AG ADVOCATE: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Shanye Isane has long been passionate about advocating on behalf of agriculture. First, he was an advocate at the local level in his home region of northwestern Minnesota. Then he became involved at the state level as a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Now, he’s taken on a new role—as a statewide advocate for the corn industry as a member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) Board of Directors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kO5EU6 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
POLITICS & PROFITS
FARM BILL: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “The House Agriculture Committee released draft farm bill text late last week, and many agricultural industry groups have welcomed and applauded the language — but not all. The text of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 was revealed on Friday, Feb. 13. Ag Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson said in an op ed days before the draft’s release that a new farm bill, rather than an extension of the existing 2018 version, is necessary because ‘2018 policies are no match for 2026.’ After the draft text was made public, Thompson said in a statement that a new farm bill is long overdue to provide certainty to producers and rural communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qIdaks
INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “High input costs remain a sticking point on crop budgets for many farmers. Compeer Financial ag economist Bill Moore says revenues have not kept pace with the cost of production.” MOORE: “And for the last two-plus years we’ve seen a real divergence where historically they tend to trend together, but production costs have really kind of held in there despite the fact that revenues have come down with commodity prices.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tG92nM
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
PROCESSING: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced proposed updates to federal line speed regulations in poultry and pork establishments operating under modern inspection systems. These updates reflect years of data and experience, and are designed to lower costs for American families, reduce outdated regulatory barriers for processors, and support a more efficient and resilient food supply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aJrUtH
MORE: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across mainly southern states, called the increased line speeds at pork and poultry operations, ‘a recipe for disaster.’” APPELBAUM: “Today’s announcement by the USDA is a dangerous step that puts corporate profits over the lives and safety of the essential workers who keep our food supply chain running,” Appelbaum said. “By proposing to permanently increase line speeds and remove critical worker safety oversight, the USDA is knowingly inviting a surge in workplace injuries and fatalities in an industry that is already among the most hazardous in the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aIUv2c
WORKFORCE: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “On Monday in the Minnesota town of Norwood Young America, the 34th annual Carver County Dairy and Beef Expo drew people from nearly 20 counties. Farm labor was a topic of discussion, in particular how the federal immigration surge has impacted immigrant workers on Minnesota farms.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tK2YdW
FARM POLICY: From Minnesota Soybean via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Director Jeremy Tischer & his family welcomed Sen. Amy Klobuchar today to their farm east of Breckenridge. Jeremy was joined by past MSGA President Mike Skaug, who farms in Beltrami. Jeremy & Mike, along with fellow commodity leaders from across Minnesota, discussed farm policy priorities with Sen. Klobuchar, including trade, biofuels, passing a new Farm Bill & more.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4qHclII
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
FERTILIZER: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is still trying to address farm pollution adding too many nitrates to waterways. Now, prompted by a lawsuit, state agriculture officials want feedback on existing crop fertilizer standards, with the possibility of tightening them. The state’s Department of Agriculture this month opened public comment on its 2019 groundwater protection rule, a standard that governs how and when commercial fertilizer is applied. It’s the first step in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s review of the standard per a Ramsey County District Court judge’s ruling last fall in a lawsuit by environmental groups holding Minnesota to its 2024 promise to address nitrates in southeast Minnesota waterways.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s1QXz6
ROUNDUP: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Announced today, Bayer’s subsidiary Monsanto has reached a class settlement deal—pending court approval—to reach the company’s goal of containing glyphosate litigation. The deal includes $7.25 billion over 21 years for current and future glyphosate cases. Almost two years ago, then-new CEO Bill Anderson said it was his goal to have the legal liabilities ‘under control’ by 2026, which had weighed on Bayer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qEOhpR
CLIMATE HUBS: Via WCMU-Radio, VERBATIM: “To better understand the risks and help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners adapt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created a network of regional ‘Climate Hubs’ in 2014. Scientists and producers say the hubs provide valuable information and support collaboration across state lines. But now the climate hubs’ future is uncertain. As part of President Trump’s 2026 USDA budget request to Congress, the administration proposed terminating over $145 million in discretionary funding to the 11 hubs and climate science research.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Okn7Hy
E15: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Republican-controlled Congress and Trump administration have yet to authorize year-round higher ethanol blends, the latest fumble on a farm agenda that could grow into a political liability as the midterm election season heats up. An all-GOP task force charged with bringing forward a solution between pro-ethanol forces and oil refinery lobbies to nationalize year-round E-15 fell short of a self-imposed deadline this week. Minnesota and corn belt states already have a waiver to allow the fuel blend with more ethanol in it, but in another year where crop farmers can’t sell all their harvest and commodity prices are low, the move to make E-15 nationwide seemed like it would be a solid win for farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MioFBj
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The chief economist with the National Corn Growers Association says the industry continues to await further guidance on nationwide, year-round, E-15 from the Congressional Rural Domestic Energy Council. Krista Swanson tells Brownfield…” SWANSON: “Unfortunately, the council had a first deadline of February 15th, and that has come and gone, and we haven’t really heard a lot.” She says, “We’re still pushing hard to advocate our position. We need E15.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tNDJaU
AG NEWS ROUNDUP
BUFFALO: Via Buffalo’s Fire, VERBATIM: “Driving a pickup truck to one of the two buffalo pastures on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, William Thompson spots a group of about a hundred buffalo grazing at one of the herd’s typical spots near the pasture’s entrance. Though the wind is biting and the temperature is below freezing, the herd seems unfazed . . . Thompson wants to expand the herd, which he said will revitalize the tribe’s economy, land and Native culture. The Game and Fish Department’s goal is to have more than a thousand buffalo. But the department doesn’t have enough funds to lease more land or install more fencing, and the tribal government isn’t providing more funding. So Thompson is turning to tribal organizations for grant funding, including the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance, which provides technical and financial assistance to support environment programs of the Northern Great Plains tribal nations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bXq22D
MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Soybeans futures made new highs for the move on fund and technical buying and new contract highs in the soybean oil market. Darin Newsom, Senior market analyst with Barchart, Inc. says the algorithm traders have been chasing the headlines of the China story and buying into them buying another 8 MMT of old crop soybeans from the U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40lZWiw
AUDITS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farmer in southwest Minnesota is focused on attention to detail. Nick Sandager says he reconciles yield data as soon as harvest ends.” SANDAGER: “I’m double-checking all the yields and everything, which is a funny one I always tell people (that) I don’t think I’ve ever had a year where I have not had our scale tickets that we get printed when we go over the scale at the elevator match the assembly sheets from the coop. There’s always been at least one error, and usually not in our favor and they give us bushels back.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4rVjrdw
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DOGS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, alongside U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., together are taking historic actions to hold chronic companion animal welfare violators accountable and prosecute those who fight dogs to the highest extent of the law in an effort to end this horrific practice once and for all. The suite of actions will boost compliance with existing laws, protect our companion animals, and reiterate that the Trump Administration stands with the majority of Americans who own companion animals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rZTjOV
THIS WEEK: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “It’s Grain Bin Safety Week in Minnesota. Grain bin work can be dangerous, reviewing safety practices can help prevent serious injuries. Be sure to follow @umashcenter and visit them online at http://umash.umn.edu for resources to help keep farmers and ag workers safe.” PROCLAMATION: https://fluence-media.co/3OoXfKv
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