VERSATILE CROP: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “When you think of corn, what comes to mind? Many people envision corn as livestock feed or fuel for vehicles, but the reality is that it plays a surprising role in many aspects of our daily lives that you might not expect. From household products to everyday essentials, corn has a significant impact on many aspects of our daily lives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WGCquQ (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association fears it could be now or never for Congress to pass year-round E15. Monte Shaw tells Brownfield federal legislation allowing uninterrupted nationwide sales of fuel blended with 15 percent ethanol must happen before the end of the year.” SHAW: “There’s no try, there’s no this would be a good year to do it. If we don’t get year-round E15 done this year, I don’t think it will happen.” He suggests if the political will is not there to get E15 across the finish line in 2025, prospects are dim. “I mean, you never know what the future holds. But sitting here today, you cannot rationally or reasonably conceive of a set of circumstances that will be present in the future that would make it easier to pass year-round E15 in the future.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WBQHZQ
SHUTDOWN: Via Tri-State Neighbor, VERBATIM: “We hear all over the news about the government shutdown. But what is it? And is it going to impact our livestock? . . . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) graders and inspectors for APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) and the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) remain functioning. The efforts of the government to contain new world screwworm, African swine fever, HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza), and bovine tuberculosis are unchanged as well. Farmers and ranchers working with the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will notice that these offices are most likely impacted.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oftGYq
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
TRADE WAR: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s trade war is having devastating consequences for soybean farmers, and Gov. Tim Walz joined other national Democratic leaders on a call Tuesday to highlight the story of one Illinois farmer whose business model is under threat from tariffs and international retaliation. ‘It’s going to take us years to get these markets back,’ Walz said Tuesday, calling on Trump to walk back his tariffs. China is the world’s largest consumer of soybeans, and the biggest international buyer of American soy, historically importing around one-quarter of the soybeans grown in the U.S. But in the aftermath of the trade war during Trump’s first term, China has instead become dependent on Brazilian soybeans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KRowUk
TODAY: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz will join farmers Wednesday in southern Minnesota to highlight the local impacts of tariffs. Minnesota’s top agricultural export is soybeans, but President Trump’s recent tariffs on China are causing purchases to plummet.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3J68xB9
OCT 30: Via AgriGrowth, VERBATIM: “Economic data from the first quarter of 2025 showed that Minnesota’s GDP decreased by 2.42% from the previous year, driven by mounting challenges in the agriculture industry. Minnesota’s agriculture and food sector has been a cornerstone of the state’s economic growth, often mitigating or cushioning recessions. To strengthen our agriculture and food economy, change is required. Minnesota AgriGrowth’s fall summit will continue the hard questions being asked at kitchen tables and board rooms: ‘How do we build a robust agriculture and food economy in Minnesota by 2040?’” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/3L2utxu (SPONSORED: AgriGrowth)
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market analyst suggests the soybean market is in a unique spot. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing says a prolonged trade war with China would keep prices range-bound or lower. ‘The bean market has, I think of all the markets out there (including) corn, beans and wheat, the bean market has the quickest potential to change not only price, but just change in perception quickly.’ He tells Brownfield a breakthrough with China would provide an immediate boost, as would harvest data indicating less than expected soybean yields.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3W3WXJJ
OIL: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “President Trump’s social media post suggesting a boycott on Chinese cooking oil has major implications for the U.S. soybean industry. However, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Joe Smentek says it’s biofuels policy issue, not a trade issue.” SMENTEK: “What has been happening is China and some of these other countries either are saying something is used cooking oil when it’s palm oil, Argentinian soybean oil, or whole South American soybeans going over to China, getting crushed, and China is sending us back the oil.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43mAHP3
GRANT: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “The @MNBWSR and others are teaming up with the MDA on a grant program aimed at expanding conservation practices on irrigated agricultural land across 25 counties.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/43g25OD
PIGS: Via KRFO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is known for a lot of things from those outside the state; lakes, snow and cold weather among them. Residents of Minnesota know it for ice fishing, meat raffles and delicious food options. On the note of food, did you realize that Minnesota produces the second highest number of pigs raised and the value they bring? The Minnesota Department of Agriculture tweeted this week that pigs are big business, to the tune of around seven billion dollars in economic activity for our state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IKmWD2
