UNDER THE LIGHTS: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Here’s a look back at the end of harvest—including Tuesday’s northern lights—through the lens of our district field managers. As fall fieldwork wraps up, we wish everyone a safe finish to the season. Thank you for your hard work this fall!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3K8sOX6 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
GROWING CONSUMER PRODUCTS…
TOMORROW: Via Thrifty Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Looking for fun holiday gifts made by you? Head to Gale Woods Farm for their Sheep Shearing and Holiday Gifts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44oMdtI
TREES: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but as soon as Kavan Christmas Tree Farm in Lino Lakes opened at 9 a.m., customers were ready . . . Owner Steve Kavan formerly worked in finance, but he started planting trees seven years ago on his farm and opened for the first time last year. This season, he has more than 1,300 Christmas trees available.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oVb4hj
CANNABIS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Rather than rows of corn or soybeans, this crop comes with names like Blueberry Muffin, Glue 31 and Platinum Lemon Cherry Gelato. The 13-acre fenced compound outside of Hastings is owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community, which operates the Island Pězi marijuana dispensary near Treasure Island Casino. As Minnesota’s cannabis industry gets up and running, both state officials and consumers are counting on tribal cannabis businesses to help meet some of the initial demand for legal marijuana. Until the first crops from state-licensed cultivators hit shelves, the tribal operations and the state’s two medical cannabis suppliers are the only game in town.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44jTfzV
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
TRADE…
MN MISSION: From German Embassy Washington via X, VERBATIM: “State Secretary von Geyr welcomed @GovTimWalz to the Federal Foreign Ministry @GermanyDiplo for a fruitful discussion on GER-MN relations. Cooperation with US states is a key element of transatlantic relations. Welcome to Berlin!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4oedcQ7
AID: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation at the USDA says conversations are still happening about trade aid. Richard Fordyce tells Brownfield…” FORDYCE: “It’s going to be a well informed decision based on data that we have access to related to a whole bunch of things, whether that’s, you know, trade activity, prices, you know all that sort of thing that comes through the Chief Economist’s office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3K8n3sC
USDA…
SNAP: Via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ call for a close reexamination of the 42 million people who receive federal food aid has befuddled advocates and lawmakers, coming mere days after recipients began to see benefits that had been stalled during the government shutdown. Details remain scant a week after Rollins during an interview on the right-wing Newsmax network first publicly broached the startling idea that every beneficiary would have to reapply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, often called food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, asked for an explanation, referenced existing requirements and suggested more changes in SNAP rules could be in store.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rlBzOz
RELIGION: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced new guidance surrounding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commitment to protecting faith and religious expression and accommodation rights in the federal workplace . . . This aligns with recent Supreme Court decisions that clarify the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty, consistent with President Trump’s directive to enforce the original constitutional meaning of religious liberty.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XuUkkZ
LIVESTOCK…
TURKEY: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Turkey prices are down more than 16% nationally this year, according to the American Farm Bureau’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey, but local independent producers say you couldn’t rasie a turkey for the price they are being sold at . . . Since 1939, the Peterson family has independently owned and operated Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls. The third-generation turkey farm said their prices remain nearly identical to last year.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3K36OwY
PROCESSORS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Justin Lenser paced behind the counter of his nearly empty meat shop this week, pausing to wipe a few things down while breaking the bad news to a vendor over the phone: His and his wife Mandi’s business, The Butcher Shoppe, would be closing soon . . . The meat business, especially beef, is facing a storm of circumstances, trade experts say, including a multiyear drought, thinning cattle herds, higher processing costs and fewer agricultural workers. Meat markets everywhere are facing pressure. In rural areas, markets with smaller customer bases operate on thinner margins than their urban and suburban counterparts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KhmnB9
ANIMAL HEALTH: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Antimicrobial resistance doesn’t just impact people. It matters for animal health, too. At the MDA, we provide outreach and education to support antibiotic stewardship in the use of veterinary drugs for livestock animals.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4ie8CQ8
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)
FARMER IMPACTS…
LAND: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Record high beef prices are driving up values for pasture and rangelands. Cole Nickerson, area sales manager with Farmers National Company, says strength in the cattle market is supporting farmland values.” NICKERSON: “Our very strong and robust cattle market is helping pasture land, and we’re even seeing that trickle over into cropland values in those areas that have good diversification between cattle and row crop land. So very strong demand in those areas.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49sFW3L
CONCERNS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Every week, MPR News host Nina Moini checks in with one of MPR News’ regional reporters. On Thursday, Fargo-Moorhead area agriculture reporter Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval chatted with Nina about his latest stories on the ripple effects of the federal government shutdown on the state’s farmers, farmers’ concerns on the nation’s economic outlook and the projected cost of a Thanksgiving turkey this year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48fIaRL
DROUGHT: We need rain. The new Drought Monitor out this week shows 30% of the state has returned to drought status. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
HISTORY: Via Mankato Free Press, VERBATIM: “When you picture a farm, you almost certainly imagine a big red barn. That’s why Farmamerica in Waseca is fundraising to preserve its own historic big red barn, which was built in 1913 and moved to the interpretive center in the early 1980s from the Ballard Dairy Farm just south of Mankato, said Jessica Rollins, Farmamerica executive director.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JR7Uff
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
TREES: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “If your holiday plans call for a festive tree, there are plenty of great live choices from Minnesota tree growers this time of year. The latest Smarty Plants podcast episode has what you need to know before heading out to a tree lot or farm.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3LRwdKA
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