The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association held its annual pre-resolution meeting this week in advance of its upcoming annual meeting. Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, the pre-resolution process was conducted virtually. Nonetheless, more than 60 farmers representing dozens of organized soybean counties logged on to have their grassroots voices heard as MSGA plots its 2021 policy goals.

“We were very encouraged by the high turnout from our grower-leaders across the state,” said Vice President Mike Skaug, who chairs MSGA’s advocacy action team and helped lead the meeting. “Despite the virtual format, we were still able to have robust discussions on the resolutions brought forth from our county boards.”

Over the fall, county boards submitted resolutions for grower-leaders to consider. During the meeting, grower-leaders debated a host of policy initiatives to prioritize during the 2021 Legislative Session, including: taxes, climate change issues, biodiesel, ag chemical regulations, lifting truck weight limits and more.

“It was a very smooth process; we didn’t feel hampered at all by the virtual transition,” MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek said. “Our farmers came prepared to debate our resolutions, and they certainly delivered on that front.”

The 2021 Legislative Session in St. Paul runs Jan. 5—May 17. MSGA’s resolutions will be brought to the full delegation during the 2021 annual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21. Look for a full 2021 legislative preview in the upcoming January-February issue of Soybean Business, MSGA’s official publication.