Policy Articles
Seeking Property Tax Fairness
Published September 18, 2021
As Minnesota rural school districts upgrade facilities, the tax burden fell disproportionately on farmland. Clay County Farm Bureau President Mark Harless says the Ag2School effort has helped spread the tax consideration throughout the districts. "It's been a little bit more…Seeking a More Deconsolidated Packing Industry
Published September 18, 2021
Packer concentration has been an ongoing discussion point in the livestock industry. "During the pandemic, we saw the risks with a highly consolidated supply chain; we had plants go offline because of COVID and all of a sudden the boxed…MSGA Prepping for ’22 Session
Published September 17, 2021
According to Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Mike Skaug, this past year was positive for agriculture in the State Legislature. Work is already underway for 2022. "We're going to bring forward a bill to deal with the low carbon fuel…USDA Extends Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program Sign-Up
Published September 16, 2021
The USDA is extending the deadline for livestock producers to apply for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program. The new deadline to apply at the Farm Service Agency is October 12. That’s almost one month later than the original deadline. The…Stepped-Up Basis Changes Not Included in $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconcilation
Published September 16, 2021
The House Ways and Means Committee has approved the budget reconciliation rules for the Budget Committee. This language does not include changes to stepped-up basis as had been feared by many in agriculture. House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott released…The Politics of Farm Policy Highlighted During Big Iron Forum
Published September 15, 2021
According to former House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson, one of the biggest issues facing agriculture is there are no Democrats left representing farm districts in Congress. “You can’t do anything with one party, it just doesn’t stick,” said Peterson. Former…A New Political Force for Midwest Agriculture Established
Published September 15, 2021
Former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson is behind an effort to create the Midwest Council on Agriculture. This group is being patterned after an alliance of agricultural businesses and farm groups, such as the Southwest Council on Agriculture and…Biden Names Trevino Chief Ag Negotiator at USTR
Published September 13, 2021
The Biden administration announced a nominee for the Chief Ag Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Elaine Trevino. She's currently the President of the Almond Alliance of California. The Biden administration says Trevino understands tariff and nontariff…Cattle Producers Feeling More Optimistic
Published September 13, 2021
Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux met with livestock groups in Bismarck on Friday. This is the second time in two months that Ducheneaux has been in North Dakota, talking with farmers and ranchers about drought and the impact it…