Minnesota Farmers Union

Notes from the MN Farmers Union Wednesday December 3rd, 2008

Convention Complete

MFU President Doug Peterson thanks all of the members and friends of MFU who took time out of their busy schedules to attend the very successful 67th annual MFU convention held recently in Minneapolis. Despite many farmers unable to attend due to a very late corn harvest, the delegate sessions were very well attended, and the local foods banquet featuring Sen. Klobuchar on Sat. night drew well over 400 people. President Peterson also thanks the MN Soybean Growers for sponsoring meals on Saturday and Sunday for convention goers.

Policy

Delegates voted to make over 70 changes to current MFU policy. The changes proposed came from resolutions passed at the county level, and then filtered through the policy committee. The policy committee was chaired this year by Christa Williamson, Kandiyohi County, and other members were: Karen Bennit, Marshall Co., Nancy Dahlin-Teich, Chisago Co., Todd Churchill, Goodhue Co., Alan Perish, Todd Co., Trevor Jensen, Steele Co., Carol Schmidt, Morrison Co., and Steve Albers, Rice Co. During the hours of debate at the convention, over 50 MFU members took to the floor to debate the issues. Here is a look at some of the major changes delegates passed:

• Demand enforcement of anti-trust laws.
• Opposition to “early-outs” for CRP contracts.
• Support for allowing aggregation of parcels under 10 acres to qualify for federal farm programs.
• Support for expanding COOL to include dairy products.
• Support for an investigation into the accuracy of commodity reports.
• Support for a secured first position being given to pre-paid accounts in the event of a bankruptcy.
• Opposition to the state setting property tax caps for counties.
• Support for eliminating the 1031 exchange program.
• Support for a standardized height restriction to be set at 15’6” to allow bale transportation throughout the state.
• Support for seeking a waiver to allow ethanol blends higher than E10 to be used in autos that are not certified to use them.
• Support for the use of more roadside mowing for cellulosic material.
• Support for increased drilling for oil if it can be done in an environmental and economically feasible manner.
• Support for allowing local governments and schools to receive the production tax from wind turbines, and not have it deducted from their state aid.
• Support for the net metering law in Minnesota.
• Support for encouraging local governments to develop companion animal breeder’s regulations and oversight in compliance with humane animal laws and disease control.
• Support for working with the state of Minnesota to publicize the pesticide and chemical website/hotline and enforce chemical application laws.
• Support for removing the gray wolf from the endangered species list.

Special Orders- Green Acres

MFU delegates voted to support repealing changes made last year to the Green Acres program, however if that is not practicable, MFU would support these changes:

-Allow non-productive land attached to productive land to qualify for the program with no penalty.

-Allow transfers with out “triggering” the payback in the event of a title transfer to a person who will continue to own land as a farm and not develop it.

-Allow acres enrolled in conservation programs such as CRP, CREP, and WRP to qualify for the program.

-Establish a sensible definition of farm income for qualification.

-Establish that one of the priorities of the program is to preserve farm land.

-Return all payback provisions to three years as opposed to seven years.

-Establish that the ‘grandfather clause” applies to the whole program.

-Promote and implement program in all counties in Minnesota.

-The program should be limited to the original class of family farmers and not expanded to other corporate farm entities.

Special Orders-Clean Cars

MFU delegates voted to work with legislators and other interested parties to pass the Minnesota Clean Car Act that could reduce smog forming pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel efficiency; However, MFU’s support for the legislation depends on satisfactory outcomes for issues involving:

-The standards must only apply to cars and light duty trucks.

-Larger vehicles (such as trucks for farm work) will be made available and affordable by manufacturers.

-Biofuels, including E-85 are not excluded in the adoption and consideration of the Act.

-The standards would only apply to newly manufactured vehicles; vehicles produced prior to implementation would be exempt.

Special Orders- Constitutional Amendment

MFU delegates also passed these guidelines for the recently passed Constitutional amendment on the outdoors and clean water.

-Emphasis on a “working lands” approach as opposed to only idling acres.

-When creating wildlife habitat consider impact of “nuisance” wildlife.

-Work with the Clean Water Council (which MFU has representation on) for funding requests for impaired waters restoration projects that impact agricultural land.

-Ensure that adequate dollars are put into technical assistance and information to help farmers enroll in conservation programs.

-Preservation of working farmland should be considered by the Council when spending dollars.

New Website unveiled

MFU has unveiled its new website at www.mfu.org . Keep checking the site for updates as more features will be added soon including polls and members only forums.

Swanson Addresses Convention

Members comments to me that one of the better convention speeches was delivered by Attorney General Lori Swanson who talked about her offices recent announcement to join with other state’s in challenging the recent attempt by JBS to acquire National beef. Swanson talked about addressing the current rash of mortgage foreclosures by looking to the Minnesota Farmer-Lender Mediation program as a model. MFU has strongly supported the Farmer-Lender Mediation program which is scheduled to sunset this year, and one of MFU’s top priorities at the legislature this year will be extending the sunset date for this program. Check it out at: http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/Mediation/

Delegates Elected to National Convention

Delegates elected to the National Farmers Union convention in Washington D.C. March 8-10 are Doris Jennissen, Todd Co., Jim Falk, Swift Co., Mike Kliber, Morrison Co., and Scott Hoese, Carver Co. The alternates are Perry Lundeen, Pennington Co., Jerome Graff, Brown Co., Mark Thell, Carlton Co., and Harmon Wilts, Swift Co. The Spring Fly-in to D.C. will be held March 11th in conjunction with the convention. For more information checkout: http://nfu.org/about/convention

