MESSAGE: From NCGA via X, VERBATIM: “When we speak a unified, strategic message, we get heard. NCGA is proud to recognize three all-star voices in 2025: Adam Ladwing (@ndcorn), Matthew Poe (@MississippiCorn) & Nicholas Peterson (@mncorn). Sincere thanks & congrats to the Corn Advocate of the Year award winners!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3GzBW5z (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
WATER: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its acceptance of an April 2023 petition from environmental groups concerned about nitrate levels in southern Minnesota water. In April 2023, a group of environmental groups . . . sent a petition to the EPA saying more action was required to protect water quality in the karst region, which includes Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties. Several of the groups who signed on to the April 2023 letter have been involved in a subsequent lawsuit seeking to force tighter regulation of Minnesota's agriculture industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44FHh4o
FEEDLOTS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The state of Minnesota is asking for input as it looks to change its rules for feedlots for the first time in 25 years. Feedlots are buildings or confined areas where animals are kept for agriculture. There are about 18,000 in the state, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. These areas allow livestock producers to raise more animals on less land. They also produce a lot of manure, which can pollute drinking water. Since the state made its last major changes to feedlot regulations in the year 2000, these operations have grown and consolidated.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nVVuSp
WORKFORCE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “As Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford sees it, one will break first: gridlock on U.S. immigration policy or the nation’s food system. How President Donald Trump’s crackdown is affecting agriculture and thus the economy overall is at the forefront for Ford, chair of the immigration committee for Business Roundtable. That CEO organization lobbies on behalf of the nation’s businesses, meaning Ford’s voice on the issue carries more weight than other execs’.” QUOTE: “For a dairy producer, if they lose their staff, I mean, that’s a black swan event. There’s not much you can do,” Ford said. “As we look at challenges with immigration, with labor, especially on the dairy side, they don’t have options. There is no year-round visa. And that is stressful.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46iGXK7
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
FARMERS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “When we hear the word ‘farmer,’ many of us have a traditional - if not stereotypical - image that comes to mind. It could be overalls, tractors, or hard, sweaty work. Or maybe cows, pigs and corn that's 'knee high by the 4th of July.' But in this month's ‘A Closer Look’ with Laura Oakes, she introduces us to a few farmers who buck that image, but whose impact on our food system, restaurants and economy can't be underestimated.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3IyFhCx
SCREWWORM: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Ag officials in the Upper Midwest are warning livestock producers not to ignore the threat of New World Screwworm. Minnesota State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs says many people falsley think the northern climate is a strong enough deterrent for tropical pests like NWS, but that’s not the case. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association executive director Kaitlyn Root tells Brownfield producers need to pay attention.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kQOXWq
MORE: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans are being asked to stay alert for NWS – a fly that lays a destructive maggot capable of inflicting harm to livestock, pets, wildlife, and rarely to humans. While the risk is lower for the parasite to become established in Minnesota compared to southern states with warmer climates, its spread is still possible due to international animal movements, officials say.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m3gR2p
BRAZIL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Trade Representative has launched an investigation into Brazil’s tariff on U.S. ethanol imports. U.S. Grains Council president Ryan LeGrand says 18 to 20 percent duties have been in place since 2017.” LEGRAND: “And they have not received any, there’s no tariffs on Brazilian ethanol coming into the United States. So it’s really just been a one-sided trade for the last several years, and the action that we’ve seen USTR take to start an investigation into this is very much welcome.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46MSYYn
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows 26% of the state is abnormally dry or worse with 4% in formal drought status. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
TRADE MISSION: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is now accepting applications for its upcoming agribusiness trade mission to Mexico City, Mexico, scheduled for November 3–6. U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in Mexico’s dynamic agricultural market must apply by Thursday, July 31, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IyqYxH
NEGOTIATOR: Via Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today commended the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4530wnE
NEXT MONTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Come visit us at Farmfest in Redwood County Aug. 5-7 and get your well water tested for nitrates for free. We'll also have resources on loans & grants, Ag Weather Station Network, Ag Water Quality Certification Program, & rural mental health.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3TIzdcW
MORE: Via MDA, more about how to participate in the water testing. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m1V4be
MORE: Via KFGO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farmers Union and Farmers Union Agency, a full-service insurance agency fully owned by MFU, invite you to visit them at Farmfest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kRzG7N
NEXTGEN: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “One of the most successful beginning farmer training programs in the country is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 course session serving the Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa region. The Land Stewardship Project’s (LSP) Farm Beginnings initiative is a training program that focuses on the goal-setting, marketing and financial skills needed to establish a successful farm business.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44Bp2Nw
LAND: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag real estate specialist says there’s a tremendous amount of uncertainty that could impact farmland values. Paul Schadegg is with Farmers National Company.” SCHADEGG: “I’m not sure that I’ve ever experienced a time where we’ve been dealing with more geopolitical and policy and administration events, and unrest overall across the world. And that certainly causes some concern.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/459nI4y
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)
GRANTS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Forest Service is awarding $80 million in Wood Innovation Grants to spur wood products manufacturing, expand active forest management, and accelerate energy innovation across America’s timber-producing communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44TZf21
SALMONELLA: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging consumers to not consume Emek brand Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif. The product comes in a 9.7 oz. glass jar labeled with Batch Number 250401 and a Best Before date of April 01, 2027. Samples of the product were collected in Minnesota as part of an investigation into Emek brand pistachio spread products. Salmonella was found in the product through laboratory testing.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nXM8W7
STUDY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new study aims to help Minnesota farmers improve nitrogen efficiency. University of Minnesota researcher Emerson Souza says they are updating the pre-side dress nitrate test to account for growers in the state. ‘We saw that we are going to need a lot of collaboration because we need data to conduct a study like that.’ He tells Brownfield researchers analyzed corn samples between the growth stages of V4 and V6 because that’s when the plant takes up the most nutrients.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40mk1Gc
TOUR: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “It could be hard to capture the general mood of a gathering of nearly 600 people — unless of course, most of those people are cattle producers. As that was the case at the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Summer Tour on Tuesday, July 15, the mood was great.” QUOTE: “Yeah, everyone is in pretty good spirits right now and they have been the past couple years,” said Kaitlyn Root, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association executive director. “We're hoping to hold on with prices, because obviously when you’re making a profit on the work that you do every single day, you’re going to feel a lot better.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3U7REYR
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FARM FAMILIES: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Families and growers from across Minnesota will be represented as the University of Minnesota honors them in the 2025 Farm Family of the Year ceremony at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the annual Minnesota Farmfest near Redwood Falls. The event will be held on the Gilfillan Estate in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center. Those chosen cover a wide spectrum of farming, from traditional crops and livestock to community-based ventures and operations producing an array of fruit, vegetables and flowers. They were selected by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on the honorees’ demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nMY8tw
MORE: Via UofM Extension, all of this year’s honorees. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/2UFm21c
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