Notes from MN Farmers Union 1-12-09
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Wed. January 14th, 2009
Legislative session underway
MFU has been very busy meeting with legislators and staff as the legislative session enters its second week. This past week MFU met with Sens. Dille, Skogen, Erickson-Ropes and Reps. Juhnke, Otremba, Hansen, Faust, Hamilton, Doty, Eken, Koenen, Kath, Marquart, Brown, Hosch, and Olin. MFU has been discussing our priority issues that include Green Acres, Bovine Tb, the state budget and health care.
MFU testifies before Outdoor Committee
This week MFU testified before the Cultural and Outdoor Resources Committee chaired by Rep. Mary Murphy that is going to be making recommendation for how the House should spend the money that will come from the recently passed constitutional amendment. MFU urged the committee to consider agriculture and the impact farmers can have on clean water and creating and maintaining habitat. Delegates to last years MFU state convention passed a resolution that urged the committee to look at open space preservation, using a “working lands” approach to conservation, and managing habitat among other items. Members who have suggestions should contact me.
Green Acres!
There is no doubt that besides the huge budget deficit, that fixing, repealing or reforming the state Green Acres property tax program is a top issue on the minds of many legislators. Bills have been introduced (see below) by Sen. Rick Olseen and Reps. Al Doty and Rob Eastlund to address the issue. While MFU favors a full repeal, we are also working on several changes that address issues around “non-productive” land, CRP and RIM lands, transfers, and payback time. The Senate has scheduled a hearing for Jan. 29th at 3:00p.m. in the Ag Committee, and the House has scheduled for Jan. 21st at 10:30 a.m. MFU will testify at both hearings, and if members have questions about the hearings, please feel free to contact me.
MN Health Plan
MFU President Doug Peterson spoke at a rally in the capitol rotunda last week in support of the “Minnesota Health Plan” that would ensure all Minnesotans receive high quality health care, regardless of their income. The author of the plan in the Senate will be Sen. John Marty and in the House will be Rep. David Bly. For more information check out: http://www.muhcc.org/MHP.html
Senate Ag Committee
The Senate Ag Committee held their first meeting last Thursday and heard from Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Gene Hugoson who updated the committee on Minnesota quest for a waiver to allow Minnesota to go forward with our E-20 mandate by the year 2013. The Commissioner anticipates that the state will put forward the waiver request to the federal government sometime in the year 2010. Minnesota now has 18 operating ethanol plants and 2 more that are not operating, and a third that is not finished. Those plants produce about 850 million gallons of ethanol per year, and for the E-20 waiver to take affect, the state needs to produce 540 million gallons. The Commissioner also updated the committee on the activities on the Next Gen Energy Board, for more info on the board checkout: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/renewable/nextgen/default.htm
AURI
At that meeting of the Senate Ag Committee, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) also gave a presentation on work they have done on biofuels, including coordinating the Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable. MFU strongly supports AURI, and is represented on their Board of Directors by Julie Blehlyl. For more information checkout: www.auri.org .
MFU Lobby days at the capitol
I invite members to consider joining MFU on one of two lobby days at the capitol in St. Paul. We have two dates Jan. 27th for the Southeast, East Central, and Southwest and Feb. 12th for the Northwest and West Central. MFU does provide van service on those days from various parts of the state. We start the day at 10:00 a.m. in room 300 North of the State Office Building, and then members will take in committee hearings, floor sessions and meeting with their legislators and other legislators too. There is also usually time for a tour of the capitol too, if you are interested. Also this year, if you would like to drive yourself on one of those days, MFU will provide you a complimentary one day parking pass for the Sears parking lot (across from the state office building). Space on the vans may be limited. If you would like more information or to reserve a spot on the van or a parking pass call 1-800-969-3380) or e-mail me at thom@mfu.org
TB assessment now in place
In 2008, a bill was passed that provides for an assessment of $1 per head on all Minnesota raised cattle sales in the state between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31st, 2009. The funds collected through this assessment will be used to support bovine tb control activities. For further information checkout: www.mntbfree.com .
NFU reaction to final COOL rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released the department's final rule for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL). National Farmers Union has been a long-time proponent of the labeling law and NFU President Tom Buis expressed disappointment at today's action. "Despite the strong support from Congress, and demands from consumers and producers alike, USDA has chosen to implement COOL in a manner that does not meet Congress' clear intent, leaving loopholes in place for those willing to circumvent the law.” The final rule still contains a loophole that would allow meat packers to use a multiple countries, or NAFTA label, rather than labeling U.S. products as products of the United States. This is misleading to consumers. The intent was to provide country of origin labeling, not trade agreement origin of labeling. If a product is exclusively born, raised and processed in the United States it should be labeled as such. "USDA takes great liberty with the definition of 'processed products,' effectively leaving several food products without labels and denying consumers the knowledge of their food's country of origin.”The department recognizes acceptance of producer
affidavits to verify compliance, which I am pleased to see. "COOL was effective Sept. 30, 2008 and NFU had urged the department to withhold final judgment until COOL's six month trial period had concluded. We will continue to monitor the implementation of COOL and if not implemented properly will not hesitate to go to Congress for changes until COOL is implemented in the best interest of consumers, farmers and ranchers.
