Last week, the House agriculture omnibus bill made history as the first budget bill crafted by bipartisan co-chairs to clear that body. Yesterday the Senate followed suit. MFU has worked hard to ensure that we have a strong agriculture budget and that our priorities are reflected in budget bills from taxes to healthcare.

State lawmakers have just over two weeks to complete their work ahead of a constructional deadline to adjourn on Monday, May 19. For the agriculture budget—and the state budget overall—lawmakers are still on track to complete their work on time despite a challenging start to session and a historically tied House. The final deadline to complete work on the state budget and avert a government shutdown is the end of the state’s fiscal year on June 30.

Agriculture omnibus bills pass

Last week, the Minnesota House made history in passing their Agriculture omnibus—the first budget bill of the 2025 session crafted by bipartisan co-chairs in a 67-67 tied House. For those who are following along, the House file (HF2446)—authored by co-chairs Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, and Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul,—will be the bill to watch as we move toward conference committee.

The co-chairs used the $17 million budget target set by House leadership to invest in expanding markets through Farm-to-School and a state Local Foods Purchasing Assistance program (LFPA), funding for meat inspectors, funding for animal disease preparedness, support for beginning farmer programs and more. You can read our testimony on their bill here. And you can the House package here in our past legislative updates.

Yesterday, the Senate passed their Agriculture omnibus authored by Chair Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, which prioritizes funding for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, preparedness for zoonotic disease at the Board of Animal Health, increased support for Farm to School, and a new Local Food Purchasing Assistance program. Putnam also highlighted new investments in rural mental health and farm safety—a priority he heard from farmers he visited throughout the summer and an initiative MFU has been glad to help advance.

Putnam put together a good bill for MFU’s priorities despite a challenging budget target. In the Senate, he was charged with cutting upwards of $300,000 from agriculture programs, with leadership in that body citing the need for belt-tightening across state government in the face of challenging financial dynamics in the years to come. He balanced his budget and achieves new spending in some areas by cutting funding from the new Green Fertilizer Grant program, DAIRI grants that are awaiting an elusive Farm Bill, and MDA’s recently increased Urban Agriculture Grants.

The bill earned bipartisan support with a final vote of 43-23. Be sure to follow Minnesota Farmers Union on social media for real-time updates in the coming days and weeks.

The next step for both bills is a joint budget target defined by leadership. In testimony and conversations with leadership and chairs, MFU has made the case for modestly increased spending in agriculture, akin to House’s $17 million target. As we’ve often said, with agriculture making up as much as a fifth of state economy and less than one-half of one percent of the state budget, this is not going to be what makes or breaks a final spending deal. It’s also important given the challenges facing farmers going into spring.

National Farmers Union Week of Action

On the national level, Farmers Union states across the nation are preparing to participate in NFU’s Week of Action, building the case for a new, bipartisan five-year Farm Bill. MFU members traveling to Washington D.C. to make this case to our congressional delegation:

• Gary Wertish, President, Renville
• Anne Schwagerl, Vice President, Browns Valley
• Ted Winter, Executive Committee Vice Chair, Fulda
• Josh VanDerPol, Executive Committee ember, Clara City
• Paul Sobocinski, Redwood County Vice President, Wabasso
• Hannah Bernhardt, Pine County President, Finlayson
• Melany Thomas, Clay County Secretary Treasurer, Felton

Broadly, they’ll be advocating for a Farm Bill that:

• Strengthens the farm safety net
• Builds upon voluntary conservation programs
• Restores balance and opportunity in the marketplace
• Delivers fast and reliable risk management programs
• Garners broad support from both farmers and consumers

Please watch for opportunities to lift up this message on social media in the coming weeks. Or contact your federal elected officials directly to talk about what a new Farm Bill could mean for your farm and community.

As always, this is just a snapshot of our legislative work. If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, please reach out to Stu at (320) 232-3047 (C) or stu@mfu.org.