SERVICE: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “At our board and council meeting today, we honored three outgoing MCGA board members for their longtime service with the organization. Tom Haag of Eden Valley has served on the MCGA board since 2010, John Swanson of Mentor has served on the board since 2016, and Brian Thalmann of Plato has served on the board since 2012. For each of them, today was their last meeting as a board member.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/40ahI8a (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
RIVER: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Low river levels are expected to be a concern for the U.S. inland waterway system again in 2025. Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition says there was improvement following a dry summer across much of the Midwest.” STEENHOEK: “Since the late part of October, but a third year in a row with low water conditions on the Mississippi River. I hope our response to that is continuing to make progress on the issue of dredging, maintaining that channel, being able to anticipate problems before they come.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3DRAWrJ
POLL: Via Radio Iowa, VERBATIM: “More farmers reported higher levels of stress last year compared to 2022 in the latest Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, which surveyed nearly 950 farmers statewide. Most of the respondents were men and 66 years old, on average. J. Arbuckle, an Iowa State University extension sociologist, led the poll.” QUOTE: “There was a very big shift in the level of personal stress that was reported,” Arbuckle says. “I think that also kind of aligns with the decline in economic conditions leading up to the to the survey time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gJ1hqm
FLANAGAN: From Matt Rineer via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Days ahead of the 2025 legislative session, Minnesota’s Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan made a stop in Austin. Flanagan was at Riverland Community College on Thursday to highlight the schools different set of Agriculture Programs. The visit included a presentation from school leaders who highlighted the variety of programs and toured the different faculties.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jfcXD5
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
TODAY: Via MDA, the Minnesota Organic Conference continues. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/41WRyq2
COOKING OIL: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is criticizing the EPA for how it verifies the integrity of used cooking oil imports. The Iowa Republican says the agency recently revealed it relies on foreign records to prove the product meets Renewable Fuel Standard requirements.” GRASSLEY: “However, EPA can independently or definitively determine the authenticity of the product. The EPA shouldn’t resort to blind faith when determining the validity of foreign feedstocks.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42cPDQ7
DAIRY: From Lisa Schnirring via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that 15 more states have enrolled in its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), which boosts the number of participating states to 28 and covers 65% of the nation's milk production. The USDA unveiled a national milk testing order on December 6, which began with 6 states and spelled out a broader strategy for testing milk in the wake of ongoing outbreaks on dairy farms. On December 17, it announced adding 7 more states, which brought the number to 13, representing 8 of the top 15 dairy-producing states. Newly added states announced today are Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DLKULg
MARKETS: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An uptick in demand is supporting dairy markets. Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing says an increase in milk production weighed on futures prices toward the end of 2024.” BLOHM: “But now just in the past few weeks here we’ve seen better demand for domestic markets in the U.S., we’ve seen better export demand. And so the marketplace for the Class III milk prices were able to push higher with a rally.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WCcxgr
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows nearly half the state remains in drought with 88% abnormally dry or worse. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
MORE: From John Perkins via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA says there are concerns about a lack of snow cover in parts of the state, with temperatures generally warmer than normal and precipitation near average.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40uWYJL
IMMIGRATION: From Brooks Johnson via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford may have a busy year ahead after being appointed chair of the immigration committee for Business Roundtable, an influential national group of chief executives. If President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his campaign promises to rein in illegal immigration using workplace raids and increasing deportations — and at the same time limiting the number of legal immigrants — the business group will likely have a lot of lobbying to do. Its current stance is ‘pro-growth immigration reform that addresses workforce needs, coupled with stronger border security.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40uqMWA
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
SUMMIT: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The inaugural Midwest Meat Summit is underway in Des Moines. Margaret Chamas with Practical Farmers of Iowa says the event is all about making connections across the entire value chain.” CHAMAS: “People producing the live animals on the ground, all the way through the people selling it to or serving it to people who are eating it on their plates. So making connections between and across people at those different points along the chain.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4a9L6Qx
PROJECTS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is funding 586 projects to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels. Today, USDA is providing nearly $180 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/425Zxmv
MORE: Descriptions of funded projects, including many in Minnesota. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hcuPML
NEXT MONTH: From Extension educator Susanne Hinrichs via Tri-County News, VERBATIM: “‘Farming Your Way, Creating Balance’ is the theme for the 2025 Extension Women in Ag Conference, hosted by the U of M Women in Ag Network in partnership with the Minnesota Farm Service Agency. The Women in Ag -Conference will be from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at The Park Event Center in Waite Park. In an industry where every farm and role is unique, finding your place means discovering the balance that works best for you, your farm, your family, and your goals. This conference will help farmers and ranchers explore and define what agriculture means to each person, finding ways to navigate both the family and the operation, as well as making your distinct mark in agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j7EAhd
ENERGY: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $6 billion in clean energy investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. Rural electric cooperatives and communities will use the funding to support thousands of jobs, lower electricity costs for businesses and families, and reduce climate pollution by millions of tons each year. More than one in five rural Americans will benefit from clean energy investments supported through the New ERA and PACE programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jdOXA0
MORE: Via USDA, details on the funded projects, including several in Minnesota. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/40rJuhJ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AWARD: Via Southwest Minnesota State University, VERBATIM: “Brad Schloesser was recently recognized for exemplary performance and dedication to agricultural education. He received the 2024 National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Outstanding Service Award which was presented during the 2024 NAAE Convention, December 3-7, in San Antonio, Texas.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j7eieV
AWARD: From Nicole Stracek via Wadena Pioneer, VERBATIM: “The Lunemann family, owners of Twin Eagle Dairy, were recently awarded the 2024 Producers of the Year by the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, the state’s dairy advocacy group. The award is given annually, recognizing the vital role of milk producers who demonstrate excellence in milk production and sustainability practices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j4d1p7
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