MCGA legislative priorities highlighted during Day on the Hill event

Last Tuesday, Minnesota Corn farmer-leaders traveled to the State Capitol as part of MCGA’s annual Day on the Hill to highlight policies that benefit family corn farmers and rural communities.

Farmer-leaders met with more than 25 elected officials from both political parties as they navigated the Capitol complex. The event concluded with a joint legislative session with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.

Key points of discussion included the importance of crop protection tools, which allow farmers to raise productive crops while implementing soil health practices. Farmer-leaders also highlighted Minnesota Corn’s commitment to proactively protecting the state’s drinking water and addressing nitrogen challenges through research, partnerships, reasonable policy solutions and achievable on-farm practices.

Participants also emphasized MCGA’s support for the state’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Program and noted how the Minnesota corn checkoff invests in research that increases productivity, improves nutrient use efficiency, and protects soil and water resources.

Other topics included legislation that would:

• Increase the ability of local governments to participate in the site-selection process for utility-scale solar projects.
• Create compatibility between the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the State Fire Code, which could allow more retailers to offer higher ethanol blends.
• Create an E15 financial incentive program and continue biofuel infrastructure grants.
• Provide additional funding for Minnesota’s sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Corn-based ethanol is a good fit for SAF production given its affordability, abundance, and existing infrastructure across Minnesota.
• Lift the funding cap on the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit to ensure new and beginning farmers are eligible to quality.

MCGA thanks lawmakers from both parties for taking time to learn more about corn farmers and rural communities. Learn more about MCGA’s grassroots advocacy efforts here.

Syverson advocates for crop protection tools

Also last week, farmer-leader Richard Syverson, who chairs MCGA’s government relations committee, spoke out in support of insecticide seed treatments during a House Agriculture Committee hearing on a bill that would prohibit them and neonicotinoids.

Insecticide seed treatments provide early growing season protection from endemic pests like corn rootworms, wireworms and seed corn maggots, Syverson said. They’re also a major upgrade from older tools, protecting corn seedlings with exponentially lower concentrations of active ingredients.

MCGA thanks Swede for his testimony in the House Agriculture Committee and his advocacy for tools critical to family farmers.