Minnesota Farmers Union

Notes from the MN Farmers Union Wednesday December 2^nd, 2009

 

Peterson re-elected MFU President; Wertish elected MFU Vice President

 

MFU held its 68^th annual state convention on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22.  Delegates re-elected President Doug Peterson, and elected Gary Wertish of Renville as the new MFU Vice President.  Dennis Sjodin, the previous Vice President for 14 years, decided not to seek re-election.  "I congratulate Gary for his election as Vice President to Minnesota Farmers Union," said Doug Peterson, MFU President.  "Gary is a life-long Farmers Union member, so he understands the importance of the organization and the voice we give to our members.  I look forward to working with Gary and promoting Farmers Union policy. Wertish is a full-time farmer who previously worked as an MFU Field Representative; and worked for Senator Mark Dayton as his Agricultural Director.  He farms with one of his sons raising corn, soybeans, navy beans and finishes out cattle and hogs.  Gary and his wife Jeanne have four grown children and four grandchildren. "I am humbled to be elected by the MFU membership as the new Vice President," said Wertish. 

 

Special Orders Passed

 

During the convention, Farmers Union policy was discussed and voted on by the elected delegates.  This policy is what MFU, as an organization, fights for in the upcoming year.  Special orders passed by the delegates include:

• strong support for federal health care reform legislation that offers a robust public option that would allow for all legal residents health care that would not be tied to pre-existing conditions;
• that MFU urges the Lessard Outdoor Council to consider agricultural issues when making recommendations for grant projects;
• support for climate change legislation if it recognizes the role that farmers and rural America have played and continue to play; MFU delegates recognize the importance of being at the table during this important discussion; and
• thanks to Vice President Dennis Sjodin for his hard work and dedication on behalf of family farmers and rural Minnesota.

 

Convention Speakers and guests

 

Congressman Jim Oberstar was the keynote speaker at the banquet; Representative Tim Walz and Franni Franken also spoke and Senator Amy Klobuchar sent a video.  Other speakers throughout the convention were; Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union (NFU) President; Linda Hennen, State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency; Colleen Landkamer, State Director of USDA Rural Development; Robin Kinney, Assistant Commissioner at the MN Department of Agriculture;  and Chandler Goule, NFU Vice President of Government Affairs.  During lunch on Saturday, ten governor candidates spoke to the convention attendees. They included: Sens. Tom Bakk, John Marty, Reps. Marty Seifert, Paul Thissen, Margaret Anderson-Kelliher, Tom Rukavina, former Sen. Steve Kelley, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, Ramsey Co. Atty. Susan Gaertner and Mpls. Mayor RT Rybak. Many legislators attended the MFU convention including Reps. Otremba, Eken, Kalin, Falk, Torkelson and Sens. Kubly, Clark, Chaudhary, and Lourey, in addition to State Auditor Rebecca Otto, SOS Mark Ritchie and Attorney Gen. Lori Swanson.

 

MFU PAC Governor Straw Poll results

 

The MFU Political Action Committee hosted a straw poll for the 2010 Governors Race and members could vote for one GOP and one DFL candidate. MFUPAC may endorse for Governor, but it will most likely not do so until late spring or early summer. Results were:

DFLers:                                                               GOPers:

Rep. Margaret Anderson-Kelliher 36%              Rep. Marty Seifert          61%

Former Sen. Mark Dayton             20%              Undecided                       17%

Mpls. Mayor RT Rybak                 13%              Other                                 9%

Rep. Tom Rukavina                       12%              Pat Anderson                     8%

Former Sen. Steve Kelley                4%              Sen. David Hann               3%

Sen. John Marty                               4%              Former Rep. Bill Haas      1%

Rep. Paul Thissen                            3%               Rep. Tom Emmer              1%

Undecided                                        3%

Sen. Tom Bakk                                2%

Former Rep. Matt Entenza              2%

Ramsey Co. Atty. Gaertner             1%

 

Delegates to NFU Convention

 

Four MFU members were elected to serve as delegates to the National Farmers Union convention to be held March 14-16 in beautiful Rapid City, South Dakota. They are: Tom Shulz, Wadena Co., Jim Stone, Yellow Medicine Co., Sam Holmgren, Kandiyohi Co., Eunice Biel, Fillmore Co. Alternates are Roger Benitt, Marshall Co., Alan Teich, Chisago Co., Tim Henning, Nobles Co., and Glen Hahn, Dodge Co.

 

MFU delegates vote to oppose the Southern Rail Corridor Proposal

 

Delegates vote unanimously to oppose the Southern Rail Corridor which has been proposed by the Rochester Coalition and would create a 48.3 mile bypass around the City of Rochester. The opposition language was added to the MFU policy statement after being submitted as a resolution to the state convention after passing at the Dodge, Steele, Winona, Olmstead and Wabasha County Farmers Union local conventions. Farmers have expressed concerns about the process of the funding requests for the proposal, environmental concerns, right of way issues, crossing issues, and proposed course itself. MFU does support upgrading and using existing tracks and corridors.

