SCHOLARSHIPS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Corn scholarship program, which provides up to four college students with $5,000 each to pursue a degree and/or career in agriculture, has opened for 2026 applications . . . Each year since 2019, as part of its mission to increase opportunities for promising leaders in agriculture, Minnesota Corn has offered $5,000 scholarships to student-members.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47c4D1C (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
PUMPKINS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “On a chilly April morning, Travis Gienger took his first gamble of the 2025 season. The world-champion giant-pumpkin grower typically starts his seeds indoors. But this year he was out in his backyard, crawling in the dirt to sow them directly. While some pumpkins as big as Mini Coopers are raised in climate-controlled, C02-boosted greenhouses, Gienger, who lives in Anoka, places his trust in Minnesota’s unpredictable weather — a handicap he’s likened to ‘winning the Tour de France on a Big Wheel.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hollzx
ANIMAL DISEASES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Angie Craig tells Brownfield New World Screwworm continues to move closer to the Texas border. ‘I’m concerned that with the buyouts and the retirements and sort of the threats now in a shutdown of mass layoffs, that they may have lost some critical staff that are working on some of this pest prevention.’ She also questions the Trump administration’s plans to manage highly pathogenic avian influenza.” CRAIG: “I just don’t understand the logic of downsizing the government and losing critical resources in animal health experts as we gear up at the same time to try to combat these diseases.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4njBisa
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
SOYBEANS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The crisis facing the nation’s soybean farmers has become central to the messaging of some Democrats who think Republicans are vulnerable in farm country due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, [including] Gov. Tim Walz…Sen. Tina Smith…Rep. Angie Craig [and more]. … The Democratic National Committee, headed by former Minnesota DFL Party chair Ken Martin, launched a campaign-style advertisement this week for the financial pain Trump’s tariff policies are causing soybean farmers. … Minnesotans may not see that ad because it is running in congressional districts in other states where Democrats see the potential of making gains in the midterms, including Iowa [and] Wisconsin.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4otdHGr
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is a major player in U.S. agriculture, ranking sixth in production. However, an ongoing trade war has some farmers worried about selling in the years to come. A panel of speakers gathered in Lakeville Saturday, including U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Thom Petersen, Minnesota’s Commissioner of Agriculture. … The topic of discussion, which dominated Saturday’s event in Minnesota, was soybeans and tariffs on China.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3IVVG4x
OCT 30: Via AgriGrowth, VERBATIM: “Economic data from the first quarter of 2025 showed that Minnesota’s GDP decreased by 2.42% from the previous year, driven by mounting challenges in the agriculture industry. Minnesota’s agriculture and food sector has been a cornerstone of the state’s economic growth, often mitigating or cushioning recessions. To strengthen our agriculture and food economy, change is required. Minnesota AgriGrowth’s fall summit will continue the hard questions being asked at kitchen tables and board rooms: ‘How do we build a robust agriculture and food economy in Minnesota by 2040?’” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/3L2utxu (SPONSORED: AgriGrowth)
SURVEY: Via Farm Journal, VERBATIM: “The government shutdown and resulting absence of data from USDA has left a void in the volatile grain and oilseed markets. To fill the gap, Farm Journal conducted a survey to get an update on yields and harvest progress as well as other important topics on producers’ minds.”
“Based on more than 1,100 qualified responses from across the U.S., the biggest takeaway is that corn yields are estimated to be down compared with USDA’s September estimates in six of the seven Pro Farmer Crop Tour states. Due to disease pressure and dryness, the 2025 national corn yield could be lower than the 2024 average of 179.3 bu.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IUhopB
SUGARBEETS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Two weeks into the sugar beet harvest, farmers are working around the clock to get their crops out of the ground. But why the rush? Tom Peters, a North Dakota State University agronomist, says once producers start piling up their sugar beets in early October, they’re racing against time to get them into storage before rainfall makes it difficult to dig the beet out of the muddy soil.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qex1J3
LAND RENT: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Arriving at equitable land rental rates is always an ongoing challenge for farm operators and landlords alike, which will likely be an even bigger challenge for the 2026 growing season. Many times, land rental rates for a coming crop year are based on the profitability in crop production in the previous year or two before. In some cases, this can present profitability challenges for farm operators, if grain prices drop or there are yield challenges. On the other hand, there can be extra profit for farm operators in years with above average yields and higher levels of crop prices. Many landlords gradually increased cash rental rates from 2020 to 2023. With the advent of much lower grain prices in the past two years, along with variable crop yields in portions of the Upper Midwest in 2024, it has been challenging for farm operators to break even at higher cash rental rates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4714f7f
SEEDS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “2026 seed decisions are happening now on many corn and soybean farms. Riley Sandmeyer is an agronomist with Minnesota-based New Vision Cooperative and says it’s critical the right hybrid or variety is selected for each field.” SANDMEYER: “For instance, I understand the traits are a little bit more expensive, but what you really want to do is look at like your insect pressure for corn. How many rootworms? What was the feeding pressure? To determine if you really need to go out with that higher trait (package).” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/47F8HI7
SNAP: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “If the government shutdown continues into November, about 42 million low-income people could face severe disruptions to their food stamp benefits, the Agriculture Department warned in a letter to state agencies last week, saying that the federal government would have ‘insufficient funds.’ More than a dozen states have since warned that food stamp recipients may experience significant delays in obtaining benefits next month, see their aid reduced or not receive assistance at all.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4opAxyt
MORE: From Clay County via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed the State of Minnesota that there may not be enough federal funds to issue November SNAP (food) benefits if the shutdown continues. The state has directed counties to pause approvals and issuance of November SNAP and MFIP (cash + food) benefits until further notice.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4729OCy
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)
RIVER: Via IPM News, VERBATIM: “The Mississippi River is again facing low water levels — pushing up barge rate and making it more expensive for farmers to export crops and import fertilizer. Stretched out over 2,000 miles, the Mississippi is essential for farmers to sell their crops. Nearly half of all U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat exports travel down the waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. Decreased rainfall starting late this summer shrunk the Ohio River, the main water source of the Mississippi. Before that, Mike Steenhoek, director of Iowa-based Soy Transportation Coalition, was hoping the river could avoid a fourth consecutive year of low water levels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qhVZHy
WATER: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Irrigation efficiency, water conservation and nutrient management are all at play in a recent announcement of over $17 million in funds through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Minnesota Department of Ag and a host of partners. Over the next five years, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program project will provide grants and technical support to farmers across 25 counties in central Minnesota, helping them upgrade irrigation systems, improve nitrogen management, and protect groundwater resources. More than 500 producers are expected to be directly impacted with this program and several hundred more through education programs, according to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3L0kXLt
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Fall fertilizer applications should pick up with cooler weather forecast this week in southern Minnesota. Kristina McVicker with South Central College in Mankato says it’s been too warm to spread manure.” MCVICKER: “It’s going to have to really kind of cool down before we get into that. I did see some dry fertilizer being spread by the coops, so that is starting to get into full swing. But again, anhydrous probably isn’t going to be going real crazy anytime soon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Mdupp
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
APPLES: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “October is National Apple Month, and Minnesota grows so many great varieties of apple, you need a guide to help you figure out which kind to get when and from where! Luckily, Minnesota Grown is here to help you pick from over 140 MN orchards.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3KVIFIR
MORE: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Thx to Bill & John Jacobsen for visit with Alana & I today at their Pine Tree Apple Orchard near White Bear Lake! Still time to get out this fall & visit one of Minnesota’s great orchards!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4o40nIO
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