Minnesota Farmers Union

ST. PAUL (November 24, 2008) - The Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) held its 67th annual state convention on Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23. Delegates from every county across the state attended.

"The strength of our organization is the voice of each individual member in our policy," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "One of the benchmarks of this organization is its grassroots policy, and we had hundreds of resolutions that passed on the county level, and were debated during our convention, which shows the great involvement and dedication of our members."

Below are a few of the policies that MFU members supported:
• a full repeal of the changes made to the Green Acres Program in the 2007 legislative session and during implementation by the Administration, and the formation of a task force to propose how to handle abuses to the program;
• work to ensure the Farm Bill is implemented in the nature that Congress intended; and
• considering the Clean Water and Wildlife amendment passed, MFU would push for: the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council, who will be overseeing how the money is spent, to put an emphasis on a "working lands" approach as opposed to only idling acres; consideration of the impact of "nuisance" wildlife when creating wildlife habitat; funding requests for impaired waters restoration projects that impact agricultural land; ensuring that adequate dollars are put into technical assistance and information to help farmers enroll in conservation programs; the preservation of working farmland to be considered by the Council when spending money; and the expansion of the council to include representation from general farm organizations.

Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke at the banquet, and during the two days, the delegates heard from: Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie; and representatives from the Farm Service Agency, MN Fair Trade Coalition, MN Health Care Coalition, the Izaak Walton League, MN Pollution Control Agency, and the MN Department of Agriculture.

Foods from Minnesota-grown sources were featured throughout the convention, and delegates to the National Farmers Union Convention were elected. They are: Doris Jennissen of Sauk Centre; Jim Falk of Murdock; Mike Kliber of Little Falls; and Scott Hoese of Mayer. The delegates will represent Minnesota Farmers Union, and our policy, at the National Farmers Union Convention held in Washington, D.C. March 8 -10, 2009.