FEEDLOTS: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “In January, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) finalized changes to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Disposal System (SDS) feedlot general permits. The finalization came after a public comment period over the summer and subsequent revision by the agency.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42XOzjy (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
USDA: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that, over the weekend, it accidentally fired ‘several’ agency employees who are working on the federal government's response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. The agency said it is now trying to quickly reverse the firings.” QUOTE: "Although several positions supporting [bird flu efforts] were notified of their terminations over the weekend, we are working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters," a USDA spokesperson said in a statement. "USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service frontline positions are considered public safety positions, and we are continuing to hire the workforce necessary to ensure the safety and adequate supply of food to fulfill our statutory mission." READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hKOO61
MORE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests it’s too soon to know how farmers might be impacted by firings at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield it’s not clear how many federal workers are affected.” GRASSLEY: “But if services aren’t going to be delivered the way they should be and the way they have been, then I expect those positions to be filled.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/431ZQ2o
FUNDING: From Allison Winter via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Farmers across the United States are finding themselves in precarious economic positions, as they attempt to navigate a strained farm economy and a barrage of executive orders from the Trump administration that put some farm programs in limbo. In his first month in office, President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders to pause or cancel federal funding on a range of programs and grants — some of which go directly to farmers. Even though the administration said it would not stop payments to individuals and courts have ordered the administration to resume the programs, many farmers are awaiting payments on their contracts and have not been told when or if they can expect to receive expected funding. Billions of dollars are at stake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41nrhCC
MORE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers in the Minnesota Senate on Monday heard from Minnesotans impacted by the freeze, with major impacts to the state budget looming should critical agricultural programs face federal funding cuts. Tom Smude, a sunflower farmer in Pierz who operates a sunflower processing plant, told senators he took out a temporary loan to majorly expand his operations after he received a $530,000 reimbursement grant from the USDA's Resilient Food Infrastructure Systems Program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ENuPFh
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
MENTAL HEALTH: From Kent Erdahl via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “For years, Minnesota's Farm and Rural Helpline has offered a unique outlet for farmers and ranchers across the state who are dealing with mounting stress, anxiety and other mental health struggles. The Helpline offers three options for reaching out: a phone call, text or email; but it's largely on just two mental health professionals to respond to those calls . . . According to state data, the suicide rate among men and women living on Minnesota farms and ranches was much higher than for everyone else in the state.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hPq2BN
DISEASE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Disease prevention and detection remain priorities for the National Pork Producers Council. NPPC president Lori Stevermer says pig farmers are committed to biosecurity. ‘Unfortunately, this type of year PRRS tends to flare up a little bit, so it’s always a renewal of our biosecurity practices. I think it’s also an appreciation for the funding we got for the Beagle Brigade and stopping potential diseases that are at our borders.’ The Minnesota pork producer tells Brownfield there are broad conversations about livestock disease threats.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hIdlsn
ROLLINS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins traveled to Kansas and Missouri, respectively, meeting with farmers, ranchers, and members of the agricultural community to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Conversations focused on expanding market access, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring producers have the tools to remain competitive on a global scale.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qpbixn
PETERSEN: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Thx @Cereals_Canada & @CanCGMPLS for visiting @MNagriculture today to talk tariffs & trade opportunities and impact on wheat, barley, oats & more.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/41mJEaC
SATURDAY: Via Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “The second annual Urban Ag Conference, hosted by the Minnesota Farm Bureau, is set to welcome over 100 participants this weekend. This free event will take place at St. Paul College, offering urban farmers the chance to connect with peers and engage with local and state leaders on key issues facing urban agriculture and food systems.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4gRCaAS
From morning take…
FARMS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Nearly 30% of farmers today have less than 10 years’ experience, and these new farmers need a unique set of business management skills to succeed in a difficult profession. To give these farmers a helping hand, Rep. Nathan Nelson (R-Hinckley) [sponsors] HF653, which would boost funding from $4.5 million to $6 million in the 2026-27 biennium for the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council for distribution to farm business management programs. … The committee laid HF653 over for consideration in its budget bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X6P2fA
GRANT: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Tom Smude is a farmer who operates a sunflower processing plant in Morrison County. Last year, his business was awarded a $500,000 grant through the USDA’s Resilient Food Infrastructure Systems Program to bulk up their processing. … Smude has already ordered much of the equipment for the expansion, taking out a temporary loan to cover the cost while waiting for the federal reimbursement to come in. But now, thanks to the Trump Administration’s chaotic freeze on loan and grant programs, that reimbursement is in limbo. … Smude was among the farmers, food manufacturers and food bank representatives who testified [at] a state Senate agriculture committee hearing this week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k65qql
E15: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and 11 other Senators to introduce bipartisan legislation to make E15 available year-round. The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 would enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, helping to lower fuel prices and provide certainty in fuel markets for farmers and consumers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41mDwiA
RAW MILK: via an MDA press release, VERBATIM: “Beginning the week of February 24, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), working with state government and industry partners, will begin sampling and testing raw cow’s milk for the H5N1 flu virus to identify where the virus is present, monitor trends, and prevent its spread to unaffected dairy herds and poultry flocks around the state. … People and pets should not consume unpasteurized (raw) milk, raw milk cheeses, or raw or undercooked meat from animals with suspected or confirmed H5N1 virus infection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i4genm
Sign up for morning take…
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
CAPITOL: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Today @mncorn showed up in full force at the State Capitol where they met with @LtGovFlanagan and MDA Commissioner @ThommyPetersen. The group talked about continued gains in biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4b3jPjf
(DISCLOSURE: Minnesota Corn is a Fluence sponsor and Delta Air Lines is a client)
SOYBEANS: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Brazil’s record-large soybean crop is beginning to come online. Michael Cordonnier, president of Soybean and Corn Advisor, says harvest progressed about ten percentage points on the week to 27 percent . . . He tells Brownfield the Brazilian crop will weigh on U.S. soybean prices.” CORDONNIER: “Especially given tensions between the U.S. and China. China is going to want to buy all they can from Brazil for sure, and Argentina. So it’s going to slow down U.S. soybean exports for sure.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4b6CWst
EGGS: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Small business owners that rely on eggs for their products are facing sticker shock because the usually reliable staple is in short supply. Avian flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, causing U.S. egg prices to skyrocket. The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 that was recorded in August 2023. The Agriculture Department predicts prices will soar another 20 percent this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hI0mH3
MORE: Via MPR, an interview with a UofM Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences professor about bird flu. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4k2ZC0V
NEXT WEEK: From Jim Maurice via WJON-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Central Minnesota Farm Show will take over the River's Edge Convention Center for two days next week. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing the event, which is now in its 58th year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41nJm3p
GRANT: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant Program. The grant helps Minnesota schools establish or enhance meat cutting and butchery training programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gIF5vT
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NO-TILL: From Noah Fish via Agweek, VERBATIM: “Dwayne Beck refers to tillage as a ‘catastrophic event in nature.’ The retired research manager at Dakota Lakes Research Farm in Pierre, South Dakota, spoke at the Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District's stop on the ‘Benefits of No-Till’ I-90 soil health tour in Stewartville on Feb. 6. The event provided local farmers an education on no-till farming techniques that enhance soil health, boost crop productivity and improve livestock management.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CY8l3K
FARM RESCUE: From Jody Heemstra via DRG News, VERBATIM: “As part of Farm Rescue’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, the nonprofit is pleased to introduce a brand refresh and redesign of its website, farmrescue.org.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41cisu6
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