4/19/04
ISSUE: Sen. Steve Dille (R-Dassel) has inserted language into the Ag Omnibus Policy Bill (Senate File 2428) that undermines the right of townships and counties to limit how large livestock operations can be. The Senate needs to remove this language when the bill gets to the Senate floor. It could come up for a vote any day, so immediate calls are needed.

Sen. Dille’s language states in part: “In order to promote livestock production, state agencies and local governments shall, to the extent allowed by law...allow farms to be competitive and have the potential to generate a net profit through...growth in their farm business.”

At first glance this language may seem harmless but the problem is with the words “shall” and “growth.” This could prevent a township or county from protecting the community from a major expansion of a livestock facility as long as the proposer makes the claim it is necessary “to be competitive.” Sen. Dille is one of the Legislature’s most active supporters of factory farm expansion. This language is aimed at weakening the rights of people to act democratically through their local units of government to protect human health, quality of life, and the environment by limiting factory farm expansion in their community.

ACTION: Call these key Senators:

• Senator Jim Vickerman, Chair of the Ag Committee, at 651-296-5650, or e-mail him at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/sendis22_email.htm

• Senator Gary Kubly, Vice-Chair of the Ag Committee, at 651-296-5094, or e-mail him at sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn

• Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, 651-296-3826, or e-mail him at
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/sendis13_email.htm

• Your Senator. For your Senator’s name and contact information, call 888-234-1112 or, in the metro area, 651-296-0504.

NEW LINE NUMBERS: Tell them you want Sen. Dille’s language, which is
Section 1 (lines 1.32 to 2.16) of Senate File 2428, deleted since it undermines township and county local control and the ability of people to have a say about the siting and permitting of proposed factory farms in their community. Let them know that you do not want township or county powers weakened in any way.

DETAILS: Senate File 2428 is available at
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/cgibin/getbill.pl?session=ls83&version =latest&session_number=0&session_year=Regu&number=sf2428

Sen. Dille’s language is Section 1, lines 1.32 to 2.16.

Senate File 2428 - Section 1.
1.30 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.31 Section 1. [17.844] [LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION POLICY.]
1.32 (a) The policy of the state and its political subdivisions
1.33 is to promote livestock production under a broad range of
1.34 management systems and sizes of operation, provided that
1.35 operations are environmentally sound and meet all legal
1.36 requirements of all jurisdictions, including federal, state,
1.37 county, town, city, and watershed district requirements.
2.1 (b) In order to promote livestock production, state
2.2 agencies and local governments shall, to the extent allowed by
2.3 law:
2.4 (1) allow farms to be competitive and have the potential to
2.5 generate a net profit through adoption of new technology, growth
2.6 in their farm business, and reinvestment in buildings,
2.7 equipment, and other infrastructure;
2.8 (2) provide encouragement for establishment of livestock
2.9 enterprises on farms;
2.10 (3) promote environmental protection and water quality
2.11 improvement through increased livestock production that results
2.12 in controlling runoff through increased acreage of hay, pasture,
2.13 and small grains; and
2.14 (4) promote more farms to use agronomically applied manure
2.15 to increase the water holding capacity of the soil, control
2.16 erosion, and decrease phosphorus runoff.

For more information, call the Land Stewardship Project’s Bobby King at 507-523-3366 or Paul Sobocinski at 507-342-2323.