THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS COMMODITY-SPECIFIC PAYMENT RATES WILL BE RELEASED BY THE END OF MARCH IN THE ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROP FARMERS PROGRAM, WHICH IS FOR SPECIALTY CROPS AND SUGAR NOT COVERED UNDER THE FARMER BRIDGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN LATE DECEMBER ANNOUNCED THE $12 MILLION FBA PAYMENTS, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO OFFSET LOW PRICES AND MARKET PRICE IMPACTS FROM TARIFFS ON EXPORT MARKETS FOR THE 2025 CROP YEAR. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE $11 BILLION FOR TRADITIONAL FARM PROGRAM COMMODITIES, INCLUDING CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, GRAIN SORGHUM, BARLEY, OATS, COTTON, PEANUTS, RICE AND OTHER CROPS. THE REMAINING $1 BILLION WILL BE USED FOR SPECIALTY CROPS AND SUGAR.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON CELEBRATES ITS LARGEST GIFT IN HISTORY AFTER RECEIVING A $6.2 MILLION DONATION FROM ALUMNUS LES NIELSEN. AN UPCOMING NAMING AND DEDICATION OF THE CAMPUS WELLNESS CENTER, WHICH WILL BE CALLED THE NIELSEN FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER, IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GIFT.
LES NIELSEN AND HIS WIFE, JUNE, WHO SADLY PASSED AWAY IN SEPTEMBER 2025, HAVE BEEN DEDICATED DONORS TO UMN CROOKSTON FOR DECADES. THEY’VE PROVIDED IMPACTFUL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS SINCE THE 1990S, MOST RECENTLY A FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS LIVING IN THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES OF RED LAKE FALLS, GRYGLA, CLEARBROOK, GONVICK, GOODRIDGE, AND EUCLID. THEY ALSO DONATED $1 MILLION TO THE WELLNESS CENTER PROJECT AHEAD OF ITS GRAND OPENING 10 YEARS AGO IN MEMORY OF THEIR SON, MITCH LIEN NIELSEN, WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY IN 1989 AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.
A DEDICATION EVENT FOR THE NIELSEN FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER IS PLANNED FOR APRIL 20, 2026 WITH MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
FROM REPRESENTAVIVE JOHN BURKEL:
THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL SOON BE UNDERWAY, AND I EXPECT THE SESSION TO BE DOMINATED BY DISCUSSION OF HOW TO END THE MASSIVE FRAUD PROBLEM IN OUR STATE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE CHARGE ON WOLF AND ELK DEPREDATION ACCOUNTS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY DEPLETED. WHILE FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS WAS INCREASED IN LAST YEAR’S BUDGET, IT FAILED TO COVER ALL CLAIMS. MY BILL, WHICH WOULD APPROPRIATE $250,000 TO THE PROGRAMS, WAS APPROVED IN THE HOUSE BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE SENATE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL BONDING PLANS I’LL BE PROMOTING, PARTICULARLY A WATER PROJECT FOR KENNEDY AND A WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL FOR STEPHEN. THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL TRANSPORTATION-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT I’LL ALSO BE BRINGING FORWARD.
I ALSO HAVE LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS MNDOT FROM REQUIRING LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS THAT ARE NECESSITATED BY A TRUNK HIGHWAY PROJECT. MNDOT’S COST PARTICIPATION POLICY SETS THE GROUND RULES FOR HOW PROJECT COSTS ARE SHARED BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN WORKING TOGETHER ON TRUNK HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE INTENT OF THIS BILL IS TO ALLOW FOR SOME LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES AS THEY MAKE BUDGET PLANS.
Last modified: 02/13/2026
