Ag leaders across Minnesota gathered Tuesday to discuss the issues that are critical in the new Farm Bill and how these changes could impact USDA policies at Farmfest this week near Redwood Falls.
The panel featured Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary and an introduction by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D). It was moderated by Mark Dorenkamp of Browfield Ag News Midwest and included:
Scott VanderWal, American Farm Bureau Vice President, Rob Larew, National Farmers Union President, Tom Haag, National Corn Growers Association President, Lori Stevermer, National Pork Producers Council, and Bob Worth, President of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
Klobochar said the Farm Bill is important in Minnesota and strengthening farms. The current Farm Bill expires on September 30th.
"Negotiations are going strong and well in the Senate," Klobuchar told the crowd at Farmfest. "The plan is to get a bill first, I believe, out of the Senate Committee. Senator Bozeman (R- Arkansas) was here at my invitation a few months ago, met with a few of the ag groups, talked about some differences between Minnesota farming and Arkansas farming so we can get to that next step along with others on the Ag Committee to get this bill done by this fall. Without a Farm Bill in place, our entire ag economy, in fact the entire world's economy, would be disrupted."
Klobuchar also noted that increasing drought in Minnesota would require more support for farms. Minnesota is currently several inches below normal which has a large impact on the costs and health of Minnesota's ag products.
Robert Bonnie is the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at USDA and he explained their role in policy is to get the best outcome for farmers possible.
"We don't write the Farm Bill, but we work with all of you, we work with Senator Klobuchar, Senator Bozeman, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), and others on the Hill to do the best job we can to provide a system to get as good a Farm Bill as we can."
Bonnie adds that there are serious financial challenges despite bipartisan support for farmers.
"We all agree we all need to invest more in agriculture. Our challenge going into the Farm Bill is how do we pay for it in this budgetary environment. I will say, and Senator Klobuchar talked about this, there's still a real spirit of bipartisinship in the Farm Bill on both sides of the aisle. And I think both sides of the aisle are saying the right things right now. At the end of the day, we have to go find money to support our priorities."
WCCO political analyst Blois Olson will be hosting a discussion on Ag issues in Minnesota on Sunday, August 6 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on News Talk 830 WCCO and the Audacy App sponsored by the Minnesota Corn Growers, Compeer Financial, and the Minnesota Farmers Union.
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