SOUTH KOREA: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Standing in front of his corn crop, Courtland farmer Tim Waibel explained to a group of South Korean grain buyers on Friday the importance of moisture levels when deciding when it’s time for harvest. ‘When you start harvesting corn that is 18% moisture, it is easy to get it over-dry,’ he said. ‘And if it’s too wet, it takes too much money in gas and electricity to [dry] it.’ Waibel’s comments came at the end of a two-day tour the South Korean group took of agricultural sites around south-central Minnesota last week. The group also visited the CHS river terminal in Savage, the UFC shuttle terminal in Brownton, CHS headquarters, and the Minnesota Corn office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VKCQ2Y (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
SHUTDOWN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests the government shutdown could significantly impact farmers and ranchers. The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield local Farm Service Agency offices are closed. ‘If you’re in the farm program and you expect price supports and stuff that’s in law, I would say if you’re doing CRP you probably can’t sign up for it. I guess those are two examples, maybe I’ll stop there (but) there’s probably a lot more.’ He says trade negotiations could be stalled during the shutdown.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ITjEx7
USDA: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “USDA officials are preparing for more layoffs if the government shuts down this week, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plans. The department has submitted its tentative shutdown contingency plan — which includes a reduction-in-force provision — to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for approval, according to the individuals, who were granted anonymity to discuss the private talks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42TmBVb
MORE: Via USDA, the agency’s Lapse of Funding Plan. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3VNPj62
MORE: The USDA web page that typically shares agency news releases is, instead, empty except for a note reading QUOTE: “Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4q55wSm
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
WILD RICE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “It would be a rare sight to spot an airboat equipped with a machine harvesting wild rice on northern Minnesota water. That’s because such a harvesting method is prohibited by tribal and state law. But two men accused of illegally harvesting wild rice using the machinery claim it’s within their rights to do so under an 1855 treaty, a legal gray area that has been tested by tribal members in other cases involving the extent of hunting and gathering rights off the reservation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o5p5rX
FIRE THREAT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A dry harvest for many growers means fire danger is increasing. Iowa State University Extension agronomist Angie Rieck-Hinz says disease pressure resulted in a premature end to the corn crop in north Iowa. ‘We really need to be thinking about fire safety in fields. Things are exceptionally dry, this crop is really dusty (and) dirty with all that southern rust out there.’ She tells Brownfield there are precautions farmers can make with harvesting equipment.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3KtqLgk
EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A top U.S. grain merchandiser is concerned by the lack of soybean exports to China. CHS CEO Jay Debertin calls the situation unfortunate. ‘The U.S. grain industry has very little sales on for China for new crop. And perhaps some of the most unfortunate news is Argentina in the last week or so stepped in and sold quite a little amount of soybeans that likely would have been U.S. new crop soybeans.’ He tells Brownfield the Chinese seem to be displacing U.S. soybean imports at a large volume.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gQqOi4
SOYBEANS: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “Building new markets for Minnesota-grown soybeans is a task that takes some one-on-one interactions, Joel Schreurs said. That was the reason Schreurs welcomed a tour of soybean buyers from southeast Asia to his farm this week. ‘You like to build up that personal relationship,’ Schreurs said of the visit. On Tuesday, a group of about 17 people, including participants from Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, made a stop in rural Tyler as part of the Northern Soy Marketing Crop Tour. NSM is a group formed by the soybean checkoff boards of South Dakota and Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gWzB2o
BAILOUT: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The White House came to farmers’ rescue during President Donald Trump’s first trade war. This second time around a bailout isn’t so simple. That’s because this summer, Trump’s big tax and spending bill drained the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a $30 billion financing arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to instead fund crop-stabilization programs. Now the White House and Congress are scrambling to deliver emergency aid to row-crop farmers after the administration’s trade war with China tanked their soybean markets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nqkssp
DRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Two Minnesota farmers fear yield is being lost as soybeans dry rapidly in the field. Harmon Wilts farms in the west-central part of the state and says warm and windy conditions have dropped moisture levels into the single digits. ‘These beans are dry, they’re ready to come out of the field. And we’re losing a little bit of yield based on those moistures being so low, but I don’t see another path forward other than keeping the combine rolling.’ In southwest Minnesota, Bob Worth tells Brownfield soybeans are down to 8 percent moisture.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VH061U
NOTE: The new Drought Monitor is due out tomorrow. We’ll share it in lunch take and in Friday’s ag take. Here’s last week’s, MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
BIRD FLU: Via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “Agriculture officials in two states have reported more H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in poultry, both involving commercial turkey farms, a sector that has been hit hard by the virus in recent years . . . The outbreaks in US poultry are part of an uptick in activity since late August, and over the past 30 days, the virus has been implicated in outbreaks on 17 commercial farms, mostly in the upper Midwest and involving turkeys, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The latest outbreaks in commercial poultry include a turkey farm in Minnesota’s Le Sueur County housing 33,000 birds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IO0poG
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)
CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agronomy manager says farmers harvesting corn should seek a balance between yield and moisture. Ryan Bates with Pioneer tells Brownfield environment and hybrid determine how rapidly crops dry down. ‘We know if we get the (right) environment we push maturity (and) can get additional yield, but at what cost to that moisture? And we know as we get wetter corn, the cost to dry that corn increases significantly.’ He says various studies help break down the per bushel cost of grain drying.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pRu0Oy
LAND: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Farm sale season has begun, and a steady stream of auctions and listings are making their way to the marketplace. Several recent reports show Minnesota land values remaining flat or increasing slightly. The Minneapolis Federal Reserve second quarter survey reports weakened farming finances and a slight increase in land values and rents. Joe Mahon from the Minneapolis Fed also reports that most region lenders anticipate a third-quarter decline in farm income. Long story short, many farmers are tightening their belts while values remain steady.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46LJ2wB
SUNFLOWERS: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “Driving east on Interstate 90 in southern Minnesota was just another Sunday drive, until we spotted the bright yellow fields. A few turns later — and down a gravel road or two — we came upon a sign, ‘Sunflowers on the Cotter Farm Open to the Public.’ I’d seen sunflower fields near central Iowa, but believed them to be relatively small and sought after for family photography sessions. I thought these sunflower fields in Minnesota had to be different; the acres upon acres of flowers had to be production ag fields.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o2XveQ
PHOTOS: Via news release from Lallemand Plant Care, VERBATIM: “Across the U.S., from Idaho to Minnesota, rural voices are showing how one photo can make a difference. Six winners of Lallemand‘s 2025 Hometown Roots contest have each chosen a local organization to receive $5,000, supporting programs that strengthen rural communities and celebrate the next generation of agricultural leaders. This year’s winners include Monty Hamilton of Idaho, Michael Pawlowski of Montana, Collin Powell of South Dakota, Brenden Klebe of North Dakota, Ashley Babl of Nebraska, and Gabe Foltz of Minnesota.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3IqoqCh
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
100 YEARS: Via Mesabi Tribune, VERBATIM: “A farm that has become a popular fall destination for school field trips and families alike is celebrating its centennial. Simek’s Farm was founded in 1925 by Stanley and Bessie Simek and each fall is now host to families, school groups, and others wanting to experience the fall splendor on a farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gQkjfa
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