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MCRP – Day March 11, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
We are excited to host our MCPR Day on the Hill. For the event, we have booked the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Veterans Building for our event, which is conveniently located on the Capitol Complex. (The meeting space has a great view overlooking the State Capitol Building.)
A bi-partisan group of key legislators from both the House and Senate are scheduled to join the group to provide updates and discuss MCPR’s priorities. We would also encourage attendees to schedule individual meetings with their representatives.
Please register using the link provided below (Note: Space is limited to about 50 attendees.) Please, contact Lee Helgen, at lee@mcpr-cca.org if you have any questions or if you would additional information.
Register.
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Rollins confirmed as Agriculture secretary
From Roll Call
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Brooke Rollins to be Agriculture secretary by a vote of 72-28, giving her the reins of a department trying to distribute $10 billion in recently appropriated farm aid and tackle the bird flu outbreak.
“America’s farmers, ranchers and foresters need a leader at USDA who will be an advocate for their livelihoods and rural America and be a strong voice to address the pressing needs of our agriculture community,” Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said on the floor Thursday.
Full Story.
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U.S. Sen. Tina Smith won’t seek re-election in 2026
From the Minnesota Star Tribune
Tina Smith will not run for reelection to the U.S. Senate, Minnesota’s junior senator announced in a video Wednesday.
“This decision is not political, it is entirely personal,” the Democrat said of her move, citing a desire to spend more time with her growing family.
Full Story.
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Klobuchar Highlights Impacts of Tariffs on Farmers at Hearing on the Agricultural Economy
From Minority News
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, in a Committee hearing on the Agricultural Economy, raised concerns from farmers about the impact of the Administration’s proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico. In response to Klobuchar’s questioning, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew testified that even the threat of tariffs is“adding costs onto goods,” with some places even “not selling [products] for delivery beyond a certain date.” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall added, “One of the concerns we expressed was the potential shrinking of the markets. … We need more access, not less. We need more fair trade deals, not less. … The other issue is the cost of production … [which] would be devastating to our farmers.”
Full Story.
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Trump signs off on proposed reciprocal tariffs
From The Hill
President Trump on Thursday signed a presidential memorandum proposing reciprocal tariffs that he maintains will crack down on unfair and discriminatory tariffs from both adversaries and allies.
The reciprocal tariffs will be customized for each foreign trading partner, based on five different areas: tariffs the nation imposes on U.S. products, unfair taxes imposed, cost to U.S. businesses and consumers from another country’s policies, exchange rates, and any other practices the trade representative’s office determines is unfair.
Full Story.
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Senate Takes First Move on Budget Reconciliation
From Red River Farm Network
The Senate Budget Committee will mark up its budget resolution on Wednesday and Thursday. Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham released the text of this plan Friday afternoon. The Agriculture Committee is charged with finding at least $1 billion in budget savings.
Full Story.
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GOP budget framework gets over initial hurdle in House
From Roll Call
The House Budget Committee voted along party lines Thursday evening to approve a fiscal framework that inches Republicans closer to their prized “big, beautiful” reconciliation bill that would increase military and border security spending while cutting taxes and slashing domestic and social programs.
House leadership struck a deal with the House Freedom Caucus tying tax provisions more closely to spending targets to bring on board holdout Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Ralph Norman, R-S.C. The two voted to approve the fiscal 2025 budget resolution after calling for further assurances that the House would pursue aggressive spending cuts, and in Roy’s case roll back clean energy tax incentives.
Full Story.
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House Republicans Unveil Budget Resolution, Calling for $230 Billion in Ag-Related Cuts Over 10 Years
From The Scoop
House Republicans released a budget resolution to begin the reconciliation process. The resolution allocates $4.5 trillion to the House Ways and Means Committee for tax cuts, falling short of what tax writers say is needed for the president’s tax priorities.
It also includes a $4 trillion debt limit increase and outlines $1.4 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade. The plan also calls for $300 billion in new spending, likely for immigration enforcement and defense.
Full Story.
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McGovern-Dole, Food for Progress Programs Continue
From Red River Farm Network
Humanitarian food donations through the U.S. Agency for International Development are at risk, but that’s not the case for USDA. Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley released a statement saying projects funded by the McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress programs are continuing. Whitley said these projects are feeding hungry people around the world and creating demand for U.S. agricultural products.
