February 3, 2025

MCPR Day on the Hill



March 11, 2025

9:00 am to 1:00 pm 

MCPR is planning a day on the hill where we can hear from policymakers and share our top legislative priorities.  

Senate’s reconciliation blueprint is ready to go, Thune says 

From Politico

Down in Florida on Wednesday, House Republicans tried to coalesce around a plan to pass “one big, beautiful bill.” Meanwhile, up in Washington, Senate Republicans are ready to go with their own Plan B.

Full story. 

Trump Moves Forward With Plans to Impose 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Starting Saturday 

From The Scoop

President Donald Trump announced that his administration will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1, citing concerns over trade deficits, illegal immigration, and the fentanyl crisis.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump justified the tariffs as a response to what he described as excessive migration, drug trafficking, and unfair trade practices. While he suggested the tariff rate could rise further, he indicated that a decision on whether oil imports would be exempted would come soon.

Full story.

Environmental groups sue Minnesota agencies over nitrate pollution 

From MPR News

Environmental groups are suing state agencies, hoping to speed up efforts to address nitrate contamination in southeast Minnesota.

The groups, which include the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, filed a lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court against the state Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Agriculture. 

Full story.

Virtually Tour Top Ag Retail Facilities 

From The Scoop

Check out what others have in terms of equipment and capacities at their top-notch locations.



Full story. 

John Deere machines now equipped with Starlink 

From Farm Progress

John Deere’s connectivity partnership with the SpaceX-powered Starlink satellite network is up and running. Available now, the brand’s JDLink Boost satellite option lets farmers connect to the cloud from the most remote fields for seamless machine operation.

Full story.

U.S. Fertilizer Buyers, Not Canada, Would Bear Brunt of Threatened Tariffs  

From Successful Farming

With spring fast approaching and U.S. crop acreages up, U.S. buyers will likely bear the brunt of the costs of any new tariffs on fertilizers, at least in the short run, analysts tell Agri-Pulse, as some manufacturers are already eying price hikes.

President Donald Trump has suggested new 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico could start as soon as Saturday. The U.S. imports more than 90% of its annual potash fertilizer demand, mostly from Canada, according to the Energy Department, leaving farmers particularly sensitive to any new costs.

Full story.

Fertilizer tech: In search of smarter, cheaper nutrient sensors 

From Farm Progress

There are sensors that measure nitrate and phosphate in the soil today. They’re called ion-selective electrodes. But Matthias Young notes they tend to be expensive and imprecise — at least, not cheap enough or precise enough to help farmers make routine fertilizer rate decisions.

Full story.

Be careful with fertilizer cutbacks 

From Brownfield

A crop nutrition lead at The Mosaic Company says the current state of the ag economy has many growers considering cutbacks on fertilizer applications. 

Tryston Beyrer says making too many cuts could have longer-term impacts.

“Fertility is a large portion of the budget,” he says. “Often times it’s 20% of our budget, but it can account for up to 60% of our yield. If we do start making cuts there, we know that yield can potentially be sacrificed and we don’t want to give up bushels.”

Full story.

Crop Consultants Offer Their Top Tips To Reduce Input Costs 

From the Scoop

Farmers continue to weigh input costs against income potential for this season – looking to achieve more of the latter by reducing their use of the former.

It is a tough balance to strike this year, said a panel of independent crop consultants who spoke during the recent Field Advisor Forum in Champaign, Ill. The event was funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff Program.

Full story.

13 Fertilizer Spreaders Designed to Innovate in 2025 

From CropLife

Manufacturers of fertilizer spreaders continue to innovate. Peruse through this year’s lineup of units and you’ll find several new upgrades and enhancements to the latest models on the market. Take GVM’s 2025 X-Series Prowler, for instance. It boasts one of the industry’s highest-capacity spray systems at 1,800 gallons and has the largest spreader body with 13 tons of capacity, according to the company. Or how about RBR Enterprise’s totally redesigned cab for 2025. Upgrades include a more spacious and quieter cab, featuring increased headroom and advanced noise reduction, ensuring comfort during long hours in the field. And then there’s the new feature for this year’s version of the Trident 5550 combination applicator from Case IH. The unit now offers a Dry Hi-Flow variant that nearly doubles the hydraulic output of the standard chassis

Full story.

U of MN Extension - Minnesota Crop News 

• Weekly Digest - January 30, 2025

Minnesota Crop Production Retailers

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