All eyes are on the federal government this week as they race to fund the government, extend the Farm Bill and approve disaster aid ahead of a year-end deadline. Minnesota has a newly empowered leader on the House Agriculture Committee in these negotiations: House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member, Rep. Angie Craig.

Farmers Union has worked hard to ensure that the interests of family farmers are reflected in this final deal—and we made a difference. Thank you to those who responded to NFU’s action alert this weekend regarding the need to strike a deal on a Farm Bill extension and disaster relief. Please consider contacting your congressional representatives and encouraging them to vote ‘yes’ with this updated action alert. They need to hear from farmers.

MFU President Gary Wertish was in Washington, D.C., for meetings when details emerged late Tuesday on a year-end spending bill that averts a shutdown by funding the government through March 14, and includes $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers, nearly $21 billion in agriculture disaster assistance, approves E15 for year-round use nationwide, and extends the 2018 Farm Bill for another year.

The Farm Bill extension funds so-called ‘orphan’ programs—those without ongoing base funding beyond this year—including some related to agriculture research, organic certification cost share, farm to food bank, farm to food bank and rural economic development. While NFU staff and others are still pouring through the details, the $31 billion in relief for farmers, includes $10 billion in economic assistance modeled after the Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act of 2024 (FARM Act), including new payment limits and other adjustments. The $21 million in disaster assistance mirror’s the White House’s request from November and appears to be similar to the Wildlife and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+) and the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), both of which leave significant discretion to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Finally, the package includes a fix to allow nationwide year-round sales of E15 blends of ethanol, a longtime priority issue for NFU. Currently, only certain states are allowed to sell E15 during the summer driving season.

Shortly after final text was released, NFU President Rob Larew issued a statement urging Congress to pass the bill promptly and ahead of the Dec. 20 deadline to fund the government. NFU also issued an action alert to help Farmers Union members easily contact their representatives and urge them to pass the year-end measure.

“Family farmers and ranchers cannot afford any more delays, and frankly, neither can the rest of the country. Congress must see this deal through,” said NFU President Rob Larew in a statement. “Farmers don’t get to walk away from their obligations; Congress shouldn’t either. I urge Farmers Union members to stay vocal and keep the pressure on their elected representatives to get this done.”

As of Wednesday morning, the bill still needs to pass the House—a likely more significant hurdle given procedural rules and political dynamics—and Senate before it can be signed by the President.

Craig named ranking member

In other breaking agriculture news out of Washington this week, third term Congresswoman, Angie Craig, D-Minn., earned the support of her colleagues to replace Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., as ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee. She’ll join Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who’s anticipated to assume the role of Senate Agriculture Ranking Member going into the new Congress. Minnesota continues to punch above our weight in Farm Bill discussions, with both Rep. Craig and Sen. Klobuchar demonstrating their ability to work across the aisle on common-sense solutions that help farmers.

“My focus will be on improving people’s lives – not scoring political points. We can lower food and energy costs for consumers,” said Rep. Craig in a statement following the vote from her colleagues. “We can strengthen the farm safety net and open the doors of opportunity to new and beginning farmers. And we can ensure that nutrition assistance programs are available for the Americans who need them.

“As the granddaughter of an Arkansas farm foreman, as someone who grew up relying on nutrition assistance – someone who knows firsthand how critical good ag policy is – I could not be more proud to lead our Caucus as Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee.”

“It’s welcome news that Rep. Craig will be representing her caucus in negotiations as Congress works to pass disaster relief and a Farm Bill,” said MFU President Wertish. “Rep. Craig has a proven track record of bringing people together around bipartisan solutions. We’re glad that she will be joining Sen. Klobuchar as a leading voice in Farm Bill discussions.”

State House organization moves forward

On the state level, organization for the tied Minnesota House has continued to take shape as we draw closer to the start of the state legislative session on Jan. 14. Leadership designated a weekly committee schedule along with assignments for all members.

The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee will meet and be made up of the following members:

1. Co-Chair Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul
2. Co-Chair Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck
3. Vice Chair Andy Smith, DFL-Rochester
4. Vice Chair Bobbie Harder, R-Henderson
5. Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Center
6. Rep. Nathan Nelson, R-Hinckley
7. Rep. Luke Frederick, DFL-Mankato
8. Rep. John Burkel, R-Badger
9. Rep. Steven Jacob, R-Altura
10. Rep. Esther Agbaje, DFL-Minneapolis
11. Rep. Steve Gander, R-East Grand Forks
12. Rep. Curtis Johnson, DFL-Roseville
13. Rep. Bryan Lawrence, R-Princeton
14. Rep. Fue Lee, DFL-Minneapolis

The Senate Agriculture Committee, led by Chair Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, is expected to stay the same into the next biennium. Of those on the House Agriculture Committee, two are first term legislators and six are new to the committee.

As always, if you have questions, thoughts, or concerns about MFU’s legislative work, reach out to Stu at stu@mfu.org or (320) 232-3047.

In other news

• NFU ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Support Farmers with a Yes Vote on Year End Funding Package. Click here for the action alert.
• Farewell Address from Assistant Attorney General Kanter highlights time in Minnesota.
• National Farmers Union Outlines First-100-Days Priorities in Letter to President-Elect Trump.
• MFU Lobby Day is Feb. 4. Sign up now.