ST. PAUL — Property taxes were among the most discussed items when Farmers Union members met with their legislators.
MFU members from southeast Minnesota traveled to St. Paul for lobby day on Feb. 3. The third of three lobby days is Feb. 17.
Members said high land value doesn't mean higher cash flow. The organization supports property tax relief for agricultural property.
Members got into a lengthy discussion about the quality of milk in schools during a visit with Sen. Matt Schmit, DFL-Red Wing. Farmers said if students have a bad experience with milk at school, they are less likely to drink milk. They asked why plastic bottles aren't used in schools and about the delivery system. One said milk often sits outside the cooler until cafeteria staff have time to put it in the refrigerator. He said staff need to know that milk, unlike other beverages, needs constant refrigeration for optimum taste.
They talked about buffers, but everyone is waiting to see what the governor's buffer initiative looks like.
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Deborah Mills, a Goodhue County dairy farmer, asked legislators to require that custom feed manufacturers provide farmers with an itemized recipe for each feed batch they deliver to the farm. She asks that the document also contain itemized ingredient costs. The language is part of MFU's policy.
It's important for dairy farmers to know what's in their feed not only to protect the health of their herds, but also because farmers are required to sign a document when selling cattle testifying that cattle weren't fed meat or bone meal from ruminants. How can a farmer know without knowing the ingredients in the feed mix?
The budget and roads were the topic when the group met with Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. MFU supports adequate funding to support the state's roads and bridges. A particular need for money exists to improve farm-to-market roads and road safety, members said.
"We need to stop taxing and start prioritizing," Drazkowski said. "The question is if we have the discipline to do it."
From there, the group met with Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing. MFU president Doug Peterson outlined the group's priorities:
• Continued support of the AGRI fund. The Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Program funds value-added agriculture, farm-to-school grants and beginning farmer grants.
• Funding for 4-H, Extension and farm business management programs in addition to research projects at the University of Minnesota.
• Funding for the wolf depredation fund. This money is used to pay farmers whose livestock is lost to wolves.
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