VIDEO: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “How Do Families Farm Together?” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4s3IJai (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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RURAL ECONOMY
SURVEY: Creighton University surveyed bankers in ten states including Minnesota. Among the findings:
38% reported the rural economy was in recession
58% expect farmland prices to fall next year
On average, they expect 18% of farmers and ranchers in their areas to have negative cash flow this year
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4aX0hyH
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Creighton University economist Ernie Goss tells Brownfield rural bank CEOs feel economic conditions are better than expected . . . Goss says recent trade optimism is helping boost the outlook for farm income. He says the bankers are bullish on President Trump’s proposed trade framework with China.” GOSS: “Trade with China was down by almost 90%, 87.6% to be precise,” he said. “That’s 2025 versus 2024, so that really was a lot to do with the negativism we had been seeing in our reports.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4aWZRZc
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
DC + MN
HEALTHCARE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform says the ongoing debate in Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits will directly impact many farmers. ‘Something like one in four farmers uses this.’ Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi says the expiration of the credits will add another financial pressure for farmers in an already challenging economy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pQr6cL
HONEY: Via news release from Senator Smith, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025, legislation that would support American honey producers and producers of other commodities, like crawfish, garlic, and mushrooms, who have been harmed by unfair trade practices, primarily by China.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/491Db7t
USMCA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist says he’s watching how the Trump administration reviews the U.S. Canada Mexico Trade Agreement. Allen Featherstone with Kansas State University with says the Trump administration has hinted that completely withdrawing from the deal is an option but, ‘I think it’s just a negotiating posture. For example, we’ve heard a lot of different things about trade agreements with China and other countries.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44CCaBL
TRADE AID: MinnPost looks at how far the $12 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance funding will go for farmers in Minnesota. VERBATIM: “The bailout will cover parts of losses sustained by growers of soybeans and at least 19 other crops. In the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement, the agency mentioned mustard, chickpeas and rapeseed, among other crops that you’d be hard pressed to find in Minnesota fields. We know $1 billion of the $12 billion will be set aside for sugar and specialty crop producers. An unspecific portion of the remaining $11 billion will go to soybeans growers, a portion of whom are in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pak9lz
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “One ag group says the Trump administration’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program fails to benefit organic and specialty crop growers. Nicole Wolcott, policy coordinator for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, says $1 billion isn’t enough to support diversified farming operations.” WOLCOTT: “The support that smaller farms need is not going to look the same as support for larger farms,” she says. “It’s definitely not a one size fits all approach for any form of a farm safety net.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4aqgPyZ
TRADE REP
WHAT HAPPENED: Via World-Grain, VERBATIM: “The US Senate on Dec. 18 confirmed Julie Callahan, PhD, to serve as the next chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), a result welcomed by agriculture industry groups that had supported her nomination. Callahan, who joined the USTR in 2016, has been serving as the assistant US trade representative for agricultural affairs and commodity policy. She previously was a deputy assistant US trade representative and senior director in the USTR Agriculture Office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p4XjM7
REACTION
NCGA: “We are extremely pleased to see that Ambassador Callahan will serve in this role, which is critical to the success of farmers,” said Ohio grower and NCGA President Jed Bower. “We endorsed her nomination early on, because we know she has the extensive experience and know-how to help growers take advantage of opportunities and navigate challenges. We look forward to working with the ambassador to position corn and corn products for successful inclusion in trade deals negotiated by the administration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4arZTby
AFIA: “The AFIA extends a warm congratulations to Julie Callahan on her confirmation,” said AFIA’s President and CEO Constance Cullman. “She is a problem-solver and communicator with key relationships across the Hill, the administration and the world. Dr. Callahan will be a strong advocate for the U.S. agricultural sector and we look forward to working with her to establish new markets for American animal food manufacturers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MJqRBA
MORE HEADLINES
BIRD FLU: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA continues to develop a vaccine strategy for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Minnesota turkey grower John Zimmerman, a past president of the National Turkey Federation, says he hopes stakeholders have an opportunity to weigh in.” ZIMMERMAN: “We’re aware the USDA has the vaccine strategy, and we hope that they would put their stamp of approval on it and submit it back to industry that we could tweak it somewhat. And then at that point we’d like to take it to our trade partners and say ‘if we wanted to vaccinate, this is how we’d do it. These are our safety protocols, this is how we monitor it.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pOTIDb
LAND: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “As farmland affordability and profitability remain under pressure, University of Minnesota Extension educator Nathan Hulinsky says questions about fair land rental rates are among the most common he receives from farmers and landowners.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s7VAIw
LIGHTS: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you’ll find a Christmas light show that’s been around for more than half a century. For 170 years, Keller’s family has farmed near the town of Nerstrand. And in the light of a December day, their place looks like any other farm. But when the sun goes down, a transformation takes place.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49jGp7H
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)
2025 - 2026
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension ag economist is watching soybean export business to close out what should be a quiet end to 2025. Chad Hart with Iowa State University says there’s typically not a lot of market activity the last two weeks of December.” HART: “I think they will be quiet, but we are watching for, let’s call it signs, especially of international sales as we’re looking out there.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4p0eaj1
BIOFUELS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is turning his attention to 2026 with renewable fuel policies in mind. ‘We’re at the end of the year (and) the window for federal rulemaking is closing fast. We’re still waiting for important rules affecting farmers and biofuel producers to be issued.’ During a call with ag reporters Tuesday, the Iowa Republican said the U.S. Treasury Department continues to work on implementing 45Z clean fuel production tax credits.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44Gb6l4
USDA
SNAP: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to fulfill common goals of helping low-income workers find sustainable employment.” ROLLINS: “Connecting low-income Americans, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, to education and employment opportunities is so important. This MOU signifies how our two agencies can further collaborate and use one another’s resources to not only help individuals attain career and technical education, but secure and retain employment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Y4KPZT
MORE: The memorandum. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4pJq5mz
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
MENTAL HEALTH: From the Minnesota Department of Health via X, VERBATIM: “Concerned about mental health in your community? MDH along with @UMNExt & @MNagriculture are offering in-person trainings to become a certified COMET (Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory) facilitator. Register for an upcoming training today.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4qb68EY LINK: https://fluence-media.co/4j6Dx1r
INVASIVES: From the Minnesota Department of Agriculture via X, VERBATIM: “The environment around us is changing, and altering how invasive plants & insects affect native species. Concern about those changes can cause eco-anxiety. On the latest #SmartyPlants podcast episode, we’re talking about ways to cope with that concern.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4p8Q06e PODCAST: https://fluence-media.co/47iSisw
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