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 (January 4, 2011) - With grassroots input from its farmer-membership, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) has set priorities for the 2011 legislative session. 

“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 at the table when proposed cuts are being discussed to address the over $6 billion budget deficit, and will work with the Dayton Administration and legislators on addressing property tax concerns, promoting local foods, and energy legislation, and ensuring that the needs of rural Minnesotans and the farming sector are addressed.” 

Agriculture makes up a very small part of the state’s budget, yet somewhere between 20-30% of the jobs and wealth in Minnesota are agriculture-related. MFU will work to ensure sound funding for food safety, energy, education, livestock, sustainable and organic programs.

These are just some of the issues MFU will be working on in the 2011 legislative session.  Also, these are the issues MFU members will be talking to legislators about when they head to the state Capitol on Thursday, February 8, 2011, for their annual lobby day. For more information, go to www.mfu.org.

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 (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.