LEGISLATOR VISIT: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Even during harvest, Minnesota farmer-leaders continue to engage with elected officials about the importance of farming in their communities. This week, MCGA board member D.J. VanKlompenburg and his dad, Dave, welcomed State Representative Scott Van Binsbergen to their farm for a tour of their crop and livestock operation. We appreciate D.J. and Dave for sharing the story of agriculture — and Representative Van Binsbergen for taking the time to learn more about Minnesota farming!” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/47vvres (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
HONEYCRISP: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Consumers, bored by the softer, blander Red Delicious variety that had ruled grocery aisles for decades, discovered an apple that was sweet and so texturally satisfying they never looked back. Buyers could even stomach a premium price, often three times the cost of other varieties. But if consumers are charmed by the supermarket star, the farmers who grow it, especially in America’s apple-growing capital of Washington state, often wish they never met it. ‘She’s a diva, an absolute diva,’ fourth-generation Washington apple farmer Kait Thornton said of the Honeycrisp.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IO7RjS
SUPPLY CHAINS: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The focus for Reuters Events‘ Transform Food & Agriculture USA 2025 was finding ways to build more resilient supply chains to meet the demands of a rising global population, said the event’s director. Sofia Gerrard, project director in food and agriculture for Reuters Events, said that was the underlying aim while also addressing the current market volatility and policy shaping the U.S. ag industry. Leaders from the agri-food industry led panel discussions and included executives from Whole Foods Market, Cargill, Land O’Lakes, Corteva Agriscience, Fresh Del Monte, Hormel Foods, JBS and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47flHDY
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
SOYBEANS: Via The Daily Economy, VERBATIM: “Last year, China bought $12.6 billion of soybeans from the United States, around 25 percent of the country’s total crop. This year, the Chinese have halted these purchases in retaliation for President Trump’s tariffs . . . These costs of the trade war are being felt especially heavily in Minnesota, which produces the third-largest soybean crop in the United States after Illinois and Iowa. Soybean exports in Minnesota account for over 25 percent of the state’s total exports, around $2 billion in sales annually. The state’s 26,000 soybean farmers send 60 percent of their produce overseas with China as their leading market. These were the state’s number one agricultural export.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hdcqAO
MORE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Jim Purfeerst’s soybeans went straight from his fields to storage this fall. The fifth-generation farmer outside of Faribault plans to offload them in December. By then, he hopes prices will improve. The current basis, a reflection of local prices linked to demand, makes it tough to turn a profit. ‘From 2022 ‘til this year we lost 40% on the bean price,’ he said. ‘It makes you watch every penny you spend.’ Purfeerst isn’t an outlier in storing soybeans this year. Many other Minnesota farmers are following suit, waiting it out until a more favorable day arrives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46UZ1Ki
OCT 30: Via AgriGrowth, VERBATIM: “Economic data from the first quarter of 2025 showed that Minnesota’s GDP decreased by 2.42% from the previous year, driven by mounting challenges in the agriculture industry. Minnesota’s agriculture and food sector has been a cornerstone of the state’s economic growth, often mitigating or cushioning recessions. To strengthen our agriculture and food economy, change is required. Minnesota AgriGrowth’s fall summit will continue the hard questions being asked at kitchen tables and board rooms: ‘How do we build a robust agriculture and food economy in Minnesota by 2040?’” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/3L2utxu (SPONSORED: AgriGrowth)
DEC 1-3: Via Farm Progress, VERBATIM: “Conservation work by state farmers will be recognized during the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts’ annual convention Dec. 1-3. More than 700 MASWCD officials, resource professionals, landowners, conservation leaders, industry professionals and agency representatives will congregate for the 89th convention at the DoubleTree in Bloomington.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n9KnDC
HARVEST: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A south-central Minnesota farmer completed harvest in just over two weeks. Wanda Patsche, who grows corn and soybeans near Welcome, says harvest began toward the end of September.” PATSCHE: “We harvested 16 straight days. We started with soybeans and as soon as we were done with that we went right into corn. The crops definitely needed to come out because everything was really dry, so we finished harvesting corn this past Saturday.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4otIMd9
FARM-TO-SCHOOL: Via The Packer, VERBATIM: “On Oct. 13, the lunch trays at Winona Area Public Schools were filled with turkey and wild rice brats, delicata squash and crisp Minnesota apples, all sourced from local farms. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture stopped by as part of National Farm to School Month, and the cafeteria hummed like a farmer’s market with students, lawmakers and local food champions sampling the fruits (and brats) of state investment. The visit was part of MDA’s monthlong celebration highlighting its Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Farm to School and Early Care Grant program. The grants help schools serve Minnesota-grown foods while opening new market doors for the state’s farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47eDuem
