Minnesota Farmers Union

ST. PAUL (February 16, 2013) – United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, alongside Governor Mark Dayton met with members today at the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) office. State Representatives Andrew Falk, and Rick Hansen, who are also MFU members, were in attendance as well.

At the meeting Secretary Vilsack recognized Minnesota and specifically Minnesota Farmers Union for their progressive work in agriculture, and informed MFU members on a federal perspective of current issues.

An issue of high priority for Secretary Vilsack is introducing young people into farming. “There will be far more farmers over the age of 75 than there will be under the age of 25” predicted Vilsack. “I value this group here” he said to Minnesota Farmers Union members, “I see a lot of people that look a lot younger than I do, which is great.”

Federal budget sequestration, the Farm Bill, water quality programs, and dairy were also important points of discussion. These are also high on Minnesota Farmers Union’s legislative agenda.

ST. PAUL (August 22, 2012) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) always has great treats to offer no matter what the weather.  Come get some of our delicious coffee on those cold and rainy days, or a frozen chai or mocha bar on those hot days.  Also, we have a new treat to offer – the “Union,” a raspberry and mocha mixed frappe.  YUM!  Come see us at 1635 Dan Patch Avenue, where you can enjoy a tastey treat and rest your weary feet.

MFU activities at the Fair:

St. Paul (March 8, 2012) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members return from the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention held in Omaha, Nebraska. 

“The National Farmers Union Convention is important because it is a great display of grassroots policy-making,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “National Farmers Union members from throughout the country decide policies important to farmers, and give direction to Congress.”

Farmers Union delegates re-elected President Roger Johnson and Vice President Claudia Svarstad and passed special orders of business relating to investment priorities in the 2012 Farm Bill, the Market-Driven Inventory System, Country-of-Origin Labeling, dairy, beginning farmer programs, the beef checkoff, and cuts to rural U.S. Postal Service offices.  You can view each Special Order here, http://nfu.org/policy-nfu/special-orders-of-business.

Members heard from numerous speakers, including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., and Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.

St. Paul (March 17, 2011) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members return from the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention held in San Antonio, Texas.  

“The focus of the National Farmers Union Convention is NFU policy. It is the platform that we place in front of Congress to represent family farmers,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “In true grassroots fashion, each state delegate has an opportunity to represent family farmers from their state to ensure every Farmers Union member has a voice.” 

ST. PAUL (February 11, 2011) - On Tuesday, February 8, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members were at the state Capitol and visited with Governor Mark Dayton, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Attorney General Lori Swanson and their local senators and representatives. MFU members also sat in a hearing on the Green Acres program. 

“Our day at the Capitol was very successful, MFU members had the opportunity to tell their legislators what is really going on in rural Minnesota,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “Our members also spoke with Governor Mark Dayton and asked questions about his agriculture policies. It was very refreshing to be able to meet with a Governor that listens to and understands agriculture policy.” 

From National Farmers Union:

WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2010) – Farmers Union members Eunice Biel and Allen Lund participated in the fifth and final joint workshop hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Justice (DOJ). The workshop focused on discrepancies between the prices farmers receive and the prices consumers pay. Workshop participants gave explanations for the price differences and suggested possible solutions for narrowing the gap. 

National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to have two participants in today’s workshop to represent U.S. family farmers and ranchers,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Eunice and Allen are both very knowledgeable in their respective areas and gave great insight into the disturbing trends in both the dairy and livestock industries.”

St. Paul (June 24, 2010) - On Friday, June 24, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) Vice President Gary Wertish and MFU Government Relations Director Thom Petersen will be attending the Department of Justice and the United States Department of Agriculture's workshop about the dairy industry.  The workshop will be held at the University of Wisconsin - Madison at the Union Theater in Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street.

"Fair competition and price discovery are hampered by the concentration of the dairy industry in the hands of a few," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "This concentration serves the bottom line of the companies, not the family farmers or the consumers.  I hope these hearings will start to pinpoint solutions for fairer competition and price discovery so our family farmers can compete and stay in business."

WASHINGTON (July 21, 2009) - Carver County Minnesota Farmers Union President Scott Hoese testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry today on the devastating economic conditions within the dairy industry. As a dairy farmer, Hoese said the current situation is unlike any experienced in the past and the width and depth cannot continue to be ignored.

"This crisis has not discriminated based upon herd size or geographic location," Hoese said. "The rollercoaster market dairy producers have been riding becomes more severe with each passing year, with the highs not lasting long enough to mitigate the lows".

Hoese told the subcommittee dairy farmers need a lifeline now. "There is no single factor why the dairy industry is in the economic condition it is in and there is no single option to solve this crisis. It will take a suite of options from Congress and the administration to ensure short-term survival and long-term prosperity for America's dairy farmers," he said.

St. Paul (February 24, 2009) - Minnesota Farmers Union's Full Board of Directors, which consists of all of its county presidents, recently met and passed a Special Order on the dairy industry.

The Special Order states that because of catastrophic low prices and high input costs the nearly 5,000 Minnesota dairy farmers are facing, the following should take place: