DECISION 2022
In an effort to keep you, our readers, well-informed and abreast of relevant issues, today is the ninth in a series of questions we are asking all of Steele County’s candidates for state office.
We want voters to know where each candidate stands on the issues in order to make their best decision at the ballot box.
Each week, we’ll ask the candidates a new question. They will all receive the same question, be given a word limit and a deadline of four days to answer. We’ll publish their answers the following Wednesday; responses may be edited for length.
The series will continue through Nov. 2, the last Wednesday before the Nov. 8 general election.
If a candidate doesn’t respond, we’ll note that.
This week, we’re asking about farming:
We’ve just wrapped up another successful Steele County Free Fair, the best opportunity around to advocate for agriculture. Those 4-H kids showing livestock, poultry and more are the next generation to learn about the values of farming and quality agricultural work. But family farms are disappearing across the state as more and more “corporate” farms take hold.
What policies would you support to see that small, diversified family farms are assured a future in Minnesota?
The limit was 250 words.
We advise you to ignore the R or DFL behind each name, and reflect only on the answers. You might be surprised to find more common ground than you expected. An (i) indicates the incumbent candidate, though with this spring’s redistricting, the district numbers may not align with the seat they’re seeking.
Question of the Week:
What policies would you support to see that small, diversified family farms are assured a future in Minnesota?
Minnesota House District 19B
Abdulahi Ali Osman – DFL, of Owatonna:
No response
John Petersburg – R (i-24A), of Waseca:
I farmed for a while in the eighties and early nineties and understand the difficulties in trying to maintain a farming operation. The biggest challenge is the cost of farmland and the equipment. Farming isn't something you can start in your garage and then expand. When I bought my farm in the 80's I paid a little over $100 an acre for it, today some land is going for over $10,000 an acre. And equipment is costly as well. The equipment needed for a small farm could easily run close to $1 million. Most new farmers start with the help of parents or relatives. There are two areas that will help the most to maintain and promote new and small family farms, that is grants and low interest loans and/or promote family transfer of property and equipment. The grants and loans are pretty straight forward and are currently available. The transfer and renting of the land and equipment are more complicated. The estate tax and Social Security benefit income tax are obstacles to retired farmers who may want to offer lower rents and equipment to smaller farmers. I have also been working on extending the agriculture homestead credit to nephews and nieces. I was able to get it into the last tax bill, but the bill was never passed by both chambers. I will keep trying.
Minnesota House District 23A
Peggy Bennett – R (i-27A), of Albert Lea:
One of my favorite events at the Freeborn County Fair is to watch the generational farm families receive the Century Farm recognition. We should do all we can to save and preserve family farms from big corporate takeovers.
The farming situation is very complicated. Many of what one might call “corporate farms” are simply families: brothers, sisters, and/or parents. These families felt forced to incorporate because of government tax laws. Now some seem to want to label them as corporate farms even though they are still family farms. Then there are the real corporate farms that grow bigger and bigger and are run by people or groups who have little to do with the day-to-day farming. An additional recent occurrence are farms operated on land purchased by radical environmental groups/individuals or megarich individuals who buy up millions of acres of farmland. They want to control those acres and tell farmers what and how they should farm. This latter group is the most concerning of these “corporations.” If we don’t figure out how to prevent this political farmland takeover, they could ultimately control most of our farmland and the real farmers will just be “serfs” on the land. We need to work together to find solutions to stop this mega-land takeover and support common-sense fixes such as regulatory reform and tax reform to make sure the everyday American farmer can operate his/her family farm and pass on that heritage for generations.
Mary Hinnenkamp – DFL, of Albert Lea:
I grew up on a 360-acre dairy farm in the 1950s and 1960s. My parents were able to raise eleven of us, got a couple of us through college, and helped others buy small businesses, all by raising pigs, chickens, and milking a herd of 40-50 cows. Those days are long gone, largely due to federal agriculture policies over the last fifty years or so (“Get big or get out”). That said, Minnesota can enact policies to help small diversified farmers thrive.
One, to rein in healthcare costs, I would support creating a public option that would allow farmers to buy-in to state healthcare programs like MNCare. Two, I would support “right to fix” laws so farmers would have access to parts, tools and equipment they need to repair their own equipment. Three, I would support and protect Minnesota’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit and other programs that help new farmers get established. Four, I would support efforts to ensure there are more independent slaughter plants to protect farmers from corporate dominance. Five, I would support financial help for farmers to buy equipment to plant cover crops and harvest other niche market crops. Six, I would work to increase funding for the University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative which works to develop crops and farming practices that are climate smart and will enable farmers to thrive in times of weather extremes.
Farmers are the backbone of rural communities. I will support all efforts to help them thrive and succeed.
Minnesota House District 23B
Patricia Mueller – R (i-27B), of Austin:
Agriculture is the backbone of our local economy, and our hardworking farmers are central to its success. Many farms have been operating in our area for generations; our new Americans value family farms as well. Helping our farmers is more than investing money, though that is important.
