TAIWAN: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn recently welcomed a delegation from Taiwan, which included government officials, academics, and senior industry leaders. Before arriving in Minnesota, the group participated in the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council’s Global Ethanol Summit. During their visit to Minnesota, the delegation toured several key locations to better understand the corn and ethanol value chain. Their itinerary included stops at the Minnesota Corn Office, the University of Minnesota, Red Wing Grain, Guardian Energy, and O’Connor Family Farms.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/47AZyAa (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
BREAKING: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to continue paying for food stamps during the government shutdown, siding with local officials and nonprofits that had sought to spare millions of low-income Americans from losing benefits in a matter of days. It was the second of two rulings in the span of about an hour that found the administration had acted unlawfully, after it had refused to tap an emergency reserve — enacted by Congress and totaling in the billions of dollars — to sustain the critical anti-hunger program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JCPG0M
CHINA: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “China has agreed to purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually as part of an agreement reached by its leaders, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday. Bessent said China will start by purchasing 12 million metric tons of soybeans from the U.S. between now and January.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nt1oJb
MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping authorized the sale of soybeans, sorghum and ‘other farm products’ during their meeting in South Korea.” TRUMP: “We’re in agreement on so many elements,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One following the meeting in South Korea. “Large amounts, tremendous amounts of the soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased immediately, starting immediately.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nAJwMp
MINNESOTA: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota farmers wrap up fall harvest, many are celebrating a soybean deal with China.” QUOTE: “It was a pretty frantic fall for a lot of people because we did things that we normally didn’t do,” said [McLeod County farmer Ryan Mackenthun], who is also vice president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. “We export roughly half of the soybeans we grow here in America. And half of those exports go to China.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nvm4QQ
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The bullish combination of renewed purchases by China and surging domestic crush has the U.S. soybean market poised for a breakout. University of Minnesota Extension grain market economist Ed Usset says the latest NOPA report showed crush levels nearly five percent above expectations. ‘The crush was 10 million bushels more than the market expected, it was a big deal. And it kind of throws back to the way I felt about the ethanol market and corn demand 15 to 20 years ago.’ At that time, he tells Brownfield USDA couldn’t keep up with how quickly ethanol production ramped up.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47xkc3X
INNOVATION: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Using technology and innovation was the topic for one of the forums at the AgriGrowth Fall Summit. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Executive Vice President Mike Metzger highlighted its leader-follower autonomous trucks. ‘To date, we’ve logged 70,000 miles autonomously on the North Dakota side of the river, bringing sugarbeets from our receiving stations to the factories for processing.’ Metzger remains hopeful that the State of Minnesota will provide a variance to utilize the same technology on its roads.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49rfWpm
LASERS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Some in the poultry industry are using lasers to keep wild birds away from farm sites. University of Minnesota Extension Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems program leader Dr. Abby Schuft suggests all options are on the table as producers try to protect flocks from carriers of highly pathogenic avian influenza.” SCHUFT: “There’s a lot of research-based evidence that lasers work with bird deterrents in like vineyards and orchards, however there’s nothing published yet that indicates its productivity in the poultry industries.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43LApBs
GRANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Works Grant Program. This new grant opportunity supports organizations and institutions that help strengthen Minnesota agriculture, horticulture, and rural communities through development, education, research, or marketing. The MDA expects to award between five and 15 grants totaling about $485,625 through a competitive review process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47lk3BW
GRANTS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Building on MN’s strength as a leader in crop research and innovation, we’re now accepting applications for the AGRI Crop Research Grant. Up to $1.75M in funding is available for projects that strengthen Minnesota’s $13.5 billion crop industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qR5MEW
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows only a slight change over last week – 66% of the state is now abnormally dry or worse with 22% in drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
HARVEST: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension corn agronomist says it’s been a good harvest in Minnesota. Jeff Coulter with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield the weather has been cooperative for farmers.” COULTER: “We haven’t had too many rainout days, so we’ve been able to be in the field for most of the fall. So things have progressed very nicely, and the yields are pretty good.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oSkmu5
INVASIVE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Palmer amaranth has been found in Divide County, the 16th county in North Dakota to find the noxious weed. According to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, one plant was pulled from a wet/green spot on the outer edges of a wheat field in Dickey County. A sample was taken and submitted for DNA analysis to the National Agricultural Genotyping Center, where it was confirmed as Palmer amaranth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hEK6rd
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)
NEXT YEAR: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Registration is now open for the Minnesota Organic Conference, taking place January 8-9, 2026, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. Hosted annually by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the conference features more than 30 educational breakout sessions and an 80-booth trade show highlighting the latest in organic production, marketing, and research.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Li6PNJ
CATTLE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of Iowa Farm Bureau is pointing blame at the Trump administration for the recent collapse in cattle markets. Brent Johnson says President Trump’s proposal to import beef from Argentina and remarks on Truth Social prodding cattle producers to ‘get their prices down’ while taking credit for improving the U.S. cattle market have had a ripple effect.” JOHNSON: “Cattle guys are finally seeing some black ink on their balance sheets, so to run into this situation now has been really concerning for those groups that raise cattle for a living.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43CTJRs
FOAM: Via Tri-State Neighbor, VERBATIM: “Across local fire departments, state agencies and rural communities, SoyFoam’s feel-good story is spreading throughout Minnesota. In spring 2025, the farmer-led Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) launched the soy checkoff-supported SoyFoam campaign, ‘Planting to Protect: From Farm to Flame.’ The council is offering more than 40 organized soybean counties in Minnesota the opportunity to donate SoyFoam to area fire departments, and the Rock County Corn & Soybean Growers are getting in on the action by donating SoyFoam pails to the fire departments in Luverne, Hills, Hardwick, Jasper and Kenneth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ooLdOy
FFA: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “FFA is a family legacy for Minnesota FFA State Vice President Hailey Chambers of Medford, Minnesota.” CHAMBERS: “Both my parents were FFA members, my grandpa was an FFA member; I’m a third generation FFA member, which isn’t something you hear every day. It’s a privilege, honestly, to be a part of FFA.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JwdIKS
LEGACY: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Times have changed in agriculture since Eric Huper‘s FFA days, but a few important things haven’t. [His son,] Caldyn Huper‘s run in FFA will come to a peak this week at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. He’s a finalist for American Star in Agricultural Placement, which is awarded to the FFA member with the top agricultural placement SAE in the nation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47BdxpE
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FARM TO SCHOOL: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Today closing out Farm to School month with tour of Foley Schools with farmers & other program supporters. Over 50% of their food is sourced locally & they have benefited from @MNagriculture F2S grants to purchase equipment.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4oetpoZ
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