farm bill
MFU members talk farm policy in Washington, D.C.
ST. PAUL (April 23, 2012) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members just returned from Washington, D.C. where they met with their senators and representatives to discuss farm policy.
“These fly-ins are so important because it gives the
Minnesota Members of Congress an opportunity to hear what is really going on in
the countryside,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “Our members get some one-on-one time with
their representatives and senators to tell them why it is important to have a
farm bill done this year, how a strong energy policy helps sustain rural
Minnesota, the importance of crop insurance and how decisions they make in
Washington, D.C. impact folks in rural Minnesota.” 
Agriculture is a primary driver of our rural and national economy, providing employment for one in 12 Americans, and is a job-creating industry based upon sustained production by approximately 2.2 million family farmers and ranchers.
Topics discussed during the fly-in were:
MFU members return from NFU convention in Omaha
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.
Velde of Yellow Medicine County was in Washington, D. C. to discuss farm bill
St. Paul
(February 2, 2012) – Yellow Medicine County Farmers Union President Tim Velde
of Granite Falls was recently in Washington, D.C. to represent National Farmers
Union in a discussion with other general farm and commodity organizations about
the budget, appropriations and farm policy. 
“I was impressed with this meeting and the groups’ ability to come to the conclusion that a farm bill needs to be passed this year,” said Mr. Velde. “Agriculture groups are willing to work with House and Senate staff in order to get the farm bill passed, as well as do our part in deficit reduction. We all need to do our share.”
“Minnesota Farmers Union is proud to have Mr. Velde at the table as farm bill discussions begin. He understands National Farmers Union policy, the needs of family farmers and the importance of having those needs heard,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.
The meeting was a discussion of differences and commonalities between agriculture organizations in an effort to bring an understanding and level of cooperation among the groups as farm bill talks begin.
Minnesota Farmers Union convention a success
ST. PAUL (November 22, 2011) – The Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) held its 70th annual state convention on Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20. Doug Peterson was re-elected as President and Gary Wertish was re-elected Vice President by acclamation; policy and special orders were passed, and delegates were elected for the National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska in March.
This policy is what MFU, as an organization, advocates for in the upcoming year. Among the special orders of business passed include one on the farm bill, which calls for meaningful payment limitations, a strong safety net for all crops when prices are low, as well as for dairy farmers when the farm gate price falls below production. A second special order calls for the reinstatement of the Homestead Credit (Homestead Market Value Credit). The third special order calls for MFU to send comments opposing the proposed rule to the Department of Labor that could prohibit certain children from farm activities and could negatively impact 4-H, FFA, and youth who wish to work on farms and in agriculture.
Farm bill and farm policy to lead the agenda at Minnesota Farmers Union state convention
St. Paul (November 11, 2011) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is having their annual state convention Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20 at the Ramada Plaza in Minneapolis. At the convention, delegates will be elected to represent Minnesota Farmers Union at the National Farmers Union convention in Omaha, Nebraska in March, 2012. Also, hot topic issues will be discussed like the farm bill, loss of market value homestead credit, and renewable and natural resource management policy changes.
“Our state convention is grassroots and since there is always a sense of urgency when it comes to farm policy, it gives our Farmers Union members an opportunity to debate and change state and national policy on the items they find important and pressing,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “MFU policy calls for support of local foods and we put our food where our mouth is and serve Minnesota-grown food at most of our meals during the convention - showcasing the fine food right here in Minnesota!”
Insurance is an effective within-year price safety net but fails across years
(October 14, 2011) - In early October, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, author of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 1985 and Chair of the “Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee in 1996” when Freedom to Farm was adopted, announced the introduction of a farm bill proposal that would save “$40 billion in USDA Cuts to Help Meet Federal Deficit Reduction Goals.” The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Marlin Stutzman, also of Indiana.
According to a Lugar Press release: “The Rural Economic Farm and Ranch Sustainability and Hunger Act (REFRESH) would reform farm programs, cutting $16 billion, a 24.5 percent reduction. Conservation programs would be updated and streamlined for a savings of $11.3 billion, a 17.6 percent reduction. Nutrition program eligibility loopholes would be closed saving $13.9 billion, only a 2 percent reduction. Roughly two-thirds of the savings would come from farm and conservation programs, and a third from nutrition programs, which represent three-fourths of the USDA budget.”
