Cattlemen Show Support of S.F. 218 - Ditch Mowing Legislation Repeal
2/28/2017
Subject: Support of S.F. 218
Dear Minnesota Committee
on Transportation Finance and Policy,
On behalf of the members of the
Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, I would like to express our support of
S.F. 218.
Cattlemen’s commitment to
effective stewardship includes ongoing efforts to preserve clean waterways,
control invasive plants and non-native grasses, and protect wildlife. Our
continued efforts to care for Minnesota’s land and wildlife allows us to
provide quality habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
The first reason we support S.F. 218 is
because our efforts to maintain and manage our land and pastures becomes more
difficult if it borders land that is not managed to the same caliber. Non-native and invasive plants and grasses
are a constant struggle to keep out of our fields and pastures. The second reason for our support of S.F. 218
comes from the need of many cattlemen who rely on ditches to provide a source
of feed for their livestock. For many
years, farmers have voluntarily managed and baled ditches across the state of
Minnesota. This service has not only allowed
for proper and timely management of ditches, but has allowed for a reduction in
resources needed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to manage these
ditches.
In closing, cattlemen are
committed to environmental stewardship initiatives that preserve open spaces,
renew native plant life, preserve clean water, and protect habitat for wildlife
and pollinators. Restricting our ability
to manage ditches in the hopes to achieve these goals is not effective or
realistic.
Thank-you for your time.Kindest Regards,
Grant Breitkreutz
Vice-President
Redwood Falls, Minnesota
Posted: February 28, 2017
