TAIWAN: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “For decades, U.S. agricultural export organizations have worked to increase opportunities for American farm products in Taiwan. In 2022, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) decided to supplement those efforts by hiring its own in-market trade representative. Given the importance of Taiwan to Minnesota corn farmers, the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council voted to invest checkoff funds in MDA’s Taiwan office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m6CbFk (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
DC + AG
BUDGET: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump proposed a 19 percent funding cut for the Agriculture Department on Friday and included a call for Congress to slash some bipartisan programs the administration deemed ‘woke radical left projects.’ The White House’s fiscal 2027 budget request proposes that Congress give USDA $20.8 billion in discretionary budget authority for the upcoming fiscal year, a $4.9 billion cut from the previous year’s enacted level.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e1GpvS
MORE: Via The White House, from the budget proposal’s section on USDA, QUOTE: “The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a bloated Washington, D.C. bureaucracy with multiple management layers and many extraneous programs that are irrelevant to supporting an America First agricultural policy. The Budget eliminates programming that does not serve a core mission, such as radical transgender and Green New Scam ideologies, and brings the Agency’s resources closer to the rural Americans it serves.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mcumhF
MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The budget request includes an additional $50 million to implement USDA’s reorganization and move USDA employees to regional hubs. Cuts would include the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program, which is described as ‘wasteful and inefficient.’ The Agricultural Marketing Service would take a $61 million hit by eliminating specific budget carve-outs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OhudNe
DISASTERS: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “USDA Farm Service Agency has declared 3 MN counties [Kandiyohi, Pope & Carver] primary natural disaster areas following severe weather in 2025. Farmers there & in nearby counties may be eligible for FSA emergency loans & our Rural Finance Agency’s Disaster Recovery Loan Program.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4sbEXuw
RFS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The EPA’s finalized ‘Set 2’ rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard is doing something rare in U.S. biofuel policy: it is not just stabilizing the market, it could jolt it. With blending mandates for 2026 and 2027 set at historic highs, including a more than 60% jump over 2025 levels for biomass-based diesel, the rule is already being read across the industry as a catalyst for a new expansion cycle — one that could ripple from fuel producers back to soybean fields, livestock operations and emerging oilseed crops.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vfXTeu
E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar says the emergency waiver allowing summertime sales of E15 will help stabilize escalating fuel prices. ‘It brings down gas prices, not to where we need them to be, but by about 25 cents a gallon. So that’s good.’ The Minnesota Democrat, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, tells Brownfield she wrote the Trump administration requesting the waiver ahead of EPA’s announcement.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3O4cLvp
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)
THE BUSINESS OF AG
ELEVATOR: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A city official said a fire that broke out in a grain elevator in Warren, Minn., on Wednesday morning was largely contained by the afternoon. CHS, a Minnesota-based ag co-op, owns the elevator, which is located in the northwest part of the state. The elevator is a facility where regional farmers store and sell crops. Now, while the fire’s damage remains to be seen, some farmers remain on the lookout for possible consequences.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sT5HBa
INSPECTORS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division (PFMD) conducts inspections statewide to protect public health, the environment, worker safety, and ensure compliance with federal and Minnesota laws. As inspection schedules ramp up each season, the MDA reminds businesses how to verify PFMD inspectors and what to expect during these visits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v0z71A
SWINE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A pig farmer from southern Minnesota says disease pressure continues to be a challenge. Sam Ziegler is a contract grower in Blue Earth County.” ZIEGLER: “Different strains of viruses, PRRS or whatever that keep coming through. As soon as you get your herd healthy again it feels like something else comes through, so that’s been really tough.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4sLspLm
SEEDS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “In the world of row-crop farming, a great-yielding seed product is the result of dozens of efforts in engineering and data. To ensure those victories keep coming, Bayer’s Crop Science division and Iowa State University (ISU) announce they have opened the doors to their new Seed Production Innovation (SPI) Innovation Center. Located in heart of Ames at the ISU Research Park campus, the tactical hub is designed to help Bayer make seed production more efficient, more precise and more reliable for U.S. farmers, the partners say.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4shHJyi
CUBA: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Today hosted the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Cuba Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera to talk about current situation in the country and possibilities for trade with Minnesota.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4tvxoQw
WHITE HOUSE: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump invited agricultural industry representatives to the South Lawn of the nation’s Capital to honor those that work within the vast industry of food production . . . Tim Waibel, of rural Courtland was one of those fortunate enough to be invited . . . Waibel was most interested in the ethanol industry and was pleased to hear Trump discuss the changes to environmental regulations regarding diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) and the estate tax that applies to farm and/or other business transfers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v7VWQW
TRACTOR: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Among the star-studded agriculture lineup at the recent National Agriculture Day on March 27, on the White House South lawn, a tractor seemed to have stolen the show. The Fendt 1167 Vario MT track tractor may have been impressive enough, but a golden wrap on the exterior as well as words and images celebrating the 250th anniversary of America helped catch the attention of the crowds gathered there, including President Donald Trump . . . Jeff Kruse, owner of Eyekandy Design, said he knew this was a special job but had no idea it would get the attention it did.” KRUSE: “Through all the social media views, the footage was viewed 1.7 billion times,” Kruse said after speaking with AGCO about the reach of the event involving that tractor. “Case and John Deere were there, but they didn’t have the shiny golden tractor that got all the attention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47CvCo7
USEFUL AG INFO
BIOGAS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new report by the American Biogas Council shows the number of U.S. farms capturing biogas has more than doubled the past five years. Patrick Serfass is executive director of the council and says the data indicates farmers are seeking additional revenue opportunities that are also sustainable.” SERFASS: “And maybe even displace some of their fertilizer and fossil fuel costs. Maybe even displace some of their heating costs for keeping barns warm for their animals.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tpanyi
WORMS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Blake Vince says some of the most highly-valued help on his 1,200-acre Ontario, Canada, farm never show up on a payroll sheet. They live under his boots . . . For Vince, earthworms are more than a sign of good soil—they’re central characters in how he farms, evaluates risk and helps him stay profitable. In a production system shaped by no-till, planting green and cover crops, he sees earthworms as the quiet workforce that’s helping hold the whole thing together, he recently told farmers attending the 2026 Soil Health Conference in Aberdeen, S.D.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4toFhqF
FLOWERS: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “What destinations are on your list for a Minnesota staycation? The Bloom Room has opened in Saint Joseph as a new tourist spot. Dr. Liz Fiedler, creator and flower farmer, visited KARE 11 News at Noon on Thursday to share more about it. Fiedler created The Bloom Room as an agritourism destination.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4toMWFr
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SPEED DATING: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Technically speaking, the March 19 Farm to Kids Roadshow event at Bagley High School could be called a ‘local producer-institutional buyer networking workshop.’ But as Renewing the Countryside’s Brett Olson said, ‘that’s a snooze.’ Instead, Olson and his partners with Farm to Kids call the event ‘Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating.’ It introduces farmers to school representatives so they can get some of their locally grown food into cafeterias.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c7zgI2
ZOO: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “If you’ve ever wanted to shake the paw of a baby goat, your time to shine is arriving soon. The Minnesota Zoo is bringing back its Farm Babies event, which will allow guests to meet and interact with baby goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, chicks, miniature Highland and White Park cows and miniature donkeys, according to the zoo.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41LbyfI
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