CONCERNS: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “What do farmers worry about?” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rOksV2 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
HEADWINDS
SURVEY: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The first Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor of 2026, coupled with input from producers and ag retailers, reveals an industry that broadly agrees it is in trouble, but sharply disagrees on why, who should fix it and how farmers will survive it.”
“Across the economists, farmers and retailers surveyed, the results paint a picture of a crop sector stuck in recession, magnified by the squeeze caused by high input costs and low commodity prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zw2sCB
MENTAL HEALTH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Tracie Rutherford Self is a mental health specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She says tax season can be a precursor for stress on the farm.” QUOTE: “Because it’s stressful, and the financial pieces are stressful. We’re looking at tax season, and then we’re looking at operating loans coming up. And we’re still looking at what’s happening from a federal government standpoint, payments people are waiting on. So there are a lot of factors.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4rkb4IY
ADVOCATE: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “In the face of mounting financial pressures, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has added a new Farm Advocate to its statewide network for producer assistance. Located in northwest Minnesota, Ron Dvergsten joins 11 other Farm Advocates who offer one-on-one help and advice to farmers facing crises caused by financial problems or natural disasters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MyYgiB
WINTER: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “While snow covers the ground and temperatures dip into the single digits, thousands of farmers attend trade shows each year to reconnect, meet with vendors and go over the things that give them heartburn: market challenges, input costs and technology, unpredictable weather. This year, you can add tariffs, immigrant labor and the country’s dysfunctional politics to their list of concerns.” QUOTE: “Farmers need certainty,” Gary Wertish, president of the DFL-leaning Minnesota Farmers Union, said at the Ag Expo in Mankato. “You don’t get good answers to issues if you don’t work together. The chaos that (President Trump) is (causing) appears to be just to get headlines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rFJJ3p
FFA: Via Fox News, VERBATIM: “Federal lawmakers are demanding answers from the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) over its partnership with a Chinese Communist Party-controlled agribusiness and its push for DEI initiatives, citing national security concerns and questions about its tax-exempt status. The inquiry is being led by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional FFA Caucus, which say the organization’s relationship with Syngenta Group raises concerns about foreign influence and whether FFA is operating in line with its stated mission as a tax-exempt nonprofit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OnAuGN
SECURITY: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “Wednesday morning, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF Version). The agreement formalizes coordination between the two departments to address security concerns affecting U.S. agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3O2NykZ
PORK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The National Pork Producers Council is focused on several issues early in 2026. NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys says the health status of pigs and trade are top of mind.” HUMPHREYS: “To the new dietary guidelines, potential farm bill and Prop 12 fixes. And about everything in between.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cnxS5C
AG NUMBERS
BIO-FUELS: Via MBA, VERBATIM: “For the fifth consecutive year, annual sales of Unleaded 88 in Minnesota reached a new record.”
“‘The record sales of Unleaded 88 in Minnesota over the last five years show that despite regulatory uncertainty from Washington, D.C., retailers continue to expand access and consumers continue to fill up with E15. That’s because it works in any car 2001 and newer and saves drivers between $0.15 and $0.30 per gallon. As the ‘E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council’ continues to consider a framework for passing year-round E15, we urge them to listen to consumers who are clearly demanding permanent access to a better fuel at a better price,’ said Brian Werner, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aaOEnf
CROP FINANCE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “From the ag lending perspective, Alan Hoskins, president and national sales director at American Farm Mortgage and Financial Services, says the current cycle is forcing producers to rethink not just their numbers, but how they approach decision-making altogether. During the 2026 Top Producer Summit, Hoskins says both farmers and ag lenders need to remember there’s a clear differentiation between profit and cash flow. And he says when it comes to cash flow, that’s something farmers should be looking at on a monthly basis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/403V8ON
BEEF: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A beef specialist with the University of Illinois Extension says it’s time for beef producers to prioritize profitability. ‘It is easy to make a profit with beef cows right now, but that’s not always going to be the case.’ Travis Meteer says continued record prices in the cow/calf industry give producers the opportunity to maximize the value of their herd.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/404cuuR
RESOURCES
NEXT WEEK: Via AURI, VERBATIM: “Alfalfa has long been a cornerstone forage crop, but emerging innovation is opening the door to high-value, non-forage applications that could fundamentally reshape its role in sustainable agriculture. Join AURI and leading innovators for the first session in a two-part webinar series exploring new utilization pathways for alfalfa and the market forces accelerating their adoption.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tBgReK
HEARING: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Minnesota law allows agricultural producers to form commodity councils to support their industries through research and promotion. These councils collect a producer-funded ‘checkoff fee’ to advance their respective commodities. The Minnesota Area II Potato Research and Promotion Council, established in 1991, has fulfilled this role for more than three decades. The Council has expressed its intent to terminate their research and promotion council and transition to a privately funded and operated producer organization.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4067RQY
DAIRY: Via MPCA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is inviting the public to comment on a proposed dairy expansion in west central Minnesota. West River Dairy proposes to expand its existing facility from 7,855 dairy cows to allow for a total capacity of 18,855 dairy cows. The MPCA will accept public comments on the proposal’s environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) through March 12, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qxWTyD
SCREW WORM: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today at Moore Air Base, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Governor of Texas Greg Abbott celebrated a significant achievement in the fight against New World Screwworm (NWS) with the completion of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas. This facility expands USDA’s ability to disperse sterile flies along the border and into the United States, if necessary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4acEwKF
TAX CREDIT: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “For the past couple of years, the buzz around the 45Z tax credit has been little more than background noise at coffee shops and farmer meetings. But the ‘wait and see’ period is over, according to University of Illinois Ag Economist Scott Irwin. As the policy takes root, it is fundamentally changing the ledgers of the ethanol plants you deliver to—and, by extension, could improve the profit potential for your farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r8zSDn
SNIRT: Via Minnesota News Connection, VERBATIM: “Dirty-looking snow piles are common this time of year in Minnesota, but in towns and cities surrounded by farms, they might look even worse thanks to wind erosion wreaking havoc on topsoil. There are renewed calls for smarter land management to deal with this occurrence, known as ‘snirt.’ It’s when strong winter winds blow around rich, black soil from open farm fields, getting that dirt entangled with whatever snow is flying around.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aL1pFa
SOLAR: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in southeastern Minnesota is harnessing the power of the sun. Dale Stevermer grows corn, soybeans, oats, and has a 2,000 head custom finishing hog operation near Easton. He says he installed solar panels on the farm in December of 2022.” STEVERMER: “And roughly 100 percent of our farm operation, including the dryer and grain handling system, are covered by the solar panels.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kt1PDn
TOWN HALL: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciate opportunity to join @MNFarmersUnion People’s Town Hall meeting this morning in Austin, great turnout of engaged people and comments on ag economy, immigration, health care, state programs & more.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3MCRt7u
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
USB: Via Minnesota Soybean, VERBATIM: “Dumont farmer Tom Frisch continues to embrace a greater role as a national farmer leader. In early February 2026, Frisch was reappointed by the USDA to serve a three-year term on the United Soybean Board (USB).”
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