AG EXPO: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Last week, Minnesota Corn and Minnesota Soybean partnered on another successful MN Ag Expo at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato. It was an eventful two days of education sessions, networking, demonstrations, a trade show, and more for the state’s corn and soybean farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t1PtWC (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
DISCUSSING AG ISSUES
MEETING: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Jennen Farms in Fergus Falls hosted an Ag Summit with Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Katrina Kessler as well as numerous legislators and farmers from across the state.” PETERSEN: “We’re hearing a lot of questions about the bridge payments and are there going to be more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4agpseY
MORE: Via Voice of Alexandria, VERBATIM “Discussion topics included delays in Minnesota’s permitting process for farming, livestock, and agricultural operations, along with concerns over regulatory changes and drainage issues. Participants also discussed updates on the Public Waters Inventory and opportunities to expand in-state processing and value-added uses of Minnesota-grown crops.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LOLgoK
WASDE REPORT
CORN: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “This month’s 2025/26 U.S. corn outlook is for larger production, higher feed and residual use, reduced food, seed, and industrial use, and greater ending stocks. Corn production is estimated at 17.0 billion bushels, up 269 million on a 0.5-bushel increase in yield to 186.5 bushels per acre and a 1.3-million acre rise in harvested area. Since the July 2025 WASDE, harvested area has surged 4.5 million acres. Notably, the record crop in 2025 exceeds the prior high set in 2023 by 1.7 billion bushels or over 40 million tons.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z3g0Ft
MORE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Megan Roberts, an agricultural economist for Farm Credit Cooperative, Compeer Financial, said that is a new record in U.S. corn production. ‘It’s really hard to wrap your head around how big 17 billion bushels is,’ Roberts said. ‘That was shocking to the market, because it is now the record corn production ever in the U.S.’ The higher production level was driven by increased harvested acreage and higher yields. Roberts added that, after accounting for expected corn exports and commercial use, there will still be over 2 billion bushels left to deal with.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4q2rG6y
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
TRADE
TARIFFS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president and CEO of the Agricultural Retailers Association says the Trump administration’s tariff policies continue to cause uncertainty and volatility in the ag input sector. Darren Coppock says added costs due to tariffs on ingredients for pesticides and herbicides have mostly been absorbed by the companies.” COPPOCK: “But they can’t do that forever.” He says, “You’ve seen some projections already that show production costs are going to go up this year, and I think a lot of it is the tariff impact is finally starting to bleed all the way through into farm prices.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3O4JNLy
CANADA: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “President Trump on Saturday warned Canada of 100% tariffs in a social media post, saying that if Carney ‘thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken.’ Canada has agreed to lower tariffs on 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to 6%, removing a 100% surtax, as part of a deal aimed at rebuilding ties with Beijing. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday warned that Canada could face 100% tariffs from the U.S. if the country enters into a free-trade agreement with China and allows itself to become a place where artificially cheap goods can enter the US supply chain.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r9ej5i
MORE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85% of U.S. electricity imports.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pY60Z2
MORE: In the second quarter of 2025 (the most recent with data available), $1.221 billion of Minnesota’s $5.755 billion in exports went to Canada. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4pYAMRu
INSPECTIONS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. sorghum and soybean export inspections continue to pick up steam. The USDA says inspections for both crops during the week ending January 22nd were slightly lower than the week before, but up sharply from last year, with China leading the way. However, China’s absence during the first quarter of the current marketing year continues to keep overall sorghum and soybean inspections slower than the previous marketing year. Corn and wheat inspections remain ahead of the year ago pace.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45S2bh5
MONEY MATTERS
CROP INSURANCE: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “During the next few weeks, farm operators will be finalizing their crop insurance decisions for the 2026 crop year. March 16th is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for the 2026 crop year. The Spring base prices for corn and soybeans will be finalized on March 2, 2026, and should be similar to crop insurance base prices in 2025. There have been increases to federal premium subsidies and other enhancements for crop insurance coverage in 2026. This should provide for some favorable crop insurance options and guarantees for the 2026 crop year at reasonable premium costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45RVdsr
DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “USDA’s latest data shows milk prices and wholesale dairy product prices fell in December. Class III milk for December was $15.86, compared to $17.18 in November and $18.89 at the end of 2024. Class IV milk was at $13.64 in December, compared to $13.89 in November, and $20.75 a year ago.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bUxFGR
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)
AG LOGISTICS
FEB 2: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “With more than 14,000 registered cottage food producers in Minnesota, we’re hosting a free virtual workshop focused on what comes next. Hear from MDA staff about resources and support available to help you grow.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4reYdXZ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4q2prjE
LAND: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An analyst says the farmland market is expected to stabilize in 2026. Colton Lacina, senior vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National Company, says fluctuations have been directly tied to local and regional factors.” LACINA: “It’s not just going to come down to timing,” he says. “It’s going to come down to knowing your farm’s production history, water rights and water availability depending on where you’re at and building your portfolio for that farm. Buyers need to be very well educated and feel comfortable before making a purchase.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3LUVVyb
ADVICE FROM EXPERTS
APHIDS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A field crop entomologist with the University of Illinois says some farmers were once again plagued by corn leaf aphids in 2025. Nick Seiter tells Brownfield, ‘Not nearly to the extent as in 2024.” He says, “Really it was seemingly kind of limited to some sensitive hybrids out there. They got dinged a little bit again.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45A9wlc
NEXTGEN: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “When Minnesotans dive into their farming career, there isn’t a Human Resources department walking them through workplace trainings, explaining company policies and role expectations. No, for many farmers, their “onboarding” is a combination of growing up on or around the farm, a series of trial and error plus advice from their support system. Through the MN Young & Emerging Farmer Workshop, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) is a part of that integral support system.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49HJTRP
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
HISTORY: Southwest Ag Net traces Minnesota’s history of apple innovation and production back to a breakthrough from 1868. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qGOx8z
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