APPOINTMENT: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Congrats to Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council Treasurer Scott Winslow on his appointment to the Minnesota Farm Service Agency State Committee! We appreciate your service on behalf of Minnesota farmers.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4sKoUFu (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
AG CONNECTED
ICE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The head of Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture says the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents is affecting ag labor in the state. Commissioner Thom Petersen tells Brownfield the immigrant workforce is incredibly important to Minnesota crop and livestock farms.” PETERSEN: “Also our processing. So when we see these concerns about pressure and they may say they’re not targeting farms, but they’re in just about every community in Minnesota right now. And this has put a lot of stress on workers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qWKaWI
MORE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) was joined by Minnesota agriculture leaders at a press conference on Monday, saying employees – both documented and undocumented – are staying home from their jobs at turkey plants and farms due to fears of ICE raids.” PUTNAM: “You can talk to your local sheriff out in the rural area and they have no idea where ICE is. That’s part of the plan, is that ubiquity. They could be anywhere, which means they’re everywhere. That has, I think, infiltrated, quite rightly, the psyches of so many people working on farms throughout the state of Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pHNWSY
BIRD FLU: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The funding freeze from the Trump administration temporarily cut off vital dollars for a poultry lab in Willmar fighting the bird flu that has rattled Minnesota’s turkey industry. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last week announced a freeze in nearly $130 million in federal agriculture dollars to the state, saying Minnesota needs to account for the funds in the wake of a far-reaching fraud scheme. But after supporters of the lab operated by the University of Minnesota asked for an exemption from the freeze, they learned Jan. 15 that it was granted the day before.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NmZKfW
FARM ECONOMY: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Across the U.S. farm belt, these have become depressing times. Farmers are facing another season of low prices, high costs and difficult decisions about how — or whether — to keep operating. Banks are cutting off some growers just as they urgently need cash. Thousands of workers are losing jobs as meatpacking plants close and farm equipment makers scale back.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qIXApT
TRADE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “As a follow up to the Oct. 26, 2025, trade deal announced by President Donald Trump, the USDA trade team just returned from a recent Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) mission . . . The trip to Malaysia had a delegation of 16 agribusinesses and trade associations. In recent years, the biggest U.S. agricultural exports to Malaysia have been soybeans, dairy products, cotton, vegetables and nuts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45KOP5Y
MEXICO: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Thx to Alejandra Bologna, Head Consul for the Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul for hosting MDA today at the Consulate offices for a timely discussion on trade and current immigration activities in Minnesota. Mexico is an important trading partner for most of MN commodities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/49UHVO1
AG PRODUCTS
NEXT WEEK: Via Ag Management Solutions, VERBATIM: “The biofuels industry – especially as it relates to soy-based biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel – is poised for a bright and sunny future. Farmers and fuel industry representatives from around Minnesota will get a chance to learn about the state of the industry and new market opportunities during the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s (MSR&PC) annual See for Yourself (SFY) trip to the Clean Fuels Conference Jan. 19-22 in Orlando.”
MORE: Details of the event. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3LLJjt4
CATTLE MARKET: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Live and feeder cattle futures are lower early Friday morning awaiting cash trade for direction. Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the futures were down early on liquidation ahead of the three day weekend with fear of a geopolitical headline that could hurt the market.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3LPiV1q
HAY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A marketing specialist says hay inventories are adequate. Dale Leslein is based in northeast Iowa and covers Minnesota and Wisconsin as well.” LESLEIN: “There’s a shortage of higher-end hay, but the market is not as strong as it has been since the dairy farmers changed how they get paid several years ago. The demand for top-end dairy hay is not as strong as it’s been in years past, but I wouldn’t call supplies burdensome by any means.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45Be3E3
RETAIL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Food Retail Improvement and Development Grant (FRIDG) program. Formerly known as the Good Food Access Program, FRIDG supports grocery stores and small food retailers that sell nutritious and culturally appropriate foods, including fresh produce, to underserved communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49rEXR2
WORKING THE LAND
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor shows slight improvement over last week – 30% of the state remains in drought status. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
FERTILIZER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has published an updated map to assist farmers across the state comply with the Groundwater Protection Rule. The rule restricts fall application of nitrogen fertilizer in areas vulnerable to groundwater contamination and outlines steps to reduce contamination where nitrate levels already are elevated in public water supply wells.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sKZE1P
LAND: Via Farmers National Company, VERBATIM: “Farmland demand now varies widely by location. Areas with high crop yields, diversified farms, and dependable groundwater continue to attract buyers and maintain steady values. Regions facing commodity price pressure, lower yields, or limited alternative income sources are seeing lower demand.” QUOTE: “After years of steady growth, we’re seeing the farmland market stabilize,” said Colton Lacina, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company. “This isn’t a sign of collapse but a recalibration that reflects current commodity prices, input costs and regional production conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b3IPca
INTEREST RATES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The slow decline of interest rates is making farmland more affordable. Compeer Financial senior appraiser Rachel Daberkoh says the Federal Reserve fund rate began shifting downward during the final quarter of 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LQYrFB
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a sponsor of Fluence)
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)
DC + MN
WATER: Via Rep. Brad Finstad, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) announced that he has secured more than $11.4 million in funding for rural water infrastructure across the First District of Minnesota. This federal funding is awarded as a part of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, which included 11 Community Project Funding requests submitted by Congressman Finstad.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pNURKr
FSA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Minnesota USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee. Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration’s Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45bUWQK
E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A leader in the biofuels industry says a federal solution for year-round E15 needs to be passed by Congress this month. Monte Shaw is the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. He tells Brownfield it’s a real possibility.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NkIrfz
ADVICE FROM EXPERTS
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension soybean specialist with Purdue University says the ag economy is leading many farmers back to the basics. Shaun Casteel says low commodity prices have soybean growers closely examining crop budgets.” CASTEEL: “You think about market prices, and it’s like, ‘OK, what are my I have to do this no matter what’s?’” He says, “I go back to the foundations. And so, for us it’s timely planting and a good stand establishment and variety selection. All those come in.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jN0HdJ
CORN: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “For years, crown rot was viewed through a narrow lens—a single pathogen causing a single problem. But researchers at the University of Nebraska and Iowa State University suggest the reality is much rowdier. They report that crown rot often behaves like a disease complex rather than a solo act.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qXrqGG
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
RECOGNITION: From Rep. Brad Finstad via Facebook, VERBATIM: “I had the privilege of recognizing one of my former U of M professors, Brian Buhr, for his 13 years of exceptional leadership as Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES). I wish Dean Buhr all the best in his next chapter and thank him for his many years of dedicated service to raising up the agriculture leaders of tomorrow.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sK50dJ
NEXTGEN: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “The Tracy Area FFA Chapter has continued to represent its town, the southwest Minnesota region and the state with its continuous success at the state and national level. Tracy Area FFA has been named a 3-Star chapter every year since 2021, which is the highest rank a chapter can receive, and was awarded the honor again at the 2025 National Convention in Indianapolis in early November.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sIIstT
SHOLARSHIPS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at the Congressionally created 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences. The application deadline is March 8, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sKFYew
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