MCGA testifies in support of priorities at State Legislature
It’s been a busy few weeks for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) of testifying in support of the organization’s legislative priorities at the State Capitol. In both written and verbal testimony, farmer-leaders have advocated for legislation that would increase opportunities for corn growers while protecting natural resources and boosting the productivity of farming.
Below is a summary of MCGA’s recent efforts.
SF1312/HF1669—SAF tax credit
Sponsored by Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) and Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston), SF1312/HF1669 would increase funding for the state’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit and extend the credit to 2035.
In testimony to the Senate Taxes Committee on Feb. 27, MCGA Senior Public Policy Director Amanda Bilek said that corn-based ethanol is a good fit for SAF production in the alcohol-to-jet technology pathway, given its affordability, abundance, and existing infrastructure across greater Minnesota communities. She added that MCGA is encouraged by the potential market opportunity for SAF and looks forward to working with a diverse set of partners to overcome any challenges the industry faces. Bilek also testified in support of the legislation during a House Taxes Committee hearing on March 6.
SF1507/HF43—Biofuel infrastructure grants
Sponsored by Sen. Gene Dornink (R-Brownsdale) and Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck), SF1507/HF43 would appropriate $4.5 million in 2026 and 2027 to the state’s biofuel infrastructure grant program. SF 881, sponsored by Sen. Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead) and HF 882, also sponsored by Representative Paul Anderson, is similar to SF1507/HF43 in support of the MDA Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program. The bipartisan bills would also allow retailers with up to 20 retail sites in Minnesota to be eligible for the program. Previous grants were limited to retailers with no more than 10 retail sites in Minnesota.
In testimony to the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee on March 3, Rep. Anderson said E15 costs less, increases octane, and reduces tailpipe emissions, adding that the grant program has spurred additional private investment in fuel station equipment infrastructure. Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association Executive Director Brian Werner noted that the state recently surpassed the 500-station mark for the number of stations offering E15 and that the fuel, on average, saves drivers 17 cents per gallon.
“Now’s a great time to double down on the program and continue our progress,” he said. “House File 43 will continue Minnesota’s leadership and drive additional E15 sales to lower emissions, save consumers money at the pump, support the rural economy, and increase our energy security.”
Bilek noted Minnesota Corn’s long history of investing in biofuels infrastructure, outreach, marketing, and research, and she added that the biofuel infrastructure grant program was a recommendation of the Governor’s Council on Biofuels. She said state-level funding for biofuels infrastructure is becoming more important given uncertainty at the federal level for the biofuel infrastructure program included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
SF882/HF985—Soil health grants
Sponsored by Sen. Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights) and Rep. Nathan Nelson (R-Hinckley) SF882/HF985 would allocate $639,000 annually in 2026 and 2027 to the state’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Grant Program. Established as a pilot program in 2022 and made on-going in 2023, the program assists Minnesota farmers with financial resources to implement conservation practices to build soil health. Eligible expenses include parts and materials to retrofit existing equipment, down payments on equipment, subscriptions or equipment technology for precision agriculture, technical assistance for conservation plans, and more.
In testimony to the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development Committee on March 5, MCGA Past President/Chair of the Board Dana Allen-Tully said farmers are interested in implementing soil health practices but can face barriers to getting started. She added that some practices might work on one farm but not another, and she thanked legislators for implementing the program.
In addition to testifying in support of the bill, MCGA also joined a letter by 12 farm and conservation groups urging passage of the legislation. The letter noted the popularity of the program and how it’s inclusive of a wide array of practices that allow farmers to determine what works best for their respective operations.
SF1419/HF1626—Beginning farmer tax credit
Sponsored by Sen. Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) and Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center) SF1419/HF1626 would remove the statutory cap on the beginning farmer tax credit to ensure that all producers who quality can access it. MCGA joined a group of farm and food organizations in writing a letter to Senate Tax Committee Chair Ann Rest in support of the bill.
