Congressman Collin Peterson and Senator Al Franken met with agriculture groups in a pair of separate meetings Monday in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Peterson, the DFL Representative for Minnesota’s 7th District, joined Congressman Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. to discuss water quality and soil health in Fargo, N.D.
“The discussion was constructive,” said Theresia Gillie, president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA). “We had meaningful discussions about the flooding in the Red River Valley, water retention, water quality and soil health. It’s always nice when our elected officials ask us to join the discussions involving topics that impact our farms.”
Peterson wasn’t the only politician meeting with ag groups Monday. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., met with several commodity groups at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota Soybean CEO Tom Slunecka attended the event, which focused on the 2018 Farm Bill, affordable health insurance for farmers, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and rail issues.
“Sen. Franken was very engaged and wanted to know the concerns of the ag industry,” Slunecka said. “We spent a good deal of time talking about the 2014 Farm Bill, what we liked, what could be improved for 2018.”
Slunecka said Franken asked a lot of questions in regards to improving health care for farmers. He also wanted to make sure Minnesota was represented at the next Surface Transportation Board (STB) meeting. In 2014, MSGA was the first ag group to testify before STB, bringing national attention to the rail issues in Minnesota.
