Notes from the MN Farmers Union 8-11-09
Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Tuesday August 11th, 2009
FarmFest complete
MFU President Doug Peterson thanks the many MFU members and friends who stopped by the MFU booth at this years FarmFest which wrapped up last week. In addition, MFU was pleased to have Rep. Collin Peterson and Rep. Tim Walz stop by the booth and visit with members, as well as new FSA State Director Linda Hennen, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, and many other legislators and candidates for Governor. Among FarmFest activities, MFU participated in two forums, the DNR Buffalo Chip-throwing contest (we lost), sponsored the first-ever Women's Breakfast, and also MFU Insurance Agency sponsored the ever-popular kiddie tractor pull.
Johnson participates in climate debate
NFU President Roger Johnson was also at FarmFest meeting MFU members and he participated in a Climate Change panel discussion in the forum tent. Johnson thanked Rep. Peterson for his work on the legislation passed in the House, and noted that Farmers Union will be working on the legislation as it moves through the Senate. You can read Johnson's recent testimony before Congress regarding climate here: Climate testimony
MFU hosts Low Carbon Meeting
During FarmFest, MFU hosted a meeting in Redwood Falls with MFU leaders and leaders from other farm groups to discuss potential state legislation known as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). An LCFS would set a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in fuel by a certain date. MFU was very thankful to have the authors, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. Kathy Sheran, of the legislation that stalled last year at the capitol, out to Redwood Falls for the meeting. You can see last year's legislation at: LCFS legislation
Franken Holding Dairy Forum
MFU President Doug Peterson will be in St. Cloud tomorrow to attend a dairy policy forum hosted by U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-MN. The forum set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Stearns History Museum, 235-33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. The public is welcome, although space and seating maybe limited.
Oberstar Dairy Meeting
MFU attended a dairy meeting held last Friday in Pine City by Rep. James Oberstar to discuss the current dairy crisis. MFU urged Oberstar to look at ways to boost the price paid to the farmer immediately and support MPC and Anti-Trust legislation. It was a very good meeting and Oberstar said that he would be speaking with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Rep. Collin Peterson with what he had heard at the meeting.
MPC Legislation introduced
Last week, Senator Charles Schumer (NY) introduced the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act (S. 1542). Original co-sponsors = Feingold, Murray, Sanders, Klobuchar, Gillibrand. The Milk Import Tariff Equity Act will close the loophole in our current system that allows these foreign dairy products unlimited access to domestic markets. Farmers Union policy strongly supports this legislation.
Commissioner announces Farmer Assistance Network
MDA is establishing a new network of services to help farmers who are having financial difficulties. As announced by Governor Pawlenty last week at Farmfest, the Minnesota Farmer Assistance Network (MFAN) will provide mentoring, technical assistance and financial guidance to farm families facing economic hardship. The announcement comes amid a challenging year for the state's livestock sector. Dairy producers are struggling with milk prices that have fallen by 50 percent in the last 12 months to the lowest levels in decades. Additionally, pork producers are seeing a weakened consumer demand for pork, increased feed prices and are having greater difficulty securing credit. MDA Commissioner Gene Hugoson says MFAN will consist of a network of certified volunteers who will provide a variety of services to meet struggling farmers' needs.
MFAN will include a one-stop hotline staffed by veteran financial analysts who would help producers facing crises. The network will also include referral services for lenders, farm business management instructors, and extension agents as well as for legal advice and crisis counseling. MFAN will be under the administrative oversight of the Minnesota Rural Finance Authority (RFA), and will be funded through reallocation of existing money. MDA has provided this link for producers in crisis: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/animals/livestock/resources-crisis.htm
Commissioner Holding Listening sessions
MDA Gene Hugoson will take to the road this month to hear what's on the minds of farmers and others involved in Minnesota agriculture as he hosts a series of listening sessions in Fergus Falls, Roseau and Grand Rapids. The informal discussions typically touch on a range of topics, giving Commissioner Hugoson an opportunity not only to share his thoughts on pressing issues facing the agriculture community, but also to hear from farmers and business operators about the unique opportunities and challenges in their part of the state. The Fergus Falls listening session will be held on Wednesday, August 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Ag Country Farm Credit Services, located at 311 North Tower Road. The Roseau listening session will be held on Thursday, August 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the City Center, located at 121 Center Street East, Suite 201.
The Grand Rapids listening session will be held on Friday, August 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Itasca County Fair Grounds, located at 1336 Fairgrounds Road. There is no cost to attend the listening sessions. More details are available by calling MDA's Brenda Fitzgerald at 651-201-6561.