 

Youth Receive Awards at convention

 

10 youth were awarded the Torchbearer Award at the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) 68^th annual state convention on Saturday, November 21. The award winners are: Erica Blank of Nicollet; Hannah Christenson of Nicollet; Brooklyn Corbett of Nicollet; Tiffany Hanson of Goodridge; Rachel Hanson of Goodridge; Kim Jansen of Olivia; Angela Kroska of Foley; Hope Lundeen of Trail; Emily VanDenEinde of Bejou; and Amanda Yost of St. Peter. In order to be eligible to win the Torchbearer award, the youth needed to be involved with the Farmers Union education program for at least four years.  Each individual also attended the Farmers Union All-States Leadership Camp, which is where individuals who have distinguished themselves as leaders meet with other Farmers Union youth from throughout the country in Bailey, Colorado at the National Farmers Union Education Center. Since the 1930's, the Torchbearer Ceremony has marked the conclusion of a Farmers Union young person's work in the Youth Program, and the commencement of his/her participation into adult Farmers Union activities. 

 

E-15 Waiver request extended

 

Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters that filed the Green Jobs Waiver seeking E15, described as a "strong signal" the Environmental Protection Agency's announcement yesterday that it was preparing to approve E15 upon the completion of ongoing tests early next year. In response to the Growth Energy Green Jobs Waiver, the EPA has taken a positive step towards higher blends of clean, green, and homegrown ethanol. In EPA's letter, the agency states that its engineering assessments indicate that the "robust fuel, engine and emissions control systems on newer vehicles (likely 2001 and newer model years) will likely be able to accommodate higher ethanol blends, such as E15." The letter notes that increasing the blend wall to E15, as per Growth Energy's request, is a "critical issue" as the nation works toward "long-term introduction of more renewable fuels into the transportation sector." "This announcement is a strong signal that we are preparing to move to E15, a measure that will create 136,000 new U.S. jobs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and lessen America's dependence on imported oil," said Gen. Wesley Clark, Co-Chairman of Growth Energy. MFU policy strongly supports the waiver request; for more info checkout: www.GrowthEnergy.org .

 

MFU advocates for blender pumps

 

This week MFU will be joining with other organizations in sending a letter Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees asking them to adopt language in the year-end tax extenders bill that allows blender pumps to qualify for tax credits.  Because of an IRS interpretation, gas stations can only receive the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit for the installation of E85 pumps.  This technical fix would ensure that both E85 and blender pumps qualify for the tax credit. 

 

NFU announces new hire

 

Last week, NFU President Roger Johnson announced the hiring of Jeremy Peters who worked for the National Association of Conservation Districts to work in our government relations department. Peters will be great for NFU with 4 years of Washington, DC experience and a strong background in grassroots, legislative procedure and conservation policy. While in Washington, DC Jeremy interned for Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) in 2006. He will begin on December 14, 2009 and will be a welcomed addition.

 

USDA urges farmers to vote!

Linda Hennen, Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Minnesota recently urged Minnesota farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers to vote in FSA county committee elections by Dec. 7, 2009, the deadline for casting ballots.

"FSA county committees provide producers with the opportunity to help implement federal farm programs in their communities," said Hennen.  Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by the close of business on Dec. 7, 2009. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1, 2010. FSA county committees help administer federal farm programs at the local level. Committee members make decisions on conservation programs; commodity price support loans and payments; disaster assistance payments; and other agricultural issues. For more information about FSA county committee elections, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=cce

 

FLAG offers Risk Management guide

 

Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) has posted on its website a trove of new risk management and disaster publications for family farmers and farm advocates. These mini-guides to federal programs were prepared for a series of risk management trainings conducted this summer and fall, funded by the USDA's Risk Management Agency. The new publications, which are accessible without charge in the Publications section of FLAG's website, include these topics: -Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) -Adjusted Gross Revenue and Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite insurance -Documenting Disaster Losses -Emergency Conservation Program -New Disaster Programs Created by the 2008 Farm Bill -Group Risk Crop Insurance -Individual Crop Insurance -Livestock Indemnity Program -Livestock Risk Protection Insurance -Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Insurance Program -What Help Is Available For What Types of Disaster Losses?

 

Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) is a nonprofit law center dedicated to providing legal services to family farmers and their rural communities in order to help keep family farmers on the land. For more info checkout: www.flaginc.org   $1.2 billion in the red From MPR: A report from the state budget department says Minnesota is deep in red ink for the 2010-2011 budget cycle. The report says 70 percent of the 1.2 billion dollar deficit is due to lower than expected income tax receipts. The document also said the budget problem will grow even larger in the future with a projected budget deficit of $5.4 billion in the 2012-2013 budget.  The forecast means Governor Pawlenty and DFL lawmakers will have to cut spending or increase revenue to balance the state's budget. In July, Pawlenty unilaterally cut $2.7 billion in spending after he couldn't reach a budget deal with the Legislature. Lawmakers begin the 2010 session on February 4th. That is all for now as usual, questions, comments and complaints to me! Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations, MN Farmers Union