state budget
Priorities set for 2010 legislative session
ST. PAUL (February 4, 2010) - With grassroots input from its farmer-membership, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) has set priorities for the 2010 legislative session. These include: protecting agricultural portions of the state budget, addressing property tax concerns, and promoting energy legislation. The 2010 legislative session begins Thursday February 4.
"This legislative session will be about the state's budget shortfalls and how we improve the economy and create jobs", said Doug Peterson, MFU President. "MFU will be working with our farmers to ensure that rural Minnesota is represented in those discussions."
Agriculture makes up a very small part of the states $36 billion budget, yet agriculture makes up somewhere between 20-30% of the jobs and wealth in Minnesota. MFU will work to make sure that cuts the state needs to make to address the over $1 billion budget deficit does not do undo harm to rural Minnesota and the farming sector. MFU will also work to ensure sound funding for food safety, energy, livestock, sustainable and organic programs, and continue our work toward eliminating bovine tuberculosis from Minnesota.
MFU sets priorities for the 2009 state legislative session
St. Paul (December 29, 2008) -Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) considers the agricultural budget; correcting problems with Green Acres; and addressing health care as its top issues for the state Legislature in 2009, which convenes in St. Paul on January 5th.
"There is no doubt that with a $5 billion deficit, the budget will be the issue everyone is focused on this session," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "Ensuring that agriculture, and rural Minnesota is treated fairly in that process will be MFU's top issue for this session."
The agriculture portion of the state budget is less than one half of one percent of the entire state budget. The agriculture portion of the budget contains funding for: dairy, organic, ethanol, and sustainable programs; bovine tuberculosis eradication; county fairs; and dairy and beef inspection programs.
MFU will also focus on correcting changes made to the Green Acres property tax program, which passed last year with many unintended consequences. While MFU favors a full repeal, it will also focus on addressing transfers; and allowing non-productive land to be allowed as long as it is attached to some farmed land.
Minnesota Farmers Union sets priorities for the 2009 state legislative session
St. Paul (December 29, 2008) -Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) considers the agricultural budget; correcting problems with Green Acres; and addressing health care as its top issues for the state Legislature in 2009, which convenes in St. Paul on January 5th.
"There is no doubt that with a $5 billion deficit, the budget will be the issue everyone is focused on this session," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "Ensuring that agriculture, and rural Minnesota is treated fairly in that process will be MFU's top issue for this session."
The agriculture portion of the state budget is less than one half of one percent of the entire state budget. The agriculture portion of the budget contains funding for: dairy, organic, ethanol, and sustainable programs; bovine tuberculosis eradication; county fairs; and dairy and beef inspection programs.
MFU will also focus on correcting changes made to the Green Acres property tax program, which passed last year with many unintended consequences. While MFU favors a full repeal, it will also focus on addressing transfers; and allowing non-productive land to be allowed as long as it is attached to some farmed land.