MILC Sign-up underway
USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds milk producers that signup for the 2009 Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC) has begun and will continue through the program's expiration date, Sept 30, 2012. During the signup application period, participating dairy operations must select the month of the fiscal year to start receiving payments for eligible production. Producers submitting a contract application within 30 days of the beginning of the application period can select any preceding month as the start month. Producers submitting contract applications after Jan. 21, 2009, will not have the option of selecting an earlier month as the payment start month for the dairy operation for a fiscal year; and will be limited to applicable start month selection rules. Dairy producers can apply for MILC at local FSA offices. More information on MILC is available at local FSA offices, or at www.fsa.usda.gov
Farmer-Chef connections
Renewing the Countryside, Minnesota Grown, MISA, and Green Routes, in partnership with local sponsors, are hosting three Farmer/Buyer Connection workshops in January and February, 2009. The workshops will have information sessions to assist farmers and food buyers to connect and explore best practices in working together, followed by the networking opportunity—a chance to forge new relationships for the 2009 growing season! Please call 612.871.1541 or e-mail Margaret at Margaret@rtcinfo.org.
Monday, January 26, 2009 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
Farmer Chef Direct Marketing Workshop – Bemidji
Monday, February 9, 2009 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location TBD
Farmer Chef Direct Marketing Workshop – Lanesboro
Monday, February 16, 2009 10:00 am- 4:00 pm
NFU Convention reminder
MFU members and staff are busy preparing for the annual NFU convention which will be held in Washington D.C. on March 8-10th. A NFU Fly-in day will follow on March 11th. This should be a great convention, and with it being in D.C., there could be some very interesting speakers and guests. For more information on airfare, schedule, hotel, call Tim Schloe at the MFU office at 651-639-1223 or e-mail tim@mfu.org , also checkout NFU’s website: http://nfu.org/about/convention\
Vilsack confirmation hearing today
Former Iowa Governor and UDSA Secretary Nominee Tom Vilsack was scheduled to appear before the Senate Ag Committee today for his confirmation hearing. Closer to home MFU wishes FSA State Director Perry Aasness well as his last day will be Jan. 20th. MFU enjoyed a good working relationship with Aasness and also appreciated his accessibility and ability to share information with farm groups. Glen Schafer will serve as the interim State Director until a new one is chosen. Sen. Klobuchar will be selecting the new director with input from Rep. Collin Peterson and Rep. Tim Walz.
Bill introductions of note:
Doty, Poppe, Hosch, Jackson and Kalin introduced:
H. F. No. 10, A bill for an act relating to property taxation; repealing the 2008 changes to the Green Acres law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivisions 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 11a; Laws 2008, chapter 366, article 6, section 52; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 3a.
Juhnke introduced:
H. F. No. 21, A bill for an act relating to soil and water conservation; creating a farm unit conservation plan program; requiring a conservation plan for participation in a state cost-share program; creating a farmland conservation task force; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 103C.101, by adding subdivisions; 103C.501, subdivision 5; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103C.
Eastlund, Gottwalt, Drazkowski, Haws, Norton, Seifert, McNamara, Westrom, Nornes, Urdahl, Dettmer, Severson, Shimanski, Emmer, Beard, Ward, Kiffmeyer and Scalze introduced:
H. F. No. 78, A bill for an act relating to property taxation; repealing the 2008 changes to the Green Acres law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivisions 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 11a; Laws 2008, chapter 366, article 6, section 52; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 3a.
Senator Betzold introduced--
S.F. No. 7: A bill for an act relating to animals; providing standards of care for dog and cat breeders; authorizing rulemaking; providing criminal penalties; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 347.
Senators Sheran, Prettner Solon, Dibble and Murphy introduced--
S.F. No. 13: A bill for an act relating to energy; establishing standard to reduce carbon intensity of transportation fuels; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116.
Senators Olseen, Lourey, Erickson Ropes, Koch and Fobbe introduced--
S.F. No. 16: A bill for an act relating to property taxation; repealing the 2008 changes to the Green Acres law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivisions 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 11a; Laws 2008, chapter 366, article 6, section 52; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 3a.
That is all for now, as usual, questions, comments and complaints to me!
Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations, MN Farmers Union