WEATHER: From Minnesota Corn via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Great presentation today by MCGA board member John Swanson about @mnagriculture's Ag Weather Station Network at the @mnfarmersunion Convention!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4fGFfUx (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
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TURKEYS: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “President Biden pardoned two turkeys from Minnesota on Monday, in keeping with the annual White House turkey pardon tradition. It was Mr. Biden's final turkey pardon as president, before President-elect Donald Trump is tasked with keeping up the tradition. This year's turkeys, Peach and Blossom, are named after the Delaware state flower, the peach blossom, which symbolizes resilience, Mr. Biden said. The president joked that the more than 2,000 people who gathered for the event were there seeking a pardon, as he has less than two months in office.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4g5e71m
MORE: From CBS via YouTube, the full White House event. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fKUSKQ
MORE: Via Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, VERBATIM: “This year’s turkeys were raised in Northfield, Minnesota, by National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman John Zimmerman, alongside his wife, Kara, and their nine-year-old son, Grant. Zimmerman, a turkey farmer for over 20 years, has raised approximately 4 to 5 million birds on his family farm, P&J Products Co.” QUOTE: “Minnesota is proud to play a leading role in this unique tradition,” said Zimmerman. “As the nation’s top turkey-producing state, our farmers are dedicated to raising healthy birds that grace Thanksgiving tables across America. It’s an honor to represent Minnesota and share this story of hard work and commitment at the White House.”
MORE: From Rachel Hoppe via Minnesota Daily, a look at Minnesota’s turkey industry. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hYkA01
FARM BILL: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “It seems time has run out on getting a farm bill done during the lame duck session of Congress. Democratic and Republican farm bill negotiators have reportedly started formal talks on an extension, and National Farmers Union president Rob Larew tells Brownfield. ‘What we can I think most hope for at this point is a package that includes some sort of disaster assistance over the last couple of years, as well as some measure of economic assistance for farmers and ranchers out there.’ Minnesota Farm Bureau president Dan Glessing says the federation will continue pushing for the certainty of a five-year farm bill.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4g44hgh
WORKFORCE: Via Investigate Midwest, VERBATIM: “President-elect Donald Trump has promised to begin his second term with the largest mass deportation in history, making the jobs held by undocumented workers available to U.S. citizens. Undocumented immigrants make up only 5% of the total labor force, according to the most recent federal data from the U.S. Census Bureau and analysis from the Pew Research Center. However, the share of undocumented workers across the nation’s food supply chain is at least 16%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CLiG2H
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MNLEG: Via Minnesota Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Board of Directors recently identified its top legislative priorities for the 2025 session following the organization’s annual meeting, held Nov. 21-23. Based on grassroots policies developed by Farm Bureau members, these priorities work to address the top issues surfaced throughout the process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fUMGHO
ANTITRUST: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members heard from Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Kades, Fordham University Law Professor Zephyr Teachout and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on the first full day of their 83rd annual state convention. The state convention began Friday afternoon and continues through today at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Minneapolis Northeast, Minneapolis. Kades has authored several reports and articles on antitrust policy, and he previously worked as antitrust counsel for Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. Kades said the DOJ made major strides in revitalizing antitrust enforcement during the Biden administration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZktDkz
From lunch take…
CRAIG: In a letter to colleagues this morning, Rep. Angie Craig announced she’s running to be Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. QUOTE: “Over the past six years in Congress, I’ve been proud to work alongside many of you to deliver real results for America’s families, farmers, ranchers and producers . . . At the same time, anyone who knows me knows I never shy away from standing up for my values. Earlier this year, when House Republicans advanced a Farm Bill out of Committee that included harmful cuts to SNAP, I made my voice heard loud and clear in opposition to these unfair measures that would disrupt the lives of countless working families. And I stood firm against their attempts to roll back the historic climate investments we fought for as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3Omqg6r
MORE: Craig isn’t the only one seeking to unseat current Ranking Member David Scott of Georgia. Late last week, Roll Call reported California’s Jim Costa plans to run. VERBATIM: “Costa unsuccessfully challenged Scott to be the top Democrat in 2019. Scott ultimately won, becoming, in the 117th Congress, the committee’s first African American chair. But the 79-year-old’s time as top Democrat has been marked by health challenges . . . An aide to another lawmaker on the panel said the push to replace Scott isn’t due to his health issues but stems from concerns about his ability to push back on Republican proposals. The House farm bill advanced out of committee by a 33-21 vote in May.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AYnOQo
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FLOODING: From Christopher Vondracek via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The corn succumbing to the forks of Brandon Fast’s combine this autumn morning is green. It shouldn’t be. But the floods of June are finally being felt. ‘Two years ago, this was 270 bushel an acre,’ said Fast, who has farmed since high school in this southwestern Minnesota town of 2,000. ‘Right now?’ Fast, 46, glances at the colorful numbers rotating on a digital screen hanging inside the cab of his John Deere. ‘Our average right now is right here at 169’ bushels per acre . . . With corn above $4 a bushel, Fast estimates he’ll average a $200-an-acre loss. He farms 700 acres.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3B0BkD9
DOCUMENTARY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Leah Lemm, a citizen of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, practices her culture in many ways. She’s been slowly learning Ojibwemowin, the Ojibwe language. She helps share Native stories in her work as an MPR News senior editor who leads our Native News team. She stays active and attends community events. And every couple of years she harvests maple sap for syrup. But aside from cooking her famous Ojibwe fried rice, Leah didn’t feel connected to the significance of Manoomin — a sacred plant revered for its sustenance and deep connection to Indigenous identity and heritage. So, she set out with a film crew to connect with her cultural roots through the tradition of wild rice harvesting.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4955odq
ORGANIC: Via The New Lede, VERBATIM: “People searching for ways to limit the toll industrialized American agriculture takes on communities, land, and water may want to make a visit to Clear Creek Acres in northern Iowa. With just shy of 800 residents, West Bend, Iowa is barely a blip on a prairie landscape, but it has become home base for an uncommonly large expanse of organically grown crops- operations that have found success in challenging the popular convention that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals are needed to feed the world.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4950ZqU
CASH FLOW: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “Now that the 2024 crop year is completed, many farmers are analyzing their year-end cash flow position as they begin planning for the 2025 crop year. Crop production expenses and land rental rates have increased substantially in 2023 and 2024, while crop prices for corn, soybeans and wheat have remained below breakeven levels, and are now at the lowest levels in several years. For Upper Midwest farm operators that experienced crop losses in 2024 due to weather issues, the financial situation is likely even more severe. Farmers and ag lenders are now wondering what are the potential sources of income could possibly be advanced in the coming months to enhance the cash flow position of grain producers as we head into 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AMPwjb
SOIL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) is looking for new members to join the council and help expand soil fertility research, education, and outreach in Minnesota. AFREC is a farmer-led program to advance soil fertility research, technology development, and education.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hXmH42
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
STEAM ENGINES: From Dan Gunderson via MPR, VERBATIM: “The hissing, huffing steam engines of yesteryear have fascinated Nicole Wallace as long as she can remember. Her grandparents took her to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag when she was 11 months old. As a toddler she was fascinated by miniature steam engines on display. Friends who built and operated the tiny engines nurtured her interest. As the years passed she moved on to engines the size of a small locomotive. The 35-year-old has never missed the annual event.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3CUQEl9
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