ag take | SURVEY: Lenders on Region's Ag Economy, Cultivating the Next Generation at the Fair
8.29.25
FUEL: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced decisions on 175 Small Refinery Exemption petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2016 to 2024. There was a backlog of SRE applications due to inaction during the Biden administration. The EPA granted full exemptions to 63 petitions, partial exemptions to 77 petitions, denied 28 petitions, and deemed seven ineligible. Additionally, the agency said it will reallocate exempted volumes for the 2023 and later compliance years. A proposed rule on reallocation is expected later this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oX2fUi (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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SURVEY: Via Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “Farm incomes decreased across the Ninth District, according to lenders responding to the second-quarter Ag Credit Survey by the Minneapolis Fed. Lenders also reported that spending on capital equipment fell, and farm household purchases edged lower on balance. With a weaker cash position, demand for loans jumped; loan repayments also dropped, and loan renewal and extension activity increased.”
“Interest rates for agricultural loans decreased slightly but remained high. Cropland values were mixed, while cash rents fell from a year ago. The outlook for the third quarter of 2025 is pessimistic, with survey respondents expecting a further decrease in incomes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HNaF00
BEEF: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Typically, when some product becomes too expensive, people buy less of it. Not so with beef. Despite record high prices for the red meat — thanks to a record low number of cattle raised for slaughter — demand for the fresh protein keeps rising. Folks are more interested in a Jucy Lucy than following the law of supply and demand, it seems. A recent report from CoBank said the ‘remarkably steady allure of beef, even at current prices” stems from “heightened interest in dietary protein, changing health perceptions surrounding beef and the availability of restaurant-quality beef at retail grocery stores.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41sQiMj
CORN: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “In the USDA Crop Progress report released Aug. 25, all but four states reported mature corn . . . Minnesota is also making its debut on the list with 2% of corn at the mature growth stage. Last year at this time, 4% of the corn had reached the mature growth stage. The state is on track with the five-year average.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HSBRuj
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
HONEY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The grounds surrounding Andrea Setsvold’s bee yard are what you would imagine to be a pollinator’s paradise. Tire tracks lead through grass to a field of native plants like Dutch clover, sweet clover and birdsfoot trefoil, basswood trees, dandelions and goldenrod. Between three apiaries, Setsvold has 12 hives of Russian honeybees. Just a quarter mile from her house, five of those hives sit hoisted up on cement blocks to allow for airflow.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3URPH2Y
CONSOLIDATION: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Unprecedented consolidation in agriculture is emptying the landscape of farmers, which is having a trickle-down impact on everything from rural schools and churches to Main Street businesses, said three-dozen farmers and other rural residents who gathered Aug. 24 for an open-air Land Stewardship Project (LSP) town hall meeting on the shores of Lake Koronis near Paynseville. Their message was directed toward Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General, who traveled from Saint Paul to take questions from the audience and talk about what can be done to enforce laws pertaining to unfair manipulation of markets, among other things.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47QyjTM
INSURANCE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An insurance specialist is encouraging farmers to consider a risk management tool called captive insurance. Van Carlson says his company, SRA 831 (b) Admin, helps business owners develop a self-insurance model.” CARLSON: “If I have a huge deductible on my building, or have an actual cash value minus depreciation. Which means if I have a 20-year old roof (and) they depreciate it down, I’m going to get about half of what it’s going to cost to actually replace that roof. So the rest of that money has to come out of my pocket, that’s self-insuring risk.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3UNQ3aV
VETERINARIANS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced a commitment to new actions to increase the number of rural food animal veterinarians across the U.S. and recruit new veterinarians to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in their role to protect American ranchers, animals, and our food supply.” ROLLINS: “Rural veterinarians are vital for the agricultural economy in the United States. Our farmers and ranchers rely on these critical services to prevent the transmission of animal disease, protect our food supply, and support America’s rural economy. As the number of rural food animal veterinarians continues to decline, USDA is putting Farmers First to ensure we build back our first line of defense in our animal food production system – the rural veterinarian. With these new investments in scholarships and pay incentives, USDA is not only strengthening our animal food production system but also listening to producers and veterinarians across the country to ensure our programs meet real-world needs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mZ2fRW
NEXTGEN: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Emerging Farmers’ Working Group (EFWG) has openings for seven volunteer members for two-year terms. Minnesotans interested in enhancing opportunities for new and emerging farmers to create or sustain an agricultural business are encouraged to apply today.” QUOTE: “The work of the Emerging Farmers’ Working Group is important in helping identify barriers to entering farming and creating resources to support new and emerging farmers in our state,” said Assistant MDA Commissioner Patrice Bailey. “We continue to build out our Emerging Farmers Office and its programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41sPc39
