Minnesota Soybean Grower’s Association members are monitoring several bills under consideration in the State Legislature this session. Executive Director Joe Smentek says one of the tops ones they’re backing is a measure to bring Minnesota in line with Section 179 expensing. He says only partial conformity was passed earlier and that needs to be changed to eliminate capital gains liability for producers.

He says another bill they’re supporting is one to provide cost share funding for grain bin safety measures.

Smentek says they want legislators to keep the regulation of farm chemicals under the authority of the State Department of Agriculture.

Smentek says the State Agriculture Department is in the best position to regulate farm chemicals even though his group doesn’t always agree with their decisions. He says they have the proper expertise to handle that.