Congress has once again extended the 2018 Farm Bill for another year, and this is expected to have a major effect on the passage of future farm bills, and other ag legislation.  National Federation of Farmer Cooperatives CEO Chuck Conner tells us what the extension could mean for a new farm bill in 2026, which would also coincide with the 2026 midterm election.

Ag legislation was split between Congress’s “Skinny Farm Bill” and President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” this past year, and Connor says this unconventional way of passing ag legislation also complicates things.

It’s no secret that the current environment in Congress is chaotic, and Connor tells us what this could mean for 2026, as well as how the environment is different from past years. 

For more agricultural news go to the Farm News webpage at rjbroadcasting.com.

Audio from the Red River Farm Network

A DFL challenger has emerged for Minnesota State Senator Mark Johnson’s seat in St. Paul. Bjorn Solberg, a businessman from Halstad recently announced his run for the Senate District 1 seat. Solberg tells R&J News what he would bring to the Senate.

Solberg says he’s also interested in the mental health of farmers.

Solberg will challenge Senator Johnson in the upcoming 2026 election.

The State of Minnesota has been expanding its Agricultural Weather Network over the last couple years, and local agricultural producers are seeing the benefits of this investment. Stefan Bischof of the Minnesota Ag Weather Network says their partnership with the North Dakota Ag Weather Network (NDAWN) has helped Minnesota expand their network.

Bischof explains why the Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) is so valuable to Minnesota producers. 

Bischof says MAWN also offers tools that can help producers with operations that have a wide geographical footprint. 

You can learn more about the Minnesota Agricultural Weather Network by going to the Minnesota Department of Ag website at www.mda.state.mn.us/minnesota-ag-weather-network.