SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn, the state’s grassroots organization of corn farmers, has announced a partnership with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, set for June 20-26 in the Twin Cities. Held every four years, the Special Olympics USA Games are a national celebration of inclusivity, changing perceptions and the ability of the human spirit rising above limitations. The 2026 games will draw nearly 3,000 athletes from all 50 states to the Twin Cities to compete in 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4egSPP2 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
A BUSY AG NEWS DAY
WEATHER STATION: From Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Today in greater Pease, MN @braunfarm to visit with staff as they install the latest weather station in @MNagriculture weather network. Thanks Tim for hosting one on his farm!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Q660KN
MORE: Via MDA, more about the Minnesota Ag Weather Network including a map of stations and a link to data. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4m3XHsW
USMCA: Via ASA, VERBATIM: “Today, American Soybean Association (ASA) Executive Committee member and Minnesota soybean farmer Jamie Beyer testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during a hearing on ‘Agricultural Perspectives on the Future of the USMCA,’ highlighting the critical importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to U.S. soybean farmers and urging policymakers to maintain long-term certainty for American agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4om64To
MORE: Via ASA, Beyer’s testimony in which she argued the USMCA is necessary for market stability given the recent uncertainty with the largest U.S. soy customer: China. QUOTE: “In contrast to the relationship with our Chinese partners, the North American trade relationship is the picture of stability for the U.S. soybean industry. Since NAFTA entered into force, U.S. soy exports to Mexico quadrupled, and exports to Canada doubled (Figure 1). Under USMCA, both markets have continued to grow over time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v2kB95
USDA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins was questioned about the USDA’s reorganization during a U.S. Senate Ag Committee hearing on Wednesday. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said she’s concerned about staffing cuts amid recent detections of New World screwworm in the U.S.” KLOBUCHAR: “The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has lost 25 percent of its staff,” Klobuchar said, “including more than 300 employees in veterinary services alone since the (Trump) administration came in.” ROLLINS: “A year and a half ago there were 10 APHIS employees working full-time (on NWS),” Rollins said. “Now, we’ve got over 120.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4usmCdM
MORE: From Forbes via YouTube, Rollins’ testimony before the Senate Ag Committee. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fDHzPi
ICYMI… morning take shared news of USDA restructuring that led to Minnesota losing 21% of its agency workforce since President Trump returned to office. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4enA9xo
SCREWWORM: Via Pork Business, VERBATIM: “While New World screwworm (NWS) is a foreign pest to the U.S., Dusty Oedekoven, National Pork Board’s chief veterinarian, says it was not unexpected.” QUOTE: “We’ve been watching the northward expansion of the fly for a couple of years,” Oedekoven says. “USDA has taken a proactive approach to preparing for that. There’s a lot of information available at screwworm.gov about the current status, as well as planned response activities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uwTm5I
FERTILIZER: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “In the shadow of a wind turbine on a low rise just outside the western Minnesota town of Morris, a cluster of tanks, pipes and sheds holds what some believe is the key to a more self-sufficient future for the region’s agriculture and heavy industry. When the wind is blowing – and it often is, out here – the turbine powers two electrolyzers that cleave hydrogen from water, another system that separates nitrogen out of the air and a third that binds the two elements to form anhydrous ammonia, a critical input for corn farming.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43pFb7i
PRICES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Corn and soybean futures have come down from their recent highs, and a farmer in eastern South Dakota says he wishes he would have locked in more new crop sales. ‘I locked about 10 percent in for fall, but I had not locked enough,’ says Paul Casper. He tells Brownfield he was hopeful the conflict in the Middle East would be over by now and fuel prices would have also declined.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vEZFVA
MORE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Grain markets were mixed for a second day in a quiet session as fund selling subsided heading into the June WASDE. John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing says the grain markets saw similar action last year during June.” HEINBERG: “We just traded sideways through the middle of June and I think that the WASDE report is a part of it here. I mean, obviously, we’ve sold the corn and wheat markets very aggressively, did find some support, and we’re holding those.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S0jeJF
FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag lobbyist says he’s optimistic a delay in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s farm bill timeline won’t derail the legislation this year. Randy Russell with The Russell Group tells Brownfield ‘Senator Bozeman has come out and said now he wants to release his bill before the July 4 recess and then mark it up in July after lawmakers come back before the August recess.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49RIkAw
PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
CROP NEWS & GUIDANCE
UPDATE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A west-central Minnesota farmer is pleased with how the growing season is unfolding. Nathan Collins grows corn, soybeans, sugarbeets, kidney beans, and some organic crops near Murdock.” COLLINS: “Got the early planted stuff in nice, and held off for a little while on some corn. And everything came up pretty good, we’re pleased with the stands. Getting on the crop protection plans now.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xbCns2
BERRIES: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture census, released every five years, showed a small decline in berry farmers in the state. But numbers from Minnesota Grown, a partnership between growers and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, show an increase in both the number of berry producers and the kinds of berries grown over the past 15 years.” QUOTE: “People are still growing strawberries and raspberries, but there’s more blueberries and also some new fruits,” said Rachel Wandrei, Minnesota Grown’s marketing manager. “We didn’t even have the honeyberry in our directory until two years ago and now there are 16 farms growing them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4osBS9e
WEEDS: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Farmers across the region are reporting solid crop stands heading into summer, helped by timely rains and above-average growing degree units. Matt Widboom, who farms near Worthington, Minnesota, says weed control has become a serious concern.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49Up05z
SOYBEANS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “As soybean crops move rapidly through their early growth stages, one of the greatest risks to your yield potential over the next few weeks is a well-intentioned herbicide pass made just a few days too late. Because so much of a soybean crop’s yield potential is determined during pod fill, Missy Bauer stresses that what happens now with herbicide passes is about setting up the plant in advance to handle that critical period well.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43WkoZg
ROOT ROT: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Recent heat and rainfall have improved soybean growth conditions across portions of North Dakota, but are also increasing disease risks. NDSU Extension Soybean Specialist Wade Webster says growers should watch closely for root rot diseases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43LGU7j
GRANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Green Fertilizer Grant Program. The program will support agricultural and rural electric cooperatives registered as 308A or 308B within the state of Minnesota so they can invest in green fertilizer manufacturing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4utPTon
LOOKING AHEAD
NEXT WEEKEND: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “In a way to start Summer, Olmsted County Country Breakfast on the Farm preparations are underway for its 38th year, but this time at a crop farm. Traditionally, the event takes place on a dairy farm. This year’s Breakfast on the Farm is hosted by the DeCook family at their grain bin site in Stewartville.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eDgCJt
SPRAYING: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to aerially manage 19 sites in Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties to slow the spread of spongy moth. Officials likely will conduct the aerial management activities June 24 – July 1, beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. These dates are dependent on weather conditions in the area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oE7Jnz
NEW ENVOY: Via 2 Paragraphs, VERBATIM: “American country music singer-songwriter John Rich of the duo Big & Rich announced this week on social media that he has been named by President Donald Trump as the ‘Special Envoy for American Landowners.’” RICH: “In this role, I look forward to representing and advocating for landowners’ rights against any entity that chooses to harass or intimidate them in an effort to achieve goals contrary to those of the President. I look forward to defending our farmers and ranchers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ehjDPa
MORE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “A key focus of Rich’s work will be advocating for landowners facing pressure related to large-scale solar and wind development that may impact productive farmland, ranchland, and rural livelihoods. He will work closely with USDA leadership and stakeholders to ensure landowners have a strong voice in decisions affecting their property and communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vAN4CU
MN + DAKOTAS: From Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “This morning joining my counterparts South Dakota Secretary Hunter Roberts & North Dakota Commissioner Doug Goehring on a state of ag panel in Fargo at the Midwest Ag Summit. Appreciate invite from Fargo-Moorhead chamber.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3RYXX36
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
GREENTECH: Via Minnetonka-based Pivot Bio, VERBATIM: “Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, today announced it has been named No. 5 on TIME Magazine’s World’s Top GreenTech Companies of 2026 list. Pivot Bio is the second-highest ranked U.S.-based company on the global ranking.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4unXfKd
Copyright © 2026 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