Renville area farmer Gary Wertish has been elected President of the Minnesota Farmers Union. Prior to winning this month’s special election to replace retiring President Doug Peterson, Wertish served as Vice President for the organization for seven years. He says two of his priorities include improving the safety net in the new farm bill and addressing ag economic concerns.

He says one of the challenges his group faces is working with a new administration and Congress and getting them up to speed on the concerns of farmers and ranchers.

Wertish says the rising cost of health insurance is a problem both at the state and national levels. He says there has been passage of some relief measures in both houses of the Minnesota legislature.

Wertish is hopeful both state and national lawmakers can get together and find solutions to the problems being faced by rural America.