KEY BILLS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “It’s been a busy few weeks at the State Legislature, with various finance and policy bills receiving hearings before the third committee deadline on Friday. The following is an update on key bills the Minnesota Corn Growers Association has been following this session. Look for updates on these bills throughout the final weeks of the 2025 session.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ef3dJc (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
TARIFFS: Via USA Today, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump on Wednesday − in the latest twist of the tariff saga that has roiled financial markets for days − said he was authorizing a 90-day pause in reciprocal fees while raising China's levy to 125%. China and the European Union earlier had unveiled stiff retaliation levies aimed at countering Trump's tariff blitz, while an unfazed Trump urged global companies to set up shop in the U.S. The Chinese Finance Ministry announced 84% tariffs on U.S. goods starting Thursday, up from the 34% previously announced.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GgSwX2
MOTH: Via WCCO, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's plan to combat an invasive pest is canceled after federal funding fell through, the state said. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture planned to apply an insecticide called Btk to 12 areas throughout the state to fight the spongy moth, whose voracious appetite is devastating to forests. But the department said it did not receive the necessary federal funds in time.” QUOTE: "Having to cancel Btk aerial management operations in these areas jeopardizes the future success of this program," department Commissioner Thom Peterson said. "Spongy moth populations in these areas will likely increase and advance quicker into neighboring areas, making future years of management more complicated and costly." READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jtDtYE
MORE: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The areas with canceled Btk management are in Anoka, Carlton, Itasca, St. Louis, and Winona counties, totaling 2,752 acres. This includes canceling the proposed work in the cities of Coon Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Winona.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ErkYoC
MOROCCO: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Today Commissioner @ThommyPetersen welcomed Dr. Mohammed Sadiki - a U of M alumnus and former Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Waters & Forests in Morocco - to the MDA, along with reps from @UMNExt, @mncorn & Duluth Seaway Port Authority. The group talked about the important trade connections between Minnesota and Morocco and impacts to agriculture.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4ia56Vw
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
BIRD FLU: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “It’s been ten years since the first major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S. And the executive director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association says the poultry industry continues to learn and adapt. Ashley Kohls tells Brownfield high-path avian flu prevention and detection have come a long way.” KOHLS: “Just when you look at how the virus has spread. So in 2015 there was a lot of lateral spread, so farm-to-farm was the primary way the virus spread amongst farms. But if you look at today, I think USDA was recently quoted as saying 82 percent are single bird introductions. So that’s a massive change.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jrujfb
COTTAGE FOOD: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Good to visit the Minnesota Cottage Food Producers today at the Capitol. Mn now has over 10,000 registered producers!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4jpX6Az
ALAN PAGE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “At his cabin about three hours north of the Twin Cities, Alan Page carries on a tradition that he and his late wife, Diane Sims Page, started more than a decade ago: tapping maple trees and making gallons of sweet, sticky syrup. The former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and Hall of Fame NFL football player continues to make the syrup, often with his grandchildren. They save a few bottles every year to auction off at the Page Education Foundation gala, to raise money for students of color pursuing post-secondary education.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j42E4g
FUEL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Renewable Fuels Association is calling for the continued growth of the Renewable Fuel Standard. CEO Geoff Cooper says he hopes to see that as the EPA finalizes renewable volume obligations for 2026 and beyond.” COOPER: “That’s what the statute calls for (and) that’s what Congress intended when they passed the law establishing the RFS in 2005 and then passed the law expanding it in 2007, the whole thing was meant to drive long-term growth well into the future for different types of renewable fuels.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3EekQsF
SOLAR: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “A decision is expected before summer’s end on whether to permit a large solar farm proposed in Renville County. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and Department of Commerce hosted the second in-person public hearing for the Gopher State Solar project in Olivia on March 31, followed by an online hearing on April 1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lqgS0H
PLANTING: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “The USDA ‘Prospective Plantings Report’ that was released on March 31st projected a 5 percent increase in 2025 U.S. corn acreage compared to a year ago, along with a 4 percent decrease in 2025 soybean acreage from a year earlier. The USDA planting intentions numbers came in slightly higher than the grain trade expected for corn and similar to trade estimates for soybeans. The USDA ‘Quarterly Grain Stocks Report’ was also released on March 31st, which lists the estimated U.S. grain inventory as of March 1, 2025, for both ‘on-farm’ and commercial grain storage. The USDA estimates for U.S. corn and soybean inventories came in near the average stocks estimates of the grain traders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/427hil6
INCOME: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new report shows net farm income in Minnesota has fallen to its lowest level this century. University of Minnesota Extension economist Pauline Van Nurden says the median income dropped to just under $22,000 in 2024. ‘Going back to the mid 1990’s, still the lowest median net farm income for Minnesota producers over that whole time span. So it just speaks to the challenges of last year.’ She tells Brownfield 2024 was especially difficult for crop farmers in the state who faced adverse weather, low commodity prices, and high input costs.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3RHJWmJ
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)
MNLEG: Via Minnesota House, VERBATIM: “In his opening remarks Monday on the omnibus agriculture finance bill that he sponsors, Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) gave thanks. He thanked House staff who worked throughout the weekend with himself and Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), his co-chair on the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee, to craft a budget bill that came together through good faith and compromise by both parties.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42EJo7u
TURKEYS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Turkey growers are suffering losses from a disease that first appeared in the U.S. a year ago. Iowa Turkey Federation executive director Gretta Irwin says poultry health is a concern for growers. ‘Whether it’s (highly pathogenic avian influenza), which is in the headlines right now. Or avian metapneumovirus, which is not in the headlines but is having a stronger impact on our industry right now.’ Speaking to Brownfield at the PEAK poultry conference in Minneapolis Tuesday, she said metapneumovirus has quickly spread in the environment, compromising the immune system of birds.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44gK0Bu
MARKETS: Via Radio Mankato, VERBATIM: “As part of its ongoing effort to support local economies and agriculture, Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America has awarded $28,061 in Farmers Market Grants to local farmers markets and vendors across Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EiZHxt
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
BEANS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Nearly two years ago, Pam Ismail, professor at the University of Minnesota and the founder and director of the Plant Protein Innovation Center, and her team obtained funding from the Northarvest Bean Growers Association to study the possibility of turning kidney beans into a source of functional protein ingredients. According to the PPIC's website, the mission of the Plant Protein Innovation Center is to bring together interdisciplinary researchers and industry partners, including farmers, to deliver to the supply chain new nutritious and functional plant protein ingredients and products, starting from agricultural practices to ingredient development and application. Turning kidney beans into a source of functional protein ingredients would open up an additional market for the beans outside of the traditional canned and dry beans that would still be appealing to the consumer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RJ6jrY
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
LUKE BRYAN: Via K102-Radio, VERBATIM: “Luke Bryan said there’s ‘not a chance’ he forgot about the Midwest on his annual ‘Farm Tour’ in 2025. The Mind Of A Country Boy hitmaker announced the list of fall ‘Farm Tour’ stops on Monday morning (April 7). Bryan said as he posted new details: ‘Y’all thought we forgot about the Midwest? Not a chance. …See y’all in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan in the fall.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42BebSC
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