WHITE HOUSE: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Thanks to MCGA farmer-leader Tim Waibel for representing us at the White House Celebration of Agriculture on Friday! We appreciate your leadership on behalf of farmers.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3NZ2TmC (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
DC + AG
FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee says changes to the nutrition program are needed as farm bill negotiations continue. Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar tells Brownfield there are SNAP shifts in the One Big Beautiful Bill related to state responsibility for benefit costs that need to be undone.” KLOBUCHAR: “The entire Midwest was totally screwed by that budget bill because we have to pay all these cost shifts that came over. Whereas some states like New York state and New Jersey, who have these high error rates, they got off scot-free because of Alaska having the high error rate and they needed the vote of that senator.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4s4B4HA
GRANTS CANCELED: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cancelling most funds for a nearly $300 million grant program designed to help underserved farmers access land, markets and capital. The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program awarded about $300 million to 50 projects across the country in five-year contracts starting in 2023. There were three projects active in Minnesota aimed at helping Latino, Indigenous and BIPOC farmers. All have lost funding, effective March 26.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sIEdhC
GOLDEN TRACTOR: Via AGCO, VERBATIM: “AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) senior leaders joined President Donald Trump, farmers, industry representatives and policymakers at the White House in Washington, D.C., today to recognize the essential role of agriculture in the United States and honor the American farmer.”
“The golden Fendt 1167 Vario MT track tractor featured during the event was manufactured in Jackson, Minnesota, underscoring AGCO’s U.S. manufacturing footprint and its investment in American workers. The tractor previously appeared on the National Mall during the Great American Farmers Market in 2025 and once again served as a visual tribute to farmers and modern agriculture during this week’s celebration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NToDQQ
EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA’s reporting a solid week for U.S. corn and sorghum export inspections. Corn inspections as of the week ending March 26th continue to run ahead of last marketing year’s pace thanks to strong demand from several key customers, including Japan and Mexico. Sorghum is moving out faster than a year ago due to the recent surge in demand from China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tiqfCX
IRAN WAR: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “It’s been one month since the war in Iran began. And financial concerns are growing for farmers as we inch closer to spring planting season. Dan Glessing is the president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. He told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini when the war began that he was hopeful the war would be short-lived. Moini checked back in with Glessing to talk about what economic impacts Minnesota’s farmers could see as a critical time in agriculture approaches.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4uWnw3P
CRITICAL MARKETS FOR MINNESOTA: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers export hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of corn, ethanol, and dried distillers grains (DDG) to Canada and Mexico each year. Those exports support consumers in those countries and account for thousands of Minnesota jobs and over $1 billion in economic activity. That’s why the Minnesota Corn Growers Association supports a full renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the landmark trade agreement that modernized North American agricultural trade.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
AG HEADLINES
CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A livestock economist says he’s expecting fewer corn acres in Tuesday’s Prospective Plantings report and that could impact feed prices for livestock producers. Kenny Burdine with the University of Kentucky says tighter margins were already pointing to increased soybean acres.” BURDINE: “The recent run up in fertilizer prices have changed this even more,” he says. “The story to me is that we’re going to see a decrease in corn acres. We’re going to see it shift other crops. It’s a question of how significant that decrease is, and I think it’ll be relatively significant.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PAZ33P
CATTLE FUTURES: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Live and feeder cattle futures were extending gains on Monday after higher weekly closes. For the week April live cattle were up nearly $4.50, June was up $5.25 with May feeders up $13.45 and August up $11.67. Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the rally late last week was impressive considering the equity markets were sharply lower on Thursday and Friday plus crude oil was higher.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cdx0jE
WATER: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “The Beach Family Farm, a 5th generation farming operation near Stanchfield, MN, today became Ag Water Quality Certified, making it one of the largest in the program. The Beach Family worked with Centra Sota Cooperative, a vital partner in the program.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4sL578y
APPOINTMENT: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “In todays appointment announcements Governor Walz has appointed Blue Earth County Commissioner, farmer and former MN Farm Bureau Prez Kevin Paap as new member of the Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) in one of the County Commissioner seats, congrats Kevin!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4sIIIsw
INPUTS
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative says fertilizer supplies are sufficient for the start of the growing season. Jay Debertin with CHS tells Brownfield prices are up significantly as global markets get disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East.” DEBERTIN: “Over where it was say two weeks ago for the reasons we all know. But the physical supply, much of that product either has arrived in the United States or is on the water to arrive in the United States.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4v5dLQQ
ANHYDROUS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “As spring fieldwork ramps up across Minnesota, many farmers and applicators will soon begin applying anhydrous ammonia (NH3). With tight weather windows and increasing pressure to get into fields, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) urges everyone who handles NH3 to make safety their top priority. Accidents involving anhydrous ammonia can result in severe, life‑threatening injuries when proper precautions are not followed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OdbqCF
BIOSECURITY: Via National Farm Medicine Center, VERBATIM: “Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in U.S. poultry flocks highlight the importance of biosecurity measures in limiting the spread of infectious disease in livestock production, diseases that can potentially cross into humans. To help producers increase preparedness and maintain continuity of business during a disease response, staff at the National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, have led development of PremisesMapper, a free, web-based biosecurity premises mapping tool.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dS9UQO
MACHINERY: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “March continues to be a busy month for equipment auctions. According to Machinery Pete, there has been a 5% increase in the total number of machinery auctions so far this year. As producers shift away from buying new equipment, the search for high-quality used machinery with fewer hours has intensified.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s2V1i4
CUSTOM RATES: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Due to the high cost of investment in farm machinery, an ever-increasing number of farm operations are hiring other farm operators to provide some or all of their machinery resources for their farm operation. This is especially true with new and younger farm operators, as well as with children that decide to start farming with their parents. In addition, some land investors are choosing to operate a farm themselves rather than cash renting the land to someone else, thus hiring another farm operator under a custom farming agreement for farming practices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v1Dt8y
LAND: Via Minneapolis-based Proterra, VERBATIM: “Acretrader LLC, a Proterra farmland investment platform, announced the successful disposition of 57 farmland assets across 13 states.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PScpZn
NEXTGEN: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Seth Epstein didn’t grow up on a farm and until recently, his career had little to do with agriculture . . . Now a 40-year-old student at the University of Minnesota, Epstein said he made the decision just months ago to pivot into farming . . . Like many beginning farmers, he is still trying to figure out how to get started. ‘I know I want to have a farm, but I have no idea where to even start,’ Epstein said. A recent retreat in southeast Minnesota focused on that gap, to help early-career producers build financial and business skills needed to start and sustain a farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sHGxp7
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The dairy industry is looking to discover and support emerging startups. Midwest Dairy research and innovation manager Sydney Herr says through a partnership with VentureFuel, Midwest Dairy is launching their second annual Accelerator program for the next generation of dairy-forward entrepreneurs.” HERR: “We look at all different sorts of areas of interest, beverages, butters and spreads, yogurts, snacks, cheeses, obviously your ice creams, dressings, sauces, condiments.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4s5I5Ij
SOYBEANS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “For southern Georgia farmer Randy Dowdy, hitting the 100-bushel mark with soybeans isn’t about how many seeds he can put in the ground—it’s about how many plants he can keep standing until the combine rolls. Dowdy’s goal is to achieve a final stand of 80,000 plants – a population significantly lower than traditional populations in the Midwest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s2ViS8
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