USDA assistance programs — rates coming by end of March
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says commodity-specific payment rates for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program will be released by the end of March. That program is aimed at specialty crops and sugar that are not covered under the Farmer Bridge Assistance program.
USDA announced $12 million in Farmer Bridge Assistance payments in late December. Those payments are intended to help offset low prices and market impacts from tariffs on export markets for the 2025 crop year.
USDA says the larger effort provides $11 billion for traditional farm program commodities — including corn, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum, barley, oats, cotton, peanuts, rice, and other crops — with the remaining $1 billion set aside for specialty crops and sugar.
UMN Crookston celebrates largest gift in campus history
The University of Minnesota Crookston is celebrating the largest gift in its history after receiving a $6.2 million donation from alumnus Les Nielsen. The campus wellness center will be renamed the Nielsen Family Wellness Center in recognition of the multi-million-dollar gift.
Les Nielsen and his wife June — who passed away in September 2025 — have supported UMN Crookston for decades. Since the 1990s, their giving has funded scholarships for hundreds of students.
Most recently, the Nielsens provided a full-tuition scholarship for students from Red Lake Falls, Grygla, Clearbrook, Gonvick, Goodridge, and Euclid. They also previously donated $1 million to the wellness center project ahead of its grand opening about 10 years ago, in memory of their son, Mitch Lien Nielsen, who died in a 1989 motorcycle accident. A dedication event for the renamed facility is planned for April 20, 2026.
Rep. John Burkel outlines priorities for the 2026 session
In a statement, Representative John Burkel says the 2026 legislative session will soon be underway, and he expects it to be dominated by discussion on how to address what he calls a “massive fraud problem” in Minnesota.
Burkel says he plans to continue pushing for funding for wolf and elk depredation accounts, which he says are currently depleted. He notes that while funding was increased in last year’s budget, it did not cover all claims, and his bill to appropriate $250,000 passed the House but did not advance in the Senate.
He also says he’ll promote local bonding proposals, including a water project for Kennedy and a water and sewer infrastructure proposal for Stephen, along with several local transportation-related infrastructure needs. Burkel added he’s backing legislation that would prohibit MnDOT from requiring local governments to pay certain costs tied to trunk highway projects, saying the goal is to provide more certainty for local budget planning.
Last modified: 02/15/2026
