Notes from MN Farmers Union 2-13-09
Notes from the MN Farmers Union Friday February 13th, 2009
Lobby day
MFU President Doug Peterson thanks members for taking time out of their busy schedules to come to the capitol in St. Paul this past week for the second of two lobby days. Members came from Northwest and West Central Minnesota. Members met with Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Sens. Dille, Gimse, Ingebrigtsen, Stumpf, Kubly, Langseth, and Skoe. In addition they also met with Reps. Falk, Koenen, Otremba, Juhnke, Eken, Lieder, Urdahl, Kulick-Jackson, Marquart and Anderson. Members talked about Green Acres the state budget and other MFU priorities.
Dairy price a big concern
National Farmers Union Board of Directors has sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack urging swift action and attention to slumping dairy prices. The letter says "We reiterate our call to make significant purchases of agricultural products, with a special emphasis on dairy products, as soon as possible. We also urge you to maximize utilization of the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) to stimulate international demand of the eligible commodities. To ensure integrity of the CCC purchase program, processors should be mandated to pay producers the higher of the market price or the federal minimum support purchase prices. A commonly held misconception is that producers are paid the minimum price, yet that is not occurring. The current dairy situation is not unique to just that one commodity, yet the immediacy of the dairy market collapse requires creative policy solutions."
Walz on dairy situation
On Monday, Congressman Walz also wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging him to take swift action to assist dairy producers throughout the country who are experiencing serious economic difficulty due to high production costs and low milk prices. "I have heard from dairy producers across Minnesota who are very concerned about the future of their industry if swift action is not taken," said Walz. "I wrote Secretary Vilsack yesterday to encourage him to use funds he has available to purchase surplus milk and processed milk products and help shore up collapsing dairy prices."Walz successfully pushed for a similar action by USDA last year to address a drop in pork prices that threatened the livelihood of thousands of southern Minnesota's farm and ranch families. He said that sensible use of USDA's so-called Section 32 funds-funds that are available at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase surplus commodities-can increase demand for dairy products and help producers around the country who are facing a crisis.
Klobuchar to hold dairy meeting in Mora
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar will hold a meeting in Mora to specifically hear from dairy farmers about how the low prices will impact their farms and to hear their ideas. The meeting will be Wednesday Feb. 18th in Mora at Freddie's Restaurant on Hwy. 65 at 1:15 p.m. Klobuchar says "Farmers are especially vulnerable during these tough economic times," said Klobuchar. "Across Minnesota, dairy farmers are struggling as a result of this economic crisis. We need to provide immediate and targeted support to stabilize prices and help dairy farmers who are hurting."
Town Hall Meetings
The Minnesota House and Senate will be holding meetings around the state to gather input on the Governor's budget proposal. The Minnesota House just launched a new application on their website that will allow Minnesotans the opportunity to sign up to speak at one of the upcoming MN Town Hall Meetings being held throughout the state Feb. 19-26. While signing up is not a guarantee (based on turnout) that someone will get a chance to speak, House and Senate staff will make an effort to prioritize those that sign up ahead of time; and will give them a sense of projected turnout prior to the meetings.
The direct link is http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/budgettownhallmeetings.asp
There is also a link right on the top of the front page of www.house.mn
NFU support stimulus package
NFU President Tom Buis made the following statement on the economic recovery package currently being considered in Congress. "The economy is, by far, the number one concern on the minds of rural citizens across the country. It is very important for Congress to act, and act quickly, to get our nation's economy moving again and restore consumer confidence." The Senate and House packages both include provisions that will boost the rural economy. Investments in broadband infrastructure will create jobs and connect rural America to the information super-highway, and further developing renewable fuels from the farm will revitalize rural communities. "Most notably, both packages expand nutrition assistance programs. This will help farmers, who as a result of the economic downturn have experienced decreased demand for their products; and families, millions of whom have lost jobs, put food on the table.
