PUBLIC POLICY: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s (MCGA) public policy manager has completed a prestigious University of Minnesota leadership and public policy program. Alex Trunnell, who has been with MCGA since 2019, wrapped up his time with the Policy Fellows Program at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in June. Trunnell was one of 32 professionals from across the state to participate in the program’s 2024-25 cohort.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3G72zi5 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
BUDGET BILL: Via Detroit Lakes Tribune, VERBATIM: “American farmers will reap the benefits included in the budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress on July 3, which will add up to an estimated $66.4 billion in spending for farmer programs over 10 years, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. While many ag groups praised the passage of the bill, others are gravely concerned about the cuts it will bring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. The bill makes it more difficult for lower-income Americans to qualify for both programs, and implements work requirements for both, shifting some costs to states. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, a Democrat from Minnesota, said in a statement that the legislation ‘steals health care coverage and food from millions of Americans to fund tax breaks for the already rich.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40Fuix6
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Several Minnesota-specific trade groups backed the bill, including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Bankers Association, Hospitality Minnesota, Greater Mankato Growth and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. So did dozens of national groups representing Minnesota agriculture, such as the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, the National Turkey Federation and the American Farm Bureau Federation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lEBUbb
PROP 12: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Supreme Court recently denied a petition filed by the Iowa Pork Producers Association challenging Proposition 12. IPPA attorney Eldon McAfee says the challenge to California’s livestock confinement law was based on constitutional issues.” MCAFEE: “Some of which were addressed by the dissent mainly in the NPPC case, where the Supreme Court found that it was constitutional. And this was an application to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court did not accept that application.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40KtaZ3
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
WEATHER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A southwest Minnesota farmer says hail and wind have taken a toll on his crops. Joel Schreurs grows corn and soybeans in Lincoln County. ‘It started out slow, and then we got some really strong winds over the one weekend on two nights and it pretty much cut off our corn. And if that wasn’t bad enough, then I got really heavy hail two weeks ago.’ He tells Brownfield quite a few soybean acres had to be replanted, but the corn seems to be bouncing back.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nKV9C6
BLUEBERRIES: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota blueberry farm is welcoming customers back for the season, but with fewer picking days and a smaller crop than usual largely due to changing weather patterns. Sydney Nelson, assistant manager at Blueberry Fields of Stillwater said recent weather extremes have made it harder for the bushes to produce as they typically do.” NELSON: "Usually in a typical season, we get three rounds of picking off of the bushes," Nelson said. "But this year, we've had a much smaller crop... so we don't have a lot of ripe fruit left for tomorrow." WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4eC0Qhc
DISASTER AID: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced today that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). To expedite the implementation of SDRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering assistance in two stages.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40CfDTq
FARMLAND: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would seek to limit Chinese and foreign purchases of American farmland, citing a threat to national security. In a seven-point national security plan, the Agriculture Department said it would enhance public disclosures of foreign ownership of farmland, enact steeper penalties for false filings and work with Congress and states to ban purchases from foreign adversaries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46wYJcv
FUNDING: Via BWSR, VERBATIM: “Funding is now available from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for conservation easements and local government land purchases designed and located to protect drinking water sources across the state. BWSR is opening two opportunities today via the recently revamped Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Drinking Water Program, formerly known as the RIM Wellhead Program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lQNalb
STUDY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new study underscores the economic contributions of corn refining. Corn Refiners Association president John Bode says the independent analysis commissioned by the association focused on the financial implications of displacing high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. food supply. ‘I thought it was stunning (that) they found that the average corn price would drop between 15 and 34 cents a bushel.’ He tells Brownfield that could result in more than $5 billion in lost revenue for farmers, sending economic shockwaves throughout rural America.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44BuTRF
TOMORROW: Via WNAX-Radio, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota is inviting visitors to join them in Becker, MN, for the Sand Plain Research Farm field day on Thursday, July 10th. Vasudha Sharma, PhD, University of Minnesota Assistant Professor and Extension Irrigation Specialist, said all are welcome to come learn about crop nutrition, diseases and irrigation practices that the research farm focuses on.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lQMexb
SPRAYING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Wind and rain have made it difficult for a southeast Minnesota farmer to finish post-emergence herbicide applications. Brennen Toquam of Blooming Prairie says spraying has been a struggle.” TOQUAM: “Just seems like the wind blows or it’s too wet, just right on that edge. And when the storms come, (it’s) two inches of rain in about 30 minutes and then you’re out for a few days.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45V7Gwa
RECALL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Ruck’s Meat Processing in Belle Plaine, MN is voluntarily recalling a variety of ready-to-eat sausage products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during routine sampling by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) inspection personnel. The MDA and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions or illness due to consumption of this product.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44muUu0
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)
TODAY: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Wednesday is the start of the Winona County Fair, a tradition that has been around for 167 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kxvMRj
MORE: Via Minnesota Federation of County Fairs, a schedule for the year which includes several that begin this week. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/3oD552T
CROP ART: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans are honoring Rep. Melissa Hortman with one of the state’s most iconic art forms: crop art. 17-year-old Charlie St. Dennis worked with Melissa Horman last summer while he was interning with FairVote Minnesota . . . When St. Dennis heard about the assassination and all the events that followed, he said the news felt overwhelming. Crop art was a way for him to destress while creating something that honored someone he admired.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4eGrTbq
BEEF: Via WNAX-Radio, VERBATIM: “Keeping consumers informed and advocating for the beef industry is no small task but critical for the future of agriculture. Emily Hass, a returning Minnesota Beef Ambassador, embraces that challenge with a passion for sharing the beef story.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44mTYkz
DISEASES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An eastern Iowa farmer is concerned hot, humid weather has created a breeding ground for crop diseases. Billie Danner grows corn and soybeans near West Liberty.” DANNER: “Any fungus we might see, like especially in the corn, tar spot is really at the top of the radar since last year we feel like we got dinged with it. Fungicide helped a lot with that, so I think that’s really at the top of the list to look out for.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44ynK4x
USDA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden was sworn in as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Vaden, of Union City, Tennessee, joins Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins to not only deliver on the promises of President Trump but also to execute the agriculture and nutrition policies of the One Big Beautiful Bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lQK3tv
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FARM FAMILY: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Ruen family of Lanesboro has been named Fillmore County’s ‘2025 Farm Family of the Year’ by the University of Minnesota Extension. The Ruen family farm began in the early 1930s with Howard Ruen, who laid the foundation for what would become a multi-generational operation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44ByeQH
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