ROUNDTABLE: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “MCGA board treasurer Rob Tate and his family hosted Senator Amy Klobuchar for a roundtable discussion on their farm in Cannon Falls. During the event, he highlighted the high fertilizer costs farmers are facing this spring in wake of the Iran war, tariff threats, and fertilizer market consolidation.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cy5Bcg (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
OUTSIDE IMPACTS
SURVEY: Via NCGA, VERBATIM: “More and more, farmers are encountering volatile fertilizer markets, along with uncertainty about the availability of essential fertilizers - not only for 2026, but increasingly for 2027. To empirically quantify how this developing situation may shape farmer decisions on financial and agronomic management for their operations and, ultimately, planted acres and production, the National Corn Growers Association gathered grower insight through two surveys.”
“As the survey results indicate, fertilizer concerns extend beyond affordability to include availability. The volume of daily transits through the Strait of Hormuz is running about 95% below the month before the conflict, keeping supplies from flowing to the global market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vAQx5t
FINANCES: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Newly-released data from the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities showed Minnesota farmers experienced a moderate financial recovery in 2025—an improvement from the extremely low profit levels recorded in 2024. The study found that the median net farm income for Minnesota farms increased to $66,518 in 2025.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4shW3H3
CEASEFIRE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Ag and energy markets are reacting to a reported two-week ceasefire in the Middle East. Compeer Financial economist Dr. Megan Roberts says the announcement from the Trump administration is positive.” ROBERTS: “Anything that can be done to continue movement of crucial inputs like fertilizer and oil is a good thing, particularly at this time of year. I would also say there’s still uncertainty.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vgmfV8
UPDATE: From CNN via X, VERBATIM: “Iran says it is halting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz after Israel attacked Lebanon, testing fragile ceasefire deal.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4mfugFI
CHS: Via Feedstuffs, VERBATIM: “[Inver Grove Heights-based] CHS Inc., a global agribusiness and the nation’s leading cooperative, released results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2026. The company reported a net loss of $147.1 million and revenues of $8.4 billion for the quarter that ended Feb. 28, 2026, compared to a net loss of $75.8 million and revenues of $7.8 billion in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47MDHXn
FED GUIDANCE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of the USDA Guidance Portal. This interactive tool — a searchable, indexed database — contains guidance issued by the Department and its agencies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t79hYE
INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of the National Corn Growers Association says consolidation in the fertilizer industry could be the largest contributor to higher costs. Jed Bower, a farmer from Ohio, says the Middle East conflict has gotten a lot of attention recently, but there’s more to the story.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PWbrLS
PRODUCTIVE FARMS, STEWARDSHIP GO HAND IN HAND. via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn farmers are demonstrating that productive agriculture and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Through widespread adoption of practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, and targeted nutrient management, farmers have improved soil health, reduced erosion, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protected water quality across millions of acres in Minnesota. That’s all while implementing advances in seed genetics, fertility management, and precision technology that have improved on-farm productivity.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4stHjG5 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
AG MARKETPLACE
MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Corn and wheat were lower early Wednesday with soybeans slightly higher. Cattle also rallying.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vnrdja
MARCH: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota farmer says he capitalized on the March runup in corn and soybean prices. Nick Peterson of Clear Lake tells Brownfield.” PETERSON: “We had quite a few bids getting hit, which was good because it was just more or less stagnant for so long before that.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tV2T6P
VIETNAM: From Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Hats off to cultural awareness, agricultural learning and appreciation, global cooperation coupled with personal growth. MARL focused on investing in people. Vietnam as our international destination and host country meets all expectations. Hats off to a rich experience.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/489HxtZ
THE BUSINESS OF AG
GRANTS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Biofuels Infrastructure Program. This grant provides matching funds for Minnesota fuel retailers to upgrade their stations to offer gasoline blended with at least 15% ethanol at the pump.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c1eomU
RIGHT TO REPAIR: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “On April 6, Deere & Co. announced a settlement agreement resolving the ‘right-to-repair’ litigation before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The company will pay $99 million (plus interest accruing since Jan. 15) into a settlement fund for the benefit of the settlement class. In a press release, the company states the agreement brings the case to a close with ‘no finding of wrongdoing.’ The agreement marks a pivotal moment in the multi-year legal battle, aiming to compensate producers for repair restrictions while avoiding a formal admission of liability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tGmGqt
AG TECH: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today announced the launch of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag), a nationwide initiative designed to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41Gt5WJ
LAND: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the Executive Council of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers says most farmland values remain relatively strong despite continued uncertainty around the ag economy. Luke Worrell, who co-owns Worrell Land Services in Jacksonville, Illinois, says farmers are remaining active in the land market.” WORRELL: “The vast majority of the buyers are still local owner-operators or local ag investors.” He says, “And it’s always been the case, as long as I’ve been doing this.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4t0x784
MANURE: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “As producers across the Midwest tackle spring fieldwork, University of Minnesota researchers say manure management may feel familiar for farmers, but managing it effectively requires more precision than ever. That shift is showing up in new tools, ongoing research and expanded on-farm trials aimed at tightening nutrient use and reducing risk. Researchers said on a recent Nutrient Management Podcast that in the spring, planning is as important as application.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cd9ime
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THIS MONTH: Via National Today, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota FFA Association‘s State Convention will take place April 19-21 at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Fairgrounds. The event will feature general sessions, awards for top students, and competitions in over three dozen areas of agriculture, food, and natural resource sciences. New FFA chapters will also be chartered, and the state’s premier FFA chapter will be named.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q8aOyL
MORRIS: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Morris, Minnesota, is a small city, but a community-wide partnership that includes the University of Minnesota is nationally recognized for supporting local energy improvement projects in rural areas. Developed ten years ago, the Morris Model is a partnership including the University of Minnesota’s Morris campus and West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), the city of Morris, Morris Area Public Schools, Stevens County and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tb2Qn2
CROP CREW: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “Having seen agriculture from various vantage points within the industry, Mike Blaine brings a valuable perspective to the growers he supports in Minnesota. Blaine is a field agronomist and technical training lead for Beck’s Hybrids with previous experience working at Extension, the USDA, and Corteva. He is a member of the Successful Farming Crop Crew, a cohort of agronomists who share real-time, boots-on-the-ground insights from their territories during the growing season.” Q&A: https://fluence-media.co/41QKbRA
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