Minnesota Farmers Union members adopted special orders at their 80th annual state convention, held Nov. 19-21 in Minneapolis. President Gary Wertish was also re-elected and says delegates debated and passed the organization’s policy platform which looks at five special orders of business, including drought relief and climate resiliency.

He says the pandemic also brought out the need for expanded local and regional meat processing and Minnesota Farmers Union has developed a training platform through a $500,000 grant program.

Wertish says they also want a comprehensive approach to increasing competition in the markets., including stricter USDA enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

The members also passed policy regarding generational farm transition, and affordable healthcare. The special orders of business are the organization’s main legislative priorities for the upcoming year.