ag take | MN Farm Bureau's Legislative Priorities + How Ag Exec Deals with Incomplete Data
11.24.25
AG EXPO: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “ICYMI: Join Minnesota Corn and Minnesota Soybean at MN AG EXPO in Mankato on Jan. 20 and 21. Attendees can enjoy a full trade show, ag engaging speakers, and presentations from checkoff-supported researchers.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4p8UB92 MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oTYDlD (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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AG POLITICS
PARDONED: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Peach and Blossom, the two Minnesota-raised turkeys pardoned by President Joe Biden in the 2024 White House Thanksgiving ceremony, have found a busy new home at Farmamerica. The agricultural education center in Waseca was selected as the permanent residence for the pardoned birds, which are now serving as year-round ambassadors for visitors and school groups.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KhOmRj
2026 SESSION: Via Minnesota Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “During the 2026 legislative session, the organization will work with lawmakers on the following priority areas to support the vitality of farmers, ranchers and rural communities:
Family Farm Legacy – Ensuring policies and resources support farm families in passing land, knowledge and opportunity from one generation to the next.
Rural Economic Vitality – Advancing initiatives that grow rural businesses, improve infrastructure and empower local communities.
Environmental Stewardship – Supporting science-based land and livestock conservation practices that protect natural resources while keeping farms productive and sustainable.
Energy and Farmland Preservation – Balancing renewable energy policies with the long-term protection of Minnesota’s agricultural lands.
‘This session we want to work with legislators on policies that balance the challenges and opportunities for agriculture in our state,’ Vice President Carolyn Olson. ‘Our members know it’s important to have rural voices at the Capitol, and are ready to have the conversations and build the relationships to make a difference for agriculture and their communities.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4irRp63
WORKFORCE: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “In a tacit admission that U.S. food production requires foreign labor, the Trump administration is making it easier for farmers to employ guest workers from other countries. At the same time, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in recent months appears to be refraining from conducting agricultural workplace raids, even as it scours Democratic-led cities for immigrants who are in the country illegally . . . The shifts come as many Americans are concerned about the rising cost of food, creating political problems for a president who campaigned on lowering them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44k1NXC
WOLVES: Via Alpha News, VERBATIM: “A recent wolf sighting on Nov. 7, 2025 on the Ely School District grounds while kids were in class has one Minnesota lawmaker renewing his call for delisting the gray wolf from the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) list. U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents the Eighth Congressional District in northern Minnesota, said, ‘The science is clear—the gray wolf has recovered and must be delisted under the Endangered Species Act. Failing to do so threatens the safety and livelihood of our farmers with the loss of their livestock, and safety of the countless individuals across Northern Minnesota—including students in Ely where a wolf was recently spotted roaming school grounds in the middle of the school day.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Xen4hy
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
GRAIN ELEVATOR: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “Farmers and others who expect to file claims in the Hansen-Mueller Co. bankruptcy have until Jan. 26, 2026, to file those claims, according to a court document filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Nebraska. An unsecured creditors committee was established in the case as the Omaha-based company is moving toward selling its assets after filing Chapter 11 on Monday and has estimated it owes money to between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JSev9j
LAND O’LAKES: Via Fortune, VERBATIM: “In agriculture, uncertainty is the operating environment. Weather shifts, volatile markets, unpredictable pests, evolving regulations, and rapid advancements in ag tech all converge to make decision-making uniquely challenging. For leaders navigating this complexity, waiting for perfect information is rarely an option. Leah Anderson, a senior executive at Land O’Lakes, has learned to make high-stakes calls even when the data is incomplete. It’s a discipline that’s become foundational to her leadership, especially as AI and digital tools accelerate the speed at which farmers and retailers must act.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aaLArq
LAND: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Rising or even steady farm land values and years of lower farm commodity prices will likely be working against those trying to come to a fair cropland rental rate in 2026. That’s according to Nathan Hulinsky, Agricultural Business Management Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota. He’s begun his tour of Minnesota, hosting in-person workshops focused on giving landowners and farmers the tools and data they need to reach a fair cropland rental rate. The end of harvest season is the typical time for many producers to come to agreement for the following season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rjR6hC
DISASTER RELIEF: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “USDA initiated sign-up for Stage 2 the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices on November 24. The sign-up period will continue until April 30, 2026. Stage 1 of the SDRP program began on July 10, 2025, and many farmers that were eligible for Stage 1 have already signed up and have received their SDRP payment. A total of just over 16 billion dollars was allocated by Congress for the SDRP program. As of November 21, a total of just over $5.7 billion has been paid out under Stage 1 of the program, with over 381,000 farmers in the U.S. receiving benefits. Thus far, farmers in Minnesota have received the highest amount of Stage 1 payments, with a total of just $667 million going to over 36,000 farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ogd7vg
FEEDING THE WORLD
