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Paul Sobocinski is disappointed that sustainable agriculture grant funding isn't included as a line item in the recently passed agriculture funding bill.
Sobocinski, a Wabasso farmer and LSP policy program organizer, said the sustainable agriculture grants allowed farmers to try new things and then share the results with others through the Greenbook.
The grants encourage investment and producer innovation, Sobocinski said. They are an investment in the future of new, successful ideas in farming.
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LSP is interested in the funding because it shows different ways to help family farms be successful, he said. The grants may be used by organic and non-organic producers.
The bill says up to $100,000 each year "may be used for grants to farmers for demonstration projects involving sustainable agriculture." Of that amount, "up to $20,000 may be used for dissemination of information about the demonstration projects."
Mike Schommer, Minnesota Department of Agriculture communications director, said the language authorizes funds to be spent if they become available from other sources, say federal money.
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In 2007, the sustainable ag grant program was funded at $160,000, Sobocinski said. That amount was reduced to $100,000 each year in 2009 and then Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the second year of funding.
Sobocinski is hopeful the commissioner will find funds for the sustainable agriculture program and the Greenbook.
The bill provides $10,000 annually for annual cost-share payments for the costs of organic certification.
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Whatever happens with the budget, organic and sustainable agriculture need to be treated fairly, Sobocinski said. Organic agriculture allows small- and medium-sized farms to compete and there are a growing number of consumers interested in buying organic.
Dairy
The dairy development and profitability enhancement and dairy business planning grant programs are funded at $634,000 per year in the ag funding bill.
"Given the budget challenges they have, getting to keep that funding was huge," said Bob Lefebvre, executive director of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association.
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The $634,000 was the base amount coming into the year, Lefebvre said. At one time, the program ws funded at $1 million.
The livestock investment grants aren't funded, but Lefebvre is hopeful dollars from the agricultural growth, research and innovation program will be used for dairy development. The program isn't funded until fiscal year 2013, when its funding is $2.3 million.
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AURI
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute took about a 5 percent cut in the ag funding bill, said executive director Teresa Spaeth.
"Thankfully, we won't have to cut any staff," Spaeth said. AURI has 26 employees at three locations. It does co-product research, new product research and is always on the look out for new opportunities for Minnesota agriculture.
Considering the size of the state budget shortfall, Spaeth said she knew AURI would have to feel the pain and do it's share.
Overall, it was a good outcome, she said.
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MBAH
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health will meet its 5 percent budget cut by not filling a field veterinarian position and by letting some contracted positions expire.
A field veterinarian is retiring at the end of June and instead of hiring a new veterinarian to cover those counties, the remaining eight field veterinarians will pick up extra counties, said Bethany Hahn, MBAH communications specialist.
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Field veterinarians do a variety of animal health inspections. They do inspections if a domestic animal has been bitten by a potentially rabid animal. They do captive cervidae inspections and inspections of swine garbage feeding operations. They also do a lot of poultry-related inspections, Hahn said.
The contracted positions are in northwest Minnesota and are related to the bovine tuberculosis eradication effort. The MBAH has had a lot of success with the eradication and will not renew a couple contracts for positions when they expire, Hahn said.
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Farm Bureau says
"We are pleased that the agriculture finance bill is now law," said Minnesota Farm Bureau president Kevin Paap. "A legislative priority for Farm Bureau during the 2011 Minnesota legislative session was to ensure that funding for the food safety, animal health and environmental protections services the Minnesota Department of Agriculture provides for Minnesota farmers and all Minnesotans was not significantly reduced. This legislation accomplishes that."
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Farmers Union says
"Despite a large budget deficit, this legislation ensures that Minnesota retains investment in a strong, safe and abundant food supply in Minnesota and makes future investments in education and energy," said Minnesota Farmers Union president Doug Peterson.
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Source: Agrinews