Minnesota Farmers Union

(May 25, 2011) - Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is disappointed the Legislature could not get more done this legislative session. 

“MFU is in agreement with Governor Mark Dayton’s offer to the Legislature on the budget,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  “The people of Minnesota deserve a fair and honest budget, not one that makes empty promises that could end up raising property taxes, cutting health care, local government aid and transportation, and hurting the most vulnerable of Minnesotans.” 

MFU agrees with Governor Dayton’s veto of the Omnibus Health and Human Services bill because the bill would have revamped Minnesota Care. The Department of Human Services estimated that this action would result in thousands of working Minnesotans losing their health care.

“Farmers have a variable income and many rural communities rely heavily on Minnesota Care. Cuts to Minnesota Care would be devastating to rural Minnesotans, and Minnesota Farmers Union will continue to fight to make sure those cuts do not happen,” said Peterson. 

MFU is disappointed the Legislature did not pass a tax bill the Governor could sign and we are concerned about the impact a tax bill will have on property taxes, local government aid and essential services for our local units of government. 

ST. PAUL (February 4, 2010) - With grassroots input from its farmer-membership, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) has set priorities for the 2010 legislative session.  These include: protecting agricultural portions of the state budget, addressing property tax concerns, and promoting energy legislation.  The 2010 legislative session begins Thursday February 4.

"This legislative session will be about the state's budget shortfalls and how we improve the economy and create jobs", said Doug Peterson, MFU President.  "MFU will be working with our farmers to ensure that rural Minnesota is represented in those discussions."

Agriculture makes up a very small part of the states $36 billion budget, yet agriculture makes up somewhere between 20-30% of the jobs and wealth in Minnesota.  MFU will work to make sure that cuts the state needs to make to address the over $1 billion budget deficit does not do undo harm to rural Minnesota and the farming sector.  MFU will also work to ensure sound funding for food safety, energy, livestock, sustainable and organic programs, and continue our work toward eliminating bovine tuberculosis from Minnesota.