SCHOOL MEALS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “A small farm north of Moorhead is making a big contribution to kids’ healthy eating, and nutrition education. Harvest Hope Farm received a state grant last year to build a year-round growing dome. So they decided to give back by donating all the produce they grow in it to a local preschool and childcare center. Harvest Hope Farm has donated over 700 pounds of produce to Peace Academy Preschool in Fargo, North Dakota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4886Gpj
$30 MILLION: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intent to purchase up to $30 million in fresh fruit from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through USDA’s authority under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need. With this action, the Trump Administration is bolstering American prosperity by supporting American agriculture, rural communities, and those in need of nutrition assistance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p8TW7J
SNAP: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The agency that oversaw Minnesota’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) did not perform required security reviews of a computer system critical to the program’s operation, according to audits reviewed by 5 INVESTIGATES. In 2020, and again in 2023, the state’s federal single audits found the Minnesota Department of Human Services ‘did not complete a recent information system security review’ of the system that determines who is eligible to receive benefits. That system holds vast amounts of personal, private data on the more than 440,000 Minnesotans who rely on SNAP benefits.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ip5Ckm
CHRISTMAS TREES
STATE CAPITOL: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “It’s a holiday moment more than century in the making. On Monday, the owners of the Turck’s Trees historic family farm, located north of Litchfield, cut down and pack up a 15-foot balsam fir that’ll wind up in St. Paul as the official Christmas tree of the Minnesota State Capitol building.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rh8kvZ
BUY LOCAL: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is encouraging Christmas tree buyers to find one locally this year. One of the biggest reasons, they say, is the unwanted hitchhikers from out of state. Namely, invasive species like moths, tree diseases and other pests.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Miu2je
AHEAD
NEXT MONTH: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Residents in and around Martin County can get their private well water tested for nitrate at a free one-day clinic sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48gUcKH
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)
FARM BUREAU
RECAP: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) hosted its 107th Annual Meeting on Nov. 20-22, 2025 at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka. The MFBF Annual Meeting brings together the organization’s grassroots membership to surface and discuss issues facing agriculture, along with general organization updates, educational opportunities, networking and awards presentations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p2ZSiA
LEADERSHIP: Via Minnesota Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “Dan Glessing of Waverly (Wright County) was re-elected to serve a two-year term as president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting . . . Four new faces will join Glessing on the Board of Directors, with Joe Sullivan of Franklin (District 2) and Kevin Dahlman of Cokato (District 5) both elected to serve three-year terms. Serving one-year terms are Amanda Cook of Chisago County as the Promotion & Education Committee Chair and Megan Horsager of Chippewa County as the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oScclH
NEXTGEN: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “In the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers competition, Dylan and Shelby Radke of Beltrami County won the Achievement Award. They operate a first-generation Black Angus cow-calf ranch and manage a direct-to-consumer beef business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Xem3pK
FARMERS UNION
SMALL BIZ: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “American Economic Liberties Project Senior Adviser Alvaro Bedoya and Co-Executive Director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance Stacy Mitchell addressed Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members gathered in Minneapolis for their 84thannual convention. Bedoya is a former Federal Trade Commissioner, who is always looking for ways to fight for workers and small businesses through public interest litigation . . . Mitchell’s work focuses on dismantling concentrated corporate power and building thriving communities and a healthy democracy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4puAPVv
AG CHALLENGES
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Geopolitics are expected to influence fertilizer prices in 2026. Veronica Nigh is chief economist with The Fertilizer Institute. ‘We can’t do much to anticipate what’s going to be happening geopolitically with regards to Russia, what’s going to be happening in the Middle East (or) with China. So unfortunately, that international volatility (is) hard to predict.’ She tells Brownfield domestic nitrogen fertilizer production is not anticipated to expand in the next year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pOzj0L
SCREWWORM: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is excited to highlight the launch of the NEW Unified New World screwworm (NWS) website, screwworm.gov. This dynamic new site centralizes NWS information available across the federal government and reflects our whole-of-government effort to fight this pest through implementation of Secretary Rollins’ comprehensive five-pronged plan.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43LD2U2
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TURKEYS: Via Pine Journal, VERBATIM: “Erica Sawatzke, a sixth-generation turkey grower with Oakdale Farms in Douglas County, said her family used to travel the state to ‘show’ turkeys in the ’30s when the business first came to Minnesota. The practice of showing turkeys has since dwindled, but Sawatzke’s family has stayed in the business as it’s climbed to national dominance over the decades. Her dynasty is just one of 600 turkey farms across the state that work to produce the birds year-round, not just for Thanksgiving.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XRVWFe
5TH GENERATION: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “As a boy, Matt Millner loved spending time on his grandparents’ farm in southwest Minnesota . . . It was something that stuck with him as he got older, too. Now he’s the fifth generation on the family farmstead. Millner farms land in western Lyon County and eastern Lincoln County, working together with family including his grandparents Galen and Marie Grant, his wife Ashley, and his father-in-law Joel Schreurs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3M3dPON
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