By: SENATOR BILL LIESKE
Friends and Neighbors,
I’m proud to share that the legislature recently approved a bipartisan agriculture bill that will make a real difference for small local growers and the countless Minnesotans who enjoy fresh produce from community farmers markets. In addition, it strengthens laws protecting our beloved pets and protects the integrity of our agricultural industry.
It was a good bill. Senator Aric Putnam, the Democrat chair of the committee, is very easy to work with and willing to listen to Republican ideas – in fact, about 25% of the agriculture policy bill were items that I authored this year. There are certainly areas where Senator Putnam and I disagree, but his bipartisan approach is one that I hope more of his colleagues adopt.
One of my ideas in the bill allows vendors at farmers’ markets to offer small samples of their products. This is currently prohibited, despite being a fairly common practice. In addition to decriminalizing that practice, the bill requires vendors to clearly label ingredients and potential allergens. The bill prohibits samples of raw meat, poultry, and fish samples due to contamination risks, but cooked versions of those items can be prepared and served on-site. Any animal products must also come from USDA or state-inspected slaughterhouses to protect public health.
Legalizing this routine practice is a common sense change that reduces red tape while maintaining proper food safety standards. Letting folks sample syrups, jams, baked goods, salsas and more helps spur sales for our small farms and food entrepreneurs. At the same time, we maintain strict safety rules around higher-risk items. This is about getting government out of the way of responsible business practices.
The ag bill also includes my stray animal legislation. This is a bill I presented last month requiring people who find a lost pet to alert the owner or authorities. You might be surprised to learn that roughly 10 million pets go missing across America every year. A staggering 35% never make it home. Online lost pet posts often attract misguided comments telling finders to keep the animal or rehome it based on assumptions about its care.
My bill actually reinstates a law that was accidentally deleted last year. My sincere hope is that re-establishing this legal requirement will mean more pets are reunited with their families.
The agriculture bill also modernizes financial reporting rules for Minnesota’s grain buyers and storers based on their annual purchase volumes. Smaller operations must submit an independent accountant’s financial report, mid-sized operations need a reviewed or audited report, and large operations over $20 million in purchases must get a full annual audit. These tiers protect producers while aligning reporting requirements with the risk levels of each business.
Other important provisions prohibit contracts from preventing farmers and producers from disclosing terms after July 2024, revise fertilizer labeling to include product volumes, require means for anonymously reporting farm law violations, and call for a workgroup to study financial reporting standards for cooperatives.
At the end of the day, this agriculture policy bill makes small but important improvements to support our farmers, food vendors, producers and consumers. It goes to show how working across the aisle that can lead to meaningful progress.
Contact me
Your feedback, ideas, and concerns are what allow me to serve you to the best of my ability. Please share your thoughts with me any time at sen.bill.lieske@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-5019.
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It is a privilege to serve you!