Minnesota Farmers Union

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Now in its eighth year, the Minnesota Cooks^TM program (www.minnesotacooks.net) at the State Fair is poised again to host a celebration about the relationships between premier Minnesota chefs and cooks, local farmers, and consumers with a full day of demonstrations, discussions, and sampling of delicious, sustainable cuisine. The program will begin at 9:00 AM and will continue with eight hourly presentations. All shows take place on the Minnesota Cooks Stage in Carousel Park, just south of the Grandstand.

Minnesota Cooks brings together those who value and support our sustainable food system: farmers, consumers, and chefs. Onstage, these chefs will create amazing dishes using fresh ingredients supplied by local stewards of the land. As they prepare their creations, emcees JD Fratzke of The Strip Club Meat & Fish and Lori Sturdevant of the Star Tribune will engage the chefs and a taster panel of farmers and local celebrities in lively and meaningful discussions about their sustainable philosophies. At the end of each demonstration, the panel, as well as fairgoers, will sample the mouthwatering, farm fresh fare.

St. Paul (August 26, 2010) - On Friday, August 27, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) Vice President Gary Wertish of Renville and MFU member Tim Velde of Granite Falls will be attending the Department of Justice and the United States Department of Agriculture's workshop about the livestock industry where concentration in the livestock markets, buyer power, and the enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act will be discussed. The workshop will be held in Fort Collins, Colorado.

"The proposed rule changed for the Grain Inspection Stockyards and Packers Administration makes this workshop very timely, and Minnesota Farmers Union is proud to make sure livestock farmers have a seat at the table and their voices are heard," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "The proposed rule change would end secret packer processor buying practices and hold packer processors accountable to competitive bid and market practices and we will be there to make sure that message and its importance are heard."

ST. PAUL (August 24, 2010) - The great Minnesota get together brings consumers and farmers together.  Stop by the Minnesota Farmers Union booth at 1635 Dan Patch Avenue where our famous mocha bars and hot coffee will be in demand the 12 days of the Fair.

"Join us on the Farmers Union back patio, reported to be one of the more relaxing places to grab a cup of coffee at the State Fair according to Fairgoers and bloggers who have discovered the spot," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "Be sure to grab some frozen coffee on a stick to get your energy levels high, or a yard stick to lean on as you walk around the Fair before you leave the Farmers Union booth.  See you there."

ST. PAUL (August 16, 2010) - The Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE) honored Bob Marzolf, Forest Lake Senior High School teacher, with their Outstanding Agricultural Teacher Award, sponsored by Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU).

Bob has been teaching for 32 years in a school with 1800 students in grades 10-12; 750 of which are enrolled in agriculture classes.  Forest Lake High School offers 28 course offerings in the areas of plant science, animal science, natural resource science, agri-business and leadership.

"In a lot of schools, agriculture programs are shrinking, and for Bob to have a strong program in a suburban area is remarkable," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "I commend Bob on his impressive work, and it makes Minnesota Farmers Union very proud to help the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators honor him. Bob, thanks for all the work you do to keep agriculture strong and in building a better ag foundation in these high school kids. Congratulations on this well-deserved and distinguished award."

ST. PAUL (August 16, 2010) - Youths from across the country spent a week in Colorado at the National Farmers Union Leadership Camp including Minnesotans Matthew Anderson, son of Kristy Stoneouse of Trail; Oliver Brase, son of Phillip and Sigrid Brase of Waseca; Ryan Bruns, son of Todd Bruns of Olivia & Jean Duane of Aberdeen, SD; Jacob Farmer, son of Pam Farmer of Long Lake; Abby Gebhart, daughter of Brian and Barb Gebhart of Chaska; Kelsey Kasella, daughter of Kevin and Pat Kasella of Royalton; Levi Koenen, son of Lyle and Sandy Koenen of Clara City; Sarah Lundberg, daughter of Julie & Chris Lundberg of Chaska; Sarah Ritter, daughter of Dale Ritter & Gail Doyle of Chokio; and Chandler Winkels Muff, son of Larry Muff & Victoria Winkels of New Richland.

"Farmers Union All-States Leadership Camp provides an opportunity for these youth to find themselves and to build and strengthen skills they already have," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.

From Farm Service Agency:

SAINT PAUL, MINN., August 10, 2010 - The deadline to submit USDA Farm Service Agency 2008 Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program payment applications is close of business on September 30, 2010.  Applications not filed by September 30, 2010, will not receive a payment.

SURE provides crop disaster assistance payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred crop production or crop quality losses. The program takes into consideration crop losses on all crops grown by a producer nationwide. SURE provides assistance in an amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between the SURE farm guarantee and total farm revenue. The farm guarantee is based on the amount of crop insurance and Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on the farm. Total farm revenue takes into account the actual value of production on the farm as well as insurance indemnities and certain farm program payments.

ST. PAUL (July 29, 2010) - It is that time of the year again when farmers, ranchers  and over 40,000 attendees converge at the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls for Farmfest. This year Farmfest will be held August 3-5, and over 500 organizations and companies involved in farming will be there.  Below are some of the highlights of Farmfest, but be sure to check out the Farmfest website, www.farmfest.com, to learn about all the activities.

As in years past, there is a lot of action under the forum tent.  This year the forums include one with the congressional candidates running for federal office; a discussion on carbon credits; a governor candidate's forum; a discussion on the livestock industry; and the auctioneer championship. Farmers Union Agency will once again be sponsoring the Pedal Pull contest every day at 1 p.m. near entrance gate 2.

From Cygnus Farm Shows:

From the Board of Animal Health (BAH):

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota producers moving beef cattle, goats, and camelids into North Dakota will have less TB-testing requirements effective immediately. North Dakota’s Board of Animal Health removed its TB testing requirement for most cattle crossing state lines on June 23 at a quarterly board meeting.

“We want to thank the North Dakota Board of Animal Health for acknowledging Minnesota’s TB eradication efforts which was shown by their recent decision to lift test restrictions on the majority of Minnesota cattle entering their state,” said Minnesota Bovine TB Coordinator Joe Martin. “In conversations with the Board, we reiterated that it’s in everyone’s best interest that Minnesota continues to be vigilant in deer surveillance
and testing and controlling the movement of cattle in our disease management area.”

Beef cattle producers in Minnesota’s Modified Accredited Advanced Zone will no longer need to TB test their cattle herds prior to moving animals into the neighboring state. Dairy animals will still need a TB test for importation, a requirement North Dakota has in place for all states. Requirements for animals from the Modified Accredited (MA) Zone in northwestern Minnesota remain in effect.

St. Paul (June 24, 2010) - On Friday, June 24, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) Vice President Gary Wertish and MFU Government Relations Director Thom Petersen will be attending the Department of Justice and the United States Department of Agriculture's workshop about the dairy industry.  The workshop will be held at the University of Wisconsin - Madison at the Union Theater in Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street.

"Fair competition and price discovery are hampered by the concentration of the dairy industry in the hands of a few," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "This concentration serves the bottom line of the companies, not the family farmers or the consumers.  I hope these hearings will start to pinpoint solutions for fairer competition and price discovery so our family farmers can compete and stay in business."