A bill that triggers a full environmental impact statement for farms with more than 10,000 animal units was reviewed in the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Wednesday. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish testified in favor of this bill. “Our members do have questions about what a natural disaster, emerging animal disease, a human disease that affects workers, or other disruptions would mean for such a large operation,” said Wertish. “And I think more about the social and economic effects that are more fully addressed with an EIS.” Daryn McBeth represented the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, speaking against this bill. McBeth described the current environmental regulations as robust and a mandatory EIS would just add cost and time to any project. “To say to a dairy enterprise from another state or western Minnesota that has seen its share of dairy expansion in the last 20 years that you’re not welcome in Minnesota would be sending the wrong message at a time when our farmer-owned dairy processing plants are already struggling.” The bill was held over for possible inclusion in an omnibus later in the session.
News Categories
Latest RRFN Podcasts
Subscribe to RRFN
Get a weekly digest from RRFN to stay up-to-date on all the latest news in agriculture.