PRESENTATION: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Great presentation by MCGA board member Brian Thalmann at last night's Brown County Corn & Soybean Growers meeting about the check-off and policy efforts by Minnesota Corn! We appreciate the dedication of all our farmer-leaders!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Zd1Ouq (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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FARM BILL: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “The Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday released its long-awaited farm bill draft text with a little more than a month before funding for many farm programs dries up on Dec. 31. The release of the Senate bill could ramp up action during the lame-duck session, but it remains to be seen if lawmakers can complete work on a new farm bill or opt for another extension of the existing one. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer last week urged Congress to make progress on the legislation. This farm bill will be Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s last opportunity to shape farm and nutrition policy before her exit at the end of the 118th Congress.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i9dkyu
MORE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley calls the timing of Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow’s farm bill ‘disappointing and unrealistic.’” GRASSLEY: “It’s a sad commentary that Senate Democrats kept farmers waiting two years before even releasing a bill text, while producers waited (and) grain prices fell below the cost of production.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48Y0DSG
CHS: From Brooks Johnson via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The board of a western Minnesota cooperative said ‘CHS is the right fit for us’ after weighing a competing offer from North Dakota-based Arthur Cos., but members will still have the final say next week. CHS initially announced a $200 million deal to acquire West Central Ag Services in May. Arthur publicized its own $250 million bid for the coop this month, causing West Central to delay a vote on the CHS deal. Inver Grove Heights-based CHS has since increased its offer to $225 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3V0uOmw
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NEXT YEAR: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) will host its annual Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Promotion (LEAP) Conference on Jan. 10-11 in at Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Red Wing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZiF5gF
HARVEST: From Erin Anderson via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “According to the latest crop progress and conditions report from the USDA, corn and soybean harvest is complete. Sunflowers are 96 percent harvested.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZetVsZ
MARKETING: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of new programs that will help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers for their products, and help producers access necessary pre-market storage for their crops following severe weather events, including recent hurricanes. Specifically, the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative will provide $2 billion to assist specialty crop growers in maintaining a strong domestic supply and expanding market opportunities for their crops.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UZhCOI
WOTUS: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “American Farm Bureau is eager to see how the Trump administration handles the Waters of the U.S. rule. AFBF senior director of government affairs Courtney Briggs says WOTUS continues to cause a lot of confusion for farmers and ranchers.” BRIGGS: “And I think a lot of people thought that this issue was solved last year when the Supreme Court handed down their decision in Sackett versus EPA, but unfortunately what we’re hearing in the countryside is there’s more confusion than ever.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3OjBKaU
THIS WEEK: From Dairy Grazing Alliance via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Dairy Grazing Alliance, dedicated to growing all parts of the dairy grazing sector, launched today at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit. The Summit is being held through Nov. 21 in Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZjER7R
DISEASES: From Jared White via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A technical marketing manager with BASF says 2024 is a reminder of the challenges brought on by crop diseases. Kim Tudor tells Brownfield across the Midwest two diseases in corn were at the forefront.” TUDOR: “Tar spot and southern rust.” She says, “I think southern rust surprised a lot of people. We had those hurricanes that came in kind of midseason really push that northward. It made its way all the way up to Minnesota, which I would say is not typical. Tar spot came in earlier than ever. We found it back in May down in Kansas.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fRnCkA
CHRISTMAS TREES: From Jeff Wagner via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “It's one of the latest harvests of the year, and the fresh scent pine and fir trees emit can, in a way, be bittersweet. ‘The fields that we're harvesting this year have been part of us for eight years or more, and we've watched them grow up,’ John Krueger said. ‘And now, they're going to be cut down.’ Krueger is the third-generation owner of Krueger's Christmas Tree Farm. While he finds joy in knowing the evergreens will make a family happy, they might not realize the effort it took to reach these towering heights.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3CDTdIi
INPUTS: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Corn farmers are likely looking to shave input costs in the face of low commodity prices. And University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist Daniel Kaiser says phosphorous might be overprioritized going into 2025.” KAISER: “Looking back this fall, the prices have been pretty strong yet on MAP and DAP in terms of some of the growers’ attitudes towards reductions, particularly in phosphorous.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4eDOovY
CLIMATE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “During the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted four years of progress and historic investments made under the Biden-Harris Administration to position U.S. agriculture and forestry as climate leaders, develop innovative climate solutions and build climate-smart markets to provide new revenue streams for rural communities. Today marks the second-ever day at a COP conference focused on the food and agriculture sectors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eDD7fe
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
RETAIL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Eight Minnesota retailers who demonstrate excellence in locally grown and produced products have been named a 2025 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Minnesota Grown program, in partnership with the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA). Along with awards given by region, a new beer, wine, and spirits award was given to recognize excellence in liquor stores.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3Zc7e8V
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