Harvesting Solutions

The grassroots membership of Minnesota Farm Bureau continually identifies issues impacting agriculture and Minnesota. As a result of this process, Minnesota Farm Bureau is able to share the voices of its members, find resources and work towards solutions to help keep communities thriving.

Join us this summer as  Harvesting Solutions returns, digging into four topics surfaced by our members. All webinars will be on Facebook Live at 2 p.m. and are scheduled to be 30 minutes. You do not need a Facebook account to watch the videos.

Here's our upcoming schedule:

August 18, 2 p.m. – School Funding, featuring Britta Torkelson and Sam Walseth with the Minnesota Rural Education Assocation

September 22, 2 p.m. – Energy


Missed one of our recent Facebook Live conversations? We've got you covered. Watch the full recordings below or visit our Facebook page to explore more. Each video dives into important topics that affect communities across Minnesota, and also  includes practical steps you can take to stay engaged.

Harvesting Solutions: Human Health Aspects of Animal Disease, featuring Dr. Stacy Holzbauer, Minnesota Department of Health

Now what? Passionate about protecting animal and human health in your community? Use the following resources to get started, and reach out to your local Farm Bureau to get them engaged in taking action.

  • Prevent the spread of animal disease by using insect repellent, not handling sick/dead animals, avoiding animals while landscaping or mowing, keeping cats indoors when possible, not letting pets hunt rodents or rabbits, and using flea and tick preventative medication on pets.
  • Access and distribute resources from the Minnesota Department of Health: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/animal/index.html.
  • When hosting or visiting on-farm events or events with animals, access and distribute agritourism resources from the Minnesota Department of Health: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/animal/facesresources.html.
  • View the Minnesota Department of Health as a resource for individual concerns or situations when people or animals are ill because of their contact with one another.
Harvesting Solutions: Rural Infrastructure, featuring Graham Berg-Moberg, Minnesota Association of Townships


Now what? Passionate about improving the infrastructure of rural roads and bridges in your community? Use the following resources to get started, and reach out to your local Farm Bureau to get them engaged in taking action.

  • Contact your elected officials at all levels of government. Let them know you care about this issue. Tell them that there needs to be a sustainable revenue source attached these obligations. Pay attention to who votes for these issues.
  • Help document the concerns in your community. Legislators do not always see the issues that are happening, so take pictures of roads and bridges that need attention. Share them with your elected officials, decision makers, and urban and suburban legislators.
  • Attend town halls in your community to make sure this topic is brought forward. Write op-eds to your local newspapers.
  • Serve in your local township government! Or, help identify people who can serve and advocate for your community. People are also needed to help with road maintenance – grading, plowing, etc.

Below you will find episodes from our 2024 Harvesting Solutions series, and ways to take action and advance solutions in your community.

Harvesting Solutions: Childcare in Minnesota


Now what? Passionate about advancing childcare and supporting your community? Use the following resources to get started, and reach out to your local Farm Bureau to get them engaged in taking action.

  • Visit www.childcareaccess.org to get a picture of what childcare access looks like in your community.
  • See if there's an organization/association of childcare workers in your community and ask what they need for support.
  • Work with local licensors to identify needs in your community and and share information about resources for providers.
  • Talk with all levels of government (city council/mayor, county commissioners, state legislators, etc.) about the importance of supporting childcare initiatives.


Harvesting Solutions: Healthcare in Minnesota

Now what? Passionate about advancing healthcare and supporting your community? Use the following ideas to get started, and reach out to your local Farm Bureau to get them engaged in taking action.

  • Gather like-minded leaders and community representatives together to create sounding boards and a process for voices to be heard.
  • Promote careers in rural healthcare to students at an early age.
  • Support rural medical school programs.
  • Research and invest in programs to strengthen emergency medical response teams.
  • Invest in and collaborate with others to strengthen rural “main streets”.

Harvesting Solutions: Labor in Minnesota


Now what? Passionate about advancing labor and supporting your community? Use the following ideas to get started, and reach out to your local Farm Bureau to get them engaged in taking action.

  • Visit mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools to view employment statistics, unemployment rates, wages, salaries, and job projections for your area.
  • Develop relationships with your local regional development commission or workforce development groups.
  • Work with your local school district to assist with career exploration days, internships, etc. to expose students (and their parents) to career opportunities in your community.
  • Use DEED data to look at basic needs cost of living to adjust wages, and change required qualifications on job postings to make your openings more competitive.