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Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell facing new charge in connection with burglary
From WCCO
Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell is now facing a second charge in connection with a burglary at a Detroit Lakes home.
The amended criminal complaint filed Monday shows Mitchell is charged with possession of burglary or theft tools in addition to the original charge of first-degree burglary.
Full Story.
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Lawmakers brace for possible Trump funding cuts in Minnesota, which already gives more than it gets
From The Minnesota Start Tribune
Whenever there’s tension between Minnesota and the federal government, lawmakers in St. Paul like to revisit a specific data point: We’re a “net giver.”
That means Minnesota sends more to Washington, D.C., in tax revenue than it receives back from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. Gov. Tim Walz recently used this fact to rail on the Trump administration after it threatened to freeze potentially billions in federal dollars for the state.
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What could drive fertilizer prices in 2025?
From FarmProgress
The first factor is production and global supply and demand. There have been periods, with 2008 being a prime example, when global production did not keep up with demand and led to positive price pressure. High natural gas prices in Europe have led to cutbacks in nitrogen production and many EU nitrogen plants have temporarily or permanently closed. China has been restricting exports of urea and phosphorus for the last year to hold down domestic prices. Despite those factors, in terms of the total portfolio of fertilizer products, worldwide supply and demand are currently somewhat in balance, so neither global shortage nor oversupply are in play.
Full Story.
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10 Charts to Explain What’s Shaping the Ag Economy to Start 2025
From The Scoop
Last year’s initial net farm income forecast showed the two largest consecutive declines in net farm income history, the picture seems to be improving in 2025.
According to USDA’s Economic Research Service, the first net farm income forecast of the year shows net farm income is expected to reach $180.1 billion, up $41 billion from 2024, while net cash farm income is projected to hit $193.7 billion, a $34.5 billion increase. A staggering 34.5% increase in government payments, from $9.3 billion in 2024 to $42.4 billion in 2025, is the key factor behind the income boost.
Full Story.
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Biological Seed Treatment From Ceradis Helps Midwest Soybeans Defend Against Red Crown Rot
From CropLife
Soybean growers in the Midwest face a new challenge with Red Crown Rot (RCR), a yield-threatening disease that is on the rise. With no effective in-season treatments currently available, growers are facing increasing difficulties in managing this emerging issue.
Red Crown Rot, caused by the fungus Calonectria ilicicola, infects soybean seedlings within the first three weeks after germination. The disease spreads primarily through infected soil and crop residue, leading to yield losses ranging from 10% to 80% in severely affected fields, depending on environmental conditions.
Full Story.
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AGCO to Exhibit New Solutions and AE50 Award Winners at World Ag Expo and National Farm Machinery Show
From CropLife
AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, will exhibit solutions from across its Fendt®, Massey Ferguson® and PTx™ brands in February at the 2025 World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, and the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Highlighting the displays will be new products and AE50 award winners, including Fendt’s ErgoSteer™ retrofittable steering joystick and Momentum® 30-Foot Planter, Massey Ferguson’s S Series tractors, new SB.1436DB Small Square Baler and 2025 compact utility equipment (CUE) lineup, and PTx’s Radicle Agronomics® automated soil laboratory and OutRun™ autonomous grain cart solution.
Full Story.
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North America fuels Minnesota’s trade growth
From Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Canada and Mexico have long been key markets for Minnesota businesses, and their importance to the state's economy has only grown in recent years. Since 2016, Minnesota trade has pivoted away from China and increasingly toward its North American partners, deepening supply chain integration across the continent, particularly in the state's manufacturing and natural resource sectors.
Full Story.
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U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News
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U of MN Extension - Minnesota Irrigator Program
- Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - Wednesday, April 16, 2025
- 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Sherburne History Center
Register.
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Minnesota Department of Agriculture
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MnDOT announces 2024-25 ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest winners:
- Skol Plow – District 1 (Northeast Minnesota)
- You’re Welcome – District 2 (Northwest Minnesota)
- Don’tcha Snow – District 3 (Central Minnesota)
- Snowtorious B.I.G. – District 4 (West Central Minnesota)
- Anthony Sledwards – Metro District (Twin Cities)
- Plowabunga! – District 6 (Southeast Minnesota)
- I Came, I Thaw, I Conquered – District 7 (South Central Minnesota)
- We’re Off To See The Blizzard – District 8 (Southwest Minnesota)
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