DC: Via Minnesota Corn, from National Corn Growers Association vice president of public policy Lesly Weber McNitt, QUOTE: “Some advocates in Washington view the current political environment only in terms of the challenges it presents or with concerns about the speed with which the administration is making changes. But as the new head of the Washington office for the National Corn Growers Association, my team and I will challenge ourselves to look for opportunities instead of handwringing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EbUoA3 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
BRAZIL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A major competitor to the U.S. for corn and soybean exports is poised to expand its domestic fertilizer production. Brazil Potash Corporation CEO Matt Simpson says the bulk of global potash production comes from Canada and Russia, and Brazil is the biggest importer.” SIMPSON: “And the Brazilian market is growing at almost four times the rest of the world. It’s growing at about 6.8 percent right now, and the rest of the world is about 1.7. So our initial production of 2.4 million tons would supply about 17 percent of Brazil’s need.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4jDvVT0
FOOD STAMPS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a memorandum to all state agencies administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) making it clear states must ensure SNAP benefits are provided with an expectation that those who can work, do.” QUOTE: “Since my confirmation, I have reiterated the states are our partners, and this includes ensuring our nutrition programs are tied to putting Americans back to work,” said Secretary Rollins. “It is important to remind states that Congress conditioned the receipt of benefits by able-bodied adults without dependents on satisfying work requirements. Many states have abused the system by requesting work requirement waivers. Today marks the start of a new era for SNAP—prioritizing work, career and technical education, and volunteering rather than idleness, excess spending, and misapplication of the law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lCuqGF
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
TRADE WAR: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “For months, elected officials and industry leaders have raised the alarm. They fear farmers are headed for deep trouble amidst the ongoing trade war and tariff uncertainty and bailing them out will be far more expensive than it was in 2018, when exports to China took a big hit . . . On Wednesday, Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha joined a national virtual press conference to sound alarm over newly imposed 10% tariffs on all imports. As other countries respond with tariffs of their own, farm exports could take a huge hit around the world.” QUOTE: "Trump spends a lot of time talking about how tariffs are going to make us rich," Blaha said. "Well, I don’t think we should talk about anyone getting rich before we make sure farmers don’t go broke." WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RlXUL6
CONCERNS: From Senator Amy Klobuchar via X, VERBATIM: “I visited @MNSoyGrowers President Darin Johnson's farm to meet with members of his family and MSGA leaders to discuss farmers' concerns, including trade uncertainty and rising input costs as we near spring planting season.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4jgzoXX
HOWARD LAKE: Via KRWC-Radio, VERBATIM: “We have more information today from this week’s agriculture forum hosted by Munson Lakes Nutrition in Howard Lake. U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar was on hand for the session that drew some 60 agribusiness persons from throughout the region. The senator outlined some of the issues that continue to block progress on a new Farm Bill.” KLOBUCHAR: “We have many challenges ahead. The first challenge right in front of us is in this reconciliation bill in that some of the money that is in that bill is going to determine what a Farm Bill could look like.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jZp9rd
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows some improvement – 41% of the state was in drought, down from 47% a week earlier. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
SOIL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota crop and dairy farmer is encouraged by soil moisture levels to begin the growing season. Charles Krause milks around 350 Holstein cows near Buffalo and says he wasn’t surprised by an early April snowstorm.” KRAUSE: “That’s pretty normal for April, it’ll be 70 degrees one day and 20 the next. But we’ve gotten moisture recently in the last couple weeks, we’ve gotten rains and snows and that’s soaking in. So I think once it straightens out a little bit we’ll be rolling.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4lRBPCa
SOIL HEALTH: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (DFL-Minnesota) met with the Ackermann Farm family and toured their farm Tuesday afternoon to learn about their conservation practices. ‘I guess I was a little hesitant at first when they said she wanted to come and visit,’ Jerry Ackermann, a board member for the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, said. They had a kitchen table conversation with other local farmers and advocates from the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/441bj2K
ETHANOL: From Senator Amy Klobuchar via X, VERBATIM: “I joined Brian Werner from @MNBiofuels and Heron Lake BioEnergy CEO Mike Green for a tour of their facility. Our farmers and ethanol producers need business certainty, including year-round E15 and fair trade policies.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4cE2Q7V
JET FUEL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The CEO of a company that develops sustainable aviation fuel production technology suggests the industry is taking shape. Alexei Beltyukov with Universal Fuel Technologies says the market potential of SAF is exciting.” BELTYUKOV: “Things are getting I guess more grounded. By that I mean people are starting to pay more attention to the fundamentals such as can we make the fuel that is demanded by the market at a cost that is acceptable to the market.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3GaAWnU
TRAFFIC: Via MnDOT, VERBATIM: “Motorists traveling on Minnesota roads this spring should watch for large farm equipment moving from farm to farm for planting season, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Since 2021, there have been 446 crashes involving farm equipment in Minnesota, resulting in eight deaths and 171 injuries.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ipCwiW
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)
PLANTING: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Many farmers are waiting to plant in the northern Corn Belt. Heather Morris covers the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for Beck’s Hybrids and says conditions are cool.” MORRIS: “We’re not seeing a ton right now, but I know in South Dakota there was some work going on. But a lot of talk about enjoying the Easter weekend and then getting going, and I think that is similar in the Minnesota and Wisconsin areas. Everyone is getting really ready.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3RqpUgz
PRECISION: Via KIMT-TV, VERBATIM: “Hayden Olson says he's been helping his parents on their farm for past 14 years after studying precision agriculture in college, his father Russell says it's been a big help in bringing new technology to the farm. ‘We didn't grow up with computers where he did. So that makes a big difference with his ability to handle this stuff. Without him, it would be tougher,’ he said. According to Hayden, the family keeps up to date analysis of their fields by performing soil sampling with a local agronomist and mapping conditions on a 2 acre by 2 acre grid that can be analysed on his computer.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lyopLb
4-H: Via Farm Forum, a profile of Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture director Ruth Linkenmeyer Merick. VERBATIM: “4-H has always felt like home for Ruth Linkenmeyer Meirick. Growing up in northeast Iowa’s Howard County, 4-H was deeply woven into her family’s identity.” QUOTE: “My mom was a 4-H leader. She always held a project day where everyone brought their projects to our house to prepare for the fair together,” Linkenmeyer Meirick says. “Looking back as an adult, I realize how many others she mentored, not just me. A friend told me she still bakes bread because my mom taught her how!” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42PDkZP
CSA: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “For Food Farm’s first 20 years growing produce, it struggled to turn a profit. Despite adopting several direct-to-consumer models, like selling at farmers' markets and offering pick-your-own, the farm struggled to break even. In 1992, Janaki Fisher-Merritt, then 15, remembers attending a meeting with his parents that introduced the still novel concept of community-supported agriculture, where consumers purchase a seasonal share in a farm and partake in the farm’s harvest throughout the growing season. Two years later, Fisher-Merritt said Food Farm began producing CSA shares, and his parents earned their first profit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ExggWz
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BABY ANIMALS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Spring time is here, and that means the arrival of baby animals like lambs, kids and chicks. There’s a place in Brooklyn Park where you can see all three – and more at the annual Spring Babies Festival.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ikEAbZ
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