Following the Senate Finance Committee advancing a recovery package for Minnesota farmers and ranchers impacted by last year’s historic drought conditions, DFL Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee said they strongly support the increases made to grant-based relief
DFL Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously supported legislation to deliver new grant-based and recovery loan relief to Minnesota farmers and ranchers impacted by historic drought conditions in 2021. Senate DFLers continue to call for immediate passage of this relief by early next week.
Yesterday on the Senate floor, the omnibus agriculture and rural development budget bill (SF 958) passed. The bill includes $40 million for border-to-border broadband expansion and an additional $80 million if federal funds become available. The bill contains no new funding to support Minnesota farmers and people living in rural places as Minnesota emerges from a year long pandemic.
The Minnesota Senate passed legislation Thursday providing approximately $50 million for the Rural Finance Authority for user financed loans. Senator Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) voted in favor of the bill.
Senator Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove) will announce legislation for the 2020 Legislative Session that would make milk the default beverage for children’s meals in the state. She will be joined by health advocates and representatives from Minnesota’s dairy industry in support of making this the statewide standard.
Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson and DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen will be attending a Community Forum, hosted and moderated by Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato).