Local News
Farm legislation offers multiple forms of aid
Related Photos
-
U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota, talks about the new Farm Bill to area agriculture leaders Monday at the Minnesota Soybean Growers office in Mankato. John Cross
Discussion
Add a comment on this storyTools
MANKATO — The new farm bill is primarily a nutrition program, will bolster the transition to cellulosic ethanol, provides a safety net if the farm economy falters and increases conservation programs.
That’s the view of one of its crafters, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, who stopped at the Minnesota Soybean Growers office in Mankato on Monday.
Coleman, a Republican who serves on the Ag Committee with Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar, said the $300 billion five-year farm bill was a bipartisan effort with plenty of Minnesota representation. On the House side, Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson heads the Ag Committee.
The conservation programs in the bill have been criticized by some conservation groups because it reduces the target acres in the Conservation Reserve Program from 39 million acres to 32 million acres.
But Coleman said conservation got a $4 billion increase in the bill. “This is the largest funding commitment for conservation ever made by Congress.” Coleman’s aide said the reduction in CRP acres is expected in spite of funding increases because high commodity prices make it more attractive for farmers to plant the land in crops.
Coleman was successful in including language in the bill that will have the government purchase excess sugar imports and use the sugar to produce ethanol. The program, he said, will protect American sugar beet growers from too much imported sugar while increasing ethanol from non-corn sources. The program has $1 billion in funding.
Coleman was among lawmakers who also got funding included for a low-interest loan program that can be used by farmers to build more grain storage. “We’re producing more — we need more storage,” he said.
For complete story, see the Tuesday, May 20, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition.
- Local News
-
-
Repeated snow days add up to scheduling headache
The problems go beyond classes to community recreation and education.
-
Regional spelling bee postponed
Postponed to Feb. 18
-
Nicollet County to raze Ruttles
County purchases former restaurant
-
Cabbie say he was robbed at gunpoint
Robber got into cab as if he were a customer
-
Mankato snow emergency
MANKATO — A snow emergency goes into effect noon today (Feb. 9).
-
Winter weather watch, road conditions
MnDOT's up to the minute Road conditions map.
See the National Weather Service continually updated Weather forecast
- School closing announcements
-
Life Remembered: Claire Faust a builder of connections
Claire Faust was also a dedicated Kiwanian.
-
Fourth Medallion Hunt clue
ST. PETER — Winterfest’s Winter Medallion Hunt began Saturday.
The fourth clue is:
-
Mankato utility reform approved
The Mankato City Council approved changed Monday on how water utility bills are paid.
- More Local News Headlines
-
