AG EXPO: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “ICYMI: Join Minnesota Corn and Minnesota Soybean at MN AG EXPO in Mankato on Jan. 20 and 21. Attendees can enjoy a full trade show, ag engaging speakers, and presentations from checkoff-supported researchers.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4p8UB92 MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oTYDlD (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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ADDRESSING UNCERTAINTY
PAYMENTS: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that the Trump administration will announce a ‘bridge payment’ for farmers next week that is designed to provide short-term relief while longer trade and aid packages are finalized. Farm groups and Republican lawmakers have pushed the administration to issue aid as farmers face low crop prices and billions in lost soybean sales to China during tense trade talks between the two countries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4plS9wc
MORE: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “Rollins’ comments were just one small slice of a wide-ranging Cabinet meeting in which every agency head went through bullet points including thanking the president, criticizing the prior administration for crime, immigration and inflation, and explaining how their new programs were working better for the country . . . For her part, Rollins blamed the state of the farm economy on lingering impacts of inflation from the Biden administration that have put farmers under ‘extreme economic strain’ as she cited statistics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44GuZs3
MFU: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farmers Union developed resolutions around what members describe as a farm crisis during their annual convention in late November. MFU president Gary Wertish says long-term reforms are necessary to stabilize the ag economy.” WERTISH: “We’re still dealing with a 2018 Farm Bill that we keep kicking down the road, so we need to make some changes that would help all farmers. And obviously a (new) farm bill is one of them.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4peJ0p0
HANSEN-MUELLER: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “More than 50 farmers and ag businesses from across the country have filed claims in the Hansen-Mueller Co. bankruptcy so far. That includes more than $400,000 in claims from Minnesota entities, more than $300,000 from South Dakota entities, and more than $22,000 from North Dakota entities so far. Claimants include farmers who delivered grain to the company but were not paid for it, other grain elevators and grain handling companies that delivered grain to the company but were not paid for it, and service providers, including trucking companies, that were not paid for services rendered. The deadline for filing claims in the case is Jan. 26.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49ZZ9u1
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
FUNDING AVAILABLE
CRP: Via news release from Rep. Finstad, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Committee on Agriculture, introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Modernization Act, legislation that makes improvements to CRP by utilizing science-based targeting of acreage for enrollment, while protecting marginal and unfarmable land for conservation and wildlife habitat.” FINSTAD: “Although a well-intentioned program, CRP enrollment has become more about acres and dollars than true conservation, often incentivizing producers to take prime farmland out of production,” said Rep. Finstad. “The CRP Modernization Act makes commonsense, science-based improvements that will restore the focus of CRP to serving the conservation needs of farmers and landowners by targeting CRP acres toward the most vulnerable land.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3M8pnR8
GRANTS: Via Minnesota Senate DFL, VERBATIM: “Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) and Senator Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead), Chair and Vice-Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development Committee, are announcing two new Agricultural Growth Research and Innovation grant opportunities for Minnesota farmers that are now available. The grants support qualifying farmers in preventing avian influenza and preparing for extreme weather.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pMgmLN
MORE: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering up to $500,000 in grants to help livestock producers upgrade biosecurity measures on their farms. Individual farmers can receive between $500 and $10,000 through the AGRI Protect Grant program . . . The state is also offering a separate AGRI Prepare Grant program with an additional $500,000 available to help livestock and specialty crop producers prepare for extreme weather events such as drought, flooding, and severe storms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4piH8fb
THE FUTURE
RURAL: Via Brookings, VERBATIM: “America’s Rural Future: Brookings–AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity held its first in a series of Field Hearings in North Dakota and Minnesota as part of a two-year, bipartisan effort to develop policy recommendations for strengthening rural communities nationwide. Over three days, a group of Commission members met with local leaders, residents, business owners, and officials. They examined how technology, infrastructure, and capital can anchor rural prosperity for future generations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49QbL6P
VIDEO SERIES: Via news release from Thief River Falls-based DigiKey, VERBATIM: “DigiKey, the leading global electronic components and automation products distributor, announced the release of season 4 of its informative ‘Farm Different’ video series. The series explores how the integration of advanced technology is reshaping and propelling the agricultural industry forward, and DigiKey is diving deep to understand its impact.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pjVKLl
VIDEO GAME: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Chronic wasting disease was first detected in the state’s wild deer populations about 15 years ago. Since then, the disease remains an enigma for many Minnesotans, and most are still unfamiliar with the basics of how the disease works or what role they can play in stopping its spread. A new video game soon to be piloted in high schools across the state aims to answer those questions.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pjJJpc
PLANNING AHEAD
WINTER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Fruit crops in Minnesota have gone dormant to survive the winter. That leaves the people who grow them to plan ahead. For organic fruit growers, that includes preparing for warmer winters, wetter springs and drier summers. Those are among the climate-driven trends affecting Minnesota. On Wednesday, the University of Minnesota Extension will begin the second year of a climate resilience program for fruit growers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pPw74N
CROP PLANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension educator suggests farmers in his area are leaning toward more corn in 2026. Dennis Johnson with Iowa State University is based in north-central Iowa. ‘I just did some surveys and looked at some surveys that we do with everybody in the fall, kind of forecasting as far as what can happen the next year. And so far maybe leaning a little bit more toward the corn again.’ He tells Brownfield fall fertilizer applications can indicate which crop a grower plans to plant the next year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Kp49hi
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)
TREE NEWS
EAB: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “A new study from the University of Minnesota found that several species of parasitic fungi were effective at killing emerald ash borer beetles, one of the most devastating forest pests to ever hit North America.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ard38n
CAPITOL TREE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “MN House & Senate members joined MDA staff today decorating the Capitol Christmas Tree from Turck’s Trees in Litchfield. There’s a special ornament honoring Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman & dog Gilbert. Other items represented MN Grown members & farmers’ markets.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4ps0UEQ
AWARDS
SERVICE TO AG: Via New Ulm Journal, VERBATIM: “It didn’t take long for Jim Bartels to figure out what was happening when a group of ‘invaders’–carrying purple and gold balloons–broke up the ‘mandatory’ 3 p.m. advertising meeting at KNUJ Monday. The people, the balloons, and the Hub Club apparel gave it away. The group showed up to announce that Bartlels is the newest recipient of the New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club Service to Agriculture Award.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ME5ql6
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CONSERVATION: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “MDA Commissioner @thommypetersen on Tuesday presented the 2025 Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award to Tom Cotter and family of Austin, MN. Cotter’s farm is certified through our MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Kb1O9L
MORE: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “The $10,000 award recognizes farmers who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife management.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4pLeTFA
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