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MEDIA ADVISORY: MFU members heading to National Farmers Union Convention in Springfield, Massachusetts
What: National Farmers Union Convention
When: March 2-6, 2013
Where: Springfield, Massachusetts
Who: Mitchell Farmer-Lies of Belle Plaine; Peter and Stacy Ripka of Ogilvie; Bessie Klose of Atwater; Gary Wertish of Renville; Jim Frederickson of Rogers; Jim Falk of Murdock; Judy Moen of Climax; Mike and JessicaRatka of Foley; Bill Sorg of Hastings; Larry Jacobson of Hitterdal; Doug and Elly Peterson of Madison; Rodney Allebach of Menahga; Ross Eischens of Minneota; Merlyn and Sandy Hubin of Hitterdal; Marv and Marlyns Jensen of Kensington; Brian Rohrenbach of Rosemount; Linda Larson of Rosemount; Richard Moen of Clearbrook; Gene Paul of Delavan; Alan and Karen Perish of Browerville; and Lisa Syverson of Ulen.
Minnesota Farmers Union members heading to National Farmers Union Convention in Springfield, Massachusetts
Minnesota Farmers Union FFA Essay Contest
Minnesota Farmers Union is excited to announce a great opportunity for your FFA Chapter: The 2nd Annual Minnesota Farmers Union FFA Essay Contest!
This contest will encourage FFA students to learn about food security and hunger. The winning chapter will receive $1000 to put toward activities benefiting their chapter. The winning essay writer and their advisor will also be invited to participate in an educational forum on legislation in Washington D.C. free of charge. During the trip, they will get the opportunity to meet with Senators and Representatives, present their essay, and speak on the issues surrounding food security and hunger (If the scholarship winner or advisor is unable to attend, they may elect a substitute to attend in their absence.)
We are encourage each chapter to hold an internal essay contest between their members as a way of choosing what students essay will be sent to Minnesota Farmers Union to be judged in the overall contest. The chapter’s selected essay writer must complete the attached application and send it along with the essay to: Minnesota Farmers Union Attn: MFU FFA Essay Contest 600 County Road D West, Suite 14 St. Paul, MN 55112 Or e-mail as a PDF to glen@mfu.org with the subject line: MFU FFA Essay Contest. Essays must be postmarked or e-mailed to the MFU office by Friday, March 29th, 2013.
Vilsack, Dayton and Minnesota Farmers Union
ST. PAUL (February 16, 2013) – United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, alongside Governor Mark Dayton met with members today at the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) office. State Representatives Andrew Falk, and Rick Hansen, who are also MFU members, were in attendance as well.
At the meeting Secretary Vilsack recognized Minnesota and specifically Minnesota Farmers Union for their progressive work in agriculture, and informed MFU members on a federal perspective of current issues.
An issue of high priority for Secretary Vilsack is introducing young people into farming. “There will be far more farmers over the age of 75 than there will be under the age of 25” predicted Vilsack. “I value this group here” he said to Minnesota Farmers Union members, “I see a lot of people that look a lot younger than I do, which is great.”
Federal budget sequestration, the Farm Bill, water quality programs, and dairy were also important points of discussion. These are also high on Minnesota Farmers Union’s legislative agenda.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Meeting at Minnesota Farmers Union Office
ST. PAUL (February 14, 2013) – Tom Vilsack, head of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will be meeting with Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) this coming Saturday February 16, 2013.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time the Secretary of Agriculture has visited the Minnesota Farmers Union office,” commented MFU President Doug Peterson. “We are very pleased that he requested this meeting, and look forward to discussing how Minnesota Farmers Union’s legislative efforts are making changes on a federal level.”
Minnesota Farmers Union’s top legislative priorities are to implement a workable tax solution for the current budget deficit, approach water quality programs in a proactive manner, and make affordable healthcare solutions available for small businesses and families.
This meeting will be closed to media, however MFU President Doug Peterson is available for comment directly after the meeting, which is scheduled to end at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday February 16, 2013.
