Ditch mowing legislation is moving forward in the Minnesota Legislature. The State Senate passed SF 218 on a vote of 47 to 20, which keeps any state permits from being issued until the end of April of 2018. The House measure has also made it out of committee. HF 124 keeps state authorities from issuing permits. Minnesota Farm Bureau Associate Public Policy Director Cole Rupprecht says the Senate version gives lawmakers time to work on the issue.

He says Farm Bureau supported the House measure in committee but is now working for a compromise solution.

Rupprecht says putting the Senate and House bills together and taking the best parts of each is the best way to resolve the ditch mowing problem.

Rupprecht says taking time to fix the problem is important because it gives all the groups involved an opportunity for input into the final solution.