American Farm Bureau’s farm bill proposal
(October 7, 2011) - The establishment of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction as a part of the recent legislation that increased the US debt limit has changed the process for the 2012 Farm Bill. With the establishment of this committee of 12 (6 Republicans and 6 Democrats), the focus of farm bill discussions is shifting from the agriculture committees in the House and Senate to this joint committee, rolling a number of programs into this effort to reduce the federal deficit over the next ten years.
Instead of a leisurely debate (some might call it protracted) on various elements of the farm bill by each of the committees as they work to build a workable coalition that can get a positive vote on the floor of the House and Senate, the current process has to be done by Thanksgiving so that the two houses can vote the package up or down before Christmas. If the committee’s bill is voted down, vetoed, or if the committee of 12 fails to reach agreement, then automatic cuts will be allocated to most federal programs. It is the fear of the nature of these cuts that is supposed to drive the committee to come to an agreement.
MFU to have their first ever watermelon feed at Farmfest
ST. PAUL (July 19, 2011) – Minnesota Farmers Union will be holding its first ever watermelon feed at the forum tent on Wednesday, August 3 at 3:00 p.m. Be sure to stop by and sign up for a chance to win one of five Cenex gift cards. This year Farmfest will be held August 2-4 at the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls.
“The Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) tent is located just west of the forum tent, so after you sit and listen to the debate in the forum tent, swing by the Farmers Union booth to check the ag markets, grab a cup of coffee or water and discuss what’s on your mind,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “Because it is a non-election year, panels may not be as contentious as in the years past, but my hope in being part of the panel is a meaningful discussion between farmers and policymakers as we write the next farm bill. Farmers Union will be well represented at the forum tent, and will be sure to get the Farmers Union voice heard.”
As in years past, there is a lot of action under the forum tent. Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President, will be on a panel titled, "Designing the Next Farm Bill, Shaping the Future of Rural America " on Tuesday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m.
Determining the agriculture budget for 2012—Round one
(June 3, 2011) - For some months now we have been hearing that the 2012 Farm Bill will have less money to work with. Given the dominant sentiment in Congress, that has never been in doubt. The only questions have been 1) how much? and 2) in what programs? The same can be said concerning the “other 2012 budget event,” agriculture’s single-year appropriation for fiscal 2012.
On May 23, 2011, the US House Appropriations Committee released the subcommittee draft of the fiscal year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The committee press release said, “The legislation continues the trend of major spending reductions sought by the Republican majority, totaling $17.2 billion in discretionary funding—a cut of over $2.6 billion from last year’s level or over $5 billion below the President’s request for these programs.”
That being said, it must be kept in mind that this is the markup of the House Appropriations Committee. In addition, the Senate has not weighed in on the issue and the majority Democrats in that chamber will likely have different priorities and budget goals.
We are just at the beginning of what will likely be a long and arduous process—one that will be complicated by additional cuts that are included in the process leading up to the raising of the debt ceiling, something that will need to be completed this summer.
MFU members heading to Washington, D.C. to talk about energy and environmental issues
ST. PAUL (April 11, 2011) – Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President, along with Tom Clemen of Murdock, Richard Moen of Clearbrook, and Tim Velde of Granite Falls, will be heading to Washington, D.C. to talk to Minnesota senators and representatives April 12-14.
During this fly-in, the MFU members will be focused on energy and environmental issues, including:
- the need for continuing funding for blender pumps and E15, and the building of biofuels infrastructure;
- the need for a renewable energy standard of 25%;
- the establishment of stronger incentives for local ownership of wind and a stronger definition of what constitutes community wind; and
- the need for a farm bill to be drafted in 2012.
These are just some of the issues the MFU members will be talking about with Minnesota senators and representatives. If you would like to speak with the members while in Washington, D.C., contact Katie Fitzsimmons, MFU Communications Director, at 612.616.5252.