Attorney General Lori Swanson Recognizes MFU President Doug Peterson
ST. PAUL (January 29, 2013) – In a meeting Tuesday at the Minnesota State Capitol, Attorney General Lori Swanson, recognized Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Doug Peterson for his service. This public service award thanks Peterson for his service to the citizens of Minnesota, and for his strong advocacy to farmers, the agricultural economy and rural communities.
This award was presented at a meeting during the Minnesota Farmers Union 2013 Lobby Day, where MFU members gathered together to meet face to face with lawmakers to discuss important issues.
Big Oil and Grocery Giants’ Claim Against Ethanol Denied
ST. PAUL (January 24, 2013) – Tuesday, January 15, Grocery Manufacturers Association, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and others petitioned for rehearing of an August 2012 pro-ethanol ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency to raise the 10 percent maximum ethanol/gasoline blend to a 15 percent maximum. These blends are commonly referred to as E10 and E15.
This ruling is proactively working with the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires qualifying fuel refiners and importers to annually increase the volume of renewable fuel provided to consumers.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association and American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers—which are comprised of members such as grocery and oil industry giants General Mills, Nestlé, and Exxon Mobil—claimed the increase would cause potential automobile damage and increased food costs. These claims were overturned by a three judge panel, who found no cause to reduce ethanol blends with the Renewable Fuels Standard.
“Upholding this ruling denies the negative claims made by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and other petitioners,” said Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson, “This ruling also sets precedence of judicial support of renewable fuels.”
MFU sets priorities for legislative session
ST. PAUL (January 8, 2013) - With grassroots input from its farmer-membership, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) has set priorities for the 2013 legislative session.
“The number one issue for Minnesota Farmers Union this session at the Capitol is addressing tax issues in rural areas,” said Doug Peterson, MFU President. “MFU will work with the Dayton Administration and legislators to find common sense solutions to address issues around property, estate, sales, income and deprecation taxes.”
In addition to addressing property tax concerns, MFU will be working on legislation promoting and supporting local foods, health care, farmer-lender mediation and energy.
Two other big concerns MFU hopes to address this session are the continuation of a gray wolf hunting/trapping season, and legislation supporting the creation of an Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program.
These are just some of the issues MFU will be working on in the 2013 legislative session. Also, these are the issues MFU members will be talking to legislators about when they head to the state Capitol on Tuesday January 29, for their annual lobby day.
Minnesota Farmers Union calls for support of Representative Collin Peterson
ST.PAUL (January 7, 2013) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Doug Peterson would like to express his support to Minnesota Representative Collin Peterson in his call for assurance of debate from Speaker of the House, John Boehner, and House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, in regards to crafting another possible farm bill.
Speaker Boehner has been previously quoted saying, “We need to stop writing bills in the Speaker’s office and let members of Congress be legislators again… We have nothing to fear from letting the House work it’s will – nothing to fear from the battle of ideas. That starts with the Committees. The result will be more scrutiny and better legislation.”
Representative Peterson, MFU and others alike confer that not
allowing time for the Agriculture Committee’s bipartisan bill to be debated on
the floor was a disregard to letting the house “work it’s will”.
MFU President Peterson would like to call to action all commodity groups to
join in support of Representative Peterson, to support his endeavors of
receiving assurance of a farm bill debate.
MFU President Peterson calls for farm bill extension
ST. PAUL (December 31, 2012) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Doug Peterson urged Congressional leaders in the United States Senate and House of Representatives to pass an extension of the current farm bill for nine months and continue to work on and pass a responsible five-year farm bill in the new Congress.
"With Congress at an impasse, a nine-month extension may be the only path to a five-year farm bill in the new Congress,” said Doug Peterson, MFU President. “An extension must be responsible and protect baseline funding and continue vital farm and consumer programs such as the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC), crop insurance, child and elderly nutrition, and conservation.”
Minnesota Farmers Union, standing for agriculture and fighting for farmers.
MFU members Biel & VanDerPol appointed to state boards by Governor Dayton
Governor Dayton announced several appointments that include MFU members Jim VanDerPol (Chippewa Co.) being appointed to the Food Safety Task Force and Eunice Biel (Fillmore Co.) being appointed to the MN Dairy Research, Training, and Consumer Education Authority. Congrats to them!