ST. PAUL – Legislation Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, authored to extend the state's Farmer-Lender Mediation Act and study appropriate updates for the program is set for inclusion in this year's omnibus agriculture policy bill.
The farmer-lender mediation program was established in 1986. Although it has been extended 19 times by the Legislature, Anderson said the program has not been updated through the decades. His proposal, which passed final House committee stops in two forms on Wednesday, not only extends the program for two more years, it also establishes a 12-person commission to examine the program and report recommendations for improvements to help get with the times.
"This is a good opportunity for us to study how this program is operating and make any necessary alterations," Anderson said. "Much has changed in the 30 years since this program started and this bill will help align it more effectively with 21st century agriculture."
The commission would be comprised of farmers and bankers, along with representation from the University of Minnesota Extension, Farm Business Management and other major farm organizations.
Anderson's legislation was approved Wednesday by the House Agriculture Policy Committee, which Anderson chairs, along with a number of other provisions in H.F. 3231 – the omnibus agriculture policy bill he is carrying. That bill now is available for a vote of the full House.
"Farmer-lender mediation is an important tool for farmers who are dealing with tight margins in the agriculture industry," Anderson said. "With the economic demands farmers are facing today, I anticipate this program will be even more valuable in upcoming years."
Anderson also is the author of a clone farmer-lender mediation bill. That version (H.F. 1235) also cleared its last House hurdle on Wednesday by receiving approval from the Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee and is eligible for a House vote as a stand-alone proposal.
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