FORECAST: From Amanda Bilek via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Last Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the February forecast. State legislators will use the latest economic and forecast numbers to write a budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The February forecast is an update from the November projection. The February numbers are mostly consistent with the November projection but did worsen slightly.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hbN7NZ (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
TARRIFS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar said she’s concerned about the consequences the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration may have on the country’s standing with international trade partners. She spoke as some of the tariffs went into effect.” QUOTE: “Our businesses export to the world, and we want to keep that,” Klobuchar said. “We don’t want all these other countries trading with each other, and we’re left out of the scene. Ninety-some percent of our potential customers live outside of our borders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FohUd3
MORE: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “A local United States congressman feels the federal government’s proposed tariffs on farm products will help level the playing field for central Minnesota dairy farmers. Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer represents the area in Washington, D.C. and told KNSI that Donald Trump is the only one fighting for farmers, citing Canada’s 150% to 200% tariffs on milk from Minnesota.” EMMER: “They literally deny our dairy producers any access to the Canadian market. But they think they deserve full and fair access to our market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DJkRo7
MORE: MPR talked with MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen and the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association’s Friendly Vang-Johnson about the impact tariffs and other Trump administration policies hare having on Minnesota farmers. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hbV5H0
NODAK: Via National Public Radio, VERBATIM: “Starting this week, American farmers like Sherlock are getting hit with tariffs on food they directly sell to China, including soybeans, corn and wheat — as well as pork, chicken and beef. Those levies are in retaliation for tariffs President Trump put on Chinese goods coming to the United States. In farm-dependent states like North Dakota, all of this has renewed concerns about a trade war. [Farmer Justin Sherlock] says that up until a few days ago, farmers had still hoped President Trump was using tariffs to negotiate. But now it feels chaotic. One minute they're on, then off, then one thing is exempted. Then there's a post on President Trump's Truth Social platform that American farmers should get ready to supply America, ending with ‘have fun.’” QUOTE: "That really struck a lot of farmers, it was the wrong note," Sherlock says. "It has a lot of them questioning, is there a plan?" LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/43OUNCG
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
GRAIN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new grain facility on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border means new marketing opportunities for farmers. Shortly after a merger that formed Alcivia Cooperative, farmers told the board they needed a way to sell grain to new markets and take a smaller basis hit on grain prices. After a year of construction, President and CEO Jim Dell says their new Hager City, Wisconsin grain drying and loading location along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline is about ready.” DELL: “Burlington Northern has been awesome to work with giving us good domestic destinations in the southwest part of the country, Hereford, Texas, as well as being able to go to Mexico and the Pacific Northwest so we’re really excited about the diversification it will bring us.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4buwg7U
PROCESSING: Via Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, March 12, Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) introduced Senate File 305 in the Senate’s Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee. This legislation aims to appropriate funds to bolster Minnesota’s meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities.” QUOTE: “Our state’s agricultural sector is the backbone of Minnesota’s economy,” said Sen. Lang. “By investing in our processing facilities, we not only support our local farmers and producers but also ensure that Minnesotans have access to high-quality, locally produced food products.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kJpLSK
ROUTE 1: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “The morning sun casts long shadows over the fields as farmers swiftly load crates of freshly harvested produce onto a waiting distribution truck. The scent of damp earth and ripened vegetables fills the crisp Minnesota air. A rhythmic chorus of voices calls out orders as hands pass boxes from one to another, each filled with vibrant greens and fragrant herbs. The truck’s reverse alarm beeps steadily, a signal of movement and progress. Standing at a distance, Marcus Carpenter watches with quiet satisfaction. His dream, Route1 — born from a time of crisis and a deep-rooted passion for agriculture — has manifested before his eyes. The food will soon be on its way to those who need it most, carrying a message of resilience and empowerment.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4kFydTc
USDA: Via USDA, VERBATM: “In her first month, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has moved swiftly to advance key priorities focused on efficiency and agricultural prosperity. From addressing industry challenges to streamlining government operations, she has focused on policies that reinforce the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commitment to serving America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41wAdEw
MORE: Via Minnesota Senate DFL, Senator Liz Boldon on the news earlier this week that Minnesota will lose funding to purchase food for schools, child care institutions, and local assistance. BOLDON: “Let’s be very clear, this is an attack on students, farmers and working-class families. At a time when food bank visits are at an all-time high, Donald Trump and his top campaign donor, Elon Musk are terminating crucial funding for the most vulnerable Minnesotans in order to pay for tax cuts for the ultra wealthy – pulling the rug out from folks struggling to make ends meet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h6SJZO
SURVEY: Via Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “The two biggest uncontrollable factors for farmers—weather and markets—both turned more negative in much of the region at the end of last year. ‘We have been in a drought and grain prices have been very low,’ wrote a Minnesota banker, ‘making for a very tough year for many farmers in our area.’ Farm incomes decreased broadly across the Ninth District, according to lenders responding to the fourth-quarter Ag Credit Survey by the Minneapolis Fed. Lenders also reported that spending on capital equipment fell, though farm household purchases increased on balance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i6h3wl
From lunch take…
TARIFFS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) joining forces with Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (D) to sound the alarm about tariffs being imposed on trading partners by the Trump administration. Canada will announce Canadian $29.8 billion ($20.7 billion) in retaliatory tariffs in response to the 25% steel and aluminum tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump has leveled, a senior Canadian government official said Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iMTp7R
MORE: Via KIMT-TV, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota brewer says tariffs could leave your wallet a little lighter the next time you order a frosty can of beer. Patrick Sundberg, owner of Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter, joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar to talk about the impacts of tariffs on Minnesota businesses. They were joined by Dan Glessing with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Sundberg said 70% of small breweries in Minnesota are using aluminum cans for their beers, equaling about 200 microbrewers. Many are using grain products imported from Canada.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Ftzfl6
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)
ROBOTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota family that converted from a milking parlor to robotic milking says the change improved herd health and allowed them to focus on what they’re good at. Suzanne Vold with Dorrick Dairy near Glenwood, Minnesota tells Brownfield the decision to move from milking in a parlor to robotic milking was a combination of labor and quality of life issues.” VOLD: “We’re a 500-cow farm, so we’re not big enough to have a middle management layer but we’re not small enough to do all of the work ourselves through a parlor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43MKsqR
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows that, despite recent snow, 69% of the state is in drought, up from 67% a week ago. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
FIREFIGHTING: Via Minnesota Soybean, VERBATIM: “Risking your life to save another should never backfire. That’s why Minnesota Soybean leaders are making sure it doesn’t with SoyFoam, a key investment in their communities and the people who help make them a better place. Unifying two community backbones to reduce the risk of cancer, the number one cause of death among firefighters, the farmer-led Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) is excited to announce the launch of its statewide, checkoff-supported SoyFoam campaign, ‘Planting to Protect: From Farm to Flame.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iubpny
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NEXT WEEK: Via Albert Lea Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce’s 20th annual Agriculture Luncheon is scheduled for noon Tuesday at the Fairlane Building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41AZ9uG
NEXT MONTH: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Network with agricultural leaders at the 27th annual Women’s Agricultural Leadership Conference (WALC) on April 9, 2025, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. This year’s WALC theme, ‘Rooted in Agriculture: Cultivating Leadership; Growing Together’, will focus on empowering participants to grow personally and professionally, ensuring a stronger and more resilient agricultural community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RceKvC
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