Poppe applauds bipartisan support for Agriculture Finance omnibus bill
St. Paul, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House passed the Agriculture Finance omnibus bill with bipartisan support on a 134-0 vote. The bill includes provisions for agriculture research funding, as well as financial assistance for development programs and grants.
“I was pleased to see both parties come together to pass this omnibus bill. The components of it came through a couple of the committees on which I serve and it has many good provisions,” said Rep. Jeanne Poppe, Austin, DFL-Lead of the Agriculture Finance Committee. “There were many Democratic-Farmer-Labor provisions in this bill including a bill I carried that increases funding for Farm Advocates. The agriculture committees are often the most bipartisan and collaborative groups in the Legislature and that sends a strong message to Minnesota’s agricultural industry all around the state."
While there was bipartisan support for the bill, Poppe said it could be better. With a larger budget target more initiatives could have been funded, including providing money to research cover crops and to combat Emerald Ash Borer.
“At the end of the day, this is a good bill and it moves into conference committee with strong bipartisan support,” said Poppe.
Rep. Jeanne Poppe can be reached at the Capitol by phone at 651-296-4193 or email at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn.
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