Healthy farming requires healthy farmers. Our farmers need access to quality and affordable health care. Health care is expensive and limited. Many farmers are going without health insurance, which only adds financial risk to their already high-risk, low-margin business. It is important to expand more patient-centric options for health insurance. This is the type of out-of-the-box thinking that we need rather than a government-mandated, one size fits all solution.
Allowing more options for apprenticeships and on-the-job training in high school will capture students who have an interest in farming. Farm children are growing up watching their parents struggle with regulations, which means they will be less likely to become farmers. We can correct this by supporting the freedom to farm and restoring the State government’s respect for farmers. Farmers have extraordinary pressures as they work the land. Many of the mandates that come from the government hurt smaller family farms the most. It is important to listen to the people who are on the ground doing the work. Nearly every regulation the State passes on agriculture, removes choice. Government should follow the innovation of farmers and not place mandates where they are unnecessary.
Tom Stiehm – DFL, of Austin:
I support the DFL position.
Down payment assistance grants for new farmers to secure land to farm, and assistance to help small farmers enroll in new federal micro-farm insurance programs. Technical and cultural appropriate services for emerging farmers and food-system related businesses. Support for farmers market vendors and investments in cooperative development grants to help early-stage agricultural cooperatives advance production and marketing.
Minnesota Senate District 19
Kate Falvey – DFL, of Faribault:
Small, diversified family farms are essential to not only the Minnesota economy but also to maintaining a healthy environment. I would continue to support subsidies for farms to plant cover crops. As I mentioned in my statement about cannabis, I would encourage farmers to use hemp as a possible cover crop or to plant hemp on some of their acres in order to diversify. The Farm to School grants program already in place is a great way for family farms or small acreage farms to connect with their communities and supply fresh foods to the schools. We should increase support for this grant program and include child care providers, as Rep. Todd Lippert had proposed in this latest legislative session.
Supporting non-profit organizations like Sharing Our Roots is also something that I think is important for maintaining small, diversified farms and providing means for equity in farming.
Agriculture courses in schools and 4-H programs should continue to be supported by the state through grants and subsidies. The future depends on a well-rounded education of students and in areas of agriculture, the ag science, business and finance courses are increasingly important. It was exciting to see so many young people at the Steele County Free Fair involved in showing animals and showcasing their 4-H projects.
John Jasinksi – R (i-24), of Faribault:
Family farms have always been the backbone of the Minnesota economy, feeds the population of the world and employs thousands of Minnesotans. Ensuring that agriculture is successful far into the future has been a focus of the Senate and the Ag and Environment committees for several years. We have taken steps to assist farmers and beginning farmers through the life cycle of the family farm, to include educational funding and grants to new and upstart farmers. This has been increasingly sought after as crop diversification and technological improvements have opened new ideas and potential in agriculture. The Rural Finance Authority has proven to be a valued tool in assisting those new and upcoming farmers as well as restructuring established farms. We have increased the funding level to this program every year since I have been in office. One of the biggest concerns that family farms have continued to voice to me is the succession planning from one generation to the next, the estate tax and financial implications to the young farmers have been severely detrimental to handing over legacy acres or equipment. This concern, coupled with Minnesota continuing to tax social security on its retired population, constitute some of the greatest issues we face today. The family farm must be protected during its conception during start-up or turnover, during the prime earning years to include loan structuring and supporting programs, and during succession and estate planning for passing the torch to the next generation for all farms in the state.
Minnesota Senate District 23
Gene Dornink – R (i-27), of Brownsdale:
Minnesota farmers are a vital part of our economy, and we need local farming, that keeps farm families on the land, to remain successful for the good of our rural communities and the state. Minnesota has laws safeguarding farmland from foreign and corporate owners, but it would be a very good topic to review on behalf of our farmers and state. There is no harm in making sure our system can’t be exploited or our food supply is put at risk of foreign ownership. To assure family farms have a future in Minnesota, the Department of Agriculture and the legislature need to partner with our farmers. Advancing policies to protect one of Minnesota’s greatest assets and not use their power and authority to impose fines and unfair regulations. We must also streamline and reform the burden on property tax, making it easier, instead of harder, to pass down the family farm and easier for emerging farmers.
In my first term at the Minnesota Senate we’ve passed several measures to help small and first-time farmers set up operations, support farmer mental health, train meat processors, and prevent diseases so our local farm families have the support they need to carry on their legacy. If you’d like to talk more with me about this issue please do not hesitate to send me an email at sen.gene.dornink@senate.mn.
Brandon Lawhead – DFL, of Austin:
No response
Next week’s question
Let’s get a little more personal. You’re all representing Steele County, though in slightly different territories. While we recognize you’re still just one vote within the Minnesota Legislature, what Steele County-specific issue are you most interested in presenting to your fellow lawmakers, with an eye toward awareness or change?
What one issue within Steele County are you most interested in presenting to your fellow lawmakers, with an eye toward awareness or change? There is a 250-word limit.