Policy Articles
EQIP Final Rule Released
Published October 23, 2020
USDA has released its final rule for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Nearly one year ago, the Agriculture Department received 600 comments on the interim final rule. That input was used in the final EQIP rule. Changes include the addition…Russell: Don’t Trust the Polls
Published October 23, 2020
Vice President Joe Biden is ahead of President Donald Trump in many of the national polls. The Russell Group President Randy Russell does not have a lot of faith in these polls. "To be very honest, some of these pollsters…Oil State Lawmakers Push Back on Renewable Fuels
Published October 23, 2020
Senators representing oil states are urging EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to address the 2021 obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The lawmakers contend efforts should be taken to safeguard the nation’s fuel supply. In addition, this group of 15 senators…Questions Remain on Status of 2019 WHIP+ Payments
Published October 22, 2020
There are fewer than 10 days left until the WHIP+ program sign-up closes and some farmers still waiting on half or all of their payments. Texas A&M University Agriculture and Food Policy Center co-director Bart Fischer says there isn’t a…Farm Bill Discussions Expected to Begin in 2021
Published October 22, 2020
Arkansas Senator John Boozman, a senior Republican member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined North Dakota Senator John Hoeven to discuss key issues impacting farm policy and crop insurance at the CIPA Fall Meeting. Boozman said farm bill discussions will…Crop Insurance Improvements Seen for Alfalfa
Published October 22, 2020
The crop insurance program continues to evolve. Recent changes include a new Quality Loss Option, a new unit structure assignment option for Enterprise Units and new procedures for Multi-County Enterprise Units. Glenda Blindert is a crop insurance agent in Salem,…The Political World is Watching Minnesota’s 7th District
Published October 22, 2020
This race is between House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Republican challenger Michelle Fischbach. "It is probably the highest stakes race for ag on the House landscape and probably anywhere on the congressional landscape," said David Wasserman, who is…Section 179 Conformity Signed into Law
Published October 22, 2020
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed the bonding and tax bill. This includes conformity with the federal Section 179 expensing provision for farmers. That change is retroactive to 2018. The $1.9 billion bonding bill includes $627 million to improve roads…MFU Minute
Published October 21, 2020
The Minnesota legislature recently pass a tax and bonding bill that included Section 179 conformity. Find out more from Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish in the latest MFU Minute.