CSP Announcement
On July 31st Secretary Vilsack announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking public comment on the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The public can submit comments for 60 days and must be submitted on or before Sept. 28, 2009. For full details about the new Conservation Stewardship Program, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/new_csp/ The Conservation Stewardship Program will be offered in all 50 states, District of Columbia, and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups with announced cut-off application dates for ranking periods. Congress capped the annual acreage enrollment at 12,769,000 acres nationwide. Comments on the Conservation Stewardship Program interim final rule can be submitted online, or through regular mail, e-mail, fax or in person. Information on how to submit comments is available at the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service's Web site at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2008/index.html and at the Federal Register at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/. (Type in Conservation Security Program in the Quick Search box and submit your search request.)
MFU co-sponsoring CSP meetings
MFU along with the Land Stewardship Project, the NRCS and other groups are sponsoring two Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) workshops. Come learn about CSP and ask questions and see if it is right for you at either of these two locations:
Tues. August 25th, Holiday Inn New Ulm from 7-9 p.m.
Thursday August 27th, American Legion, Stewartville, 7-9 p.m.
An RSVP is not required to participate but if you plan to attend let us know, it helps us to prepare for the meeting. If you're attending please call or email Adam Warthesen at 612.722.6377 or adamw@landstewardshipproject.org.
Moore leaves Klobuchar office
Charly Moore who worked on agriculture and environmental issues in Senator Amy Klobuchar's office in Washington D.C. has left the Senator's office for a new opportunity. MFU appreciates the work of Mr. Moore and the good communication MFU had with him and wishes him luck. Dave Frederickson continues to work on ag issues in the Senator's Minnesota office.
Commodity Council changes
MFU met recently with the MDA Commissioner's office to discuss changes to the rules relating to Commodity Councils and checkoffs. While some rule changes are minor, one rule change would be access to some type of absentee ballot for commodity referendums. Many MFU members had raised concerns last year about the corn and wheat referendums. Stay tuned for more information soon.
Varney looking at Anti-Trust issues
At the request of several key lawmakers in Washington, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Christine Varney the antitrust chief at the Justice Department has begun examining whether small agricultural operations are being hampered unfairly by large food processors, particularly in the milk industry. This action is part of the Obama administrations push to rein in a host of major industries including airlines.
MFU preparing for the State Fair
MFU is very busy planning for the State Fair which runs August 27th through Sept. 7th. MFU will be sponsoring barn tours, the milk run, and also the annual celebrity cow milking contest on Friday August 28th. The annual Minnesota Cooks program will be Tuesday Sept. 1; you can see all the updated info for that event at: http://www.minnesotacooks.net/ . MFU will also have it annual "open mic" policy speeches at the MFU booth on Saturday August 29th at 1:30 p.m. major policy makers will be giving ag-related speeches. Among the invited guests are Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken.
MFU County Presidents to meet
Also Saturday August 29th, the Full Board of Directors of MFU, which includes all of the county presidents, will meet to discuss MFU business. The meeting will be held at what is now called the Ramada (formerly the Four Points on Industrial Blvd. in Mpls.) starting at 9:00 a.m. MFU will also have a reception on Friday night the 28th for those arriving early. MFU may also have a short leadership program that evening. Reminder to Presidents: if you can not attend check with your county VP to see if they can in your place.
Farmers Union Scholarships
There were six applicants this year (2009) (from the states of MN, SD and WI) for the FUMPA Foundation - Stanley Moore Scholarships. Four $1,500 scholarships were awarded by the Foundation Board. Below are the 3 recipients from Minnesota and the colleges they will be attending this fall. Congrats to them!
Shawn Eischens - Minnesota West-Canby Campus
Ethan Sweep - North Dakota State University
Tracy Poncelet - University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
Farmers Union Ag Teachers Fly-In awards
MFU along with the MN Ag Educators have announced the winners of the MFU scholarship for an ag educator and 2 students to attend the NFU fly-in to DC in September. Brian Boomgaarden, Pipestone, Christina Fehrman, Lake Benton, and Kyle O'Toole, Tyler are the winners. Congrats!
Oregon passes Hemp legislation
Recently, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed SB 676 into law. The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 46 to 11 and the Senate by a vote of 27 to 2, permits the production, trade and possession of industrial hemp commodities and products. The new law sets up a state-regulated program for farmers to grow industrial hemp which is used in a wide variety of products, including nutritious foods, cosmetics, body care, clothing, tree-free paper, auto parts, building materials, fuels and much more. With passage of this legislation, the hope is that the Oregon federal delegation will go to work and call for the federal government to act to allow hemp farming. Learn more about hemp at www.VoteHemp.com.
County Conventions
MFU county conventions are starting next week with the Waseca County Farmers Union holding the first convention of the year Tuesday August 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the Pizza Ranch in Waseca. Check www.mfu.org "events" for a list of upcoming county unit conventions which will be held now through November.
That is all for now, as usual, questions, comments and complaints to me!
Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations, MN Farmers Union