It’s been a busy three weeks for new Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. He’s been working on the Department’s budget, meeting with lawmakers and discussing legislation. Petersen, who worked closely with State Senators and Representatives when he worked for the Minnesota Farmers Union, says it’s been good to talk with them and coordinate on issues important to agriculture.

He says they already held a hearing on grain elevators and how to keep them solvent.

Petersen says he’s also exploring ways to give a tax credit to those who install buffers on their operations. He says that was something Governor Tim Walz advocated in the past and so they’re taking a closer look at it.

Petersen says he’s also spending his Sundays visiting farms and ranches to connect with constituents.