The Minnesota Senate has passed an $8.5 million dollar package to help farmers that were hurt by last year’s drought.  The bill also includes an additional $1.5 million dollars for assistance to poultry producers hit by the avian bird flu.  Governor Walsh, back in September, introduced the idea to provide up to $10 million dollars of financial assistance to farmers hit hard by the drought, and the Minnesota House passed a similar bill a few weeks ago.  Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmer’s Union says the bill will need to go to conference committee, but the money will help.

Wertish says some farmers had to liquidate their herds, or quit farming all together, because of the dry conditions.

Wertish believes Governor Walsh will sign the bill once it leaves the conference committee.