LEADERSHIP: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “It was an active and eventful six months for the Minnesota Agriculture & Rural Leadership (MARL) program, the state’s dynamic leadership program for engaged adult agricultural and rural leaders. Since Class 13 was announced in August, class members have participated in classroom leadership training, taken ag industry tours, heard from guest speakers, and more. Through the corn checkoff, Minnesota Corn has been a proud supporter of MARL since the program’s inception and continues to support the program to help develop the skills of the state’s agricultural and rural leaders so they maximize their impact and effectiveness.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44r9JHB (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
We recently launched our first premium publication. The Fluence Brief will be released 3-4 times a month and dive deeper into the business, economic and political dynamics of the Midwest. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cQw43r
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “There’s a fundamental challenge facing the nascent trade deal the United States and United Kingdom just unveiled: Neither country trusts the man behind it. A wide majority of American and British adults support their governments reaching a deal, according to a POLITICO-Public First poll conducted last month, but less than one-third of respondents in the U.K. and 44 percent of Americans said they believed President Donald Trump would abide by it. Nearly half of Americans, including 25 percent of his own voters, said Trump’s unpredictability is the biggest barrier to negotiations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jVH2HO
MORE: Via Politico’s UK report:POLL: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “There’s a fundamental challenge facing the nascent trade deal the United States and United Kingdom just unveiled: Neither country trusts the man behind it. A wide majority of American and British adults support their governments reaching a deal, according to a POLITICO-Public First poll conducted last month, but less than one-third of respondents in the U.K. and 44 percent of Americans said they believed President Donald Trump would abide by it. Nearly half of Americans, including 25 percent of his own voters, said Trump’s unpredictability is the biggest barrier to negotiations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jVH2HO
MORE: Via Politico’s UK report:
“The deal will make it easier American farmers to sell their produce in the U.K., but British officials refused to bow to pressure to drop food standards.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42S0E9B
THE DEAL: Via CNBC, VERBATIM: “The deal is the first made by the United States since President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world last month. The United Kingdom’s position as one of a handful of countries where the U.S. boasts a trade surplus in goods — meaning the U.S. exports more to the U.K. than it imports — put the country at the front of the queue for officials to broker an agreement with the Trump administration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/434GuYD
MORE: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Trump on Thursday called it a ‘huge deal’ but didn’t announce many aspects of the deal in the Oval Office, instead offering broad strokes. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the United Kingdom would reduce trade barriers of several agricultural products, including ethanol and beef, and machinery to the United States.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/438EFds
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
CHINA: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday an 80% tariff on Chinese goods ‘seems right,’ for the first time suggesting a specific alternative to the 145% levies he has imposed on Chinese imports ahead of closely watched weekend talks. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese economic tsar He Lifeng in Switzerland for talks aimed at containing a trade war between the world's two biggest economies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/450viio
DC: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Anne Schwagerl put one child in a tractor with her husband and another with her father-in-law before leaving Minnesota’s Big Stone County for the nation’s capital. She did not want to leave in the middle of planting season, but felt it was imperative. ‘With mounting uncertainty on farms across the country, commodity prices continuing to flounder and input prices remaining high,’ Schwagerl said. ‘We need Congress to prioritize a farm bill that supports family farmers and ranchers.’ Schwagerl and other members of the National Farmers Union came to Washington this week to lobby their representatives and let them know that things are not going well for them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4m8RvAZ
CORN MARKET: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A commodities broker encourages farmers to be patient with the corn market. Shane Holtorf with Logic Ag Marketing says prices are suffering from significant planting progress in the U.S. and points to crop insurance as a marketing guide.” HOLTORF: “When I look at where our spring guarantees were, it doesn’t get me very excited about marketing substantially below that guarantee for now. So I’ve been trying to give my customers the ability to have some patience.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3RTUnUz
NEXT WEEK: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will visit the United Kingdom May 12-14. This comes after President Donald J. Trump announced today, on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, a new trade agreement in principle that will lower tariffs, remove trade barriers, increase market access, and strengthen cooperation on economic security. The President secured major wins for American agriculture. This deal provides significant expansion in U.S. market access in the UK, creating a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. stakeholders, including U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kbzjET
