With the legislative session currently in full swing, 22 grower-leaders from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association spent Tuesday at the Capitol in St. Paul talking property taxes, buffers and other agriculture issues during MCGA’s Day on the Hill, according to a press release.

“Our top priority this session is property tax relief,” said Raymond farmer and MCGA president Noah Hultgren. “There seems to be bi-partisan support on this issue, so it’s important that we keep reminding legislators how essential tax relief is to both the farm and overall rural economy.”

Resolving the private ditch issue and clarifying other items on the new buffer legislation was also a prominent topic. In addition to legislators, grower-leaders met with staff from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to talk about buffers, water quality and other regulatory issues.

“Minnesota corn farmers invest about $4 million annually in research and other initiatives that focus on water quality and stewardship,” Hultgren said. “We need to make sure legislators understand how committed we are to this important issue.”

Other issues covered during MCGA’s Day on the Hill included transportation, irrigation and MCGA’s role in a broad coalition that is investing in the installation of over 600 flex-fuel pumps throughout the state.

With more than 7,000 members, MCGA is one of the largest grassroots farm organizations in the United States. In addition to providing a voice for corn farmers in St. Paul and in Washington D.C., MCGA works closely with the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council to create new opportunities for corn farmers and build connections with the non-farming public.