for them,” Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “That’s where the value has been, much better today than it was a few years ago.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nYMXgs
TARIFFS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A senior director of government relations says tariffs will likely remain part of President Trump’s trade strategy, regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court decision. Dave Salmonsen with the American Farm Bureau Federation tells Brownfield tariffs bring countries to the negotiating table.” SALMONSEN: “We’ve seen deals with the United Kingdom and several of the countries in Southeast Asia: Japan and South Korea, the recently concluded deal with China, which is gonna hopefully get them in the market purchasing soybeans again.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3LCxVPI
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
AG-RELATED EVENTS
FRIDAY: Via Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis surveys farm lenders across the Ninth District quarterly to check the pulse of agriculture in this heavily rural region. Join regional economist Joe Mahon for a live webinar to discuss the latest results—gathered as fall harvests were underway—on farm incomes, land values, interest rates, and the availability of farm labor.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4oWLCHG
LAST WEEKEND: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “This morning in Brooklyn Center for the 20th annual Emerging Farmers Conference! Lots of farmers from all over Minnesota here for sessions on marketing, soil health, Gov programs & more.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/47NawT3
SHUTDOWN
SNAP: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) released a statement Sunday saying the department is ‘appalled’ by a memo from the USDA ordering states to ‘immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.’ DCYF issued full November SNAP benefits on Friday, November 7, based on guidance received by the USDA earlier in the day. Then, late on Saturday, November 8, the USDA sent the new guidance to reverse payments to EBT cards.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nMtQpu
FOOD HELP: Via Alexandria Echo Press, VERBATIM: “As federal SNAP and WIC benefits stall due to the government shutdown, farmers across southern Minnesota are stepping up to help bridge the gap for families struggling to access food. In West Concord, Gochnauer Farms announced this week that its self-service farm store is stocked with dry goods, meals and snacks available at no cost to anyone in need.” QUOTE: “Our hearts hurt for the families feeling the strain,” co-owner Megan Gochnauer said in a message to the community. “We want to do our part to help.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nMO0zE
ECONOMICS
TURKEY: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “An average 15-pound turkey could cost around $30 this Thanksgiving, according to an analysis from Purdue University. That’s a 75% price increase since October 2024—a reversal from the relatively low prices of previous years. But why?” QUOTE: “Around this time of year, we typically see some price change,” said Caitlinn Hubbell, a researcher at Purdue who co-authored the analysis. “But right now, we’re seeing higher feed costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Lz0v4A
LAND: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Farmland rental rate negotiations are picking up as harvest winds down across the Midwest. University of Minnesota Extension educator Nathan Hulinksy says many farmers like to wait until harvest is complete to negotiate rents for the following year.” HULINSKY: “To get a more accurate representation of what the current crop year will look like in terms of yield (and) expected profit by the farmer.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WQeTrD
MACHINERY: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Many farm operators provide some type of custom work or use of farm machinery to other farmers during the growing season, and payment is usually made following the completion of the harvest season. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine a fair custom rate for certain farming practices, or for the use of various pieces of machinery. This could be the case in a year such as 2025, when the cost of machinery operation for diesel fuel, repairs, and labor may have changed from the beginning of the year until year-end. Due to the high cost of investment in farm machinery, an ever-increasing number of farm operators are hiring other farm operators to provide some or all of the needed machinery resources for their farm operation. This is especially true with new and younger farm operators, as well as with children that decide to start farming with their parents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WRbDMC
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)
POLICY
SOLAR: Via KROC-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) will host two meetings later this month to give the public an opportunity to comment on and learn more about a large solar power project proposed for an area northeast of Rochester. Illinois-based Ranger Power is seeking authorization to develop a 180-megawatt solar power installation involving land in both Viola and Haverhill Townships. The company’s site application with the MPUC indicates the project would cover approximately 1,945 acres and would be connected to the power grid through a 161-kilovolt transmission line to a Dairyland Power Cooperative substation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JpXfYM
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Department of the Interior has added phosphate and potash to the official Critical Minerals List and the vice president of government affairs at The Fertilizer Institute says it’s good news for America’s farmers. Ed Thomas says it’s concerning the U.S. is so reliant on foreign entities like China and Russia for its current fertilizer supply.” THOMAS: “Gaining this designation gives us a head start on trying to get some of those policies across the finish line,” he says. “We can start rolling out some of these policies that will help increase domestic fertilizer supply and ease the burden of this tremendous investment.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oD2Jyw
NEXTGEN
STUDENTS: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “From piglets to soybeans, over 200 students from Nicollet and Waseca schools attended an Ag in Action Day, hosted by Christensen Farms and Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU). The Waseca County Corn & Soybean Board hosted a booth inspiring the youth on the versatility of soybeans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JCkkYd
WORKFORCE: Via Fergus Now, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail County is among seven recipients of Minnesota DEED grants focused on developing and implementing agriculture-focused workforce training programs for its Growing Careers initiative. In total, DEED awarded $2.4 million in grants for the program. Growing Careers grant recipients are eligible for up to $500,000 to develop training programs to help more Minnesotans enter agricultural careers, specifically dislocated workers, including those with low-income or who need assistance with basic skill development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WRw5wS
4-H: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Avah Walzak (Meadowlands) and Tyler Nash (Hibbing), St. Louis County 4-H members, have been selected as 2025–26 Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassadors. Avah and Tyler were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants for their passion for agriculture, dedication to 4-H, and commitment to being a positive role model for youth across the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nH0n09
ANIMAL HEALTH
HOGS: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Feral hogs continue to be a scourge on U.S. agriculture, causing an estimated $1.6 billion per year in damage, which includes damage to property and crops as well as predation and diseases inflicted on domestic livestock. As to that last note, it has been estimated that feral hogs inflict about $85 million in losses per year in livestock through predation, disease, veterinary costs and medical treatments. These figures are courtesy of an economic assessment using data released earlier this year from the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program and the National Wildlife Research Center.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p7rPpg
DEER: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Nearly 100 cases of chronic wasting disease were documented in Minnesota deer last year, the highest number on record and surpassing the previous high by about a third. Since the first case of the neurodegenerative disease was confirmed here in 2002, about 400 deer have been catalogued with CWD, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Board of Animal Health. About six cases have been documented so far in 2025. The increase comes as the firearm deer season opens amid a reported resurgence in the whitetail population after two mild winters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LFA3Gt
RESEARCH
U OF M: Via Vertical Farm Daily, VERBATIM: “At the University of Minnesota, in a room filled with bright lights and rows of kale, dwarf tomatoes and lettuce researchers are testing the limits of Controlled Environment Agriculture.” QUOTE: “We’re growing hydroponically,” explains Nate Eylands, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science. “We use about nine to ten percent of the water here that one would in a conventional greenhouse because we use a recirculating system.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LTXqMv
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “After getting signed at age 21 by a manager who helped launch Lorde and Tori Amos, Anna Graves moved to Nashville and then Los Angeles thinking her music career was well on its way. Turned out, though, the budding singer/songwriter had to return to her family farm in central Minnesota to really get things moving . . . Following a June tour with Seattle hitmakers the Head and the Heart, the poetic Americana-pop balladeer is playing her biggest gig yet in her home state warming up for Stevie Nicks at Grand Casino Arena (fka Xcel Energy Center) on Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4orrXje
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