Advocacy
MFU Advocacy
Since 1942, the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) has worked through its grassroots membership to promote and improve the lives of all people whether you are in a rural community, a farmer or a consumer, urban or rural. MFU works to provide an effective grassroots voice for our members in both St. Paul and Washington D.C., as well as working with all forms of government administrations from the smallest township to the federal government.
MFU policy is set and controlled by our membership. Ideas and support for MFU policy come from resolutions set at local conventions held with in MFU’s over 70 county organizations. Resolutions passed at the county level are then sent to the state level for consideration, and if passed are placed in the permanent policy document.
Notes from the MN Farmers Union 3-9-12
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Friday March 9, 2012
MFU members return from convention
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members have returned from the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention held in Omaha, Nebraska. “The National Farmers Union Convention is important because it is a great display of grassroots policy-making,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “National Farmers Union members from throughout the country decide policies important to farmers, and give direction to Congress.” Farmers Union delegates re-elected President Roger Johnson and Vice President Claudia Svarstad and passed special orders of business relating to investment priorities in the 2012 Farm Bill, the Market-Driven Inventory System, Country-of-Origin Labeling, dairy, beginning farmer programs, the beef checkoff, and cuts to rural U.S. Postal Service offices. You can view each Special Order here, http://nfu.org/policy-nfu/special-orders-of-business. Members heard from numerous speakers, including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., and Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.
Notes from the MN Farmers Union 3-2-12
Notes from Minnesota Farmers Union Friday March 2, 2012
NFU Convention
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members will be attending the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, March 4-7. “The National Farmers Union Convention is important because it is a great display of grassroots policy-making,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “National Farmers Union members from throughout the country decide policies important to farmers, and give direction to Congress.” Minnesotans attending: Jake Hanson-Flores of Woodbury will be attending as part of the National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC). He was one of only six people elected by his peers to be on NYAC. Jake will make a presentation to the entire convention body, and help plan next year’s NFU All-States Leadership Camp. Mike and Jessica Ratka of Foley will be attending as members of the Farmers Union Leadership Couples' Program, developed to empower future leaders in Farmers Union and rural communities. Delegates to the NFU Convention are Lee Johnston of Swanville; Pat Irrthum of Wanamingo; Alton Walker of Bagley; Ted Winter of Fulda; MFU Executive Board Member Larry Jacobson of Hitterdal; MFU Executive Board Member Bessie Klose of Atwater; and MFU President Doug Peterson.
Notes from the MN Farmers Union 2-20-12
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Monday February 20, 2012
Lobby Day Complete
MFU President Doug Peterson thanks all of the members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend a very successful MFU lobby day at the Capitol Wednesday Feb. 15th. MFU members met with Governor Mark Dayton, Attorney General Lori Swanson, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and nearly 50 legislators including Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, House Agriculture Chairman Rod Hamilton and Senate Ag Chair Doug Magnus. MFU discussed many issues including property taxes, energy, school trust land, drought and fire danger, funding for the Rural Finance Authority. Check MFU’s Facebook page later in the week for pictures.
MFU testifies on wind easements
MFU President Doug Peterson and MFU member Ryan Wolf testified this past week before the Senate Agriculture committee in favor of SF1534 authored by Senator David Brown (R-Becker), which would extend the current law regarding seven-year wind easements another five years. “Some farmers signed wind leases for their land and have seen no development within seven years.
Notes from the MN Farmers Union 2-7-12
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Monday February 6, 2012
Allebach new Farmers Union Agency President
Rodney Allebach of Menahga will be the new president of Famers Union Agency (www.farmersunionagency.com), the insurance end of Minnesota Farmers Union. “I am honored to be chosen as the new Farmers Union Agency President. I look forward to working in this position. Farmers Union Agency has had strong leadership in the past and has a tradition of growth under current President Jim Frederickson. I plan to expand this growth and continue the great partnership we have with Minnesota Farmers Union,” said Rodney Allebach, president-elect. “Farmers Union Agency has a great team of agents, and a strong office staff and management team. Congrats to Rodney!
Attend your caucuses!
MFU President Doug Peterson encourages all members of MFU to take time out of their schedules and attend their precinct caucuses Tuesday Feb. 7th. They begin at 7:00 p.m. and are typically done by 8:00 or so.
Notes from the MN Farmers Union 1-18-12
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Wednesday January 18, 2012
MFU pleased with Certainty agreement
MFU President Doug Peterson attended the ceremony yesterday that featured USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Lisa Jackson the Administrator with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Governor Mark Dayton signing a joint agreement known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a new state program called the Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program for farmers designed to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices.
Notes from the Mn Farmers Union 12-22-11
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Tuesday December 20, 2011
Happy Holiday from MFU
MFU President Doug Peterson wishes all members and friends of Minnesota Farmers Union Happy Holidays and thanks for a great year and best of wishes in the upcoming year. Take a look at the MFU year in review video produced by Glen Schmidt, MFU Education Director here: http://youtu.be/Uwuu-gfMn1Q
Horse Slaughter
Horses could soon be butchered in the U.S. after Congress quietly lifted a 5-year-old ban on funding horse meat inspections, and activists say slaughterhouses could be up and running in as little as a month. Slaughter opponents pushed a measure cutting off funding for horse meat inspections through Congress in 2006 after other efforts to pass outright bans on horse slaughter failed in previous years. Congress lifted the ban in a spending bill President Barack Obama signed into law Nov. 18 to keep the government afloat until mid-December. It did not, however, allocate any new money to pay for horse meat inspections, which opponents claim could cost taxpayers $3 million to $5 million a year. The U.S.
Notes from the MN Farmers Union 11-22-11
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Tuesday November 22, 2011
70th annual convention completed, Peterson, Wertish re-elected
MFU President Doug Peterson and Vice-President Gary Wertish were re-elected by acclamation at the 70th annual MFU state convention held last weekend in Mpls. Despite what seems to be annual terrible weather, MFU saw a great turnout of delegates, alternates, and friends of MFU. Delegates considered by-law, resolution, and special orders, and heard from speakers including MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson and Dr. Bill Hartmann, State Veterinarian. MFU delegates also heard from NRCS State Conservationist Don Baloun and Brian Jennings from the American Coalition for Ethanol, they also participated in a question and answer period. Senator Amy Klobuchar and NFU President Roger Johnson also spoke at the banquet. MFU thanks the many sponsors for their contribution to this year’s very successful convention.
Delegates elected
MFU had a great slate of candidates running for delegate to the National Farmers Union convention this year to be held March 4-7th in Omaha, Nebraska.