Farm Bureau determines focus areas for 2013

During a comprehensive discussion and debate on November 30, voting delegates at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF) 94th Annual Meeting adopted policy positions for 2013. At the MFBF Board of Directors meeting following the Annual Meeting, board members discussed the organization’s focus areas for 2013.

“Farm Bureau’s policy development process began early in the year and resulted in a very productive Minnesota Farm Bureau delegate session,” said MFBF President Kevin Paap. “Farm Bureau voting delegates, farmers and ranchers from throughout Minnesota, established our public policy positions on the issues facing agriculture.”

“Top on the mind of our delegates and members were the impacts of the 2012 elections,” said Paap. “Roughly 30 percent of the members in the state legislature will be serving their first term. In addition, new committee structures and committee chairs have been announced.”

“For 2013, the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives have combined the agriculture finance budget with the budgets for the Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources,” said Paap. “In the previous year’s budget discussions, agriculture was a separate finance bill. There will be more players at the table as the state legislature and Governor conduct their budget negotiations.”

“Our delegates and board of directors identified key areas for 2013: food, water, budgetary issues, regulations and engaging decision makers and consumers. Minnesota farmers and ranchers are dedicated to food safety, food security and food availability,” said Paap. “We will work to increase the understanding of today’s agricultural practices by sharing our commitment and our common values with influencers, consumers, regulators and influential customers. In agriculture, as in our families and communities, the best is yet to come.”

Tags: news, updates, farm, agriculture