SLEEPY EYE - Brown County Farmers Union members want their University of Minnesota Extension Service Agriculture Educator position funding continued for 2010.
Last week, the Brown County Board approved a resolution to not fund half of the cost of the position for 2010, claiming a $41,000 savings in salary, office support services and related costs.
Farmers Union member Ralph Stadick said he has started a petition drive to continue funding the position held by Wayne Schoper, who recently got 2010 funding from Nicollet County for half of what is a full-time position through the end of 2009.
Schoper serves both counties through 2009. As of now, he would only service Nicollet County in 2010.
Stadick said petitions will be placed in a number of agriculture businesses throughout the county.
Brown County Farmers Union Secretary/Treasurer Randy Krzmarzick voiced support for funding the position another year.
"Insects could cost this county $41,000 in one hour," Krzmarzick said. "They're destroying the position that is the conduit for lots of things, even apart of agriculture in the county. It's just dumb."
Comfrey farmer Alphonse Mathiowetz agreed.
"After the tornado hit us in (March) 1998, the county Extension agent added up the losses and got the county declared a federal disaster area," Mathiowetz said. "We need someone to do that after a tornado, drought, insects. Who would we contact next year?"
In other matters, members elected officers. They are President Jerome Graff, Vice President Ron Sietz and Secretary/Treasurer Krzmarzick.
Members approved the resolutions that reflect the organization's stance on a variety of issues. The resolutions were:
- Encourage more monitoring of independent research on all GMO products and their effects on the environment.
- Support an investigation of large grain companies and how they control the grain basis.
- Raise the loan rate on all grain commodities.
- Support a farmer-owned grain reserve.
- Support a supply management program, such as a soil bank or set-aside for beneficial building of soil fertility and conservation.
- Oppose all mergers of large grain and livestock companies and regional coops.
- Support the repeal of NAFTA, GATT and CAFTA agreements, and COOL (County Of Origin Labeling) be enforced as written in the Farm Bill.
- Oppose Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China unless they have a human rights policy consistent with free-world values.
- Support the farm advocate program.
- Demand the Justice Department enforce Anti-Trust Laws and the Stocker and Packers Act.
- Support state grant money equal to federal grant money for value-added coops.
- Support adequate financing of beginner farmer programs.
- Support the animal ID program be handled privately, not as a government program.
-Township government be continued intact, with local control.
- Review tax-free zones so county taxpayers are not forced to compensate for taxes normally garnered from these areas.
- Levy Social Security taxes on all eligible earnings.
- The State of Minnesota repeal 2003 changes to allow medical liens be placed on life estates and joint tenancies, plus placing homestead liens for alternative care services.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).