This week, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in the Minnesota Legislature are rolling out their budgets for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Both the House and Senate have included important items, such as funding for the Emerging Farmers Office and establishing a Meat and Poultry Liaison position in the Department of Agriculture, as well as additional funding for the Farm-to-School Program.

At the same time, both the House and Senate proposals have room for improvement. For example, the House included just $250,000 per year for the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program. The program’s first application period just ended and there was 17 times more demand than funding available!

We need to call on House and Senate Ag Committee leadership to finalize an agriculture budget that delivers for emerging and beginning farmers, small and mid-sized farmers, local meat processors, our farm and food system, and our soil, water, air, and climate.

Will you take just two minutes to add your name to our Farmer & Processor Sign-On Letter to demonstrate the demand for this budget support from Minnesota farmers and processors?

Add Your Name to the Letter Here

Triple your impact by forwarding this action alert or the sign-on link (http://bit.ly/agbudgetletter) to at least three other Minnesota farmers and processors to help us get the word out!

The Land Stewardship Project will be delivering the letter at the 2023 Family Farm Breakfast and Lobby Day on Thursday, April 13, during a Town Hall with Senate Ag Committee Chair Aric Putnam, Senate Ag Committee Vice Chair Rob Kupec, and House Ag Committee Vice Chair Kristi Pursell. Please join us! 

Register for the Family Farm Breakfast Here