DISASTER AID: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday released a timeline for launching disaster assistance to producers. Under the details released, livestock producers will be able to sign up at the end of May for losses tied to drought and wildfire. Crop producers who suffered income losses in 2023 or 2024 due to natural disasters are expected to be able to enroll for payments in July if they had crop insurance. However, enrollment will begin in September for farmers who lacked crop insurance or suffered shallow losses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kbJgSW
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor, reflecting data as of Tuesday shows no real improvement – 22% of the state remains in drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
WX OUTLOOK: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A large upper-level trough will move in from the west, kicking the upper-level ridge of warmth east by mid to late next week. That will allow both moisture and disturbances to move through the region once again, increasing the chance of some rainfall. Wednesday night into Thursday and Thursday night brings the next real chance of widespread rain and thunder. Fingers crossed. By late next week, most of the state will be desperately in need of moisture after several hot, dry, sunny days.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4db2hTj
URBAN SPRAWL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A corn and soybean grower who farms south of the Twin Cities continues to adapt to urban sprawl. Brent Mohn of Northfield, Minnesota says residential and commercial growth influences his crop rotation.” MOHN: “We farm closer to urban areas, so some things are going to be leaving production going to development or stuff so we’ve adapted some stuff for that. We are probably a little more soybeans than corn this year, but not so much on a marketing thing but more so on other influences to what’s going to happen with that land.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42P154s
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)
DAIRY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Sand management is an important consideration on many dairy farms. Renee Schrift with McLanahan Corporation says producers often source locally. ‘It’s going to do the job for their manure system setup. So if a dairy is not separating sand but they need to get that sand out to the fields, they’re going to use something that’s probably a lot more fine and stays in suspension a little bit better for them.’ She tells Brownfield most dairy farmers evaluate recycled sand visually.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4kdqGKi
ICE CREAM: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Scoops of thanks to Minnesota Milk Producers Association for Ice Cream Day at the Capitol — and to the dairy farmers who make it all possible!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Yz9IxC
SESSION: From MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen via X, VERBATIM: “Appreciated opportunity to join @GovTimWalz meeting with @MNFarmBureau Board of Directors at the Capitol to discuss end of session priorities.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3F4Nf4N
BUDGET: Via Minnesota Senate DFL, VERBATIM: “Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) and Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) said the Senate Tax bill unveiled Wednesday recognizes the modern reality of farming, making tax policy changes that ensure small family farms can pass on their livelihoods to the next generation, and opening new opportunities for Minnesota’s producers. The tax measure, introduced by Senate Taxes Committee Chair Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), includes agriculture provisions from both Republicans and Democrats and was taken up committee Thursday and will later be taken up by the full Senate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YCjD5q
EMUS: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “They are the second largest birds in the world, and you can find them here in our state at E2's Emu Ranch in Chisago County, Minnesota. Beth and Eric Engstrom always knew they wanted a farm, but they never dreamed they'd fill it with non-traditional farm critters. ‘I've always had an extreme love for animals. I just didn't know it would go this far,’ said Beth Engstrom. At the center of it all are the emus. Their leader is 5-year-old Bud, the official greeter who's always curious.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dfppjw
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FAIRS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “County fairs across three states are receiving a boost thanks to Compeer Financial. Karen Schieler, manager of corporate giving, says the company’s County Fair Facility Upgrade Grant Program has awarded $242,000 to 61 county fairs in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.” SCHIELER: “Upgrading hog pens, a lot of electrical updates, a lot of updates to wash racks, pavilions you know, different things, just to really help promote the health and safety of the animals, and the health and safety of the agriculturists that are showing there.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4iSIGZn
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
Copyright © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
As someone who subscribed, or as a member of the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council you are receiving this email.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427