RULE: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “USDA released an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks. The rule provides a pathway for measuring the impact of individual climate smart agriculture practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, and nutrient management on the carbon intensity of biofuel feedstocks such as corn. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association applauds the interim rule and encourages its incorporation into the 45Z Clean Fuels Production tax credit guidelines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WkDx3G (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
ICYMI… the USDA announcement on the interim rule as seen in Wednesday’s ag take. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gTUiuZ
MNLEG: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “2025 is a budget year for the Minnesota Legislature. Minnesota Farmers Union government relations director Stu Lourey says there are implications for agriculture. ‘Fundamentally, they’re charged with passing a new state budget for everything from road construction to meat inspections to potato grading.’ He tells Brownfield the session is beginning with House Democrats and Republicans struggling over complicated power dynamics.” LOUREY: “And what we know is that at the end of the day passing these budget bills is going to require bipartisan votes, and so we know how the session is going to end. And we also know some key dates and kind of how we’re moving forward.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42ih8YL
ICYMI… lunch take had the governor’s budget proposal as well as updates on the wrangling over the Minnesota House. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3PD3szQ
MORE: Via Brownfield, the Minnesota Farm Bureau’s priorities for the session. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40EZAEZ
FERTILIZER: From Chloe Johnson via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Farm families that consume milk, eggs and beef they raise themselves face an increased risk of cancer if their fields were fertilized with PFAS-laced sewage sludge, the EPA reported this week. The results do not suggest that the broader food supply is contaminated. The EPA identified risks for people consuming some animal products from their land, drinking well water and eating fish from polluted lakes. The draft study found an unacceptable cancer risk when two PFAS chemicals were present at low levels.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42C40hl
MORE: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Examples of people most at risk are those who eat a serving or two of fish a week from a lake or pond contaminated by farm runoff, or people who drink at least a quart of milk a day from cows raised on pastures that use sewage sludge, according to the EPA’s draft risk assessment. People who eat pasture-raised beef or eggs from hens raised on land contaminated by sewage sludge could also be at risk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h0g541
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
TRADE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Trade is a priority for the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar tells Brownfield there’s great value in ag exports.” KLOBUCHAR: “The tariff talk, you know I believe in targeted tariffs (but) do get concerned if they’re across-the-board tariffs that could hurt our ag economy while (farmers) are already dealing with the pressure of weather events and changing prices and the like.” She says farmers need support. “I’m just all in on putting rural Minnesota, rural America up front and center when we talk about the legislative agenda of the Congress going forward.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40CZei8
SUNDAY: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Minnesota Pavilion is returning to Las Vegas for the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show January 19 - 21. Six local food and beverage businesses are exhibiting at the event supported by the MDA’s Make it Minnesota Program, bringing a taste of Minnesota to Nevada and the rest of the world.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42k9InU
MILK: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an additional six states are enrolling in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS). This brings the total number of states testing under NMTS guidelines to 36 since the first round of states joined in early December. With the enrollment of six additional states, the NMTS will account for bulk milk tank samples from two-thirds of the nation’s dairy herds, or nearly three-quarters of the nation’s milk production.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42C2PhV
NOTE: Last week, the USDA announced Minnesota was one of the states enrolled in the NMTS. READ: https://fluence-media.co/42C38cz
LABELS: Via KBIA, VERBATIM: “In the midst of rising consumer demand for organic foods, a nonprofit called ‘A Greener World’ which ‘promotes practical, sustainable solutions in agriculture by supporting farmers and educating consumers’ has a 15-page guide that attempts to clear up consumer confusion around labels that use terms like ‘natural,’ ‘humane’ and ‘organic’ . . . Started in 2002, the non-profit organization’s standards are modeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Certified Organic Label, but they’re designed to give farmers a cheaper and more accessible way to certify and communicate how their farms work.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aj8Q4R
NEXTGEN: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Twelve Minnesota educators looking to provide more agricultural experiences for their students have received 2025 Agricultural Literacy Grants from the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Foundation. The grants are designed to support agriculture and food systems education efforts from kindergarten to high school across the state. The 12 teachers received grants of up to $1000 each to allow students to experience agriculture in a cross-curricular manner. Topics to be explored through this year’s projects include soybean growing, field trips, growing fruit trees, and more.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3PBTz5A
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
DROUGHT: The new Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday shows no change – nearly half of Minnesota remains in drought. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
CROP INSURANCE: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A farm business management instructor says some farmers are considering cuts to crop insurance. Kristina McVicker with South Central College in Mankato, Minnesota tells Brownfield it’s partly a reflection of very tight margins.” MCVICKER: “They’re really giving it a lot of consideration, and the crop insurance payments varied so drastically.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3E03wHq
PORK: From Mark Dorenkamp via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A swine lending specialist suggests there’s some uncertainty for pork demand in 2025. Daryl Timmerman with Compeer Financial says consumers could more closely scrutinize food costs.” TIMMERMAN: “I know there’s some trepidation out there as it relates to where the economy is going to go. I think with the new administration coming in, on the export front there’s some discomfort as it relates to a lot of chatter about tariffs and what’s that going to do to our export demand.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WqpLMZ
(DISCLOSURE: Compeer is a sponsor of Fluence Media)
WATER: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The Red River Basin Commission hosted its annual Land and Water International Summit Conference in Grand Forks. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen highlighted state initiatives.” PETERSEN: “A lot of drainage upgrades, but also water quality upgrades, whether that’s our Water Quality Certification Program, the different loans and grants that the Department of Agriculture has and practices that farmers are doing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EcIEws
RECOGNITION: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District on Monday, Jan. 13, announced that Linda Peterson and the late Al DeRuyter, of Sunburg, were selected for recognition as the 2024 Outstanding Conservationists.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jndDGA
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NEXT MONTH: From Rusty Halvorson via KFGO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is excited to announce the second annual Urban Ag Conference, scheduled for February 22, 2025. This free event will take place at St. Paul College, offering urban farmers the chance to connect with peers and engage with local and state leaders on key issues facing urban agriculture and food systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WiD1mD
FEB/MARCH: Via Pilot-Independent, VERBATIM: “Are you starting to think about planning for a management transition of your farm? Or maybe you are working with a next generation or new operator on farm succession already. Need a path forward to help you think about the options? University of Minnesota Extension will provide full-day workshops and two-day multi-generational retreats across Minnesota on farm transition and estate planning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4alHnPQ
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