FIELD DAY: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, Minnesota Corn and @umnextension held a field day for state legislators in Waseca to showcase how the University and Minnesota Corn are working together to address nitrogen challenges.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4lLz30m (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
NEXT MONTH: Via Farmfest, VERBATIM: “Between ag trade issues, the future of renewable energy, and the large reconciliation bill recently passed by Congress, it seems that there is no shortage of topics to discuss during the Farmfest Forums in 2025. These topics and more will be highlighted during the feature forums at Farmfest on Aug. 5, 6 and 7 in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center at the Gillfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, Minn. Farmfest is coordinated by IDEAg Group, LLC, a subsidiary of American Farm Bureau Federation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3U8C66W
BEES: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In a typical spring, Steve Ellis’s hives would have been buzzing with healthy bee colonies, ready for the honey production season to start in May. This year, Ellis opened many of his hives to silence and found them hollowed of any sign of life. In his other hives, bee numbers were rapidly dwindling. Since last summer, Ellis has lost almost 70% of his bees at the Old Mill Honey Company in Barrett, Minn., west of Alexandria. Ellis’s plight is shared by beekeepers nationwide. Between June 2024 and March 2025, commercial bee keepers lost an average of 62% of their colonies, marking the largest die-off on record in the U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40grAOD
IMMIGRANTS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Immigrants living in the United States inevitably miss a piece of home that can’t be found abroad. For many, that void is at the grocery store — because some crops aren’t grown here. A University of Minnesota program is working to change that. Hennepin County master gardener Chidi Chidozie recently showed off his craft and passion at the living garden exhibit at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minn. Chidozie is one of three immigrant gardeners growing non-native plants at the ‘Transplanting Traditions’ exhibit.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3UbsFne
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
AG ECONOMY: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “Global clashes and trade wars hammered Midwestern states’ agricultural economies early this year, while a continuing boom in Southeastern states’ housing and tech jobs kept their economies humming along . . . Overall, 39 states and the District of Columbia saw drops in gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of this year — well above the 22 states and the District of Columbia seeing drops during the same time in 2024, according to a Stateline analysis of preliminary U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics released June 27.”
“There’s widespread agreement that row-crop farmers are suffering economic pain, especially in the Midwest where the industry dominates the economy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/459yFSP
TREES: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “A scary-sounding insect is helping Minnesota in its battle against one of the worst pests for trees. Emerald ash borers have already invaded millions of trees, but now it could be wasps to the rescue . . . Most of them are in the pupal and larval stage in little containers in the trees. They’ll only live if they can feed on EAB eggs and larva, so they shouldn’t create any new problems. MDA has released them in 55 locations so far and seen some success.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/44KCEoj
CROP CONDITIONS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in southwest Minnesota says crop conditions are better than a year ago. Chris Hill grows corn and soybeans near Brewster. ‘Compared to last year they’re looking really good. Last year at this time we had 8 inches of rain all in about three days time, this year everything is growing nice. There’s not a lot of holes in the field versus last year.’ He tells Brownfield soybeans are growing a little slower than normal.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nO8Z6y
NITROGEN: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “New University of Minnesota research, recently published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, significantly improves a tool that farmers can use to guide nitrogen application decisions. Too little nitrogen can limit crop yield and reduce profits, while too much nitrogen reduces economic returns on the fertilizer and can lead to environmental degradation, without increasing yield. That's why a tool called the Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test uses soil nitrate status to help farmers determine whether their corn crop may need more nitrogen. By analyzing data from 34 field trials across Minnesota — representing a wide range of soils, weather, and cropping systems — the researchers updated the PSNT threshold.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GJYC2Q
THIS WEEK: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Although numerous farm-related policy priorities were passed in the recent ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ there’s still more work to be done to protect soybean farmers and improve the ag economy. To keep agriculture moving forward, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) returns to Capitol Hill July 15-17 to speak with House and Senate leaders as part of the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) annual summer hill visits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IH4yu2
BILL: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Depending on where you sit, the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act was indeed truly beautiful or really ugly. No piece of legislation is perfect for everyone, and no one gets everything they want, but the National Pork Producers Council lauds the OBBBA for delivering on some of the industry’s priorities. Protecting the nation’s food supply and keeping the swine herd healthy are at risk when one speaks of the potential of foreign animal diseases reaching the U.S. Resources to prevent FADs such as the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, and the National Veterinary Stockpile were preserved in the final bill that President Donald Trump signed into law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lwRgis
MORE: Via WZFG-Radio, from a story about an interview with Rep. Michelle Fischbach about the bill, VERBATIM: “Fischbach also called large portions of a proposed farm bill in the ‘Big Beautiful’ law a great thing for Minnesota.” FISCHBACH: “We’re looking at positive changes to the crop insurance program that’s going to help our farmers. We’re talking about $65.6 billion in farm programs. They range from animal disease to more research.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40MTn9l
DISASTER AID: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “USDA has initiated sign-up for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. A total of just over 16 billion dollars will be available for this program, with funding derived from the total of $21 billion in farm disaster assistance funds that were allocated by Congress in December of 2024. SDRP will cover losses from eligible crops for both the 2023 and 2024 crop years. The crop losses will be calculated separately for each year, so eligible producers could receive a payment for each year. SDRP builds off previous federal disaster programs, including the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP+) from 2018-2020, and the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) from 2020-2022.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/450SVXD
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)
FIRE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Saturday, the National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC), composed of wildland fire representatives from each wildland fire agency based at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho, raised the national fire preparedness level one step higher to Preparedness Level 4.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ls44Xj
FLOWERS: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “A hidden gem in Red Wing where the community can snip and create beautiful flower bouquets is pushing through some wet and windy conditions southeast Minnesota has experienced. KTTC’s Aaliyah Demry visited Flower Valley Orchard’s Flower Farm and spoke with Mary Birrittella, the owner, to see how the business is still managing to keep a green thumb when the weather can sometimes look red.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3GGvYQi
NEXT WEEK: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “The GreenSeam Celebration of Ag will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at ISG Field, Mankato. The event will feature remarks from Patrice Bailey, Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. It will also spotlight emerging technologies and research from regional agribusinesses and organizations, including EarthScout, Minnesota Corn, and Wakefield Pork.” QUOTE: “This event is all about bringing people together to celebrate the ag industry and the impact it has on our region,” said Sam Ziegler, Director of GreenSeam. “It’s a great chance to connect, hear from some really innovative leaders, and just enjoy a summer evening at the ballpark.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44xIQS4
COVER CROPS: Via Lonsdale Area News, VERBATIM: “This spring, farmers from Rice and Steele counties joined forces to better understand the nutrient value of cover crops—specifically cereal rye—on their fields. With support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Extension, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Rice and Steele counties collected biomass samples from ten fields to assess the levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contained in the growing plants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lWzhBZ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SATURDAY: Via Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, VERBATIM: “Drop-in between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, to learn more about Kernza at the Farm at the Arb.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lt7qJR
FARM FAMILY: Via Wadena Pioneer, VERBATIM: “Billy and Kristi Haehnel are the 2025 Cass County Farm Family of the Year. The announcement was made June 28 at the Cass County Fair in the Don Smith Building at the fairgrounds in Pine River. The Haehnels are a couple united in their traditional lifestyle. Their first meeting happened at a rodeo. Billy, who grew up on a farm only miles away from his home outside Motley today, had just gotten off work on his birthday and went to the event to meet up with family and instead met Kristi.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/464EAun
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