Vet Loan Forgiveness
MFU testified this week before the Senate Agriculture Committee in favor of SF132 authored by Sen. Steve Dille that would create a loan forgiveness program for food-animal vets that agree to work in underserved areas. 13 other states including North Dakota have some kind of loan forgiveness program. MFU is concerned about the aging vet workforce and that there are 13 counties in Minnesota with no food animal vets. The University of MN vet school offered excellent testimony backing this up, and pointing out that more grad are choosing the more lucrative and easier to handle small animal practices and coming out of school with $100,000 debt. So far there is no House author. Check it out: SF132
Open Lot Agreements
Last week MFU attended a stakeholder meeting with state agencies and others interested parties to discuss the pending Oct. 2010 deadline for livestock producers who signed an "open lot agreement" to come into compliance and make necessary changes to their operation. Producers under 300 animal units are not required to take any action if cost share is not available. Rep. Steve Drazowski has introduced a bill to extend the deadline by 10 years. MFU is concerned about the process and assurances if the deadline passes, and no funding is available as to what kind of enforcement actions will or won't be taken. The state agencies are working on the issue, and we should know more soon. Members who have questions should contact me at the office. For more info on open lots checkout: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/feedlot-openlot.html
California Emissions bill
Sen. John Marty and Rep. Melissa Hortman held a press conference this week to announce that they have re-introduced one of the more controversial bills from last year called the Minnesota Clean Car Act, but also known as the California emissions bill. The bill would have Minnesota adopt California emission standards. MFU is meeting with interested parties on the legislation; MFU has concerns about how biofuels are treated and vehicle availability. The bill will be heard this Wednesday in the House transportation committee. Checkout both sides of the issue, and let me know your thoughts: http://www.donttakemytruck.com/ or http://www.cleanenergyminnesota.org/cars.htm
Little Falls Community Farm to School Program receives $4,000 from FUI Foundation
The Little Falls Community Farm to School Program recently received an award in the amount of $4,000 from the Farmers Union Industries (FUI) Foundation. These funds will allow the program to expand the number of healthy, locally grown food items to the school lunch program. In addition, the committee plans to introduce the second phase of the program, School to Farm, which brings recycled and composted food back to the grower. The Little Falls Area School District has been working in collaboration with local farmers and organizations to bring healthy, locally grown food choices to the school lunch program since September of 2008. Tina Wheeler, food service director for the Little Falls school district, has a vision to connect the school with local farms. She said the outcomes from this collaboration include improved nutrition, family education, and support of the local economy. In addition to the Little Falls School District #482, other partners in the Community Farm to School Program include the Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC) of Morrison County, Minnesota Extension Service, Whole Farm Coop (Long Prairie), Borden Farms (Merrifield), Morrison County Public Health, and the Morrison County Farmers Union. "The local food effort undertaken by the Little Falls School District, and the community should be commended," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "The effort educates the students about where food comes from and the economic value of supporting farmers, and businesses in your community, at the same time providing the students with nutritional food to eat. It is a win-win situation."
Full Board to meet
The MFU full Board of Directors, which consists of all county Presidents, will meet in St. Cloud next Saturday the 21st of Feb. at the Radisson Hotel. Members will be electing the Executive Board, discussing the budget and receiving department updates.
President's call
MFU is now conducting a bi-weekly conference call for county presidents to update them on the goings on at the capitol. The first call was today and MFU President Doug Peterson and I discussed many issues including green acres, the state budget and the California car legislation.
Bill Introductions of note:
Gardner introduced: H. F. 0418, A bill for an act relating to noxious weeds; allowing municipalities to adopt ordinances for the eradication of buckthorn; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 18.78, by adding a subdivision.
Drazkowski, Demmer, Magnus and Hamilton introduced: H. F. 0437, A bill for an act relating to animal feedlots; extending the deadline for open lot agreements; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116.
Kahn, Hornstein, Davids, Juhnke, Otremba, Eken, Falk, Abeler, Hilty, Bly, Koenen, Johnson, Hansen, Clark, Gunther, Hayden, Liebling, Thao and Loeffler introduced: H. F. 608, A bill for an act relating to agriculture; providing for the development and regulation of an industrial hemp industry; authorizing rulemaking; providing a defense for possession and cultivation of industrial hemp; modifying the definition of marijuana; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 18J.01; 18J.02; 18J.03; 18J.04, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 18J.05, subdivisions 1, 2, 6; 18J.06; 18J.07, subdivisions 3, 4, 5; 18J.09; 18J.11, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 152.01, subdivision 9; 375.30, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 18K.
Jackson introduced: H. F. 634, A bill for an act relating to taxation; agricultural property; modifying the Minnesota agricultural property tax law; establishing a new property tax classification for preservation and legacy land; modifying valuation of certain property; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 273.11, by adding a subdivision; 273.111, subdivisions 3, 3a; 273.13, subdivision 23; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 273.
Paymar; Morgan; Murphy, E.; Greiling; Scalze; Bunn and Kelly introduced: H. F. 507, A bill for an act relating to agriculture; repealing the ethanol producer payment program; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 41A.09, subdivisions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4, 10.
Hosch, Marquart, Lenczewski, Kelliher, Juhnke, Koenen, Kalin, Welti, Morrow, Doty, Jackson, Faust, Bly, Masin, Sailer, Brynaert, Pelowski, Poppe, Sterner, Ward, Haws, Persell, Kath, Fritz, Brown, Newton, Obermueller, Dittrich, Hansen and Norton introduced: H. F. 635, A bill for an act relating to taxation; property; delaying the implementation of certain 2008 changes to the green acres program by one year; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 3a.
Hackbarth and Johnson introduced: H. F. 659, A bill for an act relating to alcohol; modifying provisions relating to farm wineries; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 340A.301, subdivision 4; 340A.315, subdivisions 2, 3, 7; 340A.418, subdivision 2.
Senator Erickson Ropes introduced--S.F. No. 500: A bill for an act relating to companion animals; creating a required permit for certain dog and cat breeders; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 347.
Senators Rosen, Prettner Solon, Skogen, Senjem and Dibble introduced--S.F. No. 512: A bill for an act relating to taxation; income taxes; providing for a small wind turbine investment tax credit; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 290.
Senator Vickerman introduced--S.F. No. 566: A bill for an act relating to agriculture; changing certain provisions of the pesticide control law and the fertilizer, soil amendment, and plant amendment law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 18B.065, subdivisions 2, 2a; 18C.415, subdivision 3; 18C.421; 18C.425, subdivisions 4, 6.
That is all for now, as usual questions, comments or complaints to me!
Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations, MN Farmers Union