SRE: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced decisions on 175 Small Refinery Exemption petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2016 to 2024. There was a backlog of SRE applications due to inaction during the Biden administration. The EPA granted full exemptions to 63 petitions, partial exemptions to 77 petitions, denied 28 petitions, and deemed seven ineligible. Additionally, the agency said it will reallocate exempted volumes for the 2023 and later compliance years. A proposed rule on reallocation is expected later this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oX2fUi (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
AG ECONOMY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is concerned about the state of the farm economy. ‘It’s always the uncertainty, commodity prices are not great where they need to be. And I think we’re trying to see the trade deals settle out.’ Speaking to Brownfield at the Minnesota State Fair Friday, Walz said farmers in the state are poised to harvest a large crop.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/41m3HWs
ROADLESS RULE: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken the next step in the rulemaking process for rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule by opening a public comment period . . . The USDA Forest Service is publishing a notice seeking public comment on its intention to develop an environmental impact statement for the proposed rescission of the rule. The notice details the reasons for rescinding the rule, the potential effects on people and resources, and how national forests and grasslands are managed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VmhxV7
MORE: Via National Parks Conservation Association, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the next step in its reckless and unnecessary proposed elimination of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, (roadless rule) which would impact more than 45 million acres of national forestland. The rule was finalized in 2001 after years of tremendous public outreach and overwhelming support. Rescinding the rule would literally pave a pathway towards increased oil and gas leasing, industrial logging, and other harmful development on public lands that provide clean water, wildlife habitat and protect the connected ecosystems of nearby national parks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UOTCxC
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
WILD RICE: Via KAXE-Radio, VERBATIM: “Jordan Williams wouldn’t go so far as to call this year’s wild rice a bumper crop, but he will say the rice is looking really, really nice. Williams is a wildlife biologist for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Natural Resources. The agency monitors many lakes in and around the reservation and throughout the 1837 ceded territory, which stretches east into Wisconsin.” WILLIAMS: “[Lake] Onamia’s always really efficient, always has lots of rice, so that’s not really any surprise there ... really thick, tall rice,” he said. “I think if you know of any other place that typically has wild rice, it’s probably going to have just a little bit more this year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oUGjJB
STATE FAIR: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farm Bureau members are looking to bridge the rural-urban divide during the State Fair. MFBF Promotion and Education Committee member Judy Barka says the organization offers an interactive experience for fairgoers. ‘Been really fun today to see (and) hear people (talk about) what they’re surprised about (and) what products are in what things that they never thought about. And again, (the State Fair) is really a great spot to be able to do that kind of education.’ Southeast Minnesota crop and livestock producer Jason Keck tells Brownfield outreach is important.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45Bw8SH
FISCHBACH: Via Marshall Independent, VERBATIM: “U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach made some stops in Marshall last week, to discuss topics affecting southwest Minnesota, like agriculture, local officials said. A group of businesspeople, including area farmers, were invited to a meeting with Fischbach at the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 19, said Chamber president Brad Gruhot. Gruhot said Fischbach and her staff wanted to hear about agriculture and business concerns at the meeting. ‘A lot of the discussion was around the agriculture economy – the demand for corn and soybeans, as well as labor issues,’ said Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes, who attended the meeting. Members of the press were not invited to the meeting at the Chamber office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mEUqBo
MAHA: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “A nonpartisan national farm organization claiming to be the only such group to have endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has given a preliminary ‘Make America Healthy Again’ draft a "D+" grade, cautioning of lobbyists' influence and avoiding antitrust action on monopoly powers in broader food production . . . Farm Action, a nonpartisan, farmer-led watchdog organization that advocates for accountability from the government and large corporations within the agricultural sector, rated the contents of a recent leaked draft of the MAHA strategy a ‘D+,’ saying, ‘It recognizes some of the right priorities and even overlaps with our recommendations in places, but the execution is timid and avoids the structural reforms needed to truly deliver on the MAHA Commission's own diagnosis of the problem.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JtJgAO
E15: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield the best chance for passing nationwide year-round E15 legislation is in a year-end spending package. ‘We’re hearing rumors the petroleum industry would appreciate, like the biofuels industry would, if we had ethanol, E15, year-round nationwide.’ The Iowa Republican says the petroleum industry is looking for more certainty on biofuels policy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fZPAw7
NITROGEN: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds farmers and commercial applicators that fall nitrogen fertilizer applications are restricted in some areas of the state. Under the MDA’s Groundwater Protection Rule, fall nitrogen fertilizer application is prohibited in vulnerable areas of Minnesota based on environmental concerns or risks. Areas with coarse-textured soils, shallow soils to bedrock, or karst geology are the most vulnerable to nitrate-nitrogen loss and groundwater contamination. The restrictions begin September 1 each year. Farmers are encouraged to check the online map before fall application to determine if their fields are subject to these restrictions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HzaCox MAP: https://fluence-media.co/47gDTif
LAND: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “With summer winding down and the 2025 harvest season just down the road, many land sales will begin taking place in the coming months. We have already noticed a significant increase in interested sellers from the same time last year, and it will be fascinating to see how the market reacts to this year’s seasonal influx of land coming to the market. In 2024, the lack of land sales helped keep land values stable as lower demand was met with a decreased supply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ULYbbZ
MORE: Via High Plains Journal, VERBATIM: “Despite ongoing challenges in commodity markets and uncertain farm profitability, agricultural land values have remained remarkably stable through mid-2025, according to Omaha, Nebraska-based Farmers National Company. This resilience is mainly driven by the basic economic principle of supply and demand; there are simply more motivated buyers than willing sellers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JyVA2F
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)
DIVERSIFICATION: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A central Minnesota crop and livestock producer says diversification is helping her farm weather the current downturn in the ag economy. Judy Barka and her family grow corn, soybeans, and raise beef cattle near Litchfield.” BARKA: “We’re diversified, so that helps considerably. We also have off-farm income that has helped to sustain us through those kind of things. So we’re doing a variety of different things in terms of helping to make sure that the income is there so we can stay on the farm, and hopefully pass it down to the next generation of our kids and our grandkids.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3HUUOwh
FARM BUDS: Via Grand Forks Herald, VERBATIM: “A grassroots effort of a handful of volunteers showing up to lend a hand to farmers has now grown into a network of more than 300 people supporting small-scale farms across Minnesota. Farm Buds, a volunteer-driven organization, recently celebrated its 100th farm trip — a milestone that reflects both the demand for labor on small farms and the appetite for community connection around food and farming.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Juhggt
AWARD: Via Hoard’s Dairyman, VERBATIM: “Four finalists have been selected for the 2025 Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3UOtZwQ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CALLING: Via WCCO-TV, Chris Shaffer gave animal calling a try at the Minnesota State Fair. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mLFZLN
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