$19 MILLION: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “In Minnesota, drivers collectively saved over $19 million in 2025 by filling up with homegrown E15 (Unleaded 88). We join Iowa Corn in urging the E15 Rural Energy Council to take action.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4qNUe3Y (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
AG HEADLINES
WINE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The vision for Rolling Forks Vineyards was different from where this agribusiness has now landed among a long list of grape growers and wine makers around the world. And that’s near the top in international competitions that they have entered using the cold-tolerant grapes that they press and process in-house at their vineyard overlooking Lake Minnewaska, in west central Minnesota. Melanie Cihlar, general manager at Rolling Forks Vineyards, recalls breaking ground on their winery in 2019. They opened for business in July 2020 — during a global pandemic.” CIHLAR: “A curse and a blessing that COVID was, it just really made the business look different,” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46rmEtk
OUTLOOK: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “USDA released its trade and commodity price outlooks at this week’s USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum.The agency released its 10-year baseline projections including the outlook for the 2026-27 growing season. New USDA Chief Economist Justin Benavidez says they are forecasting corn acres will fall 4.8 million from last year to 94 million acres, bringing ending stocks down to 1.8 billion bu. Conversely the agency is projecting a nearly 4 million acre increase in soybeans to 85 million acres, but ending stocks will stay nearly steady with this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aOMqc8
BANKRUPTCIES: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “More Minnesota farmers filed for bankruptcy in 2025 as high input costs and low prices for most agricultural commodities squeezed profit margins, the American Farm Bureau Federation said in a report released earlier this month. Thirteen Minnesota farmers last year filed for Chapter 12, a section of the U.S. bankruptcy code that allows family farmers and fishermen to restructure certain debts. Four Minnesota farmers filed Chapter 12 in 2024. Across the Midwest, bankruptcy filings rose 70% in 2025 following years of rising expenses and declining income, the Farm Bureau said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cJiuRk
MORE: Via Farm Bureau:
FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4rz0YnC
WORKFORCE: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Other industries in our state’s economy continue to assess how ICE’s operations have impacted them. For the agriculture industry, there’s concern farm workers may be too fearful to return to work for the upcoming planting season.” QUOTE: “I’ve heard of raids on farms,” says Thom Petersen, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. “Those seem to have come in recent weeks just before the drawdown of agents. Anecdotally, I’ve heard of less than 10 instances of raids on farms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aSjKPL
TARIFF TURMOIL
TARIFF RULING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist says the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Trump’s use of tariffs could disrupt ongoing trade negotiations. Ian Sheldon with Ohio State University tells Brownfield,” SHELDON: “A lot of countries are now questioning the validity of the deals that they signed. The EU was already starting to back away a little bit. Countries like Japan are wondering if they should continue to make the kind of investments that they were under the deal that they struck.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3OFvGg4
MARKETS RESPOND: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Soybeans hit new highs for the move early Friday with the help of a rally in soybean meal but then reversed lower as the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the IEEPA tariffs were illegal. Shawn Hackett with Hackett Financial Advisors says the market fears that China will use the ruling as leverage to get out of its trade framework struck with the U.S. on Oct. 30 and that could include its soybean purchase commitments.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46nFGkg
IMPLICATIONS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests the implications of last week’s Supreme Court ruling on President Trump’s use of tariffs aren’t fully known.” GRASSLEY: “The Supreme Court was silent on whether refunds will need to be issued for the tariffs that President Trump has already levied. It also didn’t address whether the President has the authority under statutory provisions to impose tariffs.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tSAyP7
UNCERTAINTIES: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The president quickly announced a global 10% tariff, then Saturday, upped that to 15% . . . The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says the state’s more than 67,000 farms export $10 billion annually of soybeans, corn and other produce to China, Mexico, Canada and other countries. Experts say China has turned to other countries as the Trump tariffs kicked in, and it’s uncertain what that 15% rate will do.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4aIvpjP
CATTLE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The cattle futures were higher early Monday rebounding from Friday’s lower close and a round of profit taking. Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the USDA Cattle on Feed report was providing some support. The on feed number came in at 98% of a year ago, placements were at 95% which was below trade estimates and marketings were at 87%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kUnTHx