DROUGHT: The latest Drought Monitor shows 19% of the state is now in drought, up from 12% a week ago. 62% of the state is now considered abnormally dry or worse. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3PP2Kzy
WEATHER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Areas that benefited the most from good weather during the growing season are being revealed during harvest. Pioneer U.S. marketing leader for corn Brandon Walter says if there’s a ‘garden spot’ in the Midwest this year, southern Minnesota could be it.” WALTER: “I’ve heard great comments of how conditions have been there. Portions of eastern Nebraska have looked good where maybe we’ve avoided some winds, at least in some cases. Northern Illinois appears to be very strong as well.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46XKWvJ
WX STATIONS: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is expanding its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of three new weather stations spanning Southern Minnesota—a critical step in strengthening data coverage for producers statewide. This strategic expansion helps MAWN move closer to its goal of providing real-time, hyper-local environmental data within a 20-mile radius of all agricultural land across the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hhbJX5
TAIWAN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association says there’s a lot of excitement for U.S. soybeans in Taiwan. Joe Smentek recently visited the country as part of a USDA trade mission. ‘We heard over and over about the amount of growth that is happening in this country. It is very rapidly growing, it is a very vibrant community. And really a country that eats out.’ He tells Brownfield that’s generating demand for many food products that feature soy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ne8Do5
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)
SHUTDOWN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The Ranking Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee is frustrated with the USDA for a lack of transparency during the government shutdown. Angie Craig of Minnesota tells Brownfield Democrats in the House and Senate requested a bipartisan meeting with the department earlier this month.” CRAIG: “The USDA declined to provide us a briefing on what they are doing during the shutdown, so I am not too happy with USDA right now. Especially as we face the year of frozen programs and contracts being cancelled and mass layoffs and disruptions to Farm Service Agency offices all across the country.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oKxSzV
GRANT: Via Dairy Star, VERBATIM: “Nothing lasts forever. Eventually buildings and livestock equipment need to be updated. Each year, to help ease the financial burden of these changes, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Livestock Investment Grants. Pat Scapanski, a 2023 AGRI Livestock Investment Grant recipient, used the funds to build a new freestall barn. Scapanski milks 350 cows in a swing-16 parlor near Foley.” SCAPANSKI: “The way we were operating before was a lot of work,” Scapanski said. “We had high somatic cell count, a high cull rate and dirty cows. Getting this freestall barn eliminated a lot of work, a lot of bedding, and freed up a lot more of our time to work on other things.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hAi5Bn
PROFITS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An ag economist suggests there might be ways to squeeze out soybean profits. Megan Roberts with Compeer Financial says farmers should go back to the basics in times of challenging grain prices.” ROBERTS: “Knowing what your break-even is, really evaluating the cost of storage and the ability to capture a few extra cents based on good marketing (and) based on being able to carry if you can.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n8yVbq
MORE: Dr. Roberts’ insights were shared via a Compeer Podcast, LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46WnnmV
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a Fluence sponsor)
FUEL: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Many ag and biofuel stakeholders concerned about the farm economy are urging the administration to expand the use of low-carbon fuels. Tom Buis with the American Carbon Alliance says growth in the ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel markets would boost demand for corn and soybeans.” BUIS: “What we’re seeing is sort of a real nightmare occurring. The input costs are going up for farmers, and the amount they receive from the marketplace is going down. And what we need more than anything is to create some new demand.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oofvQR
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
WINE: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “In northern Iowa, the morning sun lights up a vineyard surrounded by corn fields. The grape harvest is well underway with a machine pulled by a small tractor. Anne Zwink sips on coffee as she watches the harvester comb trellises, shaking grapes loose from the vine . . . But Zwink says the biggest challenge for her family’s winery and others across the state are sales. ‘We have a really hard cash flow problem right now where we have a lot of money in the tanks, and it’s hard to actually sell the product that’s in the tank,’ Zwink said. Globally, wine consumption has trended down since 2018.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47tVCCe
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