MN LEG: From Amanda Bilek via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “We are nearly a month into the 94th Minnesota State Legislature and just last week the House DFL and GOP reached a power sharing agreement enabling the House to organize and get to work on legislative business. Last Thursday, GOP leader Lisa Demuth was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the next two years. The GOP will hold a one-seat majority on House committees until after the special election on March 11 in Roseville. If the DFL candidate prevails, in a DFL leaning district, committee membership will be evenly split, and all committees will have co-chairs and co-vice chairs to represent the 67-67 split of the Minnesota House.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41a8FG2 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
TARIFFS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Commissioner @ThommyPetersen welcomed the Hon. Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development to the MDA. The two spoke of the important trade relationship and agricultural bonds Minnesota and Saskatchewan share.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3QhCQog
MORE: From Ana Radelat via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Kaeding told MinnPost he traveled to Minnesota to ‘tell the Saskatchewan story’ and remind the state’s farm and business interests of how integrated the Minnesotan and Canadian economies are and the impact President Donald Trump’s broader tariffs would have on U.S. consumers. Kaeding said he met with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and other agricultural and business concerns, including Eden Prairie-based Grain Millers, which imports oats from Saskatchewan, as does General Mills.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jX5AQT
MORE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of the National Pork Producers Council is concerned about retaliatory tariffs. Lori Stevermer spoke to Brownfield during the Minnesota Pork Congress in Mankato and calls this an interesting time in agriculture. ‘One thing I think that’s really on peoples’ minds right away is just the tariff discussions, and certainly the concern with retaliatory tariffs back against the pork industry.’ President Trump has targeted Canada, Mexico, and China, which Stevermer says are three important markets for U.S. pork.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hXVail
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
FUNDING: From Jenny Schlecht via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Programs and universities that have contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are dealing with uncertainty after the Trump administration froze some federal spending. Among the projects in limbo are the more than 141 projects awarded a collective $3.1 billion through the Commodity Credit Corporation as part of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities . North Dakota farmers participating in one of those programs — the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture — are now waiting for payments to fulfill their contracts, according to Matt Perdue, North Dakota Farmers Union government relations director.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40PZOYC
MORE: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “The Food Group, a New Hope nonprofit, says it has been locked out of federal farming grants. Located at 8501 54th Ave. N., the organization provides hunger relief services in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It provides food to more than 200 food shelves and other partner organizations in the Twin Cities region. One of its programs teaches new farmers from diverse backgrounds to grow fresh, organic produce through sustainable practices.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QhALJg
RULING: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to pause a funding freeze that affected certain farm programs. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield every program in the federal government is going under review.” GRASSLEY: “To see if it’s needed and not wasting the taxpayers’ money. Obviously I don’t think the EQUIP program is one of those programs, but somebody in the executive department might think it is and think it ought to go. I don’t think it’s going to go.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QdnzVN
PFAS: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “As of Jan. 1, 11 categories of consumer products sold in Minnesota must be made without added PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances . . . The most common connections between PFAS compounds and agriculture identified to date are through the application of municipal sludge as a fertilizer source and contaminated groundwater associated with landfills. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency now requires testing of municipal sludge, but for decades sludge was not tested for PFAS compounds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43c65kn
ELK: From Michael Johnson via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The creation of a management plan to expand Minnesota’s elk herds is moving forward. The current elk herds of northwest Minnesota may have some of the herd picked up and moved to northeast Minnesota on the Fond du Lac Reservation consistent with direction and funding provided by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023. It’s a project that’s been kicked around for the last 11 years . . . Members of the public have had opportunities to bring their comments and concerns to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about this plan including a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 11, via an online video call . . . Kaitlyn Root, executive director of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, commented during the hearing and asked DNR staff what assurances they could give to cattle producers and farmers that this would not adversely affect them. Elk depredation is a chief concern of theirs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jX5RmT
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
HIGHER ED: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A bill to ensure farm families have access to higher education has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Iowa Republicans Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley introduced the bipartisan Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which Grassley says would codify what the Education Department has already confirmed.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hSToPp
SNAP: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released the following statement regarding the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) review of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack’s choice to modify the longstanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) obligation practice.” QUOTE: “Make no mistake, Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean put politics over commonsense, ignoring scores of USDA financial analysts and policy experts. Using a memorandum from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as their guide, Vilsack and Dean compromised the integrity of SNAP, the financial standing of USDA, and further eroded public trust,” said Kailee Buller, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The Trump Administration will immediately correct this egregious action, making certain material weaknesses like this do not happen again.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/41gkURy
RFA: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Commissioner @thommypetersen kicked off today's in-person Rural Finance Authority (RFA) board meeting in at the MDA. We know farmers are facing some challenging financial situations and the RFA can help.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4jRBzBX
WOMEN: From Trent Abrego via Agweek, VERBATIM: “In Minnesota, women are becoming a driving force in the agriculture sector. That evolution was on display when more than 210 people gathered on Tuesday, Feb. 11, for the Women in Ag Network Conference 2025, hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension at The Park Event Center in Waite Park. The event brought women involved with agriculture from across the state as far north as Kittson County and as far south as Blue Earth, according to Susanne Hinrichs, a University of Minnesota Extension educator.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WUaCUv
DAIRY: From AAMPI via Perishable News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recognized Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) with the Governor’s International Trade Award at an event held Jan. 24 in Bloomington, Minn. The award recognizes companies that have shown exceptional progress and results in foreign markets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42TMOUv
SEEDS: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Mac and Tom Ehrhardt continue the legacy built by their father, George, and grandfather Lou as Albert Lea Seed is now in its 102nd year of operation. That legacy took another step in late January as the two brothers were honored as recipients of the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award given by the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association. The award recognizes exemplary service to the seed industry, as well as outstanding leadership in agriculture. The Farmer magazine is a longtime sponsor of the award.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CXiHkj
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AWARD: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Tonight in Mankato where I had the chance to say a few words recognizing the work of Preston area pork farmer Dave Mensink who was awarded the Environmental Steward of the year award at MN Pork Awards. Congrats Dave & thx for all the work you do!” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3CEfW7E
BOOK: From Assistant MDA Commissioner Patrice Bailey via X, VERBATIM: “This is my third year participating in MDAs Farm and Food Book month. The book I am reading today is ‘Saturdays at Harlem Grown’ by Tony Hillery. Looking forward to reading to students this morning.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4hzmtiS
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