PETITION: Aim High for Farmers & Our Future

With a historic $17.6 billion surplus, our state legislature has a unique opportunity and responsibility to deliver for people and the land. In March, the Speaker of the Minnesota House and the Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate will assign each legislative committee in their respective legislative body an amount to spend on their budget. These are called "budget targets".

 

This year, with a surplus of $17.6 billion, we're calling for even stronger budget targets for the Agriculture and Environment Committees, which fund the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and others.

 

Budget targets shape how much we can win for people and the land this legislative session. Please sign the below petition to tell key legislative leaders to aim high for farmers and our future to demonstrate the demand for robust investments in our farm and food system!

 

ADD YOUR NAME:

 

Dear Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic,

 

With a historic $17.6 billion surplus, our state legislature has a unique opportunity and responsibility to deliver for small- and mid-sized farmers, our farm and food system, and rural communities. This budget surplus is a direct result of decades of underfunding our communities and right now, the state spends less than 0.5% of its budget on agriculture. 

 

As you and your colleagues develop budget targets, I urge you to provide ample funding for these committees to tangibly deliver for people and the land. Together, we can:

 

  • Provide the resources farmers need to build the health of their soil, which will clean our water, build resiliency from extreme weather, and combat climate change.
  • Develop resilient local and regional food systems that strengthen rural economies and ensure all Minnesotans have nutritious food.
  • Build a fair farm economy that cares for small- and mid-sized farmers, farm and food system workers, and consumers.
  • Expand access to land, capital, trainings, technical assistance, and support for small- and mid-sized emerging, beginning, and aspiring farmers.
  • Strengthen transparency and public engagement in public institutions.
  • And more!

 

In 2022, with a surplus of $9.3 billion, the House Agriculture Committee was given a $60 million budget target, which was negotiated down by the former Minnesota Senate Majority to just $7.5 million. The House Environment + Natural Resources Committee was given a $250 million budget target, but the bill did not make it through Conference Committee. With a surplus of $17.6 billion, the Agriculture Committees deserve at least a $110 million budget target and the Environment + Natural Resources Committees deserve at least a $470 million budget target. By doing so, the House and Senate Majorities can demonstrate that they are tangibly showing up for and delivering for farmers and rural Minnesotans.

 

Sincerely,

[Your name.]

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