NEXT WEEK: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Farmfest 2026 is right around the corner, and Minnesota Corn will once again have an active presence at the annual farm show and agriculture celebration at Gilfillan Estate near Morgan. Join Minnesota Corn in Tent 702 at the corner of Seventh Street and Seed Row to learn about how the organization is creating opportunities for farmers and enhancing quality of life for agricultural communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vUVIf8 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
MORE: Via Farmfest, more details and a ticket discount. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RHMSmZ
WEATHER CHALLENGES
HEAT: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Triple-digit heat indices swept across the Midwest and Plains late last week and into the weekend, and the damage is already showing up in the numbers. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report released Monday showed the steepest week-over-week decline in corn good to excellent condition ratings for this point in the growing season in nearly 20 years, catching even the most bearish analyst estimates off guard.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fHAR94
CROP REPORT: Via USDA, the Crop Progress report. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fHY636
MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “USDA’s latest weekly crop update shows 77 percent of corn and 78 percent of soybeans in good to excellent condition, still well above the respective national averages. Brownton farmer Ryan Mackenthun tells Brownfield outside of a small hail event, the growing season is going well.” MACKENTHUN: “Throughout June I was starting to get worried it was getting too dry, and then all of a sudden we just kept catching rains, every three days I think we got an inch. And I was starting to worry we were getting too much rain actually then for a while. But obviously glad we got that rain to carry us through that stretch of 90’s.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pNNLqW
HEAT IMPACT: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Nutrien Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass says this year’s hot, dry weather pattern has been especially tough on producers in the Upper Midwest.” SNODGRASS: “It’s been primarily a western and upper Midwestern Corn Belt and an Upper Midwest issue. That’s going to be a major point of concern going farther into this new month of August as to where damage has been done by this crop. Parts of the Northern Plains, Red River area, we’ve really seen the heat take a toll on our crops.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RosHKV
EL NINO: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The chief atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions says he expects a record setting El Nino to have significant impacts this fall. Eric Snodgrass tells Brownfield, ‘Currently we would rank this one as strong, and based on what we know about the water temperatures still yet to surface over parts of the equatorial Pacific, this will be an historic El Nino breaking records in terms of how warm it’s going to be.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pJKZmB
TRACKING WX: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has expanded the Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of two weather stations in Southeast Minnesota. The stations, located outside Peterson in Fillmore County and Mabel in Houston County, are another key step toward improving statewide data coverage for Minnesota producers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g1dzfN
MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Corn and especially soybean markets were down early Wednesday with rain chances for the dry areas of the Western Corn Belt in the forecast for Thursday to Saturday. Mike Minor of Professional Ag Marketing says the weather will have a bigger impact on soybeans, which are leading the losses.” MINOR: “Corn’s weather story was a little bit earlier, which we didn’t have many problems with. Pollination was a little hot, but the nighttime temps got decently low. It’s getting a little late for a weather story on the corn side.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pRT48U
DAIRY: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The economic engine of large dairies was on full display as neighbors, vendors and staff praised Riverview, LLP, during a meeting hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, July 28. A few attendees expressed concerns over consolidation of dairies and risks to resources, namely how Riverview has become the dominant player in the upper Midwest dairy market. The meeting was in direct response to something that the Department of Ag and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency noticed during the recent comment period and completed environmental assessment of what is to become the largest dairy operation in Minnesota, Riverview’s West River Dairy expansion project near Morris, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fIUWvZ
DC + AG
WOLVES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Farmers across the Upper Midwest are encouraging U.S. senators to pass legislation this week that would bring management of grey wolves back to states. Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Tyler Wenzlaff tells Brownfield, ‘We’re inches from the finish line here, and it’s something that we’ve been working on for nearly three decades.’ He says lawmakers are expected to vote on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act this week, which the House passed in December with bipartisan support.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w7gPLG
