PUBLIC WATERS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “As mandated by state lawmakers in 2024, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun updating the state’s Public Waters Inventory (PWI) for the first time since the 1980s. The Legislature allocated $8 million between 2025 and 2032—$1 million annually—to update the PWI. The project will proceed county-by-county, with the goal of completing an average of 12 counties a year, according to the DNR.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JfIC9M (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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CANNABIS: Via news release from the Governor’s office, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced that Eric Taubel will serve as executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Taubel has been in the role in an interim capacity since January after serving as the office’s first general counsel.” QUOTE: “Eric Taubel’s stewardship of the Office of Cannabis Management over the past eight months has ensured that the priorities that drove cannabis legalization in Minnesota are reflected in Minnesota’s emerging market,” said Governor Walz. “Under his experienced leadership, I am confident that OCM and the Minnesota cannabis industry will continue to prioritize public health and safety, consumer confidence, and market integrity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46WhFSu
2026 SESSION: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is gathering ideas as the department considers proposals for the 2026 Minnesota legislative session. Farmers, food businesses, and others impacted by food and agriculture systems are invited to share policy and program suggestions. The MDA is hosting two virtual public input sessions where people can share their ideas directly, in addition to an online form for written submissions open through Wednesday, September 10.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46W26Kr
DIESEL: Via Iowa Capital Dispatch, VERBATIM: “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced guidance Tuesday for engine and equipment manufacturers to prevent sudden shutdowns and power losses that occur in diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, systems. Zeldin made the announcement at the Iowa State Fair and said the current DEF regulations were ‘unacceptable.’” ZELDIN: “It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers, and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most — costing millions of dollars in lost productivity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HktO9n
TRIBAL COMMITTEE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the call for nominations to serve on the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee. A total of four appointments will be made by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Ranking Member Angie Craig of the House Committee on Agriculture.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fwofRG
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
CROP CONDITIONS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An extension crops educator says crop condition ratings in Minnesota are the best they’ve been in nearly a decade. Dave Nicolai with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield USDA considers 75 percent of corn and 73 percent of soybeans in the state in good to excellent condition.” NICOLAI: “If you look back at the data from a number of years ago, from what they tell us corn currently has the highest rating for this time of the year since 2016. So that’s quite remarkable in terms of all the ups and downs we had this spring, so things are looking very good.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3UMT6QJ
WORKFORCE: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $560,000 in grants to support workforce development and hands-on training in meat processing across the state. Funding was made available through two complementary programs: the Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant program and the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant program. Through the Train and Retain Grant program, the MDA awarded $341,690 to three organizations working to build and strengthen the workforce for small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4myjUQZ
VET LAB: Via Forum, VERBATIM: “A $1 million appropriation to address avian flu by expanding the testing capacity of the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Willmar has been approved in the Senate, and will now go to the House of Representatives for a vote, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced Tuesday. ‘Preventing avian flu is critically important for farmers in Minnesota and for the stability of the food supply in our whole country,’ Klobuchar, D-Minn., said in the announcement. The funding will improve the ability to stop the spread of avian flu and other diseases, she added.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HvTi3A
STATE FAIR: Via Minnesota State Fair 4-H Beef Show, VERBATIM: “2025 will mark the 46th anniversary of the ‘4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction’ at the Minnesota State Fair. The 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction will be held on Saturday, August 23, at 6:00 PM, in Compeer Arena at the State Fairgrounds. The premiums on 115 purple ribbon 4-H exhibits will be sold in the livestock auction. 4-H Auction scholarships totaling over $125,000.00 will be presented to 42 outstanding junior leaders in the 4-H animal science program at 4:00 PM, just prior to the 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UrYR61
DEER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is working with farmers to address deer depredation across the state. Assistant commissioner Bob Meyer says crop and livestock producers often face rising deer populations.” MEYER: “And unfortunately they tend to like soybeans and corn and other things, sometimes more than others. So how do we make sure that producers can protect their fields, those deer are being used adequately, and the animals are being used as a great food source?” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Hy14tJ
CARGILL: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Cargill’s annual revenue fell for the second consecutive year as weaker commodity prices continue dragging on the crop trader. Revenue at the Minnetonka-based agribusiness dropped about 4% to $154 billion for the fiscal year that ended in May. That’s the lowest haul since 2021. Cargill has shed several smaller businesses over the past year and started laying off 8,000 employees globally, including 475 in the Twin Cities, in an effort to control costs and boost profitability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HnzOya
