AG EVENTS: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Great turnout at recent county corn grower events in south-central Minnesota! On Friday, the Nicollet / Sibley County Corn & Soybean Growers held their 2025 Plot Results & Crop Management Update, featuring Jamie Gieseke of Paradigm Futures. Yesterday, the Renville County Corn & Soybean Growers held their Winter Breakfast and heard from MCGA Public Policy Manager Alex Trunnell about the latest policy updates.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4rXfGoT (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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LOOKING AHEAD
MARKETS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist says he expects uncertainty in the industry to continue into 2026. Allen Featherstone with K-State says it could be a similar situation for row crop farmers.” FEATHERSTONE: “If you look at the markets, they are pretty level from where they were in 2025. One of the things that will be uncertain is what the trade picture will be.” He tells Brownfield that for now, China appears to be fulfilling its new soybean purchase requirements. “That could be a bright side.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qfvRwf
ETHANOL: Via Ethanol Producer, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Energy Information Administration increased its forecast for 2025 and 2026 fuel ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook . . . The EIA currently expects fuel ethanol production to average 1.07 million barrels per day in both 2025 and 2026, up from last month’s respective forecasts of 1.06 million barrels per day. Fuel ethanol production was at 1.06 million barrels per day in 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45fFvXr
PRICES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agricultural economist at the University of Illinois says he expects commodity prices to remain low and stable in 2026. Joe Janzen says trade uncertainties and a large U.S. corn and soybean crop mean there’s not much room for improvement in prices.” JANZEN: “USDA did release some numbers this fall where they cut the size of the crop, but pretty minimally.” He says, “I’m expecting they’ll make a maybe slightly larger cut, but not a cut that’s big enough to really change the nature of the overall supply and demand balance.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4j54FxJ
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
MONEY MATTERS
CONSUMER PRICES: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “As American voters continue to rank affordability among their top concerns, a coalition of farm, consumer, grocery and antimonopoly groups said rising prices are not simply the result of inflation or supply chain shocks but of increasingly aggressive and often hidden corporate pricing tactics. That was the central message of a recent webinar hosted by the Minnesota Farmers Union and co-sponsored by the American Economic Liberties Project, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the National Grocers Association and Consumer Reports. Speakers warned that price discrimination, price gouging and algorithmic price-fixing are thriving in a highly consolidated economy, driving up costs for consumers while squeezing farmers, small grocers and rural communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YyuD3f
INPUTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist says the current price environment is putting the squeeze on farmers. Greg Ibendahl with Kansas State University says there aren’t many options to lower costs and doesn’t see much relief in 2026.” IBENDAHL: “I’m not really sure they have a whole lot of ability to manage things to a great extent other than buying equipment less often and negotiating on rent, but when it comes to things like herbicides, you’re going to be a price taker.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oTU5uJ
SOLAR/WIND: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “At a time when rising energy and input costs are a growing burden for farmers, policies and decisions are working against one of the strategies to control them: on-farm solar and wind systems. That was the message from Jim Falk, of Falk’s Seed Farm, and Cindy VanDerPol, of the Pastures a Plenty farm. Both of rural Kerkhoven, the two outlined the challenges farmers are facing during a roundtable hosted last week by the Minnesota Department of Commerce with the Minnesota Farmers Union at Falk’s Seed Farm.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s8rapU
DC + MN
FARM BILL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “It appears another year will end without the passage of a five-year farm bill. Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish says there are many titles that have been extended from the 2018 Farm Bill that are outdated.” WERTISH: “Rural Development is one title that’s very important to rural America. A lot of your small communities, they’re able to access funding, whether it’s water, waste water, drinking water, sewer. And even fire departments and the EMS funding, a lot of that is able to come through the Rural Development title of the farm bill.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48Me8GY
SNAP: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ordered the state of Minnesota to recertify all of its SNAP recipients within the next 30 days following a fraud scandal in the state. The letter, which was posted by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on X on Tuesday, orders Minnesota to take part in a ‘pilot program’ that will require all beneficiaries in certain counties in the North Star State to recertify their eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s3O9Ck
MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “SNAP recipients in all 50 states are frequently required to recertify themselves by providing documentation that ensures their eligibility for the program. However, in recent months, the Agriculture secretary has alleged that deceased people and individuals committing fraud are receiving federal food benefits, prompting the Trump administration to require ‘everyone’ to reapply for the program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s8spW6
LIVESTOCK
POULTRY: Via Provisioner, VERBATIM: “Updated research, supported by the US Poultry & Egg Association and the US Food and Drug Administration, was released on Dec. 16, 2025, quantifying the US poultry industry’s on-farm antibiotic use. The updated report shows continued improved antibiotic stewardship and commitment to disease prevention within poultry production. As part of its commitment to a transparent and sustainable food supply, the poultry industry works to balance the responsible use of antibiotics considered ‘medically important’ to human health with the need to maintain healthy poultry flocks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aoiXra
CATTLE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA pulled back on its cattle slaughter projections in its latest Supply and Demand report. Charley Martinez is an ag economist at the University of Tennessee says that could be reflected in Friday’s Cattle on Feed report from the USDA.” MARTINEZ: “I want to see the change of cattle on feed between October and November, just to see from a marketing standpoint,” he says. “The marketing’s number, what that rate of change is and see if it kind of jives with what we just talked about in the WASDE report.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45gLcEy
PROCESSOR: In Monday’s ag take, we featured a Tweet from MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen about a ribbon cutting at Global Center Meats in Lismore. Today, more from the Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “Manuela Alejandra Pinto Jacobo took over the former Lee’s Locker on Nov. 14, and will continue to offer the variety of meats customers enjoy while also working to grow the business. The Minnesota Farmers Union Meat Processing Bottleneck Project and the Latino Economic Development Center combined efforts to help Pinto Jacobo obtain a Meat Processing Train and Retain grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The funds will be used to help with workforce development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48XZScZ
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)
FOOD AND MORE
SPECIALTY CROPS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. SCBG funds projects that will increase the competitiveness of Minnesota-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. Funding for this program is made available through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pPRDXI
CO-OP: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “As December’s cold tightens its grip in central Minnesota, the once bustling farmers markets have nearly all zipped up until next year’s growing season. But taking a step into the Manna Food Co-op in downtown Detroit Lakes is the next best thing. In fact, the new location for the co-op offers much more room for produce, frozen meat from local producers, locally crafted toiletries, aisles of snacks, dry goods, and dairy, all with an emphasis on organics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p3DXqN
A FEW MORE STORIES
CONSERVATION: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A southeast Minnesota farmer says conservation practices are paying off. Tom Cotter began using cover crops and reducing tillage in the late 1990’s. ‘When you treat soil healthy and treat it good, the nitrogen is more efficient. You can get up to 4.6 times more nitrogen out of earthworm channels. Same with potassium and calcium.’ He tells Brownfield he’s only fertilized with lime once in 15 years.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48Uaw4o
FFA: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “A day of competition for FFA members from across Minnesota ended Monday night with winners named in seven Leadership Development Event (LDE) categories. The organization’s Winter Leadership Summit at St. Cloud State University, sponsored by Compeer Financial and the Minnesota Farmers Union, culminated in the announcement of those who will advance to the National FFA Convention in the fall of 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44xjVNU
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HOLIDAY MEALS: From MDA via X, four holiday food safety tips. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4pCoLBY
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