Minnesota has been addressing a multitude of agricultural issues. Committee hearings on food insecurity, addressing rural stress and mental health challenges, stabilizing the dairy industry, spurring the growth of biofuel industries, and establishing new markets for farm products including industrial hemp. Although our farmers and producers are facing challenges, we continue to work on finding solutions to improve the future.
The House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division heard from college students working to create food pantries on each college campus to tackle the issue of food insecurity. Providing Minnesotans with healthy, nutritious foods at an affordable price, have been highlighted in proposed bills. One such bill (HF 436) would add funds to the “Good Food Access Program” within the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Other proposals include increasing funds for the Farm to Food Shelf program which pays a nominal amount to farmers for costs of packing and transporting excess and otherwise discarded fruits and vegetables. Additional bills (HF 1096, HF 1301) increase funding to purchase milk for food shelf distribution. Another legislative concept is Farm to School (HF 811) which would expand local markets by improving connections between farmers and schools and other institutions. It is good to see bi-partisan support for developing creative ways to make produce more affordable and accessible.
Moving quickly to provide funding to improve access to rural mental health resources for farmers is important to all in the agricultural community. As spring is approaching, more farmers will be faced with life changing decisions. In a bipartisan fashion, legislators are seeking immediate funds (HF 232) to increase services and resources to assist farmers in their decision-making process. The challenges they face are significant and reaching out to provide helpful resources is critical.
In January we had a presentation about our dairy industry in Minnesota, and the impact dairy farmers make in our rural communities. When dairy farmers are losing money every month, more have made the decision to sell their herds. The Federal Farm Bill has provisions to improve dairy’s situation. The Minnesota House is considering bills (HF 1021, HF 1418, 1419) to support milk producers during these tough times.
This year, MDA is planning to award up to $650,000 in grants for biofuel blending infrastructure. These grants through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Grant Program, support the growth of Minnesota’s renewable energy and agricultural industries. The AGRI Biofuel Blending Infrastructure Grants require that equipment must be installed in Minnesota, be compatible with the biofuel-petroleum blends, and projects must continue to operate until the expiration of the grant contract. Applications for grants are due on Friday, April 5, 2019. HF 1351 would fund additional fueling stations in Minnesota. The more consumers are educated about their options, the more likely they will use biofuels with Minnesota ethanol.
With the 2018 Federal Farm Bill’s removal of hemp from the Controlled Substance Act, Minnesota is getting geared up to increase the number of acres of hemp grown. Representative Samantha Vang and Senator Karla Bigham have introduced bills (HF 793, SF 192) to define cannabidiol (CBD) as not a controlled substance. At a number of recent meetings, a significant number of farmers have sought information about growing hemp. An increase in acres grown means Minnesota needs to consider the necessity of building or repurposing facilities for production and improving market options.
State Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin) is the Chair of the House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division.
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