Buffer strips have been a hot topic of conversation over the past several weeks at the legislature and in farming community here in Southern Minnesota and across the state. As you may know, buffer strips are patches of land situated between farm land and lakes, rivers, streams and any other bodies of water. Buffer strips are intended to help prevent runoff to protect water quality.

I’m proud to say that in our district, Freeborn County farmers and the Soil and Water District have done a tremendous job with adding buffer strips and have some of the highest signup rates for buffer strips in the nation.

Earlier this year, Governor Dayton surprised many in the farming community by announcing a buffer proposal that would institute a 50-foot buffer around every waterway in the state, a significant expansion over the 16.5-foot buffer required under current law. Many of the farmers and agriculture groups I spoke to were disappointed that this plan was announced without any input or discussion from farmers and the larger agriculture community.

Since the proposal was announced, I’ve had conversations and email exchanges with hundreds of farmers who are concerned about this proposal, and held a listening session in Blooming Prairie to hear more feedback.

Farmers share Governor Dayton’s concerns about water quality, and want to be partners in addressing this issue in a sensible way that protects their rights as landowners and improves water quality for our beautiful lakes, rivers, and streams.

It was encouraging to see Governor Dayton come to Austin and Worthington to gather additional feedback. Now that he’s heard from farmers in Southern Minnesota and other parts of the state, it’s my hope he will take what he’s heard and revisit his original proposal.

Some of the questions and suggestions that I heard from those who attended my listening session include flexibility and differentiating between buffers for drainage ditches and buffers for lakes, rivers and streams, as well as ensuring that any change to the buffer law is supported by research, and not an arbitrary number picked out of mid-air.

Farmers also have a right to be concerned about the potential loss of hundreds of acres of good farm land, and they deserve to be compensated in some way to make up for that loss. I hope this issue is addressed as any buffer plan moves forward.

Many farmers and citizens are concerned about adding bureaucracy at the DNR to help enforce any new buffer laws, and the potential added cost to taxpayers. They hope that existing and future buffer laws can be enforced at the local level, or with existing resources. The NRCS and Soil & Water Districts already have programs on the books that help farmers put in buffer strips. They are the professionals and we should help them to have more flexibility to make their current programs work better.

Farmers and Greater Minnesota legislators are ready and willing to work with the governor on ways to improve upon his buffer proposal, and have a productive conversation about how best to preserve water quality. Nearly all agriculture stakeholders believe that the existing one-size-fits-all 50-foot proposal is unworkable, but are not necessarily opposed to changes to help further protect our state waters.

I hope Governor Dayton will listen to the concerns expressed from our state’s farmers, local residents and water quality professionals and be willing to make changes to address their concerns. Farmers are such a fundamental part of our local economy, and help put food on our tables, fuel in our cars and provide thousands of jobs and opportunities for families in Minnesota. They are good stewards of the land and want to be partners in this discussion.

Water quality is important. The best solutions are those that are reached collaboratively, and include the local stakeholders. I will continue to listen and work with all involved to find a solution that balances the concerns of all stakeholders and helps protects our state’s treasured waters for future generations.

 

Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, is the House District 27A representative.