Minnesota corn farmers meet with legislators at MCGA’s annual legislative reception in St. Paul.

Over 40 state legislators, staff, and agency leaders talked farming, biofuels and agriculture policy with corn farmers at the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) legislative reception in St. Paul on Wednesday.

The annual reception is an opportunity for corn farmers to connect with policymakers in an informal setting and help develop a better understanding of the challenges faced by farmers.

“The reception is another way to make sure the voices of corn farmers are being heard,” said John Mages, a farmer in Belgrade who chairs MCGA’s government relations committee. “By stepping away from the farm for an evening and meeting with legislators in a setting outside of the state capitol, we’re able to build relationships and address important issues at a more personal level.”

Why is it important for corn farmers to spend time with legislators and make sure they understand the challenges faced by today’s farmers? Because if corn farmers don’t tell their own story, somebody else will, and it might not always be accurate.

Take, for example, the legislature’s recent action to repeal the farm machinery repair tax. If corn farmers and other ag organizations didn’t let legislators know how damaging the tax was to farmers and rural communities, it might not have been repealed.

Another example is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Corn farmers received support from Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Al Franken, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and several others when the Environmental Protection Agency proposed slashing the RFS. If corn farmers didn’t take the time to meet with legislators on issues like the RFS, that support likely would not have been as strong.

“We appreciate the fact that so many legislators took the time to attend and visit with Minnesota corn farmers,” Mages said. “Corn farming makes a positive impact throughout the entire Minnesota economy. The reception is another way for us to demonstrate that impact to policymakers.”