One of the major policy debates at this week’s American Farm Bureau annual meeting was over dairy policy. That was a critical one for Minnesota’s delegates whose state has seen 800 dairies exit the business over the past three years. Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap says their national group decided to form a task force to look at policy changes for Federal Milk Marketing Orders.
He says another important discussion was over climate change and how best to adapt to that with reasonable expectations for farmers and ranchers.
Paap says having that federal standard in place is important rather than a patch work of differing state rules. He also says policy was approved on ag labor and opposing any guest worker program that requires the ag industry to pay more than what any other general industry is required to pay the state or federal minimum wage.
Paap says Minnesota Farm Bureau delegates also want make sure the Renewable Fuel Standard is properly followed and that if 15 billion gallons is required to be blended, it should be that amount.