STATE FAIR: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota 4-H Youth Development Program Director Jennifer Skuza said the organization has been highlighting Beyond Ready, a part of 4-H that serves as an opportunity for young people to think about their learning and attach it to a career. Skuza said they’re weaving these efforts into the whole fair experience.” SKUZA: “Whether it’s with their judging that happens as well as in the 4-H building, they have an opportunity to check in on ways in which they can take that learning and apply it to their futures,” she said. “They get an opportunity to meet people who are actually working in the field and to talk to them about their experiences. And also they get to respond to questions, reflective questions that get them thinking about how they can prepare themselves and to really carve that pathway out for themselves.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n2RZYX
E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The American Coalition for Ethanol is hopeful Congress will pass legislation allowing nationwide sales of E15 year-round before the end of 2025. ACE CEO Brian Jennings says while there is strong bipartisan support. ‘We haven’t found the right sort of procedure or pathway through Congress, and that’s because some of these bills have certain rules, special rules or prohibitions on whether you can amend them. So for example, reconciliation did not allow E15 to be added.’ But he tells Brownfield the National Defense Authorization Act, a skinny farm bill, or a year-end spending package potentially would.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45UCZWb
CONNECTIONS: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “In today's rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, the conversation between farmers and consumers has never been more crucial. During the Women in the Field main stage event at the 2025 Farm Progress Show, a panel of experts noted that ag stands at an exciting crossroads where tradition meets innovation. ‘People are asking questions. They are wanting to engage with farmers,’ said Tara Vander Dussen, co-host of the Discover Ag podcast. After decades of seeking consumer connection, that engagement is finally happening—even if the questions aren't always what we expect.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47RV75C
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)
DROUGHT: Just 3% of the state remains abnormally dry according to the new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
SOYBEANS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension agronomist says wet conditions in the Upper Midwest are having a mixed impact on soybeans. Seth Naeve with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield the rains are good for maximizing yield potential.” NAEVE: “This is another year where it’s going to demonstrate what happens in August and September really makes the crop, and having good stored water in a lot of these fields is really going to benefit us a huge amount.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/41unRO5
SDS: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “As soybeans progress, diseases are as well. Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is one of them. SDS is caused by a fungus and is ‘one of the most recognizable diseases in the North Central soybean-producing areas of the United States,’ according to the Crop Protection Network (CPN). ‘Cool, wet field conditions shortly after planting favor early root infections and disease establishment,’ according to a disease overview from CPN. The network said that frequent or heavy precipitation in the middle of the season can promote early SDS symptom expression in soybean fields.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46eihBW
TRADE: Via Mshale, VERBATIM: “Despite the uncertainty the Trump administration’s trade policies have created, government officials, entrepreneurs, and business leaders of the African diaspora said there were still opportunities for trade and investments between Africa and the United States. The leaders spoke at the United States-Africa Trade and Investment summit, which was held on Aug.1 in St. Paul by Minnesota Africans United (MAU). Steven J. Dickinson, the chair of international practice at the Minneapolis-based law firm, Avisen, encouraged attendees to build and strengthen genuine business relationships during uncertain times.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45GJdKD
CHRISTMAS TREES: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Even in the summer, a lot of Minnesotans are thinking about the holidays, and at the Minnesota State Fair there's no better place to get into the holiday spirit than at the Christmas tree exhibit in the Agriculture building. The exhibit has been there for more than 50 years, and it's become very popular even without snow. This year the exhibit features more than 100 trees and no two are alike.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45V7mvz
MANURE: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “It’s that time of year when the crops are coming off the field and folks are starting to think about next year’s crop. If you have livestock on your farm, you are also thinking about manure application, which may happen this fall and/or next spring. How can you maximize use of your manure and minimize how much fertilizer you have to purchase? A manure management plan can help you look at the big picture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VqYqJy
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FARM FRIENDS: Via Patriot News, VERBATIM: “The Farm Friends Barn organization in Becker continues to evolve, with an array of community-oriented educational offerings focused on agriculture taking center stage. The latest addition to the property is a granary building that was secured from the former Morehouse Farm site on Elk Lake, which is now being developed into a regional park.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HSC54D
4-H: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Before the Zimmermans were romantic partners, they were opponents. The 38- and 37- year- old became friends as high schoolers, when they were both McLeod County 4-H ambassadors. Marie clearly remembers when Nate decided to sign up for the 4-H Favorite Food competition in 2005 — a category that she tried to win every year but never could.” QUOTE: “That year he made ribs in a crockpot, and not only did I not win, he also beat me,” said the mother of two. “He got an engraved cake pan that says it belongs to a reserve champion, and the last laugh is mine, though, because I married him, so now I have the cake pan.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JBpLWV
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