Minnesota Farmers Union

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.

St. Paul (May 20, 2009) - Minnesota Farmer Union (MFU) saw positive action on many fronts this year at the state capitol during the 2009 legislative session which adjourned on Monday May 18.

"We were pleased that there were positive results for our priorities, including changes to the Green Acres Program; extension of the Farmer-Lender Program; and $35 million for the Rural Finance Authority," said Doug Peterson, MN Farmers Union President.  "However, the fact that the Legislature did not pass an overall budget is of concern.  It is now up to Governor Tim Pawlenty to makes cuts.  Farmers are very concerned about high and rising property taxes, and the Governor needs to consider the impact on landowners when making these budget decisions."

The budget for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) took reasonable cuts during the legislative session.  Governor Pawlenty will make further cuts to the state budget through the unallotment process, where funding for these departments could be further reduced.  In addition, MFU is very concerned about the impact the unallotment process could have on property taxes; cuts to Local Government Aid (LGA); and assistance for hospitals and nursing homes.

St. Paul (February 19, 2009) - Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members from the northwest, and west central regions of the state recently went to the State Capitol to discuss Farmers Union policy and the 2009 legislative session with legislators.

"This is a chance for the legislators to hear from Farmers Union members about the immediate needs of rural Minnesota," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "It also gives our members a chance to let the senators and representatives know about our Farmers Union policy, and why it is important to them."

St. Paul (January 29, 2009) - Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members from the southwest, southeast, and east central parts of the state recently went to the State Capitol to discuss Farmers Union policy and the 2009 legislative session with legislators. Members also met with Attorney General Lori Swanson, and attended a House hearing on the Green Acres Program.

Farmers Union policy issues that came up in discussions with state senators and representatives were: protecting the state agriculture budget; stabilizing property taxes; repealing the changes made last year to the Green Acres Program; supporting universal health care; financial support to those impacted by the bovine tuberculosis outbreak; extension of the 2009 sunset date of the farmer-lender mediation program; support for local control in making siting decisions that deal with livestock facilities; a strong corporate farm law; support to achieve conformity with the Minnesota estate tax, and section 179 of the federal tax code; and bonding requests for the Rural Finance Authority.

St. Paul (January 23, 2009) - Benton County Farmers Union President Jon Hansmeier testified before the House Agriculture Finance Committee at the State Capitol in St. Paul in favor of repealing changes made last year to the Green Acres property tax program.

Hansmeier, who farms south of Foley, was joined by his son Josh; Foley-area farmer John Kaproth; and Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations for the Minnesota Farmers Union.

During his testimony, Hansmeier stated that he had concerns that the changes made last year will have negative impacts on farmers who own what is being called "non-productive" land.  He also expressed concern over how transfers are handled; and how the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land is treated.

"Minnesota Farmers Union supports fully repealing the changes made by the legislature in 2008, and forming a task force to address concerns for the future," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "The testimony by Hansmeier, and Kaproth puts a face on the Green Acres Program, and their testimony was invaluable."

St. Paul (December 29, 2008) -Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) considers the agricultural budget; correcting problems with Green Acres; and addressing health care as its top issues for the state Legislature in 2009, which convenes in St. Paul on January 5^th.

"There is no doubt that with a $5 billion deficit, the budget will be the issue everyone is focused on this session," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "Ensuring that agriculture, and rural Minnesota is treated fairly in that process will be MFU's top issue for this session."

The agriculture portion of the state budget is less than one half of one percent of the entire state budget.  The agriculture portion of the budget contains funding for: dairy, organic, ethanol, and sustainable programs; bovine tuberculosis eradication; county fairs; and dairy and beef inspection programs.

MFU will also focus on correcting changes made to the Green Acres property tax program, which passed last year with many unintended consequences.  While MFU favors a full repeal, it will also focus on addressing transfers; and allowing non-productive land to be allowed as long as it is attached to some farmed land.

ST. PAUL (November 24, 2008) - The Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) held its 67th annual state convention on Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23. Delegates from every county across the state attended.

"The strength of our organization is the voice of each individual member in our policy," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "One of the benchmarks of this organization is its grassroots policy, and we had hundreds of resolutions that passed on the county level, and were debated during our convention, which shows the great involvement and dedication of our members."