ADVOCACY: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “When most people hear the word advocacy, they probably associate images of the halls of Congress in Washington D.C. or the corridors of the State Legislature in St. Paul. Although grassroots and direct lobbying efforts are fundamental to our advocacy efforts, the various efforts our public policy team and farmer-leaders are engaged with on a daily basis extend far beyond the hallowed halls of D.C. or St. Paul.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pf8u5y (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
AG ECONOMY
SURVEY: The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis today released its quarterly survey of member banks focused on ag. A couple of slides from the presentation:
SLIDE DECK: https://fluence-media.co/3WTRCFl NEWS CONFERENCE: https://fluence-media.co/3LGzOej
CORN OUTLOOK: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA has trimmed its expectations for 2025 U.S. corn and soybean production. Corn is now pegged at a still record large 16.752 billion bushels, less than 1% below the September guess on a downward revision for yield to 186 bushels per acre. Harvested area was unchanged at 90.047 million acres. In 2024, corn totaled 14.892 billion bushels with an average yield of 179.3 bushels per acre on 83.046 million acres.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i4dcR6
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
AG FINANCE
AI: Via Fortune, VERBATIM: “‘How can we help farmers be more profitable?’ It was a critical question that Leah Anderson, president of Land O’Lakes’ crops insights division WinField United, and the dairy cooperative’s Chief Technology Officer Teddy Bekele, asked each other about a year ago, before economics on the farm became even more dire throughout 2025. Knowing that farmers are always angling to achieve the most profit per acre possible, Land O’Lakes developed and is currently piloting a new AI tool called ‘Oz,’ which can help agronomists as they work with farmers to map out an ideal crop production plan that accounts for different weather variations, soil health, pest risks, and seed selection. All those decisions ultimately factor into a successful yield for the farmer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49ls4IC
FUNDING: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “With the government now open, federal staff can now begin to work through the piling contracts. ‘[Natural Resources Conservation Service] has resumed normal operations as of today,’ a USDA spokesperson said. ‘Producers can expect contracts to be processed in a timely manner.’ But many observers worry delays could nevertheless be in the offing.” QUOTE: “The folks that do all the reviewing of these projects and give final approval to the funding haven’t been working for six weeks,” farm management analyst Kent Thiesse said. “It’s going to take a while to get things back on track again.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hWQbzk
GRANT: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “A grant opportunity for urban farmers in Minnesota to receive up to $5,000 to make conservation-focused improvements is now open for applications. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is once again offering an Urban Farm Conservation Mini-grant with approximately $100,000 available, thanks to funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. This year the program has expanded eligibility.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LFQ6UT
CONDITIONS
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor out this week shows no improvement over the past week – 63% of the state is abnormally dry with 22% in formal drought status. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
WET: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A west central Minnesota farmer is feeling fortunate as the harvest season ends. Anne Schwagerl farms near Beardsley.” SCHWAGERL: “A week ago we wrapped up our harvest and we were in a pocket that did okay. But we didn’t have to go too far to the east of us and south to get some really nasty drowned out spots where excessive moisture really dragged on some of our yields.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hWX4Rc
WEATHER: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) expanded its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of another weather station in West Central Minnesota—a critical step in strengthening data coverage for producers statewide. The new station is outside Rollag, situated within Parke Township in Clay County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4paU6uQ
PEOPLE
MNLEG: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Thx to the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee members, and staff for visiting @MNagriculture potato office in East Grand Forks this afternoon. The office plays an important role in supporting the potato industry in Minnesota!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/47H8oxt
RECOGNITION: Via Kanabec County Times, VERBATIM: “Donavon Stromberg from Mora will receive Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s Honorary Life recognition for his decades of leadership, advocacy, and service to Minnesota agriculture at the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 21 in Minnetonka. He will be recognized alongside Greg and Mary Bartz of Sleepy Eye and Roger and Linda Sauerbrey of Mayer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47FYEUe
FFA: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “More than 1,000 Minnesota FFA members made a good showing during the 98th National FFA Convention from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 in Indianapolis, as many individuals, teams and chapters brought home various awards.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Xv9eaE
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)
AG PRODUCTS
TURKEY: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “About 46 million turkeys are eaten around Thanksgiving in the United States every year, and Minnesota farmers play a huge role in raising these birds. Kahina Boukherroub, an assistant professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, answers questions about turkeys in Minnesota ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r1LHf6
FUEL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Congress would have a very narrow window to pass nationwide E15 legislation this year if the government shutdown ends soon. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper says he remains optimistic.” COOPER: “Now that it looks like Congress is going to get back to work and the federal government is going to reopen, we do think there will be opportunities yet this fall and winter to get that language across the goal line and get it attached to legislative vehicles that we know are going to be moving here in the next month and-a-half.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49Vl0Cx
GIFT IDEAS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “This holiday season, deck the halls with Minnesota Grown! The newly released 2025 Minnesota Grown Gift Guide is packed with thoughtful, locally made gifts that celebrate the spirit of giving and support Minnesota farmers and makers. Curated from Minnesota Grown members across the state, the guide features a wide variety of gift ideas – from farmstead foods and natural skincare to artisan crafts, hearty meat bundles, locally crafted wines and beverages, and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49Dxyi7
MARKETS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Finding locally grown fresh produce during Minnesota’s cold months can get easier by shopping at winter farmers markets. In addition to produce you’ll also find specialty foods, decor, gift items and more at indoor and outdoor markets.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3K0hpsq
MEXICO
TRADE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Last week in Mexico City, Mexico, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins led the largest U.S. Department of Agriculture agribusiness trade mission in the history of our country. During the mission to Mexico, 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups, six state departments of agriculture, and 150 participants conducted more than 500 business to business meetings over three days.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47H7wJd
SCREWWORM: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) – the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pfrYHa
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota dairy is considering a major upgrade in the next year. Rita Vander Kooi and her family milk 2,500 cows near Worthington. ‘We are actively pricing out a new parlor, and perhaps with that a new barn.’ She says the current parlor is nearly 25 years old.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48cYvrw
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