By Scout Nelson
Minnesota agricultural producers are celebrating the renewal of the 2018 Farm Bill, extended for another year under a continuing resolution passed by Congress on December 21. The extension ensures critical relief programs and key safety nets for the state’s agriculture sector, offering stability during challenging times.
Jason Keck, a representative of the Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee, shared optimism about the extension. “The farm bill has most of our major safety nets in it as far as crop insurance and many other programs. Extending it gives us the opportunity to really work on a modernized farm bill that really puts us in the right position for the future,” Keck stated.
The extension brings with it significant relief aid, including $21 billion in disaster assistance for farms impacted by flooding, wildfires, and drought over the past two growing seasons. Additionally, $10 billion in economic aid will help mitigate rising supply costs and declining commodity prices.
Minnesota’s agricultural leadership remains hopeful about advancing a new farm bill, with strong representation on agricultural committees. Representatives Brad Finstad (R) and Angie Craig (D), alongside Senator Amy Klobuchar (D), are poised to champion modernization efforts in the coming year.
Both agricultural organizations, including the Iowa Farmers Union, emphasize the need for additional measures that were left out of this year’s renewal. Priorities include expanded support for ethanol products like E-15, which bolster Minnesota’s corn and soybean markets, and broader options for utilizing federal conservation funds on agricultural operations.
While challenges such as potential tariffs and a new agriculture secretary loom, Minnesota’s agricultural community is focused on leveraging this extension to secure a sustainable and innovative future for the sector.
Categories: Minnesota, Government & Policy, Weather