Issue 33
January 2001

Copyright
Prairie Grains Magazine
January 2001

Prairie Shortcuts

MN Legislature expected to debate GMO bills
When the Minnesota Legislative Session begins January 3, the most visible issue debated in the Agriculture Committees will be continued discussion regarding GMOs, according to MAWG/MBGA state lobbyist Bruce Kleven.

Last year there were five bills introduced in the Minnesota House that would have regulated GMOs in Minnesota, ranging from voluntary labeling to an outright ban on the use of GMO seeds for five years. “With the recent problems involved with StarLink corn found in the food supply this fall, we expect to see a stepped-up effort to pass GMO bills in Minnesota,” says Kleven.

Other key issues include passage of a two-year budget which should be in the neighborhood of $22 billion, a major property tax reform proposal put forth from the Governor, and the beginning of the re-districting process that will be very contentious since the two houses are controlled by different parties, he says.

The 2000 elections resulted in both chambers remaining much the same as they have for the past two years.

In the Senate, Democrats held on to their wide majority with 39 members, followed by Republicans with 27 members and one independent member. Kleven says the Senate is undergoing a major internal reorganization of committee chairs. Senator Roger Moe (D-Erskine) was re-elected as the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the selection of committee chairs is
underway. “We’re hearing that Dallas Sams (D-Staples) will not be Ag Chair next year as he has decided to move to Health Care Policy. Steve Murphy (D-Red Wing) is the likely successor to Chair the Ag Committee and should be a good leader on agriculture policy,” says Kleven. Also, it appears that Jane Krentz (D-May Township) will head the Environment Policy Committee, and Len Price  (D-Woodbury) will chair Environment Finance. Both of these Senators tend to side with environmental groups, says Kleven.

In the House, Republicans held on to their majority 69-65. Two representatives from the Red River Valley, Jim Tunheim (D-Kennedy) and Bob Westfall (R-Rothsay), were defeated by challengers Maxine Penas (R-Badger) and Paul Marquart (D-Dilworth). Both Tunheim and Westfall were farmers and members of the Agriculture Committee. Kleven says House positions should remain the same, with Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) as the Speaker of the House, Tim Finseth as Agriculture Committee Chair, and Bob Ness (R-Dassel) in charge of Agriculture Finance.

ND lawmakers to address used farm machinery tax
ND lawmakers will likely extend the 1.5% tax on machinery and irrigation parts and used machinery during the 2001 Legislative Session, or eliminate the tax entirely, says Lance Hagen, executive director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association. The 1999 Legislature temporarily reduced the used farm machinery tax from 3% to 1.5%, and without new legislation, the tax is scheduled to return to 3% on June 30, 2001.

Crop chemical harmonization between the U.S. and Canada will likely be debated again, as will research funding and block grants to fund the university system. Measures to improve state agricultural profitability and competitiveness are sure to be discussed, but it is too early to determine what the bills may be, Hagen says.

Republicans maintain a firm grip on both chambers, with a 69-29 advantage in the House, and a 32-16 majority in the Senate.

The ND Legislative Session begins Jan. 9, and by law must meet a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 80 days. The 1999 Session adjourned on April 19.

SD Legislature to debate “producer contract bill of rights”
A key issue to be discussed during the 2001 Legislative Session is a “producer contract bill of rights.” The legislation spells out what can and what cannot be included in commodity contracts between producers and processors, says Rick Vallery, executive director of South Dakota Wheat Inc.

Issues that South Dakota Wheat Inc. will be following include: a “producer contract bill of rights,” funding for NCI, a report concerning property taxation based on productivity, credible data legislation, a possible bill that enables the Department of Agriculture to allow the establishment of “check-offs” following a vote of the people.

Credible data legislation dealing with water quality and how data is used in forming public policy will also be discussed. If passed, data over five years old would not be considered credible and would become “historical” and no longer used, says Vallery.

Flooded land in northeast SD will be an issue. Vallery explains that flooding in the northeast has resulted in water-filled “low spots” that have now increased in size and are bordering county and township roads. These low spots have proven to be excellent fishing areas and sportsmen are using public access (roads) to enter private lands.  If the flooded lands would not be bordering the roads, the public would not have access.  “This has grown to be very controversial and it will be interesting to see what legislation appears,” says Vallery.

Other issues that may be discussed are corporate farming laws, changes in farming liens, and cooperative law. The SD Legislature begins on January 9, 2001, takes a break on March 3, and is scheduled to adjourn March 20.