Each week during the Minnesota legislative session, the Minnesota Farm Bureau will highlight its work with elected officials to support our members and agriculture. While we advocate for our members on a wide variety of topics, our Board of Directors set six priority issues for the 2023 state legislative session, and our efforts to advance those issues are highlighted below.

Recap: Weeks of Jan. 18 to Feb. 9

Our public policy team and leadership has been connecting with elected officials and other policy influencers to share our member’s stories, and build relationships to reinforce our position as a leader in agriculture issues in Minnesota.

Additionally, our staff provided several testimonies:

H.F. 463 (Vang) Rural Finance Authority funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated: This bill supports the future of agriculture by providing low interest loans to farmers in need. This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus package. MFBF supports this bill; Public Policy Specialist Kaytlin Bemis testified in support. 

S.F. 548 (Putnam) Rural Finance Authority funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated: This bill supports the future of agriculture by providing low interest loans to farmers in need. This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus package. MFBF supports this bill; Public Policy Specialist Kaytlin Bemis testified in support. 

S.F. 234 (Draheim) Housing infrastructure grants pilot program and appropriation: This bill supports MFBF’s 2023 priority issue to support and strengthen our rural communities. This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus package. MFBF supports this bill; written testimony was submitted. 

H.F. 1431 (Tabke) Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council grant funding provided, and money  appropriated: This bill funds MAELC which supports agricultural education throughout the state. This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus package. MFBF supports this bill; Public Policy Specialist Kaytlin Bemis testified in support. 

H.F. 1147 (Hansen. R) Agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant program and Farm Business Management challenge grant funding provided, and money appropriated: This bill funds the Farm Business Management Program which aids farmers in making strong business decisions on their farm. This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus package. MFBF supports this bill; Public Policy Specialist Kaytlin Bemis testified in support.