Priority Issues

Hearing and sharing the voices of our over 31,000 members is essential in driving meaningful change in policy on the local, state and national levels. 

Our grassroots efforts highlight issues important to those involved in agriculture, what is needed to help them succeed, and helps set the foundation for our work on a wide variety of issues. 

State Policy

Issues surfaced by members in our 78 county and regional Farm Bureaus help raise awareness around actionable items necessary to keep agriculture and Minnesota thriving.

While Farm Bureau is proud to work alongside and represent its members on a large range of issues, these priority issues help focus our efforts on top issues that continually rise to the surface through the grassroots policy development process.

  • Generational Farming - Support and champion those interested in entering and transitioning farms generationally.

  • Environmental Stewardship - Implement practical and scientific conservation policies using resource management, funding and voluntary practices.

  • Research & Innovation - Shape tomorrow’s agriculture with smart ideas, education, and forward-looking solutions.

  • Economic & Rural Prosperity - Create a successful environment that expands opportunities and resources to strengthen rural communities and the agriculture industry.

  • Animal Emergency Preparedness - Ensure that Minnesota is well-positioned to respond to and prevent crises affecting farmers and their livestock.

National Policy

The Minnesota Farm Bureau is a part of the American Farm Bureau Federation, comprised of 50 state Farm Bureaus and Puerto Rico. Together we make a strong presence for agriculture in Washington, D.C. Every year, Farm Bureau members in more than 2,800 counties meet to discuss and vote on policies affecting their farms, ranches and communities. Those policies then set the agenda for their state Farm Bureaus and ultimately AFBF.

AFBF works to support the following principles in guiding the development of programs in the next Farm Bill:   

  • Maintain funding commitments to current farm programs;
  • Maintain a unified farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; and 
  • Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs.

Farm Bureau also looks at additional federal legislative and regulatory issues that affect farmers and ranchers including:

  • Sustainability
  • Regulatory Reform
  • Right to Repair
  • Labor
  • Tax Reform
  • Comprehensive US Energy Policy
  • Infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Farm Policy

Learn more about federal issues on the AFBF website.