MCGA BOARD: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Mark Enninga said he fell in love with farming as a young boy who was deeply involved in his family crop and livestock operation in Fulda. That early passion led to a career in agriculture and now a seat on the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) Board of Directors. Enninga joined the MCGA board in January at MN Ag Expo in Mankato. He said he’s appreciative of the work of MCGA and that he looks forward to giving back to corn farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/466R1Fj (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
DC + AG
FARM BILL: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “The House Agriculture Committee’s top Democrat said it will be “very difficult, if not impossible” for her to back a GOP-led farm bill because it contains ‘poison pills’ and doesn’t do enough to aid struggling farmers. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) said Republicans plan to include a provision that would protect pesticide manufacturers and complained that GOP committee staff have ‘refused’ to share the text with minority members.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rVUcIp
DEREGULATION: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the ‘single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history’ alongside President Trump in the White House today. EPA is eliminating both the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and all subsequent federal GHG emission standards for all vehicles and engines of model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond. The action also eliminates all off-cycle credits, including for the start-stop feature.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rVkc6F
MORE: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “One of these landmark deregulation efforts was rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding that determined vehicle emissions were a driver of climate change. President Donald Trump says farmers will see significant relief. ‘Lee is also working on cleaning up the horrible situation with regard to farm equipment,’ Trump said this week. ‘You could use John Deere as an example and other companies where tractors are unbelievably expensive and don’t work as well because of all of the environmental nonsense that was put on them.’ While the action does not directly target agricultural emissions, farm groups are calling it a major win, citing potential benefits like lower input costs and improved equipment reliability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ahbDx1
CROP INSURANCE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A senior official with Farm Credit Illinois says changes to the federal crop insurance program stand to benefit farmers. Lee Waters, vice president of crop insurance, says last summer’s reconciliation bill is bringing substantial savings to farmers looking to protect the investment into their crops.” WATERS: “What’s changed is the subsidy levels, and it’s very heavily changed on your county endorsements, Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO).” He says, “Those used to be 65% subsidized, and now they’re 80% subsidized. Ballpark here, but it roughly cut the premium in half.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZBw01G
RELIEF PAYMENTS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued final Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments totaling more than $1.89 billion. Eligible applicants who applied for ELRP 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) assistance will receive 100% of their eligible calculated payment in a single lump sum. USDA is also making a second payment to producers who previously received their initial factored payment for ELRP 2023 and 2024 assistance for losses due to eligible drought and wildfires.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ajSdYs
PRODUCTS & MARKETS
TOMORROW: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Catch us at @MNFarmBureau‘s Urban Ag Conference at St. Paul College this Saturday, 9a – 4p. We’re proud to sponsor this free event that brings together urban farmers, educators & advocates to connect, collaborate, and learn” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4tv388Z
NEXT MONTH: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Make it Minnesota program is proud to support 11 Minnesota food and beverage brands exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West (Expo West), taking place March 3–6, in Anaheim, California.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tAs1A5
SOYBEANS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Soybeans and products rallied and struck new high closes for the move on Thursday with fresh buying in response to a report of a potential extended trade truce between the U.S. and China. Mark Schultz with Northstar Commodity says that fueled hopes for additional purchases of American agricultural products, including soybeans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rRxvF7
BIOFUELS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Biofuel supporters are anxiously awaiting next steps as a congressional council discusses permanent nationwide E15 language. Minnesota Biofuels Association executive director Brian Werner tells Brownfield the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council plans to maintain the same pillars of a compromise deal that fell apart last month.” WERNER: “That a lot of the ethanol industry, farmers, farm organizations, and some of the larger oil refiners came together (on). That’s allowing year-round E15 (and) making some reforms to the small refinery exemptions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4axvoPJ
INNOVATION: Via UofM, VERBATIM: “What if the next revolution in sustainable farming could be sparked by just air and electricity? At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Professor George Annor is leading research into cold plasma technology — a novel approach that has the potential to help farmers confront rising costs, reduce the need for synthetic fertilizer, naturally manage pests and significantly increase crop yields.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4avB9xn
GROWING CONDITIONS
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor out this week shows 64% of the state is now abnormally dry or worse, up slightly from a week ago. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
GROWING SEASON: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Spring fieldwork is likely less than two months away for farmers in southern Minnesota. Wes Beck grows corn and soybeans near St. James and says the recent warmup has him excited for the 2026 growing season.” BECK: “Well I think our operation is like everybody else, when the weather gets nice and the sun shines, the blood flows a little faster.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4tQhIIy
PESTICIDES: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “February is #NationalPesticideSafetyEducationMonth! Check out the MDA’s Pesticide Safety Guide for Homeowners to learn how to minimize risks to people, animals, and the environment when using pesticides.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4kBaLXy
CORN: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “USDA’s Jan. 12 Annual Crop Summary and World Ag Supply & Demand Estimates featured a corn crop estimate that was so large it left me wondering if the country’s grain-handling system could handle it. Total corn use for 2025-26 is estimated at 16.4 billion bushels, and in the short time since the report, there is evidence the system can handle it. A record corn supply should put pressure on the national average corn basis, but basis so far this year is (on average) above the three-year average. The cash market is doing what it should to attract supplies to move to end users.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kBbCHL
AG PERSONNEL
CLOSING: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Cargill is shuttering a ground-beef processing facility in Milwaukee and laying off 221 workers, part of the Minnetoka-based company’s continued restructuring.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aLBKw9
RETIREMENT: AgriBank, VERBATIM: “Today, St. Paul-based AgriBank announced that Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Swanhorst plans to retire in mid-2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bT53ht
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MASTER FARMERS: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Have you mastered the world of agriculture? The Udermann family from Sartell was named the inaugural Master Farmers as recognized by The Farmer magazine during the MN AgExpo in January. Now, The Farmer is ready to recognize a second round of Minnesota producers who personify what it means to be a master.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rTiNxt
AURI: Via KFGO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) – the Minnesota nonprofit organization that has helped Minnesota agribusinesses generate more than $188 million in new annual sales in the last five years – elected new members to its board of directors during the organization’s annual meeting in January. Newly elected members, Brian Hansen of Scoular and Rep. Paul Anderson, will serve on AURI’s 11-person board, which is made up of representatives of the state’s farm organizations, commodity groups, agribusinesses, as well as at-large roles and members of the Minnesota House and Senate agriculture committees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4arSDKV
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