With only two weeks left in the 2017 Minnesota State Legislative session, time is running out to fix the state’s buffer law. Minnesota Farmers Union members are working with the Governor to fix the law and want it delayed until then. Farmers Union’s Director of Government Relations Thom Petersen says there are a lot of questions about the buffer law that need to be answered.

He thinks they have an opportunity to work out some type of delay with the Governor on the buffer law implementation.

Petersen says one of the major problems with the buffer law, set to go into effect in November, is its effect on the federal Conservation Reserve Program. He says in the next three years there will be 400,000 acres coming out of CRP in Minnesota and some landowners will want to re-enroll, but the buffer bill will limit that.

Petersen says his group is encouraging farmers to meet with local Soil Water Conservation District Staff and DNR to make sure they understand the buffer rules.