ag take | Trump May Use Tariff Income to Bail Out Farmers + Lowering Fertilizer Prices
9.19.25
NITROGEN: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Farmers who engage in soil health practices like no-till and cover crops—especially those who have engaged in these practices for ten years or more—often describe a reduced requirement for nitrogen fertilizers. But this phenomenon has not been tested and quantified, according to soil scientist Anna Cates, who is close to completing the first year of a three-year project that closely examines the relationship of those practices to measures of biological activity in the soil, and then attempts to draw the connection with changes in the Economic Optimum Nitrogen Rate for fields where soil health practices are used. Cates is a professor at the University of Minnesota, and the director of the Minnesota Office of Soil Health (MOSH).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n8BkDN (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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TOMORROW: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Farm Aid — the annual fundraising concerts launched by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp during the farm crisis of the 1980s — celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday in Minneapolis. The star-studded festivals are still raising public awareness of the challenges facing family farmers, and assisting struggling producers connect with help . . . This year’s concert comes at a worrying time for American farmers. Farm profitability has been falling. Crop prices are low while production costs are rising. And the Trump administration’s trade wars have added to the insecurity. China has not bought any of the 2025 U.S. soybean crop so far and has turned to America's competitors, such as Brazil, to meet its needs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4niaN7k
THE NEED: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The latest Census of Agriculture data from the USDA shows the number of Minnesota farms is still shrinking, and those surviving farms are getting bigger. Republican and Democratic Agriculture committee heads at the Minnesota Capitol back that up. ‘Margins are so tight, and the farmer’s share of that food consumer’s dollar has shrunk down to literally just pennies on the dollar,’ said Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Glenwood. ‘So you have to produce more to make a profit.’ Lawmakers agree that farm issues seem to get bipartisan support in the legislature, but Minnesotans could learn more from connecting with farmers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nI3R2Z
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
BAILOUT: Via Fortune, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump is weighing a bailout program for farmers that would use tariff income, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The U.S. agricultural industry is preparing for a harvest season that will likely be characterized by dwindling export opportunities and more expensive tools and equipment as a result of the administration’s aggressive tariff policy.” QUOTE: “There may be circumstances under which we will be very seriously looking to and announcing a package soon,” Rollins told the Financial Times on Wednesday, adding that using tariff income to finance the package would be “absolutely a potential.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nJF2DX
FERTILIZER: Via WisPolitics, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are introducing bipartisan legislation to help lower the cost of fertilizer by shining a light on market factors driving the high cost of fertilizer. The Fertilizer Research Act would require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on competition and trends in the fertilizer market and their subsequent impacts on price.” GRASSLEY: “Fertilizer is one of the ag industry’s biggest inputs, and family farmers across the nation are severely hurting right now due to its high cost. Yet, farmers have a limited window into market fluctuations and how fertilizer prices are determined. That needs to change. Our bipartisan bill will give farmers in Iowa and across the Heartland more transparency and certainty so they can better navigate production costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nxUi6C
FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee tells Brownfield progress is being made on the farm bill. Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig says leadership is working through the remaining titles. ‘We are sitting down at the table, working with majority to share the Democratic priorities for what some are calling the skinny farm bill and majority are doing the same.’ With several freshman lawmakers new to the ag committee, she says they are taking time to consider additional input.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pxiK9U
PHOTOS: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “‘They're pretty animals, aren't they?’ said Minnesota-based photographer Scott Streble. ‘They all have unique personalities — just like people.’ And Streble knows people. ‘I hate to keep going back to the honor, but it is to be associated with Farm Aid. It's just cool. I'm proud of that,’ he said. Scott uses his photos to showcase the work of local farmers across the country for Farm Aid, the annual event marking four decades of advocacy this year — right here, in Minnesota.” QUOTE: “People are more interested, I think, in where their food comes from than ever," said Farm Aid Co-Executive Director Jennifer Fahey. "We're hearing, especially from folks who went through the 1980s farm crisis that sparked Farm Aid, that a lot of what they're dealing with right now is very reminiscent of that and we're once again moving into a period of crisis for farmers.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gwJnaU
ENERGY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A new report indicates farms of all sizes could capitalize on anaerobic digestion. Brad Matuska with Minnesota’s Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) says while the technology is well established, there remains a lot of misunderstanding.” MATUSKA: “Anaerobic digesters are taking all kinds of organic materials and decomposing them in the absence of oxygen, which produces biogas. And then biogas can be cleaned up to be used as a drop-in fuel to replace fossil natural gas, or it can be run through engines to create electricity and heat.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3IuZBot
NEXTGEN: Via Ag Update, VERBATIM: “Unfortunately, there isn’t a Magic 8 Ball to tell Minnesota farmers which management decisions are guaranteed to maximize their profit. But they do have the MN Young & Emerging Farmer Workshop, which is returning for its third year Jan. 19-21, 2026, to help build a strong foundation of knowledge and resources to call upon when decisions get tough. Hosted by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and Profinium Bank, the workshop is a hands-on opportunity for producers in the beginning stages of their farming career to learn about resources available to them and to grow their network of industry professionals and peers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ps6nMB
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)
INDIA: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture is increasingly bullish on export opportunities with India. Mike Naig says this month’s trade mission marked the second time he’s visited the country during the past year. ‘You just go another layer deeper when you travel back to a market in that kind of timeframe. So big takeaways continue to be that you’ve got just an incredible opportunity here. Significant population, largest in the world, 1.5 billion people.’ With a growing middle class, he tells Brownfield India has a widening protein gap that U.S. agriculture can help fill primarily with dried distillers grains and soybean meal.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42nOgO3
FARM SAFETY: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “For over 20 years, Blue Earth County has brought area third-graders together for a day of safety and farmyard fun. Together with local organizations and FFA chapters from area schools, kids are invited to learn about everything from grain bin safety to first aid, along with getting hands-on with farm animals.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46v9KcO
CORN MARKET: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension grain market economist sees some glimmers of hope in the corn market. Ed Usset with the University of Minnesota says it will take time to eat through an anticipated huge U.S. crop. ‘But demand is good, and strong demand will at least stabilize things. And we’re trading 35 cents off our life of contract lows in mid-August. Thirty-five cents off a very low price is not exactly reason to party, but it’s a start.’ He tells Brownfield there are questions about how big U.S. corn production will be.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46bsKhE
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows little change week-over-week – 19% of the state remains abnormally dry. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
APPLES: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Today traveling in southern Minnesota, great to visit Montgomery Orchard. Thanks Scott & Barb for visit & tour! If you’re in area stop in!” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3KvD6An
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THIS WEEKEND: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “We may be stoked to see Willie Nelson, Waxahatchee, and a fashionably late Bob Dylan take the stage at Huntington Bank Stadium this weekend, but the true Farm Aid headliners are, of course, the family farmers the festival benefits, who we owe for many of the butter-rich croissants, pork and mustard greens, and sweet corn cobs we feast on in these Twin Cities. Even if you didn’t spring for Farm Aid tickets, there are many ways to get your farm on this weekend, feat. watch parties around the metro, orchards to plunder, and pizza farms to explore.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46ybYrX
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