LEGISLATION: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Congress voted to keep the federal government funded until March 14 when it approved the text of the continuing resolution (CR). The bill extends the current Farm Bill by one year and includes $31 billion in economic and disaster relief for farmers, which is a major win for growers who saw revenues well below the costs of production in 2024.” QUOTE: “The funding will help farmers plan for the 2025 crop year as they seek operating loans this winter and recover from production losses due to extreme weather,” MCGA President Jim Kanten said. “We appreciate Congress including this package in the bill, the tireless work of agriculture committee leadership and members of Minnesota’s delegation to ensure this assistance was maintained in each version of the CR. We look forward to its implementation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PclPeO (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
CORN: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that the United States has prevailed in its dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) challenging certain Mexican biotechnology measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn. The USMCA panel agreed with the United States on all seven legal claims, finding that Mexico’s measures are not based on science and undermine the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the USMCA.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41IdsiB
MORE: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “The corn dispute began six months after USMCA came into force in July 2020 when then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decreed that GM corn be banned by the end of 2024 -- a move largely targeting U.S. corn exports. His successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum, has supported the policy. After years of little movement in consultations, USTR requested arbitration to settle the dispute, challenging Mexico's 2023 decree that immediately banned use of GM corn in tortillas and dough, and instructed government agencies to gradually eliminate its use in other foods and in animal feed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iPvzsY
TURKEYS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “South Dakota State University’s Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory is taking a leading role in combating a new strain of avian metapneumovirus, a virus that is causing significant economic loss to the United States poultry industry. Avian metapneumovirus, or aMPV, is an upper respiratory tract viral infection that affects all types of poultry but is most harmful to turkeys. The virus is divided into four different subgroups: A, B, C or D. While each subgroup can be found in different parts of the world, the U.S. has previously only experienced outbreaks of subgroup C.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/407TkFk
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FARM BILL: Via Agriculture Dive, VERBATIM: “Congressional lawmakers late Friday approved an extension of the farm bill with $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, part of a spending agreement that narrowly avoided a government shutdown. The House passed the funding deal — and the farm bill extension — after a raucous week of partisan infighting around outside provisions that included wage hikes for congressional members. President Joe Biden signed the legislation shortly after the Senate approved the deal Friday evening.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DsVcj8
PORK: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A swine lending specialist points to lower feed costs helping pork profitability in 2025. Daryl Timmerman with Compeer Financial says margins improved the latter half of the year. ‘Some of the biggest improvements in expectations that we’ve had here is really in that feed cost space.’ He tells Brownfield feed costs per pound of gain on a liveweight basis are averaging around 35 cents.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VR82y1
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a sponsor of Fluence Media)
CHRISTMAS TREES: From Teagan King via St. Cloud Times, VERBATIM: “As most people have already picked out their Christmas trees for the holiday season, tree farmers are turning their attention to next year's crop and hoping Mother Nature cooperates. This year's growing season for Minnesota Christmas trees held both good and bad weather. The summer's frequent rains helped the trees, though the area's dry fall added more stress than usual on the plants. June was one of Minnesota's wettest months on record with an average of almost seven inches of rain falling. But this fall, the state became abnormally dry. As of Dec. 19, 89% of the state is still experiencing some level of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iOzQwG
ENERGY: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “Chippewa County will be lifting moratoriums on wind and solar energy development in the county after adopting new ordinances for them. On unanimous votes, the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners approved new ordinances that increase setback requirements, require up-front funding for decommissioning, and limit development on prime farmland. The commissioners also voted at the Dec. 17 meeting to lift the moratoriums on Jan. 1, and they approved a separate ordinance to regulate cannabis sales.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gNOX7X
OUTLOOK: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The highly contentious 2024 Election is now history, and we are now moving rapidly forward with a new Administration and several new members of Congress. There will be new leadership in the U.S. Senate and some changes in lead roles on the Congressional Agriculture Committees. There are many key issues and possible policy changes that potentially could affect the agriculture industry, which will likely be addressed by Congress and the White House in the next couple years. However, there are also some concerns and questions with some of these policy initiatives as we move forward.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gOh2vN
CATTLE: From John Perkins via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA says placements of cattle into U.S. feedlots during November were down on the year. The total of 1.796 million head was 4% below November 2023, partially due to a tighter calf supply because of more aggressive placements earlier in the year . . . Minnesota: On Feed: 105,000 head, up 5% from December 1st, 2023; Placements: 15,000 head, unchanged from November 2023; Marketings: 14,000 head, steady with last year” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41N50hS
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)
SYRUP: From Dan Gunderson via MPR, VERBATIM: “This spring marked 25 years since Stu Peterson first tapped a maple tree on 190 acres of land on Star Lake, on the western edge of maple syrup territory in North America. The site was once a boys camp called Camp Aquila, and the Petersons kept the name for their maple syrup business. Blue tubes stretch through the woods like webs glowing in the sunlight, connecting 1,300 taps drilled into trees to large containers where sap is collected on warm spring days . . . Being selected to the North American Maple Syrup Hall of Fame is an honor, said Peterson, and likely the result of years of being engaged in various industry organizations.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4crumFb
WOOD: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled a new program to support American wood processing facilities. USDA Rural Development is partnering with USDA Forest Service to provide funding through the new Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP). The program will support the processing and utilization of wood products from National Forest System lands to improve forest health and reduce the risk posed by wildfires, insects, and disease and the detrimental impacts they have on communities and critical infrastructure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BFYXRO
TARIFFS: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Of all the products that would be affected by President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexico, avocados stand out: 90 percent of avocados consumed in the U.S. are imported. And almost all of those imports come from Mexico. Trump has said he plans to impose a blanket tariff of 25 percent on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10 percent tax on goods from China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BUmtKN
NEXT YEAR: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “‘Farming Your Way, Creating Balance’ is the theme for the 2025 Extension Women in Ag Conference, hosted by the University of Minnesota Women in Ag Network, in partnership with the Minnesota Farm Service Agency. The conference is planned from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 11, at The Park Event Center, Waite Park.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49ODiDD
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SOIL HEALTH: From Kevin Schulz via The Farmer, VERBATIM: “Come for the economics, stay for the soil health benefits. Although it sounds like a travel brochure marketing pitch, that in a nutshell is an explanation for the farming practices implemented by the Udermann family at Meadowbrook Dairy Inc. near Sartell in Stearns County, Minn.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gPSaUA
FESTIVAL: Via WDIO-TV, VERBATIM: “Townline Farms, in Cloquet, Minnesota, held their first ever Holiday Farm Festival on Sunday, December 22. Coordinator and horseback riding instructor Jenelle Engstad, said it was great to see kids and families come out to enjoy the farm’s animals and the food and crafts available for the festival.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iSFaPG
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