BIRD FLU: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to infiltrate poultry facilities despite ongoing improvements in biosecurity. Dr. Abby Schuft is a program leader in the University of Minnesota Extension Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems Department. ‘We are now beyond having clean boots and clean clothing when we enter the housing where our birds are. There are so many other environmental concepts, some environmental factors, that are playing into how the virus is spreading.’ She tells Brownfield producers need to go beyond enhanced biosecurity and strive for a more conceptual approach.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/493FZCH
OATS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Oats harvested by southeast Minnesota growers this year don’t currently have a home. The founding members of the Oat Mafia are Kevin Connelly, Martin Larsen and Tom Pyfferoen, who started growing and marketing oats together in 2020. ‘The group has grown, and I don’t even know how many members are in it now,’ Connelly said. ‘Some people have 20 or 30 acres, and some people have 300-400 acres.’ He said the group planted and harvested over 6,000 acres this year. Connelly, a third-generation dairy farmer in Olmsted County, said that post oat harvest this year — which ranges from around July to August — La Crosse Milling Company ran out of storage space for the oats grown by the Oat Mafia.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4opHuQk
BEAR MARKET: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Is there anything good that comes with a bear market? Yes, and that good thing is the return of large carrying charges in the corn market. And large carrying charges create an opportunity to sell the carry at harvest. Carrying charges are the price differences between nearby and deferred futures contracts. In corn, positive carrying charges are generally the norm at harvest, but we have not had a large carry in the corn market since the harvest of 2019. The December ’25 to July ’26 carry has been trading near 35 bpa. This is a good carry, twice as large as your interest costs on stored grain.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WGQNzi
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)
CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of an ethanol plant in southern Minnesota is pleased with the corn being delivered during harvest. Brian Kletscher with Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton says moisture ranges from 13 to 18 percent.” KLETSCHER: “Most of the corn has been between 14 and 15 and-a-half (percent), so really good quality corn coming in. Test weights have been in that 55.8 to 59 (pounds), every once in a while we’ll see a 60. But been very good quality corn this year, and very happy with the yields.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4op9Jyt
LAND: Via Grand Forks Herald, VERBATIM: “Agricultural land prices are continuing to rise in North Dakota and Minnesota despite challenges in the U.S. farm economy, experts say. The U.S. Department of Agriculture priced North Dakota cropland at $2,710 an acre, 4.2% higher than the previous year. Minnesota’s cropland value was $7,000 per acre in August, up 7% from 2024, the USDA said in its August land values summary. Experts expected land prices in Minnesota and North Dakota to correct themselves in 2024 or 2025, according to Troy Swee, an area sales manager for Farmers National Company.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4naGvm7
NEXT MONTH: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) will host its 2025 Annual Meeting, Nov. 20-22 at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest Minnetonka, bringing together grassroots members to discuss the most pressing issues facing agriculture. The three-day event features educational sessions, organizational updates, networking, and recognition of agricultural leaders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KNHbAl
IRRIGATION: Via Aitkin Age, VERBATIM: “Central Lakes College will play a key role in a major statewide project designed to conserve water and improve irrigation efficiency on Minnesota farms. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), in partnership with NRCS, local soil and water conservation districts and educational institutions like CLC, has been awarded $11.16 million through the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Over the next five years, the project will provide grants and technical support to farmers across 25 counties, helping them upgrade irrigation systems, improve nitrogen management and protect groundwater resources.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/491JBoP
INSTRUCTOR: Via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “Central Lakes College Meat Cutting and Butchery Instructor Jess Feierabend was named 2025 Post-Secondary Educator of the Year by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. He will be recognized at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Awards Banquet on Nov. 21. Feierabend is also invited to participate in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 107th annual convention in Anaheim, California, in January.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Ifijj
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
HALLOWEEN: Via KROC-Radio, VERBATIM: “There are tons of fun things to do during Spooky Season in Minnesota. If you’re into getting scared out of your mind, there are plenty of options. Scream Town, just outside of Chaska, is the top-rated haunted attraction in the state. Or you can head to Fright at the Farm, 15 minutes north of Rochester, and venture through the country’s only haunted cannabis maze.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WrSZuJ
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