Minnesota Farmers Union

MN Farmers Union State Convention agenda,* November 22 & 23

Saturday, November 22
7:30 a.m.  Free Continental Breakfast for MFU Members
8:00 a.m.  Registration Opens
9:00 a.m.  Door Prizes
9:15 a.m.  Convention Convenes - Salon ABC
Invocation - Gene Paul, NFO Policy Analyst
Present and Adopt Proposed Convention Rules
Committee report: Rules & Bylaws
Adopt Minutes of 2007 Convention
9:25 a.m.  Doug Peterson, MFU President
Jim Frederickson, Farmers Union Agency President
Don Knutson, Green View Executive Director
Bruce Miller, MFU Membership Director

9:45 a.m. John Jacshke, Executive Director of the Board of Water & Soil Resources

10:10 a.m. Allen Levine, Dean of the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agriculture & Natural Sciences
10:30 a.m. Dennis Sjodin, MFU Vice President
10:40 a.m. Policy Discussion
11:30 a.m. Lunch Break - Salon D
Guy Rusche, Carbon Credit presentation
12:15 p.m. Reconvene - Salon ABC
Introduction of Special Guests  
12:30 p.m. Legislative Reports
Thom Petersen, MFU Government Relations Director
Lori Swanson, Minnesota Attorney General
1:00 p.m.  Perry Aasness, FSA State Director 
1:20 p.m.  Policy Discussion
2:00 p.m.  Alicia K. Ranney, Director, MN Fair Trade Coalition
2:05 p.m.  Don Pylkkanen, MN Universal Health Care Coalition
2:10 p.m.  Policy Discussion
(3:30 p.m. registration closes, opens again Sunday 8:30 - 9:30  a.m.)
3:30 p.m. NFU Convention Delegate Election Caucusing
(time certain)
5:00 p.m. MNFARMPAC Reception - Itasca room
6:30 p.m. Convention Banquet - Grand Ballroom
Guest speaker:  Senator Amy Klobuchar

8:30 p.m. MFU Fundraiser Auction

Sunday, November 23
6:30 - 8:30 am Free Breakfast for MFU Members - Salon D
7:45 a.m.          Breakout session
1. MFU response to changes in dead animal pickup and rendering -- New Orleans Room
2. Introduction to a Cap and Trade system, and a Low Carbon Fuel Standard with Bill Grant, Associate Executive Director, Izaak Walton League- Memphis room.
3. Informational session on farms and burn barrels with Mark Rust, MN Pollution Control Agency - Salon ABC
8:00 a.m.          Registration
8:30a.m.           Door Prizes
8:45 a.m.          Call to Order
Special Orders

9:10 a.m.          Mark Ritchie, Mn. Secretary of State
9:15 a.m.          Joe Martin, Assistant Commissioner and State Bovine TB Coordinator, MN Department of Agriculture
9:25 a.m.          Bylaws Committee Report
(9:30 a.m. registration closes)
9:55 a.m.         Audit report from Ron Hennen
10:10 a.m.       Policy Discussion
11:10 a.m.       Credentials Committee Report
11:15 a.m.       Introduction of NFU Convention nominees
11:45 a.m.       NFU Convention Delegate election (time certain)
12:00 p.m.       Lunch
1 p.m.               Reconvene
Policy discussion
Announcements
Door prizes
Adjournment

After the conclusion of the afternoon policy session, door prizes will be awarded and the convention will adjourn.

*This is a preliminary agenda, and is subject to change.