ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House approved an omnibus agriculture finance bill on a party-line vote Thursday, departing from the norm on this portion of the state budget that typically enjoys broad, bipartisan support.
State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, is the ranking House Republican on agriculture. He said there are parts of the bill (S.F. 1955) he supports but indicated additional fees and regulations it also contains would make Minnesota’s farmers less competitive and less profitable at a time many already are struggling.
“In general, the bill is more about what it does to farmers than what it does for them,” Anderson said. “There is a net increase of $13.6 million in fees, along with a provision that takes away tools farmers use to grow crops. Another measure in the bill waters down the Board of Animal Health’s structure in a way that our efforts to prevent and contain outbreaks in our animal herds could be compromised.”
Anderson said he is pleased the bill sets up a grain indemnity fund to protect farmers in the event they deliver grain to an elevator which files for bankruptcy before the farmer is paid. It’s a situation Anderson said has occurred in Minnesota and the bill appropriates $5 million to establish the fund. The goal, Anderson said, is to build the account to $15 million, using a combination of state funds and check-offs from farmers' grain sales.
Anderson offered an amendment to the bill that would have upped the state’s initial contribution to $10 million. The House majority voted down that move. Anderson said the package which passed included zero bills authored by House Republicans and very few amendments they proposed.
“Agriculture has the reputation as one of the few places bipartisan results are achieved in the Legislature,” Anderson said. “It is unfortunate to see a different approach was taken this year and the result is what some people are calling the most partisan ag. bill we have seen in the House. I hope a pending conference committee improves this bill so it comes back worthy of bipartisan support for final passage.”
Overall, the bill provides $163 million to the Department of Agriculture, a $38 million increase. It also appropriates $125.7 million to the Office of Broadband, an increase of $100 million.
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