Both Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and the State Farmers Union want legislators to replenish funding for the State’s Rural Finance Authority. Farmers Union’s Government Relations Director Thom Petersen says originally the Governor had asked for $20 million for that program. That request has now been upped to $35 million. Petersen says putting more money into RFA is important as it’ll run out of money by the end of May.

He says the extra funding for RFA will be part of a bonding bill package.

Petersen says the Rural Finance Authority has several programs that are badly needed by farmers and ranchers who are facing tough economic times.

Petersen doesn’t expect movement on the bonding legislation until the end of the session next month.