MCGA grower-leaders meet with legislators during Day on the Hill

Above: From left to right: Grower-leaders Jim Kanten, Wes Beck, and John Swanson with Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson.

Today, Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) grower-leaders met with members of the State Legislature from both political parties during the organization’s annual Day on the Hill at the State Capitol. Grower-leaders also met with Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel.

During meetings, grower-leaders talked about Minnesota Corn’s sustainability efforts, including how the organization shares the goal of proactively protecting the state’s drinking water. They noted how Minnesota Corn is committed to addressing nitrogen challenges through research, partnerships, reasonable policy solutions, and achievable on-farm practices. That includes continued corn check-off investments in university-led, on-farm research that results in new practices and farmer education to improve nutrient use efficiency and the implementation of soil health practices that reduce nitrogen’s impact on groundwater.

Grower-leaders also noted the vital role of crop-protection tools in soil health practices such as cover crops or reduced tillage. They said the state should continue its partnership with the U.S. EPA and its vast scientific resources to review, register, and label products that provide the guidelines for safe handling and use of products to minimize impacts on natural resources.

Additionally, grower-leaders noted their support for the state’s soil health grant program, to which lawmakers appropriated $4.75 million during the 2023 legislative session. The program helps to defray the capital costs in purchasing equipment for soil health practice implementation, including no-till drills, air seeders, strip till machines, and cover crop seeding equipment. There has been strong demand for the program, and MCGA is encouraging ongoing investment in it.

MCGA also urged lawmakers to support efforts to build demand for sustainable aviation fuel and Unleaded 88 and higher biofuel blends, which reduce emissions and lower costs for drivers. Minnesota leads the nation with a 12.6% ethanol blend rate, and over 450 Minnesota fuel stations offer biofuel blends above 10%, thanks in part to lawmakers’ investment in the state’s biofuel infrastructure grant program. MCGA appreciates the continued investment in homegrown biofuels and is proud to support efforts to ensure consumers have continued access to the biofuels.

Finally, grower-leaders encouraged lawmakers to lower local property and homestead taxes and support increased timeline certainty for environmental permitting. Despite past efforts, Minnesota significantly lags behind neighboring states in issuing needed environmental permits for new and expanding business, and the state continues to lose economic opportunities for businesses to locate and expand in Minnesota. As a result, Minnesota corn farmers are losing out on important in-state markets for corn and development projects that could add value to corn.

Learn more about MCGA’s advocacy efforts at mncorn.org/advocacy.