DATA: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “At the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Outlook Forum today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a Request for Information (RFI) on Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Areas in Statistical Data, Analysis, and Research at USDA. Numerous entities within USDA, including the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the Office of the Chief Economist, produce statistical data, analysis, and research that aim provide the agriculture community with timely, accurate, and useful information. While the data and statistics used to inform reports including the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Crop Production Reports, and January and July Cattle are often considered the benchmark for other agricultural forecasts, there is always room for improvement to further enhance accuracy and usefulness.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qThv4v
INPUTS & OUTPUTS
DICAMBA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Environmental and conservation groups are again asking a federal court to block the use of over-the-top dicamba in cotton and soybeans. In a petition challenging three recent label approvals, the National Family Farm Coalition, Center for Food Safety and others claim the U.S. EPA didn’t follow the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act requirements, and allege violations to the Endangered Species Act.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Mqq7Sb
SUGAR: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $150 million in assistance to American sugar beet and sugar cane farmers in response to temporary market disruptions and increased production and processing costs. These one-time payments build upon the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program and Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program which are designed to ensure producers have the financial stability needed to continue operations and plan for the upcoming crop year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4baTRuH
MORE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota grows more sugar beets than in any other state, and the crop is the state’s third-most-valuable commodity after corn and soy. Since peaking in April 2024, the price of sugar from beets has steadily dropped, while prices for fertilizer and other farming needs have continued to rise.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rsBSXn
CROP INSURANCE: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The deadline to purchase crop insurance for corn and soybeans for the 2026 crop year is March 16. It appears that the 2026 Spring price for corn will be slightly lower than 2025; however, the soybean price will likely be higher than the base price last year. This should provide for some favorable crop insurance guarantees in 2026 at reasonable premium costs, especially with the enhanced premium subsidies this year. Producers have several crop insurance policy options to choose from, including yield-only (YP) and revenue protection (RP and RPE) policies, SCO and ECO policies, and other private insurance options. Crop producers need to closely analyze their 2026 crop insurance coverage to adequately cover the rather large investment in this year’s crop.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MqnWht
AG EVENTS
GROUNDBREAKERS: Via Compeer, VERBATIM: “During the recent GroundBreakers Conferences, Bryanna and Dylan Handel, Barneveld, Wis., were named the 2026 Compeer Financial GroundBreakers of the Year. Nick Sandager, Hills, Minn., and Karl Sime, Stoughton, Wis., received honorable mention recognition. Honorees were recognized at the GroundBreakers Conferences in Minnesota Feb. 13-14 and Wisconsin Feb. 20-21.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qV67Fn
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
THIS WEEK: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “The 59th annual Central Minnesota Farm Show takes root at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. The free two-day show runs 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, drawing an expected 3,500 visitors from across Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska. With over 150 exhibitors and 270 booths already sold out, it’s shaping up to be a bumper crop of an event.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l01PeA
NEXT MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Last call to register for the 2026 School Garden Conference happening at the UMN Arboretum on 3/13. This conference is a great fit for teachers, admin, school garden volunteers & anyone else interested in youth gardening programs.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4cbJMQ7
AWARDS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), through its Minnesota Grown program, is launching the third year of the Cream of the Crop Awards for Farm to School and Early Care (Farm to Kids). The awards recognize K–12 school districts, early care centers, and family day care providers for their leadership in serving, promoting, and teaching about Minnesota grown foods.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/478INwD
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SUPER BOWL AD: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “It was a one-minute spot that captured hearts on Super Bowl Sunday. Lay’s ‘Last Harvest’ commercial told the story of a farm family passing the torch from one generation to the next, rooted in memories, hard work and the bond between parent and child. While the story in the Super Bowl ad was fictional, it was inspired by the real-life experiences of third-generation potato producer Tom Neumiller and his daughter Katie Floming, the fourth generation working alongside him at Neumiller Farms in Savanna, Ill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rFxFQo
MORE: From Lay’s via YouTube, the extended cut of the commercial. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4s8Y8W9
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