Rothman given award

Tom Rothman of the Minnesota Farm Network received Minnesota Farmers Union first ever Farm Broadcaster Award during their state convention last week. "Tom has always shown sincere dedication when reporting the farm news and events that impact rural residents," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "He looks beyond the traditional markets and finds unique stories to report on, and always with a creative and interesting manner." Tom is the farm director with the Minnesota Farm Network, a statewide radio service providing farm programming to 32 radio stations in Minnesota. He began his farm broadcasting career in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1980 before helping launch the Minnesota Farm Network and the Minnesota News Network in 1983.

Bergs Honored

Richard and Mary Berg of Clements receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Minnesota Farmers Union at their annual State Convention banquet Saturday. "Richard and Carol's service has been invaluable, and their dedication and loyalty to agriculture, and Farmers Union is exceptional," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. Richard and Mary Berg partner with Richard's brother and his wife, and operate a grain and hog farm. When Richard was 11, and his brother was 13, their father died. Along with their mother, the boys took over the farm. Richard and Mary are tireless workers at Farmfest; Richard is a long-term county president in Redwood County; serves on the State Livestock Advisory Committee; has been a National delegate to the Farmers Union Convention, and participated in many fly-ins to Washington, D.C. Both Richard & Mary are very active in church, and community activities.

Knutson also honored

MFU also honored Greenview Executive Director and long-time MFU staff person Don Knutson with a Distinguished Service award for his 20+ service to MFU and affiliated organizations.

Klobuchar, committees and positions

With the change of administration from Bush to Obama, several key positions in Minnesota will be opening up, including state FSA Director, State Director of Rural Development and 5 seats on the FSA State Technical Committee. MFU encourages members to apply for positions, and those interested should submit a resume and cover letter sooner than later to Sen. Klobuchar’s office in Minneapolis in care of Dave Frederickson. Klobuchar has indicated that she will be working closely with Rep. Peterson and Walz’s offices in making the decisions.

Estate Tax

I received this information today from the AFL-CIO regarding the estate tax. In 2006, 37,031 Minnesotans died. Newly released IRS data show that in 2007 (when estate tax returns for 2006 deaths were generally due), only 221 Minnesotans owed any estate tax. That is just 0.6 percent of all Minnesota estates. IRS data also show that the number of Minnesotans paying the estate tax was always low but declined since the Bush estate tax cut went into effect. In 2000, 1.7 percent of all deaths in Minnesota resulted in estate tax liability. National Farmers Union supports estate tax relief for family-owned farms, ranches and small businesses to allow the transfer of those enterprises on to the next generation. NFU also supports increasing the federal estate tax exemption per estate to $4 million immediately, index the exemption annually, simplify the exemption qualification rules and requirements, and implement graduated rates. Read more at: http://nfu.org/issues/economic-policy/tax-policy At the state level, Farmers Union supports conforming the state estate tax with the federal estate tax.

Canadian COOL complaint

The Canadian government yesterday requested formal consultations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process against the U.S. mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) law for meat products required by the 2008 Farm Bill. The Canadian government alleges the labeling law creates undue trade restrictions.
"U.S. consumers have consistently demanded information concerning the source of the food products they purchase. COOL provides this information in a way that is truthful without distorting or creating barriers to trade," NFU President Tom Buis said. "I believe Canada is 'jumping the gun' in this complaint about mandatory country of origin labeling." In fact, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 48 out of 57 U.S. trading partners, including Canada, require COOL on one or more of the U.S. covered commodities.

Deficit

The revenue forecast for the state will be released tomorrow and projections are that it is not so good….Legislators could be facing a near $4 billion dollar deficit when they return to St. Paul on Jan. 6th. MFU is working on putting together its legislative agenda based upon the recently passed resolutions at the MFU state convention, and MFU will work to support the Ag portions of the budget.

Mankato Rural Legislative forum

I will be attending the 26th Annual Rural Legislative Forum on Friday, December 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the South Central College Conference Center, 1920 Lee Blvd., North Mankato. Registration cost for the Forum is $15.00 per person in advance, and pre-registration is requested by Wednesday, December 3. Cost is $20.00 at the Event, without pre-registration. This is an excellent program featuring both legislators and policy makers. The registration fee includes the noon lunch and all printed materials. To register, or for more information about the forum, contact the Blue Earth County Extension Office by phone at (507) 304-4325, or by e-mail at:

mnext-blueearth@umn.edu

USDA Declares 5 Counties Disaster

Farmers who suffered crop losses due to the July 30 wind storm that struck west central Minnesota will be eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the federal Farm Service Agency. U.S. Ag Secretary Edward Schafer designated Lac qui Parle, Big Stone, Chippewa, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties as agricultural disaster areas. A loss assessment report provided by Lac qui Parle County documented the extensive damage to corn and soybean crops by the storm. The disaster designation is extended to include adjacent counties, which includes Big Stone, Chippewa, Swift and Yellow Medicine. Farmers should contact their local FSA office for more information.

That is all for now as usual, questions, comments and complaints to me!

Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations, MN Farmers Union