November 4, 2025  

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency denies Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy petition on regulating tile drainage

Source: MPCA

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is in receipt of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy Petition for Rulemaking dated August 28, 2025, which MCEA filed on behalf of several petitioners. In its petition, MCEA requests that the MPCA, through rule, adopt a regulatory permitting program under Minn. Stat. § 115 (Minnesota’s Water Pollution Control Act) that would require the MPCA to review and approve drainage projects established under Minn. Stat. § 103E (Minnesota’s Drainage Law). After careful consideration of MCEA’s request, the petition is denied.

Minnesota Beef Council and Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association are moving forward in a partnership together in order to pursue an increase of the Minnesota Beef Checkoff

Source: MN Beef

The Minnesota Beef Council is proposing to increase the amount of the current state checkoff by an additional 50 cents per head on all bovine animals marketed within Minnesota by each producer or feeder. The additional 50 cents per head would be refundable and subject to the Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Order. 
 
Current timeline is as follows:
Dec. 5, 2025 – In-person hearing at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show at 10:30 a.m. Registration fee not required to attend this session.
Jan. 14, 2026 – Virtual hearing at 7 p.m. Register now.
Jan. 30, 2026 – Virtual hearing at noon. Register now.
Feb. 12, 2026 – Deadline to request a ballot 
March 30, 2026 – Referendum ballots mailed to producers 
April 20, 2026 – Ballots cast must be postmarked for return 
May 19, 2026 – Results of referendum released 

AMPI to sell butter plant to Grassland

Source: The Journal

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) announced Thursday it is selling its New Ulm butter plant to Grassland Dairy Products, Inc. of Greenwood, Wis. 

Democrats divided over cutting deal to end shutdown

Source: The Hill

Senate Democrats are divided over whether Republicans have offered enough to reach a deal to end the government shutdown this week.

USDA plans to release key reports in November

Source: Feedstuffs

Most data reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics  Service have been paused since the government shutdown started on Oct. 1 due to the lapse in funding, creating a major information gap for the agriculture industry, which relies on timely information to make operational decisions. On Oct. 31, 2025, NASS issued a notice that it will release some of the key reports, regardless of the government shutdown.

As milk prices dropped, these Minnesota farmers put their cows out to cuddle

Source: MPR News

Last year, while scrolling through Instagram, the family came across a business idea from a farmer in New York. What if they turned their calf nursery into a cow cuddling business?

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