EmPower+ A Farmer-led Solution for an Unpredictable Sustainability Landscape
Source: Voice of Milk
Jen Block, Edge director of value chain partnerships, will lead a breakout session at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18 at the Central Plains Dairy Expo.
Join us to discover how EmPower+ equips farmers and processors with data-driven scenario planning to cut emissions, improve water quality and confidently lead in a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape.
Come visit our Voice of Milk booth (#C230) at Central Plains. We would love to connect!
The MN Department of Agriculture opened a public comment period on the Groundwater Protection Rule. The action is in line with a court-approved stipulation agreement between a coalition of environmental groups and MDA as well as agriculture groups who intervened in the environmental group lawsuit. In order to build out the administrative record and counter environmental activist calls to increase regulation, your comments are needed. Comments from farmers needed by end of day on March 12. Comments can be submitted by letter to the address below or email to gpr.mda@statem.us (Subject line: Groundwater Protection Rule) Larry Gunderson Supervisor, Fertilizer Management Unit Minnesota Department of Agriculture 625 Robert St. North, St. Paul, MN 551155
This week marks the fourth week of the 2026 Minnesota Legislative Session, and in some ways it feels like twice that long with so many committee attention-grabbing hearings. Most of the contentious committee meetings have focused on the fraud debate, gun limits, restricting activities of Federal agents (ICE) and assessing impacts on the state budget as a result of various Federal funding cuts or changes.
The Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program provides financial assistance to small to medium-sized dairy operations that participate in the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
Online applications are due by 5pm on March 19, 2026.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is amending rules that regulate animal feedlots and manure storage areas under Minnesota Rules Chapter 7020. The comments received during the Request for Comments (RFC) period were summarized on the rulemaking web page due to a large public interest in this rule. After reviewing the comments received and taking into consideration the current scope of Minnesota Rules Chapter 7020, the agency's statutory authority, program resources, and additional research needs, the agency has developed a Proposed Rule Scope that outlines the topic areas that the MPCA will review during the rulemaking process. The scope is meant to establish boundaries for the rulemaking but does not guarantee that changes to the rule will occur in each of these topic areas. The MPCA will now move into the rule development stage of rulemaking. This includes organizing technical work groups and a feedlot owner/operator work group that the MPCA will involve during the rulemaking process. This stage of rulemaking is expected to last several years, during which time there may not be regular updates on the status of the rule. The agency will continue to look for opportunities for outreach and engagement during this time.
Farm bill passes House Agriculture Committee, moves to House floor
Source: Progressive Dairy
After a markup session lasting more than 20 hours, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of committee with a 34-17 vote.
USDA Farm Bridge Assistance signup is open, deadline is April 17
Source: Successful Farming
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that U.S. farmers are able to apply for the USDA’s bridge payments. Producers can complete FBA applications online or at their FSA county office, and the submission deadline is Friday, April 17.
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