GOSS’S WILT: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Goss’s Wilt costs farmers millions of bushels every year—and there hasn’t been a solid treatment. But thanks to checkoff-funded research, Dr. Mikael Elias at the U of M is working on a natural fix that blocks the bacteria from ‘talking’ to each other, so they can’t turn harmful. No chemicals needed.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/3GUzpCv (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
We recently launched our first premium publication. The Fluence Brief will be released 3-4 times a month and dive deeper into the business, economic and political dynamics of the Midwest. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cQw43r
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
THIS WEEK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “National Farmers Union members are in Washington D.C. this week urging lawmakers to pass a new farm bill. Gary Wertish is president of the Minnesota Farmers Union. ‘We have over 100 members to advocate for getting action done. We’ve kicked that can down the road two times already, we’ve extended the 2018 Farm Bill. And it’s time to get serious about getting an updated farm bill.’ He tells Brownfield NFU’s Week of Action comes as farmers face razor thin margins and a lot of uncertainty.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iTNvSb
MORE: Via Minnesota Farmers Union, VERBATIM: “Hundreds of farmers and ranchers from across the country will be advocating from their farms and Washington, D.C. Together, they’ll highlight policy priorities recently approved during NFU’s 123rd anniversary convention in March, where family farmers and ranchers shaped NFU’s grassroots policy platform. Members will urge Congress to pass a strong, bipartisan five-year farm bill that:
Strengthens the farm safety net
Builds upon voluntary conservation programs
Restores balance and opportunity in the marketplace
Delivers fast and reliable risk management programs
Garners broad support from both farmers and consumers
The Farmers Union Week of Action will also push advocacy efforts at the state and local level.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EUJgI2
SEED BANK: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota House passed an omnibus agriculture bill on April 24 that includes a second round of funding for a University of Minnesota seed bank project that university officials say they didn’t have a hand in developing. The bill would spend $250,000 in each of the next two fiscal years on the project which is meant to create a repository for a variety of seeds, including grains, grasses and legumes, that were grown in Minnesota prior to 1970. Seeds brought to the state by immigrants for crops traditionally grown in their native countries are also meant to be included. The project would also require the university to reach out to operators of small farms and farmers who are Black, indigenous, and other people of color.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SmawlH
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
GRANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Minnesota dairy farmers are encouraged to apply for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Dairy Business Planning Grant, a funding opportunity designed to support diary operations in planning for the future. Eligible projects include hiring a qualified, independent third party to help create a business plan for your dairy operation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EUxs8z
FSA: Via USDA, a list of state FSA director appointments, including Kurt Blomgren, appointed State Executive Director. QUOTE: “He is a fourth-generation family farmer from Butterfield, Minnesota, currently operating a diversified crop and livestock farm with his son Vance and family. In his local community, he is a volunteer firefighter, Sunday school teacher, and mentor to local urban youth with livestock projects at his farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44I84O7
PLANTING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Ideal planting weather is expected across much of the Midwest this week. Brent Mohn grows corn and soybeans near Lakeville in southern Minnesota. ‘We missed a few of the rain showers that came through in the last week and-a-half, so we got started on some of our own stuff yesterday. So it’s nice to get started and so far we’re off to a nice pace.’ With no rain and temperatures in the 70’s this week, Mohn says he should be done planting corn by Sunday.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3GViYWw
NEXTGEN: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Central Lakes College’s meat cutting and butchery program has introduced a brand-new facility to the campus this year. Central Lakes College’s Meat Cutting & Butchery program prepares students to receive, cut and package meat in commercial establishments, and to one day function as licensed meat cutters and butchers. And what better way to prepare students than to implement a classroom that doubles as a butchery.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ESmDnG
MORE: Via Grand Forks Herald, VERBATIM: “Retirements of small-town butchers and shortages of meat processing workers due to the pandemic have elevated the need for training more meat cutters. But the vulnerability of the meat processing industry started to grow as the number of smaller processors shrank — well before the pandemic. In the 1960s, there were nearly 10,000 slaughter facilities in the U.S. Over the next 60 years, the industry consolidated, resulting in only 2,850 livestock facilities in the U.S. in 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EUixLC
PROGRESS: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Spring fieldwork got off to a good start in some portions of the Upper Midwest in mid-late April; however, conditions in other areas were too wet to see the initiation of Spring planting. Frequent rainfall events and above normal precipitation kept most farmers out of the field during April in the eastern half of Minnesota, much of Wisconsin, and areas of northeast Iowa, as well as some portions of the eastern Corn Belt. On the flip side, planting progress has been ahead of normal in much of Iowa, Nebraska, and the western half of Minnesota, as well as in North and South Dakota. The good news is that the weather forecast in the Upper Midwest for the week of May 4-10 looks very favorable for full-scale Spring planting and fieldwork to resume in many areas.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4d3nnTB
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Planting is off to an encouraging start for west-central Minnesota farmer Noah Hultgren. ‘We finished sugarbeets at the end of last week. We had some rain, which was a good thing. And we’re probably two-thirds done with corn and just have a day of soybean planting in.’ Barring rain later this week, he tells Brownfield corn and soybean planting should be wrapped up in a few days.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Sss53v
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)
STATS: Via Successful Farming, reporting on the number of farms per state as well as acres and net income. VERBATIM: “Iowa takes first place for greatest net farm income at $14.71 billion, but what other states rank in the top 10? Ranking second — and the only state in the top 10 that isn’t a top corn-growing state — is California. The Golden State’s net farm income in 2022 was $12.1 billion. Illinois is third on the list with $10 billion net farm income. Minnesota and Nebraska follow — they net $9.3 billion and $7.68 billion, respectively, in 2022.” READ/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3H6vA9g
FRAUD: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Department of Agriculture Special Investigations Unit, in conjunction with Federal law enforcement partners, conducted operations this week to target criminals engaged in defrauding American taxpayers by stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YuVJZy
CROP FERTILITY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A southeast Minnesota farmer is dialing in his crop fertility plan. Ed McNamara of Goodhue says nitrogen continues to provide a good return on investment. ‘Where we’re putting a little bit down pre before we hit it with the field cultivator, and then come in with a second shot at you know V5.’ The corn and soybean grower tells Brownfield he’s considering nitrate testing later this spring.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iPXIz4
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FFA: Via Grand Forks Herald, VERBATIM: “The involvement in Minnesota FFA has never been greater. The Minnesota FFA State Convention took place at the University of Minnesota on April 28 and 29. This year’s theme, selected by FFA state officers, was ‘Stand as One.’ There are over 15,000 members in more than 220 chapters in the state, according to the Minnesota FFA Foundation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k4IwPu
POOP: Via St. Cloud Times, VERBATIM: “Lawn care is coming to the forefront as warmer temperatures approach central Minnesota, and picking up dog poop is a chore many avoid. However, there's an alternative for those pushing off their poop-related duties. Cassie Libby runs a poop pick-up business, Putt the Poop, that services homes in St. Cloud. Libby's work not only includes the typical dog poop but also cat litter boxes and farm sitting. ‘There's a demand, and this year I've grown a lot,’ Libby said. Last year, her company expanded to pasture animals and picking up manure and hauling food and water out for farm animals. Libby said Putt the Poop will sell or compost manure collected at farms, including selling the black dirt or manure to farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GE1gqB
Copyright © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
As someone who subscribed, or as a member of the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council you are receiving this email.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427