HEALTHCARE: Via Harvest Public Media, a look at how the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits impacts farmers. VERBATIM: “Farmers and ranchers are among many workers who’ve relied on ACA plans. The Congressional Research Service estimates there were 1.2 million self-employed agriculture workers in 2022. A KFF survey found that around 27% of agriculture workers are on plans — a high share compared to the general population. Enrollment fell about 13% across all users after premiums spiked this year, and they could rise again next year. Many enrollees downgraded their plan level, opting for a high deductible to get a lower monthly cost.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hycygs
CRISIS COMPARISONS: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “While the economic stress might seem comparable, the similarities between the current downturn and the ‘80s crisis are limited, according to Seth Meyer, agriculture economist and head of the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Institute. He said crop insurance is now commonplace for farmers, which wasn’t the case 40 years ago. Growers also have access to federal safety net programs, like Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, that are meant to kick in when crop prices fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yMdHah
RENT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Cash rent negotiations could be complicated by tight margins this fall. Farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, who is based in Minnesota, says even with recent price improvement, the cost of producing corn and soybeans next year will likely squeeze profits.” THIESSE: “It will be interesting what happens with cash rents this fall. So far we haven’t seen much adjustment downward in cash rents, and part of that from the landlord’s perspective is states like Minnesota, many counties are talking 8 to 10 percent or more increases in property taxes.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44WMtAc
IN THE FIELDS
NUTRIENTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A north central Wisconsin farmer says he’s surviving the high input cost environment by becoming as efficient as possible with his nutrient applications. Adam Baumann, who farms in Marathon County, says he keeps close track of his nitrogen use efficiency.” BAUMANN: “We’ve cut back on our nitrogen.” He says, “Our nitrogen use efficiency in our corn this year will be the lowest it’s ever been. So, we will take what we’ve learned in that whole digital agriculture space and move forward with better decisions and lower fertilizer rates and grow the same amount of bushels or hopefully more.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4yOPujL
BIOSTIMULANTS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The biostimulant category is not winning grower trust through bigger promises, but through narrower claims, better agronomic explanations and proof that fits the farmer’s field. Biostimulants are gaining broader acceptance with growers, but the shift might not be because the products themselves have suddenly changed. Instead, new tracking work from Stratus Ag Research suggests the category may be benefiting from something more fundamental: better expectation-setting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fOUXi2
NEW WEED: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “A new noxious weed appeared in Minnesota for the first time in Dakota County in 2025. On the latest Smarty Plants podcast episode, find out why Tree of Heaven is so concerning for those who monitor invasive plants, and what we can do about it.” TWEET/LINK: https://fluence-media.co/3S6pGix
GRAZING: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association (MNGLCA) took its on-farm education class to the Duluth Farming Company July 27. The goal was to show off grazing infrastructure and livestock handling, among other farming topics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBOE9o
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FARMFEST: Via Ag Update, VERBATIM: “Five finalists for the 2026 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award have been narrowed to one, and the winner will be announced during the final day of Farmfest. This is the seventh year Farmfest organizers IDEAg Group will present the award.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4g23u2c
RETAIL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Grown and the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) are once again inviting grocery and liquor stores across the state to support farmers and show off their local pride by entering the Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year contest. This annual contest celebrates Minnesota retailers who go above and beyond to promote Minnesota Grown agricultural products—everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats, dairy, alcoholic beverages, packaged goods, and more. Stores are encouraged to create eye-catching displays and promotions that highlight produce from Minnesota’s farmers during peak season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RhN7oU
BUTTER: Via Owatonna People’s Press, VERBATIM: “The founding mothers of Steele County’s agriculture industry are finally getting their due. After decades of relative obscurity, pioneering dairy farmers Mina Holmes and Marianne McRostie are set to be inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame at this year’s Steele County Free Fair. Holmes and McRostie were key figures in the local dairy industry, earning widespread recognition for their award-winning butter in the 1880s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pKMDnZ
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