Minnesota Farmers Union

St. Paul (March 9, 2010) - On Friday, March 12, Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President Gary Wertish will be attending the Department of Justice and the United States Department of Agriculture's workshop about competition and regulatory issues in agriculture.  The workshop will be held in Iowa at the Des Moines Area Community College's FFA Enrichment Center.

"There is more and more concentration in agriculture these days, which threatens farm families and leads to less price at the farm gate for livestock and grain" said Gary Wertish, Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President.  "Hopefully this workshop will be a first step in getting stricter restrictions on consolidation; more competition; and more price discovery for farmers and consumers."

(March 8, 2010) - Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members will be attending the National Farmers Union Convention in Rapid City, South Dakota March 14-16.

"This is where Minnesota Farmers Union members bring the issues that are important here in Minnesota to the national level and try to make them part of National Farmers Union policy," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.

MFU members attending are: Eunice and Robert Biel of Harmony; Sam and Norma Holmgren of Atwater; George and Bessie Klose of Atwater; Larry and Gina Jacobson of Hitterdal; Dave and Donna Johnson of Fergus Falls; Melvin Kinnunen of Menahga; Tom Schulz of Sebeka; Jim Stone of Canby; Sylvester Sanow of Minneota; Jerome Graff of Sanborn; Ron Seitz of Sleepy Eye; George and Dorothy Bowman of Blackduck; Ed and Lynn Jostock of Rochester; Merlyn and Sandy Hubin of Westbrook; Richard Moen of Clearbrook; Marvin and Marlys Jensen of Kensington; Alan and Karen Perish of Browerville; Brian Rohrenbach and Linda Larson of Rosemount; Tim and Bridget Henning of Adrian; and Allen and Elaine Torpet of Fertile.  Doug Peterson, MFU President and Gary Wertish, MFU Vice President will also be in attendance.  If you would like to speak with either of them, or anyone else attending, please call Katie Fitzsimmons, MFU Communications Director, 612.616.5252.

St. Paul (March 1, 2010) - Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members from all around the state recently went to the State Capitol to discuss Farmers Union policy and the 2010 legislative session with legislators.  Members also met with Attorney General Lori Swanson, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and attended a House hearing on Governor Pawlenty's recommended budget for the Department of Agriculture.

"The opportunity for our members to speak directly to those who represent them in the State Legislature is so important because it gives the legislator a chance to hear directly from the constituents that are impacted by the votes they make," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "Minnesota Farmers Union is based on three principles - education, legislation and cooperation and our lobby days are an example of all three of those principles at work as we educate the legislators with what is happening to rural Minnesota, impacting the way they vote on legislation and promoting cooperation in order to get things done for the betterment of everyone.  It is democracy at its finest."

ST. PAUL (February 19, 2010) - Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) donated money to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Blue Jackets Bright Futures program.  With MFU's donation, ten Minnesota youth were awarded a blue jacket.

Recipients of the jackets were: Samantha Bishop of Morgan; Paige Bourne of Clara City; Quincy Carter of Hancock; Michelle Covington of Belle Plaine; Rayann Locken of Long Prairie; Rachel Ourada of Redwood Falls; Rachel Shaffer of Leroy; Paige Strand of Herman; Patrick Wendinger of Morgan; and Rebecca Zander of Howard Lake.

"MFU strongly supports FFA and educating young farmers and future farmers, and this program is key for supporting youth involvement in agriculture," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "The blue jackets are a great way for the FFA kids to show their commitment and pride, and I commend them for their hard work.  Minnesota Farmers Union is proud to have contributed."

In order to receive the jacket, individuals had to apply, and answer the following questions: why they felt they needed a jacket; how the jacket would help them make an impact; what they had done in FFA since becoming a member; and what their FFA future looked like.  The essays were judged by state officials and board members.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson on CNBC discussing sugar programs

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1403833108&play=1

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.

From Minnesota Department of Agriculture:

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Membership in the Minnesota Grown Program is one of the best deals in town and Minnesota growers are urged to sign up now.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites producers to join the more than 1,000 members who use the program to promote their locally grown farm products.  Minnesota Grown is open to farmers, ranchers, farmers' markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) farms, meat markets selling local meats, and local nurseries and garden centers.

A $20 annual fee gives members access to free merchandizing materials such as price cards, posters and stickers featuring the Minnesota Grown logo, as well as other tools designed to help differentiate their products from others that are not locally grown.  These free merchandising materials may be shared with retailers.  Producers who also sell direct to the consumer may list their products in the popular Minnesota Grown Directory for an additional $40.

Producers who have discovered the benefits of the Minnesota Grown Program are eager to share their praise.

"The Minnesota Grown Directory is the best source for retail customers and for our potato farm." Tom Wingard, Wingard Farms - Elk River

ST. PAUL (January 6, 2010) -  Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) will be holding a listening session and issues forum on Monday, January 25, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sandhill Supper Club in Fertile.  Everyone is invited to attend.

"This is a great opportunity for the people in Northwest, Minnesota to have a chance to air their concerns and speak about what is happening in rural Minnesota," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "Not only will we take what we heard at this forum to the members of the state legislature, but we have also invited area legislators to hear from our members first hand."

Some of the issues to be covered are wind energy and easements; cap and trade; interpretation of the Minnesota electrical codes; estate tax; and property tax concerns.  People should feel free to bring up for discussion issues concerning them.  Thom Peterson, MFU Government Relations Director will be in attendance, and area legislators are invited.

A soup and sandwich luncheon will be provided by MFU.  You do not have to be a member of MFU to attend.

(December 18, 2009) - After months of putting the dairy crisis in front of Congress and the Administration, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is pleased to see that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack just announced a new Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment (DELAP) program for dairy farmers that would give eligible producers a one-time direct payment based on the amount of milk produced and commercially marketed by their operation during the months of February through July, 2009.

"The dairy industry has been dealing with high input costs and low dairy prices and MFU has been calling for action for a long time and it is nice to see our efforts are starting to pay off," said Doug Peterson, MFU President.  "This is not to say that the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment program will solve all the problems facing dairy farmers, but it is a start.  Farmers Union will continue to fight for the promotion, stabilization and strengthening of the dairy industry."