Policy Articles
Asking for a Clear Definition of Public Waters
Published April 20, 2024
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Joe Smentek testified before the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee regarding the definition of public waters in the state. "There was a Supreme Court case where if something is not on the public…Proposal Impacts Animal Agriculture Expansion
Published April 20, 2024
Minnesota Representative John Burkel of Badger serves on both the agriculture and environment committees, is disappointed in the efforts to increase the regulatory pressure on farmers. That includes a proposal to require an Environmental Impact Study for any farm with…Grain Indemnity Fund Remains Intact
Published April 20, 2024
There was a draft of the Minnesota House omnibus agriculture bill that would take the interest from the $10 million Grain Indemnity Fund and use the money for reducing debt for the farmers involved with farmers' markets. House Ag Committee…Farmer-Funded AFREC to End, Dollars Repurposed
Published April 20, 2024
Faced with a committee deadline, the Minnesota House Agriculture Committee passed its omnibus finance and policy bill Thursday. Nitrate contamination in southeastern Minnesota has dominated the committee’s work this session. The Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council is up for…$1 Billion for Global Food Assistance
Published April 19, 2024
USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development will buy $1 billion of U.S.-grown commodities to provide emergency food assistance to people in need worldwide. This is a follow-up to last October's statement about combatting global hunger. Commodities will include…Commodity Groups Oppose Trade Duties on 2,4-D
Published April 19, 2024
Six major commodity groups are asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to reject a petition from Corteva Agriscience to impose antidumping and countervailing duties on 2,4-D imports from China and India. A letter signed by the trade groups representing corn,…HPAI Remains ‘a Struggle’
Published April 18, 2024
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is endemic in a handful of countries and the U.S. seems to be going down that same path. "This one has been a struggle," said Loren Brey, president, Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council. "In my…CCC Seen as an Option to Fund Farm Bill Priorities
Published April 18, 2024
In Tuesday's Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out his vision of using the Commodity Credit Corporation as a way to fund farm bill programs. "I think if we could be a bit more creative about…Additional Environmental Regs in Omnibus Bill
Published April 18, 2024
An amendment was included in the House Environment budget bill that would require an environmental impact statement for livestock operations with 10,000 animal units. The EIS is a lengthy process that considers the environmental and social impact of a large…