Tate Petry is no stranger to the power of commodity advocacy groups.

As secretary/treasurer of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG), Petry advocates for Minnesota wheat growers in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. Petry recently participated in MAWG’s Hill Visits and has seen firsthand that agricultural commodities should be represented when policies are being created. Hence, he is also a committed member of MSGA.

“I want to ensure strong policy at both the state and national level,” said Petry, who grows wheat, soybeans and corn near Ada. “Knowing that MSGA is a member of the American Soybean Association (ASA) with access to tools that ensure that foreign policy is carefully watched and that the interests of farmers are represented in those discussions is critical.”

Petry appreciates that policy progress takes time. Farmers need an organization that works diligently to advocate on their behalf long-term, not only during hot-button issues. MSGA is that kind of organization.

“The higher-level benefits of organizations like MSGA aren’t always glaring,” Petry said. “But think about biodiesel and the advocating that MSGA does in support of it. That advocacy has benefited our farm because it increases the demand for soybeans and increases the bottom line for our soybeans.”

Soybean growers work on their farms, raising their crop while MSGA works at the Capitol.

“MSGA is a very, very low-cost investment to ensure that there are people monitoring state and national policy that affects you on the farm,” said Petry, who has two children, Charlotte and Oliver, with his wife, Katherine. “They’re looking out for your interests and the interests of agriculture in the United States.”