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.
In addition MFU seeks input and communicates with its members through a vibrant e-mail network, the MFU newspaper Minnesota Agriculture, district meetings, conventions, and conference calls.
MFU hosts two “fly-ins” to Washington D.C. each year, where our members meet with key officials of the administration, and members of both the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Also, there are three days where our members from all over the state come to St. Paul and join us in lobbying our state legislators and the administration.
To learn more about MFU advocacy, contact Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations at 651-288-4067 or thom@mfu.org .
Highlights of key policy that Minnesota Farmers Union supports:
• the preservation of farmland and the family farm system of agriculture, both as a safe and secure food production source and as the basis for a strong economy;
• Minnesota’s corporate farm law, which limits non-family farm corporations from entering agricultural production in Minnesota;
• beginning and young farmer legislation;
• enforcement of the Anti-Trust laws;
• local control for township and county governments for siting decisions;
• a predictable federal farm program that provides farmers with a fair and equitable income;
• strong renewable energy and fuels programs and incentives, including for biodiesel, ethanol from cellulose and corn, as well as wind and other sources;
• conservation programs, including adequate funding, technical service and promotion;
• organic and sustainable agriculture;
• Fair-Trade agreements;
• a Universal Single-Payer health care system;
• the development and patronage of farm cooperatives; and
• local and Minnesota Grown food programs.