FARM BILL: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers have longed for a new farm bill. The One Big Beautiful Bill might be the best they get for now. While the fate of the 2025 Farm Bill is uncertain, Congress hasn’t passed one since 2018. That one expired in 2023, and federal lawmakers since then have only been able to agree on short extensions with minor revisions. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s huge new budget reconciliation law contains $66 billion in new spending to support key agricultural programs, some of which would ordinarily be addressed in a farm bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mFecfv
AT FARMFEST: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “House Ag Committee Chair ‘GT’ Thompson wants to take action on a skinny farm bill this fall. On this special edition of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers at the Minnesota FarmFest, ranking members of both the House and Senate Ag Committees, Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, discussed their priorities within a skinny farm bill and their willingness to negotiate after nutrition program cuts in reconciliation. Plus, AFBF President Zippy Duvall discussed his group’s priorities for the second Make America Healthy Again Commission Report due to be released next week, Rep. Brad Finstad defended the need to include a Prop 12 legislative fix in a skinny farm bill, and Rep. Michelle Fischbach reviewed President Trump’s trade negotiations so far.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45yojM6
CROP PROGRESS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Many farmers are looking at excellent corn and soybean yields if the weather cooperates through harvest. Gail Donkers grows corn, soybeans, and alfalfa near Faribault in southeast Minnesota.” DONKERS: “You know, it’s really kind of scary (because) it’s really phenomenal. When those derecho winds are predicted, my husband and I just looked at each other and (said) ‘of course, we have a stellar crop out there.’ So yeah, really really good. We’re super excited about the crop that’s out there this year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45NutJH
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)
CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Corn could be more susceptible to lodging in areas that have received abundant rain this summer. University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says shallow rooting is common when there’s plenty of soil moisture. ‘When we talk about strong winds and storm conditions, that is a concern in terms of stability that could happen here in the months of August and September.’ He tells Brownfield corn is also more vulnerable if conditions turn very dry ahead of grain harvest.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4miYEyq
REPORT: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins signed the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. This is prepared monthly by the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) and provides market-moving annual forecasts for supply and use of U.S. and world wheat, rice, coarse grains, oilseeds, and cotton.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47vN3Y7
MORE: Via USDA, the WASDE report. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Jdk69d
TECH: Via UofM, VERBATIM: “At the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), researcher Luciano Caixeta is leading a state-funded project focused on putting precision technology to work for dairy farmers. His work is supported by the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund, established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1998 to allow researchers to respond to urgent issues and challenges facing Minnesota's agricultural and natural resource industries. With a grant for the 2024–25 biennium, Caixeta’s team has been testing whether wearable tech—think Fitbit, but for cows—can help farmers make smarter decisions about when to treat animals, and just as importantly, when not to.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45eTqO2
FERTILIZER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Increasingly high fertilizer prices have farmers seeking ways to maximize the value of their input purchases. Kip Jacobs, regional agronomist for the eastern U.S. with Mosaic, says some biological additives can make that costly fertilizer more available for plant uptake . . . Minnesota farmer Harmon Wilts tells Brownfield the current economy means getting the most bushels for every dollar spent is critical.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3HvRc3I
SERVICE: Via KNSI-Radio, VERBATIM: “Bob Dunning has spent decades helping Stearns County farmers navigate agricultural challenges, and now he’s being recognized with one of the state’s highest honors. The longtime Stearns County Agricultural Inspector received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Association of County Agricultural Inspectors (MACAI) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). A press release says the award is rarely given and recognizes Dunning’s decades of dedication, leadership, and partnership in advancing the agricultural inspector program across Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UuRFpP
MEDALS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Five employees with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have been honored with Service to America medals for their groundbreaking research and dedication to solving agricultural challenges that affect the nation every day, from field to table.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lsAgZM
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FFA: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “It is with great enthusiasm that MN FFA Adult Board of Directors announce the hiring of Mrs. Mary Hoffmann as the new Executive Director of the Minnesota FFA Association. Hoffmann will assume the role August 18th, 2025. Hoffmann brings three decades of experience in Agricultural Education and FFA as well as immense passion and leadership to our organization. We are excited about the future of Minnesota FFA under her guidance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fGCi7A
APPLES: Via news release from Jordan-based Ferguson’s, VERBATIM: “Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest, the Midwest’s fastest-growing fall destination, reopens on August 16, 2025, with a brand-new attraction and a major milestone as Ferguson’s Family of Farms surpasses 100 million apples grown. Stacked end to end, that many apples would stretch across nearly 5,780 miles, or from Los Angeles to New York City and back again.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fxqILM
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