Minnesota Farmers Union

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Thursday September 6, 2012

MFU members headed to DC

Farmers Union members are headed to Washington, D.C. for the annual legislative fly-in. With eight Congressional working days left for Congress to finish up important business like the farm bill and other critical rural issues, the Farmers Union legislative fly-in becomes even more crucial. Attendees will meet with senators and representatives, hear from representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture, and attend a “Farm Bill Now” rally to encourage Congress to pass a farm bill in 2012, as well as attend a White House briefing.

WHEN:  Monday, September 10- Wednesday, September 12 

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Monday August 20, 2012

State Fair Approaching

MFU President Doug Peterson invites members and friends to stop by the MFU booth at the Minnesota State Fair which runs Aug. 23-Sept. 3rd; MFU has been busy this week cleaning and preparing for the Fair. MFU will be participating in many events throughout the fair. President Peterson will be doing some auctioning during the 4-H blue ribbon auction Saturday August 25^th and he will also be working a shift in the all  you can drink milk stand on Thursday August 30^th in addition to many other events at the Fair.

Minnesota Cooks!

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Monday July 30, 2012

NFU on proposed Farm bill extension

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Tuesday July 17, 2012

MFU Golf event this Thursday

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Friday June 21, 2012

MFU “Focus on the Future” Retreat

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Friday June 8, 2012

Peterson appointed to Water Quality Certification Advisory Committee

MFU President Doug Peterson has been chosen to be on the advisory committee that will help develop the Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program.  “Minnesota has incredible resources, and as a committee we will work with the best interests of those resources in mind,” said Doug Peterson, MFU President. The new program is the result of an agreement between Governor Mark Dayton and federal officials, with the goal of enhancing Minnesota’s water quality by accelerating adoption of on-farm water quality practices.  The committee will provide recommendations to Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson regarding the development of the program, as well as its specific features. Other members of the committee are:

· Douglas Albin, farmer and Chairman of Yellow Medicine County Corn Growers

· Dennis Berglund, CEO and General Manager, Control Crop Consulting

· Nathan Collins, President, Swift County Farm Bureau and Murdock City Council Member

· Elizabeth Croteau-Kallstad, Executive Director, Cannon River Watershed Partnership

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Tuesday May 29, 2012

Rep. Peterson participates in dairy call w/ MFU

Rep. Collin Peterson took time last week to participate in a conference call with MFU members who are involved in dairy to discuss proposals that are currently going on with the farm bill. Of most interest is the fact that MILC is going away and being replaced by a voluntary margin insurance program. The program is also designed to scale down production when the market is over supplied. The latter is probably what has caused the most debate within MFU.  Read more about farm bill here: http://www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farm-bill . MFU will continue to visit with members about the dairy portion and other parts of the bill and relay our thoughts and ideas to Congressional offices.

Farm bill update

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Friday March 9, 2012

MFU members return from convention

Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members have returned 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.

Notes from Minnesota Farmers Union Friday March 2, 2012

NFU Convention

Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members will be attending the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, March 4-7. “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.” Minnesotans attending: Jake Hanson-Flores of Woodbury will be attending as part of the National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC).  He was one of only six people elected by his peers to be on NYAC. Jake will make a presentation to the entire convention body, and help plan next year’s NFU All-States Leadership Camp. Mike and Jessica Ratka of Foley will be attending as members of the Farmers Union Leadership Couples' Program, developed to empower future leaders in Farmers Union and rural communities. Delegates to the NFU Convention are Lee Johnston of Swanville; Pat Irrthum of Wanamingo; Alton Walker of Bagley; Ted Winter of Fulda; MFU Executive Board Member Larry Jacobson of Hitterdal; MFU Executive Board Member Bessie Klose of Atwater; and MFU President Doug Peterson.

Notes from the Minnesota Farmers Union Monday February 20, 2012

Lobby Day Complete

MFU President Doug Peterson thanks all of the members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend a very successful MFU lobby day at the Capitol Wednesday Feb. 15^th. MFU members met with Governor Mark Dayton, Attorney General Lori Swanson, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and nearly 50 legislators including Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, House Agriculture Chairman Rod Hamilton and Senate Ag Chair Doug Magnus.  MFU discussed many issues including property taxes, energy, school trust land, drought and fire danger, funding for the Rural Finance Authority. Check MFU’s Facebook page later in the week for pictures.

MFU testifies on wind easements

MFU President Doug Peterson and MFU member Ryan Wolf testified this past week before the Senate Agriculture committee in favor of SF1534 authored by Senator David Brown (R-Becker), which would extend the current law regarding seven-year wind easements another five years. “Some farmers signed wind leases for their land and have seen no development within seven years.