Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association, along with 17 Additional
Agriculture Organizations and numerous County Leaders Call for Clarity of State
Buffer Law
The following letter, led by the Minnesota Corn Growers
Association, was sent to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and Legislative Leaders
on behalf of eighteen state agricultural organizations, including MSCA, and
several local government officials representing rural counties.
May 11, 2017
Dear Governor Dayton and Legislative Leaders,
As farmers and local government officials, we are writing to you with an urgent
request with respect to the water buffer law that has become the subject of
considerable controversy throughout rural Minnesota. While we are not
advocating the repeal of the new buffer law, we must face the fact it is not
ready for implementation this year under the current provisions.
Our hope is the Legislature and the Governor could come to a satisfactory agreement
yet this legislative session on the critical modifications that are needed for
this new law to be effectively implemented. Specifically, changes are needed in
the classifications of private vs. public ditches, clarifications on what
constitutes acceptable alternative practices and some form of compensation
and/or property tax relief for the taking of productive farmland out of
production.
Implementation of this new law will be challenging under the best of
circumstances. If no modifications are made prior to May 22nd, implementation
of the new buffer law will be extremely challenging for the following reasons:
1.
There
are provisions of the buffer law that are not clear and it is causing confusion
among both farmers and local government officials.
2.
Local
government officials throughout the state are having problems interpreting the
new law, and helping farmers with compliance will be very challenging.
3.
Crop
farmers are already in the field with planting, beginning their busiest cycle
of the year through the fall harvest – getting into compliance by November 1st
is a real hardship.
4.
Approved
alternative practices were released just last month with more information
forthcoming, making it extremely difficult for land owners to both decide and
implement alternatives prior to the beginning of the planting season. With
these alternative practices being crucial for many farmers concerned about the
loss of productive land, more time to implement is necessary.
5.
The
lack of financial consideration for the taking of productive farmland is
troubling, especially at a time when farmers are experiencing multiple years of
low prices and financial stress.
If the Legislature and Governor cannot negotiate acceptable modifications to
the buffer law prior to the legislative adjournment, we would respectfully, but
strongly, request delaying the implementation effective date of the buffer law.
This would not only allow farmers to have the time to understand the law and
how best to get into compliance, but also give local government officials more
time to decide how to best enforce the law. With insufficient funding in place
for county boards and watershed districts, executing the buffer law will be a
major issue for local officials.
We stand ready to assist. Thank you.
Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota
Cooperative Network
Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers
Minnesota Barely Growers Association
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota Farm Bureau
Minnesota Farmers Union
Minnesota Milk Producers Association
Minnesota Pork Producers Association
Minnesota Rural Counties
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
Minnesota State Cattlemens Association
Minnesota Turf Seed Council
Minnesota Turkey Growers Association
Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative
Ron Antony, Yellow Medicine County Commissioner
Joe Bouvette, Kittson County Commissioner
Eric Christensen, Kittson County Administrator
Bob Fox, Renville County Commissioner Chair
Theresia Gillie, Kittson County Commissioner
Bobbie Harder, Sibley County Commissioner
Doug Krueger, McLeod County Commissioner
Harlan Madsen, Kandiyohi County Commissioner
Leon Olson, Kittson County Commissioner
Corey Wikstrom, Kittson County Commissioner
Betty Younggren, Kittson County Commissioner, Chair
Cc: All members of the Minnesota House and Senate
Posted: May 11, 2017
