Dear Neighbor,
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is in the process of testing the state’s 1,400 dairy herds. As you may have heard, there was a positive test for the bird flu detected in a Stearns County dairy herd. I was part of a press conference to address this subject at the Capitol on Wednesday. Click here for the KSTP footage of my comments.
First of all, I want to reassure people that dairy products in our state are safe. There is no reason for people to change their dairy consumption.
Minnesota is a powerhouse in ag production. We produce a lot of turkeys, grow a lot of chickens and milk a lot of cows in our state. We’ve been through this before – all the way back to 2015 – and we have the personnel and the agencies and the financial wherewithal to deal with situations like this that come up.
State Ag Commissioner Thom Peters said during the press conference Minnesota has been monitoring the virus patterns in the state closely, especially as birds have begun to migrate back into the state. This is tricky because avian influenza, as is the case with any virus, can evolve over time and methods of treating it must adapt as well.
As chair of the House committee on agriculture, it’s been my pledge to fully support the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and give them the tools they need to handle anything that comes along. I’m very confident we have the right people in place to take care of this. I also want to thank the media for attending our press conference to help raise public awareness.
In other news, a new website has been launched as a way for citizens to confidentially report suspected fraud, waste and abuse within Minnesota state government. This website (MNFraud.com) is one new way the public can play a role in efforts to stop the misuse of tax dollars that is taking place in our state.
The website will serve as a central hub for Minnesotans to report suspected or observed mismanagement of state programs. Submitted reports will then be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate authorities so they can take a closer look. To ensure confidentiality, all information, including whistleblower identities, is securely protected.
Minnesotans work hard to earn their money, and the government has a duty to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly. Public involvement is crucial for accountability, and this website is a valuable step in that direction. I encourage people to use this tool if they witness or suspect misuse of public funds.
On a final note, I am a member of the House committee on energy and this week a hearing took place for a bill (H.F. 2423) which provides funds for disposing of ash borer-infested trees in our state. I shared concerns about how this issue has statewide impacts, such as in Glenwood, and urged that Greater Minnesota be included in this initiative instead of it being limited to the metro area. Click here for the committee discussion on this bill.
Until next time, have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Paul