E15: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn joins the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association and scores of other farmer organizations across the country in urging Congress to create a pathway for permanent year-round E15 (Unleaded 88) sales.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/49jA2BE MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3LJ0lIj (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
NEW DATA
REPORTS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The January USDA reports are the biggest of the season with final crop production for the previous year, world supply and demand estimates, quarterly stocks and winter wheat seedings for the new season. Average trade guesses ahead of Monday indicated only minor adjustments to the annual reports that are historically a huge market mover. This year, all eyes were on final yields and production, specifically corn.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49MZKOZ
MORE: Via Brownfield, grain stocks as of December 1st showed many higher than a year earlier. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4qKYFwH
MORE: Also via Brownfield, increased red meat and poultry production expectations from the USDA. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NsEnK5
WHAT’S NEXT: Via Ag Web, an ag consultant with advice for farmers on what to look for in the reports and how to adjust their operations in response. READ: https://fluence-media.co/458iZjv
DC + MN
USDA FINANCING: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration announced that it would suspend funding of food stamps and other hunger relief programs in Minnesota just as a federal judge blocked a similar effort to freeze funding for social services amid allegations of widespread fraud in the state. Brooke Rollins, the agriculture secretary, posted a letter addressed to Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota saying that she would suspend payment of $129 million in federal funding from the Agriculture Department, citing unfolding investigations of fraud in Minnesota’s social safety net, which have involved members of the Somali-American community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NhfnFO
MORE: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “In a reply to Rollins’ post, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said on social media, ‘I will not allow you to take from Minnesotans in need. I’ll see you in court.’ ‘We’re communicating with State partners to understand the impacts of such a blanket cut to funding meant for residents most in need,’ the City of Minneapolis said in a statement. ‘What’s abundantly clear is that Minneapolis is the latest target of the Trump administration -- willing to harm Americans in service to its perceived political gain.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YVqGWN
ADVICE FROM EXPERTS
STORED GRAIN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farm business management specialist encourages growers to begin marketing stored grain soon. Kristina McVicker with South Central College in southern Minnesota says start with the basics.” MCVICKER: “of marketing, right. So what do we have for on-farm storage, what’s our total crop plan looking like? And the excess bushels, we need to get those marketed right away.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/458kNZP
FARM LOANS: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Many farm operations are coming off the second relatively poor profit year in 2025, especially crop producers in several areas. Some farmers had very small profit levels last year, while other producers had very poor results in 2025. In all cases, most farm operators continue to face very tight profit margins for crop production as we head into 2026. During these challenging farm financial times, it is good to plan ahead before meeting with an ag lender for renewal of a farm operating line of credit or for an annual review of the farm financial portfolio.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jBjPuV
SAFETY NET: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Crop safety net enhancements should help growers dealing with tight margins. Farm management analyst Kent Thiesse with Green Solutions Group says the One Big Beautiful Bill Act modernized Title One programs.” THIESSE: “It updated a lot of those reference prices, it updated some of the other aspects of the farm program payments on the percentages paid. It increased the payment limit from $125,000 for one person or entity up to $155,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4swONs9
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)
EDUCATION & FEEDBACK
THIS MONTH: Via Compeer, upcoming educational opportunities, including two this month regarding the business of farming and the next Farm Bill. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Lqs9Bc
GROUNDWATER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is requesting written public comments to help determine whether the state’s Groundwater Protection Rule is adequate to protect Minnesota’s air, water, land, and other natural resources from nitrate pollution. On Sept. 5, 2025, the Ramsey County Second Judicial District Court ordered the MDA to make findings on whether the rule provides sufficient protection, or if additional restrictions are needed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LfdqJj
WEATHER: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is closing in on its goal of delivering hyperlocal weather and soil data to nearly every agricultural region in the state. The expansion of the Minnesota Ag Weather Network — or MAWN — accelerated dramatically over the past few years after securing money through Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund.” QUOTE: “MAWN stations provide critical information that assist producers statewide in making better informed decisions around all aspects of farming,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The network helps our farmers protect their land, use water wisely, and adapt quickly to changing conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bwBkuh
AG EVENTS
ORGANICS: From MDA via X, from Friday, VERBATIM: “Day two of the Minnesota Organic Conference wrapped up today. Great to see old friends and new. Thank you to the exhibitors, speakers, and sponsors who made #MNOrganic26 possible. Save the date for next year’s conference, Jan. 7-8, 2027!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4qRHU37
RURAL MEDICINE: Via Minnesota Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) and the Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture (MFA) was recognized with the American Farm Bureau Federation’s New Horizon Award for its innovative rural medicine partnership, announced during the AFBF Annual Convention Jan. 11 in Anaheim.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49P29Zn
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MILK: Sunday was National Milk Day. From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “MN produces 10M+ pounds of milk per year, worth more than $2.3B, making us the 7th-largest milk producing state in the USA! If you’re enjoying a glass of milk or other dairy product, there’s a good chance it came from nearby.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4aRPbv2
MERGER: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “Farmward Cooperative and Ag Plus Cooperative announced Wednesday that after Ag Plus members overwhelming approved the proposed unification, they plan to merge organizations March 1. The new, unified cooperative will operate under the name Farmward Cooperative and maintain its Morgan headquarters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qHRHJ0
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