Advancing Our
2025 Legislative Priorities
Foster Stronger Economic Growth in Minnesota Farm Country
Improve government efficiency to stimulate new economic growth.
Minnesota's permitting and regulatory process could be faster, more efficient, and more manageable. AgriGrowth supports initiatives or pilot projects that reduce agency permit backlogs, improve communication between agencies and applicants, and use technology to expedite and streamline permitting processes. In addition, AgriGrowth encourages the legislature to assess state agencies' current roles and responsibilities to find new efficiencies that improve outcomes for farm families, protect our environment, and foster stronger economic growth.
Incentivize job creation and higher wages in agriculture.
Minnesota's agriculture industry needs time to adjust to the substantial new employer regulations and tax changes passed during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. AgriGrowth supports a five-year moratorium on new employer mandates, higher taxes, and fees that further adversely impact family farm incomes and job creation. AgriGrowth also supports reviewing and adjusting tax policies to ensure Minnesota's agriculture industry can remain globally competitive.
Further, Minnesota needs to focus on additional career pathways into careers at all levels, especially for those with an initial high school or two-year college education.
Develop clean transportation policies that support and enhance Minnesota agriculture's role in biofuels, including the development of sustainable aviation fuel.
Minnesota farmers can feed and fuel the world. AgriGrowth supports policies prioritizing all domestic feedstocks, including conventional crops and non-food sources. To meet Minnesota's clean transportation climate goals, an 'all of the above' feedstock strategy will be required to produce clean, low-carbon fuels.
Invest in rural wastewater, road, rail, and port infrastructure.
Agriculture and agribusiness are the cornerstones of Minnesota's rural economy. To ensure our rural communities can grow, AgriGrowth supports prioritizing infrastructure investments that expand economic development, job growth, and policies that ensure the efficient, safe, and reliable movement of agricultural goods and services.
Prioritize Science- and Data-based Solutions to Address Water Quality, Soil Health, and Climate
Create more flexibility in environmental regulations on farms and agribusiness.
Minnesota's agencies too often use inconsistent science and data when developing and implementing regulations. Geologic and environmental conditions also can vary throughout the state. That's why it is important to create more flexibility in state regulations, including permit conditions for Minnesota feedlots.
Invest in research opportunities that holistically address an integrated food and agriculture approach.
Partnerships with researchers, educators, industry, and government are desperately needed as we examine the interactions between people, animals, crops, plants, soil, water, and the environment. AgriGrowth supports the University of Minnesota's FAARM initiative, a production-scale research facility that tests innovations before offering them to farmers.
Improve Farm Vitality
Reduce the financial burdens for Minnesotans to start or expand farming.
Since 1997, Minnesota has lost more than 13,000 farms, while the market value of the average farm has increased by 500%. AgriGrowth supports new and existing incentives to help Minnesotans start or expand farming, including expanding the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit and loans and grants for farm equipment.
Stand up for Minnesota farmers.
In the past 25 years, Minnesota has lost 1.29 million turkeys and 95,000 dairy cattle, resulting in a loss of nearly 6,800 jobs in the livestock industry since 2020. AgriGrowth supports commonsense, science-based regulatory requirements that promote a vibrant livestock industry while protecting Minnesota waters. Seed treatments, pesticides, and soil amendments can improve water quality, carbon footprints, and noxious weed spread when utilized with peer-reviewed science.
Incentivize voluntary climate-smart ag practices to help farmers prepare for our changing climate.
AgriGrowth supports expanding the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification and the Soil Health Financial Assistance programs to help farmers adopt climate-friendly agriculture practices that improve the environment.
Prepare for the next animal health event
Focus on state-level animal disease surveillance, prevention, and response.
AgriGrowth supports permanent state funding to help Minnesota livestock farms and operations make necessary biosecurity improvements to protect their animals, as well as additional sustainable funding for foreign animal disease preparedness and response.