Articles tagged under: Minnesota
Rural Finance Authority Funds Get Final Approval
Published March 18, 2020
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to provide funding for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance Authority. The bill allocates $50 million for the RFA to continue offering eligible Minnesota farmers low interest loans not offered by…Most Minnesota Counties Enrolled in ARC/PLC
Published March 16, 2020
It’s the final day for farmers to make appointments for elections declared by the most recent farm bill. Minnesota Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Joe Martin says most counties are 98 percent enrolled. "If farmers don't call by Monday…A Public MN Coronavirus Briefing Call Today
Published March 16, 2020
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith and Representative Dean Phillips will host a public coronavirus briefing call with Minnesota Public Health officials at 6 p.m. today. People are invited to submit questions about coronavirus online ahead of the call here. The briefing…Coronavirus Overwhelms Lawmakers in St. Paul
Published March 16, 2020
Minnesota House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division chair Jeanne Poppe says coronavirus has been the overwhelming issue for lawmakers in St Paul. It even impacted the Governor’s supplemental budget. "It's dramatically different from what we would have anticipated…MN Hemp Growers Must Apply for Licensing by March 31
Published March 15, 2020
Minnesota farmers wanting to raise or process hemp must apply for a license through the Minnesota Department Agriculture by March 31. Along with the online application, first-time applicants need to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check. The 2018…Rural Finance Authority Funds Appreciated
Published March 12, 2020
The Rural Finance Authority cleared the Minnesota Senate on Thursday. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says with the challenging, continuous harvest, farmers need resources. "We don't have lots of applications in so farmers shouldn't have to wait long." Petersen says…MN Farmers Want Section 179 Conformity
Published March 12, 2020
Lake Benton, Minnesota farmer Bob Worth met with state lawmakers, Governor Walz and Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen in St. Paul this past week on the budget and farm policy. "In Minnesota we have a $1.5 billion surplus. The governor is…Section 179 Conformity Not in Supplemental Budget
Published March 12, 2020
The latest Minnesota supplemental budget proposal doesn’t directly address Section 179 conformity, something rural America is asking from lawmakers this session. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz tells the Red River Farm Network the state is not in a tax year, but…New Conference Addresses Infrastructure Needs
Published March 12, 2020
The Northern Commodity Transportation Conference is encouraging agriculture to look at infrastructure needs and solutions. Crookston, Minnesota farmer Tim Dufault says county roads need fixed. "Usually the biggest discussion on a township level is how much gravel we're going to…